Nicole Atkins Releases New Album + Tour

Nicole Atkins released her new album, Slow Phaser, last week via her own Oh’ Mercy! Records.  While her previous efforts were good (Mondo Amore is one of my favorite albums still), Slow Phaser connects all of the dots.  Atkins has found her groove and put together her strongest work to date.  Check out “Girl You Look Amazing” below.

Nicole Atkins will be hitting the road in support of Slow Phaser.  She’ll be at Bowery Ballroom this Thursday, February 13.  Doors are at 8PM and it’ll cost you $16.  See below for more details and dates.

Nicole Atkins

Arc Iris / Domino Kirke

Thursday, February 13

The Bowery Ballroom

6 Delancey Street

New York, NY

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM

Tickets: $16 adv / $18 dos

18+

Tour Dates

February

• 13 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
• 14 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
• 17 Montreal, ONT @ Divan Orange
• 18 Toronto, ONT @ Horseshoe Tavern
• 19 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
• 21 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café
• 22 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
• 23 Madison, WI @ High Noon
• 25 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club

March

• 1 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
• 3 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
• 5 Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theatre
• 6 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
• 8 Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum
• 12 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
• 13 – 16 @ SXSW
• 17 Denton, TX @ Dan’s Silverleaf
• 21 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone
• 22 Nashville, TN @ High Watt
• 23 Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
• 25 Charlotte, NC @ Evening Muse
• 26 Annapolis, MD @ Ram’s Head
• 27 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s

A neon noir tour de force of hi-def late-night pop, Slow Phaser marks Nicole Atkins’ most ingenious and indelibly modern collection to date. Produced by Tore Johannson – with whom she partnered on her now-classic 2007 debut, Neptune City – the album is a milestone for the acclaimed singer/songwriter, her restless creativity fully realized via the addition of some surprising colors to her already diverse paintbox. Songs like the poptastic “Girl You Look Amazing” and the sultry “Red Ropes” positively swirl with day-glo danceability, the bright hues setting Atkins’ distinctive creative voice in a brilliant and undeniable new light. Bittersweet yet life affirming, Slow Phaser is Nicole Atkins at her confident and unpredictable best – spirited, sexy, and determinedly forward thinking. 

“I wanted to make something that no one’s ever heard before,” she says, “including myself.” 

Inventive and irresistible, Slow Phaser positively radiates with idiosyncrasy and a palpable sense of fully empowered musical discovery. 

“It’s taken me a while to figure out who I really am,” Nicole Atkins says. “Musically, and as a person. It’s constantly changing. I’m not just this one character. I’m an artistic person trying to figure shit out.”

New Album From Robert Ellis + NYC Show

Robert Ellis released his full-length album, The Lights From The Chemical Plant, today via New West Records.  The record was produced by Jacquire King.  

Ellis will be hitting the road for his first headlining tour as well as dates with Jason Isbell.    If you’re in the New York area, he’ll be doing an early show at Mercury Lounge on Tuesday, February 18.  Doors are at 6:30PM and it’ll cost you $12.  See below for additional dates.

Robert Ellis

Ian O’Neil

Tuesday, February 18

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors: 6:30PM

Tickets: $12 adv / $15 dos

21+

The Lights From The Chemical Plant has a way of grabbing you by the hand and pulling you in so that it can play with your soul. Alive with memories and innovation, you become absorbed in the world Ellis paints with his smoky lyrics, his hypnotic voice and his masterful work on the guitar. Ellis called on several friends - in addition to his stellar band: Will Van Horn, Geoffrey Muller, Kelly Doyle and Josh Block - to lend their talents to the record, including Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith, who co-wrote one song, Deer Tick's Rob Crowell, Nashville-based musician Skyler Wilson as well as notable songwriter and musician Jim Lauderdale, who lends his plaintive vocals to one of the tracks.

 

Ellis' growth as a man and musician is clear on The Lights From The Chemical Plant. And while some may call it a musical departure from his past, The Houston Chronicle best explains: "Ellis doesn't place limitations on his music. Any perceived departure is just part of an ongoing creative journey."

Tour Dates:

FEBRUARY

• 05 - Iowa City, IA - Englert Presents at The Mill
• 06 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater *
• 07 - Madison, WI - The Barrymore *
• 08 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
• 09 - St. Louis, MO - Plush *
• 10 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway *
• 12 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
• 13 - Toronto, ONT - Drake Hotel
• 14 - Ithaca, NY - The Haunt
• 15 - Providence, RI - Columbus Theatre
• 16 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
• 18 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge (early)
• 19 - Washington, DC - The Hamilton
• 20 - York, PA - Sign of the Wagon
• 21 - Ardmore, PA - Ardmore Music Hall
• 22 - Winston Salem, NC - Ziggy's Rock House Tavern
• 25 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle Back Room
• 26 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
• 27 - Athens, GA - Normaltown Hall
• 28 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle

MARCH

• 01 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
• 03 - Nashville, TV - The Basement

Robert Ellis - Only Lies - Session Acoustique... by radioouifm

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.

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.

Peggy Sue

The Mariner’s Children / The Private Eyes

Thursday, February 13

Glasslands Gallery

289 Kent Avenue

Brooklyn, NY

Doors: 8:30PM

Tickets: $10 adv / $12 dos

21+

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 $30…because anything burlesque is always better with friends!  See below for more details.

Deconstructing Burlesque

Tuesday, February 11

The Kraine Theater

85 E 4th Street

New York, NY

Doors: 8PM

Tickets: $20 / 2 for $30

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

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.

Nina Persson

White Prism

Wednesday, February 19

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston St.

New York, NY

Doors: 6:30PM

Tickets: $20

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.  

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.

Tristen

Tuesday, February 4

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors: 6:30PM

Tickets: $10 adv / $12 dos

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.

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.

Dr. Dog - "Distant Light" from stereogum on Vimeo.

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