Dave Go and The Guy From Beastmaster - Reel (sic) / Dear Darwin, Kill Jesus

 

dave Go and the Guy from Beastmaster is a project led by Dave from Florida=Death. He released 2 very different but still brilliant albums in September, a pair of themed musical collages called "reel (sic)" and "dear darwin, kill jesus"

Woollen Kits, Mountain Movers, Medication - FRIDAY FEB 17

Friday February 17 at:

Cafe Nine
250 State Street
New Haven
9PM / $5

Woollen Kits are the latest in a string of exciting Australian bands. Fusing equal parts kiwi style pop, with Modern Lovers-type swagger, and '60s garage sentiment. New LP out on RIP Society Records for this, their first US tour. They will be joined by HoZac records Medication and local heroes the Mountain Movers.

Kitchen's Floor, Estrogen Highs, Fat History Month

Friday September 2 at
Popeye's Garage
50 Goffe Street
New Haven, CT

7PM $5.00

Kitchen's Floor - Australian downer punk with new album out on Siltbreeze



Estrogen Highs - New Haven punks first show back from tour



Fat History Month - Boston weird and mathy rock outfit on tour with KF

Old Man Lady Luck, Shrinnirs, Thank You Mr. Keating

Friday, September 2nd, 2011, Indie Night @ the Oak brings:

Location:
Charter Oak Cultural Center
21 Charter Oak Ave
Hartford, CT

All Ages - 8 PM - $6 or only $5 w/ a canned good donation for Hartford Food Not Bombs


Co-headlined by Shrinnirs (aka Bimbo Shrineheads/Shrin/The Shrinnirs), this Dog-Faced Hermans-like duo starts off the night, going on at 8:00, so do not be late. Dawn Cook (vocals) and Joe Malinowski (drums) are a non-genre. Not to be missed.




Old Man Lady Luck, will be finishing the night off. Dark instrumentals, like The Notekillers slowed to a vicious crawl, setting the mood for a David Cronenberg autopsy scene. With drumming as good as Todd Trainer from Shellac, and an early Jesus Lizard feel, do yourself a favor and stay late for Old Man Lady Luck.





Thank You Mr. Keating will be playing second, bringing an acoustic version of The Baxter Special to life!

Interview with Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos!

Interview by Monica Lyons and John Kritzman / photo by Kritzman. Also check out their show review here!

Monica and I managed to catch up with Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos this past weekend as the band made their way through Danbury in the middle of a month long road stand across the US. The band is fresh off of the release of their latest EP, Zoo Weather, which came out Feburary 22nd, and their full length, Patagonian Rats which came out at the end of summer last year.

Monica: So you guys just released an EP, can you give us a little background and how it turned out?

Nick: The EP is three songs that didn't make it onto our album [Patagonian Rats]. Actually, they’re on the vinyl LP, the side D. We feel like they didn't actually belong on the record. We had initially planned to release an EP prior to the full length but it just didn't work out, so we decided to release it afterward. We were gonna do it as a digital release only but then we're like 'oh well a tape will be cool, to have a physical item, and we can sell it for pretty cheap too.' It's kinda like a neat little souvenir, I don't know how many people still listen to tapes, but it's kind of a cool thing. So, it's three songs that didn't make it onto the album and three remixes of one of the songs on the album, and we're really happy with it. It would actually be pretty cool to melt it into like a little sculpture.

M: It's funny how tapes are coming back.

N: Yeah they are, a lot of people are doing that these days. The coolest thing about it is that they're cheap to manufacture and you can just throw a download card with it. So instead of just selling a download card, you're selling a physical cool little piece of art. Actually I think melting down is really cool. I'd be interested in doing that, maybe I'll do that tonight with a lighter or something.

M: So you're on tour with Marnie Stern, how's that been going?

N: It's really good, I think our bands match really well together. We met her a few years ago at SXSW and we had always talked about playing together but our schedules didn't line up properly, so this finally got put together a few months ago and were really excited to do it with her. I feel like there’s a big crossover between both our bands as far as fan base goes, and the people who haven’t heard of her that are into our band, and vice-versa, are really stoked on the bands. In fact, the other night some kids had never heard of Marnie Stern and I was like 'dude stick around and watch her, you’re gonna like her,' and they ended up staying and really really liked it. I think it's really appropriate and we're having a really good time. 


John: It's good to see you guys finally got out your first full length album, how do you feel it came out?

N: I think what we just did with Patagonian Rats is what we've been trying to do since the beginning of our band, but it takes a long time to get good. Maybe we didn't know what we were trying to get good at or it wasn't in front of our faces. I think we finally got good at what we were trying to achieve. Now it's the question of, well we can keep progressing with that or we can just flip it and do any of these different ideas because our band will always progress and do new things that interest us. I'm not really sure what the next step will be but for all I know it'll be just going further down the middle of Patagonian Rats, however that could be classified, making more like weirdo pop songs that are freaked out. Again, it can go in any direction, I'm not really sure what.

J: So it seems like you guys finally found your sound instead of jumping from sound to sound like you did in the first few EP's.

N: I agree, just like anything it takes hours. Have you heard of that Malcolm Gladwell book? It's about what it takes to be truly great at something. I can't quote it exactly but he hypothesizes that it takes something like 10,000 hours of practice to be truly great at what you're trying to accomplish. This is what related to me about the book, that before The Beatles had ever recorded a note or made an album, a lot of people didn't realize that they had already been playing and performing in German Strip clubs and all this stuff, and they had completed their 10,000 hours, or at least more than broken. He scientifically breaks it down with basketball players and scientists and other stuff, where it's like to get truly awesome at your goal, you got to put in your 10,000 hours otherwise it's just practice. I kinda feel like we can relate to that thought.

J: You guys writing more any time soon?

N: I started toying around with new ideas before we left, demoing some songs. But, I'm not really sure what we really wanna do next in terms of doing an EP, a full length, a split or anything, not only that but what sort of vibe we want to give our next collection of songs. There’s a lot of ideas we have, where as Patagonian Rats was our last record and was sort of neutral or right in the middle of the spectrum of our band. Part of me really wants to go more in that direction of songs like Frozen Zoo and Manar the Magic and kinda break it down, even more but keep it tweaked and weird, but then the other half of me and the band were really interested in going even further in the opposite direction of less accessible more fucked up and strange and faster, with thousands and thousands of notes and stuff. I don't really know what we'll do, but it kind of seems neat to do a really, really aggressive record, and then do a really like, not minimal album, but maybe more sample based, but still really out there. It's hard to describe. I guess I couldn’t even really articulate it with words until it was done.

Show Review: Tera Melos, Marnie Stern and Fugue @ Heirloom Arts

Lovely Marnie

Words: Monica Lyons
Pics: John Kritzman Full set of photos here!

On Saturday, March 5th, 2011, the Heirloom Arts Theater presented an impressive lineup of performances by Fugue, Tera Melos, and Marnie Stern. I had never been to the Heirloom Arts Theater after it was renovated from what used to be the Empress Ballroom, a raunchy, all-ages venue holding shows from ska showcases to the pits of CT hardcore. I’m not knocking the Empress Ballroom, as it definitely allowed for a non-discriminatory holding place for Connecticut scenesters, myself included. However, walking through its familiar doors, I was impressed with its cleanliness and modern renovations. It appears as though the Empress Ballroom has matured into a more professional and structural venue, promoting itself as "Danbury’s cultural and artistic alternative."

It took a while for people to show up, but eventually there was a pretty good crowd going. Fugue had already set up on the floor of the venue instead of on the towering stage, which was a good move on their behalf. Everyone was able to gather almost in a circle around the band as the lights cut out and a green spotlight engulfed the band. I have seen Fugue a couple times before but their creative energy never ceases to amaze me. Their sharp synchronization consumes the room, ranging from powerfully fast-paced to melodic and smooth. They create their own sound of rock-jazz fusion, even incorporating a new element into one of their songs that night that I had never seen before. Fugue’s sorcerer, Mike DiCrescenzo, took out a lighter and brought its flame toward an optical theremin, which produced an eerie, ghostly sound, complimenting their unique sound. Fugue also manipulates the use of movie clips into their songs before flowing into an array of rhythmic melodies. After some minor difficulties, in which some people were nice enough to offer up their own capos, they ended their performance with a new song. Fugue is currently recording new material to be released in the summer, which I’m sure won’t disappoint.

Fugue light it up

Tera Melos took to the stage for a sound check as the second performance of the night. It was uncomfortable looking almost straight up at the band during their performance, but maybe I’m just not used being so close up to bands on such tall stages. Despite the initial disconnection of height difference, Tera Melos expelled their energy onto the crowd and brought them to their level. The California native band pushes the limits of what is math rock and twists it to produce something completely new and outside the box. Complemented by the use of effect pedals and samplers, Tera Melos brings wildly quick and creative rhythms and abstract dynamics that flow in and out of each other, creating a completed puzzle of songs. They’re anything but traditional with their odd song structures, smooth vocals, and intangible melodic brilliance. The band played a lot of songs off their latest album, Patagonian Rats, as well as new material from their recently released EP, Zoo Weather. Tera Melos seemed truly confident during their performance, in which guitarist Nick Reinhart commented on their current standing: "Maybe we didn’t know what we were trying to get good at, or it wasn’t in front of our faces, but I think we finally got good at what we’re trying to achieve." Tera Melos delivered a captivating performance that night through their artistic ambiance and refreshingly different sound. At the end of the set, Reinhart brought his guitar toward his face as bassist Nathan Latona dropped his bass to the ground, reverb still echoing throughout the stage.

Tera Melos shred face

Marnie Stern, who has been on tour with Tera Melos since February, took to the stage for the last performance of the night. It was disappointing that a large portion of the crowd left after Tera Melos performed and didn’t even give her a chance to showcase her talent. I had read about the female songwriter and guitarist’s acclaimed finger tapping skills and was really curious to see what it was all about. Marnie Stern was literally shredding up on stage as her nimble fingers effortlessly tapped individual notes up and down the neck of her guitar. This is especially prominent in her performance of the song Transformer. Her constant smiling and graceful appearance almost made this technique look easy. Marnie Stern’s soft, playful conversation with her bassist came as opposite to her strong vocals and wide range of pitch, which synced up immaculately to the rapid riffs of her guitar. Her style is appealing and unique, incorporating genres such as experimental and noise rock. Though her sound was somewhat random and piercing at times, Marnie Stern shows a sense of individualism which positively sets her apart from other female artists in the music scene. Fugue, Tera Melos, and Marnie Stern all incorporated their own distinctive sounds and uncommon flair to create a complementary and impressive lineup for the Heirloom Art’s Theaters new reputation. They certainly won me over.

The Octopus Project now with We Are Scientists, Jerkagram at Daniel Street

Saturday, October 9 2010, Manic Productions and Asterisk Concerts presents,

photo by Dan Monick

Location:
Daniel Street
21 Daniel Street
Milford, CT

9:00pm - 21+ - $12

Buy tickets now or pick them up at Redscroll Records or DETRITUS

The Octopus Project at Cafe Nine has switched to a show with We Are Scientists at Daniel Street!

We Are Scientists is an indie rock band featuring Keith Murray (guitar and lead vocals), Chris Cain (bass guitar and backing vocals), Max Hart (keys and guitar) and Andy Burrows (drums). Co-founder Michael Tapper (drums and backing vocals) left the band in 2007 and is currently a member of the bands Bishop Allen and Fool’s Gold. They formed in 2000 in Claremont, California.

We Are Scientists shocked themselves and impressed many others with their 2005 debut With Love & Squalor. On the strength of dancefloor standbys “Nobody Move”, “Nobody Get Hurt”; “It’s A Hit”; and “The Great Escape” (as well as nine other songs that, to all appearances, people also liked) the album sold over 150,000 copies in the UK and earned them praise from fans and critics back home in the US as well.

They are about to leave for the UK on The American Barbarians Tour:

11/15 - Portsmouth @ Pyramids
11/16 - Birmingham @ HMV Institute
11/17 - Bristol @ O2 Academy
11/19 - Norwich @ UEA
11/20 - Manchester @ Academy 2/1
11/21 - London @ Shepherds Bush Empire
11/22 - Liverpool @ O2 Academy
11/24 - Leeds @ Metropolitan University
11/25 - Glasgow @ ABC
11/26 - Newcastle @ O2 Academy
11/27 - Nottingham @ Rock City



The Octopus Project is an experimental electronic band based in Austin, Texas and formed in 1999. The band has a unique sound, blending pop and experimental elements, is a combination of digital and electronic sounds and noises (including drum machine, keyboard/ synthesizers and other strange devices) and analog equipment (including guitars and live drums). Their music is mostly instrumental, except for tracks like “Queen”, “Moon Boil” and “Wet Gold”.

09/29 - Little Rock, AR @ Juanita's
09/30 - Shreveport, LA @ The Collective
10/01 - Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree
10/02 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
10/04 - Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
10/05 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
10/06 - Washington DC @ DC9
10/07 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
10/08 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Wllmsbrg
10/09 - New Haven, CT @ Daniel Street (*)
10/10 - Cambridge, MA @ TT the Bears
10/11 - Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo
10/12 - Toronto, ON @ Wrongbar
10/13 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks
10/14 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
10/15 - Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
10/16 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
10/19 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
10/20 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
10/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Great Am. Music Hall
10/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
10/24 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
10/25 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush
10/29 - Asheville, NC @ Moogfest (*)
11/13 - Mexico City, MX @ Sonorama (*)

All shows with Starfucker (except *)



Jerkagram Improvisational noise rock duo from CT.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Sufer Blood, Hooray for Earth

Thursday, June 3, 2010, Manic Productions brings you:



Location:
Daniel Street
21 Daniel Street
Milford CT

$15 ($13 adv) - 7:00PM - All Ages

Directions

Tickets or for grabs at Redscroll

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is a noise pop band which formed in 2007 in NYC. They consist of Kip Berman (vocals, guitar), Peggy Wang (vocals, keyboards), Alex Naidus (bass) and Kurt Feldman (drums). If you are into dreamy ’80s-sounding indie pop then this band is for you! For fans of The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, Black Tambourine, Jesus and Mary Chain, etc.
Slumberland Records

Meet Surfer Blood: they call West Palm Beach home and, while still in their early 20s, have penned an album worth of catchy, summery indie songs that even the most hook-laden power pop band would rightfully be jealous of. Their sound has been compared to Weezer, Pavement and Built to Spill.
Kanine Records

Hooray for Earth's Momo EP ends the way Brian Eno's Taking Tiger Mountain begins: with a charging bass drum, a flare of distorted guitar and stacked, soaring vocals. Like that record, Momo handily navigates the middle ground between rock and electronic music, layering spaced-out synths over highwire guitars, creating songs that conjure both the past and the future at the same time. Largely the brainchild of primary songwriters Noel Heroux and Chris Principe, Hooray for Earth are masters at swaddling irresistible pop hooks in layers of sinewave electronics.

Singing Bridges, Call 2 Consciousness, Rapture Scum, and more

Saturday April 10, 2010, WNHU presents:



SHOW CANCELED

Location:
German Club at the University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Rd
West Haven, CT

7:00 PM - $5 - possibly free for students? - All Ages

Yes, the above image is completely irrelevant, but I think it's pretty funny how the ever dastardly Ricorta needs binoculars to see that Brain Boy is right in front of him. And that's not to mention the fact that Brain Boy is only a few feet from landing a sick belly flop onto those desert sands.

When we last heard from Singing Bridges, they were sharing a bill with Humanoid, and bursting kick heads. Sounds like Brain Boy's kinda band. I hadn't heard of Julie Peel before, but I spied a pic on her myspace that has her sitting in front of a Grindhouse poster. Folk + Grindhouse? That automatically means I have a crush on Julie Peel (call me!). Rapture Scum is Connecticut's Liz Larson & Mike from A.T.G.G. They just played an Against All Odds show at Wrench back in February. Call 2 Consciousness have a Lady Gaga cover on their myspace and The Days Between list themselves as "emotronic" which makes the pretentious asshole in me want to puke. Saint Bernadette are everywhere these days. They claim that tequila is one of their influences. Their sleek sound tells me they always eat the worm too.

Singing Bridges
Julie Peel
Rapture Scum
Call 2 Consciousness
And The Days Between
Saint Bernadette