I've read too many band bios that read something like the following - 'Timmy and Tommy were best friends since childhood and formed a Bright Eyes tribute band in high school. The duo started writing their own music (which Timmy's grandmother said sounds better than Bright Eyes) and moved to New York to make it big. Thus far, the duo has played legendary clubs like Sidewalk Cafe and Arelene's Grocery (where THE STROKES got their start!!)'.
To that point - Guillotine Riot's bio (below) is refreshing....and what is even better is that the band has the musical chops to back up their outlook on life. The songs on the band's new album (available as a free download) range from a cover of The Misfits' "Horror Hotel" to the angelic "Flower" (which is a song about total debauchery).
Guillotine Riot plays Fontana's on Wednesday, Nov. 28th along with Shattersound and Erica Glyn. Cover is $7 and Guillotine Riot go on at 11PM.
Minneapolis dance-rock duo Fort Wilson Riot came through town last December in support of their then new EP, "Generation Complex". If I had bothered with a "Best of 2011" list, this disc would have made the list as the EP pulled me in right away with its dark and catchy rhythms.
In their own music, Fort Wilson Riot isn’t just happy to let it stay the same either. Yes, they make great harmonies, with Amy’s soprano lifting and floating over Jacob’s growl and yelp, but there is nothing easily classifiable about the rest of their sound. From the crashing guitars and keys, to the blasting uplift of trumpet and harmonica lines to the dancing thump of electronic drums, Fort Wilson Riot are an energy that grabs a hold of you and takes you on a journey. The music doesn’t let up, and wherever they are, neither do Fort Wilson Riot.
Fort Wilson Riot are playing Fontana's on April 18th along with Shane Shane and The Tangibles. Cover is $7 and Fort Wilson Riot goes on at 9PM.
Indie dance-rock duo Fort Wilson Riot have a new EP, "Generation Complex", coming out Dec. 3rd. While on tour this fall, Amy Hager and Jacob Mullis teamed up with the LightBright group in Albuquerque, NM, to shoot a Freerange Show, an acoustic rendition of their lead single from the "Generation Complex" EP, "For All The Little Things".
The result is an intimate look at the structure of the Fort Wilson Riot's songwriting. As they harmonize, the interplay of the two voices and the nuanced inflections display the versatility and range of Hager and Mullis as musicians and performers. LightBright's airy, color-saturated production of this performance makes the video a little musical gem crowning this big week for Fort Wilson Riot.
Fort Wilson Riot is currently touring in support of the new EP and the band is playing a show at Fontana's on Dec. 12th along with Shane Shane (10PM) (who mentions on his Facebook page that his interests are "nipples, pronouncing nipples "nipp-o's").
Indie dance-rock duo Fort Wilson Riot have a new EP, "Generation Complex", coming out Dec. 3rd and are playing Fontana's on Dec. 12th. This new 6-track EP is coming out on a double EP split-vinyl release with psychedelic rockers Phantom Tails.
The new EP pulls you in right away with its dark and catchy rhythms but there is a lot more complexity and depth beneath the surface that reveals itself after repeat listens. There is so much going on in the music that it is hard to find a single label (or even a half-dozen labels) that describe Fort Wilson Riot....the disc starts with "For All the Little Things", which sounds something from Matt & Kim, and rapidly progresses into darkwave dance territory where the band sounds more like Apes & Androids or Shriekback. Regardless of labels, the end result is a captivating, unique sound where the band's songs hold up well after repeat listens.
In their own music, Fort Wilson Riot isn’t just happy to let it stay the same either. Yes, they make great harmonies, with Amy’s soprano lifting and floating over Jacob’s growl and yelp, but there is nothing easily classifiable about the rest of their sound. From the crashing guitars and keys, to the blasting uplift of trumpet and harmonica lines to the dancing thump of electronic drums, Fort Wilson Riot are an energy that grabs a hold of you and takes you on a journey. The music doesn’t let up, and wherever they are, neither do Fort Wilson Riot.
Fort Wilson Riot is taking the stage at 11PM at the show at Fontana's and they are playing with Shane Shane (10PM) (who mentions on his Facebook page that his interests are "nipples, pronouncing nipples "nipp-o's").
"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.
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.
MetalSucks has a great list of bands lined up for a CMJ Showcase at Fontana's on October 23rd. They describe this show as "devote[d]...to honoring the best and brightest of NYC’s metal bands, with a few special friends as well."
MetalSucks and NYC concert promoters 1000 Knives have announced details for the second of two shows they will be hosting at this year's CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. The show will be held the afternoon of Saturday, October 23rd at Fontana's in Manhattan (105 Eldridge St.). It will start at 4pm, admission will be $10, and it will be open to the general public, 21 and over. A limited number of CMJ badgeholders will be admitted.
Powerglove, who recently released their debut E1 album "Saturday Morning Apocalypse," will headline the event.
Currently rotating nine songs on US & UK radio, Voxhaul Broadcast are touring all summer to build steam for the release of their appropriately titled upcoming debut full-length Timing Is Everything (out November 2). Produced by Grammy Award winning producer Tom Biller (Silver Sun Pickups, Seawolf, Liars) with additional production from Chris Thorne (Blind Melon), Timing Is Everything showcases a growth in songwriting and pristine production while still holding true to the band’s trademark blend of R&B, rock and soul.
Voxhaul Broadcast is playing coast-to-coast shows this month with stops at Fontana's on Sept. 8th and The Rock Shop on Sept. 11th. The band is going on at 8PM at Fontana's and cover is $7. (Stick around to see Oh You Devil who are playing at 10PM). The band is playing with Robbers on High Street at The Rock Shop show. Tickets are $10 and Voxhaul Broadcast is playing at 10PM.
Ashton Nyte is considered to have pioneered alternative music in South Africa and he made his NYC debut at Fontana's with a CD release show for his latest disc The Valley (Intervention Arts Records). I had a chance to talk with Ashton before the show and this video also includes the first song from the set.
Here are Ashton's upcoming tour dates (which include a return trip to NYC on July 23rd):
Thursday, July 8 8:30PM (acoustic) Mars Cafe: 2318 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311-4316
Sunday, July 11 10:00PM (full band) Headhunters: 720 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701
Monday, July 12 8:00PM (full band) Avant Garden: 411 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77006
Tuesday, July 13 5:30PM (acoustic in-store appearance) Cactus Music: 2110 Portsmouth Street, Houston, TX 77098 Refreshments provided by St. Arnold Brewing Company
Thursday, July 15 9:00PM (acoustic) Checkpoint Charlie's: 501 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
Saturday, July 17 10:00PM (full band) The Highlands Taproom: 1279 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
Friday, July 23 8:00PM – 9:00PM (full band) The Gallery Bar: 120 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002-3177
Saturday, July 24 10:00PM (full band) Spellbound @ Recessions: 1823 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
"Ashton Nyte is a South African born singer, songwriter, producer, composer and front man of the South African alternative rock band The Awakening. Nyte has released five solo albums both as Ashton Nyte and Ashton Nyte and the Accused in addition to his numerous releases as The Awakening. He is considered to be a pioneer of alternative rock in South Africa and has been described as "something of a music[al] genius" for his typical method of composing, playing and recording each instrument himself on most of his releases. Nyte is widely known in South Africa for his chart-topping cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sounds of Silence" and several other top singles. His signature style combines baritone vocals akin to David Bowie and Johnny Cash, with instrumentation that ranges from Americana to alternative rock and even lo-fi indie rock. Themes of George Orwell's 1984 often infiltrate Nyte's work, along with numerous Christian references. Nyte has been based in the USA as of 2009." -– Wikipedia
Ashton Nyte just released his US debut, The Valley (on Intervention Arts Records), and he is playing a Best Buy in-store along with a release party (full band) show at Fontana's next Tuesday, June 29th. The Best Buy in-store is at the Union Square location (52 E. 14th Street) and Ashton is playing an acoustic set that starts at 4PM. The show at Fontana's is a full-band set which starts at 8:30PM. Both shows are free and there will be a pre-show open bar at the Fontana's show which starts at 7PM
Here is the video for "Jennifer", which is the first single from The Valley:
Metal Blade/Ironclad Recordings band Starring Janet Leigh was in town last week for a show at Fontana's, which was also the final night of the "Metal as Art" tour. The death/math-metal band has been touring behind their debut CD, Spectrum, which was released in 2009.
I had the chance to catch up with Matt Z. ( Guitar), Matt N. (Vocals) and Justin (Bass) before the show to talk a bit about Spectrum, the current tour and what's next for the band.
Starring Janet Leigh's set was great; the band plays death metal that is punctuated with some serious jazz breaks that is comparable to Mr. Bungle or a harder, more out-of-control version of Candiria. The music shifts from brutal chugging riffs to intricately played jazz notes and polyrhythmic drumming in the blink of an eye but all of it sounds very purposeful and focused.
Folsom, California alt-rock shoegazers Brown Shoe seem to be spending most of this year on the road. The band is back in town for shows at Public Assembly (on Monday night) and Fontana's (on Tuesday night). Monday night's show is with Trashed on Fiction and Black Swan Green; tickets are $10. Tuesday night's show is with Athens (from Chicago) and admission is $7.
Brown Shoe just released a video for "The War" which is from their third release Jackalope.
Justin Stivers has released two new Pet Ghost Project CDs as free downloads available through PetGhostProject.com.
The Wordless Conversation EP is a rich flurry of epic instrumental works while Idiot Brain/Genius Heart is a frolicking art-pop collection. Like past works by Pet Ghost Project, these lo-fi EPs will continue to rightfully cement comparisons to Animal Collective, Neutral Milk Hotel and Brian Wilson.
Pet Ghost Project have a number of upcoming shows around the area: 5/29 -- Fontana's (Record Release Show) 6/05 -- Goodbye Blue Monday - Brooklyn 6/07 -- Animal Shelter Benefit Show @ Arlene's Grocery 6/13 -- Northside Festival. Bar Matchless. - Brooklyn 6/19 -- Trash Bar - Brooklyn 7/11 -- Bar 4 - Brooklyn 7/16 -- Crash Mansion
Rooftop Films kicks off its 13th season this Friday with a series of short films, music by Cymbals Eat Guitars and an open bar after-party at Fontana's.
Friday's film series is entitled “This is What We Mean by Short Films” and these are the movies that "define the short film as a genre—quickly clever but profoundly rich, packed with hard-hitting humor and long-lasting poignancy". Cymbals Eat Guitars are opening the night and the band seems to be popping up everywhere these days. They are playing upcoming shows with White Rabbits at Bowery Ballroom and Art Brut at the Mercury Lounge. Pitchfork just included the band's self-released debut "Why Are There Mountains" in their list of "Best New Music".
FRIDAY, MAY 15, 8pm ALL AGES "This is What We Mean By Short Films" with Musical Guests Cymbals Eat Guitars Venue: The Open Road Rooftop Project (above New Design High School) Address: 350 Grand Street @ Essex (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
8:00PM: Doors open 8:30PM: Sound Fix presents live music by Cymbals Eat Guitars 9:00PM: Films 11:30PM - 1:00AM: Open Bar Fontana's (105 Eldridge St), courtesy of Radeberger Beer Tickets: $9 at the door or online at going.com
Here is the last song, "Hypnotized", from Dynasty Electric's performance at Fontana's last week. Dynasty Electric was playing a CD release show for their new disc, Burning,which is currently available from CD Baby.
Here are the band's upcoming tour dates:
May 15, 2009, 8:00PM, Newsonic - Burning Man Benefit Party, Brooklyn May 16, 2009, 8:00PM, Dewey Beach Chickfest, Dewey Beach May 30, 2009, 8:00PM, Flytrap Fest w/Turbotronix, Goldstreets, Brooklyn June 12, 2009, 8:00PM, Mercury Lounge, NY (w/ The Meat Puppets)
Photo by Jeffrey Hangerman Brooklyn electro/rock duo Dynasty Electric are having a release party tomorrow night at Fontana's for their new EP "Burning". Free copies of the new disc will be given out at the show.
One reviewer described Dynasty Electric's 2005 full-length debut as "Blondie on acid" and this new release is already generating some buzz. The video for "Closer to Contact", which is the lead-off track from the new EP, is currently making the rounds on the video sites . The video was produced by Superfad (who did the Durex Condoms balloon animal commercial in addition to doing spots for Nike and Nascar) and the story line behind the video seems to be a tribute to the movies Barbarella and Orgazmo.
For anyone who doesn't make it out tomorrow night, "Dynasty Electric" is currently available from CD Baby. For those going to the show, cover charge is $7.00. The video for "Closer to Contact" will be screened at 8:45PM and the band takes the stage at 9:00PM.
Dynasty Electric's next local show is June 12th at Mercury Lounge supporting the Meat Puppets.
Folsom, California alt-rock shoegazers Brown Shoe are playing a show at Fontana's on March 29th. The band is touring behind their third release Jackalope which came out toward the end of last year.
Here is how the Times-Delphic (which is the Drake University student paper) describes Brown Shoe:
Although the hint of different bands can be heard here and there, Brown Shoe's songs have their own unique flavor. They don't hit you with a lot of guitar right off the bat but, instead, build each song into its own musical story. Each note and chorus builds to end with a pleasant sound of soothing vocals and what Baggaley labels "tribal drums."
"Our sound is influenced by all of the current bands, but we try to separate ourselves from the music we enjoy in order to come up with our sound," said Aaron Baggaley, the band's guitarist.
Tickets for the show are $8.00 and the show starts at 8PM.
Check out "Aquarium" - the first video from Jackalope.
I have been hearing about Cinema, Cinema for some time but the band live set is really something to see. The band plays with a brutal ferocity and energy that reminds me of some of the bands that used to record for Amphetamine Reptile Records in the late 80's/early 90's. Fans of bands like Vaz, Hammerhead, Helmet and The Melvins would do well to give Cinema, Cinema a listen.
Cinema, Cinema is now down to a two-piece (which leads to easy comparisons to Vaz) and the video below captures the first two songs from the band's set.
Cinema, Cinema's new disc, Exile Baby, is due out November 25th on Digitone Records. The band is playing The Vanishing Point (240 Meserole Street, Brooklyn) on December 5th and Public Assembly on December 19th.
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.
Brooklyn's Bugs in the Dark just released the first video from their forthcoming CD "Grand Avenue". This is a great video and I have been really getting into the tracks that I have heard from this upcoming release. Check out Bug's MySpace page (link below) to hear Ave. M.
Bugs in the Dark's CD release show is at Fontana's on May 31st and tickets are $7.00.
Now that we are almost midway through the year - it is time for my 2008 predictions. Bugs in the Dark is one of the bands that I am expecting to break big this year.
The band recently completed their first full length CD, "Grand Avenue", and they are throwing a CD release party at Fontana's on May 31st. The band released an fabulous EP last year so I have high expectations for their full-length. There are two tracks ("Ave M" and "Gasoline") from the forthcoming release streaming on Bug in the Dark's MySpace page. Based on these two tracks, the band's sound has gotten fuller and these tracks are kin to the raw sounds of early Sonic Youth.
"Cancel everything and go see their next show." - Indie Sounds NY, Pete Harris
Fontana's is located at 105 Eldridge St. (between Grand and Broome) and cover is $7.00.
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