Happy New Release Day!!! List via Candice at TVD-Nashville!
ABOUT GROUP – START AND COMPLETE – DOMINO RECORDING CO. – Comprising Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Charles Hayward (This Heat), John Coxon (Spring Heel Jack, Spiritualized) and Pat Thomas, who has played with the likes of Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley and others, the band originally formed to make a record of improvised music for the Treader label in 2009, having never played together as a whole before the day it took them to make their first album. After a clutch of live performances (supporting Gang Gang Dance, playing Ornette Coleman’s Meltdown Festival and even Glastonbury, among others) they regrouped to record this album.
AN HORSE – WALLS – MOM & POP MUSIC – Walls has plenty of the whip-smart, energetic rock that propelled An Horse half-way across the world. The album’s opening track, “Dressed Sharply,” is as fizzy and explosive as a shook-up bottle of champagne, spraying the listener with showers of melody and noise. It’s no surprise that the tune is a fan favorite already, thanks to having been previewed in their recent shows. But on the song that follows it, “Not Mine,” the craft and care that went into Walls’ making becomes even clearer. Kate and Damon’s passionate vocals, weave into a pattern with Kate’s chiming guitar, building the intensity slowly and deliberately as Damon’s drums nudge the momentum along.
BAPTISTS – GOOD PARENTING – SOUTHERN LORD RECORDINGS – “Vancouver four-piece hardcore band Baptists just released their self-titled debut 7” for Southern Lord. Baptists is a fairly new band, having formed in 2010, but is comprised of long-time veterans of the Vancouver hardcore scene. Members have had stints in bands that include Ladyhawk, Sports and A Textbook Tragedy. This new four-track (12 min.) single is raw, aggressive hardcore played in the style of bands like Converge and the Cro-Mags.” –brooklynrocks
Indie rock bandPB&Jjust released Gimme Some last month via Startime Internationaland head to 9:30 Club for an early show (7pm doors) this Saturday (4/30) in support of the new album. We have a chance for you to win a pair of tickets to see “Young Folks” whistled live and in-person.
Over at their website, Peter Bjorn and John have been busy being greedy:
GIMME SOME OLD FAVORITE IMAGE ONCE AGAIN
GIMME SOME SWEDISH SUNBATHING HOMELESS CAT
GIMME SOME CREATURE THAT LIVES IN THE BREAKFAST ROOM AT TV4 SWEDEN
GIMME SOME RECORD STORE DAY PEOPLE
GIMME SOME TELE-TEXT
To win the tickets, we want you to be greedy too. Tell us what you want us to “Gimme Some.” Besides PB&J tickets.
GIMME SOME ORIGINAL ENTRIES.
The winner will be selected at noon on Thursday (4/28).
Canada sure has a habit of consistently throwing us Americans some solid music from up north. This time they’ve exported a collection of warm folky melodies from Toronto known as The Wilderness of Manitoba.
Fresh off a spring release of a digital EP called Summer Fires, The Wildnerness of Manitoba are releasing a full length, When You Left The Fire on May 10th via Tiny Ogre. They recorded it in the basement of their house where all 5 members live together, trading in electric instruments for contemplative arrangements, incredibly warm vocal harmonies and organic melodies. If you haven’t already started paying attention to this Canadian quintet, I’d recommend you start now – the buzz is building faster than you can say, “Who the fuuugggg is Arcade Fire??”
The band are playing Mercury Lounge this Thursday (4/28). TVD NYC has got your tickets to Thursday’s show AND a vinyl copy of the album before you can buy it. Leave a comment below with your best explanation as to why Canada is so much better at producing precious indie bands than us Americans. We’ll pick the most enlightening reason and send you off to the show on Thursday with two tickets and some nice wax.
Long-time veterans of the Indie-Rock scene, Matt Pond PA is a New York based group that has gained a fervent following from audiences far and wide. Fronted by the one constant member, Mr. Matt Pond himself, the group’s expertly composed sound features sky high guitar lines, earnest string accompaniments, a solid yet ethereal rock sound, and catchy, sing-along melodies with sharp lyrics-a combination that instantly makes those lucky enough to catch the group live fans for life.
Such was the case with Asbury’s own booking agent, resident Cara Kent, who can remember supporting the band back when they started years ago way back in 1998. “ I can remember going to a show and being one of literally a 5 or 6 people there.” Being a tastemaker that is frequently on the cusp of indie rock culture, it’s only natural that the group Ms. Kent became enamored with so long ago has now established a reputation for capturing audiences across the country.
It’s always an especially great feeling to see an artist that you always knew had the moxie finally catch the wave of popular attention. Furthermore, earning success hasn’t made Matt one of those inaccessible artists that it takes seventeen phone calls to make in order to book them; Cara arranged this show with a good old fashioned one on one (conversation, that is!) with Pond himself.
“Here Come’s Johnny!” ? No, It’s Matt Pond PA!
If you follow the column, or if you have simply had the pleasure of making my acquaintance, you know that I frequent Watermark and their high watermark establishment for a healthy dose of independently owned and operated live alternative rock. Join me at this inclusive yet upscale lounge ( I know you miss CBGB’s but take the girl somewhere she won’t be afraid to sit down for once, man) this Thursday, April 28th for a very special chance to catch this immensely popular act in a live, intimate performance. Doors are at 8, and it will be the best $10 you spend all week!And don’t forget, lekker Special Guest Jeff Plate is slated to open this great evening with what is always an enthralling show.
ABOUT GROUP – START AND COMPLETE – DOMINO RECORDING CO. – Comprising Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Charles Hayward (This Heat), John Coxon (Spring Heel Jack, Spiritualized) and Pat Thomas, who has played with the likes of Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley and others, the band originally formed to make a record of improvised music for the Treader label in 2009, having never played together as a whole before the day it took them to make their first album. After a clutch of live performances (supporting Gang Gang Dance, playing Ornette Coleman’s Meltdown Festival and even Glastonbury, among others) they regrouped to record this album.
AN HORSE – WALLS – MOM & POP MUSIC – Walls has plenty of the whip-smart, energetic rock that propelled An Horse half-way across the world. The album’s opening track, “Dressed Sharply,” is as fizzy and explosive as a shook-up bottle of champagne, spraying the listener with showers of melody and noise. It’s no surprise that the tune is a fan favorite already, thanks to having been previewed in their recent shows. But on the song that follows it, “Not Mine,” the craft and care that went into Walls’ making becomes even clearer. Kate and Damon’s passionate vocals, weave into a pattern with Kate’s chiming guitar, building the intensity slowly and deliberately as Damon’s drums nudge the momentum along.
BAPTISTS – GOOD PARENTING – SOUTHERN LORD RECORDINGS – “Vancouver four-piece hardcore band Baptists just released their self-titled debut 7” for Southern Lord. Baptists is a fairly new band, having formed in 2010, but is comprised of long-time veterans of the Vancouver hardcore scene. Members have had stints in bands that include Ladyhawk, Sports and A Textbook Tragedy. This new four-track (12 min.) single is raw, aggressive hardcore played in the style of bands like Converge and the Cro-Mags.” –brooklynrocks
BATILLUS – FURNACE – SEVENTH RULE – “Big on atmosphere, big on time and big on tone, the first album from Brooklyn doomers Batillus is a bleak, oppressive six-song outing that’s bound to ring their name out among the underground converted. ” –The Obelisk
Big Pauper – Beyond My Means – Circle Into Square/Fake Four – Portland’s Big Pauper is an acclaimed producer, deejay and visual artist with a penchant for forgotten media and discarded technologies. His ten year stint managing the abstract hip hop label Token Recluse found a wide variety of projects in his lap. Pauper established himself with the notoriety of a full length cut and paste reinterpretation of first Radiohead, and then Beck. In their wake, Pauper performed at Scribble Jam & the Red Bull Music Academy, toured Europe a handful of times and worked with the likes of Two Ton Sloth, Cut Chemist and the Dandy Warhols. Big Pauper also has been producing circuit bent video work within the world-renowned sound art collective Folktek and gearing his projects towards a variety of video-art installations. “Beyond My Means” sits comfortably somewhere between a 93 era instrumental hip hop record and some of the best downtempo electronic work out there today. It is a dusty, glitchy and often times noisy tapestry of found sounds, VHS beats and analog synth textures. The album has it’s roots deep in sixties psych rock, the dregs of new age tape crustiness, our waning industrial society and most evidently, schlock cinema (everything from Portuguese horror, to the sleaziest of nunsploitation). The album draws comparisons to recent works from the Books, Broadcast, Odd Nosdam and Edan. Beyond My Means unfolds like a grindhouse double feature, that private press record you can’t believe you found, or your third eye chakra babbling on after a group reiki session.
BLACK MOUNTAIN – ROLLERCOASTER B/W IN THE DRONE 7″ – JAGJAGUWAR – “Rollercoaster” is the third single from Black Mountain’s Wilderness Heart. This song really showcases the band’s trademark psych-metal sound, and throughout it the interchanging vocals of Steve McBean and Amber Webber are in full force. The song was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood with D. Sardy. The b-side to this single is entitled “In The Drones” and is previously unreleased. It features Webber’s haunting vocals at the forefront, accompanied by reverb-drenched picking and shadowy synth stylings underneath. The song was recorded in Seattle at London Bridge Studio with Randall Dunn.
BLOOD ORANGE – DINNER / BAD GIRLS 7″ – TERRIBLE RECORDS – “Blood Orange is Dev Hynes’ latest project, after releasing music as Lightspeed Champion and Test Icicles and recording with Solange Knowles, Theophilus London, Aaron Pfenning (of Chairlift) among many others. Blood Orange recalls a sweaty 1980s New York dance scene with some R&B flavor and MJ synths. Prince definitely comes to mind as well. These tracks were produced by Chris Taylor with Dev, and are the first official release of any Blood Orange material.” –Insound
Boris – Attention Please – Sargent House
Boris – Heavy Rocks (2011) – Sargent House
BORIS – Attention Please came to be following Boris touring the world in 2008 in support of their last album, Smile. The trio set about recording new material and a new album was completed, then abandoned. The band sought to challenge themselves further, and the end results are two new albums of dramatic growth and the most powerful extension toBoris‘ unparalleled creativity, Attention Please and the all new Heavy Rocks (not to be mistaken for their earlier 2002 release, Heavy Rocks).
Chatham County Line – IV – Yep Roc Records – The North Carolina quartet’s fourth album IV, is a boozy blend of Americana and loose acoustic rockers that exhibits the band’s ever-evolving style. CCL continues their dedication to traditional instruments by using their love for bluegrass as a base on which to layer an eclectic blend of roots music. Bluegrass workouts like “The Carolinian” stand beside pop geared numbers such as “Chip of a Star” and the hard soul of “Birmingham Jail.” The progression seen on IV is helped along by indie pop musician and producer Chris Stamey (Yo La Tengo, Alex Chilton, Alejandro Escovedo), making for a starkly heartfelt testament to making the past new again.
DENNIS COFFEY – DENNIS COFFEY – STRUT – For these sessions, in addition to a host of new compositions, Coffey personally cherry-picks tracks upon which he first appeared and enlists an illustrious guest list for all-new interpretations. Stones Throw’s new soul hero Mayer Hawthorne takes up The Parliaments’ poignant mid-tempo swayer ’All Your Goodies Are Gone’, Fanny Franklin from killer Hollywood funk combo Orgone voices a new version of Wilson Pickett’s psych-soul jam ’Don’t Knock My Love’ and Lisa Kekaula from California garage-soul band The Bellrays takes on the 100 Proof Aged In Soul stomper ’Somebody’s Been Sleeping’. The Detroit connection looms large throughout the set – Mick Collins from the Dirtbombs alongside Detroit Cobras’ Rachel Nagy unleash a dark, brooding take on Funkadelic’s ’I Bet You’. UK chart sensation Paolo Nutini contributes a passionate version of Rodriguez’ „Only Good For Conversation.“ Completing the list of collaborations, Milwaukee funk sensations Kings Go Forth (Luaka Bop) mould an intense funk jam around some heavy Coffey licks on ’Miss Millie’. For his new compositions on the album, Coffey revisits the uncompromising instrumental style he is renowned for. Album opener ’7th Galaxy’ echoes the hard guitar ’n’ breaks of his Detroit Guitar Band recordings for Sussex, ’Knockabout’ whips up an epic funky soundtrack groove and ’Space Traveller’ simmers on a sleazy, guitar-drenched, slo mo workout.
MATTHEW COOPER – SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS – TEMPORARY RESIDENCE – We have waited with eager anticipation to release Matthew Cooper’s spellbinding soundtrack to Some Days Are Better Than Others since before his creative breakthrough album, Similes (released under his more widely known Eluvium moniker) was even made. The film stars James Mercer (Broken Bells, The Shins) and Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney) as strangers whose lives occasionally intersect as they navigate their way through the struggles of personal attachment and disconnection. When viewing the film, Cooper observed themes being presented regarding our throw-away society, and realized that both he andSome Days director Matt McCormick shared a common interest in this world of things left behind and the emotional baggage that is connected to it – whether broken or simply tossed aside for something new; something once considered the future, turning into antiquated rubble. Cooper decided that using a collection of damaged instruments would be a fitting way to underscore this aspect of the film. Here he uses the inherent characteristics of these instruments to create something honest and beautiful, something that is at once familiar, damaged and unique – something we can all relate to.
We’re heading up to New Jersey this weekend for the very first Power Pop-A-Licious Music Festival and we’re chatting up a few of the bands whose songs’ll be stuck in our heads for the next month or so as a result.
A little later today we’ll have some tickets to give away for the festival, but for the time being, we leave you with one helluva Mess:
The Electric Mess was formed in New York City in the Spring of 2007. Initially, our main inspiration was the 60’s garage rock series “Back from the Grave” on Crypt Records, which were originally 8 records released between 1983 and 1992, and were later reissued on CD. They focus on the rawer and more aggressive side of the genre. The songs feature lots of fuzz guitars, rough vocals, and the bands were obviously influenced by groups such as The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, early Kinks, and The Pretty Things.
The Electric Mess | Trash Talkin Woman
Many of these bands were just teenagers across the country, playing out of their garages, probably playing their high school gymnasiums on weekends, and they usually recorded a 45 by some small obscure label in the town where they lived. The lyrics are fueled by anger and lust, matching the chaotic music. Our early set list featured songs almost exclusively from this series, and it definitely inspired certain early songs of ours like: “Trash Talkin’ Woman, “Don’t Wanna Be Your Man,” and “The Grass Ain’t Always Greener.”
Another early stylistic influence on The Electric Mess is Lenny Kaye’s “Nuggets” series, originally released as a double record set on Elektra entitled “Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era”. This compilation contains more produced, psychedelic sounds. And while there’s a fair share of obscure bands on it, you’ll find bands like The Standells (“Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White”), The Seeds (“Pushing Too Hard”), and The Castaways (“Liar Liar”) all of which we covered early on.
As we progressed in our own song-writing, we started incorporating other styles and genres that we each love and have been influenced by. Some of those include: The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, Mike Bloomfield, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Byrds, a lot of R&B, various psychedelic bands, British Invasion, and surf. We released our self-titled CD in December of 2009, and since then all 13 songs from our album have been played on radio stations across the U.S. and in Europe, as well as Sirius/XM, and “Nights with Alice Cooper” (syndicated radio show). It also made a bunch of “Best of” lists for 2010, and received a 4 out of 5 star rating in All-Music Guide.
The Electric Mess | You’ve Become a Witch
Recently, Rowed Out Records out of the UK issued a 7″ of “You’ve Become a Witch” b/w “Trash Talkin’ Woman.” You can read more about us, hear our songs, watch our videos and buy our CD or 7″ on our website.
I recently had the honor of being invited to participate in an afternoon of music at Ardent Studios for a production called “Ardent Presents”. It had been more than two years since my move to Memphis, and I had, for some time, intended to see the place that I had been hearing so much about. So, when I stepped through the gates on Madison Ave. I knew I was entering a world set apart. I was immediately struck by the warmth of the place – informed, no doubt, by both the people and the general aesthetic. I was soon directed to the studio control room where, when opening the door, the sound poured out into the hallway. Chris Milam was playing – then Anthony DeCosta and both sounded really good. Studios have the difficult job of creating an environment that is at the same time familiar and inspiring. Ardent does this masterfully – the people are friendly and professional, the space is inspiring and the gear second to none. All of this, I imagine, adds up to a future with as many wonderful records as it’s storied past.
My life, like some of yours I’m sure, is constantly doing battle with distraction. Ardent felt like a place efficient in it’s ability to foster and capture creativity. I hope that, in the future, the work I am doing will bring me through it’s gates again.
From the looks of this past Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio, you’d think the damp permachill that’s seemingly anchored over Lake Erie has moved away for good. Rock n’ roll revelers were out and about as if summer had already bestowed the “north coast” with her bounty of warmth.
From Collinwood to Lakewood and a few points in between, bands not only roared, but vinyl was spun in abundance.The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern hosted the Soul Clap & Dance Off tour, a roving record party hosted by friendly and energetic NYC DJ Jonathan Toubin (below).
A brief conversation with the tired but unstoppable Toubin mentioned nothing of his lifelong, almost monastic devotion to hoarding rare soul 45s. Rather than the image of the dowdy collector that can plague any vinyl freak, he portrayed himself as more of a music-for-the-masses type. As Toubin explained in a recent Time Out New York interview, he’s committed to a party vibe.
Crossing the Cuyahoga River and leaping with a triple sowkow went this correspondent, into the quasi-suburban city of Lakewood, which is shouldered right up against the very west edge of Cleveland proper. There, at the small and scrappy Five O’ Clock bar, omnipresent rocker, party host, and all around swell guy Dave Petrovich was spinning records at one of his “New Wave Raves” (see top).
The Five O’ Clock’s carved a sweet spot in many a goth and punk’s heart for years now, so the unfinished party room that hosted the New Wave Rave was a perfect locale. Even more perfect was the mixture of vinyl and digital that Petrovich and friends spun all night: heavy on the Bauhaus, Siouxie, Joy Division, and other such.
Day-glo colors were in evidence, yet curiously enough, not a single “eye of Horus.” What was even more prevalent was the vibe of fun-loving irreverance that sides like Ministry’s “(Everyday Is) Halloween” summoned. That’s the kind of party that D-Rock, Castle Spooktacular and Dave P. brought to the huddled masses looking to freak out on Saturday night.
Partying with platters is a way of life in old-school Cleveland. Stay tuned for more of record-related news in the near future.
If you are wondering where the place to be is this Wednesday night, look no further! One of this week’s shows you can’t miss: My Goodness, Fox and the Law and Elbaat Tractor Tavern tomorrow night, April 27th . If you like to rock, you are in for a good time.
My Goodness recently released their self-titled debut album with Sarathan Records and you can download their single, “C’mon Doll” for FREE on the band’s website. If you can’t make it to Tractor Tavern tomorrow night, you can catch them in West Seattle on Friday, May 13th at Easy Street Records.
My Goodness – “I’ve Got A Notion”
You can buy tickets for tomorrow’s show in advance for $5. Doors at 8pm and the show starts at 8:30.
Boat To Row, is a five piece folk collective who’s new single ‘A Boat To Row, To Row To You’ combines rich harmonies with lilting guitar and banjo and is a brilliantly crafted – dare I say it, Mumfordesque – tune with a pretty dark video to accompany it…
Fronted by Michael King and hailing from the Midlands, Boat To Row will be out and about in the UK in support of this track which gets its digital and 7″ release on May 2nd on istartedthefire records.
It isn’t often that I look at a night’s lineup and think they are all worth seeing. I usually think, crap, my group is opening! A 30 minute set and then “my time” is over, bummer.
Thursday, April 21st at Rock n Roll Hotelwas one of those rare moments when I did not have to “dig deep” or “mentally prepare” to tolerate any of the bands featured. I was pleased. More than pleased.
First up, Gypsyblood, who definitely have the potential to be a high-energy hit, but I would love to witness a break through the warm but often impenetrable fuzz. The blur of vocals that I thought might sound “so punk,” quirky, and strange (which I gathered from listening to “My R.K.O. Is M.I.A”) turned out to be entertaining for a few songs, but I was admittedly relieved when their set ended and Delicate Steve took stage.
I had a feeling Delicate Steve could deliver live, but I had doubts and questions fill my head: Will all of those instruments fit on stage? Thanks to Chuck Klosterman’s fake press release, I didn’t know what was real and what was not regarding Delicate Steve. While he may not play forty instruments, I was sure there would be several. How will Steve run around to strum, beat, and tickle them all? The fake bio described them as “a hydro-electric Mothra rising from the ashes of an African village burned to the ground by post-rock minotaurs.” So would it be afro-pop or electronic jam?
Last night’s Big Easy Awards featured some of the most celebrated names in NewOrleansmusic. As was previously announced, The Radiators received the LifetimeAchievementAward. They were also nominated for Best Rock Band along with acclaimed indie rockers RotaryDowns and Swedish slide guitarist and songwriter AndersOsborne.
Jazz Fest producer/director QuintDavis, who many fishheads affectionately call “TheCommander,” presented the band with their Lifetime Achievement Award.
All fivemembers of the group were present (seated at a table with Mac Rebennack aka Dr. John) and each gave a very brief acceptance speech. They seemed humbled by all the attention as the crowd gave them a rousing round of applause. EdVolker, the band’s leader whose decision to retire has prompted a huge outpouring of love and respect for the group, thanked NewOrleans herself.
As we inch closer and closer to those warm months Torontonians desperately look forward to each year, one thing stands out as a definitive summer kick off – North By North East.
And with a preview of their lineup being posted just a short time ago, it’s easy to see why. With a blend of acts to suit just about everyone’s musical tastes, a few legendary performances to check out (Descendents!The Pharcyde!) and extended liquor licenses thrown around town, it’s no wonder why we’re just so excited.
Keep your eyes on the NXNE website for further updates on who’s playing where, and be sure to get your wristbands and passes ASAP. And we mean ASAP. It’ll be worth it, guaranteed.
