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Watch: Hospitality Perform WFUV Session

Many of our favorite indie-pop groups of late have hailed from the UK (Allo Darlin’ and Standard Fare being a pair of wonderful examples), but recently the States are offering a number of fine acts doing brilliant work in the genre, as well. North Highlands and Hospitality, two New York City outfits that just released debut LPs, are getting lots of spins around here in particular. And while we’ve mentioned the former a few times in the past, let’s get an overdue introduction of the latter on the table with a well-rehearsed set for WFUV’s The Alternate Side this week.

Below, enjoy two endearing tracks that bookend their self-titled debut, opening cut “Eighth Avenue” and upbeat album closer “All Day Today.” Frontwoman Amber Papini handles these tunes’ precarious melodies with pitch-perfect competence here and the band sound remarkably close-knit, but what’s pulling me in most at the moment is the work of bassist Brian Betancourt, bouncing along deliciously forward in the mix. Prepare to swoon and sway before you hit play:

Laura Marling Covers Ryan Adams: “My Winding Wheel”

One of the most pleasant collaborative surprises of last year was when Laura Marling, a longtime Ryan Adams fan who once cited his name in a single, and Adams, who recently revealed that his return to the studio was inspired in part by hearing Marling’s sophomore LP, anointed their mutual appreciation with a duet at Abbey Road. While we’ve yet to hear a Marling cover from Adams, that wasn’t her first public take on his work, as she put a rare “Answering Bell” demo to tape many years back. Now comes a great version of Heartbreaker cut “My Winding Wheel,” a cover she’s been testing in various live sets for a bit now that only just surfaced in decent, audience-recorded form thanks to AILLM. So, without further ado, enjoy audio of her faithful live take at The Forum in Melbourne, Australia above.

Video: James Mercer: “September” (Solo Acoustic)

We’ve heard three cuts off the Shins’ Port of Morrow LP so far, but the one I keep coming back to is “September,” perhaps James Mercer’s most overt love song to date. As it turns out, though, this might be the best from the set: While I’ve yet to hear the remaining 7 tunes, AV Club’s Steven Hyden has and that was his take, per in an early look at the record:

“September” is the least representative song on Morrow, but it also happens to be the best, showing that Mercer’s talent for simple, acoustic pop strummers hasn’t abandoned him.

What strikes me most about this carefully crafted ode to Mercer’s wife of 6 years is a trait common among most year’s standout tracks: a feeling of having been around forever, left undiscovered until an old CD-R or cassette mixtape for a lost love turned up. To wit, Mercer sounds and looks remarkably comfortable playing the new tune in this clip for Kink 101.9FM — as if it’s been tucked within his live repertoire since those early Shins days in Albuquerque over a decade ago. Check it out below: