Thursday, May 26, 2011

Across Tundras with Sea of Bones

Friday, May 27, 2011:

Location:
Elm Bar
372 Elm St
New Haven, CT

9:00PM - $3.00 cover - 21+


Across Tundras play heavy American frontier metal, managing to be classic and progressive, dark, and sprawling all once.



The monolithic Sea of Bones open. Imagine three of the Moai statues on Easter Island waking up pissed off and starting a doom band.




Across Tundras tour:

Th May 26, 2011 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool w/ Ominous Black, Yorba Linda
Fr May 27, 2011 - New Haven, CT - Elm's w/ Sea of Bones
Sa May 28, 2011 - York, PA - The Depot w/ Wrath of Typhon
Su May 29, 2011 - Syracuse, NY - Badlands w/ Sparhawk, Rust Empire, The Making
Mo May 30, 2011 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place w/ Sonorous Gale, Dirt Eyes
Tu May 31, 2011 - Pittsburgh, PA - Garfield Artworks
We June 1, 2011 - Columbus, OH - Carabar w/ Main Street Gospel
Th June 2, 2011 - Chicago, IL - Memories Bar w/ Angel Eyes, Sunsplitter
Fr June 3, 2011 - Cincinnati, OH - Mayday Northside w/ Beneath Oblivion, Valley of the Sun
Sa June 4, 2011 - Louisville, KY - The Green Lantern w/ Below, Stampede

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Ever Play a Show at Brass City Records?

Waterpistol playing Brass City Sept 18, '99 w/Six Ways from Sunday and Kitag

Walter Quadrato from Brass City Records is putting together a complete list of all the bands who have played in the shop from 1984 and on. Do you have video, dates, pictures, or scans of old flyers? Some of the more widely known acts that have played Brass City are Sunny Day Real Estate, Blur, Low, Ataris, Apples in Stereo, Cancer Conspiracy, and the Lilys. Get in touch with Walt:

Brass City Records
489 Meadow St
Waterbury CT 06702
203-574-7805

The Whines, Medication, Dead Wives

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Location:
Cafe Nine
250 State Street
New Haven, CT

9:00pm - 21+ - $5


Did not know shit about The Whines before this show came up. Blown out rock and roll you blast from your AM radio as you drive as fast and as far away as possible in your rusted out beater from problems not worth solving. Hey, Besty Coasty, choke on your own faux-fi vomit. The Whines are the lovely truth behind low fidelity. Eat Skull as well as Kyle from Meth Teeth helped record their debut Hell To Play. They also have a 7" out on Mt St Mtn Records.

The Whines – Cut Meat
The Whines – Straybird
The Whines – Down The 2 Tracks

The always haunting and humble Medication opens. Sacred Bones have a solid bio on Medication: Mike Hyde has been cultivating private press style recordings since high school, and for the past few years under the handle Medication. What initially was a private endeavor went public in 2007 when a friend of his in Germany asked that he write music for a short film he was working on. At that point he started a myspace page as a means to play the producer works he had come up with for the project - mostly instrumentals and tape loops - but it quickly became more of a forum to post the other, more personal songs as well. The Medication recordings have all been a solo affair except for a side on a four tape comp, Judges Cave: The Hidden Sounds of New Haven, that came out in early 2010. The live band features Stefan Christensen who’s been in a bunch of Connecticut bands, most notably Estrogen Highs, and another a good friend of Hyde’s, Jon Vanduzee. In 2009 Medication released his debut full length on Hozac and then went on to tour in this incarnation of the band opening for The Dutchess and the Duke in early 2010. This new EP has songs Hyde has been working on for the last two years. They were all recorded on cassette four track (read: tape, not Logic) in his apartment in New Milford, CT.

Medication - Judgement Day by sacredbones

Dead Wives have been playing a ton of shows this year. Love these young old-soul rockers! Read the Scuz Bucket review here.

Latest tracks by deadwives

Full M.T. Bearington set from the first Register Session

photo: Chris March

Chris March covers the experience in detail here. The long and short of it is that the next Register Session will definitely happen again, and very soon!


Monday, May 23, 2011

B.O.M.B. Fest this weekend May 28-29

Saturday, May 28-29, 2011

Location:
Comcast Theatre
61 Savitt Way
Hartford, CT



Two-day passes are currently available at www.bombfest.com at $89 for General Admission Open Air Passes and $99 for General Admission Pavilion Passes. Advance single-day tickets are also on sale now at $60 for General Admission Open Air Passes and $70 for General Admission Pavilion Passes.

All proceeds from this year’s festival will got towards providing music scholarships, music enrichment and education programs, music and healing initiatives and community support and outreach. Last year’s festival raised money for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, Connecticut Children's Hospital, YPI Camp, and The Lyman Allyn Museum.

Here's the complete schedule

Connecticut locals that playing this year's B.O.M.B. Fest:

Forget Paris, Heirlooms, The Frank Critelli Band, The Backyard Committee, The Guru, Fake Babies, The Manchurians, Raina Mullen, Midi & The Modern Dance, EULA, Wry, The Lobster Quadrille, OConn, Distoria, The Files and Fires, The Rebel Yell, The Goonies, Emjae, Chalk Talk, Cosmic Dust Bunnies, Ovlov, Urban Sun, Swear and Shake, sayWHAT?, Dirty Dishes

Nationals:

Saturday:
Weezer, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Best Coast, HEALTH, Titus Andronicus, RJD2, Wavves, EOTO, The Cool Kids, Dan Deacon, The Felice Brothers, ESKMO, Real Estate, Woods, Free Energy, Roots of Creation, David Wax Museum, Turbo Fruits

Sunday:
Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Coheed and Cambria, Against Me!, Shpongle presents The Shpongletron Experience, Neon Trees, The New Pornographers, State Radio, Dam-Funk, Dum Dum Girls, Man Man, Holy Fuck, Portugal. The Man, Freelance Whales, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Daedelus, 12th Planet, Nosaj Thing, Toubab Krewe, Big Freedia, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez, The Hood Internet, Small Bla

Monday, May 16, 2011

M.T. Bearington performs "Dark Night" at the Register Sessions Studio

M.T. Bearington / Photo: Chris March
Check out this clip of M.T. Bearington performing "Dark Night" last week live at the Register Sessions Studio. The track comes from their new-and-if-you-don't-have-it-yet-what-the-eff-are-you-waiting-for album 'Love Buttons'.


Thursday, May 12, 2011

Iron Hand Crushes All

Photo stolen from Brushback

One of the best things about any underground music scene is the camaraderie that can form between people who participate in it, whether as fans, musicians or a little bit of both. The members of Iron Hand, who formed in 2008, had all done time in the underground loud music scene as musicians, DJs and bookers. They got together with the simple goal of creating music together; in fact, they wanted to play a certain type of music together.

“We just wanted to be an unrelenting straightforward crust/d-beat band. No frills, no bullshit, what we do is what we do,” said vocalist Brian F. They blend together different facets of the crust punk sound, from varying countries, to create a vicious beast.

The original line-up of the band featured Ryan G. and Brian P. on guitar, as well as Shane and Paul, now of Oiltanker, on drums and bass respectively. This version of the band went on to record a well received demo, before Oiltanker got rolling and Shane and Paul left amicably, due to their other band commitments, and Stefan (bass) and Ross (drums) joined the band in the summer of 2009.

The band gigged regularly playing out as much as they could. This month they released their debut 7”, a blistering burn of raw punk energy entitled “Usurper Divine”, on Redscroll Records, which is slowly becoming a local taste maker among indie labels (Remember, they were the first ones to put out Ipsissimus). Over the course of four tracks, the band lays down a mean sound sealing their credentials as one of the better bands trolling Connecticut’s loud music scene.

Originally, the band was given several options for their debut record on all formats. Brian F said there was even talk of doing a one sided twelve inch, because they had six originals and one cover, but they decided to go with the 7” format, partly out of necessity, and partly out of tradition.

“This was something that made sense to us because the 7” tends to be the preferred format for crust punk bands. It works in all facets. We decided to put something straightforward out,” said Brian F.

But this isn’t the only Iron Hand recording that will be released this year. In June, Safety Meeting Records, will put out another 7” entitled “Liquid Assets” that will feature the remaining songs not featured on “Usurper Divine”. In a bold stroke of luck, Brian F. said that label head Carlos Wells contacted them and was interested in working with the band. They wouldn’t have to change anything, they would just be themselves. Brian F. said he is honored to also be on Safety Meeting Records due to their diverse roster and commitment to excellence in local music.
Even though, recently Brian F. relocated to Massachusetts for work, while the rest of the band is still located in Connecticut, that hasn’t slowed the band down. In fact due to the advancement of technology, Brian F. is able to stay connected with the band.

The band can come up with the music and send the song to Brian via e-mail, then he can add his vocals to the mix and they have a song. It’s an instance where computers are really helping people create music. When they need to do a show, he’ll come down they’ll take a day or two practice and they are all set to go.
And he has nothing for fondness and appreciation for the state he just left, speaking particularly well of a certain house in Hartford that has been one of the shining stars in underground music for the state. But he also mentions there are cool places and people doing things all around the state, even up where he’s relocated there are a-lot of cool DIY places to play.

So, check them out when they play, if you want one healthy dose of crust punk action, and also watch how the power of friendship and camaraderie can come together to form something that transcends distances.




Check them out Friday, May 13th at Popeye's Garage, New Haven CT with Misanthropic Noise, Stone Titan, and Gowl.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

M.T. Bearington's Live Register Session TONIGHT


Gather the family around the computer tonight at 6 p.m. when The New Haven Register hosts a live set by M.T. Bearington. Watch it live and for free online! A few folks will be attending the live performance in the studio - get an invite here, there are still a handful of spots available. Stream this performance below, or on the Register's site.

And don't worry, if you miss it, the performance will be recorded and available for viewing after the show!


Saturday, May 7, 2011

The first-ever Register Session brings bands into your home, live, for free


A syndicated post
By Register Staff

The New Haven Register, in conjunction with CTIndie.com, will hold its first-ever Register Session, bringing a local band in to the offices of the New Haven Register, and live-streaming that concert to the community, for free. And it gets going on next Wednesday, at 6 p.m.

We hope that this becomes a regular happening, but the first band taking part is indie rock band M.T. Bearington.

There will also be 15 tickets available for members of the community who would like to be invited into the office itself. If you want to get an invite into our office for the free concert, just post a link or to refer to the event in a status update on your Facebook page and tag New Haven Register Buzz in the post. (Remember, to tag us, you have to “like” us first.)

The Register Sessions was conceived as a means of inviting the community into our building, both live and online, to give local bands a chance to spread their music and to provide that music to the community, for free.

“This is about embracing what’s happening with music in Connecticut. The same reasons Connecticut has such a strong house show culture applies to the New Haven Register live series,” Jason Devin, who created and manages CTIndie.com, said. “Original bands work hard on music that may or may not make sense right here and now. Either way, the more people that make sure it gets heard, the more chances it will continue and be remembered.”

“New Haven’s own M.T. Bearington began as the bedroom recording project of indie vet Matt Thomas, but has over the years become a fully-formed band of diverse, indie-pop awesomeness,” Register Online Producer Chris March wrote of the group earlier this year. “The group — which also includes guitarist Bill Readey, bassist Kelly L’Heureux and drummer Jason Bates — released their hotly-anticipiated second album, “Love Buttons” on Valentine’s Day.”

“M.T. Bearington could care less about making sense, which is what makes them so interesting and intense,” Devin said of M.T. Bearington. “If you reduced them to the most minimal muzak, it’d probably sound like an alien species making love. They are as strange as they are universal. A uniquely inspired band.”

Remember — Log on to NewHavenRegister.com at 6 p.m. next Wednesday for a free live concert by M.T. Bearington, and if you’d like to be in the audience, “like” New Haven Register Buzz on Facebook and tag us in a post.

Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/NHRegBuzz or find us at Facebook.com/NHRegBuzz. To receive breaking news first - simply text the word nhnews to 22700. Standard msg+data rates may apply.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Guitar Wolf: An Appreciation


Since they formed in 1987, Japan’s Guitar Wolf have been cranking out gonzo garage punk that rocks people to their very core. Equal parts the Ramones, rockabilly, garage punk and inspired by the hard rocking spirit of Joan Jett (there is a reason they call themselves the “greatest jett rock band on the planet…well they might be the only one, but still…) these veterans of true rock’n’roll craziness or “lock’n’loll” as they say in many of their wonderful songs have been destroying stages and their fans eardrums by taking their influences and turning it to 11 and getting down to business. In Japan, they are huge, over here in the United States they are more of a cult act, but that shouldn’t stop you from coming to the show on May 14 at Daniel Street.
If you need further evidence, remember that the awesome garage punk label Goner, was originally started to bring Guitar Wolf to the United States. Since then, they’ve recorded for Matador and Narnack here, while being a mainstay on Sony in Japan.
Personally, I’ve never seen them live; I’ve only heard testimonials from people who have witnessed their spectacle. For me, this is a chance to catch one of the legendary acts of the gunk punk set right in my home state, which I think is kind of cool, because usually international bands in the GW’s position only play the major cities when they come over to the States. We’re very lucky to get them, and for me, I’m not going to miss this.
But why should you go?
If you want a loud, pure and fun rock’n’roll experience then you should be at the show. I managed to snag a copy of “Golden Black”, their “greatest hits” package that came out a few years ago in the states (some of their older records are somewhat hard to find) and I can’t stop listening to it. It’s every thing you would want in a garage punk band. The songs are loud, fast and catchy. Though sung in Japanese, you get over that pretty quickly and just revel in their trashy fun.
And they have been around long enough to be an influence on younger, snottier bands. If you go to Boris’ “Pink” album that came out a while ago on Southern Lord, some of the louder, punkish numbers sound like they were influenced directly by the Wolf, plus there are bands like Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, who for a while looked liked they primed to take over the US years ago, who mine that whole blown out rock sound to great effect.
Plus, they will have copies of their newest record at the show. So here’s your chance to grab a little bit of the Wolf, and then go back and discover the rest of the back catalog. Also, they are coming off a storming set at Gonerfest last year, so despite their age, they still can deliver the goods live.
So this show is a no brainer. Just be there.

More Tour Dates

Manic Productions Presents:
Guitar Wolf
Cheap Time
Estrogen Highs

Saturday, May 14, 2011
Daniel Street
21 Daniel Street
Milford, CT
8:00 pm – 21+ - $15


Night of the Rabbit says Fuck Your Fame


Night of the Rabbit’s debut LP Fuck Your Fame makes me proud to be made of meat. Usually I am only into hell black humor in rock. Night of the Rabbit are at a zany middle between the perversity of The Meatmen and the snarkiness of the Dead Milkmen. It's pretty fucking funny stuff. What else can you expect from a band that cheerfully sings about the the unbearable sadness of Axel Rose? The band is partly ex-Chuck Hestons, so no surprise that they're funny. What is kind of surprising is that, even though the songs are very simple, they are carefully recorded and full of little details. Geeky instruments, outrĂ© b-movie noises, buzzing fuzz tone, some really damn good vocal work (Chad's voice is a little like what Jay Reatard might've sounded like singing the National Anthem). I get the sense from the LP they probably go nuts live with an energy that didn't fully translate onto the recordings. Will see if I am right Saturday, May 14, when they open for Arrington de Dionyso's Malaikat dan Singa at the Charter Oak Cultural Center. And be sure to scoop up Fuck Your Fame from the merch table (the cover of the copy Night of the Rabbit sent me was tagged up with some florescent spray paint, with some Figurehead stickers inside - thanks guys!).


TICKET GIVEAWAY for Margot & the Nuclear So and So's

Thursday, May 12 2011, Asterisk Concerts and Manic Productions present


Location:
The Space
295 Treadwell Street
Hamden, CT

7:00pm - All Ages - $15 ($12 advance)

Want to win a pair of tickets to Margot & the Nuclear So and So's at The Space on May 12? Send an email to ctindiecontest[at]gmail[dot]com! THREE PAIRS of tickets are up for grabs!! Winners will be picked at random!

(Winners will be notified May 10th)


last.fm bio:
Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s is a 6-piece indie-pop/orchestral pop band from Indianapolis, Indiana. The band, which was formed in 2004 by Richard Edwards and Andy Fry (formerly of Archer Avenue and The Academy, respectively), is currently signed to Epic Records.

Their debut album, The Dust of Retreat came out in 2006. At this time, the band was signed to Artemis Records and had 8 members. In 2008 the band signed to Epic Records and (on 7 October) released two new albums, Animal! and Not Animal. The band originally planned to just release “Animal!”. However, Epic disagreed on their song choice, and compiled a different list, which would later become “Not Animal”. Eventually, after dispute over which version would be released, it was decided to release both at the same time.

In August 2009, 5 of the band’s members left. They are all involved in other projects, most notably Pravada.

While the band, and Richard specifically have given many explanations to the band’s name; this is all in fun. As the name was created as an anti-name; not meant to have any real meaning, just to make fun of other ridiculous names. The name “Margot” comes from Gweneth Paltrow’s character in Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums”.

The band’s sound, categorized as “chamber pop”, has been compared to the indie rock groups Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and The Shins, while incorporating elements of singer/songwriters like Paul Simon and Conor Oberst.




with A Great Big Pile of Leaves and Suns

bios from Manic's site

Brooklyn-based trio, A Great Big Pile of Leaves got their start in 2007 when guitarist/singer Peter Weiland and drummer Tyler Soucy took time from their prior projects to start writing material of their own. The first six songs came together as the self-released EP The Fiery Works, which the duo put out as a free download on their Web site. As word spread online, the band’s fanbase grew along with Weiland and Soucy’s excitement to get back to recording.

A Great Big Pile of Leaves toured last Fall on their first national tour with Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything,and Saves the Day. “This fall tour is exactly what our band needed to be doing and at the perfect time so we’re extremely grateful for the opportunity that we have,” Soucy continues when asked about those large-scale shows. “I spent most of high school listening to these three bands, so it’s going to be pretty surreal to walk off stage every night and watch the rest of the line-up,” he adds, “it’s going to be a great time.”



Suns are a three-piece rock band from Easton & Redding, Connecticut. The songs on their first EP, “Three Songs” are poppy but carry certain darkness to them as well. Their live show strives to be as dynamic as possible with tight musicianship, grand build up’s, and an unrelenting intensity. Suns will be releasing their new 6 song EP, “Be Good Boy” at the beginning of the summer.




2011 Tour Dates for Margot & the Nuclear So and So's:

05.06.11 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
05.07.11 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
05.08.11 Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah @ Tremont Music Hall
05.09.11 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
05.10.11 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
05.11.11 Boston, MA @ The Paradise
05.12.11 Hamden, CT @ The Space
05.13.11 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
05.14.11 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
05.15.11 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew's Hall
05.16.11 Newport, KY @ Southgate House
05.17.11 Chicago, IL @ Metro
05.18.11 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
05.21.11 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
05.22.11 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
05.24.11 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
05.25.11 Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box
05.27.11 Solona Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
05.28.11 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse Music Venue
05.30.11 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
05.31.11 Austin, TX @ The Parish
06.01.11 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
06.03.11 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina's

Thursday, May 5, 2011

New Haven Invasion 2011: New Haven's best bands take over New London


Words: by Chris March

If you live in or around New London, there isn't time to waste. Crawl under you bed and dig out your New Haven Apocalypse Survival Kit. Do it now! Before you're worm food.

We're talking of course about the New Haven Invasion, where some of New Haven's best music acts will descend upon The Oasis Pub in New London this Saturday, May 7. The line up for the invasion includes three of the Elm City's most beloved acts, and DJ Live Mike who will be spinning old school punk, soul, and 60's R&B.

Die Hipster! Records has put together a great bill that is sure to bring together good people for some good music. The bill of invaders includes:

The Black Noise Scam: Raw, brazen old school punk at it's finest. These hellions were voted "Best Punk Band" in the Grand Band Slam by the New Haven Advocate in 2010. They have been making noise in the New Haven scene since 2007 and have played all over New England and the East Coast. They are known for their high-octane live shows and "gang" vocal choruses.

The Cavemen Go: This beloved group is no group of strangers to the New England indie rock scene thanks to their glowing perfection of pop hooks and indie soul. With a handful of excellent releases under the belt, their latest single "Someone's Always Dying To Break My Heart" came out Nov. 20.
Check out this playlist they made for the New Haven Register last fall

West Rockers: This is New Haven's answer to The Specials -- a groovy reggae/ska band without the horns.

DJ Live Mike: Jeffrey Thunders of Die Hipster! (and The Black Noise Scam) calls Live Mike the best DJ in New Haven. Mike doesn't just know what to play and when to play it, but how to play it. Count on Mike to keep the crowd moving all night between sets.

For more, check out this WailingCity.com interview with Jeffrey Thunders about the event, and check out the Facebook event page.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Can of Love and the Captain - new Snake Oil video


Snake Oil have released yet another video. John Panos gave this video a shout on his Kings page, saying, "This track is a kind of groovy/heavy almost jazzzy guitar/electro psych rock flying/floating/swimming thru time/space dodging/accepting flanging lazers kinda ride."