When a band drops an unreleased jam on Minnesota public radio, chances are most people outside of the Twin Cities won’t really catch on. But when that band is Girls, chances are most people outside of the Twin Cities will be trying to figure out how to cop said jam. The kid-tested, Pitchfork-approved act busted out a San Francisco treat for the listeners of the Land of 10,000 Lakes in the form of “Heartbreaker” – a mid-tempo lament that finds lead Girl Christopher Owens pining for a lost youthful love. “When I said that I loved you honey, I knew that you would break my heart.” I think this dude needs a hug. Check it out below or over at the Current, where you can take in a gab sesh with Mr. Owens and hear live takes of Album faves “Ghost Mouth” and “Lauren Marie.”

We’ve made no secret of our affections for San Francisco pop duo Girls over the past few months, their self-titled debut lodged in our hi-fi at the moment. They just announced some brand new dates for the forthcoming new year/decade via the Matablog, a string of winter shows that has them wandering into the Midwest before turning and heading straight home to California where the weather’s more forgiving that time of year.

Tour dates:

11.12 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
11.13 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
11.14 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
11.17 Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11.18 Portland, OR @ Jackpot Records (in-store)
11.18 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
11.20 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
11.21 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
12.04 San Diego, CA @ The Loft
12.05 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
12.06 Santa Barbara, CA @ Muddy Waters

New dates!

01.25 Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
01.26 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
01.27 Albuquerque, NM @ The Launchpad
01.29 Austin, TX @ The Parish
01.30 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
01.31 Houston, TX @ Walter’s on Washington
02.02 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
02.04 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree
02.05 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
02.06 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
02.07 St. Louis, MO @ The Gargoyle
02.08 Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note
02.10 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
02.12 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
02.14 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

Things this actually means: like Girls before them, worthwhile acts like Glasser and Tanlines will get a huge step-up in aid for getting their music out there. Also, the imprint will continue to be managed by founder Dean Bein. So, the whole thing seems like a win-win.

Things this means in bizarro world: Jay Reatard cameo in the next NSFW “Lust For Life” video? On some strange level you can almost picture this making sense can’t you? Think about it… or don’t.  (No, we don’t really want to either).

Matador just announced the signing, and part of their statement included this gem.

“What would possess Matador to become involved with another label in this capacity? As Victor Kiam once explained his decision to purchase the Remington Shaver operation, “I liked it so much, I bought the company.” Needless to say, we like Dean, Girls, Glasser, Tanlines, Lemonade and Hunx & His Punx much more than than Mr. Kiam appreciated those razor blades.”

So, you know, it’s always good to know the dudes over there are pretty sure they love good music more than some rich dude loved knicking his face with a razor. But seriously fooks, this is a good thing. (Via: Brooklyn Vegan)

Tour Dates

10. 14 Brooklyn, NY @ Monster Island Basement
10. 15 Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
10. 16 Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone
10. 17 Atlanta, GA @ 529*
10. 18 Chapel Hill, North Carolina @ Local 506*
10. 19 Washington DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel*
10. 20 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Barbary @
10. 21 New York, NY @Pianos- CMJ
10. 21 New York, NY @ Santo’s Party House- CMJ
10. 22 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands- CMJ*
10. 23 New York, NY @ The Delancey- CMJ
10. 24 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg- CMJ
10. 25 New York, NY @ The Living Room- CMJ @
10. 30 Storrs, CT @ UCONN $
11. 02 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells %
11. 03 Washington, DC @ Black Cat %
11. 04 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie %
11. 06 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom %
11. 07 Boston, MA @ Great Scott %
11. 09 Montral, QC @ Il Motore %
11. 10 Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo %
11. 12 Chicago, Il @ Empty Bottle %

* w/ Japandroids
@ w/ Neon Indian
$ w/ Vivian Girls
% w/ Girls

With their first full-length hitting stores today, Girls are posed to take on the world. If you poke around the Internets today, you’re bound to find at least one mention of Girls on any site where the words “seminal” appear often. But, here at the Tripwire, we ain’t even talking about the narcotic Album, rather four unreleased, acoustic tracks the band laid down for KDHX Radio. The session, which contains “Heartbreaker,” “Lovelife,” “Broken Dreams Club,” and “How Can I Say I Love You,” plays out like a “How to Deal with a Broken Heart, While Breaking Hearts” manual. It’s sad and sweet, and a lot like looking back on old relationships, knowing what went wrong, pining for your ex, then crushing up some Xanax and calling it a night, only to awake the next morning and find out its Groundhog Day all over again. Head over to KDHX to peep the agonizingly beautiful set.

Current FADER cover stars and objects of much Internet affection, Girls are preparing to embark on a lengthy tour that will bring their pop jams to many cities both European and American. In addition, the San Francisco duo’s label, True Panther Sounds, will be streaming their debut LP, Album, this coming Monday, eight days before its planned release on September 22nd. Dates below:

09.10 Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theatre
09.15 San Francisco, CA @ Amoeba
09.21 London, England @ Lexington
09.23 Rotterdam, The Netherlands @ Rotown
09.24 Hamburg, Germany @ Reeperbahn Festival
09.25 Malmo, Sweden @ Debaser
09.26 Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser
09.28 Amsterdam, The Netherlands @ Paradiso
09.29 Berlin, Germany @ Big Bang Club
09.30 Munich, Germany @ Atomic Cafe
10.01 Zurich, Switzerland @ Club Exil
10.03 Barcelona, Spain @ At La
10.04 Madrid, Spain @ Moby Dick
10.06 Paris, France @ Point Ephemere
10.07 Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique
10.09 Nottingham, England @ The Bodega Social Club
10.10 Liverpool, England @ Korova
10.11 Manchester, England @ Night and Day Cafe
10.13 Glasgow, Scotland @ Captains Rest
10.14 Edinburgh, Scotland @ Sneaky Pete’s
10.15 Leeds, England @ Brudenell Social Club
10.17 Birmingham, England @ Academy 3
10.19 Brighton, England @ The Albert
10.20 London, England @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
10.21 Tunbridge Wells, England @ Forum
10.23 Cardiff, Wales @ Y Fuwch Goch SWN Festival
11.02 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s
11.03 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
11.04 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
11.06 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
11.07 Boston, MA @ Great Scott
11.09 Montreal, Quebec @ Il Motore
11.10 Toronto, Ontario @ El Mocambo
11.12 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
11.13 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
11.14 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
11.17 Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11.18 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
11.20 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
11.21 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
12.05 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

We woke up this morning and felt like we just had to watch the video for Girls’ epic “Hellhole Ratrace.” But then we had an idea: most mornings should feel like this. So instead of proffer another post on another indie rock tour (later) or members of the Black Lips beefing with the dude in Psychedelic Horseshit who just so happens to hate Wavves, we found something on the Internet we wanted to really share. We found positive vibrations. Below is a comment left by someone that watched the same Girls video we did this morning:

This song came on when I was at work one day, dreaming about how to slip out the front door with out my boss seeing me. Then Sirius XMU played this beautiful song and I got through Radioshack’s bull shit another day.

Expect more positive cybervibrations from the Tripwire from here on out. Expect them daily.

For new video “Hellhole Ratrace,”  native San Franciscan quartet Girls film themselves and friends drinking, kissing, and having puppet shows with stuffed animals on a wild night out on the town. Slutty hipster girls, pirate swords, slow dancing in diners and watching the sunrise at Twin Peaks? Yep, totally all the city by the bay. Aaron Brown directs.

A limited edition 10″ featuring “Hellhole Ratrace” and B-side “Solitude” will also be available for the Girls’ shows with Los Campesinos! Or, for you antsy types, you can download here.

In anticipation of the September release of their debut album, Album, Girls has been popping up all over the place as of late. In an interview with the Guardian, lead singer Christopher Owens and co-conspirator JR White talk about their many experiences with a wide variety of drugs, taking the reader on a proverbial tour of their collective medicine cabinets. As interviewer Tim Jonze reports, during their interview:

A waiter arrives to see if the pair are ready to order. “Can I get you a drink?” he asks. “Tea? Coffee?”

White spins round, and with a straight face asks: “Do you have any morphine?” There is a moment of uncomfortable silence before he continues: “Relax. I’m just joking.”

Owens also discusses his childhood spent as a member of the Children of God cult. A fascinating interview with a complicated band; can’t wait for the album to be released.

San Francisco stoner pop duo Girls rumbled through New York over the weekend, playing a handful of shows and gathering some more buzz as the wait to their forthcoming self-titled debut LP gets increasingly wee. A couple weeks ago we found a great clip of them covering Cass McCombs’s new classic “Dreams Come True Girl” and today, it’s Vivian Girls’ “Wild Eyes.”

Welsh indie rawkers Los Campesinos! delivered some bittersweet news today via their blog, announcing that while an August tour has been scheduled, it will be the last for bandmember Aleks Campesinos!.

The vocalist/keyboardist/horn player will leaving the septet in order to return to her studies after having just wrapped up recording her final album as a Campesino. Commenting on the departure, the band promises, “The girl will go out in fuckin style; we will make completely sure of that.” San Francisco drug pop outfit Girls will be providing support.

08.04.09 – New York, NY (Webster Hall)
08.05.09 – Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
08.06.09 – Cleveland, OH (Grog Shop)
08.07.09 – Indianapolis, IN (Spin Nightclub) *
08.08.09 – Chicago, IL @ (Lollapalooza)
08.11.09 – St. Louis, MO @ (Firebird)
08.12.09 – Kansas City, MO @ (Record Bar)
08.14.09 – Austin, TX @ (Emo’s)
08.15.09 – Dallas, TX @ (Granada Theatre)
08.16.09 – Houston, TX @ (Warehouse)
08.19.09 – Albuquerque, NM @ (Launchpad)
08.20.09 – Tucson, AZ @ (Club Congress)
08.21.09 – Los Angeles, CA @ (El Rey Theatre)
08.22.09 – Pomona, CA @ (Glass House)
08.23.09 – Costa Mesa, CA @ (Detroit Bar)
08.25.09 – Las Vegas, NV @ (Beauty Bar) *
08.28.09 – San Francisco, CA @ (Outside Lands Festival)
08.29.09 – San Diego, CA @ (Street Scene)
* w/o Girls

Sam Hillmer of Zs has embarked upon a new project, and no we’re not talking about his work with Dirty Projectors or MOTH. Turns out the Brooklyn native and music appreciation teacher is working with underprivileged youths in urban areas of New York to create awareness through music for a program called Representing NYC. But it doesn’t stop there. Hillmer and some of his industry friends will help release Representing NYC’s first project, an album from The Fly Girlz — a group of young girls ranging from ages 12 to 14 from Brownsville, Brooklyn.

The young, all girl hip-hop act will be releasing their first record Da Bratz From Da Ville, which was produced by Excepter’s Nathan Corbin, on Mach 31 via True Panther Sounds (Lemonade, Girls, Standing Nudes). The Fly Girlz took six months to write and record their new album, which focuses on a variety of subject matters, ranging from boys, clothes, school and other troubles that effect the young girls in their day to day lives. Though it might not be the typical sound heard from Hillmer or Corbin, or even from your average hip-hop record, the positivity behind the collaboration on the recordings reigns supreme.

Hillmer’s Representing NYC project has brought indie musicians and producers together with Brooklyn youths, to help illustrate the opportunities and outlets for young aspiring musicians. Steering clear of endorsements and corporate labels, Representing NYC is being funding by a vast group of social organizations including, Brooklyn Public Schools, The Beacon Center For Arts and Leadership, Teen Action, and Sockets CDs, among many others.

To hear The Fly Girlz firsthand, you can listen to a few tracks on the Representing NYC MySpace page, or even better — attend the series launch party on Friday, March 13 at The New Museum, where they will be performing songs from their upcoming album.

That’s it, dudes. I am officially old. At the tender age of 24, it’s occurred to me that I no longer can consume mass amounts of booze like I used to without wanting to crawl into my sweet bed and pass out. What’s happening to me?!

In an effort to try and be even more awesome during Noise Pop, we made grand plans to attend two happy hours before hitting up shows. In addition to Diesel’s free soiree, my own neighborhood was also hosting a treat over at Bender’s. Two happy hours, two shows, and ending the night dancing at one of the best indie clubs in the city. Sounds good, no?

More people were in attendance night two of the open bar hosted by Diesel and Budweiser, and our group squeezed by outfit displays and underwear to settle in and chat. Beer was not in fancy plastic buckets anymore, but snagging a slice of heavenly Little Star pizza sort of made my life for the moment. The local band torch was passed from Girls the previous night to San Francisco’s Birdmonster, who wedged into the compact “stage” set-up to deliver some nice folk buzz. After Birdmonster brought the twang, Live 105 Music Director Aaron Axelsen brought the mega indie mix to the crowd, who now were on their eighth cranberry and vodka and thinking about buying that $60 tank. My friends who accompanied me all proved why we are in love with each other: drunk apologizing to mannequins for stepping on their toes, tipsy dancing to Noah and the Whale, and being supportive about transitory periods in our lives. After all, that’s what your 20s are for, right? Drinking and traveling?

[Birdmonster]

Nothing could have prepared me though for walking out of the bathroom later in the night into the small foray area, and accidentally watching one of the guys from Birdmonster strip before heading back into the party. “You’re like, 10 feet away from the bathroom, dude,” I said amusingly while he finished changing. “Privacy first?”

The second happy hour was never attended as we all needed to talk about booty call etiquette and other relationship advice over tacos, so Goblin Cock was stop one in our tour de force de musica for Thursday night. Three-piece ensemble Warship on once we arrived at the Rickshaw Stop, and I was immediately struck as to how different it felt: so emo, it hurt (pun intended). Drummer-at-the-same-time-singer-too Francis Mark was doing a pretty bad ass job in keeping rhythm as well as scringing (screaming/singing) words. It was actually a little refreshing to have someone hurdling some throaty yells at me instead of crooning. Is that weird?

[Goblin Cock]

Once I saw a gaggle of black cloaks saunter onto stage nonchalantly, I knew Goblin Cock was going to be ridiculous. I love Rob Crow because of Pinback, true, but Goblin Cock is metal. Fierce. Weird. And definitely something else (after all, Crow does by “Lord Phallus” in the band). “We’ve Got A Bleeder” was almost as good as the video I saw earlier that afternoon, all pure rock and roll and random and with green fields and some metal finger signs. Unfortunately, I began to float in between focusing and drifting off; drinking five beers and then trying to be productive is starting to not sound like a good idea anymore. Shortly after some last minute head-banging I managed to sneak in, I decided I wanted to actually see Josh Ritter sometime while not trying to sleep, so I elected to head home to comfy sheets and my stuffed fat cat Doc Holiday. I even bounced out of dancing — my one true love — for some Ritz crackers and wool socks. Who am I anymore? But getting a full night’s sleep is step one in surviving any festivals, so I begrudgingly became responsible and parked my ass at home. How I’m supposed to SxSW or CMJ at some point in my career is not even on the table right now. Clearly, I will die if I attend those festivals, either by extreme dehydration or exhaustion.

(And yeah: someone calling you three hours later from when you first gave him your number at the happy hour? Total booty call.)

In between drinking Budweiser from a giant red bucket and questioning the new indie version of Tawny Kitaen, we managed to bounce all along Market Street for day two of the Noise Pop festivities while blabbering on about shitty housemates and cab driver crushes. You know, the regular.

Tuesday night hosted the first of three free happy hours, courtesy of SF’s Diesel flagship store downtown. While I enjoyed tasty cerveza and local outfit Girls adorned the miniscule stage, I contemplated why there weren’t more free happy hours in the city, and why there were also umbrellas to go with our drinks. Really? Is this Hawaii?

After hometown favorite Omar took reign of the DJ decks and I petted a random puppy that popped out of his owner’s bag, we continued to chill by some pants racks before chatting to Girls’ Christopher outside and talking about the night’s plans. We guzzled a last drink before popping over to The Mountain Goats’ acoustic show at Swedish American Music Hall. I’ve always joked that it was modeled after a high school cafeteria, but the absence of any décor or distinguishing architecture is made up for by the pristine sound the venue produces. Acoustics sound best at this place, and singer John Darnielle’s wry, poetic lyrics nestled quite brilliantly among the crowd. He also produced comedic swipes in between songs that actually were fairly funny: pro-wrestling diatribe, a professed love for Amy Grant, going to Warrant/White Lion shows regularly, and dating: “If I was sleeping with you I wouldn’t tell you to tell me my penis is bigger than it is.” Armed with just a guitar and backed by a lush red curtain, Darnielle’s talent was his selling point. Song “No Children” stood particularly out; “I hope we both die/I hope I cut myself shaving” somehow resonated with me more than I care to admit.

[Mountain Goats]

Pizza provided a refuel of energy before heading over to Sleepy Sun at Bottom of the Hill. Opening band Lumerians were just finishing up, who had a near impeccable rhythm section and were shrouded behind sheets of black tulle on stage. Somehow I seemingly stumbled onto another show with a wall of sound, but thankfully I walked away with my eardrums still in tact (I’m looking at you, Deerhunter).

[Lumerians]

Truthfully though, I did not prepare for the weirdness of Sleepy Sun. Maybe because my beer buzz was wearing off at this point, and maybe that was why I was initially annoyed, but I sorta felt like member Rachael Williams was trying too hard to be sexy. Here was this great prog sound coupled with blues elements and sharp vocals, and yet I was distracted by her shimmying about the stage like it was a dance recital. But then I found out the band was birthed in Santa Cruz and that Williams was responsible for “vocals, haberdashery, and interpretive dancing,” and I was like, “Oh, makes sense.” I just thought she was trying to be an indie Tawny Kitaen and in my head I was going, “Girl, this is not a fucking Whitesnake video. Calm your hips.”

[Sleepy Sun]

After a while though her dancing actually became adorable (because really, people excited about stuff is pretty cute), and I began to focus on the music. Opener “New Age,” which had a principled percussion line complete with clapping, brought me in, and it was a treat to see how five kids younger than me grasped the idea of San Francisco 60s rock, added some maracas and deep bass, and were able to create a manifesto complete of their own style. Maybe the live show was weird for all the wrong reasons, but the music was spot on, and I was then able to see past the sequined dress. No, really.

The rain started to softly sprinkle in when I departed the show; walking home from my bus stop, I hurriedly tried to quicken my pace as to not damage my photo equipment. “Oh mama, get home soon so you can put on some pants!” a dude on the street chided my way, commenting on my outfit. “Sure thing, dude,” I thought to myself. “But this is gonna happen all over again tomorrow.”