News
Wednesday, December 12 2007
Odds & Sods
We've posted some odds and ends from the past year or so for you to enjoy:
Always On The Saxophone - An alternate version of our latest single. Featuring the lovely voice of Frida Eklund of Little Eiffel and Roy Nathanson's blazing saxophone. Buy Always On The Saxophone on iTunes or at Other Music
Perfection As a Hipster - Gary supplies vocals on this demo for Stuart Murdoch's forthcoming musical God Help The Girl
Like A Summer Rain - Performed by Sweet N' Low - A cappella version based on Ladybug's arrangement of the song. They also cover Carly Simon's You Belong To Me and Jens Lekman's A Sweet Summer's Night On Hammer Hill
Sun Goes Down - Gary Olson's duet with Mairt Bergman from last year's "I Think It's A Rainbow" album
Life On Mars - Live in Stockholm November 2006. Audience bootleg!
David Cross on the Ladybug Transistor - From Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ, way back in 2002
Rushes Of Pure Spring - Ladybug classic performed by The Lucksmiths Available on their latest release Spring A Leak
Sunday, October 7 2007
God Help The Girl
Gary Olson was recently asked to lend his vocals to a demo composed by Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian. "Perfection As A Hipster" is a song is taken from a forthcoming musical written by Stuart. Gary's version, which also features the lovely voice of Catherine Ireton is being used as an example for people who audition via the Imeem website. More information on the competition at http://godhelpthegirl.com/ Listen to "Perfection as a Hipster" here.
God Help The Girl Pitchfork article
God Help The Girl Myspace
Sunday, October 7 2007
Kevin Ayers
Ladybug Transistor recently worked with Soft Machine legend Kevin Ayers on his new album Unfairgroud which is out now on Lomax Records. Gary Olson co-produced the album sessions in Arizona at Wavelab Studios and at Marlborough Farms in Brooklyn. It features Ladybugs Jeff Baron on guitar, San Fadyl on drums, along with their long time associates Heather McIntosh (Circulatory System, Instruments) on bass/cello and Joe McGinty (Baby Steps) on keyboards and string/brass arrangements. Special guests include members of Teenage Fanclub, Architecture In Helsinki, Bridget St. John, Phil Manzanera, Julian Koster (Music Tapes, Olivia Tremor Control) and many more.
Gary Olson, Isobel Knowles, Gus Franklin, Tara Shackell. Kevin Ayers Sessions at Wavelab Studios Tucson
Kevin Ayers, Gary Olson and Heather McIntosh. Tucson, Arizona. During Unfairground sessions.
Mojo article:
Saturday, September 22 2007
LADYBUG TRANSISTOR/LUCKSMITHS/STILL FLYIN' MIND WHIP TOUR
Ever held your head in ice water a little too long? One might try but one may never deny oneself the pure rush of this refreshingly unwise activity, particularly when bestowed upon by a tremendous waterfall or perhaps a hole in a majestic frozen fjord. The more sublime the surrounds, the more intense the desire to dip the noggin. Equivalent too, the sensation as one’s ears become exposed to a trifecta of nature’s most pleasing sounds. This natural phenomenon now has a name: MIND WHIP.
Take three of today’s most esteemed live musical groups — The Lucksmiths, The Ladybug Transistor, Still Flyin’ — and combine them for a jammed-up run of dates down the east coast of the USA. We’re talking three bands of close friends who know not only how to string together more than a lifetime’s worth of amazing tunes, but also what the blazes to do with them when met by a horde of potential proverbial head-wetters. Now you’re starting to get the idea. Your mind is entering the pre-WHIP. Just like on your nature trek, when you’ve brushed the final frond from your face and there before you — a pristine blue waterhole.
The Lucksmiths of Melbourne Australia, re-emerge for their sixth US tour on the back of album number ten, a 45-song double-CD compilation of non-album recordings from the past decade entitled Spring a Leak (released Sept 10 on Matinée). The Lucksmiths' deft songwriting and impossibly charming live show have earned them a devoted cult following across the globe.
Similarly, The Ladybug Transistor, formed in Brooklyn NY in the mid-90s, through voracious touring have amassed a solid army of followers who were initially forewarned by some fuzzy homemade meanderings and then later, well and truly snagged by their brand of gorgeous folky psychedelic classic-pop. Their finest work to date can be heard on the latest Merge album, Can’t Wait Another Day.
The final ingredient to this whip of the mind is San Francisco’s righteously riotous rocksteady party band Still Flyin’ who are a far more complex campaign entirely. Comprising members of some of Indiepop’s first-division (The Aislers Set, Masters of the Hemisphere, Poundsign, Track Star, Dear Nora, The Bright Lights…), Still Flyin’ make their first visit to the eastern seaboard and not before time, as word of their wild stage show has swept cascade-like across the entire continent (further enticing those partial to a good ol’ head-dip) since the release of their two EPs Time Wrinkle and Za Cloud (both on Antenna Farm).
Thursday September 27 - Cambridge, MA: TT The Bear’s
Friday September 28 - New York, NY: Knitting Factory (early show, doors 6pm)
Saturday September 29 - Brooklyn, NY: Europa (early show, doors 6:30pm)
Sunday September 30 - Washington, DC: DC9
Monday October 1 - Durham, NC: Duke Coffeehouse
Tuesday October 2 - Athens, GA Caledonia (Lucksmiths and Ladybug Transistor only)
Wednesday October 3 - Mount Pleasant, SC (Ladybug Transistor and Still Flyin'only)
The Ladybug Transistor http://www.theladybugtransistor.com/
The Lucksmiths: http://www.indiepages.com/matinee/artists/lucksmiths.html
Still Flyin' http://www.myspace.com/stillflyin
Monday, August 6 2007
The Mudhoney summit
Ladybug Transistor recently met with members of legendary grunge outfit Mudhoney in Moscow to discuss bringing peace between the two groups. All day negotiations were held backstage at the Gauloises Avant Fest to little avail. Talks broke down when bassist Julia Rydholm suggested the two parties work out their differences on the soccer field. Mudhoney proved no challenge for the Ladybug team who defeated the Seattle combo in a penalty shootout. Singer Mark Arm was quoted as saying "Ladybug's victory today was very disappointing for us and may have put the Moscow accord in serious jeopardy". Talks are scheduled to resume when members of Mudhoney take Ladybug guitarist Ben Crum to visit Butterball skateboard in Seattle later this month.
Thursday, June 7 2007
Daytrotter session up now!
Last March during SXSW Ladybug had the pleasure of recording a session for our good friends at Daytrotter. It features special guests Mark Monnone from Lucksmiths and Marit Bergman. Four songs free to download.
Wednesday, June 6 2007
New website
Hello! We've finally got the new site up and running. It's a work in progress so keep checking back. Our new album Can't Wait Another Day is out now. Lots of touring plans in the US and abroad coming up all summer long. Next week we visit the west coast and then we're off to Europe where we'll play in Moscow and St Petersburg for the first time. Check the
tour dates page for the latest. We're looking forward to seeing you all out there this summer!
