The fellas of 1,2,3 (formerly of Pittsburgh’s version of  The Takeover UK) return with their latest 7” single “Going Away Party” off UK indie imprint Chess Club/Rough Trade. Boasting a soupy disco bass line and dripping with androgynous glam sex appeal, the track is yet another fine step in the progression of 1,2,3′s sound.  While the group’s first single “Confetti” was comprised almost entirely of a slow and boozy guitar stomp, “Going Away Party” is nimble and tight,  showcasing a handful of small production flourishes (hand claps, whistles, a bongo/bossa nova breakdown in the bridge) and a massive sunshower of a hook. After spending the better part of the year in the UK hype machine, keep an eye out for 1,2,3 coming back to Pittsburgh soon.

1,2,3 – Going Away Party

Pittsburgh’s consummate garage rockers are back after a long layoff since 2008′s Season of Sweets with a small, but potent, explosion of swagger with the Wandering Eye 7”, out now on These Are Not Records.

“Wandering Eye” doesn’t mess with the formula that made The Modey’s so impressive in the first place: snarling chainsaw guitars with handfuls of solos, cocksure, quietly cool vocals and a caveman beat that barely keeps the whole thing from spiraling out of control.

Side B’s “Cheetah’s for Chariots” lurches forward slowly like a Marc Bolan lullaby: sinister, sexy and lethal in large doses.  While it’s not nearly as compact as “Wandering Eye,” “Cheetah’s” gets the menacing atmosphere out front and center, making that lava field on the record sleeve’s artwork seem more appropriate with each listen.

It’s good to see Pittsburgh’s favorite sons put out new material after some time away (which included a now legendary performance in front of Girl Talk last summer) and appearing as if the hiatus sharpened their focus rather than dulling it.  No shows are lined up for the time being but pay attention Pittsburgh, The Modey Lemon will be back for good.

The Modey Lemon “Wandering Eye”

For the first time since like June of 2009, the updated concert calendar through April is available for your viewing pleasure.  I also made a point to include Morgantown fixture 123 Pleasant Street as a concert venue worth your attention, considering they get just as many national tours, Pittsburgh acts and home grown bands from West Virgnia (Librarians, anyone?) playing their stage as any other venue in the steel city.

Regardless, in my opinion there are a few highlights: Surfer Blood, The Heligoats, Real Estate, The Smith Westerns, Girls, The Dum Dum Girls, Baroness, and last but not least The Hold Steady. But, I have to say, St. Vincent coming to town in a little over a week is making me giddy.

St. Vincent (a.k.a. Annie Clark) skipped over the burgh in the spring of 2009, touring in support of her near perfect sophomore LP Actor.  This time around, Joker Productions snagged the Brooklyn songstress along with Swedish, bluesy/freak folkers Wildbirds and Peacedrums for what surely is the most anticipated show of the next month at Diesel on February 21st.  Expect a show review to follow, in the meantime enjoy St. Vincent’s “Actor Out of Work” and “Save me From What I Want” and Wildbirds and Peacedrum’s “Doubt/Hope.” Tracks after the jump.

St. Vincent – Actor Out Of Work

St. Vincent – Save Me From What I Want

Wildbirds and Peacedrums – Doubt/Hope

Mr. Andrew Bird, whose own show at the Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland is slowly creeping up on April 7,  gets to be the poster boy for Speed of the Pittsburgh Sound’s new, spiffier, more comprehensive concert calendar for April and May that has just been posted (and because I’m in a fairly euphoric mood after compiling all that concert data, I’ll post a couple tracks off Andrew Bird’s latest, Nobel Beast, down below).

It’s chalk full of small local acts, quality national tours, and massively huge arena shows that will no doubt cost an arm and leg to attend.  Some highlights include:  Andrew Bird (obviously), Kings of Leon with The Walkmen, TV on The Radio with The Dirty Projectors, and last but certainly not least, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.  It’s not easy to prioritize such a healthy concert calendar and with a new job on the horizon, I don’t see myself getting to as many shows as I would like.

There are also a couple shows I clipped off because I refused to keep any March dates present on the page and they would be: Antlers w/ Olympus Mons and Casino Bulldogs this Friday at the Brillobox, Meeting of Important People’s CD release party on Saturday at the Brillobox, The Gaslight Anthem w/ Heartless Bastards and Good Old War at Mr. Small’s on Sunday, and Handsome Furs w/The Cinnamon Band at the Brillobox next Tuesday.   For Pittsburgh’s music scene it’s business as usual, kicking ass and taking names.  Let’s hope the summer months can keep the city bumping.

P.S. If we don’t have your band’s gig posted on the concert calendar, feel free to email us at bowmanpatrick@ymail.com and we will add it as soon as humanly possible.

Andrew Bird – Fitz and the Dizzyspells

Andrew Bird – Effigy