New music Tuesday was a doozy, and this writer is ashamedly still playing the new Taylor Swift LP (and the super-weird Swift/Aphex Twin mashup), but alas, the internets have rescued us all from ourselves by releasing more fruits that our beloved musicians labor over night in and night out. Here are a few of the most noteworthy tidbits, with video included:
First Aid Kit are coming to The Ritz Ybor next Wednesday, and they’ve sweetened the deal for anyone not yet smitten by releasing a new music video. The clip for the title track from from their brand new album, Stay Gold, was directed by Alex Southam (Alt-J, Chase & Status, Chromeo), and finds sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg gallivanting about the island of Gotland (that’s northwestern Sweden, y’all) amid a technicolor swirl of landscapes, leaves, and the gals’ own elegantly flowing locks of hair. Tickets for the November 5 show are $20 and available by clicking here. Oklahoma songwriter Samantha Crain supports and Bradenton’s own Kristopher James will be playing the pre-show festivities. Doors are at 6 p.m. Watch the video above.
Dev Haynes is a guy who we desperately need to come to Tampa Bay. Last night, the 28-year-old post-soul wonderboy better known as Blood Orange made his network television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and if you’ve ever felt weird dancing alone in your room to the songs from Haynes’ excellent 2013 LP Cupid Deluxe, then the performance might make you feel a little better. “It Is What It Is” is a carefully choreographed number complete with backup dancers helping Mr. Orange through above-ground synchronized swimming moves, and a bonus performance of “Time Will Tell” finds Dev ditching the dancers and going at it solo for a synthed-out depiction of the song that reminds us of Showgirls and Flashdance all at once. Watch those clips — and be on the lookout for a pretty cool guitar solo — above and below.
Speaking of guitar solos, here’s a good reason to stay at home on Saturday night: The Purple One is going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Purple Rain with an appearance on Saturday Night Live. Yes, that’s correct, Prince himself returns to 30 Rock for his first visit since 2006, and Rolling Stone has pointed out that he’ll be breaking the show's rules a bit (are you surprised?). Instead of the normally prescribed two-song performance, Prince and his band 3rdEyeGirl will barrel through what’s being billed as an uninterrupted “eight-minute long jam session.” There’s no telling if he’ll make any appearances in skits, but former SNL cast member Chris Rock will be hosting and the promos for the upcoming episode are pretty funny already. Have a look below.