Video: Daisy McCrackin - “Everything”

Last month Daisy McCrackin released her debut EP, The Rodeo Grounds. It's been playing on my media player of choice since I got it. For those who haven't heard it yet, The Rodeo Grounds is a stunning and poetic bit of folk art. Her vocals are sincere and throughout the record, there's a shyness in her delivery. "Different Girl" and "Run Run Run" are standouts for me though the whole record is a gem.

McCrackin is currently finishing up a promotional tour of Europe before heading back to the States for dates here. In the meantime, check out her newest video below. It's for the song "Everything," the EP's closing track. It was animated by her friends Dani Katz and Steven Synstelien.

Track Listing

• Tell Her
• Different Girl
• Say You Do
• Run Run Run
• Mermaid's Daughter
• Everything

daisymccrackinmusic.com
www.myspace.com/daisymccrackin

Around New York ... December 14 - December 20, 2009

Upcoming shows in the New York area ...

December 14 -- Lissy Trullie (pictured) / Mike Bones / Xylos at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
December 14 -- The Slits at Highline Ballroom
www.highlineballroom.com
December 15 -- Wild Yaks / Nightmare Air / Ladycop at Pianos
pianosnyc.com
December 15 -- Ed Vallance / The Lorax at Union Hall
www.unionhallny.com
December 15 - 20 -- Cedar Walton Trio at The Village Vanguard
www.villagevanguard.com
December 16 -- Fur Cups For Teeth / Holy Hail / Big Digits at Cake Shop
cake-shop.com
December 16 -- Marianne / The Bloodsugars / She Keeps Bees / Violent Soho at Southpaw
spsounds.com
December 16 -17, 19 - 20 -- Matisyahu at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
December 17 -- Neon Indian at Brooklyn Bowl
www.brooklynbowl.com
December 18 -- Fanfarlo (pictured) at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
December 18 -- Georgiana Starlington / Nikki Lane at Bruar Falls
www.bruarfalls.com
December 18 -- Bardo Pond and White Out at (Le) Poisson Rouge
lepoissonrouge.com
December 18 -- Donna The Buffalo / The Believers at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com

Nico Vega Turns A Cold NY Night, Blistering Hot

Nico Vega: December 11 @ The Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY

Aja, Rich and Dan, the trio better known as California rock band Nico Vega, paid another visit to New York. The band took the stage at Webster Hall playing to a sold out crowd.

I fell in lust with Nico Vega when I saw them earlier this year as part of the Hell On Heels tour. These cats are crazy talented. I missed them the last time they rolled through town but I made it a point to catch this show.

They kicked things off with "Taxi Cab" which got an already excited audience in the groove. Now, I went in wanting to hear three songs. I wanted to hear "Fe Fi Fo Fum," "Beast" and their cover of "Maggot Brain." As far as I was concerned, everything else would be icing!

Can we just call drummer Dan Epand a beast? He was back there tearing it up. Epand's playing makes you feel like you should be falling to the floor doing some sort of spiritual hippy dance ... you know, the writhing, jerky, arms flailing Woodstock kind of dancing. The dude's heavy.

Y'all know I'm a guitar fan, right? If you didn't, you know now. Well, good gosh guitarist Rich Koehler rocks, rolls and sizzles. One moment his playing is all sweet and seductive, flirty and teasing. The next moment he gives you the equivalent of throwing you against the wall and having his way with you, dizzying and mind fogging. Then he's all sweet and gentle again before taking you over the edge leaving you a hot, sweaty, smiling mess. The man made me dizzy from start to feedback finish. My oh my, I just sounded like a dirty old lady talking about guitar playing!

Vocalist Aja Volkman is primal and a treat to watch perform. Sadly, I couldn't hear most of her vocals. At times it seemed as if her mic wasn't on. I'd say about half the time I couldn't hear her vocals and when things got really heavy, guitar wise, both the vocals and music sounded distorted. But, during the moments when I could hear Volkman, the lady burned.

They ended the night with "Beast" which is a big crowd pleaser. I love that song and it's something you need to see live. Hell, the whole show is something you need to see live. They played a mind-blowing, high energy set. The only disappointment was not being able to hear Volkman well enough. It may have been cold outside, but Nico Vega was hot. I had a great time and look forward to seeing them again.

"Fe Fi Fo Fum"

Photos

www.myspace.com/nicovega
nicovega.com

Photos: Inward Eye @ Webster Hall

Inward Eye: December 11 @ The Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY

Canadian band Inward Eye were the second act to take the stage at Webster Hall Friday Night. They had a bit of misfortune. Some sticky fingered folks in Philly decided to liberate the band of all of it's equipment so they played their set on gear borrowed from their fellow tour mates. Anyway, I wasn't familiar with the band but I enjoyed them all the same ... they were fun, punky and funky. They also put on one of the most energetic sets I've seen in a while.

www.myspace.com/inwardeye
www.inwardeye.com

Photos: Neon Trees @ Webster Hall

Neon Trees: December 11 @ The Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY

www.myspace.com/neontrees

Young Filmmaker Nora Hogan Brings Smiles To New Yorkers

Do a random act of kindness. It's a simple concept, right? It's a concept that talented young filmmaker Nora Hogan put into practice. Hogan even came up with a fun way to randomly show her kindness. She and her friends took to the streets of NY and handed out balloons to people. The result, lots of smiles! Children and adults alike had their day brightened by the simple act of being given a balloon.

Hogan put together this video accompanied by the song "You Make Me Happy" by the equally talented Elle Bass. Just like the balloons, the video encourages smiles.

Corinne Bailey Rae Charms NYC

Corinne Bailey Rae: December 7 @ Hiro Ballroom, New York, NY

Songstress Corinne Bailey Rae paid a visit to New York's Hiro Ballroom Monday night. Bailey Rae is on this side of the pond for a series of shows to preview material from her upcoming record, The Sea, which is scheduled for release on January 26, 2010 here in the States.

It was my first visit to Hiro Ballroom and my first time seeing Bailey Rae live. Hiro is a nice, warm space with Japanese themed decor. I wasn't sure what to expect from Bailey Rae live. Okay, do you say Bailey Rae or simply just Rae when writing names such as hers? Blast my senile mind for not remembering that rule of writing! But, I digress ... happens from time to time.

Now, back to what I was saying. I wasn't sure what to expect. To be honest, having only heard her on record, I thought she would have a voice that was more on the wispy side live. But, I was wrong! So, needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how strong her voice was. Bailey Rae is a charming performer and as a lady near me in the audience exclaimed, "she's adorable" and she is. She has that nice girl next door vibe going on.

Bailey Rae played before a sold out crowd of very happy fans. She and her band performed a fourteen song set (fifteen if you count the do over) informing the audience at some point that with the song she was about to play, it would mean that she had played us all the songs from the upcoming record. The performance was being filmed for the PBS program Artists Den. No word on when it will be aired though it'll probably be sometime next month, around the time her record comes out. Keep an eye on your local listings folks! As a result of the show being filmed, she re-did "Paris Nights/New York Mornings" after her encores of "Put Your Records On" and "Till It Happens To You" because of some mess up. That being one of the song highlights of the night for me, I had no complaints about hearing it again and neither did anyone else in the audience. As a matter of fact, everyone wanted her to do more songs. The other highlight of the night for me was, "Paper Dolls." The set, which also included her cover of "Little Wing," was strong and had a good flow.

It was a fun show and I had a good time. The rest of the audience, the band and Bailey Rae herself all seemed to feel the same way I did. And, after hearing the tunes live, I look forward to visiting The Sea.

Minute Teaser: "Paper Doll"

Set List

• Are You Here
• Paris Nights/New York Mornings
  
• Love's On Its Way
• Closer
• Paper Dolls
• I'd Do It All Again
• Like A Star
• Blackest Lily
• Little Wing
• Diving For Hearts
• I Would Like To Call It Beauty
• The Sea
• Put Your Records On
• Till It Happens To You
• Paris Nights/New York Mornings
  

www.corinnebaileyrae.net
twitter.com/CorinneBRae

Video: Audio Fiction - "Way Out"

New York rockers Audio Fiction have released their first ever video! It's for the song "Way Out" from their self-titled album. It was directed by the bands very own Mark O'Toole. Check it out below and read about the making of the video HERE.

Also, hear tell the band is working on some new songs! So, there should be plenty for fans to look forward to in the new year. Fellow New Yorkers, you can catch Audio Fiction on January 28 at Pianos on the LES.

www.audiofictionband.com
www.myspace.com/audiofictionband

Around New York ... December 7 - December 13, 2009

Upcoming shows in the New York area ...

December 9 -- Fink / Vandaveer at Union Hall
www.unionhallny.com
December 9 -- Gray Goods / The Naked Hearts / Darlings / She Keeps Bees at Cake Shop
cake-shop.com
December 9 -- Ed Vallance / Sons of Sons / The Can't Tells at Pianos
pianosnyc.com
December 11 -- Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast (pictured) at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
December 11 -- Nico Vega at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
December 11 -- Rooney / Tally Hall / Crash Kings at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
December 11 -- The Gaslight Anthem at Wellmont Theatre
www.wellmonttheatre.com
December 11 -- The Phenomenal Handclap Band at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com
December 12 -- Kaki King at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
December 10, 12 - 13 -- Matisyahu at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
December 13 -- Darlene Love at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
www.bbkingblues.com