DC's Paperhaus Release 'Helicopters' from Forthcoming Sophomore EP 'Lo Hi Lo' (Out May 28th)

Based on the first track, "Helicopters", from DC's Paperhaus, I'm intrigued as the band sounds somewhat like Michael Hampton's (x-Faith, State of Alert) little-heard but much missed DC post-hardcore band Manifesto. Paperhaus is playing a show tonight in California and is working their way back east but...there are no local area shows scheduled.

Paperhaus released its alt-country styled self-titled EP in 2011, and will release its second effort, an EP entitled "Lo Hi Lo" on May 28th, 2013. "Lo Hi Lo" was recorded at DC's Inner Ear studios with producer Ivan Basuri, and reflects the more pop side of Paperhaus' psychedelic music. A full-length LP of more blues and funk influenced psychedelic music is already in the works and will be released in 2014.


Paperhaus' Spring 2013 Tour Dates:
04.30 • The Bat Cave (Arcata, CA)
05.01 • Valentine's (Portland, OR)
05.02 • El Corazon (Seattle, WA)
05.03 • Bird Stop (Caldwell, ID)
05.07 • GNU: Experience Gallery (Fort Collins, CO)
05.08 • Mouth House (Denver, CO)
05.09 • Side Door Lounge (Omaha, NE)
05.11 • Kitty Kat Club (Minneapolis, MN)
05.13 • Blank Space (St. Louis, MO)
05.14 • Haymarket Whiskey Bar (Louisville, KY)
05.16 • The Other Basement (Nashville, TN)
05.19 • Woodruff's (Ypsilani, MI)
05.20 • Mahalls 20 Lanes (Lakewood, OH)
05.21 • Basement Transmissions (Erie, PA)
05.23 • Anthony's House (Honeybrook, PA)
05.24 • BSP Lounge (Kingston, NY)
05.26 • The Elevens (Northampton, MA)
05.28 • People's Art Collective (New Haven, CT)
05.29 • Radio Bean (Burlington, VT)
05.30 • O'Briens (Boston, MA)



Paperhaus started in a basement in the suburbs of Washington, DC, where guitarists Alex Tebeleff and Eduardo Rivera spent their teenage years playing music together with ears buzzing from Radiohead, Television, and Fela Kuti. Miles away in Philadelphia, the dissonant vibrato of drummer Brandon Moses howled over distorted blues, while bassist John Di Lascio’s three drunken years playing absurdist prog-pop in shady Japanese yakuza bars were winding down.

When the haze cleared, these four musicians found themselves in the Red Door room in DC's legendary Gold Leaf Studios (R.I.P.), screaming raw vocal poetry into rickety old mics and bleeding cosmic noise through rusty tube amps. All night jams edged into anything from CAN to DC Gogo, while haunting noisescapes echoed of Sonic Youth and Scott Walker. Above it all hung country-blues and pop-oriented arrangements with deeply personal lyrics.

Links:
Paperhaus

The Nance (Staring Nathan Lane and Jonny Orsini) - Broadway Show Review / Show Runs Through June 16th

When watching Nathan Lane star in the new Broadway play The Nance, it is hard not to make comparisons to Lane’s role in the 1996 film “The Birdcage”. While “The Birdcage” was a ‘feel good’ that ended with (pre-Tea Party) conservative Republican Senator Kevin Keeley (essentially) accepting that his new in-laws are a gay couple, Nathan Lane’s character in The Nance never breaks free of the stereotypes and bigotry of that era.

Douglas Carter Beane's The Nance recreates the raucous world of burlesque's heyday and tells the story of Chauncey Miles (Nathan Lane) and his fellow performers. In the 1930s, burlesque impresarios welcomed the hilarious comics and musical parodies of vaudeville to their decidedly lowbrow niche. A headliner called "the nance" was a stereotypically camp homosexual and master of comic double entendre - usually played by a straight man.

The Nance is a tale of Miles’ struggle to balance his belief that he can find happiness being a part of ‘mainstream/conservative’ New York with his onstage flamboyant persona and his offstage love affair with Ned (Jonny Orsini).  Miles’ strong conviction that both his onstage and offstage personas are a normal part of the social fabric during Mayor LaGuardia’s cleanup of New York and his self-loathing for being unable to be a part of mainstream society leads to him to sabotage both his personal and professional life.  Lane’s comic delivery is dead-on perfect as he puts a veneer of deliciously wicked wit over Miles’ self-loathing.  The audience can see Miles visible struggle with his two personas as he attempts to reign himself in onstage when City License Commissioner Paul Moss is in the audience one night at the burlesque house.  Ultimately, Miles can’t reign in his demons and he ‘turns up’ the nance act for Moss, which results in the theater being closed, and follows this by sabotaging his relationship with Ned.  The play ends where it started – with Miles alone and looking for anonymous sex.  In spite of the play’s bittersweet ending, Lane’s character makes it clear that he has the strength to survive another day.

The Nance opened April 15^th and runs through June 16th at the Lyceum Theater (149 West 45^th Street).  There are seven shows a week (in addition to Wed– Sat nightly shows, there are 2:00PM shows on Wednesday and Saturday and a 3:00PM show on Sunday) and tickets range from $37 - $127. 

Links:

The Nance

Edinburgh's We Were Promised Jetpacks Play Maxwells on June 15th (Closest Show on Brief US Tour)

We Were Promised Jetpacks released their sophomore album, In the Pit of the Stomach, two years ago and this disc (in my not-so-humble opinion) was one of the best British indie-rock discs that I've heard in quite some time. The BBC described the disc as "powered by an edgy, nervous hunger – a sense of being on the verge of getting exactly what you want but full in the knowledge and with the expectation that it won’t ever actually happen."

We Were Promised Jetpacks will be releasing a live album and tour film this fall and the band is playing a short run of East Coast and Midwest shows in June.

We Were Promised Jetpacks June 2013 US Tour
June 6 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe
June 7 - Cincinnati, OH @ Fountain Square
June 8 - Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn's Pub
June 9 - Chicago, IL @ Ribfest Chicago
June 10 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
June 12 - Philadelphia, PA @ Morgan's Pier
June 13 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony
June 14 - Venna, VA @ Jammin' Java
June 15 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells (Advanced tickets are $20)



Links:
We Were Promised Jetpacks

Paul McCartney Reissues Radio-Only Promo of 'Maybe I'm Amazed' (Live) as a Ltd. Edition 12" for Record Store Day (Tomorrow)

Paul McCartney's triple-LP Wings Over America (documenting the band's 1976 "Wings Over America" tour) has always been on my list of Top-10 live albums of all time and a deluxe reissue of the disc is due out on May 28th.

For the vinyl geeks, tomorrow (for Record Store Day) Paul McCartney will be issuing "Maybe I'm Amazed" on 12" vinyl. This live version of “Maybe I’m Amazed” was originally serviced as a radio-only promotional 12" vinyl single back in 1976 to herald the release of Wings Over America. Newly reissued exclusively for Record Store Day, it faithfully reproduces the treasured Paul McCartney collectible and features both stereo and rare mono mixes of the classic track only available here.





Links:
Paul McCartney

Kopecky Family Band - "Kids Raising Kids" CD Review (ATO Records) // Show at Mercury Lounge on May 16th

Nashville buzz-band Kopecky Family Band (KFB) just re-released their playfully exuberant eleven-track debut disc, Kids Raising Kids, via ATO Records. The new disc mixes foot-stomping orchestral pop with vocal harmonies and ringing guitars that sound straight from the 60’s Laurel Canyon scene.

While the band’s music will strike a familiar chord with fans of music collectives like Broken Social Scene and The Polyphonic Spree, KFB seems more willing to reach beyond the boundaries of the genre than some of their contemporaries and frequently utilize the ‘exploding’ verse-chorus-verse alt-rock song structure that become popular in the 90’s. A prime example of KFB’s balance between multiple genres is found in the first two songs on the disc. “Wandering Eyes” starts out with a melancholy orchestral arrangement, which shortly gives way to an anthemic stomp-along. This is followed by the disc’s first single, “Heartbeat”, which is a slinky dance number that brings back fond memories of DC’s Quix*o*tic. In the second half of the disc, the band throws in elements of shimmery, echo-drenched dream-pop, which help ease the listener down from the colossal high of the disc’s earlier tracks.





The bright, irrepressible songs on Kids Raising Kids deal with navigating waters of change and facing challenges, and also see the band challenging themselves by creating a bigger sound than anything they've done before. In an interview with Pop ‘stache, Kelsey Kopecky said that the “title [of the disc] came from an idea Markus [Midkiff] had. He has a little girl named Ella who’s three and a half and it made us think, it was just that idea of young people having kids. After we started playing with the idea, we realized it was more than that. At heart, we’re all kids raising kids in this world. We’re all in this together with this sharing of experiences."


Kopecky Family Band Tour Dates:

APR. 3 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- BRICK AND MORTAR
APR. 4 -- LOS ANGELES, CA -- THE SATELLITE
APR. 5 -- SAN DIEGO, CA -- SODA BAR
APR. 6 -- PHOENIX, AZ -- PUB ROCK
APR. 8 -- ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- LOW SPIRITS
APR. 18 -- CLARKSVILLE, TN -- RIVERS AND SPIRES FESTIVAL
APR. 27 -- OXFORD, MS -- DOUBLE DECKER FESTIVAL
MAY 8 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- THE BLACK CAT*
MAY 9 -- PITTSBURGH, PA -- CLUB CAFÉ*
MAY 10 -- CHILLICOTHE, OH -- PAPER CITY MUSIC SERIES*
MAY 11 -- CINCINNATI, OH -- MOTR PUB*
MAY 14 -- CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- THE SOUTHERN
MAY 15 -- NEW HAVEN, CT -- BAR

MAY 16 NEW YORK, NY  -- MERCURY LOUNGE
Note: Tickets are $10 and doors are at 9:30PM (late show). Charlotte, NC’s Matrimony is opening the show.

MAY 18 -- ANNAPOLIS, MD -- RAM'S HEAD ON STAGE
MAY 20 -- ASHEVILLE, NC -- ISIS MUSIC HALL
JUN. 21-3 -- DOVER, DE -- FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL
* supporting He's My Brother She's My Sister

Links:
Kopecky Family Band

Blind Melon Release Deluxe Edition of 1992 Debut Album with Five Unreleased Tracks (Out April 16th on Capital/UMe)

After reviewing Blind Melon bassist Brad Smith's last Abandon Jalopy disc, I've been looking for an opportunity go back and give a listen to Blind Melon. The reissue of the band's 1992 self-titled debut may be a good place from which to reassess my (somewhat dated) views of the band's music as this new deluxe edition includes the original 12-track disc plus five bonus tracks from a scrapped session that the band recorded in Los Angeles with Neil Young producer David Briggs (entitled 'Sippin' Time Sessions'). There are some bootleg videos from this session on YouTube and I like what I've heard thus far.

Blind Melon’s self-titled 1992 debut album, Blind Melon, featuring the now-iconic “bee girl” on its cover, has been remastered for the first time and expanded with the band’s previously unreleased “Sippin’ Time Sessions” EP for release on CD and digitally by Capitol/UMe on April 16. Creation of the new edition has been overseen by band members Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn. On April 20, a 180-gram gatefold 2LP vinyl edition of the remastered Blind Melon album and “Sippin’ Time Sessions” EP will be available exclusively at Record Store Day-participating retailers.

Blind Melon’s lead single, “No Rain,” became a phenomenon when coupled with the brilliant music video that launched a thousand “bee girl” Halloween costumes. The song broke the fledgling band into major stardom as a No. 1 chart smash on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock singles charts, and it went Top 5 on the Top 40 Mainstream singles chart. The album’s second single, “Tones Of Home,” was a Top 10 Mainstream Rock hit. Blind Melon peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.

The band’s first professional studio recordings, cut at Sound City Studios in 1991, comprise the previously unreleased, five-song “Sippin’ Time Sessions” EP: “Dear Ol’ Dad,” “Soul One,” “Tones Of Home,” “Seed To A Tree,” and “Mother.” Included in all of the new edition’s configurations, the EP’s tracks have been newly remixed by Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn.



"When I pulled up the tracks, I was immediately taken back to the feeling of walking into a big studio for the first time,” says Brad Smith. “Everyone seemed to be on fire, especially Shannon. It was super refreshing to hear full takes without overdubs! 2" tape, 24 tracks and dudes in a room with mics... amazing! David Briggs took us to Sound City because he had worked there with Neil Young and really liked the Neve board that was in there. Listening back to the tapes, I realize he made the perfect choice for us. We are lucky to have these recordings!"

“I am very excited that these recordings are finally being heard,” says Christopher Thorn. “As I was mixing the tracks I realized just how lucky we were to record at the legendary Sound City Studios with John Hanlon as our engineer and David Briggs as our producer. They taught us so much about how to capture our sound on tape. David was in the tracking room with us, conducting and dancing along with us. I felt so inspired by him. It is one of my favorite memories during this session. This was a magical time for our band and I am very excited that our fans will finally get to hear and feel just how pumped we were to be making our first recordings. Hearing Shannon's voice on these recordings gave me chills and reminded me why I still miss him every day."

Blind Melon’s founding members, Shannon Hoon (vocals), Rogers Stevens (guitar), Christopher Thorn (guitar), Brad Smith (bass), and Glen Graham (drums), each hailing from small towns in Mississippi, Indiana and Pennsylvania, first crossed paths in the late 1980s as young Los Angeles transplants, all seeking like-minded musical collaborators somewhere outside the city’s tangle of metal band hair. They came together to form Blind Melon and signed with Capitol Records in 1991; their self-titled debut was released the following year.

Blind Melon’s second album, Soup, was released in 1995. After a concert in Houston on October 20, 1995, Hoon died at the age of 28. Without Shannon Hoon, Blind Melon’s remaining members decided it would be best to end the band, and they went on to pursue their own interests. The band would go into hiatus for the next 12 years.

Over the years, it was clear that there was still an unmistakable demand for the band. It was around 2007 that Smith and Thorn were asked to produce a few tracks for Texas-based singer/songwriter, Travis Warren – who also happened to be a diehard Blind Melon fan. Working with Warren on his demo, Smith jokingly said to Thorn that Warren “could sing Blind Melon songs in his sleep.” The idea was born. The four remaining members – who hadn’t been in the same room in years – came together to be reacquainted with each other, and to meet with Warren. Soon after, it had become apparent that they had finally located Blind Melon’s new singer. With Stevens and Graham reclaiming their original positions, Blind Melon was back.



Setting up shop at Wishbone Studios, the reformed band spent most of 2007 writing and recording. But before issuing a new album, the group decided to introduce their newest member via a highly successful and completely sold out club tour in late 2007. If the strong response from fans at these shows is any indication, the group’s upcoming shows and forthcoming new music will continue to spread the word even further. The band has since performed all over the globe and plans on continuing to write, record and play into 2013, celebrating their 20 years of dedication to their music and to keeping Shannon`s memory alive.

Links:
Blind Melon

Khaled Dajani: Alt-Fusion Guitarist Plays Record Release Show at Pianos on Jan. 30th

Khaled is a groundbreaking artist originally from Saudi Arabia, whose unique brand of Alternative World Fusion music combines Hard Rock, Spanish style guitar and Middle Eastern music elements. Dajani moved to the U.S. over 10 years ago to pursue his dream of playing rock music and is completely self taught. Khaled is playing a record release show at Pianos on January 30 to celebrate the release of his fourth disc, Luci - a concept album that brings together art, poetry and bold musical combinations, including Middle Eastern and Spanish guitar, driving horns, rock guitar and percussion, and passionate strings.


The album opens with the brief ambient guitar intro “Hello”, then tosses the listener immediately into “A Mad World” that features driving electric guitar riffs, frantic trumpets, and foreboding vocals. The theme of temptation weaves throughout the songs (“Trouble”, “Motions of the Dancers” and “All Mine”) as well as the theme of seduction in “Lazy River” which fades into the lush atmospheric strings in “Timeless”. “Motions of the Dancer” and “Falling”, the two instrumental tracks on the album, consists of expressive acoustic guitar with percussion and varying tempos that build to a frenzy. The album comes to a passionate climax with “Luci”, a song about the confrontation with Lucifer, followed by a return to freedom with the final song “Yellow Bird”.





Tickets for the show at Pianos are $10 in advance and $12 DOS and Khaled goes on at 7PM.

======================================

Born in Saudi Arabia, Khaled Dajani moved to the US when he was 16 and, against his traditional upbringing, chose to pursue his musical passion with a vengeance. “I was always told, ‘Wise up and get a job and start a family!’ It only made me want to work harder on my craft, so I developed my voice, guitar technique, and unique composition style that I call alternative world fusion.”


Dajani performs regularly throughout New York City, Hoboken, Washington DC, and Pittsburgh. He has already released three albums independently and has toured the US extensively. He also plans to release a series of thematic music videos after Luci’s release. Calling Luci his most ambitious project to date, Dajani says about its creation, "I set out to record one of the most influential albums of all time." He describes, "It’s about being bold and honest and demanding more art, poetry and music. That's what I strive to achieve.”

Links:
Khaled Dajani

Pink Cream 69 - 'Ceremonial' CD Review (Frontiers Records)

German melodic hard-rock band Pink Cream 69 is back with their eleventh disc, Ceremonial, which is their first studio disc since 2007’s In10sity. For anyone who isn’t up to speed with PC69’s music - to give a reference point - the band’s original vocalist Andi Deris left in 1994 to join Helloween. This isn’t to say that PC69 is a power metal outfit – rather they play gritty but melodic, guitar-driven arena rock and their sound would fit well sharing a bill with a band like Helloween. For those who are familiar with the band, Ceremonial includes a familiar mix of hard-rock AOR anthems and rock ballads but - this time out - the band adds some heavy, blues-based numbers, which feature thick guitar riffs wrapped into a near-claustrophobic wall of sound.

The disc starts out strong with “Land of Confusion”, which opens with a brief middle-eastern guitar line before the band kicks in with some big, bluesy, groove-oriented riffs. “Wasted Years” and “Special” follow this track and these two songs are a return to PC69’s classic AOR sound. “Find Your Soul” and “Right From Wrong” go back into the bluesy dirge (sort of AIC sounding) of the first track which “Find Your Soul” complements with some psychedelic leanings. The band keeps pushing the borders of the genre with “Let the Thunder Roll”, which shows them almost crossing over into power metal territory. The band slows the tempos and brings in some acoustic guitar for ”Passage of Time” and “King for One Day” (which sounds a bit like Whitesnake) but both of these numbers have more teeth and b*lls than most of the current rock ballads of today. The disc ends on a high note with “Superman”, which is a slow-burning rocker that sounds like late 70’s Bad Company.

While Pink Cream 69 may not (yet) have a lot of name recognition in the US, fans of melodic hard rock would be well served checking out this new disc.



Links:
Pink Cream 69

Tim Kasher (Cursive) Announces March Shows at Knitting Factory and Maxwell's

(Photo: Jess Ewald)

Tim Kasher, frontman for Cursive, has announced a new run of solo tour dates in March. The tour will begin on March 12th at The Space in Hamden, CT and will wrap on on March 23rd at Schuba's in Chicago, IL, and includes two New York area shows on the 14th at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn and the 15th at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ. A full itinerary is below.

Kasher is currently getting ready to record the follow-up to his 2010 debut solo LP, The Game Of Monogamy, which earned praise from Alternative Press, The A.V. Club, Ghettoblaster, SPIN, Under The Radar, and USA Today, among others. He'll be performing new songs in addition to tracks from Monogamy throughout the tour, and an array of friends will back him on varying accompaniment in each city.

Kasher's most recent album with Cursive, I Am Gemini, was released last February via Saddle Creek.

Tim Kasher Tour Dates:
MAR. 12 - HAMDEN, CT - THE SPACE*
MAR. 13 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - JOHNNY BRENDA'S*
MAR. 14 - BROOKLYN, NY - KNITTING FACTORY* (Advance tickets: $12)
MAR. 15 - HOBOKEN, NJ - MAXWELL'S* (Advance tickets: $12)
MAR. 16 - BOSTON, MA - GREAT SCOTT*
MAR. 20 - OMAHA, NE - O'LEAVER'S
MAR. 21 - OMAHA, NE - O'LEAVER'S**
MAR. 22 - CHAMPAIGN, IL - MIKE N' MOLLY'S**
MAR. 23 - CHICAGO, IL - SCHUBA'S**
* Birthmark supports
** Brighton MA supports

Links:
Tim Kasher

Snakecharmer - 'Snakercharmer' CD Review (Frontiers Records)

Newcomers, UK rock band Snakecharmer is a super-group comprised of long-time veterans from some very successful British blues/hard-rock band and the band’s self-titled debut album comes out on Frontiers Records on Feb. 5th. The band plays bluesy, guitar-driven arena rock so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the band was brought together by original Whitesnake members Micky Moody (guitar) and Neil Murray (bass). Other members of the band include Adam Wakeman (Ozzy/Black Sabbath) on keyboards, Laurie Wisefield (x-Wishbone Ash) on guitar, Harry James (x-Thunder, Magnum) on drums and Chris Ousey (x-Virginia Wolf, Heartland). Similar to Moody and Murray’s previous project, Company of Snake, this new band is closer in sound to Bad Company than Whitesnake but you can hear elements of the ‘snake and even early Foreigner in some of the songs.

“I met up with Neil Murray a couple of years ago and we spoke about playing a few gigs together for fun and old times' sake," says Micky Moody. "The obvious choice was early Whitesnake material, so when Neil suggested Laurie Wisefield and Harry James, I jumped at it. Chris Ousey was highly recommended and Adam had depped for Company of Snakes some years back. We went out as Monsters of British Rock mostly performing the songs of early Whitesnake, Thunder Heartlands and a Laurie Wisefield original and we caught the attention of Martin Darvill, head of QEDG Management, who suggested we record an album of original material, which we did. The result is Snakecharmer on the Frontiers label."



The disc kicks off with “My Angel” – which clearly takes a page out of the Whitesnake songbook and starts with Chris Ousey singing backed by an acoustic guitar. The rest of the band doesn’t join in until about a minute later to kick the song into high gear, with one of the two guitarists laying down some chunky guitar riffs. Right as the song hits full throttle, the band seamlessly breaks away for a short keyboard and acoustic guitar(s) interlude but Micky Moody joins in to pick up the pace with some killer slide guitar riffs. This song is a good indication of the sound of the rest of the disc as most of the other songs are variations around a similar guitar-driven, hard-rock core.

“To The Rescue”, “A Little Rock and Roll” and “Turn of the Screw” are all bluesy rockers in the style of Bad Company and any of these songs could be a big hit on classic rock radio. “Stand Up” and “Guilty as Charged” showcase Adam Wakeman’s keyboards alongside the duo guitar attack and sound similar to early Foreigner. “Fallen Leaves” is a welcome throwback to when rock ballads still had teeth (maybe Bon Jovi or Poison could learn something from this disc) and the remainder of the tracks are melodic hard rockers.



This disc will have an immediate appeal to fans of Whitesnake and Rainbow. Snakecharmer will also strike a familiar chord with anyone who went to an arena rock show in the 70’s or 80’s as these are the types of songs that you can sing along to after one or two listens and there isn’t bad track on the disc.

Shakecharmer made their live debut just over a year ago as special guests of Uriah Heep. The band played a small number of high-profile festivals over the course of 2012 and more dates are supposed to follow later this year.



Links:
Snakecharmer

The Neighbourhood: California Indie-Pop/Trip-Hop Band Plays Glasslands Gallery on Jan. 14th

Just one year ago California’s The Neighbourhood revealed their music to the public for the first time, and they will be at Glasslands Gallery on Monday (Jan.14th) to tout their newest slew of releases. The core of the band’s sound is an approachable meshing of pop and R&B, but a mischievous production aesthetic that embraces sound manipulation and sampling complicates the mix along with dark lyrical subject matter, making the overall experience as haunting as it is catchy.

Their debut EP "I’m Sorry…" was released in May of 2012 getting a huge response from the blogosphere, including Mostly Junk Food who proclaimed, "While the widespread love is more than great, what impresses me most about The Neighbourhood is that every release leaves the fans asking for more. We have an insatiable appetite for their music.” They followed up in December with the 2-song release 'Thank You', delving further into sampler acrobatics. Their debut full-length is slated for a March release.



For the Glasslands Gallery show, The Neighbourhood is playing alongside the bombastic alt-rock of NYC’s The Doorbells and tickets are $12.

Links:
The Neighbourhood

Everest Cale & Stone Cold Fox - Live Photos from Show at Pianos, Jan. 4, 2013

Last Friday, Brooklyn band Everest Cale premiered the video for their song "Beast" (title track from the band's latest EP) and followed this with a full live set. I reviewed "Beast" last year and compared the band's roots-rock sound to artists like Kevn Kinney and Connor Oberst but the band hits much harder when playing live. While Everest Cale haven't abandoned their core country-blues sound, their live interpretation is closer to Crazy Horse than either of the artists that I mentioned earlier. I was speaking to bassist Aaron Nystrup after the show and he said that the songs on "Beast" date back a number of years and the band is going into the studio early this year to record some of these harder-edged numbers.



My one regret of the evening is that I only brought a still camera and left my video camera at home but there will be other nights - Everest Cale is playing next at Tammany Hall (152 Orchard St) on Saturday, Jan. 19th.





Stone Cold Fox also has a fuller live sound than their new EP, "The Young", would suggest. When reviewing their disc, I compared them to Radiohead and The Walkmen - thinking their sound leaned toward Radiohead - but, live, Stone Cold Fox is closer in sound to The Walkmen and/or later period Replacements.



Check out the indie-pop side of Stone Cold Fox with this stripped-down studio performance of "Give Up The Kids".



Stone Cold Fox is playing next at The Paper Box (in East Williamsburg/Bushwick) on Sat., Jan. 19th. Also on the bill are Nightmare River Band, Watermelon, Rich Mahogany, D. Gookin and Aotearoa. Tickets are $10 and doors are at 7PM.

Links:
Everest Cale
Stone Cold Fox

Charlotte Sometimes: 'The Voice' Finalist Hosts Birthday Bash and Free Show at Norwood Club on Tues., Jan.15th

New York alt-rock singer (and Warped Tour veteran) Charlotte Sometimes is hosting a birthday bash for her 25th birthday along with playing a free show on Tuesday, Jan. 15th at Club Norwood (241 West 14th Street). [Note: the email to RSVP is on the show poster]

Before celebrating her 25th birthday, pop songstress Charlotte Sometimes has already found herself praised by critics and superstars alike. As Blake Shelton, her coach on NBC's The Voice recently put it, "She's a true artist and true artists have visions".

This vision is perfectly captured on the new EP, "Circus Head", a 5-song gem showcasing the signature style which "earns her instant attention". (The New York Times) From the infectiously catchy opener, "Brilliant Broke and Beautiful," to the sentimental "Paint The Sky," "Circus Head" puts Charlotte's strong and attention grabbing vocals on display atop perfectly crafted pop hooks.





In addition to making the top 24 on Season 2 of The Voice, Charlotte Sometimes has been named a VH1 "You Oughta Know" artist and one of the "Top 100 Bands You Need To Know" by Alternative Press magazine. She has toured in support of Butch Walker, Gavin Degraw, Pat Monahan and The Hush Sound.

Links:
Charlotte Sometimes

Steve Howe Leaves Asia (band) / Newcomer Sam Coulson Named as Replacement

Guitarist Steve Howe has announced his departure from Asia and he will be replaced by Sam Coulson (who has the reputation as a shredder, so I'm not sure I see the fit). Remembering back to something that Geoff Downes had posted circa 1999 - 2000, one of the reasons he pulled out of the then Asia reunion was that Steve Howe wasn't invited to participate. I had always heard that Howe didn't get along with John Wetton so Steve's departure doesn't come as a shock but...the Asia lineups with Mandy Meyer and Pat Thrall replacing Howe always seemed to be missing 'something' as Howe's playing is a prominent part of Asia's sound.

Here is Steve Howe's quote: "I have left Asia to concentrate on Yes, my solo work & my Trio. I've enjoyed the 6 years of touring and recording with Asia, but now it's time to focus more on the above mentioned formations. —Steve"

Here is the quote from the remaining members of Asia: "John Wetton, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer are delighted to announce that not only do they have an incredible talent in place to step into Steve Howe’s shoes, but also that their first international show with newcomer Sam Coulson will be a high profile performance at Sweden Rock 2013. Sam is a wonderful player, world-renowned amongst guitar virtuosos. Additionally, a new studio album, to be entitled ‘Valkyrie’, will be recorded for Frontiers Records during 2013 continuing the band’s relationship with the label.

John Wetton said, “ASIA is ready to take its next steps along this remarkable road. We cannot wait to perform again for the fans and also to unveil some of the new material, of which we are very proud”. Geoff Downes said, “We look forward to writing another chapter in Asia’s history”. Carl Palmer commented, “We’re all looking forward to the next decade of great ASIA music”."

Check out Sam Coulson's playing and see what you think...





Links:
Asia

Mission of Burma Plays Bowery Ballroom on Friday, January 18th

DOWNLOAD: Mission of Burma - "Second Television"

(Photo: John Foster)

Mission of Burma are coming back through town next Friday night, Jan. 18th for a show at Bowery Ballroom. The band is touring behind their gloriously noisy and rumbling disc Unsound, which came out last summer on Fire Records, and the band is bringing along a full horn section for this show.

Opening for Burma is Exclamation Pony (featuring Ryan Jarman from The Cribs and Jen Turner from Here We Go Magic) and the show starts at 9PM. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 DOS.



Unsound is Mission of Burma’s fifth studio album, continuing their remarkable legacy. It seems redundant now to even call it a comeback because they’re a dynamic, current band, but having disbanded just four years after they formed in 1979, when they reformed eighteen years later and went on to record ONoffON in 2004, no one expected them to keep putting out records; let alone records that were every bit as vital and influential as their seminal early recordings. Their first album, Vs, is down in the annals of music as being one of the most important post-punk records of all time. Their subsequent recordings continue to expand on that and grow in scope, depth and accomplishment with every step.

As part of the manifesto to stretch musical boundaries, Roger wrote two of his songs “Opener” and “ADD in Unison” on the bass rather than guitar, and another ("Dust Devil") was based on an acoustic guitar improvisation. Both Clint and Peter also tweaked their writing just enough to make them feel it was actually worthwhile making another record. They also decided to use trumpet on the record, so Bob pulled out his trumpet playing skills to oblige.

Peter Prescott describes the experience: “We are a four headed hydra trying to create unity without canceling or censoring each head. So we juggle melody, groove, noise, depression, disruption, ecstasy… tension, release. I guess it’s thrilling for us to walk that musical plank.”

Clint Conley describes being in the studio: “There were certain technological advances as well, that might have been unthinkable just a few short years ago, in a distant time and century. During the mix at Woolly Mammoth, Peter occasionally opted for a virtual presence. From time to time a hologram of his head would appear, hovering in a darkened corner, issuing directives and encouragement. Not to say there weren't occasional glitches in the system. For a few days the hologram seemed locked in a mystifying loop, calling for more cymbals, regardless of whether the band were working on a mix or ordering Vietnamese food.”

Links:
Mission of Burma

Wake Owl - 'Wild Country' CD Review (Vagrant) // Show at Rockwood Music Hall on Feb. 22nd

Wake Owl began with primary member Colyn Cameron, who started writing songs around age 16. The Vancouver, by way of Southern California, native traversed the world in his late teens and early 20s and his vast travels acted as a songwriting catalyst: after returning home to British Columbia and spending a brief period playing in other bands, Cameron began creating and recording his own songs as Wake Owl. Now also comprised of multi-instrumentalist Aiden Briscall and additional supporting players, Wake Owl has toured Canada supporting Bahamas, Zeus and The Jezabels, and have played a number of their own US shows. The band's debut EP, "Wild Country", comes out January 29th on Vagrant Records.

"Wild Country" is comprised of six tracks and has a distinctly Southern California sound. Cameron's lyrics are introspective but he breaks away from his alt-folk contemporaries by adding rich vocal harmonies and the band's pedal steel, violin, and brushed drums take on a mellow rock sound rather than alt-folk. The end result sounds like something that could have come out of Laurel Canyon in the 70's and has elements of both Crosby, Stills and Nash and the initial albums from the Lindsey Buckingham lineup of Fleetwood Mac.

The music is fairly varied across the disc's six tracks - opener "Wild Country" starts out with a acoustic guitar providing the foundation for a twisting and bending electric guitar line but other instruments kick in shortly thereafter and the song molds itself into a moody SoCal rock number. "You'll Never Go" is an upbeat number that is powered by Cameron's upfront vocals and the song has a repetitive, catchy rhythm that is likely to have a live audience swaying in place. This is followed by "Gold" which has a melancholy aura as the sparse piano and emotive vocals of the song's beginning build up to a sing-along chorus where Wake Owl sounds a sounds a bit like Fleetwood Mac. A demo version of "Gold" closes this disc and this is a nice counterpoint as this demo version is stripped down and rawly emotive. Overall, the six songs on this new EP pass by way too quick leaving me looking forward to a full-length release from the band.



Wake Owl Tour Dates:
Feb 08 - Sunset, Seattle, WA
Feb 09 - Bunk Bar, Portland, OR
Feb 14 - 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
Feb 17 - Old Town School of Folk / Szold Hall, Chicago, IL
Feb 20 - Cafe 939, Boston, MA

Feb 22 - Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2), New York, NY
* Tickets are $10 and this is an early show - 6:30PM doors.  Opening band is (probably) Andy Shauf

Feb 23 - First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA
Feb 25 - Jammin Java, Vienna, VA
Feb 26 - Brillobox, Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 28 - Basement, Nashville, TN
Mar 03 - Riot Room, Kansas City, MO
Mar 04 - Hi-Dive, Denver, CO
Mar 07 - Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA
Mar 08 - Hotel Utah, San Francisco, CA
Mar 09 - Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA

Links:
Wake Owl

Win Tickets to One of 16 Broadway Productions and a Gift Card to Tony's Di Napoli Italian Restaurant from Broadway's Season of Savings Book

Season of Savings and Broadway World present the “You Take The Town” Sweepstakes!

"To ring in the New Year, we’re giving YOU a chance to win dinner and a show on us! Visit our Facebook page each day from January 7 - 23 to enter for your chance to win! One lucky winner will be selected each day to receive two tickets to a different participating Season of Savings show and a gift card to Tony’s Di Napoli. Entries must be posted by midnight each day.  Each winner will be chosen at random and notified via email by 10AM on the day following each drawing."

Entry Process
Anyone who wishes to enter the drawing for any of the prizes will be able to do so on the Season of Savings Facebook page. Multiple entries can be earned by “sharing” the contest with their friends and followers. All winners will be chosen at random.

Prizes
/ 2 tickets to a participating Season of Savings show
/ A $75 gift card for dinner at Tony’s Di Napoli

Links:
Official Website: http://www.SeasonofSavings.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SeasonofSavingsBway
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SeasonofSavings

Camper Van Beethoven to Release 'La Costa Perdida' - First Studio Album in Nine Years / Show at Stage 48 on Jan. 19th with Cracker

(Photo: Jason Thrasher)

Camper Van Beethoven – the beloved, genre-mashing musical unit and one of the bands that created the indie rock genre – has confirmed its first album in nine years with La Costa Perdida (January 22 / 429 Records). The release will mark CVB's first album recorded as a unit with the band cutting songs organically with all in attendance and produced entirely by the band's members. La Costa Perdida vividly depicts untamed characters and bizarre experiences on northern California's coastline, where the band began its musical adventures.

On the making of La Costa Perdida, Victor Krummenacher says, "The coolest part was that everything flowed from the fact that these distinctive musicians and personalities sat in the living room. Four people are writing it. The songs have great energy, but we're more relaxed and stately and a lot more confident."

Camper Van Beethoven is: Victor Krummenacher (bass, baritone guitar), Greg Lisher (guitars), David Lowery (guitars and vocals), Chris Pedersen (drums), Jonathan Segel (violin, guitar, mandolin, organ, backing vocals) and new addition Michael Urbano (drums and percussion). [Joining the band for their winter tour dates is longtime CVB and Cracker drummer Frank Funaro.]



Also led by Camper Van Beethoven's frontman David Lowery, Cracker will be joining CVB's run of winter dates. Cracker has been described as a lot of things over the years: alt-rock, Americana, insurgent-country, and have even had the terms punk and classic-rock thrown at them. But more than anything Cracker are survivors. Cofounders Lowery and Johnny Hickman have been at it for 20 years now - amassing nine studio albums (their most recent, 2009's critically acclaimed Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey), multiple gold records, thousands of live performances, hit songs ("Low," "Euro-Trash Girl" and "Get Off This" to name just a few) that are still in current radio rotation around the globe, and a worldwide fan base - that despite the major sea-changes within the music industry - continues to grow each year. Along with longtime drummer Frank Funaro (since 1998's Gentleman's Blues) and bassist Sal Maida (since 2006's Greenland), this uniquely American band has no intentions of slowing down.

Camper Van Beethoven/Cracker Winter Tour Dates
Jan. 18 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
Jan. 19 - Stage 48 - New York, NY (Doors are at 6:30PM and tickets are $20)
Jan. 20 - Middle East Downstairs - Cambridge, MA
Jan. 23 - Sky City - Augusta, GA (CVB only)
Jan. 24 - 40-Watt Club - Athens, GA (CVB only)
Jan. 25 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC (CVB only)
Jan. 26 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA (CVB only)
Jan. 27 - Mountain Stage - Charleston, WV (CVB only with Calexico and Bonnie "Prince" Billy)
Feb. 23 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR (CVB only)

Links:
Camper Van Beethoven
Cracker

Loren Benjamin Plays Pre-New Year Show at Rockwood Music Hall, Friday, Dec. 28th at 7pm

NYC-based singer-songwriter Loren Benjamin, is influenced heavily by the music of the 60's and 70's, including classic songwriters like Elton John and Billy Joel as well as The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Born and raised in New York City, he consistently delivers stunning performances at many great NYC venues, including Highline Ballroom last April and BB King in Times Square earlier this month. Loren plays the guitar and the piano, and is an extremely talented and prolific songwriter, with catchy instrumentals and sensitive lyrics that touch the heart.


(Loren Benjamin's cover of Rihanna's "We Found Love", Highline Ballroom - May. '12)


Benjamin and band are playing as an acoustic trio at a pre-New Year Show this Friday at Rockwood Music Hall. Benjamin goes on at 7PM and is followed by Sophie Auster (8PM) and Jay White (9PM).

Links:
Loren Benjamin

Krokus Signs to The End Records and Announces 'Dirty Dynamite' Due Out March 5th

STREAM: Krokus - "Dirty Dynamite"

I'm always a bit intrigued when I come across a metal band who has been around for almost 40 years and I really have no clue what they have done outside of covers of the Guess Who's "American Woman" and Alice Cooper's "Schools Out". While I remember critics panning the band as an AC/DC rip-off, the title track from this new disc is a blues-rock number that sounds closer to the (London) Quireboys than AC/DC.

For almost 40 years now, Krokus has stood for high-quality, honest-to-goodness, hand-made power rock. No other Swiss rock band sells albums and its back catalogue worldwide like Krokus. The band has already sold over 14 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. The milestones in their rock career are dotted around the world: from Australia and the USA to Mexico, Russia, Japan, and China.

But it hasn't all been one long high: death, sickness, and internal strife have pushed the band to the brink of collapse. The story of Krokus is like no other. Dotted with highs and lows, sell-out stadium concerts and sweaty club gigs, these five musketeers of rock have outlasted trends and survived treacherous US managers, tough splits, bad deals, shady lawyers, drugs, awful fast food, endless bus trips, disco, grunge, grotesque record companies, and double-dealing advisers. (Too late guys - 'The Story of Anvil' has already been made)

Today they are back in their classic line-up plus Mandy Meyer (who briefly replaced Steve Howe in Asia) and are stronger than ever on their new album, Dirty Dynamite. The band spent a whole two years working on the new album under the watchful eye of Chris Von Rohr. "We didn't spend all that time on golf courses or tennis courts. No, we just wanted to make our best album yet, the magnum opus of the new Krokus era," says the hit producer. Guitarist Mark Kohler has this to add: "This is not just another Krokus album. I think we have definitely passed another rock milestone with this record."

To reach this goal, no expense was spared; the band booked into the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. Krokus went back to their roots, back to where it all began with the Stones, the Beatles, the Free, the Who, and the Bluesbreakers; back to where the band headlined concerts in the Hammersmith Odeon, celebrating their first international success. "The atmosphere there is very special, and we wanted to make the most of that," says singer Marc Storace. Guitarist Fernando von Arb is quick to add: "With Dirty Dynamite, we have recorded the urgently needed, dirty kind of rock that no one plays in this country."



Links:
Krokus