Capital Cities

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Biography

Capital Cities (formed 2010)

Capital Cities are an American indie pop group from Los Angeles, California. Most famous for their single 'Safe and Sound' released on their 2011 debut EP, the band's current members are Ryan Merchant (singer, guitarist, keyboard), Sebu Simonian (singer, keyboard), Manny Quintero (bassist), Spencer Ludwig (trumpet), Nick Merwin (guitarist) and Channing Holmes (drummer).

Formation: Merchant and Simonian originally formed the band back in 2010 after meeting on Craigslist. Following some jingle-writing for commercials and advertisements they formed the duo Capital Cities. 

Musical Career: June 2011 saw the release of the group's debut, self-titled EP through their label Lazy Hooks. 'Safe and Sound', the duo's lead single from the EP, received wide exposure and reached the number one spot on the US Alternative songs chart. As well as going multi-platinum in countries across the globe, the track has also been used in promotional campaigns for HBO, Smart Car, Microsoft and Mazda, and was heard in a German Vodafone commercial. Capital Cities signed with Capitol Records in 2012 and released their debut album, Tidal Wave of Mystery, in collaboration with Lazy Hooks. Produced and mixed entirely by the duo themselves the record peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard 200. 

On April 23rd 2013 Capital Cities went on their first North American tour with special guests Gold Fields. The duo's gig at New York City's Irving Plaza sold out two months in advance. Capital Cities have also performed at ULTRA, SweetLife, Sundance and SXSW.

Directed by Grady Hall (Beck, Modest Mouse) and filmed in the newly renovated Los Angeles Theatre, Capital Cities launched the official music video for 'Safe and Sound' on April 25th, 2013 on VEVO. The video features a mash-up of the past 100 years of dance, and won a 2013 MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects as well as receiving a Grammy nomination. By May 2013 'Safe and Sound' had reached number one on the German Singles Chart. They were nominated for a Grammy for their 'Kangaroo Court' video. They supported Katy Perry on her Prismatic World Tour.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

Brian Wilson Brings A Modern Twist To Upcoming Solo Album 'No Pier Pressure'


Brian Wilson Beach Boys Joe Thomas Kacey Musgraves Nate Ruess She & Him Capital Cities

Brian Wilson goes solo again with his forthcoming, pun-laden album release 'No Pier Pressure' which marks his return to former band The Beach Boys' home label Capitol Records and will hit shelves in April.

Brian Wilson at Hop Farm Festival 2014
Brian Wilson returns solo

'No Pier Pressure' is Brian Wilson's eleventh solo venture and follows his 2012 50th anniversary reunion album with The Beach Boys' entitled 'That's Why God Made the Radio', a record which reached number 3 in the US charts and became their highest charting album since 1965's 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)'. The new album also marks his first collection of original material since 2008's 'That Lucky Old Sun'.

Continue reading: Brian Wilson Brings A Modern Twist To Upcoming Solo Album 'No Pier Pressure'

Various Artists - The Giver: Music Collection Album Review


As someone who's long been a fan of the book, to see 'The Giver' movie finally come to fruition has been quite the nostalgic trip. Headed and ended by OneRepublic and featuring rising stars such as Tori Kelly ('Silent'), Capital Cities ('One Minute More') and other solid up-and-comers in the music industry, 'The Giver: Music Collection' has a perfect mix of superstar power and the flair of still-indie but progressively more mainstream acts to inspire confidence in its pedigree. But is that confidence warranted?

The Giver: OST Music Collection Album Review

One Republic's first track 'Ordinary Human' has a pleasant synthetic backing and uplifting, optimistic lyrics that, with a certain "sci-fi" vibe, is reminiscent of Muse combined with the nouveau-disco feel common to contemporary popular music. 'One Minute More' plants the album more firmly in the territory of contemporary pop-rock with a light, airy and upbeat tone alongside, again, positive lyrics, and some interesting mid-paced synth. From there we go into the only female vocals on the album with Tori Kelly's 'Silent', which is a competent acoustic guitar song with a country twang. Where 'Silent' takes that distinct country flavor, 'Feel What's Good' by Jake Bugg brings in a dash of classic rock in some electric guitar. It's not strictly acoustic, of course, but it maintains a certain soulful element to its lyrics that resembles that of more acoustic and instrumental music. Bruno Major's 'Children' is more stripped down, its lyrics taking center-stage over a lightly strumming guitar.

Rixton's 'Whole', oddly enough, sounds more like a OneRepublic song than the actual OneRepublic. The music seems unnecessarily slow to the point of lethargy. However, Rixton give way to album highlight Aloe Blacc's 'Here Today'; the strong vibe of gospel and blues give it a certain dynamism and very inspirational quality. 'Shine My Way' by Sheppard has a lot of the same sound, and its more subdued lyrics carry all the richness that the swinging beat demands. The album departs with two more acoustic style songs - NEEDTOBREATHE's 'Difference' and OneRepublic's closer 'I Lived'. 'Difference' is slow and somber throughout, invoking the same vibe that made 'Children' work, while 'I Lived' picks up the pace around the time it gets to the bridge.

Continue reading: Various Artists - The Giver: Music Collection Album Review

Experience Sun, Sand And Sensational Sounds At Hangout Festival 2014


Black Keys Queens Of The Stone Age The 1975 The Killers Pretty Lights Flaming Lips Fitz & The Tantrums Chance the Rapper Wild Belle Robert DeLong Outkast Jack Johnson Bastille The Avett Brothers Capital Cities Tom Odell Wild Cub

Alabama's sun-soaked, sold-out Hangout Music Fest begins officially today (May 16th 2014) following yesterday's kick-off party - and there's almost too much fun to take in.

Set against the glorious backdrop of Gulf Shores' pure white beaches, this festival truly is the place to 'hang out' this weekend with top headliners The Black Keys, The Killers, Outkast and Jack Johnson leading the talent-studded bill. Acts such as Jack Antonoff's latest project Bleachers, CLASSIXX and Bonobo's DJ set went down a storm at the Discover Great Thursday Kickoff Party, but don't worry if you missed it because things are getting even better over the rest of the weekend.

The Black Keys performing live in Manchester
Headliners The Black Keys open the festival today

Continue reading: Experience Sun, Sand And Sensational Sounds At Hangout Festival 2014

Lana Del Rey And Foster The People Headline Sweetlife 2014 This Weekend!


Lana Del Rey Foster The People Fitz & The Tantrums Bombay Bicycle Club Bastille Chromeo 2 Chainz Capital Cities St. Lucia Hozier

Sweetlife Festival 2014 Logo

Billed as 'a music and food festival', Sweetlife 2014 is set to offer the best of both with their single day event this weekend (May 10th 2014) at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

With the grand setting of masses of surrounding forestland, Sweetlife has developed into a much-loved annual party since its inception in 2010 when it was simply a small event held outside the Sweetgreen food destination in Dupont, Washington DC. And yet, it has maintained its solid ethics of green living and healthy eating, enforcing this with offers of local produce and green set-ups such as solar powered stages, composting waste disposal and recycling units. To make it even better, all proceeds from the event go to a very worthy charitable cause!

Continue reading: Lana Del Rey And Foster The People Headline Sweetlife 2014 This Weekend!

Outside Lands Brings You The 2014 Line-Up! Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, Duck Sauce, Jagwar Ma And More


Tom Petty Arctic Monkeys Flaming Lips Haim Local Natives Phosphorescent Warpaint Tiesto Disclosure SBTRKT Holy Ghost! Duck Sauce Capital Cities CHVRCHES Jagwar Ma Courtney Barnett Kanye West The Killers

Outside Lands 2014 festival logo

Possibly the only major festival where you can enjoy fine gourmet cuisine while rocking out to an eclectic variety of international artists, Outside Lands has now unveiled the 2014 line-up as it prepares to return to San Francisco this August.

We just can't express our excitement enough at the newly revealed line-up for Outside Lands this year. Topping the bill are the likes of Kanye West, The Killers and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers; three very different artists which see the latter become the first act ever to headline twice following their incredible set in 2013. Now in its seventh year, Outside Lands are showing signs of development every single summer, and at much benefit for the city with a percentage of every ticket sale going to San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department.

Continue reading: Outside Lands Brings You The 2014 Line-Up! Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, Duck Sauce, Jagwar Ma And More

Tamar Simonian, Sebu Simonian and Capital Cities - Universal Music Group 2014 Post-Grammy Party At The Ace Hotel Theater - Los Angeles, California, United States - Sunday 26th January 2014

Tamar Simonian, Sebu Simonian and Capital Cities
Ryan Merchant, Sebu Simonian and Capital Cities

Katy Perry Reveals Prismatic World Tour Supporting Artists

Posted on16 January 2014

Katy Perry Reveals Prismatic World Tour Supporting Artists

Passion Pit And Two Door Cinema Club To Play At Coastline Festival 2013


Passion Pit Two Door Cinema Club Matt And Kim Fitz & The Tantrums The Joy Formidable The Neighbourhood The Mowgli's Surfer Blood Blondfire Capital Cities St. Lucia

Coastline Festival 2013 logo

Florida's Coastline Festival 2013 is set to arrive in less than two weeks, bringing with it a handful of the recent indie and rock sensations as well as great beer and great food.

The festival will hit the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa on November 9th 2013 before moving to the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm on the 10th. It describes itself as a 'A Musiculinary Experience' - and that it certainly will be with an absolutely stellar line-up led by Massachusetts' Passion Pit, whose second album Gossamer was in the top five on the US Album Chart last year, and Irish collective Two Door Cinema Club who topped their Nation's charts with their sophomore release.

Continue reading: Passion Pit And Two Door Cinema Club To Play At Coastline Festival 2013

Welcome To True Music Festival's Inaugural Event This December


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True Music Festival 2013

Arizona's True Music Festival marks its debut this December 2013, seeing a range of different artists of all genres coming together to support music events as all-year round fun.

The Salt River Fields at Talking Stick stadium complex in Scottsdale, Arizona will be hosting this inaugural occasion on December 14th, and it will no doubt have people talking for weeks after. A handful of acts have been announced so far - enough to whet the appetite and get ticket sales seriously rolling. 

Continue reading: Welcome To True Music Festival's Inaugural Event This December

Fitz And The Tantrums Co-Headline 'The Bright Futures Tour' 2013 With Capital Cities

Posted on07 August 2013

Fitz And The Tantrums Co-headline 'The Bright Futures Tour' 2013 With Capital Cities

Life Is Beautiful 2013 Announces Additional Music Acts Including Vampire Weekend And Alabama Shakes

Posted on02 August 2013

Life Is Beautiful 2013 Announces Additional Music Acts Including Vampire Weekend And Alabama Shakes

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