Here’s a fun band alert for you. THE HOOSIERS have gotten a fair amount of spins in the office of late. The UK band bears a strong sonic resemblance to Hot Hot Heat with their upbeat vocals, jangly keyboards and good old fashioned jams.

Their song “Worried About Ray” had us humming the tune nonstop as of late, so when we discovered the video with it’s great homages to old school monster movies and muted bright colors, we officially became hooked.

There’s even a website dedicated to Ray and all our worries about him, www.worriedaboutray.com. And if you want to take it one step further, call (317) 644-2064 and leave the band a message telling them just how worried about Ray you are.

The topic of this post brings up two of the central issues targeted in the movie Joe Versus the Volcano – Luggage, and Fashion. Can’t help it, I just love that movie.

Regardless, what we’ve got today is the announcement from the Alife Rivington Club that they’ve got the new 2008 New Balance Super Team 33 pack in-store and ready to ship. The theme of this collection being…luggage.

That’s right, the ultra high-end line from New Balance that launched last year is back for ’08, with their first collection coming in three shoes themed on three styles of travel gear. (more…)

The trend of late seems to be getting great indie rock bands and use them to supply the tunes for major film and television franchises. It’s a great marriage because it lends credibility to the one and grants exposure to the other.

So when NBC announced the lineup for their upcoming soundtrack to their breakout show Heroes, it was tough to act surprised. Darlings such as Nada Surf, My Morning Jacket, Death Cab For Cutie, and Wilco will all have songs on the soundtrack.

If that wasn’t enough, the heads of the peacock network have big plans to launch the soundtrack as well. (more…)

KIDROBOT is in yr emlz, saving yr $$$. Two announcements filtered down the grapevine yesterday from that ever-evolving bastion of cool, Kidrobot.

First across the wire in the AM was the announcement that the ’08 spring line of clothing from Kidrobot x Yo Gabba Gabba is up for grabs as we speak, perfect for those on-top-of-their-game parents and their children alike.

Yo Gabba Gabba, the kids show has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue here at Syn HQ since last year. The combination of awesome music and kid-friendly programming cannot be dismissed.

But what’s this…did Kidrobot also announce an oh-so-awesome sale? (more…)

This has got to be one of the SICKEST skateboarding videos ever. Lakai, makers of fine Skateboarding footwear for close to a decade now have launched what is quite possible the finest promo video ever.
Can you see the shoes? Not really.

Are the tricks mind-boggling? Not particularly.
BUT
Is there a sick soundtrack? YES – courtesy of SYN faves M83.
Is it directed by Spike Jonze in uber slow-mo? YES, smoooveness ensues.
Most importantly - DOES SHIT GO BOOM?!

Hit the jump, find out for yourself, and watch it all the way to the end.

Now pick your jaw up off the floor and go about your Friday business.

Los Angeles’ AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT wowed a packed house at Piano’s last night with an energetic and sweaty 40-minute set.

The band performed songs from their debut EP Does This Mean You’re Moving On?, as well as breakout single “Sometime Around Midnight.” Just over a year old, ATE is already making a huge impact with songs that mix the instrumental eclecticism and raw energy of the Arcade Fire, the melodic prowess of Shout Out Louds, and the classic storytelling of troubadours like Bruce Springsteen. With major radio airplay at KROQ and Indie 103.1 in LA, this unsigned band will be signed in the VERY near future!

The band plays The Annex in New York City tonight, before heading to San Fran to play a gig at Noise Pop and a hometown show in LA.

What happens when you Photoshop Garfield and his ubiquitous quips from his own comic? As parody site Garfield Minus Garfield proves, you see Jon Arbuckle for who he really is: a dark, lonely everyman who eats away the days by talking to himself. We find Jon having some shockingly deep existential moments. Basically, it becomes a comic about me having my morning coffee. Enjoy.

What happens when you mix an Austin indie rock band, fencing, and a badass biker? You get the new video from WHAT MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS. The video is for the track “Sultan” and comes from their forthcoming, and first official release on Barsuk, What Doesn’t Kill Us.

The band totally shows off a way more confident side of themselves in the video, which is a bit more stylized than their previous efforts. There’s a point where you think the band is unstoppable, then BLAM! They totally got their assed pwned by one Lance Armstrong! It’s like that guy is more man than any mere mortal. If we can only get Chuck Norris to stop following around Mike Huckabee, we’d have a chance to put Mr. Norris’ equalization skills to good use.

WMMF also just released an e-card for their new album. Peep that here.

You can also catch them on tour in support of the new album. Dates, with Louis XIV after the jump. (more…)

Recently, the office was blessed with a sampling Function drinks, which claim to help us relax, enhance our mood, improve our memory and fight hangovers using the power of all-natural ingredients.

I have to say – so far so good! (more…)

Remember last year when the Playstation 3 came out to an overwhelming “meh?” Everyone was pretty excited about it, until they found out it cost $600, and bought a Wii instead. Well, things have changed since then. They’ve dropped the price; Sony’s Blu Ray (which comes with the PS3) has won the next generation DVD battle; and now this. The always amazing Metal Gear Solid franchise has always been Playstation-exclusive, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots alone is enough to fuel sales of the next generation of Sony video game goodness. (more…)

Leica has been world-renowned for decades as makers of some of the finest lenses and compact cameras around - quite literally the stuff of legends. As an Icon in the world of photography, the name alone lends itself to black and white fantasies of parissian cafes and roman holidays; from a photographer’s standpoint, the name beckons thoughts of superb quality, ease of use, and unparalledled performance in 35 mm formats.

In the age of digital cameras, Leica still remains a legend, though more for selling lenses to other camera companies, or as a thowback for those who like to keep it analog, Leica (as well as others, such as the infamous Holga) “keep it real”. 35 mm film, much like vinyl, being the last bastian of those who prefer a classic outlook on the world, with film and vinyl being preferred to the digital counterparts of jpegs and mp3s. (more…)

Anyone who reads this blog with any consistency knows it’s no secret we’re big fans of THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM. Their popularity seems to have swelled a lot in 2007. Mostly because of an amazing debut record, Sink Or Swim and some high profile tours.

2008 is shaping up to be an even better year for the band. They have a new EP due out in just days in addition to a tour with the Loved Ones. Well it looks like we can add new record label to that list. (more…)