The Alternative Tone

Emo from Providence. Download Here RIYL: Dikembe, Snowing

You can now stream Donovan Wolfington 's Stop Breathing, out April 13,  here . Bandcamp is out of free downloads right now, so you can head over to the band's label Community Records website  and download it for free. Or whatever. It's a good 'un. RIYL: Brave Bird; Indiemo

Emo/indie from St Louis. Download Here RIYL: Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) crossed with Veronica Falls.

Emo split from St Louis. Download Here RIYL: Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) with somewhat funkier vocals.

March 2nd, Noah and Abby leave on a two month North American Tour, joined by their brother Jonathan on Piano and Drums and Cellist Natalie Hall (Macklemore, Kris Orlowski, Seattle Rock Orchestra). This limited edition poster will be available at all the shows.    3/2 - Portland, OR - Star Theater*  TICKETS 3/3 - Eugene, OR - Sam Bonds Garage* 3/5 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord*  TICKETS 3/7 - Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Cafe  TICKETS 3/14 - Austin, TX - Stephens Bar at Intercontinental Hotel @ SXSW  DETAILS 3/16 - Austin, TX - Winflo Listening Room @ SXSW (Noon) 3/22 - Athens, OH - Ohio University**  TICKETS 3/24 - North Bennington, VT - The Story Studio @ The Vermont Arts Exchange  TICKETS 3/25 - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center**  TICKETS 3/26 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre**  TICKETS 3/27 - Boston, MA - Berklee College Cafe 939***  TICKETS 3/28 - Burlington, VT - Signal Kitchen***  TICKETS 3/29 - Bayport, NY - Greyhorse Tavern*** 3/3

Bella Union has announced a new album from the truly legendary composer, musician, lyricist, producer and singer  Van Dyke Parks . There has been one live album and one soundtrack record in the last 24 years, but  Songs Cycled  contains the American’s first new material since 1989, expanding even further Parks’ pioneering, and still unique, handle on Americana  with  the crystal clarity of a 21st  century recording. All this in Park’s 70th  year, which makes  Songs Cycled  extremely special indeed in so many ways. Alongside new originals such as  ‘Dreaming of Paris’, ‘Wall Street’ and ‘Missin' Missippi’, new collaborations such as ‘Sassafras’ and ‘Money Is King’, there are new cover versions and re-recordings of older tracks, and guest vocals from  Gaby Moreno  and  Irana George .  Van Dyke Parks will be performing at the Grizzly Bear-curated I'll Be Your Mirror festival at Alexandra Palace in May.   Sunday 5 May – LONDON – Alexand

Broken Heart Records have released  Unsigned| Unrest, a charity compilation for St Jude Children's Research Hospital. You can get it  here ,

Acoustic emo from Ohio Download Here RIYL: Emo Side Project, Crywank

It's not news per se, however Hopeless Records have made a post about ten things about the record label that one might not know, and it's a pretty interesting read for any fans of the label. Check it out here .

Paper + Plastick Records has signed The Braces. Check them out below.

Today, The Alternative Tone is super stoked to bring to you an exclusive free download from   Surrogate , a wonderful indie rock band from California. The song is titled "Can't Go Home" and is taken from the band's excellent "Diamonds And Pearls EP". Download the track  here   and let us know what you think. Whilst you're listening to that, read our interview with Daniel Taylor  of the band below and learn about the band's upcoming album, touring plans and secret hip-hop past.  Who is Surrogate and how did you get together?  Surrogate is 4 dudes from Chico, CA: Chris Keene, Michael Lee, Daniel Martin and Daniel Taylor. We've all know each other for awhile, by virtue of being in previous bands together, or our previous bands playing shows together, but mainly just from hanging out in the tight-knit music scene of a smallish college town. Surrogate has been around since 2007 and the current line-up, minus the recent retirement of our drumme

One of the most uniquely talented artists to emerge in recent years,  Marques Toliver   today announces news of his long-awaited debut album  Land Of CanAan  which will be released  Monday  13th May  on  Bella Union . See the artwork below. 

Hey there, End Of Neil! Who is End Of Neil and how did it come about?  End of Neil is a vehicle for my art, music, poetry and general creativity. I decided that End of Neil was going to be the 'end' of my adolescent journey of self-discovery, self-doubt, and attempts to fit into moulds, and the beginning of a strong, passionate and original musical project. I'd say the initial songwriting for the project began in 2004 when I was at University, and developed through punk band ventures, acoustic open mic nights and took on folk revivalist influences. These days, as End of Neil, I am trying to move people and compel them to listen to simple, unfurnished songs. Where did you get your name from? I tried many different identities. During a very cold Christmas break, I drew a lot of album covers, flyers and posters, and I produced a lot of music; it was a very rich creative period, and End of Neil was how I was signing it. It's a very dark, sinister title, and people

The National have announced their upcoming album shall be released in May.

Move Out West have unveiled a video for "Without A Parachute". Check it out  here .

The National have announced joint headline tour dates with Dirty Projectors.  June 6 – Columbia, MD, Merriweather Post Pavilion 7 – Philadelphia, PA, Mann Center for the Performing Arts 10 – Raleigh, NC, Red Hat Amphitheatre 11 – Pittsburgh, PA, Stage AE 13-16 – Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo

Desaparecidos have uploaded their recent single "Anonymous" as a free download. Get it  here .

Empire! Empire! (I was a Lonely Estate), Joie De Vivre and Warren Franklin and the Founding Fathers  are touring to SXSW this year.  JUST Joie De Vivre and Warren Franklin March 8th- Chicago, IL TBA March 9th- Rockford, IL TBA JUST Empire! Empire! and Warren Franklin March 11th- St Louis ,MO* March 12th- Memphis ,TN* March 13th -Dallas ,TX * ALL 3 BANDS! March 14th- SXSW Showcase Austin ,TX March 15th- SXSW Showcase Austin, TX March 16th - OK city area* March 17th Kansas City ,MO @SATANSGAYACIDBATH http://www.facebook.com/ events/520353488015851   Get on to the bands if you can help them with booking any of the dates followed by a * 

Folk from San Francisco Download Here RIYL: Fionn Regan; Joshua Radin

Pop punk compilation from Broken English Records, feat. Man Overboard, Pentimento, No Trigger, Useless ID, Coasta, Departures, Knuckle Puck and many more. Download Here RIYL: Pop punk

Folk punk from Philadelphia Download Here RIYL : Ramshackle Glory; Walter Mitty & His Makeshift Orchestra

Hot off the heels of their debut 7”,  Dead Air ,  Creative Adult  announce March tour dates and performances at this year’s SXSW.  This April, the band will release their follow up EP,  Bulls In The Yard , on Run For Cover Records.  The album takes the band further down the vibing, manic path of their debut and wanders further into flourishes of contemplative effects – laden post punk.  These four writhing bursts are akin to an acid-fueled paranoia grafted together with the spastic energy of garage greats like MC5 and Murder City Devils.  Listen to their latest release:  Dead Air  7”  HERE . Creative Adult Tour Dates: 3/7: CYC Center – Fresno , CA 3/8: Dytch Warehouse – Los Angeles , CA 3/9: Che Café – San Diego , CA 3/10: The Nile Theater – Meza , AZ 3/11: The Gasworks – Albuquerque , NM 3/12: SXSW – Austin , TX 3/13: SXSW – Austin , TX 3/14: SXSW – Austin , TX 3/15: SXSW – Austin , TX 3/16: SXSW – Austin , TX 3/17: SXSW – Austin , TX 3/19: The Office

Man Overboard  have announced that their next LP for Rise Records/Lost Tape Collective is complete. They have released a documentary in conjunction with PropertyofZack that details the recording process. The band spent January and early February tracking the record with producer Steve Klein (of New Found Glory) and engineer Will Yip (Circa Survive, Title Fight) in Conshohocken , PA at Studio4.  Album art, album title, tracklisting and release date are to follow in the coming weeks. 

Kind of Like Spitting   is joining the  Count Your Lucky Stars  family for a new LP and a vinyl reissue. The brain-child of Ben Barnett, a sometimes singer/songwriter, sometimes full band endeavor from Portland , Oregon .  Running the span of an entire decade and releasing eight (count ‘em, eight) full lengths on labels such as Barsuk and Hush Records, and sharing the stage with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and Braid,  Kind of Like Spitting  originally called it quits in 2006.  Last year, Ben decided to pick up the outfit again and start writing new music and touring. 2013 will see him plunge back into action with new friends (Lizzy Costello of the Special Explosion) and the same fervor that has driven his entire career with a new LP released on  Count Your Lucky Stars , as well as a vinyl reissue of his quintessential LP from 2000  Nothing Makes Sense Without It  on Count Your Lucky Stars and Run For Cover Records.   Count Your Lucky Stars  owner Keith Latinen, a long time

With anticipation mounting for the release of his long-awaited second album  Pale Green Ghosts   next month,  John Grant  has announced news of an extensive UK & Irish tour throughout May.  Wednesday 13 March – LONDON – Heaven **(SOLD-OUT!)** Thursday 2 May – BELFAST – Marquee  Friday 3 May – DUBLIN – Vicar Street  Saturday 4 May – CORK – Cyprus Avenue  Sunday 5 May – KILKENNY – Watergate Theatre Tuesday 7 May – BATH – Komedia  Wednesday 8 May – OXFORD – Academy 2  Thursday 9 May – BIRMINGHAM -  Institute – The Library  Saturday 11 May – LEEDS – Metropolitan University  Sunday 12 May – EDINBURGH – Queens Hall  Tuesday 14 May – MANCHESTER – Ritz  Wednesday 15 May – LONDON - Shepherds Bush Empire Thursday 16 May – BRIGHTON – St Georges  Saturday 18 May – CAMBRIDGE - Junction  Sunday 19 May – NORWICH – Norfolk & Norwich Fe