‘Gorilla Manor’ by Local Natives, A Harmonizing Groove

Gorilla Manor by Local Natives has a wonderful laid back feel.  No surprise with the band writing this debut album in a casual atmosphere Orange County, California home.  Released in the UK in November 2009 and later in the U.S. on February 16, 2010 Gorilla Manor debuted in the Billboard 200 and at #3 in the New Artist Chart.  The Local Natives of Gorilla Manor include Taylor Rice (guitar, vocals), Kelcey Ayer (vocals, keyboards, percussion, guitar), Ryan Hahn (guitar, keyboards, mandolin, vocals), Andy Hamm (bass, backing vocals), and Matt Frazier (drums).

The opening track has a breezy beach feel, the skyward vocals grounded by rambling drums and guitar. “Could it ever be on earth as it is in Heaven?”  “Wide Eyes” comes pretty close.  The mood remains relaxed with “Airplanes” gliding into the melancholy longing of the chorus, “I want you back.” [Read more]

‘Gone to Governors’ Free NYC Concerts

Summer is all about music concerts.  And there’s nothing like free concerts, especially for bands you would have been willing to pay to see.  “Gone to Governors” is going to be a weekly Saturday show sponsored by Converse and booked by the Bowery Presents. Held at The Beach at Governors Island in New York City, the series of shows already has quite an impressive early lineup: She & Him are playing on the 4th of July (a Sunday), Yeasayer on June 5th and Neon Indian on August 14th.

BrooklynVegan will be the official media sponsor of the series which will also include the Local Natives on August 7^th for a mere $10.

All shows at The Beach on Governors Island will be held rain-or-shine. For more information on tickets, ferry schedules, and more, visit The Beach’s official site.

“Gone to Governors” 2010 Dates: [Read more]

Local Natives: Late Late Show, Tour with Sucker, Summer Festivals

Local Natives have added US tour dates to support their debut LP Gorilla Manor, released in the UK last November and in the U.S. this past February on Frenchkiss Records.

The album received mostly positive reviews and debuted in the Billboard 200 and at #3 in the New Artist Chart.

Formerly known as Cavil at Rest, this 5-piece indie rock band played together for three years before deciding to give the project a new direction.

Frenchkiss Records’ Local Natives profile describes their sound as “afropop-influenced guitars with hyperactive drumming and hooky three-part harmonies.”  Lately they performed on Fuel TV and were featured on MTV’s “Ahead of the Curve.”  Presently they are scheduled to perform for the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson this Thursday May 6^th.

Their 2010 tour will include several dates supported by the pop group Suckers, who are set to release their full length debut, Wild Smile in June, and have been said by Rolling Stone to be “homing in on the New Wave sweet spot between Madness and Tears For Fears.”  Summer festival appearances by Local Natives will include Sasquatch in May, Bonnaroo in June, Pitchfork in July, and Governors Island in August.

Local Natives US Tour

4/30 Nashville, TN – The Basement*
5/1 Atlanta, GA – Criminal Recrods Instore (Early show)
5/1 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade*
5/4 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506*
SOLD OUT  5/5 Washington, DC – Rock N Roll Hotel*
SOLD OUT  5/6 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
FREE  5/7 Philly, PA – WXPN at Noon
SOLD OUT 5/7 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
SOLD OUT  5/8 Allston, MA – Great Scott*
5/10 Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig*
5/11 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom*
5/12 Columbus, OH – The Basement*
SOLD OUT  5/14 Chicago, IL – Schubas*
5/15 Rock Island, IL – Rock Island Brewing Company*
SOLD OUT  5/17 Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar*
5/18 Iowa City, IA – The Mill*
5/19 Columbia, MO – Mojo’s*
5/21 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge*
5/22 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court*
5/25 Spokane, WI – Empyrean*
5/26 Boise, ID – Neurolux*
5/27 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios*
5/28 Vancouver, BC – The Venue*
5/30 Seattle, WA – Sasquatch
SOLD OUT  6/2 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Shop*
SOLD OUT  6/3 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill*
SOLD OUT  6/4 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour *
SOLD OUT  6/5 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater
6/10 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
7/18 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork
8/5 Boston, MA – The Middle East
8/6 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
8/7 New York, NY – Governor’s Island

*w/ Suckers

Local Natives Sign to Frenchkiss Records; Debut Album Out Next Year

Local Natives has signed with Frenchkiss Records. The Indie band from Southern California has been making waves every since playing 2009′s SXSW in Austin, Texas.

The band will be releasing their debut album, “Gorilla Manor” in February 2010. The self-funded Gorilla Manor was recorded by Raymond Richards in West Los Angeles. Richards produced the record with Local Natives in his own Red  Rockets Glare Studio.

Local Natives is currently on tour through March 2010. For more information on the band and their current tour go to www.myspace.com/localnatives.