NEON GOLD SXSW 2012.

It's that time of year again, and after packed out showcases at SXSW 2010 and 2011, we're back with another barnburner for you with our 2012 official showcase. Wrapping up our inaugural Neon Gold Tour at SXSW will be St. Lucia, Savoir Adore and our showcase headliners The Knocks, joined by fellow Neon Gold alums Polarsets and ANR, and the next big things of tomorrow in Brooklyn's Fort Lean and Los Angeles' HAIM. The whole thing's going down at Karma Lounge, just steps from the 6th Street and the epicenter of SXSW at 105 East 5th Street between Congress and Brazos. As per usual, it's 21+ with free entry to those with official SX badges on a first come, first serve basis, so come out early as space is limited and this is going to be a night to remember. Set times and MP3's below - see you in Texas, friends.

07:00pm: ANR // STREAM: "It's Around You"


08:00pm: HAIM // STREAM: "Better Off"


09:00pm: Fort Lean // STREAM: "Sunsick"


10:00pm: Savoir Adore // DOWNLOAD: "Dreamers"


11:00pm: St. Lucia // STREAM: "Before The Dive"


12:00am: The Knocks // STREAM: "R.O.Y.L."


01:00am: Polarsets // DOWNLOAD: "Leave Argentina"

HOPE SOON I'LL DREAM WITH YOU.

Our dude Brad Oberhofer is one of our city's brightest young things and most captivating new talents, so we're throwing this up late in the game just in case you missed its first strike last week. "HEART" marks the first single from his upcoming debut full length, Time Capsules II (top marks on the name sir), and starts off with a classical piano arrangement that rockets into a frantic Alberti bass just as Oberhofer's familiar concave vocals begin to sink into your psyche. As the flickering toy piano plays hooky with the emphatic drums and sweeping string sections, he turns on the dark charm and dreams up an epic lullaby for the unrequited.

Under the production wing of the legendary Steve Lillywhite - a curveball of a producer for this project but one that suddenly makes perfect sense here - "HEART" manages to combine the nail-biting bravado of pre-Glassnote Oberhofer with an incredible orchestral majesty reminiscent of our own ANR's "Blood on Blood". NYC, meet your new favorite son.

MP3: "HEART" - Oberhofer

I DON'T THINK Y'ALL HEARD ME.

It's been a minute since we put out our first batch of Neon Gold TV videos from Reptar - sorry, we've been busy - but now we've got two more for y'all and some seriously great content lined up for the new year. This time around, ANR are in the hotseat, kindling the fire in our hearts with a live version of their "It's Around You" single we put out in August HERE.

But we've summoned you here today to talk about their stunning rendition of Kelis and Andre 3000's "Millionaire". In what is both a bold undertaking and a true homage, ANR strip down the money suit and put it in a tumble dryer, ruffling up the prim and proper original and giving it some character. As everything comes into focus, the hangover cure of a guitar-laden lead-in fills the room and MJ's reverb-drenched vocals are around you like a warm embrace. They cash in the reality check of a string section just as MJ starts spitting Dre's words of wisdom over Brian's winter-coated harmonies that beckons a voice-stretching, hard-hitting denouement. Catch the NGTV session above, and grab the breathtaking proper studio mp3 exclusively below.

MP3: "Millionaire" - ANR [exclusive]

LET YOUR VOICES SING IT LOUD.

As a band from the heart of hurricane-prone south Florida, ANR have put their homegrown survival instinct to use in the force majeure video for our latest release, "It's Around You", which was fittingly conceptualized during Hurricane Irene. This cinematic work of art from the brilliant minds of Jillian Meyer and Lucas Leyva contextualizes the various layers of the track by juxtaposing piercing images of frantic swimmers with human cyclones and interpretative dancers. The visual accompaniment successfully makes natural disasters seem more human and bodily movements more fluid in the interlocking ebb and flow of life.

Meyer and Leyva (of Miami's prolific Borscht collective) are also responsible for the hauntingly spot-on music video for ANR's "Big Problem", which launched ANR into the national consciousness earlier this year. While the original song was already an apocalyptic pop gem in its own right, the acoustic version - an extra from the deluxe edition of ANR's masterful Stay Kids LP - is a lush orchestral masterstroke, complete with an elegiac string section that softly hums over the unthreatening strums-and-drums combo. It's an incredible change of pace that's perfect for all those lazy mornings following long nights, and we've got an exclusive premiere of this beautifully raw reimagining for your listening pleasure below.

MP3: "Big Problem" (Acoustic) - ANR [exclusive]

GOLD027: ANR

ANR is truly Miami's finest. They're like a buddy cop duo whose lethal weapon is their interminable arsenal of experimental pop hooks, and we're honored to welcome them to the force on their next single out later this month. Take Exhibit A-side: "It's Around You". The radio filter intro foreshadows the immortal feeling you get when the synths surges drop nearly a minute in and the track engulfs you in a shimmering galaxy of anthemic choral shouts and pop majesty. Each humming pulse is like lightning in a bottle until drum layers and vocal layers are added and the chorus ultimately crashes into beautiful oblivion. It's strangely uplifting despite the minor chords and elegiac harmonies, perhaps thanks to the soft xylophone drops and a masterfully orchestrated brass section. As the moody trombones are counterbalanced by the kind of adulatory trumpets Mark Ronson would be proud of, ANR are guilty of squashing your conscience and unleashing your id.



And if that wasn't enough, we give you the Exhibit AA-side on the flip: "Blood on Blood", mixed by none other than the inimitable Ben Allen, fresh out of the studio with Reptar and Walk The Moon. A seemingly harmless piano progression lulls you into a false sense of security and maintains its composure until the chorus just loses it altogether with groaning electronic switches and a massive vocal melody, a manic force to be reckoned with. Then there's that classical piano break in the bridge that takes you completely by surprise, but it serves as a meticulously planned stopgap that even bloodhounds couldn't sniff out. As soon as it picks up where it left off, the beat is back with an eye-for-an-eye vengeance. It's all very cinematic and would make for an incredible epilogue to their brilliant "Big Problem" video (easily one of the year's best). ANR have absolutely killed it on our next release and if that makes us accomplices, then so be it. We're not ones to talk a big game (note: we are), but if you let it into your heart we promise this will be one of your favorite singles of 2011. Preorder is available now from the Neon Gold Shop, and you'll be able to experience in all its glory for yourself when it drops August 29th.



MP3: "It's Around You" - ANR

ALL THINGS GOLD 002: THE KNOCKS + ANR

With the launch of All Things Gold a raging success last month (500+ tix sold, whoa) as Penguin Prison, RAC and Reptar tore the roof off a sold out (and then some) U Street Music Hall, we're back with yet another stacked lineup to shake DC to its very core. For starters, we've got our resident partystarters The Knocks headlining what will be their first US gig in a minute with a revamped live show and some brand new hits for your ears. Then we've got stellar support from Miami's finest (and the latest addition to the Neon Gold family) ANR and the magnificent St. Lucia making his highly anticipated live debut. And as if that wasn't enough, Lightwaves and Captain Cuts will be watching the throne in between sets, presiding over the dancefloor on the ones and twos all night long. Doors are at 9pm and Heineken drink specials will be popping off left and right, and for the low low price of $10 advance tickets (or $13 on the door), don't just make plans to make plans - make plans, make moves and make memories. Advance tickets available HERE, last time sold out in advance (and sold out hard) so don't get shut out in the sweltering DC heat two months in a row. Set times and streaming mp3s below, you know the drill.



9:30pm: St. Lucia // DOWNLOAD: "All Eyes On You"

10:30pm: ANR // DOWNLOAD: "Big Problem"

11:30pm: The Knocks // DOWNLOAD: "Dancing With The DJ"



12:30am: Captain Cuts // DOWNLOAD: "Girls On Girls" (Captain Cuts Remix)

THE WAR IS ALREADY WON.

We can thank PLAINS, aka Michael McGinnis, for the stroke of scuzzy genius that is "Innovator". It comes fully stocked with joyriding guitars and angst-ridden synths, egged on by spaced out vocals that curiously swoop in and out of sight like a 21st century UFO. Once it crosses the great sonic expanse and reaches the eureka moment of pensive drum traps and whizzing solos, he's achieved the perfect middle ground between The Pixies and Miami brethren/labelmates (and Neon Gold darlings) ANR. It sounds progressively mischievous and deeply full of ulterior motives, and that's exactly why we love it so, plains and simples. So really we had no choice but to include PLAINS on next week's Popshop bill as one of two surprise live guests. Surprise.

MP3: "Innovator" - PLAINS

NEON GOLD AT THE GREAT ESCAPE.

So Monday night was a fucking blast, but if you missed out on the fun worry not, as we'll be going harder, better, faster, stronger Friday night in Brighton at our official Great Escape showcase with Walk The Moon, Post War Years and Wolf Gang at The Loft in central Brighton. Together with our bros-in-arms Chess Club, we'll be bringing you three of the best bands the festival has to offer late night from 11pm to 3am, plus DJ sets from our beloved ANR running things on the decks the first half of the night and the brilliant and beautiful Icona Pop girls killing it into the early hours. Set times and streams ahoy, see y'all in Brighton.

11:30pm: Walk The Moon // STREAM: "Lisa Baby"

12:30am: Post War Years // STREAM: "The Whole World On Its Head"

01:30am: Wolf Gang // STREAM: "The King and All of His Men" (LP Version)

RUN THE HELL OUT OF TOWN.

ANR are amazing. Their new album Stay Kids is amazing. And the new video for current single "Big Problem" is AMAZING. With that in mind, y'all should probably come see them tear up Popshop this week (tickets here). It might be amazing.

MP3: "Big Problem" - ANR

TINY LITTLE WAVES OF THE FOREST.

We're pretty much all about the burgeoning Miami music scene - I mean, who hasn't been inspired by the sounds of the Miami since Will Smith first preached the city's gospel way back when? Born of the hot hot heat, palm trees and neon pastels of the Magic City are up and comers like Lil Daggers, Millionyoung and of course the amazing ANR, and if you haven't gotten lost in the very special jams of the latter to this point you need to make haste and do so immediately. ANR's debut album Stay Kids is chock full of psychedelic pop gems but none more epic than their STRAIGHT UP power ballad, "The Endless Field of Mercury." The track starts out sweet: choral arrangements and soft keys as far as the eye can see. Then come crashing waves of percussion and urgent vocals that put them somewhere between Yeasayer and Local Natives, and suddenly you've got a severe case of contagious elation on your hands. And though we posted the mp3 yesterday it gets better still - the music video is JUST as epic as the song and strikes the same angelic yet powerful chord - who knew that 1970's beauty pageants could be so affecting?

Then there's the live show, which takes things to another level entirely. Not since The Dodos have we witnessed a two piece unleash so much raw power and intensity on stage, as drummer/vocalist Michael-John Hancock and virtuoso keyboard/synth man Brian Robertson Not planning on heading to Miami any time soon? Worry not - we got you covered. Check them out at the next Popshop (tickets here) along side Walk The Moon and Savoir Adore next Thursday April 7th.

MP3: "The Endless Field of Mercury" - ANR

POPSHOP004: WALK THE MOON + SAVOIR + ANR

With the dust settled on SXSW and everyone finally beginning to feel human again, it's time to get back in the New York groove with another round of amazing live music at Popshop, coming at you hard and fast on April 7th. We've got the hottest new band in the game and the toast of SXSW 2011 headlining in Walk The Moon, with support from starry eyed Brooklyn dreamweavers Savoir Adore and Miami's finest ANR. Then as per usual we've got Absolut bringing the drink specials early with 2-for-1 drinks from 8pm-9pm, plus Lightwaves lighting up the decks all night long.

You should have the hang of this by now, but as always it's going down the first Thursday of the month at Tammany Hall (152 Orchard between Stanton and Rivington) in the LES, and tickets are available HERE. We're also making the show FREE after midnight (space permitting), for those of you who hate live instruments but still want to get your dance on with Lightwaves until the early hours. And just a reminder - the first three Popshops all sold out in advance, so GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY. It breaks our heart to see people turned away at the door, so please save everyone the emotional anguish and don't sleep on this one. Set times and downloads/streams below, see you next Thursday.

09:00pm: ANR // DOWNLOAD: "Endless Fields of Mercury"

10:00pm: Savoir Adore // STREAM: "Bodies"

11:00pm: Walk The Moon // DOWNLOAD: "Anna Sun"

12:00am: Lightwaves // DOWNLOAD: "Loveliest Creature" (Lightwaves Remix)