Well, my friends, all you need is a new favorite.
Stuck in Kalamazoo for another summer? Looking at all the killer festivals and shows for the summer, but can't quite cut it on part-time minimum wage and milking the last few leftover student loan dollars? With declining revenue from album sales, EVERYONE is hiking up ticket prices (even DMB's lawn tickets are $40 and up this season... it seems like just yesterday I paid $24 to sit in the rain and jam out to "One Sweet World..." Oh, to be young.)
No worries! As we all know by now, there are plenty of outrageously good bands right here in K Town. Just because you didn't make it to Coachella and are "trying" to get your tix to Bonnaroo (c'mon) doesn't mean you can't rock out and have a really spectacular night.
[Dying to see...] [You should check out...]
Phish? DMB? The Ragbirds. This chick-fronted folk band plays a funky
repertoire of roots-folk and world music. The MI natives
have carved out a significant place in the regional folk scene
and are embarking on a summer tour that will take them all
over the Midwest... including right here in Kzoo. With a
wide range of sounds for a beautiful-- and fun, if you wanna
get your dance on-- and always-changing sound, The
Ragbirds offer up a sound that will surely leave you wanting
more. With artful and clever lyrics ("Honesty is following
your demons/ to the place that they reside/ and then you
pot some plants outside their windowsill/ to let you crawl
inside") as well as sounds from the Carribbean, Romania,
and beyond, this is one "hippie jam band" that definitely
breaks the mold.
Jay Z? Gorillaz? M.E.D. Just because you're in Kalamazoo doesn't mean
you can't get your hip-hop fix. M.E.D. (Mental Elastic
Dynasty) mixes infectious beats with a wide range of verses:
the three MCs of MED-- the "level-headed and serious"
Anagram; the stylistic chameleon Philosophy; and token
wiseguy L-C.I.D.-- blend together to create a multi-faceted
feel, with rhymes that would appeal to even the most
seasoned hip-hop aficionado (check out "There They Go"
and "Money;" both available on MySpace).
Weezer? Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers? Vampire
Weekend? Dead Scene Radio. Known for their pop sensibilities and
choruses so sweet you just might get a toothache, these
Kzoo-scene bigwigs are the first word in pop-rock (be on
the lookout for a full-length from them this summer!).
The Black Keys? Kings of
Leon? The Raconteurs? Elm Street Riot. After blowing the roof off a show at
Corner Bar last weekend with A Friend Called Fire, and
rocking out Kalamazoo Noise Convention this Thursday,
Elm Street Riot have been pretty busy dudes lately... and,
lucky for us, there's no end in sight. With their bluesy
garage-rock, ESR just might be on their way to ruling the
Kalamazoo Scene.
Jeff Beck? Robby Haas Trio. While Robby Haas Trio might not quite
stack up to The Loner himself, they do just fine at
embodying the freewheeling blues style to get you grooving
this summer. While they currently do not appear to have
any shows scheduled, keep your eye out for these dudes
this summer if you're into a good crunchy blues jam every
now and again (and who isn't).
Steve Martin and the
Steep Canyon Rangers?
The String Cheese Incident? Rootstand. Summer is, indeed, the very best time to check
out one of my very favorite bands in Kalamazoo...
Rootstand! With a unique, "swashbucklin'" style of
bluegrass, Rootstand is sure to get you steppin' in the very
best way. Their hypnotizing, roots-oriented jams are
enough to convert even the most staunch naysayers into
bluegrass junkies... and, hey, what goes better with a
delicious Oberon than a sweaty hippie dancefest?
Welcome to Michigan, ya'll (check out the absurdly-good
"River Blues" on their MySpace). Oh, and of course,
don't forget about Greensky Bluegrass, who require neither
introduction nor explanation.
John Mayer or JM3? Four Finger Five. Those active in the jam scene in
southwest Michigan are probably already familiar with
FF5. Known for killer shows and facemelting blues
jams, FF5 epitomizes the perfect summer gig. Their
smooth funk/ jazz/ blues, polished by buttah-smooth vocals
reminiscent of the J-man himself, is sure to induce
involuntary booty-shaking all over the state... and
beyond... this summer (check out their groove "Giving It
All Away;" be careful, it's known to be habit-forming). If
you read this TODAY (5/1/10) they will be playing a set at
Bell's... what better way to kick off the summer?
Jason Mraz? Jack
Johnson? We Know Jackson. Ok, admit it. You loooove acoustic/
piano driven melodies, girl-I'll-be-your-best-boy-ever
motifs and catchy choruses aplenty (complete with "la-da-
da"s). Hey, I'm not telling. This jazz-pop trio, fronted by
boyband-ready Chris Janowiak, has been around in
southwest Michigan for several years, leaving no schoolgirl
uncrushed ("crush" figuratively, natch). With impressive
musical chops that set them apart from much of the "pop"
crowd, We Know Jackson prove they're more than just
pretty faces (check out "The Way,"available on MySpace).
Hot Chip? Imogen Heap? Juliana Stein. Did you think you weren't going to get your
electro-pop on? Relax; don't get your American Apparel
pants in a bunch. Juliana Stein-- a newcomer on the
scene-- weaves cool electronic tunes and remixes that will
either get you on the dance floor, or reignite your creative
fires... up to you. With her artfulness and indie aesthetic,
Stein stays grounded by a sense of humor with her music
and would likely put on a show this town wouldn't soon
forget. If you like Juliana Stein, check out DUDE aTOMic!
The Flaming Lips? Crash City Saints. These artisans of ambient guitar-rock
have been on the Kalamazoo scene for years, taking
listeners on a sonic journey with every release and every
show (most recently, they rocked the Strutt for Noise
Convention!). With their signature guitar sound
(heavily-distorted, layered and ambient for a lush, unique
feel) set off by haunting, mysterious-sounding vocals and
relentless but subtle percussion, Crash City Saints is like
the soundtrack to a daydream.Striking the perfect balance
between raw alt-rock and fuzzy swirls of ambient sound,
Crash City Saints is the perfect band to check out
when you need a vacation, but only have an hour or two...
hey, it's ok to space out and just enjoy the show. So go
ahead... close your eyes and lose yourself in the swirls of
beautiful chaos and enjoy your journey down the rabbit
hole.
Showing posts with label Dead Scene Radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dead Scene Radio. Show all posts
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Announcements, etc
Hello everyone.
I thought it might be time for a bit of an update since the Bird Rights feature was my 40th post and, no, that's not a huge number, but it's a little bit of a milestone (kinda). Espect somethin' cool for the 50th ya'll. Just sayin.
I just want to thank all of my readers for coming to the site; those of you who send encouraging words, feedback, etc are very much appreciated. Those of you will less-nice things to say are appreciated as well. It's true what they say: a handful of "haters" and critics (or even just one) makes you stronger and teaches you more than a million fans, even if it hurts at first. (As Nick Flora says, "Everyone's a critic with a sharp tongue/ I, for, one have been stung/ One too many times/ It's hard to fake a smile.") But you just have to keep on truckin'! Controversies in the greater Kzoo music scene, often in the form of blog-bashing, have been going around... whether you're a musician or a writer, just keep it up-- art is art, and criticism is at the heart of being any type of artist. My hope for all artists who are part of Kalamazoo media/ culture continue to love, support, and constructively criticize one another in the hope that we will all find our voices and create some amazing legacies to leave behind, in whatever medium we so choose.
Without further ado, a couple exciting news tidbits:
[NOISE! Convention]
When I first launched TVJ, I had an idea to have a big show with some of my favorite local bands to promote the site. That never occurred, since I have no idea how to go about booking a show... alas, the intervention of Fate brought two lovely young men into my life with their lovely new site, Kalamazoo NOISE!. As a contributing writer for KN, I'm pleased to announce that we will be hosting a HUGE bash, coined "NOISE! Convention." I believe I've briefly mentioned it previously, but I wanted to reiterate: this is a HUGE-ASS SHOW (16 bands will be playing) to which you and ALL of your friends are more than invited!! (Check out the Facebook invite here.... go ahead, RSVP, you know you wanna.) This is, no doubt, better than anything I could've cooked up. I am SO excited for this and I hope all of you guys will be there. It's going to be amazing. Here are the deets:
What? Quite possibly the most incredible show of all time. Ever.
Who? The Hex Bombs, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Ender, Hello Victor, Please Promise, Branden Mann and the Reprimand, Elm Street Riot, Brena, Trixy Disco, The Sedgwyck Agent, Sara Never Loved Me, Dead Scene Radio, The Post Addition, Crash City Saints, Dunktank, and Kathryn Tapper. And me of course (and the other KN! boys and gal). And most importantly, YOU!
When? April 29th... the last day of exams for all you WMU folks!!! What a killer way to unwind!
Where? Both stages of The Strutt at the corner of Stadium and Academy.
To date, we've got exactly 400 confirmed guests on Facebook... just sayin', all the cool kids will be there. No pressure or anything. Come on out! Bring your friends! This will be a night none of us will forget! Please be sure to introduce yourself... I can't wait to see your beautiful faces!
[Upcoming Publications]
RECOIL: Check out the April '10 issue for an article by "yours truly" (I hate when people say that) which will hit newsstands (not so much newsstands as countertops in various music-peopley places like Fourth Coast, Guitar Center, and many other places in the greater Kalamazoo/ Grand Rapids area) April 1st... no foolin'!
REVUE: I've got a pending article for this which may or may not run. Long story...
KALAMAZOO NOISE!: As always, keep checkin'.
[Cool Upcoming Stuff]
April 7th at The Strutt: Koji, Ender, and Kevin Devine. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. Also be on the lookout for my coverage of this show via KN!
If you're not excited right now, check your pulse homey. For reallz.
XOXO
--Meg Alexander (thevolumejunkie)
PS: Don't forget to add me on Facebook and MySpace for any and all blog updates and other related matters. Big hugs to all of you who have already :) Later days!
I thought it might be time for a bit of an update since the Bird Rights feature was my 40th post and, no, that's not a huge number, but it's a little bit of a milestone (kinda). Espect somethin' cool for the 50th ya'll. Just sayin.
I just want to thank all of my readers for coming to the site; those of you who send encouraging words, feedback, etc are very much appreciated. Those of you will less-nice things to say are appreciated as well. It's true what they say: a handful of "haters" and critics (or even just one) makes you stronger and teaches you more than a million fans, even if it hurts at first. (As Nick Flora says, "Everyone's a critic with a sharp tongue/ I, for, one have been stung/ One too many times/ It's hard to fake a smile.") But you just have to keep on truckin'! Controversies in the greater Kzoo music scene, often in the form of blog-bashing, have been going around... whether you're a musician or a writer, just keep it up-- art is art, and criticism is at the heart of being any type of artist. My hope for all artists who are part of Kalamazoo media/ culture continue to love, support, and constructively criticize one another in the hope that we will all find our voices and create some amazing legacies to leave behind, in whatever medium we so choose.
Without further ado, a couple exciting news tidbits:
[NOISE! Convention]
When I first launched TVJ, I had an idea to have a big show with some of my favorite local bands to promote the site. That never occurred, since I have no idea how to go about booking a show... alas, the intervention of Fate brought two lovely young men into my life with their lovely new site, Kalamazoo NOISE!. As a contributing writer for KN, I'm pleased to announce that we will be hosting a HUGE bash, coined "NOISE! Convention." I believe I've briefly mentioned it previously, but I wanted to reiterate: this is a HUGE-ASS SHOW (16 bands will be playing) to which you and ALL of your friends are more than invited!! (Check out the Facebook invite here.... go ahead, RSVP, you know you wanna.) This is, no doubt, better than anything I could've cooked up. I am SO excited for this and I hope all of you guys will be there. It's going to be amazing. Here are the deets:
What? Quite possibly the most incredible show of all time. Ever.
Who? The Hex Bombs, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Ender, Hello Victor, Please Promise, Branden Mann and the Reprimand, Elm Street Riot, Brena, Trixy Disco, The Sedgwyck Agent, Sara Never Loved Me, Dead Scene Radio, The Post Addition, Crash City Saints, Dunktank, and Kathryn Tapper. And me of course (and the other KN! boys and gal). And most importantly, YOU!
When? April 29th... the last day of exams for all you WMU folks!!! What a killer way to unwind!
Where? Both stages of The Strutt at the corner of Stadium and Academy.
To date, we've got exactly 400 confirmed guests on Facebook... just sayin', all the cool kids will be there. No pressure or anything. Come on out! Bring your friends! This will be a night none of us will forget! Please be sure to introduce yourself... I can't wait to see your beautiful faces!
[Upcoming Publications]
RECOIL: Check out the April '10 issue for an article by "yours truly" (I hate when people say that) which will hit newsstands (not so much newsstands as countertops in various music-peopley places like Fourth Coast, Guitar Center, and many other places in the greater Kalamazoo/ Grand Rapids area) April 1st... no foolin'!
REVUE: I've got a pending article for this which may or may not run. Long story...
KALAMAZOO NOISE!: As always, keep checkin'.
[Cool Upcoming Stuff]
April 7th at The Strutt: Koji, Ender, and Kevin Devine. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. Also be on the lookout for my coverage of this show via KN!
If you're not excited right now, check your pulse homey. For reallz.
XOXO
--Meg Alexander (thevolumejunkie)
PS: Don't forget to add me on Facebook and MySpace for any and all blog updates and other related matters. Big hugs to all of you who have already :) Later days!
Friday, March 05, 2010
Pop Is Not a Four-Letter Word: Dead Scene Radio: 3/3/10 Interview
Only seconds into meeting Dead Scene Radio, I do something I never set out to do: blatantly embarrass the band.
In an honest effort for accuracy, I ask that they wear nametags (which are actually mailing labels-- all together now, “amateur”); I’m not too worried about it until our self-proclaimed “80’s hair metal freak” waitress (more on that later) calls out Aaron.
“Can I just say that I love that you’re wearing a nametag?” she says in blatant, but clearly flirtatious mockery.
Before I can jump in and explain, Aaron (bass) proudly pats it even more firmly into place, and offers an interesting factoid, launching us into the first of an unknown number of side-tracks: apparently, the upper right-hand side of one’s shirt is the “correct” place to wear a nametag, because it’s easier to see when you extend your right hand in a handshake. Unaffected by the helpful networking tip, the waitress bounces off to retrieve our first of several pitchers of Rolling Rock.
All the while, three fourths of Dead Scene Radio (Aaron, bass; Matt, guitars; and drummer Jeff]; second guitar player Jake is yet to show up) are cracking jokes, quoting everything from Zoolander ("How do you spell eu-google-y?") to Coffee and Cigarettes to The Office; each, in turn, interjects random references and sends the other two into a fit of laughter; they are the conversational equivalent of an Asian sibling acrobatic team in Cirque du Soleil, reading each other in a near-telepathic manner, appearing as appendages of one entity.
Jake shows up in time; we revert, almost immediately, to the past. The boys met in high school, and apparently, principle songwriters Matt and Jake didn't get along; the reasons for which, like so many great human mysteries, have been lost to time. Matt smiles and shrugs off discussion of the rivalry, but Jake, ever his counterpoint, offers an explanation: "You [hadn't] grown into your glasses yet, and your hair was short as shit!"
Almost immediately, it becomes apparent that though they are tight-- almost frighteningly so-- the guys really couldn't be more different. A juxtaposition of musical influences from MXPX, Our Lady Peace, and the Supertones, to the Beatles and Elvis Costello, to 1930's blues and Motown, makes for a unique final product: everything we love about rock and roll with a healthy dose of all the fun, catchiness, and charm of pop: think Weezer and latter-day They Might Be Giants, proudly clinging to the "four-letter word" that "pop" has become in a world of groups selling out of the pop styles that have nurtured generations of music geeks into sleeker, more (superficially) cerebral "indie."
But make no mistake: these guys aren't just fucking around. In fact, their level of seriousness and commitment both surprises and impresses me; these are good (and rare) qualities in a local band. With a full-length in the works, the guys are calling on their years of music training and experience-- which stems from their days in high school choir, but has since been elevated to the point that, at one point, Jeff identifies the note of a glass-clink-- to produce a what will likely be a very memorable debut album.
The album began to take shape over a year ago; the EP they have since released was, according to Matt, "what didn't fit" in with the album. In fact, Matt says, "The difference [between the EP and the album] is astronomical. You won't hear another song like 'White Flag,'" he promises, alluding to the band's more punk-rock tendencies, and although the EP was "more fun," Matt states, "To me, the album is more meaningful."
"It's a lot sexier!" Jake blurts.
"I feel sexier when I play it!" Aaron interjects, without missing a beat.
Among other things, we can also expect their full-length to contain a wider variety of sounds than their EP, which featured a more straightforward pop sound, like the novel, Beatle-rendered "Fuck The Times" (whose adorable chorus refrain is "fuck the times/ let's dance the world away").
The Beatles' influence is a nearly palpable force on the band. This fun foursome of high-school mates plays material primarily composed by Jake (who has a propensity for all things "catchy") and Matt (whose musical style is a bit more serious, and a lot more complex). Does this dynamic sound familiar? And while most of the parallels to the boys from Liverpool might seem to be only skin-deep, their influence is undeniable: with favorite albums ranging from "Please Please Me" and "the early stuff" (Aaron) to "Revolver," and "Abbey Road (aka "which one has 'Oh! Darling' on it?")" (for Jake and Matt) to "Let It Be" (Jeff), Dead Scene Radio has it down. Catchy, but oh-so-carefully drawing a line in the sand against the wolfbane/ Kryptonite/ taboo "too catchy;" the dichotomy that separates "boys in a band" from "boy-band."
But to be fair, there is a distinct boy band quality about Dead Scene Radio-- "quality" being the operative word. This was thrown into amazing relief when Jake sauntered in to the interview, a half an hour after we had begun (with a bevy of apologies met with resounding cries of "don't worry... we're having a blast!"), with a Kirk Cameron half-grin and a sheepish admission that "My hair usually looks more fly than this. Like Matt. Matt has the cuteness going on."
By the end of the interview, the band and I have shared information-- musical, personal, and nearly everything in between-- laughs, and inside jokes. Hell, we even find out (I'm still not sure how) that our waitress has two Motle Crue tattoos and that Nikki Sixx is "her idol." How, you might ask, did you happen upon this information without a "real" conversation?
Well, that's just the kind of guys they are.
Oh yeah, and one more thing to look out for from Dead Scene: "The Pet Sounds EP." Pet Sounds... sound familiar? Yes, of course; but, oh wait. "Each of us is going to write a song about one of our pets," Jeff explains. Weird, but cute, and-- all at once-- stubbornly interesting, it sounds about right for Dead Scene Radio.
Dead Scene Radio is to release a full-length album, the date of which is TBA.
In an honest effort for accuracy, I ask that they wear nametags (which are actually mailing labels-- all together now, “amateur”); I’m not too worried about it until our self-proclaimed “80’s hair metal freak” waitress (more on that later) calls out Aaron.
“Can I just say that I love that you’re wearing a nametag?” she says in blatant, but clearly flirtatious mockery.
Before I can jump in and explain, Aaron (bass) proudly pats it even more firmly into place, and offers an interesting factoid, launching us into the first of an unknown number of side-tracks: apparently, the upper right-hand side of one’s shirt is the “correct” place to wear a nametag, because it’s easier to see when you extend your right hand in a handshake. Unaffected by the helpful networking tip, the waitress bounces off to retrieve our first of several pitchers of Rolling Rock.
All the while, three fourths of Dead Scene Radio (Aaron, bass; Matt, guitars; and drummer Jeff]; second guitar player Jake is yet to show up) are cracking jokes, quoting everything from Zoolander ("How do you spell eu-google-y?") to Coffee and Cigarettes to The Office; each, in turn, interjects random references and sends the other two into a fit of laughter; they are the conversational equivalent of an Asian sibling acrobatic team in Cirque du Soleil, reading each other in a near-telepathic manner, appearing as appendages of one entity.
Jake shows up in time; we revert, almost immediately, to the past. The boys met in high school, and apparently, principle songwriters Matt and Jake didn't get along; the reasons for which, like so many great human mysteries, have been lost to time. Matt smiles and shrugs off discussion of the rivalry, but Jake, ever his counterpoint, offers an explanation: "You [hadn't] grown into your glasses yet, and your hair was short as shit!"
Almost immediately, it becomes apparent that though they are tight-- almost frighteningly so-- the guys really couldn't be more different. A juxtaposition of musical influences from MXPX, Our Lady Peace, and the Supertones, to the Beatles and Elvis Costello, to 1930's blues and Motown, makes for a unique final product: everything we love about rock and roll with a healthy dose of all the fun, catchiness, and charm of pop: think Weezer and latter-day They Might Be Giants, proudly clinging to the "four-letter word" that "pop" has become in a world of groups selling out of the pop styles that have nurtured generations of music geeks into sleeker, more (superficially) cerebral "indie."
But make no mistake: these guys aren't just fucking around. In fact, their level of seriousness and commitment both surprises and impresses me; these are good (and rare) qualities in a local band. With a full-length in the works, the guys are calling on their years of music training and experience-- which stems from their days in high school choir, but has since been elevated to the point that, at one point, Jeff identifies the note of a glass-clink-- to produce a what will likely be a very memorable debut album.
The album began to take shape over a year ago; the EP they have since released was, according to Matt, "what didn't fit" in with the album. In fact, Matt says, "The difference [between the EP and the album] is astronomical. You won't hear another song like 'White Flag,'" he promises, alluding to the band's more punk-rock tendencies, and although the EP was "more fun," Matt states, "To me, the album is more meaningful."
"It's a lot sexier!" Jake blurts.
"I feel sexier when I play it!" Aaron interjects, without missing a beat.
Among other things, we can also expect their full-length to contain a wider variety of sounds than their EP, which featured a more straightforward pop sound, like the novel, Beatle-rendered "Fuck The Times" (whose adorable chorus refrain is "fuck the times/ let's dance the world away").
The Beatles' influence is a nearly palpable force on the band. This fun foursome of high-school mates plays material primarily composed by Jake (who has a propensity for all things "catchy") and Matt (whose musical style is a bit more serious, and a lot more complex). Does this dynamic sound familiar? And while most of the parallels to the boys from Liverpool might seem to be only skin-deep, their influence is undeniable: with favorite albums ranging from "Please Please Me" and "the early stuff" (Aaron) to "Revolver," and "Abbey Road (aka "which one has 'Oh! Darling' on it?")" (for Jake and Matt) to "Let It Be" (Jeff), Dead Scene Radio has it down. Catchy, but oh-so-carefully drawing a line in the sand against the wolfbane/ Kryptonite/ taboo "too catchy;" the dichotomy that separates "boys in a band" from "boy-band."
But to be fair, there is a distinct boy band quality about Dead Scene Radio-- "quality" being the operative word. This was thrown into amazing relief when Jake sauntered in to the interview, a half an hour after we had begun (with a bevy of apologies met with resounding cries of "don't worry... we're having a blast!"), with a Kirk Cameron half-grin and a sheepish admission that "My hair usually looks more fly than this. Like Matt. Matt has the cuteness going on."
By the end of the interview, the band and I have shared information-- musical, personal, and nearly everything in between-- laughs, and inside jokes. Hell, we even find out (I'm still not sure how) that our waitress has two Motle Crue tattoos and that Nikki Sixx is "her idol." How, you might ask, did you happen upon this information without a "real" conversation?
Well, that's just the kind of guys they are.
Oh yeah, and one more thing to look out for from Dead Scene: "The Pet Sounds EP." Pet Sounds... sound familiar? Yes, of course; but, oh wait. "Each of us is going to write a song about one of our pets," Jeff explains. Weird, but cute, and-- all at once-- stubbornly interesting, it sounds about right for Dead Scene Radio.
Dead Scene Radio is to release a full-length album, the date of which is TBA.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Wax Artistic: Ghosts of the Great Lakes: 3/2/10 Interview
Traipsing into a smoke-filled dive, I'm flagged down by Ghosts of the Great Lakes' Benny West, who is accompanied by bandmates Jeff Goodman and Ben Bojanich (as well as Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions' Derek Feltner and his lady, in a serendipitous twist of fate); "Cupid's Shuffle" is blasting at a tacky volume; a squadron of rough-looking, first-week-of-the-month partiers "shuffle" accordingly.
Over Magic Hat #9, Kamikazes, and awkwardly large plates of nachos, we rap for awhile about La Dispute, Dead Scene Radio's next album, the NOISE! Convention, and Teeth's upcoming album release show (Goodman: "We've been trying to get on a show with SpaceLift for years! Well, for a year...") while we beat around the bush at the real reason we're there: to discuss Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new lineup, new perspective, and most of all, their new release, "Erasing You."
Having replaced their original bass player (Mike Snyder, currently of Guardian Devil) and drummer (Dane McClarren, currently of Aploid and various other experimental percussion-oriented music projects), Ghosts have been spending time laying low from the Kalamazoo scene, concentrating on finding their stride as a mostly-new band.
The Ghosts seem to agree that the new rhythm section contributes to a very different overall sound for the band. Their drummer is a newcomer on the Kalamazoo scene, Jesse Blankenship, a studio drummer from Minnesota with a degree in percussion. "Jesse is a lot more 'rock' [than McClarren]" says Goodman, Ghosts' guitarist. "Dane had a lot more jam and hip-hop influences. Jesse is a great 'broad' drummer... he's solid."
Goodman continued that new bassist Ben Bojanich is "more complex" than their original bass player, and that Snyder's playing was "more straightforward," allowing for the complexity of Bojanich's style to lend a noticeable freshness to Ghosts' formerly austere sound. "I'm really a guitar player," says Bojanich, who is heavily influenced by Joy Division, Modest Mouse's Johnny Mars, and, most of all The Cure. "The Cure is a big deal to me," he says. "They are the Bob Dylan of their genre."
Though Bojanich is considerably younger than the rest of the crew ("He's the Young Buck to our 3 6 Mafia"), he's settled into the crew with no problems. Bojanich remembers an immediate click between himself and Blankenship musically: "Jesse and I locked in fast," he said. And while Goodman and West, who have been playing together since extremely-short-lived 2008 Kalamazoo band Designer Virus, seem to miss, in certain ways, their former bandmates and their contributions, they seem excited about the new direction the band has taken. "We're the strongest we've ever been," says West.
At this point we're screaming at one another to communicate over the horrific metal that the bar is blasting, at this reasonable hour of a week night. West has had enough. He flags down our waitress: "Dude..." he says. "I'm so young. But seriously. Turn this shit down." West, dripping with quintessential frontman charisma, does not seem the least bit surprised when she immediately complies, lowering the music to a more tolerable volume. Known for his "diva" antics, such as storming off a stage at Corner Bar after sound issues, West has gained notoriety throughout the local music community. For him, though, it's about high expectations: "I honestly only care about technicality, and the quality of our music," he says. "We're not competitive with other bands, we're competitive with ourselves."
And though they maintain that their main drive is self satisfaction, and that they don't condone Battles of the Bands or other such band competitions for "novelty prizes and that kind of shit" that facilitate hostility between members of music communities, they do seem to be feeling the pressures of the competition within the Kalamazoo scene. "At every show we play, we try to be the best band there," says Goodman. Admirers of local bands-- Their Teeth Will Be of Lions, and especially of Immigrant Blue-- Ghosts do also have their share of scene rivals: "Other bands hate us," says West. "We are the most hated band in Kalamazoo. I feed off of it. I love it."
This unique take on the brotherhood, if you will, that could/ should/ sometimes does exist between local bands takes a backseat to Ghosts of the Great Lakes' tendency to look at the proverbial Big Picture: themselves as part of a the current music industry in general. In the April 2009 issue of Revue, Ghosts' first album, "The Death of the Party" was featured, at which time it was hailed as a "resurrection of the album," and West speculated on an ever-growing controversy to post-Napster generation radioheads: the diminishing of the album, in favor of iTunes-ready singles padded by meaningless filler. West adamantly opposes this trend, opting instead for its counterpoint: the concept album (which both "The Death of the Party" and "Erasing You" are proclaimed to be); West waxes artistic on the subject at length during our interview, revealing that the track "Dear Billy" on the upcoming record is a call-out on one of West's idols, Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, for selling out to single-culture.
In discussion of what to expect on the next record, West yanks up the hood on his black sweatshirt, takes a swig from a bottle of Heineken, and, moments later, says it all: "Fashion, dude. It's fuckin' fashion." Fashion and graphic design have been at the heart of Ghosts' image since they first hit the scene late 2008. Referring to the designer duds, high-end gear, stylish promotional strategy and glitzy album artwork for which the band has become known, Goodman states "It's not just about the music, it's the whole vibe." Bojanich agrees immediately, adding that Ghosts' image-oriented presence is "about professionalism."
With their propensity to leave no detail ignored, we might already know what to expect from Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new release. Still... what of the epic tale of city life, drug addiction, and doomed love that was told in "Death of the Party?" (which seemed to change slightly from interview to interview). What of the unnamed protagonist mentioned in the Revue feature? West assures that "'Erasing You' is an accompaniment to 'The Death of the Party.' It fills in the blanks in the album and takes it past its ending point [the instrumental 'London']."
One thing we know for sure about "Erasing You:" its track list, posted prematurely on the band's MySpace blog. I mentioned this in my last post, and I couldn't help but bring it up in the interview: "I knew that was coming!" said West. He continued to explain that to "some people," it was important to know the next part of the self-proclaimed cliff-hanger that was "The Death of the Party;" furthermore, they weren't concerned about taking away suspense for the album release, maintaining that their fans appreciated the information: "Anyone who's ever called me in the middle of the night crying because they listened to 'Souls' appreciates that. It fuckin' matters to people."
Whether or not you cried listening to "Souls," you can be sure that "Erasing You" will pick us up right where we left off: a glamorous big-city escapade: addiction, heartache and "fashion" galore.
Around eleven pm, the bar cranks back up the prison-core metal. "Is this Mindless Self Indulgence?" asks Goodman good-naturedly. "Whatever it is, it's fucking my face," counters West.
On that note...
* * * * *
Ghosts of the Great Lakes will release their second full-length, "Erasing You" June 16th, 2010 at Papa Pete's.
Over Magic Hat #9, Kamikazes, and awkwardly large plates of nachos, we rap for awhile about La Dispute, Dead Scene Radio's next album, the NOISE! Convention, and Teeth's upcoming album release show (Goodman: "We've been trying to get on a show with SpaceLift for years! Well, for a year...") while we beat around the bush at the real reason we're there: to discuss Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new lineup, new perspective, and most of all, their new release, "Erasing You."
Having replaced their original bass player (Mike Snyder, currently of Guardian Devil) and drummer (Dane McClarren, currently of Aploid and various other experimental percussion-oriented music projects), Ghosts have been spending time laying low from the Kalamazoo scene, concentrating on finding their stride as a mostly-new band.
The Ghosts seem to agree that the new rhythm section contributes to a very different overall sound for the band. Their drummer is a newcomer on the Kalamazoo scene, Jesse Blankenship, a studio drummer from Minnesota with a degree in percussion. "Jesse is a lot more 'rock' [than McClarren]" says Goodman, Ghosts' guitarist. "Dane had a lot more jam and hip-hop influences. Jesse is a great 'broad' drummer... he's solid."
Goodman continued that new bassist Ben Bojanich is "more complex" than their original bass player, and that Snyder's playing was "more straightforward," allowing for the complexity of Bojanich's style to lend a noticeable freshness to Ghosts' formerly austere sound. "I'm really a guitar player," says Bojanich, who is heavily influenced by Joy Division, Modest Mouse's Johnny Mars, and, most of all The Cure. "The Cure is a big deal to me," he says. "They are the Bob Dylan of their genre."
Though Bojanich is considerably younger than the rest of the crew ("He's the Young Buck to our 3 6 Mafia"), he's settled into the crew with no problems. Bojanich remembers an immediate click between himself and Blankenship musically: "Jesse and I locked in fast," he said. And while Goodman and West, who have been playing together since extremely-short-lived 2008 Kalamazoo band Designer Virus, seem to miss, in certain ways, their former bandmates and their contributions, they seem excited about the new direction the band has taken. "We're the strongest we've ever been," says West.
At this point we're screaming at one another to communicate over the horrific metal that the bar is blasting, at this reasonable hour of a week night. West has had enough. He flags down our waitress: "Dude..." he says. "I'm so young. But seriously. Turn this shit down." West, dripping with quintessential frontman charisma, does not seem the least bit surprised when she immediately complies, lowering the music to a more tolerable volume. Known for his "diva" antics, such as storming off a stage at Corner Bar after sound issues, West has gained notoriety throughout the local music community. For him, though, it's about high expectations: "I honestly only care about technicality, and the quality of our music," he says. "We're not competitive with other bands, we're competitive with ourselves."
And though they maintain that their main drive is self satisfaction, and that they don't condone Battles of the Bands or other such band competitions for "novelty prizes and that kind of shit" that facilitate hostility between members of music communities, they do seem to be feeling the pressures of the competition within the Kalamazoo scene. "At every show we play, we try to be the best band there," says Goodman. Admirers of local bands-- Their Teeth Will Be of Lions, and especially of Immigrant Blue-- Ghosts do also have their share of scene rivals: "Other bands hate us," says West. "We are the most hated band in Kalamazoo. I feed off of it. I love it."
This unique take on the brotherhood, if you will, that could/ should/ sometimes does exist between local bands takes a backseat to Ghosts of the Great Lakes' tendency to look at the proverbial Big Picture: themselves as part of a the current music industry in general. In the April 2009 issue of Revue, Ghosts' first album, "The Death of the Party" was featured, at which time it was hailed as a "resurrection of the album," and West speculated on an ever-growing controversy to post-Napster generation radioheads: the diminishing of the album, in favor of iTunes-ready singles padded by meaningless filler. West adamantly opposes this trend, opting instead for its counterpoint: the concept album (which both "The Death of the Party" and "Erasing You" are proclaimed to be); West waxes artistic on the subject at length during our interview, revealing that the track "Dear Billy" on the upcoming record is a call-out on one of West's idols, Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, for selling out to single-culture.
In discussion of what to expect on the next record, West yanks up the hood on his black sweatshirt, takes a swig from a bottle of Heineken, and, moments later, says it all: "Fashion, dude. It's fuckin' fashion." Fashion and graphic design have been at the heart of Ghosts' image since they first hit the scene late 2008. Referring to the designer duds, high-end gear, stylish promotional strategy and glitzy album artwork for which the band has become known, Goodman states "It's not just about the music, it's the whole vibe." Bojanich agrees immediately, adding that Ghosts' image-oriented presence is "about professionalism."
With their propensity to leave no detail ignored, we might already know what to expect from Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new release. Still... what of the epic tale of city life, drug addiction, and doomed love that was told in "Death of the Party?" (which seemed to change slightly from interview to interview). What of the unnamed protagonist mentioned in the Revue feature? West assures that "'Erasing You' is an accompaniment to 'The Death of the Party.' It fills in the blanks in the album and takes it past its ending point [the instrumental 'London']."
One thing we know for sure about "Erasing You:" its track list, posted prematurely on the band's MySpace blog. I mentioned this in my last post, and I couldn't help but bring it up in the interview: "I knew that was coming!" said West. He continued to explain that to "some people," it was important to know the next part of the self-proclaimed cliff-hanger that was "The Death of the Party;" furthermore, they weren't concerned about taking away suspense for the album release, maintaining that their fans appreciated the information: "Anyone who's ever called me in the middle of the night crying because they listened to 'Souls' appreciates that. It fuckin' matters to people."
Whether or not you cried listening to "Souls," you can be sure that "Erasing You" will pick us up right where we left off: a glamorous big-city escapade: addiction, heartache and "fashion" galore.
Around eleven pm, the bar cranks back up the prison-core metal. "Is this Mindless Self Indulgence?" asks Goodman good-naturedly. "Whatever it is, it's fucking my face," counters West.
On that note...
* * * * *
Ghosts of the Great Lakes will release their second full-length, "Erasing You" June 16th, 2010 at Papa Pete's.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Top 10 Things I'm Excited About
If there's one thing I love doing, it's making Top-10 lists. You might remember a minor overuse of them during Hip-Hop Week, but it's been months and I think it's ok now...
[10. The Sedgwyck Agents and Your Best Friend: Papa Pete's 3/5/10]
The first time I heard about Your Best Friend, the conversation literally went like this:
Much-cooler friend: What are you doing tonight?
Meg: Aw, I don't know.
MCF: Your Best Friend is playing a show at Corner Bar!
M: ...my best friend? .......who........?
MCF: NO, have you ever heard of the band, YOUR BEST FRIEND?!
She was/is way cooler than me, but now I know! Anyway, the Detroit-area band Your Best Friend will be bringing the hotness to Papa Pete's on March 5th! I saw YBF at Papa's last summer, I believe, with Ghosts of the Great Lakes and others. And, though those were my pre-blogging days (can you imagine? I can't), I still feel that I may tell you that they rocked my fucking face off.
For the record, I once had a similar conversation about Something Corporate ("Do you listen to Something Corporate?" "I listen to a lot of corporate music"); I swear to God that happened. Anyway...
Opening for Your Best Friend will be Kalamazoo's own Sedgwyck Agents. These masters of garage-grunge, also chock full of face-rocking goodness, mash heavily-distorted guitars, riotous cymbal-crashing fury and snarling, Johnny Rottenesque vocals: the kind of music you jacked up way, way too loud when you were an angsty high-school asshole (no worries, I've been there). Your parents' worst nightmare... but (ugh oh) your best friend.
Check this show out. Promise.
Also, look for my upcoming feature on Sedgwyck on Kalamazoo NOISE! for whom I will soon be a contributing writer. These guys rock-- bookmark this page to keep in the loop about Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan shows, as well as check out band profiles, etc, etc, etc.
[9. Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new full length "Erasing You"]
That's right, the band who once likened their sound to "shiny dirt" are releasing their sophomore effort. With a revamped lineup, Ghosts promise that "We are not fucking around in the least on this album." (from their blog); and vow additionally that it will "be loud." And while they brought the pain on their last release "The Death of the Party," which was favorably reviewed by Recoil, Revue and others, it will be interesting to see what they come up with this time around, having taken a minor hiatus from playing live shows and generally been off the proverbial radar.
And in case you've been curious about what they've been up to, they've released the a track list from the upcoming album on their blog. Though I can't see a reason to do this other than just liking the songs' titles a lot, they are officially... released. With promises that we will finally hear the music behind the titles in... June.
Anti-climactic, much?
Regardless, given the endlessly creative take on modern rock with which Ghosts have made a name for themselves in the Kalamazoo scene, I'm stoked for their next release.
See ya in a few months, guys!
[8. Elm Street Riot (formerly Bermuda Groove)]
Elm Street are sort of the new kids on the block of Kalamazoo indie-rock, blending classic 90s alt rock and gritty garage-blues with an indie perspective (think Cage the Elephant, the Black Keys and Ryan Adams' more "rock" stuff).
When I saw them in the fall at the Strutt as Bermuda Groove, I was confused and almost disappointed that they weren't more like this, given their name. But, I kicked back and enjoyed the set; they're kind of like seeing the first high school garage band you were really impressed by; like, "oh, you can be THAT cool and sound like that?! That's really good!"
Anyway, it's still in the early days of Elm Street Riot's tenure on the Kzoo scene, but I'm expecting to hear MUCH more from these guys in the coming months. In the meantime, you can check out their EP here and rock steady; during which time, please be advised that Elm Street "is sure to make your ears bleed in the best possible way."
[7. Trixy Disco] (what is "Dutch Pop?")
Another new band I've happened upon since selling out to MySpace: Trixy Disco. With a name like "Trixy Disco," a MySpace wallpapered in mosquitoes, and (most of all) their funky, experimental hard-rock sound, I was instantly intrigued. Though they only have one song up on MySpace, the headbanging "C'mon Sunshine," their sound has a presence and a uniqueness that you can't fake-- or ignore.
It might be a little premature but I'm expecting fantastic things from this band... they will be rockin' out the dungeon that is Corner Bar on March 19th, so I guess we'll see?
[6. Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions CD Release Show 4/17/10]
What the band rightly calls a "strange collaboration of talent and compassion" on their own MySpace is Kalamazoo's indie tour de force Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions. Taking us on an experimental-indie roller coaster ride of sound since their first release "Everyone Made it Out Alive.. Almost!" and through the darker "The Death... The Reincarnation... And The Unfamiliar Tales Of:" the band brings us their third album, "True Stories Are Harder To Make Up" in April.
Preferring their dance-y first album to the more brooding sophomore effort, I felt that their original B52s-meets-Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show antics suited the quirky seven-piece a little better than what they've been coming up with lately;. for example, "We Plunge Our Hands Deep Into The Sand:" an almost-harmonizing a cappella intro, leading into bass-driven indie, festooned with Sci-Fi synth and overdubbed with an excerpt from Obama's presidential acceptance speech... A little much? I think so.
However, while I don't know quite what to expect from the third-- a bridge between ridiculous-but-fun and serious-but-overbearing? or a third direction we don't even see coming?-- I'm sure that the CD release show will be worth catching. While naysayers can say what they will about Teeth's recorded work, there is no denying that they have always put on one of the most fun shows in town. And, alongside a killer lineup of some of the area's best bands-- The Skies Revolt (Grand Rapids), Hello Victor, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Spacelift, and Toro and the National Guard-- this show is guaranteed to be killer.
[5. Reggae Dancehall Xplosion 2010]
What do you get when you mix the resurrection of one of Kalamazoo's greatest venues of all time (the Kraftbrau... nowadays "Old Dog Tavern") and the amazing island-inspired world-beat dance music spun by WIDR's Selector Jonathon/ "Dread I Sound?" That's right: a "Reggae Dancehall Xplosion" the likes of which this town has never seen. Spinning a combination of "roots music, afro-beat, dub, nyahbinghi, rock-steady, dub-step, one-drop, dancehall, rockers, acoustic, dubtronic, lovers, tropical, soca, steel pan, modern roots, calypso and the occasional non-reggae African-based music" (from the Reggae Revolution MySpace), Dread I Sound and DJ Assane (who I mysteriously cannot find anywhere on the internet, and consequently cannot provide you with a link; sorry) revive a long-lost art: the reggae dance party.
You might remember Dread I Sound from Bob Marley Birthday Bash this year; and, in true irie spirit, he has generously sent me playlists of his radio show, which I am thrilled to say IS AMAZING. Alongside super obscure reggae-oriented acts from all over the world (not just the Caribbean, but as far-flung as Sardinia, Italy, Sweden, the UK, France, and Belgium; and even the US and Canada... who knew?) are names you'll recognize from mainstream radio and probably your own music collection... Sean Paul, Matisyahu, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Rancid (?! what are you doing here, Rancid?) and more.
And, well, it's not spring yet. So if you need a break, hit up Old Dog Tavern, crack open a Red Stripe and post. Dread I Sound has a gift for turning what is often misunderstood as a very homogeneous genre and turning it into a truly diverse and amazing tessellation of styles, cultures, and sounds. Interested? You bet your ass you are. Check out the next Reggae Dancehall Xplosion on March 18th; until then, Reggae Revolution is on WIDR (89.1 FM) Tuesday nights from 10-midnight.
[4. Dead Scene Radio's Full-Length; release date TBD]
Wellllllll if you read my last post (was that the last one? damn) you already know how I feel about Dead Scene Radio.
You know then, indeed that we are expecting a full-length from them coming up, the details of which should be released any time now now.
What they do have up is this video, which, even without vocals, sounds killer and falls squarely within their tried-and-true indie/pop paradigm, and resembles the rest of their music: laden with upbeat, electric instrumentation, bright melodies and subtle vocal harmonies.
Anyway, I'm going to try to set up an interview with these guys and see if we can get in the loop. In the meantime, check out their current stuff if you haven't: a feel-good blend of old-school Beach Boys/ Buddy Holly pop/rock and roll plus indie rock.
[3. Hello Victor: full-length due out in June 2010]
You might remember one of my very first local reviews, Hello Victor's EP, "1623" last fall.
After my mostly-favorable review of their EP, I saw them play a few times-- most recently over Christmas Break, I think-- and now can say that I thoroughly believe in this band. With an increasingly-killer live show to amplify their already impressive studio work (available on MySpace and anjuno), Hello Victor is building suspense for their first full-length, due out this summer, releasing a song or two at their recent shows but keeping fairly quiet about what they're up to in the studio.
During an unofficial interview with Hello Victor, I learned that they have been keeping quite busy; with a new management deal and studio options being discussed, the band seems to hope to live up to the buzz that their EP and live shows have generated, continue playing live shows (including a slew of Kalamazoo-area dates and a show in Chicago) in the coming months. With moderate lineup changes (including adding members of the now-defunct Kzoo indie gem The Rock and the Hive) and a notable feeling of newfound assurance in their music, Hello Victor is looking pretty good these days.
[2. Mustard Plug at Papa Pete's 3/16/10]
AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite local(ish) band EVER and one of my all-time faves, MUSTARD PLUG, is playing at Papa Pete's in a mere TWO WEEKS!
I've seen this band I think around nine times (I lost track at seven) and they have never, never disappointed me. I checked them out for the first time when I was 15, at State Theatre. I think it was the first concert I ever went to. It was summer. I wore sandals. It was painful. I had an awesome time.
One thing I love about Mustard Plug's shows: consistency. They are consistently the most fun shows I see. Despite having serious ska chops and being a mainstay in the national ska scene-- and, now an internationally-performing band-- these guys are mindblowingly down-to-earth, allowing for an anything-goes atmosphere at their shows. I'm talking skanking, crowdsurfing, stagedancing and any other beer- /Beer- fueled shenanigans you can imagine, an elbows-and-knees melee over soaring requiems of 2 Tone chaos.
I can promise you that THIS WILL BE THE SHOW of the season in Kalamazoo. Except for...
[1. Fruit Bats 3/5/10 @ the Strutt]
At last, Fruit Bats are making their triumphant return to Kalamazoo after Barking Tuna 2009.
If you didn't catch my Barking Tuna coverage last fall, here's a synopsis: despite having played an amazing show at State Theatre on Night Three, the Fruit Bats received little attention in Kalamazoo, even from a city with what I observe as a pretty indie-centered music scene.
But still, it seems like people are fairly excited about this show; in a rare move, The Strutt is pre-selling tickets (they are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, I believe.). I know I am.
With a delightful, Shins-rendered style of indie-pop, Fruit Bats (currently on the music snobs' Most Infamous Label: SubPop) exemplify everything that is great about indie: intricate-but-accessible, tone-conscious guitar parts, weaving flowing harmonies with cerebral lyrics and the occasional piano jam. Frontman and principal songwriter Eric Johnson has an incredible combination of the characteristic indie sensibility with roots in classic rock; think Jeffy Tweedy meets Loud Reed meets the Beatles' "Let It Be" (Phil Spector style or "Naked," you decide) times indie, minus whining; to the tenth power.
Also, check out their blog; their latest chronicles a session with Sean and my boys over at Day Trotter!
[10. The Sedgwyck Agents and Your Best Friend: Papa Pete's 3/5/10]
The first time I heard about Your Best Friend, the conversation literally went like this:
Much-cooler friend: What are you doing tonight?
Meg: Aw, I don't know.
MCF: Your Best Friend is playing a show at Corner Bar!
M: ...my best friend? .......who........?
MCF: NO, have you ever heard of the band, YOUR BEST FRIEND?!
She was/is way cooler than me, but now I know! Anyway, the Detroit-area band Your Best Friend will be bringing the hotness to Papa Pete's on March 5th! I saw YBF at Papa's last summer, I believe, with Ghosts of the Great Lakes and others. And, though those were my pre-blogging days (can you imagine? I can't), I still feel that I may tell you that they rocked my fucking face off.
For the record, I once had a similar conversation about Something Corporate ("Do you listen to Something Corporate?" "I listen to a lot of corporate music"); I swear to God that happened. Anyway...
Opening for Your Best Friend will be Kalamazoo's own Sedgwyck Agents. These masters of garage-grunge, also chock full of face-rocking goodness, mash heavily-distorted guitars, riotous cymbal-crashing fury and snarling, Johnny Rottenesque vocals: the kind of music you jacked up way, way too loud when you were an angsty high-school asshole (no worries, I've been there). Your parents' worst nightmare... but (ugh oh) your best friend.
Check this show out. Promise.
Also, look for my upcoming feature on Sedgwyck on Kalamazoo NOISE! for whom I will soon be a contributing writer. These guys rock-- bookmark this page to keep in the loop about Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan shows, as well as check out band profiles, etc, etc, etc.
[9. Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new full length "Erasing You"]
That's right, the band who once likened their sound to "shiny dirt" are releasing their sophomore effort. With a revamped lineup, Ghosts promise that "We are not fucking around in the least on this album." (from their blog); and vow additionally that it will "be loud." And while they brought the pain on their last release "The Death of the Party," which was favorably reviewed by Recoil, Revue and others, it will be interesting to see what they come up with this time around, having taken a minor hiatus from playing live shows and generally been off the proverbial radar.
And in case you've been curious about what they've been up to, they've released the a track list from the upcoming album on their blog. Though I can't see a reason to do this other than just liking the songs' titles a lot, they are officially... released. With promises that we will finally hear the music behind the titles in... June.
Anti-climactic, much?
Regardless, given the endlessly creative take on modern rock with which Ghosts have made a name for themselves in the Kalamazoo scene, I'm stoked for their next release.
See ya in a few months, guys!
[8. Elm Street Riot (formerly Bermuda Groove)]
Elm Street are sort of the new kids on the block of Kalamazoo indie-rock, blending classic 90s alt rock and gritty garage-blues with an indie perspective (think Cage the Elephant, the Black Keys and Ryan Adams' more "rock" stuff).
When I saw them in the fall at the Strutt as Bermuda Groove, I was confused and almost disappointed that they weren't more like this, given their name. But, I kicked back and enjoyed the set; they're kind of like seeing the first high school garage band you were really impressed by; like, "oh, you can be THAT cool and sound like that?! That's really good!"
Anyway, it's still in the early days of Elm Street Riot's tenure on the Kzoo scene, but I'm expecting to hear MUCH more from these guys in the coming months. In the meantime, you can check out their EP here and rock steady; during which time, please be advised that Elm Street "is sure to make your ears bleed in the best possible way."
[7. Trixy Disco] (what is "Dutch Pop?")
Another new band I've happened upon since selling out to MySpace: Trixy Disco. With a name like "Trixy Disco," a MySpace wallpapered in mosquitoes, and (most of all) their funky, experimental hard-rock sound, I was instantly intrigued. Though they only have one song up on MySpace, the headbanging "C'mon Sunshine," their sound has a presence and a uniqueness that you can't fake-- or ignore.
It might be a little premature but I'm expecting fantastic things from this band... they will be rockin' out the dungeon that is Corner Bar on March 19th, so I guess we'll see?
[6. Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions CD Release Show 4/17/10]
What the band rightly calls a "strange collaboration of talent and compassion" on their own MySpace is Kalamazoo's indie tour de force Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions. Taking us on an experimental-indie roller coaster ride of sound since their first release "Everyone Made it Out Alive.. Almost!" and through the darker "The Death... The Reincarnation... And The Unfamiliar Tales Of:" the band brings us their third album, "True Stories Are Harder To Make Up" in April.
Preferring their dance-y first album to the more brooding sophomore effort, I felt that their original B52s-meets-Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show antics suited the quirky seven-piece a little better than what they've been coming up with lately;. for example, "We Plunge Our Hands Deep Into The Sand:" an almost-harmonizing a cappella intro, leading into bass-driven indie, festooned with Sci-Fi synth and overdubbed with an excerpt from Obama's presidential acceptance speech... A little much? I think so.
However, while I don't know quite what to expect from the third-- a bridge between ridiculous-but-fun and serious-but-overbearing? or a third direction we don't even see coming?-- I'm sure that the CD release show will be worth catching. While naysayers can say what they will about Teeth's recorded work, there is no denying that they have always put on one of the most fun shows in town. And, alongside a killer lineup of some of the area's best bands-- The Skies Revolt (Grand Rapids), Hello Victor, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Spacelift, and Toro and the National Guard-- this show is guaranteed to be killer.
[5. Reggae Dancehall Xplosion 2010]
What do you get when you mix the resurrection of one of Kalamazoo's greatest venues of all time (the Kraftbrau... nowadays "Old Dog Tavern") and the amazing island-inspired world-beat dance music spun by WIDR's Selector Jonathon/ "Dread I Sound?" That's right: a "Reggae Dancehall Xplosion" the likes of which this town has never seen. Spinning a combination of "roots music, afro-beat, dub, nyahbinghi, rock-steady, dub-step, one-drop, dancehall, rockers, acoustic, dubtronic, lovers, tropical, soca, steel pan, modern roots, calypso and the occasional non-reggae African-based music" (from the Reggae Revolution MySpace), Dread I Sound and DJ Assane (who I mysteriously cannot find anywhere on the internet, and consequently cannot provide you with a link; sorry) revive a long-lost art: the reggae dance party.
You might remember Dread I Sound from Bob Marley Birthday Bash this year; and, in true irie spirit, he has generously sent me playlists of his radio show, which I am thrilled to say IS AMAZING. Alongside super obscure reggae-oriented acts from all over the world (not just the Caribbean, but as far-flung as Sardinia, Italy, Sweden, the UK, France, and Belgium; and even the US and Canada... who knew?) are names you'll recognize from mainstream radio and probably your own music collection... Sean Paul, Matisyahu, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Rancid (?! what are you doing here, Rancid?) and more.
And, well, it's not spring yet. So if you need a break, hit up Old Dog Tavern, crack open a Red Stripe and post. Dread I Sound has a gift for turning what is often misunderstood as a very homogeneous genre and turning it into a truly diverse and amazing tessellation of styles, cultures, and sounds. Interested? You bet your ass you are. Check out the next Reggae Dancehall Xplosion on March 18th; until then, Reggae Revolution is on WIDR (89.1 FM) Tuesday nights from 10-midnight.
[4. Dead Scene Radio's Full-Length; release date TBD]
Wellllllll if you read my last post (was that the last one? damn) you already know how I feel about Dead Scene Radio.
You know then, indeed that we are expecting a full-length from them coming up, the details of which should be released any time now now.
What they do have up is this video, which, even without vocals, sounds killer and falls squarely within their tried-and-true indie/pop paradigm, and resembles the rest of their music: laden with upbeat, electric instrumentation, bright melodies and subtle vocal harmonies.
Anyway, I'm going to try to set up an interview with these guys and see if we can get in the loop. In the meantime, check out their current stuff if you haven't: a feel-good blend of old-school Beach Boys/ Buddy Holly pop/rock and roll plus indie rock.
[3. Hello Victor: full-length due out in June 2010]
You might remember one of my very first local reviews, Hello Victor's EP, "1623" last fall.
After my mostly-favorable review of their EP, I saw them play a few times-- most recently over Christmas Break, I think-- and now can say that I thoroughly believe in this band. With an increasingly-killer live show to amplify their already impressive studio work (available on MySpace and anjuno), Hello Victor is building suspense for their first full-length, due out this summer, releasing a song or two at their recent shows but keeping fairly quiet about what they're up to in the studio.
During an unofficial interview with Hello Victor, I learned that they have been keeping quite busy; with a new management deal and studio options being discussed, the band seems to hope to live up to the buzz that their EP and live shows have generated, continue playing live shows (including a slew of Kalamazoo-area dates and a show in Chicago) in the coming months. With moderate lineup changes (including adding members of the now-defunct Kzoo indie gem The Rock and the Hive) and a notable feeling of newfound assurance in their music, Hello Victor is looking pretty good these days.
[2. Mustard Plug at Papa Pete's 3/16/10]
AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite local(ish) band EVER and one of my all-time faves, MUSTARD PLUG, is playing at Papa Pete's in a mere TWO WEEKS!
I've seen this band I think around nine times (I lost track at seven) and they have never, never disappointed me. I checked them out for the first time when I was 15, at State Theatre. I think it was the first concert I ever went to. It was summer. I wore sandals. It was painful. I had an awesome time.
One thing I love about Mustard Plug's shows: consistency. They are consistently the most fun shows I see. Despite having serious ska chops and being a mainstay in the national ska scene-- and, now an internationally-performing band-- these guys are mindblowingly down-to-earth, allowing for an anything-goes atmosphere at their shows. I'm talking skanking, crowdsurfing, stagedancing and any other beer- /Beer- fueled shenanigans you can imagine, an elbows-and-knees melee over soaring requiems of 2 Tone chaos.
I can promise you that THIS WILL BE THE SHOW of the season in Kalamazoo. Except for...
[1. Fruit Bats 3/5/10 @ the Strutt]
At last, Fruit Bats are making their triumphant return to Kalamazoo after Barking Tuna 2009.
If you didn't catch my Barking Tuna coverage last fall, here's a synopsis: despite having played an amazing show at State Theatre on Night Three, the Fruit Bats received little attention in Kalamazoo, even from a city with what I observe as a pretty indie-centered music scene.
But still, it seems like people are fairly excited about this show; in a rare move, The Strutt is pre-selling tickets (they are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, I believe.). I know I am.
With a delightful, Shins-rendered style of indie-pop, Fruit Bats (currently on the music snobs' Most Infamous Label: SubPop) exemplify everything that is great about indie: intricate-but-accessible, tone-conscious guitar parts, weaving flowing harmonies with cerebral lyrics and the occasional piano jam. Frontman and principal songwriter Eric Johnson has an incredible combination of the characteristic indie sensibility with roots in classic rock; think Jeffy Tweedy meets Loud Reed meets the Beatles' "Let It Be" (Phil Spector style or "Naked," you decide) times indie, minus whining; to the tenth power.
Also, check out their blog; their latest chronicles a session with Sean and my boys over at Day Trotter!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Communist Musicfesto [part 3: Wheatland]/ Recent Discoveries
First things first: apparently Wheatland has not announced their 2010 lineup yet this year... my bad. (If they have and I just haven't found it, lemme know!) What I have gleaned is that tickets go on sale in May, so hopefully we will all have some more info by then.
Luckily, there are some more things in the proverbial news. I feel like changing things up a bit, so this post is going to be kind of all over the place. Here are some of my recent local discoveries:
[Fishlips]
This is a band I've been meaning to review for quite some time (mostly to save my Myspace inbox). I haven't caught this band's live show yet, so all I have to go by is what's on their Myspace. But, I'll start with their words, instead of mine, both to be fair and to give you an idea of what they're like: in the "genre" line of their Myspace they have: "Comedy/ Acoustic/ Rock."
Take what you will from that and we'll do a track-by-track rundown of their posted jams.
1.) "Delyla" You might remember a ubiquitous Top-40 Single about a lady of the same name (albeit correctly spelled in that instance.) And, ringing it at just under two minutes, this song (Fishlips') is that much less painful, and just as listenable (read: barely).
2.) "The Last Thing I Remember" This 6:8-tempo ballad has a little bit of a waltzy feel to it that's actually quite appealing; however, musically, it's sort of an inexplicable match for what is, lyrically, a hangover narrative: "What happened to the mirror, who broke the furniture? Did we have a party or did we have a fight?" This song is actually really well put-together: with its melancholy strumming and a gentle melody, with the right lyrics over it, this song could work a lot better than it does.
3.) "TimeCard" (inexplicably one word). "Punchin' in my time card, I'm still three sheets to the wind;" I'm picking up on a theme here! Another morning-after ditty-- probably my favorite of the bunch-- this song is a little more uptempo, still acoustic, and exhibits their best use of the sought-after Catchy Chorus. This is also their best use of backup vocals, with a pleasing harmonies on the chorus and throughout. However (and there's always a however, right?) this also contains some inexplicable horror-movie "MUAHAHAHA" overdubs (why, guys? Why?) and the positively cringe-worthy rhyme of "oh my my, oh hell yes" with "party dress" (...where have I heard that before? C'mon now. There's a difference between an homage and an all-out ripoff).
4.) "Billy's Lighter" I'm not entirely sure what this song is about... I think lighting a dog on fire? I guess it's not important...
This song, perhaps the most "country" of the bunch, is decorated with some bayou-harmonica for a pretty nice effect. It gets a little busy through, with some parts that end up sounding like they have 100 vocal parts.
5.) "If I Had a Hammer" Opening lines: "If I had a hammer/ I'd hammer your brains in/ Smash all your teeth out and bury you in the yard/ It wouldn't be hard." Comedy? This schizophrenic jingle, more than a little on the frightening side lyrically-speaking, and more than a little on the bland side musically-speaking, is another country tune... when I could ignore the scary lyrics and listen to the music and the melody (which took several listens to accomplish) I quite liked this song. But dude.
6.) "Lay Your Carpet" This contains another chorus I'm pretty fond of. I could see it as an intro/ montage song in a latter-day Adam Sandler movie. But when the vocal line dips from normal to an obnoxious growl, it's fist-clenchingly, eye-rollingly bad.
7.) "Alzheimers" Ok. I was about to say that I really liked this song! (Which I do!) But, in a strange and quite unprofessional (if I may say so) move, they included as part of this recording an OVER-TWO-MINUTE-LONG voicemail from their harmonica player, Muffin, re: quitting their band. I'm completely puzzled by this. Completely.
The bottom line. Fishlips: stop fucking around. I can tell that you guys are working with some good stuff musically and creatively. Take out the overdubs, the creepy vocal dips, the "comedy" and the goddamn voicemail-- and I'd love to see what happens.
[Cullen Anderson]
You might have guessed by now that writing about music is not my job; in fact, I work in advertising, and if I was going to write a commercial about Cullen Anderson, it would go something like this:
[VO {"voice-over," for the lay-person} by a smooth, almost too-smooth, like, MORMON-smooth voice: "Life is full of simple pleasures. Some say these are the best things in life. Meet Cullen Anderson."]
Believe it or not, that really is my job.
Anyway. I was privileged to be able jam with this dude last weekend. From what I remember it was a hell of a lot of fun. And somehow, he managed to impress me.
With gentle, four-chord guitar parts and an incredible voice-- a husky, vibrato-heavy croon vaguely reminiscent of John Popper or Chris Robinson-- Anderson weaves well-rounded, campfire-singalong-ready, acoustic easy-listeners. Aside from the relatively more-complicated "Get 2 U" (available on his Myspace; I highly recommend checking it out), which adds a drum part and electric guitar, they're all just stripped-down, acoustic-and-voice duos: simple, and a pleasure to hear: the kind of music that just makes you smile. Anderson is a wizard with vocal parts; using his voice as an instrument in and of itself, he takes the simplicity of acoustic-and-voice sound and ups the proverbial ante with another dimension of sound, allowing the vocal part to decorate the guitar sound, and not the other way around. Simply awesome.
He doesn't have any shows listed on his Myspace, but I have a feeling he'll be playing in a garage somewhere around here; I'll keep you posted.
[Dead Scene Radio]
Ok, ok, I can't really file DSR under a "recent discovery;" I've seen these guys several times in bars and basements all over Kalamazoo. But they have some exciting stuff going on and I'm tryin'a keep you posted, b!
With rumblings of a full-length TBR sometime next month, I think we're all pretty stoked... I know I am. At the forefront of Kzoo indie-pop, DSR concocts some of the catchiest stuff I've heardfrom a local band EVER. Duly billed as "powerpop," one tries desperately not to compare them to the Plain White T's, who have (unfortunately) become almost synonymous with the powerpop style; however, these guys sound a lot more like the Beach Boys time-machined into the indie movement.
Wisely starting their Myspace track-list with the poppy jam "Don't You Know," DSR weaves percussive, flashy guitar parts, intricate basslines and an adrenaline-surge of a chorus into a college-radio anthem the likes of which I haven't heard in a long time. After an ADD-conscious guitar solo, they tie it up with a clap-along chorus (the first word in catchy) toward the end, leaving the listener breathless and eager for the next track.
They follow suit throughout the rest of their tracks, reminiscent of everyone from Alkaline Trio to Belle and Sebastian to the Dead Kennedys. At least to a nerd like me.
Suffice it to say I'm stoked for their full-length, and even though I won't be able to catch them at
----> THE STRUTT THIS FRIDAY <----
I'm strongly urging you to.
Well, kids, that's all for today. In the works: EXCLUSIVE [t.v.j.] INTERVIEW with neo-glam hard rockers GHOSTS OF THE GREAT LAKES (featuring a new bass player, Ben Bojanich, formerly of Jealous Radio). Be on the lookout for this, as it is sure to be juicy.
Luckily, there are some more things in the proverbial news. I feel like changing things up a bit, so this post is going to be kind of all over the place. Here are some of my recent local discoveries:
[Fishlips]
This is a band I've been meaning to review for quite some time (mostly to save my Myspace inbox). I haven't caught this band's live show yet, so all I have to go by is what's on their Myspace. But, I'll start with their words, instead of mine, both to be fair and to give you an idea of what they're like: in the "genre" line of their Myspace they have: "Comedy/ Acoustic/ Rock."
Take what you will from that and we'll do a track-by-track rundown of their posted jams.
1.) "Delyla" You might remember a ubiquitous Top-40 Single about a lady of the same name (albeit correctly spelled in that instance.) And, ringing it at just under two minutes, this song (Fishlips') is that much less painful, and just as listenable (read: barely).
2.) "The Last Thing I Remember" This 6:8-tempo ballad has a little bit of a waltzy feel to it that's actually quite appealing; however, musically, it's sort of an inexplicable match for what is, lyrically, a hangover narrative: "What happened to the mirror, who broke the furniture? Did we have a party or did we have a fight?" This song is actually really well put-together: with its melancholy strumming and a gentle melody, with the right lyrics over it, this song could work a lot better than it does.
3.) "TimeCard" (inexplicably one word). "Punchin' in my time card, I'm still three sheets to the wind;" I'm picking up on a theme here! Another morning-after ditty-- probably my favorite of the bunch-- this song is a little more uptempo, still acoustic, and exhibits their best use of the sought-after Catchy Chorus. This is also their best use of backup vocals, with a pleasing harmonies on the chorus and throughout. However (and there's always a however, right?) this also contains some inexplicable horror-movie "MUAHAHAHA" overdubs (why, guys? Why?) and the positively cringe-worthy rhyme of "oh my my, oh hell yes" with "party dress" (...where have I heard that before? C'mon now. There's a difference between an homage and an all-out ripoff).
4.) "Billy's Lighter" I'm not entirely sure what this song is about... I think lighting a dog on fire? I guess it's not important...
This song, perhaps the most "country" of the bunch, is decorated with some bayou-harmonica for a pretty nice effect. It gets a little busy through, with some parts that end up sounding like they have 100 vocal parts.
5.) "If I Had a Hammer" Opening lines: "If I had a hammer/ I'd hammer your brains in/ Smash all your teeth out and bury you in the yard/ It wouldn't be hard." Comedy? This schizophrenic jingle, more than a little on the frightening side lyrically-speaking, and more than a little on the bland side musically-speaking, is another country tune... when I could ignore the scary lyrics and listen to the music and the melody (which took several listens to accomplish) I quite liked this song. But dude.
6.) "Lay Your Carpet" This contains another chorus I'm pretty fond of. I could see it as an intro/ montage song in a latter-day Adam Sandler movie. But when the vocal line dips from normal to an obnoxious growl, it's fist-clenchingly, eye-rollingly bad.
7.) "Alzheimers" Ok. I was about to say that I really liked this song! (Which I do!) But, in a strange and quite unprofessional (if I may say so) move, they included as part of this recording an OVER-TWO-MINUTE-LONG voicemail from their harmonica player, Muffin, re: quitting their band. I'm completely puzzled by this. Completely.
The bottom line. Fishlips: stop fucking around. I can tell that you guys are working with some good stuff musically and creatively. Take out the overdubs, the creepy vocal dips, the "comedy" and the goddamn voicemail-- and I'd love to see what happens.
[Cullen Anderson]
You might have guessed by now that writing about music is not my job; in fact, I work in advertising, and if I was going to write a commercial about Cullen Anderson, it would go something like this:
[VO {"voice-over," for the lay-person} by a smooth, almost too-smooth, like, MORMON-smooth voice: "Life is full of simple pleasures. Some say these are the best things in life. Meet Cullen Anderson."]
Believe it or not, that really is my job.
Anyway. I was privileged to be able jam with this dude last weekend. From what I remember it was a hell of a lot of fun. And somehow, he managed to impress me.
With gentle, four-chord guitar parts and an incredible voice-- a husky, vibrato-heavy croon vaguely reminiscent of John Popper or Chris Robinson-- Anderson weaves well-rounded, campfire-singalong-ready, acoustic easy-listeners. Aside from the relatively more-complicated "Get 2 U" (available on his Myspace; I highly recommend checking it out), which adds a drum part and electric guitar, they're all just stripped-down, acoustic-and-voice duos: simple, and a pleasure to hear: the kind of music that just makes you smile. Anderson is a wizard with vocal parts; using his voice as an instrument in and of itself, he takes the simplicity of acoustic-and-voice sound and ups the proverbial ante with another dimension of sound, allowing the vocal part to decorate the guitar sound, and not the other way around. Simply awesome.
He doesn't have any shows listed on his Myspace, but I have a feeling he'll be playing in a garage somewhere around here; I'll keep you posted.
[Dead Scene Radio]
Ok, ok, I can't really file DSR under a "recent discovery;" I've seen these guys several times in bars and basements all over Kalamazoo. But they have some exciting stuff going on and I'm tryin'a keep you posted, b!
With rumblings of a full-length TBR sometime next month, I think we're all pretty stoked... I know I am. At the forefront of Kzoo indie-pop, DSR concocts some of the catchiest stuff I've heard
Wisely starting their Myspace track-list with the poppy jam "Don't You Know," DSR weaves percussive, flashy guitar parts, intricate basslines and an adrenaline-surge of a chorus into a college-radio anthem the likes of which I haven't heard in a long time. After an ADD-conscious guitar solo, they tie it up with a clap-along chorus (the first word in catchy) toward the end, leaving the listener breathless and eager for the next track.
They follow suit throughout the rest of their tracks, reminiscent of everyone from Alkaline Trio to Belle and Sebastian to the Dead Kennedys. At least to a nerd like me.
Suffice it to say I'm stoked for their full-length, and even though I won't be able to catch them at
----> THE STRUTT THIS FRIDAY <----
I'm strongly urging you to.
Well, kids, that's all for today. In the works: EXCLUSIVE [t.v.j.] INTERVIEW with neo-glam hard rockers GHOSTS OF THE GREAT LAKES (featuring a new bass player, Ben Bojanich, formerly of Jealous Radio). Be on the lookout for this, as it is sure to be juicy.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Rock and the Hive: [Untitled EP] (review)
With an untitled EP released through Anjuno, The Rock and the Hive crafts some of the most fun indie I've heard locally in a long time. This EP weaves feel-good mellow rock and stoner-indie, reminiscent at times of everyone from Silversun Pickups and the Shins to Rod Stewart and the Pumpkins' more mellow stuff. While this album doesn't take a lot of risks musically and sounds a little... "familiar," TRATH (?) have a sound that is so damn agreeable, it makes it hard to hold it against them. The road-trippy first track, "Icharus Roadmaps," has a that catchy, head-bobby toe-tappiness that I love... and after that, I was pretty much hooked. Though they are at no point "edgy," they do, eventually, delve into slightly less-sunny places, notably on the sober, sullen "Three By Three:" bookended by an ambient intro and outro, the song itself seems to emerge from a noisy fog, unfolding and eventually disappearing back into it, in a way that feels magically lucid.
They even play the country-indie card on "(Untitled)" (wtf guys? start naming stuff) and even then I can't get mad at them... The Rock and the Hive are one of those bands who have created a sound that you can wake-n-bake to and listen to with your grandma with equal comfort and appropriateness. Their noncontroversial versatility seems to be working out for them: TRATH have gained a noticeable local following, and even landed a gig with U.K. act the Arctic Monkeys (along with fellow K-zoo band Dead Scene Radio) in September.
While this album breaks little ground, the Rock and the Hive pull it off with fluent musicianship and lyrics that are thoughtful without coming off as brooding... As far as four-track demos go, they pretty much nailed it. More, please?
-thejunkie
[Download at http://www.anjuno.com/profile/therockandthehive]
They even play the country-indie card on "(Untitled)" (wtf guys? start naming stuff) and even then I can't get mad at them... The Rock and the Hive are one of those bands who have created a sound that you can wake-n-bake to and listen to with your grandma with equal comfort and appropriateness. Their noncontroversial versatility seems to be working out for them: TRATH have gained a noticeable local following, and even landed a gig with U.K. act the Arctic Monkeys (along with fellow K-zoo band Dead Scene Radio) in September.
While this album breaks little ground, the Rock and the Hive pull it off with fluent musicianship and lyrics that are thoughtful without coming off as brooding... As far as four-track demos go, they pretty much nailed it. More, please?
-thejunkie
[Download at http://www.anjuno.com/profile/therockandthehive]
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