New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Inspiration works in weird ways, all artists know that. Brooklyn producer/musician Brad Loving’s recent experience can testify that: a trip to Mali, one of the most georgeous African countries – although almost completely electricity-less – inspired… an electronic album! The full CD, presented under the project name "Lobisonem" and produced by John McEntire of Tortoise, will be released in september under Tall Corn Records, but a track can be previewed (or should we say "pre-heard"?) here.
Ola Podrida officially launched its July tour in support of 2009’s Belly of the Lion at the Mohawk last Thursday night with a satisfying 12-song set. It was raining outside when Ola Podrida took the stage in Mohawk’s cozy wood-flanked indoor space. David Wingo opened his mouth to pour out his first inciting words of the evening: “Let’s go raid your father’s basement.” The visceral images of prank calls and nudey mags set to blankety guitars were clean as ever as Wingo led us into his friend’s father’s basement with his soft somber nostalgia. The audience was full of people slowly nodding their heads to the lush music, adults indulging in memories from the narrator’s youth, who were unknowingly attesting to how evocative Wingo’s use of detail is, both musically and lyrically.
Wingo playfully twanged into the stellar “The Closest We Will Ever Be,” and mounted steadily into the deadslung dare to “come cast one on me.” Perhaps the most poignant moment of the night was when the band performed “Donkey,” the title track from Belly of the Lion. Wingo’s drawl cracked with honesty as he confessed “in the belly of the lion, I’ve been tryin’ to breathe through his nose” and then the band broke into a series of anthemic, crushing lalalala’s. David Wingo seems to have an understanding of music so deeply felt, it can cause movies that don’t exist to happen in one’s mind. On “Jordanna,” Wingo practically burned a hole in his guitar from strumming so hard. His poetic sensibilities were undeniable as he crashed his voice into the microphone with rhythmic undulations of exaggerated middle syllables of each word.
Between songs, Wingo was relateable, once prematurely switching to banjo and realizing it said, “fake-out banjo alert, just keeping you on your toes,” as he slung his guitar back on again. Wingo played guitar for 11 of the 12 tunes in gray new balances and a Cleveland Cavaliers t-shirt. He remained in the same outfit but switched to banjo for the closer “Cindy.” Backboning the stage in a cross-array of pearl snaps and rolled sleeves were David Hobizal on drums, Andrew Kenny (American Analog Set) on bass, and Colin Swietek (Corrina Corrina) on guitar. Other set standouts included the slide guitar landscaped “Sink or Swim” and the tenderly picked “Photo Booth” off of the band’s self-titled debut.
Before Ola Podrida came on, Wingo stood amongst the audience and watched the vinyl-crackle-voiced Bosque Brown perform, one of the band’s openers. Dana Falconberry opened as well. An acoustic guitar, a drum, and the crinkling of a newspaper page complemented her performance. Ola Podrida heads to Houston tonight and from there will continue east.
–Lauren Hardy (photo by Stephan Laackman)
Bern & the Brights will be celebrating the release of their new EP, Swing Shift Maisies, on Saturday, July 17th, 9PM at Maxwell’s in Hoboken , NJ . Their first full-band, studio release promises to satisfy ravenous fans who’ve come to love the infectious energy of a Brights’ live show. By recording the core of each song live in the studio, the band was able to capture the magic and chemistry that arises when they play as a five-piece act. Every aspect of Swing Shift Maisies— from song selection to production to album artwork—was meticulously handled by the band, and they’re eager to share this labor of love with you. More on the band: Bern & the Brights have opened for such notable artists as Butch Walker, Rhett Miller [of the Old 97s,] Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea, Living Colour, and Mike Doughty [of Soul Coughing] and will be opening for Richie Havens this summer. In addition to touring the northeast, the Brights have graced the stages of major venues such as Webster Hall, Maxwell’s, The Stone Pony, The Bitter End, Spike Hill, and Southpaw. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
It definitely took me a minute to gather my bearings when walking into Forecastle. It was confusing to see your average festival hippies interspersed among a school of circus performers, and forty-somethings dragging their kids around – while still maintaining a connection to the city limits. Sandwiched in between Indiana, the water, and downtown Louisville, this year’s festival was held at a much larger and more attractive space known as Waterfront Park. Feeling more like Lollapalooza than anything Bonnaroo-esque, the Forecastle Festival bonds together urban life, with the skate ramps under the overpass, and festival life, with rows of environmentally-friendly vendors and the obvious slew of stages. The crowd started coming in around 7pm, filling out just in time for Manchester Orchestra, and leaving enough kandy kids to dance at the Ocean Stage.
Around 10pm the festival-goers weeded themselves out to form two groups: those who like jam bands, and those who do not. For those who did not, Memphis’ own Lucero stepped in to close out the East stage with their Southern punk/country infused rock sound. Singing about whiskey and women, lead singer Ben Nichols’s deep Louis Armstrong-like voice represented the South well, as did the crowd… Surrounded by shirtless drunk men singing along as though, “I kissed the bottle, I should’ve been kissing you” was their anthem, I found myself in a sea of devoted fans, who had come out just for them.
The band had some tight breakdowns with help from keys/organ/accordion player, Rick Steff, and rhythm section John Stubblefield (bass) and Roy Berry(drums). Their energy reciprocated well with the highly receptive crowd, allowing people to leave the festival and board the Belle of Louisville for the after party in good spirits. Until tomorrow.–Mackenzie Grosser
If you had shown up at the Hard Rock Café Thursday night at 9:45, you would have only caught the tail end of the second act. When performances actually get rolling at the scheduled time, you know you’re in for a classier show experience. Hard Rock is ideal if you’re not up for being packed into the room so tightly with fellow showgoers you’re absorbing their sweat. You can enjoy a table inside or on the patio during the show, which on Thursday consisted of Blackfoot Gypsies, Bravo Max, and Overzealous.
Seeing Nashville/Murfreesboro band Overzealous play live for the first time was something of a shock. In person, founding members Dustin Sellers (vocals/guitar) and Brad Crittenden (vocals/bass) seem affable but subdued. Onstage, they prove there’s something to their name and deliver a high-energy performance. Newest Overzealous member, drummer Nick Morro doesn’t seem to have a problem keeping up, either. Last year, Sellers and Crittenden were still looking for a drummer that would stick; now they’ve got Morro plus a new EP to follow up the previous sunny “Yellow Jr.”
Melodies echo all the regular guys who rocked the late ’90s and early ’00s – Foo Fighters and even Jimmy Eat World at times, plus traces of Nirvana when they decide to shred a harder riff – but the lyrics are Sellers’ own. “Really every song I write is an echo of what should have been,” he says. Sellers crams a lot of personal experience into his lyrics, and the new EP “The Valley” is no different. Worth checking out if you’re into any of the aforementioned artists, or just want to see an energetic and fun show. – Jessica Pace
As Brooklyn’s 4th Annual LC Fest heads into its fourth day, look for performances from 13 artists including Danny Ross, The Courtesy Tier and Jessi Robertson (in the picture). Classically trained Ross brings his polished piano rock to the stage and his latest album, Danny Ross Presents One Way, while Brooklyn duo The Courtesy Tier, ranked #35 in The Deli’s current Best Of NYC Bands list, layers raw guitar riffs over catchy rhythms for a full-on rock sound, as heard on their recent EP, Map and Marker. Batting cleanup for the night is Robertson, one of the Local Correspondents founders, whose dark, lyrically driven songs and whiskey and honey-soaked voice will soon be exposed to a wider audience when her first studio album is released later this year. Performances begin at 8 p.m.
Sunday July 11’s, the final night, highlights include performances by Craig Chesler, Bryan Dunn (picttured), The Rambler’s Jeremiah Birnbaum, and nine others. Ukulele and guitar player Chesler mixes ’60s pop and ragtime into easy songs that practically scream summer, as heard on his latest CD, Little Craiggy Chesler & The Musical Proverbial Knee-Highs. Dunn, whose high-octane band shows pack ’em in at Mercury Lounge, brings his Americana rock out for a rare solo performance before heading into the studio to record a new album. Birnbaum, who fronts bluesy, alt. country act The Ramblers, will be serenading the crowd with songs from their latest release, Getting There. For the complete schedule of all five nights (from July 7th to the 11th), go here. For 42 free MP3s from festivals artists, split into four volumes for easy downloading, see here.
Holy oldhead show Batman! For close to 20 Years, Bardo Pond have been the superstars of the underground psychedelic movement in the City of Brotherly Love. But their sound is just as fresh and innovative as it’s been during the bands early inception. So much so that it guaranteed them a spot on upcoming mega shows such as the Jim Jarmusch curated ATP Festival in New York. And the Nightmare Before Christmas event headlined by Godspeed You! Black Emperor in Minehead, UK! Is that a big deal? Fuck yeah! But before they engage themselves towards the future, the band is ready to ignite Johnny Brenda’s with a trance filled explosion tonight. They’ll be joined by Caterpillar, who were at the forefront of the Philly music scene in the 90’s before going on a 9 year hiatus. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Every once in a while, I go on a music hunt across the internet. Just when I had lost all hope of finding sonic treasure, I came across local rock outfit Culprit. Infectious melodies and powerful vocals bring hope to a genre that’s been getting stale.
These boys will be supplying their talents at Boderline in Thousand Oaks on July 18th, along with Kayaks and The Mowgli’s.
Of course, the Deli has an exclusive download of their unreleased song ‘Decimals and Fractions’ right here.
If you have yet to make plans for this weekend, or more specifically this Saturday, then surely here is something that should be given a lot of consideration. Local blogs Kata Rokkar and Epic Sauce will be putting on an early show show, Saturday afternoon, featuring a collection of San Francisco and Portland Acts. Starting around 4 on the back patio at El Rio, and featuring free food and drinks specials, San Francisco’s Phantom Kick and Skeletal System will pair up with Portland’s Reporter and Spesus Christ to bring the afternoon noise. With what are promised to be ass-shaking DJ sets by Boyz IV Men and Soft Metals (as icing on this cake), perhaps this little event should be placed high on your weekend priorities.
–Ada Lann