Invisible Hand delights with addictive debut album. Launches “Amateur Hour, Variety Hour” series.

“…calling to mind those anthems U2 wrote when they still had big hair and little wallets.” - My Old Kentucky Blog

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“Coy Trap” is the latest single from the self-titled debut by Invisible Hand.

[STREAM + WIDGET]: http://official.fm/track/184746

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/theinvisiblehand/mp3/invisiblehand-coytrap.mp3

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Invisible Hand Live

12/14 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
12/15 Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater

Invisible Hand’s 12/15 show at Charlottesville’s Jefferson Theater is the first installment of the band’s “Amateur Hour, Variety Hour” – a live musical variety show that showcases Charlottesville's thriving local music, comedy, & theater scenes.

Taking its inspiration from the rowdy, gaudy variety shows of the 60s and 70s, the inaugural “Amateur Hour, Variety Hour” features rock band Invisible Hand, funk band No BS! Brass Band, and popular folk/jazz singer-songwriter Devon Sproule in short sets, followed by painfully investigative interviews and interspersed with experimental sketch comedy segments.

Watch the “Amateur Hour, Variety Hour” auditions here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci9YsRTkg4M.

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More About Invisible Hand

Adam Smith and his Invisible Hand have been producing some of the best punk-laced pop gems to come out of Charlottesville, VA for the past four years. Musically, the band cites influences from decades past, including Velvet Underground, The Box Tops and The Kinks. With big choruses and fretboard theatrics, Invisible Hand is more reminiscent of Born To Quit-era Smoking Popes coupled with the calm, collected lyrical desperation of The Wrens.

Standout tracks include “There’s Room In My Will,” (MP3) which could of easily have been left on the cutting room floor during The Replacements looser glory days and the lumbering haze of “Coy Trap” (MP3) which feels like it could fall apart at any moment amidst a mountain of starts, stops and guitars. Alienation, regret and anxiety are all expressed throughout the album but the Hand is skilled at glossing over the sordid with the sugar. The album offers 12 addictively timeless songs; boasting a dreamy voyage through youthful hopefulness and longing.

Invisible Hand is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Invisible Hand

Invisible Hand

(Funny/Not Funny – Out Now)

Track Listing

01. Two Chords

02. There’s Room In My Will (MP3)

03. Coy Trap (MP3)

04. (Aubade)

05. Four Seasons

06. I Want to Win

07. Catch 22

08. Don’t Wait For Your Third Eye

09. This Morning Was… (Aubade Reprise)

10. Black Tie Formal

11. Vegetables

12. Salad

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Invisible Hand Links

EPK : FACEBOOK : MYSPACE : TWITTER : FUNNY/NOT FUNNY

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion, Inc.

WEBSITE : TWITTER : FACEBOOK : E-MAIL

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False Positive manages mayoral campaign; Releases stark debut about religion and war.

“I realize there are going to be people who disagree with this record.” - Justin Mikulka, False Positive

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“Strike Up The Band” is the first single from the self-titled debut by False Positive

[STREAM + WIDGET]: http://official.fm/track/156611

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/falsepositive/mp3/falsepositive-strikeuptheband.mp3

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About False Positive

“Amazing work that’s cruising well ahead of the curve.” – Songwriter’s Monthly

“...incredibly ingenious… truly a visionary experience.” – Independent Songwriter

Albany – New York’s state capital – is known to some as an ugly machine town.  Last year, False Positive’s Justin Mikulka took that history on and ran the mayoral campaign of Corey Ellis.  Ellis is a young black man who grew up in the ghetto and made it out.  The Mikulka-led campaign challenged a four term incumbent and ended up getting 44% of the vote. Impressive, since the Ellis campaign was outspent 5-1 and Ellis is black and 75% of Albany is white.  An extensive story on the campaign ran in Albany’s Metroland newspaper by Chet Hardin HERE.

Justin Mikulka doesn’t want to be known as a political activist, but his experiences expertly inform his self-titled debut record under the name False Positive.  The album, released on Mikulka’s One Mad Son label, is a meditation on the longtime affair of war and religion.  Mikulka’s previous releases (three solo and three with the band, Cathode Bob) only hinted at the ideas that have come to fruition with his False Positive project.

Despite Mikulka’s insistence that the album is not a protest record, it is clear that the content levies a direct criticism of the current wars being fought and the religious rhetoric used to justify them. “If you played most of those songs individually for people they would never call them protest songs,” Mikulka claims.  Perhaps, but maybe for the common good, they should.

Justin Mikulka is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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False Positive

False Positive

(One Mad Son, Out Now)

Track Listing:

01. Hasty Martyrs Sing Fantastic

02. Teaching Sorrows

03. Strike Up The Band (MP3)

04. Please Don’t Shoot

05. Small Part of Something Big

06. Lament of the Theological Janitors

07. Prayers (Ain’t Coming Back)

08. Ambulance

09. Wishing for Reason

10. Stay Where You Are

11. The Old Materials

12. Last One Out

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False Positive Links

EPK : WEBSITE : ONE MAD SON

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion, Inc.

WEBSITE : TWITTER : FACEBOOK : E-MAIL

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Is it Christmas at Jame Gumb’s house? No, it’s The Superions “Santa Je T’aime” video.

Latest “Destination… Christmas!” clip visualizes band’s twisted tribute to Serge Gainsbourg tune.

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The Superions (L-R Noah Brodie, Fred Schneider, Dan Marshall)

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“Santa Je T’aime” is the latest video from Destination… Christmas! by The Superions

[VIDEO]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYr8RNzbHVw

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“They were born to make a Christmas album.” – Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

The Superions (led by front man of The B-52s, Fred Schneider) have gone too far with their decimation of traditional holiday cheer with the deliriously decadent video for “Santa Je T’aime,” the closing track of the riotous holiday album Destination... Christmas! Is the clip, directed by videographer Steve Willis (known for work with Mary J. Blige, Patti Labelle and other divas), actually a deleted scene from “Silence of The Lambs?”  Put the lotion in the f’in stocking, indeed!

The song itself is a twisted ode to Serge Gainsbourg’s infamously banned-by-the-BBC song, “Je T’aime” and frankly, probably doesn’t help Serge’s obscenity argument much.  Santa seems to be getting his rocks off on this song and it appears that he’s making some quick work of whatever milk and cookies have been left for him, too.  What does it all mean really?  You’ll have to watch the video for “Santa Je T’aime” to even come close to finding out.

The Superions aka Fred Schneider, Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall are available for interviews.  Contact Josh at Fanatic for more info!

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The Superions

Destination… Christmas!

(Fanatic Records)

Track Listing:

01. Santa’s Disco (VIDEO)

02. Fruitcake (MP3 | VIDEO)

03. Chillin’ at Christmas

04. Teddy and Betty Yeti

05. Christmas Conga (Jungle Bells)

06. Jingle Those Bells

07. Under The Tree

08. Crummy Christmas Tree (VIDEO)

09. Laughter At Christmas

10. Christmas Tears

11. Santa Je T’aime (VIDEO)

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The Superions Links

EPK : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : MYSPACE : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : FANATIC RECORDS

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion, Inc.

WEBSITE : TWITTER : FACEBOOK : E-MAIL

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Crushed Stars follows up “99 Red Balloons” cover with “Convalescing In Braille”.

“The stunning result is enough to make you wish it were night all day long.” – Pitchfork

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“Eyeliner” is the new single from “Convalescing In Braille” by Crushed Stars

[STREAM + WIDGET]: http://official.fm/track/180138

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/crushedstars/mp3/crushedstars-eyeliner.mp3

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Grab the Crushed Stars cover of Nena’s “99 Red Baloons”

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/crushedstars/mp3/crushedstars-99redballoons.mp3

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Crushed Stars In The Press

“…luscious echoes and keys puncture the melodies beautifully; a finely constructed album.” – Under The Radar

“…like watching celestial bodies shooting up a hazy night sky” – Stereogum

“Slow and drifting beauty… like you could slip into the clouds at any moment.” – The Big Takeover

“ An album ripe with tender beauty, facile mysticism, envy and wonder. – Popmatters

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About Crushed Stars

Earlier this year, Crushed Stars released a cover of Nena’s “99 Red Balloons” (MP3) which went to #1 at Davis, CA college station KDVS and received attention from other influential stations such as New Jersey’s WFMU, KUSF (San Francisco), and KCRW (Los Angeles) among others.

Before scoring with a cover, Crushed Stars aka Todd Gautreau had already made a name with the releases that preceded it, most recently with his Gossamer Days album in 2008 produced by Stuart Sikes (Cat Power, Modest Mouse, White Stripes). Gossamer Days was a press favorite with glowing reviews from Under The Radar, Pitchfork, Stereogum and many more.

The latest Crushed Stars album Convalescing In Braille continues to display Gautreau’s mastery of celestial melodies.  The album was recorded with John Congleton (Antony and The Johnsons, Clinic, The Walkmen, St. Vincent) with Gautreau handling most of the instruments accompanied by drumming from Jeff Ryan (Sarah Jaffe, Pleasant Grove, St. Vincent).

Todd Gautreau is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Crushed Stars

Convalescing In Braille

(Simulacra Records, Out Now)

Track Listing:

01. Eyeliner (MP3)

02. Black Umbrellas (MP3)

03. Sutures

04. Technicolor

05. Spark

06. A Day Without You

07. Frost On Wires

08. Fall

09. Beatrice in the Other World

10. Ocean

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Crushed Stars Links

EPK : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : MYSPACE : SIMULCRA RECORDS

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion, Inc.

WEBSITE : TWITTER : FACEBOOK : E-MAIL

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Indie rock architects gather to collaborate on the intimate debut album by Eric & Magill.

Featuring members of Dirty Projectors, Promise Ring, Shearwater, Owen, Volcano Choir and more.

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Ryan Weber and Eric Osterman are Eric & Magill

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“I Hear Trumpets” is the first single from All Those I Know by Eric & Magill

Featuring:

Kimberly Burke (of Shearwater), Angel Deradoorian (of Dirty Projectors), Ryan Rupperchett (of Faux Fir)

and Craig Montoro and John Thomas Robinette III (of Volcano, I’m Still Excited, Sufjan Stevens, Americans UK)

[STREAM + WIDGET]: http://official.fm/track/178080

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/ericandmagill/mp3/ericandmagill-iheartrumpets.mp3

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About Eric & Magill

“All Those I Know is rooted in a skewed but highly successful method of re-establishing the communal aspect of folk music...” – The Onion

All Those I Know, the debut album by Eric & Magill, is a true testament to the power of technology and the strength of friendships. From its colorful and sweeping soundscapes to its quiet whispers, All Those I Know is a captivating record that demonstrates the experiences of its creators and collaborators from beginning to end.

Eric & Magill principals Ryan Weber and Eric Osterman have been making names for themselves and forming the relationships that weave the fabric of All Those I Know for years. Beginning in 1998 as members of the “post-emo-neo-spacepop” band Camden, Weber and Osterman made two records with Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla and toured constantly with The Promise Ring, Pele, and The Gloria Record among others.

Following Camden’s demise, Weber became a member of The Promise Ring for the band’s career defining Wood/Water album recorded for the revered Anti- Records label with legendary producer Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur, The Cranberries). Weber then went on to co-found the band Decibully and produce four of the band’s albums.

In 2007, Weber took a break and took his bags and skills to Armenia to volunteer as an instructor of audio design. It was during this time that Weber’s career came full circle as he started writing songs over e-mail with former Camden guitarist Eric Osterman. Through this process, Weber also began to collaborate with many more of the musical friends he had made over the years, including some of the most well respected and acclaimed artists in indie rock.

The resulting album All Those I Know features collaborations with artists responsible for creating such bands as Shearwater, The Dirty Projectors, Volcano Choir, Pele, Owen, Joan of Arc, Cap’n Jazz, Via Tania, Headlights, Sufjan Stevens, The Promise Ring, Vermont, Dashboard Confessional, Braid, Hey Mercedes, The Gloria Record, Mineral, Zookeeper, Parts and Labor, Volcano, I’m Still Excited, Americans UK, Decibully, and many more. In addition to these musicians, Weber created an internet choir comprised of over forty friends singing into their computers from around the world.

Eric & Magill is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Eric & Magill

All Those I Know

(S/R, 1/25/11)

Track Listing:

01. All Those I Know

02. You Make is So Good

03. Should We All Wake Up

04. Grandpa’s Pink Wine

05. Vegetable Gardeners

06. I Hear Trumpets (MP3)

07. Pontoon Boats

08. Gentle, Polite

09. Old Man Winter

10. Birthdays are Important

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Eric & Magill Links

EPK : WEBSITE : BANDCAMP : FACEBOOK : MYSPACE : TWITTER : TUMBLR

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion, Inc.

WEBSITE : TWITTER : FACEBOOK : E-MAIL

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Multi-talented artist Lady Lazarus lands in Savannah, Georgia to promote “Mantic” debut album.

Poetry under given name Melissa Ann Sweat to appear in December issues of Outlet and Broken City mags.

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Melissa Ann Sweat aka Lady Lazarus. Photo Credit: Blackbox Studio.

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“The Eye In The Eye of The Storm” is the first single from Mantic album by Lady Lazarus

[STREAM + WIDGET]: http://official.fm/track/178898

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/ladylazarus/mp3/ladylazarus-theeyeintheeyeofthestorm.mp3

[ONE NIGHT MUSIC SESSION]: http://vimeo.com/10244628

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“Fans of shadowy dream-pop will be pleased to discover San Jose's Lady Lazarus … Her voice is lovely...” – Brian Howe, Pitchfork

San Jose’s Melissa Ann Sweat recently drove cross-country, relocating to Savannah, Georgia to form new roots for her music project, Lady Lazarus.  The multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist (she plays all of the instruments on her debut album Mantic) will also see her poetry published in two literary magazines this winter just as she begins a string of regional live dates around her new hometown.

Sweat began Lady Lazarus in 2008 when she started teaching herself keyboard, and writing and recording songs in her San Francisco studio apartment. She had been an artist and writer nearly all her life and credits her fluidity in picking up songwriting to her long-time interest in writing poetry.

Despite music being a new foray for Sweat, Lady Lazarus has received some impressive early local and national attention with a favorable Pitchfork track review of “The Eye In The Eye of The Storm” (LINK) and an intimate and charming performance for the expertly filmed One Night Music series (LINK).

The Lady Lazarus album Mantic will receive a national release on January 18^th, 2011 via the artist’s own Apartment Life Records and Sweat’s poetry will appear in December issues of Outlet (www.outlet-mag.com) and The Broken City (www.thebrokencitymag.com).  Lady Lazarus will also be playing regional shows around the East coast in support of Mantic throughout the winter.  See below for dates.

Lady Lazarus is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Lady Lazarus Live

12/11 Jacksonville, FL @ Lomax Lodge w/ RickoLus

12/17 Savannah, GA @ Sentient Bean w/ Brandon Nelson McCoy

01/05 Savannah, GA @ The Wormhole w/ Snakes Swallow Tails

01/08 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits w/ Snakes Swallow Tails, Radical Face

01/19 Charleston, SC @ Awendaw Green w/ Snakes Swallow Tails

01/26 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits w/ Truth & Salvage Co.

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Lady Lazarus

Mantic
(Apartment Life, 1/18/11)

Track Listing:

01. Nazarite Oath

02. The Eye In The Eye of The Storm (MP3)

03. Via Elysian Fields: Lake Pontchartrain

04. Took in My Diamond Heart

05. Fighting Words & Fists

06. Half-Life

07. Sick Child

08. Immortal Youth

09. Midnight Music for a Broken Heart Condition

10. I Couldn’t Find Me In Anything

11. Twilight on a Steinway

12. Pearl

13. What It’s Like

14. Kurosawa’s Dreams and Me

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Lady Lazarus Links

EPK : BANDCAMP : FACEBOOK : MYSPACE : FROM THE EMPIRE (POETRY)

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion, Inc.

WEBSITE : TWITTER : FACEBOOK : E-MAIL

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