ALL THINGS GOLD 008: NIKI & THE DOVE

This month's ALL THINGS GOLD showcase with our All Things Go brethren provides us with yet another perfect excuse to make memories in our nation's capital. This time around, we have Swedish debutantes Niki & The Dove playing their first ever US headline show (a couple days before they slay our pre-SXSW New Shapes party with Charli XCX and Clock Opera at Knitting Factory). Supporting will be NYC's finest, the inimitable Gordon Voidwell, getting things started early and electro-masseur Lightwaves will be manning the decks throughout. All that plus a special guest DJ headliner ready to bring U Hall to its knees in their first ever DJ gig in the DC. We've probably already said too much, but trust us it's going to be BIG. It's all going down at U Street Music Hall on March 8th at 9pm, and you can cop your tix HERE.

STREAM: "The Drummer" - Niki & The Dove


DOWNLOAD: "XO Boyfriend" - Gordon Voidwell

WRITE MY STORY DOWN.

Our Fort Lean 7" drops tomorrow, and we're stoked to be unleashing their first physical release into the world together with our dudes at Black Bell Records. We already shared our thoughts on the escapist pleasures of A-side "Sunsick", but flipside stunner "Precinct" is a slow-burning lament that lights the way and then ashes on your expectations. Keenan Mitchell's arresting vocals bay at the rising moon and drift towards classic rock guitars that curl up like a shadowy come-hither. Once the drums crash and the four corners cave in, you know this is the triumphant jailbreak scene. Without a shred of doubt in our mind, Fort Lean are the best new rock outfit in NYC by miles, so get your order of the single from the Neon Gold Shop in HERE. Oh yeah, and if you're in New York tomorrow, we're properly celebrating with a single release blowout at our new haven of rage, Santos Party House. Tickets are HERE, doors are at 8pm, see y'all there?

MP3: "The Precinct" - Fort Lean [exclusive]

NEW SHAPES NYC: DJANGO DJANGO + MORE

Because one of anything is never enough (and for those of you who can't/won't make it out to Brooklyn), we're ready to announce round two of our pre-SXSW New Shapes weekend. It's all going down in Manhattan at our new live headquarters Santos Party House two days later, on March 12th. This time out we've got Clock Opera and Charli XCX back for another round of blinding pop brilliance, as they open things up for another one of London's finest in experimental popstars Django Django. These New Shapes shows will most likely be our biggest shows of the spring and considering how fast tickets are selling for our Brooklyn show the Saturday prior, we highly recommend snapping up a pair HERE before it's too late.

STREAM: "Default" - Django Django


STREAM: "Once And For All" - Clock Opera


DOWNLOAD: "I'll Never Know" - Charli XCX

MIXING MY EMOTIONS.

We couldn't possibly be more all about Athen's primary guarantors of good vibes, Reptar. Ever since they first premiered "Sebastian" on Neon Gold TV last year (back when it was still spelled "Sebastien"), we've been dying to hear the studio version in all its Ben Allen-produced splendor. Our wish finally came true today, and yeah, it's everything we hoped it would be and more. From the first notes of jangly guitars and house party beats, we couldn't feel more at home. Frontman Graham Ulicny is like a southern fried cross between Ezra Koenig and Isaac Brock, flaunting reverb-coated hooks with a punch-drunk, impassioned cadence and leading an incredible singalong bit that's likely to be the highlight of live shows for years to come. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for their debut record, Body Faucet, out on Vagrant May 1st.

MP3: "Sebastian" - Reptar

BLOOD WILL DRIP THE COLOR GOLD.

Charli XCX keeps the hit streak alive with her latest offering "I'll Never Know", recorded as part of some Red Bull/Fashion Week thing that we don't totally understand but are FULLY down with if it means new Charli for our ears, which - thankfully - it does. We'd venture to describe it to you in some kind of detail, but Yasi over at Cultist pretty much smashed it with her whole "drinking pina coladas at the beach with Robert Smith" thing, so we'll just quit while we're ahead and point you to the download link below. As well as the ticket link to her first ever US show (with Niki & The Dove! and Clock Opera!), which we'll be putting on at Knitting Factory next month.

DOWNLOAD: "I'll Never Know" - Charli XCX

NEW SHAPES BROOKLYN: NIKI & THE DOVE + MORE

By now you're likely well familiar with our annual New Shapes extravaganza every CMJ, but now it's time to introduce it to the spring as we establish a new Neon Gold tradition. The weekend prior to SXSW will henceforth be celebrated (by precisely no one but those attending) as New Shapes weekend, as we look to bring those of you unable to make the trip down to Austin our picks to steal the show as the reigning acts of SXSW. This year's festivities will be a two night affair, popping off Saturday March 10th in Brooklyn with a second night to follow Monday March 12th in Manhattan.

It all kicks off at the Knitting Factory March 10th, as we bring you a triple threat of our favorite new international acts in Niki & The Dove, Charli XCX and Clock Opera, plus one of the best new bands in the NYC in Ghost Beach. For Niki & The Dove it'll be their first NYC headline play, while Clock Opera and Charli XCX will be playing in our fair city (and on US soil in the case of Charli) for the first time ever. All signs point to this being one of our biggest events of the spring and tickets have already been selling like hotcakes on the back of the Knitting Factory's soft announce last week, so move swiftly and get your tickets NOW before it's too late.

DOWNLOAD: "The Drummer" - Niki & The Dove


DOWNLOAD: "Mother Protect" - Niki & The Dove


STREAM: "Nuclear Seasons" - Charli XCX


STREAM: "Lesson No. 7" - Clock Opera


DOWNLOAD: "Too Young" - Ghost Beach

SHAKE IT FOR YOUR HOLY GHOST.

With only a few more weeks to go before the long-awaited release of her debut album, our girl Alex Winston goes under the knife of 17 year old J£ZUS MILLION on this chopshopped remix of "Choice Notes". Precisely splicing Winston's vocals over pounding beats and whirring synths like the demented bastard child of Clock Opera and Star Slinger, J£ZUS shifts to warp drive in the chorus as you hurtle towards an ominous conclusion. Yet another remix trophy for Winnie's mantle.

DOWNLOAD: "Choice Notes" (J£ZUS MILLION Remix) - Alex Winston

ALL THINGS GOLD PRESENTS: BREAKFAST AT NIGHT

Don't worry DC, we didn't forget about you. While NYC gets Chiddy Bang as the special guest headliner at Popshop next month, we're bringing them to you two days prior on their album release date of February 28th, presented by All Things Go and yours truly for a very special ALL THINGS GOLD to remember. To celebrate the album, we're calling it Breakfast At Night and will be bringing you Chiddy Bang live at 11pm, followed up by a face-melting DJ set from the almighty Xaphoon Jones into the early hours. Going to be a LARGE night to say the least. Doors are 10pm with only 300 advance $10 tickets available HERE before they're $15 on the door, so get going as these won't last long.

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POPSHOP014: CHIDDY BANG + THE KNOCKS

Time to unveil the special guest for POPSHOP014, which will also be doubling as the official launch party of the Neon Gold Tour. We're thrilled to welcome Chiddy Bang to the Popshop stage for a very special underplay for the duo, celebrating the release of their debut album Breakfast earlier that week on February 28th. In order to bring you this supersized lineup we've had to bump the ticket price up to $15 adv and $20 day of show, so congrats to the large number of you who followed our advice and cashed in on the $10 early bird tickets over the last few weeks.

With less than two hundred tickets to remaining and this being our biggest Popshop bill yet, we'd recommend you RUN, not walk, to our Popshop ticket page to lock down your spot for March 1st. This should sell out in a heartbeat, so don't sleep NYC. Oh and shouts to Bomb Lager for the one hour of complimentary beer for 8pm-9pm, as if you needed another reason to come out for this.

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