Upcoming: The Van Allen Belt Take On NYC

Hey New York, The Van Allen Belt will be bringing their dreamy electro pop to our fair city. Drop by a show or two and show them some love the details are below.  And if you're unfamiliar with their sound, check out the video for their song, "Lovely In Akron" at the bottom of the post.

 

 

Gig Alert!!!

Thursday, June 21st
Goodbye Blue Monday / 1087 Broadway / Brooklyn, NY 11221 / (718) 453-6343
8pm / 21+ / FREE

Friday, June 22nd
Lit Lounge / 93 2nd Ave # A / New York, NY 10003 / (212) 777-7987
9pm / 21+ / $6

Sunday, July 8th
Piano's / 158 Ludlow Street / New York, NY 10002 / (212) 505-3733
10pm / 21+ / $8

Monday, July 9th
Cameo Gallery / 93 North 6th Street / Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211 / (718) 302-1180
8pm / 21+ / cost TBA

The Heavy Announce New Record

 

A favorite around these parts, The Heavy, have announced their new record, The Glorious Dead.  The record is scheduled to be released on August 21 via Counter Records/Ninja Tune.  New York, I hope you got tickets to their NYC June 18th show at Mercury Lounge before it sold out. It's sure to be a good one.  I first saw the band there and they put one hell of a show. It was full of hot, sweaty goodness!

Self-produced and with their unique, raw eclecticism fully intact, it's their most fully-realized record yet, mixing together soul, hip-hop, rock, blues and funk into glorious, raucous party music that is equally full of heart.

The first single from The Glorious Dead, "What Makes A Good Man?," was snatched up by Miller Beer for a national ad campaign (featuring the band in a dressing room cameo). The song follows in the footsteps of the band's sleeper hit "How You Like Me Now?" with its monumental chorus and crunching beats. But there's more to the album than just that, from the horror film atmospherics of "Can't Play Dead" to the laid-back sincerity of "Curse Me Good," the funked-up hip hop rhythm of "Big Bad Wolf" and the epic, heavy-hitting gospel rock 'n' roll of "Same 'Ol." Throughout, vocalist Kelvin Swaby's voice soars, packed with yearning and pure soul.

Video of the Day: The BellRays - "On Top"

A band I totally dig, The BellRays, released a new video this month.  For those who aren't familiar, they are a take no prisoners rock 'n' soul band out of California.  If you haven't caught one of their shows, you're missing out.  They're a must see live act.  Frontwoman Lisa Kekaula is seriously bad ass.  She sings her friggin' face off!  Check out the video below it's from the album Black Lightning ("Living A Lie", "Sun Comes Down" and "Anymore" are the highlights for me but you should check out the whole album!) and was directed by Rennik Soholt. Enjoy!

Upcoming: MyNameIsJohnMichael In NYC

A favorite of QNYC, MyNameIsJohnMichael, is coming back to New York!  If you haven't had a chance to catch them yet, I highly encourage it. They're full of energy and New Orleans goodness which adds up to one hot, spanking good time! 

GIG DETAILS!!! They have two shows.  The first is over in Brooklyn at The Rock Shop on Sunday, June 3.  Doors are at 8PM and it'll cost you $10/$12.  The following night, Monday, June 4, they'll be on the LES at Mercury Lounge.  It's an early show.  Doors are at 6:30PM.  Set time is 7:30PM and it'll cost you $10.

 

What You May Have Missed: Bob Schneider at The Bowery Ballroom

Bob Schneider: May 1, 2012 @ The Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

 
Last week, I made it down to the Bowery Ballroom to catch Bob Schneider.  I've said it once, I'll say it again, Schneider is someone you have to see live ... it's an experience.  On that particular night, there were ribbon twirlers, girls in the balcony being questionable with glow sticks and some idiots throwing glow sticks.  Grow up folks, no projectile launching at the artists or anyone else; it's rude and childish.  His shows are eclectic which is one of the things I love most about them.  Plus, you never know when he might decide to change things up a bit and remix a song or two. 

Schneider and band all seemed to be in good spirits and playing well.  Compared to the last time I saw him at the same venue about a year ago, the audience was a bit lackluster.  Yes, we sang along in all of the appropriate places with many of us being horribly off key.  Yes, we danced ... I was painfully reminded during "Bombanaza" that I had an injured toe.  But for some reason, it just never really felt like we fully connected with Schneider.  Regardless, I had a lot of fun and highly recommend you go to a show when Schneider plays near you or take a road trip if he's not.

Check out a clip of "Hanging Out With The Horny Girls" at the bottom of the post.

More Photos HERE.

 

 

HITS Set To Release New Record + NY Shows

Hits, the band formerly known as Jump Into The Gospel, are set to release their new self-titled EP on June 26.  I've given the track "Madness" a spin several times (listen to it at the bottom of the post).  The song is certainly the most polished I've heard them.  They sound tighter and the production more lush.  The song has a throwback sound to it that reminded me of perhaps Howard Jones... maybe a bit like Simple Minds.  I like the song.  I don't like the flashbacks it induces though.  I'd rather not be reminded of big hair, ridiculous make-up and silly clothes.  But, I'm looking forward to hearing the new album...June feels so far away.

Set for release June 26th, the self-titled EP culminates HITS' major changes, commitments, and five months of studio-time into what has become their tightest material to date. The songs form a throwback 80s electro-synth sound with a contemporary feel only the year 2012 could allow.  The new EP, produced and mixed with a little help from their friends, Cobra Starship, swings from high energy dance songs like "Veins" and "St. John" to the thoughtful musings on isolation in "Twin Peaks" and the skewed vision of love in "Madness."

GIG ALERT!!!  New York, Hits will be playing a series of shows!  Friday, May 11 they'll be at the Knitting Factory over in Brooklyn; doors are at 7PM and it'll cost you $12.  On Tuesday, May 15 they'll be on the LES at Mercury Lounge; doors are at 8:30PM and it'll cost you $10.  And, on Sunday, May 27, they'll be over in Brooklyn at Cameo Gallery.  Go to a show or three and show them some love.

   MADNESS (Single) by HITSNYC

Caught My Ear: The The The Thunder

I was navigating my way around that wondrous thing known as my inbox when I happened up on an email about The The The Thunder (TTTT).  TTTT are a six-piece band with half of the band in Seattle while the other half are in New York.  Since their excessive use of "the" intrigued me, I decided to give them a listen.  The album, All At Once kicks off with "Emergency Room" and I immediately decide it would fit nicely in my collection nestled between The Talking Heads and The Cars.  Sometime during the third song and my favorite track, "Leave Us," I notice that I'm happily tapping my foot along and bobbing my head.  I repeated the song a few times and came to the realization that I now have a new band crush.   By the time "Hands Together," my second favorite track, comes on, I've decided that All At Once is a must hear record.  There are strings on the album and, I must say, I really like them.  I mention this because it adds a level of warmth and depth without sounding haughty.

On a whole, All At Once sounds familiar like all of your clever, 80's indie punk/pop albums rolled into one. It sounds comfortable like your favorite pair of Converse.  It sounds fun, like the weekend sleep overs where you and your friends stayed up late talking about boys and dancing around the room.  The The The Thunder feel like old friends and All At Once is the bottle of wine they've brought with them while visiting.  Scroll down to the bottom of the post and stream the album.

GIG ALERT!!!  New York, the band will be playing two shows in Brooklyn.  On Friday, June 15, They'll be at King Killer Studios.  It'll cost you $5.  On Saturday, June 30, they'll be at Goodbye Blue Monday at 8PM.

Shonen Knife To Release New Studio Album In June

Japan's Shonen Knife are continuing their 30th anniversary celebration with the release of a new studio album.  The album, Pop Tune is scheduled for release on June 6 via Good Charamel Records here in North America.  The pop/punk ladies recorded Pop Tune in early 2012 after their Osaka Ramones world tour in 2011.  Speaking of tours, if you missed them the last go around, they've recently announced a slew of North American dates.  New York, they'll be at The Bell House over in Brooklyn on Saturday, July 21.  Doors are at 8PM and it'll cost you $12 (tickets HERE).

New Single From Cowgill

About a month ago we here at QNYC were hipped to Cowgill from the Boston area when their song "Plans" made an inbox appearance.  Well, we're happy that they've presented a follow-up single titled "Extra Gravity" which you can grab at the bottom of the post.  The song is from their debut release, Side One of Planted which is being released on May 17.  For those of you in or near Cambridge, MA, they're having a record release show at The Middle East Upstairs on the 17th as well.  Doors are at 7PM and it'll cost your $8.

This six-piece group has been breaking new ground in the music scene - their first single even drew comparisons to Wilco on MP3.com - no small feat!  COWGILL’s unique blend of indie rock and folk music takes on many forms - from 60s rock to newgrass - and none are spared on their first-ever studio release, Side One of Planted, out next month.  Come watch the band nimbly weave these genres together at their hometown CD release show at Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA on May 17th.

COWGILL is Paul Cowgill (vocals, acoustic guitar), Mike Truskowski (piano, backup vocals, trombone), Dan Weissman (mandolin, backup vocals, trumpet), Leeann Hackett (violin), Ryan Rivers (bass guitar) and their newest member, Joe Pess (drums). The band formed in June of 2011 and has been steadily winning over the hearts and ears of fans ever since.

MP3 Grab: "Extra Gravity"
 

Upcoming: thenewno2 To Release thefearofmissingout on July 31

thenewno2 have announced that their second full-length album, thefearofmissingout, will be released on July 31 via H.O.T. Recods Ltd.  The album was produced by band members Dhani Harrison and Paul Hicks under the moniker pHd.

Following their debut album You Are Here (2009), primarily written and recorded by Harrison, thefearofmissingout is the first recording as a band featuring Harrison, Hicks, Jonathan Sadoff, Jeremy Faccone, Nick Fyffe and Frank Zummo.

Employing a combination of live and programmed instruments and adding in obscure samples to create an intricate collage of electronica sounds, the sonic textures in thefearofmissingout were enhanced by Harrison as well as guest vocalists RZA, Ben Harper, The Black Knights, Throunn Antonia (Fields, Beck's Record Club) and Holly Marilyn (The Child).

The fear of missing out is the title and driving concept behind the album. To Harrison, everything in life boils down to FOMO. "Everyone suffers from it in a different way," he says. "We all have a fear of missing out on something." The result is an album with a multitude of themes, including avoiding change and of course fear.

Combining their inventive sounds with creative visuals, thenewno2 recruited notable London street artist Ben Eine to design the album art for the new project.