Counting Crows offer live show downloads

Counting Crows fans can download a bit of concert memorabilia thanks to a new site, livecountingcrows.com, which offers recordings of the group's concerts.

The band's Sept. 29 show from Raleigh's Walnut Creek is currently available in MP3 and FLAC format, along with shows from Charlotte, Jones Beach and Boston. Subsequent concerts will be up a couple days after they happen but are available for pre-order.

At $9.99 for a full concert MP3 download it's not a bad deal. CDs are also available for $21, which seems a little steep unless it came with customized liner notes with photos from the show.

Though it will mostly be hardcore fans to purchase these shows, more bands should do this sort of thing. I'm still meaning to head over to playedlastnight.com and download The Swell Season's show at Meymandi Hall back in May.

Know of any other bands or sites offering this service? Let us know in the comments.

Once Counting Crows finish their U.S. tour in early October, they'll gear up for a round of European dates with our homeboy Ben Folds and The Hold Steady.

Dec. 2 Newcastle Arena (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 4 Nottingham Arena (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 5 Wembley Arena (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 7 Manchester Arena (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 8 Cardiff Arena (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 10 BIC - Bournemouth
Dec. 11 Brighton Centre (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 13 NEC Arena, Birmingham (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 14 Sheffield Arena (w/Ben Folds & Melee)
Dec. 16 Brabanthallen - Den Bosch, Holland (w/The Hold Steady & Melee)
Dec. 20 The O2, Dublin (w/The Hold Steady & Melee)
Dec. 21 Odyssey Arena, Belfast (w/The Hold Steady & Melee)

Free download, album details from The Explorers Club

All you Explorers Club fans out there will be happy to know the band has announced a release date for their first album. Freedom Wind will hit stores in CD and LP format on May 20.

A 7-inch featuring songs "Do You Love Me?" and "Carry Me" will also be available April 8.

Click here to download their first single, "Do You Love Me?"

The Explorers Club will play a couple of shows in Charleston and Atlanta in early March before hitting SXSW. We'll keep you posted on any local shows.

Explorers Club sign with Dead Oceans

Congratulations to Charleston's psychedelic pop group The Explorers Club for signing a record deal with Dead Oceans.

The group will release a single this fall with a full album coming in early 2008.

Here's what Dead Oceans had to say about their new friends.

"About halfway through the first song, we knew we were witnessing something special. Already having been charmed by the Explorers Club’s self-released recordings, seeing this band live was a head-over-heels moment. It was love at first sight."

We agree! Congratulations again to the band.

And as a gift from Dead Oceans, check out this free download of "Last Kiss," mixed by Stuart Sikes (Loretta Lynn, White Stripes, Cat Power). The song originally appeared on the group's UK 7 inch.

The Explorers Club - "Last Kiss" [mp3]

Oh yes, there's more on Annuals

Annuals have a UK only EP entitled Big Zeus out now. It's not available here in the States (except via import which is quite pricey), but here's an mp3 on one of the songs. It's called "Easy My Mind."

Also, the band recently recorded an acoustic live session and an interview for the AOL podcast, The Interface. Stream/download that performance HERE or on iTunes. It features the songs "Dry Clothes," "Ease My Mind," Ida, My" and "Bleary Eyed."

It never ends.


Download Be He Me on iTunes

Annuals live session. Download now!

The good people at daytrotter.com have brought us a brand new live session, this time featuring Raleigh/Chapel Hill buzz band Annuals. The band stopped by Daytrotter Studios at the end of their last tour to record the session. Click the link below to listen and download four live versions of songs from Be He Me and read the story of their sleepless adventure on the day of the session.

Annuals Daytrotter session

Also, don't forget to check out the band on Late Night with Conan O'Brian on January 18 and at the Cat's Cradle on January 22 (the band will be opening for The Dears).