Alexis Maindrault captured some stunning shots from last night’s Brooklyn performance. Villagers recently dropped by Yours Truly. We’re giving away a pair of tickets to catch Villagers @ New York City’s Joe’s Pub.
View more photos & download a Villagers selection AFTER THE JUMP…
An unabashedly ravishing set from the Scandinavian chanteuse! TMS Rating: 9/10. Visit Taken By Trees on MySpace. Watch ‘My Boys’ here. We’re giving away a pair of tickets to catch Tuesday’s NYC gig with El Perro Del Mar.
Prior to Thursday night’s stellar performance by Oh No Ono, Alexis Maindrault captured a few phenomenal shots of The Depreciation Guild.
View more photos & download a TDG tune AFTER THE JUMP…
TMS photographer, Alexis Maindrault, attended the Danish collective’s debut Brooklyn gig and assures us that it was positively incredible. Mew absolutely adores Oh No Ono. Be certain to visit Oh No Ono at their official site.
View more shots & download an Oh No Ono tune AFTER THE JUMP…
Last night at Union Hall, I saw my fifth Blood Warrior show. After seeing them three times during CMJ, they’ve come back from an eleven day tour of the eastern seaboard a tighter, stronger band with a palpable joy of playing together – whether that was aided because this was the last day of the tour or not, didn’t really matter. What did matter was that with each soaring and uplifting song, I too felt uplifted. Uplifted quite literally in fact as I found myself on my toes, higher and higher, during each song. Truly a band to keep an ever watchful eye on. You can buy their new 7 inch from Ernest Jenning.
View more photos AFTER THE JUMP…
The first time I witnessed a live performance from Los Angeles based artist, Jeremy Jay (July of ’08), I lovingly compared his swagger and lyrical content to that of Morrissey. However, last night’s 60 minute set (which focused heavily on his stunning sophomore LP, Slow Dance) definitely felt a lot more Cure/Psych Furs influenced than anything else. While new wave is surely a major influence within Jeremy Jay’s sound, it’s not his only reference point. What’s so intriguing about Jeremy Jay is his mind-blowing ability to craft 150-180 second pop tunes that sound positively vintage and ultra modern simultaneously. Better yet, each & every track in his catalog sounds simply glorious in a live setting. His current North American trek wraps up next week! If you can’t catch him in the flesh then please visit JJ on MySpace.
View more photos & download a Jeremy Jay track AFTER THE JUMP…
Last night marked the official record release gig for The Antlers’ new (NPR approved) LP, Hospice. Joined by a sea of special guest vocalists & instrumentalists (including but not limited to: members of The Naked Hearts, Spanish Prisoners & Sharon Van Etten), the Brooklyn based trio played the heartbreakingly epic album in order from start to finish. Having the pleasure to witness these uncommon collaborations was nothing short of magical. It should come as no surprise to loyal readers of the site that Hospice is quickly becoming one of my most cherished albums in recent memory. I highly suggest that you secure your copy of the long player ASAP! We’re giving away an Antlers prize pack on 3/10. Visit The Antlers on MySpace.
View more photos & download an Antlers selection AFTER THE JUMP…
The Physics Of Meaning never cease to amaze me. After last night’s gig, I’ve officially lost count of the grand total number of times I’ve witnessed the North Carolina based act’s highly impressive live show. Fronted by vocalist & violinist, Daniel Hart, The Physics Of Meaning positively soared throughout their forty minute set. The band’s brilliant sophomore LP, Snake Charmer & Destiny At The Stroke Of Midnight, is out now. Watch a snippet from TPOM’s performance at The Music Slut’s Third Anniversary Party here.
Last night marked the first-ever (monthly) Spicy Times party at Brooklyn’s Union Hall. Sadly, I only caught the tailend of Soundpool‘s appearance but from the little I heard, it was positively brilliant and savagely intriguing. On the other hand, I witnessed the entirety of The Kiss Off’s forty minute set which was equally as charming (if not more so). With influences ranging from Echo & The Bunnymen, early Bowie and even some (Brotherhood era) New Order, the Brooklyn based collective piqued my interest in a major way. It’d be relatively easy to classify The Kiss Off as New York’s answer to Glasvegas. However, in all honesty, TKO offers a certain hope and an evident passion which Glasvegas is seemingly void of. In a nutshell, The Kiss Off is one of the most promising local acts I’ve seen in quite some time. Visit TKO on MySpace.
My first proper live introduction to The Antlers came at an After The Jump CMJ event in October of last year. That autumn, I became immediately enamored with the band’s ethereal, pristine & engaging LP, In The Attic Of The Universe. There’s simply no denying that there is a certain undefined magic on that record. In fact, following a half dozen listens, it brought to mind my initial reactions upon hearing Jeff Buckley’s masterpiece, Grace, back in the mid ’90s. With The Antlers’ forthcoming opus, Hospice, just around the corner (expect a digital release in spring of ’09), the trio has expanded and enriched their sound while maintaining their unparalleled grace. Their new material is more immediate, slightly more savage and yet equally as contagious as all of their prior collections. Last night’s set focused exclusively on Hospice (with the exception of a rousing rendition of ‘Cold War’) and it was indeed exquisite. Read my interview with Antlers frontman, Peter Silberman, here. View some photos & download a stellar Antlers track below.
