Newport Folk Festival: JD McPherson

JD McPherson: July 26, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

JD McPherson brought the rockabilly to Newport when he took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival this year. McPherson and his band rocked their way though one heck of a set. You can check out or re-live it all thanks to the good folks at NPR which can be found HERE. 

More photos can be found HERE.

If I Dropped By... with Justin Vassallo of Bedfellows

This week I posed my "If I Dropped By..." question to Justin Vassallo of Brooklyn based band Bedfellows.  I've been digging the track "Coming Up" which you can check out at the end of my "visit".  If you're in the New York area, you can catch Bedfellows live and in-person at Pianos on Wednesday, August 7 at 9PM and it'll cost you $8.  They will also be at Cake Shop on Thursday, August 22.  Continue reading to see what I found out during my hypothetical visit to his home.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Justin Vassallo (JV): "Like A Hostage" from our new EP "World Apart". When we did the final mix, it had a euphoric rush to it that beat any other mix session I've been a part of. When you've worked hard at something, it's a revelation and a relief when you catch yourself smiling a bit at the end result.

Newport Folk Festival: Kingsley Flood

Kingsley Flood: July 26, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

Kingsley Flood made their debut at the Newport Folk Festival.  They kicked things off on the main stage Friday with an energetic set.  It was my first time seeing them but they hooked me with "Pick Your Battles."  If you missed it or want to re-live it, the good folks over at NPR have it HERE. 

While at the festival, Naseem Khuri did a workshop for the Boys and Girls Club where he played some music for them and answered questions.

Amy Cervini & the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys Play Newport Festivals Foundation Family Concert

Newport Festivals Foundation Family Concert: August 1, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

The Newport Festivals Foundation held their inaugural family concert yesterday.  Things kicked off with Amy Cervini and her band representing the jazz side of things.  The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys closed out the show representing the folk side of things.

Amy Cervini and her band.

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys

Amy the Mime

The audience

The Newport Folk Festival: The Milk Carton Kids

The Milk Carton Kids: July 26, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

I survived three days of music at the Newport Folk Festival.  Yay me!  There is always a ton of music to check out, discover and enjoy.  

This year, I found myself giddy over The Milk Carton Kids who opened the Quad Stage on Day 1.  The first description out of my mouth was "they're adorable!" and they are in every way.  

It seemed, everywhere I turned, I saw one or both of them walking around and or watching another artist perform.  

'The Kids', Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, are old school, while still remaining modern.  They wear suits, they have excellent comedic timing, they're charming and they have insane harmonies.  If you weren't at the festival, or want to re-live it (or if you're like me, missed some of the set when I had to dash to another stage to grab photos), the good folks at NPR are streaming the set HERE.  It was an extremely enjoyable and highly entertaining set.

I made an effort to live Tweet except I mainly did Instagram!  This is my InstaQNYC of The Milk Carton Kids in the tunnel behind the main stage during Feist's set.

Crazy Pills To Play Cake Shop + Release New Record

Crazy Pills are celebrating the release of their debut record Restless this Saturday, July 27.  It all happens on the LES at Cake Shop ... you should go.  Full details are below.  

Crazy Pills
Desert Sharks / Fan Tan / Let's Be Loveless
Cake Shop
152 Ludlow Street
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM
Tickets: $8
21+

I've had a chance to listen to Restless.  I'm really enjoying this one folks.  It's soul-punk and rock 'n' roll.  It's a excellent summer album ... put it on and go hang out by the pool.  Standout tracks are: "Nothing But Love", "Break It Down", "Indictment" and "Trudy June".  Check out the track "Break It Down" below.  

2013 Newport Jazz Festival Schedule

Time to start plotting my stage hopping for the Newport Jazz Festival!  Click on the images below for full-size, printable schedules.

Nicky Egan To Release Digital 45's + NYC Show

Nicky Egan
Saturday, July 27
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
196 Allen Street
New York, NY
Doors: 10:30 One drink minimum per set

Nicky Egan will release the first of her upcoming digital 45's, "Made A Fool Of Me"/"I Tried", on July 30.

Soulful powerhouse singer/songwriter NICKY EGAN announced a collection of new material titled The 45 Homestead Project today. The unique series will be comprised of three “digital 45’s” that will be released over a three-month span. Each “digital 45” will have an A/B side with a music video accompanying each A side track and a live performance at the Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. At the end of the third release, the singles will be combined to create one complete 7 song EP that will include an unreleased bonus track.  The structure is designed to resemble the old soul-music model of releasing single 7” records with a modern visual twist.   

The first release, which is set for July 30, will feature the single ‘Made A Fool Of Me’, which evokes the spirit of 1960’s era soul legends, and the jazz tinged B side ‘I Tried.’ The following releases are set for August 27 and September 30.  Each of the accompanying videos will be released on the same day simultaneously. All three videos are directed and produced by Little Lou Productions with Thin Edge Films contributing to the September video release. Tour dates for the digital 45 release shows are below.

Dead Boots Release New Record + Play Mercury Lounge TONIGHT, July 17

Dead Boots, the band formerly known as TAB The Band, released their new album, Verónica, yesterday, July 16.  Check it out using the handy widget below. 

For those in the New York area, the band will will be at Mercury Lounge TONIGHT, Wednesday, July 17.  You should go, they're a hell of a fun live band.

Dead Boots
Midnight Spin
Wednesday, July 17
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston Street
New York, NY
Doors: 9:30PM
Tickets: $10 adv / $12 dos
21+

Spacehog To Play Irving Plaza On, August 3

Spacehog will be taking the stage at Irving Plaza supporting The Psychedelic Furs on Saturday, August 3.  See below for full details.

Spacehog
Saturday, August 3
Irving Plaza
17 Irving Place
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM
Tickets: $29.50

Spacehog released their latest album, As It Is On Earth, in April 2013 via their own Hog Space Records.