It’s not easy running through three different directions in a song before you’ve even passed the first minute mark, but somehow Your Sister’s Canary pulls it off. Three guys with as much control over their groove as they do with their epic themes, the band’s smooth rock anthems make me think of Local Natives, if Local Natives had jazz chops. Latest record ‘Good and Alone’ takes the band to new heights, and might make you wonder why you’re still able to catch them at smaller venues. Speaking of which, you can see them at The Bitter End on Friday June 21. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
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NYC Record of the Month: Drowners’ “Between Us Girls”
"Uptempo" and "Pop" are by themselves two concepts that – in the business of being an indie band – can take you quite far; but if on top of that you add to the equation also comparisons to The Smiths, then the hype can get out of control. Brooklyn’s Drowners have more than one similarity with Morrisey’s act, and although they will surely feel belittled by such comparison, they should not, because no artists really managed to be The Smiths’ worthy musical heir yet (like, for example, XTC were for The Beatles, Robin Hitchcock for Syd Barrett, and The Strokes for Lou Reed – uhm, maybe…).
The band’s 3 songs debut EP features the remarkable single "Between Us Girls" (streaming below) which immediately throws us back to the days of "Meat is Murder," with the electric guitar alternating between jangly parts and arpeggios, and Welsh frontman Matt Hitt singing semi-melancholically about some girls’ hair length – rather than about how big they are… The edge is slightly punkier, while the songwriting reveals an almost clinical concision (the song clocks in just under 2 minutes, with the first chorus coming in after 26" – A&R allergic to intros will dig that).
The second song, "You’ve Got it All Wrong," beats a similar musical path, tackling the infinite well of inspiration that (for Brits) is life at the pub, with the difference of a slower bridge, which acts as a breather for the final chorus. Final track "A Shell Across the Tongue" is the punkier of the bunch, but also the one with the least memorable melody.
This is obviously a band with enormous songwriting potential. If they’ll manage to write songs as good as these and integrate their influences in a more mature and personal sound, the world can be theirs. – PDG
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Emerging NYC band to keep an ear on: The Vanderbuilts
Though set in the year 43,000 BCE, The Vanderbuilts latest record ‘What We Forgot’ is really an exercise in timelessness. On the surface, the band is every bit a gesture to the joys of classic rock riffs, and long road trips, but listen to the album back to back, and quite a bit more is ahead for your journey.
From the barren landscape of ‘Moscow,’ to the resplendent ‘I’m Coming Home,’ this is a band that travels far and wide to feed their imaginations (half the record seems to take place in the stone age), but always comes back with a surprising knack for making all their stories sound like they just happened, or that they’re happening to you right now. And if you’re not careful, you’re liable to get wrapped up in all the drama…
It’s hard to keep track of all the things that are important to us in the rush of the day to day, but The Vanderbuilts’ ambitious new record helps remember them all over again. Watch their claymation ode to the Jurassic in the video to ‘I Wish I was a Saber Toothed Tiger’ below. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
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NYC Avant-Indie: Zula plays Silent Barns’ block party on 06.21
In the mood for some dark, brooding weirdness? NYC’s Zula – who last Wednesday opened for Deli Portland’s favorites Radiation City at Mercury Lounge – will definitely fix you up in that department. With a debut LP brewing for the summer, the band takes its cues from a variety of places, from Krautrock to acid house and everything in between. Check out their captivating psychedelic samples and swirling effects in the track streaming below, entitled "Make Contact" or on their bandcamp page here, or see them live at Silent Barn’s Block Party on June 21. – Zack Kraimer
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Celestial sounds from Brooklyn: Half Waif plays Cameo on June 24
Whatever happened to the independent ladies of the Lilith fair era, that golden time from the 90s when everyone re-learned how cool the piano and a great voice can be. Half Waif has some of that singer-songwriter sensibility setting off her emotions, but coupled with a scientist’s flair for sound design (check out the long and soaring intro to album opener ‘Wooden Horse’). New EP ‘Future Joys’ is at first an intimate journey told through her carefully wrought piano plays… but I’m continually surprised at how inventive the journey becomes as everything gets wound through her endlessly inventive sonic machinery.
So if you’ve ever wondered what kind of offspring Tori Amos might have had if she’d spent one stormy night with Brian Eno, check out Half Waif’s new record here. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
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Artists on Trial: St. Dallas & the Sinners
(Photo by Kent & Carolyn Photography)
Every now and then, you just want to hear some raucous, boisterous rock ‘n roll. Though few bands can pull it off effectively and get a crowd on its feet, St. Dallas & the Sinners can. We talk with the group and find out more about the mark they’re making on the Kansas City music scene, their influences, and their belief that the Internet is a passing thing.
The Deli: Down and dirty: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?
St. Dallas and the Sinners: Filthy Dirty Rock ’n Roll!
The Deli: What should we expect from a St. Dallas & the Sinners show?
St. Dallas: You can expect our live show to be a spectacle. There’s really no other word for it.
The Deli: Tell us about what you have coming up this year. What can we expect?
St. Dallas: I think for the near future we’re really focused on introducing ourselves to the Kansas City scene and the region surrounding. We’ve also got a full-length out called Hail Mary that’s available on Spotify, iTunes, or whatever else the kids are using nowadays. We’re pushing through a bunch of new material at the same time. Not sure when we’ll lay that down though. We’re looking to bring our music and live show to as many people as we can (and party with them!).
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
St. Dallas: It means supporting the community, and I’m not just talking about the music scene. Stop shopping at Wal-Mart, buy local. Kansas City has such an awesome palette of arts, music, food, and culture, there’s no reason not to. There are always opportunities to get involved, and when you do, it opens your mind, and allows you to see and hear in a new way.
It also means getting off your ass and doing something. Learn an instrument, start a band, go to shows, buy band merch, help touring bands. I hate it when you go to a "hardcore" city or a "punk" town, where the only thing anyone wants to do is sit around and pontificate to each other about how the scene is "dead" or how so and so’s band is just a bunch of posers. If you don’t fit in their narrow idea of what "good music" is, you’re completely ignored. The reason the scene died is because no one went to shows, and no one wanted to do the work to keep the scene alive. For any "scene" to thrive there needs to be diversity, people need to be encouraged and businesses need to be supported. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to eat the same regurgitated shit every day. Luckily for us and everyone else in KC, we don’t have that. We have a great community of open-minded people who are willing to step up and support each other.
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?
St. Dallas: AC/DC, Ernie Locke, Jim Jones Revue, Legendary Shack Shakers.
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
St. Dallas: St. Dallas & the Sinners, AC/DC, Chuck Berry, and Iggy Pop.
The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio?
St. Dallas: That’s a loud unanimous STAGE from all of us.
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?
St. Dallas: Chuck Berry, Angus Young, Howlin’ Wolf, Hank Williams Sr… cuz they dont give a fuck!!!
The Deli: All right, give us the rundown. Where all on this big crazy web can you be found?
St. Dallas: All over. We’re balls deep. Facebook, Youtube, Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp. I hear the Internet is just a fad though.
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
St. Dallas: 1,4,5…KEEP IT ALIVE!
St. Dallas & the Sinners are:
St. Dallas – harps, vocals
Manila – guitfiddle, vocals
Rabbit – bass
Nick – drums/percussion
Manila – guitfiddle, vocals
Rabbit – bass
Nick – drums/percussion
The guys will be bringing their brand of filthy, dirty rock ‘n roll to The Brick on Saturday, June 15. They’ll be playing with Jason and the Punknecks from Nashville at 10:00. Show up for what’s sure to be a rowdy, exciting evening.
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Some emerging NYC bands playing Northside on Friday
Tonight things get rather interesting at Northside, with a bunch of bands I’ve been meaning to see live for a while but always missed.
My night will start at The Grand Victory, where I’m curious to see Supercute! (pictured and streaming). Teenager girl playing Syd Barrett-influenced pop sounds just too intriguing to be missed!
After that, Brooklyn Bowl around 7pm: Xenia Rubinos will open the show (we booked her for our Best of NYC show last year, and we were glad to see Pitchfork reward her explosive musical imagination with a review approaching the 8 mark), but I’ll be there mostly for Sinkane (streaming below), who has been doing interesting things in the NYC scene. I think he should tour with Delicate Steve.
Cameo will host a show with two artists I definitely want to check out, Vensaire and in particular Ludwig Persik, whose first EP was our Record of the Month late last year. Two great bands who graced our cover (Snowmine and Bear Hands) will follow but we’ll be gone by then, maybe to see our psych rock friends Tempers (streaming below) if we can get there on time, who feature ex Seasick singer Jasmine Golestaneh, of whom we’ve been long time fans.
To keep things dreamy we might check out Phonetag, an interesting electro-dream-pop one man act (streaming below) playing Muchmore’s at 10.30, or maybe Butchers & Bakers, who’ll be playing The Gutter at 11pm between Shilpa Ray and Lazyeyes
Later at night I’ll have to make a choice between punk (at Public Assembly with Shapes and The So So Glos) or Electro (Brooklyn Bowl with Computer Magic and Chrome Canyon).
There are lots of other bands I’d love to check out but I haven’t figured out how to break the space and time constrictions (just yet). – PDG
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Album review: Red Velvet Crush: Smoke & Mirrors (EP)
I am a sucker for a good rock song and a catchy hook. Those seem to be top priorities for Red Velvet Crush on its new EP Smoke and Mirrors. The band spent the first part of 2013 traveling back and forth to Austin to record at yellowDOGstudios with resident producer Dave Percefull, whose credits include such recognizable names as Green Day, Bowling for Soup and KC area Idol David Cook. All songwriting duties were split between lead singer Jillian Riscoe and guitarist Daniel Mendala on this four-song introduction to the rock pop outfit.
Riscoe reminds me a little of one of my favorite female rock vocalists, Eleanor Whitledge, of the punk band The Goops. Riscoe and Mendala recorded all the vocals, guitar, and bass tracks with studio drummer Josh Center. Percefull took care of some of the drums as well as the key and synth tracks.
The opening track starts with a hard electronic feel and a 1/16th-note driving bass line that pushes the verses. Chugging muted guitars give way to Riscoe’s declaration of the chorus, “You Didn’t Lose.” Hard-hitting rock with pop sensibilities continues into track two, "Contents: Under Pressure.” It’s a slow and steady emotional one that keeps the vocals in the forefront—that one stayed in my head for awhile. The penultimate track begins with a soft voice and haunting piano riff, then kicks in quick with a tale of being "in love with a monster, devil in disguise… hiding behind blue eyes.” This rocker pulsates through 3 minutes and you don’t want it to end. Smoke and Mirrors closes with the positive, uptempo message of grrrl power with "Girls Rock TOO" that will have your head bobbing and your feet stomping.
Red Velvet Crush has been honored with accolades from the 2013 Project Backstage Midwest Rock Awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Best Acoustic Performance of the Year. The vocalist award doesn’t surprise me, Riscoe has got pipes and knows how to control them. And there are plenty of YouTube videos of Red Velvet Crush online to back up the best acoustic award.
You can get your copy of Smoke & Mirrors this Saturday, June 15, at Czar. Doors at 5:30, show at 6:00. Red Velvet Crush will be playing with I Am Nation, Fight The Quiet (Nashville), The Amends (Colorado), and Root & Stem. Presale tickets are $5 for general admission and $10 at the door. You can also order a $15 presale ticket, which comes with a limited edition autographed copy of the new EP and a vinyl sticker. Order tickets here. Facebook event page.
–Gavin Mac
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Gavin Mac is a local musician, avid consumer of whiskey, and has a penchant for mischief. He may be lured to dark alleys with grape soda and has a plethora of socks. |
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Album review: Betse Ellis – High Moon Order
(Photo by Paul Andrews)
High Moon Order slips on like an old flannel shirt or a broken in pair of jeans. If comfort food were thirteen tracks of down-home musical cooking, it would sound a lot like this. The introduction to Betse Ellis’s solo album is “The Traveler.” I was surprised by the lush pop writing elements. It is a warm handshake with earthy acoustic instruments. This is a departure from the feel of Ellis’s band The Wilders. There are also some obscure fiddle songs that round out the album.
“The Golden Road” delivers what I expect from Ellis: a solid mix of bluegrass, folk, and country elements. The lap steel playing is űber tasty. Next is “Long Time To Get There.” Bluegrass enthusiasts will genuinely love this track. Her playing is exquisite. Fans will rejoice that there are five instrumentals in total. “Dry and Dusty” is a front porch bottled up in a little digital cocktail. The musicianship on this track is outstanding. It’s simplicity in arrangement and construction will pull the listener in for two minutes and fifty-one seconds of daydream immersion.
“Straight To Hell” is a cover of a Clash song and easily won as my favorite song. The vocals are mesmerizing. The drums sound reminiscent to something you would hear from Florence and the Machine. The chorus left me singing for hours after my first listen. I enjoyed the bigger production and effects. After the third instrumental “Elk River Blues” and its fantastic melody line comes “Twilight is Stealing.” A more traditional song, the voices of Ellis and Roy Andrade (who also plays banjo on the album) meld magically together. Traditionalists of American bluegrass and roots music will appreciate Ellis’s attention to detail in song delivery.
The eighth track is “The Complainer.” Versatility, delivered. This track reminded me of a mesh of Public Image Ltd (PiL), The Clash and about 40 tons of Hillbilly Riot. Even though I love the tradition songs, this ended up being my second favorite. Any rock band would love to have it in its portfolio. The record settles in with “When Sorrow Encompass Me ‘Round” and “The Collector,” both being solid additions. The last two instrumentals “Stamper” and “Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies” are a continuation of the stellar performance standard. At this point, I should acknowledge the engineering, mixing and mastering work on the album. There is great consistency across the recordings. Overall, the album art and production are splendid.
Lastly, there is a big embracing hug to say, “…so long friend until next time” in the song “Question to Lay Your Burden Down.” Here again, are the pop kisses added to cement the fact that you will anxiously awaiting this founding member of The Wilders next solo effort. High Moon Order is a fantastic choice for your summer 2013 music additions.
Editor’s Note: High Moon Order is being released on Free Dirt Records and was produced and engineered by Mike West. The accompanying musicians on the album were Roy Andrade (banjo, guitar, vox), Jason Beers (bass), J.J. “Yukon Jimijon” Hanson (upright bass), Mike Horan (guitar), Jonathan Kraft (drums), Josh Mobley (keys), Mark Smeltzer (vox), Michael Stover (electric/acoustic/steel guitar), Mike West (percussion, vox), and Phil Wade (vox).
Tonight’s the night! Ellis and friends will celebrate the release of High Moon Order at The Brick. Music starts at 9:00 with an acoustic set, featuring Ellis playing solo, with combinations of others, and with a special string segment. Adam Lee and the Dead Horse Sound Company will play around 10:15. The full band from High Moon Order will perform around 11:30 with other special guests. Local artist Héctor Casanova will be doing live art in response to the performances. Facebook event page.
–William Saunders
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William is a local record producer, singer/songwriter, and guitarist/singer for The Walltalkers. He is also the head monkey at Saunders Street Records and still likes movies with giant robots. |
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Heliotropes release album + play Glasslands on 6.18
We hope you won’t think we are chauvinistic if we say that Heliotropes‘ brand of rock doesn’t often come from the fairer sex. Yeah because we are not just talking about ‘punchy’ stuff here, it’s more like… fury! The Brooklyn female foursome has an explosive debut record on the way, and a release show to celebrate it in one of the finest NYC venues. Glasslands will be abuzz with excitement for A Constant Sea’s release on 6/18, and with support from Bad Cop and Fan-Tan, the night promises to be interesting from the first act to the last. You don’t want to miss this one, but if you do, they’re playing at 4Knots this summer, so you’ll have another chance. – Zack Kraimer
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Verses Narrow plays Pianos on 6.14 (tonight)
The grungy, hardcore post-punk trio that is Verses Narrow hits your eardrums with rich, piercing guitar riffs, precisely driven drum work, and passionate indie vocals that all come together nicely to make for a well-executed sound that we think you should check out. Formed in Brooklyn in October of 2011, Bryan Louie, Sal DellAquila and Aaron Nice seem to borrow separate elements from the styles of their 90s band influences like The Jesus Lizard, Shellac and Quicksand to make a their own sound that they claim through their well-rounded execution. If you liked At The Drive In, check out Verses Narrow. They are set to play Pianos on 6/14 with Strangers, Lord Classic and The Gorgeous Hands. Listen to “Boredom” below. –Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)
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NYC Songwriter with potential: Sizzy Rocket
Singer-songwriters are rarely inspired by punk themes and imagery. For Sizzy Rocket, she has all the love in the world, but channeled beneath her eyeliner, tattoo ink, leather jacket, and sexy grand piano, it can come out in some fairly unconventional ways. Whether singing odes to a crush (‘Jamie‘), or walking down memory Lane in ‘Sid and Nancy,’ Sizzy Rocket is about as devil-may-care as her latest EP ‘We do it for the Thrills’ would make her out to be. The pianist breathes more fire into her 88-key chords than most guitarists with twin Marshall stacks and a six string. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)