Daykamp Music

Eddie Japan – “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone” (2011)

Eddie Japan
“You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone”
2011

Eddie Japan have put together one snappy little pop gem with “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone”. If this song was a drug (and given the number of times I’ve listened to this one I can safely say it’s addictive^*), I would imagine the listed side effects would be toe-tapping and spinning around.^** It’s that kind of song: carefree in feeling with a devilish bent to the lyrics. Less moody and exotic than the typical Eddie Japan fare, “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone” proves that good bands play to the song.

I’m impressed.

<a href="http://eddiejapan.bandcamp.com/track/you-will-find-me-dead-in-my-comfort-zone">You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone by Eddie Japan</a>

Where to get it:

Bandcamp

^* Using the words “safe” and “addictive” in the same sentence feels weird.

^** Or maybe some enthusiastic head bopping.

Feb 22, 2012 | Categories: Just The Bits, Reviews | Tags: Eddie Japan

Thick Shakes – Why Buy The Cow (2011)

Thick Shakes
Why Buy The Cow
2011

The Thick Shakes Why Buy The Cow EP is everything garage rock should be: raw, catchy, overmodulated and pressed on 7″ black vinyl. It sounds easy, but few do it this well. A song as great as “Go Back To New York” doesn’t need to be dressed up in fancy clothes. Just spit, snarl, bang it out and get the kids bopping. You even get a couple of kickin’ B-sides in “Neighbor’s Goods” and “Banned From The Laundromat”.

As for the vinyl, it’s a small hole 7″ in beautiful basic black. It’s wrapped in a folded jacket and inserted in a vinyl bag. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

<a href="http://thickshakes.bandcamp.com/album/why-buy-the-cow-7">Why Buy the Cow 7" by Thick Shakes</a>

Where to get it:

Feb 21, 2012 | Categories: Featured, Reviews, Vinyl Love | Tags: Thick Shakes

Paper Airplane Fight and Mellow Bravo @ Moe’s Lounge 2.10.2012

In the grand tradition of Puppet Show and Spinal Tap comes Paper Airplane Fight and Mellow Bravo.^*

^* Yes, I know this wasn’t technically a Mellow Bravo show, but I didn’t know what else to call it.

Feb 17, 2012 | Categories: Featured, Photos | Tags: Andrew Doherty, Chrissy Vaccaro, Dave Jarvis, Kate Murdoch, Keith Pierce, Kerri-Ann Richard, Kevin Boldwin, Mellow Bravo, Moe's Lounge, Nicole Tammaro, Practice, Radio, Richard Bouchard, Seager Tennis, Tom Baker

The Resurrectionists @ Radio 2.10.2012

This was my first and probably my last time seeing The Resurrectionists. It’s not because I didn’t like their take on modern Americana. You see, the band announced that this was likely their last show (at least for a very, very long time). Dang.

Feb 16, 2012 | Categories: Photos | Tags: Al Moore, Alex Kissel, Ben Crouch, Ben Dicke, Dr. Jeremy "Monday" Munday, Radio, The Resurrectionists

Tad & Kate @ Moe’s Lounge 2.10.2012

So much good music at Radio this past Friday night! Quality tunes upstairs and down all night long. I shot down to Moe’s Lounge after Reverse’s amazing set just in time to catch Tad & Kate doing their thing as part of Keith Pierce’s new series, Practice. Keith even jumped behind the kit for a couple of tunes. His Mellow Bravo band mate, Seager Tennis, followed suit on bass. This is pretty cool. I want more!

Feb 15, 2012 | Categories: Photos | Tags: Kate Murdoch, Keith Pierce, Moe's Lounge, Practice, Radio, Seager Tennis, Tad & Kate, Tad McKitterick

Reverse @ Radio 2.10.2012

Reverse killed it at Radio. Reverse always kills it, no matter where they play. There were a couple of noteworthy moments I’d like to bring to your attention.

First off, I hope their new record doesn’t take as long to make as Monkey Mind did. I can’t wait that long for “Civilian” to come out. That song was electric on Friday night.

The other thing I wanted to point out was an amazing fill that Mike Piehl pulled off during “Helicopters”. It’s like the guy grew some extra limbs to pull it off. Even the usually unflappable Mike Quinn did a double take. It’s not often a drum fill elicits a cheer from the crowd, but this one certainly did. The audience is listening.

Feb 14, 2012 | Categories: Photos | Tags: Ian Kennedy, Mike Piehl, Mike Quinn, Radio, Reverse

Swamp Bear @ Moe’s Lounge 2.10.2012

Ed Llerena of Cask Mouse also has a project called Swamp Bear. Talented dude. He played a few songs down in Moe’s Lounge as part of the new Practice series.^* I always like when Ed comes out from behind the drums during a Cask Mouse show, so catching this Swamp Bear set was a nice treat.

^* Practice is hosted by Keith Pierce of Mellow Bravo. It’s fun!

Feb 14, 2012 | Categories: Photos | Tags: Ed Llerena, Kevin Boldwin, Moe's Lounge, Practice, Radio, Swamp Bear

The Russians @ Radio 2.10.2012

I said most of what I needed to say about The Russians in my recent love letter to the band. Friday night the band rocked a little and rolled a lot. Man, do I love these guys…

Feb 13, 2012 | Categories: Photos | Tags: Darren Ottaviani, Mike Quinn, Ned Gallacher, Radio, Russel Chudnofsky, Scott Janovitz, The Russians, Tom Janovitz

Reverse – Monkey Mind (2009)

Reverse
Monkey Mind
2009

You know that game where you put together your dream band from people in bands around town? Wait, what? You don’t play that game? Sure, you do. Anyway, sometimes when I play that game I end up with Reverse.

Monkey Mind is Exhibit A of what said dream band can do. Let’s start with Mr. Ian Kennedy. The man is one of the most creative guitar players in town. Have you ever heard a Telecaster make such sounds? It’s like he sprinkled it with magic riff dust. Then you’ve got Mike Piehl behind the drums. He’s a beast. Look no further than opening track, “Fluorescent”, for proof. Mike Quinn is about as solid as they come on bass. The kicker is that his backing vocals mesh perfectly with Ian’s croon-meets-scream vocals.

All of this would be for naught without some songs to back up the sonic fury. Thankfully, Reverse don’t let us down there, either. Monkey Mind is one solid record in the songwriting department. The aforementioned “Fluorescent” is in-your-face, melodic and has a heavy groove. I think I’ve mentioned in the past how much I love “Victoria”. “Slow” alternates achingly beautiful verses with a devastating chorus. “January” is a great example of how well Ian and Mike Quinn’s vocals work together. The title track and “Helicopters” are as frantic as “Good Cop Bad Cop” is deliberate. Every song has hooks to spare.

Monkey Mind came out some seven years after Reverse’s debut, The Jersey Switch. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait that long for their next record.^*

Full Disclosue: The lovely and talented Nicole Anguish of Daykamp Creative did the artwork for this record.^** That doesn’t make this record any less of a monster. Just letting you know.

Where to get it:

^* Seriously, guys, don’t make us wait that long again.

^** I think the artwork was done some 4 years before the record came out.^*

Feb 10, 2012 | Categories: Physical Digital, Reviews | Tags: Mike Piehl, Mike Quinn, Reverse