Leo Blais opened yet another night of high quality music at The Rosebud. We’re spoiled around these parts.
Leo Blais @ The Rosebud Bar 7.9.2011
Brendan Boogie – Songs From The Armory Vol. 3 (2011)
Brendan Boogie
Songs From The Armory Vol. 3
2011
Brendan Boogie is back with the last EP of his ambitious project to release new music every month for the first half of 2011.* This time around, Brendan presents us with a third installment of songs co-written with like-minded pop aficionados.
First up is “Attraction Fades”, one of two collaborations with Oranjuly’s Brian King (who has so far managed to avoid the dragons that are no doubt pursuing him). Mr. King’s retro pop stamp is all over this song. This is one of my favorite songs to come out of Brendan Boogie’s EP experiment. I love it.
Naked On Roller Skates’ Leesa Coyne takes over lead vocal duties on the melancholic “Using Me Using You”. The song has a beautiful sadness to it. Brendan’s duet with Abbie Barrett on “Love Is For Losers” lightens the mood as much as a song that references clubbing baby seals can lighten a mood (which, it turns out, is quite a bit).
Brendan Boogie and Brian King reunite for the closing number, a timeless piano ballad titled “With A Single Motion”. The stark instrumentation allows the layered vocals to shine. Fantastic.
Where to get it:
* Much like the mid week hiatus of The Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble’s preliminary round, Mr. Boogie took April off. Slacker.
The Tenafly Vipers @ Midway Cafe 7.1.2011
The Tenafly Vipers fired riff after riff at the late night revelers who made their way to The Midway for the Idle Baron’s Ball. They even inspired some unusual, uh… dancing, I guess. For these photos, we’re sticking with the loud, fast, action rock side of things…
Jay Allen And The Archcriminals @ Midway Cafe 7.1.2011
Jay Allen and his cohorts created a rock n’ roll ruckus at the Idle Barons Ball.
Lenny Lashley’s Gang Of One @ Midway Cafe 7.1.2011
The other day I heard some music coming from my new work neighbor’s area. I recognized it immediately.
“Are you listening to Lenny And The Piss Poor Boys over there?” I asked.
“Yup.”
We’re going to get along just fine, new work neighbor.
Little did I know this exchange would be a sign of good things to come. Lenny Lashley performed an impromptu set during the Idle Barons Ball at the Midway that very Friday night. What a nice way to end the week.
Emily Peal – Tunneling (2011)
Emily Peal
Tunneling
2011
Truth be told, I don’t feel entirely qualified to write about Emily Peal’s new record. I can’t seem to wrap my head around it. I’ve been listening to Tunneling for about a month now, and every time I do I get the spins. The attention to detail is staggering. This record is impossibly complex, yet maintains a remarkable accessibility (you know, except for the disorientation thing). I’m done thinking about it. I’m just going to enjoy it.
Emily Peal’s piano driven sound is equal parts musical theater, introspective singer-songwriter sensibility and Queen-style grandiose rock, complete with intricately layered backing vocals and bombastic guitars. Check out the menacing “Gentle When You’re Cruel”, the emotional “Privilege”, the delicate “Creator” and the disarming “Elephant In The Room” to get an idea of the musical range Tunneling covers. It’s vast.
I’ve got a soft spot for “Wise To You”. It’s a song that never fails to make me smile. This studio version has more elaborate instrumentation than the live version I posted a little while back, but maintains the latter’s undeniable charm.
Tunneling is quite the impressive album, whose whole is even greater than its numerous parts. Just don’t try to figure it all out. It will make your head spin.
Where to get it:
Michael J. Epstein – “July 4, 1976 (Disco Independence)” (2011)
Michael J. Epstein
“July 4, 1976 (Disco Independence)”
2011
Do you like historically inaccurate songs about Independence Day, the Founding Fathers, disco music, life, liberty and the pursuit of facial hair? Maybe?
Michael J. Epstein is hoping you do.* He’s written “July 4, 1976 (Disco Independence)” for people just like you! You need not like actual disco music, just songs about disco music, as the song is not in the disco style. It’s a little indie rock ditty that rewrites history to explain why we have fireworks and barbecues this time each year. It’s a free download. As an added bonus, Mr. Epstein is throwing in a version of “The Stars And Stripes Forever (Moustache Mix)” that sounds like…
I’ve spent enough time on this.
Where to get it:
* Actually, he probably doesn’t even care. He seems like a well enough adjusted individual to not worry about this sort of thing. It’s all good.
Star Ghost Dog – Happylove (1998)
Star Ghost Dog
Happylove
1998
“I guess I’m gonna call in sick today.
I’m feeling way too healthy anyway.”
With those words we’re introduced to Star Ghost Dog. Happylove is choc-full of dark, moody indie rock with bounce. It sounds weird, but it’s true. Star Ghost Dog are masters of dispiriting songs with a spring in their step.
The somber nature of the lyrics can be startling at times. Songs with titles like “Heroin Face,” “Downer,” and “Tell Everyone We’re Dead” probably don’t need to have this mentioned. The title track declares “I love your happy love oh yes I love your happy love love love,” but I’m not buying it. This ain’t bubble gum pop.
Despite the bleakness of the subject matter, there’s warmth to these songs. They sound like pleasantly faded snapshots. They have energy. Guitars fizzle and jump. Boy girl vocal harmonies balance the often deadpan vocal delivery. You can bob your head to songs like “Kite” and “You’re Not There.” Heck, there’s even an indie disco song, “Plus De Vaches.”
On Happylove, Star Ghost Dog are still rough around the edges. By the time of their next record, The Great Indoors, the band will have polished and perfected their sound.
Where to get it:
Jordan Valentine And The Sunday Saints – “Tell Me What’s On Your Mind” b/w “Follow Me” (2011)
Jordan Valentine And The Sunday Saints
“Tell Me What’s On Your Mind” b/w “Follow Me”
2011
What we’ve got here is a black, big hole 7″ record in a plain white sleeve. From a vinyl perspective it’s about as simple as it comes. What Jordan Valentine And The Sunday Saints prove with this release is that it’s the music pressed into the vinyl that matters.
I have the Jordan Valentine And The Sunday Saints full length CD and I enjoy it quite a bit (which reminds me, I should review that one of these days). This single is even better. The Sunday Saints’ soul music bleeds into the grooves. “Tell Me What’s On Your Mind” is a classic number with a nice horn arrangement. The band’s own “Follow Me” is the kicker here. It’s an energetic recording with a couple of shrieks out of Ms. Valentine that kill. I love it.
Where to get it:
OldJack @ Make Music Harvard Square 6.18.2011
June 18th, 2011 was a good day.
This particular Saturday started with a party for my Big Little One, who recently turned (I can’t believe how time flies) five years old. That afternoon, with some help from my wife, I convinced the boy to hop on the train with me to go see OldJack as part of Make Music Harvard Square…
We take the red line a few stops and arrive about 5 minutes before OldJack are scheduled to perform. Looks like things are running behind schedule. That’s not a good sign when you’re with a potentially overtired boy and dinner time is rapidly approaching. We say hi to Dan Nicklin. Big Little One seems bothered by the noise from the other bands playing. Look! A candy shop! Let’s go get a lollipop.
We walk out with a blue raspberry Dum Dum* and a fresh start. Across the street there’s a little less commotion. That’s where Big Little One gets a couple of licks in before dropping the lollipop in a puddle. Back over to Hidden Sweets we go. This time we emerge with a bubble gum flavored Dum Dum.** Big Little One tells me he’s going to wait until we get home before he eats this one.
The boy is pretty antsy by the time OldJack kicks into “Love Me Or?”. Initially he’s put off by the volume (he’s wearing earplugs and covering his ears, so there’s no real danger), but he settles in by my side as the band plays on. He’s focused. Big Little One is taking it all in. He’s sitting on my knee, now. Content.
OldJack doesn’t seem as intense in the bright of day. It’s a nice change of pace. There’s an ease about them in the afternoon sunshine. The weight they often carry into the wee hours of the morning is lifted. The band, and those watching, are left to enjoy the moment.
I feel a tugging on my leg. Big Little One wants to go. It’s only a few songs into the set, but he’s hungry. And tired. We head back toward the train.
“Dad, when we get in the car can we listen to that band on a CD? I want to hear that song.”
“Which song?” I ask.
“The first one. I want to hear that song.”
“Sure thing, buddy.”
*The lollipop cost 12 cents. The cashier at Hidden Sweets tells me that’s the minimum amount charged on by-the-pound candy. This information is going to come in handy in a bit.
**The bubble gum Dum Dum would also end up getting dropped. The boy was very tired. Thankfully, we had a spare at home.