apologies!

sorry I've been MIA...school is KICKING my butt. but....the semester is wrapping and you can expect some wonderful posts soon. :)

tonight, just wanted to pose a quick question: do you think Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People will be as iconic as Kids by MGMT?

I sure do.

Calling it now: Foster the People are going to be a HUGE hit in 2011.

Lend Your Pennies: The Lighthouse and The Whaler is Recording a New Album!

Cleveland's own, The Lighthouse and the Whaler is recording a new album. Rad, right? Wait for it...

They're doing this at legendary Bear Creek Studios. That's right, cats & kittens, Bear Creek Studios where such musical greats as Fleet Foxes, Ra Ra Riot, and Foo Fighters have recorded. The band is making this happen through a launch of a Kickstarter campaign. 

What's Kickstarter, you ask? Kickstarter is 'the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world'. In essence, the band is imploring that you help them out and in turn for your donations, you'll receive exclusive merch and experiences. Best part about Kickstarter? The band gets 100% of what they raise. No fees. This is patronage, straight up old school patronage for the arts. 

RAD.

Pocket change or payday, doesn't matter how you can donate. Point is, you should. Watch the video. Then dig into your pockets, under couch cushions, or wherever you can. 

Let's help these guys out.

Cue the Glock: I'm hooked on Cults.

Cults, a six piece ensemble out of NY, features 3 guitars, keys/synth, set, and GLOCKENSPIEL. I don't know what it is, but I haven't heard an act with glock that I don't adore recently.


With throbbing percussive beats, slinky guitar, and a bluesy vocalist, these guys rock out. Vocals alternate between lead guitarist and female vocalist. Her voice reminds me of She & Him. It's just really beautiful and clear. Seamless performance. It's nice to see yet another NY band that pleases my ears.

Pick this up.

Seriously, what are you doing still reading my drivel? Get to the record store.

Looking for a little robot love in your ears? Check out Superhumanoids.

Superhumanoids (all the way from LA) played last night at the Grog Shop with Magic Kids and Cults. Good set, by golly! A four piece ensemble featuring set, bass, guitar and keys/synth, these guys know how to entertain. Vocals alternate between frontman, Cameron, and Sarah on keys/synth. Cameron says the name was just a clever juxtaposition of words. "I don't think it's so clever anymore," he chuckled. 


Most striking about this band? The drummer stands. What's up with that?! I mean, seriously, how often do you see this? Next to never, methinks.

Haunting guitar riffs juxtaposed with angelic melodies, voice mods, and samples, Superhumanoids deliver a unique sound that strikes me as what a robot love story would sound like. The bass was THROBBING. Seriously, it just pulsed through you. Not in that intrusive way that it would if you were say driving next to someone whose subwoofers are pumping out bass, radiating uninvitedly throughout your body. No, this was just the right amount of bass, comfortable, a welcome bass throbbing...if that makes any sense. The kind of bass that just makes your body hum. Oh, so good. 


Cameron, frontman of the Superhumanoids, describes their sound as "electro-pop." I'm sticking to my guns on the robot love sound. I think this could be the beginning of a new genre...


Get your asses to the record store and pick up their music! 

Nerds Everywhere Rejoice! Magic Kids Prove that being Nerdy can be Cool!

"You got got!" Alex from Magic Kids exclaimed as a member of Superhumanoids sat on the couch, squishing the woopie cushion MK had left there. Proving to be full of pranks and spunk, the Magic Kids are nothing shy of a good time. I had the opportunity to snag a few minutes with them to ask a bit about their sound. 

Magic Kids hail from Memphis, TN, but they bring a 60s surfer vibe that's reminiscent of the Beach Boys. A 6 piece ensemble, they feature guitars (sometimes 4 at a time!), bass, keys, amped violin, keys, synth, and a drum set decked out with some wind chimes. Their music is filled with dreamy harmonies, heavy bass, and killer drum licks. (Seriously, Ben, you rocked out. Nice shades, too!) 

The band formed from a bunch of other bands. In their words, "We just started playing together." For a band that's fairly new, having only been together for about a year and a half, these guys have a solid set. They blend well, they have great energy, and you can tell they love what they do. Will says that they draw influences from the Ataris, Teenager Island, Circle Kids, The Square, The Sunrase, and Grand Master Ass & The Bi-Curious 5.  

The lead singer has INCREDIBLE stage presence. The question: is this an act or is he really that goofy? In my opinion, he's a goofball. Wrapping himself in the cords from stage, knocking over mic stands, and often walking off the stage to be in the crowd, I'd say this guy is just having a good time. After leaving the stage, the MK just ran around, danced and took shots of whiskey. 


Not a bad life to lead, is it?

So, given the opportunity to tour with any act, dead or alive, who would MK pick? "The Beatles!" Ben said, "SLASH SUPERHUMANOIDS!" Will & Alex chimed in, "Yeah, Superhumanoids, definitely."

Good thing they got to live out one of those dreams, huh?

My only vice about MK? Took a bit TOO long to set up. There was a point in their set where they kind of stopped and adjusted things. Slowed the vibe down by doing so, but I don't think I can blame the band for wanting the perfect sound. Sound guy last night BLEW. Seriously, Grog Shop, get your stuff together!

Anyhow, I think they're writing innovative pop sounds, flavored with a blast from the past. Pick up their newest release, Memphis, in your nearest record store. Still rocking out with a tape deck in your car like this kid? No worries. It's available on cassette, too. 

The Lighthouse and The Whaler deliver; S. Carey Brings it Home

(REVIEW OF SHOW ON 3.31.11)

Enter a small venue, nothing more than a bar, a stage and two tables. The Beachland Ballroom’s Tavern is an intimate setting to say the least. Tonight it featured two great acts: The Lighthouse and the Whaler, hailing from Cleveland, OH, and S. Carey of Bon Iver. 

The Lighthouse and the Whaler is a five-piece ensemble that blends timbres across the board, from guitar to violins, drum set, glockenspiel, tambourine, a little keys and some mandolin. You could say they’ve got the quintessential folk sound; soulful voices, great harmonies, a layered composition- from the percussive bass to the bells- a place for everything and everything in its place.

While contextually exuding a full, broad sound at times and a sparse, open sound at others, TLATW’s balance allows the unique timbres of their instrumentation to truly speak. Often switching instruments or singing backup vocals, the musicianship of these gentleman is evident.

There’s something organic about TLATW. Their sound is reminiscent of Celtic folk bands, with its clear vocals, field drum sound and violins, but there’s something more here. Everyone’s vibing in this band. It’s as if you can feel the music pulsing through its members, wafting out to envelope the crowd in an aurally satisfying embrace. 

Their songs drift out to an end, as if they are merely fading off into the distance. These lads are a regular group of musical pied pipers. Their music leads you away from the cares of this world, allowing your soul to dance free for a while.

There’s so much to say for S. Carey, and yet, it seems not enough words to embrace this experience. A five piece ensemble featuring guitar, keys, clarinets (Bb and Bass), set, bass guitar/upright, and some synth, these gentlemen have It.

What’s It?

An ethereal, warm sound. A sound that welcomes you in as a listener. Vocals that nearly sound hymnal juxtaposed with a breakdown on miked drums, a pounding and racing to…silence. Vocal harmonies that would put the angels to shame. 

If you’re looking for something that feels like home, look no further.