Our third in a series of monthly Spotify playlists, the May tracklist features new jams from artists like The Lumineers, Maps & Atlases, Jamie Read More
[Eric's Note: Although I wish I could take responsibility for this wonderful piece of writing, I've got to give our wonderful DC contributor Tess O the credit here]
I fully expect Of Monsters and Men to follow in the footsteps of fellow folk-pop acts Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (in 2010) and The Head and the Heart (in 2011) in drawing a big crowd at this year’s Newport Folk Festival. All three bands bring catchy melodies and great chemistry between the male and female vocalists, not to mention a large ensemble.
This six-piece consists of co-singer/guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, co-singer/guitarist Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson, guitarist Brynjar Leifsson, drummer Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, piano/accordion player Árni Guðjónsson, and bassist Kristján Páll Kristjánsson. If you’re like me and don’t know how to pronounce any of those names, you can just call them a bunch of cool Icelanders (pun completely unintended). The band’s rise has been rapid; Nanna and Raggi started writing songs together in 2010, the band won Iceland’s annual battle of the bands competition in the same year, and their song “Little Talks” hit number one in Iceland in the summer of 2011.
With “Little Talks” and many of the other songs off of their debut album, Of Monsters and Men have proven themselves quite capable at the art of the crescendo. Their buildups to exuberant sing-along choruses are what they do best, but they also know how to slow it down, as they do on “Love Love Love.”
I caught Of Monsters and Men at the Black Cat in DC back in April before My Head Is An Animal was released in the US, but the venue was still packed with fans that belted out the lyrics along with the band. It was a fun show and I can’t wait to see this group of talented musicians bring their songs to life once again at Newport.
Honeyhoney is sure to give one of the most electrifying performances at this year’s Newport Folk Festival. Vocalist Suzanne Santo can turn a stage into an emotional fireworks show complete with banjo and violin. I can see any chorus turn into a passionate sing-along, filling Fort Adams with sounds of love and redemption.
Honeyhoney was noticed early by actor Kiefer Sutherland who promptly signed them to his label Ironworks. The release of First Rodeo in 2008 was met with critical praise and the band was quickly launched into the spotlight. Four years later they’re still touring hard, hitting SXSW and Coachella this spring. Their second effort Billy Jack came out late last year and has rapidly been gaining steam in the indie rock community.
Billy Jack is a revelation of Americana. What’s amazing is the emotion and ferocity in every performance. Santo’s voice is so strong and the songwriting partnership between her and guitarist Ben Jaffe is unmatched in music today. Their command over a multitude of instruments makes every performance a surprise and gives each song its own unique vibe. Let’s just say that shit is going to get real.
It’s no secret that we love local quintet Darlingside and as the anticipation builds for their new LP Pilot Machines, we can’t help but contain our excitement when new tracks start to surface ahead of the July release date. We previously spoke to Darlingside violin/mandolin player Auyon Mukharji about the concept of releasing Pilot Machines as a subscription album and now we have the pleasure of enjoying the final pre-release- The Edge Of The Earth 7″.
The pre-release disc features the title track as well as a song named “Sweet and Low” which highlights the band’s trademark harmonies and gorgeous arrangements. Check out a live video of “Sweet and Low” below and make sure to get your Pilot Machines subscription so that you can enjoy everything that Darlingside has to offer.
With their first single “c.k.f.”, Boston-based trio High Diner have proved their ability to capture the sounds of the 60s and 70s in a radical and refreshing way. The whirling organ of John Murphy showcases the exceptional musicianship of these rising stars and their ability to push the limits of modern alternative music. Fresh off shows at the Middle East Downstairs and TT The Bear’s Place, High Diner is making their way around the Boston scene without a proper album to tour on. Their debut LP is yet to hit the streets but follow their Facebook page for the latest info and show dates.
Bassnectar, Gotye, Grimes, Washed Out, Rob Bailey & The Hustle Standard… One of these names may seem out of place in this list, but what do they all have in common? All of these artists are currently in the Top 15 selling Electronic Albums on iTunes, and Rob Bailey & The Hustle Standard even held the #1 position for the 5 days following their EP release of Battle Tested on Tuesday May 15, 2012.
If you read M&T regularly you may recognize The Hustle Standard moniker from the previous collaborations of Brooklyn based producer Charley Hustle. First there was New Men Old Boyswhich was recorded with Massachusetts folk balladeer and M&T fave Jake Hill, and then there was Drums and Sass, an EP featuring Hustle along with fellow Brooklynite LaRaisha. Now The Hustle Standard has teamed up with Flag Nor Fail clothing brand founder Rob Bailey to produce a 5 song EP that they are calling a mix of “aggressive vocals and elements of dubstep, hardcore, hip-hop, and punk.”
These genres aren’t the mix that you would normally hear on M&T, but Hustle’s ability to create music in such a versatile range of genres from EP to EP, and be successful at it, has definitely caught our attention. The producer won’t be resting on his laurels either after reaching the top of the iTunes charts as he has already begun work on two new Hustle Standard EPs, including a follow up to New Men Old Boys with Jake Hill.
While we wait on more Hustle Standard goodies take a listen to “Hold Strong” and download a copy of Battle Tested in the iTunes store.
One act that we have been especially looking forward to seeing at this year’s Newport Folk Festival is Portland’s Blind Pilot. We fell in love with We Are The Tide and the band has been making some major moves since we first featured them last year. In January they played Letterman, followed by a headlining tour, and bookings for the 2012 editions of Lollapalooza, Sasquatch, and Bonnaroo. We knew that it was only a matter of time before they were booked for Newport as their sound is comparable to various other Newport favorites such as The Head and the Heart and Fleet Foxes.
I would go on about how catchy and beautifully crafted each song from Blind Pilot is, but I think that Caroline summed it up perfectly in her review from last year-
“But while my infatuation for Blind Pilot’s pop-folk was fast to develop, a furious and fiery affair it’s not. So let’s put it this way: if the Flaming Lips are that unpredictable hipster you could never tie down, and Eddie Vedder is the rugged and coarse adventurer, then Blind Pilot is kind of like your spouse 20 years into marriage. Neither We are the Tide or their 2008 album Three Rounds and a Sound throw curveballs; it’s smooth sailing. But the band, with its album stacked with catchy tune after catchy tune, has proved to me that maybe reliability’s not such a bad thing after all. So for better or for worse, settle in and give a listen to Blind Pilot’s We Are the Tide.”
Not to sound dramatic, but Wednesday May 16, 2012 will be a day that will go down in infamy. Why? It was the day that the last meaningful radio station in Boston sold its soul to the radio devil. Yesterday Phoenix Media/Communications Group announced the sale of the legendary station to radio conglomerate Clear Channel. When I read the news my heart sank into my shoes. How could this be happening? Was it not only 3 years ago when I listened to “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” followed by an eerily unsettling silence on WBCN? Now the last remaining hope in local alternative radio is gone. Rumors are Clear Channel has planned to move one of their AM talk stations in to the 101.7 slot, others have said the format will change to country or Spanish talk…
Being a lifelong fan of WFNX, and even lucky enough to be a part of the FNX family for a short time as an intern in college, to see the outpouring of support via social media is emotional to say the least. Sure there were times where FNX may have lost their way (Eminem and Panic! At the Disco in heavy rotation in the mid 2000s to name a couple instances), but over the past 4 or 5 years they have truly hit their stride. A great example of this would be last year’s Clambake lineup which featured Young the Giant, The Naked And Famous, and Foster the People all on the same stage. Look at what all three of those bands have done in the past year- Foster the People performed at the Grammys with the Beach Boys, The Naked And Famous are literally everywhere in television, commercials and video games, and Young the Giant sold out nearly every date on their headlining tour earlier this year. Who was there to break these bands and promote the shit out of them in the Boston market? WFNX was, and with Foster the People and Young the Giant especially, you can’t tell me that their FNX airplay and sold-out Boston shows are no coincidence.
Does this mean the end of indie music in Boston? I wouldn’t go that far, but I would say that it will be a hell of a lot more difficult for the next Foster the People or the next Young the Giant to sell out venues like The House of Blues without the support and airplay of WFNX. People need to realize that we are not just losing a radio station, but also the personalities and the artists that come along with it. Afternoon DJ Adam 12 was lucky enough to catch on with FNX after BCN went by the wayside, but now there are no other alternative stations for our favorite DJs to turn to in this market. WAAF? I’ll try not to laugh. Radio 92.9? I’m convinced that they have the MTV Buzz Bin records set on a permanent loop. WXRV? Not nearly edgy enough to call themselves alternative.
Not to mention the impact that WFNX has had in supporting local bands. I think that Boston’s Weekly Dig Music Editor, Hilary Hughes, put it best in her article yesterday–
WFNX also incorporates the music of local bands into it’s regular programming seamlessly, showcasing bands like Mean Creek and You Can Be A Wesley and Viva Viva alongside the Foster The Peoples and Funs and Joy Formidables that strangers to the Boston music scene may recognize.
To play a Bostonian underdog’s song before or after a major, recognizable single is a GOOD thing by association. It introduces the local band to listeners tuning into WFNX as one on par with the national hit-maker, and hey, maybe the local band will get a few more new listeners out to the show and cultivate more fans.
I couldn’t agree more whole-heartedly with this statement. WFNX has done so much to help promote local bands and as I already mentioned, without that support the local music scene will suffer. Personally I am still trying to digest the news of the sale and the end of WFNX, but I wanted to take this opportunity to formally thank everyone at WFNX for the incredible run, especially Julie, 12, Driscoll, Henry and Fletcher.
One of my favorite song lyrics of all-time comes from Ted Leo’s “The Lost Brigade” where he repeats over and over– “Every little memory has a song.” For this reason and for many others WFNX will never die or completely fade away into obscurity, at least not while I’m around. Every time we hear “Pumped Up Kicks” or Pearl Jam’s “Alive” for an older generation, we will remember the first time that we heard it on WFNX. There are so many memories that I have of WFNX whether it was last year’s Clambake, the ’07 Best Music Poll or going into the office two times a week to produce and schedule commercials, I plan on reliving all of them over the next few months.
Thank you for the memories WFNX, Boston will never be the same without you.
If your regularly scheduled Wednesday night programming isn’t cutting it anymore, let me suggest getting your butt down to Great Scott in Allston tonight to check out The Shape opening for headliner Psychic Paramount, joined also by A Troop of Echoes and Cropduster. My first exposure to The Shape came back in March when I saw them open for My Best Fiend at O’Briens. They gave an inspired performance to a lackluster crowd, but they found at least one new follower when they hooked a brother up with a fabulous bootleg of their psych-infused rock, which has found its way into regular rotation on my car stereo.
So if nothing else, show up to Great Scott early to check out a solid live act with promising new tunes on the horizon, but a jam-packed bill of 3 other bands promises to be a great night overall. And if you’re into Pitchfork-endorsed bands, Psychic Paramount received a sneaky 8.2 on their 2011 release, II.
Special thanks to our Canadian correspondent, Megan, for exposing us to these great bands.
Canada. To those who don’t know, it is the country to the north; also called America’s Hat. Canada is not just a frozen land of hockey players and igloos, but actually quite a lively scene for good indie music. This frozen land is also home to music fans that take their music very serious. The long winters and copious amounts of overpriced, yet delicious bevies allows for the Canadian talent-juice to pump all winter long and make some succulent musical sounds. Canada has music scenes from the smallest farm town in Saskatchewan to the large hubs of Toronto (T-dot), Montreal and Vancouver (Van or Vancity).
Quick facts, the indie fans in Canada, also called R3ers (they typically can be picked out at any show by the stage, holding an album of the band with a CBC Radio 3 ‘toque’ or winter hat on); constantly listen to CBC Radio 3 which only plays Canadian indie bands, all, day, long, everyday. As much as I poke fun at the R3ers (since I am kind of a closest R3 case myself), it is a good thing for indie music in Canada, and a great thing for American fans that get the spill-over into the States. For quick information, streaming programs 24-7 and free channels of every indie band in Canada (all 29,000+ of them and growing); check out http://music.cbc.ca/#/radio3/
The Rural Alberta Advantage (Toronto)- M&T featured The RAA a few months back right here before they released their second LP Departing. This album is an instant classic featuring the distinctive vocal stylings of Nils Edenloff and the keyboard sounds of the ever-so-beautiful Amy Cole. Of course, you can’t mention The RAA without talking about the intense tom-tom rhythms of percussionist Paul Banwatt which tie the group’s sound together and give them that distinctive and fresh vibe we love. Check out this acoustic version of “Tornado 87,” it gives me the chills, so amazing.
Said The Whale(Vancouver)- Said The Whale started back in 2007 when they released their debut EP Taking Abalonia. Touring the U.S. West Coast in the spring of 2011, they made a splash at SXSW, enough to get them invited back again for this year’s festival. Their new album Little Mountains, a mixture of indie rock and geography lessons, is a tour-de-force led by the first single “Heavy Ceiling.” The album is a more mature, faster paced version of previous records and contains similar themes like the topography of Vancouver area, the outdoors, and places they have traveled to. Check out their classic track “Emerald Lake, AB” for an up-beat summertime love-story indie-pop song and then “Curses of the Current” for a furlong song about loosing your love in the Georgia Strait.
Supercassette (Vancouver)- They aren’t even signed folks. Supercassette brings you back to the ’90s when Alternative and Punk were in a loving marriage with plenty of sex. Check out their great sound with the song “Good Company.”
The Provincial Archive (Edmonton)- Folky and fun, The Provincial Archive have a great live presence and sound. With two albums under their belt, they are done touring for the time being while they work on their next effort. Check out their song “Art Museums and Tourist Traps” below.
Yukon Blonde (Vancouver)- Their self-titled album with swooning voices and flaring guitars reminds you of the days of old. Check out their song “Wind Blows.” Will not disappoint. Their latest release Tiger Talk features the sweepingly powerful “Stairway” that will knock you off your feet.
Library Voices (Regina)- The great, upbeat indie-pop sound of Library Voices will make any sad day into a happy one. Their album Summer of Lust is solid from start to finish, with “Generation Handclap” by-far being the cherry on top. It will be on my summer playlists, and probably yours after a listen.
Boxer The Horse (Prince Edward Island)- Boxer The Horse put out their second LP French Residency earlier this year and are touring Canada with the aforementioned Said The Whale. Boxer The Horse are the darlings of CBC Radio 3 winning the Best New Band of 2010 and recording with former Two Hours Traffic member Alec O’Hanley.
Also if you want a quick and easy way to keep your finger on the pulse of Canadian indie, you can either tune in or download the podcast of the weekly R3-30 of the Week every Sunday on CBC Radio 3.
