Jean-Philip Grobler rejects the idea that he is a synth-pop artist, citing his equal use of electronic and non-electronic instrumentation to support the claim. There are prominent piano chords, wandering guitar riffs and the odd sax solo littered throughout his sound, but with programmed beats providing the heartbeat and earthly synths bringing the soul, the NYC based South African – who releases music under the moniker St. Lucia – does create instrumentals of great electronic beauty. The comparisons to Temper Trap and Empire of the Sun are appropriate, but to my ear, Peter Gabriel is the most fitting comparison. A wonderful thing, I’m sure you’ll agree. St. Lucia is heading towards an important couple of weeks, with a show at Terminal 5 opening for The Shins and then a European tour which will take him to the UK and Paris. – Read Dean Van Nguyen interview with St. Lucia here.
Brooklyn’s Water Knot lands a slot at Bonnaroo 2012
Emerging Brooklyn based indie rock quartet Water Knot landed a slot at Bonnaroo 2012, and will therefore join Radiohead, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Beach Boys, Bon Iver and many more high profile artists at this year edition of one of the most popular summer fests. Water Knot was selected through the Sonicbids’ Road To Roo Contest, congrats guys!
Q&A: Excuses for Skipping
No excuses necessary for rocking out to Excuses For Skipping‘s infectious sound–the band won our 2011 SF Fans Poll. When they’re not banging out the tunes, you’ll find this foursome kicking it in San Francisco’s Mission District. Read more in our Q&A with lead singer Linda Moody.
And don’t miss Excuses for Skipping tonight, April 27, with fellow locals Loquat for its album release party at The Independent.
-Whitney Phaneuf
Weekly Feature: The Pierces
Alabama raised Allison and Catherine Pierce (aka The Pierces) have made their mark on the New York music scene for over a decade. Managing the ups and downs of a professional musical career in the era the record industry collapsed has been no easy task, but these talented ladies have done so with impressive class and resourcefulness. With four albums now under their belt, their latest "You and I" (out in March) is garnering them the amount attention they deserve. Deli contributor Dave Cromwell has been catching up with the blonde half of the duo, Catherine. – Read the interview here.
Kung Fu concludes NYC residency at Brooklyn Bowl
Riding the wave of what can be dubbed as the "nu-funk movement," CT based Kung Fu have a been tearing up NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl every Monday in April for their weekly residency appropriately dubbed, "The Bowl Sessions." On April 16th, installment two kicked off with sounds by Sonic Spank and Biodiesel. The latter featured the thumping live electronic beats of drumming legendry Johnny Rabb and Brothers Past bassist Clay Parnell. Kung Fu took the stage for a powerful funk dance party with highlights including a take on Weather Report’s “Teen Town" – with Weather Report’s own bassist Victor Bailey, who stayed on stage for a raging take on Billy Cobham’s “Red Baron,” also featuring Rabb. Next, the super group welcomed Dopapod drummer Neal “Fro” Evans on Jeff Beck’s “Come Dancing.” Just when fans thought Kung Fu had pulled out the last of their heavy hitting guests, The Heavy Pets guitarist Jeff Lloyd joined the band for a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Black Man". – Alex Borsody
Weekend Warrior, April 27 – 29
Light Asylum celebrates “Shallow Tears” release at Le Poisson Rouge on 05.03
Light Asylum took an awful long time to release their debut full length (we first blogged about them exactly 2 years ago), but this doesn’t mean that the project didn’t make progress in the meantime. These days, a great live show can serves an emerging artist better than a great album, and the band’s intense performances, driven by the commanding presence and voice of lead singer Shannon Funchess, have allowed the duo to impose itself as one of the most successful Brooklyn based electro-goth acts. Light Asylum will be celebrating the release of their debut album "Shallow Tears" (under Mexican Summer) on May 03 with a show at Le Poisson Rouge. You can stream the first single below.
Deep Heaven Now 5, a Boston Psych Rock/Shoegaze Festival, Takes Place Next Weekend, 5/4 & 5/5
Next weekend brings the Spring 2012 edition of Deep Heaven Now. Continuing the bi/semi-annual tradition of the original Deep Heaven festivals of the 90s in Boston and featuring the best of the local and national ambient,experimental, psychedelic and shoegaze scenes.
The fifth installment of Deep Heaven Now is a two day event on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 at Precinct and PA’s Lounge in Somerville’s Union Square. One $10 admission fee gets you access to both venues for that day.
Highlights from night one include east coast psych/shoegaze veterans from DC Screen Vinyl Image performing the first of two different sets that weekend as well as psych rockers Lead Stones from NYC. The New Highway Hymnal (pictured), the deli’s Best Emerging Band of 2011, will also be performing.
Night two brings Thrushes (Baltimore), Nights (Cleveland), Is/Is (MN featuring Sarah Nienaber of Gospel Gossip), as well as local favorites Night Fruit and Velah (featuring two former members of Static of the Gods).
This event is sponsored by Narragansett beer and WZBC 90.3 Flyweight.
For more information, including set times and complete line-ups, check out the festival’s facebook page.–Chrissy Prisco
School of Rock Boston Debuts Southern Rock Revue in May at TT The Bears
On Saturday, May 19, and Sunday, May 20 the School of Rock Boston is leading a brigade of the best Southern Rock artists of all time, including ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, and more. The show will take place in Cambridge, MA at TT the Bears.
The cast and crew of rock school students, ages 8-18, take the stage after three months of preparatory rehearsals under show director Bassam Habal and assistant director Anderson Mar for a wild celebration of Southern Rock, a subgenre of rock music that was developed in the Southern United States from an amalgamation of rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally around electric guitar and vocals. In the Boston scene, this genre is usually tagged as “Americana”.
This show is all ages. Tickets are available for $10 in advance by calling 617-923-3434 during School of Rock business hours, or can be ordered online by going to http://sorock.eventbrite.com ; there will also be tickets available at the door day-of-show at the price of $12 per person.–The Deli Staff
The Spinning Leaves 7” Release Party at Underground Arts April 27
For their latest album Head Aglow, the Spinning Leaves recorded with Henry Hirsch (Lenny Kravitz, Madonna) from Waterfront Studios inside a 19th century church in Hudson NY. If you’ve tuned into the bands website over the past few days, then you’ve most likely already streamed the soulful acoustic melodies of their latest 7”, which is being released today on vinyl (digital May 1) by Drexel’s Mad Dragon Records. And when James Michael Baker and Barbara Gettes play at Underground Arts tonight they’ll be backed by the likes of Ross Bellenoit, Jonas Osterle, Phil D’Agostino and an array of special guests. Just 2 months ago Lightninging celebrated the release of their EP in the very same building, so they’ll be right at home when they open the evening. The album release celebration will also feature the latest project from The Weeds‘ Emily Ana Zeitlyn called Divers and the humorous storytelling of Juliet Hope Wayne. Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., 9pm, $10, All Ages – Bill McThrill
Psychobuildings releases free single from upcoming EP
Psychobuildings often sounds like a mix between Prince and 80s new wave (in the best possible way) and their new single “Baby Cops” is no exception. The band, fronted by Peter LaBier, just released a seriously grooving new single off of their forthcoming June EP “Hearts”. You can listen to it and download it here, and see it performed live at the new Williamsburg venue Delinquency on May 24. – Amanda Dissinger
Montreal vs. Philly w/Streetwalkers and More at House Show April 27
Some bands attempt to play up their sound by adding pieces that just don’t fit, in a word overproducing. Philly’s Streetwalkers don’t over dress for the occasion. It’s simply jeans and t-shirt indie rock. The guitar riffs are simple and slightly raw, but that rawness is a technique meant to demonstrate the band’s style. Streetwalkers are comfortable in their own skin and the slightly worn appearance. The straightforward “we are what we are” approach gives an air of natural authenticity. The bass guitar thumps along in a slightly irritated manner that matches the six-string while the drums come along for the trip. When the guitar decides to step to the front, the sound is heavy yet controlled pushing up to the edge, but not over it. They’re a band that can play the clean-cut rock ‘n’ roll. But they prefer to be themselves rather than dressing the part – frayed edges and worn boots take it or leave it. Tonight Streetwalkers will be performing in South Philly at a DIY house show as part of a Montreal vs. Philly showcase with Satellite Hearts, Alpha Wavez, Crabe and Leamers. House Show, (Please contact one of the acts for more details.), 7pm, $6, All Ages – Michael Colavita