Portland

Eye-Witness Account: Mississippi Street Fair 2010

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If we lived in a perfect world, every day we would shut down a giant street and fill it with music and food and performers of all types and drink all day. Sadly we live on Earth, and for some reason, Earthlings only do this on special occasions.

The 9th Annual Mississippi Street Fair – held Saturday, July 10 – was crowded, hot, bright and absolutely fun. For the drinker of alcoholic beverages, all the local spots along the street barricaded the section of the sidewalk in front of their businesses, so we patrons could enjoy the weather and the smoking of fine tobacco products with our drinks in hand, never having to step away from the atmosphere being provided by the collective kiosk vendor chain that ran the expanse of the street.

While walking from one end to the other, various volumes of multiple audio stimulation came pouring out of every nook and cranny. At one point, three musical gypsies were playing street-style over the beat coming from the adjacent art gallery, using the four-on-the-floor thump of electronic drum-and-bass to accompany their fiddle, banjo and upright bass playing without being drowned out. It was an advantageous thing for anyone in ear shot.

The Proust Bar and Grill patio, along with the food cart enclave proved to be my favorite spot. There was plenty of shade and the patio drinking was in full effect. The northernmost musical stage, The Parlour on the Hill, could be viewed and heard very well from that location on North Mississippi and Skidmore. That particular stage featured a lot of around-town folk acts.

Local klezmer folk band Shicky Gnarowitz & The Transparent Wings of Joy took the stage and started their three-piece violin-driven eastern European sound. If you’ve ever seen Everything is Illuminated, you might have a good idea of what that music sounds like. If not, expand your horizons and go check some out – it’s one of my favorite kinds of world music.

Next up was Fenbi International Superstars, a five-piece conglomeration of folk-y zydeco blues, accented by accordian, violin and guitar-based melody structures. They had a stompy feel, with a pseudo-pirate/polka vibe going on and a lot of shanty sing-along lyrical threads.

Finally, I checked out one of my favorite Portland songwriters, Adam Shearer – lead singer/songwriter for Weinland. What can I say? I like what he does, a lot. He has a great voice and prescence, his lyrics are awesome and he writes very well-put-together folk songs. I’ve been a fan since his band came through my hometown and stayed at my house. If you haven’t seen them play yet, I strongly suggest going to a show. They sound really amazing live and provide really good folk tunes that are catchy and thoughtful, with very attentive arrangements. They know what they’re doing; it always feels nice to be in good hands.

All in all the fair was an ultimate success, and I am definitely going again next year. Hope to see you there.

– Paul Valladon

NYC

Weekly Feature #210b: Fang Island prepare to tour with Flaming Lips

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Some of what Fang Island has to say might be taken with a grain of salt – they are notoriously snarky in interviews, but that sort of goes along with the playful nature of the band’s powerful tunes. No matter what, they’re funny to read they’re even more fun to contemplate as the transcendent force of pure fun and happiness they envision themselves to be. I’d say they’re getting close to that vision – with a huge album (in sound and in impact) in the bag and a streak of luck that just can’t be paralleled (they found the very touring van that was stolen from them) Fang Island is poised for surfing some cosmic waves of joy in the next few months. – read Dale W Eisinger’s interview with the band here.

NYC

Weekly Feature #210a: Talk Normal at Celebrate Bklyn w/ Sonic Youth

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I went to see the last show of Talk Normal’s recent tour several days before the interview below took place. I had emailed Sarah Register and Andrya Ambro several times beforehand hoping to catch an interview with them that same night. Their answer, draped in exhaustion, was a very polite “hell no.” I went to their show at Secret Project Robot in Williamsburg and approached
them after the performance.

Andrew: “Hey Sarah, I’m Andrew, I’m interviewing you for The Deli.”
Sarah: [Zombie Face]
Andrew: So, how are you?
Sarah: [Black Hole]
Andrew: Um, how was the tour?
Sarah: [Death Shroud]
Andrew: Okay, see you on Tuesday.

Read Andrew Spaulding interview with the band here.
Don’t miss the band’s Prospect Park Show with Sonic Youth on July 30.

NYC

Danny Ross Pianos Residency in July

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Fresh from their first sold-out Mercury Lounge date, Brooklynite Danny Ross and his band are taking over New York City venue Pianos for a July Residency on Tuesday nights. The man has chosen some great local bands to join him and kitschy themes each night with gratuitous outfits. Guest bands include Paracuta, My Glorious Mess, We Are Country Mice, Candy Claws, The Lesser Ghost, Megan McCormik, The Young Things, Eastern Conference Champions, Luke Wesley, Sasha Papernik, Lake Inferior, The Hoof and the Heel CMJ calls Ross’ debut LP One Way “Gorgeous…Immaculately arranged… I hope this album becomes a breakaway hit.” Stream it free and Pay What You Want for it here. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

 

NYC

Droney Psych-Rockers Telltale play Cameo, August 12

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Brooklyn’s Telltale showcases an intriguing mix of experimental no-wave, reverb-soaked post-punk, and dark shoegaze. Featuring Eric Gilstrap, Laurie Ruroden, Stephan Cherkashin, and Lauren Andino, the quartet’s ear-splitting washes of guitar feedback, deadpan chants and ominous droning wastelands doesn’t so much blanket you as it does envelop you, overpowering you with Sonic Youth caterwauls and JAMC-esque walls of sound. The music churns in a slow burn, awash in effects, but there’s an aggression lurking just beneath the surface that maintains an uneasy atmosphere. There’s also a healthy dose of reverb to help wash down all the gauzy noise… – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

 

NYC

The Barrens play Party Expo on 08.06 + release album in the fall

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Like a bolt of lightning ripping through the hazy summer sky, The Barrens are exploding back on to the scene with electrifying new music. Go here for 3 songs from their upcoming new full length. "Felt" is a Sabbath-soaked, guitar-fueled epic, ripping through your ear-drums with sonic precision; "Drop Sea" is a sprawling, groove-based psychedelic swim in beautifully unknown waters, and last but not least the electro-drum driven "Yellow Cigarette" which builds a smooth, thumping groove until it explodes into a summer-punky chant of youthful abandon. The debut album is coming in the Fall. Check them out at live at the DIY haven Party Expo, August 6th at 8pm. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

 

New England

The Deli Magazine’s Presents Burlington Summer ’10 Showcase @ Monkey House 7.16

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The Deli is throwing a Burlington-based showcase tomorrow at the Monkey House in Winooski, VT with a pretty diverse lineup of native Burlington acts. The Day’s Weight is into indie rock meets western vibes. Neon Magus is a heavy psychedelic tribal squadron. Nuda Veritas creates beauitful sonic textures with loops and her gorgeous voice. Busted Brix mixes ska horn play with tight indie rock rhythms. They will all be leveling the stage with an upbeat night of sounds starting tomorrow at 8:30pm. (Note: Unfortunately, The Feverbreakers will not be playing.)

–The Deli Magazine

Chicago

Interview: Netherfriends

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There are several exciting bands coming into town this weekend for the Pitchfork Music Festival. Bands like Neon Indian, Best Coast, Free Energy, Sleigh Bells, and others are exciting new acts that will be performing at Pitchfork. However, there are a few local bands that will get the opportunity to perform in front of a potentially new crowd. The Smith Westerns, Alla, and Cave (Alla and Cave perform at the same time) will be there, but I was happy to Netherfriends returning home are spending a few months on the road completing the first leg of his ambitious 50 Songs for 50 States. I recently asked Shaun Rosenblatt, the man behind Netherfriends about the tour and his thoughts on performing at Pitchfork.

The Deli (TD): You just wrapped up the first part of your 50 Songs for 50 States tour. Overall how do you think the tour went? Did it is accomplishing what you hoped it would?
Shaun Rosenblatt (SB): Well, it’s only 3 months in. I finished up the east coast and some of the mid-west. I have 21 states done. It is accomplishing exactly what I hope it would… Keeping my mind busy.

TD: Would you do something similar in the future? Do you feel bands need to tour like to this to make any kind of a living?
SR: I have a feeling after the year is up, I will be do the whole project again. Yes, OF COURSE!!! If they can, bands need to give up their apartments and hit the road forever.

TD: How are you feeling about playing Pitchfork Music Fest? How did they approach you?
SR: Very excited, but not expecting much. They emailed me and asked.

TD: What can fans expect to hear and see at your set on Saturday (1:00pm Balance Stage)?
SR: Some new, some old songs. See some new and some old band members.

TD: What’s coming up next for Netherfriends?
SR: Moving to Seattle for a month for the 50 songs 50 states West Coast tour and then Alaska tour in September.

Netherfriends plays Pitchfork Music Fest on Saturday at 1pm on the Balance Stage, and will also be performing later that night at The Inconvience at 9pm. In addition to that he will be also be playing at Double Door on July 18th and at Ball Hall (with The Zookeepers) on July 23rd. Netherfriends self-released a new album called Barry & Sherry on June 15th.

NYC

Eytan & the Embassy win free studio time at Stratosphere Sound

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Recently Stratosphere Sound, the Chelsea based recording studio owned by Smashing Pumpkins’ James Iha and Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger, gave 3 Deli readers in bands the opportunity to win 1 FULL DAY of free studio time each. Grammy winning producer Geoff Sanoff (the studio’s chief engineer who worked with Secret Machines, Nada Surf, and Obits among others) volunteered to engineer/produce these sessions for free – adding value to a package worth around $2k. We can now announce that the winners of the third and last studio time giveaway (chosen directly by the Stratosphere Sound’s staff) are pop’n’rollers Eytan & the Embassy – congrats to them!

P.S. Stratosphere Sound has a 30% discount on their studio rates for all those who will mention The Deli until the end of September.

Austin

Live Review: Summer Sessions w/ Black + White Years, Cowboy + Indian, L.A.X.

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Summer Sessions at the beatific One World Theater Saturday night was a dance party made better by the gorgeous view, art, and cocktails in the gallery. There were a couple of surprises; one being that Cowboy and Indian (and Rider) never saw the stage but was banished to the gallery. Their balanced harmonies and costumes managed to steal a handful of fans from the sunset, the art, and the bar in the opposite corner. L.A.X. began in the upstairs theater soon after Cowboy and Indian dismantled, followed by the headliner.

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Black and White Years,” and with flashing red lights, the band launched into a set that got the hipsterati to pause their photo opps and do what they drove out to Bee Caves to do: dance.

For a solid hour pulses climbed as blood pumped by an ecstatic collective heart, which had napped through the preceding acts, was finally awakened by shuddering guitars, thunderous drums, and frantic yips from lead vocal Landon Thompson.  His stage presence is goofy but dangerous. Nervous, maniacal giggles and the glare of stage on Thompson’s thick glasses transformed him from mere mortal to demon nerd hopped up on prescription study aides; guitar as his pitchfork. Up-tempo grooves spanning their work induced brownian muscle spasms among the crowd and band. Scott Butler’s twisting grew in proportion to the accelerated thumps coming from Billy Potts’s drums during Steady as it Goes, the climax of a frantic set. It wasn’t until the first song of their encore, Broken Hand, that the band slowed, but only for the verses.

–Resalin Rago