Photo Source: Silicon Girls

Silicon Girls are moving on and playing their very last show this Friday at The Vera Project. Marvelous Good Fortune will join them.

This three piece last issued a record in March 2012; Rana is a rough-and-tumble collection of artful tunes. Their music darts and weaves unpredictably with genuine jubilance. A punkish ethos pervades – they seem to hold no allegiance to any particular sound or structure. Rather than being explicitly about craftsmanship, Silicon Girls charge forth by championing creation, expression and energy.

The drums are rollicking and scatter-brained on "Take Care," a trait that is threaded throughout Rana. Its rhythms lend an incessant surfness to the music. The guitarwork harkens back to early Modest Mouse and other ’90’s indie rock pioneers. The song is also awash with a kind of drony, hazy film that corroborates the band’s idiosyncrasies.

Try out "Shipwrecked," which begins with a simple vocal ode before flowing into a galloping sea shantie. The twang of the guitar and shimmering splashes of cymbals build ebuillient climaxes – listeners are tossed about Silicon Girls’ waves in the best ways.

Their music, simply put, is charming and fun. They really sound like they are having a great time and will doubtlessly put it on full display for their last show on Friday, November 9th. Doors are at 7:30pm at The Vera Project with $7 tickets. Give "Shipwrecked" a listen below and check out Silicon Girls’ bandcamp to hear all of Rana.

– Cameron LaFlam

Much has been made of Wilsen’s unique combination of dream pop and folk, which has been dubbed as “dream folk.” Yet there is a much easier way to describe the NYC-based singer-songwriter: really, really talented. Her debut album, “Sirens,” is eerie, confident, and a fantastic first step for this bright artist.

“Sirens” opens with “House On a Hill,” which is highlighted by some strangely ominous whistling over a melodic guitar line. Wilsen then moves to her folk roots with “Dusk.” Here, her vocals softly shine while even softer instrumentation ornaments the dueling senses of comfort and apprehension.

Throughout the album, Wilsen experiments with different sounds and styles, although her overall sound keeps faith to early Leonard Cohen’s sparse, pensive approach. The guitar work on “Lady Jane” has an almost Middle Eastern feel, while the vocals on “Springtime” bounce with a jazzy swagger.

Closing “Sirens” is the ten and a half minute epic, “Anahita” (see the video here). I’ve already sung the praises of this track, yet its breathtaking power cannot be overstated. The moment halfway through the song when the stunning guitar line gives way to aural chaos is one of the best recorded musical instances of the year. – Josh S. Johnson – Listen to "Sirens" on Spotify.

New York’s Street Smells may be named after various aromas that are sometimes inescapable in this town, but their music appears to be more firmly rooted in Scotland, circa 1990. "Jerky Ride" ambles along with the casual cool of Jim Reid’s swagger and his brother’s guitar textures. "We went down, down (so far down) that I don’t believe we’ll ever come around" is the nihilistic searching for kicks message. "Lemon Yellow Rasberry" slows the shuffle down even further, presenting a heavier, near dirge-like quality. Tambourine on snare shot beats and dueling guitar layers create the proper level of foreboding. "The Slippery Slope of Being A Drug Dealer" takes its obvious message and positions it against a rhythm closer to The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Dirty guitar lines shear the top off power chords churning underneath. "Ghost In The Sky" returns to a shuffle rhythm while updating the two chord churn of The MaryChain’s "Birthday" for maximum effect. – Dave Cromwell

Is the Elephant 6 Collective arriving in New York, or has a new arts commune sprung up unexpectedly in the otherwise serene waters of Long Island? Meet the fascinating arts collective/loft apartment recording project of Eastern Phoebes. While the band has already released several records, the band has now arrived at a larger juncture with their latest EP ‘Better People.’ An ensemble including the large, inviting personalities of Ry Cooder and Meg Bayley, it’s amazing they’ve been able to come together to create such a cohesive statement.

Like the way Olivia Tremor Control took an analog sensibility and coupled it with an appreciation for all things Beach Boys, Eastern Phoebes is extending the noble tradition of Weird Old Americana to yet another generation. And on their latest record ‘Better People,’ the band delivers. From the psychedelic protest of ‘Yer Dollar is a Dead Spore’ to domestic dramas like the back and forth of "everyone here is allergic it seems…" off ‘We Can’t Have a Cat,’ this record covers its subjects with a wide brush and fills in the lines with immense detail.

Here’s a group exploring all the ups and downs associated with life lived among family and friends. And the humour, pain and joy of this kind of life lights up every shooting harmony and floating guitar riff off ‘Better People.’ Check out the record on their Bandcamp. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This is what we can do to help spread the word about music related initiatives in the NYC area aiming at helping locals hit by Sandy. Feel free to post about any of these in our open blog and we’ll link from here.

*** Hurricane Sandy, How You Can Help OhMyRockness.com guide ***

– Support the Scene initiatives
– Hurricane Relief Benefit at St.Vitus
– Sandy Benefit Shows at LPR
– NMU Studios Hurricane Relief Party Public Event
– Songwriter’s Beat Hurrican Relief Concert
– Spottiswoode & His Enemies 15th year anniversary
– Unflood BK Music – donations to aid a new music building in Red Hook
– Taking Back Sunday Relief Concerts
– Williamsburg Sandy Relief Party
– Sandy benefit at Public Assembly w/ 18bands
– ‘Occupy Sandy’ benefit at Webster Hall 
– "Rock-N-Rebuild" Hurricane Fundraiser

– Band release-related initiatives: Nicole Atkins, Buke and Gase, Glint, Emergency Service (CD Release Party Benefit), The Paper Jets, Sweet Soubrette.

CALL FOR MUSICIANS
According to New York State Democratic Committee Member Chris Owens, MUSICIANS are needed at the shelters to provide entertainment: "Singers and musicians are most welcome (particularly during the day hours), and anyone who can be creative with activities for children. There may not be a lot of space to work with, but I have faith in my fellow cultural workers. Those who carry portable instruments (e.g. – your own voice, guitars, accordions, light percussion) will have the easiest time of it, but some schools with open auditoriums have a working piano!"

The Deli’s Staff

Part folk, part indie, and part just about everything else, Brooklyn-based band Mail the Horse achieves a melodic blend of throwback rock and charged-up, soulful fervor. The band was formed by college friends in New Hampshire in 2012, later moving to New York to piece together material and work on recordings. Mail the Horse has had several multi-track releases in their relatively short time as a band, with September’s full-length album “Great Kills” being their most recent effort. The album plays like an awakening into adulthood, and has the sonic range of a band like Wilco as sung by Beck. Mail the Horse will perform a New Year’s Eve show at Mercury Lounge alongside Felice Brothers and Yellowbirds. – Devon Antonetti

Pre War is a band from Brooklyn. Guitar, guitar, drums, and five tracks released on their Bandcamp over the last couple of months: that’s about it, as far as what I know of Pre War goes – but will happily head over to the LES to find out more. Amateurs of fuzzed-out echo-filled melodies & glorious buildups, here’s one for you to follow, at ease juggling harsh noise and a radiant pop edge. The band can be found playing the Cake Shop every Tuesday evening throughout the month of November – and it’s free! Next week, they’ll be playing with local ambient noisemaker Doron Sadja (the full list of shows is available here).

It is no surprise that Sins of the Loose Buttons loves to show off New York City in their music videos. The guys have been running around Brooklyn and Manhattan gigging since 2007, when the oldest member of the quartet was only 15. In more recent times, about a year ago, they busted onto the scene with “Retrobox” and now they are back at it again with their newest single and music video, “I Love Lucy”. “Lucy” will kick off a slew of new releases for SOTLB over the next few months, as well as an east coast tour this winter, so stay tuned for more updates out of these guys in the very near future.

This year was the biggest yet for Midwest Music Foundation’s Apocalypse Meow benefit—a fundraiser for the musician’s emergency health care fund. The event kicked off with a pre-party on Friday, November 3 at Midwestern Musical Co. with Dead Voices and Tiny Horse. 

Dead Voices

Tiny Horse

The main event kicked off on Saturday at The Beaumont Club with School of Rock, consisting of more than a handful of tweens and teens masterfully playing covers from bands like Rush, Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters, and many more. The band’s stellar performance set an energetic tone for the rest of the evening, which ranged from acoustic Americana to power pop, surf rock, country, indie rock, and ballistic punk rock.

School of Rock

Amy Farrand

Deco Auto

The Empty Spaces

The Blue Boot Heelers

Clairaudients (formerly The Atlantic)

The Architects

And finally, a big thank you from all of us at Midwest Music Foundation for supporting our fifth year of Meow. We’re so very grateful for your support of Kansas City and our musical community!

All photos by Todd Zimmer. Please do not use without permission.

–Michelle Bacon

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Four bands came together to pay tribute to legendary punk band, the Ramones, as a part of Sonic Spectrum’s tribute series at recordBar. For all intents and purposes, the Ramones saved rock n’ roll. When they released their self-titled debut in 1976, the radio was jammed pack with long-winded keyboard solos, disco beats, and mini-operas. The Ramones went back to the original blueprint, designed by the early rock n’ rollers and doo-wop groups of the ‘50s. Only the Ramones’ songs were faster, louder, tougher, and weirder; punk was born. Their sound continues to influence countless bands to this day, four of which showed up that night.

If there was a secondary theme to the night, it was that covering these three-chord simplistic songs looks much easier than it actually is to pull off. Nearly each band recognized that on stage. The first band, UFT!, kicked off the show right with the shouts of "Hey! Ho! Let’s go!" in "Blitzkrieg Bop,” quite possibly the most recognizable tune in the Ramones catalog. Bassist Steve Tulipana shared a funny story about meeting the artist behind the iconic Ramones logo, and his surprise on how getting prepared for the show had been. They played other Ramones classics such as "I Wanna Be Sedated" and "Rock N’ Roll High School.”

Next, Rockets to Russia took the stage (members of Bleachbloodz, The Uncouth!, Hobo Zero, Appropriate Grammar, The Bad Ideas). Consisting of the largest group of the night, the five-member band tore through songs about as fast as the Ramones would perform them live. Songs like "Glad to See You Go" and "Cretin Hop" were accompanied by boundless energy that seemed to run back and forth on both sides of the stage. Two songs in, vocalist Mitch Clark convincingly told the crowd he’d have to slow down for a song or two or else he was bound to have a heart attack on stage. Still, the band continued through their set this way.

Gene Kreamerz and the Pussycats (members of The Quivers, The Latenight Callers, Drew Black & Dirty Electric, Deco Auto) played their songs closer to how the Ramones sounded on the albums. It’s not at the breakneck speed of their live performances, but still animated enough for a crowd to bounce around to. Highlights included "(Do You Remember) Rock N’ Roll Radio?" and a personal favorite, "Danny Says,” the true ballad of the night (surprisingly, the Ramones were great at writing those, too).

True evidence of the Ramones influence in even today’s world came when Radkey finished the night off. The band consists of three brothers, all of whom were born well after the Ramones had their heyday. The spirit, energy, and rock n’ roll the Ramones championed during their career came through the band. Highlights included the seasonally appropriate "Pet Cemetery" and campy "Somebody Put Something in My Drink.” The band ended their set with the anti-political song "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg", a song most fans would consider to be a favorite. The night was a great tribute to the Ramones, and in turn, a great tribute to rock n’ roll.

All photos by Todd Zimmer. Please do not use without permission.

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