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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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!
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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.
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'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.
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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'.
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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...
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Welcome to the first 2012Candy, our round up of new music that has come our way in recent days and weeks. We only feature music that has grabbed our attention, or that we feel really does deserve a wider audience, so no knocking other peoples art and efforts here!
Starting with Brazilian Beat (Putumayo World Music; release date January 31st, 2012). Selected from tens of thousands of songs collected by the pioneering label created to introduce new global music to broad audiences, Brazilian Beat chronicles the vibrant indie scene in Brazil and around the world. Musicians are taking samba, bossa nova, and MPB (Brazilian popular music) and deftly incorporating electronica, soul, funk, and just about every other music imaginable.
Sultry or upbeat, the tracks on this compilation of hip, rootsy artists aim to raise listeners’ moods and introduce even die-hard fans to a new crop of Brazilian music innovators. Featured alongside unsung icons such as samba soul master Marcos Valle are rising new stars like Tita Lima, daughter of the bassist from psychedelic hipster darlings Os Mutantes.
Brazilian music has bubbled into an indie scene-to-beat-all-indie scenes in underground clubs and on small labels from São Paulo to Rome. “You can go to Italy and find a hot bossa nova scene, and they have their own sound,” like Roman bossa band BungaLove’s “Minha Loucura,” explains Jacob Edgar, longtime head of A&R for Putumayo and passionate follower of the Brazilian music scene. “These retro sounds end up back in Brazil and shake things up.”
Listen: Tamy - Samba na Mão, Eu Tenho (Brazilian Beat).
Web: Putumayo Records HERE. We Say: This just has so much atmosphere and feel to it, the song featured by Tamy is of course just one part of a massive variety of artists and styles. Unless of course you are in Brazil, this will transport you there for a while - enjoy!
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Tremor Low is a four-piece band hailing from Oakland, California that creates insistent, brooding post-punk/new-wave music.
The group has spent the last 3 years honing their sound and starts 2012 with the release of a new 5 song EP entitled "Kingmaker" recorded with engineer/producer Jamie Hill (Jens Lekman, Nada Surf). An unsubtle recording, each song is delivered in the most urgent fashion, swooning through stories of loss and lust, vengeance and greed. "Kingmaker" is the ultimate expression of what Tremor Low is: a state of frenzy that demands to be heard.
Tremor Low brings their live experience to crowds throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, delivering a dense swell of synthesisers, iconic vocals and airtight rhythm. In 2012 the band will tour in support of "Kingmaker" hitting the road and inspiring new generations of misanthropes everywhere.
Listen: Peter Murphy's Dead.
Web: Official HERE. We Say: Powerful vocals and a hint of the band 'The Editors' within the featured song, see that as a positive, sharp rock with a passion.
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Jessie Baylin recently shared a free download of her 'Pleasure Center EP', a collection of original and cover songs by artists such as Sonic Youth, Thin Lizzy, Fleetwood Mac and more. You can still listen to it HERE, and this month she has released her brand new album 'Little Spark'.
Her bio tells us - When you hear Jessie Baylin sing for the first time, it takes a matter of moments to realise that she’s intimately familiar with pop’s history – but not at all interested in repeating it. Her songs—and her plangent voice—carry a classic pop tone that evoke memories of the Brill Building and Laurel Canyon in the ‘70s while retaining a decidedly modern, empowered worldview.
“I drew a lot from people like Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick, the Brill Building writers,” says the New Jersey-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter. “But I didn’t want to make a retro, throwback kind of album. Nostalgia is fine, I have a definite fondness for that, but I didn’t want people to listen and think I was trying to recapture something from the past.”
That’s exactly the vibe one gets when immersed in Baylin’s third album Little Spark, a recording that emerged after negotiating her way out of a major label deal that was threatening to mar the clarity of her singular artistic vision. Rather than go with the flow, she went with her gut, gathering what remained of an inheritance from her grandmother—whose nickname Jessie borrowed for the Blonde Rat label moniker—Jessie hired Producer Kevin Augunas, who helped her gather some of the most empathetic musicians she could find, including old-school guitar man Waddy Wachtel, veteran drummer Jim Keltner, Greg Leisz on pedal steel, The Watson Twins on backup vocals and famed Emmy & Grammy winning string arranger Jimmie Haskell (Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, Bobby Gentry). But it was modern-day auteur and multi-instrumentalist Richard Swift who was Little Spark’s chief arranger and with Swift, Kevin, and the musicians in place, Jessie had her creative collaborators and co-conspirators.
Listen: Little Trouble Girl (from the EP).
Web Official HERE. We Say: How do you stay objective when five seconds into a song the artist can do no wrong? OK so that's a bit dramatic, none the less Jessie has won Beehive over very quickly, check out both the EP and new album if the featured song appeals.
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Tiny Victories have announced the release of their debut EP Those Of Us Still Alive, out February 28th via their own BirdDog Records. In celebration of the upcoming release of their first album, they've released the track "Lost Weekend" for free download, available for posting HERE.
"Lost Weekend" provides the perfect introduction to Tiny Victories, showcasing the band's array of samplers, gadgets and live drums, coupled with singer Greg Walter's self-assured vocal melodies. Living up to the band's namesake, the track focuses on small moments of redemption, amplified, with the spirit of a marching band at a funeral.
Those Of Us Still Alive has an uncommonly organic, improvisational feel for electronic music. As Greg explains, "We make simple songs out of complex pieces. Take a melody that works on an acoustic guitar, then orchestrate it with samples that have been reprocessed beyond recognition-like the sound of trash being thrown into a Manhattan dumpster."
Comprised of Cason Kelly and Greg Walters, the duo formed Tiny Victories in 2010. Prior to their transplant to Brooklyn, Cason spent his early 20s doing social work with inner city kids, while Greg spent six years as a foreign correspondent, covering a war (Russia-Georgia) and two revolutions (Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan).
Previously having shared bills with Hooray for Earth, The Hood Internet, Bear Hands, and Braids, Tiny Victories plans to tour this spring, including a stop in Austin, TX for SXSW.
Listen: Lost Weekend .
Web Bandcamp HERE. We Say: Indie rock with both passion and sense of urgency that thumps right on through this song. Indie rock isn't meant to do that is it? OK so it might be something else, maybe...
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Hailing from Egersund, Norway, Frode Strømstad, the mastermind behind I Was A King, is becoming an accidental maestro of curious juxtapositions: sweet and sour, timeless brevity, easy chaos. Unaffected and honeyed voices (Strømstad and Harrys Gym front woman Anne Lise Frøkedal) float through a maelstrom of garage-guitar-fuzz and duct-taped drum kits, and melodies that seem to contain forever are wrapped in tiny packages of three minutes or less.
What started as a series of bedroom recordings became a recording project between two childhood friends (Strømstad and Emil Nikolaisen of Serena Maneesh). The result has been dubbed "royally brilliant" by NME. This is music that is full of air and rush, cut free from heartless, cold mechanics, rushing into the very center of joy. It's boarding an old roller-coaster; the tracks creak just enough under the weight of the cars to add an element of danger but you can't stop smiling, and the whole affair is over much too soon.
The latest 7" in Oslo-based label Splendour's split series features two friends and collaborators that find themselves rubbing shoulders with the likes of Daniel Smith and Sufjan Stevens. We feature I Was A King who bring us their bright 60's-pop style single "Happy," featuring Robyn Hitchcock and Emil Nikolaisen (Serena-Maneesh). They also cover Half-handed Cloud's "Baby Moon."
Listen: Happy.
Web: Bandcamp HERE. We Say: This song definitely has a sixties feel (yep 1960's and that's one long time ago), maybe there is a nod to The Byrd's in this, but if so it's entirely coincidental unless these folk studied history or are older than the pic. Oh by the way it's a great song.
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Los Angeles-based quintet Milo Greene, which recently signed to Chop Shop/Atlantic Records, will launch a West Coast headlining run at The Roost in Bellingham WA on February 7th. The band will be joined on the road by special guest Family of the Year. Following these dates, Milo Greene will begin a three-week Los Angeles residency - with free admission - at The Satellite (formerly Spaceland).
The band, which toured with The Civil Wars, Grouplove and Belle Brigade in 2011, just finished recording its debut album at Bear Creek Studio near Seattle. The as-yet-untitled album, which the members of Milo Greene co-produced with Ryan Hadlock (Ra Ra Riot, Blonde Redhead, The Gossip), will be released in Spring of 2012, coinciding with the launch of an extensive U.S. tour that will include a stop at SXSW.
"The music of the new L.A. quintet blends two-, three- and four-part harmonies, serpentine folk-pop melodies and agitated beats into songs that rejoice a little, ache a little and leave sepia-toned images in your head when they're through," said Buzzbands.la while NPR noted: "Milo Greene makes folk-tinged music with perfectly blended male-female harmonies, but they marry that sound with thunderous live drums and infectious sing along choruses."
The band's first single, "1957," was released as a limited edition white vinyl 7" backed with "Silent Way." The song was featured as part of Entertainment Weekly's "Single Swap," recommending the song to anybody who likes Mumford & Sons "Little Lion Man."
Listen: 1957.
Web:Official HERE. We Say: Lovely vocals and harmonies that skip over the complementary and very fine musicianship. Maybe a little 'Arcade Fire' influence, if so they have enough of their own creative qualities to make that a positive.
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Norwegian-based quartet 120 Days have debuted a brand new single from their followup sophomore LP 120 Days II, set for a March 6th release with Splendour (of Montreal/Casiokids, His Clancyness/Shimmering Stars). Unfolding rich layers of synth, the single winds through cosmic soundscapes pulsating just short of an epic ten minutes. The band co-produced "Dahle Disco" with fellow Norwegian DJ/electronic artist Lindstrøm, and will soon reveal the accompanying video. "Dahle Disco" follows their first single "Osaka," which was released as part of Club Mod, a new singles imprint by Modular and remixed by diskJokke and Sidwho?
120 Days have been playing together since 2001 and their debut took them around the world, from America, where they signed with Vice Records, to Japan, where they played to crowds of 17,000+. It won them two Norwegian Grammys and was not only critically acclaimed but also commercially successful. But those subsequent five years have given them valuable, well-earned perspective, and their sophomore album proves that it's worth taking a little time out. 120 Days II is darker, dirtier, fiercer and sharper than a debut full of, as Pitchfork loftily put it, "towering edifices", one which the website also claimed possessed "the conviction that all this technology has the potential to amplify, not suppress, the transmission of human emotion, should humans be courageous enough to try." To put it rather more simply, this new one is even better than the first.
Listen: Dahle Disco.
Web: Facebook HERE. We Say: It might surprise regulars to Beehive Candy that the editor has played this more than any other release we have received this last few weeks. It may be a cry for help or yet another mid life crisis, but no its just a fantastic piece of music. Trust me (oops him)!
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Minimalistic rock duo, Ugly Kids Club have just released their debut self titled EP on iTunes. The Nashville based team released their debut on iTunes and Amazon as well as a limited edition of cassettes for those indie music collectors out there. The duo deem their music as a mixture of grungy rock and roll infused with electronic beats. Deriving their influence from bands like Sleigh Bells, The Kills and M83, their music is a unique blend of their individual personalities and ingenuity all their own.
The two were brought together by the fates as Aliegh Baumhardt pursued a solo project with her other musical half, Steve Wilson (The Juliana Theory and Jonezetta). The connection was undeniable during the collaboration creating a desire to join together permanently. Blended with the balance of Yin and Yang, Aliegh and Steve (respectively) are able to bring a dark but mysterious essence into a catchy pop undertone creating a beautiful balance that is, Ugly Kids Club.
The standout singles like, "My Soul" and "Sheepskin," along with the rest of the EP are simply magnetic and after first listen could be described as obsessive art rock with catchy lyrics and industrial, dissonant sounds sprinkled throughout. Aleigh's lusty voice challenges the instrumentation to keep up with her as Steven's melodies compliment each track with ease. After watching their videos, Aleigh's sex appeal is obvious with every note and is showcased almost perfectly in, "Diamonds In Your Fire".
Ugly Kids Club has been busy at work to bring its fans this self titled EP on limited edition cassettes. For those of you born after the 90's, you may need some schooling as to what this contraption might be. For everyone else, bust out that walkman with pride!
Listen: My Soul.
Web: Official HERE. We Say: For a minimalist rock duo, they make one whole lot of sound! For the days when you need stripped down no nonsense music with heaps of energy (OK sorry we are sounding a little like a high energy drink advert), oh just listen!
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Virginia-based rock band Sons Of Bill have announced the release of their new album Sirens. Set for a March 27th release, we are told that - this powerful collection of guitar-driven rock songs and reflective alt-country was produced by long-time fan, and fellow Virginian, David Lowery (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven).
To get fans excited, Sons Of Bill has released new song "Santa Ana Winds," a haunting tale set to a fury of piano and power chords, for free download (see web link below). Led by brothers James, Sam and Abe Wilson along with Seth Green and Todd Wellons, Sons of Bill is a band that sounds like where they're from - somewhere south of Bruce Springsteen's rock and roll desperation, but slightly north of their alt-country contemporaries.
From the driving country twang of "Find My Way Back Home" to the strikingly beautiful "Angry Eyes," from the anthemic striving of "Siren Song," to the tortured but hopeful "Virginia Calling," Sirens' centers on the tension between alienation and belonging in the modern world, resulting in a memorable collection of songs and the band's best work to date.
Listen: Santa Ana Winds
Web: Official HERE. We Say: Straight to the point rock music, with a nod to Springsteen and others but more than enough self made passion to get over that. Some bands make studio tracks sound 'live in concert' that has to be a major plus and this is a great example!
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The brand new album 'Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy' is Nada Surf's seventh record, and fourth for Seattle indie label Barsuk, following the successful and critically lauded Let Go (2003), The Weight is a Gift (2005), Lucky (2008) and their self-released covers record if i had a hifi (2010). This is their first album of new material in four years, and unlike all of the other Nada Surf records, 'Stars' was made with a distinct attempt to capture their live sound. "We've always played faster and a little harder live," says vocalist/guitarist Matthew Caws, "but we'd play so carefully in the studio. So with this album, we made a conscious decision to preserve what it felt like in the practice room, when you play with that new-song energy.
Nada Surf's lineup for 15 years has been and still is Matthew Caws (vocals, guitar), Daniel Lorca (bass) and Ira Elliot (drums), though this time, as on if i had a hifi and the tour that followed, they invited guitarist Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices, Death of Samantha) to join in the proceedings. Chris Shaw (Wilco, Brendan Benson, Elvis Perkins in Dearland and Super Furry Animals) was brought in to produce and record.
Nada Surf are set to kick off their USA national tour on March 20th in Los Angeles, CA. The band have confirmed An Horse to be the opening act on all the dates, which will have the bands rolling cross-country and wrapping up in Washington, DC, on April 10th.
Listen: Waiting For Something.
Web: Official HERE. We Say: They make it all seem so simple, which may be why they can produce a song with such charm and depth, like it's the first studio take. Excellent band that deserve to be applauded.
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LA's The Morning Birds will soon present their lush and heart-felt EP, 'Surrender to This', out on Valentine's Day, (14th February - but you knew that). We have featured The Morning Birds before and as totally biased fans we are happy to do so again.
The promo says - Awaken to The Morning Birds and prepare to be swept away from the ordinary. They have returned with the pared down EP, Surrender to This, a work that gives free range to their daring eclecticism. Primary songwriters Jenn and Sam have a marvelous yin and yang synergy: one part classic pop, one part emotive rock and roll swagger. Their experimental leanings make things all the more interesting; it’s as if Queen came across Animal Collective hanging with She & Him in the back of Tin Pan Alley. Forged from an uncanny mixture of diverse musical styles, this band’s music is as innovative as it is accessible. Powerful bass lines, lush harmonies and soulful strings are complimented by funky beats, trumpets, and cascading keys as Jennifer Thorington and Samuel Markus weave their stunning harmonies into sublime pop.
Listen: Born To Be Alive.
Web: Bandcamp HERE. We Say: The Morning Birds have been featured by us before. They make running a music site like this worthwhile and however overwhelmingly biased we are towards them, we will not make any apologies. Check them out, they are delightful, its official.
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We are reliably informed that singer, songwriter, and dance-floor instigator KG Omulo can do anything.
He regularly packs American clubs with gritty calls for justice and hard-hitting Afrofunk. He has moved sold-out arenas with his baritone voice in his native Kenya. He takes on the dark ironies of politics, with anger in the groove, reveling in the potential to shake things up while shaking your thing.
Now on his first major U.S. tour and on Ayah Ye! Moving Train (released back on January 10th), he calls on the spirit of Bob and Fela, of Marvin and Stevie, and gets right to the point. No vamping or self-righteousness, just banging horn breaks, sweet and snarling guitar, and a voice that can croon, cry out, and urge on.
“I can be conscious and get people stirred up instead of bringing them down,” Omulo explains. “I make positive music that educates without judging. I want to create awareness and still make people dance.”
And we quote some more - On stage and in the studio, KG runs the show. He writes all the music, brainstorms lyrics in English and Swahili, and even uses visual editing skills gleaned from post-production film work to perfect tracks in the studio.
But he knows when to bring in friends to the mix, and Omulo’s Florida-grown backing band has worked with everyone from Ray Charles to T-Pain. “Cleary Boulevard,” an uptempo shout-out to the vibrant South Florida scene, features recording engineer, producer, and close friend Ramsees Mechan bantering in Spanish as KG waxes poetic in Swahili. “Ready to Love” features guitarist and MC Fareed Salamah (“Ripstah”), originally from the Virgin Islands, who lays down lush, purring guitar on the reggae-styled anthem to an open heart...
“I always think as I’m making music, ‘This doesn’t end here, even if this one situation doesn’t work, life goes on,’” Omulo muses. “I want people to live, to love, to fight for what they believe in. To belong and to care about others. If you can reach that special place in your heart, you can achieve anything.”
Listen: Intervention.
Web: Official HERE. We Say: Totally new to Beehive Candy, and a wonderful introduction for us and hopefully your good selves with this featured song. This is just so powerful and yes we hear a little touch of Bob Marley, that said there is a whole lot more, great song and artist, to finish our first 2012 new music round up with.
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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.
