Archive for category Music

new music: Calexico

calexico

 

Tuscon, Arizona band Calexico released a new video for the song “End of the World with You” from its upcoming album The Thread That Keeps Us [Anti- Records] which will be released on January 25, 2018.  Assured, laid back indie rock/ American song with lots of Wilco and The Replacements influences. love these lyrics: “Love in the age of the extremes/ there’s nothing better that i’d rather do/ then scatter all the myths/ and walk to the start of the end of the world with you.”

About the new album, guitarist/ vocalist Joey Burns said: “There’s a little more chaos and noise in the mix than what we’ve done in the past, Whenever we’re writing and we come up with something that feels too familiar, someone will end up saying, ‘That feels good, but let’s keep going and see what else we can uncover.’ It’s been really important to the arc of this band’s evolution for us to always keep on trying new things.”

Calexico is:

Joey Burns [vocals, guitar, cello, upright bass]
John Convertino [drums, percussion, vibes, marimba, accordion]
Jacob Valenzuela [vocals, trumpet, vibes, keyboard]
Martin Wenk [trumpet, accordion, guitar, synth, vibes, backing vocals]
Scott Colberg [double bass, electric bass]
Sergio Mendoza [piano, farfisa]
Jairo Zavala [bazouki, baritone guitar, vocals]

The Thread That Keeps Us Tracklisting:

  1.  End of the World with You
  2.  Voices in the Field
  3.  Bridge to Nowhere
  4.  Spinball
  5.  Under the Wheels
  6.  The Town & Miss Lorraine
  7.  Flores y Tamales
  8.  Another Space
  9.  Unconditional Waltz
  10.  Girl in the Forest
  11.  Eyes Wide Awake
  12.  Dead in the Water
  13.  Shortboard
  14.  Thrown to the Wild
  15.  Music Box

 

 

 

 

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new music: Bully

bully

Bully, “Feel the Same”

Grungy guitar and fervent, vulnerable, jaded vocals—a bit Juliana Hatfield, a bit Hole. It’s a short potent song with thoughtful lyrics. Singer Alicia Bognanno : “I feel like all my best work has been born of heartbreak and upheaval; maybe most musicians feel that way. “The title of the record –Losing – kind of says it all. After being on the road so long and coming back to Nashville we all had a lot of changes going on in our personal lives that we were trying to deal with / adjust to and that was really the motivation for this one.” In 2013, Bognanno, a music engineer, formed Bully with guitarist Clayton Parker and bassist Reece Lazarus.

The punk pop band’s sophomore album–Losing (Sub Pop)– will be released October 20, 2017.

Track Listing:
1. Feel the Same
2. Kills to Be Resistant
3. Running
4. Seeing It
5. Guess There
6. Blame
7. Focused
8. Not the Way
9. Spiral
10. Either Way
11. You Could Be Wrong
12. Hate and Control

 

Tour Dates:

11/02/17- St Louis MO – Off Broadway

11/03/17 – Iowa City IA – The Mill

11/04/17 – Minneapolis MN – Fine Line Music Cafe

11/06/17 – Madison WI – High Noon Saloon

11/07/17 – Chicago IL – Thalia Hall

11/08/17 – Detroit MI – Marble Bar

11/09/17 – Toronto ON –  Lee’s Palace

11/10/17 – Montreal QC – Bar le Ritz

11/12/17 – Boston MA – Great Scott (SOLD OUT)

11/13/17 – Brooklyn NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

11/14/17 – Philadelphia PA – First Unitarian Church

11/15/17 – Washington DC – U Street Music Hall

11/17/17 – Charlottesville VA – The Southern

11/18/17 – Durham NC – Motorco Music Hall

11/19/17 – Asheville NC – The Mothlight

12/06/17 – Little Rock AR – Stickyz

12/07/17 – Dallas TX – Club Dada

12/08/17 – Austin TX – Emo’s

12/09/17 – Houston TX – Walter’s

12/10/17 – New Orleans LA – Gasa Gasa

12/12/17 – Birmingham AL – Saturn

12/13/17 – Atlanta GA – Terminal West

12/14/17 – Nashville TN – Mercy Lounge

12/15/17 – Nashville TN – Mercy Lounge

12/16/17 – Nashville TN – Mercy Lounge

2/16/18 – Norman OK – The Opolis

2/17/18 – Santa Fe NM – Meow Wolf

2/18/18 – Phoenix AZ – Valley Bar

2/24/18 – Eugene OR – Hi-Fi Music Lounge

2/26/18 – Vancouver BC – Biltmore Cabaret

2/28/18 – Seattle WA – Neumos

3/1/18 – Spokane WA – The Bartlett

3/2/18 – Boise ID – Neurolux

3/3/18 – Salt Lake City UT – Kilby Court

3/5/18 – Denver CO – Larimer Lounge

3/6/18 – Kansas City MO – Record Bar

 

 

 

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music review: Saint Etienne at ONCE Somerville– September 24, 2017

Saint-Etienne-3-Edit

Saint Etienne
ONCE Somerville
Sunday, September 24, 2017

Blissful, positive vibes dominated the sold-out Saint Etienne show Sunday night at ONCE Somerville. The London band played a mix of older songs – a grooving “Kiss and Make Up,” “Lose That Girl,” an energetic “I’ve Got Your Music” and the popular Neil Young cover “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” –as well as songs from the band’s new album Home Counties—the brilliant “Magpie Eyes,” “Whyteleafe” and slow jam “Take It All In.” It’s the first tour for the band in five years. Three musicians, including a violin player, and a singer joined Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs and Sarah Cracknell onstage, which provided a grand, club sound. “You are familiar with Good Humor it seems,” Sarah Cracknell said after playing “Lose That Girl.” She also noted: “It’s a lot warmer here than it is in the UK.” It was a sweaty show because how can you not dance at least a little bit to Saint Etienne? Cracknell is an engaging and genuine front-person. She interacted just enough. An enthusiastic mostly GenX crowd danced and shouted out song requests. One couple said that their wedding song twenty years ago was “Tonight.” I saw two couples with children in tow. The band played for about an hour and a half including a three song encore. The show featured lots of groovy, potent bass lines [especially in “Help Myself”], dreamy, sweet harmonizing and overall warm fuzzies. It’s sparkly, fresh happy music.

Set list:

Kiss and Make Up
Lose That Girl
Out of My Mind
Who Do you think You Are
Whyteleafe
Hug My Soul
Magpie Eyes
I’ve Got Your Music
Take it All In
Like a Motorway
Dive
Split Screen
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Nothing Can Stop Us
Tonight
Sylvie

Encore:
Stop and Think It Over
Train Drivers in Eyeliner
He’s on the Phone

SAINT ETIENNE U.S. TOUR DATES:

September 26—Brooklyn, New York—Music Hall of Williamsburg

September 27—Washington, DC—U Street Music Hall

September 29—Chicago, Ill.—Park West

October 2—Seattle, Wash.—Neptune

October 4—San Francisco, Calif.—The Fillmore

October 5—Pomona, Calif.—Glass House

October 6—Los Angeles, Calif.—The Fonda Theatre

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music review: The Lone Bellow

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If asked about my musical tastes I gravitate mostly toward darker, goth female artists but have a soft spot for the flannel boys of Americana –bands like The Avett Brothers and Band of Horses. Sometimes I dig those rootsier beats. The Lone Bellow album Walk Into a Storm has me swaying and swooning in my Doc Martens. Note to self: find some flannel shirts at Goodwill. Maybe bring back my 90s wardrobe of flannel and jean shorts with tights. There are plenty of heartfelt and poignant songs on this album enveloping you in a big auditory hug. Things are tough. Despite challenges and adversities we’ll be okay if we stick together. And the power of music can lift our spirits and open our hearts. The opening track swiftly draws you in and digs deep. It’s moving, particularly with Kanene Pipkin joining Zachary Williams on the chorus. I particularly like these lyrics: “I’ve got no sickness/ Got no disease/ Except for the heart inside of me.”  The song “Is It Ever Gonna Be Easy” reminds me a bit of Chris Robinson Brotherhood both in twangy guitar and earthy vibes.  “May You May Well” is a hopeful meditative song. There’s an aching beauty to “Come Break My Heart Again” with Williams singing: “Come break my heart again/ So I can feel it /I think you need it/ I know you mean it…” A swaying and feverish beat anchors “Time’s Always Leaving.”

The Lone Bellow’s third studio album, Walk Into A Storm [Descendant Records/Sony Music Masterworks] was produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell) and recorded in Nashville, Tenn. It will be released September 15, 2017.

WALK INTO A STORM TRACK LISTING:

  1. Deeper In The Water
  2. Is It Ever Gonna Be Easy
  3. May You Be Well
  4. Come Break My Heart Again
  5. Feather
  6. Walk Into A Storm
  7. Time’s Always Leaving
  8. Can’t Be Happy For Long
  9. Between The Lines
  10. Long Way To Go

The Lone Bellow will kick off a tour in support of their new album on September 21 in New York.

TOUR DATES:

Sept 21 – Central Park Summerstage – New York, NY#

Sept 23 – Farm to Fork Festival- Sacramento, CA

Sept 29 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC ^

Sept 30 – Riverfront Park Concert Series – Lynchburg, VA

Oct 01 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH^

Oct 02 – Opera House – Toronto, ONT^

Oct 03 – El Club – Detroit, MI^

Oct 05 – Lincoln Theatre – Columbus, OH ^

Oct 06 – Dave Finkelman Auditorium – Middletown, OH ^

Oct 07 – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY^

Oct 08 – Deluxe at Old National Center – Indianapolis, IN

Oct 10 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL^

Oct 11- Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL^

Oct 13 – Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI ^

Oct 14 – The Englert Theatre – Iowa City, IA ^

Oct 15 – Fine Line Music Cafe – Minneapolis, MN ^

Nov 01 – Bijou Theater – Knoxville, TN*

Nov 02 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA*

Nov 05 – Iron City Birmingham – Birmingham, AL*

Nov 06 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC*

Nov 07 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC*

Nov 09 – Haw River Ballroom – Saxapahaw, NC*

Nov 10 – 9:30 Club – Washington D.C.*

Nov 12 – Infinity Hall Hartford – Hartford, CT*

Nov 14 – State Theatre – Portland, ME*

Nov 15 – House of Blues – Boston, MA*

Nov 16 – Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT*

Nov 17 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA*

#Supporting The Head And The Heart

*w/ The Wild Reeds

^w/ Mt. Joy

 

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new music: The National

the national

The National will release its seventh studio album, Sleep Well Beast [4AD], Friday, September 8, 2017. The beautiful, dark, melancholic, soothing, soaring album was produced by Aaron Dessner with co-production by Bryce Dessner and Matt Berninger and recorded at Aaron’s Hudson Valley, NY studio, Long Pond.

sleep well beast album cover

Sleep Well Beast TRACK LIST:

Nobody Else Will Be There
Day I Die
Walk It Back
The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
Born to Beg
Turtleneck
Empire Line
I’ll Still Destroy You
Guilty Party
Carin at the Liquor Store
Dark Side of the Gym
Sleep Well Beast

The National is:

Matt Berninger [vocals]
Aaron Dessner [guitar, keyboards]
Bryce Dessner [guitar]
Scott Devendorf [bass]
Bryan Devendorf [drums]

North American Tour Dates:

10/05/17 – Wang Theatre – Boston, MA (SOLD OUT)
10/06/17 – Forest Hills Stadium – New York, NY
10/11/17 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA
10/12/17 – CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre – San Diego, CA
10/14/17 – Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA
11/27/17 – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall – Portland, OR (SOLD OUT)
11/28/17 – Paramount Theatre – Seattle, WA
11/29/17 – Paramount Theatre – Seattle, WA
12/01/17 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Vancouver BC, CANADA (SOLD OUT)
12/02/17 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Vancouver BC, CANADA (SOLD OUT)
12/04/17 – Verizon Hall – Philadelphia, PA (SOLD OUT)
12/07/17 – Metropolis – Montreal QC, CANADA (SOLD OUT)
12/08/17 – Metropolis – Montreal QC, CANADA (SOLD OUT)
12/09/17 – Sony Centre – Toronto ON, CANADA (SOLD OUT) (SOLD OUT)
12/10/17 – Hamilton Place Theatre – Hamilton ON, CANADA (SOLD OUT)
12/12/17 – Civic Opera House – Chicago, IL (SOLD OUT)
12/13/17 – Civic Opera House – Chicago, IL (SOLD OUT)

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new music: Sparks

sparks album cover

Sparks, Hippopatamus [BMG] out September 8, 2017

–art-pop, glam rock. Cinematic, international, avant-garde, cabaret style art pop/ glam rock from California brothers Ron Mael and Russell Mael. They’ve been around since the 70s. I’d not heard of them. The music reminds me of Wonderstuff and Dresden Dolls. Lots of piano. Varied instrumentation. It’s super creative, fun, daring, edgy.

‘Hippopotamus’ tracklisting:

01. Probably Nothing
02. Missionary Position
03. Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)
04. Scandinavian Design
05. Giddy Giddy
06. What The Hell Is It This Time?
07. Unaware
08. Hippopotamus
09. Bummer
10. I Wish You Were Fun
11. So Tell Me Mrs. Lincoln Aside From That How Was The Play?
12. When You’re A French Director
13. Amazing Mr. Repeat
14. A Little Bit Like Fun
15. Life With The Bacbeths

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fall tour and new album: Gary Numan

 

12_GF_SLEEVE

Gary Numan will tour North America this fall in support of his 22nd album– Savage (Songs From A Broken World) [BMG]– which will be released on September 15, 2017.  Featuring plenty of dark and fervent electronica beats, the new album is bold, guttural, expansive, provocative, primal and emotional. I could listen to it on repeat for days.

Savage (Songs From A Broken World) Tracklisting:

  1. Ghost Nation
  2. Bed Of Thorns
  3. My Name Is Ruin
  4. The End Of Things
  5. And It All Began With You
  6. When The World Comes Apart
  7. Mercy
  8. What God Intended
  9. Pray For The Pain You Serve
  10. Broken

**vinyl format adds ‘If I Said’ (Track 9) and ‘Cold’ (Track 12) while ‘If I Said’ also features on the deluxe CD (Track 10)

North American Tour Dates:
Nov 15 – The Observatory North Park; San Diego, CA
Nov 16 – Teragram Ballroom; Los Angeles, CA
Nov 17 – The Observatory; Santa Ana, CA
Nov 19 – The Fillmore; San Francisco, CA
Nov 21 – Wonder Ballroom; Portland, OR
Nov 22 – Neptune; Seattle, OR
Nov 23 – The Rickshaw Theatre; Vancouver
Nov 24 – Commonwealth; Calgary
Nov 26 – Pyramid Cabaret; Winnipeg
Nov 28 – First Avenue; Minneapolis, MN
Nov 29 – Thalia Hall; Chicago, IL
Nov 30 – St Andrews Hall; Detroit, IL
Dec 01 – Opera House; Toronto
Dec 04 – Paradise Rock Club; Boston, MA
Dec 06 – Union Transfer; Philadelphia, PA
Dec 07 – Brooklyn Street; Brooklyn, NY
Dec 09 – 9:30 Club; Washington DC
Dec 11 – The Masquerade – Heaven Stage; Atlanta, GA
Dec 12 – Exit / In; Nashville, TN
Dec 14 – Trees; Dallas, TX
Dec 15 – Warehouse Live Studio; Houston, TX
Dec 16 – The Mohawk; Austin, TX

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new music: Harp Samuels; Luna; 2 by bukowski

Harp Samuels, “Secrets”

Low-key beautiful. Soothing and reflective. The kind of music I like to listen to on a lazy Sunday, or in the evening or pretty much anytime. Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Harp Samuels has composed music for television and is an award-winning professional photographer. influences include Damien Rice, Bon Iver, The Civil Wars and John Mayer. His debut album Wanting will be released September 3, 2017.

https://soundcloud.com/deanwareham/09-let-me-dream-if-i-want-to

Luna, “Let Me Dream if I Want To”

This song oozes coolness with its funky swanky beat. The sonorous and self-assured vocals and that hook! Can’t wait to hear Luna’s new album of full-length covers. A Sentimental Education [Double Feature Records] as well as the instrumentals EP called A Place of Greater Safety.  Both will be released on September 22, 2017. Luna is: Dean Wareham, Justin Harwood, Stanley Demeski, Sean Eden, Lee Wall, Britta Phillips.

2 by bukowksi feat. Kid Moxie,  “Hot Summer”

dreamy new song from Berlin based duo Achilles Charbilas and George Malamidis featuring Kid Moxie. This is the first of several 7″ singles that 2 by bukowski will release this year.

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on tour: Chris Robinson Brotherhood

©Jay Blakesberg

Chris Robinson Brotherhood will tour in support of new album Barefoot in the Head and will be playing House of Blues Boston on August 19, 2017. Chris Robinson said: “The music that we make, the concerts that we play, it’s this world we’ve created for ourselves and our people. We want everybody to understand that no matter where you are in your life that you can always be barefoot in your head. There’s always this other place you can go. Is that place it real? That’s your decision to make, what you’re going to let be real to you.”

$29.50-$45, Thursday, August 19, House of Blues Boston, 15 Landsdowne Street, Boston, Mass., houseofblues.com.

TOUR DATES

August 5 – Petaluma, CA – Petaluma Music Festival
August 9 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
August 10 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
August 11 – Virginia Beach, VA – Shakas
August 12 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theatre
August 13 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage
August 15 – Portsmouth, NH – The Music Hall
August 17 – Manunuck, RI – Ocean Mist
August 18 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summerstage **
August 19 – Boston, MA – House of Blues **
August 20 – Holyoke, MA – Gateway City Arts
August 22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Small’s Theatre
August 23 – State College, PA – The State Theatre
August 24 – Ithaca, NY – The Haunt
August 25 – Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater
August 26 – Washington, DC – The 9:30 Club
September 7 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater *
September 8 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheater *
September 9 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing *
September 10 – Orlando, FL – The Social
September 12 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
September 14 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
September 15 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
September 16 – Macon, GA – Cox Capitol Theatre
September 17 – New Orleans, LA – The Civic Theatre
September 19 – Chattanooga, TN – Revelry Room
September 21 – Oxford, MS – The Lyric Oxford
September 22 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
September 23 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Festival
September 24 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
September 26 – Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger
September 28 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
September 29 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
September 30 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
October 1 – Nashville, TN – Third & Lindsley
October 3 – Augusta, GA – Sky City
October 5 – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Hall
October 6 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
October 7 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
October 27 – Placerville, CA – Hangtown Music Festival
October 29 – Santa Barbara, CA – Lobero Theatre
October 31 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
November 2 – Westbury, NY – The Space at Westbury
November 3 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
November 4 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall
November 5 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
November 7 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall
November 9 – Providence, RI – Columbus Theatre
November 10 – Niagara, NY – Seneca Niagara Casino & Resort
November 11 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
November 12 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
November 14 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
November 16 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe
November 17 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom
November 18 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
November 19 – Madison, WI – Barrymore Theatre
December 2 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
December 3 – Seattle, WA – The Neptune Theatre
December 5 – Santa Cruz, CA – Historic Cocoanut Grove Ballroom
December 7 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
December 8 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues San Diego
December 10 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theatre
December 12 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades

* w/ Blackberry Smoke
** w/ Donavon Frankenreiter

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new music: Jason Wilber; Samantha Urbani

jason wilber

Wistful, upbeat and comforting, it’s kick back with a beer or a glass of wine and soak it in music from a talented songwriter and guitarist. Indie-folk/Americana artist (and longtime John Prine guitarist) Jason Wilber will release a new album, Reaction Time, on August 11, 2017. His music is in the vein of Neil Young, Replacements, Father John Misty, Son Volt and Old 97s.

The Bloomington, Indiana-based musician said:

“Making records, for me, is a process of discovery. Often, the song you thought was gonna be great turns out to be okay, and the one you thought was just okay turns into something amazing. And that’s because of all the collaboration—with the producer, with all the other musicians—and also the unknown, the mystery of what’s gonna unfold when you start working on a song. You can never predict what’s gonna happen. So as you go through the process, you have to keep your ears open for the things that are magic.”

Looking for a fun, catchy summer song? With sweet vocals and heavy beats this is a good choice. New York pop singer Samantha Urbani wrote, recorded and co-produced the song and directed the video. Urbani is the front-woman for conceptual punk pop band friends and this is her solo project. Urbani said “Go Deeper” is about “how necessary visibility and accountability are – getting to the bottom of things, transformatively: the harder it is, the more worth it. The only way out is to go through.” Debut EP out soon.

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