Slim Wray (Brooklyn Garage Rock Duo) Play Thursday Night Residency During August at Trash Bar

I've been listening to garage rock duo Slim Wray's forthcoming debut CD, Sack Lunch (out Nov. 2nd), and am wildly impressed. While it is easy to compare every garage rock duo to The White Stripes, what I've heard of the new disc so far sounds like the bombast of bands like Gas Huffer and Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion crossed with fuzzed-out guitar hooks of bands like The Sonics and Flat Duo Jets.

Slim Wray is playing a series of Thursday night residencies at Trash Bar in Williamsburg during the month of August. Shows are August 15, 22nd and 29th and cover is $7 (which includes the well/PBR open bar 8PM happy hour). This Thursday (Aug. 15th), Slim Wray is playing at 9PM and other bands on the bill are The Outros (Midnight), No Small Children (11PM), Black Bear Tribe (10PM) and Isaac and Michael (8PM).



Slim Wray is a party of two that isn’t afraid to get dirty. A brotherhood based on an extensive history together in the New York City music scene, Chris Moran (drums/backing vocals) and Ryan Houser, aka “Howzr” (vocals/ guitar) have not only developed a tight musical chemistry, but have fine-tuned the art of bombastic, irreverent rock 'n roll. Running on thunderous drums and gritty, fuzz-fueled guitar riffs, Brooklyn’s Slim Wray welcomes their single “Bear” off their forthcoming album Sack Lunch. The single attacks with a rousing introduction and swiftly transforms into a plain good time, featuring slamming guitar chords, growling vocals, and infectious “woo hoo’s!”

Links:
Slim Wray

Graveyard Lovers Play Bowery Electric on Friday, May 31st (Brooklyn Swamp Rock)

Local cow-punk / swamp-rock trio Graveyard Lovers are playing Bowery Electric this Friday night alongside Brooklyn garage punk The Mad Doctors (who are releasing their debut EP "Fuzz Tonic" on Friday), Blue Coin and Tracy Island. Cover is $8 and doors are at 6:30PM (...and happy hour runs til 8PM).

Graveyard Lovers have been earning strong reviews with frequent shows around town and have been compared from acts that range from The White Stripes (prior to Graveyard Lovers adding a bassist) and "Sonic Youth… if Sonic Youth grew from Tennessee’s swamps and traded their soul to the devil while on the same road as Blind Willie Johnson" (The Deli Magazine). To my ears though, I think the closest point of comparison is Los Angeles' Tex and the Horseheads (...or a non-doped up version of the Gun Club).

"Graveyard Lovers are a blues-based indie rock trio comprised of guitarist/singer Zach Reynolds, drummer Tricia Purvis and bassist Orion Wainer. Zach is a native of Louisiana whose background is rooted in Deep South folk and blues. Tricia, a New Yorker, came up influenced by the innumerable waves of rock that have sculpted the NYC music scene into what it is today. " (from the band's bio)

Following up on the band's 2011's debut 5-track EP (check out "Ripe to Misbehave"), Graveyard Lovers has their full-length, Dreamers, ready to drop in September.  The first release, "Manifesto", from the new disc is streaming above and the band played "Blessed Are the Ties That Bind" (also from the new disc) on The Artie Lange Show back in the Spring.



Graveyard Lovers Upcoming Shows
Thursday June 6th, Leftfield Bar
w/ St James and the Apostles, Midwestern Exposure and The Enthusiasts

Friday July 26th, Arlene's Grocery
w XNY

Kahbang Music Fest, Bangor ME
August 9/10 details TBA

Links:
Graveyard Lovers

The Hounds Below: Post "For You and I" from Forthcoming Full Length / Show at Music Hall of Williamsburg with The Cribs

DOWNLOAD: The Hounds Below - "For You and I"



The Hounds Below have announced multiple performances at next week’s SXSW (South By Southwest Festival) in Austin, TX. Made up of Midwestern music notables, the band includes Jason Stollsteimer (who launched his former band The Von Bondies to global recognition) as well as Jesse Shepherd-Bates (bass), Griffin Bastian (drums) and Skye Thrasher (guitar). The Hounds Below are also announcing U.S. dates as main support for The Cribs (dates below). The U.S. dates will be immediately followed with a month long headlining tour of Europe in May (dates to be announced shortly).

"For You And I" which will appear on the band’s debut album (to be released summer 2012) recently premiered with a non-album version on Consequence Of Sound (link above). The song is an example of the band’s synthesis of 90’s alternative pop and 50’s troubadour rock and dollops of elements in-between.

Formed over three years ago, The Hounds Below organically grew their fanbase through touring, DIY single releases and working out their material in the live setting before recording. With that mentality, the quartet has been able to complete numerous U.S. runs along both coasts and Canada as well. Their formidable live show has seen them share stages with such acts as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Heavy, The Black Angels, The Raveonettes and Fountains of Wayne.



TOUR DATES:
3/15-- Austin, TX/SXSW-- Camel Party (@Emo’s East)-4:00pm
3/16 --Austin, TX/SXSW-- The Side Bar-2:00pm
3/16 --Austin, TX/SXSW-- Texas Jumpsuit Party (@Lovejoy’s)-4:30pm
3/17 --Austin, TX/SXSW-- 40 Watt Party (@The Side Bar)-3:30pm
3/17 --Austin, TX/SXSW-- Do 512 (@The Rooftop)-1:00am
4/9 --Chicago, IL-- Schuba’s (with The Cribs)
4/10 --Pontiac, MI-- The Pike Room (with The Cribs)
4/11 --Toronto, ON --Lee’s Palace (with The Cribs)
4/13 --Brooklyn, NY --Music Hall Of Williamsburg (with The Cribs) [Tickets are $20]
4/14-- Boston, MA-- Brighton Music Hall (with The Cribs)

Links:
The Hounds Below

Christmas: Download Free Single from Self-Titled Debut LP (CMRTYZ / Highfives and Handshakes)

About a week ago, I first heard the pre-LP single "Namiot" from Olympia Washington's Christmas and was immediately hooked. Some points of comparison to the band's music are Ponytail and Pylon but there is all sorts of other craziness thrown into the mix as well. Impose Magazine described the band as "a gang of I-dont-give-a-fuckers known for their wildly, electric shows where you're likely to see the guitarist crowd-surfing naked in a drunken fever."

The band's new self-titled ten-track 12" is available as a digital download or as a limited-edition, hand painted 12" through Highfives and Handshakes webstore.



Links:
Christmas

Thee Attacks - Danish Garage Rock Band Plays Two NYC Shows in Advance of SXSW

"Thee Attacks are a mod-looking four-piece from Aalborg in north Denmark. Soulful vocals complement a '65-era Townshend guitarist, who whacks out Have Love, Will Travel-style riff after riff. So good - and with no covers - they'll easily move beyond the garage and could crossover to become a successor to The Hives. Primitivist über-producer Liam Watson is here and smiling along." - MOJO Magazine

Here is one of the pre-SXSW show that caught my attention...Danish bands Thee Attacks (garage rock) and Lars and the Hands of Light (psychedelic/pop) are playing local pre-SXSW "warm-up" shows next Friday (March 11th) and Monday night (March 14th) in addition to a DJ set on Saturday night at Motor City Bar, where Jon Spencer will be spinning along with both Danish bands.

Friday night's show (March 11th) is at Fontana's and cover is $8.00. The lineup for the evening is Swords of Chaos (Iceland) [8PM], Dinosaur Eyelids [9PM], Theee Attacks [10PM] and Lars and The Hand of Light [11PM].

Monday night's show (March 14th) is at Santos Party House and tickets is $10. Doors are at 7:30PM and the lineup for the evening is Who Made Who, Lars and The Hand of Light and Thee Attacks.



Links:
Thee Attacks

Detroit Garage Rockers The Sights Play Shows at Maxwells (Feb. 15th) and The Bell House (Feb. 18th) Next Week

DOWNLOAD: The Sights - "How Do You Sleep?"
DOWNLOAD: The Sights - "Guilty"

(photo: Doug Coombe)
Now that the White Stripes have called it a day, The Sights are now the uncontested champions of Detroit blues-rock. The band is touring behind their fourth LP, Most of What Follows Is True (Alive Records), which was recorded at Jim Diamond’s (White Stripes, Electric Six, Dirtbombs) Ghetto Recorders in Detroit and released late last year.

“Most of What Follows is rooted in the tough, straightforward, R&B-based rock that's the Sights' bread and butter, though the pedal steel on "I Left My Muse" suggests they've also been listening to some classic country sides, and "Maria" is spot-on pure pop. The album is long on great tunes and rock & roll swagger, but Baranek and his latest edition of The Sights (Dave Lawson on bass, Gordon Smith on keys, and Skip Denomme on drums) never sound arrogant or gimmicky -- what comes through most strongly on Most of What Follows is the sound of four guys playing rock & roll because they love it, and even when the music takes a dark detour on "Take & Take" or slips into the blues on "Back to You," there's an honest joy and enthusiasm that infuses the music at every turn. Baranek sings with an unaffected passion and force that's truly impressive while he and his bandmates play with lots of heart and soul and no false moves; this is strong, rootsy, meat-and-potatoes rock & roll played with gravity, skill, and the enthusiasm of true fans.” – ALL MUSIC GUIDE

For the show at Maxwell's on Feb. 15th, The Sights are playing with The Godfathers and Frosting. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 DOS.

For the show at The Bell House on Feb. 18th, The Sights are playing with Reigning Sound and Guitar Lightnin'. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 DOS.

Links:
The Sights

The Ferocious Few - "Juices" CD Review (Birdman Records)

Two-piece rock bands have been around long before the White Stripes garnered mass-media attention for (among other things) not having a bass player. Where the White Stripes now have a high-gloss sheen, San Francisco’s The Ferocious Few bash out their brand of lo-fi blues-rock with the fervor and energy of a booze-soaked Southern preacher. In a recent interview, guitarist/vocalist Francisco Fernandez described the band’s music as “stripped down rockabilly rock n' roll. A lot of songs about love and heartbreak and with lots of energy…people have said it's a mixture between Bob Dylan and Motorhead.”

Fernandez and drummer Daniel Aquilar got their start busking on street corners in San Francisco and the band started getting national attention when they gave an unofficial/guerilla performance at SXSW a few years back in front of a hot dog stand well off the main strip. After spending the last few years building a strong following by playing anywhere and everywhere, The Ferocious Few was given an official slot at SXSW and Birdman Records released the band’s debut disc Juices early last year.

The new disc’s fifteen tracks run just over 40 minutes and the band clearly works well with this less-is-more format. Fernandez sings in a whiskey soaked voice which is somewhat reminiscent of the Meat Puppets’ Curt Kirkwood as both vocalists have an emotive style that allows them to go from punk to sun-cracked Americana at the blink of an eye. Aquilar keeps the beat with a steady one-two punch and this studio recording allowed the opportunity for the band to add keyboard and bass to a few tracks.

The disc starts out strong with the snarling “Gasoline & Cocaine” which is complete with slashing guitar lines, sneered vocals and pounding drums. The band keeps the pace of the disc moving with other rockers (“Loc’d Out” and “Kathleen”, which features a memorable garage-rock organ line) that are interspersed with smoldering blues numbers (“Cryin' Shame”, “Me And The Devil”). Adding to the musical stew, other songs include elements of soul, alt-country and "Dylanish" folk (“Lord Oh Lord”, "Crazy Love"). Wrapping everything up, the disc ends on a strong note with the acoustic ballad "16th St".

Stylistically, this disc is all over the map but that just adds to its ramshackle charm.

The Ferocious Few - "Crying Shame", "Loc'd Out" and "Ghost In a Shell" (?) Live in San Francisco


Links:
The Ferocious Few

Le MOOD: Brooklyn Garage Rock Band Plays Free Show at MOSCOT's Saturday Sessions on Jan 22nd

Brooklyn garage rock band Le MOOD are playing a free show next Saturday afternoon, Jan. 22nd, as part of MOSCOT Music's "Saturday Sessions" series. The show starts at 3PM and MOSCOT Gallery is located at 118 Orchard Street. As an added bonus, attendees will receive 20% off purchases of MOSCOT branded glasses day of show with proof of flyer.

Le MOOD is led by singer and primary songwriter Marco Argiro (The Killing Floor, Marky Ramone's Blitzkreig), and the band has a new full-length LP, Adventures In Stereo, due out later this month on Outright Rock Records. This disc follows 2008's well-received EP "Synaethesia". The official record release party for Adventures In Stereo is being held at Santos Party House (w/ special guest Des Roar) on Friday, Feb. 18th.

"Synaethesia - flies by with touches of power pop, pop punk and straight ahead summery pop and I find myself reaching for the volume knob, unconcerned about being THAT guy driving around blaring music at ridiculous levels." -HERO HILL l Bryan Acker

Links:
Le MOOD

Old Monk: Brooklyn Garage Rock Band Announces Last Minute Show at Legion Bar on Dec. 17th

- "Exceptional drumming and creative licks create this band playing out of Brooklyn, New York. Their sound is captivating and extremely catchy."
-- The Daily Consciousness

DOWNLOAD: Old Monk - "Butter and Toast" (from Birds of Belize)

Old Monk started out as an internet collaboration between guitarist/vocalist Joshua Carrafa and drummer Ian Burns. The band came together in Brooklyn, picked up PINE*am's Tsugumi Takashi on bass and recorded their debut EP. The band is playing a last minute show on Friday night in advance of the release of their debut full-length Birds of Belize.



Links:
Old Monk

The Sights (Detroit Garage Rock) Play NYC Shows on Dec. 3rd and 4th

DOWNLOAD: The Sights - "How Do You Sleep?"

Today marks the release date for Detroit garage rockers The Sights' fourth LP, Most of What Follows Is True (Alive Records). The band has been together since the late 90's and the group's rotating lineup centers around guitarist/vocalist Eddie Baranek. This new disc, which is the follow-up to the band's 2005 self-titled release, was recorded at Jim Diamond’s (White Stripes, Electric Six, Dirtbombs) Ghetto Recorders in Detroit and it is a raw slice of Detroit-style blue rock.

“Five years after their last album, The Sights have returned with its strongest effort yet. Leader Eddie Bararenk has found the sweet spot in his songwriting, harnessing the melody of British-influenced power pop to the R&B-fueled garage rock of the band’s earliest days with tighter craft than ever before.” – THE BIG TAKEOVER

The band is currently playing a handful shows before the end of the year which includes two shows the weekend of Dec. 3rd in NYC. The December 3rd show is at Rockwood Music Hall. The Sights is playing with Apollo Run (CD Release show) and The Statesmen. Apollo Run opens the show with a set time of 10PM and The Sights follow at 11PM. The December 4th show is at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn. At this show, The Sights is playing with First Nature and tickets are $8.

Links:
The Sights

Old Monk: Brooklyn Garage Rock Band Plays Pre-CMJ Show at Legion Bar in Brooklyn

Old Monk started out as an internet collaboration between guitarist/vocalist Joshua Carrafa and drummer Ian Burns. The band came together in Brooklyn, picked up PINE*am's Tsugumi Takashi on bass and recorded their debut EP. The band has been getting some strong press and they are currently working on their debut full-length.

- "Exceptional drumming and creative licks create this band playing out of Brooklyn, New York. Their sound is captivating and extremely catchy." -- The Daily Consciousness

- "The intro suggests something psychedelic, but slides into a choppy rock blast. The opening flourish catches your attention, but the body of the song is just a fine piece of guitar pop. This is definitely one for fans of certain ’90s Glaswegian guitar bands, right down to the vocals." -- Review of the track "Butter & Toast" on BushwickBK.com



Old Monk are playing a pre-CMJ show tomorrow night at Legion Bar in East Williamsburg (790 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211-2514).

Links:
Old Monk

Hy-Test: "Dishing Out the Good Times" CD Review (Impedance Records/MVD)

DOWNLOAD: Impedance Sampler (w/ Hy-Test's "Girl in Black", Nick Oliveri's "This Isn't Love", etc.)

Following up on their 2006 EP “The Little Band That Could”, Wollongong, Australia garage-punk outfit Hy-Test have just released their debut full-length, Dishing Out the Good Times (Impedance Records). This disc finds the band on the same label as Nick Oliveri and Hy-Test bassist/vocalist Luke Armstrong and guitarist/vocalist Mick Curley were most recently members of Mondo Generator’s 2010-touring lineup.

The tie to Mondo Generator gives a good indication of what to expect from Dishing Out the Good Times. The brunt of the disc is fuzzed-out garage punk but there are significant elements of hardcore toward the later half of the disc. The disc’s eleven tracks barrel by in just under 30 minutes leaving the listener with barely enough time to catch their breath.

Here is a live video from a few years back that gives a good indication of the ferocity of the band’s live show.



While the band sticks to their high-energy format across this disc, there are enough stylistic surprises to keep the listener's attention. The disc starts strong with the driving, grungy opening-track “9 Volt” and goes from there into the hard-edged power pop of “Girl in Black”. “Crazy for You” starts with a spoken word/funk groove which leads into an explosive breakdown. From here, the band goes through alt-rock (“Magnet”), MC5-style R&B (“Goodbye”), and straightforward hardcore (“Our Career”, “Smokeskull”). Finishing up the disc is the instrumental “Rambling of a Mute”.

There is more than enough to like here so…fingers crossed for a US tour sometime in the near future.

Links:
Hy-Test

Garage Rockers Sister Anne are Playing Fontana's on September 26th

In July, I caught Les Breastfeeders' show at Europa and Brooklyn's Sister Anne opened. I assume that the band's name came from the MC5 song and the MC5's music is a good point of reference for Sister Anne. The five piece band (two bass players) play high-energy R&B infused garage rock.



Sister Anne is playing Fontana's on September 26th and their live show is well worth checking out. During the band's set at Europa, you couldn't help but move to the music and lead singer Kitana was in and out of the crowd getting everyone dancing.

There are a couple live tracks from a show earlier this year at Ace of Clubs streaming on the band's MySpace page.