Friday, October 30, 2009

Video: Robert Francis - "Nightfall" + NYC Dates

Robert Francis has released a video for his song "Nightfall." The song is from his recent release, Before Nightfall. Check it out below.

New York, Francis will be on the LES at Mercury Lounge for three nights, November 2nd, 3rd, & 4th with Noah & The Whale.



robertfrancisofficial.com
twitter.com/Robertfrancisla
www.myspace.com/robertfrancis

The Sheriffs of Nottingham Release Hard Places: The EP

A while back, I came across Memphis based The Sheriffs of Nottingham on Twitter, I think. I can't remember if they found me or I found them but we're now doing the mutual follow thing. It doesn't really matter who found whom, does it?

At any rate, I gave them a listen and liked what I heard. I made an inquiry about whether they had a record out and they kindly responded that they would have one out in October or November. Well, it's October and true to their word, there is a record! The record, by the way is titled Hard Places: The EP and it's a solid piece of rock 'n' roll.

The Sheriffs of Nottingham consists of Justin Jamerson (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kevin Lipe (lead guitar), Curry Smith (bass, vocals) and Kyle Fagala (drums). They have this whole funky, soulful, blues rock thing going on. Hey now! Y'all know I like that kind of stuff. The EP kicks off with "Running Man." The music reminds me of some funkified Led Zeppelin. As I continued to listen, I kept thinking they reminded me of another band that had the same sort of vibe, the now defunct Brand New Immortals to be specific. Not remind in a, they're ripping them off sort of way or anything but, remind as in it's a familiar and comfortable sound that I enjoy having in my collection. Anyway, this record has been in frequent rotation on my iPod since I picked it up.

Check 'em out for yourselves. You can stream and or buy Hard Places: The EP using the handy widget below.

<a href="http://thesheriffs.bandcamp.com/album/hard-places-the-ep">Running Man by THE SHERIFFS OF NOTTINGHAM</a>
Track Listing
  • Running Man
  • Easy
  • Hard Places
  • The Road
  • He Said/She Said
  • Same Old Song
  • Nineteen Eighty-Four
www.myspace.com/thesheriffsmusic
www.facebook.com/thesheriffs
twitter.com/TheSheriffs

Metric Release Plug In, Plug Out

This past Tuesday, October 27, Metric released their acoustic Plug In, Plug Out. I like Metric. One of my favorite songs of the year and certainly my favorite Metric song is their "Sick Muse." Sadly, that song isn't on this EP. But, you know what I discovered? While I like Metric, I discovered that I REALLY like them acoustic. There's something more earnest in their acoustic readings of their songs.

And while "Sick Muse" isn't on this effort, the songs that are on this record, are stellar acoustic renditions of five songs from their highly enjoyable Fantasies album. As much as I like Fantasies, right now, I find myself preferring this acoustic record over that one. The acoustic version of "Satellite Mind" is worth the price of the EP on its own. It's the song that might end up replacing "Sick Muse" as my favorite Metric song. "Gimme Sympathy" is a song that I hadn't really paid much attention to. But, when I sat down to listen to this record, it demanded my attention. I'm not sure why it grabbed my attention now but, it did and I'm glad it did.

I'm really enjoying Plug In, Plug Out. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have a few more songs on it!

Track Listing
  • Gimme Sympathy
  • Gold Guns Girls
  • Help I'm Alive
  • Satellite Mind
  • Twilight Galaxy
Grab the 80kidz remix of "Help I'm Alive" HERE.

www.ilovemetric.com
www.myspace.com/metric
www.facebook.com/metric
www.imeem.com/metric
www.twitter.com/metric

Sean Kershaw & The New Jack Ramblers Do Country Brooklyn Style

I've had Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers' Coney Island Cowboy in and out of my player for about a week or so now. People who know me know this, well, maybe some don't but they will now if they read this. I've been known to spin a fair share of country records when I'm listening to music. I'm a big fan of the bluegrass delight that was known as Flatt and Scruggs. Heck, their At Carnegie Hall record is one of my favorite live records. I'm also a fan of the fine writing skills of Miss Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton among others. It's the small town country girl in me that dives for the country records.

So, with my country girl side on display, I tossed Coney Island Cowboy into my player and listened. It's honky tonk Brooklyn style. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that just yet though. A part of me wants to be snobby and say 'I only want country from the country.' The other part of me says, 'hey now!' The first thing I noticed and was glad of was, that it wasn't the pop country stuff that plagues the charts. That in and of itself was a plus in my book. Score one for Kershaw and his Ramblers. There's nothing worse than country music that is so non-country that you can't tell it from your run of the mill annoying pop act du jour.

The second thing I noticed was that you get the sense, listening to the record, that the band is probably one of those bands that are fun to see live. I can envision rollin' into a local honky tonk on a Saturday night and kickin' up some dirt on the dance floor. There are five songs on the disc that stand out from the pack to me. The song that gets me to tap my feet, clap my hands and leaves me on the verge of dancing is "Little Mr. Train Man." "Already Cheatin'" was working for me until it got to the yodeling bits. I'm not a big fan of the yodel and there are very few I can listen to. Questionable comparison time ... something about the music on "Already Cheatin'" reminds me of the song Stewie does from the Family Guy episode "To Love and Die In Dixie." The title track, "Coney Island Cowboy" as well as the closing track, "Six Days On The Road," also caught my ear. But, the track I like most on the record is, "Crackerjack Delight."

Would I recommend Coney Island Cowboy? Sure I would. But, I'd mainly recommend it for those who already like non-pop country music and to listeners who are open minded and willing to checkout something outside their norm. For my personal tastes and though I've never witnessed a performance, I think I'd rather see them live than listen to them on record. Some things feel better live and my gut says to me, that Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers would get me more excited live. My expectations were a bit high for this effort. I was hoping for something a bit more rip roaring and electric. Electric meaning that shocking feeling one gets that sends shivers up your spine. I didn't quite get that electric feeling I had hoped I would.

For those in the New York area you can catch Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers at Hill Country on November 28. Swing by and check them out.

In the meantime, have a listen to them for yourselves.

"Coney Island Cowboy"
"Crackerjack Delight"
Track Listing
  • Old Hollow Tree
  • Piggy In The Middle
  • Coney Island Cowboy
  • Already Cheatin'
  • Bigshot Of The Honkytonk
  • When The Sheriff Comes To Town
  • Moonlight Eyes
  • Little Mr. Train Man
  • Honkytonk Special
  • Crackerjack Delight
  • The Trucker & The Tranny
  • Get Real Gone
  • Woke Up Dead
  • Six Days On The Road
www.seankershaw.com
www.myspace.com/seankershawandramblers
www.facebook.com/sean.kershaw1
twitter.com/seankershaw_njr

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

On Sale Dates For The Week of October 25

Tickets go on sale this week for upcoming shows in the New York Area.

On Sale Wednesday, October 28, 2009

November 17 -- Dave Barnes at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com

On Sale Friday, October 30, 2009

November 9 -- Wolfmother at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
November
15 -- Natalia Lafourcade at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
December 2 --
Imogen Heap at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
http://tinyurl.com/yzzymog
December 10 -- A
rctic Monkeys at Terminal 5
www.term
inal5nyc.com
December 17 -- Pete And J at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com


December 17 -- Lake Trout at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
December 29 - 31 -- Patti Smith And Her Band (pictured) at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com
January 1 -- Passion Pit at Terminal 5
www.terminal5nyc.com
January 8 -- City And Colour at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
January 30 -- Between The Buried And Me at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
http://tinyurl.com/yzzymog
February 14 -- Al Green at Wellmont Theatre
www.wellmonttheatre.com
March 19 -- Indecision at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com

Metric Get Remixed & Release Acoustic EP

Metric has a new acoustic EP, Plug In, Plug Out out today. I find that I'm rather enjoying Metric in plug out state. You can check out a preview of it with the handy little widget below. I like widgets and I like the word widget, but I digress. Metric, kind band that they are, are also offering up a download for you good folks in the Internet world. Japanese DJs, 80kidz, have remixed "Help I'm Alive" which you can grab HERE. I'm not big on re-mixes but I'm diggin' this one.









Track Listing
  • Gimme Sympathy
  • Gold Guns Girls
  • Help I'm Alive
  • Satellite Mind
  • Twilight Galaxy
www.ilovemetric.com
www.myspace.com/metric
www.facebook.com/metric
www.imeem.com/metric
www.twitter.com/metric

Paul McCartney To Release Good Evening New York City

Mark November 17 on your calendars as Macca Day. Why? That's the day Paul McCartney releases Good Evening New York City. I confess to having a soft spot for McCartney, actually all of the former Beatles. Okay, that's not really much of a confession especially if you've seen my music collection. To be honest, I hadn't realized how much McCartney music I owned until I set about trying to organize my collection. Being extremely unorganized and easily bored by such tasks, I failed miserably ... at least all of his music is kinda sorta in the same general vicinity now! But, I digress.

Good Evening New York City immortalizes McCartney's historic three-night wing ding (July 17, 18 & 21) out at Citi Field. For trivia buffs, historical reference and whatnot, Citi Field is the site of the former Shea Stadium which is somewhat hallowed ground for Beatles fans. That's where the Fab Four played a 34 minute set in 1965 to a screaming mass of fans, not that those same screaming fans actually heard the show due to well, their screaming! We've all seen the footage, it's one of those big deal Beatles US moments. Some 44 years later and armed with a much better sound system, Macca returned to the scene of the crime and did his thing.

You'll have a few versions of Good Evening New York City to choose from. There's the standard edition 3-disc set (2 CD's + 1 DVD) and the deluxe 4-disc version (2 CD's + 2 DVD's). The deluxe edition includes extended packaging and McCartney's performance atop the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee (the theater the Beatles made their US television debut incase for some odd reason you lack that bit of music trivia) where he stopped traffic. Macca drew about 15 blocks worth of people along Broadway trying to witness the legend. I walked by the theater that morning, passing by all of the MPL equipment cases outside the building (if you hadn't already heard whispers of something big happening, you knew once you saw all of the equipment) and witnessed people already scouting out vantage points hoping for a glimpse of the man himself while on their way to wherever they were going. Parts of the marquee performance aired on The Late Show with David Letterman but the bonus DVD contained in this package will contain footage that didn't air on television and was previously only available on The Late Show's website. And, for the vinyl lovers of the world, of course there will be a vinyl edition package too.

The Citi Field concerts have been heralded by critics and fans alike. So, if you weren't there and want to experience the Macca Magic (Did I just write that? That's kinda corny!) or want to relive it, pick up a copy. As for me, I'm sure the deluxe version of Good Evening New York City will end up in the same general vicinity as the rest of my McCartney collection.

www.paulmccartney.com
www.myspace.com/paulmccartney

Monday, October 26, 2009

Around New York ... October 26 - November 1, 2009

Upcoming shows in the New York area ...

October 26 -- Har Mar Superstar / Bang Band Eche at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
October 26 -- The Idle Hands / Atomic Tom at Pianos
pianosnyc.com
October 26 -- Girls At Dawn at Bruar Falls
www.bruarfalls.com
October 27 -
- Pearl and the Beard at Joe's Pub
www.joe
spub.com
October 27 -- Cartel at The Gramercy Theatre
www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/411577
October 27 - November 1 -- Ron Carte
r Trio (pictured) at Blue Note
www.blueno
te.net


October 28 -- Matt Sucich / Jason Blum / Annie Keating / Piera at Southpaw
spsounds.com
October 28 -- Emilie Simon at Knitting Factory
ny.knittingfactory.com
October 28 -- Spider / Liz Durrett / Cabineta of National Curiosities / Golden Bones
at Cake Shop
cake-shop.com
October 28 -- Jay Farrar / Benjamin Gibbard at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
October 29 -- Blackmore's Night at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/411381
October 29 -- John R
oderick / J. Wise at Union Hall
www.unionhallny.com
October 29 -- A Place To Bury Strangers / Dead Confederate at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com
October 29 -- Robert Earl Keen / Todd Snider at Town Hall
www.the-townhall-nyc.org
October 30 -- Living Colour at Highline Ballroom
www.highlineballroom.com
October 30 -- Bethany Saint Smith & The Gun Show / So So Human at Ace Of Clubs
www.aceofclubsnyc.com
October 31 -- The Misfits at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
www.bbkingblues.com
October 31 -- Deer Tick Plays The Songs of the Sex Pistols at Brooklyn Bowl
www.brooklynbowl.com
October 31 -- Thievery Corporation at Terminal 5
www.termin
al5nyc.com
October 31 -- Karl Denson's Tiny Universe at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com
October 31 -- Junior Boys / Woodhands at The Bell House
www.thebellhouseny.com
October 31 -- Mike Doughty / Porter Block at Le Poisson Rouge
lepoissonrouge.com
November 1 -- Keegan DeWitt (pictured) at Rockwood Music Hall
www.rockwoodmusichall.com
November 1 -- Dana Piccoli at Bitter End
www.bitterend.com
November 1 -- Dysrhythmia / Stats / The Smother Party at Union Pool
www.myspace.com/unionpool
November 1 -- The Ghost of a Sabre Toothed Tiger / Doveman at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com

Gov’t Mule To Release By A Thread

The hardest working man in rock, Warren Haynes (guitar/lead vocals) along with bandmates Matt Abts (drums), Danny Louis (multi-instrumentalist) and Jorgen Carlsson (bass) collectively known as Gov't Mule, will release a new record October 27. The album, By A Thread, will be their first studio album in three years.

Haynes says ...
It feels like we’re moving forward and backward at the same time. Hardcore fans tend to not want us to move too far away from where we started, but the band never wants to stay in one place for very long.
While Jorgen brings his distinctive musical personality to the table, he also uncannily evokes some of (Allen) Woody’s spirit which inspired us to revisit our past.
I don’t know if we were willing to travel that road right after Allen died but this far down the line, it seems liberating and exciting.
By A Thread was recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio and is being released on Haynes' Evil Teen Records. The opening track, "Broken Down On The Brazos," features the bad ass fretwork of Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. It's an excellent opening and one that lays a solid foundation for rest of the record. In preparation for the release, stream "Broke Down On The Brazos" HERE and "Frozen Fear" HERE. Then first thing Tuesday, grab By A Thread, crank it up and declare October 27 Mule Day!

Track Listing
  • Broke Down On The Brazos
  • Steppin Lightly
  • Railroad Boy
  • Monday Mourning Meltdown
  • Gordon James
  • Any Open Window
  • Frozen Fear
  • Forevermore
  • Inside Outside Woman Blues #3
  • Scenes From A Troubled Mind
  • World Wake Up
www.mule.net

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Upcoming Releases, Compiled October 25


Kat O1O (that’s oh-one-oh) from the Crown City Rockers is releasing her solo debut on November 3. The release is titled Natural Phenomena. You can grab “Eucalyptus” from the record HERE.

www.myspace.com/o1o


The General Elektriks are releasing a new record, Good City For Dreamers. The record is slated for release on November 10. General Elektriks is the brainchild of French national and a vintage keyboard player Hervé “RV” Salters. Grab the track "Take Back The Instant" HERE. I'm really diggin' this track.

www.general-elektriks.com

www.myspace.com/generalelektriks


Wyclef Jean has a new 13-song EP coming out on November 10. It's titled From The Hut To The Projects To The Mansion. The hip-hop artist has recruited a bevy of guests, DJ Drama, Eve, Cyndi Lauper, Timbaland, and others for the record.

Track Listing

  • Interlude – From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion
  • Warrior’s Anthem
  • The Streets Pronounce Me Dead
  • Slumdog Millionaire feat. Cyndi Lauper aka Luscious Loo
  • Interlude – Every Now & Then
  • Walk Away
  • More Bottles feat. Timbaland
  • You Don’t Wanna Go Outside
  • Toussaint vs. Bishop
  • Interlude – The Struggle
  • We Made It
  • Suicide Love feat. Eve
  • Letter From The Penn
  • Robotic Love
  • Gangsta Girl
  • Interlude – Tell The Kids The Truth
  • The Shottas
wyclefjean.wordpress.com


zerobridge has an EP coming out on November 17. The release is titled, There We Were, Now Here We Are. You can check out the first single for the record HERE.




Track Listing
  • 2mins5
  • There We Were, Now Here We Are
  • Venus In Arms
  • How Long
  • TWA
  • It Is What It Is
www.myspace.com/zerobridge
www.facebook.com/pages/zerobridge/134504749999?ref=nf


January 26, 2010 is the day Nashville based hard rock band Day of Fire releases their latest record, Losing All. To get you ready for the release, you can grab the first single "Lately" HERE.

Track Listing
  • Light Em Up
  • Hello Heartache
  • When I See You
  • Airplane
  • Lately
  • Cold Addiction
  • Landslide
  • Never Goodbye
  • Hey You
  • We Are No One
  • Long Highway
  • Strange
  • The Dark Hills
www.myspace.com/dayoffire

Yule A Go-Go

When I first saw Yule A Go-Go, my first thought was, after giggling for a moment and thinking all holiday parties should have this (okay, maybe not the party thrown by your great aunt Odessa), "somebody's going to hell!" Because, that's what you say when you run across fun stuff that some folks might consider questionable. And, burlesque dancing in celebration of a religious holiday is well, one of those things that could be considered questionable.

What exactly is Yule A Go-Go you ask? Well, it's a DVD (plus 12 song CD) of 13 chicks doing burlesque (PG-13 rated pasties & g-string sort of stuff) to newly recorded versions of holiday classics in front of the Yule Log. I don't know if this is something other parts of the country air, but, if you're in NY, Channel 11 has a tradition. They air an image of a crackling fireplace while playing holiday music for several hours. Well, Yule A Go-Go is the grown folks version of that.

The DVD comes with a bevy of features including continuous party loop (after several glasses of your drunken uncle's special eggnog nobody will be able to control the replay button on the remote so you gotta let it loop) and the fireplace only option ... that option is for when great aunt Odessa drops by your party with her fruitcake, unannounced!

Check out the video tease below. Then, pick up a copy and have some fun!

www.yuleagogo.com
www.myspace.com/yuleagogo

Well Hot Damn, Bob Schneider On DVD!

The next best thing to going to see Bob Schneider live would be having a DVD of Schneider live. Well, actually the next best thing to going to seem him live would be for him to stop by your house and play for you but, since that's not likely to happen, we'll have to settle for a DVD.

Yes, ladies, gentlemen and random questionable but lovable sorts, Schneider has a nice shiny live DVD/CD set available. What's it called you ask? It's called Live At The Paramount Theatre. It was recorded last December in Austin at, as the title suggests, the Paramount Theatre. I've ordered mine ... big surprise there! Check out the trailer below for a taste of what you're in for.

Speaking of live Schneider, he'll be back in New York on November 20. This time he'll take the stage in Brooklyn at the Knitting Factory. Y'all know he's one of those people I recommend going to see.



DVD
  • 40 Dogs (Like Romeo And Juliet)
  • Everybody's Doing It
  • Gold In The Sunset
  • Hangin' With The Horny Girls
  • Looking At The People
  • Love Is Everywhere
  • Metal And Steel
  • I'm Good Now
  • Big Blue Sea
  • Tarantula
  • Getting Better
  • Ass Knocker
  • Bonus Tracks
  • Realness Of Space
  • Weed Out The Weak
  • Slower Dear
  • Trash
  • Bombanaza
CD #1
  • Piggyback
  • Round And Round
  • Come With Me Tonight
  • Realness of Space
  • Flowerparts
  • Weed Out The Weak
  • Slower Dear
  • Trash
  • Captain Kirk
  • Bullets
  • Bombanaza
  • All I Want For Christmas
CD #2
  • 40 Dogs (Like Romeo And Juliet)
  • Everybody's Doing It
  • Gold In The Sunset
  • Hangin' With The Horny Girls
  • Looking At The People
  • Love Is Everywhere
  • Metal And Steel
  • I'm Good Now
  • Big Blue Sea
  • Tarantula
  • 2002
  • Getting Better
  • Ass Knocker
  • Batman
bobschneider.ning.com

Friday, October 23, 2009

R.E.M. Live At The Olympia On NPR

NPR is giving first listen to R.E.M.'s upcoming two-disc live set. R.E.M. Live At The Olympia hits shelves this coming Tuesday, October 27. But, thanks to NPR, you can listen to all 39 songs now! You read that right, you can stream all 39 tracks.

R.E.M. Live At The Olympia is a collection of fan favorites played live, not a collection of their hits. My geek girl love fest issues are in full bloom with this release. So, pop over, have a listen and fall in lust with R.E.M. all over again and or remember why you were and still are in lust with them in the first place.

Click HERE to listen. What are you waiting for?!

www.remdublin.com
www.remhq.com

Thursday, October 22, 2009

El Perro Del Mar - "Change Of Heart"

El Perro Del Mar released a new record, Love Is Not Pop this Tuesday, October 20. Hm, at least I'm not massively behind on things! At any rate, I haven't had a chance to check out the whole album yet so I can't give an opinion on it. But, you can check out and download for your happy little ears the ear pleasing "Change of Heart," HERE.

El Perro Del Mar will be at Webster Hall with Peter Bjorn & John on November 9.

And, if that's not enough for you, you can watch the video for "Change of Heart" below. I'm not sure if this ranks in the "say wha?!" section or if it belongs in the "WTF?!" section. Seriously, I feel like I tripped into some sort of bizarre homoerotic dream ... nothing censor worthy so don't get your feathers in a bunch. It's said that the entire video was shot in one take! All that aside, really, you gotta watch this one.


www.elperrodelmar.com
www.myspace.com/elperrodelmar

Video: Jet - "Black Hearts (On Fire)"

Jet has another video out to support their latest album, Shaka Rock. This one is for the song "Black Hearts (On Fire)." My first thought when I saw the video was, it reminded me a bit of Kasabian's "Vlad The Impaler" video minus the cool, cheesy sci-fi effects. You know the one, the one where Noel Fielding's mustache thing makes me think of John Bonham, but I digress. So, I watch and my second thought is, Death is kind of sexy ... the guy playing him, not the concept of or the actual dying thing. As I continued to watch, Death, while kind of sexy let me down. He got punked by a puny guy in a way to clean to have just crash to the ground skydiving suit ... say wha?! If you're in New York, you can catch Jet at Nokia Theatre on November 12 with Papa Roach.

www.myspace.com/jet

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 3: Calypso

Calypso: October 20 @ Pianos, New York, NY

The final band I caught at the The Music Slut/Sneak Attack Media CMJ party yesterday was, Calypso. I was interested in hearing their live sound now. They have the whole raw surf punk thing going on. At least that's how I'd describe it.

The Photos...
The Videos... (if you know the names of the songs, let me know so I can identify them properly)




"Casually Sad Mercedes"

www.myspace.com/calypsony

themusicslut.com
sneakattackmedia.com

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 1: Sean Bones

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 2: Fanfarlo

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 2: Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo: October 20 @ Pianos, New York, NY

Next up for me at The Music Slut/Sneak Attack Media CMJ party was, Fanfarlo. They're touring so check them out if you get a chance. New York, if you don't already have tickets to their show at Bowery Ballroom tonight (10/21) then you're out of luck, it's sold out.

The Photos...
www.fanfarlo.com
www.myspace.com/fanfarlo
themusicslut.com
sneakattackmedia.com

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 1: Sean Bones

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 3: Calypso

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 1: Sean Bones

Sean Bones: October 20 @ Pianos, New York, NY

Fellow music blog The Music Slut, along with Sneak Attack Media tossed a free CMJ day party at Pianos. You missed it? For shame! It was a great party! There were twelve bands plus DJ's. I managed to catch three of the bands.

First up for me was Sean Bones. For those who don't know, I first experienced the band back in May and have been fond of them since. Sean Bones is one of those bands that you can't help but have fun watching. They are quite simply infectious and are on my list of bands to see live. The band kicked off their set with my favorite song of theirs, "Sugar In My Spoon" and closed out their short, but wickedly fun set with the rollicking "Dancehall."

The Photos...
The Video (a little on the dark side)...
"Sugar In My Spoon"


They're taking to the road, check them out when they play near you. For those of us in New York, they'll be at Purevolume tonight (10/21), Mercury Lounge on Thursday (10/22) and on November 20, they'll be over at Terminal 5 with Grace Potter and Brett Dennen (damn, that's a good line up!) so there's plenty of opportunity to catch them NY.


www.seanbones.com
www.myspace.com/seanbones
www.tinyurl.com/seanbonesfacebook
themusicslut.com
sneakattackmedia.com

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 2: Fanfarlo

The Music Slut & Sneak Attack Media CMJ Party, Pt. 3: Calypso

The Dreamscapes Project Rocked Arlene's

The Dreamscapes Project: October 17 @ Arlene's Grocery, New York, NY

12-strings, cellos, buckets, spoons and questionable art books, oh my! What? That doesn't make sense to you? Then you weren't at Arlene's on Saturday watching The Dreamscapes Project.

This was the first time I had the opportunity to catch the band, Keith Center (Lead Vocals / 12-String Acoustic Guitar), Ben Guy (Cello / Vocals), Jeremy Rodgers (Electric Bass), Gordon Shankman (Drums) and Eric Sanford (Percussion). For those who haven't had the experience, they're a revved up folk rock band.

The Dreamscapes Project have made my list of bands to see live. Sure, they're good on record, but, you really have to see them live to get the full picture. They kind of take a no holds barred approach which leaves the audience smiling and dancing. Yes, dancing. You can dance to a folk band folks. One of my favorite songs of the night was a little tune called "Bluegrass." It was indeed a bluegrass song and where Sanford's bucket and spoon playing came in. Only in New York (or maybe it's just only when The Dreamscapes Project are in New York) can you find a folk band, in a rock club, playing bluegrass while a couple of guys have a little hoedown in the audience.

I have to mention "Why Do I Always Feel Like The Sound A Chair Makes As It's Dragged Across The Floor?" if for no other reason then for the amazingly long title it carries. Did I get the full title right?! So, they played Chair Song (sorry Keith!) which, by the way, is a really good song, after Center expressed his chagrin, amid good natured ribbing from his band mates, over the song title being whacked down to just Chair Song.

One of the things that first intrigued me when this band was brought to my attention was the fact that they have a cello player. When I first heard this, my first thought was, 'oh he probably just plays it on a few songs.' But, that's not the case. Guy wields his cello the entire show and quite frankly, rocks out with it. Center, an unassuming frontman, has some soul in his vocals. He has a good voice and the sound person did a bang up job in making sure it was heard properly.

I bet you're wondering where the questionable art book part comes into play, huh? Well, set a band loose in NYC with some time to kill and they'll happen upon a crackhead (or some sort of questionable person) selling self-drawn art books which led to a bit of a show and tell. Their version of support the arts?

They closed the show with a rousing cover of Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By." It's a perfect song to end with yet, it's also a bad song to end with. Perfect in the fact that it leaves you pumped up full of rock show adrenalin. Bad because that same rock show adrenalin it leaves you with, makes you want a few more songs! But all good things must come to an end. I had a good time and look forward to seeing them again. Go check them out when they play near you. You'll have fun ... might even yell yee-haw!

"Days Go By"

"Fragile"

"Still Love"


Set List
  • Still Love
  • Why Do I Always Feel Like The Sound A Chair Makes As It's Dragged Across The Floor?
  • Bluegrass
  • Titanic
  • Fragile
  • Days Go By
www.theScapes.com