My 2nd night at the DIY Budhwick festival (which was the fest’s 3rd overall as Bill covered last night’s shows) started out calmly, with Guitars at the Opera House lofts.  Self described as minimalist country, they had slow but driving rhythms, simple melodies, harmonica and tambourine interludes.  The beat picked up with Photon Dynamo and the Shiny Pieces (picture under here), an energetic rock trio with strong technique, attractive harmonies and jazz-inspired chords and rhythms.

I next went to Brooklyn Fire Proof to catch Otis Grove, a three-member instrumental jazz/funk/hip-hop jam band from Allston, Massachusetts. Having been together eight years, they played with a solid, captivating energy, soloing and improvising off each others’ themes, utterly absorbed in the music.  Sam Gilman’s riffs and chords on the Hammond organ created a distinct, 70’s sound that drove the music, while Tyler Drabick flaunted his skills on guitar and Blake Goedde showed his on drums.

Lowry, comprised of keyboards, two guitars, bass, banjo, drums, and tambourine, played next to an eager, dancing audience. Singers Alex Lowry and Heidi Sidelinker created lovely, folk melodies over simple chords and catchy beats.  Sidelinker’s voice was ethereal and haunting, especially in her banjo solos toward the end.

The last band to play at Brooklyn Fire Proof was Boom Box Repair Kit, a fun, fast-paced Latin influenced indie rock/reggae band with a wild, enthusiastic energy. Frank Pace led the songs with his fast-paced, pounding drums.  Most of the songs were in minor keys with saxophone and trumpet solos. Each member played an impressive solo during their last song, “Dancing with a Stranger,” marking the end of the evening.-Vivian Doskow

Eastern District: Amber Lamps (we are looking for a myspace link!!!)

The first stop of the night was the art gallery/performance space Eastern District, where the experimental sound collage and folk act Amber Lamps was performing. As it turns out, Amber Lamps is not a reference to the wildly popular “Epic Beard Man” fight video circulating on the Internet (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, search for “Epic Beard Man” and “amber lamps.”) The performance consisted of one guy (later joined by a girl for dual vocals), creating sounds to the accompaniment of several tape players scattered about the darkened gallery. The ambient, droning soundscapes were transfixing, and the surround sound provided by the pre-recorded tapes added an all-encompassing sense of dimension to the performance. A folksy melody of acoustic guitar and male/female vocals broke out towards the end of the 15-minute act (it was essentially one long “song”, or a musical performance piece), turning the somber atmosphere of the sound collage into a cathartic release. I had also hoped to catch the roving banjo and snare drum duo Free Advice at Eastern District, but they apparently cancelled, so off I was to Bushwick Music Studios.

Bushwick Music Studios: Pearl and the Beard

Pearl and the Beard were totally captivating, and a highlight of the night. A trio (two girls and a guy with a beard, all bespectacled), they perform an energetic and instrumentally minimal brand of folk-pop. All three harmonize, creating haunting, pitch-perfect melodies. The crowd was fully absorbed by their set, and when they broke out their amazing and amusing “Will Smith Medley” (you can see a video on their myspace), everyone in the audience exchanged a delighted “WTF?” look and nodded along in approval. Keep on eye out for this band, they’re definitely going places.

Eskalators

The next act was the 18-piece indie-pop-ska band Eskalators, who definitely did not all fit on the stage at Bushwick Music Studio. Almost every instrument in the world was accounted for, from the obvious rock band instruments to flute, violin, glockenspiel, and a musical saw. The high-energy performance really got the crowd moving, especially when main vocalist Eric Williams pushed himself into the crowd and offered up the mic to anyone willing to sing along. The songs were infectious, short, and fun, and they prompted Tito (owner of Bushwick Music Studio) to play some Operation Ivy over the sound system after the set.

Aviation Orange

Aviation Orange were up next, and they held the audience captive with their synth-driven indie pop. The songs manage to merge ambient guitar and synth layers with danceable rhythms and hook-laden male/female vocals. Highlights included “Radio” and “Darling Johnny,” and they were as tight as a band can be, having just finished a small tour, SXSW, and a DIY fest show the night before at Brooklyn Fireproof.

Binary Marketing Show

My last act to catch was Binary Marketing Show, at Don Pedro. I only caught two songs, as I was exhausted and drunk and had work the next day (I’m there right now, typing this on my lunch break.) The band was engaging, playing tribal and textured noise-pop in the vein of Animal Collective. There were synth stabs, vocal loops, and primal percussion, and I got the impression this band would be exhilarating at a weekend loft-rager (the small crowd at Don P’s was sitting in chairs). After a quick dose of Binary Marketing Show I headed home and found that “Will Smith Medley” video, and got to thinking that those late 90’s/early 2000’s Will Smith singles were, in retrospect, really fun. -Bill Dvorak

Some musicians take noise seriously, and many ears like that – young ones in particular. Three years after they released their debut full length, The Austerity Program (top pic) are back with not even twenty minutes of music – a four song EP (apparently they promised their label a triple CD!). These Astoria based, tense fellows blend super distorted metal riffs with noise rock dissonance for a truly explosive listening experience – that you can witness live (preferably with earplugs) at union Pool on May 2.
Brooklyn’s Extra Life‘s sound also incorporates occasional metal riffs, but within a more complex and not always necessarily "expressionist" sound. The band’s new material has alomst a gregorian element to it, with vocals that flirt with religious chants on top of truly bizzare and unheard of math metal/dissonant arrangements. Gee… i swear the actual music sounds much better than the description we just gave. The band is actually getting quite a lot of buzz – don’t miss their CD release at Silant Barn on Saturday March 26.

Bushwick Music Studios launched its first annual Do-It-Yourself Music Festival on Tuesday evening.  With about 150 bands in nine different venues, the shows will run March 24-27 and provide the artistic Brooklyn neighborhood a local, grittier alternative to the South by Southwest Festival in Austin – which ended last week.

My first band was David E Beats and the White House Band, who played an energetic set at BMS at 9.  The man blends hip-hop with rock and electronica, rapping and playing guitar over strong bass chords.  At 10, Jennings (Mary Jennings), a singer/songwriter/pianist with a powerful, expressive voice and simple piano melodies, performed at Eastern District art gallery.  Meanwhile, at Brooklyn Fire Proof, old time Deli favorites Bern and the Brights (in the picture) showcased Bernadette Malavarca’s wide-ranging, emotional voice that harmonized beautifully over the band’s catchy melodies.

Back at BMS, I stumbled upon Shinobi Ninja, who played a fun, high-energy set, captivating the packed crowd with their combination of hip-hop, punk, soul, and other styles. The singers, Baby Girl and Dave Aaron, had a tight chemistry, leading the audience to sing along, stomp their feet, and jump and dance endlessly.  The band’s guitarist, bassist, drummer and DJ weren’t afraid to showd off their chops as they launched into flashy solos. The colorfully-dressed band’s wild energy, fun rock beats and captivating grooves gave no signs that they had just driven 34 hours from Austin to play the festival.

My night ended with Not Blood, Paint (in the picture), who performed at Brooklyn Fire Proof at midnight.  Their songs were theatrical, carefully choreographed and cerebral, but with strong dynamics and tempo changes, they were also moody and dramatic. Laden with tight harmonies and strong guitar, their dramatic performances are not to be missed.

Stay tuned throughout the week for more updates!

Wylie Toms bring belligerent cabaret from Brooklyn, capturing complex and delicate songwriting while having a raucous stage presence full of improvisation, energy, and occasional belligerence, on part of either the performers or audience. The strong mixture of varied influences has caused an amalgamation, where the atmosphere goes from brooding to convivial with the lyrical insight and debauchery of a wayward tippler. See them perform at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg on April 08. For additional show listings visit their website. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Naked Hearts are one of the best kept indie rock secrets of the NYC scene. We accidentally caught this duo at CMJ 2008 while they were playing a day show at Cake Shop upstairs and after witnessing their tightly performed, memorable tunes we felt obliged to blog about them. As it often happens in the rock’n’roll world, things haven’t exactly been moving at the speed of light for Naked Hearts since then, but it looks like they are now ready to conquer this city. Considering their obvious talent, their quality songwriting (think about a more melancholic version of The Strokes or a less dreamy version of Belly), their extremely tight live show and strong stage presence (as we witnessed when they played our Deli party last month), and their undeniably good looks, we don’t see how fans won’t start piling up in the near future. Their CD release party will be at Mercury Lounge on May 1st – buy the tickets now! And check out these two songs (or download them here and here).

NORTHEAST KINGDOM– 18 Wyckoff Ave., Brooklyn

The Northeast Kingdom Den, tucked beneath the Northeast Kingdom restaurant, is like falling down a rabbit’s hole to your favorite uncle’s den circa 1960. Lounge next to the faux stove, order a can of beer and turkey jerky, and take in great local music. The intimacy between band and audience delivers a rare thrill. Featured bands: Jason Trachtenburg (solo, in the picture) 

PARTY EXPO – 929 Broadway, Brooklyn

[the crowd and the band at at a Party Expo event]

A new DIY space in Brooklyn brought to you by the people of SuperChief, the Glass Door and Article. They have killer shows, parties, video/photo shoots and more, and Wu-Tang filmed their latest music video there.

Featured bands: Shai Hulud (in the video)

DON PEDRO – 90 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn

[Halloween party at Don Pedro]

A grimy dive that makes for the perfect environment for seeing a rock band. The booze is cheap and there’s pool downstairs. There’s also delicious Spanish food to be had for lunch or dinner. Featured bands: Binary Marketing Show (in the picture)

Post rockers of the world should rejoice, as NYC’s own Kayo Dot not only is about to release a new album entitled Coyote on April 20th, but has already entered the studio to begin recording a new EP, entitled Stained Glass… So the future has reserved a lot of post-rockness for your ears! The EP will consist of one, long composition of the same title, featuring the same lineup employed in recording the full length plus vibraphonist Russell Greenberg (Hi-Red Center, Yarn/Wire, Hunter/Gatherer). The band also plans on integrating "found" ambient sounds in this composition. The Stained Glass EP will be released by Hydra Head later in 2010. The Coyote release party will be at Union Pool on April 11. Stream the mp3 of "Whisper Ineffable" here or download it here.

he 2010 DIY Bushwick Music Festival (March 24-27), brought to you by the Deli, Bushwick Music Studios and Arts in Bushwick, kicks off tomorrow night! It will feature some of the neighborhood’s best bands, DJs, and artists, and will take place in nine of the area’s best DIY spaces. In addition to Bushwick Music Studios, the venues include Brooklyn Fire Proof, House of Yes, Northeast Kingdom, Party Expo, Don Pedro, Eastern District, Goodbye Blue Monday, The Opera House Lofts, and Castle Braid. Below is a quick rundown of each space, and some of the featured bands playing at each. You can see the full schedule and a map here: http://www.diybushwick.com/index.html

Bushwick Music Studios – 55 Waterbury St., Brooklyn

[Renmimbi at Bushwick Music Studio]

Bushwick Music Studios is one of the neighborhood’s most active DIY spaces, boasting some of the best local bands and performers and featuring top-notch sound. The space has the atmosphere of a fun loft party, the equipment of a professional venue, and can be credited with truly helping to foster the music community in the vibrant East Williamsburg/Bushwick area. Run by Tito Fleetwood Ladd, BMS is also a resource for independent engineers looking for a large tracking space, or for those in need of a rehearsal and performance space. It also serves as a lighting, sound and video sales and rental facility. Check the BMS Facebook page for upcoming shows after the DIY fest—there’s always something mind-blowing going on.

Featured bands: Shinobi Ninja (in the picture), Eskalators, GunFight!, Anton Glamb, The Twees, Memberz Only

Brooklyn Fire Proof – 119 Ingraham St., Brooklyn

Tucked away in a dim-lit alleyway, Brooklyn Fire Proof East offers a cozy nest of exposed brick and character. From morning to night there is an atmosphere of creativity and flow from the surrounding artist community. There is a café which offers an extensive menu of delicious breakfast and lunch options as well as coffee and loose teas. At night there is a menu of small dinner plates and cheeses. Seasonal cocktails, specialty bottled beers, as well as draft beers and a unique list of liquors are offered. Nightly events such as Bingo and Animal Parties get the night started and our special guest DJ’s keep the party going all night.

Featured bands: Aviation Orange (in the picture), Bern and the Brights, Datura, Lowry, Low Water, Otis Grove (MA)

House of Yes – 342 Maujer St., Brooklyn

House of Yes is hidden on the desolate end of Maujer Street near Morgan Avenue. Since opening in 2009, it has hosted everything from theatrical circus productions and performance-infused dance parties to dinner theatres and music showcases. The House of Yes is also home to Make Fun fabric studio and costume shop (makefunstudio.com) as well as Skybox Aerial Space (www.theskybox.org) where you can learn trapeze, silks, poll dancing and other impressive circus arts..

Featured bands: Not Blood, Paint; Tayisha Busay (in the picture); Consider the Source; David E. Beats

(image by leoxby.com)
 

After jet setting in and out of New York for writing and recording sessions, Reckless Sons have re-surfaced on the live scene with new material and a replenished swagger. Branded by Matt Butler’s distinctively gritty vocals and incandescent lyrics, that are complemented by unhinged guitars and a stomping rhythm section, Reckless Sons will rile up The Studio at Webster Hall on March 25, with their unbridled energy, rebellious attitude, rousing stage presence, and some surprises. These New York rockers have teamed up with fellow scenesters, The Auctioneers, Wyldelife, The Shooting Gallery, and Flight from LA for a highly anticipated show. Presented by renowned menswear designer, John Varvatos, who recently dressed Reckless Sons for a full-page ad in SPIN Magazine, this “NYC Line-Up" is guaranteed to be one of the better looking and better sounding events happening around town. The show is 19+, and doors open at 6:30 P.M. www.recklesssons.com -Meijin Bruttomesso

Bushwick Music Studios in association with Deli Magazine and Arts In Bushwick are proud to announce the official schedule for DIY Bushwick, A Musical Festival, taking place March 24-27, in nine venues throughout Bushwick. The inaugural festival will feature Brooklyn-based bands, DJs, and artists performing in alternative Do-It-Yourself spaces just a walk or a bike ride apart. Admission prices range from free to $10 with an average ticket price of $5. Festival passes will be available online for $20, with Friday/Saturday passes available for $10. This is part of an effort by festival organizers to make sure that the events are accessible to all.

Tito Fleetwood Ladd, owner of Bushwick Music Studios (one of the venues involved), decided to organize the festival in an attempt to galvanize the neighborhood’s flourishing music and arts scene. In the last few years, Bushwick has emerged as a frontier for DIY venues, attracting artists and musicians with the limitless opportunities provided by these raw spaces (check out a Deli article about this here). Although the scene has been growing for some time, a Bushwick-centered festival of this scale has never been attempted.

Ladd’s vision was that by working together, the Bushwick music scene would ultimately receive more visibility. “There’s this incredible energy and all these cool spaces with amazing talent in Bushwick,” says Ladd, “This is our way of showing that to anyone who wants to pay attention to us. We’re all doing it together.” When he reached out to several venues and organizations in Bushwick, he immediately received enthusiastic support.

Deli Magazine and Arts In Bushwick have both signed on to help coordinate and produce the event. Bushwick Music Studios will be joined by nine spaces including Party Expo, Don Pedros, Goodbye Blue Monday, Brooklyn Fireproof, Castle Braid, The Opera House Lofts, House of Yes, Eastern District, and Northeast Kingdom. Corporate sponsors are nowhere to be found. DIY Bushwick is pure grassroots. 

The Deli will cover this event in depth, so stay tuned!