David Bazan and Titles

Wednesday, May 12, 2010, Manic Productions presents:


Location:
The Space
295 Treadwell Street
Hamden CT

$12 - 7:00PM - All Ages

Directions: Click

Tickets: Click or pick them at Redscroll.

Known* for his work fronting the enigmatic rock band Pedro the Lion, David Bazan's emotionally charged narratives, eye for telling detail, and mournful voice have more in common with J.D. Salinger's 'Nine Stories' or Flannery O'Connor's 'Wise Blood' than with the usual lyrical slant of popular music. Bazan is a gifted storyteller, weaving parables of spiritual conflict, suburban ennui, and personal surrender into magnetic, well-crafted songs.

The ever lovely CT Indie faves Titles are opening!

More Bazan dates:
For us nothern CT peeps: Thu 05/13 – Northampton MA – The Iron Horse
20 Center Street Ages: 21+ / Doors open at 9pm, Show starts at 10pm.

Living Room shows:
Fri 05/14 – Beverly, MA – Living Room Show
Sat 05/15 – Philadelphia PA – Living Room Show
Sun 05/16 – Baltimore MD – Living Room Show
Tue 05/18 – Charlotte NC – Living Room Show SOLD OUT
Wed 05/19 – Atlanta GA – Living Room Show SOLD OUT
Thu 05/20 – Birmingham AL – Living Room Show
Fri 05/21 – Birmingham AL – Living Room Show
Sat 05/22 – Nashville TN @ 5pm (early show) – Living Room Show
Sat 05/22 – Nashville TN @ 8pm (late show) – Living Room Show SOLD OUT
Sun 05/23 – Nashville TN – Living Room Show SOLD OUT
Tue 05/25 – Chicago IL – Living Room Show SOLD OUT
Wed 05/26 – Chicago IL – Living Room Show SOLD OUT
Thu 05/27 – Kalamazoo MI – Living Room Show
Fri 05/28 – Toledo OH – Living Room Show
Sat 05/29 – Pittsburgh PA – Living Room Show SOLD OUT
Sun 05/30 – Washington DC – Living Room Show

What's this "Living Room Show" stuff all about? Well, Bazan explains:

Here’s how it works.

1. You have a house or loft space that can comfortably and safely host 40-45 people. A place with a big living room, finished basement would be ideal. There would need to be enough parking nearby and your neighbors should be cool. It would be a huge bummer if someone called the cops because of all the extra cars and people coming to your house. You should probably not do this if you live in a small apartment with a bunch of uptight neighbors or a cranky landlord.

2. The shows will not be open to the public and no tickets will be sold at the door. We will pre-sell a set number of tickets for each show on David’s website before the show. Be realistic on how many people your place can hold. We need to know how many tickets we can sell in advance. We’ve found that 40-45 people is what the average living room can hold. Ticket price will be $20.

3. We will provide you with a detailed list of everyone who will be coming to the show. The host won’t have to deal with any money and will only need to check people off the list as they arrive.

4. The host can have up to 5 additional free tickets for the show. If you have other friends who want to come to the show you can direct them to the link to buy tickets on-line.

5. You don’t need any sort of sound system. All you need is a chair for David to sit on.

6. Your home address will not be published on the web and will only be given to those people who purchase tickets.

7. The shows will not be promoted or advertised anywhere except David’s websites.

Hmmmmm, $20.00 is kinda steep. I usually only charge $10.00 for people to sit in my living room. Of course no one ever comes to my living room shows because my awesome dog Molly is the only performer, with her incessant hound bark not being all that hip in the indie music scene these days. Someday she'll be the coolest thing ever, and you'll all feel like chumps for having missed it. Nyah.

*PS: I was just roundly scolded by Manic for having never heard of Bazan before this show came along. Guess I've just been way too into my dog's barking.

The Blow at The Space

Monday, May 10 2010, Manic Productions presents:


Location:
The Space
295 Treadwell Street
Hamden CT

$12 - 7:00PM - All Ages

Directions: Click

Tickets: Click or grab them at Redscroll.

After a year's hiatus from performing, The Blow's Khaela Maricich is stepping back onto the stage with a new body of material. She is presenting a new set of songs, along with a narrative stage performance to accompany the music. The Blow recently opened a string of concerts for Vampire Weekend, and there had the opportunity to try out the fresh material in a large venue format. The upcoming tour of the Northeast is planned as a workshop, where Maricich can test out and develop performance elements in intimate settings. For the upcoming album and performance cycle, Maricich is working in collaboration with installation and sound artist Melissa Dyne. Dyne will augment the live Blow performances and recordings with her expertise in accoustics, light, and spatial phenomena. The Blow is currently at work on a full length album, and plans to release an EP of new material later in 2010. The Blow has recently performed segments of the new work at The Baltimore Museum of Art, Harvard University, and Pulse Art Fair in Miami.

More dates:

05/04 Buffalo, NY The Ninth Ward
05/06 Portland, ME Space
05/07 Winooski, VT The Monkey House
05/08 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
05/10 Hamden, CT The Space
05/11 Providence, RI The Speakeasy @ Local 121
05/13 Brooklyn, NY Glasslands

Also on the bill for the 10th is the fantastic Slam Donahue. These locals are tearing it up, and will be releasing their new CD at this show, so make sure you get there in time to see them.

Midi and the Modern Dance - Make It Easy On Yourself

Originally written for Inkwell Press
There is a groggy morning light that Make It Easy on Yourself awakes in. The only other presence in the room is a solitary guitar being plucked, conjuring up a companion for itself with its echoing reverberation. Omeed Goodarzi (vox/guitar) barely cracks a word’s shape with his lips while cooing the record’s opening lyric, questioning his expression in itself: “What am I now, when I go to speak?”

Midi and the Modern Dance ached in a similar key before in “Stay Awake,” the opening track on 2009’s Twilight, How Sweet You Are (“I feel numb and painless, my dear/and there are no comforts here”). But where “Stay Awake” leaves traces of a lullaby to reassure (“but the night will come eventually/and there will be better days, you’ll see”), “I’m Sorry” simultaneously opens and closes the record with a despair so thick, Goodarzi can’t see the forest but for the trees. Maybe this is why a track like “Everything I Touch” was chosen to follow—it kicks off its predecessor’s drear with Mikey McGovern’s (keys) ecstatic Rhodes ditty and breaks of upbeat pop frenzy. This was a bit of Midi’s monogram in the days of Twilight, but “Everything I Touch” is a dishonest attempt, the defiantly sunny day which falls on the saddest afternoon of your life.

Dave Groener’s (Suns) poolhouse acoustics cloud the quality of the rest of the record into a lo-fi fog which also disenchants “Almost A Threat” and “I’m Sure,” two songs with kindred insincere half-smiles. These don’t give the record any levity, but sidestep the glaring undertone of loneliness and an element of emotional fatality introduced with “I’m Sorry.” Indulgent though it may have seemed, a thorough eight tracks worth of brooding would have solidified Make it Easy as a whole production. It’s hard to imagine “Everything I Touch,” “Almost A Threat” and “I’m Sure” as anything but outliers, regardless of how strong each track is on its own as substantial pop songs awash in riffy keys and the contagious ebb and flow of short tension and relief.

When the sparse guitar notes pluck back in, easing into “Lucky,” it feels exceedingly more comfortable. It’s just you, Goodarzi, and the smattering of keys and drums (Jack Aldrich) in the background, transparent enough to let the conversation begun in “I’m Sorry” continue on. The record’s reckoning is in “Where Do You Think,” the most powerful Midi track yet written. Goodarzi is tangible, leaning in amongst the tides of autoharp and fuzzed out guitar to trill, “There are better men out there you see/so many boys more good looking than me/where do you think I belong, if I don’t belong to you?” He continues to alternate between self-deprecation and a subdued kind of desperation among harmonies with McGovern and a pining autoharp sigh. In tense Okkervil fashion, feedback squeals once, twice and explodes into a blood-letting so comparatively abrasive and pained that it couldn’t possibly relinquish itself in any other line than a tongue-in-cheek “there’s a place in my head where thoughts of you spread/through the cracks in my bed, how I wish you were dead, how I wish you were dead.”

As of late, Midi’s taken many forms due to their member’s collegiate obligations, though Goodarzi is always a mainstay—sometimes solo, sometimes with Adam Levison (accordion, autoharp) or even Will Rutledge (Suns, drums). As far as that sad, solitary integrity goes, it’s best kept in these intimate performances—but emerge teeming with a full band. Midi aches and rejoices along with any other responsive being, and fall into each emotional step with ease. For us emotional creatures, this dynamism might just mean that this record will endure.

An Interview with Audubon Records Founder John Longyear

A sortof interview with Audubon Records founder John Longyear originally for Inkwell Press
"I came up with the idea for Audubon Records in the summer of 2009 with the intention of releasing vinyl records for bands that I love. I've had an interest in collecting and listening to records for several years before this, and I wanted to give an opportunity for bands to be pressed on vinyl that were deserving of it. I also make sure to include a digital download with each release, because that is something I look forward to when purchasing a record.

Before publicly announcing Audubon Records, I wanted to make sure I was able to get at least two releases done. The first band I thought of when starting this label was The Motorcycle Industry. After listening to their first full length, Electric Education, I fell in love with their honest and extremely catchy songwriting. I wondered “How does this band not have any support from a record label yet?” With that, I quickly got in contact with them. We agreed to work on their latest release, which is a 4 track 7” EP titled The Only Friends Worth Having. It is their greatest work yet and shows how the band's sound has matured since the last release.

My latest release is with Connecticut's own, Deadlights and Don't Say I Won't. It is a split 7” with two brand new tracks from each band. I have known the dudes in Deadlights for a while now, and I have never been disappointed with anything they have done musically. Putting out this split 7” really means a lot to me.

I am currently working on getting Midi & The Modern Dance's new full length, Make it Easy on Yourself, pressed on vinyl. It is going to be Audubon Records' first 12” LP release. I have been listening to the unmastered tracks of this album religiously ever since I got my hands (or ears) on them. I can safely say that this album is going to raise the bar for Connecticut indie/pop music. The release show is set for July 13, 2010 in Stratford, CT and preorder information will be announced soon."

Show Review: Gregory and the Hawk, Lion Cub, Plume Giant @ The Space 5/2

May 2, 2010

I figured the night would be a low-key one and that’s how it was, but in a great way. The bands set to play on Sunday, May 2^nd were Plume Giant, Lion Cub, and Gregory and the Hawk, all indie/folk acts that were perfect for the setting The Space provided. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect from the mix, since I wasn’t very familiar with any of the bands, but was pleasantly surprised by what I heard within the three-hour span of the show.

Plume Giant opened up the show with one of the simplest band setups I’ve ever seen live. The local three-piece from New Haven consists of two sometimes-violinists and an

acoustic guitarist. All three members sing, and the mix of two male and one female voices created harmonies that catered to the Beach Boys fans in all of us. The set was a bit too long for an opener, in my opinion, and the group played quite a few songs, despite having been around only since late 2009. Plume Giant covered The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, which to some may seem like a tough feat to accomplish but the trio pulled it off quite nicely, doing it justice and then some. During their final song, one of the two violinists urged the crowd to sing along to the chorus, to which they responded well. Somehow, Giant had almost everyone in the room singing, ‘Ooo girl, ride the wind/ Find a boy in a bottle of gin/ Tie your hair and let it all in/ Better you than me.’ Needless to say, I was impressed by the talent this local trio displayed.

Cambridge, Massachusetts’ indie-electro band Lion Cub played next. This band was a mixed bag for me. Some aspects of their performance were great, but others were not so much. Lion Cub is made up of a vocalist/guitarist, a guitarist, a sometimes-bassist, and a keyboardist. Despite this full lineup, most of the members only played during

half the songs or less. The bassist only played for two songs max, and looked bored for the rest of the set. I felt like Lion Cub needed get their act together when it comes to necessary band members. They use a drum machine, which can sometimes be cool, but in this case the performance could have benefitted greatly from a live drummer. The performance given by the lead singer was impressive despite all this. He was lively and smiley and seemed to be having the time of his life up on The Space’s small stage. Regardless of what the other members were doing, the songs were catchy and the set was fun.

A small, dark-haired, makeup-less girl walked onstage, plugged in her guitar, and took a

seat in the lone plastic chair placed in the middle of the stage. Meredith Godreau, better known as Gregory and the Hawk, quietly said hello to the audience and announced that she was in

a bad mood and hoped the show would turn that around. Immediately after the introduction, her sweet, childlike voice filled the room. She calmly sat as she strummed away at her acoustic guitar and sang songs about being in love and out of love and all the stages in between. Gregory looked down at her shoes for most of the time she was playing, although every time she looked up, she smiled at the audience that was listening intently. To introduce one of her songs she said, ‘I forgot about this song and when I played it I thought it was cute. And by cute I mean I’m a dumb fuck.’ It was funny yet refreshing to hear that word come out of the mouth of someone so unassuming. Gregory and the Hawk

played about an hour-long set or so, filled with lullabies about desperation, jealousy, and all things that once were relevant to her life. There were no sing alongs, as if there were, it would take away from the haunting nature of Merideth’s voice. Everyone in the room seemed to be enamored with the girl’s voice though, as hardly anyone so much as moved within the duration of her set. When I first saw Gregory and the Hawk sit down with just a guitar and no band, I was wary of what I was in for, since acoustic music isn’t typically my thing. I was thoroughly impressed though, and would definitely see a show again after the performance she gave on Sunday night.

Sing Me To Sleep: Indie Lullabies

If you're an older music nerd with kids like me, then you're probably playing music around your kids all the time. And you probably, like me, welcome their opinions about the tunes, too. In fact, my son just recently laid the criticism down that Jónsi shouldn't have sung in English on his new record because he didn't think it sounded as good. It hadn't even really crossed my mind, but I guess I agree with him. My daughter loves the new Nervous Systems record that Brushback turned the CT Indie camp onto. But she also loves Lady freakin' Gaga. You can't win all the time.

I have no idea what they're going to think of the new American Laundromat Records compilation Sing Me To Sleep: Indie Lullabies. All that Jay Reatard that we drive around to might have corrupted them beyond hope. Whatever their take on it will be, right off the bat, starting with track one, I knew this was going to be a comp worth listening to all the way through. But I had no idea how touching it would be. Hearing this record was like when all the Whos down in Whoville started singing, making the Grinch's small heart grow three sizes.

Sing Me To Sleep is a collection of newly recorded lullabies and popular songs re-imagined as lullabies by everyone from Dean & Britta (Dean Wareham, formerly of Galaxie 500 and both he and Britta Phillips are formerly of Luna) to Neil Halstead (Mojave 3, ex-Slowdive), including a cover of Pure Imagination from the eternally classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory by The Rest. Even Moon River, which went from Breakfast at Tiffany's to become a punchline, gets a lounge rendition by Tanya Donelly perfectly suitable for softly fading evenings.

Sing Me To Sleep may be intended as a children’s album for indie-hipster parents, but it's truly for anyone that likes well produced chilled out indie music. I highly recommend every note of this record and have to say that American Laundromat Records should be extremely proud of this release.

All proceeds from this wonderful album will be donated to The Valerie Fund, a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive health care for children with cancer and blood disorders.

There are two editions that will be available on Tuesday, May 18, 2010: a limited 1st pressing that includes a healthy batch of bonus material, and a standard release.

The track list:

1. Asleep - Stars
2. Have You Forgotten - Jenny Owen Youngs
3. Little Boxes - The Real Tuesday Weld
4. Inchworm - The Leisure Society
5. Pure Imagination - The Rest
6. Dear Prudence - Casey Mecija (Ohbijou)
7. Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Dala
8. Can't Get It Out Of My Head - Telekinesis
9. Making Me Smile - Dean & Britta
10. You And Your Sister - O+S
11. Moon River - Tanya Donelly
12. Cloudbusting - Neil Halstead
13. The North Wind Doth Blow - Snowbird
14. Rainbow Connection - Trespassers William

Limited 1st pressing only:

15. Strings That Tie To You* - Julie Peel with Field Mouse & Hailey Wojcik
16. You Are My Sunshine* - Peter Broderick
17. Gymnopédie No. 1* - Coctails
18. Kiss Off* - Say Hi
19. Boys Of Summer* - Papercuts
20. The Sound Of Silence* - The Abbasi Brothers
21. Edelweiss* - Laura Gibson
22. Moon River "Blue Mix"* - Tanya Donelly [7" vinyl only]
23. Kafari* - Sigur Rós [7" vinyl only]


American Laundromat Records (ALR) is an indie record label based out of Mystic, CT. Best known for producing tribute compilations, the label earned praise for its 2008 charity record “Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young For Charity” which to-date has donated over $30,000 to Casting For Recovery, a national non-profit support and educational program for women who have or have had breast cancer. Other ALR projects include the recent Cure tribute “Just Like Heaven – a tribute to the Cure”, and “High School Reunion – a tribute to those great 80’s Films!” which All Music Guide called “One of the finest tributes ever amassed!” Artists who have contributed to ALR projects include; Matthew Sweet, They Might Be Giants, OK Go, British Sea Power, Tanya Donelly, Kristin Hersh, Frank Black, Lori McKenna, Veruca Salt, Jill Sobule and John Doe, The Submarines, The Wedding Present, Joy Zipper, Dean & Britta, Mogwai, The Dresden Dolls, and Julie Peel. ALR’s new sub-brand, “Indie For Kids,” is dedicated to delivering quality kid-friendly songs to the offspring of indie-loving parents, while benefitting select children’s charities.

Weekend Rundown: 5/7-5/9 plus a touch of Monday

First things first, your homework for this weekend is to enter our record giveaway contest. If you're feeling lazy this Sunday, you could pull that shoebox of pictures out from under the bed and find yourself some inspiration. Have fun with it!


Tonight, 5/7/2010:

Brown Bird Rudy Relic, A Slow Death, Dead Uncles, The 40's at The Whitney House

Closely Watched Trains, You Scream I Scream, Kaboom at Cafe Nine

I.M. Legend, The Day Spring at Old Stone Church (251 Main St, East Haven, CT) 6pm – 10pm

Local Metal Showcase After the Last, The Premier, Send Your Regards, and more at The Space (7pm – 11pm)

Spring Heeled Jack with Tip the Van, The Organ Beats, Mellow Bravo at Toad's

Saturday, 5/8/2010:

The Body, Iron Hand, Escalator, The Hammer at The Whitney House

Spring Heeled Jack with The Pietasters, We Are the Union, Make Do and Mend at Toad's

Steve Wynn at Cafe Nine

The Vultures, Skeletonbreath, and 420 Blackbirds at Rudy's

Bear Hands and M.T. Bearnington at Oasis Pub

Erin McKeown at The Space

Ink, Karmic Justice at Daniel Street

Sunday, 5/9/2010:

The Cryptics, Colin and the Cancer, Long Drop, Play it Faster!, The Clefts at the Wallingford American Legion 6pm – 10pm

Monday, 5/10/2010:

Bill Nace / Paul Flahert Duo, Jack Callahan, Family Treasures, Supernaturalle at Popeye's Garage 6pm – 11pm

The Blow with Slam Donahue at The Space


Please comment about any of the shows we've missed and we will add them to the post!