Cincinnati’s Pomegranates are set to release their fourth studio album, Heaven, on June 5^th via a new deal with Modern Outsider Records.  The new album was co-produced by the band and Miguel Urbitztondo, who has worked with Cracker, Sparklehorse, Daniel Johnston, and many others.  Heaven is another beautiful album of dreamy art-pop, that’s filled with pulsating guitar sounds and plenty of reverb.  It’s also the band’s follow-up to One Of Us, their critically-acclaimed 2010 album.

Pomegranates began in 2006 as a Cincinnati-based project between two friends, Jacob Merritt (drums) and Isaac Karns (vocals, guitars, keyboards).  Overtime, the band eventually grew into a four-piece with the addition of Joey Cook (vocals, guitars, keyboards) and Curt Kiser (guitar).

In 2008, they released their debut, Everything Is Alive and the press took notice with SPIN calling the album “shimmering” and noting, “the 11-track collection shows a youthful, open-eared quartet enlivened with a kick-ass record collection, ceiling-less imagination, ragged guitars, and songwriting chops for days.”

They continued on this path with their 2009 release, Everybody, Come Outside! and their 2010 release One Of Us.  Pomegranates praise poured in from notable media outlets including The New York Times, SPIN, NME, and Daytrotter and had indie radio stations KEXP, WOXY and KCRW playing their tunes.  In addition to the building media buzz, the band spent a considerable amount of time on the road touring alongside French Kicks, Islands, Jimmy Eat World, and Oh No Oh My, among others.  SPIN witnessed their 2010 SXSW show and touted them as one of the best moments, “Best Bid At the Big Time: Pomegranates…They've added a glossy polish to their art-pop and punk with reverb-y, anthemic yet meandering guitar lines that'd raise the eyebrows of both Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock and Coldplay's Chris Martin.”  In addition, this show earned them an interview with the renowned BBC Radio One who subsequently started playing the band on their channel. 

As Pomegranates gear up for their June 5^th release of Heaven on Modern Outsider Records, they will continue to move bodies as they embark on a brief US tour.

The Austin-based independent record label and artist management company, Modern Outsider, announced their launch with a showcase at last year's SXSW. Twelve months later, they have a handful of releases under their belt, along with several additions to their growing roster. A combination of both label and management artists will be included in Modern Outsider's 2012 official SXSW showcase, which takes place on Wednesday, March 14 at Trinity Hall (401 E. 6th Street).

Formed in 2010 by the husband and wife team of Chip and Erin Adams, Modern Outsider's purpose is to discover and release great music while building a tight-knit community for their artists. Last summer they released the critically acclaimed new album Phantoms by the Austin-based trio Ume, as well as a reissue of The Calm Blue Sea's eponymous debut and a single by the newly formed Los Angeles duo Soft Swells. 2012 brings the debut full-length from Soft Swells, as well as new music from the Cincinnati duo Bad Veins, fellow Cincinnati indie poppers Pomegranates, Austin's own The Black and White Years and more. Modern Outsider's management roster has grown as well, adding the bands My Jerusalem and Gliss to the ModOut family, which had already included Bad Veins and The Calm Blue Sea.

This year's Modern Ousider official SXSW showcase includes:

Soft Swells - 8:00pm  (ModOut Records)
My Jerusalem - 8:50pm  (ModOut Management)
The Calm Blue Sea - 9:40pm  (ModOut Records + Management)
Gliss - 10:35pm  (ModOut Management)
Pomegranates - 11:30pm  (ModOut Records)
The Black & White Years - 12:25am  (ModOut Records)
Ume - 1:20am  (ModOut Records)

Cincinnati duo Bad Veins is set to release their highly anticipated new album The Mess We’ve Made on April 24th via a new deal with Austin, TX’s Modern Outsider Records.  The new album was recorded over a three month period at Audiogrotto, a church turned recording studio, in Newport, Kentucky and is the follow up to their breakout self-titled debut album that was released on Dangerbird Records in 2009.
 
Bad Veins – Benjamin Davis (vocals, keyboard, guitar, etc,) and Sebastien Schultz (drums) – formed in 2006 and quickly gained widespread buzz even before they released an album due to their legendary live shows.  The duo takes the stage in pseudo-army uniforms with Seb thrashing with the enthusiasm of 2 punk drummers on his kit and Ben crooning stilly on his mic.  They are joined on stage by a vintage megaphone, rotary telephone, and a reel-to-reel tape player nicknamed Irene (often counted as the third band member).
 
Their incredible live shows led them to NYC for the CMJ Festival in 2007 where Bad Veins were considered one of the breakout bands for that year.  It was that same year they started crisscrossing the US, relentlessly performing and building a cult following among fans and critics alike.  In 2008 Bad Veins won the first ever “Target Music Maker Award” at the Tribeca Film Festival and soon after they earned themselves spots touring with a variety of noteworthy artists including Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Maps & Atlases, Two Door Cinema Club, and more.
 
In addition, their self-titled debut album released in 2009 won numerous accolades.  Dan Harris of ABC Amplified picked the album as #7 in the “Best Albums of 2009” and wrote that Bad Veins were “criminally under-appreciated.”  USA Today’s Pop Candy called the album’s closing track “Go Home” one of the Top 20 Songs of 2009.  Also, the lead single “Gold and Warm” was the music for a video segment on Good Morning America called “Your Three Words” and the song is going to be featured in the upcoming blockbuster film Chronicle – out February 3rd via 20th Century Fox – and in the official soundtrack.
 
On April 24th 2012 Bad Veins will follow up their impressive debut with the release of The Mess We’ve Made on Modern Outsider Records.  Plans already have the band on the road starting in March and will keep them out and playing live for a majority of 2012.

You can check out the brand new Soft Swells single "Put It On The Line," as it is being premiered over at MTV Hive! The song is taken from the band's forthcoming debut self-titled album, which will be in stores on February 28, and you can pre-order the CD at the Mod Out Shop!

MTV Hive says: "L.A.’s Soft Swells are all about setting a mood on “Put It on the Line,” the first single off  the band’s eponymous debut LP. With a heavy synth line and a pounding drum machine at the outset, singer Tim Williams’ instructional lyrics (“you gotta put it on the line / for the one you love), lays the groundwork for a propulsive piece of advice that you can dance to."

Listen to "Put It On The Line" by clicking here!

On January 1, 2012, the music community tragically lost 29-year old Esmeralda (Esme) Barrera, a beloved fixture of the Austin music scene, when she was murdered at her home in Austin. In memoriam to friend and fellow volunteer at Girls Rock Camp Austin, Lauren Langer Larson of Austin trio Ume has written, recorded and released a new song, “Gleam.” The track, available at umemusic.bandcamp.com/track/gleam can be downloaded for a donation in which the band is asking people to name their price and donate whatever they can. Donations are also being accepted at forouresmeb.blogspot.com. 100% of all sales will go directly to Barrera’s family.

            “I had the honor of working with Esme for four years at Girls Rock Camp Austin,” says Larson. “We rarely encounter people so inspiring - whose compassion and joy are contagious. Esme was the unique gift of a person who could ease a new girl's fear at Rock Camp with a hug - who a Waterloo customer remembers for her smile - who a local band remembers for rocking out in the front row. She was the epitome of awesome.”

            The day after Larson heard the news about Barrera she decided to record a song she had been holding inside for a long time and to dedicate it to Barrera. The twinkling acoustic track “Gleam,” a departure from Larson’s usual distorted guitar assault, was recorded at Resonate Studios with Louie Lino of Nada Surf who leant his production skills and supplied keyboards. “During recording I learned that Esme once lived above the studio and was a dear friend of Louie and his family,” offers Larson. "The year she lived with us, Esme became part of my family,” says Lino. “She has been a friend, my daughter's teacher and my musical touchstone ever since I've known her. We can't replace her. But she will always inspire us."

            “I've been overwhelmed with how many people her light has touched,” expresses Larson. “Even now Esme is inspiring our community and bringing people together. This song is simply an attempt to honor that inspiration and to give something back. Thank you, Esme, for all that you gave and thank you, Louie, for working with me on this song.”

Austin-based trio Ume have had an explosive year and there’s no slowing down in sight as the female-fronted band will kick start 2012 in high gear opening for critically acclaimed rockers Cursive on their North American tour. The jaunt will begin in Denver on February 12 and land in Los Angeles on February 24, making for the band’s first area play since the August release of their much-talked-about LP, Phantoms (Modern Outsider Records). Along the way they will hit Seattle, Salt Lake City, Portland, Kansas City in addition to several other major cities. Tour dates are below with more shows to be announced soon. Prior to wrapping up the year, Ume will play two hometown shows: the Indoor aftershow for 101X’s Independent Workforce X-Mas with Cake concert December 4 at Stubb’s and a NYE show December 31 alongside The Black Angels and Wooden Shjips at Emo’s East.

Recognizing the band’s growing popularity at home and abroad the Austin Chronicle featured the trio, led by singer/guitarist Lauren Larson, Lauren’s husband Eric on bass and drummer Rachel Fuhrer, on the cover of this week’s issue. “Live, Larson's an ambivalent siren, letting the crowd feed on its own objectifying presumptions – of sexuality, admiration, innocence, vulgarity, or vulnerability – only to shatter all of that upon the rocks of her own complete immersion in the music, the melodic lull and devastating pummel of Ume,” they exclaimed.

Released in August, Phantoms marks a mature development for the band as they have refined their sound and tempered their revved up rock with undeniable melodies and potent pop hooks without sacrificing any of the sonic catharsis displayed at their live shows. “This band is ready to break out in a whole new way...A little like fuzzy shoegaze, raw garage rock and irresistible pop all rolled into one fiery package,” declared Nylon while Relix exclaimed: “The group, led by powerhouse singer/guitarist Lauren Larson, has merged the sounds of heavy rock and ethereal indie pop with deft precision, finding new ground somewhere in between Warpaint, Metric and Mogwai.”

Since the release of Phantoms, the band has kept incredibly busy with shows, festival appearances and multiple tours, most recently supporting Platinum-selling rockers Middle Class Rut on their nationwide tour. Ume’s scorching video for “Captive,” an alluring clip featuring the raucous threesome band performing in a burning house, exclusively premiered on mtVU where it was shown 24 times in 24 hours and continues to be in rotation. In December it will be added to MTV on Demand. Meanwhile, album track “Run Wild” was featured in the hit CW series “The Vampire Diaries” and the band has received airplay across the country including on Sirius,  influential stations KEXP and KROQ’s Jonesy’s Jukebox, and most recently an add into rotation on KROX. And Ume is just getting started.

 See all of the upcoming tour dates here.

Modern Outsider Records is thrilled to announce that our first release for 2012 will be the self-titled debut full-length from Soft Swells! It will be available in stores and online beginning February 28. We'll have much more information and a pre-order very soon, so stay tuned! The band is also featured in the cool new web series Knock And Rock. They performed three songs in complete strangers' homes, which you can watch over at knockandrock.com. Here is the first of the three songs, "Lifeboats."

Ume’s video for cyclonic lead single “Captive” is exclusively premiering on mtvU today, October 11. Beginning this morning, the video, featuring the Austin-based trio performing in a burning house, has been playing every hour and will continue to do so throughout the day. It’s also exclusively showing on mtvU.com: http://www.mtvu.com/music/video-premiere/ume-captive/

Directed by Matt Bizer, the video for the soaring, anthemic track was filmed at an old abandoned house outside of the band’s hometown Austin. Shot over two nights, the clip succinctly captures Ume’s unbridled energy and showcases dynamic frontwoman Lauren Larson’s feverish guitar playing as ash swirls around her and bandmates Eric Larson (bass) and Rachel Fuhrer (drums) and fire envelops the house. “Captive” is the band’s first single from their acclaimed sophomore LP, Phantoms (Modern Outsider).

Released in August, Phantoms marks a mature development for the band as they have refined their sound and tempered their revved up rock with undeniable melodies and potent pop hooks without sacrificing any of the sonic catharsis displayed at their live shows. “This band is ready to break out in a whole new way...A little like fuzzy shoegaze, raw garage rock and irresistible pop all rolled into one fiery package,” declared Nylon while Relix exclaimed: “The group, led by powerhouse singer/guitarist Lauren Larson, has merged the sounds of heavy rock and ethereal indie pop with deft precision, finding new ground somewhere in between Warpaint, Metric and Mogwai.”

Ume’s music is proving to resonate on a national level. Phantoms continues to gain steam at radio and is receiving airplay across the country including on Sirius and influential stations KEXP and KROQ’s Jonesy’s Jukebox. Meanwhile, their track, “Run Wild,” also from Phantoms, was just featured in the hit CW series “The Vampire Diaries” resulting in their music reaching a whole new audience. The Austin American Statesmen featured Ume on their cover this summer and described them as having the elusive “It” factor and “setting themselves far apart from their peers.”

Some of the band’s characteristic combustible energy was bottled up for the band’s Daytrotter session which was recently released and available for free download at Daytrotter.com. Dubbed the “Sling Sessions,” the session recorded in February marked the band’s first official performance (outside of practice) with new drummer Rachel Fuhrer in addition to Lauren’s arm being in a sling as a result of a bad fall on ice while leaving ZZ Top guitar slinger Billy Gibbon's tequila tasting party. The four-song session captures an exciting moment for the band as they unite on tape for the first time.

Having just wrapped up a tour as main support for Middle Class Rut in addition to several festival shows, Ume are plotting their next leg of what’s sure to be another round of sweat-inducing, ferocious performances. As Brooklyn Vegan points out: “Bandleader, guitar virtuosa, and straight up bombshell Lauren Larson runs around stage like a firecracker ready to explode at any given moment, pouring all of what she is into the performance.”

Ume's Daytrotter Session is now online! This recording happened at a very interesting time in the band's career, as Rachel had literally just started as their new drummer. This was taped before Rachel had even performed a proper show with them yet, but being the amazing musician that she is, the songs sound like she'd been in the band for years. On top of that, Lauren had hurt her arm and had to wear a sling, but fortunately her elbow was locked in the proper strumming position so she still rocked it. Head over to Daytrotter.com to pick up the session, which includes performances of the songs "Burst," "Run Wild," "The Task" and "The Push."

We are excited to announce that Modern Outsider management's Gliss has been selected to have their song "Sleep" featured in the new Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria fragrance ad campaign. It will run world-wide starting in the Fall of 2011. Click here to watch it.

The Calm Blue Sea's video for their song "Literal" was featured as an exclusive premiere on IFC.com. The video was created by Paul Beck, best known for his animation work on Richard Linklater's films "A Scanner Darkly" and "Waking Life." Head over to IFC.com to read more about this amazing video and to see if for yourself!

Until My Head Explodes is the latest compilation from taste-making rock blog Exploding In Sound, a celebration of all that has come before and what the future holds. The free 43 track download is split into two companion compilations The Saga Continues and Greatest Hits. Ume's song "Phantoms" has been included in this cool collection of songs, which is available for free! Go get a fresh batch of great new music by clicking here.

We are excited to announce that Gliss is now a member of the Modern Outsider Management family. Gliss is a Danish/American three-piece. The best description of the band is late night fucked up art pop. They’ve toured with Glasvegas, The Horrors, The Raveonettes, Editors, BRMC, The Warlocks and more. The band is currently experimenting with new sonics, atmospheres and voices in the studio and working on their follow up to Devotion Implosion. To listen to their new song, "A to B," head over to modernoutsider.com/gliss and watch the first video.

To celebrate next week's release of The Calm Blue Sea's remastered self-titled debut album, NPR Music is currently featuring the record as part of their "First Listen" series. Check out what NPR has to say about The Calm Blue Sea, and get a chance to hear the entire album, along with the previously unreleased bonus tracks, by clicking here.

This is the final week for pre-orders, which means your time to get an exclusive t-shirt is running out! Head over to modernoutsider.com/shop to reserve your own! Shirt quantities are limited!

The thunderous indie rock trio Ume is having a fantastic week as their first single, "Captive," is sitting high at #2 on the specialty FMQB radio chart, right behind The Kooks and ahead of Blink-182, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Little Dragon and Wild Flag.

"Captive" premiered yesterday at NylonMag.com who declared the band is "about to blow up" and called the song "an unexpected mashup of eerie fragility and in-your-face rock... a little like fuzzy shoegaze, raw garage rock, and irresistible pop all rolled into one fiery package." Head on over to Nylon to read more about what they had to say about this band on the verge and get your first listen of the band's sophomore album, Phantoms, due August 30 on Modern Outsider Records. The album is available now for pre order HERE!

Modern Outsider Records is set to release the debut 7-inch from Soft Swells, the bicoastal musical collaboration of Los Angeles-based singer/guitarist Tim Williams and NY-based multi-instrumentalist Matt Welsh, on August 2. “Every Little Thing,” which was first made available digitally earlier this year, will be backed with the previously unreleased track “Lifeboats” and come with a download card for both songs as well as a bonus track entitled “Punch” and the video for “Every Little Thing.” The vinyl is now available for pre-order direct through Modern Outsider’s web store at modernoutsider.com/shop.

The duo, rounded out with a full band, will celebrate the arrival of the album, with a record release show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on Monday, August 1 alongside mathy rockers Maps & Atlases and indie poppers Princeton. Later that month on Saturday, August 27 they will share the stage with Fountains of Wayne and Soul Coughing’s Mike Doughty at 3S Fest at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The band’s first single, “Every Little Thing,” was released digitally in February and has been has been receiving some impressive airplay across the country, most notably on LA’s KCRW and KROQ's "Rodney on the Roq." The song first premiered on Buzzbands.LA and can be heard here.

Soft Swells is the new musical venture of Tim Williams, who first began his music career as a singer/songwriter crafting folk-tinged melodies. He emerged on the Brooklyn indie scene in the early 2000s and released three well-received albums on Dovecote Records. After relocating to Los Angeles from Nashville via New York last year, Williams formed Soft Swells, a nod to his surf and sun new surroundings. Williams is joined by longtime friend and collaborator Matt Welsh, formerly of the Wilco-approved alt-country band Phonograph. On the two tracks, the duo marries Williams’ canny pop songwriting with Welsh’s reverby guitars and their band’s full arsenal of instrumentation from subtle electronics, punchy percussion, handclaps, twinkling vibes and flourishes of keyboards.

This past spring Williams and Welsh headed out to the dusty, nearly deserted Salton Sea in Southern California to film their first video. The clip, which recently premiered on New Zealand’s MTV equivalent C4, features the duo wandering around and performing in the post-apocalyptic-like ghost town, showing the action through a variety of split screens and beautifully juxtaposed shots. The video will be released in the U.S. in the coming weeks.

Williams and Welsh just returned from London where they recorded their debut full-length with producer Dave Lynch at his Bat Box Studio. The album is currently being prep for release early next year.

We are excited to announce that the official Modern Outsider Records online store is open for business! You can now pre-order the Soft Swells 7", which features a download card for the 7" plus an additional song, "Punch," and the video for "Every Little Thing."

Also, there is a pre-order up for various bundles from The Calm Blue Sea's upcoming release that will include gatefold vinyl, CD and a limited edition, eco-friendly, hand screen printed T-shirt! If you don't want a bundle, you can also pre-order each item separately.

Ume's Phantoms is also available to pre-order as a CD or translucent pink LP! To visit our shop, either click the "SHOP" tab from the menu above, or go to http://www.modernoutsider.com/shop.

Modern Outsider is thrilled to announce the addition of My Jerusalem to their management family. The collective now known as My Jerusalem met through critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Jeff Klein, who played with each of them in his travels as a solo artist. Jeff met guitarist Dave Rosser, a touring member of the Twilight Singers through producer, Mike Napolitano. Bassist Ashley Dzerigian was in Great Northern and toured with Ed Harcourt. Drummer Cully Symington was in bands like Cursive and Bishop Allen and tracked the Gutter Twins album. Both Rick Nelson and Michael St Clair, who rotate playing violin, viola, cello, trombone and keyboards in the band, were longtime members of the Polyphonic Spree and played with St. Vincent. Matt Bricker, also a member of the Polyphonic Spree, had been playing with The Low Lows. Guitarist and keyboardist Evan Jacobs was a founding member of Midlake and fronts his own remarkable band Tacks, The Boy Disaster. The band’s debut album, Gone For Good, was recently released on 02:59 Records thru Sony/RED and on One Little Indian outside of North America.

An exhilarating head-on collision of front-woman Lauren Larson's blistering guitar shredding with impeccable pop songcraft and driving, feedback-filled jams, Austin-based power trio Ume's anticipated sophomore LP, Phantoms, will be released August 30 on Modern Outsider Records. Recalling a time when the band and kids in the crowd weren't afraid to sweat, the album marries the heavier and more distorted side of indie rock with visceral passion and pop hooks, further proving why Rolling Stone named the female-driven trio one of the nation's best unsigned bands before Modern Outsider quickly snatched them up earlier this year.

Annihilating the stand-there-like-you-don't-care convention, Ume (pronounced ooo-may) will bring their formidable live show and new material to audiences across North America next month. Consisting of high school skate-park sweethearts Lauren and Eric Larson (bass) and new drummer, Berklee College of Music grad, Rachel Fuhrer, the trio will launch their tour in Denton, Texas supporting Kylesa on June 4 before playing New York, Toronto's NXNE Festival, and the Westword Music Showcase on June 18 -- Denver's largest one-day music festival that includes Yo La Tengo, Chromeo, and Del The Funky Homosapien. July finds the band playing Milwaukee's Summerfest (headlined by Kayne West and The Black Keys) and opening for legendary post-punkers Mission of Burma at their hometown venue The Mohawk. Ume will then join The Sword, The Black Angels and The Toadies in August for the 4th annual Dia De Los Toadies Festival in New Braunfels, TX and play St. Louis' epic Loufest alongside TV on the Radio, The Roots, Cat Power and Deerhunter. 

Ume's busy touring schedule and forthcoming Phantoms builds off the momentum sparked by their Sunshower EP (self-released in 2009), and their recent CMJ and SXSW performances (the explosive trio was hand-picked by Village Voice to support Wu-Tang and Wild Flag at this year's SXSW). Self-produced by the band, the 10-track album was recorded in various Austin studios, living rooms, and closets with mixing provided by Jason Livermore at Bill Stevenson's (Black Flag, Descendents) The Blasting Room. Resuscitating the grittier and seductive sides of indie rock, the new LP, driven by Lauren's expressive, idiosyncratic axe-wielding and beguiling voice, explores the expanse between Black Sabbath's riffage and Blonde Redhead's allure. The band, described by Brooklyn Vegan as "poppy and surprisingly heavy, powerful and charming," still embraces contradiction, but Phantoms is emboldened most of all by Ume's newly honed melodic songcraft -- it's hard to get these songs out of your head. The threesome still unleashes the unbridled passion that sets them apart from the bored-slacker-bandwagon but this LP also finds them exploring new sonic territory, adding dramatic orchestral textures through synths and complex vocal harmonies, as well as intimate moments of restraint and lyrical tension.

First single "Captive" demonstrates what Ume do best - uniquely combining Lauren's own variation of the most metal of guitar tunings (drop C) with airy and impassioned vocals to produce an uptempo pop anthem. Like the record as a whole, the mesmerizing result alternates between heaviness and weightlessness, and pleads for a triumphant end to the struggles the band faced throughout the album's creation. "We booked time in the studio, the tape-machine broke," Lauren recalls. "We'd spend weeks setting-up tours and every time the van dies at the worst time. We were forced to cancel one show and Thurston Moore shows up to see us. But we won't give up, no matter what ghosts try to stop us."

A testament to perseverance, Phantoms is described by Lauren as a collection of unorthodox love songs to the band that pulled her out of a PhD program and to the first boy to hold her by the hand (now Ume's bassist). In the same way, it is also a battle-cry against the ghosts, doubts, and adulthood conventions that would drag the band away from their childhood dreams (Lauren and Eric - once the kids in the front row at the Fugazi concert - have been making music together since Lauren was 15).  "Never can they catch us," she delicately sings over the searing fretwork of "Rubicon," showcasing how prog-like complexity can co-exist with a radiant chorus, while "Destroyer" hypnotizes listeners across an arpeggiated dreamscape and beautifully rallies against the destructive tendencies of grown-up pessimism. The haunting final track, "The Task" - the fastest song Lauren ever wrote at a time the band was not sure they could financially and emotionally finish the task of the album - unveils a finger-picked acoustic guitar and spaghetti-western style trumpet, proving that Ume's music is equally compelling whether behind a wall of noise or stripped down.

With more than 300 shows under their young belts, including three national tours and gigs with the likes of Arcade Fire, Marnie Stern, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Polvo, The Meat Puppets and Warpaint, Ume has developed a dynamic, awe-inducing live show and a significant fan base around the country that already has press talking -- "Ume's Lauren Langner Larson - a diminutive blonde rocking opposite her bass-playing husband, Eric- may be the most promising female voice to smack the indie rock world in years," Independent Weekly exclaimed. "She turns the pensive femme writer paradigm on its head, sporting a seriously scary welp and a deceptively sultry growl." While inevitably critics will clamour for comparisons -- "Distortion-heavy jams (and the whole marriage thing) invite comparisons to Sonic Youth, but Ume do more headbanging and wailing," Rolling Stone declared -- Ume is ultimately a beast unto itself and a band who's time has come. In the words of early fan Dave Allen (Gang of Four): "Do not overlook and go tell your friends!"

Ume's live dates are located on our tour page.

An album filled with towering instrumental epics ranging from the beautiful to the brutal and from the majestic to the melancholy, The Calm Blue Sea’s eponymous debut full-length will be released by Modern Outsider Records on August 2, 2011.  Originally self-released by the Austin-based band in 2008, the forthcoming reissue has been remastered and will feature two unreleased bonus tracks, finally receiving the wide release it has long deserved. In addition to being available digitally and on CD it will be pressed on 12-inch vinyl, which will also include a download code for the aforementioned exclusive songs, “Fire” and “Man of Dangerous Dreams.”

Back with more vigor and purpose than ever before, this album signifies the band’s exciting return to the fertile post-rock landscape. Formed in late 2007, the Austinites’ return comes after an 18 month hiatus that saw the musicians spread across the country, pursuing other musical endeavors and generally moving on with their lives. After self-releasing their debut in 2008, crisscrossing the U.S. on tour twice, writing, recording and performing an original film score, and shipping their record to fans across the globe, relationships in the band started to dissolve by 2009. As the stress of maintaining such a high level of activity without any assistance from a label competed with family obligations, careers and personal relationships, it ultimately resulted in the members going their separate ways. However, despite their best efforts to put the band behind them and move on, the gravitational pull of being apart for a year and half was too strong the remaining members guitarist and sometimes vocalist Chris Patin, bassist Kyle Robarge and drummer Stephen Bidwell. Following Patin’s return to Austin from Brooklyn, the trio reunited late last year, joined by newcomer Taylor Wilkins on guitar.

With song structures measured in minutes rather than measures, The Calm Blue Sea’s lushly textured sound is a study in contrast; at once gorgeous and violent, it is rife with both chaos and serenity. Choosing to let their instruments speak for them, much like fellow instrumentalists Explosions in the Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai, the album’s only singing is a hazy few lines from Patin howled in the first third of the eight minute epic “Literal.” As his cries of “You were so literal” come to a close, the guitars quiet down before drums and piano return to the mix, eventually colliding into a thrashing squall of guitar noise. NPR was so compelled by the pummeling rocker that they chose it as their “Song of the Day” this past March 18. “At nearly eight minutes, ‘Literal’ moves through so many phases and changes, and achieves such elegance and power in the process, that it's actually a shame to hear it end,” they exclaimed.           

Recorded at Austin’s Cacophony Recorders with acclaimed engineer Erik Wofford (The Black Angels, Explosions in the Sky), the album builds and swells like a raging ocean. Ebbing and flowing from delicate lows to exhilarating highs, the songs each move through several movements, conjuring a spectrum of emotions in the process. “We Happy Few” begins with thick, sludgy guitars before transitioning into a plaintive piano piece and then erupting into chaotic fuzz and crashing drums. By the time the song comes to a halt, the listener has been put through the wringer and experienced more, both musically and emotionally, in 486 seconds than some bands display in an entire album. As the compositions gracefully slide into each other, it’s evident that this an album in the truest sense, where the whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, these grand, panoramic rock songs are even more moving in a live setting. To see these epics slowly unfold in front of you is a powerful experience and one that earned The Calm Blue Sea a passionate following. The band’s return to the stage at Modern Outsider’s 2011 SXSW Official Showcase, garnered praise and coverage on Esquire.com and reinforced the band’s decision to reunite. A U.S. tour is currently in the works surrounding the album’s release.

As the guys eagerly await the LP’s arrival, they are hard at work on a video for “Literal.” They have teamed up with producer Cliff Wildman of Pitch Productions and animator/director Paul Beck of the acclaimed films “Waking Life” and “A Scanner Darkly” to create visuals that will match the intensity and beauty of their music.

Modern Outsider Records is thrilled to announce they have just signed female-fronted indie rock trio Ume and instrumental cinescapers The Calm Blue Sea. The Austin-based upstart label is gearing up to have an exciting summer as it will release Ume’s anticipated debut LP, Phantoms, following the reissue of The Calm Blue Sea’s 2008 eponymous self-released full-length, which will be pressed on vinyl and made available digitally in July with previously unreleased bonus tracks. "We couldn’t be more honored to be working with both of these fantastic bands,” said Chip Adams, co-founder. “We first met with Ume when Modern Outsider was just an idea and the band's album was still in progress. To see the partnership come to fruition is a dream come true.” “The Calm Blue Sea’s powerful cinematic music is something we’ve been obsessing over for quite some time and we have wanted to work with them for a while but the opportunity wasn’t there until the launch of Modern Outsider,” said Erin Adams, co-founder. “We’re proud to be reissuing their amazing debut album, giving their music a chance for a much broader audience."

Calling Austin home since 2007, Ume (pronounced ooo-may) has already made quite a name for themselves on the strength of their self-released Sunshower EP and dynamic, awe-inducing live show, described by Brooklyn Vegan as both “poppy and surprisingly heavy, powerful and charming” consisting of “all flailing hair, swinging arms, and wild movements.” Front woman Lauren Larson (guitar and vocals), husband Eric Larson (bass) and Rachel Fuhrer (drums) were handpicked by Rolling Stone last year as one of 16 unsigned bands to compete for the cover of the magazine. “Distortion-heavy jams (and the whole marriage thing) invite comparisons to Sonic Youth, but Ume do more headbanging and wailing,” they declared. The trio, who have also garnered comparisons to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, have played more than 300 shows including three national tours and shows with the likes of Arcade Fire, Marnie Stern, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Polvo, The Meat Puppets and Warpaint. The band’s forthcoming album is a beautiful head-on collision of Lauren Larson’s impressive guitar shredding and beguiling voice that ranges from a devilish coo to an unassuming snarl. Combining a keen sense of melody with adroit musicianship, Phantoms is a captivating listen that will appeal to listeners across a broad spectrum as it marries indie rock, ‘90s alternative, shoegaze and pop hooks with exhilarating results. Ume is poised for big things in 2011. 

 The Calm Blue Sea began creating their thundering instrumental epics in 2007 and now following a brief hiatus are back with more vigor than ever before. The band self-released their six-song self-titled full-length (it clocks in at 46 minutes) in 2008 to strong reviews and coupled with their ferocious live show earned a passionate local following. However, limited resources from being a self-funded band kept them off the radar of a larger audience. Modern Outsider’s reissue of the album celebrates the group’s return to the post-rock landscape and should easily appeal to fans of Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. With song structures measured in minutes rather than measures, their lushly textured sound is a study in contrast; at once beautiful and violent, transcendent and triumphant. The band’s first performance back, at Modern Outsider 2011 SXSW Official Showcase, garnered praise and coverage on Esquire.com and NPR Music who previously chose the mostly instrumental pummeling rocker “Literal” as their “Song of the Day” this past March 18. “At nearly eight minutes, ‘Literal’ moves through so many phases and changes, and achieves such elegance and power in the process, that it's actually a shame to hear it end,” they exclaimed.

Modern Outsider was founded in Austin, Texas in October 2010 as a full-service management company and record label by husband and wife team, Chip and Erin Adams. Collectively, they have well over a decade of experience in various facets of the music industry, from radio promotion at Dangerbird Records, Capitol Records, The Syndicate and Cornerstone where they also handled digital marketing; they were in charge of editorial at the tastemaking site, TheTripwire.com. Their mission is simple: discover and release great music while building a tight-knit community for their artists. Modern Outsider Management’s roster consists of the critically acclaimed Cincinnati duo Bad Veins, Manchester, UK indie rockers The Answering Machine and The Calm Blue Sea. Ume and The Calm Blue Sea join LA/NYC duo Soft Swells at Modern Outsider Records.

The Calm Blue Sea have caught the ear of NPR, including being featured as their Song Of The Day! Stay tuned for more news on the Modern Outsider Records vinyl reissue of the band's debut album. Until then, check out what NPR had to say about the band:

Song Of The Day - "Literal"
All Songs Considered Discoveries at SXSW
NPR's Best New Bands of SXSW 2011
All Songs Considered - SXSW Wrapup
All Songs Considered

Modern Outsider Records, the creation of married music industry veterans Chip and Erin Adams, is thrilled to announce Soft Swells, the new indie pop band of Tim Williams, as the label’s first signing.  “Tim Williams has been a good friend of ours for a number of years and when he came to us with his new Soft Swells project, we jumped at the opportunity to work with him,” exclaims Chip Adams. “We are proud to unveil Soft Swells’ debut single as the first release on Modern Outsider.” “Every Little Thing” will be released digitally on February 22.

“Signing to Modern Outsider is truly a dream come true for me,” Williams reveals. “Not only do I get to work on the music I love, I get to do it with Chip and Erin Adams, two of the hardest working and sweetest people in the entire music industry.” Williams began his music career as a singer/songwriter crafting folk-tinged melodies. He emerged on the Brooklyn indie scene in the early 2000s and released three well-received albums on Dovecote Records. After relocating to Los Angeles from Nashville via New York last year, Williams formed Soft Swells, a nod to his beachy new surroundings. The band features Williams’ longtime friend and collaborator Matt Welsh of the alt-country band Phonograph. First single, “Every Little Thing,” is replete with Williams’ canny pop songwriting and features full use of his band’s arsenal: reverby guitar, subtle electronics, stuttering and snapping drums, handclaps and a ringing xylophone.

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