New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Having misspelled their name in the ‘Artist of the Month’ poll, I have failed to give Oakland’s Saything (no space) the introduction they deserve.
Revel in their cohesive—but never monotonous or monochromatic—full-length album Momentary Ens. It’s prog rock with a banjo. Sounds kind of hipster-brand ironic now that I write it out, but it really adds a functional layer of brightness and percussion that would leave a void if it were missing.
Beyond Saything’s instrumental proficiency and Isaac Brockian vocals, these guys know how to compose interesting music. Pitch bends abound and do something marvelous to the musical space in “See You Tomorrow” and “Burning Off the Morning Fog”; Phrygian color lends a darker quality to “Listen All Day”; there are some mathy meters in select songs for those who get bored with multiples of two and three; and there’s a huge allusion to Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle somewhere if you’re willing to look.
The band recently recorded a new album with Steve Albini, which is tentatively scheduled to come out this springtime. If you’re more of a here and now person, Saything is playing Stork Club in Oakland with Buzzmutt, Field Trips, and The Fighting Weight on November 10 for $5.
New Lungs are currently working on their second EP which is unnamed at present. Leading up to the late 2012/early 2013 release will be a benefit show at the Redmond Firehouse on Friday, November 30th. The concert features a five-band bill with Fringe Shift, Dear Mister Manager, Postmadonna, and Catalyst all on board too.
This four-piece initially came together in fall of last year. A chemistry quickly clicked between the jammers-turned-bandmates, ironing out enough captivating material to record a three song EP called How to Operate Your Brain in December 2011. Let’s get their names and roles in the band out: Wes Gonzalez (guitar/vocals), Antoine Martel (guitar), Nick Emard (bass/vocals), and Rob Granfelt (drums). Together, they form – (take a deep breath now) – New Lungs.
Whew. Before leaping into their stirring sounds, their band geography is worth mentioning. With three of the four members away at university for much of the year, New Lungs spends most of their time thousands of miles apart from one another. It is difficult for many bands to keep a good thing going when they live in the same city limits. And it is likely that some music endeavors spread across such a vast distance would wither from lack of creative cohesion, passion, or talent. Thankfully, New Lungs appear determined to stick it out.
Look no further than their first three recorded songs to see how they exemplify a pastiche of the new and old. As a lyricist, Gonzalez wears his heart on his sleeve, a nod and debt to many exceptional ’emo’ (that genre can carry a caustic stigma which is frequently undeserved) bands of the ’90’s and 2000’s. His vocals are well-timed, emotionally-charged, and genuinely drive the music soaring and roaring behind him.
There is no weak entry-point for the band. New Lungs coalesce well as a foursome, as evidenced by their tight, passionate live performances. On their individual instruments they are each capable of introducing the right style of playing for the moment; when to kick up the dynamics, when to let the sounds of silence speak from within the gaps.
How to Operate Your Brain is not without its flaws, although I am not especially interested in dwelling on them. I am interested in the future this band is racing towards. As they continue to notch shows on their belts and dig away at their forthcoming EP, it is exciting to think what kinds of fresh compositions will pour forth from their collective craniums.
Keep eyes and ears tuned in for New Lungs news as the year continues. On the 30th of November they will appear at the Redmond Firehouse. Doors are at 7pm; tickets are $7; 100% of the proceeds go to Village Schools International. Support great bands for an even greater cause. Check out "The Emerald au Pair" below and visit their bandcamp to hear the whole EP. CDs are available for only $4.
– Cameron LaFlam
Dr. Martins and Filter Magazine have joined forces to create an exciting new web series called "A Band is Born" where they highlight bands on the raise and give a little history lessons. The first band they chose to feature is the local electro-pop trio Gemini Club.
Gemini Club will be performing at Lincoln Hall on Nov. 21st with Kid Color, Bestfriends, and Umami.
Pugs is back in Chicago and released a free ep to celebrate. He had been spending a lot of time in London, but is clearly excited to be home. The ep features contributions from (Comfort Fit, Shayna Love, Elee/Impolite Society, Probcause, DJ Alo and others.
After years of playing with Portland rockers Skidmore Fountain, guitarist and vocalist Randy Bergida broke off to form The Letter Yellow. The Brooklyn-based band started out of Bergida’s solo work, releasing the debut album “Walking Down The Streets” back in September with a full band rounded out by Mike Thies – met during his Skidmore days – and Abraham Pollack. “Walking Down The Streets” features a melodic, alt pop sound with thoughtful tinges at times reminiscent of The Smiths, and serene lyrics that detail Bergida’s life on both ends of the country, with stories of Brooklyn cafes and driving up the California coast. The band will perform at the Rock Shop on November 5.
You know when you’re the subject of one of Anna Haas‘s songs, you’ve done something right. From the suffering children, Marilyn, or ‘The Real New York’ off latest record ‘Crazy Is,’ the singer-songwriter always responds to her muses with a unique understanding of life’s complex realities.
Hailing from Nashville, Anna absorbs the Country croons of Gillian Welch along with Regina Spektor’s tender intimacy, and mashes it all around to an effective hook and chart-busting melody. All that, and she’s also (according to Lucky Mag) one of the most stylish music women out there today. Need more proof? Check out how she deals with men (and some creepy puppets) in the album’s first single ‘Maypole’ – streaming below.
View the video here, see her live at The Living Room on November 1st (she’ll be premiering a new video that night), and check her site as she’ll be announcing national tour dates later this month. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
This is going a couple of weeks back, at The Everymen’s ‘NJHC’ release show. Yet I’m still not sure if since, I’ve seen as endearing/straightforward comical as this pudgy shirtless papa-bear punk singing "Suffragette City" from the bottom of his soul. And that was only the icing on the cake. Jamie and the none-too-sharped-dressed lads, known as The Brooklyn What, is a big and noisy rock&roll all-man band from… well, Brooklyn (duh!), who hardly hide that candid generosity with which they deliver, a trait which that their records can barely begin to convey. Don’t take my word for it though, go see them at Saint Vitus on November 16th, and watch out for ‘I Want You On A Saturday Night’ (streaming below), one of their standards, the one to get the girls going. – Tracy Mamoun
