Diamond Rings - Live Photos from Webster Hall, NYC 9-22-12 (Astralwerks)

I've never heard of Diamond Rings prior to seeing him open for Stars at Webster Hall. In talking with the woman next to me, she described him as sounding like Vanilla Ice. Haircut aside, I think a more relevant comparison is to either Klaus Nomi or David Gahan.



For anyone who also hadn't heard of Diamond Rings, here is some background from Wikipedia on the artist: "John O'Regan (born July 6, 1985) is a Canadian artist and musician best known by his stage name Diamond Rings. In addition to writing, recording, and producing his own music, he is also noted for transcending traditional representations of gender and identity in his live performances and videos...His debut full length album, Special Affections, was released in North America on October 25, 2010, by Montreal's Secret City Records. Lead single "Something Else" was released a month prior and features a cover of the Milla Jovovich song "The Gentleman Who Fell," with string arrangements by Canadian musician and Polaris Prize winner Owen Pallett. Diamond Rings has since signed with New York City-based Astralwerks Records a division of Virgin/EMI Records, which re-released Special Affections on June 21, 2011."



Diamond Rings' October Tour Dates
10/09/12 - Lawrence, KS, Bottleneck w/ Stars
10/10/12 - Tulsa, OK, Cain’s w/ Stars
10/11/12 - Little Rock, AR, Revolution Room w/ Stars
10/12/12 - Houston, TX, Fitzgerald’s w/ Stars
10/13/12 - Dallas, TX, Granada w/ Stars
10/14/12 - Austin, TX, The Mohawk
(Austin City Limits Official After-Party w/ Friends)
10/17/12 - San Diego, CA, House Of Blues w/ Stars
10/18/12 - Los Angeles, CA, The Mayan w/ Stars
10/19/12 - Santa Cruz, CA, Rio Theatre w/ Stars
10/20/12 - San Francisco, CA, The Fillmore w/ Stars
10/26/12 - Chicago, IL, Empty Bottle w/ Gold Fields
10/27/12 - Minneapolis, MN, 7th Street Entry w/ Gold Fields
10/28/12 - Madison, WI, The Frequency w/ Gold Fields
10/30/12 - St. Louis, MO, Off Broadway w/ Gold Fields
10/31/12 - Nashville, TN, The Hi-Watt w/ Gold Fields

Links:
Diamond Rings

Sally Shapiro: New Digital Single "Love In July" Comes Out July 14th

Swedish diva Sally Shapiro has a new digital single coming out next week courtesy of Paper Bag Digital. The new single, "Love in July", features the album version plus five remixes (remixes by CFCF, Parker Lewis and others).

Here is the track list:
1. Love In July (Album Version)
2. Love In July (Parker Lewis Remix)
3. Love In July (Le PrixRemix)
4. Love In July (CFCF Remix)
5. Love In July (Bostro Pesopeo Remix)
6. Love In July (Instrumental)

Sally Shapiro - Love In July (Double-Click to start)

Links:
Sally Shapiro's MySpace Profile

Josh Reichman Oracle Band - Life Is Legal CD EP Review (Paper Bag Records)

Shape shifter Josh Riechman is back with a new band, Josh Riechman Oracle Band, and a new EP that was released last month on Paper Bag Records. The freak-folk sounds of Reichman's previous project, Jewish Legend, are mostly gone and the new EP, Life Is Legal, moves Reichman's sound into something comparable to late-period T.Rex (Bolan's Zip Gun era) or 70's-era Stevie Wonder. One of the standout tracks from the EP is "Plant Words", which is streaming on Reichman's MySpace page (link below).

This EP has a locked-on bass and drums funk groove which is complemented by garage-rock keyboard on some of the tracks. Reichman hasn't totally abandoned the freak-folk sounds as there are some odd twists and turns in the music along with the use of flute, sax and other woodwind instruments.

The Life Is Legal EP is a precursor to a full length disc that will be released in March '09. Josh is touring the US next month with Sebastien Grainger (former drummer/singer from Death From Above 1979). Sebastien is touring with a new band, Sebastien Granger and The Mountains, and the band released its debut disc last month on Saddle Creek Records.

Local tour stops are:
Dec 2 2008 8:00PM, Union Hall, Brooklyn, NYC
Dec 3 2008 8:00PM, Mercury Lounge, New York NY

Links:
Josh Reichman's MySpace Profile

Woodhands - Live Footage and Interview from Silent Barn, Queens 8-16-08

Woodhands was in town last weekend for one of Todd P's shows at the Silent Barn. The band's debut disc, "Heart Attack", was released in Canada earlier this year (on Paper Bag Records) and the disc was released in the States yesterday.

Here is part of a live clip of "Can't See Straight" along with a post-show interview with the band.



The band puts on a wild live show and they say on their MySpace page that their goal is "emotional, sweaty dance floors". The band is back in the States for a show in Chicago at The Empty Bottle on September 5th but no East Coast dates have been announced.

For anyone not familiar with Woodhands, check out I Wasn't Made for Fighting. There are also a number of other tracks from Heart Attack streaming on the band's MySpace profile.

During the interview, Dan mentioned that the band was just in NYC to film a video for the "I Wasn't Made For Fighting" and the band just posted a link to a fan-made video for the song.



Links:
Paper Bag Records