Los Campesinos!, or The Farmers auf Englisch, couldn't have broken out at a better time. Although Brighton and Leeds generate many of the UK's electro-pop rockers, the seven pals from Cardiff have devised a spunky menagerie sure to swell some minds into bliss as well as draw attention to the other side of Britain.
In the form of Yellowcard around their Ocean Avenue days, Los Campesinos' major market sound has landed on the radar of Spin, NME, Paste and many other music networks this year thanks to a personalized blend the seven musicians devised. By implementing multiple vocal leads that range from typical pop odes to smoke-starting grunge chants, the group channels in keyboards, chimes and a violin on top of the guitar, bass and drums to transform ordinary tunes into better than ordinary ones.
Despite releasing a pair of albums this year, their zip remains far from repetitive from album to album thanks to the cast of character that compose Los Campesinos!. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (10/08) and Hold on Now, Youngster... (2/08) were both released off of Wichita Recordings.
Below we have a few mp3s, a video and tour dates for the group. Also, in a small effort to support other artists from Cardiff that might catch your fancy, check out Armies of You and Box of Thumbs. Enjoy.
MP3: Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful We Are Doomed (buy)
MP3: Los Campesinos! - Dont Tell Me To Do The Math(s) (buy)
MP3: Armies of You - Girls Play Games
12/18/08 Wichita Xmas Party: Maroquinerie Paris *
1/15/09 Ottobar Baltimore, MD #
1/16/09 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC #
1/17/09 The Earl Atlanta, GA #
1/19/09 Jack Rabbits Jacksonville, FL #
1/20/09 Orpheum Tampa, FL #
1/21/09 Club Downunder Tallahassee, FL #
1/23/09 Bottletree Birmingham, AL #
1/24/09 Exit/In Nashville, TN #
1/25/09 Hi Tone Memphis, TN #
1/27/09 One Eyed Jack’s New Orleans, LA #
1/29/09 Walter’s On Washington Houston, TX #
1/30/09 The Parish Austin, TX #
1/31/09 Club Dada Dallas, TX #
2/3/09 The Bottleneck Lawrence, KS #
2/4/09 The Gargoyle St Louis, MO #
2/6/09 Der Rathskeller Madison, WI #
2/7/09 Logan Sq, Auditorium Chicago, IL #
2/10/09 Calvin College/Ladies Literary Club Grand Rapids, MI #
2/11/09 Wexner Center For The Arts Columbus, OH #
2/12/09 Swarthmore College/Olde Club Swarthmore, PA #
2/13/09 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA #
2/14/09 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY #
2/15/09 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY #
* w/ Lovvers and Sky Larkin
# w/ Titus Andronicus
Labels: Los Campesinos