2013 Newport Folk Schedule

The Newport Folk Festival released their schedule over the weekend.  So much to choose from ... time to start plotting my stage hopping.  Check out the schedule below and click on the images for full-size printable versions.

What You May Have Missed: Sophie Auster at Mercury Lounge

Sophie Auster: June 24, 2013 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY   

I caught Sophie Auster down at Mercury Lounge last week.  Her record, Red Weather, came out November 2012.  Check her out if you get the chance.  

For those who haven't had the chance to check out Auster, check out her video for "Run Run Run" below.

Deer Tick - "The Rock"

When the new track from Deer Tick landed in my inbox, I initially kept it as new and moved on.  A couple of days later, I gave it a listen.  "The Rock", from their upcoming album Negativity, caught me by surprise.  I'm not a huge Deer Tick fan yet, I found myself putting the song on repeat.  The track begins rather delicate and vulnerable before kicking into a rocker, infused with a grand blast of horns.  I now find myself curious and looking forward to hearing the upcoming album which will be released on September 24 via Partisan Records.

Last week, the video for "The Rock" was released.  It's a black and white affair that consists only of Deer Tick leader John McCauley.  The clip is about four minutes of an up close view of his face.  My first thought was, 'I don't know you like that!'  It's somewhat uncomfortable to watch and decidedly intimate.  I felt determined, perhaps compelled even, to resist the urge to avert my eyes.  And, I admit, it did take several views to sit through the entire video without turning away.    
  
The Colin Devin Moore directed clip has the effect of one of those silent conversations you have with your significant other.  Again, I don't know you like that Mr. McCauley.

The song, one of heartbreak, gives this uncomfortable clip an intensity that for a brief moment, makes you feel some sort of a connection to those eyes that are staring at you from the screen.  So perhaps, for a little over four minutes, a small part of me, the viewer, does on some extremely minuscule level, know you like that.

Negativity Track List

• The Rock
• The Curtain
• Just Friends
• The Dream's In The Ditch
• Mirror Walls
• Mr. Sticks
• Trash
• Thyme
• In Our Time (feat. Vanessa Carlton)
• Hey Doll
• Pot Of Gold
• Big House

What You May Have Missed: John Michael Rouchell at Mercury Lounge

John Michael Rouchell: June 24, 2013 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY 

Last week, I made a stop at Mercury Lounge to catch NOLA's John Michael Rouchell.  I became a fan of JM's what, three or four years ago...when I happened to catch him at the same venue.  He had been performing under the moniker MyNameIsJohnMichael and they came equipped with horns and trash cans.  This trip, he came with a slimmed down, highly effective and seriously bad ass band consisting of Joe Dyson, Jr. (drums), Max Moran (bass) and Joe Shirley (keyboards).  Those dudes are seriously tight, I mean seriously tight.

I wasn't sure how things were going to play out without the horns but, I was already digging the new songs from his recently released gem, The Separation EP, and was excited to hear them live, especially, "Wounded Heart" and "Holler" which have gotten a considerable amount of play around the office.  I wasn't let down.  Always an excellent live act, JM seemed even more on point than when I last took in a show.  When you're consistently good live, it's often hard to top yourself but, I do believe he did just that, topped himself.  Dare I say this is the best I've heard him?  He seemed, for lack of a better word, rejuvenated.  His always high energy show seemed even more intense.  In the past, I always gleamed a definite NOLA vibe in his sound.  With the new music, while JM is distinctly NOLA, his sound took less from that and leaned more towards R&B and soul.  I heard a soul singer.  We were treated to the aforementioned songs as well as a new song "Heartbeat" in the tight nine-song set.  All in all, it was one of those shows that left you with the one word response of, 'damn!'  

More photos HERE

Around New York ... June 30 - July 6, 2013

Upcoming Shows in the New York area ...
 
June 30 -- Big Star’s Third: An Orchestrated Live Performance of the Legendary

Andrew Leahey at The Bowery Electric on 7/6

Album at Central Park SummerStage
June 30 -- Aly Tadros at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1
June 30 -- Morning Teleportation / Joe Russo / Nicos Gun / The Henry Millers at Brooklyn Bowl
July 1 -- John Grant / Empress Of at The Bowery Ballroom
July 1 -- Seasick Mama at Pianos
July 3 -- Suzanne Vega at City Winery
July 5 -- Manami Morita at Blue Note
July 5 -- Wasabassco Burlesque: America F*ck Yeah! at The Bell House
July 6 -- Andrew Leahey & The Homestead / Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons / Elijah Ocean / Toy Soldiers at The Bowery Electric

Black Joe Lewis To Release New Record + New York Show

Black Joe Lewis is scheduled to release their new album, Electric Slave on August 27 via Vagrant Records.  The band will be touring in support of the record.  They'll be at Terminal 5 on September 26...full details are below.  Also, check out the track "Skulldiggin", below as well.

Commenting about the new album's title and thematic elements, Joe himself said "Electric Slave is what people are today with their faces buried in their iPhones and the only way to hold a conversation is through text. The next step is to plug it in to your damned head. Nothing is up front anymore and people are de socializing."

Most of Electric Slave was produced by GRAMMY award winner Stuart Sikes (White Stripes, Cat Power, Modest Mouse) and recorded at Church House Studios in Austin, TX. Three of the new tracks ("Skulldiggin," "Dar Es Salaam," "My Blood Ain't Runnin' Right") were recorded and produced by John Congleton (Explosions in the Sky, St. Vincent, Okkervil River) at Elmwood Studios in Dallas.

Black Joe Lewis
Okkervil / Pickwick
Thursday, September 26
Terminal 5
610 W 56th Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6PM / Show: 7PM
Tickets: $27.50 advance / $30 dos
All Ages  
Track List

• Skulldiggin
• Young Girls
• Dar es Salaam
• My Blood Ain't Runnin' Right
• Guilty
• Come To My Party
• Vampire
• Make Dat Money
• The Hipster
• Golem
• Mammas Queen

Saint Motel To Play Knitting Factory on July 9

  Saint Motel
Tuesday, July 9
Knitting Factory
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8PM / Show 9PM
Tickets: $10

Saint Motel released their Voyeur album in July, 2012.

Elephant 12 Release New Video

Last week, Elephant 12 released a video for their song, "Love Knock On Wood".  The track is from their record, Sold Out, which was released in March 2013.  Check out the Marc Fourreau directed clip below.

New Live Video From Little Brother Eli

About a week or so ago, the folks at SoundYouCanSee released a live video of UK based band Little Brother Eli.  The clip is of the song "A Thousand Wars."  Check it out below.

Also, check out the Flatpack Jesus remix of their track "Awkward Positions".  The studio version is on their EP, Little Brother Eli, that was released in May 2013.

Cultfever To Play Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 13

Cultfever
Wild Yaks
Saturday, July 13
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 North 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8PM
Tickets: $12 18+

Cultfever, the collaboration between Brooklyn based musicians Tamar Jafar and Joe Durniak, released their EP Animals in February 2013.