Y'all know I've got all sorts of love for Sweet Home Alabama, and if there was any way I could be in Birmingham this weekend I would be. You see, Secret Stages is this weekend! If you're not familiar, it's a little festival devoted to the best of new (primarily) Southern music, and I'm just dying to go check it out. So, since I can't be there, here's a few bands I'd definitely be making time for.
Doc Dailey has a voice that's something else, y'all. It's a voice out of time, straight out of the backwoods lord only knows how many years ago. But lo and behold, here he is, making a modern take on music that would make his musical forebears proud. A solid talent from Muscle Shoals (and we all know that means business), Dailey and his band Magnolia Devil is more than for real. But don't take my word for it, just ask the bands he's shared a stage with (The Alabama Shakes, The Civil Wars, Jason Isbell...).
[posted 7.29.14]
There’s a bunch of videos out there. Some of them are good. Some of them are a cut above. I like to think my picks for Video Of The Day are a cut (or two) above.
Beach Day's "Don't Call Me On The Phone" is the sweet-as-pie-est little surfpop morsel of a kiss-off song I think I've ever heard. Kimmy Drake's vocals immediately call to mind 60s girl group gold, and the two-piece offers up delightful, impeccable, fuzzed-up charm. The clip for the song, therefore, could only be the way it is: super beachy, a little camp, and just good old-fashioned fun. Palm trees, cool kids, and heaps of glittery tinsel. What more could you ask for?
[posted 7.29.14]
Y'all know I've got all sorts of love for Sweet Home Alabama, and if there was any way I could be in Birmingham this weekend I would be. You see, Secret Stages is this weekend! If you're not familiar, it's a little festival devoted to the best of new (primarily) Southern music, and I'm just dying to go check it out. So, since I can't be there, here's a few bands I'd definitely be making time for.
Let's take a little time to check out one of the festival's hometown Birmingham talents, shall we? Post-rock noisemaker behemoth Glories is growing on me pretty good, and if you're into Explosions In The Sky, Yndi Haldi, This Will Destroy You, and related sounds you'll probably find them more than a little bit to your liking. I'd expect their endless noisescapes sound especially good live, played to a room filled to the brim with folks who are so enraptured they can't look away. Very, very nice indeed.
[posted 7.29.14]
Y'all know I've got all sorts of love for Sweet Home Alabama, and if there was any way I could be in Birmingham this weekend I would be. You see, Secret Stages is this weekend! If you're not familiar, it's a little festival devoted to the best of new (primarily) Southern music, and I'm just dying to go check it out. So, since I can't be there, here's a few bands I'd definitely be making time for.
One of the non-Southern bands on this year's Secret Stages bill, Native Lights has tickled my fancy more than just a little. Their songs are nothing short of beautiful, lushly layered cinematic epics with crescendos galore ("Of All The Things We've Made) and fraught with a gleefully dark, seductive menace ("Blackwater"). Either iteration works just fine as far as I'm concerned. I'd love to see these dudes live, so here's hoping they venture East one of these days.
[posted 7.29.14]
The sticky, steamy nights of summer scream for songs like this one, y'all. This little ditty by The New Highway Hymnal is addictive as can be, combining an incredibly infectious pop onslaught with a decidedly psychedelic undercurrent and the ever-so-slightly grimy crash of splendidly messy garage riffs. In the same vein as the glorious Black Angels track "Telephone," "Television" is a very welcome addition to any summer playlist.
Sounds like they know how to make some noise good and proper up there in Massachusetts.
[posted 7.29.14]
Y'all know I've got all sorts of love for Sweet Home Alabama, and if there was any way I could be in Birmingham this weekend I would be. You see, Secret Stages is this weekend! If you're not familiar, it's a little festival devoted to the best of new (primarily) Southern music, and I'm just dying to go check it out. So, since I can't be there, here's a few bands I'd definitely be making time for.
Music to watch the clouds go by, that's Bent Denim to me. The (current) New Orleans duo has a firm handle on dreamy bedroom jams, at their lighter moments pillow soft and full of a whimsical kind of reverie, at other times a bit livelier though no less enchanting. Bonus points for lines like "I'm not crazy in the Bukowski way." Very much recommended for your listening pleasure.
[posted 7.29.14]
Y'all know I've got all sorts of love for Sweet Home Alabama, and if there was any way I could be in Birmingham next weekend I would be. You see, Secret Stages is next weekend! If you're not familiar, it's a little festival devoted to the best of new (primarily) Southern music, and I'm just dying to go check it out. So, since I can't be there, here's a few bands I'd definitely be making time for.
There's something positively charming about Atlanta's Rrest. And something more than a little restless (rrestless?!). Throwing caution to the wind, the band emits a sound that's hard to resist. They remind me a whole lot of my dearly departed Broken West at times, a glossy, slick perfection jibing with gorgeous shades of modern loneliness and thoughtfulness. If that wasn't enough, they can also throw down a solid piece of twangy melancholy, which yours truly is definitely smitten with.
Pardon me while I swoon.
[posted 7.28.14]
Y'all know I've got all sorts of love for Sweet Home Alabama, and if there was any way I could be in Birmingham next weekend I would be. You see, Secret Stages is next weekend! If you're not familiar, it's a little festival devoted to the best of new (primarily) Southern music, and I'm just dying to go check it out. So, since I can't be there, here's a few bands I'd definitely be making time for.
I happen to love Nashville a lot, and that love also applies to bands from Music City. All Them Witches is one such band, and their sludgey, slightly raunchy bluesy rock with moments of heavy psych hits all the right notes with me. With songs that are decidedly big, bad, and more than a little ballsy, they're sure to translate well on stage.
[posted 7.27.14]
In theory I like the idea of the remix: taking someone else's song and tweaking it the way you want it done. It's a great means for completely redoing something, and for reinterpretation. Sometimes remixes go awry, and sometimes they're better than the original. Remix Fix is all about the happy medium when a remix totally nails it and makes a song that much better.
For some reason, y'all, I've never really been on the A Sunny Day In Glasgow bandwagon. But after hearing this gorgeous remix by the gorgeous Ice Choir, I might have to rethink things. "Bye Bye Big Ocean (The End)" is given a slinky, majestically icy treatment, with sinuous synths and magnetic lady vocals creating a heck of a powerful sound. Masterfully potent stuff indeed.
[posted 7.27.14]
There’s a bunch of videos out there. Some of them are good. Some of them are a cut above. I like to think my picks for Video Of The Day are a cut (or two) above.
I tell y'all what, I needed a little pick-me-up this morning, and PS I Love You delivered and then some with their wonderful, slightly ridiculous clip for "Friends Forever." It's the story of two musclehead gym rats and the dog that comes between them (and ultimately brings them back together), and it's somehow perfect for the song. The teddy bear rescue effort at the end is simply not to be missed.
While the weights are lifted, workouts had, and stuffed animals saved from certain doom, the Canadians muscle their way through some power riffs and not super subtle pop undercurrent, capped with charmingly warbly vocals. There's a wonderful heft to the song, and the more I listen to it the more I dig it. Get pumped, y'all.
[posted 7.27.14]
7:17 AM
DC9, Fort Reno, Galaxy Hut, Gypsy Sally's, Iota, Rock'n'Roll Hotel, the Birchmere, The Pinch, The Week In Shows, U Street Music Hall, Velvet Lounge
An icky, stormy Sunday morning seems as good a time as any to plot ones weekly live music schedule, I think. Let's take a look at what's happening in the greater DC metro this week, with the added bonus of filling you in on what I may or may not be taking in over the course of this abbreviated week. Hot diggity!
It's gray gray gray and I'm blue blue blue. But there's nothing like live music to turn frowns upside down. These are my suggestions for your upcoming week, y'all, so I hope you'll seriously consider attending one or two (or three or four). And you never know, I just might see you out and about during the week.
MONDAY, 7/28/14
-Mates of State (U Street Music Hall)
-Black Sparks + Stereosleep + The Raised By Wolves (Fort Reno)
-Short Lives + The Fed (Galaxy Hut)
TUESDAY, 7/29/14
-Showpony + Deaf Scene + Mariner Project (DC9)
-Bear's Den + East Ghost (Black Cat)
WEDNESDAY, 7/30/14
-Honeyblood + Public (DC9)
- Exar Kun + Two Inch Astronaut + Jerkagram + Anchor 3 (Velvet Lounge)
THURSDAY, 7/31/14
-In It Together Fest (Ft. Loko)
FRIDAY, 8/1/14
-Imelda May (The Birchmere)
-The Weathervanes + Mutts (Iota)
-In It Together Fest (Union Arts & The Dougout)
SATURDAY, 8/2/14
-Derek Evry & His Band of Misanthropes + Red States + Black Checker (Velvet Lounge)
-In It Together Fest (The Pinch & The Jamjar & Bathtub Republic & The Beehive & Ezra Mae's & St. Stephen's)
-Telesma + Swampcandy (Gypsy Sally's)
-French Admirals + Exit Vehicles + Kelly Ann Beavers + Pat Frank (Rock & Roll Hotel)
SUNDAY, 8/3/14
-In It Together Fest (Crack Rock Creek Church & Paper Haus)
-Harness Flux + America Hearts + Finley Martin (The Pinch)
[posted 7.27.14]
[calendar image courtesy SarahHearts]
I'm still not entirely sure how this happened. Like many great things, it appears to have come out of nowhere. But happen it did. I'm pretty sure Divine Providence (whatever sort of divine being or notion or idea that actually constitutes) was sitting around being all mystical and decided that what I really, really needed in my life was a super trashy, scuzzed to fuck, grimy yet totally sexy as hell band to come waltzing into my life. And waltz they did. Say hello to Young Boys, y'all.
They thrash. They haunt. They shove their sinister, devilish noise down your throat. And it's something you won't be able to get enough of. Months of listening to their New York Sun EP and I'm still hooked. The band just released more music, so don't be shocked to see them appear on here in the not so distant future. In the meantime, feast your ears.
[posted 7.25.14]
There’s a bunch of videos out there. Some of them are good. Some of them are a cut above. I like to think my picks for Video Of The Day are a cut (or two) above.
I'm absolutely miles beyond tickled pink to bring you not one but TWO premieres from Floridians DieAlps! this lovely summer afternoon!
"Walking" comes from the band's debut EP, set to drop in September on label faves New Granada. To my ears, it's a perfect Friday afternoon song, a little bit sweet, a little bit hazy, and a whole lot addictive. Hints of 90s rock nostalgia mingle with effervescent pop enthusiasm, making for a fizzy, rather enjoyable listen. It's a song you'll feel compelled to listen to repeatedly.
The video itself is evocative of the sound of the song, up close and personal and given to a silly sense of humor. It's a fine song indeed, and serves as a heck of an introduction for those not yet acquainted with the delightful Tampa band.
Make yourself a note to get your mitts on their EP!
mp3: Walking (DieAlps! from the forthcoming self-titled EP)
[posted 7.25.14]
It's always a treat to get to see my favorite Louisianans Generationals. They always put on a heck of a show with their irrepressible good time beats, sunny on-stage disposition, and bountiful as all get out Big Easy charm.
Grant and Ted's latest excellent adventure is going down in October and November, as the dudes get ready to spread the good word about their latest record Alix all across the US and Canada.
Color me stoked, y'all. Obviously, my plans for October 11th are done and dusted.
Generationals will be stopping at the following ports of call. Make sure you get out there and get ready to get your shimmy on. You might wanna wear dancing shoes.
OCTOBER
07 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's Downstairs *
08 - Dallas, TX - Prophet *
09 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon *
10 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
11 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall *
12 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg *
15 - Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree *
16 - Hattiesburg, MS - Thirsty Hippo *
17 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
28 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
29 - Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
30 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
NOVEMBER
02 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
12 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour &
13 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel &
15 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile &
16 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge (early show/all ages) &
16 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge (late show) &
17 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret &
* = Arum Rae supporting
& = Springtime Carnivore supporting
[posted 7.24.14]
[photo by Akasha Rabut]
