NYC

CMJ Marathon Runner Alex’s day #3: Alex Winston, Savoir Adoire, Ava Luna, Body Language, Titus Andronicus

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As Deli runners, we are supposed to allot a day in Brooklyn during the CMJ Marathon. Yesterday was my BK day – and what a perfect day to go Williamsburg! I was ready to get my game on early, so I headed over to the Neon Gold showcase at Public Assembly. Overall, I saw a shit ton of wonderful acts. The standouts to me though were the first three of the afternoon: Savoir Adore, Body Language and Alex Winston, and then Ava Luna in the evening. All four are local, talented and extremely enthusiastic performers, in their own unique ways. Ultimately, these musicians are just happy to be up on stage, doing what they love – and as an audience member, that’s always incredible to experience.


Savoir Adore are a four-piece band but it’s the two lead singers, a girl and a guy, whom are a real delight to listen to. The girl, Deidre, has a very charmingly feminine voice: a nice addition to the upbeat, catchy instrumentals; however, for me, it was the guy, Paul, who made quite the impression. He has a gorgeous, versatile voice live – whether he’s working, flying solo, etc, he sounds great. I am really feeling this band. And I can’t get their single, “Bodies,” out of my freaking head!

Body Language was next – another 4-piece gem! BL sounds different live, better I think, than their recorded stuff. Live, the band has a very visceral presence – they really live up to their name – focusing on soulful instrumentals with lots of clapping and banging and even more soulful and funkalicious vocals, (damn those white boys got swagger!). The lead singer, Angelica, has a beautiful voice – it’s full, rich and extremely warm.  Such a stellar band.

Next up was Alex Winston, another young woman with some great pipes. She’s poppy with traces of Motown and American, with vocals kind of reminiscent of Cocorosie. Her show at Public Assembly was one of the first she has done live (which was evident in her jitteriness and cute banter with the audience). Seeing her perform for first time was refreshing; it’s clear she’s working her ass off to get heard.

Later on I saw the wondrous Ava Luna.  With comparisons to TV On the Radio, this group is pretty off the chain quirky, creative and super funky.  There’s lots of texture to their music, and very tangible range. They belt out harmonies, pump up the synth, and create some very modern, eccentric, buzzing sounds. Overall, the showcase was kickass and I saw a lot of great bands (Emil & Friends and Oberhofer as well). Woo! Later on in the night, I hit up an awesome show at an old Firehouse in LES. The headliners of the night were LA indie darlings, the Local Natives (I heart you), and Jersey-based Titus Andronicus opened up with a great set.

These indie rockers have garnered some major buzz recently, including praise from even the pickiest and snobbiest contenders (read: Pitchfork). But the praise is deserved, because these guys are very talented, emotionally intense and noise-heavy. I’ve never seen them live and am glad that I caught them for CMJ. By the time I saw them, things were hazy, but I do remember them being loud, in a good way, and some major rocking out. – Alex Vann

 

Philadelphia

Algernon Cadwallader and Much More at DDG Oct. 23

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If you want to show some city pride but dread the trek to Citizen’s Park for the Phillies or if you just don’t give a crap about baseball but wanna get out of your cramped abode, then wiggle your way to West Philly’s Danger Danger Gallery this evening for the nearly five-hour MINI FEST. It’s a night of two-tone punk appeal-meets-balls to the wall shredding hardcore that’ll represent Philly hard – on the 10-band bill, six outfits are stripped from our own junkyard (Snowing, Towers, The Joint Chiefs of Math, Gods and Queens, Pink Coffins, and Algernon Cadwallader) two Philly-by-association acts (Lancaster’s 1994! and Kresgeville’s The Greek Favourites), plus two party crashers (Syracuse’s hardcore rip tide OAK & BONE and Oakland’s melodic punk trio Big Kids). But if you only go for one band, push through the crowd for Algernon Cadwallader. Their rowdy underground indie punk is snotty, brash and super infectious, with dissonant pop melodies twirling under chorus caterwauls and screaming sing-speak strains. It’s gonna be one helluva sonic party blast that’ll leave you happily blown. Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave., 6pm, $10 suggested donation, All Ages – Annamarya Scaccia
 
Philadelphia

Benefit for Giovanni’s Room at The Rotunda Oct. 23

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Giovanni’s Room, Philadelphia’s oldest gay and feminist bookstore, is is need of some help for a renovation project that involves getting a new wall. So to help some of Philly’s hottest queer musicians are coming together to give it to them in style. The end result could be the Rotunda hosting one the naughtiest benefits in its history and that might be attributed to the colorful set by quirky pop outfit, Sweatheart. The band has already gained some serious street cred by opening for the likes of Devo and Bad Brains and acquiring the services of anti-diva Amanda Blank. Joining them will be dance floor destroyers and underground hip hop crew Sgt. Sass as well as The Lesbian Dorkestra (you know what they say happens at band camp). The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 6pm, $5 donation, All Ages – Bill McThrill
 
Chicago

I Luv Luv Birds @ Underground Lounge

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Marc Mozga and Holly Prindle (I Luv Luv Birds) have come together again to release their full-length album in two years. The 20-track (ten original and ten dub track of those originals) album, Cleaning Lady Uprising, is available on the band’s bandcamp site, but will also be sold at the release show tomorrow night (8/23) at The Underground Lounge as a 12” vinyl that comes with homemade, silk-screened cover art and download.

I Luv Luv Birds is self-produced, self-released bedroom pop at its best. These are lo-fi, but a surprising mix of sound with a few creative moody tracks like "Under Your Command" and "Power’s Out". You never know what sound is coming next, and that makes this album even more enjoyable. My favorite track is the inventive "Hook & Grid".

San Francisco

Emily Jane White Prepares for her Third Album Release This Spring

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“That’s the cool thing about art, it can transcend things,” mused San Francisco based singer-songwriter Emily Jane White, when I sat down with her in the recording studio to discuss her music. “Everything I write is from my perspective, so it’s filtered through my body, my lens,” White explained. She went on to say that although her viewpoint is one of the white middle class, political statements expressed through music can go beyond the original meaning they had to the writer, and reach out to other people while still giving voice to the songwriters experience. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately—what makes music political, how is it political. It is automatically, music has to be political, because the personal has a political nature to it. When it’s a big issue, then you are one amongst many expressing yourself. But when it’s something specific, like a catastrophe, then I try to be more subtle and suggestive about it.”

[read the entire article after the jump]

Catch Emily Jane White perform tonight [Friday, October 22] playing with The Northrn Key and many fantastic comedians at Snob Theater presented by Kata Rokkar. $10 located at The Dark Room at 2263 Mission Street, between 18th and 19th San Francisco, CA

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, October 22 – 24

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Local psych-pop Creepoid continues to impress with fuzzed out chants like “Stranger”. Substantially lo-fi and gritty, this new-ish number plays out warm with meticulous reverb and laidback riffs. Moody guy-girl vocals swell while shaking cymbals meet tambourine, resulting in the same caustic calm The Kills exude. As heard on both sides of their debut vinyl EP Yellow Life Giver, Creepoid’s songs sound out chill yet urgent, settling somewhere between overt emotion and playing it coy. Balanced might be the word for it, or perhaps precise emphasis. Whichever, Creepoid does it well, making tracks like “Pink Tag Sale” a must have with its snare based dreamy tempo and washed-out vibes. However, expect to hear tonight at Pilam some new songs that they’ve been working on for their upcoming full length Horse Heaven currently scheduled for release in January 2011 via Ian Records. You’ve probably also been hearing some hype about The Homophones. Well, believe it! The big stage awaits them, and you have the opportunity to say, “I saw them back when…” (Now all that they have to do is record an album.) Oh, did we forget to mention the jangly pop of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart? Pretty sweet, right? Exactly and certainly Weekend Warrior-worthy! See you there. BTW: We’re very happy to see our favorite fraternity back with a bang! Pilam. 3914 Spruce St., 9pm, $8 – $10, All Ages
 
Other things to do this weekend, but hopefully Game 7 will be one of them…Go Phils!
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Serpent Throne, SUN Women
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Japanese Sunday, SAT Toy Soldiers and Satellite Hearts, SUN (Early) Everyone Everywhere, (Late) Free Cowmuddy Recording
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Surgeon and Leiana, SAT Da Comrade! And The New Heaven & The New Earth
 
Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Your Children is Beautiful, SAT Algernon Cadwallader, SUN Hop Along and Motorcycle Maus
 
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Ominous Black, Wizard Eye, Clamfight
 
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SAT Giovanni’s Room Benefit w/Sweatheart and Sgt. Sass
 
The Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum (3819 Hamilton St.) FRI Goddess Night Benefit for City of Hope w/ Lisa Sunshine, Anti Emz, Radio Eris
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Dan Collins Songwriter Showcase
 
The El Bar (1356 N. Front St.) SUN Far-Out Fangtooth
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Early Ape and The Lawsuits
 
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) FRI The Once Was
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Blood Feathers
 
Philadelphia

The Spooks Haunting Making Time’s Ruby Lounge at Voyeur Oct. 22

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Dave P’s Making Time parties have been consistently delivering free-wheeling if not drunken sloppy concerts/dance parties of joy for over 10 years now, and his brand only seems to be picking up speed. Tonight he is upping the ante at the Making Time hotspot Voyeur by putting two different concerts on for us lucky folks in attendance with the upstairs hosting indie rock wunderkinds Surfer Blood and Brooklyn’s delightfully nostalgic pop act The Drums (and I also heard Surfer Blood’s buddies The Dewars will be joining the lineup), while downstairs local natives The Spooks will be raging a party of their own. The Deli has been preaching the gospel of The Spooks’ surfer boy garage rock for a while now, and for good reason. Their songs are fairly traditional, energetic rock and roll tunes covered in fuzz and sung with a Devendra Banhart-esque quiver. I hope these guys take full advantage of the free Sparks to fuel their performance to the next level (hopefully without us having to see what their drummer had for dinner). Either way, this Making Time is one those that should not be missed. Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 9pm, $15, 21+ – Adam G.
 
New England

The Autumn Hollow Band CD Release Saturday @ Rosebud

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Saturday, 10/23 at the Rosebud, The Autumn Hollow Band (Band of the Month nominees) release their new album, "Love Letters and Ransom Notes."  The band’s heartfelt americana should warm the room despite the numerous autumnal attractions the band has planned.  Attendees of the show can bob for apples and eat donuts from strings ("It has the potential to get weirdly competitive," the band says, and there are already challenges thrown on the Facebook event page), and there will be a carved pumpkin contest.  They’ve also apparently arranged for one-night-only "Love Letter" and "Ransom Note" drink specials, named for the album.  And if all that wasn’t attractive enough, the first fifty Narragansetts are free, and your cover cash also enters you to win one of any number of raffle prizes.  One amazing party set to a lovely soundtrack.  Also performing are The Points North, Coyote Kolb, and Big East.  Get there ’round 8pm to get that ‘Gansett and sign up for the games.

– The Deli Staff

NYC

CMJ Marathon Runner Alex’s day #2: Matthew Dear + out of town bands

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Day two down. My musical journey started at Santos Party house with California based Evan Voytas and Tamaryn  – read the report on our West Coast branch here. I then decided to change gears and check out Worcester natives, DOM – check out my review on The Deli’s New England site here.

I decided to head over to the PureVolume House – CMJ’s artists’ lounge behind the old CBGB’s – to catch the second half of NYC-based Matthew Dear’s set. Dear has been around for quite some time, but I have never really listened to his electro-dance heavy music before – I figured this was the right place to give it a try. While at first his music sounded like a cheesy spin off of Depeche Mode, it’s actually deeper, and cooler than that. There are textures to his music, lots of melting movement and energetic transitions – there’s that Brian Eno sense of mechanical prescence. You can tell Dear’s been doing this for awhile, trying new things, testing the waters. After Dear finished his set, the San Diego-based surf rock punks Wavves made a surprise appearance – read the review on our LA site here.

 

NYC

CMJ Live show review: Wavves

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I caught San Diego-based surf rock punks Wavves‘ surprise appearance at CMJ’s Pure Volume House. These guys are really getting big, so I don’t need to really delve into it. Overall, they were loud (although they were bitching that it could be louder), and sounded good (although they were bitching that they could’ve sounded better). The group is talented, and ear-splittingly noisy, in a very bearable way. Not so bearable, was their childish brattiness. But, what can I say? Boys will be boys. – Read Alex Vann’s full CMJ report here.