[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/thebaybridged/Birds_and_Batteries_Show.mp3[/podcast] This week, we’re proud to bring you the music of San Francisco’s Birds & Batteries. Led by singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Mike Sempert, the band initially caught our ears with their last album, Selections From…Nature vs. Nature, which presented a band already finding a unique sound, a mixture of electronic and traditional country-rock elements backing thoughtful, if at times melancholic, lyrics.

We interviewed Mike as he was putting the finishing touches on the band’s new CD, I’ll Never Sleep Again, which they release next week. While Selections From… was strong, I’ll Never Sleep Again represents significant advancements in both production and songwriting. The new songs are ambitious, featuring dense layering of synths and effects, and Sempert’s voice is strong and commanding. Unlike many releases, the album feels like an album, with songs leading into each other and themes developing as the release progresses.

The band’s live show delivers on the album’s dense, melodic songs and they impressed a lot of people with their performance at our MCMAF Closing Party. You should definitely check Birds & Batteries out next week at their release show for I’ll Never Sleep Again:

Wednesday, June 27th
Cafe du Nord
w/ Dame Satan and 20 Minute Loop
$8, 8pm, 21+

As a special bonus, we’re giving away two tickets to the show! Just e-mail contest

[at]thebaybridged.com and tell us something that prevents you from sleeping!

To hear more from the new record, proceed to Birds & Batteries’ MySpace page. You can also visit the band’s web site and check out an early review of the new record and other interviews with Mike over at CrazyTalk.

Thanks for listening!