BACKGROUND: The Los Angeles synth pop duo Tic Tic Boom! is giving away the first single "For Feeling" from their upcoming EP Before the Sun Rises. The release, to be available in April, promises to be stronger, dreamier, darker, and a major evolution of their sound from their previous recordings.
Before the Sun Rises, the band's third EP, follows on the success of their 2011 release Reasons and Rhymes. Drawing inspiration from new wave, punk, and indie rock, their second EP received a wealth of praise and recognition from publications like Buzzbands LA, The Owl Mag, and CMJ, the last of which described their music as “hook-laced synthpop that casts live drums and guitars as conspicuously as it does sugary vocals and catchy synth loops.” It also earned the band the opportunity to do an official remix of one of the most popular songs of 2011, Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks,” and an invitation to showcase at CMJ Music Marathon in New York.
After a year of tirelessly playing shows and releasing acoustic versions and remixes, Tic Tic Boom! is nearly ready to release their junior EP, Before the Sun Rises. It was dubbed thus by the two’s nearly nocturnal writing and recording schedule and, as with each of their previous releases, the upcoming six-track recording showcases a different side of Tic Tic Boom! “[Before the Sun Rises] deals with concepts of life and death,” explains Francisco about the inspiration behind the EP. “How all things are cyclical and we're all just a small piece of an enormous never-ending puzzle. It's about struggling to understand your place in all of that.”
To promote Before the Sun Rises, the band will be playing live shows in the LA area as well as performing in Austin during SXSW and performing a residency at Los Angeles’ Lot 1 Café for May 2012.
Beehive Says: Lots going on here, drums and synths colliding into energetic vocals, the whole song is a frenzy of action and it works. Set as your morning alarm call and you will hit the ceiling before you leave the pillow.
Web: Official HERE. Listen: For Feeling (MP3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: Originally a side project of sorts, twins Jaymes and Tegan Voltaire became the Voltaire Twins after winning the Triple J Unearthed Parklife competition in 2008 and receiving a personal invitation to support Ladytron. Fast forward a few years and with a single and EP release under their belt, the band has now toured Australia numerous times and played everywhere from CMJ in NYC to Laneway, Parklife, Groovin’ the Moo, and Summadayze. This March, Voltaire Twins will return to North America to perform at both SXSW and CMW. Dates and times are below.
Last fall, the indie/electric/disco foursome released the Romulus EP throughout Sydney and Brisbane. Australian critics describe the EP as “darker than the previous Cabin Fever EP with Lord of the Flies-esque themes of chaos and detachment from humanity in the wilderness.”
The lead track from the EP, "Animalia," has already been added to rotation on Triple J, FBI, and Radar Radio, and its accompanying music video, directed by Ben Young and David Le May, was recently awarded a Gold Award at the Australian Cinematography Awards. The video tells the dark, twisted tale of a taxidermist's latest acquisition - a pair of feathered twins.
The lead track from the EP, "Animalia," has already been added to rotation on Triple J, FBI, and Radar Radio, and its accompanying music video, directed by Ben Young and David Le May, was recently awarded a Gold Award at the Australian Cinematography Awards. The video tells the dark, twisted tale of a taxidermist's latest acquisition - a pair of feathered twins.
In an effort to step towards a bigger, more textural sound, the release of the Romulus EP also saw French nu-disco legend Lifelike, Sydney party-starters Purple Sneakers DJs, and Munich-based genre crusher Moullinex all contributing remixes. Fans can also “like” Voltaire Twins on Facebook and receive a code to download the single and remixes free.
Beehive Says: Catchy, very catchy. 'Indie/electric/disco' indeed! and all done to a fine standard.
Web: Official HERE. Listen: Animalia (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: NY-Berlin trio Fenster has released the single "Fantasy II" with VMAN from their forthcoming debut full-length, Bones, out on March 13 release via Morr Music. Read Fenster's Q&A with VMAN to get better acquainted with them, learn what's behind their interesting song structures, and how their bi-continental background inevitably effects their musical point of view. The group will embark on their first ever US tour including three performances in NYC surrounding their scheduled appearances at SXSW '12.
Fenster began as New York native JJ Weihl and Berlin-based Jonathan Jarzyna started experimenting with de-constructed pop music, layering subtle distortions, melodic chords and city soundscapes under dream narratives. Their new album Bones takes its narrative structure from the associative logic of dreams, weaving morbid imagery and playful fairytales together into a sardonic play against backdrops of dark forests, train rides, graveyards, mountains and seashores. With influences ranging from the Velvet Underground, to the sounds of broken records, the hum of a washing machine, or the faint melodies of oldies tunes through their kitchen radio, at times, you might be reminded of an American version of The xx.
Beehive Says: Vocals and accompanying harmonies are spot on, as this song twists and turns. Fenster are imaginative as is this song.
Web: Official HERE. Listen: Fantasy II. (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: In 2010, after the release of their debut melancholic folk LP On Claws to critical acclaim, I Am Oak was invited to be a part of over sixty-five tours and festivals throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemborg, Switzerland, and the UK, including a sold out show at the Unitarian Church as part of the Great Escape festival. Fast forward one year and I Am Oak have released their sophomore LP Oasem to unanimous praise, even earning “Album of the Year” at the prestigious 3VOOR12 Awards.
I Am Oak is the folk/experimental project formed around Dutch singer-songwriter Thijs Kuijken. Described by the 3VOOR12 judges as “night songs” and “songs that take you on a journey,” Kuijken’s truly unique sound is created by manipulating minimalistic sounds into complex and gentle sound arrays using his own voice as the main backbone complemented by guitar, banjo, organ, beats, and samples, all produced and arranged out of his bedroom.
On January 12, 2012 I Am Oak released the Skulk EP via Snowstar Records in the Netherlands. The first single from the EP, “Gills,” premiered on MP3.com last week. The “I Am Oak” moniker is derived from "Bergeijk," the village in which Thijs grew up. The name also contains the Dutch word for Oak ("eik") and expresses Thijs’ love and fascination for nature, a theme that is prominent throughout his impressive body of work.
I Am Oak will be making their North American debut at this year’s SXSW on March 16, 2012 at St. David’s Bethell Hall at 9pm.
Beehive Says: A gentle brooding song which flows and then kinda abruptly stops to remind us how we have drifted into the number.
Web: Official HERE. Listen: Gills. (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: Time and good karma have a funny way of repeating themselves sometimes and coming full circle. Here and now is one of those times, as we tell you the tale of Paper Garden Records’ first ever release and the Lovely Hearts Club’s newest addition – former Eagle Seagull front-man, Eli Mardock.
Eagle Seagull was the inspiration and jumping off point behind Paper Garden Records‘ entire existence back in 2005. The town of Lincoln, Nebraska brought the two together, and from there both parties grew into their early adulthood years, quickly gaining international critical acclaim. With their debut album very much at the forefront of the new indie-rock sound (think Arcade Fire and Handsome Furs), Eagle Seagull began to see shows and tours flow in from the likes of The B-52′s, Tokyo Police Club, Gnarls Barkley, Blonde Redhead, The Faint, and more. In the wake of this immediate success the big, bad major labels came calling, and needless to say, won the signing battle over the humble Paper Garden Records. After enduring nearly every major label cliche known to man and numerous setbacks to to release of their follow-up album, Eli and the band eventually decided to go their separate ways.
In the two years since the band’s demise, Eli has been hard at work recording and producing his first solo LP, “Everything Happens for the First Time”. Mixed in Brooklyn by Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend, The Strokes), the record is set for release in Summer 2012 and marks a new beginning for both Eli Mardock and Paper Garden. We are so excited to be working with Eli on his solo record and just couldn’t be happier about this phenomenal family reunion. Eli will be making his way down to SXSW this year as well, playing the Paper Garden/My Old Kentucky Blog party @ Uncorked on 3/15.
Beehive Says: The Arcade Fire similarities have been mentioned above and elsewhere, so what, there's plenty of room for great music and for Eli to influence others. More please!
Web: Official HERE. Listen: Everything Happens for the First Time. (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: The Lake Effect is a music collective comprised of some of the most prominent artists established during the wildly mad yet glorious punk scene in Ottawa, NYC, Dublin and UK in the late 1970’s. Fast forward to 2012, and core members of The Lake Effect and respected industry veterans Phil Hogarth and Dave Bignell have rejuvenated their passion for music as well as reinvented their sound and image to create a fervent band that emotes sonic landscapes of loss and longing, redemption and love. The Lake Effect will be releasing their inaugural EP on March 13, followed by the release of their long awaited debut full-length album due for Summer 2012 release. The Lake Effect proves that musical prowess has no expiration date, as their forthcoming EP release presents a fresh collection of indie pop-rock tracks that lightly treads on psychedelic folk.
Bringing together some of the most celebrated veterans of the Canadian music scene, The Lake Effect sings transcendent tales that are pain stakenly candid and unfeigned. With songs that were built on decades of empathetic real-life experiences and revelations, The Lake Effect has revealed themselves as a sound comparable to The Acorn and Bob Pollard …yet their incredible story of dedication to their craft puts them in the realm with fellow artists Ray Lemontagne and Leonard Cohen, whom have also been there and back a few times.
The story of The Lake Effect is basically a story of commitment, and the roots of the band’s core members, Dave Bignell and Phil Hogarth, stretch way back into the glorious murky madness of the late 70’s punk scene in Ottawa, New York, Dublin and the UK.
Bignell’s first band, the infamous Red Squares, released one of Canada’s first DIY singles in late 77, were quickly named as a ‘pick to click’ by British DJ John Peel, and subsequently went on to share the stage with the likes of Ultravox, John Cale, and XTC. The Red Squares’ dedicated fans were legion, and rare copies of the band’s seminal Transmitter single are still trading for hundreds of dollars on record collector sites and eBay.
Around the same time the Red Squares were dissolving in 1980, The Lake Effect’s lead singer Phil Hogarth was recording his first EP with Bugs Harvey Oswald at U2’s Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland. Returning to Canada in ’82, Hogarth released a follow-up disc and spent a number of years playing high profile stages in NYC and elsewhere with like-minded bands the Fall, Bauhaus, 10,000 Maniacs, and the Ramones.
Since the 80’s, Bignell and Hogarth have dedicated themselves to many interesting art and music projects in Canada and internationally, but they have always remained committed to the same personal, political and poetical goals that inspired them in the first place. They may be older now, and much water has passed beneath the proverbial bridge, but that is clearly a good thing. Stripped of all pretension, they have finally come together, cracked the shell and found the glistening pearl within.
The Lake Effect’s songs are unique in their strength and beauty, and the band’s live performances are quickly earning them a host of enthusiastic new fans. Refreshingly relaxed, candid and chill, The Lake Effect rules the stage with an easy humor and professional grace that reflects their extensive experience as major players on Canada’s national scene. They’re smart, they’re soulful and they’re sexy, and that is what the best music is really all about. Dreams may fade and empires fall, but the beautiful songs of Lake Effect fly sky high above them all.
The Lake Effect’s highly anticipated premiere EP will be released on March 13, 2012, and digital review copies are currently available on request.
Beehive Says: As we grow older and hopefully wiser, its always a joy to hear artists with a pedigree such as these guys. Comfortable in doing what feels right musically without the need to live on past glories, and why not when the current ones are this good?
Web: Tumblr HERE. Listen: Fallen From The Sky. (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: Dan London is a singer-songwriter-guitarist-bassist (currently with The Longwalls) living in the town of Jamaica Plain, MA. Written over the course of several years in between Nashville and Boston, London's debut Happy to See Me is a record about changes—-lots and lots of changes. A smart mix of Ray Davies and East Coast cool, Happy to See Me is a midnight run through the trials and tribulations associated with becoming comfortable in one's own skin. Better late than never.
The LP features old friends Mike Quinn (Moontower Studio / Q Division) and Longwalls bandmate Kurt von Stetten.
Quoting Dan himself - "I remember hearing Ben Folds’ "Underground" for the first time, realized he was singing about the American suburban experience, and thinking, “damn, he beat me to it.” The American suburban experience is where I come from, it’s where I made my bones, it’s where I cut my teeth.
When I was 13, I wrote my first song. It was the first thing I was ever really good at. I first heard a Bob Dylan song on the local classic rock station and it changed me. True stuff. The words kept coming. I bought his book of lyrics and carried it from room to room.
I grew up in New Jersey listening to Dylan, Pink Floyd, The Dead, The Stones, The Who and the Beatles. I loved Lou Reed and found it hard find other people who did that also didn’t scare me.
I went to college for songwriting. I moved to Nashville. I played in bands and went to open mic nights. I worked in bookstores and got taken out to dinner by crime fiction publishers.
I toured for a few months with a cover band. We kept getting fired, but I got to eat fried chicken in the Savanna Holiday Inn and play volleyball on a beach overlooking a nuclear power plant in Crystal River, Florida.
Sometimes I think music saved my life, other times I think it ruined it. It depends on the day. Just don’t ask me in the morning.
I moved back to Boston. I recorded a record with a band called Nag Champa. I worked in more bookstores. Eventually I went to grad school for Library Science. I started playing bass in the Longwalls. With their help I rediscovered a love of music and a desire to—finally—make my own record".
Beehive Says: This is good old 'no nonsense' music that feels just right. Enough said already.
Web: Official (label) HERE. Listen: Little Bit About Me. (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: Violens' forthcoming album, 'True', finds the Brooklyn three-piece further amplifying their innovative songwriting with a palette of exquisitely crafted sound. The band's music eludes classification, expertly blending percussive guitar work and silky harmonies, seeking the silver lining yet to be discovered between the sounds we know and love. With a wash of 90s sonic pop drawn from artists like Pale Saints, Cocteau Twins and McCarthy, Violens paint soft watercolor notes across their compositions, adding crucial emotional depth via layered vocal harmonies.
Violens was formed in 2007 by Jorge Elbrecht (a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and founding member of the art company Lansing-Dreiden). Their debut album 'Amoral' was self-recorded, self-produced, and is best understood as digital collage; a dark, guitar and synth-pop voyage of melodic and rhythmic collision.
'True' shifts course towards a more subtle and desaturated sonic landscape. The album's first single, "Totally True," demonstrates this with its stone-washed, semi-improvised feel, celebrating bands like The Chameleons and Martin Newell's Cleaners From Venus. As the writing process for this second album began while traveling together on tour, it also showcases Violens as a more collaborative effort. Band members Iddo Arad (backing vocals, synths, guitar) and Myles Matheny (backing vocals bass, guitar) had a much larger influence on the songwriting and the album's sonic direction. Framed by Will Berman's distinctive drumming, 'True' shows the band interacting and reflecting in ways both promising and exciting.
Throughout 2011, Violens kept up a virtual songwriting diary on their website, posting musical sketches as part of a continuous dialogue with their fans. In keeping with this practice, Violens will be premiering a song from 'True' each month leading up to the release of their LP.
Beehive Says: A few comparisons above, I would add Hawkwind without the synth and acid but that might confuse some. It's a good number that fly's by and needs a second listen just to remind yourselves of what you heard first and I love it!
Web: Official HERE. Listen: Unfolding Black Wings. (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: Coke Weed is indeed an exotic specimen, an indie band that lays garlands at the ruins of rock and roll. This is psychedelic music with nary a trace of the blown out vocal or endless digital soup that is in vogue for this moment in time. Rather, Coke Weed lives in the essence of that perfect instance when the early hippies put down their beloved folk music and fixed their restless gaze on the possibilities of electric rock and roll.
For their upcoming release Nice Dreams, the band enlisted producer Nick Stumpf (former front man of French Kicks and producer of Caveman's CoCo Beware). The album was recorded completely live in ten days, and as a result, there are no overdubs. The first featured track from the album is titled "Magpie," which Coke Weed's founder Milan McAlevy explains, "is almost like the surrealist practice of automatic writing, it just came out and we had something haunting and beautiful that I can’t quite understand the meaning of."
McAlevy formed the Lil’ Fighters with Walter Martin (future member of The Walkmen) in 1999, which sparked an exchange of ideas that would take them both in very unexpected directions. Fast forward a few years and McAlevey has left behind the New York music scene to follow Coke Weed chanteuse Nina D. to Bar Harbor, Maine, the quintessential New England island tourist town. Nina and Milan quickly found guitarist Caleb Davis, young drummer Peter Cuffari and bassist Zach Soares, thus giving birth to the Coke Weed family.
In late April, the group will join fellow Maine constellation Micah Blue Smaldone for a string of ten dates along the East Coast. After that, Coke Weed will hit the road in support of The Walkmen on their North American tour in September 2012.
Beehive Says: This is one fine song where the guitar and vocals complement rather than challenge each other and yet are both standout in the mix (and the rest of the band are disciplined enough to carry the whole thing off with a gentle rhythm) .
Web: Official HERE. Listen: Magpie. (mp3).
===============================================
BACKGROUND: In advance of their debut full length album, Isle of Dogs (April 9, 2012), east London indie poppers Tigercats are releasing a free MP3 download of "Full Moon Reggae Party".
"Full Moon Reggae Party" was written in one day after an enforced absence from the studio, and recorded just a couple of days later. It's about going on the run ("I heard you stole a van, we've got some fake Gaugin's, let's go and get the cash, dance to Two Sevens Clash") but it's also the most direct love song they've ever done.
A lot of Tigercats' lyrics are constructed out of fleeting, disconnected
imagery, but "Full Moon Reggae Party" speaks straight to it's subject. Unlike
earlier songs, it was written by Duncan with Laura's voice in mind: the exuberant verses that he sings solo contrast with the richness of the chorus.
"We love to play it because it's fast and it's about breaking the law."
Catch Tigercats touring UK (March) and Spain (April). They have also just been confirmed to play the Indietracks Festival at Midland Railway in Butterley, Derbyshire in July. Tigercats' album launch for Isle of Dogs will be March 30th at Power Lunches in Dalston.
Beehive Says: Come the summer this will be perfect partying out of doors music, right now it just lifts me way up.
Web: fika (label) HERE. Listen: Full Moon Reggae Party. (mp3).
===============================================
This is Adam Ant live at the intimate and wonderful venue Mr Kyps, Poole, Dorset, England recorded last year on the 20th June 2011. Mr Kyps is a popular venue for tribute bands, however there have been a good number of bands and artists who have 'cut their teeth' at venues like this and gone on to greater glories, and acts such as Adam Ant who enjoy the interaction with a close up audience.
Since 2010, Adam Ant has undertaken a major reactivation of his musical career, performing live regularly in his hometown London and beyond, recording a new album and with two full-length UK national tours now completed.
Wikipedia tells us regarding the small tour that includes this concert - Similar acclaim was given to the five date Seaside Tour of coastal resorts in the south of England which Ant undertook on 17–22 June 2011. Local Cornish radio station The Source FM cheered the 18 June 2011 Falmouth concert on its website: "The audience goes wild. Adam stalks the stage, in control, he already knows he's got us ... he plays songs that a man in his mid fifties shouldn’t really get away with, but he does, with dignity. Here's a man who still has something to say and manages to say it with 30 year old songs...Someone boos, Adam retaliates and we're with him. There’s nothing to boo here... Did that really just happen? Did Adam Ant really just blow us all away with the best gig of the year so far? I think he did." The Seaside Tour served both as a follow-up to the main UK tour and a warm-up to Ant's appearance at Hard Rock Calling 2011 in Hyde Park on 26 June 2011, third on the bill to Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks before an audience of 45,000. The festival's official website lauded his performance, reporting that "Adam Ant returned to London in tip-top shape this afternoon on the Main Stage in Hyde Park ...he left the stage to rapturous applause and cheers, leaving no question as to who was the real Prince Charming this weekend."
Source: Audience.
Sound Quality: Good stereo mp3@128kbps.
Genre: Alternative rock, post-punk.
Set: Full Set.
Set List:
Part One:
01. (Intro)
02. Plastic Surgery
03. Dog Eat Dog
04. Beat My Guest
05. Kick
06. Car Trouble
07. Zerox Machine
08. Deutscher Girls
09. Stand & Deliver
10. Catholic Day
11. Kings Of The Wild Frontier
12. Wonderful
13. Antmusic
14. Never Trust A Man With Egg On His Face
15. Cleopatra
Part Two:
01. Desparate
02. Goody Two Shoes
03. Viva Le Rock
04. Christian D'or
05. Lady
06. Fall In
07. Fat Fun
08. Prince Charming
09. Get It On
10. Physical (You're So)
This is a superb 'pro-audience' recording of Throwing Muses performing at The Middle East (downstairs) Cambridge, MA, USA, on March 14th, 2009.
From Kristin Hersh's website the good news for Throwing Muses lovers is (and we quote) "Throwing Muses is in the process of mixing their new record, which, for now at least is coming in at 38 songs(!) This one is entirely listener-funded thanks to Kristin’s subscribers (Strange Angels) and other generous contributors via CASH Music".
From Wikipedia regarding the latter history of the band - In 1995, the new lineup released University, recorded in New Orleans; the album included "Bright Yellow Gun," a single garnering airplay on commercial radio stations. The album's radio exposure led to long feature articles in Rolling Stone and other major music magazines. Following the 1996 album Limbo, the band announced it was going on indefinite hiatus due to the high financial overhead of being a full-time recording and touring band.
Hersh continued her solo career during this period, releasing several well-received albums and EPs. Yet her enthusiasm for Throwing Muses remained high; the band recorded new versions of several early songs for inclusion in the double-CD In a Doghouse compilation comprising the self-titled debut album, the Chains Changed EP, and the Doghouse Cassette. The band regrouped to perform special "Gut Pageant" events in 2000 and 2001, and released an album in 2003, entitled Throwing Muses. Donelly made her first appearances with the group in a decade at the 2000 Gut Pageant, also singing backing vocals on several tracks on the 2003 album. The group toured the U.S. and Europe briefly in 2003 to support the album, with appearances by Donelly on guitar and vocals in a couple of the tour's shows. In 2005 and 2006, the band played a number of shows across North America and Europe.
Hersh and Georges formed a new band, 50 Foot Wave, with drummer Rob Ahlers in 2003, while Narcizo returned to his graphic design company and his occasional musical project Lakuna. Donelly continues to record as a solo artist.
In 2009, the band reformed to tour Europe. They also performed the R.E.M number 'Perfect Circle' during a tribute night to the band at Carnegie Hall, New York on March 11, 2009.
This is JJ Cale performing at the High Sierra Music Festival, Leland Meadows, CA, USA, back on the 3rd July 1993.
JJ Cale remains a favourite artist of Beehive Candy and therefore it was wonderful to see him nominated for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF), in 2011.
Quoting from JJ Cale's website "NaSHOF recognises songwriters who have positively impacted and been closely associated with the Nashville Music Community and are deemed outstanding and significant. A native of Oklahoma, JJ Cale moved to Nashville early in his career where he was hired by the Grand Ole Opry's touring company. Following relocation's including to California and back to Oklahoma, he later returned to Nashville to record his early solo albums".
As mentioned before on Beehive Candy JJ Cale was born on December 5th, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mind you in Rock come Americana terms that is no age at all these days.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.
Genre: Americana, Cajun, blues, swamp rock.
Set: Full Set.
Set List:
01. Instrumental
02. Call Me the Breeze
03. Hard Time
04. Riverboat Song
05. Take Your Hands Off Her
06. Tijuana
07. Humdinger
08. Cajun Moon
09. After Midnight
10. Sensitive Kind
11. Crazy Mama
12. Roll On
13. Borrowed Time
14. Shambala
15. Blues Follow Me
16. Cocaine
17. Magnolia
Line Up:
JJ Cale - Guitar/Vocal
Daniel Moore - Rhythm Guitar
Duke Mcvinny - Bass
Christine Lakeland - Rhythm Guitar
James Cruce - Traps (hmmm)
James Karstein - Congas, Shakers
Swedish duo Korallreven aka Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder (of The Radio Dept) have announced their first US shows ever, with select east and west coast dates behind their critically acclaimed debut album, An Album By Korallreven, available now on Acéphale. The forthcoming March performances follow Korallreven's live debut in Europe this past December that featured an ethereal light display and a few sets with Air France. Korallreven's production focuses on melodic evolution rather than following a distinct structure and one can expect this sublime execution with their live shows. A few performances will include special guest appearances by Victoria Bergsman (Taken By Trees, The Concretes), who was featured on the duo's lauded single "As Young As Yesterday," which was named one of Pitchfork's "Best New Tracks" and held a steady Number 1 position on the Hype Machine charts for several weeks.
Korallreven's first single "Honey Mine" was released earlier this year, alongside their summer-released A Dream Within A Dream mixtape that featured an extremely well-received remix of Britney Spears' "Till The World Ends." They followed with "As Young As Yesterday, including remixes by Panda Bear and Girl Unit, and debuted their third single "Sa Sa Samoa" featuring Brooklyn-based vocal experimentalist Julianna Barwick. An Album By Korallreven is "crisp as Autumn in Stockholm" says BlackBook, "punctuated by sudden bursts from electronic synths and drums to kick up the groove."
3/4 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
3/5 - Washington DC - Black Cat
3/6 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
3/7 - San Francisco, CA - Independent*
3/8 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex*
*Guest appearance by Victoria Bergsman
Listen: Sa Sa Samoa.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This builds with lush atmospheric beauty and a growing beat that is topped off by wonderful 'orchestral' vocals.
==============================================
From Paper Garden Records - The success of Indy-based Bonesettershinges on their restrained and straight forward songwriting to create a fine balance of fast-paced alt-rock and acoustic indie folk. They stick to the essentials: guitars and drums with catchy vocal hooks. No superfluous effects or over-saturated reverb…a refreshing change in today’s indie music scene if you ask us!
Their debut album, Savages, came close to never being heard when their previous label Mossback Records folded in early 2011, but with persistence and a successful Kickstarter campaign the band was able to drop the album last month. And thankfully so, for it has been a delight to our ears here at LHC. Grounded in a love for poetry and librarians, frontman Daniel Snodgrass delivers lyrics that are sincere admissions of ordinary life made poignant, sung with a voice that falls somewhere between Nathan Willet (Cold War Kids) and Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes). The instrumentation is clean and tight, with a few strings and horn arrangements to supplement their catchy riffs and melodies. Take a listen to “Maypole“ below and hear it for yourself.
Film IN music covered an acoustic performance of another one of Bonesetters’ standout tracks, “You Are Shaun Gannon”, which was filmed at Village Green Records. Just watch it out below. Currently the band is playing a string of shows throughout Indiana in support of the album with a spring tour in the works.
Listen: Maypole.
Web: Bandcamp HERE.
We Say: No nonsense 'indie' rock, the vocals really stand out and complement the band, very catchy indeed.
==============================================
Minneapolis sextet Lucy Michelle And The Velvet Lapelles are pleased to announce their newest full-length LP, HEAT, tentatively due out in April 2012. HEAT is the band's fourth full-length release and their first since 2010's Good of That. HEAT was recorded at Vacation Island Recording Studios in Brooklyn with acclaimed producer/engineer Matt Boynton (MGMT, Beirut, Bat for Lashes). The new record is comprised of all original material written predominantly by Lucy Michelle in Minnesota during the winter of 2010/2011.
HEAT continues the band's eclectic musical style, creating a wash of organic psych-folk from a blend of interweaving ukeleles, accordion, electric guitar, upright bass, cello, drums and (of course) Lucy Michelle's uniquely recognizable vocals. Many of the songs center around the feeling of being trapped and isolated while yearning to be somewhere else; physically or psychologically. HEAT showcases the artistic growth and sonic evolution of the band's sound which translates into a magnificent record laced with scorching lyricism, hauntingly beautiful melodies and gorgeous harmonies that create an expansive, yet highly focused and cohesive body of work.
Listen: Just A Kid.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Lovely, distinctive vocals supported by a highly talented band, this song made me hit the repeat button straight away, excellent.
==============================================
Undefeated champions of British electronic music, Orbital get back in the ring in 2012 with Wonky, their first new album in eight years. Recently reunited following a long sabbatical, Paul and Phil Hartnoll are back on fighting-fit form and ready to reclaim their title. Both timeless and contemporary, Wonky puts a vividly modern spin on their signature blend of richly melodic, deeply emotive electronica.
Confident, energised and eclectic, Wonky already sounds like the duo’s finest album to date. Gleaming, whooshing, shimmering tracks like Straight Sun and Stringy Acid instantly tap into the warm-blooded rush and restless bounce of classic Orbital. These are future festival- rocking anthems in the making, right up there with vintage live favourites Chime and Belfast.
But there are nods to cutting-edge club culture on Wonky too – including a guest appearance by hotly tipped Birmingham grime MC Lady Leshurr on the album’s irresistibly vibrant electro-rap title track. The Hartnolls even give a radical post-dubstep makeover to their much-loved techno-rock classic Satan, reworking it into a razor- backed beast of shuddering bass called Beelzedub.
Like all Orbital albums, Wonky defies narrow-minded caricatures of electronic music as cold and mechanical. Playful humour and warm humanity are woven into its fabric - from the heart-tugging harmonies and woozy vocal layers of Never and Distractions, to the guest appearance by the highly acclaimed LA-based electronic musician Zola Jesus on the brooding, atmospheric epic New France. These are machine-made symphonies to stir the soul and electrify the senses.
“When I’m writing music, if it doesn’t move you emotionally, it’s not working,” Paul explains. “It has to give me butterflies. I have to make myself cry in the studio.”
Formed in the late 1980s, Orbital released a string of classic 1990s singles including Chime, Style, The Box and Satan. Paul and Phil put their partnership on hold in 2004, but a five-year absence only increased demand for their exhilarating music and legendary live shows. The brothers finally announced their comeback with a triumphant headline set at the Big Chill in 2009. Orbital were revitalised, rebooted, reunited – and it felt so good.
UK Tour April 2012:
05 Manchester Academy
06 Leeds O2 Academy
07 Glasgow O2 Academy
08 Liverpool O2 Academy
09 Cambridge Corn Exchange
10 London Royal Albert Hall
Listen: Never.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: It's Orbital, so we would probably have featured them if they sent us a recording of a hair dryer! Actually instead we received a reminder of just how superb they are... I wonder if anyone has sampled hair dryers?
==============================================
From a rural upbringing in Tamahere, New Zealand up-and-coming singer/songwriter Abby Holden’s brand of catchy self-penned indie pop replete with frank lyricism is fast gaining her a fan-base on the vibrant London music scene.
Singing from the moment she could speak and a talented classically trained pianist from the age of six, Abby had a healthy obsession with vocals, evidenced by her love of the Phantom of the Opera album and Whitney Houston's eponymous second album. Gaining her first taste of recording in the studio at the age of 12 while singing on a charity record, Abby’s passion for a career in music was ignited, and in high school she learned the guitar - swiftly moving onto to write her own music.
In college Abby formed the band “Skyla”, which gained popularity and performed on TV with the song, “Day by Day” and received radio airplay in New Zealand and Sydney, Australia with “Believe in Me”.
Since moving to London in 2005, Abby has continued to hone the craft of song-writing, recording her debut album “Flipside” at London’s Ritz Studios, which was officially released in the U.K. on March 18, 2011. The album features re-mastered and re-recorded tracks from Abby’s ‘Skyla’ days. “Wrong Tonight” and “Believe in Me” recently went through to the finals of the U.K. Songwriting Competition 2011, while the title track “Flipside” and “Undone” made it into the semi-finals.
The fun-loving Antipodean singer is now back in the studio recording her second album, due for release early 2012.
Listen: Fly Away.
Web: Official Here.
We Say: The featured song is from a pretty varied album in terms of style and approach, therefore it only captures one aspect of Abby. She can rock and boy can she sing!
==============================================
Hailing from Southern Brazil, the five-piece band Rosie And Me fronted by Rosanne Machado, draws inspiration from their culture as they blend their sound with American folk music. This is a unique combination that illuminates throughout their music. Machado leads the band on their musical journey as she is a triple threat on lead vocals, acoustic guitars and banjo. Alongside Rosie are Ivan Camargo (acoustic guitars), Thomas Kossar (electric guitars), Guilherme Miranda (bass guitars) and Tiago Barbosa (drums/perc). The group blends insightful lyrics, brilliant melodies and luscious female vocals reminiscent of indie favorites like Feist and Joy Williams from The Civil Wars.
2010 saw Rosie And Me releasing Bird and Whale, which gained critical acclaim from over 80 music blogs worldwide, and a dedicated fan base. Now with a new batch of songs in tow, Rosie And Me are a ready to take the music world by storm once again. The release of Arrow of My Ways was on January 25th on iTunes.
Tour Dates:
March, 9th: Viento y Agua Coffeehouse (Long Beach, CA)
March, 10th: Hotel Cafe (with the Mynabirds), LA
March 13rd - 19th - SXSW (showcase details TBD)
March, 14th Dunn Bros Coffee (Katy, TX)
March 15th : Opening Bell (Dallas, TX)
Listen: Arrow Of My Ways.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: I had to double check this band are from Southern Brazil as their take on American folk music is outstanding. OK this years list of 'ones to watch out for' has to start somewhere, this will do nicely.
==============================================
'Lemondrop' is independent electronic music label Moodgadget's mainstay André Obin's latest single, featuring remixes from Teen Daze and 18 Carat Affair.
The original mix hypnotically pulses and swells beneath Obin's love-drunk, melancholy croons and suggestive whispers. Teen Daze paints an equally heartfelt picture with lighter, more intricate tones, while 18K Affair submerges Lemondrop in steaming dry ice. Perfect listening for walking to or from a lover's house or apartment in the freezing cold.
Listen: Lemondrop.
Web: Bandcamp HERE.
We Say: This is another song that has been played a good few times since we received it. Powerful layered sounds and vocals that just drift over and within the arrangement.
==============================================
Erin Passmore is perhaps best known for her work in the Regina, SK indie-rock band Rah Rah where she plays drums, keys, bass and contributes her crowd-rousing co-lead vocals. Erin’s voice is not brash, booming, or overdone. It’s honest, warm and real and you can’t help but take notice when she takes the mic. Erin is releasing her debut solo album on February 28, 2012 called (the) Downtown EP via Hidden Pony Records.
Erin has spent year’s writing, recording and internationally touring Rah Rah’s two critically revered records, Going Steady (2008) and Breaking Hearts (2010). Rah Rah’s latest record has just wrapped, under the masterful production ears of Gus Van Go, and will be released later this year.
Her only vocal training has come from singing in her school’s concert choirs (for extra credit) and belting out Aretha Franklin songs in the shower. While working so diligently with Rah Rah Erin kept carefully concealed a handful of her own songs. They are personal, poetic, reflective and wry songs that tackle personal relationships and wrestle with the confines of living in a small town.
The collection of demos, beautiful on their own for their sparseness and jolts of Erin’s personality between takes, took her to Montreal in the summer of 2011 and into the studio under the production of Matt Lederman (Patrick Watson, The Besnard Lakes). There the songs began to bloom. Friends Lowell Campbell (Wintersleep), Tim D’eon (Wintersleep), Mara Pellerin (Gramercy Riffs) joined in alongside a chain of local Montreal-based talent in Dagan Harding, Mishka Stein (Patrick Watson), Andy King, Jason Sharp, Pat Sayers (Young Galaxy) and Vid Cousins (Amon Tobin) to take the demos from charming ideas to an inspired, complete album.
Erin played electric and acoustic guitars, synth, piano, glockenspiel, moog and of course, handled all the lead vocals. An array of percussion, drums bass, trumpet, flugelhorn and bass sax anchor Erin’s incredibly rich voice.
Listen: Downtown.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Erin has no problem taking over lead vocals, I agree she really does have a 'rich' voice, what is really good though is the quality of the song and put in cliche manner - 'it rocks'.
==============================================
Cherub is a progressive, avante garde, electro-pop duo that is the dance love-child of 80’s funk, and art house indie. The members of Cherub, Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber, share a love for honest original music and vibrant live performance, with a common goal to share a little bit of sex, a little bit of drugs, and a whole lot of love with people across the globe. Cherub’s music is a fresh electrified take on risqué pop music that brings to mind a blend of influential artists like Prince, Cut Copy, and The Dream. With a live show that is bouncing with energy, Cherub dances their way into the hearts of audiences from the first falsetto hook, until the very last delay filters out.
After receiving a warm response worldwide to the digital release on the band’s first record, Man of the Hour, and touring throughout the US and Mexico, Cherub has returned to the studio to complete work on their second album MoM & DaD, scheduled for release about now. This new batch of Cherub songs brings a fresh, uptempo electro feel to the familiar pop sensibilities showcased on their first record. Jordan Kelley’s studio production, clever songcraft, and silky smooth falsetto are complimented perfectly by Jason Huber’s live production and tube-driven guitar work.
Cherub’s versatility in songwriting and dance music production blurs conventional genre barriers. Ranging from grooving heartfelt ballads to risqué club bangers, Cherub takes the throwback vibes of old drum machines and washed out keyboards, and marries them with timeless writing and a very modern approach to music production and performance. Playful guitar licks and lush synthesizer textures dance around in the mix, as listeners are treated to sing-a-long hook after hook the entire way through the tunes.
Listen: Doses and Mimosas.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: What on earth is a "progressive, avante garde, electro-pop" duo? Well I guess this is. It's pretty catchy stuff and the whole thing is annoyingly good, how dare you try and get me dancing at my age...
==============================================
Nabiha Bensouda, the award-winning, chart-topping Danish-African pop soul-singer, is currently dominating the pop music scene in Scandinavia and is poised and ready to take on the US.
Nabiha, whose family has both Danish and North-West African roots, grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark listening to a wide variety of music ranging from African lullabies to disco, soul, reggae, rock, R&B, and electronica, all of which are present in Nabiha’s style today. “Deep Sleep” her first single includes one of her mother’s favorite African lullabies. “I grew up with a welcoming, loving, strong mother and grandmother who taught me so much about life. I was constantly inspired by the love of people around me. I feel lucky.”
In February 2010, Nabiha released her debut album “Cracks” to critical acclaim. “Deep Sleep,” the first single from the album, premiered on MTVU and was named “Song of the Day” on international tastemaker site Popjustice. After non-stop live television and radio performances in Denmark, Germany, and Poland, “Deep Sleep” could be heard everywhere from television to radio to film. The song peaked at number 5 on the overall Danish airplay charts and the accompanying video has had over 500,000 views on YouTube.In February 2011, after signing to DiscoWax, Nabiha headlined a sold out tour of Denmark before releasing “More Cracks,” the international re-edit of her debut album. The album, produced/co-written by Carl Ryden, Tommy D (Graffiti 6), Michelle Escoffery (Anastacia), and Jeremy Wheatley (Royksopp, Robyn, Leona Lewis), was recorded in both London and Los Angeles. “I really wanted to work a bit more on “Cracks,” as so much happened over the last year in my life.”
Nabiha is currently writing and recording her next album, due out in 2012.
Listen: Deep Sleep.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This is pure soul and pop that crosses generations. Nabiha is new to me and on the strength of this I have some catching up to do.
==============================================
Anna Vogelzang is due to release of her new full-length album Canary In A Coal Mine (Paper Anchor Music) on February 28th. The record, recorded with producer James Frazee (Blondie, Betty Lavette), features the talents of a wide cast of professional players including Franz Nicolay on accordion (former Hold Steady), Brian Viglione on drums (Dresden Dolls), Todd Sickafoose on upright bass (Righteous Babe/Ani DiFranco) and Emily Hope Price on cello (Pearl & the Beard).
A Boston area native, Anna Vogelzang recently transplanted herself to the mid-west, landing in Madison, WI where she's embraced the local music community, even taking a teaching roll as an instructor in the Madison area Girls Rock Camp. The past few years have seen her on the road, self-booking tours with a determined approach that has landed her on the same stage as Mirah, Franz Nicolay, Wye Oak, Amanda Palmer, Kyp Malone (TV On The Radio), Nat Baldwin (Dirty Projectors) and many others.
Listen: One And Only.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This is just so upbeat and pleasing. Why add more?
==============================================
Having earned an immaculate reputation as "the songwriter’s songwriter" as well as "the Faroe Islands’ golden child," critically praised Teitur has returned with 2012’s very much anticipated album, Let The Dog Drive Home.
His story begins in 2002, when Teitur was signed to Universal Records in the U.S. and released his first album, Poetry & Aeroplanes, the following year. This debut was highly acclaimed by both critics and fellow singer-songwriters, including Rufus Wainwright, John Mayer, Aimee Mann and KT Tunstall, all of whom took him on tour. He then broke away from Universal to start his own independent label, Arlo & Betty Recordings, and put out several albums, including Kata Hornid, recorded in his homeland Faroese language, and 2008's The Singer, which received five-star reviews and caused Teitur to be hailed as “a wonderfully idiosyncratic talent” by The Sunday Times.
For his latest release, Teitur opted to give his songs much more of an American influence, which led to a West Coast approach in their sound and production, shaping them into a well-tuned and clear record. Teitur describes the end result as “night radio music,” facilitating a body and soul experience rather than a creation of mind and thought. “Musically, I really wanted to have those classic chords with lots of fifths and fourths over an American drum beat,” Teitur recalls. “That sound and feel always remind me of Los Angeles…[where] I got signed as a songwriter in my earliest twenties.”
Teitur explains,“'Let The Dog Drive Home' is an old song I wrote in America a long time ago. It ties this collection of songs together, as I usually look at my records as one entire song. Most of these songs are about letting to, about being small and the realization that things seldom turn out the way you expect them to…the song is about letting go.”
Tour Dates:
2.17 Nashville, TN @ The Basement
2.18 Atlanta, GA @ The Five Spot
2.19 Athens, GA @ UGA Performing Arts Centre
2.20 Lexington, KY @ Natasha's Bistro
2.22 Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest Cafe
2.23 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
2.24 Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java
2.25 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
2.29 Old Saybrook, CT @ Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
3.1 Albany, NY @ WAMC Performing Arts Studio
3.2 S. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
3.3 Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim
3.4 Wakefield, QC, CAN @ Black Sheep Inn
3.6 Toronto, ON, CAN @ Great Hall on Queen Street
3.7 London, ON, CAN @ London Music Club
3.8 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
3.10 Evanston, IL @ S.P.A.C.E.
Listen: Let The Dog Drive Home.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Beehive Candy takes pride in our international inclusions, so being able to include an artist from the Faroe Islands without this being a token gesture is just wonderful as is this song.
==============================================
Orpheum Bell's "Poor Laetitia" conjures up images of smoky backroom tangos and darkened theaters. Lead vocalist, Aaron Klein's delivery of this character study of an awkward girl with a beautiful name is at once sneering and seductive. The muted trumpet and stomping tango beat settle this song on the eastern side of Orpheum Bell's "Country and Eastern" spectrum. The song can be found on the upcoming The Old Sister's Home (due out May, 8, 2012).
Orpheum Bell is an American band, but in 21st Century America, those words can carry a lot of baggage, both musical and cultural. The five band members bring together the sounds of their disparate homelands towrite songs that know no boundaries; laying down skewed grooves that skitter around the globe, absorbing beats and meters from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. "While our music isn't specifically coming from any one of those places or cultures, says Klein, " the sounds and songs we heard early in our lives get mixed into the songs we're writing now." Imagine a Ukrainian gypsy band playing cowboy tangos at a smoky bar in Havana. The band has been nominated for a 2012 WYCE Jammies awards, and they're planning to tour the US to support The Old Sister's Home and eyeing a European tour for 2013.
Listen: Poor Laetitia
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: So we are doing international and we are doing genre busting today. This is country and eastern, well that's what we are told, whatever! This is sublime and the list of ones to watch out for 2012 has increased by one.
==============================================
Hailee Araya is a 22 year old Ethiopian Swedish singer songwriter born and raised in Lund. She was attracted to music from a very early age and quickly learned the piano, which she played for several years and still uses to composes her songs. Hailee then began guitar lessons and is now taking on the drums and completely dove into music the moment she was in a position to do so.
'Music is a source of inspiration and strength and comfort. It's such a wonderful journey when you hear a track and the....entire song forms in your head and that rush gets very addictive. I don't always write something I personally see fit to voice myself because of maybe the nature of the song, or the beat isn't the vibe I'm in for my particular journey at this moment but that's what makes me very proud. This inspiration I get from listening to a track is not limited to what is my preference for myself as a singer personally which is why I enjoy writing for people in all genres of music as well. Words form when I hear music without them."
Hailee also started a charity group called Project Abel, named after her little brother, where she takes 10 dollars and turns it into a cooked and packaged meal for those in need. Hailee has also wants Project Abel to expand into helping people to get off the streets, and helping to run domestic violence shelters.
Hailee has performed in several festivals since early teens, including the Uppsala Reggae Festival in 2009. Her first official single 'rid you of my love' (written and performed by Hailee Araya, produced by Paul Kastick) was released in December 2011.
Listen: Rid You Of My Love.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Dare we say 'one to watch out for in 2012'? Have we mentioned the international flavour and genre varieties present in this Beehive Candy round up? Well Hailee is stand out and as reggae done well is always welcome here she has ticked every box we have to tick today!
==============================================
Catchy, moody debut by velvet-voiced young daughter of famous roots-rock family
Love may lie, but Kami Thompson doesn’t.
The young singer-songwriter speaks of intimate moments, using her husky, lovely voice, unflinching honesty, and long-honed musical sensibilities to craft a strikingly full-fledged debut effort, Love Lies (Warner Music / Naxos; U.S. release: January 31, 2012 - Available already elsewhere).
Drawing inspiration from her life-long love of roots music and deep ties of love and friendship—her father Richard Thompson and brother Teddy, family friends Sean Lennon and Martha Wainwright—Kami’s songs suggest the freshest strains of Americana (“Little Boy Blue”),for example
“I wasn’t writing any of these songs on purpose,” Thompson muses. “I was writing as I felt.”
Listen: Little Boy Blue.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Kami's voice and delivery is wonderful. The musicians complement this, and all of the name dropping in the above promo is interesting, but not really needed as she stands out on her own.
==============================================
KNTRLR, the psychedelic/electronic rock duo, reminiscent of fellow bands such as Yeasayer, Panda Bear, & F### Buttons have burst out from the black hole of creative collaboration with their first single “Kursk”.
KNTRLR is Charles and Michael—two individuals who came together from opposite worlds. One a former child actor, the other a former fringe Christian on track to attend Seminary School.
Charles grew up in the LA area and had a career high in the early 90’s with appearances on popular game shows like “Wild Animal Games with Ryan Seacrest” and made for TV movies. After becoming disenchanted with the Hollywood lifestyle, he focused all of his creativity on music and learned to play the drums - a choice which yielded strange rewards like opening for 80's new wave one-hit wonders Missing Persons and having psychedelic philosophical discussions with Rick James. Michael on the other hand grew up a strict Christian in Oklahoma and was groomed for Seminary School until a change of heart lead him to abandon that path. He has lived in a number of different places around the country and worked a variety of jobs from taxi driver to vineyard worker in California where he learned to play mariachi songs from his guadalajareño co-workers.
On a chance encounter, Charles and Michael met at the ever-popular Russian Bath House in New York City’s East Village and starting playing music together. After initially performing with other bands, the two decided to work together separately and KNTRLR was born. KNTRLR will partner with The Big Sleep on a 7” split available everywhere April 3rd on Goodnight Records.
Listen: Kursk.
Web: MySpace HERE.
We Say: So rock music can be electronic, case in point this song, another no nonsense piece that has heaps of power and flows as the electronic element kind of suggested it would.
==============================================
Bay Area 6-piece ensemble Planet Booty is set to release their second EP, Success. Accompanying the release is a video for the album's first single, "Dress for Success." The band's obvious sense of humor is trumped by their explosive talent, eccentric style, and downright fun and dirty funk.
Planet Booty's Success takes you on an intergalactic adventure through the orbital debris of musical genres. The four-song EP is the follow-up to their self-titled first album, Planet Booty - an entirely self-recorded, conceptual space-funk opera produced by Nathan Germick (keyboardist, Planet Booty) and mastered by Mike Wells. Success represents the evolution of Planet Booty from concept album to 6-piece live band.
With central themes of sweat and booty-shaking juxtaposed against more lofty notions of unlocking human potential, one may question the seriousness of it all. Planet Booty are masters of this ambiguity and use it to toy with the listener's expectations. Their "Dress for Success" video (directed and edited by Planet Booty members Rob Gwin and Dylan Germick) capitalizes on their humor to drive home the old adage that looking good is feeling good.
Planet Booty creates a hyper-charged dance party experience that has quickly earned them a reputation as one San Francisco's must-see live acts. Their unique combination of high-caliber musicianship, adventurous arrangements, and good ol' fashioned fun will continue to gain momentum with the release of their new EP and video. Success will be available on iTunes March, 2012.
Listen: Better Day.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: P.Funk meets the Bay area. Carnival arrives early with this band and parties hard into the night. You will dance, be warned you will!
==============================================
Sydney's unique soul-pop vocalist Kitty Clementine will release her debut self-titled album via Clumpty Records on March 6th. But, who is Kitty Clementine?
She began in the underworld of Sydney’s artist-run spaces, warehouses and speakeasies. She could be singing a jazz ballad one moment, a baroque aria the next, and screaming indeterminate noise for the encore. She was known for giving performances comprising of song, spoken word poetry, and performance art. She directed bands built out of hybrid instruments, junk percussion, and choirs. Though many knew her for these off-the-wall productions, few realized where she came from.
On her sixth birthday the family left South Africa. By this time she had already declared that when she grew up she was going to be a singer and a writer. The girl wrote her first song at eight, and never stopped. She studied baroque and opera through high school; performance, musicology and composition when she left; and finally was accepted into Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Jazz Degree. “It was there that my mentor taught me something life-changing: In order to truly master your art form, it must be lived, not just studied.” So, supported by her mentor, she left the Conservatorium and took on the musical life.
I had nothing to lose. I took a chance on whim and embarked on my dream.
The journey began with a plane ticket to New Orleans. She had two months in North America with little money, and no plans except to embrace every experience and use it to write enough material for an album. The trip took her from the bawdy bars and tattoo parlors of the French quarter, on a journey that had her hitching through Alabama, North Carolina, up to Seattle, through San Francisco and eventually back to Los Angeles.
Kitty Clementine arrived in LA off the back of a pickup truck, with a book full of new songs, to a serendipitous week in Jeff Bova’s studio. Together they laid down an album in seven days.
I am Kitty Clementine. I make reality magical and I run hot on the heels of revelry. I am sharp, I am fierce, and I have stories you won’t believe. So fluff up your feathers and run the road. Be brave and wild with me.
Listen: Blow That Horn.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Now I will be honest, as this song opened I heard Amy Winehouse and I nearly binned it (Amy fan and all that). Kitty is not Amy, she has some similar aspects within her vocals however as this song developed I soon discovered that she is her own person and capable of defining a song with her own style. And she does that and deserves to be heard!
==============================================
Jesse Thomas is a redheaded firecracker from Kentucky, whose whiskey-soaked soul drips into every song that she sings. She will release her first full-length album, War Dancer, on Valentines Day.
In late 2008, with no money to her name, Jesse headed for Los Angeles. Alone. After a few open mic nights in the Valley and some raw demo recordings, she caught the attention of producer Jim Roach at Red Parade Music Group. Jim found something special in Jesse that countless others would soon come to recognize: A hilarious yet poignant personality shining through that smoky, battle scarred voice.
Jesse wrapped up her debut Hazel EP in the spring of 2010 for release in September. The EP debuted in the Top Ten on iTunes’ singer/songwriter chart and was featured there as both a "New and Noteworthy" and "Indie Spotlight" release. Come February 2011, her song "You I Want" was featured at Starbucks retail stores in the US and Canada as their "Pick of the Week.” "Stay," also off the EP, became a YouTube sensation after being used in Teen Nick's "Degrassi."
Jesse performed at the Hotel Cafe Showcase during SXSW 2011 and has opened for the likes of John Mayer, Cary Brothers, Crash Kings, Owl City, Lights, and Angel Taylor. Through her live performances and home videos, Jesse’s unique brand of gritty charm has gained her many fans and made her debut record highly anticipated.
War Dancer arrives on February 14, 2012. The LP is named after a shop on the corner of "Jesse Street" & Victory Boulevard."
Listen: Fire.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This is a charming song, her vocals have body and edge. One little song that leaves me looking forward to discovering more.
==============================================
Ian Narcisi has always understood one simple truth: If you have a dream, make it happen. Ian’s dream is to change the world through his music. With a spiritual-humanist philosophy and a penchant for complex synth-based melodic progressive rock, Ian believes in the power of the human race to become their dreams. He seeks to build a better world through music, prodding all who will listen to become the selves they have envisioned.
Ian’s first full-length album, Weight Of The Words, featured re-masters of his EPs Off Purpose and Niche In Time in addition to six new songs. This dreamy synth-based progressive rock collection shows off a distinct musicality and vision that expands on traditional rock compositional styles in a Muse-meets-King Crimson ménage. Highlights include “Burning” and “Forever Today”. Ian’s songwriting takes on a bit more edge on his 2009 EP Feel No Evil. With songs such as “Sparkle And Shine” and “Little Bit”, Ian shows a developing sense of musical drama.
Ian’s latest EP, Phone Call To Infinity, is his most defining work to date. The edge noted on Feel No Evil is still here, but Ian has polished the rough edges to a fine musical sheen. The song “Behind The Dawn” shows an expansive sound that’s part Queen, part Muse and part Pink Floyd. Similar musical colors dance through “Five Below Nothing” and “Absent Today”. At some point in the recording of this EP, Ian has transcended mere creation into art; at the same time elevating his messages about becoming the best possible you to pure poetry.
Listen: Come Of Age.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Being ever so up to date and modern we do not do prog rock here on Beehive Candy ever! OK so we have featured the odd classic concert from the likes of Pink Floyd, Marillion and others, but seriously we do not do Prog! So please call this new and modern (because put simply it is) and really good as well, call it what you will this is a fine track from a very talented man.
==============================================
Melbourne, Australia based artist, Teeth & Tongue, is finally making her U.S. debut just in time for SXSW. Her new single, “Unfamiliar Skirts,” from her second release, Tambourine, exhibits a sultry combination of hypnotic vocals and gentle rhythms, unique to the style of Jess Cornelius-- creator and front woman of Teeth & Tongue.
The conception of “Unfamiliar Skirts” illustrates the fluidity behind the melody. The song was written and arranged in just one evening while making use of an in-home studio, and those first simple demo recordings resulted in Teeth & Tongue’s mesmerizing first single, now nominated for EG Award’s “Song of the Year.”
Starting out playing in full rock bands, musician Jess Cornelius decided to go solo and stock up on some old drum machines, a keyboard and an electric guitar to form Teeth & Tongue. With all the instrumental essentials, the kaleidoscope sounds of mixed genres came nothing but organically to her.
With an unmatchable sound and stage presence, Teeth & Tongue has toured with bands such as The Mountain Goats, The Dodos, Sons and Daughters, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., Lydia Lunch and Dawn Landes, as well as performed at high profile music festivals, the Falls and Laneway. Cornelius takes to the stage solo with the accompaniment of a drum machine, electric guitar and layered vocal samples to create a live set that must be experienced.
Teeth & Tongue will be headed to SXSW this March as well as playing a handful of U.S. shows. With Rolling Stone and MTV Iggy already fans, be sure to take a listen to what everyone is talking about. It’s time to get familiar with Teeth & Tongue.
Listen: Unfamiliar Skirts.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: We have had so many good songs and artists in this round up of new music. Teeth and Tongue is a great way of summing up the fact that female vocalists, along with excellent songs and musicians are out there in abundance. A great piece of music and dare I say it... OK so we will keep an eye and ear out for them this year.
==============================================
Moscow based indie rock band, Man Bites Dog have just released their newest single, “Whispers in My Mind,” the group’s first track to hit U.S. soil. The infectious piece is filled with catchy melodies, and blazing guitars as singer Cyrill Mukhin, takes you on a musical journey. The entirety of the song has a way of capturing noise and chaos while transforming it into a meaningful story. The main keyboard line in "Whispers in My Mind" is actually Angelo Badalamenti's intro to the infamous television show, Twin Peaks. You will find you are intrigued right off the bat.
Known for their vibrant and full- force performances, Man Bites Dog have developed into an established band of four seasoned artists. Man Bites Dog is Cyrill Mukhin (Guitars, Vocals), Anna Kostyukova (Keys), Aloha Obozny (Bass) and Oleg Zanin (Drums). With a sound influenced by 80s and 90s American underground rock, Man Bites Dog has dominated the scene in their homeland of Russia and are on their way to take over the States.
Forming in 2004, the group have independently released their own music and have made their rounds on the major music festival circuit. The Fall of 2011 saw Man Bites Dog releasing the Safe and Sound EP, alongside the single “Whispers In My Mind.”
Listen: Whispers In My Mind.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Moscow based they may be, Franz Ferdinand meets Moscow this might be, who cares this is spot on and when the Dog bites Back these folk will have another song to sing.
==============================================
This is Hot Tuna live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, USA, on the 4th March 1988. Hot Tuna are an American blues-rock band formed originally by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. They are renowned for playing acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.
There is a strong likelihood that this concert that bought Paul Kantner and Grace Slick back on the stage together helped the Jefferson Airplane reunion tour and record in 1989 to come about.
Regarding this period in both bands history wikipedia states - Hot Tuna was reformed again as an acoustic band in 1986 performing classic material, with Joey Balin joining on rhythm guitar until 1987. Kantner joined the band in 1987 and 1988 adding some old Airplane songs to the set list. Grace Slick showed up on stage as well for one show at The Fillmore in March, 1988. The band continued into 1989 and Jorma and Jack joined the 1989 Jefferson Airplane reunion album and tour, performing acoustic Hot Tuna sets in the middle of each show.
This is the second set that evening from the band and the acoustic musicianship is superb (as commented on by Grace Slick). The late (and incredible) Papa John Creach is also a joy to listen to on violin during the latter parts of the gig. This Concert also lives on Wolfgangs Vault (HERE) however this copy comes from the much earlier circulated boot of the concert.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.
Genre: Rock, blues.
Set: Full (Late Show).
Set List:
1. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
2. Candy Man
3. I See The Light
4. Martha
5. Embryonic Journey
6. Ice Age
7. Carlos Fonseca
8. San Francisco Bay Blues
9. Genesis
10. Parchman Farm
11. Good Shepherd
12. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
13. John’s Other
14. Vampire Women
15. Have You Seen The Stars Tonight
16. Mann’s Fate
17. Put It In My Hands
18. I’m Movin’
19. Killing Time In The Crystal City
20. Water Song 21. (Crowd noise - talk)
22. America
23. Volunteers
Line Up:
Jorma Kaukonen - guitar, vocals
Jack Casady - bass
Paul Kantner - guitar, vocals Guests:
Papa John Creach - violin
Will Scarlett - harmonica
Grace Slick - vocals
This is The Crusaders, live in concert at the Hec Edmundson Pavillion, Seattle, WA, USA, sometime in the springtime of 1973.
I have read elsewhere that this is one of the finest unofficial and unreleased live recordings of the band, whether that is true or not, this is simply put, astounding music and musicianship! Their crossover from Jazz to include a mixture of funk and soulful sounds made their music accessible to a huge audience as this gig demonstrates.
Some further background leading to this part of the bands long history from wikipedia - In 1960, following the demise of a few short-lived Houston-based groups called The Swingsters and the Nite Hawks, pianist Joe Sample, drummer Stix Hooper, saxophonist Wilton Felder and trombonist Wayne Henderson relocated to Los Angeles, CA. After changing their name to "The Jazz Crusaders," the group signed with Pacific Jazz Records, where they would remain throughout the 1960s. Employing a two-manned front-line horn section (trombone and tenor saxophone), the group's sound was rooted in hard bop, with an emphasis on R&B and soul.
The group shortened their name to "The Crusaders" in 1971, and adopted a jazz-funk style. They also incorporated the electric bass and electric guitar into their music. Bass guitarist Robert "Pops" Popwell and guitarist Larry Carlton joined the band, and featured on the group's albums throughout most of the 1970s. With this new style came increased crossover appeal, and the group's recordings started to appear on the Billboard pop charts. The height of the group's commercial success came with 1979's Street Life, which peaked at number 18 on the pop album charts and the title track from the album made the Top 10 on the R&B chart and number 36 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.
Genre: Jazz, jazz fusion, soul, pop.
Set: One hour (unlikely to be full gig, definite edit between tracks 6 and 7) .
Set List:
1. Introduction (0:27)
2. Put It Where You Want It (6:07)
3. Watts Happening (6:32)
4. Message from the Inner City (10:54)
5. Treat Me Like You Treat Yourself (6:31)
6. Eleanor Rigby (7:53)
7. Young Rabbits (3:14)
8. Don't Let It Get You Down (4:20)
9. So Far Away (14:56)
Line Up:
Joe Sample - keyboards
Wilton Felder - tenor sax
Wayne Henderson - trombone
Larry Carlton - guitar
Robert 'Pops' Popwell - bass guitar
Stix Hooper - drums
