This June, two-thirds of the trio, Rodrigo Amarante (vocals and guitar) and Binki Shapiro (vocals, keys), will set
out to spread the love of Little Joy when they embark on a US tour, while co-founding member Fabrizio Moretti will for the most part be occupied with recording obligations to the Strokes, and therefore unable to tour with the band for the
large majority of the dates
Rodrigo and Binki will fill out the band with Todd Dahlhoff and Matt Borg from The Dead Trees
(on bass and guitar, respectively), Matt Romano from Albert Hammond Jr's band (drums) and
Jack Dishel from Only Son (guitar, backing vocals).
Little Joy is Binki Shapiro, Rodrigo Amarante and Fabrizio Moretti, three friends who dropped their routine at their respective hometowns to make a record in Los Angeles, California.
Through a chance encounter at a Portuguese festival in Lisbon, where both Amarante (Singer/Guitarist of Los Hermanos) and Moretti (drummer of The Strokes) had performed, the two chatted well through the night and into the morning by the side of the river, humoring the idea of working together on music that had no affiliation to their particular bands.
A year later, Amarante traveled to the United States to record with Devendra Banhart on his Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon album. On the off hours of an arduous recording process, Amarante would meet with Moretti to discuss anything but music.
Binki Shapiro, musician and native of Los Angeles, was introduced to the pair through mutual acquaintances and became a fast friend, encouraging the two to focus on the music they had spoken of long before. Through the process of late night “show-and-tell” the three developed and arranged songs Moretti had begun and soon after started writing original music for the group as a band.
A couple of months later they all moved into a house in Echo Park to demo songs and soon after, with the help of producer Noah Georgeson, who had recorded Banhart’s album, they finished their self-titled debut, Little Joy, named after the cocktail lounge just down the street from their home.
Little Joy is to be released worldwide by Rough Trade Records, a division of The Beggar’s Group, on & around Nov. 4th, 2008.
Heard the new version of that new song and It sucks. The first version had that feeling of deja vu, a little bit like lennon. Please, dont screw that song.
Dear Little Joy...Your music gives me hope..in people....I live in Acapulco and am a fan of the bossa and samba as well. Keep your heads up and the good work coming.
Guys, you were fantastic! Thanks a lot 4 coming and making us too happy. Hope you're coming back soon, we'll miss you till then see u over here!! You rock! =D Thanx again in the name of this community!!
I saw you guys play in Santa Barbara a little bit ago and it was one of the best shows I've ever been to. You've got to come again. Or come to Portland, as I'll be there soon. Thanks for the good music.
