Monday, February 10, 2014

Jessica Childress Releases Debut EP


Los Angeles based singer Jessica Childress released her debut EP, Don’t Forget My Name, earlier this month.  According to her bio info she was on the television show The Voice.  But, since I don’t watch that program, she was unfamiliar to me.  The EP is short but effective and I suppose aptly titled.  The way things are shaping up, you’re not likely to forget Jessica Childress’ name.

Check out the video for the track “I Quit” below.  It’s reminiscent of some of the old school girl group tunes we all know and love.

Jessica Childress is an explosive talent poised to take the music industry by storm. She is reminiscent of the golden age of classic soul, with a voice that will move and inspire you.   This LA soulstress combines traditional R&B with a rock n’ roll style, a deadly combination that landed her a spot on NBC’s Emmy Award –winning show The Voice. Since then, she has commanded stages across Southern California, drawing sold-out crowds in some of its most well-known venues and is set to release her debut EP, ‘Don’t Forget My Name’ on February 4th 2014. Childress wrote and/ or co wrote every song on this stunning EP. 
Jessica wasn’t always rocking out to R&B. In fact, for most of her upbringing she was exposed only to the sacred music of her church choir. It was only when Jessica left her small town of Lancaster, CA for Pepperdine University in Malibu, that she encountered a whole new world of music. At university, Jessica discovered classic soul, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll. Music became her life and Jessica divided her college years between studying music and public relations, singing and teaching piano.

The Clouds Are Ghosts To Release New Album


Austin based band The Clouds Are Ghosts are scheduled to release their sophomore album, Fractures, on February 15.  Giving the album a listen, I confess, I’m a little lost.  I quite enjoyed the first track, “Fifty Four”.  But, as I continued to listen, I kept hoping for something more along the lines of that first track for the remainder of the album.  Overall, it’s a solid effort. I was expecting something more infectious, when that didn’t happen, I kept expecting something properly mopey.  I got neither hence my lost feeling.  Check out the clip for “Fifty Four” below.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Upcoming: Peggy Sue at Glasslands on 2/13

Peggy Sue will be taking the stage at Glasslands Gallery over in Brooklyn on Thursday, February 13.  Doors are at 8:30PM and it’ll cost you $10.  See below for more details.

The UK based band released their new album, Choir of Echoes at the end of January.  Check out their video for the track “Idle” below.

The Mariner’s Children / The Private Eyes
Thursday, February 13
289 Kent Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8:30PM
21+


Saturday, February 8, 2014

Upcoming: Deconstructing Burlesque at The Kraine Theater on 2/11

This is happening

Take your beautiful brains and other parts to The Kraine Theater this Tuesday, February 11 at 8PM.  It’ll cost you $20 or bring a friend, it’s 2 for $30because anything burlesque is always better with friends!  See below for more details.

Tuesday, February 11
The Kraine Theater
85 E 4th Street
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM


This is a description of the show: A performance of a performance. A burlesque of burlesque. A sentence fragment that is also redundant. See all this and more at a show we are currently describing, as presented by your esteemed professeurs of the evening: Iris Explosion and Jonny Porkpie. Together, we will venture into the land of the semiotic and semi-erotic as we break down the barriers of burlesque itself in the most head-scratching and pants-shaking burlesque show that has ever been described in this Facebook invite. 

Body parts that may or may not be featured in this show: mammary glands covered in subcutaneous adipose tissue, gluteus maximus AND gluteus medius muscles, bipedal extensible struts, reproductive intromittent organs, a human soul. These body parts may or may not be incredibly arousing. 

This is a list of performers who will be performing in the previously described show:

Creamee Stevens
Fancy Feast
Peekaboo Pointe
Peter Aguero
Sizzle Dizzle
Tigger! Boylesque

and the previously aforementioned academicadazzlematicians:

Iris Explosion (NYU '09)
Jonny Porkpie (Brown '96)

With special help from our TA with T&A Dick Jones

The described show begins at 8pm and will require tuition of $20, unless you buy two tuitions, and then they are only $15 each. Tuition payable here: http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=dec211

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Nina Persson To Release Debut Solo Album + NYC Show


Nina Persson (The Cardigans, A Camp) is set to release her debut solo album, Animal Heart on February 11 via the End Records.  Check out the video for the title track below.

Nina Persson will be in NYC for a show at Mercury Lounge on Wednesday, February 19.  Doors are at 6:30PM and it’ll cost you $20.  She’ll be featuring material from Animal Heart.  See below for more details.

White Prism
Wednesday, February 19
217 E Houston St.
New York, NY
Doors: 6:30PM
21+


Nina Persson came to fame with Swedish pop group The Cardigans, known world wide for such hits as 'Lovefool' - the group's first international hit single which topped the #1 Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and #1 Billboard Top 40 Mainstream charts, selling an excess of 2.5 million with overall album sales for the group exceeding 15 million world wide. 

She has worked as a solo artist, releasing two albums as A Camp, has appeared on the tribute album to Serge Gainsbourg, worked with Manic Street Preachers (Send Away The Tigers) as well as rock group Sparklehorse's collaboration with Danger Mouse (Dark Night of the Soul) and is a member of The Cake Sale Collective.  


Friday, January 31, 2014

Tristen Releases New Video + NYC Show


Tristen released a video for her song “Catalyst”.  The track is from her album Caves which was released this past October.  Check out the clip below.

Tristen will be doing a show in NYC.  She’ll be down at Mercury Lounge on Tuesday, February 4.  Doors are at 6:30PM and it will cost you $10.  See below for more details.

Tuesday, February 4
217 E Houston Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6:30PM
21+


Tour Dates
FEBRUARY

  • 04 -New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
  • 06 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe *
  • 07 - Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java *
  • 08 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *
  • 10 - Montreal, QB - Divan Orange *
  • 11 - Toronto, ON - The Drake *


*= w/ Jeremy Messersmith


CAVES was recorded with a hand picked host of A-List Nashville indie-rock session vets, features lush string arrangements written by Tristen herself and laid down with the help of Bright Eyes producer Mike Mogis at his ARC Recording Studios in Omaha, and to achieve an authentic synth-pop sheen, she enlisted famed New Order, Pet Shop Boys and OMD producer Stephen Hague to mix, a pioneer in the field of digital recording.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Toy - “It’s Been So Long”


Toy released a video for their track “It’s Been So Long” this week.  The clip was directed by Douglas Hart.  The song is from their second album Join The Dots which was released this past December.  Check it out below.


"The video for TOY's It's Been So Long features calibration charts used for everything from testing focus on microscopes and optical movie projectors to the calibration of cathode rays and the accuracy of the US Army Air Force's bomb and gun sights. The video also includes colour reference charts which instruct technicians as to the true nature of black, white and the three primary colours which combine and overlap within optical devices to create every imaginable colour and shade. Often these charts include strange symbols mapped out in mysterious lines, spirals, and solid shapes, some of which look like they belong on the pages of a New Orleans Voodoo curse, or on an Op Art canvas." - Douglas Hart  
TOY are: Tom Dougall (vocals / guitar), Dominic O'Dair (guitars), Maxim Barron (bass / vocals), Alejandra Diez (synths / modulations) & Charlie Salvidge (drums / vocals).

Dr. Dog - “Distant Light”


Dr. Dog debuted their new video for their song “Distant Light” via Stereogum.com this week.  The clip was directed by Aaron Hymes. The track is from their album B-Room.  Check out the clip below.


Tour Dates
  • 1/29/14 - Cabaret Mile-End - Montreal **
  • 1/31/14 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
  • 2/01/14 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
  • 2/03/14 - Madison Theatre - Cincinnati, OH **
  • 2/05/14 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI **
  • 2/06/14 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
  • 2/07/14 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN **
  • 2/08/14 - Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
  • 2/19/14 - Civic Theatre - New Orleans, LA
  • 2/20/14 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX **
  • 2/21/14 - Stubb's - Austin, TX
  • 2/22/14 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX **
  • 2/24/14 - Crescent - Phoenix, AZ **
  • 2/25/14 - Crescent - Phoenix, AZ **
  • 2/26/14 - The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA **
  • 2/27/14 - Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA **
  • 2/28/14 - Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA **
  • 3/01/14 - Warfield - San Francisco, CA **
  • 3/03/14 - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR **
  • 3/04/14 - Venue - Vancouver, BC **
  • 3/05/14 - Neptune Theater - Seattle, WA **
  • 3/07/14 - Complex - Salt Lake City, UT **
  • 3/08/14 - Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO **
  • 3/10/14 - Liberty Hall - Lawrence, KS **
  • 3/11/14 - Slowdown - Omaha, NE **
  • 3/12/14 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO **
  • 3/14/14 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC



** - With Saint Rich

Big Head Todd and the Monsters - “Josephina”


Big Head Todd and the Monsters released a video for their song “Josephina”.  The track is from their upcoming album, Black Beehive which is scheduled to be released on February 4.  Check out the video below.


When Big Head Todd & the Monsters launch their extensive national tour behind Black Beehive in January—which will continue through the summer and hit most major markets—they will be honing the album’s ageless blues along the way, and simultaneously affirming their own longevity. It’s clear that they possess a rare musical wholeness that has not only survived for 25 plus years, but still has them looking forward to creating music together night after night.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Fanfarlo To Release New Album In February


London’s Fanfarlo will release their new album, Let’s Go Extinct, on February 11 via Blue Horizon.  Check out the video for the track “Landlocked” below.  The clip was directed by Inga Birgisdóttir

New York, Fanfarlo will be doing a couple of shows here.  On April 22, they'll be at the Bowery Ballroom  on the LES and on April 23, they'll be at Rough Trade over in Brooklyn.



Tour Dates


  • 3/24/14                       San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
  • 3/25/14                       West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
  • 3/26/14                       San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
  • 3/28/14                       Portland, OR @ Dante's
  • 3/29/14                       Vancouver, B.C. @ Venue
  • 3/30/14                       Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
  • 4/1/14                         Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
  • 4/2/14                         Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
  • 4/4/14                         Kansas City, MO @ Middle of the Map Fest
  • 4/5/14                         St. Louis, MO @ Duck Room at Blueberry Hill
  • 4/7/14                         Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
  • 4/8/14                         Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
  • 4/10/14                       Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
  • 4/11/14                       Columbus, OH @ Skully's Music Diner
  • 4/12/14                       Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theater
  • 4/14/14                       Detroit, MI @ Shelter
  • 4/16/14                       Toronto, ON @ Lee's Place
  • 4/19/14                       Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
  • 4/22/14                       New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
  • 4/23/14                       Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
  • 4/25/14                       Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
  • 4/26/14                       Washington D.C. @ U Street Music Hall