NPR premieres Orenda Fink video; Icky Blossoms to SXSW; Cold War Kids tonight

Yesterday, NPR premiered Orenda Fink’s latest music video from August’s Blue Dream (Saddle Creek). Blue Dream also received a “First Listen” stream from NPR during the summer of 2014.

From NPR: “Orenda Fink’s video for ‘Holy Holy’ speaks to the pain of mourning and the beauty of empathy toward strangers. The song is from her album Blue Dream, which stares closely at death after a difficult year.”

Fink is in the middle of a European tour. Tonight, she plays in Duisburg, Germany. If you’re playing catch-up on Blue Dream, our podcast review is below:

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Icky Blossoms announced on Facebook yesterday it will make the trip to South by Southwest in March. You can also catch Twinsmith, Big Harp, Orenda Fink and Both at SXSW. Any other Nebraska acts headed south? Let us know. 

The Omaha dance band played SXSW in 2012 and 2013, and expects its sophomore album due out some time this year.

For its latest, here’s Icky Blossoms remixing The Faint:

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Cold War Kids returns to Slowdown tonight for the first time since November 2013. They play with Elliot Moss. Tickets are $25, RSVP here.

In October, Cold War Kids released its fifth studio album, Hold My Home on Downtown Records. The album includes “All This Could Be Yours,” a piano-heavy track reminiscent of songs like “Hang Me Up to Dry” and “Hospital Beds” on which Cold War Kids made its name.