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Smith Westerns — Exclusive photo shoot from Under the Radar Winter 2011

Smith Westerns photo sets

Exclusive photo shoot from Under the Radar Winter 2011

News

Cullen Omori Shares New Song “A Real You”

The Diet Due Out August 17 via Sub Pop

Jul 11, 2018

Former Smith Westerns frontman and singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Cullen Omori is releasing a new album, The Diet, on August 17 via Sub Pop. Previously he shared its opening track, “Four Years,” as well as “Happiness Reigns.” Now he has shared its third single, “A Real You.” More

Apr 26, 2018

Former Smith Westerns frontman and singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Cullen Omori released his debut solo album, New Misery, back in 2016 via Sub Pop. Now he was returned with a brand new single, “Four Years,” also on Sub Pop and shared via a lyric video for the song. More

Stream the New Album by Cullen Omori (ex-Smith Westerns) - “New Misery”

New Misery Due Out Next Friday via Sub Pop, Playing Under the Radar's SXSW Day Party Next Thursday

Mar 11, 2016

Former Smith Westerns frontman and singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Cullen Omori is releasing his debut solo album, New Misery, next Friday (March 18) via Sub Pop. Now you can stream the whole album below, via Stereogum, who premiered it. More

What’s in a Name? - Cullen Omori on Going Solo and What His Name Means

Omori is Playing Under the Radar's SXSW Day Party Next Thursday

Mar 10, 2016

What’s in a Name? is our recurring guest blog series where an artist writes about how they came up their band name. For this edition we hear from Cullen Omori. Of course, Omori is now recording under his own name, but he used to be the frontman of Smith Westerns and here he writes about the process of deciding to now release music simply as Cullen Omori. More

Forgotten Songs: Cullen Omori on Catatonic Youth - Piss Scene 7” Vinyl (Hozac Records) (2008)

Omori is Playing Under the Radar's SXSW Day Party Next Thursday

Mar 09, 2016

Forgotten Songs is our recurring series where a musician or one of our writers examines a song they love that they feel has been overlooked. It could be a song by an artist who never made it big, or it could be a B-side/rarity or unheralded album track by a more well known artist. More

Oct 21, 2015

Smith Westerns somewhat quietly broke up last December after releasing three albums. Now frontman and singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Cullen Omori has announced that he’s signed to Sub Pop. The plan is for him to release his solo debut album next spring. More

Jul 12, 2013

Last month Chicago quartet Smith Westerns released their third album Soft Will to the masses, highlighted by its lead, sunsoaked single “Varsity.” More

Watch: Smith Westerns – “Idol” Video

The Party Rages On…Not Like They Care

Jun 27, 2013

In the new video for “Idol,” a cut from Smith Westerns’ recently released album Soft Will, the party ranges. More

Listen: Smith Westerns - “Idol”

New Album Soft Will Out June 25

Jun 12, 2013

Later this month Smith Westerns will release Soft Will, the follow-up to their 2011 LP Dye It Blonde. More

Listen: Smith Westerns - “3am Spiritual”

Second Single Off Upcoming Soft Will

May 20, 2013

Soft Will, the third full-length album by Chicago-based trio Smith Westerns, arrives next month on June 25. More

May 08, 2013

Their new album Soft Will may have been moved to a June 25 release date, but that’s not going to stop Smith Westerns from giving us a little treat now. More

Mar 05, 2013

Chicago trio Smith Westerns have announced that they will follow-up their 2011 album Dye It Blonde with their newest LP Soft Will. More

Nov 16, 2011

The boys of Smith Westerns will embark on a mini tour early next year in support of their acclaimed second album, Dye it Blonde. We have the dates. More

Sep 22, 2011

Peaking Lights recently took their hand to Smith Westerns Dye it Blonde track, “End of Night.” We have the remix. More

Sep 20, 2011

Check out more photos from Day One of ACL Music Festival 2011 in Austin, TX including Big Boi, Bright Eyes, Fool’s Gold, Cold War Kids, James Blake, Kanye West, Kurt Vile, Mavis Staples, Santigold, Smith Westerns, and Wild Beasts. More

Sep 19, 2011

Check out photos from Day One of ACL Music Festival 2011 in Austin, TX including Big Boi, Bright Eyes, Fools Gold, Foster the People, Futurebirds, James Blake, Kanye West, Kurt Vile, Mavis Staples, Santigold, Smith Westerns and Wild Beasts. We sent photographer Robert Redfield down to capture the action. More

Stage Collapses at Pukkelpop, Smith Westerns Uninjured

Kills at Least One, Injures Others

Aug 18, 2011

A few hours ago a stage collapsed at the Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium, killing at least one and injuring several others.

More

Arctic Monkeys Announce New Tour Dates with Smith Westerns as Support

Watch New Video for “Hellcat Spangled Shalalala”

Jul 11, 2011

Arctic Monkeys have announced more tour dates in support of June release Suck It and See. More

FYF Festival Line-up Announced

Broken Social Scene, Explosions in the Sky, Death From Above 1979, Girls, No Age and More

Jun 15, 2011

FYF has announced its 2011 lineup. The festival will take place in downtown Los Angeles on Labor Day weekend, Saturday September 3. More

Check Out Photos from Bonnaroo Day Four

Including Beirut, Iron & Wine, Smith Westerns, Explosions in the Sky and More!

Jun 13, 2011

Day Four Bonnaroo photos, including Beirut, Iron & Wine, Smith Westerns, Explosions in the Sky and More! More

Watch: Smith Westerns Cover Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Part of A.V. Club’s Undercover Series

May 17, 2011

As part of The A.V. Club’s “Undercover” series—where musicians try their hand at covering a band that has influenced them—Smith Westerns debuted their version of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ “American Girl.” We have the video. More

Apr 07, 2011

Today Smith Westerns released “Die With Your Chin Up”—a brief documentary about the recording of their second album, Dye it Blonde. We have the video. More

Mar 22, 2011

A review of day one of of SXSW music 2011, including a recap of sets by Esben and the Witch, Foster the People, Smith Westerns, Lia Ices, The Luyas, Gayngs, and Cults.

More

Under the Radar Announces Winter 2011 Issue and Death Cab for Cutie Cover

Issue Includes Interviews with R.E.M., Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, Cut Copy, Jens Lekman, Okkervil River, Panda Bear, Lykke Li, Iron and Wine, Elbow, Duran Duran, Destroyer, and more

Feb 11, 2011

Under the Radar’s Winter 2011 issue is about to hit stands. The cover features Death Cab for Cutie, who gave writer Matt Fink insight into the band’s forthcoming album, Codes and Keys (due out in May). The issue also includes interviews with Bright Eyes, British Sea Power, The Dears, The Decemberists, Destroyer, The Dodos, Duran Duran,Elbow, Iron and Wine, Lykke Li, R.E.M., Telekinesis, Toro Y Moi, The Antlers, The Big Pink, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Jens Lekman, Okkervil River, Panda Bear, Vivian Girls, Anna Calvi, Porcelain Raft, Smith Westerns, Yuck, and more.

More

Jan 11, 2011

Today, the Chicago-based outfit treated fans to another album sneak-preview. More

Jan 07, 2011

All may die young in the new Smith Westerns single, but it’s a pleasant, poppy death. We have the new track. More

Video Premiere: Smith Westerns’ “Weekend”

Band Also Releases Dates for Winter 2011 Tour

Dec 14, 2010

In support of their sophomore album Dye It Blonde (due January 18th), glam-rockers Smith Westerns premiered today the official video for “Weekend.” We have the video. More

Oct 27, 2010

Smith and Westerns are busy readying their sophomore album Dye it Blonde (out January via Fat Possum). More



Interviews

Smith Westerns

Growing Up and Branching Out

Aug 01, 2013

“We don’t want to be a party band,” Smith Westerns guitarist and co-songwriter Max Kakacek says from his cell phone while visiting friends in Austin, Texas, just a few days after the Chicago-based wunderkinds’ performance at Coachella. More


Reviews

Jun 21, 2013

Back in April, Smith Westerns spoke to Pitchfork about what it felt like to return to Chicago after almost two years on the road. In just 24 months, friends moved away or moved on, graduated from college and pursued more traditional careers, while the members of Smith Westerns chose music instead. More

Mar 22, 2011

A review of day one of of SXSW music 2011, including a recap of sets by Esben and the Witch, Foster the People, Smith Westerns, Lia Ices, The Luyas, Gayngs, and Cults.

More

Mar 17, 2011

Day one of my first go-around at the bacchic excesses that is SXSW, I had a very important realization: there are a lot of people here. Bars, restaurants, clubs—basically anywhere with a door—opens to let artists perform. The streets are, to put it mildly, peopled. Intellectually, I knew this. Physically I’ve not only survived, but also enjoyed, in a variety of packed festival situations. But to borrow a parlance from my hometown of Los Angeles: dude. Here’s the kicker, even with the sea of humanity, it is still quite possible to see quality bands up close and personal. SXSW, you have my heart. More