This week is pretty refreshing. It feels like the old days. After taking a couple of months off of playing pretty much every day, at every venue known to man, DIIV are back, Pitchfork “Best New Music” sheen and all.
They’re part of our MOST BLOGGED ABOUT show this week, opening for buzz queen Bethany Cosentino’s Ali Koehler-less Best Coast (speaking of the old days) at Terminal 5, also with Those Darlins. That one is next Tuesday, and there’s still tickets left for this all ages show at the cavernous waterfront midtown venue. It seems that Best Coast’s buzz may have died a bit after The Only Place’s mixed reviews, but the Cosentino led act still manages to top our list, possibly in part to her recent spread with Wavves in SPIN (in which she looks absolutely amazing, by the way.)
Anyway, back to DIIV, who hold the rare distinction of being a part of both our MOST BLOGGED ABOUT show and my EDITOR’S PICK; as they’re the opener for the VERY recently announced Cloud Nothings show at 285 Kent tomorrow. That’s two of my top ten albums for the year in one bill, at one of my favorite venues. Tickets are going fast (if they’re still there when this is posted) so jump on this one.
Did you hear? Everyone’s favorite cat-lady band, Best Coast, jumped on the Planned Parenthood train this week, putting out a video about why the group is so important and announcing they’ll play a benefit show with country-punk group Those Darlins this summer.
As if you needed a reason aside from the fact that this is the only not-sold out (well not yet) show the band is playing in NYC this summer, tickets to the show are a direct donation to the Planned Parenthood of New York City Action Fund, which does important things like make sure we don’t have politicians in office that hate your lady parts.
Now that Halloween is in the past, it is inevitable that the Christmas creep will begin. So Target is apparently jumping on the make-an-indie-holiday-comp game. Best Coast and Wavves teamed up for a song. “Got Something For You” is poppy and sun-tinged and saccharine with sleigh bells being the defining characteristic making it a Christmas song. Listen to this and the rest of the contributions to the compilation at the Target site, and hopefully catch them playing it live on their upcoming tours. Just don’t try to smoke the mistletoe this winter.
Last night, Best Coast proved their lo-fi, doo-wop, surf rock can make it through the summer and into the rainy, grey weather of fall with a sold out show at The Bowery Ballroom.
The thing that I like about Best Coast is how much it feels like you’re reading a teenage girl’s Live Journal from 1998. But now that CNN is reporting on this, it’s sort of like your parents reading your Live Journal. Which is kind of creepy, but also it’s not like they’re hearing anything that they don’t know already. Boys! Beaches! Rap music!
…the music, duh! Well, he didn’t quite use those exact words, but yes, Rostam is right. The video is brought to us by Converse, as the final installment of teasers for a single song collabo between Vampire Weekend, Kid Cudi, and Best Coast which should be released via free download on the staple kicks’ respective websites. Should be interesting?
In case you missed it, we named Best Coast’s Make You Mine the Best EP of 2009, not to mention, according to my iTunes play count, “When I’m With You” off of the Black Iris 7″ was the track I listened to most this year– which is a pretty big deal considering it didn’t drop until November. But when I hear a feel good jam with the right amount of sadness, I tend to play it on repeat (just like I haven’t stopped playing the new Beach House record since it arrived in my mailbox).
There’s something to be said about the fuzzy delivery of Best Coast leading lady Bethany Cosentino’s beckoning 60′s inspired pop. The dizzying effects of heavy reverb combined with her girlish timidity float us away to the cavernous beach coast of California at the very first blink of an eyelash. I’m a New Yorker born & raised, but Bethany’s Beach Boys and burritos make me long for a warm winter, all while successfully playing as a foreground soundtrack for Brooklyn snow days. And with two more 7″ to be released before the end of February, including a split with Jeans Wilder, as well as talks about an upcoming full length– 2010 just may be “the year of Best Coast!”
FREEwilliamsburg caught up with Bethany before the end of the year about what the future brings, the things we have to be thankful for in our ‘hood, and how awesome Stevie Nicks is. Check out the interview after the jump!
