Marina V: September 13 @ Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
Russian songbird Marina V and her music partner Nick Baker made a stop in our lovely city last week. Marina charmed the audience and played selections from her latest release, My Song. Check out video of her performing "My Song," the albums title track and the opening number to last weeks show below. I'll have a photo gallery up in the coming days.
Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall will release her third studio record, Tiger Suit, on October 5. Check out the video for her single, "Fade Like A Shadow" HERE. And, if all of that wasn't enough New York folks, tour dates have been confirmed and Tunstall will be making a stop in our lovely city on December 1 at Terminal 5.
Tunstall's Myspace Karaoke Contest began yesterday. For details on that, click HERE. Grand Prize wins two tickets to a KT Tunstall show, travel accommodations and a backstage rehearsal session!
Tiger Suit was recorded in Berlin at the world-famous Hansa Studios, where several legendary albums, including David Bowie’s Heroes, U2’s Achtung Baby, and Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life, were made. Finishing touches to Tiger Suit were completed at London’s RAK Studios. The album was produced by Jim Abbiss, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Kasabian, Editors, and many more.
Check out the new video from Florence & The Machine. The song, "Heavy In Your Arms" is on the Twilight Eclipse soundtrack. And gig alert, Florence will be at Terminal 5 on November 1 & 2.
A Lot Like You, the new EP from Jules Larson was released today. We've posted some of her videos here thanks to our friends at ResidentBand. Check it out, I dig her work.
Also out today is Fields, the release from Junip. Check it out using the handy widget below. New York, they will be at Irving Plaza on Wednesday, November 24. Nothing like a little good music to get you ready for giving thanks and stuffing yourself silly.
The Charlatans are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a new release Who We Touch. The record, their eleventh, was produced by Youth. Grab "Love Is Ending" below in the MP3 Grab.
Brandon Flowers, best known as the frontman for The Killers, is releasing his debut solo album Flamingo today on Island Records. Produced by Stuart Price, Daniel Lanois, and Brendan O’Brien, Flamingo is a stunning 10-song collection from an artist whose brilliant showmanship and powerful vocals have made him such a recognizable and iconic artist. The record is a classic American rock album, full of extraordinary choruses, vast instrumentation and Flowers’ incredible voice, sounding richer and fiercer than ever before. Exuding all that dazzles and shines about his hometown of Las Vegas, Flamingo is packed full of sparkling, stadium-ready songs that you cannot help but sing along with.
It’s been six years since celebrated female duo Azure Ray released their critically acclaimed album Hold On Love. It’s been a long wait for music fans, but thankfully that wait is about to come to an end. The highly anticipated full length from Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor is a sublime future classic titled Drawing Down the Moon which hits TODAY via Saddle Creek. The duo has drawn fans from around the globe with their transcendent songwriting and stunning vocals and Drawing Down the Moon is an even more impressive and beguiling delight. Their undeniable talents lie in balladry so breathtakingly visceral that it soars straight through the ears into the veins until it pumps firmly into the heart. Azure Ray are famed for their bitter sweet melancholy and Drawing Down the Moon is a perfect ode to their harmonious musical gifts. Twelve flawless songs worth waiting every second of those six years for.
Folk rocker Adam Taylor is returning to New York. He'll be in the upstairs lounge at Pianos on Thursday, September 16 at 9PM. It's FREE! Swing by and check him out. He's good, but you already know that, right?
New York area friends and folks in general, it's time for another upcoming shows alert.
Saturday, September 11, A Million Years will be at The Studio at Webster Hall. Doors are at 8PM and tix are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
Monday, September 13, Russian songbird Marina V will be in New York! She'll be on the LES at Rockwood Music Hall. It's a FREE gig so you have no excuses not to swing by, say hi to her and her musical partner Nick (they're just the sweetest) and hear some good music. Get there early, she goes on at 6PM.
Shwa and The Good Times are spending every Tuesday in September at Rockwood Music Hall. If you missed them this Tuesday, then be sure to catch them next week, September 14. They go on at 8PM. And, another, no excuses gig, it's FREE! They have one of the worlds catchiest songs, "Penultimate Dance" and a song that stayed on repeat for a good while "Sandy Don't Worry."
Monday's are a good night to check out music. September 20, New York's Jump Into The Gospel (pictured) will be at Mercury Lounge. It's 10 at 10 ... $10 at 10PM. Check them out. They won me over when I happened to catch them back in February.
Also on Monday, September 20, Sharon Little will be on the LES as well. She'll be at Rockwood Music Hall on Stage 2. She's on early, 7:30PM and it'll cost you $10. I became a fan of her music when I came across her first album on Amie Street a couple of years ago. Her EP, First Cut is available on her official website but will be released the following day, 9/21 via digital outlets. It's a sneak peek of her upcoming second album Paper Doll which will be released early next year.
Need something to do Tuesday, September 21? Well, head on over to Mercury Lounge and catch Red Wanting Blue. They're on at 8:30PM and it'll cost you $10. They put on a hell of a live show. Buy your tickets now, I think they sold out the last time they were there. You don't want to get left at the door looking all sad eyed and pitiful because you couldn't get in.
Check with venues as times can be subject to change.
Brooklyn based A Million Years will be live at Best Buy in Union Square as part of the stores Live @ Best Buy series. The in-store performance will take place Thursday, September 9 at 6PM. The band released their full-length debut album, Mischief Maker, in June. Check below for details on other shows in the area.
Harper Simon has released a video for "Berkeley Girl" a track from his self-titled debut album. The video was directed by Benjamin Kutsko and stars Jena Malone with a cameo by Henry Wolfe. It was filmed on 8mm film giving it a vintage quality that fits the song perfectly. Check out the video below.
Directed by Benjamin Kutsko from LA-based film collective/production company The Masses (Devendra Banhart, Passion Pit, Beach House, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros), the video stars actress/musician Jena Malone (Into the Wild, Pride & Prejudice, Donny Darko)with a cameo by singer/songwriter Henry Wolfe. Shot on 8 mm film in the hills of Echo Park, LA’s new bohemian hub, and drenched in golden light, the video recalls the romantic quality of the great films of the 1970s – a perfect fit for Harper’s classic sounding folk-rock love song written to a friend.
Says director Benjamin Kutsko, “I was really excited to explore Echo Park as a character in this video, as well as the delicate balance that exists between two people whose relationship has moved from lovers to friends. Those are both ‘places’ where I have found some of my closest loves in this life! Shooting on film was important to me; the second the song begins, it is clear that Harper’s voice doesn't live in a digital world.”
Doppelgänger: August 23 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
New York rock trio Doppelgänger returned to the scene of the crime this past Monday. It was at LES club Mercury Lounge where I first experienced the band and walked away a fan.
I got there early to check out Vs. Antelope who were good. But, no matter how good they were, I couldn't wait for Doppelgänger to come on. At some point prior to them taking the stage, I was conversing with the young lady next to me. We both agreed that the band, Ryan Oh-No (drums/vocals), R. Francis (guitar/vocals) and Joey Hamm (bass/vocals) have an amazing energy that instantly gets you caught up in their sound and show. They really do have that special something that leads to big things.
Within moments of launching into their first song of the night, the audience was dancing. Song after song, they were cheered on which only fueled them to rock even harder. Their in your face, raw intensity leaves you dizzy and with that tingling butterfly feeling in your stomach that you get when you're taking part in something special. And, the show was something special. I've seen them several times now and after each show you think there's no way they can top that performance but, they do. It's not often that a band can play a new or I believe they said new'ish song and have the audience get into it nearly as much as familiar favorites. Doppelgänger always has an enthusiastic audience but Monday was a whole new level. When the band began their last song, crowd favorite "Red Eyed Love," there was a roar of approval, lots of dancing and a great deal of singing along. At the rate they're going, I foresee Doppelgängermaking the big leagues. They're deserving and the raw intensity of their shows alone warrants it.
Now, Monday wasn't just a show. It was in part a celebration of their EP Get It Over With Already. Just like their shows, the record is shake your ass rock 'n' roll. The six song record is raw, also like their shows. It's not often that a record gives you the same excited feeling as a live show, but that's just what Doppelgänger manages. "Breaks My Head" its with surfer punk sound and "Red Eyed Love" are insanely catchy numbers that would both work as singles. The former showcases Oh-No's ability as a vocalist. "Untitled" the song that grabbed me the first time I saw the band play, and became my favorite, is a headphone lovers delight. Francis' guitar work on the song is ferocious.
The albums title can be considered a bit ironic, I suppose. The minute you put the record on, you want anything but to get it over with. When the last song, "The Coast Is Clear" ends, you find yourself looking at your media player accusingly, before telling it to repeat, all the while wishing there were a few more songs on the record. Thankfully, Get It Over With Already isn't some slick, over-produced, stripped of personality effort. Nor is it stripped of the raw, primal goodness that attracted me to the band in the first place. This is a CD well worth owning. I'd suggest getting one before these guys blow up and you have to sell your first born child and your grandmothers dentures to buy it on eBay.
The Dreamscapes Project: August 14 @ Arlene's Grocery, New York, NY
Folk rockersThe Dreamscapes Project paid a visit to Arlene's Grocery earlier this month. This was my second time having a chance to catch these guys perform and they didn't disappoint. For those of you who weren't there, you missed a good show. The band, Keith Center (guitar/vocals), Jeremy Rodgers (bass/vocals), Gordon Shankman (drums) and Eric Sanford (percussion) put on a high energy show full of fun. They were down a member, cello player Ben Guy didn't make the trip as he and his wife just welcomed a bundle of joy to the family. Congratulations! Guy was missed by both audience and band but the band carried on admirably. In tribute to their missing bandmate and his little one, Center managed to work the word baby into each song!
The Dreamscapes Project is a extremely tight band even in an altered configuration. Center is a larger than life frontman engaging the audience all the while being in constant motion. I think I've mentioned before that I like when bands smile and look like they're genuinely having a good time. They're one of those bands. Their infectiousness radiated from the stage to the audience making us smile and enjoy ourselves more. Check out the video of their opening song and one of my favorites "Still Love" below. If they're playing near you, you should do yourself a favor and go get folked!
r 5. Check out the video for her single, "Fade Like A Shadow" HERE. And, if all of that wasn't enough New York folks, tour dates have been confirmed and Tunstall will be making a stop in our lovely city on December 1 at Terminal 5.
he Gospel (pictured) will be at Mercury Lounge. It's 10 at 10 ... $10 at 10PM. Check them out. They won me over when I happened to catch them back in February.
www.amillionyears.net
Malone with a cameo by Henry Wolfe. It was filmed on 8mm film giving it a vintage quality that fits the song perfectly. Check out the video below.
m to rock even harder. Their in your face, raw intensity leaves you dizzy and with that tingling butterfly feeling in your stomach that you get when you're taking part in something special. And, the show was something special. I've seen them several times now and after each show you think there's no way they can top that performance but, they do. It's not often that a band can play a new or I believe they said new'ish song and have the audience get into it nearly as much as familiar favorites. Doppelgänger always has an enthusiastic audience but Monday was a whole new level. When the band began their last song, crowd favorite "Red Eyed Love," there was a roar of approval, lots of dancing and a great deal of singing along. At the rate they're going, I foresee Doppelgänger making the big leagues. They're deserving and the raw intensity of their shows alone warrants it. 
