Archive for category Music
new music: Eleanor Friedberger; Danielle Duval
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on February 20, 2018

“In Between Stars,” Eleanor Friedberger
vigorous, edgy and catchy new synth-pop, goth pop. Eleanor Friedberger will release her new album Rebound [Frenchkiss Records] on May 4, 2018. instead of live instrumentation, she utilized programmed drums, a Juno synthesizer, and muted guitars for a different sound. She recently spent some extended time in Greece, where she has family. She said: “After a month in Athens I asked my friend, the Greek musician Σtella, “What’s one thing I have to do before I leave?” After some long and careful consideration she smiled and said, “you have to go to Rebound. It’s a time warp; kind of an 80s goth disco where everyone does the chicken dance; you’ll love it… but it’s only open on Saturdays after 3:00 AM.” Rebound proved to be a revelation in terms of finding the sound and energy for my fourth album. The club was very dark and despite the no smoking signs, like everywhere in Athens, it was very smoky. The “chicken dance” Stella mentioned was a solitary one. I copied the slouchy strut, moving back and forth in line, swinging my arms in time to the music that at first sounded like Joy Division or maybe The Cure, but never revealed itself– one could only assume it to be knock-off by an unknown Baltic band. It was alienating and exhilarating. “In Between Stars” is an attempt at a song you could hear at Rebound. It’s a dark and disorienting; my warped version of 80s goth disco.”
“Whenever You Want It,” Danielle Duval
Supercharged and empowering indie rock song with super cool guitar riffs from the sophomore album LOSE IT which is out now. About the song, Danielle Duval says: “It’s a song about no fear; being open, ready, and up for anything. The quest to find, cash in, and go for what or who you’re after. It’s a song about the recognition of love when it comes, and to go for it no holds barred, no reservations, no apologies.”
new music: Kira May
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on February 19, 2018

“Muscle Memory,” Kira May
After the release of an EP in 2014, Canadian artist Kira May decided to take some time to focus on treatment for anxiety and depression. A daunting task, she wrote about this experience for her upcoming album Sense which will be released this spring. Using a mic and a loop pedal, May creates lush pop songs. “Muscle Memory” simmers with emotion, strength and resilience. It’s darkness and light colliding, murkiness and hopefulness.
She explained: ““Muscle Memory” explores the ways in which our bodies hold onto our painful histories. This is partially a love song for my body, which continuously strives to protect me and push for my physical and emotional survival, but it is also an exploration of the “letting go” required to move forward. When past traumas are no longer dangerous to us, although well-meaning, our bodies’ attempts to protect us can actually become harmful. This song looks specifically at the damaging effects of negative interpersonal relationships as a very young person who is still forming. In my case, the response was to retreat so deeply into the safety of my own body that it became difficult to get out.”
new music and tour dates: Kate Nash
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on February 8, 2018

Enviably accomplished at 30, Kate Nash is not merely a fantastic musician, she’s also a feminist activist and stars as Rhonda Richardson on Netflix’s GLOW, one of my favorite new shows. It’s brilliant, inspirational and female-centric. Her fourth studio album, Yesterday Was Forever will be released March 30, 2018 and she will be on tour this spring. Her bubblegum pop music with smart and thoughtful lyrics seriously helped me through some brutal times. Empowerment with infectious beats. The first single– “Drink About You” is out now.
About the new single, Kate explains: “’Drink About You’ is about breaking up with someone and becoming obsessed with an idea of who they are, to the point you can’t think of anything else or move on. It’s an unhealthy obsession, you imagine things are better than they are and latch on to whatever you can about the relationship that could be turned to good. And you deal with the pain in an unhealthy way too.”
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
04/04 – Vancouver, BC – Imperial
04/05 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
04/07 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
04/09 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
04/10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
04/12 – Santa Diego, CA – The Observatory – North Park
4/13 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory OC
04/14 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
04/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
04/17 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
04/19 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe
04/20 – Chicago, IL – Park West
04/21 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
04/23 – Toronto, ON – Mod Club
04/24 – Montreal, QC – Theatre Fairmount
04/25 – Boston, MA – Royale
04/26 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
04/28 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
04/29 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
04/30 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club
05/02 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
on tour: K. Flay
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 30, 2018

If you like Lorde, you’ll definitely like K. Flay. If you’re into smart, moody songs with kicky beats and attitude, definitely check out K. Flay.
K.Flay was nominated for two GRAMMY Awards® for Best Rock Song (“Blood In The Cut”) and Best Engineered Album, Non Classical (“Every Where Is Some Where”). In this male-dominated industry, she was the only female artist nominated for Best Rock Song for the 2018 GRAMMY Awards®. Wouldn’t it have been cool if she (as well as Lorde) had performed? Enough of these male-dominated awards shows. Times Up!!!
She recently released a special Deluxe Version of her GRAMMY® nominated album, Every Where Is Some Where, including the ‘Seattle Sessions,’ 5 brand new orchestral versions [string, horn & choir sections] of album tracks, “Blood In The Cut,” “Giver,” “Black Wave,” “High Enough” and “Mean It.” Check out this new live version of “Blood In The Cut.”
K.FLAY EVERY WHERE IS SOME WHERE TOUR (NORTH AMERICA):
Jan 31 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave*
Feb 2 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall* – SOLD OUT
Feb 3 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom*
Mar 12 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club+
Mar 13 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom+
Mar 14 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick+
Mar 15 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall+
Mar 16 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre+
Mar 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer+
Mar 19 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza+
Mar 21 – Boston, MA – The Royale+
Mar 23 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground+
Mar 24 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse+
Mar 25 – Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theater+
Mar 27 – Tulsa, OK – Cains Ballroom+
Mar 28 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater+
Mar 29 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk+
Mar 30 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Downstairs+
May 3 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman^
May 5 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall^ – SOLD OUT
May 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex^
May 8 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park^
*Sir Sly supporting
+YUNGBLUD supporting
^Rescheduled date
new music: Robert Earl Thomas
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on January 24, 2018

–“What Am I Gonna Do” is a beautiful, wistful song from Widowspeak guitarist Robert Earl Thomas. The song sets a particular mood of options and choices with its dreamy and winding melody and soothing vocals. This song reminds me of “Watching the Wheels” by John Lennon. The vocals also make me think Daniel Ash of Love and Rockets. The new black and white video finds Robert wandering alone around lower Manhattan at night, the vast skyline flush with opportunity behind him.
Robert said: “’What Am I Gonna Do’ is more about an era of my life than any particular relationship, although some really concrete endings had me scrambling during that time. I was sort of lost without any obvious sense of self, either as a lover or as the person I thought I moved to New York to become. The song’s central question still dogs me, but what am I gonna do? I mean everyone has those moments of doubt. For the video, it made sense to shoot in lower Manhattan because a lot of those memories are set against that part of the city; and to do it with Otium who has been a friend since I was that other me.”
His solo debut, Another Age [Captured Tracks] will be released on February 16, 2018.
Another Age
Track listing:
1 – Another Age
2 – I Remember
3 – Cryin’
4 – The Weather
5 – Wednesday Morning
6 – Winona Forever
7 – My Fault
8 – What Am I Gonna Do
9 – Word of Mouth
new music: Dizzy
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on December 16, 2017
Dizzy, “Swim”
How did I miss this Canadian band play Boston earlier this month? Vocals are a little bit Lily Allen, a little bit Lorde; melody is a little bit xx. a little bit Cults. Overall cool, dreamy and a song to play on repeat for hours. It’s that intensely infectious. what an amazingly talented young band. I look forward to hearing more and seeing them play out live. Dizzy is: Charlie, Alex and Mackenzie Spencer and Katie Munshaw
Munshaw said: “Making music always stemmed from my being overly sensitive about everything, so when you’re that close to so many people you’re bound to meet the essential characters that screw you up enough to start writing about them.”
new music: Totally Mild
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on December 16, 2017
Totally Mild, “Lucky Stars”
such a pretty, heartfelt acoustic song from Totally Mild. It’s vulnerable and melancholic. The theatrical, stark tone makes it particularly powerful and memorable. The Melbourne, Australia band’s sophomore album, Her [Chapter Records], will be released February 23, 2018. The band has toured with Real Estate, Kurt Vile, Best Coast, DIIV and The Chills and will perform at SXSW in 2018.
Totally Mild is:
Singer/songwriter Elizabeth Mitchell
Zachary Schneider [guitar]
Dylan Young [drums]
Lehmann Smith [bass]

Her Tracklisting:
1. Sky
2. Pearl
3. Working Like A Crow
4. From One Another
5. Lucky Stars
6. Today Tonight
7. Underwater
8. Take Today
9. More
10. Down Together
new music: Lean Year; Misty Boyd
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on November 2, 2017
“Come and See,” Lean Year
–a meditative and profound song with lilting vocals and a mesmerizing melody. Powerful and elegant. Lean Year is Virginia-based singer Emilie Rex and filmmaker/musician Rick Alverson [The Comedy, Entertainment]. The duo co-wrote the album at home in Virginia and recorded it at the home studio of Chicago musician and engineer Erik Hall [In Tall Buildings, NOMO]. Lean Year’s self-titled album is out now.
“Oh Marie,” Misty Boyce
— This is an aching, sad, beautiful, winding song. The Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter’s full-length album, Get Lost, will be released on February 16, 2018. As a popular keyboardist, Misty Boyce backed Sting, Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles and BØRNS. She recently lost her brother to an opioid overdose and her step-father to suicide. The indie-folk artist turned to writing music to work through the varied emotions she felt after these losses and hopes to reduce the stigma associated with drug addiction, mental illness and suicide. Boyce said: “Sometimes, I write to get the things I don’t want to feel out. And then maybe somebody else hears it and feels the same way, and it makes us both feel less alone. I get very frustrated with how disconnected we all are from each other, and how we’ll use whatever we can get our hands on to other people, whether it’s religion or our phones or what you like on Pinterest—anything to make us feel right and prove other people wrong. And then we don’t have to listen anymore. We can just tune out and focus on our own self-obsessed worlds. Nobody’s listening. It’s a scary thing.”
music news: Lloyd Cole at City Winery on November 15, 2017
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on October 30, 2017

Hey if you have middle-aged nostalgia, there are plenty of good shows! UK native Lloyd Cole will be in Boston on November 15, 2017 for an acoustic set at City Winery for his Retrospective Tour. New venue and should be an excellent setting. I ‘m most familiar with Lloyd Cole for his solo work from the 90s– he released an eponymous album in 1990 and Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe in 1991 and Bad Vibes in 1993. Revisiting. It’s solid. Brooding, assured. Bit of glamrock/Britpop elements combined with folk style. Although I didn’t remain tapped in on The Easthampton, Mass.-based musician’s career throughout the years, he’s not stopped regularly putting out music. I really like the song “Women’s Studies” which came out on Standards in 2013.
$22-26, Wednesday, November 15, 8 p.m., City Winery Boston, 1 Canal Street, Boston, citywinery.com.

























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