Archive for category Music
show preview: Xenia Rubinos at Middle East Club on Wednesday March 9, 2016
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on March 9, 2016
from: Brooklyn, New York
R&B meets synth-pop meets world beat. Xenia Rubinos sings gorgeous, soulful songs with smooth, inventive and cool arrangements. Reminds me a bit of Berklee graduate Lilla as both artists embrace island beats and a cool urban vibe.
Xenia Rubinos kicks off her U.S. tour tonight, Wednesday, March 09, 2016 at Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, Mass.
tour dates:
March 9—Middle East–Cambridge, Mass.
March 10—The Ardmore Music Hall–Ardmore, Penn.
March 11—The Hall at MP—Brooklyn, New York
March 19—1st Ward/Chop Shop—Chicago
March 20—Cedar Cultural Center—Minneapolis
March 21—Vega—Lincoln, Nebraska
March 25—Moon Room—Denver
March 29—Rhythm Room–Phoenix, Arizona
March 30—Music Box—San Diego
March 31—El Rey Theatre—Los Angeles
new music: Magic Bronson; Bleached
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on March 2, 2016
Magic Bronson, “Run Run”
deep and funky beats and a catchy chorus on this new track from the synth-pop Los Angeles duo. See the L.A. subway as the guys travel around the city’s streets at night in this video. Self-titled EP, out April 8th. Magic Bronson is: Michael Nicastro [vocals / synth / percussion / production] and Matthew Lieberman [bass / synth / vocals / production]
Bleached, “Keep on Keepin’ On”
energetic, cool guitar-heavy edgy rock. reminds me of several 90s female-fronted or all-female indie rock bands. “We don’t want perfection because it’s boring,” vocalist/guitarist Jennifer Clavin declares. “We want to make music that’s as real as life.” Bleached has a new album WELCOME THE WORMS out April 1 and will be touring the U.S. Bleached is: sisters Jennifer Clavin [vocals, guitar] and Jessie Clavin [guitar, bass] and Micayla Grace [bass]
Bleached Tour Dates:
Tue. Mar. 15 – Sat. March 19 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
Tue. Mar. 29 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones
Wed. Mar. 30 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Sat. Apr. 2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Mon. Apr. 4 – Austin, TX @ Sidewinder
Tue. Apr. 5 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s
Wed. Apr. 6 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links
Fri. Apr. 8 – Nashville, TN @ The High Watt
Sat. Apr. 9 – Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
Mon. Apr. 11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Wed. Apr. 13 – Washington, DC @ DC9
Fri. Apr. 15 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott
Sat. Apr. 16 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz POB
Sun. Apr. 17 – Toronto, ON @ Garrison
Wed. Apr. 20 – Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness
Thu. Apr. 21 – Ferndale, MI @ Loving Touch
Fri. Apr. 22 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Sat. Apr. 23 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Mon. Apr. 25 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Tue. Apr. 26 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Thu. Apr. 28 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Fri. Apr. 29 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Sat. Apr. 30 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
Mon. May 2 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Wed. May 4 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
Thu. May 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
new music: Sophie and the Bom Boms; Childbirth
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 29, 2016
nothing better than women singing empowering, thoughtful and cool songs. Grrl power every day!
Sophie and the Bom Boms, “Big Girls”
–catchy, cool and strong. Los Angeles synthpop duo with 80s influences plans to release a new track each month for the next 12 months.
Childbirth, “Breast Coast”
–power punk with amusing lyrics. The Seattle punk trio tackles feminist issues with humor. sophomore album Women’s Rights is out now–subject matter includes a trashy friend bringing coke to a baby shower (“Baby Bump”) characteristics that warrant an instant “swipe left” on Tinder (“Siri, Open Tinder”) and dating vapid IT douches (“Tech Bro.”) Lyrics on Women’s Rights are highly quotable—from “Tech Bro:” “I’ll let you explain feminism to me/If I can use your HD TV.” The band is inspired by Riot Grrl and 90s alternative. Childbirth is Julia Shapiro of Chastity Belt, Bree McKenna of Tacocat, Stacy Peck of Pony Time.
on tour: Tortoise
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 29, 2016
creating impressive eclectic arrangements for 25 years, the instrumenatl band Tortoise released a new album–its first since 2009– The Catastrophist [THRILL JOCKEY RECORDS] on January 22, 2016 and will begin a North American tour in Minneapolis in March.
TOUR DATES:
Wed. March 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Cedar Cultural Center
Fri. March 11 – Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig
Sat. March 12 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
Sun. March 13 – Montreal, QC @ Fairmount
Mon. March 14 – Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
Tue. March 15 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Wed. March 16 – New York, NY @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
Thu. March 17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Littlefield
Fri. March 18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Sat. March 19 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Sun. March 20 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
Mon. March 21 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
Tue. March 22 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall
Wed. March 23 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival
Thu. March 24 – Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio
Tue. April 26 – Boise, ID @ Radio Boise Tuesday
Wed. April 27 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
Thu. April 28 – Vancouver, BC @ Imperial
Fri. April 29 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Sat. April 30 – Sonoma, CA @ Sonoma Winery / Redwood Barn
Sun. May 1 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Mon. May 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
Tue. May 3 – Solana Beach @ Belly Up
Wed. May 4 – Phoenix AZ @ Desert Daze Phoenix at Crescent Ballroom
Fri. May 6 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Sun. May 8 – Dallas, TX @ Dada
Mon. May 9 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
Tue. May 10 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
Wed. May 11 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
Thu. May 12 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird
Fri. May 13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Sat. May 14 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
music review: Lauren Marsh
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 29, 2016
Opening track “Promise” features evocative, potent vocals, an upbeat melody and a catchy chorus–“and we’ll be rocking like a rolling stone/ cruising through time zones/ I promise I, I promise I won’t let you stand alone”– that stays in your head in a positive way. Singer/songwriter Lauren Marsh’s impressive and distinctive vocals make this EP a stand-out. She reminds me of Rachel Platten with the combination of powerful vocals and memorable arrangements. Marsh utilizes major vocal range in a pretty, confident, emotional manner.
Veracity means a devotion to the truth and Marsh absolutely remains true to herself and her talents. Many of us have overcome tragedy and faced challenges but can we all write gorgeous, meaningful songs that stem from these experiences? 24-year-old Marsh faced a hostile stalker, recovered from a severe car accident in 2013 as well as a night in NYC, which ended in the hospital ER when someone deliberately drugged her drink. She started writing songs at age 14 using her poetry. It’s natural that she’d continue to write songs and use songwriting to cope with these anxiety-inducing incidents.
“Wildfire” resonates in a more subdued manner. It’s softer and gentle. It sways although Marsh’s voice generates as much sentiment. Retro influences propel the beautiful “We Hit the Ground.” The vocals plead–“You take my time, my heart and my mind, spinning round and around, we hit the ground “– while the song’s arrangement transports the listener back to another decade. Soaring vocals effectively persuade on “Never Let You Go.” Finally the gentle “Dear Love” features a delicate harmony and contemplative vocals–“in this life we’ll never know what to expect.” Marsh remains thoughtful with her lyrics and consistent with her vocal style. Add this to your must-listen list.
–review by Amy Steele
Lauren Marsh
Veracity EP
Release date: January 22, 2016
new music: ARO; Parson James
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 26, 2016
ARO, “I Can Change”
–lovely cover of the LCD Soundsystem original with gorgeous, haunting vocals and a beautiful arrangement. I’m a fan. She embraces the darker side while retaining a vulnerability. ARO is British-born singer and daughter of Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne, Aimee Osbourne. Aimee avoided the family spotlight at age 16, choosing not to be part of the family’s reality series. She says: “It’s natural to want to rebel against what your parents do. Once I accepted music was my path, I rebelled by wanting to do it my own way. I also didn’t think it was respectful to my father’s career and creativity to assume that I could jump on the back of all he had worked his entire life for.” ARO will perform at SXSW in March. She divides her time between Los Angeles and London.
Parson James, “Waiting Game”
–born in the Bible belt, bi-racial and gay singer/songwriter Parson James faced numerous prejudices and challenges. He wrote music to escape and to express himself as many artists do. the result: bluesy, heartfelt songs on the The Temple EP out February 5, 2016. In this short documentary features the song “Waiting Game” as well as James speaking about growing up in a conservative town.
new music: Frameworks; FEMME; Your Friend
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 18, 2016
Frameworks, “Branches”
–perfect for a Sunday. smooth and inviting. house beats that burst euphorically yet subdued. EP out now. British downtempo and instrumental hip hop producer Matthew Brewer aka Frameworks released the EP Branches [Loci Records] on November 20.
FEMME, “Gold”
–upbeat and bold. fantastic song. dance-able and empowering. Femme says about writing the song: “I wrote “Gold” after spending many days watching ABBA videos and late nights dreaming of Shirley Bassey. It’s about being blinded by someone’s immaculate golden veneer to the point of not realizing you may not be in love at all.” EP out now. debut album out in the spring.
Your Friend, “Come Back From It”
–Taryn Miller is the talent behind Your Friend. Lovely blissful melodies and murky-cool lyrics. Her debut album GUMPTION [Domino] is out January 29. Of the video, Miller says: It was freezing, and wild. He (the motorcycle driver) was weaving between highway traffic and at times, splitting the space between semis. It all came together at the very end of my trip, and was a really lovely way to leave after seeing what so many endured. There was this juxtaposition of the time that I arrived, and the night before I left. The streets were empty on my first day there, and it was exhilarating to be riding back into the city like that, and to have witnessed such resilience during such a dark time.”
TOUR DATES (w/ Porches & Alex G):
Wed. Mar. 9 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
Thu. Mar. 10 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Fri. Mar. 11 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
Sat. Mar. 12 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover Festival
Sun. Mar. 13 – Orlando, FL @ Backbooth
Mon. Mar. 14 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
Sat. Mar. 19 – Dallas, TX @ Spillover Music Fest
Mon. Mar. 21 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
Tue. Mar. 22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Wed. Mar. 23 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Fest
Thu. Mar. 24 – Portland, OR @ Analog Cafe
Fri. Mar. 25 – Seattle, WA @ Vera Project
Sat. Mar. 26 – Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
Mon. Mar. 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Tue. Mar. 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Thu. Mar. 31 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory – Constellation Room
Fri. Apr. 1 – San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe
Sat. Apr. 2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
Sun. Apr. 3 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Co-Op
Tue. Apr. 5 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
Wed. Apr. 6 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
Thu. Apr. 7 – Madison, WI @ UW Student Union
Fri. Apr. 8 – Grinnell, IA @ Grinnell College – Gardner Lounge
Sat. Apr. 9 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
Sun. Apr. 10 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Cafe
Mon. Apr. 11 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Tue. Apr. 12 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
Wed. Apr. 13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Thu. Apr. 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Fri. Apr. 15 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
new music video: My Gold Mask
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 16, 2016
My Gold Mask, “Dissipate”
The fantastic elecro-pop trio My Gold Mask will release a new album with the fantastic title Anxious Utopia [Moon Sounds Records] on March 4th, 2016. in this new video, while vocalist/drummer Gretta Rochelle defiantly sings about broken promises and ruined romance, bright paints splash the band members and colorful visuals immerse each frame. the brilliance of the Chicago band’s music is its creative arrangements with edgier lyrics. way to flip the mood. you can angry dance.
My Gold Mask [read my 2013 interview with the band here] slowed a bit when Rochelle went through a reoccurrence of disabling panic attacks. Rochelle explains: “I’ve been dealing with my panic disorder since I was a little girl and have only recently really felt like I’ve gotten a handle on it. Making music has always been a cathartic way for me to work things out.” The band began releasing a series of digital singles. Armondo on the process: “The singles gave us a way to keep up momentum while allowing Gretta and the band the time we needed to sort out some personal stuff.”
ON TOUR: Reel Big Fish
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 16, 2016
what a fun ska band to see live and in the winter. you’ll happily dance and pogo and embrace the warmth and energy of the band’s music. The Orange County band kicked off its winter tour in San Luis Obispo, California on January 12 and finishes back in Santa Cruz, California at the end of February. Dates include Houston, Raleigh, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Aspen. Reel Big Fish formed in 1991.
Reel Big Fish is:
Aaron Barrett [vocals, guitar]
Billy Kottage [trombone]
John Christianson (Johnny Christmas) [trumpet]
Ed Smokey Beach [drums]
Derek Gibbs [bass]
Matt Appleton [saxophone, vocal harmonies]
tour dates:
1/16/16 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
1/18/16 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
1/19/16 – Austin, TX – The Parish
1/20/16 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
1/21/16 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
1/22/16 – Destin, FL – Club L.A.
1/23/16 – Gainesville, FL – High Dive
1/24/16 – Jacksonville, FL – Mavericks
1/25/16 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
1/26/16 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
1/28/16 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
1/29/16 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
1/30/16 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater
1/31/16 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
2/1/16 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
2/2/16 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
2/3/16 – Boston, MA – Royale Boston
2/4/16 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall
2/5/16 – So. Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
2/6/16 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
2/8/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Altar Bar
2/9/16 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
2/10/16 – Lansing, MI – The Loft
2/11/16 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
2/12/16 – Palatine, IL – Durty Nellies
2/13/16 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
2/14/16 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
2/15/16 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
2/16/16 – Ft. Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
2/17/16 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
2/18/16 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
2/19/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue
2/20/16 – Reno, NV – Cargo
2/21/16 – Fresno, CA – Strummers
2/22/16 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
2/23/16 – Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst
You must be logged in to post a comment.