Monthly Archives: November 2016

Album Review: Jay Taylor – Hold On

Posted on by
Jay Taylor

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Jay Taylor – Hold On

EP Review of Jay Taylor: Hold On

That voice. There’s something special about Jay Taylor‘s voice. Something completely country about it, too. Not modern country, though. Not necessarily old-school country, either. I’d call it timeless country. He can do the old-school songs, which are clearly close to his heart, and make them seem modern and appealing to audiences across the country sub-genres. Of course, I raved about Jay’s voice when I wrote this live review a couple months ago. And I’m sure I’ll do it again next time I write about him.

The songs on this five-track EP are earworms. Give them a listen and they’ll come back to you at the oddest times. Hold On is a collection of well-written songs delivered by one of the finest country voices you’ll ever hear.

Jay Taylor - Hold OnThis disc kicks off with the song that hooked me when I first heard it months ago, the title track “Hold On.” Right off the bat, the twanging guitar will grab you, and Jay’s earnestly powerful vocal joins right in, evolving “Hold On” into the hookiest, catchiest, most fun songs about drinking moonshine you’ve ever heard.

“How I Wanted To” is a heartfelt love-lost song with a twang and drum roll that would be at home in the 1970s but delivered with just enough modern pop and country edge that it stakes its claim as a contemporary number, even featuring a timeless harmonica bridge.

“The Green Dress Song” is another pure country ditty. I always think of slower tempos when I think of George Strait, but I can absolutely hear George’s rich, emotional country voice – with just enough country twang – in Jay’s vocals on this charming uptempo song with enough slide guitar to sound as if it came straight from the Opry stage.

The “ohs” in “The Light” suggest balladic Elvis, but Jay delivers it with a rich, full vocal that’s entirely his own. This lyrically interesting crooner about a nomadic soul would be as at-home in an arena with an audience full of lighters (or smartphone screens) held aloft as it would be in a 1950s high school gymnasium during a homecoming dance.

The nomadic soul theme continues with “Hello Railroad,” but this one has more of a Johnny Cash flavor to it. To no one’s surprise, of course, Jay’s voice is up to the challenge.

In summary, Hold On is catchy, engaging country music that will stand the test of time performed by a modern country boy with one of the finest, most versatile voices you’ll ever hear.

Looking Ahead

Jay’s a fun, laid-back showman with a great voice, so I’ll certainly get out to see him perform again whenever I can if I see he’s performing in my area. If you’re in Charlotte, NC, you’ll get a chance when he’s at Tin Roof of December 2nd. And on December 3rd, he’ll be at the Tin Roof in Columbia, SC. Jay’s schedule includes several other Tin Roof stops, in Lexington, KY on Friday, December 16th, and in Louisville, KY on Saturday, December 17th and Friday December 30th. Several 2017 shows are on Jay’s calendar, again hitting the Tin Roofs in Charlotte, Columbia, Louisville, and Lexington. Click on the tour page of his website for more details on those shows and to see when he adds additional dates. Until you get a chance to hear him perform live, though, check out the Hold On EP.

Album Review: Bethan Lees – Ships

Posted on by
Bethan Lees

photo courtesy of Bethan Lees

by James Morris, Contributing Blogger

EP Review of Bethan Lees: Ships

Back in September, you may have seen a review I did for the debut single release from UK singer-songwriter Bethan Lees. Time has flown by, and those warm post festival summer days seem like a distant memory as I sit here writing with the rain hammering down on a particularly cold November evening. But November is the month I have waited for if only to get my hands on the new Bethan Lees EP release, Ships, which is out 25th November on Folkstock Records.

If you remember, I was most impressed by what I heard when I listened to her first single “Post Festival Blues” and couldn’t wait to hear the rest of the EP. Well, now I can report that along with “Post Festival Blues,” the EP has 3 other gems on it. The title track “Ships,” the bluesy jazz sound of “Water and Wine,” and the haunting “Sleep.”

Bethan Lees - Ships

image courtesy of Folkstock Records

First and foremost you notice the voice. What a voice! Sometimes sweet and cheeky, and at others, ghostly and ethereal. A slightly husky, whispering tone comprised of such unique melodic tones that it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. This is a young voice with a depth of maturity that at times seems to channel veteran blues or jazz singers from the past. It is unaffected and not forced, and this naturalness makes her such a pleasure to listen to.

There is a small arrangement for each song based around her guitar and voice. A little bit of drums and double bass, some eerie cello on her title track “Ships,” just enough to colour the songs. To be honest, I think they would have stood up on their own with just her voice and guitar, such is the strength of the material and performance. Maybe this would have brought out even more of the intimacy of her delivery; sometimes when she sings it is like a ghost whispering in your ear. That said, the EP is a great opportunity to hear the embryonic magic of what I believe Bethan will continue to produce.

She has a rare talent, and I believe from what I’ve heard so far she stands uniquely poised for some exciting times ahead.

On December 15th, she is launching her EP with a live performance at The Lamb Inn, Lewes, East Sussex. She is going to be joined by a few of her musical friends, and I would think it will be a fine evening to show off her talents playing tracks from the EP plus even more of her new material.

Catch up with her activity on Twitter.

Live Review: The Accidentals and Carbon Leaf at The Sinclair

Posted on by
Carbon Leaf and The Accidentals

Carbon Leaf and The Accidentals; photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Accidentals and Carbon Leaf

The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

November 19, 2016

The Backstory

You’ve read Joe Szilvagyi’s review of The Accidentals’ Parking Lot EP here in this Blog. Joe discovered The Accidentals this past summer. Joe and I have vastly different musical tastes; we rarely listen to the same bands. (He’s a terrific judge of talent and a great music reviewer, and I enjoy having him write for me because he’s knowledgeable about styles of music that aren’t my bailiwick, but our personal music collections have very little overlap.) In this case, though, after reading Joe’s review and listening to the band’s recent release, I’ve joined Joe as a fan of The Accidentals’ music. So when I noticed The Accidentals were going to be in the Boston area, I circled the date on my calendar… and then hoped a non-music-related event wouldn’t get in the way.

The Accidentals

The Accidentals; photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Opening Act: The Accidentals

Full of energy and sporting an identifiable sound all their own, genre-busting trio The Accidentals energized a crowd that was mostly discovering them for the first time. If I had to describe The Accidentals’ music, I’d call it a pop-friendly, folk-influenced, classically-progressive, personality-infused blend of catchy songs and impressive musicianship. Combined with an engaging stage presence, this is a group with all the tools for a long, successful career. And there’s even a quirky edge to some of its songs that might lend itself well to independent film soundtracks as an introductory outlet.

The Accidentals

The Accidentals; photo by Geoff Wilbur

On this particular night, right out of the gate, drummer Michael Dause got things rolling, joined soon by string multi-instrumentalists Katie Larson and Savannah Buist. Savannah and Katie swapped lead instrumental duties throughout the set, while vocally, Savannah’s vocals are a bit quirkier, while Katie’s a bit more straightforward folky-indie-rock. And Michael’s voice maybe a little crisply high when he’s asked to lead.

The Accidentals

The Accidentals; photo by Geoff Wilbur

The positive energy from the opening number carried through to the band’s smooth second song, “The Silence,” from the band’s Bittersweet album. (Actually, to be fair, the energy ran throughout the set.)

Next up was a new song, “Stitches and Seams,” an engaging folky alt-rocker featuring Savannah’s quirky vocals atop Katie’s smooth, rich string bed. This was followed by “The Sound a Watch Makes When Enveloped in Cotton,” performed in standard power trio (electric guitar, electric bass, drums) format. Katie shredded on the electric guitar, Savannah rocked the bass throughout (and during the included solo), and Michael augmented his drumming with a brief beat-boxing segment. Altogether, it came across a bit like Johnny Cash… if he was a three-piece, odd alt-rock band.

The Accidentals

The Accidentals; photo by Geoff Wilbur

Skipping ahead, Michael was notably the featured vocalist on an exceptionally enjoyable cover of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer.”

The band then closed with a two songs I recognized from the Parking Lot EP. First was “The End,” a catchy, fun, jug-band-worthy knee-slapper that’s tailor-made to showcase the electric fiddle.

The Accidentals closed their set with “Parking Lot,” the band’s super-catchy EP title track that showcased the group’s live performance at its fully animated best, replete with truly frenetic fiddling; it absolutely, most enthusiastically, brought the house down. In fact, after the show, though the audience was there to see its beloved Carbon Leaf, I overheard several conversations about the terrific “opening band.” I’m pretty sure The Accidentals made a big step toward building a small legion of new fans in Boston with their set.

Carbon Leaf

Carbon Leaf; photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Headliners: Carbon Leaf

Carbon Leaf has been around a while. Since before the members of The Accidentals were born, in fact. And they’ve built a huge fanbase who turn out to see their performances. A large, packed concert hall full of fans enthusiastically singing along… it felt like the sort of crowd that might follow a band like Phish around at times. The audience spanned generations, combining those who’ve known the band for a couple decades with more recent converts. As Carbon Leaf explained late in the set, this year’s touring was a bit light, and the band approached this show a little differently, playing longtime favorites toward the middle of the set and playing deeper album cuts than might be expected at a typical rock concert.

Carbon Leaf

Carbon Leaf; photo by Geoff Wilbur

Carbon Leaf has been said to have Celtic, folk, and even some country influences in its alt-rock style. Indeed, I heard them all throughout the evening.

The band opened with “Miss Hollywood,” its smooth rock backdrop supporting insistent alt-rock vocals.

Later songs churned through Carbon Leaf’s mix of stylistic influences. Many of the catchier songs sport a bit of a slightly-Celtic-influenced Barenaked Ladies alt-rock sound. Just a bit, though, as Carbon Leaf’s music sounds like no one else’s. Or, perhaps, a bit like everyone else’s, as its sound navigates so many styles adeptly.

The first song to get the packed house singing along was “What About Everything,” a poppy alt-rocker with a folk edge. Thus began a string of crowd favorites. In fact, the crowd sang whole segments of “I Don’t Know Where to Begin,” a song quite well-suited for a campfire singalong.

Carbon Leaf

Carbon Leaf; photo by Geoff Wilbur

It was followed by the most hoedown, square dance-worthy ditty of the evening, “7 Brides for 7 Sinners.” And then Carbon Leaf’s biggest-ever hit, “Life Less Ordinary,” was delivered with great rocking energy that, naturally, had the entire audience singing along. Both great tunes, and a back-to-back pairing that showcased the broad diversity within the band’s repertoire.

The Accidentals then joined Carbon Leaf on stage for a single song, a rousing rendition of “Let Your Troubles Roll By” that turned into an extended jam among the talented musicians onstage.

Carbon Leaf

Carbon Leaf; photo by Geoff Wilbur

The next couple songs showcased significant penny whistle work from vocalist Barry Privett, and another sported some psychedelic blues guitar, while great Irish drinking song-styled “The Donnybrook Affair” really brought out the rowdiest side of the crowd.

The two-song encore that ended this raucous evening began with acoustically psychedelic “November (Makebelieve)” and ended with “I Know the Reason” and its big rockin’ hook, a satisfying end to a fun evening.

Looking Ahead

The Sinclair gig was The Accidentals’ last night on the road with Carbon Leaf, but each band has some upcoming gigs.

The Accidentals have a (snow) flurry of Michigan shows scheduled during the remainder of 2016. You can catch them in Grosse Point on November 26th, Elk Rapids and Williamsburg on November 27th, Grand Haven on December 2nd, Rockford on December 3rd, and Traverse City on December 16th. For details on these shows, as well as several 2017 shows (including a January west coast swing with Martin Sexton), check the tour page on The Accidentals’ website.

Carbon Leaf will be in Londonderry, NH on December 1st and 2nd, Philadelphia, PA on December 3rd, Annapolis, MD on December 9th and 10th, Alexandria, VA on December 15th and 16th, and Richmond, VA on December 17th. Further information on those dates, plus a southeast tour in February 2017, can be found on the tour page of Carbon Leaf’s website.

Album Review: Sonic Syndicate – Confessions

Posted on by
Sonic Syndicate

photo courtesy of Head First Entertainment

Album Review of Sonic Syndicate: Confessions

My first thought when I heard “Confessions,” the title track, was that George Michael was singing synth-pop with a heavy backbeat and rock guitars. An intriguing opening track, it announces a brand new sound for Sonic Syndicate, and even as Confessions settles into its heavy melodic synth-infused rock core, it is very much unlike anything else in my collection and quite different from Sonic Syndicate’s prior releases. I’m sure it’s causing quite a bit of consternation among the band’s legion of existing fans.

Sonic Syndicate - Confessions

image courtesy of Head First Entertainment

Indeed, yes, when Nathan J. Biggs took over vocal duties on We Rule the Night, there was a noticeably more melodic shift, but Confessions is a seismic departure. I’m intrigued, but I also wasn’t a devoted fan before the change, so I enter the equation without preconceived notions. The synth-driven beats, pop vocal sensibility, and persistent beat (almost like you’d expect in a dance club) are truly a hybrid sound. On this disc, Nathan and founding guitarist Robin Sjunnerson are joined by Michel Bärzén on bass, as well as other musicians in the studio. And they’ve produced a one-of-a-kind sound worth taking a chance on.

Third track “Start a War” is a standout track, as it builds to power, stops and starts a bit, and plunges forward with an infectious heavy melodic rhythm.

Throughout the album, there are small details – like the guitar run in “Falling,” for example – that serve as hooks while showing the care that went into the song construction and production here. And the bursts of power in “Burn to Live,” strung together with softer vocal bridges and walls of synth and guitar provide the song with an engaging energy.

Beyond that, I suppose “Still Believe” would be a ballad in the scheme of Sonic Syndicate’s sound, with its slower pace, and there’s a seriously pop angle to the vocals, but the heavy drums are still there. Second-to-last song “Closure,” though, is Confessions‘ true ballad, with what sound like soaring strings toward its conclusion.

The album itself concludes with “Halfway Down the Road,” a mid-tempo rocker featuring an old-school classic rock guitar solo; this final song itself is largely unlike the other tracks on the disc.

In all, Confessions is a daring departure for Sonic Syndicate. For the band’s longtime fans, if their musical tastes don’t span the musical spectrum, they may not be excited by the change (to put it lightly). Indeed, I expect the backlash to be brutal from some corners of the metal community, but for those whose fandom is not wedded to a specific genre or sub-genre, it’s an intriguing disc. I tip my hat to Sonic Syndicate for such bold experimentation, and I do have a couple favorite tracks on this album.

Live Shows

Sonic Syndicate’s upcoming live shows, as listed on their website, are tonight, November 19th at Majestic Music Club in Bratislava, Slovakia; tomorrow, November 20th at Simm City in Vienna, Austria; February 8th at Klubi in Tampere, Finland; February 9th at Lutakko in Jyvaskyla, Finland; and February 10th at Virgin Oil Co in Helsinki, Finland. Check the Sonic Syndicate website’s “Shows” page for further details and additional live dates as they’re added.

Album Review: The Lucky Losers – In Any Town

Posted on by
The Lucky Losers

photo courtesy of Frank Roszak Promotions

The Lucky Losers – In Any Town

Album Review of The Lucky Losers: In Any Town

Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz are the lead vocal pair of San Francisco’s The Lucky Losers, a place where the blues meet ’60s psychedelic organ rock while fronted by a cloud-pleasing vocal duo with chemistry and sometimes almost loungy banter. The band is rounded out by Marvin Greene on guitar, Chris Burns on keyboards, Tim Wagar on bass, and Robi Bean on drums.

The Lucky Losers - In Any Town

image courtesy of Frank Roszak Promotions

The Lucky Losers kick off In Any Town with “So High,” whose soaring blues vocals and organ are supplemented by Berkowitz’s harmonica-work and psychedelic lead guitar from one of the many guest musicians on the album, Kid Andersen.

Lemons opens the next song, “It Ain’t Enough,” with a sultry vocal that’ll bring to mind a hot summer day in New Orleans in a shady PI’s office, with the constant hum of the fan obscuring a troubled dame’s pleas for help solving a crime when the cops won’t help, even though she can only pay the investigator with her grandmother’s diamond necklace, and the gumshoe isn’t entirely sure she wasn’t behind the crime all along. Or something like that. And the song maintains that feeling through keyboards, harmonica, and guitar riffs that complement the vocals.

The duo introduces its interpersonal playfulness on “Jackson,” though the true showcase for their banter is “I Can’t Change Ya,” a tune which, itself, has frenetic energy.

The Lucky Losers

photo courtesy of Frank Roszak Promotions

Perhaps my favorite song on the album is “Blind Man in the Dark,” a peppy number that mixes Motown and blues along with almost Randy Newman-esque vocals.

“In Any Town” has the sparse, tumbleweed Western ghost town blues flavor, slow and soulful with Berkowitz’s harmonica riffs punctuating Lemons’ rich, lamenting vocals, complemented by meandering guitar.

And closing track “Small Town Talk” is a vocal duet that just seems like an album-ender, coolly and confidently winding down the record as if it’s playing the performers off of the stage at the end of a show.

Really, beginning to end, this is a solid disc; a collection like this will satisfy loyal fans while expanding these talented singers’ audience.

Looking Ahead

You can catch The Lucky Losers live tomorrow night, Friday, November 18th at The Carlos Club in San Carlos, CA. In December, they’ll also be at the Smoking Pig (with Kid Andersen) in Fremont, CA on Friday, December 2nd and at The Saloon in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, December 15th. To see more information on those dates, new dates as they’re added, and 2017 dates already scheduled in Berkeley, CA, Houston, TX, New Orleans, LA, Englewood, FL, and Vero Beach, FL, check the live show calendar on The Lucky Losers’ website.

Live Review: The Dayz at the Knitting Factory

Posted on by
The Dayz

photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Dayz

Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY

November 12, 2016

The Backstory

On my final night in New York, I gathered with my oldest group of friends for dinner, some live music, and coffee/dessert in Williamsburg. Well, except that there was traffic that caused some of us to run late, so while the rest of my crew was finishing dinner next door, I zipped over to catch The Dayz at the Knitting Factory.

I’ve known The Dayz’ frontman Dax Callner since my days publishing Geoff Wilbur’s Renegade Newsletter, but I had never seen him perform live with this or any previous band, so I was looking forward to it. I’d heard the band’s music, so I knew I was in for something good.

The Concert

I estimated the set start time incorrectly, so I missed about half of the set. A shame, since what I caught was, as expected, tight, catchy, and original.

The Dayz

photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Dayz, at least on their Facebook page, refer to themselves as a “collective.” Elsewhere online they use the more common term “band,” but I kind of like collective. The seven-piece outfit is comprised of Dax Callner (vocals/guitars), Aaron Green (bass), Alix Brd (vocals), Richie Phillips (saxophone), Terry Shook (drums), Alroy Teves (guitars) and Michael Villarosa (keyboards). But, as one might expect from a collective of talented musicians who enjoy playing together, any of them can carry the musical load for significant stretches of a given song. At times in the few songs I heard, Dax, Richie, Alroy, and Michael all ably took the lead and stamped their musical signatures on significant song segments while still maintaining a Dayz sound.

I was just settling in during the end of “Waves,” so the first song I heard in full was “Ascension,” a funky, smooth, jazzy number with great harmonies and a silky sax contribution I really dig. Its hook is in its rising vocal line.

The Dayz

photo by Geoff Wilbur

“Ice Breaks” features a quick-strumming ’70s style and, once into the meat of the song, the sax notably rocks it as hard as the guitars. It was followed by “The Contrarian,” which struck me as having a bit of that David Bowie “Modern Love” vibe but a bit more rockin’ with interesting piano/keys meanderings. Plus saxwork featured as a full solo.

The final song of the evening, “The Fourth Estate,” is truly something special. It could clearly be The Dayz’ signature song, a catchy number that would get any club or arena crowd on its feet and moving. Look for this tune to turn up in pop culture at some point.

And that was it. Short and sweet. A few exceptional songs from a talented collective of musicians.

In a single phrase, I’d probably describe The Dayz as a soulful rock band. Stylistically, However, they deliver the live, party-atmosphere energy of a big-time ska band in rock ‘n roll wrapping with some soulful vocals and melodic jazz elements sprinkled in for original flavoring.

Looking ahead, you can catch The Dayz live December 7th at 8:00 pm at The Bowery Electric.

 

Live Review: Station at Arlene’s Grocery

Posted on by
Station

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Station

Arlene’s Grocery, New York, NY

November 11, 2016

There’s always a place for a solid, fun, melodic hard rock band. Something you’d see on the Sunset Strip in the 1980s. And, of course, across your radio dial during the same time frame. That’s where Station comes in. They’re a fun-loving, talented five-piece that carries that 1980s-style small-venue concert party atmosphere into its rightful place in the current music landscape.

This concert reminded me of my pre-rock journalist days, catching great touring hard rock bands at Paolo’s in Grand Rapids, The Apple Core Lounge in Shelbyville, or the Silver Dollar Saloon in Lansing (before it “went country”). It reminded me of the great “hair band” (I always hated that term — it’s about the music, the performance, and the atmosphere, not the hair) scene in Boston when I was writing for Tough Tracks in the late eighties/early nineties, hitting clubs like The Channel, Axis, Bunratty’s, and Narcissus.

And I’m enjoying seeing this style return to the scene a bit more, since this is the kind of music that can provide that big arena show experience in a small club. At least, that’s true when it’s done right. And Station rocked Arlene’s Grocery with gusto last night. In addition, many of the fans in the packed venue were singing along, enthusiastic to see the band’s final New York City show of 2016. When the crowd knows the words, you know you’re seeing a band with a loyal following.

I arrived as the show was beginning, walking in during “Dressed to Kill,” an ’80s rocker with great rhythm in the vocal, an ever-so-slightly funky edge to an otherwise straight-ahead, forceful rockin’ tune.

Station

photo by Geoff Wilbur

At times during the set, the bands songs reminded me of The Who (specifically “Baba O’Riley”), ’80s Kiss, Nazareth, Faster Pussycat… most often, though, Station’s music was an interesting blend of hard rocking Legs Diamond and more purely melodic Sleeze Beez. Station’s performance was built around ample use of appropriate, well-placed, often blistering guitar solos, an occasionally stage-stealing bass player, and vocals that frequently jumped an octave or two during the more intense segments of the songs.

Other standout songs during the evening included “With Me Tonight,” with a monster lead guitar hook; crowd-pleaser “Everything,” on which the vocals most closely recalled Paul Stanley in spots; and “Never Say Never,” which reminds me of Nazareth during the beginning guitarwork and is driven by a heavy rhythm and vocal screams.

It’s also worth mentioning a couple of the band’s new songs, which show there are some solid new songs in the pipeline. Of course, I’m just guessing at the song titles, but the first “new one” of the evening, “If You Want It Hard Enough You’ll Find It…” features a pulsing rhythm and high, emotional vocals. Ample vocal screams and multi-part harmonies accompanied a well-placed tempo change late in the song.

The other new song of note, “Always Be a Part of Me” sports a medium-fast tempo. It’s a romantic song with emotional vocal highlights, a steady rhythm, and a bit of a guitar hook.

Station

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Late-set standout “Are You Sleeping Alone” struck me as a potential hit, with melodic harmonies and hooks, all within the requisite guitar-heavy framework.

The encore, “I Don’t Want to Know Your Name,” was another song with a potentially broad appeal. Musically, it sported the entire guitar hero arsenal, which a catchy rhythm and exceptionally melodic vocals, rising and falling with power and emotion. A crowd-pleaser, this was a great way to end a gig.

In the end, Station delivers some pretty standard melodic metal fare. The band has its own performance and songwriting style, which is how fans distinguish among this type of band to find their favorites. But the show itself is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. And on this night, Station did a fine job of rocking Arlene’s Grocery with an hour and a half of guitar shredding, hard rock screams, and party atmosphere, maintaining an intensity of 10 on a 10 scale non-stop for 90 minutes. Absolutely a band worth catching for those seeking a rock concert experience. I also look forward to hearing what Station’s next album brings.

Looking Ahead

Station has a couple Connecticut shows coming up later this month: November 19th at Cook’s Cafe in Naugatuck, CT and November 29th (with Theory of a Deadman) at The Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT. Check the band’s “shows” page for additional information and future dates as they’re added.

Meanwhile, I’ll be wrapping up my New York trip tonight by attending my fifth show in six nights. I’ll be at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn to see The Dayz.

Live Review: New Myths at Brooklyn Bazaar

Posted on by
New Myths

photo by Geoff Wilbur

New Myths

Brooklyn Bazaar, Brooklyn, NY

November 10, 2016

The Backstory

Earlier this year, I discovered New Myths’ music. I don’t recall how or where, but I was intrigued by their uniquely original sound and placed one of their songs on a personal playlist I listen to when I’m in the office. So, by now, I’ve heard the band’s “Edge of the World” dozens of times. When I planned this New York trip, I checked to see if any of my already-favorite New York bands were playing. So I was excited to get a chance to see New Myths live.

New Myths

photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Concert

Brooklyn Bazaar wasn’t a venue I was aware of before this show. What a cool, spacious room its upstairs concert room is. Like a funky multi-function room with style. And as New Myths’ set time approached, the room began to fill.

With a bit of a foggy haze on the stage, New Myths’ initial song began as an atmospheric soft pop-punk number with haunting vocals and then cranked things up a notch. I’m not sure there’s a fitting category for New Myths’ intriguing, edgy, alluring sound other than alt-pop-punk.

New Myths

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Varying across songs, of course, there are elements of Blondie and The Muffs on the one (more rockin’) hand, and Missing Persons, ’til Tuesday, Human League, and Berlin on the other (synth-pop/New Wave) hand. It’s a blend of familiar sounds presented in a new way with subtly catchy hooks. New Myths display the energy and oomph of punk but with more of the aural aspects of the poppier New Wave artists.

As for the concert itself, with the lights, fog machine, and New Myths’ on-stage rock ‘n roll attitude, this did feel like a smallish, relatively intimate concert rather than a club show.

The songs throughout the set varied. One was a pulsing number driven by the drums with edgy, atmospheric vocals and a catchy bass line. The next had a catchy drum rhythm with the bass line doing the muscle work. And always there were the vocals – wailing, cracking, squeaky, haunting… always fitting the song, sometimes in surprising ways.

Often in the songs there were vocal harmonies, too. On one track, in particular, I noted that, with the catchy beat and vocal harmonies set against an aggressive musical backdrop, New Myths sounded a bit like the angry Go-Go’s

New Myths

photo by Geoff Wilbur

And the occasional rough edges? They’re in line with the band’s punk attitude.

“Playing With Fire” was a highlight, with a bass line that weaves around and a catchy drum rhythm, plus what I can best describe as a wall of vocals.

“Edge of the World” is my longtime favorite, the song on my personal playlist, and I knew it from the first opening riff of the song-starting guitar hook, which drives this track, featuring squeaky, atmospheric vocals supported by harmony vocals.

But there was one other song that stood out even more for me live. It features a harmonic, haunting punk-rock war cry, surf punk guitarwork, and a playful drum beat. Based on those notes (since I only knew the one song very well before the show), after a skim of the band’s songs on SoundCloud this morning, I’m pretty sure it’s “False Gold.” Seriously, this one could have monster crossover appeal.

I would absolutely recommend catching a New Myths show. They’re stylistically original in a corner of their sub-genre that’s not commonly done. At least, it’s not usually executed nearly as well as New Myths do it.

New Myths

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Looking Ahead

New Myths have one upcoming gig listed on their website, a December 10th date at The Mercury Lounge. Watch the band’s “tour” page for details and future shows as they’re added.

My week in New York continues tonight. I do have a concert in mind, and it’s a bit late, so I’m not sure if I’ll get a review posted tomorrow or if my two remaining nights of reviews won’t be online until a couple days after the shows. There are some other, earlier shows I have my eyes on, too. I’ll decide later today. I’ll finish my extended sampling of the New York live music scene on Saturday night when I’ll be at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn to catch The Dayz.

Live Review: Lindsey Luff and Milow at The Mercury Lounge

Posted on by

Lindsey Luff and Milow

The Mercury Lounge, New York, NY

November 9, 2016

I didn’t get out to a live show on Tuesday night. Instead, I spent the evening with some of the publicists I’ve known since the very beginning of my writing career. But I was back out at the clubs again last night for the early show at The Mercury Lounge, where Brooklyn-based Lindsey Luff opened for LA-based Belgian singer Milow.

It was my first visit to The Mercury Lounge in 18 years; in 1998, I made it to a Lisa St. Ann–Willie Nile performance there. (Not that I’ve been avoiding this great venue; I’ve only been to a few shows in New York since then.) In any case, the room feels as welcoming as it did nearly two decades ago.

Lindsey Luff

photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Opener: Lindsey Luff

I was impressed immediately as singer-songwriter Lindsey Luff kicked things off in a slow rockin’ Americana-ish number featuring a vocal that’s more accurately described as a power wail which, in this case, seems to carry a bit of Irish folk song anguish. In the second song of the night, in fact, her plea of “run away with me” is very convincing.

Lindsey Luff

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Lindsey’s songs throughout her set were very consistent, with her haunting, insistent, often plaintive voice maintaining enough edge (with perhaps a hint of gravellyness) to set that energetically relaxed tone that keeps the audience engaged.

“What I Wouldn’t Do” pairs Lindsey’s convincing vocals with a wicked-catchy simple bass hook, while “Anything At All” sports a more brooding vocal supplying the soft power.

Lindsey Luff

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Lindsey’s edgy crooning vocal is featured on the mellow “Wishing,” a great song to get the audience swaying. “Remind Me” is worth noting, too, with guitar, vocals and, notably, drums building to power; here, also, was particularly effective use of emotional, cracking vocals.

Lindsey closed the set with a rousing, arena-swaying audience singalong number, sporting determination in her vocals and featuring a nice atmospheric guitar solo. Perfect way to leave the audience wanting more.

Milow

photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Headliner: Milow

As Milow’s set time approached, the crowd noticeably built, as an enthusiastic chunk of New York’s Belgian community came out in force to show its support.

Milow’s rich, full, emotional, deep vocals provide his catchy songs a smooth vibe. I guess he’d be best described as a singer-songwriter, and he spices his music up with a playful streak. In fact, I often found myself thinking his songs were a bit of James Taylor-meets-Barenaked Ladies, if you can imagine that. And that carries over into his stage presence, as he’s great at connecting with the crowd during his between-song bits. By the end of the first song, even, it was obvious Milow is a headliner-quality performer.

His second song made a connection with a good chunk of this New York crowd on this given night, “(Gonna Move to) Canada.” Of course, in the song “Canada,” he’s off to meet Neil Young. The track features great keyboard work and guitar strumming and, wow, what a voice! Plus, by the end of the song, it’s the first introduction to the playfulness in some of Milow’s lyrics, not unlike that band I mentioned earlier, whose sound I hear a bit of in this (in part due to tempo and phrasing) and who he could, in fact, meet in Canada, Barenaked Ladies.

Milow

photo by Geoff Wilbur

With so many good songs during Milow’s set, it’s hard to know what to highlihgt. “No No No” would probably be one of my favorites; I love the way the power builds in spots.

Cheerful “Happiness” proved to be a crowd favorite. It’s a rather odd, unusual love song, quite silly, with a twisted sense of humor shared broadly by his audience.

I was very fond of “The Fast Lane,” a hit single-quality song that impressed me with its mellow, smooth, and rich vocal. “We Must Be Crazy,” meanwhile, is one of his many lyrically-interesting tunes, as he doesn’t always make the most obvious choices in his lyrics, and that’s a good thing.

“Swimming Against the Tide” again displayed his hit songwriting skills, as this catchy number again caused me to invoke a combo of Taylor and the Ladies for comparison.

A cover of “Blue Skies” showcased Milow’s phrasing skills, as he really drew out some syllables so they could pop, making a very old song new again.

Milow

photo by Geoff Wilbur

“You Don’t Know,” with its cool, energetic medium tempo, proved another crowd singalong favorite.

Milow promised he’d bring the mood back up after “You’re Still Alive in My Head,” a sensitive, Simon and Garfunkel-ish number with a notably cool guitar-pickin’ bridge.

He delivered with “Howling at the Moon.” This uptempo, fun song about traveling and the changing seasons is perhaps my favorite of Milow’s singalong songs, as it offers those who sing along a chance to, in fact, howl along. And everyone needs a good howl.

For his encore, Milow sang his cover of “Starboy,” which he just Shazammed. Dude really made it his own. It was a terrific end to a great concert.

Milow is quite obviously a headlining performer. And I had a terrific time; it’s always fun to discover a new artist at a show alongside a throng of his enthusiastic, adoring fans.

Looking Ahead

Well, I plan to be in Brooklyn tonight, catching New Myths at Brooklyn Bazaar. It’s one of the two dates I had placed on my calendar “in ink” when originally planning this New York jaunt; I look forward to hearing them live.

Lindsey Luff doesn’t have any upcoming gigs listed on her website, but keep an eye out on her “shows” page for them.

Milow is heading to Canada for three shows this week. You can catch him tonight, November 10, at Imperial Bell in Quebec City; tomorrow, Friday, November 11, at the Corona Theatre in Montreal; and Saturday, November 12, at the Drake Hotel in Toronto. He’ll be on tour in Europe soon, too, kicking off in Luxembourg on November 30th and wrapping up in Leuven, Belgium, on December 18th. In between, he’ll perform in Groningen, Diest, Cologne, Utrecht, Hanover, Wagrain, Vienna, Prague, Lausanne, Nijmegin, and Antwerpen. See his “tour” page for dates and times of these shows, plus for other future tour dates in the future.

Live Review: Jess Labus at Rockwood Music Hall

Posted on by
Jess Labus

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Jess Labus

Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY

November 7, 2016

The Backstory

Yes, I’m in New York this week. On Sunday night, my wife and I saw an exceptional show on Broadway, Cirque du Soleil: Paramour. And last night, I was on the Lower East Side catching some great, local live music, the first of several sets I’ll be seeing — and reviewing — this week. In this case, I spent a bit of time sifting through performers on Monday’s night’s docket around the City, so I was not at all surprised to be entertained by Jess Labus. [Ed. Note: Since this review posted, Jess is now Jes Justice.]

I arrived just a few minutes before the set time, so I only heard one song of the previous artist, whose name I didn’t seek out, but who sang a stirring rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.” And then it was time for Jess to take the stage.

Jess Labus

photo by Geoff Wilbur

The Concert

Jess Labus delivered a strong vocal performance at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2 last night. Her individual songs called heavily upon a wide variety of musical styles but all centered around her own brand of pop-rock, driven by vocal power in much the same way Pat Benatar’s songs are. But the way her voice can power a song is the basis for the Benatar comparison. There was a very different band whose sound Jess and her band continually reminded me of, driven as much by the songwriting as by Jess’ voice. Unfortunately, the name of that band — a major, successful mid-tempo rock band from the last decade — escapes me. That’s the downside of writing a live review; I don’t have weeks to try to remember, as I would for an album review.

Jess Labus

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Jess kicked the set off solo with her acoustic guitar, singing “Levi,” sporting the most expressive version of her versatile voice, cracking for emotional effect in the right spots. The song’s engaging texture was a result of Jess’ voice really dancing around the melody, moving around within the pocket. In the end, there was a bit of a rockin’ country-folk vibe, in part because it was a story-song, though the way she delivered it gave it more of a Gavin DeGraw (“I Don’t Want to Be”) feel.

The entire band joined Jess for the rest of the set, beginning with “California,” a mid-tempo number whose big sound came from the hooky guitar line and the keys’ rich organ sound, which supported Jess’ vocal roars. Indeed, as nice as the solo acoustic opener was, Jess’ talented, equally versatile supporting cast was the key to the breadth and depth of the set.

Jess Labus

photo by Geoff Wilbur

Next up was “Downtown,” a funky rockin’ vocal track that would fall in the power pop-rock category. It was followed by “I’ll Just Be a Prostitute,” whose bluesy vocal and guitar riff were so catchy they’d almost ensure that, by the end of a second or third listen, if it was on the radio or an album I owned, I’d be singing along. (I had started by the end of the song last night, the first time I heard it.)

“Break Me” featured a powerful, strong vocal, though the song’s engine was really its rhythm. “Come Over,” next, had kind of a funky R&B rhythm supporting Jess’ more soulfully delivered vocal. Next up was “Judgment Day,” a high-energy rocker with power guitars; this song did, in fact, feature a short, blistering axe solo.

Jess closed her set with “Quietly,” which she delivered as a bit of a torch song, continuing to showcase her vocal versatility. And when vocals are delivered with a bluesy, down-home, country edge like this, you call it crooning.

Jess Labus

photo by Geoff Wilbur

After the engaging set, Jess treated the audience to an unveiling of her new, not-yet-released video for the song “Judgment Day,” a tale of gin — or, perhaps, wine — and salvation.

An energetic performance from a powerful singer with a talented band is a great way to kick off a week of live shows. And, indeed, this performance has left me looking forward to hearing more of Jess Labus’ music.

Looking Ahead

Jess’ website has upcoming shows listed in Manchester, NH on December 2nd, in both Bennington and Barre, VT on December 3rd, and in Brooklyn, NY on December 8th. Check out the “tour” page of her website for additional information and new dates as they’re added.