Automatic Children Play An Early Show Tomorrow Night at Mercury Lounge (along with Emanuel and the Fear)

The always brilliant Automatic Children return to Mercury Lounge for an early show tomorrow night, opening for Emanuel and the Fear.

"We last played there in 2010 to promote our then-new album "New is Beautiful." This time we are playing the early show opening for this great 6-piece Brooklyn band. You may have heard about them in The Guardian, Paste, Rolling Stone (Germany), Paper Magazine, NME, Village Voice, or recently on Daytrotter. They just toured Europe in support of their new album "The Janus Mirror." We are looking forward to playing with them. Our original bassist Teddy Williams will be joining us on bass for this show. Come hear some new music." - Automatic Children

For tomorrow night's show, Automatic Children go on at 6:30PM and Emanuel and the Fear go on at 7:30PM.  Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 DOS.

NYC collective Automatic Children sound a little bit like every cool rock band your older sibling or somewhat friendly record store clerk told you about growing up, thrown into a blender and spit out, creating an entirely potent blend of upbeat, guitar-driven pop. 

On their latest 7" Johnny/Now You Know, loud hooks recall Surfer Rosa-era Pixies, while the high-registered vocal delivery of Adam Lippman echoes The Get Up Kids, matched with the world/weary smarts of Paul Westerberg. Influences aside, the simple fact is that Automatic Children are a rock band, streamlined to the basics, who have taken the best of the best and reflected it back in their own way, creating music for discerning fans who are too old to care about trends and like their rock lean, fun, and unpretentious. 

Rounded out with Ed Vail (bass/backing vocals) and Kevin Letsch (drums) Automatic Children is at heart the combined songwriting efforts of Adam Lippman and Crista Giuliani. The two met when Adam auditioned Crista to sing and play backup in his solo band in 2006. Once the connection was made and the chemistry and mutual influences obvious after a few shows, the decision to form a proper band was solidified and the rest is history.

"The music is based on our lives, and our experiences, with a little bit of politics thrown in," explains Lippman. Adds Crista, "I think with multiple songwriters, you get a very diverse sound. I think it's good to have different songs for different moods. Who would want to eat the same thing every night for dinner? " 

Links:

Automatic Children

Automatic Children Post Bandcamp Download of Forthcoming Vinyl 7" / Show at Arlene's Grocery on Sept. 26th

New music from Automatic Children is always a welcome thing...

We are so thrilled to announce that our new recordings for our second upcoming vinyl 7" are complete, and online for your listening pleasure! "Johnny" and "Now You Know" were recorded by the super-talented Mark Ospovat at Emandee Recording in Brooklyn, NY just a few weekends ago. You may have heard these newer tunes at a recent show, or the acoustic duet premiere by Adam and Crista of "Now You Know" for Breakthru radio in 2011. We've got even more new songs in the works, but were eager to get our fans some new music for their ipods, and later this year, their turntables. Look for news of the vinyl release by the holidays. Before then we will also be releasing an official music video for "Johnny" online in the coming weeks. You can listen to the songs on our new page on bandcamp and download them. If you want to make a small donation to our noble cause, that would be great, but not required.

We have a few shows coming up where you can hear these, a brand new one, and some old favorites in the tri-state area. Next weekend on September 23rd, we will be playing an all ages show at The Space in Hamden, CT. Bring your family. We go on at 730pm. Its part of the CT Alternative Music Series. We will be back in NYC at Arlene's Grocery on September 26th at 11pm. Both of these shows are $10. We have also lined up a CMJ date, and will update you when we have all the details! - Automatic Children



Links:
Automatic Children

Automatic Children Will Be Premiering New Songs at Spike Hill on Friday, Feb. 3rd

"The holidays have come and gone. 2012 is well underway, and we have some exciting plans for the new year. We plan to record several new songs by the summer and release them later in the year. Perhaps you’ve heard some of them at our recent CMJ and Bowery Electric shows last fall. We are really looking forward to getting them out there for you as soon as we can.

On Friday, February 3rd we will be playing them in a stripped down three-piece format at Spike Hill, as well as some of our ‘classics’. We had intended to do this at CMJ, but this time it's really happening! Spike Hill is conveniently located right upstairs from the Bedford Avenue L train stop in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Air Traffic Controller and Swear and Shake round out the bill. It turns out Swear and Shake also have a song called “Johnnie” (ok well the spelling is different), so it must be fate. We are also really looking forward to playing with Air Traffic Controller, an amazing band from Boston. We hope you can make it, it will be a special night for sure. Buy your tickets here. It’s only $5. We play at 10pm sharp."
- Automatic Children





Links:
Automatic Children

Automatic Children Play Bowery Electric on Wednesday, Sept. 28th (First NYC Show in 2011)

I'm too tired to write anything really deep and meaningful tonight/this morning so...great band, great live set, first NYC show in nine months. What more do I need to say?

"We are excited to announce two new shows in the coming weeks. Wednesday, September 28th we will be rocking the Bowery Electric (327 Bowery at 2nd st) at 930pm for an L Rock the Party booking event. We have half an album of new songs to debut, and we can't wait for you to hear them. We are gearing up to record a new album in a few months, and we hope you'll come out and hear all of the new songs in the works. This show is $10/21+ and at 10pm. There's 5 great bands on the bill, starting at 7pm. Joining us on drums is our friend Brian Jones, fresh off two years of touring with the Afromotive and Bobby Lee Rodgers. In October, we will be playing CMJ 2011 at Wicked Willy's on Bleecker Street for an L Rock the Party showcase. We go on at 1030pm. Again, its a great lineup, 21+, $10 and we may have even more new material to premiere. See you there!"



Links:
Automatic Children

BrooklynRocks Top 10 List for 2010

There were a lot of great releases this year so it was tough to pick only ten albums. After spending more time than I would have thought narrowing down the list, below is my 2010 Top-10 list (in no particular order):

01) The Art of Shooting – Traveling Show

02) Tim Kasher – The Game of Monogamy

03) Automatic Children – New Is Beautiful

04) Earth - A Bureaucratic Desire for Extra Capsular Extractions

05) The Canon Logic – FM Arcade

06) King Crimson – Islands (40th Anniversary Edition)

07) School of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire

08) Lissie – Catching A Tiger

09) J. Roddy Walston and the Business – Self-Titled

10) Early Graves – Goner

Happy New Year Everyone!

Automatic Children Share 2010 Top-10 List // Show at Bowery Electric on Feb. 7th

Automatic Children released their debut full-length New Is Beautiful in April of this year and the disc has a definite place on my 2010 Top-10 List (which will be published soon).

Here is the Automatic Children's co-vocalists/guitarists, Adam Lippman and Crista Giuliani, 2010 Top-10 List:

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Spoon - Transference
The Walkmen - Lisbon
School of Seven Bells - Disconnect from Desire
Beach House - Teen Dream
LCD Soundsystem-This is Happening
The Black Keys-Brothers
MGMT – Congratulations
Darker My Love-Alive As You Are
Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Automatic Children's next show is at Bowery Electric on Feb. 7th and the band is playing with Christina LaRocca. Admission is $5 with Facebook invite.



Links:
Automatic Children

Automatic Children Release New Video for "Coming Over Me" // Show at Mercury Lounge on Nov. 23rd

Kudos to Automatic Children on their first 'formal' music video!

We are SUPER excited to announce the release of our first-ever 'real' music video! Sure, we've had some things shot at shows and in our rehearsal space, but not a legit production with actors and a story! We'd like to thank our amazing director Melissa Kelly, and our actors Ryan Stinnett and Louise Gassman for a fantastic job. We had a lot of fun and are already dreaming up more. We'll be posting behind-the-scenes photos in the next few days.

Automatic Children are playing Mercury Lounge on Tuesday, November 23rd along with Matt Lowell, Twitch the Ripper, and The Hotcakes. Tickets are $10 and Automatic Children go on at 7PM.

Links:
Automatic Children

Automatic Children Headline an Early Show Tomorrow Night at Mercury Lounge

DOWNLOAD: Automatic Children - "Pity Party" (from "It's Not Me, It's You" EP)





Here is the perfect way to end the summer - Automatic Children are playing an early show at Mercury Lounge tomorrow night. The band is touring behind their full-length debut, New Is Beautiful, which has been earning strong reviews in addition to getting picked up on college and independent radio stations.

Chris McFarland starts off tomorrow night's show at 7PM and Automatic Children go on at 8PM. Tickets are $8.



Links:
Automatic Children

Automatic Children Are Playing Tomorrow Night at Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg

I've been a big fan of Automatic Children for the last few years and this is the second year now that they have made the Deli Magazine’s list of top NYC bands. The band is playing tomorrow night at Cameo Gallery (which is inside the Lovin Cup Cafe on N. 6th Street) with Hunters, Run!.



Automatic Children have a new 7" out - "Coming Over Me" and "Solitude" which is a limited edition pressing that comes with a digital download card (for those without a turntable). The band is finalizing their full-length debut which is due out next montth.

Links:
Automatic Children's Website

Automatic Children: Release Party for New 7" Tomorrow Night at Arlene's Grocery

Not surprisingly, Automatic Children made The Deli Magazine list of top NYC bands for the second year in a row. The band has been working on new material as a follow-up to their 2007 EP "It's Not Me, It's You" and they are releasing a new vinyl 7" tomorrow night as a precursor to full-length disc later in the year.

The new 7" contains the songs "Coming Over Me" and "Solitude" and it comes with a digital download card (for those without a turntable). For old-school vinyl aficionados, the new disc is both limited and numbered. For anyone who doesn't make it out to the show tomorrow, you can pick up copies of the new single at Kim's Music and Academy Records in the Village. Kim's is now on 1st Avenue (between 7th and St. Mark's) and Academy Records is on 12th Street (between 1st Ave and 'A').

Here is a live version of "Solitude" that was recorded last month at Coco66.


Links:
Automatic Children's MySpace Profile

Automatic Children Play Trash Bar Tomorrow Night, Dec. 10th

Automatic Children are premiering new material from their forthcoming CD at their show tomorrow night at Trash Bar. The band have said that they will play seven of the ten songs from the upcoming disc.

This upcoming CD follows Automatic Children's debut EP, "It's Not Me, It's You", which was released late last year (see review). In addition to the new disc, the band have announced plans to release a limited edition vinyl 7" of "Solitude" and "Coming Over Me".

On the bill tomorrow night with Automatic Children are Emergency Party, the Monte Vista and In India. Automatic Children take the stage at 9PM and tickets are $6.00.

Here is a live video from Automatic Children's show at Rockwood Music Hall last January

Links:
Automatic Children's MySpace profile

Automatic Children Live @ Rockwood Music Hall, NYC January 22, 2008

I have always felt that a good live show should both hold your attention and leave you wanting more. Automatic Children's show at Rockwood Music Hall hit the mark on both fronts. The band seems to really enjoy themselves on stage which made for a fun live show.

Here are a couple live songs from the band's set:



Automatic Children are working on scheduling some shows for next month so watch the band's MySpace page for details.

Previous Posts:
Pre-Show Interview with Automatic Children

Automatic Children - Rockwood Music Hall Pre-Show Interview, January 22, 2008

I caught up with Automatic Children last Tuesday night before they went on stage at Rockwood Music Hall. Here is the first video from the night - a video interview with the band that we filmed at a diner on Houston Street.



The band put on a great show and was kind enough to let me film a few songs so I'll be posting a live video and some pictures from the show in the next few day.

Automatic Children are in the process of lining up some shows for March (watch the video for more details) so keep an eye on the band's MySpace page for updates.

For anyone who hasn't heard Automatic Children before, the band released an EP, "It's Not Me, It's You" late last year. You can check out the EP as most the tracks are streaming on the band's MySpace page. I reviewed the EP last year (link) and here is another review from The Deli Online Blog:

“Automatic Children's music is playful and aggressive, but not cold as you might expect from a band with a name like that. Their songs are rooted in traditional songwriting, with recurring references to pop and rock'n'roll, but the sound is gritty and distorted, reminding the unpolished tunes of Jesus and Mary Chain and The Pixies (alternating male/female vocals and a cover of Gigantic also tie this quartet to the Boston legends).”

Automatic Children Play Free Show at Rockwood Music Hall on January 22nd

I really enjoyed Automatic Children's debut EP, "It's Not Me, It's You" (see previous post for EP review) but I haven't yet had a chance to catch the band live.

The band is playing a free show at Rockwood Music Hall on January 22nd. The show is at 7:30PM and Rockwood is 21+.

Here is Deli Magazine's review of the band's EP:

“Automatic Children's music is playful and aggressive, but not cold as you might expect from a band with a name like that.Their songs are rooted in traditional songwriting, with recurring references to pop and rock'n'roll, but the sound is gritty and distorted, reminding the unpolished tunes of Jesus and Mary Chain and The Pixies (alternating male/female vocals and a cover of Gigantic also tie this quartet to the Boston legends).”

Rockwood Music Hall is located at 196 Allen Street, just south of Houston St.

Links:
Automatic Children's MySpace page

Automatic Children Play Crash Mansion Tomorrow Night (Tuesday, Oct. 8th)

Automatic Children just released their debut CD and are playing a show at Crash Mansion tomorrow night. The EP is a lo-fi gem -- listeners will immediately pick up on the influence of The Pixies and the band is supposed to include a cover of Gigantic in their set. The last song on the disc, "Wake Up", continues the influence of the Boston-based bands and has a strong Sebadoh influence. Across this disc, the band's sound is diverse but the disc doesn't sound unfocused.

My favorite tracks on the new EP are the two rockers, "Dirty Weekend" and "Pity Party". The later track is rather interesting as the male/female vocal interplay is really similar to mid-80's X.

The new 5-song EP is entitled "It's Not Me, It's You" is available from CD Baby and directly from the band (nach!). The band's lyrical themes are interesting as well, dealing with a diverse range of subjects from hipsters ("Automatic People") to failing relationships ("Pity Party").

The band had their first official show at Southpaw last month for their CD release party and have already been named by Deli Magazine as an "Artist on the Rise".

The show tomorrow looks fun. Tickets are only $10 and the band is scheduled to play at 8:30PM.

Links:
Automatic Children's MySpace page