CONCERT REMINDER!! The Okay Win @ McGann's!!

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to keep in the know about a show happening tomorrow night @ McGann's in Boston! You've probably heard of The Okay Win, a band that I feature quite frequently here on the blog. Well, they're just wrapping up a short week long tour that took them through New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, and they're wrapping up their tour with a performance at McGann's in Boston, right near the TD Garden. If you didn't happen to catch their last performance at TT the Bear's, there's no missing out this time, go on out and see this band, they're well worth the price of admission and are some of my best friends!!

Other bands that will be on the bill include: JVD & The Backporch Smokers and Jet Black Sunrise! The show gets underway at 9PM and The Okay Win hits the stage at 11PM, so get ready to wind down the week with some brews and tunes! Don't miss it! For more info on the band's playing, check out their MySpace pages below:

The Okay Win: http://www.myspace.com/stephenmacdonaldmusic
Jet Black Sunrise: http://www.myspace.com/jetblacksunrisemusic

Concert Review: Sleigh Bells & Die Antwoord

Royale in Boston played host to a very electric and mind blowing show this past Thursday night when it featured a concert by Sleigh Bells and Die Antwoord. Sleigh Bells are a noise pop duo from Brooklyn, New York who recently released their debut album, Treats which charted at #39 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Lead vocalist Alexis Krauss churned out her powerful vocals through electronica infused songs that resonated really strongly with the crowd, myself included. Guitarist Derek Miller added his exquisite guitar skills through every song in the set. Although their set was shorter than I expected, it definitely provided for an energetic and effervescent performance that only set up what was to come later in the evening.

Die Antwoord was next to take the stage. Die Antwoord is a hip-hop group from Cape Town, South Africa who played one of the most interesting yet bizarre performances that I've ever seen in my life. The group's energy level during the performance was completely off the chart, setting the concertgoers ablaze in the floor section with powerful rhythms and bombastic dancing. The lead vocalist who goes by the name Ninja, assaulted concertgoers with a fury of rhymes and beats which isn't hip-hop in the traditional sense, but is infused with a heavy dose of electronica that attracts music fans of all different genres. During the performance, I couldn't help by noticing the video program that was prominently displayed in the background which featured some bizarre imagery featuring naked women carousing with each other while wearing bear masks, which made me raise my eyebrows a little bit. The performance itself was unlike anything that I've ever encountered in my travels, and is a concert that I'll look at as being groundbreaking and one that I'll remember for some time to come.

For more information on Sleigh Bells and Die Antwoord, head on over to their MySpace pages which I have listed below:

Sleigh Bells: http://www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic
Die Antwoord: http://www.myspace.com/dieantwoord

BREAKING NEWS!! Vampire Weekend Gets Sued!!

Hey everyone!

As some of you may or may know, Vampire Weekend was sued for $2 million last week by a model named Ann Kirsten Kennis. Ann claims in the lawsuit that the band used her image without permission on the cover of their album, Contra which was released earlier this year. Vampire Weekend's record label, XL Recordings issued a statement stating that they were authorized to use the picture on the cover of the album:

"Vampire Weekend and XL Recordings licensed the rights to use the photo on the cover of Contra pursuant to a license agreement that contains representations and warranties authorizing this use of the photo. We look forward to having the matter resolved in court."

The photo in question was taken in 1983, when Ann was a model with various high level fashion agencies in New York City. In her written complaint, Ann claims that her signature was forged on a photographic release statement that the band obtained from the photographer, Tod Brody. The photographer made a statement to Entertainment Weekly disputing Ann's claims:

"Ms. Kennis' claim that I didn't take the photo is blatantly false. I took the photo in 1983. The photo was in my possession the entire time, for 26 years, until it was delivered to Vampire Weekend."

Contra was a big success upon its release in January, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and the cover image immediately became iconic, which featured the woman photographed against a bare wall wearing a white monogrammed polo shirt, making the image very mysterious. Frontman Ezra Koenig and bassist Chris Baio were asked about the woman in previous interviews, claiming that they don't know her and haven't met her personally, but liked the image and decided to use it because they found it to be "very striking."

What do you make of this lawsuit? Do you think Ann has an actual case against the band or do you think she's simply trying to get some money out of the group? Leave your comments here on the blog about this story and let's talk about it!

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Seattle, WA's own Band of Horses are back with their eagerly anticipated new album, Infinite Arms. The follow up to 2007's Cease To Begin finds the indie rockers experimenting with a host of different sounds and begin to think outside of the box with an effort that will please new fans but might deter established fans in the process.

The album kicks off with "Factory", a pleasant, country-tinged tune that welcomes you in with the lead vocals of Ben Bridwell to provide a comfortable listen all the way through. "Compliments" is a more up tempo affair that features edgy electric guitar riffs heard faintly in the background, but still maintains Band of Horses distinct indie/country hybrid sound that fans have grown to love over the last few years. The disc's first single and my favorite track off the album, "Laredo" is a melodic, ethereal tune that features Ben's positively brimming and relaxing vocals that makes you feel like you're taking a road trip through the countryside. "On My Way Back Home" features a pure country inspired sound all the way through with acoustic guitars and a light drum pattern providing the backdrop for this piece here. The disc's title track provides a comfortable interlude for the disc's second half and sends out some positive vibes along the way.

The disc's second half starts out with "Dilly", an uptempo blast that provides some upbeat melodies to give the listener a variety of sounds to compliment each mood. "Older" is another country influenced song that features Ben's vocals soaring majestically throughout the song, and is a potent melodic punch that will leave you craving for more after the song ends. "For Annabelle" is an acoustic, introspective tune that is the perfect catalyst to begin to wrap up the album on a quiet scale, much like the way the album began.

The disc begins to conclude with "NW Apt.", an electric, melodic tune that presents Band of Horses in a totally different light that we're not used to seeing them in, but it works out pretty well here. "Neighbor" closes out the disc solely relying on the power of vocals to guide the song along and gives the listener the feeling that they're sitting out on the porch on a warm summers night with the fireflies buzzing and the stars twinkling in the night sky. Band of Horses have now finally solidified their line up after having a rotating set of bandmembers the last two albums and they've begun to appear in the public eye alot more visibly as they opened for Pearl Jam on their recent Spring tour. A prominent sign that Band of Horses are slowly moving more into the mainstream from which might draw some skepticism from established Band of Horses fans, but the band themselves realize that this is for the best and is a step in the right direction.

In conclusion, a solid and well churned out effort here from Band of Horses, who have slightly altered their sound from their previous work, but still maintain their strong, well to do musical ethos that has served them well in the past, and continues to provide good fortunes here.

                                                                                                                          Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Factory
2. Compliments
3. Laredo
4. Blue Beard
5. On My Way Back Home
6. Infinite Arms
7. Dilly
8. Evening Kitchen
9. Older
10. For Annabelle
11. NW Apt.
12. Neighbor 

The Weekender: The Hookups

Hey everyone!

Got a free schedule this weekend? Why don't you head on out and check out a concert to keep yourself cool during the dog days of summer! The featured concert this weekend is The Hookups, who were an Artist Spotlight feature here on the blog a few weeks ago. The Hookups play a brand of alt rock that is reminiscent of 311 and Incubus that keeps the crowd rocking and grooving all night long! Also playing at this show will be Dave Crespo's After Party and The Truezoos!

The show gets going on Saturday, Jul 17 at around 9PM, tickets are $5 at the door and the show is 21+. Rob Jack's is located on 88 Main Street in Everett, MA adjacent to the rotary on Route 99. Come on out for drinks and some great music, it'll be an awesome time! For more information on the bands performing, head on over to their respective web sites which I have listed below:

Dave Crespo's After Party: http://www.dcaprules.com/
The Hookups: http://www.myspace.com/thehookups1
The Truezoos: http://www.myspace.com/truezoos

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

The much hyped about side project known as Broken Bells have released their debut self-titled effort. Broken Bells is a collaboration between James Mercer, lead singer of The Shins and acclaimed producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse. What results from this collaboration is a beautiful and spectacular one that is far and away the best album of the year so far.

The album starts off with a bang on the disc's first single, "The High Road", a hauntingly beautiful track that is guaranteed to be put on repeat for quite some time in the immediate future. James and Danger Mouse both have incredible voices that blend together nicely with the rich melodies that are omnipresent at every turn on this track and every other one. "Vaporize" is an upbeat and melodic tune that makes great use out of keyboards to add a little diversity and give the listener something unexpected to keep them on their toes. "Your Head Is On Fire" is a mid-tempo, relaxed number that may seem a little odd to you after first hearing it, but will grow to appreciate it after repeated listens. "Sailing to Nowhere" is a calm, melancholy tune that would be the perfect song to play while you are sailing out on the ocean, as the title so implies.

As we head into the disc's second half, we come across my favorite song off the album, "Trap Doors", a melodic, wonderfully orchestrated tune that features a beautiful contrast of vocals between James and Danger Mouse that give you two distinct flavors, yet when they come together, they're all one in the same. "Citizen" is a dreamy, atmospheric tune that takes you away from it all with pleasant melodies and soothing vocals that will help you forget all your troubles. The disc's closing moments provide us with "October", a piano infused opus that excites on every level and James' vocals permeate through every crevice of the song with impeccable precision and leaves no stone unturned. "The Mall and Misery" closes out the album on a grand scale with an upbeat number that features melodic guitars and top notch vocal work from James and Danger Mouse, who looked like an unusual combination when written down on paper, but work together brilliantly and compliment each other so well on this album.

It's becoming more and more common nowadays for artists in established groups to reinvent themselves into other groups and dabble in genres that they themselves wouldn't have otherwise thought. Some examples include Andrew McMahon from Something Corporate, who later formed the introspective leaning Jack's Mannequin, and Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line, who created the experimental and intuitive Person L. Now, James Mercer of The Shins has seemingly reinvented himself with the help of Danger Mouse, and the two teamed up together have created something truly magical here that will be talked about for some time to come.

All in all, a fantastic effort from start to finish that gives a glimpse into the psyche of two musicians who no one expected to collaborate together, and as a result have created an utterly dynamic smash that has transcended all that is possible in the world of music and has shattered the notion that two artists from different genres can't come together to create something non-commercial. Buy this album now, you won't regret it!

                                                                                                                       Album Score: 5/5

Track Listing:

1. The High Road
2. Vaporize
3. Your Head Is On Fire
4. The Ghost Inside
5. Sailing to Nowhere
6. Trap Doors
7. Citizen
8. October
9. Mongrel Heart
10. The Mall and Misery 

Free MP3 Download Extravaganza!!

Hey everyone!

Back again with some free music to kick off your weekend! This week's free MP3 Download comes courtesy of We Are Scientists. We Are Scientists are an indie rock band form Claremont, California who are slowly starting to gain more recognition in the burgeoning indie music scene. The band released three self- made EP's that got them initial recognition among the local fanbase. The band eventually signed with Virgin Records where they released their debut album With Love and Squalor in 2005. Some notable songs from that album include: "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "The Great Escape", and "It's A Hit". The band released their next album Brain Thrust Mystery in 2008 which slowly started getting them more recognition in the press. The band released their latest album, Barbara on June 14 in the UK and are currently touring the US right now in support of that record. They will be playing The Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA on July 13 for what is sure to be an entertaining show. Here is the link to download the first single off Barbara, "Rules Don't Stop": http://www.redmusic.com/wearescientists/

If you're looking for some more free music, why don't you download the split EP from The Okay Win & Big Big Buildings? The band recently performed at TT the Bear's in Cambridge, MA this past Wednesday for what was an amazing show to celebrate the release of the new EP and surely gained some new fans in the process as well. If you want to download their 7-song EP Two Toned, here is the link: http://weknowus.bandcamp.com/

Artist Spotlight: The Okay Win & Interview w/ Steve MacDonald

Hey everyone!

Today's artist spotlight belongs to The Okay Win! The Okay Win is a band from Plymouth, MA that consists of Steve MacDonald on lead vocals and guitar, Ryan Ward on bass, Matt Jones on drums, and JM Craven on guitar and backing vocals. The band has been together as a group since 2009, honing their brand of "folk inspired rock that tends to get more aggressive" as Steve puts it best. The band released their debut effort "We Are Bound" in August 2009 that gave the audience a good idea of what their music is all about. Standouts from that disc include "Could Gamble" "I'm Occupying" "Gone For Good" and "Trying to Be Bold". The music then proceeds to burrow inside of you and leave you begging for more each time you hear it with its intricate melodies and folk inspired rhythms that is a very rare combination to find these days, but it works out so well here.

As you may have read from my previous post, The Okay Win will be performing at TT the Bear's tonight to celebrate the release of their split EP with Big Big Buildings entitled Two Toned. The concert is also a launching platform for a brand new label/collective called We Know Us that was developed by The Okay Win frontman Steve MacDonald. Recently, I conducted a brief e-mail interview with Steve to catch up on the new EP, label, and the concert. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Recently, your band just wrapped up work on a split EP with Big Big Buildings, can you just tell me a little bit about how this project came about?

Adam and I have tossed the idea around for a couple years. We've always had a mutual respect for each other and putting out something together just made complete sense. We share band members and often play on the same shows so this is just the next step in furthering our musical bond.

How do the songs on the split EP differ from your solo album and your album with The Okay Win, "We Are Bound"?

Well the EP itself will consist of 7 songs. There is 3 from us and 3 from Big Big Buildings and then a 7th song that I wrote and we all collaborated on. For this EP, our songs are completely band oriented instead of having some things be just me. Two of the songs have actually appeared on previous albums but these are new full band versions that we've done live at shows but never recorded. I'd say that the songs have a different energy than previous things. We've been playing together longer now so we understand how each other work. Everything just feels better as a whole.

Recently, you decided to start your own record label, can you talk a little about what inspired you to do that?

I've considered it for a while. Sometimes I'm all for it and then I'd realize I wasn't ready. It got to a point though where people were seeking out my advice on how to book shows, do radio campaigns, press albums, etc. It made me realize that I could be of assistance to people. There are some amazing bands in this area who don't get the attention they deserve. Hopefully we'll be able to create something that people talk about. I am very aware that labels are dying, but music is highly focused on networking. You can't do it all on your own which is why I'm hesitant to just call this a label. I have been often referring to it as a collective. It will be a group of people working together to benefit each other. This EP will serve as the launching pad for it.

You guys will be playing a show at TT the Bear's this Wednesday night as a launch for the new EP and label, can you talk a little bit about the show?

I am really excited for the show. The bill is really really strong. We have Aeroplane 1929 opening up the show. They are an amazing band out of Western, MA who are on their farewell tour. I've known some of those guys for a few years and was watching them play before I ever was doing music. It's a cool thing to be able to share the stage with them before they end things. Also playing will be a great songwriter out of Boston named Drew O'Doherty. We're really lucky to have him. Then it will be Big Big Buildings and Us (The Okay Win). I've seen some of my favorite shows at TT's so it just felt right to have the night there. We'll have download cards for the EP, which will be free, and posters for the first 50 people.

What are the band's future plans for the rest of the year?

As for the rest of the year, we're trying to play as often as possible. We'll be touring as much as possible. Most likely we'll be doing another record which will probably come out in the fall. We've been collecting some equipment and plan on doing the record ourselves. Other than that, we'll be enjoying life and love.

Thanks once again to my friend Steve MacDonald for taking time out of his hectic schedule to do this interview! Don't forget to catch The Okay Win and Big Buildings Live @ TT the Bear's at 8:30PM Tonight!! Aeroplane, 1929 and Drew O'Doherty will be kicking off the evening so be sure to arrive there early! Reminder: Cost is $7 and the show is 18+. For more information on The Okay Win, head on over to their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/stephenmacdonaldmusic 

Concert Reminder!! The Okay Win & Big Big Buildings Split EP Release @ TT the Bears!!

A reminder for those who live in the Boston area about a major concert happening Tomorrow night 7/7 @ TT the Bear's!! The Okay Win will be a releasing a split EP with Big Big Buildings entitled Two Toned and will be having a release party at TT the Bear's in Cambridge, MA to commemorate this big event. The concert will also be a launching point for a new Boston based label/collective called We Know Us that was conceived by The Okay Win frontman Stephen MacDonald. Opening up the show will be Aeroplane 1929, who are in the midst of their farewell tour, and one of Boston's most promising songwriters Drew O'Doherty.
Big Big Buildings and The Okay Win will then round out the show for what is sure to be a very memorable evening!

The first 50 people to arrive at the concert will receive a free poster and all patrons will receive a free download card for the EP. The show starts at 8:30PM, Cost is $7 and the show is 18+ Make it your mission to see this concert on Wednesday night! Trust me, you won't be disappointed! For more information on the bands performing, head on over to their MySpace pages which I have listed below:

The Okay Win: www.myspace.com/stephenmacdonaldmusic

Big Big Buildings: www.myspace.com/bigbigbuildings

Aeroplane, 1929: www.myspace.com/aeroplane1929

Drew O'Doherty: www.myspace.com/drewodoherty

Win a Trip to Lollapalooza!

Want to go to Lollapalooza this summer? Head on over to http://www.touchtunes.com/lollapalooza and enter in the Lollapalooza Sweepstakes! The grand prize winner will win a round trip airfare for two and 3 night hotel accommodations to the Lollapalooza Festival in Grant Park, Chicago which will be held from August 6-8. Just enter in the required info and you'll be automatically entered to win the prize! No purchase necessary!!

Free MP3 Download!!

Hey everyone!

Back again with a free MP3 Download for you guys!! The free MP3 download is by a artist named Kyle Andrews. Kyle plays a hybrid of acoustic guitar mixed in with electronica to create a fun and eclectic type of music that is sure to entertain the masses. To download a free copy of Kyle Andrews "You Always Make Me Smile" go to http://www.redmusic.com/smile/ and take a listen!

For more information on Kyle Andrews, head on over to his MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/kyleandrews