NYC

Catch Boston synth-poppers Condor at The Plough and Stars on 6/2

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With an online presence of only three songs from 2014 to its name, Condor has so far favored quality over quantity. Originating from defunct Mystery Roar, the talented Boston-based synth-pop duo is sitting on nine track album, as they hinted back in 2014, when the trio of singles were originally released. Each song features similar components, with enough variations from track to track to provide the perfect mix of consistency and contrast.  On each song clean acoustic and electronic melodies are orbited by distorted synth textures, while a standard snare pattern keeps the song on track. Hovering above the instrumenation are the singer’s airy vocals, providing a soothing respite for the groovy tempest occuring below. Condor, quite frankly, need to release new music online, as the entertainment brought by the quality of the songs can only be matched by the frustration brought by their lacking quantity.  You can check out Condor at The Plough and Stars on 6/2. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber, Photo Credit: Andrea Morales

NYC

Shira readies release of ‘Subtle Creature LP + plays Cake Shop on 6/6

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It’s always excellent to see a Renaissance person sucessfully blend their disciplines together, and the music of Brooklyn artist SHIRA is a perfect example. A poet, visual artist and musician, SHIRA mixes genres like soul, folk and electronic pop with a painter’s touch, allowing for bold creations while not losing any of the character of the individual components. Her poet’s side makes its way into the music as well, as she injects each track with richly contemplative and abstract lyrics. 

Shira has managed to sucessfully evolve her sound on each project, and her next LP, Subtle Creature, should be no exception. On single "Honey in My Pot," featuring Portland band Joseph, she seems to move her sound out of the sky and instead opts for an earthier approach with a notably more prominent rhythm section. It remains to be seen whether this move will be one that’s consistent across the full length of the album, but there will certainly be no complaints from us if this ends up being the case.  You can presumably catch SHIRA’s two singles off of the new album, and hopefully more, at Cake Shop on 6/6. – Henry Solotaroff Webber

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

NYC

Stone Cold Fox plays Rough Trade on 07.15 + talks about pedals on Delicious Audio

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Melodic and atmospheric, Brooklyn’s Cold Stone Fox boasts a sound that’s multifaceted but extremely balanced. Their latest EP ‘Tunnel Vision’ harmoniously blends psychedelia with some of that melodic, ethereal but somewhat dark rock of the ’80s (we hear a little bit of Simple Minds and The Church). The band is scheduled to perform at Rough Trade on July 15.

Check out this Delicious Audio feature about Stone Cold Fox’s guitar pedals.

NYC

Radclyffe Hall celebrates the release of their upcoming album at Great Scott on 6.07

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Radclyffe Hall’s is set to release their debut album G H O S T S on June 7th via Cleopatra Records. The electronic Boston-based band embraces the darker and more gothic side of synth-pop music. The eerie single “OMG” (streaming below) off their upcoming album is densely layered with flowing synths and smooth vocals from frontwoman and keyboardist Dhy Berry. The track is about a friend of Berry who passed away suddenly from an illness. Her introspective lyrics turn loss and grief into cathartic pop anthems that have enough groove to make them danceable. Radclyffe Hall will be celebrating the release of their album on June 7th at Great Scott where they will be playing in support of Day Wave. – John Honan

NYC

Seen live: Beau opening for Børns at Terminal 5

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New York folk pop duo, Beau, is currently accompanying Børns on a fraction of his American tour, and we were able to catch their set at the sold out Terminal 5 show last week. The two young ladies, who released their debut album ‘That Thing Reality’ earlier this year, put together a magnetic performance, with lead singer Heather Goldman captivating the crowd with whimsical dancing and soulful vocals. The duo also opened for Miike Snow earlier this year, and will be playing several scattered dates during the summer. Check out the video of their break out single ‘One Wing.’ – Amanda McCall

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

NYC

test Disqs

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nyc scene blog
 
 
nyc scene blog
 
 
 
 


 

 

 

 

brought to you by:

a blog about stompboxes and DIY recording
 
nyc scene blog
 
 
sharing the load – at what price?
 
 
Most bands that succeed beyond the local level eventually do so with the aid of a manager. What does this person do, aside from collect a healthy cut of the money? We interviewed 2 NYC managers and 1 publicist with different experiences in the local scene to help us understand. by Paolo De Gregorioread the article.

 
 
the name is what you are selling
 
  The reputation and recognition of an artist’s music is built around the artist’s professional name, which is what consumers use to identify the artists they enjoy. Therefore, an individual artist or group pursuing a career in the music industry should take the necessary steps to protect his, her or its professional name. by Christopher R. Chase, Esq. read the article.

 

 
what can they do for your band?
 
 
In this day and age, we should be thankful that college radio still exists. While commercial frequencies pump the same boring playlists into every city, college radio provides unique, local voices to the airwaves and internet. – read the article by Liz Schroeter here .

 
 
Career Survival Guide
it’s not just about the music
 
 
A music carreer IS all about surviving – at least in the early stages. This survival guide will help you think of different ways to keep your focus on building your brand and creating a path for success. If you think of yourself as your own small business, then the following information can become your personal marketing plan. – read on. – courtesy of BMI.

 
 
nyc scene blog
 
 
1. Recording: Home vs Studio
  the question is: can YOU do it?
 
 
Indie producer/musician Bruce Kaphan (R.E.M., David Byrne, Red House Painters, American Music Club) analyzes pros and cons of recording the DIY way – read the article.

 

 
2. Choosing a Recording Studio
pick carefully + things to consider
 
 
What do you need to look for in a recording studio? In this article you’ll find all the advice you need about equipment, engineers, rooms, rates, and ways of approaching the recording experience. by Paolo De Gregorioread the article.

 
 
3. Planning Recordings
be prepared, have a budget
 
 
Steven Alvarado, a NYC studio manager provides precious advice on how to approach the recording of your CD. "When you enter the studio, have a plan. Map out what you want to accomplish each day so that you have a realistic idea of how much time you will need to complete your project. It’s best to be as prepared as possible." by pdgrea d the article.

 
 
4. Do You Need a Producer?
and: don’t waste studio time!
 
 
Making a recording is a tangle of pragmatism, technology, alchemy and faith. As is the case with any creative venture, you cannot know what you’ll get for your efforts until you go through the process; it’s always a gamble. Having a plan and a budget can be really useful. by B. Kaphanread the article.

 
 
5. Drums in the Studio
performance and recording tips
 
 
Drummers shouldn’t miss this article! 4 Top NYC producers answer our questions on how to perform, hit, and tune the drums in recording situation. And… is your drummer tight and can he/she play to the click? by Paolo De Gregorioread the article.

 
NYC

The Milestones, Sun Club, Greasy Hands and many more play charity show at Peabody Heights Brewery, 5/28

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This Saturday, in support of restoring the Baltimore Book Thing to its former, unburnt glory, you can catch a killer charity show at Peabody Heights Brewery starting at noon. In what will practically be a small music festival, you can rock out to some of Baltimore’s best and hottest bands of today. Tickets are $12 in advance here and $15 at the door. Go listen to some good tunes for a great cause to kick off your Memorial Day weekend.

Having just landed their recent EP on Spotify and iTunes, The Milestones will be sharing their beautiful alt-dance tomorrow. Playing a rash of shows in DC and Baltimore, this foursome features very talented performers and they know how to hypnotize your feet into a might fine dance. Be sure to see Sun Club‘s performance, as they’ve been mixing up their live show lately, experimenting with some Animal Collective-style atmospheric noise rock. They’ve recently shared the stage with the likes of Ra Ra Riot and PWR BTTM, so you know they have jams worth hearing. Bringing in some hot, spaced-out funk is Greasy Hands, a quartet that blends soulful riffs and synth-heavy key action into a merry-go-round of sound, making you move and dance along. Many more artists (too many to list here) will be also playing to support a meaningful fixture in the Baltimore community, so get out there! -Jonathan Goodwin

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYC

John Shakespear is bringing his light hearted brand of indie folk to The Plough on 6.09

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Bpston songwriter John Shakespear cut his teeth playing in a number of Boston-based bands. His debut EP No Wires, released in March 2016, features a lighthearted and warm approach to songwriting, and blends together sounds from indie folk, soul, and rock and roll. The track “Settle In” off his debut EP is a slow, quiet piano ballad, while the opening track “Craigslist” is a breezy acoustic song that tackles Shakespear’s young life as he sings about MTV, lunchables, and being raised in the suburbs. His intimate songs seek purpose in life, and examine the different ways we pursue it – companionship, work, and foreign places. Shakespear will be playing at The Plough and the Stars on June 9th. Check out his track “Craigslist” below.

NYC

New(YC) Releases: Homeboy Sandman, Emefe, Mutual Benefit, Olga Bell and Frankie Cosmos

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Here’s our usual, "blurbless" appointment with tracks recently released by NYC based artists that are either "not so emerging" (but also not so famous!) or have already been covered a lot in the past in ths very blog, enjoy!

Read our past coverage about these artists here: Homeboy Sandman (pictured), Mutual Benefit, Olga Bell, EMEFE

NYC

Buzz Alert! Margaret Glaspy tours with Lucius + releases LP at Baby’s All Right on 06.16

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In ‘Somebody to Anybody,’ singer/songwriter Margaret Glaspy resolves to live outside others’ expectations (‘I don’t want to be somebody to anybody, no…’), and sounds about as confident in this statement as anything she’s released to date. The song is an appropriate introduction to the Brooklyn-by-California artist. At once hard-edged and intimate, jarring and softly sweet, the girl-next-door and a growling tempest, it’s a losing task to try and tie Glaspy’s pristine talent to any predictable expectation. Faster and sunnier single "Emotion and Math" (streaming) is another example of Margaret’s ambivalence, right from its title.

Considering that she’s moved in short order from participation in fiddling competitions in California, to playing crunchy folk jams in Boston, to the New York-based set you’ll soon hear from her debut full-length ‘Emotions and Math,’ (ATO Records), it’s immediately apparent this is an artist that doesn’t settle – neither geographically nor artistically. Margaret Glaspy will be touring as Lucius’ opening act this summer, but you can catch the artist when she plays at Baby’s All Right on Sat, June 18th, and get the new record when it’s released from ATO Records (also home to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard!!!) on June 17th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best rootsy songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

NYC

Dream-pop trio Pale Dīan celebrates release of ‘Narrow Birth’ at Swan Dive on 06.03

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Austin-based dream-pop trio Pale Dian, set to release their debut album Narrow Birth on June 3rd via Manifesto Records, offers whirling melodies and glowing textures reminiscent of unforgettable dream-pop acts such as Cocteau Twins and Lush, although they often enjoy adding a peculiar touch of dissonance to their tunes. Earlier this year, the trio released “In A Day” (streaming below), the first single off their upcoming album, characterized by a uber-celestial melody and big choruses featuring wall of guitars borrowed from shoegazer. Their latest single “Pas De Deux” (also streaming) strips down their sound leaving behind the fuzz of their previous single, and creating an equally mesmerizing atmosphere that allows lead singer Ruth Ellen Smith’s echoey vocals to exert their haunting magnetism. After playing a record release show for Narrow Birth at Swan Dive on June 3rd, the band will be on tour through the end of July with Ringo Deathstar and Stargazer Lillies on select dates. – John Honan