This is Arlo Guthrie very early in his musical career live at Gerdes Folk City, Greenwich Village, New York City, back in 1966. Founded by Mike Porco and regarded by many as the original Centre of Folk Music, (a coffeehouse in Greenwich Village where everyone who was anyone in folk music used to play) you can find out more about this long gone venue here. This recording features an early live version of Alice's Restaurant where the spoken part is totally different from the eventual album version, with nothing about the littering or the draft, but just an ad-lib about how the song would spread all over the world once the crowd at Gerdes that night started singing it. Arlo Guthrie was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of folk singer and composer Woody Guthrie and his wife Marjorie Mazia Guthrie. Regarding his most famous work "Alice's Restaurant Massacree", a talking blues song that lasts 18 minutes and 34 seconds in its original recorded version, Arlo Guthrie has pointed out that this was also the exact length of one of the famous gaps in Richard Nixon's Watergate tapes. He has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert. The Alice in the song is Alice Brock, who had been librarian at Arlo's boarding school in town before opening her restaurant, and who now runs an art gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The song lampoons the Vietnam War draft. However, Guthrie stated in a 2009 interview with Ron Bennington that the song is more an "anti-stupidity" song than an anti-war song, adding that it is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie is called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine, and clean-up order for littering and creating a public nuisance on Thanksgiving Day in 1965, when Arlo was 18 years old. Alice and her restaurant make up the recurrent refrain, but barely figure in the story. On the DVD commentary for the 1969 movie, Guthrie states that the events presented in the song all actually happened. For a short period of time after its release in 1967, "Alice's Restaurant" was heavily played on U.S. college and counter-culture radio stations. It became a symbol of the late 1960s and for many it defined an attitude and lifestyle that were lived out across the country in the ensuing years. Its leisurely, sassy finger-picking acoustic guitar and rambling lyrics were widely memorized and played by irreverent youth. Many stations across the States have made playing "Alice's Restaurant" a Thanksgiving Day tradition. . A 1969 film, directed and co-written by Arthur Penn, was based on the true story told in the song, but with the addition of a large number of fictional scenes. This film, also called Alice's Restaurant, featured Arlo portraying himself. The part of his father Woody Guthrie, who had died in 1967, was played by an actor, Joseph Boley. Despite its popularity, the song "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" is not always featured on the set list of any given performance. Source: Soundboard. Sound Quality: Good mono mp3@192kbps. Genre: Folk, blues. Set: Full set. Set List: 1. Alice's Restaurant 2. Talk 3. Buffalo Skinners 4. Talk 5. Try Me One More Time 6. Talk 7. Roll On, Columbia 8. Talk 9. San Francisco Bay Blues Web: Official HERE. Reloaded August 2015 see comments.
This is The Wedding Present performing live at the WFMU showcase event in Austin Texas.
WFMU held a showcase independent of the SXSW Festival at the great Beerland in Austin TX on March 17th. It was a six band event featuring Electric Jellyfish, Death of Samantha, The Wedding Present, Supreme Dicks, Xray Eyeballs and The Men. They aired sets live over WFMU (91.1/90.1-FM NY/NJ) with a stream at wfmu.org. The gig was then made available at the Free Music Archive where WFMU are a curator.
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms. Throughout their career, they have been led by vocalist and guitarist David Gedge, the band's only constant member. A new Wedding Present album, 'Valentina' was released in March 2012. Shortly before its release, guitarist Graeme Ramsay left the band after six years, and was replaced by Patrick Alexander (ex-The Young Playthings and The Pipettes). In April 2012 The Wedding Present toured Australia for the first time, playing concerts in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
Two songs from the new album are performed in this set.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256kbps.
Genre: Indie rock, indie pop.
Set: WFMU broadcast set.
Set List:
1. Brassneck 2. Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now 3. Back A Bit Stop 4. Deer Caught In The Headlights 5. You're Dead 6. You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends 7. Dalliance 8. Corduroy 9. Don't Talk Just Kiss
Background: Life...set to a dance beat. The credo that New York indie electronic pop band The Mystic Underground are guided by as they create their brand of bedsit drama set against an electronic canvas of beats and bangers. The duo of Vladimir Valette (the singing and the writing) and Benedetto Socci (the composing and the producing) are fully engaged and primed to herald a new beginning in electronic pop music with a new EP entitled 'Dreamers And Lovers'
Hailing from the bustling Williamsburg district in Brooklyn, New York, an area constantly finding itself at odds with the sprawling metropolis that is Manhattan just across the bridge, The Mystic Underground's latest is a pre-emptive strike against the stale and staid state of pop music that surrounds them. Finding little satisfaction in simply regurgitating dance beats for yet another jilted generation, this duo is writing the soundtrack for a new breed of pop music fan. A return to proper songwriting, a return to what made us all turn up the volume on our radios upon that fresh new sound.
'Dreamers And Lovers' features the booming anthem 'Discord And Panic' which has previously garnered substantial blog acclaim as well as being featured on the BBC 6 Music programme 'Introducing with Tom Robinson'. It also features the new track, the wistful 'Remember Me' which upon its release has already drawn more listeners into the world of The Mystic Underground. The song is currently available as a free download on the band's Facebook page.
Synths and sass. The Mystic Underground aim to be your new favourite band.
2012Candy Comments: This may well appeal from fans of OMD through to David Bowie. There is enough originality to carry the whole thing off.
Website: Official HERE. Listen: Remember Me. (mp3).
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Background: What started out as an experimental cross-breed of Jam Bands and Prog Rock turned raw Rock n’ Roll, grew into a force stronger than Jonathan and Bradley from Female Demand expected. Out of the ashes of fizzled musical projects begun rehearsal and the first songs that the band would ever write together.
Finding themselves as both individual musicians and as a band, the group had quickly become excited about the future, as they wrote more songs and sought out to play anywhere and everywhere in the Houston music circuit. Rocking as hard as the could at every show, the proved their worth both as a band and as performers.
People were naturally drawn to Female Demand’s stage approach as every show is filled with plenty of energy and loudness created by just two guys with a drum set and a bass rig. After 6 months of playing around Texas, the band ventured to the unknown territory of Los Angeles, CA, to create their 4-track EP with producer Manny Nieto (HEALTH, The Breeders, Los Lobos).
After only 3 days of recording and mixing, the band had completed their first self-titled EP. After a successful 2010 release, the group decided to expand their fanbase by booking their own tour to play 10 different states and 15 different cities in the U.S.. By the time late 2010 came, Female Demand was ready to get back into the studio again to blow the doors off of everything you know about Rock n’ Roll.
With one bass and one drum kit, the band worked on their first full length LP, Outside the Universe. Consisting of ten tracks, the album shows Female Demand’s expansion of their style of experimental noise rock with the incorporation of vocals by both Johnathan and Bradley. Already being compared to Death from Above 1979 early on, Female Demand has enough ammunition to take over the world. Outside the Universe was released on June 26th. It’s time to hear what all the fuss is about and open your eyes.
2012Candy Comments: If you need a massive blast of sound that has you rocking rather than grating your teeth, this works. Not for the easy listening fan.
Listen: Paint Your Brains With My House. (mp3).
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Background: Dangling Teeth, the sophomore album from Kelli Scarr out now, is rooted in the traditions of American folk, shot through with wanderlust and campfire warmth.
The album sees the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter (an Emmy winning composer and former vocalist for Moby) coming into her own. Recorded live in Woodstock, NY and mixed to tape by Adam Lasus (Yo La Tengo, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) and Joe Rogers (The Shivers, Noah And The MegaFauna), Dangling Teethfeatures Scott Metzger on guitar, Andrew Southern on bass, Taylor Floreth on drums, Jo Schornikow on piano / organ, string arrangements by Daniel Brantigan and the country sway of Jonathan Lam's pedal steel among others.
2012Candy Comments: Superb quality acoustic Americana that has both wonderful vocals and incredible accompanying musicianship.
Website: Official HERE. Listen: Dangling Teeth (mp3).
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Mint Juleps, the latest full length album from the two-time Juno Award nominee Jeremy Fisher, was released on Tuesday, July 3, through Hidden Pony Records.
The fifth album by the Canadian, acoustic singer-songwriter, Jeremy Fisher returns to his folk-drenched musical roots and brings you to the lazy excitement of summer. This acoustic-driven full length journeys through Fisher's coy, sweet lyricism and the handpicked covers by the likes of Greg Brown and Jean Leloup.
Recorded off the studio floor, this album not only became a challenge for Fisher, but it gave the record an unremarkable shadow of simplicity. This simplicity shines through in songs like "Built to Last" where Fisher crafts an irresistible melody next to a subtle parable that calls for people to embrace a simple kind of life.
With Mint Juleps, Jeremy Fisher provided himself a challenge, yet was still able to capture his most honest and carefree lyrics and melodies. He has been able to develop a great record from start to finish, and has built a career that is sure to last.
2012Candy Comments: Your feet not tapping? see a doctor immediately! As the promo said "carefree & full of melody".
Website: Facebook HERE. Listen: Built To Last. (mp3).
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Background: Where hi-fi swagger meets low-fi sway, Skipping Girl Vinegar have carved out their own heart warming, hobo-pop aesthetic that is testament to the band's old-world authenticity and song craft. Lead single "Chase the Sun" has caught a lot of people's attention with its critically acclaimed 'Monkey in Space' film clip that has enjoyed extensive play on Australian music television and being awarded 'Rage clip of the week'. The EP was mixed in Nashville by legendary indie US producer Brad Jones (Josh Rouse, Missy Higgins) and in London by renowned mix engineer Adrian Bushby (Ben Kweller, Gomez, Foo Fighters).
Skipping Girl Vinegar has supported The Lemonheads and Angus & Julia Stone and are one of Australia's most talked about bands. Skipping Girl Vinegar's Chase the Sun EP hints at the depth of what is to come from this Australian five-piece.
2012Candy Comments: The harmonies are strong and work wonders over some very appealing anthemic and energised music.
Website: Official HERE. Listen: Chase The Sun. (mp3).
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Background: Conceived during their first US tour, Pressed And return with Hyper Thistle, their second EP of processed vocal and complex electronic experiments. The release is a bridge between their sound-defining debut, Imbue Up, and the more performance driven sound of their recent Daytrotter Session which is infusing the music they are working on for their first full-length.
The tone is quickly set as a chopped vocal and double-time break beat propel the EP forward. Chiming guitars interplay with delays and propulsive percussion before cutting to a slice of glitched out hip-hop that throws out the rules to transcend all well-worn electronic micro-genres. Ambiance creeps back into the fold with ethereal atmospherics and light drum-and-bass beats until a demented vocal chop and equilibrium throwing groove changes the mood completely. Finally pitched down vocals complete with higher register electronic wizardry creating something both future-sounding and soulful. With their second release Pressed And once again prove that they refuse to be trapped by tradition of genre in their quest for electronic bliss.
2012Candy Comments: How dare the accompanying promo to this say 'ethereal atmospherics', and leave me to come up with another expression that sums the music up.
Website: Official HERE. Listen: Andross To Aneki. (mp3).
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Background:Talk Normal's sophomore LP Sunshine, out this fall on Joyful Noise Recordings, the Brooklyn duo unveil songs that sparkle with melody and dissonance. Jarring rhythms and feedback-drenched guitar tones lace Sunshine's nine surprisingly songful tunes - creating a sound informed by their predecessors (Cocteau Twins, Velvet Underground, Laurie Anderson & Creatures).
Unlike traditional noisy-rock, Talk Normal's Sunshine is steeped in melody, albeit unconventional melody. Sweet-sounding female vocals are present throughout, sometimes as sung lyrics and sometimes as instruments themselves. Ambro & Register's combined voices often volley back and forth, each providing equal contributions to vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation - meticulously orchestrating not only the arrangements, but also the tonality of each collected sound. As Pitchfork describes: "(their) vocals can handle both desperate screech and matter-of-fact detachment somewhere between Karen O and Kim Gordon." Combined with Register's flowing, nearly-drony riffs and Ambro's finely choreographed beats, the end result is a natural sonic cohesion. Maybe not the sunshine you're used to, but rays within which you'll want to bask.
2012Candy Comments: Somebody mentioned the Cocteau Twins and I was interested straight away. There could be many other references for Talk Normal, give them a break and take the wholesale originality as the reference point.
Website: Official HERE. Listen: Bad Date. (mp3).
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Background:The Black Cadillacs are a 6-piece rock & roll band from Knoxville, TN made up of Will Horton, Philip Anderson, Matthew Hyrka, John Phillips, Kevin Hyfantis and Adam Bonomo. Over the last 3 years they have been working hard to hone their sound and live performance, and have made a name for themselves in the Knoxville region. Their sophomore album Run was released through Young Giant on June 5, 2012.
They draw upon a diverse group of influences from classic bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Pink Floyd to more modern bands like My Morning Jacket, The Black Keys, and Jack White. The Black Cadillacs have melded together their many influences to create an album full of strong guitar melodies that are matched with catchy lyrics, which will have you singing along in no time.
Describing their single "Classic Fool" off of Run, Jason Harrison of Sirens of Decay wrote, "This is a band that sometimes delves into the lowest of lows, but they have a good fu##in' time doing it. 'Classic Fool' begins on that some solitary island, Horton's vocals carrying wistfully while the melody finds its feet. The guitars find their horses at the midway point with a bit of help from some beautiful organ accompaniment and 'Classic Fool' really hits its stride."
2012Candy Comments: OK the names are clearly similar and I reckon there is a nod and a wink to The Black Crowes, that said, this most definitely is The Black Cadillacs and boy do they rock.
Website: Official HERE. Listen: Choke. (mp3).
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Background:The Raveonettes have premiered their first single "She Owns The Streets" - from their upcoming album "Observator" out September 11th on Vice Records.
Inspired by their surroundings, The Raveonettes have always been able to capture the experiences and emotions of every day life. "She Owns The Streets" is a perfect example of this.
Songwriter Sune Rose Wagner says, "The real people I'd met and experiences I had over the last year in NY and Venice, CA all bled into these new songs. 'She Owns The Streets' for example is about a New York City street dancer. I've noticed her before dancing wildly on Bowery, running crazily in the street among the cabs and horrified passers-by. A friend of mine introduced me to her and we struck up a friendship. In 20 minutes I had written a song about the pleasures and pitfalls of being perceived as either a drug-crazed girl or an insane individual, simply because she dares to defy the laws of civility and conformity. Isolation can be a wonderful thing, but it doesn't afford you this kind of inspiration."
2012Candy Comments: Top quality indie rock with super backing harmonies over a lifting song, would you expect less from these people?
Website: Official HERE. Listen: She Owns The Streets. (mp3).
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Background:Making Marks, from Oslo, Norway are the latest addition to Fika Recordings label. After 5 years as My Little Pony, they’ve slimmed down to a 4 piece to become Making Marks. They’ve gigged with the likes of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Asobi Seksu and Marit Larsen, toured extensively around Europe and the USA, including appearances at SXSW.
The debut single from Making Marks, Ticket Machine, will be released by Fika Recordings in October 2012 on 7″ vinyl. They’ll be in the UK playing some shows in September – full details to come. A full length album is due in the spring of 2013.
2012Candy Comments: Looking forward to hearing more from Making Marks based on the strength of this song. I still reckon there is something in Scandinavian water that produces such great indie music.
Website: tumblr HERE. Listen: Hard To Be Good. (mp3).
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Background:The Jelly Project has already garnered the ultimate accolade a young band could ask for... biker cred.
Motorcycle gangs flock to see this band tear it up. Outlaws and hipsters alike seem to be smitten with Jelly, a fiery young twin cities girl who's voice and stage presence echo the great Janis Joplin, and her band of burly, bearded boys who lay down the funk like their life depends on it. The fact that this rag tag group stumbled into writing some of the most poignant and moving rock of 2012 should be duly noted.
2012Candy Comments: I think you should draw any comparisons with Janis Joplin with real caution. There are some similarities but this is good enough to stand on it's own feet, decades on and this type of craft still has wide appeal.
This is Linda Ronstadt perfoming for 'Don Kirshner's Rock Concert' at the Long Beach Auditorium Long Beach, California, USA back in 1974 (for TV broadcast).
In 1973 Don Kirshner began to produce his own syndicated weekly rock program, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.” Unlike “American Bandstand” and other TV rock shows, where performers lip-synched in a studio, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” featured full performances in a live concert setting. Over the show’s run from 1973 to 1981, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” included legendary acts such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones and many others that were as diverse as Abba to Weather Report.
Linda Ronstadt began her fourth solo album, Don't Cry Now, in 1973, with Boylan (who had negotiated her contract with Asylum Records) and John David "J.D." Souther producing most of the album's tracks. But needing someone willing to work with her as an equal, Ronstadt asked Peter Asher, who came highly recommended to her by James Taylor's sister Kate Taylor, to help her produce two of them: "Sail Away" and "I Believe in You." The album featured Linda's first Country hit, "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", which she had first recorded on Hand Sown ... Home Grown; this time hitting the Country Top 20. With the release of Don't Cry Now, Ronstadt took on her biggest gig to date as the opening act on Neil Young's Time Fades Away tour, playing for larger crowds than ever before. Backstage at a concert in Texas, Chris Hillman introduced her to Emmylou Harris, telling them, "You two could be good friends", which soon occurred, resulting in frequent collaborations over the following years. Meanwhile, the album became Ronstadt's most successful up to this time, selling 300,000 copies by the end of 1974.
Having been a cult favorite on the music scene for several years, 1975 was "remembered in the music biz as the year when 29-year-old Linda Ronstadt belatedly happened." With the release of Heart Like A Wheel, Ronstadt reached No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart (it was also the first of four No. 1 Country Albums for Ronstadt) and the disc was certified Double-Platinum (over 2 million copies sold in the United States).
Source: TV Broadcast soundtrack.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@230kbps.
Genre: Rock, rock and roll, folk, country rock.
Set: TV live.
Set List:
1. Intro 2. It Doesn't Matter Anymore 3. When Will I Be Loved 4. Heart Like A Wheel 5. You're No Good 6. You Can Close Your Eyes 7. Silver Threads And Golden Needles
Background: Pop's best-kept secret, Danielle Aument, is an ascending singer-songwriter set to release her brand new single "Already Over You." The lead single off her yet-to-be-titled EP, due out later this year, is available for purchase on iTunes.
Originally from Downers Grove, IL, Danielle got her start in music as a performer in local musical theater productions near her hometown. She then moved on to professional productions in Chicago performing in popular musicals such as the renowned Evita. Drawn to the intimate styles of singer-songwriters, she left her theatrical experience behind and made her career as a music artist a reality. The 18 year-old singer is already making a name for herself; not only was she invited to attend the music industry showcase NAMM in Nashville, but she was recently named iHeartRadio's Artist to Watch.
Danielle Aument is an enthusiastic artist and a passionate songwriter with a dedication to her craft and a commitment to her art. Her modern musical vision is illuminated with her music. From catchy hooks, and joyful pop tunes that put you in a good mood, Danielle aims to enlighten and entertain.
2012Candy Say's: Put simply this is upbeat pop, just right for the summer, if your gonna do pop Danielle sets the standards.
Listen: What You Mean To Me, (player only). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Portland, Oregon-based pianist/singer-songwriter Sara Jackson-Holman will release her sophomore full-length, Cardiology (Expunged Records), on July 24, 2012.
Where the songs on Jackson-Holman's debut, When You Dream (Expunged Records) were intended to be universal and interpreted by the listener, her latest release Cardiology expresses a very personal journey, specific to the study of her own heart this past year. “This album centers around themes of love and loss and my experiences with each over the course of this last year. Some songs, like “Do I Make It Look Easy” and “For Albert” are about moving on from situations - realizing and accepting that you can't change people, which is challenging, but at the same time empowering, because that understanding ultimately provides you with a sense of peace. I also wrote songs to sort through what it means to lose someone you love, and what you do with that feeling of loss.”
Co-produced by Jackson-Holman, Keith Schreiner (Auditory Sculpture, Dahlia), one of Portland’s best known composers and performers who programmed synths and beats, and Skyler Norwood (producer of Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers, and Jackson-Holman's When You Dream) at Miracle Lake Studios, where tracking of organic elements and mixing took place, Jackson-Holman delivers a stunning follow-up with Cardiology. Featuring contributions by Skyler Norwood (Point Juncture, WA) on drums and bass, Jack Norwood on bass, Jessie Dettwiler (Alameda) on cello, and Basho Parks (Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks) on violin, Jackson-Holman's songs are fleshed out by a cast of strong supporters.
For her sophomore album, Jackson-Holman took a much different approach to her songwriting and production process. “Recording my first album was about learning the process; it was extremely informative. I had never been in a studio, so to see the inner-workings of production firsthand changed my entire perspective. For Cardiology, I actually produced full, 30-track demo versions at home for several of the songs on Garageband before bringing the tracks to the studio for final beats, synth sounds, and additional production. I wrote the songs in varied ways - some originated from sitting at the piano, others from humming a melody, and still more from writing a beat first then crafting the rest of the song around it. From my first day in the studio to my last, the recording process spanned seven months."
2012Candy Say's: This is a fine song from a fascinating album that takes the listener in different directions and moods. Songs that tell stories and capture your imagination. Listen: Cartography, (player only). Web: Official HERE. ========================================================================
Background: Jezzy & The Belles, the salacious Brooklyn based dream-pop folktronica band announces the release of their debut full-length album “Compasses & Maps” on June 26. This aptly titled record guides listeners on a transcendent pilgrimage along the border of hauntingly ethereal indie pop and seductive, undulating folktronica. This rhythmic journey is lead by the hypnotic vocals of front woman, Jezzy (Jessica Eisenberg), who fearlessly routes your way through 9 rousing songs which will make you subconsciously fall victim to her melodic rapture. Fans of Nouvelle Vague, Air, Massive Attack and PJ Harvey beware: “Compasses & Maps” by Jezzy & The Belles will claim another piece of your heart.
Jezzy is candid about her music providing a creative and emotional safe haven after she endured a series of traumatic events. “It was a way for me to heal wounds and make room for a trust and a sense of calm in life,” says Jezzy, “Even if I didn’t feel entirely hopeful and exuberant at the time I wrote these songs, I pushed forward and tried to document the music and words I needed to feel at that point.” The strength, power and perseverance that Jezzy demonstrated during this time is felt whole heartedly on each track of “Compasses & Maps” and translates into a soul-stirring escapade for its listeners.
“Compasses & Maps” follows the February 2012 release of Jezzy & The Belles’ self-titled EP which included the title track from their forthcoming full-length album and lead to a worldwide music video premiere for “Compasses & Maps” on AOL Spinner.
Jezzy & The Belles debut album “Compasses & Maps” will be released digitally on June 26.
2012Candy Say's: This has a fairly unique feel despite the comparisons Nouvelle Vague, Air, Massive Attack and PJ Harvey. Intricate and pleasing. Listen: Confess Child (mp3). Web: Facebook HERE. ======================================================================== Background: Virginian sisters Rachel and Torey Russell’s ethereal voices conjure up the laid back sweetness of Norah Jones and Lisa Hannigan as they gently meander over the warm acoustic backdrops provided by the band’s creative spearhead, Kent Heckaman. Sonnet Cottage is a new project for Kent Heckaman who was waiting for just the right vocalists to collaborate with. The simple arrangements fit like a glove with the angelic vocals of the two sisters. The wait was well worth it.
Like Peter, Paul and Mary before them, this trio comes bearing a similar message of nature, deeper human conditions and winds of change. Their first single, the pastoral charmer “Most Unlikely”, transports the listener through its mysterious and whimsical atmosphere. “New life will soon begin, much wiser than before, no more vanity” they sing on the groovy Latin tinged “Trail of the Wind”, a perfect precession to the enchantingly nuanced ballad “Little Did I Know”. Other tracks, like the opener “Letting It All Go”, feel akin to the organic nature of Sufjan Stevens’ esteemed album Greetings from Michigan, embodying the magical feeling of being in a vaguely familiar, yet completely unique sonic landscape. Step into Sonnet Cottage’s world and be whisked away to Another Time, out July 24, 2012.
2012Candy Say's: This is a beautiful song, I could go on, however I reckon that sums the song and Sonnet Cottage just fine.
Listen: Most Unlikely (player only). Web: Official HERE.
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Background: Maren Parusel is a name you need to know, now! Out of the ashes of a terrible incident in which all of Maren’s instruments were stolen in New York City last year, shines a bright light out of the Midtown Tunnel and into an intense musical journey that you will not soon forget. What came of her sound is a revamped style of guitar-driven tones, synths, and the ability to take on the world. Not to shabby if you ask us.
Parusel is gearing up to release her sophomore full-length, Tightrope Walker (Requiemme Records/ BMG Chrysalis), on June 19th to eager ears. Today the band debuts the first single and title track from the album called, “Tightrope Walker,” the perfect song to kick off your Summer.
Filled with dreamy synths, beautiful and transcendent guitars, and Maren’s blend of poppy and gorgeous vocals, this song will provide you with everything you have ever wanted in a song. With a voice reminiscent of Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino, with a dose of pop flare thrown in, Parusel brings every piece to life to provide what can be described a polished and danceable collection of dreamy tracks. With bandmates in tow, including Eric Brozgold (drums), Josh Cass (guitarist), and Chris Hoffee (bass), the group has already been getting attention from the likes of indie Godfather, Mike Mills from R.E.M. (“I loved her set”), renowned photographer BP Fallon, and even Kim Fowley (Manager of Runaways).
Maren Parusel is ready to elevate you to new heights with Tightrope Walker. Just close your eyes, put one foot in front of the other and take it all in.
2012Candy Say's: Power pop with a little splash of indie rock thrown in for effect this is one catchy song, be warned it can get inside your head!
Listen: Tightrope Walker (mp3). Web: Official HERE.
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Background:Originally conceived to create the fictional home recordings of a nonexistent South Dakotan teenager, The Dust Engineers are in reality a new Brooklyn/Queens-based band. "Ask Bobby Zimmerman about inventing a persona," laughs Zachary Meyer, singer and guitarist. "Sometimes romanticization is better than the real thing." After performing at a Bowery Poetry Club multimedia exhibition, Meyer decided to make The Dust Engineers more than a fantasy, and enlisted Ryan Egan (bass), Sara Maeder (vocals, tambourine), Erik Rosenberg (guitar, vocals), and Jared Harel (drums) to form the band in 2011. Employing coed harmonies and twangy bottleneck slides with reckless abandon, their new EP Bail proves tough to classify. "One foot on a skateboard and the other in stirrups," replies Meyer when asked about The Dust Engineers' singular sound.
Listen to the debut single “Snot Nosed Dweeb,” from the upcoming EP Bail, due out July 17, and you will find yourself immediately drawn into their 90's meets 2012 sound with a twist of pop sensibility and irreverent lyrics that will ring true for anyone who's ever dreamt of quitting their job.
The Dust Engineers recorded this, and all tracks, live in the studio rather than multi-tracking piece by piece, creating a warm and stage-ready sound for your stereo. Recorded by Andrew Lappin and mixed by Yale Yng-Wong (Here We Go Magic, Country Mice, Fort Lean, Tiny Victories), The Dust Engineers have created an impressive EP of 5 unforgettable tracks. The album is released under the label and creative collective, No Horse Town, which is made up of musicians, poets, visual artists, and writers around the country. "We strive for this natural, collaborative writing process, and we let the original vision guide us. We've got an imagined desert muse,” says Meyer.
2012Candy Say's: OK the band name and song title more or less got this song featured, the bonus is that it's a great piece of music with good rock and roll harmonies. Listen: Snot Nosed Dweeb (mp3). Web: Bandcamp HERE. ========================================================================
Background: Beehive Candy recently received an introductory email direct from Pharaohs from the Grave. Having given their music a listen we are mighty glad they got in touch!
Pharaohs from the Grave are a four-piece alternative punk rock band from the U.K. Resident party band in the London indie Rock scene. Described as a mix between Blondie, Grace Jones, No doubt, Garbage, the yeah yeah yeahs and Queens of the stone age.
The band have been described as a visual act as well not just a generic rock n roll act.
2012Candy Say's: Straight to the point, no nonsense music, OK we cannot do the visual element any justice, but if you like your rock tight and tough, this does it! Listen: Success (mp3). Web: Official HERE. ========================================================================
Background: UK-based band Alt-J are proud to announce the US release of their debut album An Awesome Wave on September 18 via Canvasback Music. For full track listing and album art, please see below.
An Awesome Wave was released in the UK on May 28 to both critical and commercial success. In their rave review, NME said "On the surface, this is smart alt-pop, but Alt-J have messed with the formula just enough to make this a brilliantly disquieting debut." BBC called the album "a stunning and encompassing affair of both innovative and electrifying musicianship and exemplary song writing," while The Guardian proclaimed "the music is rich and quirky enough to match the imagistic literacy of the lyrics, from the majestic, cinematic sweep of 'Intro' onwards."
In its first week at iTunes, the album has held the number 1 position on the UK Alternative chart. The track "Fitzpleasure" is already receiving airplay at tastemaking radio stations KCRW Los Angeles, KEXP Seattle, KCMP Minneapolis, and WFUV New York.
2012Candy Say's: This is just so good, proving that daring to be different can be so worth while. Alt-J just get on with it and avoid the trap of being self indulgent. Listen: Fitzpleasure (mp3). Web: Official HERE. ========================================================================
Background:Inspired by wildness, fueled by instinct, Jenee Halstead’s sophomore LP, Raised by Wolves is as much a departure in form for Halstead as it is a return to the energetic, carefree days of her wandering youth. Halstead and her producer Evan Brubaker create a unique dark pop/Americana on Wolves by combining old instruments with new techniques - rendering a dobro unrecognizable with a wah pedal, distorting banjos and adding electronic beats to acoustic tunes.
The songs on the album are charged with life and passion, surely a result of Halstead changing both the perspective and instrument she used when writing. “These songs were much more challenging physically and emotionally than my first two albums, and it pretty much stretched me in every way as a writer and singer,” says Halstead, who wrote the songs on Raised by Wolves using ukulele and piano. “I sang in area of my range that I hadn’t really sung in since college and really wanted to explore more of the high soprano timbre of my voice that hadn’t been used on my first two albums.” Raised by Wolves is due out August,13th.
With creative abandon, Raised By Wolves slams an old beat box into surf guitars, banjo, and ukulele; mixing a chorus of tenor guitars, handclaps, and synth bass. Drawing on influences like PJ Harvey and Kate Bush, multi-instrumentalist/producer Brubaker (Rachel Harrington & The Knockouts, Edie Carey) empties the musical space, giving all the attention to Halstead's extraordinary voice. The twisted banjo of Danny Barnes, sly drumming of Joel Litwin, and distorted Dobro of Colby Sander help Raised By Wolves create a re-invigorated Dark Pop/Americana that surrounds Halstead's vocals with a variety of surprises.
2012Candy Say's: Another artist to watch out for in the coming months, this is a sensitive atmospheric song that has ensured I want to hear more. Listen: Raised By Wolves(mp3). Web: Official HERE. ========================================================================
Background:Art Decade’s guitarist/vocalist/arranger Ben Talmi “grew up on a strict diet of the finest classical music there is,” and it shows. The group’s Western Sunrise album is filled with some of the most breathtaking string arrangements you’ll ever hear on a popular music album. The band’s other half is Binod Singh, its lone Canadian and more of a Motown and soul guy, on bass. The outfit describes its music as neo indie classical, symphonic post-pop and rock, but it actually fits all these categorizations and more. You don’t have to listen long, for instance, to pick up on a progressive electric guitar part here, and a club dance beat there. Were you to limit it mentally to only, say, the classical/symphonic label, however, you may well miss out on also recognizing the group’s more aggressive rock instincts, which are very much on overt display. Talmi studied at Berklee School of Music, which is one of most respected musical education institutions, if not the greatest school of musical higher learning. However, Talmi came out of this advanced school with his head on straight and his love for music still intact.
“A strong musical education can do many things to a musician, oftentimes people become jaded with their acquired musical knowledge, becoming frustrated with the state of popular music and its general lack of musical depth,” explains Talmi. “Others are unable to escape the education and end up producing very indulgent and selfish music. I truly hope to take what I have learned and apply it in a very mature way.” Indeed, Art Decade’s music is as entertaining, as it its thought-provoking. Art Decade also sets its goals extremely high. Talmi says he hopes to “make albums that perfectly represent our artistic vision without any compromise.” In a world were compromise is sometimes the name of the game, it takes a strong-willed individual like Talmi to turn his lofty dreams into reality.
However, this man that grew up on the classics – and by classics, we don’t mean Led Zeppelin; instead, we mean Mozart, Beethoven and Bach -- wants his music to remembered the same special way as his classical heroes. “I want to make modern music that is played in halls hundreds of years later, like classical music is today.” Therefore, Art Decade has no intentions of merely remaining a remnant of our current decade. Rather, this group is shooting to be remembered for decades and decades to come.
2012Candy Say's: The rock music meets classical music arena can be a dangerous place to enter. Thoughts of over indulgent prog rockers of old spring to mind. This however is refreshingly and surprisingly good music that really stands out in the crowd. Listen: Breeze (mp3). Web: Official HERE. ========================================================================
Background:Singer/keyboardist Erika Forster (Au Revoir Simone) has released the first single 'Hidden' off her forthcoming self-titled debut EP, coming out on pop label Cascine on July 10th. Backed by Jorge Elbrecht of Violens on percussion (who she released a 7"split with last year), Erika fills out her sound. Under Elbrecht's guidance as producer, she experimented with effects and instrumentation, recording a handful of tracks at his Greenpoint home studio in 2011.
Spring began writing music as part of a multimedia project in her schooldays. After performing with local outfit, Dirty On Purpose, she discovered her affinity for keyboards, collecting an assortment and putting them to use composing original material. Before long she was collaborating on songs after work with a couple of similarly synth-minded girlfriends, eventually forming officially as the band, Au Revoir Simone. Over the next seven years Au Revoir Simone would see success, writing and recording three albums and touring extensively. In 2010 the group was put on hold so that members could focus on continuing education and starting a family. Erika took the opportunity to explore some personal musical territory.
Setting out on her own, she has taken elements of her band's sound and spun them into her own brand of bittersweet, sun-bleached pop. Breathing vocals over mesmerizing keyboard phrases, Erika produces an effect that approaches the supernatural, with tough, spring-loaded beats lending gravity to the otherwise hazy, delirious songs. The music conjures scenes of blustery romance amidst the dunes, of love as a mirage, of softly raising the dead.
2012Candy Say's: This is a great song to finish this round up with. A multi layered song with superb vocals that match the music and draw you in. Listen: Hidden (mp3). Web: Facebook HERE. ======================================================================== Listen:
This is the Ike & Tina Turner Revue recorded live in concert at Portland University (University of Maine, Portland Campus Gym, Oregon), back on 27th March 1974.
Ike and Tina Turner were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1991 and describing the band concisely the Hall of Fame states - The Ike and Tina Turner Revue was one of the highest energy ensembles on the soul circuit in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.
Between 1969 and 1975, Ike and Tina Turner mixed in duo recordings with solo offerings. Ike Turner released a few solo albums including A Black Man's Soul, while Tina Turner's first solo offering, Tina Turns the Country On, was released in 1974. Tina's solo debut led to Tina being nominated again for the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Grammy. That same year, Ike & Tina reached back to their gospel roots releasing, The Gospel According to Ike & Tina, later winning them several nominations in Grammy's gospel categories. Their next secular release was Rhode Island Red, which featured one of their final charted hits, "Sexy Ida (Part 1)", which helped them nab a second appearance on Soul Train the following year. Rhode Island Red and The Gospel According to Ike & Tina, as it turned out, would be the final albums recorded in the duo's lifetime together. In 1975, Tina released her second solo album, Acid Queen, in response to her success in her film role as The Acid Queen in the rock musical, Tommy.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Good stereo mp3@128kbps.
Genre: Rock'n'roll, soul, blues rock, funk rock.
Set: Full Set.
Set List:
01. Intro Also Sprach Zarathustra - Space Race
02. El Burrito
03. I Feel Alright
04. Theme from 'Shaft'
05. Sweet Soul Music
06. With A Little Help From My Friends
07. Get Back
08. A Love Like Yours
09. Come Together
10. Nutbush City Limits
11. Proud Mary
12. I've Been Loving You Too Long
13. I Wanna Take You Higher
14. Audience-encore
15. A Little Respect
Background:Noah And The MegaFauna's Anthem For A Stateless Nation is a raucous, whiskey-drenched, horn-laden soundtrack to the apocalypse with gypsy jazz for a right hook and big band swing. It's a modern day allegory of Noah's Arc exploring the displacement, wandering, panic, and ultimate redemption of the end times - that you can dance to.
The brainchild of former Oliver Future frontman Noah Lit, Anthems For A Stateless Nation features a 10-piece, carnival-esque acoustic gypsy-jazz ensemble and is produced by Adam Lasus (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Yo La Tengo) with additional production by Joe Rogers (Kelli Scarr, The Shivers), features world-renowned gypsy guitarist Gonzalo Bergara,drummer Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers, George Harrison), andguest vocalists Kat Edmonson, Marianne Dissard, Emily St. Amand-Poliakoff and Mindy Gaspar.
The band recently released the song On And On as a free download. The track - which owes its haunting hook to the "Erhu" a traditional Chinese violin with two strings and a snakeskin resonator - is the midpoint of the apocalyptic narrative... Some time has passed and the earth has begun to heal itself with massive floods, as water rises and food becomes scarce the survivors have to make decisions about what to do with loved ones that have been infected by an (unnamed) virus... Can they eat the dead? How long should they wait?
"It's a song about living with awful decisions and being choked by regret," explains Lit. "I've always been really into apocalyptic literature," he continues. "While writing Anthems I was reading Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, and Year of the Flood, Max Brooks' World War Z, and Moby Dick - which is the ultimate story of the end of the world, as both Wall Street and the polar ice caps were melting down."
The result is Anthems For A Stateless Nation, a winding musical caravan that takes the listener through moments of torrential downpours and the near-breakdown of humanity ending in a blissful calm. The record finds its influence in Lit's record collection - an eclectic mix of rock bands like The Kinks, Radiohead and The Beatles, jazz artists like Django Reinhardt, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong and genre benders like Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Jacques Brel and Leonard Cohen.
2012Candy Says Listen Up! The featured song drifts along effortlessly, the instruments seemingly fade in and out both challenging and complementing each other. Highly skilled craftsmanship made to seem so easy with vocals that just top the whole thing off.
Listen: On and On. (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background: PLM released the new Eliot Lipp album, Shark Wolf Rabbit Snake, recently on May 22, 2012. This release has Lipp breaking new ground with his ever-evolving production style. He has developed a unique sound that is completely its own yet sticks with the PLM axiom of genre bending originality. The album incorporates everything that has recently been in Lipp's sonic world, including hip-hop, drum & bass, funk, techno, jazz, and more, while still remaining a cohesive whole. The album is heavy on analogue synthesis and very tasteful sample collaging. These two elements make it sound as though it is simultaneously ahead of its time, and from the past.
"Eliot has been an inspiration and a friend over the years. We have played more than several shows together and whether there's 5 or 5000 people in the crowd, Eliot knows how to rock the party. The new style on Shark Wolf Rabbit Snake made it obvious that it was time for the two of us to team through PLM. He manages to stick with the style he has developed while leaning more towards classy good feeling electro hip-hop, and that, after all, is what I'm all about"
- Derek Vincent Smith (founder of PLM and producer behind Pretty Lights)
2012Candy Says Listen Up! A little bit like The Avalanches meet Kraftwerk at times within this number! There is enough originality and ideas to carry the whole thing off and it is easy to play again soon enough.
Listen: The Sunset (mp3)Web: Official HERE.
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Background: From Paper Garden Records... Ever since October of 2011 we have been blasting I Can Chase Dragons! at high volumes in the PGR office. Our fascination started with the release of the single “Diving For Sunken Treasures” and it snowballed from there. Maybe it was the catchy whistling in this debut track that put our ears on the edge of their seats, eagerly waiting each new release. So it is our pleasure to bring to you yet another amazing new track “Republique.”
ICCD! is the solo project of Julio Gudiño, lead singer of Mexico City’s biggest indie band, The Plastics Revolution. We stumbled upon these guys in the middle of a sidewalk jam session at Barton Springs as SXSW 2011 came to an end. Julio led the band for hours but the crowd would not let them stop, even to the point of them having to play some songs twice. He is no stranger to being the frontman of a band and is now pushing his musical limits to the electronic dream pop side of the spectrum. Drawing influences from Panda Bear and El Guincho as he loops electric textures combining organic and synthesized sounds with lyrics in English and Spanish.
He is currently going to school in Boston and polishing up his live set to include a drummer, bassist and visuals that will blow your mind so be on the lookout for East Coast tour dates in the very near future. He also started a Mexican indie label, Dos Pelícanos, and their first act of awesomeness was to release the I Can Chase Dragons! debut album “Expansión” in January. You can purchase it for just $7.92 on iTunes or name your price on Bandcamp.
2012Candy Says Listen Up! Paper Garden Records really come up with some gems to share, ICCD being the current example. The vocals/chorus are uplifting and the whole arrangement makes wonderful listening. We have avoided the cliche "one to watch out for" as much as possible this year, but maybe, just maybe...
Listen: Republique (mp3)Web: Bandcamp HERE.
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Background:LUNIC may not be a household name yet, but things are certainly about to change. The all-female electro-pop band which hails from New York City, are about take center stage with their upcoming record, Future Sex Drama, due out September 2012. Just unleashing the first single from the album, “Far Away,” the infectious trio is about to take you on a musical journey like you have never experienced before. Recommended if you like Phantogram, Lykke Li, Metric, Ladytron or The xx, LUNIC is about to join the lineup of must-hear bands of the year. The sultry “Far Away,” will entice you with haunting vocals, smooth beats, gorgeous harmonies and an echoing violin, making you fall head over heels.
Consisting of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Kaitee Page, electric midi violinist Megan Berson, and live drummer Masha Mayer, the band has been playing countless shows not only in New York, but around the world. LUNIC has a truly unique style when it comes to writing and arranging songs as they use a combination of keyboards, violins, guitars, effects, loops, and midi controllers to skillfully and carefully construct each track from the ground up. Creating a truly beautiful piece of art. Their electrifying creations are the perfect blend of synthpop and electro-indie which makes for an incredible and catchy combination.
The group released their first album, Lovethief, in 2009, which was funded by LUNIC fans around the world. Since then, LUNIC have shared the stage with artists such as Moby, Mindless Self Indulgence, Meiko, Company of Thieves, Dredg and many more.
2012Candy Says Listen Up! This was a nice surprise to say the least, the 'big up' in the promo above set standards high and the song really does deliver. The vocals work well, with some classy electro crafted music giving real dimension to the song.
Listen: Far Away. (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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Background:Blind Benny will sweet-talk its way to your heart, rip it out of your chest, pull it on stage, and walk away leaving you reeling with bittersweet agony and wondering why you hadn’t discovered them sooner. This ethereal rock band emits provocative melodies lacquered with cutting lyrics that manage to have that infectious pop appeal while still effectively managing to capture the soul. With the release of their debut EP on September 4, 2012, please prepare to fall victim to Blind Benny’s threatening musical seduction.
Blind Benny’s Jade<3 was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of the renowned La Guardia School of Performing Arts. Ironically enough, this ferocious singer / songwriter and vicious performer is the daughter of a pastor. “I’m obsessed with human behavior, I live vicariously through everyone,” says Jade<3. Her fervent intrigue went hand in hand with the intuitive observations that Jade<3was able to make while growing up in the cultural melting pot of New York City. And on Blind Benny’s debut EP, Jade<3’s artistic and emotional journeys are put on display.
Jonathan Carmelli, guitarist and producer, is also a New York City native. Carmelli was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston, yet made the adamant decision to stay in New York City to pursue his musical career with Blind Benny. “We met in a funk band. Jade<3 pulled me aside and asked me if I wanted to play and create something different.” All musicians want to create something different, and Jonathan knew he was about to embark on something exceptional.
Before dubbing themselves Blind Benny, the duo performed as Jade<3. In 2010 they decided to revamp Jade<3’s solo image and began representing their collective artistry as a band, and Blind Benny was born. Blind Benny’s debut EP evokes the influence of the same passion and vision that helped Jade<3 create her first critically lauded solo EP “It’s My Heart, Cookie.” With throbbing percussion and riveting electric guitar riffs that unexpectedly drop into a dreamy folktronica interlude, the songs on “It’s My Heart, Cookie” hit with palpable magnitude. The compilation of gut-wrenching rock ‘n’ roll and sparkling pop tracks on Blind Benny’s EP take you on a stimulating sensatory experience that will leave you breathless.
2012Candy Says Listen Up! Ethereal rock whatever that might be works for Beehive Candy. I know we often refer to songs 'that build' I guess this is a fine example, it also 'chills out' along the way and plays even better late at night with the lights down low!
Listen: No Honor. (mp3)Web: Official HERE.
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Background: “Since the very beginning we've found a lot of support in the local food movement. Now that we are ready a cut an album we want to support the community that got us here.” These were the words of Andrew Brown, guitarist and front-man of The Appleseed Collective, speaking of the soon to be released album Baby to Beast in early 2012. A powerhouse of everything the band has come to symbolize, Beast encapsulates the Ann Arbor band’s first year of trials, tribulations, and growth, assuming the voices of a century’s worth of music with fresh perspective. “The blends of swing, bluegrass, Dixieland ditties and alluring gypsy-folk whirls – is something close to a transcendent listen…you’re there, on some dirtroad, being led on by these songs,” says reviewer Jeff Milo of iSpy magazine. The crowd-funded album has come with a green-thumb pledge of support from the band–they are donating half the profits from the first run of CDs to local non-profit Selma Cafe.
“Selma does wonderful work with local farmers,” said Brandon Smith–violinist, mandolinist and vocalist. “Their work over the last 3 years has resulted in the creation of over 20,000 square feet of year-round growing space.” The hoop-house spreading 501(c)3 is intricately tied to the band–they got their start playing Friday morning gigs for tips in the crowded Ann Arbor home where the Cafe part of the organization lives.
Formed in November of 2010 by the coincidental meeting of Andrew and Brandon, The Appleseed Collective got a jump on the scene through endless networking and connections with the underground current of house-shows, DIY Fests, and localist enthusiasts. Sophie Tulip added sweet lows and highs with double bass and vocals, and Vince Russo livened the group with his clackering washboard and raw vocal passion.
By the end of December, the band was already headlining at The Blind Pig, and have since shared stages with Steppin In It, The Ragbirds, Cuddle Magic, and Frontier Ruckus. May of 2011 saw the band embark on their debut tour–a ragged edge east coast gypsy caravan of a month which was amazingly successful through the force of sheer moxy. The band proved their DIY ethic could float by spending a week in each city of their tour playing on the street and making connections for the coming weekend’s show.
As summer drew to a close, The Appleseed Collective began making waves on the Michigan scene with appearances at Hollerfest and Earthwork’s Harvest Gathering. And in August of 2011 the band welcomed Katie Lee to the stage to complete the current lineup with warm vocals and cutting banjo.
2012Candy Says Listen Up! I am seriously liking this song from The Appleseed Collective! Excellent vocals over funky country music, that you can dance around the room too plain cold sober. Much More Please.
Listen: Mani (mp3) Web: Official HERE.
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