Smith Westerns are an indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Their musical influences include David Bowie, Marc Bolan, T. Rex and Brit Pop
Their self-titled debut album was released on HoZac Records on June 5, 2009. Most of the album was recorded throughout the winter and early spring in Max Kakacek's basement.
They released a new single, "Weekend", on November 4, 2010, from their most recent album Dye It Blonde, which was released on January 18, 2011.
Most recently, they have been opening band for the Arctic Monkeys in their Suck It and See Tour
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Want to get a snapshot of last year's best music? In our Best of 2011 radio station, you'll hear songs from the artists who provided our 2011 soundtrack. No matter what your taste -- indie rock, jazz, doom metal or avant-folk, you'll find it here in eMusic's Best of 2011 Radio. more »
Four years ago, I flew from Portland to New York to see my favorite band, New Zealand's garage-pop trio the Clean, play three shows at a glorious pit called Cake Shop. The openers were Crystal Stilts, a Brooklyn group with no records out whose moody and noisy music pushed all the right buttons. I quickly befriended the group, especially guitarist JB Townsend and his then-girlfriend Frankie Rose, whose own band Vivian Girls were soon-to-be favorites.… more »
File Under: Trashy garage rock and punk, with a smattering of catchy pop
Flagship Acts: Smith Westerns, Dum Dum Girls, Woven Bones, Box Elders, Wizzard Sleeve
Based In: Chicago, Illinois
In less than five years, Chicago's HoZac has released close to 80 records, and while it's easy to categorize the majority of that batch under the nebulous "garage/punk" umbrella, the label has dabbled in pop and folk as well. In fact, the Windy City imprint's catalog is all… more »
File Under: From raw, gutbucket blues to soul, rock and pop with a similar unspoiled spirit
Flagship Acts: R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Solomon Burke, the Black Keys, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, Dinosaur Jr., Wavves, the Walkmen, Smith Westerns, Yuck, Tennis
Based In: Oxford, Mississippi
Like the Delta bluesmen whose records he started Fat Possum to release, Matthew Johnson is part of a dying breed. Rock owes much of its early legacy to eccentric, mostly European-descended label owners… more »
