Only Son's Searchlight Out Today + Plays Webster Hall Thursday, 1/20

Only Son, New York based songwriter Jack Dishel, formerly of The Moldy Peaches, releases his new album today. Searchlight, Only Son's sophomore record, features appearances by Regina Spektor and members of The Strokes, Of Montreal and Robbers On High Street.

Gig alert! Only Son will be having a little record release party at the Studio at Webster Hall this Thursday, January 20. It'll cost ya $10, doors at 8PM. To get you all primed and ready for the record and show, we have for you a nice shiny song in the MP3 Grab at the bottom of the post.

For your viewing pleasure, below we have the the second video from Searchlight, "It's A Boy." The video was directed by Peter Sand and stars Aleksa Palladino of Boardwalk Empire.

Only Son’s latest album, Searchlight is an expansive, diverse collection of songs; much like a late Beatles album, each song occupies its own space on the record and fleshes out a different side of his musical sensibilities.

MP3 Grab: "Magic"

Sick Of Sarah Premier New Video On mtvU

Sick Of Sarah have released a new video for their song "Overexposure." The video which premiered today on mtvU was directed by Shane Nelson. The song is the first single for the band's upcoming album 2205 which is scheduled for release on February 1. Check out the video below.

This newest chapter for the band, 2205, was recorded in May at The Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX, a studio made famous for its indie-rock clientele such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Conor Oberst, Portugal The Man, Taking Back Sunday, Trail of The Dead and its extensive amp and guitar collection including guitars from the Stevie Ray Vaughan estate. "We were able to just live, breath and sleep this album 24/7, a luxury we didn't have our first time recording," says bassist Jamie Holm. "Most of the songs had been demoed before we recorded, but we had to arrange the songs and write lyrics on spot." Some of those lyrics were inspired by the rumors of ghosts haunting the studios and housing, pet raccoons, and mementos discarded by previous artists. According to Uhl, "Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) left behind a piece of paper with the number of a therapist and masseuse in a dresser in our bedroom."

The band's house and rehearsal space, 2205 Grand Ave has served both as a rotating home for each member of the band over the last few years and as a central creative hub. This location has become such an important symbol to the band's identity that every member has a tattoo "2205" on their inner wrist. The address now lends its name to the new LP, 2205. With this simple gesture, the band has taken an important part of their own lives in order to present it to old and new fans alike in the form of a wild, raucous, catchy new album. The excited Minneapolis fans at the 7th Street Entry may have given Sick of Sarah a welcome homecoming, but with 2205 the band are welcoming fans into their own home.

Soundgarden To Release Live Album In March

Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd and Matt Cameron, collectively known as Soundgarden will be releasing their first collection of live tracks on March 22 via UMe. The record, Live on I5 is compiled of live tracks from 1996, the period where the band was at the peak of their career. The record has some well loved favorites as well as covers of The Beatles "Helter Skelter" and The Stooges "Search and Destroy."

The band had intended to release a live record after the tour from which these tracks were culled from. But, they split up. Now after a much celebrated reunion last year as well as a Grammy nomination, fans are getting the opportunity to relive the glory that was Soundgarden live in its 90's heyday. I suppose this is a bit of a treat for those of you whom didn't get to see them back then. Those of us who did ... flashback!

Titled Live on I5 – a reference to the Interstate 5 which runs up and down the West Coast- the new collection compiles live tracks from a 1996 run by the band and captures the band at the height of their recording and touring career. This carefully selected compilation includes fan favorites like “Spoonman”, “Rusty Cage”, “Burden In My Hand,” and “Black Hole Sun” (performed by Chris Cornell solo), as well what insiders are calling the definitive live performance of “Jesus Christ Pose.” As a bonus, the disc includes two brilliantly inspired covers: The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” and The Stooges’ anarchic proto-punk classic, “Search & Destroy.” The band took out recording engineer, Adam Kasper with them on the West Coast leg of this tour- the first time they ever recorded any live shows. They rented a mobile 24 track machine/truck and recorded the gigs on 2" tape. Soundgarden had always intended to release it as a live record soon after the tour, but alas, they disbanded and the tapes were left in the closet of Studio X in Seattle (now called Bad Animals) to gather dust until now.

Live on I5 is the follow-up to Soundgarden’s celebrated 2010 reunion, with the band re-staking their well deserved place, earning a Grammy nomination for previously unreleased track “Black Rain” for Best Hard Rock Performance, gracing the covers of music magazines SPIN and Guitar World, performing on the second night of Conan and topping critics’ lists with their fall 2010 release, Telephantasm. The multi-label, career-spanning collection, also available in collector’s editions with the band’s first-ever DVD and booklet, was a comprehensive retrospective of the enormously influential band whose music put Seattle and a young label called Sub Pop on the map. As befits a group whose sound redefined a musical generation, they also proved themselves to be innovators with their partnership with Guitar Hero, with 1 million copies of Telephantasm sold, bundled within the launch of Guitar Hero®: Warriors of Rock. The album went platinum before even hitting stores- a first time certification for the RIAA.

Track List

• Spoonman
• Searching With My Good Eye Closed
• Let Me Drown
• Head Down
• Outshined
• Rusty Cage
• Burden In My Hand
• Helter Skelter
• Boot Camp
• Nothing To Say
• Slaves And Bulldozers
• Dusty
• Fell On Black Days
• Search And Destroy
• Ty Cobb
• Black Hole Sun
• Jesus Christ Pose

Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers Unveil Video

Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers have released a video for their song "Heaven In Stereo." The video was directed by Will Joines. The work has a old slasher film vibe to it. Check it out below.

"Heaven In Stereo" is from the their upcoming release Teenage And Torture. The record is scheduled for release on January 18 via Knitting Factory Records.

Gig alert, Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers will be at Brooklyn Bowl on January 21. It's the record release show so swing by and help them celebrate the record. For those of you in the rest of the country, they'll be on the road this spring with Acid Mothers Temple ... dates below.

Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers 'Heaven in Stereo' from 10lb Pictures on Vimeo.

Tour Dates:
* w/ Acid Mothers Temple

JANUARY

• 21 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl (Record Release Show)
• 22 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place

MARCH

• 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland*
• 24 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
• 26 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge*
• 27 - Bellingham, WA - The Wild Buffalo*
• 28 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey*
• 29 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret*
• 31 - Calgary, AB - Broken City*

APRIL

• 01 - Missoula, MT - The Badlander*
• 02 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge*
• 03 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge*
• 04 - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre*
• 05 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry*
• 06 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle*
• 07 - Kalamazoo, MI - The Strutt*
• 08 - Toronto, ON - El Mocambo*
• 09 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore*
• 10 - Allston, MA - Great Scott*
• 11 - Milford, CT - Daniel Street*
• 13 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas*
• 14 - Washington, DC - Red Palace*
• 15 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar*
• 16 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506*
• 17 - Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light*
• 18 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
• 19 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks*
• 20 - Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds*
• 21 - Dallas, TX - The Loft*
• 22 - Austin, TX - Red 7*

Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival Dates Announced

Dates for the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival have been announced. The festival will take place May 9 - 15, 2011.

The Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile have joined forces to celebrate the legacy of music in Harlem. This is great news for music lovers. Not only do we get more music to enjoy, the shows and other events are being offered at the affordable price of $10!

Highlights of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival include:

• Wycliffe Gordon’s Jazz à la Carte – The Apollo’s variety shows of the 1930’s make a comeback under the direction of Wycliffe Gordon with the Temple University Big Band, featuring vocalists Carla Cook and Nikki Yanofsky, tap savant Savion Glover, sax wunderkind Grace Kelly, Director/Choreographer Ken Roberson, and trombone prodigy Corey Wilcox, among others.

• Fats Waller Dance Party: Small’s Paradise Tribute with Jason Moran & Meshell Ndegeocello – Harlem Stage presents two nights of Waller’s music taken to new heights in a social mixing dance party featuring 2010 MacArthur Genius pianist Jason Moran & dynamic singer/bassist Meshell Ndegeocello.

• Late Night Jam Sessions & Conversations with Legends at Minton’s Playhouse – Jazzmobile re-creates Minton’s legendary “cutting contests” with emerging jazz talents and an all-star house band curated by T.S. Monk with Robert O’Meally leading provocative discussions.

• Geri Allen Quartet Jam Session – During the 1940’s and ‘50’s, the Harlem jazz scene was famous for its after-hours “jam sessions.” Jazz pianist and producer Geri Allen "jams" with her quartet and special guests at the Apollo Music Cafe.

• Blazing Tongues: The Singers & Writers of Lenox Lounge – Harlem Stage, in partnership with Columbia University’s Center for Jazz Studies and Institute for Research in African American Studies, curates two evenings of music and literature.

• Battle of the Big Bands – Jazzmobile produces two nights of big bands featuring the Jimmy Heath Big Band and the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra at the Alhambra Ballroom.

Celebrating the unique legacy of jazz in the uptown community, the Festival will bring both established and emerging artists to some of the famed venues where jazz flourished in Harlem: Lenox Lounge, Showman’s Café, the Apollo Theater, Alhambra Ballroom, and Minton’s Playhouse. Other festival events will take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Columbia University and a variety of locations throughout the Harlem area. High-quality artistic performances and other events will all be offered at the affordable price of $10. Events are designed to draw a diverse audience of neighborhood residents, New Yorkers, and tourists with a mix of programming appealing to both jazz novices and aficionados. To generate attendance to multiple events and venues, Festival programming is arranged so that people have the option of attending several events each day. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Festival will provide a shuttle bus to transport audience members to area venues.

Alexander Ebert To Release Debut Solo Album

Alexander Ebert lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is scheduled to release his first solo album, Alexander, on March 1 via Community Music. The record consists of ten Ebert compositions which is a bit of a departure for him. Previously, the music he worked on were collaborative efforts with the Magnetic Zeros. Anyone who has experienced his work with the Magnetic Zeros knows he's a special talent. So, Alexander will be something to look forward to.

During breaks from touring with the Zeroes over the past year, Alexander began building and recording the pieces that would become the songs for this album alone in his bedroom. Before this album, all of the music he worked on had been collaborative, especially with the 10-person Magnetic Zeroes. "I wanted to be able to build an album basically with my hands, like building a house by myself," Alexander remarked of his inspiration for making this album without outside help.

There isn't a single sound on the ten-song album that Alexander didn't perform himself. Alone in his room, he had his guitar, a Lowery organ he picked up at a St. Vincent's thrift store in Los Angeles for seventy bucks, a clarinet he used for the bridge on the record's first single, "Truth," and a violin he'd found somewhere in Tucson on tour. He had his own voice, his breath, his knees to slap, his fingers to snap and his toes to tap. When he knew that he wanted to use a violin on the bridge of "Glimpses," he had an urge to call a friend to come play it for him, but then questioned why he wouldn't try it himself. Says Alexander, "To me, it's a very humble album with sky's-the-limit sort of qualities, and so I didn't really shy away from doing whatever I felt like doing."

As for the music itself, Alexander explains that some of the inspirations for the "mouth sounds" that you can hear throughout the record were from all-time-favorites of his like the 1970 chart-topping ditty "In The Summertime" by British band Mungo Jerry. He also notes that children's clapping games like Patty Cake and infectious and optimistic Disney tunes like "Zip A Dee Do Da" served as loose inspirations for him.

Track List

• Let's Win!
• Awake My Body
• Truth
• In The Twilight
• Bad Bad Love
• Old Friend
• A Million Years
• Remember Our Heart
• Glimpses
• Let's Make A Deal To Not Make A Deal

Prophecy Brings Smiles

At the end of December, I was on my way to a show. At some point during my subway ride, a group of young people got on. Three young men stood in the center of the car and a young lady stood off to the side by one of the doors. It was obvious that the young men were going to perform. I assumed the young lady was moral support.

One of the young men introduced them and they began singing "Ain't No Sunshine." They sounded really good. Then, the young lady, the one I thought was moral support, belted out her part. HELLO! I suddenly found myself glad I got on that train car. They're a talented group. They caught my ear so much that I'm telling you about them. Anyway, they were all polite, thanking the passengers and gave out their web address. I asked one of the young men if they had a card (I'm old and senile; I knew I'd forget if I didn't have a reminder) and he pulled out a business card and they went about their evening. As I was getting off the train, another passenger exclaimed how good they were and having missed their name asked me who they were. Here I am a few weeks later. I see the card sitting on my desk and type in the website. The group is Prophecy and consists of Kenyatta Blakely (Yatta), William Ferdinand (Will), Joseph Barret (Joey) and Titeanna Wright (Titea). Check out a video from their website below.

I have to mention that I'm not normally a fan of people performing on the train. I'm cool with people performing on the platform, but the trains, not so much. I don't like dodging tumbling hip-hop dancers, pole swinging, the guy with the keyboards or the mariachi guys. So, I thought to myself when I saw them, why did I have to get on this car? By the end of their song, I was not only pleasantly surprised but rather happy I got on that car.

A Million Years At The Bowery Poetry Club

A Million Years: January 6 @ Bowery Poetry Club, New York, NY

A few nights ago, I headed down to the LES to catch a burlesque show at Bowery Poetry Club. Great fun was had by all. As I was putting on my coat, a guy was moving the chairs off to the side. I ask who would be playing. He couldn't remember the bands name. Just as he said that, I looked up and saw familiar faces! I said, "A Million Years!" perhaps a little on the giddy side cause he looked at me oddly. He replied while continuing to look at me oddly, "yeah, that's it." So, I decided to stay.

I had no idea the band was playing but it was a nice surprise. The show was a going away party for a young lady named Tara. I don't know you Tara, but best wishes!

I became familiar with the Brooklyn based A Million Years several months ago. It was a month or two after the release of their album Mischief Maker was released. If you haven't already, check it out. "Suspicious," from the release, is addictive and my favorite track. (Update: check out video of the track from the show below.)

Anyway, though I had met the band before, due to conflicting schedules for a couple and being horribly ill for another, this was the first chance I had to see a show since getting into their music. A Million Years put on an effortless set. They’re a tight band who played with well practiced ease. I can easily see these guys headlining arena stages. There’s just something about ‘em.

If they happen to be playing near you, check them out. If you’re in New York, you’ll get your chance on February 11. They’ll be at Mercury Lounge and it’ll cost you $10. See you there?

(More photos HERE)

GRVRBBRS Prove Me Wrong

GRVRBBRS: December 29 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY

Last week I made my way to the LES to partake in a little music intoxication. I'd gone to see Jump Into The Gospel but decided to head down to Mercury Lounge early to check out a couple of the bands that were also performing. The duo that took the stage right before them was GRVRBBRS.

When the guys from GRVRBBRS started setting up, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like them. They had on Marine type outfits and my first thought was, this is going to be some cheesy ass shit. They had computers, keyboard/synth things and lots of wires. But, I held out some hope because there were actual guitars and basses being set up as well. Besides, I'm a reasonably open minded person and learned a very long time ago that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

The pair kicked off their set and I have to say, GRVRBBRS, I apologize for thinking you would be cheesy! Forgive me? I'm woman enough to admit my initial prediction was wrong. It was seriously wrong! They busted out a set of dance mixes that had everyone dancing up in there. They turned the joint into a party. Outfits aside, I ended up digging them. I do so love those moments when I discover I like something I didn't think I would.

Check them out if see them on a line-up. But, you'd better bring your dancing shoes. I guarantee you will dance.

(More photos HERE)

Year End Review: The Black Crowes – Croweology

In August, The Black Crowes released their latest effort, Croweology. The Paul Stacey produced, double disc, acoustic work was released on the band’s own Silver Arrow label. Croweology commemorates the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut classic Shake Your Moneymaker reworking hits, fan favorites and other songs from their career.

When I first sat down to listen to the record, my first thought was, this is what the Crowes brief appearance on Unplugged back in the day should have sounded like. Then I listened again and thought, perhaps not. The Black Crowes that did that were wild, raw and hungry. There was a loose cannon edge to them. I wouldn’t trade that period in Crowes history for the world. Croweology is what years of seasoning and maturity sounds like. Does it make me feel like the guitar and vocals are going to take me over the edge into some unknown territory? No, it doesn’t. Twenty years ago, they made me feel as if they were saying “take my hand, the ride could get intense and scary but it’ll always be alright.” Twenty years later they make me feel like they’re saying “come by for Sunday dinner, we’ll eat and shoot the breeze.” That’s not saying it’s boring. That’s saying we’re grown up; we’re all twenty years older. This is us with lines around our eyes and twenty years of rock ‘n’ roll coursing through our veins. There’s a certain level of visiting an old friend type of comfort in listening to this record.

A friend of mine wasn’t so keen on getting this record because she’s a purist, and why mess with something that wasn’t broken. I think if it were any other band I’d probably feel the same way. But, one of the things I always loved about the Crowes was their desire and ability to change things up a bit live and that’s what this record feels like to me, an acoustic, structured, jam session. Yeah, I know, structured and jam session don’t belong in the same sentence!

Croweology brings back a lot of memories and I’ve enjoyed listening to it. Would I trade in the original versions of the songs for the versions on this collection? No. I might trade in a few of my well worn bootleg versions for these renditions … maybe. And, I have to say, I much prefer this type of “best of” instead of the traditional re-packaging of tracks that are nothing more than exactly what you already have only in a new package. I can do that myself on my music player, it’s called a playlist. So, kudos to the band on taking the mildly alternative route with their “best of” release.

As I played the disc, someone who had to endure endless plays of their albums and probably groaned every time I came back from the mailbox with an envelope of cassettes (they knew that envelope would contain several hours of live Crowes), came into the room. Their favorite Crowes song is “She Talks To Angels” so I skipped to that track. I asked what she thought and she replied “Chris sounds sane.” Huh? I was informed that there was a period where she thought he sounded substance aided lost and crazy. Okay. Vocally, Robinson sounds great on Croweology. To be honest, it might well be the best I’ve heard him, certainly in a good long time. He sounds less nasally, more controlled and there’s a maturity in his voice that’s comforting and warm. The Black Crowes have always been a top notch band. The rest of the band does some excellent work on this record and I’m not slighting them but Robinson’s vocals are the highlight here. The band has perfectly created a stage for Robinson to sparkle and shine.

While some may disagree, I think this is a fitting record to celebrate twenty years. Since the band is going on hiatus for an unspecified amount of time, I think it’s also a fitting way to say, “thanks and see you around” to their fans. Twenty years ago, I saw The Black Crowes, Chris, Rich, Steve, Johnny & Jeff for the first time and began my journey that while altered, has never ended. I’ve come full-circle now. Chris, Rich & Steve thank you for twenty years. To those who have come and gone and those of the current incarnation, thanks as well, you've helped make the journey a memorable one.

Croweology is a tidy package that brings things full-circle. And that my friends, is just what the quirky chick needed.

Track List

Disc 1

• Jealous Again
• Share The Ride
• Remedy
• Non-Fiction
• Hotel Illness
• Soul Singin'
• Ballad In Urgency
• Wiser Time
• Cold Boy Smile
• Under A Mountain

Disc 2

• She Talks To Angels
• Morning Song
• Downtown Money Waster
• Good Friday
• Thorn In My Pride
• Welcome To The Good Times
• Girl From A Pawnshop
• Sister Luck
• She
• Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye