HEART LOCKED TIGHT.

"The Wire" was always going to be The Song. And now here it is, HAIM's longtime live favorite arriving today in all its studio glory, a relentless glam-rock anthem that steamrolls over literally everything in its path. From the rocket-powered guitars to the alternating rock goddess vocals, it has all the makings of an instant classic. And when that majestic gun-slinging guitar solo drops in, it's game, set and match; all hail the new queens of rock.

STREAM: "The Wire" - HAIM

TOO YOUNG TO QUIT.

Australia just gives and gives and gives. Their latest offering comes in the form of The Preatures, who arrive on the scene like Australia's answer to HAIM with a touch of The Velvet Undergound. With new single "Is This How You Feel", the Sydney five-piece effortlessly carve inroads into throwback pop-rock like it's second nature, all irresistibly sultry girl vocals and fiercely gyrating basslines. It comes off like the perfect midpoint between HAIM and Atlas Genius, and we wouldn't be surprised to see The Preatures following Atlas' footsteps onto US airwaves in no time at all. Suffice it to say, you're going to want to keep a close eye on this lot.

STREAM: "Is This How You Feel" - The Preatures

POPSHOP x GOVERNOR'S BALL.

With Governor's Ball coming in HOT this June in New York, we're very excited to be teaming up with the festival to bring you two very special Popshop shows on their regularly scheduled dates during Governor's Ball weekend. Kicking everything off we've got Popshop NYC doubling as the official Governor's Ball kickoff party Thursday June 6th at Santos, as Swedish pop sensation Kate Boy makes her US debut alongside Chicago's resident party monsters, Hey Champ and Gemini Club. Tickets for June 6th at Santos are currently on sale HERE.

STREAM: "Northern Lights" - Kate Boy

DOWNLOAD: "Cliché" - Hey Champ

STREAM: "Sparklers" - Gemini Club


Then on Saturday, we're bringing you the official Governors Ball afterparty in the form of Popshop BK at Brooklyn Bowl, with a very special live headline set from our beloved HAIM, plus support from Kate Boy as she closes out her maiden voyage to NYC. To call this a big weekend would be a criminal understatement, and tickets for both of these are sure to go fast (and in the case of Popshop Brooklyn, in the blink of an eye) so do. not. sleep. You can get your tickets for June 8th at Brooklyn Bowl HERE on sale this Friday. Let's do this.

STREAM: "Falling" - HAIM

STREAM: "In Your Eyes" - Kate Boy

NEVER LOOK BACK NEVER GIVE UP.

With their latest offering, HAIM are now three releases deep, and as they continue to put the finishing touches on their impossibly-anticipated debut album, it seems people are finally starting to realize just how incredible this record will be. We won't get into that just yet, but if "Falling" is any indication - with its iridescent harmonies, caterwauling guitars, and ultra slick bass licks that sound as if they were express shipped directly from the handsome island of St. Lucia - they have something very special brewing indeed. It's a downward spiral of utmost brilliance, fall head over heels below.

STREAM: "Falling" - HAIM

GOLD040: HAIM

The sisters HAIM have taken both sides of the Atlantic by storm this year, and the buzz looks set to reach critical mass with the release of their new AA-side single "Don't Save Me" / "Send Me Down", out December 10th on Neon Gold and available in the UK via our friends at National Anthem.

From the opening drum kick on "Don't Save Me", you're swept away by a coastal groove that sparks and skylarks on a wave of pure emotion. Then the vocals drop in piping hot, melting on your tongue with the vicissitude of a thousand addictions, and the rest is history. On the flip, "Send Me Down" is a dropkick to the face of unbridled estrogen and adrenaline in the same master rush, all criss-crossing hopscotch acoustics and butterscotch melodies, not to mention a healthy dose of space horns that thrusts the otherwise timeless songwriting headfirst into the future.

Almost impervious to hyperbole as one of those rare bands that actually lives up to the hype, HAIM is the kind of act that ticks all the boxes and then some. Their latest offering - produced by the brilliant James Ford - marks their boldest statement of intent to date and hints at the impossibly massive things to come on their full length Columbia debut next year, arriving just in time for their stateside homecoming at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 15th (tickets available HERE). Limited to only 300 copies in the US, this one will go fast, so get your preorder in HERE while you still can. There's hope in the world, you guys, and it's spelled H-A-I-M .

STREAM: "Don't Save Me" - HAIM

STREAM: "Send Me Down" - HAIM

GIMME ALL YR LOVE.

The latest addition to the Neon Gold family - select copies of their debut Forever 10" EP still available HERE - are the sisters Haim, and seriously guys, it's a love thing. Catch even just one live set of theirs and you'll understand why, or just check out this perfect mini-documentary from Red Bull for an up close and personal look at the girls in their element. Part of Red Bull's Sound & Vision series, it basically plays like an origin story of our three favorite superheroes, and it'll leave you marveling. And speaking of marvels, get ready to fall in love with their newest single "Don't Save Me" if you haven't already, a breathtaking sunny-side-up megajam pooled from our '80s fever dreams, all morning glory hooks and syncopated goodness. GET SAVED.

STREAM: "Don't Save Me" - HAIM

GOLD038: HAIM

The sisters Haim are the friendliest hurricane in the western hemisphere. Over the past six months they've swept across both shores of the Atlantic with their down-and-dirty solar-powered guitar pop, and their debut EP has become something of a life essential for us in a bare necessities kind of way. So we're over the moon (understatement, we're actually kind of sweating and stuff) to welcome the girls to the Neon Gold family this week, as we celebrate with a long-awaited North American release of their Forever EP on Neon Gold. Basically, it's a California dream come true.

The 10" EP drops without warning next week on October 2nd, strictly limited to 300 copies. National Anthem's UK pressing sold out in no time at all and we expect this to do the same, so don't delay, this is music to fall in love to and with. Hold onto your hearts kids, the thrill-seeking journey to the eye of the HAIM storm starts now. Get your preorder on HERE, and get ready for the release and the weekend with an exclusive new remix of "Forever" by The Knocks below

MP3: "Forever" (The Knocks Remix) - HAIM [exclusive]

POPSHOP RADIO 018

With our next Popshop on the horizon, we've got another installment of Popshop Radio for y'all. In addition to a preview of tomorrow's star-studded cast, we also have the newest wave of talent literally in the mix. Featured, we have a Savoir Adore classic, our latest release from POP ETC, and the HAIM anthem of our summer. Also featured is a heavy new banger from The Knocks, Heavy Roc's latest addition to the fam, Alison Valentine, and that new new from our first loves, Passion Pit. So pop this in the tapedeck before you join us tomorrow night at Santos, tickets are still available HERE. It's actually our biggest. one. yet.

1. "Belispeak" - Purity Ring
2. "Peanut Butter" - Alison Valentine
3. "Bodies" - Savoir Adore
4. "Forever" - HAIM
5. "Reptile" - Citizens!
6. "Carried Away" - Passion Pit
7. "Geronimo (Original Mix)" - The Knocks and Fred Falke
8. "Geronimo (Louis La Roche Remix)" - The Knocks and Fred Falke
9. "Memory (Le Crayon Remix)" - Peter & The Magician
10. "YoYo" - POP ETC

POPSHOP018: HAIM + POP ETC

After a brief sabbatical last month, Popshop NYC returns to Santos in a BIG way next week, as we bring HAIM back to New York for their first headline play since selling out their last two shows here in May. Joining them in the co-headline slot are POP ETC, stepping out and making their NYC live debut proper after a warm up last night at the Bowery Hotel, and we've got none other than our beloved Savoir Adore rounding out this star-studded bill for the ages. Tickets sold out hard last time the sisters Haim came to town, so get your $10 advance tickets HERE before it's too late.

STREAM: "Better Off" - HAIM

STREAM: "Hungry Like The Wolf" - POP ETC

STREAM: "Dreamers" - Savoir Adore

NEON GOLD GREAT ESCAPE 2012.

 May is quickly shaping up to be one of the greatest months in Neon Gold Live history. After turning the heat up in NYC with another big Popshop and our special Cinco de Mayo fiesta, we're jetsetting across the pond to show our UK fam some love. It all kicks off in Brighton at The Great Escape, as we team up once again with our partners-in-crime, Chess Club, to bring you a massive Great Escape takeover on May 11 with some of the most talented new acts from both sides of the Atlantic.

First up, we have our resident dreamers Savoir Adore getting things started before Chess Club's latest batch of up and comers takes the reigns, as grunge-pop rapscallions Swim Deep, dream-folk quartet Pale Seas, and soul-charged crooner Chet Faker keep things moving in the early slots. Immediately following, we've got our new favorite ladies, HAIM and Foxes, with their own distinct brands of empowered female glory-pop, before our knight in shining armor, St. Lucia, closes out the night in style. It's all going down at Psychosocial (formerly Ocean Rooms) in Brighton starting at 6:30 sharp, so get involved and get fucking ready for another legendary night to remember down in Brighton.

STREAM: "Closer Than This" - St. Lucia


STREAM: "Home" - Foxes


STREAM: "Better Off" - HAIM


STREAM: "Terms and Conditions" - Chet Faker


STREAM: "Something or Nothing" - Pale Seas


STREAM: "King City" - Swim Deep


STREAM: "Dreamers" - Savoir Adore

NEON GOLD PRESENTS: CINCO DE MAYO

Cinco de Mayo is coming up fast, and what better way to celebrate than with the best unsigned band in all the land and two of the greatest rock 'n roll outfits Brooklyn's seen in years. Yeah, we're doing it up right this year and throwing down big style with our number one lady homies HAIM, hot on the heels of their NYC debut at Popshop two nights prior. And helping them tear the roof off Glasslands will be Passion Pit's own Arab Elvis, Ayad Al Adhamy, and his shit hot new band Team Spirit, plus our resident guitar heroes in Workout - the self-proclaimed #1 party band in New York - getting things started early. We'll have drink specials, good times, and poor life choices aplenty, so come out for this very special, very rare chance to throw down Neon Gold style on a Saturday night with no need to call in sick the next day. Advance tickets are available now for $10 HERE or $12 day of show, let's go New York.

DOWNLOAD: "Forever" - HAIM


STREAM: "Fuck The Beach" - Team Spirit


STREAM: "I Wanna Die With You" - Workout

POPSHOP016: HAIM + ST. LUCIA

Our not-so-discrete love affair with the HAIM sisters hit a new level of amazing at Monday's Popshop West, as their magnificent live show reached new heights (big ups to special guest Ryan Adams) and all in attendance were reminded why they're the best new band in LA right now. And with that in mind, we're thrilled to keep the dream going at our next Popshop NYC, with none other than HAIM and our golden boy, St. Lucia, headlining. On top of that, we have LA's synthwave mastermind Goldroom in the headline DJ slot and heralded Popshop alum Xylos - fresh off a sold out headline at Mercury Lounge - warming it all up. It's all going down Thursday, May 3rd at Santos Party House, with open bar Bomb Lager for the first hour and $10 advance tickets now available HERE. So come join us and our darling buds of May to kick off summer 2012 the right way.

STREAM: "Before the Dive" - St. Lucia



STREAM: "Forever" - HAIM


STREAM: "Mother Protect (Goldroom Remix)" - Niki & The Dove


STREAM: "Summerlong" - Xylos

RUNNING FROM THE EDGE OF KINGDOM COME.

Wildcat! Wildcat! - a band so nice they named it twice. We brought you to the incredibly infectious "Mr. Quiche" a little under a fortnight ago, and they've since kept the gold standard going on the song's exceptional video (above). Then there's companion track, "End Of The World Everyday", which sets the scene with a sunkissed bass line and squinting falsetto-tinged vocals before a luminous chorus arrives overflowing with bright, iridescent harmonies, like MGMT in the throes of a nostalgic acid flashback.

Tonight, the band continue their rapid ascent to the stars as they play the launch party of Popshop West alongside fellow bright young things Haim and Ko Ko. And just added, it's our dudes The Knocks out to give the night a bit of NYC flavor with a headlining DJ set. It's free with RSVP (boom: RSVP@neongoldrecords.com) and is a pretty magical bill through and through, so come out and have the time of your life. Go ahead, this one's on us.

DOWNLOAD: "End Of The World Everyday" - Wildcat! Wildcat!

INTRODUCING: POPSHOP WEST.

Westward expansion was only a matter of time, and now the Neon Gold manifest destiny has been fully realized as Popshop West is born. Back for the very first time, we're teaming up with Hit City USA to bring our monthly NYC mainstay to the fairer coast, kicking off Monday April 9th with a very special, very FREE launch party at The Echoplex. Headlining are none other than everyone's favorite new band HAIM, with support from white hot LA heatseekers Wildcat! Wildcat! and Ko Ko. Then on the decks we've got our resident DJ's Captain Cuts, keeping things moving all night long alongside westside partystarters Guns In The Sun. It all kicks off April 9th from 8pm to late for the low, low price of FREE AS SHIT, so come out and get involved LA, it's gonna be a good ass night. RSVP: RSVP@neongoldrecords.com.

DOWNLOAD: "Forever" - HAIM


DOWNLOAD: "Mr. Quiche" - Wildcat! Wildcat!


STREAM: "Float" - KO KO


STREAM: "Colours (Captain Cuts Remix)" - Grouplove

YOU FUCKED ME UP.

Dudes. Why'd no one tell us LA can be kind of alright sometimes? We just spent a week out there and we're pretty sure we're finally getting the hang of it. It still doesn't hold a candle to New York, but god damn if that west coast music scene isn't going through some sort of golden age renaissance period right now. So much so that we went ahead and fastracked our plans to launch Popshop West (announced later this week), but in the meantime, let's take a quick run through the incredible new bands making LA the hottest scene du jour in the world, starting with the best new band around, Haim.

Hate to say we told you so, but like, guys... we told you so. We had a hunch Haim would be the breakout stars of SXSW 2012, but we were nowhere near prepared for just how incredible they'd be. We're pretty fluent in hyperbole around these parts, but no amount of superlatives could properly communicate just how massive these girls are going to be. Never in our lives have we seen such a sure thing in this industry, and not since Mumford & Sons have we come across a band so thoroughly mind-blowing to anyone who encounters their live show, regardless of taste. So for now, feast your ears on "Better Off" (below) and their debut Forever EP (available for free download here), but be warned, it's just the tip of the iceberg - the live versions of the tracks are a whole new beast, and the massive new songs they have in waiting (see: "The Wire" and "Falling", "Let Me Go") have us all but certain that Haim could be the best (and biggest) band LA's produced in years.

MP3: "Better Off" - HAIM

NEW SHAPES SXSW 2012.

This year, we're getting the New Shapes SXSW team back together again for one more run at the title, bringing you the pond-spanning best of the US, the UK, and beyond in one mega bill. Indoors and outdoors, we'll be using every square inch of the Red Eyed Fly. Outside, we've got Ambassadors, the enchanting Wild Belle, the UK's next great rock band Morning Parade, our resident dreamers Savoir Adore and St Lucia, and of course, the new loves of our life, HAIM. Inside, we've got the equally brilliant stylings of Nathaniel Rateliff, Daughter, Spinto Band, Chet Faker, and the incredible Charli XCX and Ben Howard as the icing on the proverbial cake. And as if that wasn't enough, Andy Rourke of The Smiths (legend) will also be manning the decks all day. It's all popping off March 15th, so get your RSVP in HERE and get involved.

OUTDOORS

12:15pm: Ambassadors // STREAM: "Unconsolable"

01:15pm: Wild Belle // STREAM: "Keep You"

02:15pm: Morning Parade // STREAM: "Headlights"

03:15pm: Savoir Adore // STREAM: "Dreamers"

04:15pm: St. Lucia // STREAM: "Before the Dive"

05:15pm: HAIM // STREAM: "Better Off"

INDOORS

11:45am: Nathaniel Rateliff // STREAM: "Shroud"

12:45pm: Daughter // DOWNLOAD: "Love"

01:45pm: Spinto Band // STREAM: "Take It"

02:45pm: Chet Faker // STREAM: "Terms and Conditions"

03:45pm: Charli XCX // STREAM: "Nuclear Seasons"

04:45pm: Ben Howard // STREAM: "The Wolves"

NEON GOLD SXSW 2012.

It's that time of year again, and after packed out showcases at SXSW 2010 and 2011, we're back with another barnburner for you with our 2012 official showcase. Wrapping up our inaugural Neon Gold Tour at SXSW will be St. Lucia, Savoir Adore and our showcase headliners The Knocks, joined by fellow Neon Gold alums Polarsets and ANR, and the next big things of tomorrow in Brooklyn's Fort Lean and Los Angeles' HAIM. The whole thing's going down at Karma Lounge, just steps from the 6th Street and the epicenter of SXSW at 105 East 5th Street between Congress and Brazos. As per usual, it's 21+ with free entry to those with official SX badges on a first come, first serve basis, so come out early as space is limited and this is going to be a night to remember. Set times and MP3's below - see you in Texas, friends.

07:00pm: ANR // STREAM: "It's Around You"


08:00pm: HAIM // STREAM: "Better Off"


09:00pm: Fort Lean // STREAM: "Sunsick"


10:00pm: Savoir Adore // DOWNLOAD: "Dreamers"


11:00pm: St. Lucia // STREAM: "Before The Dive"


12:00am: The Knocks // STREAM: "R.O.Y.L."


01:00am: Polarsets // DOWNLOAD: "Leave Argentina"

TIRED OF FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

And just like that SXSW is upon us again, but before we go ahead and tell you about everything we've got going on down there, we'd like to introduce you to our pick for breakout stardom in Austin this year. Calling it now, in two weeks time, the name on everyone's lips will be that of HAIM. Born and raised in the City of Angels, the sisters Haim sound like the precocious daughters of Stevie Nicks, reared on the '90s sass of Destiny's Child, with the modern bite of Friends. We've had their debut EP Forever on infinite loop since its modest release last month, and the west coast trio are quickly establishing themselves as one of the most promising new bands in the country.

There's not a misstep or weak moment in sight on Forever, but it's the immaculate title track that's truly heatseeking pop at its finest, an understated anthem for a generation. The gloriously percussive intro paves the way for Danielle Haim's tightly knit melodies to stretch out under unshakable palms, as those blissful girl group harmonies (harmonies for days y'all) and a blistering bassline converge to give you a fleeting taste of immortality. When the claps announce themselves in the last gasp final refrain and spring-loaded synths cut through the mix like diamonds, it's clear we've got a band with boundless potential on our hands. A&R's who caught the sisters' lone CMJ play last fall gushed that they were the best live act of the week (and any that missed it lied to their bosses and said the same), so don't get caught sleeping next week. We'll be bringing you two opportunities to see them down in Texas (and in NYC later this spring), so stay tuned and watch this space.

MP3: "Forever" - HAIM