THE DARTS formed in 2016 with the goal of making great all-girl garage-rock noise, see the world, and have a fab slumber party every night. We threw on some vintage black slips, threw off our shoes, and set out on the adventure.
In the first six months, we put out two self-produced EPs and signed with Dirty Water Records (UK). In the first year, the label put out our first full-length vinyl release, Me. Ow. (2017 Dirty Water Records). We headed to Eu- rope a bunch of times and never wanted to come home. But when we did, Dirty Water re-released the first two EPs as a second full-length vinyl, The Darts (2017 Dirty Water Records) and we toured all over the U.S. a bunch of times, with great bands like Australia’s The Living End and Billie Joe Armstrong’s The Longshot – and, once again, never wanted to come home. Our idols started noticing, including author Stephen King, actors Drew Carey and Fred Armisen, and punk legends Jello Biafra and Blag Dahlia, sometimes even coming to shows and getting on stage with us. Two years into the project, we were on bigger European stages like Sjockfest, Cosmic Trip, and Roots n Roses, with acts like Turbonegro, The Flaming Lips, and The Dead Kennedys.
In 2018, Jello Biafra signed the band to his label, Alternative Tentacles, and released the third full-length record, I Like You But Not Like That (2018 Alternative Tentacles Records), at a packed Punk Rock Bowling appearance in Las Vegas. We then embarked on an unforgettable coast-to-coast US tour with our heroes The Damned. We found ourselves performing with bands like Rancid and L7, had songs placed on top tv shows like Peaky Blinders, got thrilling reviews in Rolling Stone, made a stop at Mexico City’s superb Hipnosis Fest, and then…the pandemic hit.
But even then, things didn’t stop. Vox hosted an Instagram Live show garnering over fifty thousand views, we played Punk Rock Bowling 2022, made our debut at Seattle’s uber-hip Freakout Fest, and recorded a new 7-inch for Adrenalin Fix Music in Europe. By summer of 2022, we toured all over the US again, performed on the legendary KEXP Sessions, and finished recording a new full-length record (funded entirely by fans) co-produced by Jello Biafra himself. Snake Oil was released on Alternative Tentacles in early 2023 to rave reviews. European tours are lined up well into next year and work is already beginning on the next record. See you out there.
Hunnypot is proud to be THE DARTS official sync representative, ask us about LICENSING!
“Gets even the most apathetic nerds moshing. Crank it!” – Rolling Stone (FR)
“The Darts ‘Take What I Need.’ Very cool.” – Stephen King, author
“Fabulous…I’m hooked.” – Ken Foote, CBS (Dallas)
“One of my new favorite bands.” – Dave Vanian, The Damned
“The Darts smolder and shine like a serpent at the end of a rainbow.” – Blag Dahlia, The Dwarves
“The Coolest Song In The World” – The Underground Garage (SiriusXM Radio)
“Cramps’ spooky punk and Stooges/ raw chaos, by a quartet of garage goddesses.” – RockNYC
“Everyone here is a fan, from Jello [Biafra] to the newest intern.” – Alternative Tentacles Records
“A majestic album of aggressive, wild garage rock. Explosive.” – Rockerilla (Italy)
“The talent in this band is off the charts.” – 50thirdand3rd (FL)
“Like getting hit by a freight train full of inflatable dolls.” – Rumore (Italy)
“One of the most exciting bands on or off the stage” – Turn Up The Volume (Belgium)
“One of the greatest revelations of dirty American rock-n-roll” – Musica Inclasificable (Mexico City)
“The Darts f*ing rock…Best local band of 2017.” – Phoenix New Times
“Best new band I have seen.” – John Carlucci, The Underground Garage
“A knock-out punch.” – Rich’s Rants n Raves (Las Vegas)
“The best girl band in the universe.” – Blog Da Buzzo (Brazil)
“Exciting, sweltering..consumes all of your garage rock desires.” – Java Magazine
“Move over Vincent Vega, I’m going with The Darts. Bloody Ace.” Mass Movement (UK)
“Oh yeah, Nicole Laurenne does it again!” – Genya Ravan, Chicks and Broads
Dearly Beloved,
I invite you to join me in a viewing of a rather non-traditional burial. Whom (or what), you might ask, is the dearly departed?
Love.
That sweet tasting, bad for your health type of love. That blinding, ecstatic, act-a-fool type of love. To that type of toxic, all-consuming fantasy, Little Coyote bids a not-so-fond farewell.
Intimate relationships are an infinitely complex whirlwind of euphoric highs and sickening lows. To quote “Dig Up My Grave”, the newest single/music video from Little Coyote, such relationships can often plague us with this compulsion to “give [our] last breath—give…all that [we] have left.” Lead singer/songwriter Teagan Johnston goes on to punctuate this sobering contemplation with a rhetorical, tongue-in-cheek follow-up: “…because that’s what love is—isn’t it?”
So much subtext to unpack, but first, a bit about the song.
Dig Up Your Grave is an aesthetically minimalist, yet emotionally visceral, visual expression of the struggle to find peace and empowerment amongst the throws of loss and heartbreak. The feeling of momentum that pervades the entire journey of the song is dizzying—dizzying in precisely the same way as the trials and heartache that comprise the lyrical content.
This emotional rollercoaster is only heightened by the visual accompaniment, arranged and choreographed by Aria Evans and Teagan herself. When asked about the underlying narrative behind this heavily symbolic piece, Teagan elaborates by stating that,
“[the] bareness of the setting…is meant to allow the focus to be on the movement of the dancers and the dirt. The dirt was used as a [grave-related] prop for something that…we could use as an outlet to express ourselves. The choices each dancer is making in their movement were chosen by them as ways [they] could represent emotions they could connect with [in regard to] moving on from a relationship.”
The intentionally independent choreography of the dancers does a superb job of reflecting the vast expanse—the chaotic territory that is extreme emotions expressed through the filters of passion, aggression, and rejection. When it comes to vulnerability within the context of romantic—hell, ALL relationships, those feelings can come and go like bolts of lightning in a desert. Such is the same for the visual movement within the video—lightning fast, and sky-high to dirt-low.
The subtext? Don't let such things "bury [you] alive." Instead, confront them. Own them. Choose to use them for your will and you will thrive.
For all these facets, I was happy to have the opportunity to give my thoughts on this video. Life is not always a party. Life has peaks and life has valleys. Embrace both with open arms, and you will know the joy of experiencing a life fully lived.
SYNCHRONIZATION LICENSING (Composition and Sound Recording) AVAILABLE FROM HUNNYPOT PUBLISHING.
Melbourne neo-soul artist Meg Mac has released this gorgeous one-take official video for her new hit single “Roll Up Your Sleeves” off her forthcoming debut EP MEGMAC slated for a September 12 release.
The Sydney native grew up listening to pop soul pioneers of Detroit and Memphis finding herself inspired by big voices laced with attitude and conviction. Meg Mac has cultivated and embodied these elements herself with an evident modern swagger. “Roll Up Your Sleeves” is a song about just that: rolling up your sleeves and having the confidence to make a change. Meg Mac’s confidence is apparent and empowering and translates both through her voice and on screen
Clean Bandit's "Rather Be" has been making the rounds for some time now. With a fun beat to keep the party strong and a flavor for love that is tailor-made for long walks on the beach and beautiful sunsets, it is a song for the season. Go get ice cream in the park you old so-and-so, young love is in the air and it smells like a hit!
Our favorite brotherly duo is back at it with another epic music video. This time for Natural off their Supreme EP. The brothers are known for making really fun, quirky and sexy music videos. Natural is no exception. The camera angles, the glitter, the girl, the massive keytar. It all just makes you want to put on your dancing shoes and climb right up on that rotating stage with em'!
Henri (aka Henrietta Tiefenthaler) is making her mark on both sides of the Atlantic as a DJ, singer/producer/songwriter and fashionista. Henri is a rapidly emerging name on the Los Angeles scene, spinning at some of L.A.’s hottest parties. As a performer, Henri is demonstrating an equal versatility, performing with her psychedelic krautrock band Thrillionaire, and developing her own dance/pop productions. She has a forthcoming EP in the works and this week she released this awesome hoolah hoop addiction/battle video to accompany her first solo single, “It’s Like This, It's Like That” on her label Monstertooth Records. The nu-disco anthem will be the perfect soundtrack to your summer! Henri will be DJing and performing August 25th for Hunnypot Radio live at The Mint. Don't miss it!
The 293rd edition of the Hunnypot Radio Show was true to it's storied history. Featuring indie-dream pop of Seven Saturdays, hip-hop from DoZay, the untameable stylings of Hobosexual, and alt-pop new wave of Cold Blood Club, it was one of the most eclectic nights of music in recent memory - and that was just the live performances!
HOT TUB JOHNNIE and the HP Radio crew put another slammin' show in the books. Nestled in The Mint's confines, Hot Tub Johnnie kicked off the show with and spread the HP love with tunes from Nashville's BEARHEART, LA's , A HOUSE FOR LIONS, HP fav's LUXXURY, LOUIS PRIMA JR., KRAAK & SMAAK, MANKIND, SEINABO SEY, DIE ANTWOOD, and more.
MOLLY BOHAS of North Star Media joined Johnnie in the Hot Tub for a special interview and curated dj set. Molly tipped us to some of her favorite acts at the moment - including new music from HOBOSEXUAL, The Lower 48, GOLD, Aceyalone/Cee-Lo and much more. Be sure to listen back to catch the great interview and DJ set from Molly. 06/16/2014
As a Senior Director of Creative Services for North Star Media, I focus on signing artists, songwriters and composers, plugging songs and placing our diverse catalog into television shows, commercials, feature films, trailers, games, etc. Before working at NSM, I worked the other way around the creative process putting visuals to music for over a decade as a director’s representative for music videos. I was one of the six original members of Anonymous Content and was fortunate to work with some of the pioneers and award-winning directors: David Fincher, Mark Romanek, Gore Verbinski, Wong Kar War, Garth Jennings, Jake Nava, Alan Ferguson, Joaquin Phoenix, Phil Griffin and Chris Hopewell to name a few. I worked on music videos for artists such as: Johnny Cash (Hurt), Jay-Z (99 Problems), NIN (Only), No Doubt (Hella Good), Beyonce (Single Ladies), Katy Perry (Hot N Cold), DJ Shadow (Six Days), Audioslave (Cochise), Prince, Pink, Alicia Keys, Jack White, Shakira, Linkin Park, Beck, LeAnn Rimes and Bon Jovi, Chemical Brothers, Fall Out Boy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Legend and Billy Corgan. I also associate produced six short films for al Gore’s LIVE EARTH environmental awareness campaign, including those by Chad Lowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Malcolm Venville.
Jonathan D. Haskell’s work as Seven Saturdays is informed by the desolation of afterhours Los Angeles. From dimly lit Mulholland Drive to the isolated streets of Downtown, it is in these quiet moments symphonic landscapes emerge; coming together to form the headphone-centric Seven Saturdays. Seven Saturdays began as a creative concept in 2010 when Los Angeles musician/producer Jonathan D. Haskell wanted to sharpen his engineering skills on off days during the recording of his first two EPs (Seven Saturdays – which Stereogum described as “gripping and mellowly epic” – & The Snowflakes That Hit Us Became Our Stars). Over seven consecutive Saturdays, Haskell challenged himself to write, play and record an entire song each day. Not only did this exercise lead to the band’s namesake and a full-length album (2011’s Love In The Time Of Anticipated Defeat), it also grew into something Haskell had not anticipated. “It was really cathartic because not only did a fully realized ambient record emerge from this experience, but that vision ultimately expanded the boundaries of what I initially thought my musical direction would be,” Jonathan explains, “whereas the first EPs were more structured and orchestrated, these ‘ambient’ recordings were free and sonically expansive.”
http://www.sevensaturdaysmusic.com/
http://www.soundcloud.com/seven-saturdays
Born in new York and move to Los Angeles at the age of 3 years, his mom settled in the city of west Covina, which has both its negative and positive influence, but with the help of his step father on his side, Dozay shaped into a respectful, dedicated and hard-working young man. Dozay states,”From the beginning I knew I wanted to entertain people because I thought it was super dope.: Although some consider his music to be more entertaining than regular hip hop/ rap, Dozay still tries to maintain the elements of hip hop in his own work. He always makes sure that he does not stray away from anything else that’s coming out musically and at the same time trying to give his music a bit of a make-up or face lift while trying to keep it real and delivering fresh while having fun at the same time. Dozay loves to entertain. He will always help sell tickets on behalf club promoters to club goers and in return the promoters will let him perform in the clubs for free. Behind Dozay, is the man they call “The African Jew”.(GSE) The African Jew has been in the music industry for over twelve years.
“It’s a sound with scurvy, a creaming of fuzzed amplification that builds and fans out. Way out. Think Thin Lizzie (sic) and Black Sabbath burning on a pyre of Lincoln Logs. It’s a bloodletting of wattage with looping, chunked stacks of heaving guitars. If you’re afraid of the rock, don’t listen.” – Trent Moorman (The Stranger)
Since guitarist/vocalist Ben Harwood began the band in Seattle, Washington near the end of 2009, Hobosexual has been making the most of their local notoriety and having a hell of a great time. They sold out of the thousand-copy run of their self-titled debut CD (Hobosexual, 2010) before they’d toured more than an hour away from home and then recorded a live album at Seattle’s historic Columbia City Theater (Hobosexual: Live At The CCT, 2011), selling all two hundred cassette-only copies in a little over a month, all while they set the standard for other local rock duos with an uncompromising live sound that often sounds a hell of a lot more like a tastefully overdriven heavy metal quartet successfully attempting to drown out an exploding Boeing 747 engine. Now that Hobosexual has become a regular act at local music festivals (including the inaugural Timber Outdoor Music Festival in 2013 and Slack Fest – the raucous summer birthday celebration of KEXP-FM’s music director Don Yates – in 2012 and 2013), appeared on several local radio and TV broadcasts (notably KJR-FM’s Bob Rivers Morning Show, KEXP’s Audioasis with Hannah Levin, and Art Zone with Nancy Guppy), and sold out of their first self-produced line of pre-packaged 3-3/4” action figures, the band is releasing their second studio record, Hobosexual II. It’s fair to say that risks have been taken in making this album louder and heavier than the swampy lo-fidelity blues of their first release.
https://www.facebook.com/Hobomusic
hobosexualmusic.bandcamp.com/album/hobosexual
Cold Blood Club is a dark, indie rock love letter to New York City that puts a new spin on the electro dance/pop sound with an edgy blend of soul and rock influences. Inspired by life in New York and the likes of New Order, Depeche Mode, Broken Social Scene and The Flaming Lips, guitarist/songwriter Tom Stuart (Radio America) began writing songs for powerhouse singer Kendra Jones. What started as a small studio project quickly evolved into a collective of dynamic live musicians. After recruiting former bandmates Jesse Reno (Radio America) to play bass and Brad Peterson (Earlymay) to join on lead vocals, Cold Blood Club was soon joined by wunderkind drummer Shin Kamei (Angela Jane), flame haired violinist Hilary Davis (Bella Koshka) and Adina Benno on keys.
This week Hunnypot would like to send a salute to Sizzy Rocket for her progressive pop rendition of the "Girls" track off of the Beastie Boys debut album Licensed to Ill. Sizzy did what few could do when she successfully reworked the Beastie Boys classic into a fresh new-age anthem for girls and boys alike. The music video is done in a fashion reminiscent of an experimental 90's neon kaleidoscope and through some satirically sexy shots, subtly conveys a statement on gender equality that would have both MCA and Rosie the Riveter singing praises to Sizzy Rocket. Check her out at:
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NYC’s very own Cold Blood Club has a new music video and we are more than proud to exclusively premier the goods. “Michelada” is as pumped up as indie rock gets without sacrificing any nonchalant swagger. Combining influences from seemingly unrelated genres CBC has manifested into a sound all their own. The next time you take a ride on your fixed speed cycle and find yourself craving something new you can’t do much better.
A staple of the Brooklyn club scene, Cold Blood Club is making their way out the west (see: “best”) coast to rock face and keep pace with their ever-growing fan base. And guess what? Surprise motha-lovah! CBC is playing the next Hunnypot Radio Show alongside Hobosexual, DoZay, Nico & Christine, and Hunnypot’s own Seven Saturdays – tune in and don’t miss out!
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