Brian Mackey is a Singer/Songwriter from NYC who just released his much awaited album, "Honest Love", and is currently playing his "Honest Love" tour across the country. His kick-off show was at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn, Feb. 1st. Also, he has the "Honest Love" music video debut releasing in March, filmed live in Chicago. His next show is at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville on February 13th at 6:30PM, and the Hotel Indigo on the 14th at 10PM. Also, he has his "Honest Love" music video debut releasing in March, filmed live in Chicago.- (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
Sick of frontmen lacking stage presence, making you question if they even enjoy their own music? Francis Farewell Starlite may be the cure. Fellow scenemaker and Cantora Records labelmate, William Johnson of Gordon Voidwell, once said in a Deli interview that Starlite “is easily the most impressive dancer I’ve played a show with.” A quick search on YouTube renders numerous live videos of him showing off some sweet dance moves, opening for acts like Drake and MGMT. His band Francis and The Lights has a good amount of cred as they can count Kanye West and Drake as fans. Francis will play a rare solos show on February 24 at Les Poisson Rouge, only accompanied by piano and drum machine, and we can’t help but wonder: will the bare bone pre-programmed rhythms trigger some of those notorious dance moves? – Nancy Chow
The three-fifths I saw of The 1-10s’ CD release show Friday night was worth getting smashed up against a wooden pole at The Basement throughout most of the sets. By 10 p.m. the house was packed and stifling as Oh No No took the stage. Only a few months ago, the band released a four-track EP, Tren Del Sexo (Sex Train), which is lyrically amusing but never settles into a sound. They cheerily genre-hop from pop rock to rambling, banjo-driven folk, and energetic as it was, I didn’t think it too memorable. After seeing their live performance, I’m changing my mind.
Crowd interaction, a penchant for tightly-belted shorts and a dopey charisma that makes them seem like they should be in a Broken Lizard movie added to the animated set. Fist-pumping, stomping and clapping were encouraged throughout the seven-song set that opened with the slow but blistering riff of “(Shake) Shake Your Hips” followed by the timid pop number “You Could Be My Lover,” both from the EP. Also included was a recently-written and particularly loud and bitter Valentine’s song titled “The Bitch.” They’re not the most sophisticated band out there, and they’re definitely not going to get all arty onstage, but they can play and it was a fun set.
Up next was The 1-10s, another group whose live performances outshine the recordings, the latest of which is Fighting for a Golden Age. The band played all 10 tracks from the LP, starting with the deep, pensive bass and warbling blues riff of “Bad Day” as frontman Will Floyd yowled in Zeppelin-like fashion and did his awkward shuffle around the microphone. “Run From Your Master” and “Dying Blues” followed with surging and stuttering guitar parts from Adam Louis that imitate Queens of the Stone Age, while Abby Hairston kept up an incessant thrash back there on the drums despite the heat.
For the most part, they stick with revving, up-tempo tunes, but they broke from that long enough for bassist Ben Lowry to take over vocals for the comparably sweet and melodic “Eye For An Eye” and finished with the gritty title track. The 1-10s toy with blues and toy with metal, tying it together with punk and classic rock of the late ’70s, and they’re talented enough to pull off all those sounds and make a cohesive album.
Theirs would have been a great set to end with, but Spoken Nerd took the stage after with an electronic hip hop fusion. I would have stuck around for that as well as The Running and I Am Sabot, but by this point I was in a 1-10s-induced punk stupor and thus wandered out to Nathan Conrad’s emphatic, “we’ll crush those who stand against us.” – Jessica Pace
The hardest rocking band on our 2010 Emerging Artist poll, Queen Caveat is starting 2011 of strong with the release of their music video for "What Built Me", which we’ve been lucky enough to exclusively debut on their behalf. Directed by accomplished AFI graduate Evan Urman, the beautifully shot, gritty, video forces itself down your throat thanks to frontwoman Lauren Little’s infectious aggressiveness. To celebrate the release of the video, Queen Caveat is offering a free download of "What Built Me" so click here. President’s Day needed a little bit more attitude anyways.
The Roundtable Misfits had it going on at 3 Brothers in Murfreesboro Thursday night. This five-piece wields killer melodies over a funk and jazz rhythm section that cuts deeper than the traditional jam band. The drummer and bassist practically live in the pocket, and front-woman Kelly can hold an audience like nobody’s business rocking some of the best pipes I have heard from a female vocalist on the Nashville stages. If their arsenal isn’t already deep enough, add in a little hip-hop Nas flow and you have a band that has matured beyond their experience in the scene.
Their set never grew sour, but although their tunes are concise and structured, some songs seemed to end at the moment they were picking up. This kept the packed house wanting more, but the set lacked a climax. They need to own their sound and style. We can chalk that one up to "experience" and can also say "who cares" because this show was rockin’. You need to check this pseudo-jam band out. Roundtable Misfits, where have you been? – Beau Welsh
*Roundtable Misfits is a fairly new band that does not, as of yet, have a website, but we’ll keep you posted
This bright eyed and bushy tailed Tulsa transplant is playing the Viper Room’s acoustic lounge Tuesday, Feb. 22nd. $5 Advanced tickets, or $7 with a cd, are available through sundaylanetickets@gmail.com.
Sunday Lane‘s debut ep, Bring Me Sunshine, is an ode to just that. The album starts off with the pop drenched diddy "How Long It Takes", but it’s apparent from the first lyric that Sunday’s voice has integrity: a gentle gruffness reeled in by a nervously sad vibrato. Looks aside, you’d have me hard pressed to deny she sounds like the little sister of Tegan and Sara. I have a feeling that while her single "Won’t Go Back Down" will get snapped up for TV usage (you might want to learn how to sing the hook now, to show off your music cred) however, the most striking song of the collection is "Heavy Heart, Heavy Hands". Perhaps I’m a sucker for sad songs but if there was any thoughts of this pop musician going through the motions like so many do, this song puts them to bed. Perfect for this rainy weekend.
When I interviewed Fred Knittel about his Folkadelphia Concert Series/senior project, his voice was loaded with excitement for Philadelphia’s modern folk scene (read The Deli’s interview here). After all, it is a bustling community that the 22-year-old Drexel undergrad and host of Y-Rock’s Folkadelphia radio show is deeply rooted in. So you can say that’s the overall purpose of his February series at Johnny Brenda’s, which will feature live performances and interviews with the bands: to draw others into that sonic landscape he’s so fond of and to bridge that gap between old school folk traditions and its modern twists. And so far, it’s seen success, with rave reviews coming in for Folkadelphia’s February 6 inaugural show with Hezekiah Jones and The Spinning Leaves. I don’t have any doubt he can keep that momentum going this afternoon when its second installment comes underway with Northern PA’s whispering indie-folk luminaries Lewis & Clarke take the stage. So go enjoy the magic before it’s too late. I know I will. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave., 1pm, $7, All Ages – Annamarya Scaccia
If there’s anyone in Philly who’s had an overwhelmingly busy 2010, it’s Golden Ages. Since the release of debut full-length Tradition, bedroom soundscaper Francis Tseng has pulled a live band together, dropped another EP, had a surprisingly cinematic video made for “Everything Will Be Alright”, remixed everyone from Univox to Surfer Blood to Toto, and all while keeping up his cognitive science studies at Penn. All this activity isn’t going unrecognized with acknowledgements from Pitchfork, The Fader, XLR8R, and many more music media outlets. Perhaps the quick payoff shouldn’t be surprising. Golden Ages have zeroed in on a sound that simply doesn’t go unnoticed these days, and they do it well. The band conjures up layer upon layer of heady synth squall and shimmering arpeggios, with a sturdy, pulsing bass as its spine. Vocals are present, but they’re buried, simply filling in any textural gaps that aren’t dominated by the roaring walls of sound that Tseng pieces together. If this sounds like chillwave, you wouldn’t be completely wrong. But these songs don’t have quite the same level of dance-ability that even the most chill of chillwave tunes dish out, or even the half-ironic 80s stylings. This stuff is more apt for bedroom rumination and stoned daydreams. Let’s hope 2011 is even busier for Tseng and the Golden Ages crew. It’s already starting off well with a recent opening slot for the sold out Sun Airway show at The Ox and invitations to the big dance at SXSW. – Joe Poteracki
Philadelphia’s Busses are rolling into Johnny Brenda’s tonight. Don’t expect slow numbers though, because if they get below 50 BPM the whole place is going to blow! The multi-faceted Fishtown trio, led by Guitarist/Vocalist Dave Brett, explores many corners of the rock spectrum with a psychedelic hue that allows their music to seamlessly meld together without becoming monotonous. Brett’s Built To Spill meets Mars Volta vocals are the perfect compliment to the driving guitar and drum combo that result in blistering and meditative tunes. Last year, Busses released a very solid record that combined their technical prowess with musician/producer extraordinaire Jeff Zeigler’s engineering panache resulting in killer tracks like “House Fire” and “Foundation Myth”. Along for the ride are indie-poppers Royal Shoal, a Philly band comprised of former members of The Ropers (Slumberland, Tean Beat), Saturday People, Public Record, and Beard (a Dr. Dog precursor.) Rounding out the bill is the jazzy, Tom Waits on cocaine stylings of Upholstery, who will be celebrating the release of their new album. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Adam G.
We continue our "Best of LA Countdown", this time covering three of the artists that made our Year Ends Best of LA Poll list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel, DJs, and our writers and readers).
#40 is Angelenos-by-way-of-Pennsylvania Eastern Conference Champions who will be releasing their first full album of new material, Speak-ahh, this April. The band released their EP, Santa Fe, in 2009 sans former record label Suretone/Universal and have been loving the self control ever since.
Leaning towards a more introspective and melancholy version of Modest Mouse, ECC’s twist on the theme works perfectly — so well, in fact, that it landed them on the (cringe) Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack with artists like Florence and the Machine, The Black Keys, and Bat For Lashes.
If you could splice the musical genes of Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, and Phantom Planet into one band, you’d end up with #39 Chasing Kings. Their debut offering, The Current State of Our Future, in 2009 with rave reviews and accolades from the LA scene (including ours) and after a dedicated year of jumping on any tour they could find, and a November residency at the Silverlake Lounge, the band released the single for "Just Our Luck"/"Maybe It’s The Distance". The single teases new material in the same vein as their debut album, but shows off a new layer of refinement and confidence.
Chasing Kings will be playing tonight, Feb. 18th at PB&J in Pomona.
#38 Fight From Above released their debut album, LA Kids, in 2009 and have been going full speed since on the back of catchy, pop-minded singles like "Between The Curves". Like anything in life, bands mature and change, and when guitarist and founding member Zach Jerome left in the summer of 2010, it changed the creative trajectory of the band who placed guitarist Jeremy Miner (brother of vocalist Justin Miner) in his stead. While they’ve been compared to bands like MGMT, Hot Hot Heat, and Modest Mouse, strong hooks and the love/hate relationship with LA do all the talking on LA Kids. No word on any studio or writing activity, but they recently brought down the house at Pacific Beach’s VFW for a Valentine’s show.
Sorry, our server took a long lunch break earlier. I don’t blame it. It’s beautiful out. This will be short and sweet because we’ve been ready to enjoy this weekend and the weather for a long time now. (Damn server!) You’ve probably noticed this flier (above) on our website all week. Well, you should really show up for our show this Saturday at The Ox w/Grimace Federation, Grandchildren, Power Animal, Ryat, and Circadian Rhythms. It’s going to be badasss! We’ll be there. You should definitely join us. Now go out and do something fun before the weather gets shitty again. Cheers! The Ox, (you should know by now or ask a friend), 8pm, $5, All Ages
Other things to get you out and about…
The Ox (you should know by now or ask a friend) FRI Aunt Dracula
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Dr. Ketchup, SAT Busses, Royal Shoals, Upholstery, SUN Folkadelphia w/Lewis & Clarke
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The New Connection and Cheers Elephant SAT The Future Unwritten
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI I Yahn I Arkestra and Theotis Joe, SAT Mongrel Mix and Kickin Bear, SUN Curious Buddies
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Megajam Booze Band, SAT Panic Years and Atomic Square
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Man Is Doomed, SAT Buddhafest 43 w/Victoria Spaeth
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Cloud Entertainment Launch Party w/The Josh and Pete Band, Lion Versus, The Best Western
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI The Absolute Zeros and Funkharp
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI The Black Rose Foundation Presents: Let’s Move Philadelphia – A Health Benefit for Black Girls w/Black Thought and Rich Medina
Brian Mackey is a Singer/Songwriter from NYC who just released his much awaited album, "Honest Love", and is currently playing his "Honest Love" tour across the country. His kick-off show was at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn, Feb. 1st. Also, he has the "Honest Love" music video debut releasing in March, filmed live in Chicago. His next show is at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville on February 13th at 6:30PM, and the Hotel Indigo on the 14th at 10PM. Also, he has his "Honest Love" music video debut releasing in March, filmed live in Chicago.- (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
