James Levy and the Blood Red Rose (i.e. Allison Pierce of The Pierces) debut release “Pray To Be Free” harkens back to the days when pop was tasteful and genuine. Levy’s booming baritone taunts a meticulously crafted rhythm section, layered and perfected by producer Guy Berryman (Coldplay). A native Vermonter, Levy came up through the anti-folk scene in the East Village with contemporaries Adam Green, Kimya Dawson, and Regina Spector, and then caught the attention of many with the dream-pop band called simply… Levy. His new project’s debut album “Pray To Be Free” is, “An older record with a classic vibe and a contemporary, fresh sound,” says Jeff Barrett, Heavenly’s head honcho. Levy delivers his vocals with the insouciant gusto of Bob Dylan, while his horn arrangements tell us he may very well rock out to Blood Sweat and Tears songs when no one is around. – Read Ed Guardaro’s interview with Levy here.
Making Time iPhone App Now Available!
BITBY SXSW Kickoff/Fundraising Party at 2424 Studios March 9
BITBY will be having their SXSW Kickoff/Fundraising Party tonight at 2424 Studios’ The Skybox. There will be two stages with performances from the usual suspects and BITBY alumni Oh! Pears, Attia Taylor, Break It Up, Heyward Howkins, Spirit Animal, Streetwalkers, and many more. They’ll be premiering their debut collaborative effort with Lady.Bang.Beat. featuring Jurassic Shark, and a portion of the door will go to Girls Rock Philly. 2424 Studios – The Skybox, 2424 E. York St., 7pm, $10, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
All Ages Bash Feat. Edison, DJ Suga Shay & DJ Bruce at The Boom Room March 9
If you are looking to check out a new spot in Philly tonight, I suggest that you pop in The Boom Room, a new venue/studio directly across from Kung Fu Necktie. Out Of Town Films are throwing an all ages bash tonight featuring performances by local outfit Edison (which will be their live debut), DJ Suga Shay, and DJ Bruce as well as special guests Looney Ben & The Unclocksmiths. Those who are 21+ will receive free beer for the first hour, and it will also be B.Y.O.B. the rest of the time so don’t let the all ages label scare you off. The Boom Room, 1300 N. Front St., 10pm, $10 (B.Y.O.B. for 21+), All Ages – Alexis V.
NYC Bands to see in Austin: Yellow Ostrich
We gave a lot of attention to avant-rootsy group Yellow Ostrich in 2011 – the band enjoyed a couple of Deli features and headlined one of our CMJ 2011 shows (full disclosure, they would have been on the cover of our fall 2011 issue if they could have played our show at Pianos, but they had other commitments). After a very good reception of the debut album, this prolific band begins 2012 with a new release entitled "Strange Land," which expands their sonic vocabulary in a direction that’s at once more electric and orchestral, with the enlistment of horn player Jon Natchez. If you are going to Austin next week, you’ll probably see them live even if you aren’t trying to, since they are playing 9 shows in 5 days! Otherwise you can catch them in NYC at Mercury on April 12.
Get Intimate w/Meg Baird at The Station March 9
If you’re a fan of Espers’ Meg Baird, then seeing her on the big stage at Union Transfer when she opened for Zola Jesus and Talk Normal should’ve filled your heart with a bit of pride and joy. However, like her music, it’s those intimate moments that probably standout most to you. You’ll have a chance to capture one of those precious moments tonight when she performs at the stageless South Philly venue/bar The Station so stop by and get some eye-level, one-on-one time with her. She’ll be joined by Baltimore’s Arbouretum (Thrill Jockey Records) and Theodore (Matt Hampson from Power Animal). The Station, 1550 McKean St., 9pm, $6, 21+ (Photo by Annabelle Salle) – H.M. Kauffman
Take a Test Drive w/Restorations at The Fire March 9
An ambitious adolescent often buys a classic muscle car that “needs some TLC.” However, rather than focusing on the essential mechanical issues he/she will focus on its aesthetic appeal; paint jobs and rims are often their top priority. Restorations is the type of band that chooses to worry about what’s under the hood before they make it look great. Lead-singer Jon Loudon’s vocals create a weathered feel making songs such as “Sideways House” authentic and sincere while the band plays like a team. Each instrument does its job well, but also plays within itself. Vocals and guitars may be the first aspects your ears naturally gravitate towards, just as paint and rims may be the eye-catching items on a car. However, for a vehicle or a band to run smoothly, every part needs to be finely tuned. The raspy-weather-beaten vocals and simple yet slightly-textured riffs might suck you in, but the group as a whole will keep you there. Restorations are the type of car that might not blow you away at first glance. However, once you go for a test drive, you’ll take it home. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, $7, 21+ – Michael Colavita
Eight Bit Tight “Our World”
Eight Bit Tiger has released a new video for their track "Our World" which appears on their debut album Parallel Synchronized Randomness.
Steven Koozer
Steven Koozer records lo-fi surf rock and recently released a solid new cassette called "Aquarius". Splitting time between Omaha and Chicago I am not sure where the surf came from, but I sure enjoy the sound.
Magic Milk Tour
Magic Milk are headed to SXSW and have teamed up with Gonzo Chicago to release a new live video. You can find their tour dates here.
Facts on File debut “How Will We Get Along” (Video)
Pan through Southern Californian desert: close up of sand and dune beetle; cut to crevasse with man in tuxedo climbing out, grasping half a bottle of champagne. This is the first 22 seconds of LA-based trio Facts on File’s new video, “How Will We Get Along.” It is also perfect imagery to describe the band’s sound—gritty and carefree, but with a hint of class. The three-piece creates infectious ‘60s-inspired pop tunes that burrow deep in your eardrums and invoke dance parties wherever they are played. Aside from the video debut, expect a record release from the retro poppers in the spring, and check them out live with Tubby Boots, and The Deli LA’s current Artist of the Month, both 3 ½ and Bikos, at The Cinema Bar Saturday, April 7th. – Katrina Nattress
Still Caves
In a city full of avid garage heads, there are many who seek a lo-fi atmosphere, but few who maintain it on a stage. When a sonic aesthetic is more than a hashtag, it can be a special connection to an audience that connects us as musicians, more as a dig at nostalgia than a tribute to the past. Ever since the untimely departures of Eat Skull and Meth Teeth, there has been a glaring void for local psych rockers who pull off a grunge-indebted presence while creating a mountain of sound, but out this year’s winter gloom comes Still Caves.
Lo-fi is seen by some listeners as sloppy, but the irony is that it to do it well requires a refined sense of when less is more. The simplicity of a few chords becomes a powerful statement when run through a maze of pedals. Still Caves accomplish this and more with four musicians and a wall of decibels. While shoegaze would be an obvious descriptor, the band’s rare attribute of having a drummer as a lead singer throws unique color into the haze of their drone. The drums are front and center as a driving force, acting as a glue for an atmosphere of dense reverb and heavy overdrive conjured by the two guitars and bass. With only two self-released songs available via Bandcamp as of this post, it’s evident that Still Caves has the aforemention "refined sense" and intends to deliver something different to an oversaturated genre. With a proper release soon to come though, consider our psych scene primed to emerge from its recent hybernation.
— Wyatt Schaffner