Blog Donahue

via REDEFINE Mag

“Studio Slayin” via @_ayad_

Surprise Attack! Music Festival @ Cameo Gallery

Surprise Attack! Presents:
Music Festival @ Cameo Gallery //*Featuring 14 bands*\

//Info\
Sunday, May 27th
Doors will be at 2PM & the festival will be going on until 1AM
21+
Pre-sale Tickets are $13, & at the door $15 
Pre-sale link (THIS WILL SELL OUT) - http://surpriseattackfest.eventbrite.com/

//Bands\
Dot Square (2PM) - http://on.fb.me/HTql9J
Beach Moms - http://on.fb.me/HR9pif
The Nico Blues - http://on.fb.me/sRInq1
Wild International - http://on.fb.me/H3vezf
New York Rivals - http://on.fb.me/pQcvKh
Beast Make Bomb - http://on.fb.me/HZgTRq
Edelweiss - http://on.fb.me/hZUvpn

Slam Donahue (7pm!) - http://on.fb.me/x4Jmc2

HITS (formerly Jump Into The Gospel) - http://on.fb.me/JvsATb
Team Spirit - http://on.fb.me/I3aYfY
Eula - http://on.fb.me/JbGz0u
The Suzan - http://on.fb.me/uD6In8
Electric Sun - http://on.fb.me/q1xGTg
The Click Clack Boom (12AM) - http://on.fb.me/JiLfQo

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/337238806338495/

Review and download of “How To Be Cool” via Sirens of Decay:

“If you scour the web looking for the lowest of the lo-fi rock jams, this is about as lo-fi as it gets. Slam Donahue is a Brooklyn three piece who specialize in taking expansion and making it…less expansive. Take the catchy “How To Be Cool” for example – if this was the gas pump then this would easily be the lowest and cheapest grade fuel that you could purchase. That’s a compliment.

“How To Be Cool” sounds like what happens when someone is playing a grainy garage pop anthem for you…except, they are playing it for you through the phone. It’s charming as hell, and I’m sad I wasn’t on this band’s wagon sooner. From the retro pop vocals and delivery to the crackle that’ll make you wonder if your headphones were blown out by all that dubstep you’ve been listening to, it’s a hell of a listen and just in time for summer.

What’s better is that you can download a Slam Donahue album length mixtape titled Big House Nice Dreams for free via the band’s website.”

Kind words via BeatCrave:

“With unassuming pop rock and subtly in your face electronic components, there’s just no way we can’t like this band. Just try to keep us from telling everyone and their mother about them when a show comes around; it will be a futile attempt, at best. Incorporating the best parts of most any present genre with a wealth of energy and a glimmering sheen, there’s nothing but good times on a Friday night with the Brooklyn-based band.”

Interview, via 1883 Magazine:

“Slam Donahue are the latest wispy-haired, guitar-toting musical genre defying collective to be churned out by New York City’s hyperactive music scene. Singer David Otto and bass-wielder Thomas Somerville riff and strum their way through entrancing voids between alternative pop, pseudo-hip hop and understated R & B, making for something diverting, and startlingly original.

via NoFutureShock:

“Sometimes I need that buzz, that instant fix. I’m lying curled on my floor, red-eyed and dejected. The album that’s just finished playing, detailing the singer’s last painful break-up or the incurable disconnect they feel with the world around them, has completely emotionally drained me. I need something short and catchy to erase the knot in my stomach. Something happy sounding for fuck’s sake.

Until recently I would have probably opted for ‘Allison’ by the Pixies. Now it’s this unadulterated slice of bassy pop genius. Stream ‘No More Talking’ after the jump and download the mixtape from which it’s taken, Big House Nice Dreams, for free at Slam Donahue’s Bandcamp page.”

OR DOWNLOAD THE BIG HOUSE NICE DREAMS MIXTAPE FOR FREE AT -

http://slamdonahue.com

via Impose:

“Slam Donahue’s Big House Big Dreams EP-mixtape dropped via Cantora and has been getting some serious spins here in the office this week. Comprised of David Otto on guitar and vocals with bassist Thomas Sommerville; the duo has staked a reputation through their pawn shop keyboard edge, hacked recording programs and an infectious pop sound that is putting them on more than a few journos’ watchlists. If this seven song cycle is any indication, Slam Donahue could be a household name by Thanksgiving this year thanks to fresh jams like “Where Are You,” “How to Be Cool,” “It’s Scary,” “No More Talking” and more. Listen now and be their biggest fan today.”

Download the mixtape FREE at slamdonahue.com

CENSORED IN AUSTRALIA

http://theorangepress.net/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi

http://theorangepress.net/2012/05/qa-slam-donahue

http://theorangepress.net/2012/05/slam-donohue-big-house-nice-dreams-album/

TONIGHT!

http://www.facebook.com/events/217528785029899/

Going down this Friday at Brooklyn Bowl! Doors are at 11:30pm.

Slam Donahue
Tiny Victories
Lost Boy ?

DJ Ital will be mixing it up all night too!

Ticket link - http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/121213

via DISCOSALT -

TS: We’ve just been in the studio the past few days, so, it’s just been idea after idea, pouring out of us.
DO: Oh my God, it’s been the best! We’re working with Ayad [ Al Adhamy ], who used to be in Passion Pit, and he is producing our music. And he is brilliant, just brilliant!
TS:He laid some dope keyboard lines over the top of our stuff and he added a bunch of new ideas, and verses, and chorus. All that.
DO: Two brand new songs too.
TS: Yeah, two brand new songs that have never been leaked on the internet. We were so invested in the mix-tape, we put everything – we just put the past year of our dreams – it’s us moving to New York, the anxiety of moving to New York. All those songs really reflect the last year or so, so, it’s good to move forward finally.
DO: To be able to [move forward ] because there is such a delay between – what you feel and what you get to release. These are things I felt when we moved here, like a year and a half ago. We finally get to release it now, so, I’m psyched about that. But I’m even more excited to be able to put down what I’m feeling right now. I was thinking about “Bug in the Sun” and that song is so incredibly – “Me” – right now. Exactly how I feel, right now.
TS: “Bug in the Sun” is our new song. I’m excited and really happy with how well it’s going. I know that you’re not supposed to act excited – you’re supposed to act all cool- but I’m very happy with the progression and where Ayad is going.
DO: And he is doing a good job keeping our…
TS: “Je ne sais quoi” – the “I don’t know”- of the group.
DO: Yeah, that…secret ingredient in the recipe. I don’t know what it is either, but he has found a way to mine it out of us.
TS: It’s strange, we’ve worked with a lot of producers. So far, some things have struck and some things have gone terribly south. It’s really refreshing to work with someone who understands our sound. - Olivia Beteta

via Who’s Jack:

New York based band Slam Donahue are singer/guitarist David Otto and bassist Thomas Sommerville. After meeting as kids they joined rival bands but it wasn’t long until they were working on musical projects together.

We caught up with the band to find out what their most listened to songs on their iPods are…

This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads: This is all nostalgia.  The song is simple and beautiful and reminds us of first loving music. Seeing Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads’ concert film, was a huge influence.  We’ve listened to this song hundreds of times; we’ll play it for our children.

Do Re Mi by Nirvana: The Nirvana box that came out in 2004 had this and we’ve played the shit out of it.  Completely unexpected, intimate, fragile-voiced, Do Re Mi is perfect.  The performance, the format are both perfect.  The melody streams along.

Dig A Pony by The Beatles: A burner from The Beatles, This song has an incredible amount of nuance for a club over the head of a song.  The second verse and George Harrisons’ little guitar compliments on the vocals can give you chills.  The chorus and its vocal harmonies are just right and some of the best Beatles.  John Lennon called it a piece of garbage.  John, you’re such an asshole.

Ince Ince by Sedla: This song is so heavy.  Her vocals are all wail following a Black Sabbath guitar.  This song is a Quentin Tarantino film.  Actually, don’t tell him that, we’ll make a movie with this whole album as the soundtrack.  Mos Def used it but that doesn’t count.

Holla by Ghostface Killah: Ghost rapping over a Delfonics song and it feels like they were madefor each other. This is heavy weight Ghostface Killah just unloading, letting his voice peak and break.  There really are very few rap songs that can be considered beautiful.  This one is absolutely beautiful.

Download the bands free mixtape here.