video: Girls "Hellhole Ratrace"

"Wanna Do Some Dancing Too"

If you've ever been to this site before than this clip should need no introduction. Girls will release a 7" for "Hellhole Ratrace" b/w "Solitude" sometime in the near future on True Panther Sounds. They've also completed work on their debut full length, which, hopefully, will come out by the end of the year on True Panther (?). In addition, Girls will be in NYC next week for a shows at the Mercury Lounge, Cake Shop, and a slot on one of the best bills of the year; Monster Island Basement with Real Estate, Beach Fossils, and Kurt Vile & The Violators. Hell fucking yeah.

Check out my Polaroids of Girls from Primavera, as well as a live review of their stellar set from the festival.

live: Girls at Primavera Sound

"I Don't Wanna Die"
(photos: craig loschmann)
Barcelona's Primavera Sound sort of played like a list of bands who have literally been in Brooklyn in the past month. For many acts, including Wavves, Vivian Girls, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Vaselines, Bat For Lashes, and Crystal Stilts, this couldn't have been truer, and as fellow Brooklynite and Vice photographer said to me, "we're really spoiled." Sure, it's NYC and all, but there are still acts that we don't get to see very often, and one band, Girls, made it well worth the trip across the pond. San Francisco's Girls played one of the earliest sets on the P4K stage, coming on right after Women, coincidence...I think not. Humble, visibly anxious, and noting that "This is just the beginning", the psych-revival/drug pop band blasted through a set of new material from their now complete, yes complete, debut full length, which will see the light of day by the end of the year via True Panther. While their biggest show ever, by far, was plagued with some technical difficulties (bad cables), they managed to set aside early problems and showcase mostly unheard new songs in front of the dense Mediterranean crowd. The highlight of their set was the first Girls song I ever heard, "Hellhole Ratrace", which will soon be released on seven inch b/w of "Solitude", a new song the band has yet to play live. With all this Girls output set for the rest of 2009, I think its safe to say that the rest of 2009 is going to be, ahum, "totally rad."

bobkast #24: Everything's New

"I Wanna Do Some Laughing Too"
(photo by I, Timmy)
If one were to awake from a sylvan daydream ala Rip Van Winkle, one would be able to hear and feel the world bursting with raw energy ("These Blues"). Moving through the forest, wide-eyed and romantic in the new world ("Bluish"), one begins to philosophize ("Fake Blues") and discovers he/she is all alone in the universe ("Baby, Don't Go", "Terrapin"). Self-examination kicks in ("It's Up to You"). And, ultimately, realization ("Moments in the Snow").

Awash in an existential whirlwind ("Whiteout"), one concludes that life is both sad and beautiful, yet doesn't care because it's much more fun to laugh and dance and sing ("Hellhole Ratrace"). Mental joy gives way to meditation and new-age soul searching ("The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything", "Karmic Dream Sequence #1"). Things are getting heavy, maaan ("Keep It Heavy"). But heavy is overwhelming. Good vibes much preferred ("Khala My Friend"). Alas, everything is new ("Everything's Big").

Bobkast #24: Everything's New
1. Spiritualized- These Blues (demo)
2. Animal Collective- Bluish
3. Real Estate- Fake Blues
4. dum dum girls- Baby Don't Go
5. Syd Barrett- Terrapin (Peel Session)
6. Shop Assistants- It's Up To You
7. Comet Gain- Moments in the Snow
8. Lotus Plaza- Whiteout
9. Girls- Hellhole Ratrace
10. Love- The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything
11. The Millennium- Karmic Dream Sequence #1
12. Creme Soda- Keep It Heavy
13. Amanaz- Khala My Friend
14. Here We Go Magic- Everything's Big

Download Bobkast #24: Everything's New (PC: right click +save as| Mac: option+click)

upcoming: Girls 7" & Album

"I Wish I Had A Pizza & A Bottle of Wine"

With only one official release under their belt, we're getting sort of antsy for some more Girls. Certainly the Morning Light/Lust For Life 7" is a doozey, but its been over half a year since the band released it (and sold it out) on True Panther. Luckily good news is on the way. Last week the band posted this message on its MySpace:

The album is oh so close guys and girls... We just got back to San Francisco from our own studio in my parents house in Santa Cruz... The future is very exciting this album is a great album its honest, loose, ethereal, obnoxious and perfect. We cant wait for you to hear it.

Not long after, I received an email from Dean at True Panther, noting that "The next Girls release will be a 7" of Hellhole Ratrace along with a brand new song. The LP should be coming near the end of April or the beginning of May." Super good news for all you pop savvy, navel gazing boys and girls with major crushes and some handshake drugs. If you find yourself in the Bay Area, you can catch Girls tomorrow with Hospitals at The Eagle, which is apparently a Gay Biker bar home to the "nouveau leather boy crew." Sounds like the perfect place to see Girls.

Girls- Morning Light (vinyl rip)

Girls- Carolina from Midi Festival

hot: Girls

"I Wish I Had A Pizza And A Bottle Of Wine"
Just like the rest of their stuff, this Girls video is awesome. Can't wait to get the Lust For Life 7" (True Panther) in the mail...complete with custom corsage.

Girls "Morning Light"