Intensity and atmosphere. Doom Lover hit on both points. Add a healthy dose of harmonies and dynamics and you’ve pulled me in.
Videos With Important Words In Them
Music can have a message. Videos can have a voice. Eddie Japan, Dream Generation and The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library have found their voices in their latest clips. Three videos. Three unique styles. Three important messages. The art and causes may vary, but the end result is the same: a music video that makes an impact. Oh, and they all have words in them, so put on your reading glasses.
Classic Ruins @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 9.4.2014
Classic Ruins’ vintage rock ‘n’ roll closed out a night of good music for a good cause. Viva La Eva!
The Downbeat 5 @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 9.4.2014
The Downbeat 5 ripped it up at Viva La Eva Dos to support Eva Lipton. Just Like they did at last year’s benefit. Just like they do every time they take the stage.
The Dogmatics @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 9.4.2014
The Dogmatics were amped-up and ready to roll out some hooky garage rock for a worthy cause at Viva La Eva Dos. Fantastic.
Parlour Bells @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 9.4.2014
It’s been five days since Viva La Eva Dos and I still have the riff from “Celebrities On Ice” running through my head on an endless loop. With that, I’d like to thank Parlour Bells for supporting a good cause and providing the soundtrack to my daydreams.
Moose And the Mudbugs @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 9.4.2014
Moose And the Mudbugs kept spirits high at Viva La Eva Dos with a set of pysch-tinged garage rock. Songs about iceberg lettuce and roaches under pillows had TT’s buzzing for a good cause.
Thee Sonomatics @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 9.4.2014
Thee Sonomatics opened up Viva La Eva Dos with a set of primitive rock ‘n’ roll for a good cause.
Township – Will O’ The Wisp EP (2014)
Township
Will O’ The Wisp EP
2014
With the Will O’ The Wisp EP, Township wraps up a summer of fantastic releases. The band have put out 4 EPs these dog days. Their latest starts with a title track of prog-epic proportions. Phase-shifted guitars and pensive melodies yield to big harmonies, a snarling riff and a grand outro at the 3:02 mark. “The Beggar’s Doubt” is a standout track, painted in shades of Zeppelin folk and Fleetwood Mac. The EP wraps up with the stomping “U”. Township bring out the big riffs and guitarmony one more time before walking off into the autumnal sunset.
Where to get it:
Bent Shapes – “86’d in ’03” b/w “Bridgeport Lathe” (2014)
Bent Shapes
“86’d in ’03” b/w “Bridgeport Lathe”
2014
Bent Shapes continue to pop out fantastic Pavement-meets-The-Kinks nuggets. Their latest release finds the snappy and difficult to type “86’d in ’03” backed by the more deliberately paced cover of 2 x 4’s “Bridgeport Lathe.” The former begs vigorous toe-tapping, the latter a steady head bob. Both recordings do all of the little things right. There’s playful guitar and bass interplay. There’s pitch shifting. There are “ah-ah-ah” backing vocals. These are all good things in my book. I dig it.
The record itself is a picture disc of sorts. Instead of being pressed on vinyl, it’s lathe cut into transparent plexiglass. Small hole. 33⅓RPM. Three different color schemes. Did I mention that it’s square? Well, it is. This thing is really unique.
Where to get it: