Posts Tagged folk
music news: Fleet Foxes online-exclusive Live from the Artists Den video
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on October 2, 2017
After a six-year hiatus and several days before releasing its third album, Crack Up, Grammy-nominated Fleet Foxes performed at the Knockdown Center in Queens, New York as part of Live from the Artists Den. Live from the Artists Den is a critically-acclaimed television and digital music series best known for presenting secret concerts in non-traditional, often historic settings.
The episode airs this month. Check your local listings.
Regarding the band’s six-year hiatus, lead singer and guitarist Robin Pecknold explained: “I felt like I wanted just a broader range of experience as a person and a musician to draw from in direct and indirect ways, so it seemed like something worth being open-minded about.”
Fleet Foxes formed in Seattle, Washington in 2006. The band released its self-titled album in 2008 and Helplessness Blues in 2011.
Fleet Foxes is:
Robin Pecknold [lead vocals/guitar]
Skyler Skjelset [guitar, mandolin, vocals]
Casey Wescott [keyboards/ mandolin/ vocals]
Christian Wargo [bass guitar/ guitar/ vocals]
Morgan Henderson [upright bass/ guitar/ woodwinds/ violin/ percussion/ saxophone]
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new music: Jason Wilber; Samantha Urbani
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on July 14, 2017
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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new music: Tomten; American Opera
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on June 22, 2017
Tomten, “Weissnichtwo”
I’ve been listening to the new Ride and Slowdive albums quite a bit lately and this song falls in nicely with its Brit-influenced shoegaze, swirly sound. There’s lots of layers with the opening part establishing a gentle calm while an underlying guttural churning bubbles up to maintain the soothing vibe. The Seattle pop band also mixes in organ, electric piano and analog synthesizers for its electro-folk sound. The artistic, eclectic result works on several levels on the upcoming album—some songs ring a bit clearer than this track, others are much more upbeat and there’s lots of wistfulness. Tomten is: Brian Noyes-Watkins (keys, guitar, vocals); Jake Brady (drums) and Dillon Sturtevant (bass, vocals). The trio will release its third full-length Cremation Songs [ Plume Records] on July 7th, 2017 on CD, vinyl, and digital formats.
“I first thought of the name Cremation Songs as a bit of a joke to poke fun at our previous record The Farewell Party,” says Brian Noyes-Watkins. “It later dawned on me that it fit the songs well, seeing as most are vaguely about death in some way or another, excluding ‘First Song of Spring’ and ‘Mette’s Tune.’ I just hope our next record doesn’t mark the Born Again / Embracing a Cult phase.”
“I became obsessed with drawing extended arms (usually blue) posing inside of little boxes,” Noyes-Watkins reveals about the cover artwork. “I did a few versions: a hand drowning in the sea, another with a crystal ball, one juggling a rainbow. I settled on the apple/applecore because I liked the idea of having a sunrise/sunset theme on the jacket. I’m hoping to complete a collection of 20 or so to release in a booklet for a limited edition of the record.”
American Opera, “Monsters Among Men”
A beautifully melodic and thoughtful song with powerful vocals and an urgency in its message, reminiscent of Joan Osborne’s “One of Us.” American Opera is New York singer/songwriter John Bee’s project. He said that “Monsters Among Men” is: “about getting older while trying to stay true to who you were when you were young. I was raised in the church. Three things happened in my life that made me question everything I ever believed. My friend took his own life, my cousin’s life was taken from him, and the Sandy Hook shooting. I still don’t know what to believe. But I know what I want to believe.”
American Opera’s full-length album Small Victories is out June 30, 2017.
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new music: Swarming Branch; Luca D’Alberto
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on June 13, 2017
Swarming Branch, “Zsazsur’s Real Estate Song”
Upbeat, catchy and quirky single. I get a bit of a Folk Implosion and OK Go vibe from this Columbus, Ohio based experimental electro/indie/folk project of singer/songwriter Andrew Graham, drummer Lon Leary and a rotating group of collaborating musicians. The new album from Swarming Branch— Surreal Number— (SofaBurn Records) is out now. The album was produced by Rob Barbato (Drinks, Kevin Morby, Peaking Lights).
Luca D’Alberto, “Endless”
Full throttle new wave classical music in this gorgeous, atmospheric song. Luca D’Alberto is a classical composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist [violin, viola, violectra, cello and piano] from Italy. Endless [7K!] is out now. The album was produced by Martyn Heyne (Nils Frahm, Lubomir Melnyk, Peter Broderick, Tiny Ruins and The National).
About the album title, Luca said: “Endless is a secret place, a place where we can be free to remember everything, without being afraid, without limits. A place where we can let go of ourselves, without thinking, where we can allow our bodies to rest peacefully and find the courage to live the noisy silence of our lives.”
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new music: Connor Desai; Thayer Sarrano
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on February 22, 2017
Connor Desai, “Killing the One Who Believed in Your Love”
— comfortable, soulful vocals combined with meaningful lyrics provides candor and intensity in this song about a woman’s independence and self-identity. Desai explained: “The decision to reclaim oneself often requires women to grieve someone who is still living, or an ideal which was part of them.”
Connor Desai earned a masters in teaching and works as a music teacher. The Seattle-based musician’s new EP, Sister, is out now. Feminists take note.
Thayer Sarrano, “Thieves”
Thayer’s vocals sound a lot like Hope Sandoval and the song’s arrangements may remind listeners of Mazzy Star. The ethereal, swirly music instantly takes you to emotional depths both gloomy and exquisite.
Athens, GA-based psych/shoegaze/dream-pop artist Thayer Sarrano grew up in a seminary as well as the swamps of southern Georgia. Classically trained as a child, she writes poetry and instrumental compositions. She started collaborating with friends and worked as a studio/touring session player with of Montreal, Dead Confederate’s T. Hardy Morris, Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven, Dave Marr, David Barbe, Kuroma and more. Her new LP is called Shaky.
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show preview: Leyla McCalla at Davis Square Theatre on Friday, October 6 at 7pm
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on October 2, 2016
The sophomore album–A Day For The Hunter, A Day For The Prey— from multi-instrumentalist, multi-lingual singer Leyla McCalla is an emotional, stunning and impressive album to listen to again and again. It makes me want to immediately visit NOLA. There’s sadness, beauty, truth, bravery and hope in her gypsy jazz/ folk music. Haitian-American and NOLA resident McCalla [formerly of Carolina Chocolate Drops] uses her own experiences as well as interpreting Haitian, Cajun and Creole jazz and folk. Every song is magical but I particularly favor the lovely and heartbreaking version of the classic Creole slave song “Salangadou,” the plaintive “Les Plats Sont Tous Mis Sur la Table” and the aching “Let It Fall” as well as the thoughtful title track. Strings truly can speak from the soul.
Leyla McCalla at Davis Square Theatre, Somerville, Mass., Friday, October 6 at 7pm
255 Elm St. Somerville, MA
Tickets: $20 General Admission
21+
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on tour: Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Posted by Amy Steele in Music on September 2, 2016
©Jay Blakesberg
formed in 2011, Chris Robinson Brotherhood plays folksy, psychedelic, trippy, wandering, guitar-heavy, wandering songs that transport you to a transcendental state. The band wil tour in support of its fourth studio album, Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel, out now via Robinson’s Silver Arrow Records. The band plays two Boston dates at Paradise Rock Club on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1.
TOUR DATES:
August 28 – Arrington, VA – LOCKN’ Festival
September 16 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
September 18 – Scranton, PA – Outlaw Music Festival
September 21 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
September 23 – Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot
September 24 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Rex Theater
September 25 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
September 26 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
September 29 – Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theater
September 30 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
October 1 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
October 2 – Syracuse, NY – The Westcott Theater
October 4 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
October 6 – Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theater
October 7 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
October 8 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
October 9 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
October 11 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
October 13 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe At The Old National Centre
October 14 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
October 15 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre
October 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom
October 19 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre
October 20 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
October 21 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
October 22 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
October 23 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
November 9 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
November 11 – Columbia, SC – Music Farm
November 12 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
November 18 – Westbury, NY – The Space at Westbury
November 19 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
November 29 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma Theater
December 1 – Sandpoint, ID – The Hive
December 2 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
December 3 – Portland, OR – Revolution Bar & Music Hall
December 4 – Eugene, OR – HiFi Music Hall
December 6 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
December 8 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
December 9 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
December 10 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
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About Me
covering mostly music and books. focus on alternative/indie and women in music, literature and the arts. feminist. vegan. mostly alternative, a bit bohemian. Masters in journalism from Boston University. BA from Simmons College.
Entertainment Realm by Amy Steele is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at entertainmentrealm.comCopyright © 2009. All writing, unless otherwise noted, by Amy Steele.
