22 June 2009

A Little Joy of the Day

Led by The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti, Little Joy released their debut, eponymous album in November of last year. The latest Stroke to venture out on a side project, Moretti met Rodrigo Amarante ~ singer/guitarist of Brazilian indie-rock outfit Los Hermanos and recent Devendra Banhart collaborator ~ at a festival in Lisbon, Portugal in 2006.



A year later, the group added a third member, multi-instrumentalist Binki Shapiro (now Moretti's girlfriend), and moved into Los Angeles' Echo Park, near a cocktail lounge which is now the band's namesake. The album was recorded with the help of another Banhart collaborator and instrumental wizard, Noah Georgeson.

Little Joy ~ tomorrow nite at Bowery Ballroom.

The Most Serene Republic

This Canadian seven piece is currently on tour. It's third album ... And the Ever Expanding Universe will be released on July 14th on the Toronto based label Arts & Crafts. Here's a free download from the upcoming album: Heavens to Purgatory.

And this video from their 2005 debut album, Underwater Cinematographer.



It should be great to see how they all fit on the stage at Union Hall Saturday night. Get there early to squeeze in the basement for the show. Should be a goodie.