My first introduction to Anticon Records was from someone who absolutely HATED what they were putting out. This, sadly, colored my opinion for some time; that is until my cousin (currently studying international law at Harvard…so I’ll have someone to represent me once I finally get caught for my various illicit activities I enjoy so liberally) burned me a mix CD of some of their artists. It was then that I figured out that Anticon isn’t quite the self-important backpack hip-hop label my friend made them out to be — Its stable of artists is more composed of experimental rock, sample/electronica artists. There’s a love and appreciation of hip-hop within most of these artists, but it’s not straight up beats and verses, far from it. As for my Anticon hating friend, sometimes it pays to take opinions with a grain of salt (or in this case, an entire shaker).

For me, Anticon artist Why? leads the label roster with inventive, glitchy indie-rock with an almost They Might be Giants vocal delivery and dark, contemplation-worthy poetic lyrics. It’s on some real shit, real sink-your-teeth-into sounds. Worth your attention, for sure. Love their cover of “Close To Me,” by The Cure, too. Why? is heading out on tour, and their publicist was kind enough to alert us.

From Force Field PR:

It’s been a busy and interesting year for WHY?, since the release of their acclaimed album Alopecia in March, the band has been touring the world almost non-stop, with a U.S. tour in the Spring and a lengthy European tour that immediately followed. Only one slight hiccup - while in Europe, two of the band members (brothers Yoni and Josiah Wolf) got the mumps, and on top of that, Yoni broke his hand. The band has soldiered on despite these minor setbacks and has scheduled another full North American tour for the fall, with pals Mount Eerie, Tussle and Tobacco (of Black Moth Super Rainbow) opening along the way.

Check out their video for “Song of the Sad Assassin” right here:

Tour dates (courtesy of Force Field PR) after the jump (more…)

Brooklyn is home to a few good bands, a few good eateries and a few rad chicks with terrible, ugly-ass haircuts, but I was unaware that the borough is the unofficial home of Summer Dodgeball.

Checking in with Team Saucony (the best life-saving shoe company in the world who recently laced us up here at the office), I started bugging out about their <Monster Truck Announcer Voice> Sunday Summer Dodgeball Series </Monster Truck Announcer Voice> being held at McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn. Saucony is sponsoring the event, which includes sets by The Hold Steady, Ronnie Spector, Deerhunter and Aesop Rock, among others, and it’s this kind of event that reminds me why Chico, CA is totally beat. Dodgeball MVPs will get their own free pair of kicks, so if you’re reading this Matt Kiser, you better get your ass down there and OWN IT on behalf of your compatriots.

Check out the dates and band lineups after the jump: (more…)