We just got back from the first of two nights at Royale with M.I.A. and Rye Rye, and we are REELING (check our review and photos here!). The lovely Miss Maya spent 50% of the show in the crowd and 100% of the show pounding our heads with sick beats. There are still tickets at the door for Tuesday's show ($35 at the door, cash only), and you would be a fool not to go. Make sure to get there in time for Rye Rye, whose catchy "Sunshine" took the internet by storm today.
After dancing your ass off at M.I.A. and Rye Rye, you may as well just pass out on the floor and camp out for two nights, because Royale is where you want to be Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday brings the awesomely fun pairing of the Hold Steady and Wintersleep. It's no secret that the Hold Steady puts on a ridiculously fun show (and our Portland friends tell us this tour is as fun as ever), but we're equally excited to see opener Wintersleep. When our New York friends caught these Canadian indie rockers touring with Matt Pond PA back in June, the introduction prompted them to explore their music further. After a couple listens to Wintersleep's latest release New Inheritors, we're eager to hear how these upbeat, expansive, lyrically thoughtful songs play out live. Stream and download tracks from New Inheritors here.
Finally, Thursday brings the crush-worthy boys of the Walkmen, a band we've made sure not to miss the past two years they've hit our lovely city. Though "The Rat" won't sound the same as it does in that dank basement that is the Middle East Downstairs, Royale, with its velvet and gold touches, is the perfect spot for the Walkmen's lush, loungy, horns-filled compositions.
Hope to see you all there!