January 2012
1 post
3 tags
Ani DiFranco - Turntable.FM 6p EST 1/11/12
Got no plans January 11 between 6 and 7p EST? Righteous Babe Records will be playing songs from the new Ani DiFranco album in a customized Turntable.FM room.
Come check it out!
October 2011
1 post
6 tags
Clem Snide's Journey
Clem Snide’s Journey is live today at Toolshed. When we first heard this, I couldn’t quite believe it…I grew up with these songs, and was completely sick of them…until I heard Eef Barzelay’s rendition of them. I could (and have) listened to these over and over…
For me, true artistry is taking something that someone else did, and not just aping it (I could...
July 2011
1 post
Tune in to a new single from Brown Shoe
Brown Shoe will release The Gift Horse on October 18 in accordance with several U.S. tour dates to be announced soon. For now, listen to Colt Rider - the first single from their new release.
May 2011
1 post
5 tags
Big Scary on Music for Robots
We are pretty over the top in love with Big Scary, from Australia. The Big Scary Four Seasons is a compilation of four EP’s (Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter) with music written to represent each season. Consequently, it’s no surprise different sections of this compilation bring to mind elements of Jeff Buckley, The White Stripes, and Unrest, among others.
Music for Robots shares...
April 2011
0 posts
3 tags
Loyola University - Toolshed sharing the love
Billy O’Connell, Kristin Hersh’s manager, invited Toolshed down to Loyola a couple years ago to speak to his students in the music marketing department. We meant to post this discussion (long-ish - 51 minutes) when it happened, but didn’t. So here it is, Dick Huey talking about Toolshed, how we built the company, and what tactics worked for us.
Loyola Forum – Dick Huey | Center...
March 2011
3 posts
5 tags
The Civil Wars on Hyperbolium
If you haven’t heard the Civil Wars by now, you’ve been hiding under a rock and were not at the Adele concerts they opened for this Spring. Our winter online marketing project, this album is all that…a rare example of music exceeding hype and expectations, especially when seen live.
On a side note - two of the nicest musicians I’ve met in some time, and they deserve the...
3 tags
HitQuarters/Toolshed interview Nov 8, 2010
Last November Toolshed was interviewed by HitQuarters magazine. We talked about online marketing and several of our campaigns, our philosophy with respect to music selection, and more.
Reprinted from the original:
Interview with DICK HUEY, online promoter at Toolshed Media for Arcade Fire, Deerhoof, Kristen Hersh, Matador Records - Nov 8, 2010
“There’s a big bullsh*t factor in the...
February 2011
1 post
Arcade Fire Grammys
Toolshed would like to congratulate Arcade Fire for their recent, remarkable Grammy win. We’ve had the pleasure of being the online marketing agency for the first two Arcade Fire albums, Funeral and Neon Bible. Find information about those Toolshed projects here and here.
January 2011
3 posts
Sean Flinn - One Track Mind mp3 feature
This review says it all: ”Back in mid-October, Sean Flinn and the Royal We self-released one of the most elegant and self-assured debuts of 2010, the self-released Write Me A Novel. Beginning with the opening “Patient Heart,” Flinn leads his Oregonian bandmates through eleven tracks of melodious and bittersweetly romantic indie-pop, taking on each song with measured breaths and thoughtful...
5 tags
New Idea Society - Popmatters video premier
New Idea Society are getting ready to head out the door, on an industrial-strength European tour. Today, Popmatters features their just-released video for “Summer Lions”, directed by Struan Oglanby, from the album Somehow Disappearing.
JAN 26 Conne Island, Leipzig, GERMANY - 7:00 PM JAN 27 SCHOKOLADEN, Berlin, DE - 7:00 PM JAN 28 Az Conni Dresden, Germany, DE - 7:00 PM JAN 29...
Hesta Prynn - Can We Go Wrong video
Over the holidays, Hesta Prynn (Northern State DJ) treated us to a stop-motion video from her summer 2010 EP “Can We Go Wrong”. Composed of over 13,000 still photographs.
November 2010
3 posts
9 tags
Girl Problems feature Nov 20: Funny or Die
How many kids can seriously say their parent wrote a book entitled “How To Pick Up Girls”? Nick Weber can, and in the process my guess is the father gets a vote as world’s coolest dad for making a video with his son (not the first one either).
Nick Weber is one half of Girl Problems, the other half composed of Grammy award-winning LA-based music producer Charles Goodan (Beck,...
Fred Schneider and The Superions - holiday videos
Fred Schneider (B52’s) Superion’s project was never going to deliver garden variety videos. Watch “Santa’s Disco”, “Fruitcake”, and “Crummy Christmas Tree”, and tell us you’re not in the holiday spirit afterwards.
5 tags
Matador at 21 - Pitchfork
Still having waaaay too much fun watching these Pitchfork videos…makes me almost feel like I was there, I can almost feel the three-day hangover that was this event. I’ve always felt Chris Lombardi had an alternate career as a sportscaster!
July 2010
1 post
Kristin Hersh "Crooked" - Soundcloud player and...
Kristin Hersh’s new album “Crooked” (July 19) is featured on Stereogum, along with a download of “Coals”:
http://stereogum.com/428332/kristin-hersh-coals/mp3s/
We’ve also got some additional goodies to share, including a Soundcloud player of the full record - here it is (please share!):
June 2010
2 posts
4 tags
Ceschi Ramos - The One Man Band Broke Up
Ceschi Ramos’ excellent new album is out now, and available for listening on AOL Music - speed rap mixed with acoustic and psychedelic punk. It’s not like anything you’ve heard before.
This link will be correct / active through July 4th (AOL doesn’t use permalinks to content).
http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/10
Here’s a video of “Bad...
Thao and Mirah
We had the pleasure of working on Thao’s last two records, and also a Mirah album…the two of them together make some beautiful, sweet music. Add in some stellar filming by Will Abramson (YoursTruly) and you’ve got something worth watching.
May 2010
2 posts
Yes! Purchase Hoodoo Guru's "Purity of Essence"...
We are extremely honored to be working with the Hoodoo Guru’s, an Australian power-pop/rock outfit. Their latest release, Purity of Essence, has been made available through Topspin. You can purchase the record here
Gulf Aid with Ani, Lenny, and others
A long list of incredible musicians, including Ani DiFranco, are donating their talents to “Gulf Aid” this Sunday, May 16 from 12noon to 10pm at Mardi Gras World River City in New Orleans. Ani joins Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, Allen Toussaint, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and many more in a benefit concert organized by WWOZ’s David Freedman and pianist David Torkanowsky, raising money to help efforts...
April 2010
3 posts
6 tags
Get Busy Committee - Kickstarter needs $600 by 8p...
Hey there everyone…Get Busy Committee is almost - almost! - to their goal of $3200, needed to press an ultra-limited edition vinyl 12” (500 pieces). Help them push it over the top!
http://getbusycommittee.com/manager/2010/04/14/less-than-24-hours-left-help-us-press-a-picture-disc-12/
Freedy Johnston on DayTrotter
Freedy’s DayTrotter session just went live a short bit ago…free downloads and preview listens of four songs, three off his new album “Rain On The City”, and a golden chestnut.
Don’t Fall In Love With A Lonely Girl
The Other Side Of Love
Bad Reputation
Venus Is Her Name
http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/freedy-johnston-concert/20031210-2468.html
Here’s what...
Octoberman in NYC 4/6
Wednesday night, Apr 7 @ Bruar Falls (245 Grand St, between Driggs and Roebling Streets in Williamsburg), Octoberman and the fine folks at White Whale bring their particular blend of acoustic-influenced rock coupled with Marc Morrissette’s signature vocals.
This will be a warmup for their upcoming European tour. Dates posted on http://octoberman.ca.
Octoberman...
March 2010
3 posts
4 tags
The Nels Cline Singers are "Floored"
Hey Everyone, I realize it’s been a while since we’ve updating this thing with something good to look at. But hey, after today you won’t have anything to complain about!
The Nels Cline Singers are releasing Initiate on April 13th and we couldn’t be more stoked about the free download of Floored that’s been circulating about the interwebs.
Muzzle of Bees posted...
The Saturday Saturation - SXSW Shows You Must See
• Through The Sparks 10:00pm @ BD Riley’s
• Wye Oak Brooklyn Vegan Party NOON @ Emo’s Main Stage 600 Red River St.
• Wye Oak 2:00 Stereogum @ The Parish 214 E. 6th St.
• She & Him 8:00pm @ Auditorium Shores
• Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson Pure Volume Party 1:00AM-2:00AM (Sunday morning) @ Pure Volume House 504 Trinity St RSVP @ www.purevolume.com/thehouse
• DTS...
The Friday Fiasco - SXSW Shows You Need to See
Skybucket Records Showcase @ Creekside Lounge 2:10pm 13 Ghosts 2:55pm Through The Sparks 4:25pm Vulture Whale
The Love Language Back Yard BBQ 2:30pm @ 3217 1/2 Hampton Rd (near 32nd & Red River)
Wye Oak Homeslice Pizza 3:45pm @ 1415 Congress Ave.
Superchunk at Village Voice party 3:00pm @ La Zona Rosa 612 W.4th St.
Let’s Wrestle Urban Outfitters 4:00pm @ 2406 Guadalupe...
February 2010
2 posts
Bettie Serveert mp3 (Topspin)
Bettie Serveert are back with an album out on March 23, on Second Motion Entertainment, entitled Pharmacy Of Love.
My love of this band goes back to the Matador days. But I have to say that it’s their current output, say within the last five or six years, that’s really got me charged on this band.
Within a week or so, you’ll have the opportunity to check out the full album...
Beautiful Orenda Fink review on Hybrid
Hats off to Embo Blake and the folks at Hybrid for their review of Orenda Fink’s latest release, “Ask The Night”, on Hybrid Magazine.
http://www.hybridmagazine.com/reviews/0210/orendafink.shtml
Last year, Azure Ray alumni Orenda Fink partnered up with Cedric LaMoyne of Remy Zero for a great project simply called O+S. That record was laced with electronic sounds and beats,...
January 2010
2 posts
Barton Carroll 7.4 on P4K
This review speaks for itself - if you haven’t checked out Barton Carroll yet, you need to.
Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Barton Carroll: Together You and I
Barton Carroll is the kind of songwriter that gets taken for granted. In a modestly fragile tenor, he relates real stories instead of impressionistic poetry or woe-is-me folk confessions, full of acute observations and complex emotional...
3 tags
Freedy Johnston album preview + live video + live...
As of January 8, Freedy Johnston is making three songs available from his new album, as well as a solo live rendition of “The Kind Of Love We’re In”, available through his website.
In addition, you can digitally download the record immediately with any pre-order.
Check it:
December 2009
3 posts
RIP Vic Chesnutt
Here’s a 39 minute Vic Chesnutt interview, from Dec 1 ‘09, that appeared on Fresh Air, with Terri Gross.
Vic talks about his new album - At The Cut - and, in typical Vic fashion, lays it all out in a way that is mind-blowingly honest and makes us miss him even more.
RIP Vic.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120978388
Octoberman on Toro Magazine
Props to Seb at Ideal Friends for setting up this nice performance by Octoberman of “I Was Wrong” at Toro Magazine…
http://www.toromagazine.com/?channel=118&t=42&n=2548
Not embeddable, so there’s your link. Enjoy.
Stereogum - Freedy Johnston mp3 premier+widget
Thanks to Stereogum for announcing the first mp3 off the upcoming Freedy Johnston album “Rain On The City”, out January 12 on Bar None.
New Freedy Johnston - “Don’t Fall In Love With A Lonely Girl”
Freedy’s website can be found here
Here’s an embeddable Topspin widget to get the mp3 “Don’t Fall In Love With A Lonely Girl”:
November 2009
9 posts
Super Furry Animals - Crazy Naked Girls →
Super Furry Animals, from a performance at NYC’s Highline Ballroom. Watch the entire concert at baeblemusic.com/concertvideo/The-Highline-Ballroom/Super-Furry-Animals.html. (This show was…
Jesus Lizard @ ATP '09
In honor of the re-release of the Jesus Lizard albums on Touch and Go, the following photo from ATP this year, which pretty much says all that needs to be said about a Jesus Lizard show.
Meghan Wolf interview
Meghan Wolf discusses her influences and interests. Show tonight (Nov 12) at Bowery Electric! 8p.
New Vandaveer Video "A Mighty Leviathan of Old"
Download Erin McKeown's "Hundreds of Lions" for...
TODAY ONLY, purchase a full download of Erin’s 2009 release “Hundreds of Lions” from Amazon.com for $1.99!!!!! Click Here
But if the economy’s still gotchyu in a rut you can hear these two free ‘o charge: - The Foxes MP3 - Santa Cruz MP3
Come Party with Get Busy Committee in LA
Details below… Bring a friend!
Download: “My Little Razorblade” LINK
Interview with Meghan Wolf →
Cast: Toolshed Media
Free MP3 Download Thao with the Get Down Stay Down...
Via RCRD LBL: While we’re told their new album, Know Better Learn Faster, is a break-up record, San Franciscan indie trio Thao With The Get Down Stay Down don’t do mopey. “When We Swam” paints the severance in beach metaphors and twisted doo-wop rhythms, while the title track is shuffling and agrarian, fiddle and slide guitar laced throughout. Both are below, the former...
Paste Magazine Albums of the Decade
Toolshed is pleased to announce that several of our online marketing projects have made the Paste Magazine Albums of the Decade, including Sufjan Stevens at #1. As follows:
39. Arcade Fire: Neon Bible [Merge] (2007) 3. Arcade Fire: Funeral [Merge] (2004) 1. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois [Asthmatic Kitty] (2005)
Paste Gives Sufjan Stevens #1 Album of Decade… See The List…
October 2009
5 posts
Spinner Video of the Day: These United States
These United States “Everything Touches Everything”, complete with scarecrow, featured October 26 on Spinner
Video: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - When We...
Via Stereogum: Although Thao Nguyen’s Get Down Stay Down is a trio, on the just-released Know Better Learn Faster the lineup swells considerably, and with some considerable talent, including Andrew Bird, Laura Veirs, Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper), Horse Feathers, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Jenny Conlee (The Decemberists), and Merrill Garbus aka tUnE-yArDs… watch after the jump!
Video: Jemina Pearl Live at Southpaw + "Looking...
Download “Looking For Trouble” from Break It Up LINK
Toolshed Artists On Tour
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down: 10.15 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Club Mercy 10.16 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex 10.17 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place 10.18 - San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Music Festival 10.21 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 10.22 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey 10.23 - Vancouver BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret 10.24 - Spokane, WA @ Empyrean Coffee 10.27 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar...
Sole's October Recipe Of The Month - Spicy Lentil...
Rapper by day and vegan cook by night, Tim Holland (AKA Sole) keeps himself awfully busy. Sole & The Skyrider Band releases “Plastique” next Tuesday and will be going on tour later this month.
Here’s what Tim has to say:
“I enjoy cooking a lot. As a vegan if I want to eat a varied diet i gotta cook a lot. My saving grace for the past few years has been the...
September 2009
12 posts
In the Studio with Thao!
You can check out some behind the scenes footage from the recording of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down’s upcoming record Know Better Learn Faster over at Thao’s Twitter, available for Pre-Order HERE.
Sole & The Skyrider Band - Battlefields →
Cast: Toolshed Media
Shudder To Think - Shake Your Halo Down →
Live From Home
Cast: Toolshed Media
Shudder To Think - Lies About The Sky →
Live From Home
Cast: Toolshed Media