Sometimes you just can't bring yourself to read every single thing that goes up on the internet. Who has time to go through all of those cat gifs and youtube comments besides us? Don't worry, we get it, and we want to help!
 

Here for your weekend round-up reading pleasure are the top stories that FILTER had to offer this past week in a delicious bite-size format. Dig in!

Devendra Banhart
The Observatory
Santa Ana, California
May 14, 2013

Last Tuesday night, Santa Ana enjoyed the wondrous sound of Devendra Banhart at The Observatory.

It's no surprise that this show was packed, seeing as Banhart's newest album, Mala, has received a ton of praise. Fans were able to enjoy songs off both this record, as well as old favorites, in a live and animate setting.

An album constantly blasting throughout the office since January was Hummingbird, Local Natives' sophomore LP. 

This is why we couldn't be happier to announce that on Friday, September 13, Local Natives will headline the Greek Theatre with openers, Wild Nothing—presented by FILTER!

Kate Nash
The Observatory
Santa Ana, California
May 2, 2013

Lovely English songstress, Kate Nash, came to Santa Ana last week, and we definitely saw that with Miss Kate's new, edgy look, she not only looked the part, but rocked it. 

Last time we checked in with Glasgow's own Biffy Clyro, they were finishing up their latest double album: Opposites. Now that this aforementioned album has been out since January—and has gained recognition worldwide—the trio unveils  the video for "Opposite."

Ever since !!!'s (Chk Chk Chk) latest album came out—THR!!!ER—we have been listening to it repeatedly for weeks. This album consists of one unforgettable funk rock hit after the next. If you don't believe us, just watch their video for "One Girl/One Boy," conveniently located above!

We are extremely proud to announce the details of our next issue, featuring a cover story on a band very close to our hearts: The National!
 

(To see a rad GIF teasing the cover image, check out FILTER's Tumblr!)
 

FILTER 52: The National: Emotional Transit features The National—photographed by Marc Lemoine in their home of Brooklyn, New York—in a revealing piece about the close bond this band of brothers shares, what the new "tour documentary" Mistaken for Strangers actually achieves, fatherhood, and how the band's undeniable chemistry helped create their affecting sixth studio album: Trouble Will Find Me.

Check out all the good stuff inside this issue below and make sure to mark your calendars for May 24, 2013 to remind you to pick up a copy of the latest FILTER! 

The FILTER Magazine app for iPad is now available for download in the iTunes store! Get issues of FILTER for just 99¢ each! 

A couple months ago, Fender hung out with indie outfit, Infantree, at Santa Monica's House of Rock, capturing two epic, live performances, "Skinny Bones Jones” and “Living Proof," the former of which is located above!

The San Francisco power pop artist, Mikal Cronin, has come a long way since his collaborations with long-time friend and writing partner Ty Segall. Now with his second album, MCII, under his belt, we're really beginning to see how he's developing as an artist and we're loving it!

In his latest video for "Change," Cronin teamed up with director, Claire Marie Vogel, to create a wild house party that just gets wilder as the song grows more aggressive.

There are very few things we love more than music itself, however one of those things is when music gives back to the community.

Not only do our friends at Converse have great taste in music, but they also have big hearts; they are bringing the Converse Rubber Tracks Live concert series to their hometown of Boston, and the first two shows are fundraisers to benefit The One Fund Boston.
 

The kick-off events take place May 22 and May 24 at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA!

It has been a couple years now since we've heard from San Francisco indie rockers, The Dodos. Now following the release of 2011's No Color, the band has announced they will be releasing their fifth album, Carrier, on August 27 via Polyvinyl Records.

Along with this announcement, they have also shared their first single, "Confidence," which you can listen to below!

Finally, Ty Segall, the insanely productive noise rocker featured in FILTER 49, gets some well-deserved shuteye. But in typical Ty fashion, it's not really sleep; it's another record, called Sleeper, available August 20 (in cassette, digital, CD and LP form) via Drag City. 

We are always interested in any news about LA quintet, Milo Greene. Over the years, we have fallen madly in love with these hometown heroes, so it's still surprising that they only have their self-titled debut album under their belt.

As we wait for a wave of new music from them, we're eager to share this fun fact: they were on the latest episode of AT: Guitar Center with Nic Harcourt podcast! If you too are experiencing Milo Greene withdrawals, do yourself a favor and listen now!

Somewhere under the night sky of Austin, The Smashing Pumpkins played an outstanding performance for Guitar Center Sessions. As much as we would love to see the entire episode already, we at least have a clip of the band doing a cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity."

We are loving this cover, which reminds us how just how badass and influencial both Bowie and The Smashing Pumpkins truly are.