It’s been a while since I’ve posted a Bajno Hangout banjo giveaway. I deeply apologize to my readers in West Virgina.

Jokes aside, this is a heck of a banjo! The Bishline Cimarron 5-string banjo is built in the US of A, and features a walnut neck with fancy burl walnut resonator, ivoroid binding, and an ebony fingerboard with original MOP inlay. The Bishline Cimarron usually sells for $1,195.

Entry Deadline: June 11, 2012
Eligibility: Worldwide

Japanese electronics maker One Control is currently hosting two giveaways on their Facebook page. First, everyone who likes their page is entered to win a Micro-Distro pedal power distributor. They will announce a winner once the page hits 1,000 likes.

The other giveaway requires a bit more work. Explain how you would use any One Control switcher in a YouTube video and the owner of the best video gets to chose any current One Control product as a prize.

Entry Deadline: June 15, 2012
Eligibility: Worldwide

On my first day of sixth grade, way back in 1988(!), I settled into band class with my practice pad. Concert band was a required course, and I knew drums were the coolest thing you could play, but little did I know the instrument would give me so much over my lifetime.

In high school I worked in a music store selling guitars and, as my career in the industry rolled on, each new job I got was guitar-focused. And although I’ve developed into a mediocre (at best) guitarist, playing the drums has always been my passion. I always thought that some day, my career would focus on drumming.

Last year, GearPipe partnered with Michael Outlaw of Outlaw Drums on a snare drum giveaway. I was blown away by Michael’s passion (and his story…the dude builds drums from wood reclaimed from 19th century barns and houses), and when I received an Outlaw snare drum of my own, I couldn’t believe the quality.

Since then, Michael and I have continued talking, and recently came to an exciting agreement. Michael’s passions are finding amazing wood and building beautiful drums. I love talking to people (online and off) about musical instruments. So, I’m happy to announce that GearPipe is now the exclusive dealer of Outlaw Drums. And I (through my marketing agency, Drive Channel Creative) will be in charge of marketing for the brand.

Our first series of drums is the Outlaw Weathered Series. These drums are carefully crafted to retain the character of their former lives. As we like to say, this is American wood, reborn.

Please check out the brand new Outlaw Drums website and the amazing snare drums that are for sale in the GearPipe Shop. If you’re a drummer, I’d love to talk to you about these drums. If you’re not a drummer, I’m sure you know a bunch of them, so please spread the word!

We are finally able to provide more album information on the long-awaited debut album, Instinct, from Stockholm, Sweden’s Niki & The Dove.
The album will be available in North America on August 7th on CD and 2xLP on Sub Pop and will feature the standout tracks “Tomorrow”, “DJ Ease My My Mind”, “The Fox” and “The Drummer”.

The CD version of Instinct will feature 14 tracks, including the unreleased songs “The Beach” and “All This Youth.” The vinyl version of Instinct features 12 tracks, and includes an extended version of the song “Under The Bridges.”

The tracklisting for the digital version of Instinct will mirror the vinyl release, however with the edit of “Under The Bridges.” It will be available June 12 as an iTunes exclusive. Full track listings for all formats below.

Pre-Order Instinct Now
Itunes
Amazon
Subpop.com (also available for pre-order on subpop.com, Niki & The Dove T-shirt/Album bundles)

Niki & The Dove will support the release of Instinct with their first-ever US tour this fall, which we are now able to announce will be with 4AD’s Twin Shadow. The Twin Shadow/Niki & The Dove tour begins September 5th in El Paso, TX at Tricky Falls and wraps up on September 27th in New York, NY at Webster Hall. A couple Niki & The Dove dates will come before the fall tour, including June 14th at Brooklyn, NY’s Northside (at Glasslands) and September 2nd in Seattle, WA at Bumbershoot. We’ve listed their full list of tour dates for you below.

Tour Dates
Jun. 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Northside Fest (Glasslands)
Sep. 02 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot
Sep. 05 – El Paso, TX – Tricky Falls +
Sep. 07 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theatre +
Sep. 08 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room +
Sep. 09 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada Theatre +
Sep. 11 – Norman, OK – Opolis +
Sep. 13 – Dallas, TX – Trees +
Sep. 14 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk +
Sep. 16 – Houston, TX – Fitzgeralds +
Sep. 17 – McAllen, TX – Cine El Rey +
Sep. 18 – Birmingham, AL – Bottletree +
Sep. 19 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl +
Sep. 21 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel +
Sep. 23 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Sep. 24 – Washington, DC – Black Cat +
Sep. 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer +
Sep. 27 – New York, NY – Webster Hall +
+ w/ Twin Shadow

Niki & The Dove
Instinct
August 7th (CD + 2XLP)
June 12th (iTunes exclusive)

CD tracklisting:
Tomorrow
The Drummer
In Our Eyes
The Gentle Roar
Mother Protect
Last Night
Somebody
Love to the Test
DJ, Ease My Mind
Winterheart
The Fox
Under the Bridges
The Beach (bonus)
All This Youth (bonus)

2xLP tracklisting:
Tomorrow
The Drummer
In Our Eyes
The Gentle Roar
Mother Protect
Last Night
Somebody
Love to the Test
DJ, Ease My Mind
Winterheart
The Fox
Under the Bridges (extended version)

Digital Tracklisting:
Tomorrow
The Drummer
In Our Eyes
The Gentle Roar
Mother Protect
Last Night
Somebody
Love to the Test
DJ, Ease My Mind
Winterheart
The Fox
Under the Bridges (edit)

What people are saying about Niki + The Dove:
“…It’s a beautiful, emotive celebration of the power of pop when it’s been made for the love of the art.” – BBC

“They deserve to have the whole word hear these songs. Heck they deserve some sort of Nobel Pop Prize.” [8/10] – NME

“The greatest thing about “Tomorrow” is that even though the end of days may be nigh and this may be the last moment of these lovers’ lives, that cry of intent is delivered like a knockout punch." [Best New Track] – Pitchfork

We are finally able to provide more album information on the long-awaited debut album, Instinct, from Stockholm, Sweden’s Niki & The Dove.
The album will be available in North America on August 7th on CD and 2xLP on Sub Pop and will feature the standout tracks “Tomorrow”, “DJ Ease My My Mind”, “The Fox” and “The Drummer”.

The CD version of Instinct will feature 14 tracks, including the unreleased songs “The Beach” and “All This Youth.” The vinyl version of Instinct features 12 tracks, and includes an extended version of the song “Under The Bridges.”

The tracklisting for the digital version of Instinct will mirror the vinyl release, however with the edit of “Under The Bridges.” It will be available June 12 as an iTunes exclusive. Full track listings for all formats below.

Pre-Order Instinct Now
Itunes
Amazon
Subpop.com (also available for pre-order on subpop.com, Niki & The Dove T-shirt/Album bundles)

Niki & The Dove will support the release of Instinct with a massive tour this fall. Preceding the tour, the band has scheduled a few festival dates: June 14th at Brooklyn, NY’s Northside (at Glasslands) and September 2nd in Seattle, WA at Bumbershoot.

Tour Dates
Jun. 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Northside Fest (Glasslands)
Sep. 02 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot

Niki & The Dove
Instinct
August 7th (CD + 2XLP)
June 12th (iTunes exclusive)

CD tracklisting:
Tomorrow
The Drummer
In Our Eyes
The Gentle Roar
Mother Protect
Last Night
Somebody
Love to the Test
DJ, Ease My Mind
Winterheart
The Fox
Under the Bridges
The Beach (bonus)
All This Youth (bonus)

2xLP tracklisting:
Tomorrow
The Drummer
In Our Eyes
The Gentle Roar
Mother Protect
Last Night
Somebody
Love to the Test
DJ, Ease My Mind
Winterheart
The Fox
Under the Bridges (extended version)

Digital Tracklisting:
Tomorrow
The Drummer
In Our Eyes
The Gentle Roar
Mother Protect
Last Night
Somebody
Love to the Test
DJ, Ease My Mind
Winterheart
The Fox
Under the Bridges (edit)

What people are saying about Niki + The Dove:
“…It’s a beautiful, emotive celebration of the power of pop when it’s been made for the love of the art.” – BBC

“They deserve to have the whole word hear these songs. Heck they deserve some sort of Nobel Pop Prize.” [8/10] – NME

“The greatest thing about “Tomorrow” is that even though the end of days may be nigh and this may be the last moment of these lovers’ lives, that cry of intent is delivered like a knockout punch." [Best New Track] – Pitchfork

Beach House’s new album, Bloom, comes out next today, Tuesday, May 15th, and we are celebrating with events in record stores across these great United States of ours!

Pop into any of the below stores today, May 15th to get the record, and experience the magic of our extra-special, new-and-improved, release-day-only initiatives, including:
- A chance to win a copy of Bloom on glow-in-the-dark vinyl! No shit, it really glows in the dark. There are only 250 of these, and they are only available at release-day events and the band’s concert at New York, New York’s Bowery Ballroom on May 15th.
- More prizes, including a copy of Beach House’s now-rare Record Store Day 7", and assorted other Sub Pop treats.

- Posters featuring exclusive art by Victoria of Beach House, given away with purchase of the new record (while supplies last!).

Check with your local store for details. Participating retailers include:
1-2-3-4 Go! Records (Oakland, CA)
Amoeba (Los Angeles, CA)
Beacon Sound (Portland, OR)
Bull City Records (Durham, NC)
Bull Moose (Portland, ME)
Cactus Music (Houston, TX)
CD Cellar (Anniston, AL)
Central Square (Seaside, FL)
CFBG (Greensboro, NC)
Co-Op 87 (Brooklyn, NY)
Criminal Records (Atlanta, GA)
Darkside Records (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Dearborn Music (Dearborn, MI)
Disc Exchange (Knoxville, TN)
Electric Fetus (Minneapolis, MN)
End of An Ear (Austin, TX)
Euclid Records (St. Louis, MO)
Everybody’s Records (Cincinnati, OH)
Everyday Musc (Bellingham, WA)
Finders (Bowling Green, OH)
Fingerprints (Long Beach, CA)
Going Underground Records (Bakersfield, CA)
Good Records (Dallas, TX)
Green Light Music (Kalamazoo, MI)
Grimey’s (Nashville, TN)
Guestroom (Norman/Oklahoma City, OK)
Harvest Records (Asheville, NC)
Hear Again CD’s & DVD’s (Gainesville, FL)
Homers (Omaha, NE)
Horizon Records (Greenville, CA)
Independent (Denver, CO)
Jackpot Records – 9th (Portland, OR)
Jackpot Records (Portland, OR)
Ka-Chunk Records (Annapolis, MD)
Landlocked Music (Bloomington, IN)
Lou’s Records (Encinitas, CA)
Love Garden (Lawrence, KS)
Luna Music (Indianapolis, IN)
Lunchbox Records (Charlotte, NC)
Magnolia ThunderPussy (Columbus, OH)
Melody Supreme (Charlottesville, VA)
Monster (Charleston, SC)
Music Millennium (Portland, OR)
Music Saves (Cleveland, OH)
Neat Neat Neat (Fort Wayne, OH)
Needle Drop Records (Rochester, NY)
Olympic Records (Providence, RI)
Origami Music (Los Angeles, CA)
Other Music (New York, NY)
Oz Records (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Park Ave CDs (Orlando, FL)
Permanent Records (Chicago, IL)
Permanent Records (Los Angeles, CA)
Plan 9 Music (Charlottesville/Richmond, VA)
Radio-Active Records (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Reckless Records (Chicago – all three locations)
Record Archive (Rochester, NY)
Record Exchange (Boise, ID)
Red Onion Records (Washington, DC)
Repo Records (Philadelphia, PA)
Rhino Records (Claremont, CA)
Salzer’s (Ventura, CA)
School Kids (Raleigh, NC)
Shangri-La (Memphis, TN)
Siren Records (Doylestown, PA)
Sonic Boom (Seattle, WA)
Sound Cat Records (Pittsburgh, PA)
Sound Fix (Brooklyn, NY)
Speaker Tree Records (Lynchburg, VA)
Square Records (Akron, OH)
Steady Sounds (Richmond, VA)
Stormy Records (Dearborn, MI)
Streetlight Records (San Jose, CA)
Sweat Records (Miami, FL)
T-Bones (Hattiesburg, MS)
The Business (Anacortes, WA)
The Culture Clash (Toledo, OH)
The Sound Garden (Baltimore, MD)
Twist and Shout (Denver, CO)
Uncle Sam’s (Miami Beach, FL)
Underground Sounds (Ann Arbor, MI)
Vacation Vinyl (Los Angeles, CA)
Vertigo Music (Grand Rapids, MI)
Village Green (Muncie, IN)
Vintage Vinyl (St. Louis, MO)
Waiting Room Records (Normal, IL)
Wall Of Sound (Seattle, WA)
Waterloo Records (Austin, TX)
Waterloo Records (Austin, TX)
Wax Trax (Denver, CO)
Wuxtry Records (Athens, GA)
Young Ones Records (Kutztown, PA)
ZZZ Records (Des Moines, IA)