Hip music review…Broken Bells – After the Disco

After_The_Disco_CoverI recently was able to pick up the latest release ‘After the Disco’ from ultimate hipster band Broken Bells. I feel a bit privileged about knowledge of this release due to James Mercer talking about it at the final show of The Shins latest tour which wrapped-up at The Norva Theater in Norfolk.

I was a bit hesitant when listening to this second full-lenght because I thought it could never live up to the genius which was the first Broken Bells release. I think I was also surprised at The Bee Gees sounding single ‘Holding on for Life‘ which came out prior to the rest of the record. Just to let you know…the whole CD does not sound like that.Holding_on_for_Life..and I’m not saying that’s a bad song either…

After the Disco is one of those CDs that just get better each time you play it. Since I’ve been playing it for a while now, I’ve achieved a level of nirvana while listening that is usually reserved for High Llamas and practitioners of transcendental meditation.

You can buy the release on iTunes here. I highly recommend you do.

Broken Bells recently performed on Late Show with David Letterman during Beatles week. Here’s their performance…

Local calendar update…Iron and Wine @ Norva Fri 2/21/14

Just up-dated the Local Calendar

HipsterApproved.net

HipsterApproved.net

Ultimate hipster band, Iron & Wine will be performing in beautiful downtown Norfolk, Virginia at The Norva Theater on Friday February 21st, 2014. Tickets went on-sale today and are about $28 with all the fees added.

HipsterApproved.net

HipsterApproved.net

See you there…

 

Local Calendar reminder: Danzig tonight (10/15/13) at The Norva – Norfolk, VA

Show info

Local Calendar update…Danzig @ Norva 10/15/13

This just added to the Local Calendar….

Danzig tickets are now on-sale for his performance at The Norva Theater in beautiful downtown Norfolk, Virginia. The show is Tuesday Oct 15, 2013 and are about $30 after the service fees are added.

Please note...This is a poster for his show in Portland, OR...NOT the Norva show. ~ HipsterApproved

Please note…This is a poster for his show in Portland, OR…NOT the Norva show. ~ HipsterApproved

Local calendar update…Scott Weiland @ Norva 8/12/13

ScottWeilandChristmasUltimate hipster Scott Weiland (singer of Stone Temple Pilots) has announced a show at The Norva Theater in beautiful downtown Norfolk, Virginia.

He is performing on Monday August 12th 2013. Tickets are $20 (+ fees) in advance.

Scott's high school photo.

Scott’s high school photo.

The tour is called Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts: The Purple at the Core Tour featuring the hits from the classic albums Core and Purple.

Scott's mugshot

Scott’s mugshot

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend this show due to The HipsterApproved Summer ’13 Tour featuring Portland, Oregon! (*more info to come…)

It appears he will be playing all the ‘hits’, but did anyone get Scott’s masterpiece solo work released back in 1998 called ‘12 Bar Blues‘? Genius.12_bar_blues_weiland   iTunes

Local News Reminder..Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros tonight @ The Norva

thenorvaUltra hipster band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are performing tonight (6/21/13) in beautiful downtown Norfolk Virginia at The Norva Theater.

Yes...this is a 10 piece band ~ HipsterApproved.net

Yes…this is a 10 piece band ~ HipsterApproved.net

You can get all the ticket info here at the Local Calendar page. Just follow the links…

BTW…You have got to check out this video I found on YouTube of this father and daughter performing a cover of Edward Sharpe’s hit ‘Home’…it’s awesome –>

 

 

Local Calendar Update…Neutral Milk Hotel @ The National (Richmond) 10/12/13

Just announced:

The hippest indie band of all time, Neutral Milk Hotel (Jeff Mangum, Jeremy Barnes, Scott Spillane, & Julian Koster) will be performing at the beautiful National Theater in downtown Richmond Virginia on Saturday October 12, 2013. Tickets go on-sale this Friday May 10th at 10:am EST. Tickets will be $40 after the service fees.

Also, I was able to make it to a couple of our local shows here in Norfolk Virginia, at one of my favorite venues – The Norva Theater.

Alice In Chains @ Norva 5/6/13 ~ HipsterApproved.net

Alice In Chains @ Norva 5/6/13 ~ HipsterApproved.net

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Band of Horses @ Norva 5/7/13 ~ HipsterApproved.net

Band of Horses

Band of Horses @ Norva 5/7/13 ~ HipsterApproved.net

Band of Horses @ Norva 5/7/13 ~ HipsterApproved.net

Hip local news…The Shins @ Norva Theater Tue May 28, 2013

thenorvaThis was just added to the Local Calendar….

The Shins will be performing at the Norva Theater in downtown Norfolk, VA on Tuesday May 28 for $30 ($32.50 day of show).

Alice In Chains, Band of Horses and Pinback added to the Local Calendar

Hip local News:

Sean Kinney w/some HipsterAlice In Chains is scheduled to perform at The Norva Theater in beautiful downtown Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday May 5th. Tickets are $45 in advance (plus svc charge).

BOHBand of Horses will also be at The Norva Theater on Tue May 27th. Tickets are $27.50 in advance.

ZachPinback will be in downtown Richmond, VA on Saturday March 16th at the Canal Club. Tickets are $18 in advance. (March 16th is also the date of the Ocean View St Patrick’s Day Parade…So…don’t drink and drive.)

Hip Local News…Sleigh Bells @ the Norva Theater

I saw that The Norva added Sleigh Bells to their concert line-up on Saturday Oct 6th. Tickets are $20 (+ fees) in advance. (They are also playing The National Theater in Richmond the next day, Oct 7th)

I’m not really familiar with Sleigh Bells. The most I’ve heard them is when they were on SNL last year, and they didn’t seem like ‘my-cup-of-tea’. They kind of remind me of the ’90s band Curve ( and maybe Garbage).

I wasn’t even going to add them to the Local Calendar until I saw them listed in this article in LAweekly.com called The 20 Worst Hipster Bands.

Here’s what LAweekly has to say about them:

#18. Sleigh Bells

Remember in 2010, when we all lost our collective minds over these guys, with their iPod beats, garage-metal guitars and schoolyard-chant vocals? It was, like, the most original sound ever! Then the second album came out and everyone was more like, “Huh. Actually, this kinda sounds like shit.” Also, Alexis Krauss started wearing her own band merch at shows, which you’re really only allowed to do if you’re Morrissey.

-Andy Hermann

The LAweekly article is funny as hell, but I don’t agree with most of the bands on the list. I mean…they have Bon Iver as the #1 worst band! Everyone knows they’re awesome.

So I think Sleigh Bells being on the list of the Worst Bands makes them kind of hip. I’d even be willing to go check them out (if someone can hook me up with a guest pass (plus one?)) Email me for contact info.