Rhapsody Announces Deerhunter to Exclusively Headline Rhapsody Rocks Austin

SEATTLE, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhapsody, the largest premium on-demand digital music service in the United States, today announced that Deerhunter will exclusively headline Rhapsody Rocks Austin, to be held on March 18 at Club Deville.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101006/RHAPSODYLOGO)

Deerhunter, whose 2010 release, "Halcyon Digest" won vast critical acclaim, will be joined on the Rhapsody stage by Kurt Vile and the Violators, Glasser, Small Black, Ty Segall and DJ $mall ¢hange.  The event is sponsored by Jeremiah Weed and Red Stripe, and takes place at noon-6pm.

Deerhunter is a four-piece indie rock group from Atlanta, Georgia.  The band, consisting of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver and Lockett Pundt, was founded in 2001 and produced four full-length albums, culminating with "Halcyon Digest," which earned them high praise from critics.

Asked to describe Deerhunter's genre-defying sound Rhapsody alternative/indie editor Stephanie Benson wrote, "Deerhunter's music is like the sonic translation of that hazy moment between dreaming and full consciousness."

Deerhunter will be joined on the Rhapsody stage by Kurt Vile and the Violators, whose anticipated fourth release, "Smoke Ring for My Halo" will hit the streets March 8th.

Vile, who has been compared to influences as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty and Animal Collective, "has been hailed as an indie-rock savior, a get-down urban dude who possesses a knack for lo-fi jams that are equal parts power pop, loner folk and cosmic noise," says Justin Farrar, rock editor, Rhapsody.

Vile began his musical career on the banjo at age 14 in the outskirts of Philadelphia.  He soon switched to guitar, and released his first record, "Constant Hitmaker," in 2008, which was abundantly praised by the music press.  In 2009, he released "Childish Prodigy."  The sophomore release gained Vile further admiration from critics and musicians alike, with Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon declaring it was her "guilty pleasure" in an interview because she "listened to it too much."

Rhapsody Rocks Austin will also treat fans to Glasser, a project of Cameron Mesirow, the progeny of a member of the Blue Man Group and a punk-rocker.  Inspired by a vision she had of a figure hovering over water, Mesirow gave the name, Glasser, to her dreamy, electronic project.  She has toured with The xx and Jonsi, and her debut album, "Ring," was produced by Van Rivers and the Subliminal Kid.

Glasser's electro set will be complemented by Small Black, a Brooklyn-based dream pop outfit that formed in late 2008 as a bedroom recording project.  Small Black first drew attention with its eponymous debut EP that was recorded in the attic of singer Josh Kolenik's uncle's Long Island beach-house/surfboard workshop, and continued to draw listeners with its 2010 release, "New Chain."

Rhapsody Rocks Austin will be rounded out by Ty Segall, whose 2010 release "Melted" was so positively received that Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and Spin included it on their "Best Of" lists this year.  The San Francisco-based artist is no stranger to praise—"Lemons," his previous record, secured the cabinet-maker many accolades, including from Rhapsody's Farrar: "Ty Segall is one of retro-lo-fi's most promising young hellions ... wiry guitars, reverb-soaked shrieks, boom box-quality production and manic Bo Diddley worship.  

"If you've ever dreamed of throwing a house party that ends in multiple gasoline fires, a dozen fire trucks and maybe even a visit from the local SWAT team, then you've found the perfect soundtrack."

Rhapsody Rocks is a concert series that travels around the United States and is lovingly produced by Rhapsody.  For more information or to hear about sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected].

About Rhapsody

The Rhapsody® digital music service (www.rhapsody.com) gives subscribers unlimited on-demand access to more than 11 million songs, whether they're listening on a PC, laptop, Internet connected home stereo or TV, MP3 player or mobile phone.  Rhapsody allows subscribers to access their music through more touch-points than any other digital music service, including mobile phones from Verizon Wireless, through Rhapsody applications on the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, RIM BlackBerry and Android mobile platforms as well as through devices from Vizio, SanDisk, HP, Sonos and Philips.  Rhapsody, and the Rhapsody logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rhapsody International Inc.

SOURCE Rhapsody