Tomorrow, come support some local history through the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society at the Onderdonk House with a selection of some of the city’s finest indie rock bands, food and booze at the Arbitration Rock Festival. Bands include Not Blood Paint, PassKontrol, Bad Credit No Credit (pictured), Backwords, GunFight! (streaming) and more. Also, as summer’s starting to wind down (it’s already August?!), you might want to come for the opportunity to bask in the sun! More info here.

Like many contemporary Brooklyn based indie rock artists, Snowmine (featured on the cover of the summer 2012 issue of The Deli NYC) is very interested in the creative possibilities offered by the recording studio, but the results we hear on record showcase a band that masters the production process like few others. We took the time to ask them a few questions about their recording habits. – Read Paolo De Gregorio’s Q&A with Snowmine here.

Not too long ago, I reviewed She’s a Keeper’s self-titled effort from 2011 (see the review here). And to put it plainly, it was just a wonderful little slice of folk awesome. However, too often bands pull off a sonically exciting and successful effort in the studio but suck up the joint when playing it live. I am glad to find that this is not the case for She’s a Keeper. The Live at Midwestern EP is just one more indication that this band has quickly become a local music force to be reckoned with.

As to be expected, the live renditions offer a little more bite than their record versions. The drums break through the arrangements more, and while diminishing the dynamic range that the studio album provides, they provide an extra kick to the gut.

Overall, it is good to hear the increased emotion of the live performance not affect the quality of musicianship. The vocals, one of the key strengths of this band, stay powerful and true throughout. The folks at Midwestern Music Co. who recorded it paid close attention to making sure the songs projected both power and clarity. Overall, it sounds better than a lot of local studio records I’ve heard. Big props to them on this.

From a personal standpoint, I am glad to see my favorite track from the self-titled album performed here. “Branches,” even with its somewhat stripped-down arrangement and cello in need of a slight tune, still comes across powerful, dynamic, and full of songwriting surprises.

Word from the band’s Facebook page seems to indicate the group is back in the studio and that the members “have a good feeling” about the new songs. Based upon this live EP, I’d have to agree with them. 

Though Live at Midwestern was released back in March, She’s A Keeper will be celebrating the release with a party this Saturday, August 4 at Czar with Olassa and The Natural State. You can also check out our Artists on Trial interview with guitarist/vocalist Zac Jurden at the link here.

–-Zach Hodson

NYC

Atomic Bride Have Upcoming Show At The Funhouse

Posted on: August 2, 2012

Photo Source: Atomic Bride

Atomic Bride are going to appear at The Funhouse for a performance on Friday, August 10. Also on the bill are School Shootings, F-Holes, and Autolite Strike.

Back in May the five piece released their latest LP Dead Air. They have been putting on shows since 2007; the work put in since then to create their current record is palpable. They are governed by no one particular sound, spiraling through bouts of surf, alternative, punk and horror rock.

Take the track "D.N.A." for example, which transforms their surf-infused vibe of a modern B-52’s hit into a sing-song, rocking affair. They channel elements of former Seattle band Schoolyard Heroes but morph into something noticeably more punk and New Wave in behavior.

"Radio Recession" on the other hand rhythm-rides right in with a Dick Dale-like surf lick before breaking out with the straightforward energy of an alt-rock chorus. "American Meltdown" lands somewhere inbetween bands like Black Sabbath, Rob Zombie, and the Meat Puppets; but the song is not derivative in any sense of the word. Blending heaviness and country twang, Atomic Bride are fearless in their creations and thus are difficult to classify and pigeonhole. Kudos to them on their undeniable versatility.

Check out Atomic Bride on the 10th of August at The Funhouse for $6. The show begins at 9:30pm. In the meantime, visit their bandcamp page to stream the entirety of Dead Air and purchase it digitally or on CD. A preview of the band is below in the track "D.N.A."

– Cameron LaFlam

After road-testing a new batch of material in January across the UK/Europe, Brooklyn’s Emanuel And The Fear spent the better part of the winter/spring in the studio with Brendan Tobin (Red Sparrows/Made Out Of Babies) completing their new 8-song full length album "The Janus Mirror" which will be released by Germany’s Haldern Pop Recordings in Europe September 14th and in the UK September 21st. A US release will follow through a yet-to-be-named label. The Janus Mirror is the band’s forth release and is also the first recorded document of the bands slimmed down 6 member line up (from the previous 11). While the band’s previous releases have focused more on folk elements (2011’s "Hands" ep), orchestral pop (2010’s "Listen") and dance driven synth rock (the band’s 2009 self-titled ep). The Janus Mirror is a dark and mysterious rock piece with cutting yet ethereal lyrics touching on today’s tsunami of silicone madness we’re all currently stuck in. Emanuel and the Fear is currently touring Europe.

Former keyboardist for Passion Pit, Ayad Al Adhamy, certainly knows how to keep a room entertained. His Brooklyn/Boston based band Team Spirit played The Studio at Webster Hall on Tuesday, August 30th. Openers, Static Jacks and Beast Make Bomb (who celebrated their farewell show) set the right atmosphere, starting off the night with a lot of raw energy and catchy hooks. But Adhamy’s scratchy whine and his band’s punchy material succeeded in the most challenging of tasks: getting a NYC crowd to bounce to the tunes. With fast-paced punk/pop melodies, the band was completely in sync with tight instrumentals and vocals. The spirited front man jumped off the stage numerous times, dancing with girls in the audience, jamming with fellow guitarist, Cosmo Kilburn Di Giulio, and at one point, encouraging the audience to squat on the ground before he jumped back on stage into an aggressive fit of screams and powerful riffs. Team Spirit will be oopening for Miniature Tigers tonight at the TT the Bear’s in Cambridge, MA. – Chelsea Eriksen