October 2014 – News on Shuffle

CMJ 2014 – The Final Post

Alright, time to buckle in folks, because I helped TJO Presents run not one but two monster shows as my CMJ finale. There are lots of pictures to share and a final message at the end to wrap everything up in a nice little bow. Also as a side note, I might not have loved everyone who played, but I at least enjoyed everyone I saw to some extent and don’t have anything bad to say about them, so unless there’s a story to share I’ll probably just post names and photos instead of repeating myself a lot. Without further ado, however, let’s go on with the show…

Our story starts at Rock Shop for a day show with 8 (!!!) different bands. First up was Brian Bonz, who I remember seeing several times before paired up with one of my favorite local artist, Kevin Devine. You know it’s going to be a good day when you can boast something like that.

I got to speak with Brian after the show and found him to be quite enjoyable to talk to. I look forward to seeing him again in the future.

Next up was Charles Ellsworth:

Next Bree and the Whatevers. One critique I have here is that Bree has always struck me more as a performer than just a singer. There’s always a lot of energy on stage and a feeling that she loves every minute of her time there. I love that about her and think it’s what makes this band more enjoyable than average.

Daniel Sage:

Hot Jam Factory:

These guys were a fun mix of a lot of different things, but the hint of Arcade Fire was what I think really sold it for me.

Next up, End of Love, which included members of a little band called “Wilco”…

Next act was Andre Obin, who offered an odd transition from the previous band but I enjoyed nonetheless.

Last band for the night was The Netherlands, but unfortunately we had to run to get two evening shows up and running. One of them was at Bar Matchless, but I was only really there for a few minutes to make sure things were running smoothly. The show I mainly was interested in was at Muchmores. Before I delve into all the bands who played that evening, I have to say at the end of the night I got a chance to chat with the owner and he is incredibly nice and bright and overall a great dude. I would love a chance to work with him in the future. Honestly the concept he has going for him now is one I’ve had for awhile and the fact he makes it work so well gives me hope that there’s still a chance I can too one day. In the meantime I wish Andy Muchmore great success. You will definitely see me hanging out in those parts again.

With that little bit of sidetracking done I will now continue to give you lots of pictures and stories from Saturday night.

First up were some very good friends, Out of System Transfer. This band always brings the fun in, so if you ever get the chance I definitely suggest checking them out.

These guys were followed by another good friend, Brook Pridemore. You might know him from the band Brook Pridemore. You might also know him as the guy who does that song about building a death ray. However you know him, be glad that you do, because your musical library probably thanks you.

Moving right along, we have Manic Pixi. This female fronted band had a ton of energy. I really dug their lead singer, and had a fun chat with her later in the night. I have to say I usually hate the color pink, but this girl had matching dress and boots that somehow was awesome and not infuriating to me. Props to you on that one.

Up next we have Fancy Balloons. For a bit of trivia I’ll tell you that this band shares a member with one of the bands from the day show, Bree and the Whatevers. While I might be partial to Bree, I still found Fancy Balloons enjoyable.

At this point I was dealing with a dying camera and a room that was starting to get packed, both signs we were having too much fun and total first world problems, but it did make it harder to keep getting good shots throughout the night. In quick succession let’s break down the next few bands.

The Shackletons:

Grundle Thunder (made up of a bunch of friends from my local bar AND voted one of the best band names this CMJ):

Cosmonaut:

And finally, Great Caesar:

I didn’t know anything about this last band going in, but it was a nice surprise hearing some horns to close out my night. Also was glad I got a final burst of energy both from myself and my camera to enjoy their set.

Thus concludes a very successful CMJ Music Marathon. Shout out to the man in charge of TJO Presents, TJ Olsen. He’s a very good friend, and I was beyond proud of how well his marathon Saturday turned out. Much success to you in the future, good sir. Anyone wishing to follow all the great shows this guy is doing can check out Facebook and Twitter. And if you come out to a show perhaps I will see you there.

CMJ 2014 – Day 3

Hey folks, just a quick post about some of my CMJ adventures yesterday. I only got pictures of two of the bands I saw yesterday and honestly bounced around so much it’s hard to remember everyone we caught. I made a comment to a friend while standing in the upstairs part of Pianos that CMJ is terrible for people with ADD because there’s simply too much to take in all around you that it’s easy to get distracted and want to keep moving from one show to the next. Having said that, a couple bands/artists did stand out to me, as well as a fun event we attended before I called it a night and my comrades moved on to Williamsburg (but not The Gutter because that show had been called due to Ebola).

First up (and the thing that convinced me to get out of the house) was Wakey Wakey at Rockwood Music Hall. Of course it turned out to be a bit deceiving, as it wasn’t the band but one member who was doing a solo set. It was still good but way more chill than I was expecting.

The other band I was able to snap some pictures of was Fictionist at Arlene’s Grocery. I have to say that was my first time visiting that particular venue and I was pretty impressed. Sure it was loud, but you could still understand everything being said. I also really dug the band, whom I had never heard of before but went on the recommendation of a friend.

The one other thing I feel worth reporting was the unofficial pre-party for Slothrust and The Kills at Bowery Ballroom. The event took place next door at One Mile House and featured Savoir Adore as DJs as well as free food and drink specials. I met some cool people and of course enjoyed the free food, which was mostly passed appetizers including these real tasty chicken sliders and some flatbread pizzas. It was a great way to end my night. Today I’m taking it easy but I’ll be back on the scene tomorrow all day and night.

CMJ 2014 – Day 2

The little blog that could went back out into the field to enjoy some more of what CMJ has to offer this year before going back to our “real job”. I didn’t get as many pictures this time but can report about three bands that wowed me yesterday.

First up it’s Frances Cone, who I saw at The Delancey during the day. Unfortunately I caught the last couple songs of their set, but what I heard I really enjoyed. I also managed to snag a picture just as they finished their set.

This was in the upstairs part of the venue, which was originally supposed to be on the roof but got moved due to the rain. Next up I wandered downstairs to catch what turned out to be the end of Peach Kings set. I still managed to grab a couple quick shots before they finished though, and again, I loved what I heard.

I wandered over to Cake Shop after this for what turned out to be the last band I caught for the day: Field Mouse. The room was packed and we got there a few minutes late, so it was near impossible to sneak up for some pics, but I loved their sound enough to give them a mention here anyway. After that I wandered over to the DL for a networking event on their rooftop, which was quite nice. Tomorrow I’ll have at least a few more bands to throw at you, including hopefully Wakey Wakey at Rockwood Music Hall (which starts at 3pm). Until then, keep rocking!

CMJ 2014 – Day 1

It’s that time of year again, when all us music nerds run around NYC trying to catch as much good and/or new music as possible. This year I’m working a night job every night of the week, so most of the shows I will be attending are during the day. I did manage to catch one good act last night though, in addition to being introduced to two new bands during the day.

First up I went to Pianos to catch this band from Berlin called Mighty Oaks, who absolutely blew me away. After their set I asked about buying their CD and they said I could do so online.

Next up I moved over to Cake Shop to catch a noise pop band from Dublin by the name of September Girls. They didn’t exactly wow me like the first band did, but they definitely had their moments. I think a large part of my problem was they like a lot of reverb and it made it hard to understand all of the vocals. Still enjoyed their set and of course grabbed some pictures.

Unfortunately after this I had to take a break to go to my real job, but I did manage to make it over to Bowery Electric to catch one of the bands I was most excited about seeing this year: Butcher Knives. They have one of the best live shows of any band I’ve seen. The amount of energy they put into each performance is incredible, as were the photos I managed to snap during their set. (hashtag: humble brag)

It was definitely a wild and crazy night, and a great start to this year’s CMJ. Hopefully you had as much fun as the crowd did at Bowery Electric, and you keep on rocking all week.

Jukebox the Ghost @ Rough Trade – Live Review

First of all, this post should have gone up either Sunday night or yesterday but I am in the process of moving into my new apartment, so life is pretty chaotic right now. I couldn’t stay quiet about my experience going to see Jukebox the Ghost perform a free pre-release show at Rough Trade for their new self-titled album (which drops Oct 21) though. I jotted a bunch of thoughts down at the show, which I wanted to share with you now…

Sunday afternoon I was thrilled to attend the Rough Trade Jukebox the Ghost in store for two reasons: 1) It’s been ages since I’ve seen the band and was anxious to see them again, and 2) It was my first time at the venue and I was curious what it would be like. Consequently this review is just as much about Rough Trade as it is the show I saw there.

First let’s look at the venue. When you first walk in there’s a decently sized store with mostly records but also books and a small selection of cassette tapes. I loved the layout of the store and the general vibe. I even talked to one of the staff about any possible job opportunities and got a very helpful response.

Moving on to the actual venue (which can be found through a door in the back of the shop), the size of the place felt perfect to hold a good crowd without anyone having to feel removed from the stage too much. The sound was particularly impressive, not too loud to blow your eardrums but still being able to hear everything clearly. The only slight negative to the experience was it got a bit toasty at one point, but I believe that was because that particular day wasn’t sure what the temperature should be, which probably made it hard for the staff to affectively know how to heat or cool the space. (Side note: we’ve been having the same problem at the venue I work at, so I totally understand and don’t hold it against them at all. Fall needs to figure out what it wants to be already and stick with it).

Now onto the show itself… The band played quite a few selections from their new album, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Of course there was the usual stage banter in between songs, which is one thing I have always loved about this band: their stage presence. The guys have the ability to charm and joke their way through any set. Take an example from this show: the drum broke during one song, so the crowd was treated to fun stories to keep us occupied, including a bit of self-deprecation about Ben messing up a song he’s played “once or twice” while performing live on the radio. Instead of being annoyed the set had been interrupted by technical difficulties, we all got to have a good laugh before continuing on with the show. This kind of thing has happened before at their shows, and I love that they just make a joke about it or something else and roll with the punches. It’s almost like they enjoy the little bumps in the road, which is really the ideal for a musician’s life or just in general when you think about it. Being able to go with the tides is what makes life enjoyable (or at least bearable). Personally the music that Jukebox the Ghost has given us over the years has been very helpful with that in my journey through life, and I look forward to adding another batch of songs to the collection.

High Highs – Ocean To City

On Tuesday Brooklyn based duo High Highs released their new EP, Ocean To City, and I’m giving everyone a chance to listen to the title track before you go download the entire EP for FREE on Noisetrade.

Taken from the press release:

When asked to describe the ideal environment for listening to High Highs’ new EP, lead-singer and guitarist Jack Milas answered, “Just before dawn, when the party has ended.”

If you want to experience this for yourself then listen to the sample and go download some free music. Hey, what do you have to lose?

The Flash Zips Into Viewers Hearts

Warning: this review of the series premiere of The Flash has mild spoilers that would be more enjoyable if left unexpected. You might want to wait until after you’ve watched before you continue reading. Thank you.

The Flash premiere was last night on CW, and I have to say that it impressed me right from the start. You’d think the beginning would be boring for those who watched the same events on Arrow (where they first introduced the character) but Barry is so lovable that it’s hard to picture ever being bored watching him. Side note: who else loved the fact Jesse L. Martin from Law & Order is currently playing the main cop on Flash now. Guess he just fits the type. All jokes aside, it’s great to see him again after L&O was canceled just shy of making it to longest running show. I’m also enjoying that The Flash feels like it’s own show while hinting at its connection to the Arrow universe without simply feeling like a spinoff series. There are enjoyable references to Barry’s time on Arrow, but overall the show has it’s own flavor that I quite enjoy (and certainly has piqued my interest more than Gotham has so far). Even the conversation he has with Arrow feels like a respectful nod more than a push to connect it to an already established winner. I definitely think this is going to be high on the list of new series to stay tuned with this season.

Just Another Manic Tueday

Tonight I had the privilege of seeing The Bangles live and was inspired to bring back what used to be a regular occurrence of me reviewing bands I see in concert. For a band that’s been around for over 30 years, they still have a lot of energy to bring to their live show. Hearing them bust out one golden oldie after another was a blast from the past that never felt the least bit stale at all. On the contrary, it was a refreshing night of music that left me both satisfied and extremely impressed. The band sounded and looked amazing as they smashed through one song after another. It was the perfect way to spend a Tuesday night after using my “weekend” (which was Sunday & Monday) to start moving into a new apartment. If you ever get the opportunity I definitely recommend you check this band out. And on that note, I leave you with this: