This week Cannibal Cheerleader is going to be highlighting our favorite releases of 2010 with an emphasis on artists we haven’t seen on many (or sometimes any) of the major music blogs’ lists. While these bands may not have the hype, resources, cash, or fanbase of Kanye or the Arcade Fire, they have all crafted music of an equivalent mastery in their own right and without a big budget. We begin with one of our favorite acts from the beginning of 2010, Giant Drag.

Like steel-toed boot thudding down into an ankle-high puddle of blood, the Swan Song EP splashes and thunders with a joyous clamor that was well worth the five-year wait between releases from this blasting LA-based duo. Frontwoman Annie Hardy’s lilting voice belies a raucous fury and each of this release’s four tracks flies off the speaker cones when her shriek peaks or a riff careens spinning off the frets. Even when not belting away her haunting croons, Hardy’s pedal-stomping, masterful guitarwork takes the form of a snarling Doberman lending a growling edge to even the sweetest of lyrics. These are love songs with teeth, crunchy breakup tracks with gore and guts abound. The whole EP is over as quickly as it begins, a maelstrom of layered guitars and a walk along the razor’s edge between heartfelt and eat-your-heart-out. Even the closer, the acoustic “Heart Carl” burns like forgetten Zippo, unfettered by the wind and batting back the darkness of some squalid, awesome, rocking night club. We can’t wait for this group’s new album, hopefully out in 2011!

Giant Drag – “Stuff To Live For”

We here at Cannibal Cheerleader have been waiting with bated breath since even before we started the blog for new material from our favorite foul-mouthed ferocious songstress Annie Hardy aka Giant Drag and finally her infamously delayed Swan Song EP gets a release date – Feb. 16th people on Roar Scratch. Get on this immediately folks, check out the tracklist below, the sweet as shit video for lead single “Stuff to Live For” below that, and a live version of “Swan Song” below THAT. Exciting stuff.

Swan Song EP
1. Swan Song
2. Stuff to Live For
3. White Baby
4. Heart Carl

Giant Drag – “Swan Song (live)”

Giant Drag – “Swan Song” (live from France)

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PREY FOR SLEEP TOUR CANCELLED!


“Due to issues with our booking agent we’ve been forced to cancel our upcoming nationwide summer tour”, says lead singer Hunter Townsend of awesome Austin metal act Prey For Sleep. Apparently the booking agent was unable (or too lazy!) to secure spots for PFS and the band was forced to call it off due to monetary issues.
In the meantime though Hunter and the boys would like to know what Austinites or any of their fans want from the band now. Their latest Myspace bulletin reads:

“Here’s a thought.

What do you want from Prey for Sleep in the next few months?

T-Shirts? Lighters? Hoodies? DVDs? Lunch boxes?

Let us know what you need to spread the word.”

So there you have it, let Prey For Sleep know what you need from them by contacting them at their Myspace. A PFS lunchbox sounds pretty rad to me that’s for sure.

The band will be heading up to Cleveland in August to record an as of yet untitled EP, then plans to attempt a nationwide tour in January. Good luck guys!
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SUMMER SHOWS IN AUSTIN – CC CALENDAR

Here’s a rundown of some upcoming shows in Austin that Cannibal Cheerleader will definitely be attending:

5/29 – Faceless Werewolves at Emo’s

5/31 – Riverboat Gamblers at Red 7

6/3 – Ringo Deathstarr (w/ Swervedriver) at Emo’s

6/5 – Frightened Rabbit at Mohawk

6/6 – Ladytron at Stubb’s

6/7 – Alex Dupree and the Trapdoor Band (w/ Balmorhea) at Salvage Vanguard Theater

6/12 – Joan of Arc at Mohawk

6/15 – Grand Ole Party at Mohawk

6/16 – Rilo Kiley at Stubb’s

6/20 – Times New Viking at Emo’s

6/28 – Boris at Mohawk

6/29 – Treasure Mammal at the Opera House

7/2 – Balmorhea (w/ Fleet Foxes) at Mohawk

7/4 – Andrew WK at Emo’s

7/6 – King Khan and the Shrines at Mohawk

7/10 – Mewithoutyou at the Parish

7/17 – Tilly and the Wall at Emo’s

8/24 – My Morning Jacket at Stubb’s

10/11 – Cat Power (rescheduled) at Stubb’s!

What other acts swinging through Austin should I add to this list??
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CONVERGE ARTICLE ON WAFFLES.FM


Hey to all of the readers/users of Waffles.fm, the best replacement ever for Oink.cd in my opinion. Thanks for swinging by the blog and reading the ‘Converge’ piece posted on the front page of Waffles. If you don’t know what Waffles is you should read this article about file-sharing and see if the Oink/Waffles movement is right for you. Until next time, comment people!

Sorry about taking a break for Memorial Day guys, hope this monster post makes up for it! See you tomorrow!

Up at the top there is perennial CC fave Giant Drag (now lead solely by lead guitarist/vocalist/badass Annie Hardy) who seems to be having it rough after getting dropped from a major label. In order to record her second album Annie is needing all the help she can get, so she’s got a ‘donate’ button on her website and she’s opened up an eBay store. Check it and donate/buy cool stuff homies.
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Next up is our friends Trophy Scars who had the rug pulled out from under them on their when their entire UK tour (a venture which required the band members all emptying their bank accounts) got cancelled because of dick promoters. Awfulness indeed but they too have opened up an eBay store and you can check their website for more info about how to help.
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Just so things aren’t all gloomy, check out this rad new artist called
Also, partial ACL Lineup here. Gnarls Barkley, N.E.R.D., Hot Chip, CSS, the Raconteurs, Del the Funkee Homosapien, etc. Sounds okay but hopefully we’ll get some more than this because there certainly isn’t enough indie here to satiate me (though N.E.R.D. does kinda rule…)
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Oh, and here’s the real cover for the new Charlotte Sometimes Album. Looks like it’s gonna be awesome! Can’t wait for the May release!

If you like what you’re seeing, leave a comment!