It’s almost time for Northside Festival 2012! This festival, which earned it’s name from taking place around the north side of Brooklyn, is one of my favorite festivals. It’s a lot like CMJ, except it’s only in Brooklyn, i.e., most shows happen within walking distance of each other. Ok, so maybe I’m partial because it
The opposite in direction of that one festival that happened a couple months ago in Austin, TX – NXNE Festival takes place in Toronto June 11-17th, and seems like a similar deal: 650 bands in one week, but most likely even more unofficial shows, parties, after parties, random street parties, and general debauchery centered around
Maps & Atlases By now we already know to expect a great show whenever Maps & Atlases is playing. Last time I caught them at Bowery Ballroom, it was a sold out show filled with adoring fans. If they could pull off amazingly good vibes like that at that venue, then a show at the
Emerging Brooklyn band The Echo Friendly is a name you may start hearing more often. They’ve gotten recent recognition for having their song “Same Mistakes” in the closing credits of the fourth Girls episode, but they also have a band and life philosophy more withstanding than that. In a conversation with band members Jake Rabinbach
Beach House’s latest offering, Bloom, is officially out on Sub Pop, and the band continues to build on the more polished atmosphere of their previous album, Teen Dream. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally are continuing to reinvent the arpeggio and dream pop vocal melodies with songs that all take after the title of the album;
Nova Scotia’s Wintersleep have announced their Spring tour dates, as well as released their new single, “Nothing is Anything (Without You),” which could very well be the soundtrack to your summer fling. It might not be an everlasting classic, but it’ll be stuck in your head for a memorable period of time. This track is
In her performance at Bowery Ballroom, Ane Brun was able to balance minimalism with impact, creating stirring compositions that were enigmatic in their subtlety. This was evident from the first song, “These Days,” which she sang with controlled urgency, backed by soft organ and just enough percussion to push the pulse. This, and every one
Black Marble sounds exactly like what their name implies: cold and dark. Their show at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge this past Thursday showed the duo of Chris Stewart and Ty Kube invoking post punk and no wave styles from more classic bands like Suicide, and being on the same plane as more current
Before I caught Sister Crayon’s great last residency show at Piano’s, songwriter and vocalist Terra Lopez took a few minutes to talk to me about how the shows have gone so far, what makes a good song, their forthcoming album, and more. Below is a deeper take on some of the roots of the realness behind Sister Crayon’s powerful performances.
This is the Kit is the songwriting project of Kate Stables, who has a voice like an old friend. Some songs are like a comfortably rollicking lullaby, and others like stimulating psychedelic adventures. For her late set at Mercury Lounge, Stables switched between banjo and electric guitar, and was joined by a drummer and bassist.