Thanks to everyone who came out to the Muzzle of Bees showcase last night at the High Noon Saloon. What a wonderful kick off to the Forward Music Festival. I was thrilled to see Cedarwell and All Tiny Creatures live for the first time, and, as many of you can attest, they were brilliant. Milwaukee’s Juniper Tar continues to grown into one of the tightest sounding live bands with harmonies so sweet it’s becoming unbearable waiting for their forthcoming EP.

What can I say about the mighty Megafaun that hasn’t been said everywhere else already? Hearing all the beautiful new material from Gather, Form & Fly cements its positioning as one of our favorites albums of the year.

See Also: FMF09 Review: Muzzle of Bees Presents Megafaun at the High Noon

Discuss: What did you think of the showcase? Did you make it out to any other festival shows last night? What were the highlights of night one for you? Drop a comment with your thoughts/reviews and include who else you’re looking forward to seeing at FMF09.

Photos: Ed Oliver

Buy: Megafaun – Gather, Form And Fly
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MP3: Megafaun – “The Fade”
MP3: Megafaun – “Kaufmans Ballad”
MP3: Juniper Tar – “Birds In Trees” (Rough Mix)

A brand new video from one of my favorite records of the year, The Satanic Satanist I shouldn’t have to share this video because you should already be digging this band as much as I am. After their Lollapalooza and Outside Lands performances I am convinced these guys are one of the best live bands touring the US these days. They be in Madison on October 8th and Milwaukee on October 9th. Don’t miss them.

Buy: Portugal. The Man – The Satanic Satanist
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Myspace: Portugal. The Man
MP3: Portugal. The Man – “People Say”

Music hungry fans in Madison wait no longer, the Forward Music Festival kicks off tonight with a great bill of talent at the High Noon Saloon. Tonight’s line up features Megafaun, All Tiny Creatures, Cedarwell & Juniper Tar. Pretty sweet, right?

The show is open to all pass holders of the Forward Music Festival or available for purchase at the door. Speaking of purchase, check out the amazing show poster above created by Animal Canon. These bad boys will also be available for purchase at the show. In preparation, please take the time to read the amazing interview Paste recently published with Megafaun. First band starts around 7pm tonight, so get there early and we’ll see you there!

Previously: 5 Questions with Megafaun
Previously: Photos: The Rosebuds + Megafaun – Club Garibaldi
Previously: From The Crowd: The Rosebuds + Megafaun

Buy: Megafaun – Gather, Form And Fly

Myspace: Megafaun
MP3: Megafaun – “The Fade”
MP3: Megafaun – “Kaufmans Ballad”

Having just sold out their show at Club Garibaldi in Milwaukee, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros embark on a fall tour that includes stops in Madison and Chicago. The group will play the Lincoln Hall in Chicago on Friday, November 27th and Madison’s High Noon Saloon the following night on Saturday, November 28th.

Tickets: $10 Advance / $12 Day of Show (High Noon Saloon)
Ages: 18+

Previously: Photos: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Club Garibaldi, Milwaukee

Buy: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below
MP3: Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros – “40 Day Dream”

Full Tour Dates:

11/3 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
11/4 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
11/6 – Austin, TX – The Independent
11/7 – Dallas, TX – The Loft
11/9 – Birmingham, AL – WorkPlay Theatre
11/10 – Nashville, TN – 3RD & Lindsley
11/11 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
11/12 – Kent, OH – Kent State Folk Festival @ The Kent Stage
11/14 – Charlottesville, VA – IS VENUE
11/15 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
11/16 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
11/17 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
11/23 – Montreal, QB – Petit Campus
11/24 – Toronto, ON – El Mocambo Club
11/27 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
11/28 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
11/29 – Minneapolis, MN – The Varsity Theatre
12/1 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theatre
12/2 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House
12/5 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
12/8 – Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret
12/9 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
12/10 – Eugene, OR – WOW Hall
12/12 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall

Just a quick announcement letting you know that Langhorne Slim will play at the Exclusive Co. on Farwell tonight at 6:30pm. I know it’s last minute, but please take advantage of this free opportunity to see/hear (and possibly purchase) material from their upcoming album Be Set Free (due Sept. 29th). We’ll see you there.

MP3: Langhorne Slim – “I Love You, But Goodbye”

I realize I may not be the first to push Dawes on your ears. Like many, I got my first listen via their absolutely essential Daytrotter session. Lately, I’ve listened to that four-song offering more than anything in collection. It’s that good.

Fans of the band (or first time listeners) should be pleased with their coming full length, North Hills, arriving September 29th on ATO Records. I have a feeling/hope that it winds up on a lot of year end lists, or, at the very least, on a lot of people’s iPods.

Dawes is one of the many bands heading out on the road next month as part of Daytrotter’s 2nd Barnstorming tour. Wisconsin is blessed with two appearances. The kick off show at Milwaukee’s Turner Hall Ballroom on October 8th and the Treinen Fam in Lodi (just outside Madison) the next night on October 9th. These events are free, so do yourself a favor and put them on your calendar. Madison fans get an encore performance with Dawes opening up for Langhorne Slim on October 24th at the High Noon Saloon.

Here’s a track from their upcoming album, North Hills:

MP3: Dawes – “Love Is All I Am”