Bad Suns isn't the name of another Stephenie Meyer tween schlock franchise. It's the moniker
Woodland Hills' natives Christo Bowman, Miles Morris, Gavin Bennett, and Ray Libby use when making some pretty kick-ass music. You've probably heard the band's debut single "Cardiac Arrest" on your favorite alt-rock station since the tail end of last year, and if you haven't, trust me when I say you will. It's going to big, and gradually build until it bursts like one of those old Bonkers commercials.
The song appears on their debut EP, Transpose, which was produced by Eric Palmquist (The Mars Volta, Wavves). With a full-length expected this summer, Bad Suns are, um mega-pun intended, rising. Earlier this month, they performed a pair of tracks on A-Sides, and sat down for a chat filmed within The Liberty NYC.
"Salt"
Interview
To see Bad Suns perform "20 Years" on A-Sides, click here.
We travel from California to Vancouver with our next band. OK, not literally. I mean, I'm still sitting here at my desk and you haven't moved either, right? Anyway, Adrienne Pierce and Ari Shine make up The Royal Oui, and their self-titled full length debut is out Feb. 11. The album comes on the heels of their debut EP Forecast, which garnered them some accolades and indie folk cred. Last week, the pair filmed two songs for A-Sides, and it was Peter Dinklage good. I have no idea what that reference means, but the Games of Thrones actor is so good at what he does, I guess I'm just saying keep an eye on this pair because they're pretty grand.
"Dirty Snow"
For another exclusive performance, check this out.
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs my two-year-old son gravitates toward by stomping his feet in approval. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank).
12. "Coming of Age" - Foster the People
11. "Take Me to Church" - Hozier
10. "Lounge Fly" - Stone Temple Pilots
9. "Thunder Clatter" - Wild Cub
8. "It's About Time" (LW-7)- Young The Giant
7. "I Sat By the Ocean" - Queens of the Stone Age
6. "Bad Blood" (LW-6) - Bastille
5. "The Moon Song" (LW-4) - Karen O.
4. "XO" (LW-3) - Beyonce
3. "Lost Boys and Girls Club" (LW-2)- The Dum Dum Girls
2. "Shark Attack" (LW-1) - Grouplove
1. "You're Not Good Enough" - Blood Orange
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Thus far artists who have appeared on the series include: fun, American Authors, Imagine Dragons (interview only), Jake Miller, Gary Clark Jr., Sleigh Bells (interview only), Dispatch, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, San Fermin, and more!
A-Sides' 2nd Possibly Annual Pop Goes the Culture is set!