For lovers of instrumental music this is a stunning concert from Mogwai recorded live at The Gothic Theatre, Denver, Colorado, USA, back on the 3rd May 2006.
Audio quality is superb and would pass comfortably as an official release. Five of the tracks are from the album 'Mr Beast' which was released just two months earlier on March 6th, 2006.
For those of you new or unfamiliar with Mogwai, they are a Scottish post-rock band, who formed in 1995 in Glasgow. Wikipedia rather clinically states 'the band typically composes lengthy guitar-based instrumental pieces that feature dynamic contrast, melodic bass guitar lines, and heavy use of distortion and effects'.
They do occasionally sing and track eight 'Cody' is a beautiful example of this dimension, however these guys are so good, that they just draw you into their layers and textures in every piece.
Their style has been influenced by bands including MC5, My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, and post-rock pioneers Slint. During 2004, the band supported tours by two major influences, Pixies and The Cure. Mogwai's style has easily identifiable connections to genres like shoegazing, art rock and occasionally instrumental metal. Barry Burns once stated in an interview with Chillville that he and the rest of the band don't like the categorization of post-rock because he believes it over analyses everything.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@variable 200kbps plus.
Genre: Post Rock, and just brilliant!
Set: Full set
Set List:
01. Intro
02. Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home
03. Hunted By A Freak
04. Friend of the Night
05. Helicon 2
06. Acid Food
07. I Know You Are But What Am I?
08. Cody
09. We're No Here
10. Stanley Kubrick
11. Travel Is Dangerous
12. You Don't Know Jesus
13. Helicon 1
14. Glasgow Mega Snake
15. My Father, My King
Mogwai are - Stuart Braithwaite (electric guitar, vocals), John Cummings (electric guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (electric guitar, piano, synthesiser, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar), and Martin Bulloch (drum kit).
The final selection for September and a shed load of great music to cover, so plenty of copying from PR material to give some background on the artists, as is always the case take it as read that we like and recommend checking out these people.
The Phantom Band was pulled together from all four corners of Scotland, settling on Glasgow as PB HQ. Duncan Marquiss (guitar), Gerry Hart (bass), Andy Wake (keyboards), Rick Anthony (vocals) and Greg Sinclair (guitars) are a volatile cabal of creative contradictions: a disorientating amalgam of music, art and performance that defies categorisation and provides an object lesson in how to forge something distinct and unique from well-worn sources. Checkmate Savage won plaudits from the mainstream music press and the indie blogs alike, finding famous fans in Peter Buck and comic artist Frank Quitely, while the influential music emporium Piccadilly Records named it their album of the year.
Their new album may be The Wants, but what do The Phantom Band want for? “Survival. For this album to lead to another after it, that's all. We think it's better than the last one, and if anyone agrees with us then brilliant, they can hop aboard. Those who disagree can hop aboard too, but they're sailing at the stern.”
This is a superb band and the featured track is just one dimension of them. On October 19th Chemikal Underground release The Phantom Band's album “The Wants”.
Featured Track:Walls. Website:Official.
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Way Slow is a new series curated by Lefse Records. While maintaining the basic structures of a formal record label, they are embracing creativity in everything from artist sound to packaging. Each release will be a unique creation from start to finish.
Many of the artists are going to be releasing material that is well outside of their normal sound, some will be collaborations, some will be from parts of the world where most of us will never see. Alongside digital downloads, they will be offering limited edition cd’s, cassettes, and even vinyl in some cases.
All physical products will be hand wrapped/sewn/carved individually for every release and presented as a heartwarming package of beautiful sound.
Volume One comes from Banjo or Freakout on October 12th and will continue indefinitely. Other artists already on board are: Ganglians, Sonny Smith, Houses/Teen Daze, Phaseone, The Traditionist, Aloha Tigers, Sunnybrook, Algodon Egipcio, Brothertiger, Tape Deck Mountain, Solter, and Black Glass.
Featured Track:Over There. Website:Lefse Records, Pre Order.
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LA-based songwriter Lelia Broussard, originally from the bayous of South Louisiana, is set to unleash her third full-length release, ‘MASQUERADE’ (November 2nd, Self-Release). With masterful production by Dan Romer (Ingrid Michaelson, Jenny Owen Youngs), the album boasts an intriguing collection of driving folk/pop gems, bringing to mind a cross between Jenny Lewis and Jonatha Brooke. Already, considerable buzz is building around ‘Masquerade’ with the early spread of “Satellite” and “Shoot For The Moon” among the songwriter’s fiercely loyal fan base. Most recently, The Deli Magazine nominated Lelia for their Los Angeles “Artist of the Month” poll, and “Satellite” was prominently featured on powerhouse NPR AAA station WXPN's blog.
Over the course of her career, Lelia has collaborated with A-List producers including Rob Fusari (Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston Destiny's Child), Dave Trumfio (Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Built to Spill) and Marshall Altman (Kate Voegle, Marc Broussard). Her songs have been featured on hit television shows such as CBS' Joan of Arcadia NBC’s Men In Trees, and MTV's The Hills as well as a few small independent films. In 2008, Lelia signed a publishing deal with Rondor Universal Music Group. Lelia’s strong grass roots fan base recently raised over $15,000 to help fund her new record and pushed her to be one of the most successful music projects on the popular indie fundraising site, Kickstarter.
This is a great pop song and more than enough reason to check out more of her music.
Featured Track: Satellite. Website: Official.
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Birthday Boys are Graeme Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Jordan Mack (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Boyd (vocals, bass), and Matt Paige (drums). Based in Peterborough, Ontario, the band formed in 2008. They have since built a strong following with their debut album, 'Bad Blood' (recorded at Steve Albini's studio in Chicago with engineer Greg Norman - Built To Spill, Guided By Voices - and mixed by Jason Martin - Cold War Kids, The Drums) and their powerful live show.
Since the release of ‘Bad Blood’ Birthday Boys have been playing a steady circuit of shows in New York City, Montreal, Toronto, and several other Southern Ontario cities.
They have a new EP is called, "Tin Head" and consists of six songs that were recorded in an abandoned log cabin on Emerald Isle Ontario. The EP will be available on itunes, tunecore, and many other online distribution sites on October 1st.
Birthday Boys are about to head out on a Coast to coast Canadian tour, and are planning a very ambitious project while on the road. They will be writing a new song everyday of the tour, and filming a performance of the new song every night. Those who follow Birthday Boys on twitter (twitter.com/birthdayboys) will be sent a message revealing the time and location of the filming, and are welcome to come out and participate in the performance of the song. The videos will then be posted daily at www.birthdayboysmusic.com/30songs.
Featured Track:Tin Head. Website:Official.
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Simon Fagan is not our typical Irish singer songwriter. Blending elements of gospel and folk with acoustic rock, Simon and band produce a big Americana sound. He's opened for both Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson and has sold out shows in Ireland, The UK and Egypt.
2009 saw Simon tour heavily throughout Ireland and the UK, performing on no fewer then nine primetime BBC radio shows in the UK, Newstalk’s Weekend Blend and Today with Pat Kenny on RTE radio in Ireland. Fagan even ventured as far as Egypt, where he and his band not only performed sold out shows in Cairo, Sharm El Sheik and Dahab, but also invited to appear on national TV and Radio. He has previously opened for Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and more recently at Laura Izibor’s sold out Tripod show in Dublin.
With a new album released in May of this year Simon has been receiving accolades both in Ireland and the US. ‘Outside Looking In’ was named Album Of The Week by RTE, while individual songs have also been gaining attention. ‘Never Really Cried’ picked up Best Performance at this years International Songwriting Competition, chosen from 15,000 entries; ‘Damn Honey’ was named Song of the Month with Songwriter Universe in April and ‘Water’s Edge’ has just been selected for Paste Magazine’s August CD Sampler.
We here at Beehive Candy feel embarrassed that we have only recently come across Simon and hope to make amends by featuring one of his great songs here.
Featured Track: Tired Of Tryin. Website:Official.
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New York's Backwords recently released their new psych-folk album 'Quilt' on September 7th and in support of it, are touring around the USA.
A couple of quotes to help put us all in the picture,
"Just as the album title would suggest, the music is extremely warm and puts you right at home next to your favorite quilt your grandmother made you as a child." -- The Noise Is...
"...with vocals that sound like they were ripped from a Beach Boys track laying on top of instrumentals that have that charming, lo-fi quality that sounds like it was recorded in a friend’s basement." -- NY Press.
Tour dates include:
10/02/10, Saturday @ Mocha Madness, Pocatello, ID
10/04/10, Monday @ House Show (342 Monroe Street), Eugene, OR
10/06/10, Wednesday @ The Maltese, Chico, CA
10/07/10, Thursday @ The Stork Club, Oakland, CA
10/11/10, Monday @ Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
10/13/10, Wednesday @ Laughing Goat, Boulder, CO
11/14/10, Sunday @ Circle Bar, New Orleans, LA
11/19/10, Friday @ Homegrown Cafe, Newark, DE
11/06/10, Saturday @ Gillie's, Blacksburg, VA
11/07/10, Sunday @ Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NE
11/08/10, Monday @ Acoustic Coffee House, Johnson City, TN
11/09/10, Tuesday @ The Basement, Nashville, TN
Featured Track:And Then Sigh. Website:Official.
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I like this intro to Pancake Breakfast and boy do I like the song (always helps if you want to be featured around here).
Times are hard. Folks want to see and hear something that makes them feel better, or at least different. Pancake Breakfast is attempting to do just that. The nine, hardworking Northwesterners hailing from Portland, OR, have played memorable sets at festivals like Portland's Pick-a-thon and the Sisters Folk Festival to local house shows, bar gigs and campfire hootenannies with one goal: to send people home from their shows with a song in their head and a good story to tell the next morning. Doing just that, the nine-piece has begun to make a name for themselves with their eclectic blend of down-home folk, working-man singalong rock and south-of-the-border ballads.
Having locked themselves away for the past few months in a studio cabin near Mt. Adams with Producer Mike Coykendyll (M. Ward, She & Him, Blitzen Trapper, Bright Eyes), Pancake Breakfast has emerged with a impressive debut that maintains the vibrancy of their live shows while showcasing the intricate dynamism they share as a talented nine-piece. That's not it, though. The band wanted to take it a step further. So they have enlisted 12 different directors to make an originally produced video to accompany each track which will be released near the release date of the record. The record will be released nationally (USA) on October 19th, 2010.
Featured Track: Little Bird. Website:Official.
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Without wanting to take anything away from the other artists featured in this edition of 2010FM, this is without doubt my favorite song presented this time around.
Honeymoon is a new collaboration between singer/songwriters Lauren Shera, Andrea Blunt, Christina Bailey, and Sara Bollwinkel. These four young women, with accompaniment from Matt Bailey on drums and Matt Bollwinkel on bass, have come together to combine their exquisite talents and eclectic influences, creating a sound all their own.
Combining elements of traditional folk and americana with an indie rock and pop sensibility, honeymoon utilizes their various talents comprising four part harmonies, acoustic guitars, violins, accordion, piano, banjo, and ukulele.
More info from their website tells us - Each of the four front women have had great accomplishments and successes between their solo careers and various incarnations of the group in other projects; Lauren Shera tours nationally and has appeared with artists such as Nanci Griffith, Ray LaMontagne, and Billy Bragg. Andrea Blunt has built a name for herself both as a solo act and with several bands including indie hip-hop artist MC Lars, with whom she has appeared at venues such as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Shoreline Amphitheater in San Jose. Christina Bailey and Sara Bollwinkel began their careers as solo artists, writing songs and singing in successful a capella groups and choirs, and later combined forces when they founded the indie-rock group Big American Family, which went on to open for AA Bondy, Truth & Salvage Co., and Carney
It is a rarity and a privilege to see artists of this depth coming together to create something so fresh and unencumbered, without ego or pretense but for the sheer love of creating, playing, and performing music together. The band’s stunning privilege to see artists of this depth coming together to create something so fresh and unencumbered, without ego or pretense but for the sheer love of creating, playing, and performing music together. The band’s stunning repertoire includes original songs from each leading lady, a few familiar cover tunes, and intricate band originals. With voices that command your attention and instrumentals that will give you chills, combined with their undeniable chemistry on stage, honeymoon creates a one-of-a-kind listening experience that is not to be missed.
Beehive Candy genuinely feels privileged to introduce this band to anyone yet to hear them, and to those already in the know - Why are you not shouting about them from your roof tops? Wonderful music.
Featured Track: Processional. Website:Official.
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OK lets crank it up a little for them there visitors who like their music a little more on the rocking side (I will never make it as a DJ).
Quoting - It's not quite appropriate to pigeonhole Abby Gogo as a shoegaze band and the garage rock shoe doesn't quite fit either. Rather, twin brothers Bon and Jon Alinson and company traverse an expansive middle ground where '60s pop sensibilities are tempered by elusive feelings of melancholy and elation. Previously releasing a split single with Carnivores in summer of 2009 on Double Phantom, Abby Gogo are now set to release their first full length on November 30, 2010.
The grinding intonations of every guitar tone and distant voice are captured with clarity, illustrating jagged sonic textures that serve the long bouts of repetition in "Louder Than Dreams" and "Come On," rather than dirtying them up. Each song streamlines the group's sound without compromising how much a crest of feedback and distortion can underscore the strung-out sense of beauty evoked. "Glass" is an instant heartbreaker, with layers of slurred melody and ill-defined nostalgia that defies the murky nature of such influences as Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. There's good variety as well, which is hard to pull off when you're lost in the grooves of such deep cuts.
Featured Track:Louder Than Dreams. Website:MySpace.
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Another band new to Beehive Candy and reminding us of the Cocteau Twins in a very positive way, that said they are definative in their own right City Of Satellites have a considerable amount to offer.
The sublime opening track from their debut album Machine Is My Animal, ‘BMX’ unfolds in a magisterial swirl of synths and hovering atmospherics, driven by Thomas Diakomichalis’ propulsive, detailed drumming and Jarrod Manuel’s pure vocal tones. Part misty paean to lost youth, part anthem for a better future, ‘BMX’ is premium 21st-century pop. Others have already discovered and enjoyed this band, a few quotes therefore seem appropriate - - -
“One of the most unabashedly shoegaze-y albums in recent memory… City Of Satellites’ Jarrod Manual and Thomas Diakomichalis have tuned their ears to the expansive dream-pop of the classic 4AD roster and the likeminded M83, relishing the elastic reach of spidery rhythms and unmoored melodies… There’s an almost austere sheen to Machine Is My Animal, such that we’re never bombarded but gently seduced and swayed. It’s a beautiful feeling.” – Cyclic Defrost
“What elevates City Of Satellites’ dream pop above others’ takes on the style is the urgency driving the nine songs on Machine Is My Animal … shoegaze is an obvious wellspring for the group, but one also hears traces of both ’80s synth-pop (OMD, for example) and New Wave in City Of Satellites’ pristine, analogue sound.” – Textura
“City of Satellites have crafted an album filled with dense space and fueled by vintage synthesizers and melodically rich vocals…. the production values on the record rival that of heavyweights M83 and Aphex Twin.” – Drum Media
"Australia’s new finest dream-pop duo ascend to orbit." – Rave Magazine
Featured Track: BMX. Website: Official.
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Singer-Songwriter Savio Rego was born in Bombay, India and raised in San Jose, California. Having left behind a successful career in Banking, this Californian singer-songwriter has gone back to his first love – music. Savio started playing guitar at the age of 13. As a self-taught guitarist, his playing evolved over the years. The first song he learned was "Patience" by Guns N' Roses.
Savio's style contains a breadth of influences – from R & B, blues, soul, pop, jazz to rock, electronica and house music. His songs are seductive, there’s no question about it.....featuring lyrics revealing open lust and melodies leading straight into hooky choruses. He can breeze through songs with his soothing style leaving listeners yearning for more.
Savio Rego's self-penned, self-produced record "All I Want sold over 2,000 copies here on myspace in 3 months since its release, on the back of little more than word of mouth. It's the kind of pop record that music lovers wish there were more of. It is a singer-songwriter’s record, but contains all the best elements of blues, jazz, soul, chill and folk. Yet his poignant lyrics and catchy melodies will also satisfy the discerning end of the pop market.
His debut "All I Want" is the perfect example of a record made by someone who does not see music defined by rigid genres. Savio Rego's music has been in rotation at several NPR, Satellite Radio and Internet Radio stations. So take a listen, "All I Want" is all you’ll need to make your personal CD collection a lot more exciting.
A superb way to finish up this 2010FM round up we hope Savio Rego reaches a wider audience and continues to produce music of this quality.
Featured Track:Senorita All I Want. Website: Official.
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This is Flo & Eddie live in concert at The Roxy Theatre, Hollywood, California, USA back on the 26th September 1976.
Flo & Eddie are Howard Kaylan, "Eddie", and Mark Volman, "Flo" aka "Phlorescent Leech".
The two were the original founding members of the wonderful sixties band The Turtles. After the Turtles dissolved, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman first joined the Mothers of Invention as "Phlorescent Leech & Eddie". Due to contractual restrictions made early in their career, Mark and Howard were prevented from using the name "The Turtles", as well as their own names in a musical context. The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie were actual nicknames of two of the Mothers of Invention road crew.
When bandleader Frank Zappa was injured during a concert in London in 1971, Kaylan and Volman found themselves at an impasse, as the Mothers of Invention were out of action for a time. They responded to these events by recording The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie on Reprise Records with most of the other members of the Mothers of Invention. Although the album failed to chart, they continued releasing albums including the more successful Flo & Eddie, Illegal, Immoral and Fattening, Moving Targets, and Rock Steady with Flo & Eddie.
During the 1970s, Kaylan and Volman continued to do session work, lending their trademark harmonies to T.Rex, John Lennon, Roger McGuinn, Hoyt Axton, Ray Manzarek, Stephen Stills, Keith Moon, David Cassidy, Alice Cooper, Tonio K, Blondie, Bruce Springsteen, The Knack, The Psychedelic Furs, Sammy Hagar, Livingston Taylor, Burton Cummings, Paul Kantner, Duran Duran, the Ramones and others. This is a superb concert from them back in the 1970's and demonstrates just how good they were (and remain) live.
Source: FM Broadcast.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.
Genre: Comedy, rock, unique.
Set: Full set
Set List:
Part One:
01 Intro
02 Cheap
03 "Kiss" routine > talking about Dylans babuschka
04 It Ain't Me Babe
05 Best Possible Me
06 talks about Flo & Eddie with Springsteen routine
07 Nikki Hoi w/ Rockstar routine
08 Mama, Open Up
09 The Lights Go Down
10 Illegal, Immoral And Fattening
11 Now You Love Me Too
12 Elenore
13 Intermission - talking with the audience - band intro
14 The Tibetan Memory Trick
Part Two:
01 "Paul is dead" routine > There's No Business Like Show Business
02 Show Me The Way
03 Hot
04 Sway When You Walk
05 It´s Kama Sutra Time >
06 Rock And Roll Endorsement Spoofs >
07 Eddie, Are You Kidding? >
08 Keep It Warm
09 Moving Targets
10 Happy Together
11 She Would Rather Be With Me
Flo & Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan) - vocals, Phil Reed - guitar, Eric Scott - bass, Greig Krampf - percussion, Andy Cahan - keyboards, Ian Underwood - sax, Bruce Fowler - trombone, Walt Fowler - trumpet
This is Editors live at the Club Maria, Berlin, Germany on the 25th September 2009.
This was just before their third album 'In This Light and on This Evening' was released (12th October 2009) and includes eight songs from that album release.
Editors have so far achieved two platinum studio albums, selling over two million copies between them worldwide. Their debut album The Back Room was released in 2005. It contained hits such as "Munich" and "Blood" and the following year received a Mercury Prize nomination. Their follow-up album An End Has a Start went to number 1 in the UK Album Chart in June 2007 and earned the band a Brit Awards nomination for best British Band. It also spawned another Top 10 hit single with the release of "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors".
After their continued success in the charts, sold out tours and numerous headlining festival slots, Editors received critical acclaim. Their brand of dark indie rock is habitually compared to the sound of bands such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Interpol and U2.
Source: FM Broadcast.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@150kbps.
Genre: Indie Rock, Alt Rock.
Set: Full set
Set List:
01 – In This Light And On The Evening
02 – An End Has A Start
03 – Bullets
04 – Eat Raw Meat
05 – You Don’t Know Love
06 – Bones
07 – The Racing Rats
08 – Like Treasure
09 – The Big Exit
10 – Lights
11 – You Are Fading
12 – Fingers In The Factories
13 – Papillon
14 – Walk The Fleet Road
15 – Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
16 – Munich
17 – Bricks And Mortar
The band consists of Tom Smith (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), Chris Urbanowicz (lead guitar, synthesizer), Russell Leetch (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Ed Lay (drums, percussion).
The second September edition is all over the place in a positive sort of way. Loads of different styles and moods from both new and established artists and we start with someone with real style and class.
Grammy nominated Sylvia Bennett, (and we quote) the timeless smooth jazz and pop vocalist sings of love with a warmth, clarity and spirit that is enveloping and tender, showcasing the depth of her skill, talent and experience. She's sung with Lionel Hampton and she's sung for presidents - all with a singular style and intimacy that is hers and hers alone.
Quoting some more however it's all pretty much 'on the nail' - 'Sylvia Bennett's big break came in the 1980's, when legendary vibraphonist (and National Arts Award Winner) Lionel Hampton took Sylvia under his wing and made her the first female singer to record with him in thirty years. She recounts, “Lionel validated me as a performer and inspired me to be the best singer I can be. He made me realize that the audience was the most important thing and that all I needed to do was to sing from the heart and be honest.” Sylvia worked with Hampton for ten years, touring and recording two albums together. The first, Sentimental Journey, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1987. The second project, There Will Never Be Another You, was a CD/DVD tribute to “Hamp” from Sylvia, and she furthered the honor to her mentor with the show, “The Lady and the Legend,” premiering in Miami in 2007. In the wake of Sylvia's tribute to Hampton, Hal Batt suggested that she record timeless love songs and standards, backed by a small band to convey the desired intimacy for her next album. Songs From The Heart featuring the Three Tenors (tenor saxophone legends Boots Randolph, Ed Calle and Kirk Whalum) was released in 2007'.
More recently 'Smile' was released in April 2010 and our featured track is from this superb album.
Featured Track:Make Someone Happy. Website: Official.
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We featured them back in May, however you cannot fault Mutts for being tenacious and when they sent us a copy of their third EP 'The Tells of Parallels' which is out October 1st 2010, we thought this had better be good if you want another audacious Beehive Candy plug.
Well for starters I think it goes without saying that there is a definite contrast with the previous artist whether you measure it in decibels or any other kind of standard.
Mutts brand new EP is to use their terms "rambunctious keyboard rock music". Well we here at the Beehive needed a few cobwebs blown away and Mutts have delivered on that one. Taking a prompt from the EP cover, it's a bit like standing next to the railway line as a crazy express train hurtles past.
If you like good old rock'n'roll with some attitude and energy and a hint of insanity you will like Mutts. Check out their website for even more music.
Featured Track: Terranaut. Website:Official.
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We are quoting again (well we would only rearrange the details so why not?) - "NU SHOOZ was nominated for a “Best New Artist” Grammy award in 1987 and earned a Gold Record for the album “Poolside.” Their breakthrough hit, “I Can’t Wait” continues to be played on radio stations around the globe every 11 minutes. The band has been featured on MTV, VH1, and classic music programs like American Bandstand, Solid Gold, and the UK’s Top of the Pops. They’ve toured with some of the biggest names in show business, including Tina Turner, Billy Ocean, and the Pointer Sisters".
More than two decades after their 1986 Top Ten Hit single, “I Can’t Wait,” took the world by storm, NU SHOOZ have returned with a new album, “Pandora’s Box”, and a 10 piece orchestra Gil Evans would have loved. Formed in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 1979, their line-up has changed over time, but in all its various forms, they’ve always pushed the boundaries between pop, funk, and jazz. Now, with the release of Pandora’s Box, Portland’s favorite soul explorers take one giant leap for mankind with a brave new sound, combining their signature brand of funk with elements borrowed from Film Noir, ‘60s Spy Movies and even Tarzan.
And not quoting, this is one class act that we are delighted to give a taste of here on Beehive Candy.
Featured Track:Right Before My Eyes. Website:Official.
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Unashamedly ripping this info to get the detail spot on - International star and platinum recording artist, songwriter and producer Gregory Abbott's roots stem from Venezuela (his mother) and the Island of Antigua (his father). Raised in New York City, he is a dual citizen of the USA and Antigua.
In college he majored in psychology and minored in music and dramatic arts. He holds a Masters degree and is currently working towards his Ph.D and was awarded a Wallace Stegner Fellowship to Stanford University's Creative writing Masters program. While pursuing graduate studies at Berkeley, and Stanford University, he helped pay his tuition by starting a band. It was here he developed his own personal musical style. While teaching English at the University of California at Berkeley, he decided to become a professional musician built a studio, and applied his academic discipline to developing skills as a singer composer and producer.
He released the single and album "Shake You Down" shaking up the music industry with countless honors and awards. His music has crossed every barrier imaginable. In his music you hear the Caribbean/Spanish influence topped off with Abbott's incredibly smooth and soulful voice. Abbott is noted for coining the term "groove ballad" his signature style. When referring to him music writers have affectionately used the term " Wall Street Soul". He is a favorite with the ladies for his good looks, sophisticated demeanor and intelligent green eyes, but there is a sense of something more beneath the surface. Abbott’s' songs have gone to #1 on every chart here in the US and around the world.
He hails from a family of entertainers. His first cousin Diahnne Abbott (for many years married to actor Robert De Niro), is herself an actor of merit. Gregory has guest starred on the daytime drama "All My Children" and is now delving more heavily into acting and writing for film and television.
He's served on the Board of Directors of both NARAS (the Grammy’s), and the NAPM (Songwriters Hall of Fame). Some of is community service work includes Rock Against Drugs, when they brought their message to Washington, DC, and the "Bands to Beat AIDS" campaign whose focus is AIDS awareness across the nation.
This is wonderful music that oozes class from Gregory Abbott and as we like to say here on Beehive Candy - enjoy...
Featured Track: Middle Of Harlem. Website:Official.
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Ireland-based duo Low Sea combine warped seasick-shoegaze, nostalgic pop melody and fuzzed-out dreampop, all cemented on a solid krautrock platform.
With sounds that reference everything from Suicide to Spacemen 3, A.R.Kane to Mazzy Star, Giorgio Moroder to The Big Pink, Low Sea’s songs are a hazy journey between looming shadows and bleached-out light.
Who are we to argue with Pitchfork who said - “… Low Sea cut the dark, pressurized atmosphere with an update on steady-state krautrock motorik, bringing to mind some of the experiments on the Horrors’ Primary Colours (not to mention the “Sea Within a Sea”/”Low Sea” connection.) The track “Never Yours” from their self-released debut ‘Las Olas’ builds unhurriedly with swirling synthesizers and distant vocals and …growing more forceful when the repeated line “I was never yours” cuts through the haze.” Pitchfork
We are gonna share one track from their EP released on the 13th September, which would currently be on heavy rotation if we were a radio station to ensure you stay tuned and 'dont touch that dial'.
Featured Track:Never Yours. Website:MySpace.
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After meeting in college in 2005, Oakland based duo James & Evander began making music together in the bedrooms of their apartments. There they discovered a shared love of Moog synthesizers and analog delays and began writing the twee electronica that would make up their first EP. In the time that’s passed, James & Evander have constantly been making music, releasing a full length, starting an ongoing remix series, and now present a new EP: Sunlight and Circuitry.
Sunlight and Circuitry finds James & Evander wrapped inside their synthesizers and drum machines, exploring new territory while continuing to reference their long standing influences (Dntel, The Album Leaf, and Kompakt Records). Much of the EP was written and recorded in their West Oakland basement (dubbed “The Turtle Shell”) where the one corner window let in the sunlight that covered their scattered mess of keyboards, cables, and pedals. The six songs that make up the EP are moody pieces of electronica that can best be described as weedwave, the stonier more introspective cousin of chillwave. Processed and glitched drums drive the songs while melodies bleep and bloop through thick layers of delay. James & Evander attempt to make music that doesn’t say “Hey! Look at me!” but more “Hey, we make music in our basement. Want to check it out?”
One of six tracks from their EP we share Turtle Two, which sounds more like it was recorded on a sunny day in a park or by the sea - more please!
Featured Track:Turtle Two. Website:MySpace.
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Some more quoting here but once again it is fair and to the point - 'Over the past year, Leslie DiNicola has built an impressive following of fans and played packed shows at famed NYC venues such as Crash Mansion, Arlene's Grocery, Fontana's, and Googie’s Lounge.
This summer she embarked on her first mini-tour, during which, the highlight was being asked to sing the National Anthem for the Atlanta Brave’s on two separate occasions. Once in Atlanta at Turner Field, then, again, in New York at Citi Field. She says, "Singing the National Anthem at two Major League Baseball Games was, quite simply, the most rewarding feeling I have ever felt. It's hard to describe how it feels when so many people start applauding you. As I sang, "…the rocket's red glare" and heard the excitement in the crowd, I got chills straight up my spine." As Leslie DiNicola's songs continue to reach a wider audience, it is easy to imagine her playing sold out shows for thousands of fans every night'.
As fans of both baseball and Alt Country and the other genres Leslie can claim to include in her repertoire, we are delighted to include a song from her in this edition!
Featured Track:Lay Me Down. Website: MySpace.
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Peter Buzzelle (Vocals, Drums, Guitar) is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and indie rock musician from Boston, Massachusetts. Buzzelle’s main influences are mixed amongst artists such as Elliott Smith, Morrissey and Band Of Horses.
Peter is an original singer and songwriter whose lyrics and vocal melodies are memorable. His music tells a story about his life and his experiences, with a blend of unique genres that gives him an emotive sound that has not been heard before in the genre of indie rock.
Peter Buzzelle has written and recorded his newly released debut album “To Telescope” with the help of Chris Zerby, a producer from California. In the beginning of his career, Peter was the founder of a band called Frequency dB that has toured for over half a decade across the west coast of the United States with well known bands such as The Posies. Buzzelle is an independent musician that has learned to market himself and manage his own career over the years. His album “To Telescope” tells a story about his life and his experiences amongst a broad range of genres that creates a unique and refreshing sound.
We cant quite put our 'finger on it' but there is something about Peter that gets our attention here at Beehive Candy in the crowded world of indie rock - anyhow here's a stab at it, 'nice and fresh music with a lift that we feel' - oh just listen, we have never claimed to be journalists....
Featured Track:Summer Home. Website: Official.
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Another band that have contacted the Beehive directly are Quiet Lights.
To demonstrate once again the wonders of keeping a message short and to the point (along with sharing some really cool music which tends to be the deciding factor) we received the following...
Hey this is Marcus from Quiet Lights from Brooklyn, think you may dig this. We've recently put out a 3-track pre-release that we're giving away while we finish the proper album. The album is getting mixed by John Congleton (St Vincent, Explosions in the Sky) then mastered by Alan Douches (Frightened Rabbit, Sufjan Stevens) and should be out by the fall.. A good short descriptor could be dream-pop but we think its a bit more then just that.
Well a good short descriptor is always welcome especially when the prompt is accurate, we think the emphasis should be on 'a bit more than just that'. This is dream pop with more than a bit more, that is well worth a listen (or two) and lets hope the full album builds on this!
Featured Track:We Live In Balloons. Website: Bandcamp.
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We finish with a new video from Nice Purse. The song is called Kathalaugh and its an upbeat celebration of young spirit (well thats what we are told and it seems that way).
Keeping on message it's not unlike Bright Eyes or The Violent Femmes, it's a folk stomp fit for a care free scene in a teen coming of age movie. In fact they will be contributing original music for the nationally (USA) syndicated sketch comedy show M@dAbout TV. We agree the video is light hearted and fun, just like the music.
Plus we get to try out a new way to embed a video on Beehive Candy - seriously this is a great way to end this edition and an mp3 version is included for good measure (in case the video dont work).
