Feels Like The First Time

Invisible Hands Artwork Pillow Giveaway

Sewn by Kristin Anderson from Forced Exposure

March 25th-31st, 2013

Thanks to Kristin Anderson from Forced Exposure, we are giving away one of her hand-made pillows inspired the artwork for the new, self-titled album from The Invisible Hands, available now on Abduction.

The pillow is printed on cotton linen, 16x16 inch, hand-crafted, and incorporates selections from Alaa Awad's mural. Seen on Mohamed Mahmoud street in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, the mural was painted in February of 2012 during the uprising that occurred as a reaction to the Port Said futbol riot where 79 people were killed at a match between Cairo's visiting Al Ahly club and the team from Port Said.

Celebrating the album’s release, our giveaway involves just a couple, easy steps:

- Listen to AshevilleFM.org March 25th-31st to hear the trivia question, crafted just for us by Alan Bishop of The Invisible Hands and Sun City Girls.

- Send you answers by messaging “Asheville Freemedia” on Facebook.

All correct answers will be entered into a drawing, which will take place on April 1st.

Our friends and long-time underwriters at Harvest Records carry the album and are also doing a giveaway, so be sure to check in with them as well.

About The Invisible Hands from ForcedExposure.com:

20. DIIV - Oshin
19. Damien Jurado – Maraqopa
18. The Evens – The Odds
17. Wood Ear – Steeple Vultures
16. Guided by Voices – Class Clown Spots a UFO
15. Guided by Voices – Let’s Go Eat the Factory
14. Lambchop – Mr. M
13. Two Gallants – The Bloom and the Blight
12. Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
11. Lord Huron – Lonesome Dreams
10. Spider Bags – Shake My Head
9. Wooden Toothe – Pachyderm
8. Frank Ocean – Channel Ocean
7. Titus Andronicus – Local Business
6. Beachwood Sparks – Tarnished Gold
5. Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet on Sky
Did anyone need further convincing that Dino Jr is one of the baddest bands in rock history? Since reforming their “classic” lineup DJR has put out almost as many albums as in their late 80’s heyday, and it’s impossible to tell that they took a 16 year break. Dinosaur Jr continues to put out driving fuzzy records that will make your ears bleed.
4. Tame Impala – Lonerism
Tame Impala’s first album Innerspeaker could have passed for outtakes from the Revolver sessions. With Lonerism, they continue to mine the depths of the late 60’s but somehow making it sound ever fresh and present. The days of the acid tests, may be long gone for some, but not these guys.
3. Floating Action – Fake Blood
Groovy and chill. This record is simultaneously the soundtrack to your summer party and a nice warm up for a chilly winter’s night. Danceable numbers mixed with chill tracks help this album flow perfectly. The mark of a great album is that new things are revealed at every listen, after four months and countless spins I know that this record is gonna show me new things for years to come.
2. Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
At one minute Attack on Memory is aggressive and noisy, at the next it’s hooky and poppy. At just under 9 minutes, “Wasted Days” is challenging and aggressive. “Stay Useless” is the catchiest rock song of the year and my favorite song of the year. Lead singer Dylan Baldi is only 21 years old, you can look forward to a lot of good things to come from this band.
1. Spiritualized – Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
Jason Pierce, aka J. Spaceman, is the composer and conductor of a modern psychedelic orchestra. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light, is a simple driving rock record and a huge psychedelic composition of the most epic proportions. Final track “So Long You Pretty Thing” is a moving gorgeous song, a perfect way to end an incredible record. J keeps the rhythm repetitive and grounded so that the guitars and strings can swirl your ears as far into the cosmos as they are prepared to go.

So, Asheville, July has got some live music hitting you where it hurts so good.

On Friday July 13th, Asheville's very own Floating Action will be hitting the Emerald Lounge with Sub Pop's Fruit Bats. Big news for Floating Action-their new album, Fake Blood, will be released via Harvest Recordings (record label of Harvest Records, the best record store) and Removador Records (Jim James of My Morning Jacket's label!!!!!!!!!). This will be the first physical release from Removador and Jim James has been talkin up Floating Action to anyone that will listen (he recently called FA's last album Desert Ettiquette "an unknown masterwork of our time."). Way to go Floating Action, from all of us here at Asheville Free Media, y'all deserve to be heard. That show at the Emerald Lounge is a sort of send off show for both bands-they are both heading up to Louisville, KY to play Forecastle Festival on Sunday the 15th. This year all of the bands at Forecastle were chosen by My Morning Jacket, so Floating Action is going to be playing with the likes of MMJ, Wilco, Cloud Nothings, Deer Tick, Girl Talk, Dr. Dog, Real Estate, and many many more (BTW I'm going to Forecastle! I'll let you know how it goes).

On to the next show! On Sunday July 22nd at the Get Down-Jason Anderson, The Wild, and Wooden Toothe. If you haven't heard Jason Anderson then you need to check him out right now. There aren't very many musicians out there that play with the intensity and the heart that Jason plays with. Honest rock n roll. The Wild is a great indie/punk/rock n roll band out of Atlanta-they are touring hard this summer, then in August they are heading down to Florida to record their new album with Laura Jane Grace of Against Me (formerly Tom Gabel). And if you listen to my show you know about Wooden Toothe, Asheville's rockinest band. Expect to hear some tunes from these 3 bands every show until the 22nd!

NEXT!!! Bele Chere, I know what you're thinking, I'm not going to that hot, drunken upsurdity. Well, the folks that book the music at Bele Chere finally heard our pleas and booked some quality music this year (not that it wasn't awesome seeing Orleans play "You're still the One" in 2009). On Friday nioght at Bele Chere, Lucero is playing. Lucero is out of Memphis and they are equal parts country and punk rock. They are one of the hardest working bands of the last few decades (if not ever) and if you need proof go pick up they're live album, Live-Dreaming in America, and watch the documentary that comes with it. Saturday night at Bele Chere-Dr. Dog! Dr Dog sounds like the Beatles mixed with the Band, I know that is ridiculous to say, but it's true. Dr Dog is an awesome band!

So go see some music Asheville!

Other than all that here's what I've been lovin this summer.....

Cloud Nothings (loud rock n roll with awesome poppy hooks)
Beachwood Sparks (breezy psychadelic country)
The Kinks
The Rolling Stones-Let It Bleed
Spiritualized-Sweet Heart Sweet Light
Guided by Voices-Class Clown Spots a UFO (yeah it's the 2nd GBV album of the year and rumor has it Robert Pollard is cooking up another GBV album and a solo album before the year is done!)

Ben