NYC

Barry Louis Polisar Tribute Album

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You’ve heard him singing "All I Want is You" in the opening credits of the hit film JUNO… but Washington, DC based songwriter Barry Louis Polisar has actually been singing for children and families for 35 years, releasing his first record, I Eat Kids and Other Songs for Rebellious Children, in 1975. Now, some of those rebellious children he used to entertain have banded together and released a 2-CD, 60-song, tribute album of his songs called We’re Not Kidding! A Tribute to Barry Louis Polisar.

 "It’s great fun for me to hear my songs re-created this way," Polisar said. "Having my song in ‘Juno’ was great–but this is even better." The project is the brain child of Aaron Cohen, lead singer of the LA punk band The Radioactive Chicken Heads. Aaron had Barry’s albums as a child and claims him as his biggest influence.

The 2-CD set is now available from iTunes, Amazon and CDbaby. Hear free samples on Barry’s web site: http://www.barrylou.com/tributeAlbum.html   

L.A.

An interview with George Glass

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Your new eponymous EP was just released, how long was it in the making?
I suppose we started work on this EP (our first) at the band’s inception. We formed in October of 2009. We were fresh out of other musical projects that all sorta dissolved simultaneously. So when we decided to start playing together, we were all really eager to hit the ground running. Our first live show was played about a month after our first rehearsal.

Who are your major influences?
Everything from The Kinks, The Who and Love to Elliott Smith and Grandaddy. Also, I’d say some of our biggest direct influences would be the bands that we’ve been playing with and hanging around for the last few years (One Trick Pony, Death To Anders, Les Blanks, Radars to the Sky, The Happy Hollows, to name a few).

You can read the whole article here

-Kevin Bennett

NYC

Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers release debut CD + play Brooklyn Bowl

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Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers have been hustling and grinding on the underground NYC circuits sans official releases for quite some time now and it’s great to see that Knitting Factory Records is about to release their debut album "Teenage And Torture". This Friday the 21st the band will play Brooklyn Bowl to celebrate its release with Soft Black and She Keeps Bees. Shilpa is a spirited performer, so if you like original music that’s intriguingly in your face you should not miss this CD release party.

Chicago

Distractions

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There is so much happening in the world of Distractions. The band recently released a hand-numbered 7" through twosyllable Records, in an edition of 500, for their track "We Were Better Off In The Rain".

Today marks the release of the bands debut full-length, Dark Green Sea, through Infinite Best. The album (with digital download) is also limited to 500 copies. The album includes the track "All Night" which you can check out below.

Distractions will be performing at Treasure Town (2106 S Kedzie Ave) with Hollows on Jan. 24th.

Philadelphia

Don’t Be So Serious w/The Homophones at The Ox Jan. 18

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Yes, The Homophones’ Jason Ferraro has a sultry baritone voice that will bring comparisons to The National’s Matt Berninger, and at first, you might dismiss them as one of those oh so serious indie rock acts. But the charm and wit found in Ferraro’s biting lyrics sets him way apart from most of his contemporaries. The balloons that usually garnish their stage and the joy that exudes from The Homophones’ live performances may also leave very little room to feel too serious and/or mopey. But if you happen to feel most alive when you’re feeling a little down, then Scott Churchman’s eerie folk might help bring you there. The Homophones will be hosting UK’s Sleeping States at The Ox tonight, and then heading down with them to the Velvet Lounge in DC the next evening. (For all you DC folks coming across this write-up on The Deli’s National Page, I highly recommend that you get there early to catch The Homophones opening.) The Ox, (you should know already or just ask a friend), 8pm, $5, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman   
 
Philadelphia

Drums Like Machine Guns Invade Primitive at KFN Jan. 18

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Is your idea of fun scrambling your brain with eardrum bursting static that sounds like you might be getting abducted by aliens? Good – then don’t be afraid when Drums Like Machine Guns invade Primitive, “the punk/darkwave/minimal/80s meets metal/scuzz/rock” monthly residency at KFN geared for pounding down numerous drinks with your favorite compadres. Led by DJs Jane Paine and Laura Lawless this underworld party is not for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely been helping to fill the void of my sometimes black hole heart. Also joining the bill will be the much mellower minimalistic keyboard experimentation of The Kick Me’s. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 10pm, Free, 21+ (Photo by Dan Cohoon) – Alexis V.
 
Portland

The Rebirth of Spesus Christ

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Jiving away from the heavy tones buried in the measures of their earlier EPs, Spesus Christ’s latest releases prove to resurrect gladly with ghosts of their early cynical notes while bearing a new spirit of silliness. The hopping lyrical jaunt of Cameron Spies intertwining with the effortless catch of Lizzy Ellison’s pristine vocals barrel above frolicking synthesizers and candidly computed beats. Find the latest dance-to-it-hip-hop-electronic goodness from these two on Apes Tapes latest Mixed Ape compilation series.

New England

Show Review — MMOSS January 11, 2011, Middle East Upstairs

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mmoss

I had resigned myself to the fact that I was born in the wrong decade, that I would never have the opportunity to see great psychedelic music played live. Sure, I could catch the elderly hippies on their reunion tours, playing watered down versions of their 30-year old hits, made tame for their equally elderly audience. But to see the real thing, being written and created by contemporary musicians and performed with a fresh passion that captures my image of those classic shows of the late Sixties; I was sure I was out of luck. Enter MMOSS.

Read the whole review by George Dow HERE

Nashville

Free Shows All Week Long @ Mercy Lounge!

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This week is the 8-year Anniversary of Nashville’s beloved Mercy Lounge. Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary! Happy free show week! A bunch of Nashville’s best local bands and artists will be playing each night, and the fact that they’re all playing for free is reason enough to celebrate. Below is a schedule of everything, but go here if you need some extra details:

Monday, 1/17/11: 8 off 8th Special Anniversary Edition

Featuring: Hanzelle, Action!, Isaac Hayden, Tallest Trees, Vinyl Thief, Yoseph y La Zilla, Technikiller, Forrest Bride

Tuesday, 1/18/11: Mercy Lounge 8 Year Anniversary Party

Featuring: Majestico, Matt Friction and The Cheap Shots, Brandon Jazz and His Armed Forces, Bad Cop, Honeymoon Thrillers

Wednesday, 1/19/11: Mercy Lounge 8 Year Anniversary Party, hosted by Naked Without Us

Featuring: American Bang, Liz Sharpe, Wess Floyd, Starlume, Hans Condor, Kink Ador, The Wailin’ Canes

Thursday, 1/20/11: Mercy Lounge 8 Year Anniversary Party

Featuring: Lonely H, English Dogs, Bobby Keys, The Rouge, Captain Midnight Band

Friday, 1/21/11: Mercy Lounge 8 Year Anniversary Party

Featuring: Thad Cockrell, Courtney Jaye, Keegan Dewitt, Matthew Ryan, Tyler James, Brian Ritchey, Kopecky Family Band

Saturday, 1/22/11: Mercy Lounge 8 Year Anniversary Party

Featuring: The Worsties, Evan P. Donohue, Heypenny, Kingston Springs, Sleeper/Agent

Did I mention they’re all FREE?!–Erin Manning

 

 

 

Nashville

The Screeching Eels @ The Basement, 1/18/11

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Do yourself a favor tomorrow night and go to an early show at The Basement. At 7 pm sharp, two of Nashville’s most talented superstars, Bryn Davies and Gibb Droll, will be performing in their new project, "The Screeching Eels." I’d say this little ensemble can be deemed, "A real musician’s kinda band," especially since you pretty much never see a frontwoman/upright bass-player. Whaaaaat?! I know, right? Go here for a little video to suck you in, and then be sure to go to the show to see it in real life and not just on the interwebs. It’s Free!–Erin Manning