Tag Archives: music

Sofar Sounds, Songs from a Room: My New Favorite Way to Watch a Show [Review]

July 17, 2012 By in Concert Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , 7 Comments

Check out my latest review for GoodBAMMSho!

Ahhh the living room. Whether it’s a tiny apartment in NYC or a mini mansion with a 100 inch TV, I would make the assumption that the majority of people spend the better part of their relaxation camped out in the confines of their living room. From movie night to dinner time it’s one of my favorite places to be, so why not invite some of the best local talent to join you.

Sofar Sounds, Songs From a Room, brings secret “pop-up” gigs into the homes of people all over the world. It’s hush hush. So secretive in fact, you don’t even know who’s playing until you walk through the door. This past Saturday I was fortunate to land on the guest list and attend Sofar’s latest event in the small music hub of Denton, TX.

A long stream of cars lined the quiet suburban street with musicians and music lovers filing in with excitement lingering on their faces. When I approached the house my social anxiety started to creep up but was swiftly knocked down by the cordial smiles and friendliness of the Sofar staff. Buckets of ice were waiting by the door for guests to chill their beverages and the regulars were quickly spotted holding their decorative cushions to mask the hard wood floors. This was already one of the coolest things I’ve done in a while.

On the bill for the night’s show were 4 talented acts from Austin, Denton and yes, Portsmouth, UK. First up, UK artist Tom Bertram.

Flanked in some pretty awesome purple socks and a thick British accent, Tom Bertram had the most unbeatable intro of the night.

“Our first performer is a singer songwriter from Portsmouth. He’s performed alongside Noel Gallagher and yes, he’s even performed for the Queen.”

Come to find out he also played for a few Twilight premieres across the pond (cue the swooning of hundreds of teenage girls everywhere). Tom only played a few songs before taking over the duties of MC for the rest of the night and I must say, he did a phenomenal job.

Opening with his first worldwide single, She’s Like a Drug, he immediately reminded me of a young Pete Yorn with his soulful tone and love stricken songs. Ending with his unreleased single You Give me Love, Tom showed off some serious talent and charisma that kept everyone charmed throughout the evening.

Tiny toy pianos, a banjo, stand-up base, accordions, and a lot of creativity came with the next group…Austin based  quartet trio, Haun’s Mill. Husband and wife duo Nord Anderson and Eliza Wren and bassist Courtney Jackson filled the room with their unique musical style that blended a bit of Indie, Folk, Country and yes, “Spaghetti Western” as the band likes to call it.

Eliza’s delicate voice whispered beautifully within tunes that seemed to come from another era. No amps, no speakers and did I mention a mini toy piano?? I was completely transfixed by the instrument of my childhood while Eliza played next to Nord’s soulful voice and Courtney’s bellowing plucks. Brilliant.

Ryan Thomas Becker and Last Joke was definitely my favorite band of the night. The musical foursome had a vibe that was 100% passionate and completely entertaining.

The group’s chemistry was solid throughout the set, trading off bluesy licks with an original Denton feel. The University of North Texas continues to churn out some of the DFW area’s finest local musicians in this small town music hub. With musicians like Ryan Thomas Becker and his friends it definitely won’t stay a hidden gem for long.

One of my favorite tunes from the “Six Songs Written for Our Friends” EP was The Train. Melancholy, raw and emotional, Ryan and the boys left everything out on the living room floor with this performance. The vocals were powerful and the melody flowed perfectly into each string and beat of the drum. Loved it! Not to mention, apparently the Last Joke have “the greatest Tumblr blog ever”….so I guess you better check it out HERE!

Sofar did a great job bringing together 4 unique bands to one room. Each sound meshed perfectly together, making for a pretty cool way to spend a Saturday night.

The Backwater Opera is definitely one of the quirkiest groups I’ve seen live. With their playful banter and curious musical inspirations, “this is a song about a sandwich”, the group closed out the show with infectious grooves comprised of bluegrass and classical music.

Besides the fact that the group was funny and engaging, these guys and gals were some kick ass musicians. Playing a hand full of instrumentals this group really showcases the amazing talent this small town has to offer. Marisa Korth had an insane tonality that showcased her bluegrass roots next to Robert Sherwood and Carlo Canlas’ harmonies. Crazy talented and an overall fun group to see.

Thanks Sofar Sounds for spoiling me into thinking I need to see every band now in the comfort of my own living room. Check out their website and get on the waiting list, the experience is an absolute must!

Until the next show! Happy Listening!

Song of the Day: Ellie Goulding “Hanging On”

July 13, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

It’s crazy to think it was just two years ago when I first wrote about British songstress Ellie Goulding. Ever since then I’ve been completely captivated by her unique vocals and refreshing sound. Lights is just now making the radio circuit in the US, two years after it’s release, but Ellie is already on to new music and a new album.

Ellie’s follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut is definitely heading in a new direction with her cover of Active Child’s track, Hanging On. “Here’s the beginning of my new journey. Enjoy and share responsibly,” Ellie wrote on her Facebook account Tuesday.

At first I wasn’t 100% sold on Tinie Tempah’s rhyme on the track but I’m loving Ellie’s pain stricken vibe throughout the entire song.  Love it, love Ellie, and I’m definitely ready for some new music!! Keep it coming!

Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments field below.

Hanging On (ft. Tinie Tempah):

 

Song of the Day: Grizzly Bear “Sleeping Ute”

July 6, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Ahhh the boys are back. Grizzly Bear recently released the first track off their follow-up to  the 2009 critically acclaimed album, Veckatimest. The currently untitled record is set for a September 18th release on Warp Records, followed by an international tour.

In typical Grizzly Bear style the track meshes together hard hitting drum beats, Daniel Rossen’s signature guitar playing, and the always dynamic vocals that lace perfectly in-between the multiple layers of music. I can’t wait for the new album. Now if they’ll just add a Dallas date to their tour I’ll be set!

I hope everyone made it through the mid-week 4th of July festivities. Check out the new track and have a great weekend!

Sleeping Ute:

Image Source: Sickest Addictions

Song of the Day: Kimbra “Settle Down” + Bonus Track

June 29, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Alright I’m officially ashamed. Yes, probably the biggest song of the summer, Gotye’s Somebody that I Used to Know, has been out for quite some time, but I just recently took the time to research the female vocalist on the track. Much to my pleasant surprise the artist singing through my headphones is an uber talented vocalist, songwriter and completely captivating to watch onscreen.

The New Zealand native has been writing music since she was a kid (literally) and recently released her debut album in the states this May. Her first single off Vows was written when Kimbra was just 16 years old. Featuring unique layers of vocal harmonies and catchy drum beats Settle Down, better yet, Vows is a refreshingly different and completely fun album. The most impressive thing about Settle Down is watching her perform it live [check out the video below]. Needless to say I’m completely captivated, blown-away and have been listening to her music non-stop ever since.

Check out two of my favorite tracks off the album, Settle Down and Cameo Lover, and quickly run to get the rest of her music. She’s currently touring the US and will be landing in Texas with Gotye in the fall so check her out if she comes to your town.

Settle Down:

Cameo Lover:

Song of the Day: Josephine Baker “La Conga Blicoti”

June 22, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

It’s getting hot in Texas, and not 85 degrees hot, 100+ hot where your clothes stick to you when you’re trying to pump your gas. This is also the time of year when I start dreaming of other places to live. California. New York. Alaska (okay maybe not that far). So in my day-dreaming today I was thinking of a place cool (temperature), alive, full of art, culture, and food that falls into your mouth like tiny pieces of heaven.

I keep all of my favorite cities around the world on my weather app so I can dream about sipping wine at a patio cafe in 70 degrees in Beaune, crossing the ferry from Sausalito to San Francisco in 57 degrees, and taking in the sites while drinking cappuccino under the 60 degree Parisian stars. So in my perpetual state of sweating I will be thinking of all my favorite places and what it would be like to live there, especially my favorite city in the world, Paris.

So here’s my Friday evening nod to París (in a French accident). Tonight I’ll be reminiscing about savoring perfectly poured Vin while watching the lights of the Eiffel Tower glimmer of the Seine.

Josephine Baker – La Conga Blicoti

Image Source: Etsy

Song of the Day: Poliҫa “Lay Your Cards Out”

June 15, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Ahh yes my favorite time of the week. Nothing goes better on a Friday then a little music to get your weekend started. For today’s Song of the Day I’m going back to last year’s release, Give You the Ghost, from the Minneapolis based group, Poliҫa.

Channy Leaneagh and Ryan Olson put together quite the dream-scape on their debut record with Leaneagh’s heavily distorted vocals and Olson’s hypnotic beats. I see myself driving down a long winding road in the dark with only the headlights guiding the way (Lost Highway anyone) with this song on blast. Very few people can pull off Channy’s heavy vocals track after track, and honestly at first it was a little much. I couldn’t stop listening  though and now I think it’s quite brilliant.

So turn the volume up and enjoy your weekend! If you’re a new band or know of a great band that you’d like to see featured on Song of the Day let me know in the comments below.

Happy Listening!

Lay Your Cards Out:

Image source: Ofive.TV

Song of the Day: Santigold and Her Dancing Divas at the House of Blues Dallas [Review]

June 8, 2012 By in Concert Reviews, Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Mother nature couldn’t have picked a better night to wash the city clean then Wednesday [insert extreme sarcasm here]. Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding aside I slipped on my concert wear, hooked an umbrella to my arm and dragged my music loving a@# to the House of Blues.

Hot off the release of her long awaited sophomore album, Master of My Make-Believe, Santigold, AKA Santi White, finally made it back to the HOB stage after three years and a name change (formerly Santogold). In today’s fast paced, “I want everything now” society it’s almost unheard of to wait three years for an artist to release an album, let alone their second. But there’s something to be said about the wait…the anticipation of new music and the constant search for news or info on what your favorite artists are up to. For me, the wait has been painful because yes, I secretly wish I was the third back-up dancer to Santigold, or even just a fly on the wall during her writing and recording sessions. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a fan.

Drawing the usual young and diverse crowd, this was the perfect venue for Ms. White. Large enough to pack a crowd yet intimate enough to feel the energy in the back of the house, this is the type of show I love to see at the House of Blues. My expectations were definitely high considering the brilliance of her 2009 tour and even though Master of my Make-Believe didn’t wow me as much as her debut effort, I was anxious to see how the new blended with the old.

The musicians took the stage flanked in what I would call tribal safari gear, followed by the secret sauce of Santi’s shows, her background dancers. More on them later…

The show opened with Go!, track one of her latest release that features the AMAZING  Karen O. from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. No, Karen did not make an appearance (that would have been epic) but Santigold carried the tune off beautifully, making you completely forget this was intended for two truly distinct female vocalists. No time was wasted getting to tracks of her debut, Santogold,  and I must say, the two albums blended perfectly together.

Mired with technical issues in the beginning White made repeated trips to the side of the stage to converse with the sound booth but overall the group handled it beautifully. The only annoyance with the technical difficulties was the revelation of the backing tracks being played with the music. No hate here, I understand this type of music can be hard to pull off without them, but I like to remain a naive concert goer and believe every sound effect is achieved live. Moments of frustration were seen on Ms. White’s face but she moved on like a pro and continued to amp up the crowd with an ease and grace you rarely see in a live performer. And yes, the backing tracks seemed to fade away once the sound problems were fixed.

Track after track from L.E.S. Artistes to Disparate Youth, Big Mouth and Freak Like Me it was a shame I was packed like a sardine in general admission because you can’t help but want to dance your ass off. That leads me to one of my favorite parts of the show, Santigold’s duo of stone faced, scintillating dancers, the SG-1’s. Perfectly choreographed, unabashedly sexy and all without cracking a smile these chicks are visual perfection. I found myself staring at the SG-1’s at times more then White herself and anxiously waiting to see what they would morph into next. Multiple outfit changes later (for the entire band), a giant horse, psychedelic umbrellas and enough booty shaking that Sir Mix a Lot would approve, this might just be the must see show of the summer.

A delicious blend of rock, pop, new wave, indie and probably a dozen other genres you could reference in her music, Santigold knows how to bring nothing but fun to the stage, literally. Selecting an energetic group from the crowd White turned the stage into a dance club, but not before instructing the fame hungry patrons to move back so the show could still go on. In true rock star style she sang, danced and endured a plethora of leg humps during her ultra popular hit Creator.

The night ended with a Spank Rock special, B.O.O.T.A.Y and the opportunity for the SG-1’s to impress me yet again with their..uh hummm…dancing magic. Santigold put on a stellar HOB show while solidifying my admiration for the multidimensional artist and her troupe of dancing divas.

Disparate Youth:

Creator:

To check out more of my reviews head over to GoodBAMMSho!

KXT Summer Cut: An Ecelctic Fun Fest [Review]

June 5, 2012 By in Concert Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Friday night publicly funded station KXT 91.7 pulled together an eclectic group of musicians for the first annual Happy Funtime Fest. Two stages, 9 bands and a few food trucks turned the Gexa Energy Pavilion into a mini festival. Thanks to the fabulous peeps here at GoodBAMMSho not only was I on hand to soak in all the tunes, but I had the incredible opportunity to play photog for a night in the press pit!

Playing on the main stage were Telegraph Canyon, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Fitz & The Tantrums, St. Vincent, and headliners The Flaming Lips. A small area by the concessions was carved out for Walk Off The Earth, Quiet Corral, Smile Smile and Air Review on the second stage.

The ode to summer bash started with a sparse crowd that was as unique as the night’s lineup. To get the night going I headed to the press pit in all my Canon Rebel glory to check out Fitz & The Tantrums. This energetic group of 6 come out in full force, dressed to impress and ready to get the crowd moving. Immediately you could sense the electric chemistry between front man Fitz and co-vocalist, Noelle Scaggs. Despite the Texas heat Scaggs tirelessly worked the crowd, tambourine in hand, track after track.

Playing songs off their debut album, Pickin’ up the Pieces, the Tantrums found a way to blend the old school styling of Motown and modern day soul, against playful dance beats meshing perfectly with Fitz and Scaggs’ chemistry.

The highlight of the night was seeing Indie darlings St. Vincent for the first time. Shamefully I’m a little late to the game when it comes to the Texas native. Only hearing a few tracks off their latest release Strange Mercy before the show, I was completely mesmerized by front woman Annie Clark.

Minus a few technical hiccups the four piece group filled the simplified stage beautifully with Annie’s subtle vocals and electrifying guitar riffs.This chick can seriously rock out with the best of them. Her guitar skills blew me away. If her quirky back shuffle didn’t instantly win you over then it was her leap into the crowd, microphone in hand, for an entire song of crowd surfing.

From their most popular tunes, Cruel and Cheerleader, to the cover of She is Beyond Good and Evil from the British punk group, The Pop Group, St. Vincent was the perfect appetizer to the night’s headlining act.

Originally from Norman, Oklahoma I’ve heard of The Flaming Lips most my life, but I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing them live until now. I’ve heard from countless people that they are a must see live, but what I wasn’t ready for was the sheer madness that was about to explode on stage.

Unlike a typical rock star waiting to make a big entrance, frontman Wayne Coyne was front and center almost the entire time the stage was being set for the show. Helping with the setup, giving the audience safety tips and even posing for some self-portraits against the swarm of people, Wayne’s love of the stage is infectious.

The lights dimmed and the video monitor displayed a rainbow of color that would serve as the grand entrance of the band, that is everyone except Coyne himself. It wouldn’t be a Flaming Lips show if Wayne didn’t make his debut in a giant inflated bubble. Confetti fell, giant balloons ascended upon the crowd, colorful smoke exploded in the air and a mob of gitty school girls filled the stage. I fought the smoke and debris for pics but not before becoming completely entrenched in the psychedelic atmosphere that only the Lips could create.

Despite a smaller then usual crowd for so many acts, overall, the first annual Summer Cut Fest was a fun way for KXT to celebrate three years on the air.

Check out more reviews and concert updates at GoodBAMMSho!

Song of the Day: St. Vincent “Cheerleader”

June 1, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

It’s officially summer in Texas. Hot, muggy, and pretty much miserable, but there’s a bit more time until we start seeing triple digits (hopefully). Generally I stay clear of outdoor venues in the summer heat but tonight I get the opportunity to play pretend photographer at the KXT Summer Cut mini fest. I’ll be reviewing the show for GoodBAMMSho so look out for that this weekend.

The Flaming Lips are headlining tonight’s show but I’m most excited to see Texas native St. Vincent! So in honor of tonight’s event check out Cheerleader off her latest record Strange Mercy. Time to go check out some live music – and I hear there’s food trucks!!! Watch out!

Cheerleader:

Image Credit: Art Forum

M83 at the Granada Theater Equals One Magical Night [Reviewish]

May 27, 2012 By in Concert Reviews Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Every once in a while a band will come along that completely disrupts your current way of looking at music. It doesn’t happen very often but when it does..it’s pure musical bliss. I’ve come a long way in my musical journey and by no means are close to being finished.

A little history…

I grew up in a very religious household. My grandfather was a minister and both of my parents were ordained ministers during my early childhood years. Like most church going homes in the 80s we weren’t allowed to listen to popular music, watch the Smurfs (damn you Gargamel and your witchery) or pretty much live beyond the church. Now don’t get me wrong, I adored my childhood and appreciate how it shaped me as a person, but growing up in this kind of environment doesn’t expose you to a wide array of music.

When people were reminiscing about how amazing The Beatles were and the genius of Jimmy Hendrix I was saying….who? Not kidding, in fact I can’t believe I’m actually putting this out into the blogosphere. But I’m not ashamed, my gospel/soul/r&b background has shaped me into the singer/musician I am today. Due to my late blooming my early teens and twenties have been an amazing experience in musical soul searching and exploration.

Later on in my childhood I started listening to pop music and it’s been the source of most of my inspiration throughout my singing journey, but things have changed over the last few years. Thanks to some amazing musician friends and most notably, my husband, my eyes have been opened, ears have been blessed, and I’m listening to music that effects me in ways pop music never could attempt to do (but no snobbery here, if you watch my YouTube channel you know how I love all kinds of music).

History lesson over….

Indie music has become so expansive it’s hard to put a label on it. Electronic, pop, ambient, new wave, blah blah…all I know is it’s leaps and bounds better then anything you’ll hear on popular radio today.

M83 was a happy accident I stumbled upon last year and I felt like I was a part of a secret group that had discovered the next big thing. Ahhh bless my little heart when I discovered that “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” was NOT their first album and the man behind the music, Frenchman Anthony Gonzalez, has been creating whimsical licks of musical candy since 2001.

Whether they’ve been around for a year or 11, the new music and brilliance I experienced last Sunday at the Granada Theater was musicianship at its best. I’ve mentioned it many times before in my reviews but the connectivity of the band with the crowd is everything. I’ve been to a lot of shows in my life and I can honestly say I’ve never felt energy from a group like I did with M83. From front man Gonzalez to long term collaborator Morgan Kibby, the LA based group was as cohesive has they come and you could feel their energy throughout their entire set.

From “Steve McQueen” and “Couleurs” to “Reunion” and “Midnight City” the crowd was committed from the moment the lights were dimmed. I knew I was in for a good show but didn’t expect to be completely blown away. Multicolored light beams, champagne sprays and the happiest Frenchman this side of the red river, the Granada hosted one of the most amazing shows I’ve ever been fortunate to attend.

They’re explosive sound sent an infectious energy throughout the crowd with dance beat after next. The guitar player played an entire song while doing the running man, only taking a few minor breaks to guzzle some water, and keyboardist/vocalist, Morgan Kibby, made playing the keyboard look sexier then walking a Victoria Secret fashion show.  An amazing show indeed and one you’ll just have to experience for yourself!

Download their latest, “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” and check them out the next time they’re in your area. I promise you, it will be a night to remember!

Photo Credits (2-6): Bill Ellison and the Granada Theater