Brian Grosz Posts Three New Tracks as Free Downloads

DOWNLOAD: Brian Grosz - "Lady on the Low" (featuring a remix by Touch)

Originally released on the album Bedlam Nights (Exotic Recordings), "Lady On The Low" is now coupled with a Big Beat remix from one of the album's original engineers, Touch. While the original track represented everything we've come to expect from Grosz (bloozy swagger atop industrial clang), Touch has mangled and man-handled the song to the epic heights (and lows) of Latin dancehalls, gay discos and the over-tanned, fist-pumping legions, popularized by the subhumans of the Jersey Shore. And, in all honesty, that is far from a bad thing.


DOWNLOAD: Brian Grosz - "Once in a Lifetime"

Drawing heavily from the fever-dream/acid-trip lyrics of the original, Grosz re-imagined the Talking Heads classic "Once in a Lifetime" with a snarling two-string slide-bass and the percussive rhythms of a steam-punk submarine. And while there is "Water dissolving / And water removing" - it's also quite clear that the water Grosz sings about is on fire and the tide is quickly rising.


DOWNLOAD: Brian Grosz - "Seraphim"

Seraphim - named for the classification of Old Testament angels who sing the praises of God - is a pair of American standard spirituals, "Ain't it a Shame" and "Jesus on the Mainline." The former channels the essence of old Sun Records 45s with the sawdust and sideshows of a state fair while the latter evokes a late-night, kerosene-lit singalong on the front porch of a shotgun shack - having enlisted vocal talents from Emily Zuzik, Earl Greyhound's Matt Whyte, Suzanne Cerreta, Michael Fortner and Sean Toussaint.

Links:
Brian Grosz

Brian Grosz's "Damnation and Delusion Tour" Starts Tomorrow Night at Fat Baby

DOWNLOAD: Gene Priest and the Cardinal Sin - "Living to Die"
DOWNLOAD: Brian Grosz & the Bad Idea - "A Tap Tribute"

Save your liver tonight as there will be some serious drinking going on at Fat Baby tomorrow night when Brian Grosz and Gene Priest kick off their "Damnation and Delusion" tour.

Since the 2007 release of his debut solo album, "Bedlam Nights" (Exotic Records), Brian Grosz been presenting the world with his own skewed and gravel-voiced version of the American Blues and Spiritual traditions. Combining the ramshackle snarl of Tom Waits with the methadone nod of Mark Lanegan and the storm clouds that loom above P.J. Harvey, Grosz steeps his songs of masochistic sentiment in a tumbler of whiskey and then stirs it with the relic of a straight razor.

Melding the lo-fi sentimentality of Minor and Mark Linkous' Sparklehorse with the ethereal escapism of Radiohead, Priest and his ad-hoc backing band, The Cardinal Sin, explore the darkest corners of self-worth. The music crawls along through the dust, not because it hasn't learned to walk; rather, it simply doesn't see a need to stand. It's with underlying confidence and defiance, rather than apathy and malaise when Priest sings, "No, I don't care if I ever see the light."

Links:
Gene Priest
Brian Grosz

Gene Priest & The Cardinal Sin Release Free EP Through Brian Grosz's Lapdance Academy Collective

DOWNLOAD: Gene Priest & The Cardinal Sin - "Living to Die" EP

It can't be easy to be an agnostic when your last name is a religious title, but the world of Gene Priest's songs is not a very friendly place to begin with...

Gene Priest is ordinarily a sideman mainstay in the Knoxville, TN, music scene - manning the drum-kit for indie-rock acts HiLites and Cold Hands and the sludge-metal quartet, Hot Blood - but with equal doses of ego and humility, he has stepped into the footlights with his debut EP, "Living To Die," mixed in Knoxville by Scott Minor of Sparklehorse.

Melding the lo-fi sentimentality of Minor and Mark Linkous' Sparklehorse with the ethereal escapism of Radiohead, Priest and his ad-hoc backing band, The Cardinal Sin, deliver four songs intent on the exploration of the darkest corners of self-worth. The music crawls along through the dust on "Living To Die," not because it hasn't learned to walk; rather, it simply doesn't see a need to stand. It's with underlying confidence and defiance, rather than apathy and malaise when Priest sings, "No, I don't care if I ever see the light."

Here is the video for the title track, "Living to Die", which was edited together entirely out of public-domain film footage from the Prelinger Archive.



Links:
Gene Priest and The Cardinal Sin

Dogs of Winter (Brian Grosz) Release Debut CD as a Free Download; CD Release Show at Fat Baby on Wednesday, May 13th

Brooklyn-based hard rockers Dogs of Winter have released their debut CD, From Soil to Shale, as a free download and the band is playing a CD release show tomorrow night at Fat Baby.

"From Soil To Shale," the blistering 9-song debut from Dogs Of Winter, marks the trio's passage from decay and detritus into the splintery, dark mass of angular stone you see before you. Compressed under the weight of Russian amplification, steeped in science-fiction and late-night movies, the album comprises tales of gorgons, body-snatching extra-terrestrial nano-organisms, tribal-excommunication and the unceasing march of progress.

The new disc was mixed by Andrew Schneider (Cave In, Pelican, Scissorfight, Unsane) and mastered by Nick Zampiello (Converge, Torche). From Soil To Shale also features custom artwork by Joe Boyle which is embedded in each individual track and the accompanying PDF digi-booklet.

Here is the video for the lead-off track from the disc, "Player Piano":



You can download From Soil To Shale, PDF-digbooklet and track-specific album art at Brian's Lapdance Academy site.

Dogs of Winter are playing at 9PM tonight and admission is $5.00 if you print out the flyer (above).

Links:
Dogs of Winter's Website

Brian Grosz and Friends Play a Free "Death Taxes and Resurrection" Themed Show Tomorrow Afternoon (April 18th) at Parkside Lounge

DOWNLOAD: Brian Grosz - "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" (MP3)

Brian Grosz and friends are playing a show tomorrow afternoon at Parkside Lounge. According to Brian, all performers will be performing songs on the theme of "Death Taxes and Resurrection" and all attendees are encouraged to wear springtime pastels and easter bonnets (or dress as their favorite HR Block employee).

This should be a great way to spend the afternoon. The show is free -- there will be a pass the hat donation and part of the proceeds will go to the Save the Music Foundation.

Performers include:

Matt Whyte of Earl Greyhound
Alex Walker of Aloke
Brian Grosz
Emily Zuzik
Dorie Colangelo
Sam Barron
The Celebration of Man
The Knuckleheads
Seth Berkowitz
Len Xiang

Links:
Lapdance Academy (Brian's new artists collective)
Parkside Lounge

Dogs of Winter Post First Video "Player Piano" From Forthcoming CD (Exotic Recordings)

Brooklyn hard-rockers Dogs of Winter just released the first video from their forthcoming CD Arrythmia, which should be out next month as a free download.

Dogs of Winter - "Player Piano"



Dogs of Winter guitarist/vocalist Brian Grosz is playing a solo show at Fat Baby tomorrow night (check out the video below from Brian's show at Fat Baby from 2007) and Dogs of Winter's next show is at the "Love Me, Love Me Not Jubilee" at the Parkside Lounge this Saturday, Feb. 7th. The show at the Parkside Lounge starts at 2:00PM.


Links:
Dogs of WInter's MySpace Profile
Brian Grosz's MySpace Profile

The Priestess and The Fool (Meredith Dimenna & Brian Grosz) Release Free Christmas EP

Here is another Christmas EP that dropped today...

Ride on, Santa is the second release by Brian Grosz (Dogs of Winter) and Meredith Dimenna (Saint Bernadette) who record together under the name The Priestess and The Fool.

Covering both a Pogues tune (where the lyrics are "You scumbag, you maggot/You cheap lousy f*ggot/Happy Christmas your arse/I pray God it's our last") along with a song from The Muppets, this is anything but a typical Christmas CD. Having Brian Grosz in the band might explain some of this but check out the video below and you'll see also see the drunken male choir and the use of a washtub as a de-facto drum.



Here is the track list for the disc:

1) "Ride on, Santa, Ride On"
(Stan Kenton Orchestra featuring June Christy)
An essentially unknown track by the Stan Kenton Orchestra - with June Christy on lead vocals - is re-imagined by TPTF with wailing trumpets, clattering cookware and a drunken, male chorus of all colors, shapes, sizes and sexual orientations. Further proof that a bedroom can sound like a speakeasy at dawn... if you know how to live well.

2) "There Ain't No Hole in the Washtub"
(Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas)
This lynchpin of the much-beloved (or totally unknown) Jim Henson project, "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas," gets a boogie-woogie makeover to remind every dancer that life is grand if you can still wash your drawers. If you were fortunate enough to catch this underground classic on Betamax, you'll be wondering why the Riverbottom Nightmare Band hasn't had a reunion tour and a multi-million dollar contract with Live Nation.

3) "Fairy Tale of New York"
(The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl)
A country/western version of The Pogues' 1988 Christmas classic. While it might be hard to envision a holiday song that uses the words "slut", "maggot" and "drunk tank" - one must remember that the Irish also gave us banshees, James Joyce and Jameson whiskey. Happy Christmas, arsehole.

4) "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
(Frank Loesser)
A sexy, down-tempo interpretation shifts the scene from an innocent Christmas party to the balcony of an international playboy's mansion on the Riviera.

5) "Mele Kalikimaka/Waters of Babylon"
(Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters/Traditional)
Complete with the sound of a creaky canoe, a fishing reel and the haunting moan of a seagull, this Hawaiian Christmas ditty sails off into the sunset as Psalm 137 pulls into port. Only in the alternate holiday universe of The Priestess & The Fool could a canoe carrying the harmonies of Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters be followed by the baby Moses in a floating basket.

This has to be one of the better Christmas CDs that has come out over the last few years. As it is free, how can you say no?

Click on the cover photo to download the new EP.

Links:
The Priestess and The Fool's Website
The Priestess and The Fool's MySpace Profile

Brian Grosz Releases New Video -- "Can't Let Me Go" (from 'Bedlam Nights')

Brian Grosz' CD "Bedlam Nights" was one of my "Top 10" for 2007. Brian just released a new video for "Can't Let Me Go" (which is from the 'Bedlam Nights' CD) and the FX are subtle but very cool.




I like the feature on YouTube that shows related videos as I had overlooked Brian's video for "Cocaine and Chardonnay", which is a hidden track on 'Bedlam Nights'.



Links:
Brian Grosz' Website

Brian Grosz Returns to Luna Lounge on Friday, September 28th

Brian Grosz's first solo CD "Bedlam Nights" is one of my favorite records of the year. I'm regretting that I am going to miss this show as Brian and band put on a great live show. The band's sound is somewhere between Tom Waits and Nine Inch Nails and Brian's stage presence could be compared to Lee Ving. The chemistry within the band and with the audience really works. (Pick up the "Bedlam Nights" CD while you are at the show)

Tickets are only $5.00 and Brian is playing at 8:30PM.

If you still aren't convinced, check out the tracks from "Bedlam Nights" that are streaming on Brian's MySpace page. Also, check out Brian's "Infrequently Asked Questions" video (below). I haven't laughed this hard in a while...



Links:
Brian Grosz's MySpace page

Brian Grosz & Tiffany Randol Play Mo Pitkins Tomorrow Night (Aug. 6th)

If I were in town, I wouldn't miss this show. I caught Brian Grosz's CD release party at Luna Lounge a few weeks ago. Grosz is a compelling front-man and he and his band play Tom Waits influenced late night drinking music that sounds fabulous live.

Tiffany Randol is the lead singer for Valeze . I haven't heard Randol solo but Valeze has gotten quite a buzz around the 'net with their debut EP and live shows. You can find a number of mp3s and live pictures of the band if you do a Google search.

Tickets are only $7.

In addition to Grosz and Randol, Chris Lind and Luba Dvorak are also on the bill.

Check out picture and a review of Brian Grosz's CD release show at Luna Lounge in June.

This should be a fabulous show so...check it out (and pick up a copy of Brian Grosz's debut Bedlam Nights).

Brian Grosz @ Luna Lounge, Brooklyn, June 27, 2007

Brian Grosz held his CD release party this past Wednesday at the Luna Lounge. He played about a 45 minute set and was simply great. This was one of those shows where everything came together -- the lights were low, Grosz has a great voice and stage presence, the band sounded tight and there was a good-sized crowd that was responsive and enthusiastic. Grosz's new CD, Bedlam Nights, and his live show are definately worth checking out.

Grosz salutes the person who refreshed his Jack & Coke.

You have to admire a man who can play the ukulele while singing a song about cocaine and lap dances.




Here are Grosz's upcoming tour dates:
JULY 18 - 8pm - THE TONIC ROOM, CHICAGO, IL
JULY 24 - 8PM - CAT CLUB, W. HOLLYWOOD, CA

Links:
Brian Grosz's Main Website (link)
Brian Grosz's MySpace page (link)

Brian Grosz CD Release Party at Luna Lounge in Brooklyn on June 27th

Dogs of Winter frontman Brian Grosz is releasing his first solo CD this Tuesday and the CD release party is at the Luna Lounge the next night.

Musically, this disc is a departure from the hard-rock sounds of Dogs of Winter. Grosz heads into late-night, whiskey soaked territory occupied by Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Tom Waits and Everlast. There is a quote from Dee Snider on the press release that accompanied this CD that says "Tom Waits + Nine Inch Nails + a BAD attitude = One Cool Ass, Mutha F*cking CD". That is a pretty good description of what this disc sounds like. This is the kind of music that you can easily imagine coming off the jukebox in some down-and-out bar (think the Mars Bar in the East Village or Tommy's in Williamsburg) while the regulars are all trying to decide whether to drink all night or go home and sleep it off.

The songs on this disc cut across a range of styles and all of the tracks are held together by Grosz's strong voice, which ranges from a whiskey rasp to a whisper. The lyrical themes are all dark -- this isn't light stuff but rather tales of twisted relationships and murder/suicide ballads. The sound on this disc is full and open -- a welcome return to the days when music wasn't over-produced and the listener can really understand the driving forces behind the music. There is also some very interesting non-conventional instrumentation on this disc (cookware, cat purring, etc.) which adds to the atmosphere of the disc.


I am looking forward to seeing Grosz's show at Luna Lounge as the club has good sound and low lights which should make for a perfect atmosphere. Grosz goes on at 7:30PM and tickets are only $10.

Links:
Brian Grosz's Main Website (link)
Brian Grosz's MySpace Page (link)