18 posts tagged “blues”
19 Nov - The Step Inn Fortitude Valley, Queensland w Mexico City & Sue Ray
27 Nov - The Tote Melbourne, Victoria. w James McCann’s Dirty Skirt Band, Black Pony Express & Little John.
An honourable mention also has to go to Jamie Hutchings. I'm sure he's being playing shows in some form or another since before the dawn of time. Always enjoyable.... and, it seems, about to embark on a tour of europe, so if you're over that way, be sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled. Or maybe just look at his website for tour dates (might be easier).
20 Nov 2009 - MUM at World Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney, 21 Nov 2009 - The Clubhouse (formerly Empire Corner Bar), Fortitude Valley
|
07/17/09 Dawson City Music Festival
Discography
07/18/09 Dawson City Music Festival 07/19/09 Dawson City Music Festival 02/21/10 South America Cruise Ship 02/22/10 South America Cruise Ship 02/23/10 South America Cruise Ship 02/24/10 South America Cruise Ship 02/25/10 South America Cruise Ship 02/26/10 South America Cruise Ship
|
What strikes me about this album is that its inspiration seems to lies in an old-fashion dixieland-style music, as if all the music instruments and technology are from this alternate 1950s era. This is kind of interesting because a few years ago, her song "Rooftop", from Stranded in Suburbia, was included on the soundtrack for television teendrama series, Degrassi: The Next Generation... which doesn't exactly scream blues/americana music to me.
Victoria Day was produced by McClelland's husband, Luke Doucet, who also co-wrote "A Girl Can Dream". The music sounds very organic, with traditional piano & acoustic guitars, plus horns (sax, trombones) and strings (violins, cellos).
The track that people will likely be drawn to on Victoria Day will probably be "Seasoned Lovers". This is because the male vocals on this song is by none other than Ron Sexsmith. While the presence of Sexsmith doesn't hurt the song, I just felt the gentle love song was too forgettable to spotlight.
The title track and name of the album, "Victoria Day" is worth listening to. The song comes in two parts: April and May Showers. The song is also cut into two distinct section, as the song shifts to a different tone on May Showers... but I felt the song needed to be consumed as one full song.
It looks like McClelland's next few appearance are at the Dawson City Music Festival and most interestingly on a Cayamo Cruise Ship through South America. Although prices are expensive, starting at $799, it will be a nice six-day vacation with sleep quarters (includes meal?) and the chance to catch some of your favorite artists (Lyle Lovettt, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Brandi Carlile, Rachael Yamagata) on a very intimate setting.
You can buy Victoria Day today through Six Shooter Records - who's motto is "life is too short to listen to shitty music"
06/30/2009 03:20:20 ♥ vu (
)
♥ melissamcclelland.com
♥ myspace.com/melissamcclelland
Arcane and Abel, 4 Song EP, December, 2008
by
All of us/None of us
Genre: Alternative/Folk/Metal/Blues
All of Us/None of Us Guitarist and singer Eric Ray, a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and R Tyck, bassist, a recording engineer and college instructor, began collaborating while Ray was living in San Francisco and Tyck in Los Angeles. Originally intending their work to be a studio project, the two wrote and recorded by sending tapes back and forth and making occasional trips between the two cities. Much of their debut album, Lucky Robot, was recorded in this manner. Upon Ray’s return to his native Los Angeles, the two decided to start performing their material live and began looking for like-minded musicians. In 2005 they added cellist Catherine Cavella and drummer Courtney Olsen and began to perform in and around Los Angeles and the Bay Area to enthusiastic audiences. In 2006 Cavella moved away to Philadelphia. Later that same year Olsen left the group. All of Us/None of Us continues to write, record and perform with a variety of different musicians.
All of Us/None of Us has been compared to Beck, Radiohead, P.J. Harvey and Jane's Addiction to name a few. While I did find Arcane and Abel to be a bit Beckish, I also found enough originality in it to call it their own.
"A folk song is what's wrong and how to fix it or it
could be
who's hungry and where their mouth is or
who's out of work and where the job is or
who's broke and where the money is or
who's carrying a gun and where the peace is.”
(Woody Guthrie)
To this end, Arcane and Abel conveys the hopelessness, social injustice and “I am fed up with society” values of Guthrien folk music with a unique blues/metal twist, while keeping it relevant to today's world.
My
overall rating: 90 out of 100.
Would
I buy this EP: Yes
My
favorite track: #3 Excess
My
least favorite and ironically the longest, track: #4 Knew That
References: All of Us/None of Us MySpace Page
03/26/2009 20:09:00 ♥ bill (
/eoj.video-maxx.com)
♥ allofusnoneofus.com ♥ myspace.com/allofusnoneofus
Soup wrote this:
Portland's Grails dropped their new album, Doomsdayer's Holiday on Temporary Residence today. They play a sort of heavy classic rock, blues and folk influenced post-rock kind of thing, somehow defying any attempt at categorization or pigeonholing.
The title track is probably as straight-up metal as these guys get, with its classic doom metal guitar bringing to mind bands like Black Sabbath and Candlemass without ever ripping off either of them. The second track, “Reincarnation Blues,” is definitely my favorite on here. Starting out simple with bells and a wind instrument (I'm not sure what it is) playing an awesome blues riff. Then the guitars come in and the track turns into an energetic psychedelic blues freakout that winds down into an ambient drone outro with some sampled chanting underneath it. “The Natural Man” is folk music for astronauts. It channels the feel of David Bowie's “Space Oddity” into something else entirely. Something that sounds undeniably classic without being too self-conscious about it. “Immediate Mate” seems to kind of want to hang in the background. Starts out with a quiet blues guitar riff and some keyboards and subtle percussion. It's sort of an ambient jazz thing, and the glitched out electronics and awesome jazz percussion keep it interesting. “Predestination Blues” picks up where “Reincarnation Blues” left off. It's a slower song, drowned in reverb with the same kind of feel. Meditative chanting provides a base from which swirling guitars build up over the last two minutes or so of the track. The next track, “X-Contamination” builds up from a droning keyboard into a swirling mass of samples and loops into an awesome spaced-out blues-rock thing, which is gone almost as soon as it began, degenerating back into the primordial soup it came from. The last track, “Acid Rain,” starts with a lazy, stoned Dark Side of the Moon style guitar thing with some electronics building up under it until they eventually overtake it in a sort of staticky climax that, much like the radio fading out, quickly fades out and disappears. There are some vocals here. Very subtle, buried under the guitars and bass and drums. Eventually, this fades out to make way for a warm, reverb drenched guitar meditation.
These guys are playing a show on October 12th with Sunn o))) in Portland. After that, they're going on a short east coast tour with the Silver Apples (who I am frankly surprised are still around, but it's an appropriate fit, I think)! As always, more information can be found at the band's official website.
Oct 12 2008 8:00P Berbati’s Pan, w/Sunn0)) Portland, Oregon
Nov 11 2008 8:00P Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois
Nov 12 2008 8:00P Skull Alley Louisville, Kentucky
Nov 13 2008 8:00P Hi Tone, with Silver Apples Memphis, Tennessee
Nov 14 2008 9:00P Caledonia, with Silver Apples Athens, Georgia
Nov 15 2008 8:00P Drunken Unicorn, with Silver Apples Altanta, Georgia
Nov 16 2008 8:00P Emerald Lounge, with Silver Apples Asheville, North Carolina
Nov 18 2008 8:00P Local 506, with Silver Apples Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Nov 19 2008 8:00P Ottobar, with Silver Apples Baltimore, Maryland
Nov 20 2008 8:00P Bard College Poughkeepsie, New York
Nov 21 2008 8:00P Union Pool Brooklyn, New York
Nov 22 2008 9:00P Knitting Factory Manhattan, New York
"Carla Lynne Hall is like your cool aunt that gives you
the real deal about the music business."
Darrell McNeill,
Executive Director, Black Rock Coalition
It says on her website (carlalynnhall.com) that she is a D.I.Y. Diva or better known as a Do It Yourselfer. I like the way the cover art on her latest album, Super Nova, coveys this attitude, pointing to you, pointing to me, telling us both to stop and listen for she knows what she is doing.
D.Y.I. lends me to believe that Hall is prepared to do most of the heavy lifting. After all she’s worked for E.M.I. She even has a website called rockstarlifelessons.com in which she offers workshops on how to navigate the music industry. So making an album should be no trouble.
I read a couple of reviews comparing Hall to Norah Jones, Sade and India.Aire. I personally don’t think she does, but only as a compliment. I think any D.I.Y. shouldn’t fly too close to coattails. Besides, I like Hall’s warm, expansive delivery. I don’t necessarily want to use the term maternal or sisterly, but there is a female kinship in her voice that sounds inviting.
When it comes to the songs, Hall takes us through a number of genres: pop, soul, blues & even country. Some songs are hybrids. There’s even an interesting juxtaposition between the sixth tract, “Left Side Blues”, a saucy blues song about a woman up to no good, and the following tract “My First Child,” an earnest love ballad whole heartily in a country vein. It makes you wonder what happened to Hall in between the two tracts.
My favorite tract is “Pulling Me back,” a cool, fatalistic
love song. I really like the interplay
between Hall and Pam Fleming on trumpet, the overlapping voices and trumpet
responses building, layering; making a sensuous sound.
|
JD & The Straight Shot's album is called Right On Time, and this review is not right on time as it was released June 24th. To be fair, it was submitted only days before the release date and lately, I think I'm the target of internet throttling by Comcrap. I won't go into details about that last problem, but surfing the web is painfully slow and downloading any files (like legal music and podcasts) doesn't work and/or gets dropped.
Anyway, a little background on Jim Dolan (JD), frontsman, and Bruce Koplow, songwriter, basically lead band The Straight Shot, based out of New York. JD was handpicked by Eagles member Joe Walsh to open up for him on his US tour.
I don't have his debut album, Nothing to Hide, but according to the biography, it "combined slow-burning blues with fresh ballads and guitar-driven rock."
With Right On Time, it's definitely blues, but there are hints of good old fashion American country and 50s rock and blues.
The standout track that most people will pick up on is "Double My Order". This is a feel-good, piano-driven song that reminds me of a good advertisement for a fast food restaurant. I was happy to see that the piano and general similar tone is kept on "Kill that Dog", another perky song, despite the morbid subject.
The press material that came with this album suggested that I really look at "Slow Motion In Reverse", which will be the first single from the album. Although there are some excellent guitar playing by Joe Walsh and backup singers, it just felt to "slow motion" for my taste.
Instead, I thought "This Kind Of Life" was better in some ways: a slow tell-it-as-it-is country/blues song. I just felt this song really set the pace and tone throughout the album.
By the way, I wanted to use was the classic blues song Etta James' "Lie No Better", about confronting a cheating lover and asking "if you can't lie no better than that, then you might as well tell the truth". Since that isn't a JD and the Straight Shot original, I didn't want to represent the band with this song.
If you're out for a blues, with a classic rock sound, give Right On Time a try. The album is out right now on Fontana Records, a very old record label had its hits with The Troggs and The New Vaudeville Band, but currently as an independent record label.
Links:
jdandthestraightshot.com
myspace.com/jdandthestraightshot
EPs and Singles are usually fun to review because they're often a short list of songs (usually under five tracks). I have about 16 singles, so in an effort to mention most of them, I present to you another round of EPs, please check out the first Attack of the EPs. Check back for part three in a week.
If you are interested in submitting EPs or full length album for review,
please contact me () and I will be more than happy to send out a standard submission guide.
|
ILLIMANJARO
myspace.com/illimanjaromusic
I wanted to mention Illimanjaro today because they are playing tonight at Flemings Pub at the Make Music Event in Queens, New York. It looks like they are also playing two other NY dates: Club Europa (July 9th and July 22th). Their debut EP is called Not Invited and they are offering the entire four track EP available for download on their myspace. There's not a lot of details about this band, apparently they formed in late 2004 and are known for their "hard-htting rap/spoken word" vocals. Which after listening to the first song "Not Invited", it sounds more like Devo-esque. In fact, the only "rap" style song is "No Means No", because "No Win Situation" had more singing, while "Still" is all instrumental. I felt that "No Means No" sounds a little Beastie Boys, but with a very fat bass on this song. Since every song is quite different, I'm assuming the band is either is very diverse or they're still struggling to find their sound, but I'm hoping it's the former and not the latter. Not Invited is available for download now, see them live if you happen to be in New York. |
I AM THE HEAT
iamtheheat.com ♥ myspace.com
Another New York indie band, I Am The Heat have been around since 2005, with already three EPs under their belt (Cars Like Oceans, Selections from the Silver Skies, and Naked), and they have a new one called The Future Doesn't Need Us. I just checked, the new EP won't be available until July 15th, but I wanted to mention them today because they are playing tonight at Make Music in New York. There will be an official record release party on August 2nd at a yet to be determined location. Listening to their album, I get the impression that this production is very garagey and DIY (do it yourself). It's also infectiously fun to listen to them having a good time on such songs as "What Would Lou Reed Do" and "Dream Machine". The EP ends with a seemingly slow song, "Tonight (And I'll Save You)", that is until near the end where it picks up into a frantic frenzy. I like the idea that they don't take themselves too seriously and I also like the idea of having Morrissey on their Top 8 (because they sound nothing like the depressing mopester). You can pick up The Future Doesn't Need Us as well as Naked on High Five Records. |
|
JACKSONKNIFE
jacksonknife.com ♥ myspace.com
New York indie band's Jacksonknife's debut EP is called You Don't Know What You're Talking About. They formed in 2006, by songwriter Jeremy Kirkland, and have performed with similar indie rock acts such as The French Kicks, Ra Ra Riot & Encrypt Manuscript. When you think of indie rock, you don't normally hear brass instruments, so that was refreshing to hear it on "Truthfully". It doesn't stop there, other interesting sounds such as violas on "Healthy Diets" and "The Morning" and banjo-sounds on "Catholics" definitely makes the songs better and interesting in my opinion. I have to add that I thought the quiet-sounding folk song "Catholics" didn't quite belong on this EP, it just felt out of place. The happy/get up and move "Truthfully" is good, but I felt "Healthy Diets" would best describe the band: great melody and great lyrics. I half imagine if you like The Decemberists or Modest Mouse, this band might be right up your alley. They are playing a few dates around New York:
07/05/08 Cake Shop New York
You Don't Know What You're Talking About can be purchased on amazon (use Pepsi Points and get it for free!) and iTunes. Keep up with the band at the usual myspace and their tumblr blog. |
GARRY SEGAL
todyeforband.com ♥ myspace.com
The seven-track EP I have from Garry Segal is called Taking Notes, and at the time I got the submission, I don't believe he had a band. As it turns out, his band is called ToDyeFor, which I haven't heard yet, but based on this EP they should sound excellent. This is a great EP if you are into blues, Segal has that seasoned years of drinking voice that fit these kind of songs. You'll believe him when he says "I keep drinkin', hop back on it everytime. No river of religion to wash away my pain, just drags me down the drain." on "I Keep Drinkin'" and "she lost a place in more ways than you think/now she's in this bar, looking for drink from a guy who understand her losses" on "Two Broken People". I also found "Wrong Dogs" a little humerous, although I get the impression that dogs are a metaphor for humans. Although I normally like the storytelling aspect of blues and country music, but to my surprise, the instrumental track, "Everything's Jake", which is mostly driven by a harmonica, is seriously good. I had to play that twice in a roll. He's playing a few dates with his new band, so check them out:
07/17/08 Rodi gastonia
He's playing tonight at the Cypress Cellar in North Carolina, if you are in the area. If not, Taking Notes, can be purchased on CD Baby. |
|
MY EDUCATION
myeducationmusic.com ♥ myspace.com
Bad Vibrations, the EP from My Education was released fairly recently, on June 10th. Originally formed in Austin, Texas, in 1999, as a three-piece band (Brian Purington, Eric Gibbons and Sean Seagler), they eventually added keyboardist Kirk Laktas and viola James Alexander and "guitar god" Chris Hackstie to their lineup. Their biography goes on to let us know that these guys have been around, releasing two albums: 5 Popes (Sold out in 2003, reissued in 2004) and Italian (2005). Listening to the seven tracks (eight if you count the hidden non-musical track), I have to admit they create this weird slow cooking atmosphere. None of the songs have singing on it, and their songs often goes over the five minute mark - definitely not pop radio material... but I think their music might be experienced live or on a motion picture soundtrack. I generally liked all the songs on the EP, especially if they have some sort of structure to them like "Mother May" and "Sluts and Maniacs". I also like hearing Alexander's volins on "Arch" and "Aria", both songs have a nice delightful ambiance to them. They are doing quite a few tour dates, so see them live:
06/26/08 Live radio on Kut 90.5 Austin, TX 06/26/08 Bad Vibrations Record Release Party @ Emo’s Lounge Austin, Texas 06/28/08 End of an Ear Austin, Texas 07/04/08 Albuquerque, NM @ Atomic Cantina 07/05/08 Tucson, AZ @ Plush 07/06/08 Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts 07/07/08 San Diego, CA @ the Beauty Bar 07/08/08 Los Angeles, CA Sunrise Film Score 07/09/08 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock 07/10/08 Arcata, CA @ Jambalaya 07/11/08 Portland, OR @ Towne Lounge 07/12/08 Olympia, WA @ The Voyeur 07/13/08 Seattle @ Funhouse 07/14/08 Missoula, MT @ The Palace 07/16/08 Denver, CO @ Old Curtis 07/17/08 Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge 07/18/08 OKC @ the Conservatory 07/19/08 Denton, TX @ Hailey’s Bad Vibrations is out now, you can pick it up from Strange Attractors with other oddities as Harris Newman and Nick Castro. |
ROSIE SWAN
myspace.com ♥ vox.com
She previously released an EP under her full name Rosemary Rebecca Swan called Mid Life (and the Definitive Break Up) and she has a full album called White Girl. I don't believe these two audio tracks ("Treasure" and "Good Again") that were submitted to me are from her album, but it was the only album artwork that was provided. Since both songs are acoustic, I'm forced to think that she sounds like a folk singer/songwriter type. She definitely have a hidden anger buried inside her, at least I get that impression, based on the two songs. Personally, I think the two tracks a little rough and could use some mixing, but you'll have to keep in mind that they were both recorded live. Of the two tracks, I think "Treasure" sounds better because you can clearly hear the acoustic guitar and her energetic vocals. By the way, her impressive biography, which lists her her media work as having appeared on television, films, and radio (notably Top of the Pops and Liberty Radio) and her numerous awards (winner of The National Music Day, Gibraltar International Song Festival Award, Marquee Club, Essex Radio National Rock Song, and London Songwriters Showcase), you would think that with the right marketing and record label that she would be a star, if not now, then soon. See her live on July 5th at the Pride London Open Air Festival, along with such acts as Sandi Thom, Shen, Geek Girl (what a name!), Lilth's Army, and Becca Williams. Swan is schedule to appear on the Women stage at 4:20 pm. Check out more music on her myspace and add her to your neighborhood on vox. |
Links:
www.weheartmusic.com
/|
|
I've been really quite slack recently. So much happening. So here is the long awaited review (shh! I know it is) of the second release from young Jon Spencer (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (der!)) and Matt Verta-Ray (Speedball Baby), Going Way Out with Heavy Trash.
I wont lie to you and say that I've been following this band for years, but knowing Jon Spencer Blues Explosion from years back and being aware of the energy and style, I was excited to have a chance to listen to the offerings that Heavy Trash have come out with.
What style would you call it? Well, let's see.... I would say it takes elements of roots/blues/rockabilly and then there's that song named "Kloi", which made me check my music listening device to double check that I hadn't accidentally skipped artists somehow. I'm sure it means something, but you know me (or maybe you don't)... I don't tend to look deeply into lyrics, it's more the rhythm and tune that gets me going.
Overall, the album is dirty and best played loud. Going Way Out with Heavy Trash is a great one for the morning's trek to work, to take your mind off the morons that surround you and to smash up your mental guitar and/or drum kit and take that pain away. (Can you tell that I'm not quite looking forward to going to work tomorrow?)
Anyway, a very likable album, that sure to make me delve deeper into Heavy Trash's past.... and I advise that you do the same.
But in the meantime feel free to check out these places:
Heavy Trash - Official Website
Heavy Trash - MySpace page
Indeed! Sally
Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Scarface, Fat Tony, Flavor Flav and Ghost Face Killah, when it comes to making a name for yourself, it doesn’t hurt to start with a nickname. For you know you have truly arrived when people don’t even know your real name. Take Sting, Prince and a guy who goes by The Edge. And when it comes to jazz royalty, does anybody know Duke Ellington as Edward or Count Basie as good, old William? Probably as many who know Cannonball Adderley’s first name.
Although Julian was born on September 15th 1928 in Tampa Florida, musically speaking he was given birth and inspired in New York City by the great Charlie “Bird” Parker. But before that all happened he picked up a nickname; not because his alto sax sounded like incoming artillery. In fact, Cannonball is a spin-off of another childhood nickname “Cannibal”, given for his healthy appetite, which I have read he went in with gusto, which can also best describe the way he plays his horn.
Take a listen to the fifth song on his “Cannonball Takes Charge” album. Immediately, “Barefoot Sunday Blues” takes you there. It even sounds like he is walking barefoot while playing his Sunday Blues, which aren’t the Blues at all. Monday, maybe, but not Sunday. Carefree, soulful and swinging, what best describes this song is joyful. Cannonball is one of the few instrumentalists I can readily identify when hearing one of his songs. His musical roots are grounded in gospel and you can hear the notes springing to life in all of his solos. And that’s what this album is: Straight ahead Cannonball. No other horns getting in the way; just Cannonball playing with Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers and Percy Heath taking turns on the bass and Jimmy Cobb and Albert “Tootie” Heath passing back and forth the drums. Other than that there’s Cannonball taking charge. Dang Right!
Little Blue Crunchy Things, possibly the most amazing funk-rap-rock-jazz-blues-hiphop-fusion ensemble on the planet, who officially broke up eight years ago, are playing a reunion gig in TWO DAYS TIME!!!
For any we heart musicers who live within 200 miles of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and even remotely value their own taste in music, I want you camping outside Shank Hall for LBCT's gig on Saturday March 1st 2008. Doors open around 8pm, LBCT play around 10pm, tickets $10.
If you have doubts about the amazing sound, the munch, the blue, or indeed the crunch, checkout either the band's MySpace page or my previous WHM blog on them for further tunes. And just in case, click right for one of their latest recordings; Cold Day performed live just last month.
My Groups
-
Social Justice Updated: A moment ago
-
Human Rights Updated: A moment ago
-
Classical Society (host) Updated: A moment ago
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
