Heavy Hands

As The Diableros mentioned over at their MySpace the other day, they've recorded a few demos 'motown-style' (ie. live-off-the-floor, 1 mic for the drums, 1 mic for all the other instruments, with the vocals added later) which they've made available for listening on their MySpace - the songs are entitled 'When The Water Rises' and 'Heavy Hands', the latter of which is available for download currently at their official website. The band play a show at The Boat on December 19. Both are great tracks btw, full of ringing guitars and invigorating melodies - and is that a baritone sax during 'Heavy Hands' I hear? [photo by Holly Thomas]

Merry Christmas from Vice Records and The Raveonettes with a reverb drenched bit of holiday melancholy(and if you're thinking of including the song on your next Christmas mix playlist, you may want to clip the Vice advert at the end of the song):

MP3: The Raveonettes - "Come On Santa"

Muchmusic MuchOnDemand's Tim Deegan interviewed Franz Ferdinand (well two of 'em anyway) while they were in town, the guys speaking about the record 'Tonight' and having wanted to make a dance record, but in a different way.

NME brings news that Two-Tone Ska revivalists The Specials will reunite in 2009 to celebrate their 30th anniversary, though for the moment with gigs scheduled only for the UK.

Muchmusic Blog reports that Quebec outfit Malajube will release their new album "Labyrinthes", on February 10, 2009.

The new Neko Case album entitled "Middle Cyclone" is out March 3, 2009 through ANTI-. ANTI- has the tracklisting up and Pitchfork has the kick-ass cover art.

Ohbijou's Casey Mecija posts over at the band's MySpace about the air getting colder, the band's road weary travels over the last few months with The Acorn, and planning over the next couple of months on rehearsing, writing and recording their new album entitled "Beacons" which they plan on releasing in April 2009.

The January/09 schedule for Wavelength at Sneaky Dee's is now up at Stille Post.

Brooklyn's Bishop Allen will bring their chirpy indie pop to the El Mocambo on January 17, tickets $10.