MyNameIsJohnMichael To Play Mercury Lounge, 5/18

John Michael Rouchell is bringing his band, MyNameIsJohnMichael back to New York! They'll be at Mercury Lounge on Wednesday, May 18. It's the early show so, doors at 6:30PM! It'll cost you $10. Also, a couple of days earlier, they'll be over in Brooklyn. On Monday, May 16, they'll be at Brooklyn Bowl opening for J Roddy Walston & The Business and These United States. Doors are at 6PM and it'll cost you $7.

I caught the band last year at Mercury Lounge and they were a hot, sweaty mess of fun! If you haven't seen them live, I recommend you do.

MyNameIsJohnMichael are a busy bunch of guys. They're wrapping up work on their sophomore album, which is being produced by Raymond Richards. The record will be released later this year. To whet your appetite and get you good and ready for the record, they're also on the road. Check out the list of dates below.

Tour Dates

• May 10th-Nashville, TN @ The Basement. New Faces Show
• May 11th- Knoxville, TN @ Preservation Pub
• May 13th- Louisville, KY @ Phoenix Hill Tavern
• May 15th-Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar
• May 16th-Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl opening for J Roddy Walston & The Buisness and These United States
• May 18th-New York, New York @ The Mercury Lounge (early show)
• May 19th-Washington DC @ Sixth & Historic Synagogue opening for Kopecky Family Band
• May 23rd- Nashville, TN @ Exit Inn
• May 25th- Asheville, NC, USA Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
• May 26th-Atlanta, Georgia @ Masquerade
• May 28th-Mobile, AL @ Music Box with Modern Skirts

Video Of The Day: Nikka Costa - "Corners Of My Mind"

Today we're sharing with you a video by one of QNYC's faves, Nikka Costa. Costa has a YouTube channel, Nikka's Box, where she posts videos performing songs, often at the request of fans. This is one of those videos. The studio version of this song is from her 2001 album Everybody Got Their Something, one of my all time favorites.

This is another oldie but goodie, "Grab Hold." The studio version is from her classic 1996 record, Butterfly Rocket. If you can find this album, I highly recommend it.

ResidentBand Episode 032: Still Spark featuring Gaby Moreno

I'm finally playing catch up with all of the stuff I set aside to "check out later." One of those check out later things is an episode from our friends over at ResidentBand who always do awesome work. Episode 032 features Still Spark featuring Gaby Moreno performing "Careless Thing" live. Check it out below. Also, if you missed it, Still Spark is featured in Episode 031 as well and you can find that and previous episodes on ResidentBand's YouTube channel HERE.

Still Spark featuring Gaby Moreno - "Careless Thing"

Hello Vegas Offer New Song

I was browsing my inbox and I see an email with the subject line "Hey Quirky Chick." Well, heck, that caught my eye so I opened it! It was from LA, Cali band Hello Vegas, Jason to be exact. Hey Jason, what's up?! They've got a new song called "No One Knows" and they're giving it away, cool, we like free stuff.

I checked out the song which was described as music you can swim to. Okay, that works for me! I dig it and I have to say, soon everyone will know. Have a listen for yourselves. The song can be downloaded using the handy widget below. If you like it, they're on Facebook and Twitter, head over, say hi, tell them you dig it and say thanks for hooking you up with free goodies.

(click the arrow on the right to download)
HELLO VEGAS - No One Knows by hellovegas

The Jolly Boys Release New Record

The Jolly Boys released their latest record Great Expectation this week. The Jamaican mento group reinterprets songs by The Clash, The Stooges, The Stranglers, New Order, Amy Winehouse, and more. The highlights for me are Winehouse's "Rehab," The Stranglers "Golden Brown" and Steely Dan's "Do It Again." I'm still on the fence with the bonus track, a cover of The Human League's "Don't You Want Me." It's not that I don't like it. It's just one of those songs from back in the day that I used to dance around my room to while trying to imitate the dry monotone of the female lead. So, it's more of a memories thing. Check the album out for yourselves. You can stream Great Expectation in its entirety on AOL Music.

The album has all the makings of a fun summer record. It's likely to be well played at backyard and rooftop parties this year.

Grab "Emmanuel Road" from the handy widget at the bottom of the post.

You certainly won't be the first to have The Jolly Boys playing amongst friends. The band has been integral to the fabric of Jamaica's musical landscape and cultural heritage for nearly sixty years. They were even the house band for the Rat Pack's Jamaica chapter, chaired by the swashbuckling enfant terrible, Errol Flynn. Singing songs of double entendre and ribaldry to those in search of escape and excess, the group served as Port Antonio's go-to band for thirty years. Being "discovered" by a new generation of world music aficionados in the late 1980s meant The Jolly Boys could take their musical party on the road. Several albums, dozens of countries, and thirty years since, The Jolly Boys have become the most recognized mento band in the world.

Tracklist (Deluxe Edition)

• Passenger
• Perfect Day
• Rehab
• Should I Stay or Should I Go
• Nightclubbing
• Hanging On The Telephone
• Do It Again
• Riders On The Storm
• Golden Brown
• I Fought The Law
• Ring Of Fire
• Blue Monday
• You Can't Always Get What You Want
• Don't You Want Me (Bonus Track)

(click the arrow on the right to download)
Emmanuel Road - The Jolly Boys by geejamstudios

Butcher The Bar Announces First Release In Three Years

Butcher The Bar, also known as Manchester-based Joel Nicholson, has announced his first record of new material in three years. His sophomore album For Each A Future Tethered will be released on June 21 via Morr Music. Check out the first single, "Bobby" in the MP3 Grab at the bottom of the post.

In For Each A Future Tethered he shares his personal story with wispy serene vocals and creative arrangements. There is a wider range of musical accompaniment, with the inclusion of trumpets, clarinets, harmoniums and pianos, resulting in a richer, more developed sound. Some songs - like the confident lullaby "Cradle Song" and "Blood For The Breeze" could be folk standards, while others set new standards for folk music. The music is somewhat reminiscent of label mates Seabear, but his earnest songwriting is true to the tradition of great songwriters like Nick Drake, Paul Simon and Elliott Smith.

Track List

• Sign Your Name
• Bobby
• Cradle Song
• Giant
• Alpha Street West
• Blood For The Breeze
• Silk Tilts
• Sin So Sweet
• X
• Cornered To The Cusp
• Lullaby

MP3 Grab: "Bobby"

Twin Atlantic Releases Free

Glasgow's Twin Atlantic released Free, Tuesday, May 3 via Red Bull Records. Check out the video for the current single and title track "Free" below.

Free was recorded at Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, CA with legendary producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies, Jimmy Eat World). The album continues to expand upon the band’s signature sound, melding angular riffs with energetic choruses. Explosive and hard charging, yet melodic and thoughtful, the tracks cut deep and ring true to the listener, leaving a lasting impression.

In describing the new batch of songs, frontman Sam McTrusty explains, “We wanted there to be a brutal honesty in the lyrics. There are love songs and relationship songs, there are some with a party vibe, and there are some that are weird, heavy and grungy pop songs.” Guitarist Barry McKenna adds, “Personally the only thing I wanted to achieve from this whole process is an album the four of us could stand by and invest ourselves in. We have done that.”

Nat Baldwin To Release New Record

Double bassist/singer-songwriter Nat Baldwin will release his upcoming record People Changes on Tuesday, May 24 via Western Vinyl.

People Changes was recorded by Matt Walsh at Florida Keys Studio in New York City in May/June 2010, mixed by Scott Solter, and mastered by Paul Gold at Salt Mastering. Guests include Matt Bauder (clarinets), Caley Monahon-Ward (violin), Brett Deschenes (trumpet), Will Glass (drums), Al Mead (guitar) and Jeremy Leclair (alto saxophone). The album follows A Split EP with Extra Life (2008, Shatter Your Leaves) on which earlier versions of “Weights” and “Lifted” appear, Most Valuable Player (2008), Enter the Winter (2006) and Lights Out EP (2005) on Broken Sparrow Records, and his experimental free jazz debut Solo Contrabass (2003, Peacock Recordings). In addition to Dirty Projectors, Nat Baldwin has performed on Vampire Weekend’s Contra and Department of Eagles' In Ear Park. He will tour behind the album’s release this spring.

Jim Greer Releases New Album

Producer/Songwriter/Musician Jim Greer released his new record on March 14. The record Ginger Vision was released via Rondo Brothers/ War Chant Records.

As a songwriter Greer crafts impressionistic, melodic songs that beget comparisons to contemporaries such as Sean Lennon, The Flaming Lips, etc., and classic artists like Syd Barrett or Nick Drake. Greer is joined on the album primarily by Oakland drummer/musician Tim Carter, who contributed guitar and percussion to the multi-platinum UK band Kasabian's latest album, and who has been performing live around the bay area with Greer since 1994.

Ginger Vision deals largely with the painful life circumstance of Greer's 20-month old son, Teddy, being diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer, called neuroblastoma, last year. Ginger Vision will take you through the experience Jim and his family has been enduring in 2010 till today. It is a beautiful representation of the hardships Greer is currently going through, all dedicated to his son, Teddy. Make sure to pick up a copy of Ginger today, all proceeds from sales of the album will go to Teddy's fund and assist Jim and his family in handling the costs of Teddy's treatment.

The Submarines On Baeble

Check out The Submarines on Baeble Music.



Watch the full video at Baeblemusic.com