Darlings: lo-fi, lazy indie pop at its best
August 28, 2012
Darlings. I’ve mentioned them on here before… albeit a long ass time ago. I’ve seen the term “slacker pop” thrown around 1,000 times about this band but it’s really the very best possible way to describe them. If you think about Pavement and The Rentals having a baby, you’d be on the right track. I just want to have a drunken college couch makeout session with every one of their songs. They’re cute and irresistible. Do yourself a favor and check out these New Yorkers’ latest single “Pet the Ghost” on their bandcamp. It’s even available for free download for the time being! Now, can somebody get these slackers to stop slacking and tour through Nashville? Please?
The Features present “Still Lost: Volume One”
May 10, 2012
This one kinda took me by surprise… I hadn’t a clue that The Features were about to release a compilation of b-sides, outtakes, and demos. Still Lost: Volume One is a fantastic collection of rare Features gems. If you’re a die-hard fan and have been since “the early days” you have probably at least heard all these songs at some point, but there are some alternate mixes and versions on here that you may not have heard. The best part of this is that it’s totally free. So go grab it now via NoiseTrade. You have no excuse!
(Via We Own This Town)
Two major things to mention (or re-iterate, since you may have already seen this):
Photographer/filmmaker Joey Ciccoline has been hard at work on a very cool-looking short film titled 88:88 and my pal Matt Pusti aka Makeup and Vanity Set did the soundtrack. Awesome in every possible way. Here’s the trailer:
You can also download the trailer and free mp3 of “The Cross” at the MAVS bandcamp. There will be a full soundtrack album released in the future as well.
Uncle Skeleton released another (the third and final) teaser single from their upcoming album All Too Human. “The Well-Tempered Albi” is available for free download on their bandcamp, along with remixes from DPAUL, Makeup and Vanity Set, and Shaboi, as well as 2 unreleased b-sides.
What a treat to have all of these great projects originating right here in Nashville. *warm fuzzies*
My pal Joseph over at Nashville Nights has been working with Red Bull to promote one of their awesome Red Bull Music Academy sessions, which is happening this Saturday at 12th & Porter from 4-5pm. It’s totally FREE, and the guest speaker is none other than Eliot Lipp. This is very unique treat to have here in Nashville, and I suggest checking it out. It’s free so what have you to lose? It’s to promote the 2012 Red Bull Music Academy, taking place in New York Sept. 30 – Nov. 2. If the full-on RBMA is something you’re interested in, and you’re from Nashville, then you simply must check this out. It’s a very cool idea: kudos to Joseph for getting involved.
Mercy Lounge announces 9 year anniversary parties Jan. 20 and 21
January 11, 2012
Mercy Lounge is arguably the best venue in Nashville in the 300-500 capacity range, and they’re celebrating their anniversary (as they do every year) by throwing some free shows! Just as in past years, they’ve invited a slew of local bands to play and secured sponsorships from some of your favorite brews.
Lineups:
Jan. 20th– How I Became the Bomb, Cheer Up Charlie Daniels, Ponychase, Kyle Andrews, Wild Cub (ft. Keegan Dewitt & members of Pico vs. Island Trees) and local funksters ReLapse will close it out.
Jan. 21st– Heypenny, Evan P. Donohue, The Nobility, Mayhem performing Elvis Costello’s This Year’s Model, Escondido ft. Tyler James, and ReLapse will once again close the night out.
Both nights are FREE so arrive early in case things reach max capacity.
Powerbrrrd show tonight/William Tyler album/MAVS remix contest
November 16, 2010
Wow, there’s a lot of good stuff to report today.
First of all, let me say that this morning sucked. Quite frankly this started out as a bad day. But I found out that local guitar wizard William Tyler (who’s played with Silver Jews, Lambchop, and most recently KORT) has a new solo album out, and it’s streaming on NPR. I had no idea what to expect, but I started playing some tracks and my day immediately improved. The album is mostly instrumental acoustic guitar compositions with roomy, spacey samples and horn parts washed in here and there. A few tracks feature ambient sound effects with distant druid-like chants. It was one of those times where just the right thing happens to come along to set you back in sync. Good job Willy T!
Now for a brief moment of self-promotion. My band Powerbrrrd is playing a free show at the Exit/In tonight, along with Nite Nite, The Grayces, Little Viking, and Frank the Fuck Out. A good time is guranteed. We had a 4th Brrrd in line to make his debut tonight, but unfortunately he inured his wing and won’t be able to rock with for a few more weeks.
One more brief moment of self-promotion. Saturday I turn 29. To kick off my last year of being a coveted twenty-something, I’m hosting an 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge next Monday, and it’s a grunge cover night. Yes, break out your flannel, ripped jeans, and chucks- it’s time to get filthy. The lineup is Eliza the Arrow (former members of Forget Cassettes), Foxcore (members of Take the Power Back), Anchor Thieves, Powerbrrrd, Sweet Tempers, Kelly Kerr, and Bad Press (Nashville Cream staff). There will also be FREE CAKE.
If you’re a music maker of the electronic type, or just a DJ who dabbles in production, you should head over to Makeup & Vanity Set’s website where can download stems for an official remix contest he’s hosting. The track being remixed is “Charles Park” off of Charles Park II. I really look forward to hearing some of these remixes, and tackling the remix myself. Whether I can come up with anything noteworthy remains to be seen, as my time is stretched thin…
Finally, I must warn that my posting may be limited to non-existent past today. Something blog-worthy may pop up tomorrow, but Thursday I’ll be having PRK eye surgery, and unfortunately there is a bit of recovery time involved, during which I may have be doped up on pain meds while my corneas heal. Most of you haven’t a clue how severely near-sighted I am, but suffice it to say that even though this surgery will only reduce my corrective prescription, that alone will be well worth it.
If Harry Underwood’s art came to life…
November 8, 2010
This is probably what it would look like:
(Via Yewknee’d)
If you don’t know who Harry Underwood is, you need to learn. Thank me later.
In other news, the latest We Own This Town podcast is out and it contains some tasty new treats from Nashville artists both new and old such as Jasmin Kaset, Fly Golden Eagle, Tristen, and Relax With Fiction.
Dixie Downturn 8 off 8th tonight
October 4, 2010
Next Big Hangover. Next Binge Nashville. I’ve heard it all. But it’s over. It was awesome and everyone had a blast, but it’s time to move on with the regular Nashville rock and roll grind. Going out and seeing another show is probably not high on your list of things to do tonight, but if there was ever a lineup capable of changing that sentiment, it’s the Dixie Downturn 8 off 8th tonight at Mercy Lounge.
What’s Dixie Downturn? Oh, they’re just the greatest blog in the universe. Well, 2nd greatest blog… obviously this blog is the greatest in the universe. J/K. Seriously though, they are brand-spankin’ new and they are already rocking my world, mainly because they said this about my band Powerbrrrd:
Powerbrrrd are three goofy mofos that play sloppy, infectious rock ‘n’ roll music in the vein of Superchunk and Guided by Voices. They also have a video that reenacts the opening sequence from The Adventures of Pete and Pete. They are obviously in the running for greatest band in the universe for that fact alone.
But also because they put together this utterly amazing lineup for an 8 off 8th tonight- Spanish Candles, Powerbrrrd, Action!, Diarrhea Planet, Heartbeater, Fake Brad, Big Surr, and one more that I haven’t heard about yet. All these bands are bands that we love to play with and who love us, and now we love DD, who also loves us, and and and there’s just so much love.
Massive love aside, keep an eye on Dixie Downturn y’all- they’re all about the free shit, and that’s alright with me. Here’s a link to their post about tonight, and here’s a link to the facebook event. As always, it’s FREE, 21+, and there are $2.50 Yuenglings.
NBN EventBrite day party Friday
September 28, 2010
There have been hints and rumors galore about this Friday’s NBN day party, but the word is officially out now. This party is being touted as one of the best, if not THE best event at Next BIG Nashville this year. It’s a SXSW day party-style event going down at the awesome Neuhoff Factory in Germantown, and there will be TONS of free swag, free booze, a photobooth, t-shirts printed onsite, and of course an awesome lineup of music. The Features headline, with support from Morning Teleportation, Take The Power Back (female RATM tribute), and Kurtis Stanley. I will also be DJing some hot new jams between and after the bands.
Priority entrance will be given to NBN VIP badgeholders and wristbands, but EVERYONE MUST RSVP at the EventBrite website. If you’re not a badgeholder or wristband-wearer but still want to go, get your ass on over there and RSVP now because only the first 100 general public will get in! Full details:
EventBrite NBN Factory party
3:30-7pm
Neuhoff Factory- 1315 Adams St., Nashville
21+ ONLY, must RSVP here
THE FEATURES
Morning Teleportation
Take The Power Back
Kurtis Stanley
DJ sets by BURGERS between/after bands
Free drinks, free swag, photobooth, onsite t-shirt printing
See you Friday!
Brandon Jazz and his Armed Forces release “Radical Luv” 7-inch
August 30, 2010
At some point recently, and I can’t for the life of me remember where/when, I recall hearing Brandon Jazz referred to as Nashville’s own local male version of Ke$ha. That’s surprisingly accurate, I say. Hell, his latest song “X-Ray Eyes” is actually about her. (Download it at the Cream, it’s a damn good song.) Mr. Jazz has proven himself to be quite the self-promoter, and while his “look at me!!!” style of attention-grabbing annoys the hell out of some, I find it quite amusing. Furthermore, if you have a good ‘ol sit-down with him, you’ll find that he’s actually a really nice dude. Sure, his band used to suck. Really bad. But one Ryan Truso (of the now-defunct Mean Tambourines) saw some honest raw talent in him, took him under his wing, taught him how to sing, and now we have a string of infectious pop gems such as “Radical Luv,” “Vultures (You Never Shut Up),” and most recently “X-Ray Eyes.”
The 7″ pressing of “Radical Luv” was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, and part of the funds from said campaign went to MusiCares. Tonight’s 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge is doubling as the official release show for the 7″, and features a cast of great local bands including Heartbeater, Loose Cougar, DJ sets by Coach, and many more. Admission is free, but $5 gets you a copy of the 7″, and $20 gets you an amazing Radical Luv T-shirt. Just go. What have you got to loose?
Tonight also marks the official release of the “Vultures” remix EP. Mr. Jazz enlisted DPAUL, Justin Kase, myself (BURGERS), and a few others to remix the track. The remix EP will be available digitally on the Armed Forces bandcamp page tomorrow. I’ve also been told it’ll be on iTunes. For a limited time, though, you can grab my BURGERS remix right here:
The Armed Forces-Vultures (BURGERS REMIX)
Enjoy it in all of its Moog-tastic glory.
steve cross loves music and science 