Up and coming singer / songwriter, Danni Rosner will be returning to IOTA after playing several shows in New York City and London to promote her new EP, “On My Way.”  Her song, “In the City” was recently featured on the A&E series, “Teach,” starring Tony Danza which may come as a surprise to many of you – not that a local artist has been featured on cable television – but that Tony Danza is still making television shows.

Rosner’s songs are a mix of soulful blues and jazz ballads processed through catchy pop melodies and cautiously optimistic lyrics about struggling to keep your head above water in the not always friendly pond of modern life.

Catch her with Philadelphia’s Jason Ager on 11/23.  Show starts at 8:30, $10 at the door. –Jarrett B.

When I arrived at Black Cat, I immediately realized I had made a huge mistake.  My earplugs had been left uselessly in the console of my car.  However, I am never one to back down from a good rock show merely to save the waning remnants of my own hearing, and I’m glad I stuck around for this one.  The show started off on a great note when I got my first exposure to The Laughing Man, a band that does for 60’s soul and blues what Vampire Weekend did for world music.  I definitely expect to see more from these guys soon.  Arc in Round from Philly was up next; aptly setting the tone for the very loud session of shoegaze-pocalypse that was to follow. 

When Tennis System started into their first song, they were surrounded on stage by spinning green lasers that they swore were unintentional.  However, once their own array of strobe lights began assaulting the crowd, I think they should have embraced the mistake and left the green lasers on.  No mercy. 

Just about any review you can find of this band will let you know that they are not quiet.  Between the volume and the lights, this set was a full force assault on the sensory systems of the crowd.  But, what I really enjoyed about Tennis System was that underneath all the (admittedly cool) drones and screaming guitars were catchy songs full of energy; urgent melodies that you couldn’t help but sing along with.  When you hear this band is loud, believe it, but don’t mistake “loud” for “noise.”

Tennis System plays again at The Red Palace on November 30. –Jarrett B.

Make Out is Junior Senior‘s Jesper Mortensen’s new band. After the Danish, London based duo broke up, Mortensen left England for New York to find someone who shared his musical vision. From what we can tell from the only track available online (streaming here) the newly formed band plays energetic guitar rock reminiscent in equal doses of Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins, with maybe a slightly punkier edge – teenagers will probably love this! Debut EP release scheduled for the early spring of 2011.
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Home Video can now be considered a mainstay of the NYC electro-rock scene – they have been active since the late 90s and released 2 EPs under Warp Records, a label any electronic act dreams to be signed to. Fans of moody avant-pop a la` Radiohead will find a lot to chew on here, as the band has a ton of quality material evenly spread through their many releases. They are about to celebrate the launch of their 2nd full length album on November 16 with a show at the Mercury Lounge.

NYC Psych Pop quartet Automatic Children will celebrate the release of their first official video with a show at the Mercury Lounge on 11.23. The band is also set to perform new material. Check out the new video here.

Awesome avant-folk Portland outfit Pigeons is about to release their debut CD – entitled "Liasons". This is a talented and fun band, keep an ear out for them in 2011.

Portland based musical people,

We are currently looking for talented, outgoing, prolific, and brilliant writers who are passionately involved with the local scene and possibly interested in running our Portland branch.

If you want more details go here – you’ll find more details and contact info.

The Deli
www.thedelimagazine.com

We like ArpLine a lot – that’s why we invited them to play our CMJ party at Spike Lee a few weeks ago. There are traces of early MGMT, but mixed with Kraut Rock and Post Punk influences, creating a feeling of club basement badass mixed with synthesizers, distorted guitars and dance jam goodies. ArpLine’s set to release their debut full-length “Travel Book” in early 2011. For a taste, listen to the upcoming record’s first single, "Fold Up Like a Piece of Paper", one of the most tense and cathartic tunesyou may find yourself dancing to. Please do that at Glasslands on 11.17, as the band will be playing with other Deli favorites like The Big Sleep, Chappo and Red Wire Black Wire. – read Vann Alex’s interview with the band here.

This new Chromeo video really got my attention for some reason, but then at the end I didn’t really understand it. Why are all the police women mad at the guys? Because they went in the female section of the police-sauna? I mean they weren’t that outraged when they saw them there… Does the police have private spas? Dudes, i have no time to watch it again, this video is just a "Hot Mess". Anyway, the band hit it pretty big this year, with their dancey tunes inspired to the ex-uncool decade that’s cool again (the Eighties). The band is currently touring Europe and Australia – they’ll be back in North America with an extensive set of dates in early 2011.

NICKCASEY is a solid folk-rock musical partnership between Brooklyn singer/songwriters Casey Spindler and Nicholas Webber. Backed by bassist Tim Luntzel (Rosanne Cash, Bright Eyes) and drummer Dan Rieser (Norah Jones, Marcy Playground) the band is set to release the debut album "Can’t Reason Through Love" with a show at The Living Room, where videos for the songs “Medicine” and “Bandages” will be also premiered. The date is 11.21