Live This Month: June 2014

It’s been a little over three years since tUnE-yArDs garnered universal acclaim for w h o k i l l, but Merrill Garbus hasn’t lost any momentum with Nikki Nack. Her band’s nationwide tour comes to The Fillmore this month for two sold-out shows. tUnE-yArDs isn’t the only local band with a new album — we’re also really excited for Adult Life, the upcoming album from Cocktails that arrives later this month on Father/Daughter Records. This podcast also includes a new track from local punk band Yi, off their just-released Crying LP.

We always include a lot of new bands in these podcasts, but this month’s set might be particularly striking for the number of veteran performers involved here. The Both is an unimpressive band name, but the band is the union of two impressive songwriters, Aimee Mann and Ted Leo. The duo’s new LP is their first together, but it continues a long legacy of quality work for both artists. It’s a similar story for Dean Wareham, who just released his first solo full-length, decades into a career that has included Galaxie 500, Luna, and Dean & Britta. Dean Wareham was produced by My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. Finally, Chad VanGaalen reemerged recently with his fifth album; the Canadian outsider artist has amassed a strong cult following from a series of acclaimed albums on Sub Pop.

Enjoy the podcast and then go see some concerts!

About the bands:

tUnE-yArDs – “Water Fountain”
Playing two shows at The Fillmore — June 6 (with Sylvan Esso) and June 7 (with The Seshen).

Cocktails – “Tough Love”
Appearing on June 27 at Bottom of the Hill; Magic Trick, Violent Change and Big Tits round out the all-local bill.

PUJOL – “Pitch Black”
Playing with The Detroit Cobras and The Spyrals at Bottom of the Hill on June 6.

Owls – “I’m Surprised…”
The reunited band’s tour comes to Bottom of the Hill on June 29, with Into It. Over It. and Victor Villarreal also playing.

Some Ember – “The Thrashing Whip”
Appearing with RedRedRed on June 18 at the Elbo Room.

Dean Wareham – “The Dancer Disappears”
Playing alongside Hott Mt at The Chapel on June 20.

Tropical Popsicle – “Havana”
Performing on June 24 at the Rickshaw Stop with fellow Lolipop Records acts Mystic Braves, Corners, and Electric Magpie.

Sharon Van Etten – “Taking Chances”
Headlining The Independent on June 29 and June 30; Jana Hunter opens both shows.

The Both – “The Inevitable Shove”
The duo of Aimee Mann and Ted Leo performs at the Great American Music Hall on June 12.

Bonnie & the BANG BANG – “Every New Love”
The San Francisco band performs at the Not Dead Yet Fest at Thee Parkside on June 7 and at Slim’s on June 27.

Cherry Glazerr – “Haxel Princess”
On June 26, Meat Market, Big Tits, Never Young, and Joel Jerome join the band at Slim’s.

Chad VanGaalen – “Monster”
VanGaalen’s West Coast tour with Cousins comes to the Brick & Mortar Music Hall on June 17 and The New Parish on June 19.

Yi – “Monkey in the Mirror”
Playing at El Rio on June 21 with Scraper, Generation Loss, and Quaaludes.