Wax Fang tours with Dead Confederate

Louisville faves Wax Fang are celebrating the re-release of their second full-length La La Land, with a spate of shows with Athens' Dead Confederate as well as Cincy's Heartless Bastards. The tour dates, recently posted on WF's MySpace are as follows:

Sept. 18
The 5 Spot
Nashville, Tenn.

Sept. 19
Secret Squirrel
Athens, Ga.

Sept. 20
The Earl w/ Dead Confederate
Atlanta, Georgia

Sep 23
JJ’s Bohemia w/ Dead Confederate
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Sep 24
The Bottletree w/ Dead Confederate
Birmingham, Ala.

Sep 25
Sticky Fingerz w/ Dead Confederate
Little Rock, Ark.

Sep 26
Emo's w/ The Heartless Bastards, Dead Confederate
Austin, Texas

Sep 27
The Cavern Club w/ Dead Confederate
Dallas, Texas

Sep 28
Hi Tone
Memphis, Tenn.

Whistle Peak, tomorrow on LEO Music ’Cast

Whistle Peak will be on LEO's Music ’Cast tomorrow evening, discussing the release of their new self-titled debut album. Hear it at leoweekly.com or at myspace.com/leoweekly

Dave Matthews/Willie Nelson: Aug. 1 @ Slugger Field

Photos by Stephen Cohen

Action Strasse

American Gas Jive
Action Strasse
(MFT)

While their name might suggest "German techno-pop band," this four-piece from Indianapolis actually performs an interesting blend of indie rock. Action Strasse formed when the three members’ original band, a hardcore act called Majhas, called it quits and decided to band together to write some upbeat indie rock tunes.
Their debut album, American Gas Jive, is comprised of fairly straightforward indie rock songs, inspired by the likes of emo, indie and alternative pioneers like Weezer and Wilco. The soothing, catchy rhythms of “Impatient Love” even bring to mind the sensibilities of the groundbreaking Jets To Brazil and The Promise Ring. The catchy chorus on “Calling Beijing” sounds oddly similar to something Weezer might have written in their Blue Album era, aside from the brash guitar solo and clever breakdown towards the end.

Other songs like “Childlike” bring something new to the table, with a unique arrangement and melodic, harmonious choruses. Most of the songs are under three minutes, the longest topping out at four. For the most part though, they’re short and sweet, no fluff. John Zeps’ vocals and lyrics are also pretty engaging. While American Gas Jive has its blunders (“People You Live With” sounds like a more boring version of a Ben Kweller song), it’s a wonder an album this decent was recorded and mixed and five days. —Aaron Frank

jimmy johns @ 4 a.m.

bad news for my waistline: the jimmy john's franchise @ highland and bardstown is open until 4 a.m. on friday nights. which means consumption of a vito sandwich (italian. name sux. sandwich doesn't) several times. in one week.

damn you jimmy john's and your freakishly fast subs. —Mat

American Mustache Institute's interview with Jim James

Read it here. —Mat

what is indie rock?

indie rock is not a style or a genre. bands who say they play "indie rock," aren't really doing it. indie rock is more like a status. you're an unsigned band, or you're signed to an independent label that makes you pay for everything yourself. but as far as a style goes, bands don't play "indie" rock. what does that sound like? does it sound like metal? then it's called metal. is it punk, is it instrumental? atmospheric? blues? blues-rock? bands play all these genres and more, but it's not right to call it "indie." —Mat