New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Made up of Travis Caine (guitar) and Katherine Kin (synth), Brooklyn duo Von Haze is out to hypnotize. Their brooding, psychedelic songs are doused with dark, trippy beats and whirring, droning vocals. Tracks like the 7-minute trancelike "Sooner or Later" or the echoey "Sad Girls" elicit a strange sense of intimacy — as if our hand rested on their thumping hearts, or our ears were pressed up against their mouthing lips. Much like The xx, Von Haze pull us in real close to tell us something we don’t quite understand, but somehow still find sexy. In the past, Von Haze has opened up for The Big Pink and Crystal Antlers, but you can get up close and personal with them on June 17 at their EP release party at Union Pool. – Michelle Gelsani
We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel and DJs).
The powerful sound and bluesy harmonies that lace each track on The Courtesy Tier’s latest EP, “Map and Marker,” simply attest the to the fact that when it comes to music, less really can be more. The Brooklyn-based duo consisting of Omer on guitar and vocals, and Layton on drums and vocals, channels the raw, magnetic vibe of Jimmy Hendrix capped off with bluesy confidence and an electric energy that feels contagious at first listen. Uncontrived lyrics blend with catchy rhythms, giving listeners just enough rock to stimulate the body and words that will speak to an assortment of ages and tastes. It’s no surprise the satisfying melodies of The Courtesy Tier has them climbing quickly and seamlessly to the top of the Brooklyn music food chain. The Courtesy Tier will play Make Music New York on Bedford Ave (Williamsburg) on Monday June 21. – CM
In one word I would have to say haunting, but the twelve solo album from Chris Connelly, How This Ends, is really much more. Spanning more than 50 minutes, but containing only two tracks this album is epic and apocalyptic. It’s an album that contains no songs by design, but instead is home to a long poem that is repeated, spoken and sung, by a number of contributors. The poem is dark and speaks of death, genocide, homicide all planned and unplanned.
Musically the album is filled with sounds, noises, and even brief moments of beauty. It spans the sonic range from subduded electronics to free jazz horns to manic industrial noise to gracefull piano, and is always changing. To help with all of this Chris enlisted the like of Izi Coonagh (Sugar Bullet), Tania Bowers (Via Tania), James Marlon Magas (Magas, Lake of Dracula), Gordon Sharp (Cindytalk), Zak Boerger (These Wonderful Evils), Bill Rieflin (R.E.M., Ministry, Swans), Brent Gutzeit (TV Pow), Sanford Parker (Minsk, The High Confessions), and David Levine (Mucca Pazza).
Connelly has this to say about his new album, "I wanted to compose without any regard to the song-form." The result of that goal is a piece of music like no other, and one that has to be heard to be understood.
How This Ends will be released by Lens Records on July 13th.
Chicago born, but currently Brooklyn living, Bill Brenmar has been ripping it up lately. He is the drummer for These Are Powers, but is making a name for himself with his remixes. In the last few months he has received a ton of attention for his mixes of song by Blondes, Aaliyah, and Yeasayer. Brenmar has also composed several original tracks, and we can only hope for debut ep or album in the near future.
OK, so I once lived on a rare block in Center City with a bunch of my friends. Well, around the corner on Cherry St., but we were honorary Mole people. If you are thinking to yourself “Cherry St., I think that I’ve been there before”, you probably have been. My house was a commune for weird musicians who liked to get fucked up and the people who liked to get fucked up and listen to them play, but outside just around the bend, you had plenty of strange characters hiding in their Colonial style row homes that once were used as servants’ quarters for the plantation. You had self-elected Mayor of Mole St. Neil Benson, a former international photo journalist turned dumpster diver and “found art” trailblazer, the pro skaters and their gang of shredding junkies and video filmmakers, the dreadlock people who liked twirling fire, Mrs. Polanski (R.I.P.) who was pretty crazy and racist but we forgave her because she was too old to know better, the Swedish dude who sells cheese and loves to dance (no, he’s not on drugs – I don’t think) almost as much as he loves his trusty sidekick/master “Super Dog”, and many, many more. It was/is a great community of folks, and almost like clockwork or maybe a sundial, we shutdown our beloved N. Mole St. to celebrate “Molestice”.
What’s Molestice? It’s when music, food and drunken people all collide into a shitload of fun for hopefully the longest day of the year (or most likely the Saturday before it:o)! Well, I’d like to invite everyone and their friends to join us this Saturday for the 26th Annual Molestice Block Partay! The Deli was asked to invite some of our talented, fun-loving friends so we figured that it’s not really a partay without the high-energy performance and comical lyrical stylings of Chang Chang (oh yes – “we’ll paint this city red, and then we’ll paint it back again”). We also couldn’t resist asking former Featured Artists of the Month, Harry Rocket and Attia Taylor. We might get to experience our first live “hair rocket”! You’ll surely be smitten by the experimental pop of the adorable Attia Taylor. The community of Mole people and friends, Wasted Potatoes, Casey Alvarez, The Paper Janes, and 61 North, will also be kicking off the festivities. There will be FREE FOOD and BEER provided by the kind and friendly neighborhood residents and generous sponsor Rex’s Pizza. Molestice, N. Mole St. (between 15th/16th St. and Cherry/Race St.), 12pm – 8pm, FREE, All Ages
Molestice Lineup Schedule: Wasted Potatoes – 12pm; The Paper Janes – 1pm; Casey Alvarez – 2pm; 61 North – 3pm; Chang Chang – 4pm; Hair Rocket – 5pm; Attia Taylor – 6pm; DJ Adrian Hardy – 7pm
– Q.D. Tran
VOICEs VOICEs use of pedals, loops, spellbinding vocals, and heartrending drumming results in hauntingly beautiful music that will awaken even your most subconscious dreams and fears. This summer will be the re-release of their first EP "Sounds Outside" on the venerable Lefse Records.
In his youth, Somerville Mayor Joe Curatone blew some trumpet in the Somerville High School Jazz Band. In tribute to those days, he’s invited the city’s High School Jazz Ensemble to kick off eight hours of free, live jazz and blues at Powderhouse Park, this Saturday, June 19, from 12PM-8PM. Encompassing a broad range of styles, the line-up includes Professor Harp, Brendan Hogan & Band, Evan Marien Trio, The Ben Powell Quartet, Eric Hofbauer and the Infrared Band, Peter Parcek 3 and the Camelia Latin Jazz Sextet.
The Powderhouse Park event is just the kick-off. Local jazz and blues talents will be featured throughout the following week at Somerville venues, Bloc 11, P.J. Ryan’s, Precinct, Johnny D’s and Sally O’Brien’s. On June 27 at 3PM, at the Nave Gallery, the blues will turn to green, as a set by the Ruth Ristich Trio with The Sisters of Swing, serving as a fundraiser for environmental group, Groundworks Somerville brings the festival to a close.
You can find a complete schedule with artist profiles, here.
–Jason Rabin
Hey Champ have released the video for their track "Neverest" from their debut album Star which will be released on July 13th. The album can be preorder right now on the band’s website for just $4.99.
Prior to the band’s appearance at Summerfest on the 26th they will be performing at the Art Institute on June 25th.
The Teenage Cool Kids will descend upon Austin once again…down from their faroff home of Denton, TCK return after making previous appearances during the Chaos in Tejas. The band, carrying with them critical love (and multiple Built to Spill and Meneguar comparisons), will take the stage at the Mohawk this June 25th.
Another week upon us as we trundle into the summer, and there are quite few shows ahead that surely would go to waste without your ears and attendance.
For some dark and brooding Joy Division-esque drone-rock head up to Kimo’s on Wednesday the 16th where The Sharing Type, newcomers to the San Francisco music scene, will be playing their first show with Portland’s brilliantly colored Pink Noise and Spiro Agnew, 9pm.
Thursday at the Rickshaw, get your best nerd-rock on with the forever bubbly My First Earthquake, who will be celebrating the release of their latest EP, with The Downer Party, and The Attachments, 8pm. Should you desire, acquire yourself a FREE copy of My First Earthquake’s EP Crush here.
Close out your working week by loosing yourself Friday night in the swirling psyche sounds of the remarkably named LSD and The Search for God at the Hemlock. They will be playing with The Meek and Fuxa, 9pm.
Lastly on Sunday, head back over to the Rickshaw to have your noise centers stimulated by Weekend who will be sharing the stage with New York’s thunderously loud A Place to Bury Strangers and Light Pollution, 7:30pm.
That about covers it for this week. Enjoy your weekend, and if you still have some energy on Monday, Brian Jonestown Massacre will be playing at The Filmore.
–Ada Lann
