Ava Luna @ Piano’s; Trichotomy of Styles

The twisted soul, punk attitude, and divine harmonies of the band Ava Luna were welcome sounds @ Pianos. The seven-member band presented a very lively set full of soul/funk and a bass line groove that made dancing my only option. Carlos Hernandez, the lead singer, and ultimate contortionist, aptly put his falsetto into hard drive. His enthusiastic rendering of soul-ridden vocals brought to mind, Sam Cooke. The female trio’s sophisticated Doo-wop harmonies worked as passages alongside the synth, bass, and drums that had a scratchy, almost garage-band feel. 

Ava Luna effectively created a trichotomy of styles into a soul-melding mash. Having only seen a few videos and hearing some tracks seeing the band live left me with a strong impression. I loved their energy, spirit, and intention. This was the conclusion of Patrick Duffy’s relaunch party for the music blog Pop Tart Sucks Toasted, which was taken down by Google’s Blogger in February earlier this year. Duffy’s taste and hard work have helped enumerable musicians gain much-deserved exposure. 

Sorry, I only came out to see Ava Luna but the other bands on the line-up were MiniBoone, Your Youth, and Bermuda Bonnie. Ethan Bassford – Bass, Felicia Douglass – Vocals, Carlos Hernandez – Vocals, Becca Kauffman – Vocals, Anna Sian – Vocals, Alex Smith – Drums, Nathan Tompkins – Synthesizer.

Kickstarter Campaign For Adventures in Plymptoons

In the spirit of the independent music I write about, I was compelled to feature this Kickstarter project because it reeks of DIY gone right. Determination, conviction, and a little humor go a long way, and independent filmmaker Alexia Anastasio has all that and more.

Her documentary Adventures in Plymptoons about Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton is currently in post-production and needs additional funding. Alexis hopes to achieve her goals through an inventive Kickstarter campaign that brings fans and donors into the fray. She is willing to give her all to achieve her goals, including shaving her beautiful hair and fashioning a Mohawk.

Alexia’s enthusiasm for this project is contagious. She celebrates and is inspired by Bill Plympton’s career as an independent filmmaker and is making this documentary with the same independent spirit. All filmmakers, artists, and musicians should take note and be inspired.

Alexia’s Kickstarter campaign is absolutely worth a click to view. It features some takes with Bill Plympton and anecdotes by a few of his voice-over team edited with clips of Plympton’s animated world.

Even if you don’t have the funds to help her achieve her goals, you can help spread it around through networking.

For additional inspiration, read Alexis’ interview with Film Threat here
And..
video interview with Alexia Anastasio at Comic-Con 2010 for Adventures in Plymptoons
by Jon Raymond from The Writers Muse.

Coyote Eyes, Dynamic Set @ The Delancey

I attended a fundraiser for the band Coyote Eyes on Friday night at The Delancey. Their goal was to recoup the costs incurred recording their EP after the small label that offered financial backing folded, leaving the band with expenses they hadn’t planned for. On hand to help were the Flying Pace, Marie Stella from Portland, Maine, and Quiet Loudly, who played sets and offered cheap merch while friends baked treats for sale. It was an atmosphere of love, support, and good music-making.

As soon as Coyote Eyes hit the stage, it was apparent why everyone there was showing love. The foursome floored me with two guitars, pedal boards, synth, bass, drums, and combined vocals. Coyote Eyes were engaged, creating an invigorating sound guided by melodic sonic movements. They rev-ed up clean bell-like guitar riffs that build and scaffold, blasting with pulsating fast strumming meant to take you somewhere. Leading from the back and divine to witness was Jeremiah McVay, whose thunderous drumming skill was always on queue and the force and backbone of the sound. The dynamic contrasts between the two vocalists diversified the sound and what made it more surprising was how they fluctuated between dominating one song or another or singing in unison. Manny Nomikos's emotional singing style with bursts of volume, multiple pitches, and at times, Yoko-like channeling, while Marta’s Deloreon vocals were smooth intoxicating, and perfectly phrased. What is especially strong is how Deloreon’s voice rises above the amplified sonic rock cycles hanging suspended like a cloud above the surface of the forceful instrumentation. Calling and cooing and taking the listener in. I am looking forward to the EP and am ready to be wowed. Listen Here and hear why.

Flickr Set!

Marie Stella pictures as well

Jive Grave & The Fancy @ Ars Nova

Jive Grave and The Fancy were the line-ups for Wednesday as part of Ars Nova 54/10 music marathon series. Two bands with accomplished musicians and visions. It has been my pleasure to chronicle Geo Wyeth’s music incarnations for the last two years. What a satisfying ride it’s been. I arrived just as Jive Grave was finishing their first song. Geo Wyeth thanked Ars Nova for their support as their 2009 Composer-in-Residence. The residency gave him the opportunity to explore and compose / Haunts song cycle.

With Geo at the helm, the band Jive Grave was spawned. The set explored looping with bells, vocals, guitar notes, solo material, claps, horn arrangements, and an intricate beat between two drummers featuring a drum kit and tom tom. The music frames the lyrics with its melting pot of sound where repetition is fleeting, and snippets of sound are segmented and disjointed. Geo’s lyrics reference legacy, lineage, memory, and the city are pieced together in a collage of ripped, rough, and sometimes soft edges. They played "Black One On the River," with a sound rich in texture, sax accents, vocal harmonics, and Afro-centric guitar. The tremolo picking soared at a high pitch, rising like a blustering current to an abrupt ending. / Will you wait for me for me / in the water / it’s a mighty / current we are running from./ Geo Wyeth emphasized, “this is a song about where I live, Bedford Stuyvesant. “So Funny It Might Be Death” began with scat vocal blurts, claps, and the saxophone played by Tina Richadson and Wyeth’s guitar with punched chords and chiming note flourishes. The celebratory sound was fitting for Wyeth’s lyrical, poetic perspective making the neighborhood come alive / The kids all got scowls under their breath like old church ladies /. 

Jive Grave’s sound is cerebral and vibrant, provoking the listener to pay attention. The release date for 7” Blackone in September features vocalist Becca Kaufman whose voice is a treasure and creates striking contrasts. Listen Here geo wyeth, keith parker, dan arnow, tina richerson, mike irwin, simeon kezengwa other featured contributors: tim johnson, becca kauffman, brian newman Flickr Set

The Fancy play gorgeous orchestrated pop that is so smooth and yummy it tastes like butta. Composer/songwriter and lead vocal duo Clara Latham and Seth Garrison are classically trained, and their compositions reflect a commitment to the accessible and smart. What sets this group apart is not just their choice of instrumentation but how it is applied. Keyboard and synth, electric guitar, bassoon, viola, and gorgeous vocals

They started with “Honey Baby,” which had great orchestration with viola scales woven through. “Out Of The City” had luscious harmonies, a creamy confection that is sticky kind of a sophisticated Abba mixed with serious instrumentation. Kind of a dichotomy of sound. The cover song of choice was Laurie Anderson’s “O Superman.” It was a complex interpretation that coordinated a steady bass with the bassoon and viola played in a round. You could visibly see the concentration and efforts of Katherine Young and Amy Cimini, two incredible soloists. They brought out their guest drummer Craig Bray for the song “O Willa” which started slowly with a singing dialogue and grew to fast, furious action and timing.

Their attention to detail was apparent as they asked to bring down guitar levels and more sound on the bassoon and vocals. They care about delivery. I was very impressed with this band. They even have a great informative website and a joy to explore. They got it together!

Crazy Over Brian Newman @ Duane Park Live Review

Been meaning to go to Duane Park to see the Brian Newman Jazz Trio After Dark at Duane Park for a while. They perform there every Friday night with a rotating cast of beautiful burlesque performers.

Brian Newman's singing voice is impeccable reaching gorgeous high notes while adding his own spin to classic jazz standards. As a trumpeter, his trumpet is an extension of his being. Somehow he finds enough air to dig in and blow improvisational bursts between lyrics.

Dressed to please the svelte dapper, Newman visually pulls out all the stops as the quintessential master of ceremonies. With his cool demeanor and awesome showmanship, he worked the room like a fast-witted vaudevillian comic adding enough spice and a little grit without losing his classy flair.

The clanking of glasses, endless chatter and lively bar action added to the atmosphere, but I would have preferred a quiet room to fully take in the marvelous music.

Earlier this month, Brian Newman made his television debut with Lady Gaga on the Today Show. His underground reputation with fellow musicians as someone to collaborate with is now out of the box. A much-deserved career boost.

It was sweet to see a few new fans at Duane Park who came to listen last Friday.

Langhorne Slim @ Brooklyn Bowl

It has been a joy following and writing about Langhorne Slim for the last four years. The band has always been able to stir a crowd with its infectious music and Slim’s charismatic showmanship. So what’s been changing? There is a different feeling in the air. People are finding out about the group from various sources and coming out to see for themselves. The power of exposure. But music, generally, can’t be supported by a simple download. It is when a fan makes a commitment to see a band live.

One such patron was upfront with her camera, ready to hear the song that brought her to the show. She was visibly overwhelmed with the power of the live show. Although unfamiliar with most of the set chronicling their discography, she will ultimately be a true supporter of the band and its output.

At the Brooklyn Bowl, the popularity of the group was apparent. Slim did not have to win the crowd over they were already there hanging on every word, dancing and singing along. Even with an adoring crowd, the band does not take anything for granted they bring it on more. All the roadworthy experience has catapulted this group into another category. The momentum is building, and for Langhorne Slim, stardom is right around the corner, and they are ready.

Flickr Set

The Woes and The Defibulators @ Ars Nova

The Woes have been on my radar only through word of mouth among the bands I write about, like Langhorne Slim, o'death, Sgt Dunbar, and the Hobo Banned. I met Osei Essed at Brooklyn Bowl at the Langhorne Slim show and realized we’ve crossed paths at other shows. It sometimes takes me a while to dot the i's. So, I made it a point to go uptown to Ars Nova.

The Woes bring an all-one approach to their music, combining genres of soul, punk gospel, blues, early folk, and jazz with impressive attention to detail. With the exuberance of a funeral marchin jubilee, they played jazzy segments on saxophone, trumpet, and french horn with bluesy riffs on guitar and banjo and rev-ed up action on the peddle steel guitar.

All the great musicianship centers around the deep vocals of Osei Essed. His soulful straightforwardness, blended and angst-ridden thickness from below the diaphragm creates an urgency of quick, tight upheavals of rising howls, whoops, and groans. The jubilant chorus of shouters from the brass section belts it up between blows, adding to the lively mix.

What was great for me was to really get a chance to hear their music in a venue that cares about sound. So I could fully appreciate their live set's clarity and tight framework.

The Defibulators from Brooklyn bring tongue-in-cheek Hee Haw antics and references to redneck country, pickups, and truck stop a go-go to their blend of rockabilly homegrown country rock. The six-person group played a lively, theatrical, and friendly set with excellent instrumentation and the outstanding voice of Erin Bru, their only female member. All in good fun, they played with a bit of help from their comedic puppet Buddy, a “human” version of Triumph the insult comic dog as the master of ceremonies. The Defibulators brought out all the stops, including a comedic movie short about tour stash and the cops on the take looking for the shit.

Ars Nova is a small venue that cares. This was my second visit to the small intimate venue, but a few of the groups I’ve featured on this site, like Langhorne Slim, Geo Wyeth, and Max Vernon, have played there. Ars Nova provides a hub for emerging music, comedy, and theater talent. Getting the word out about this diamond in the rough should be paramount.

The Woes Flickr Set

The Defibulators Flickr Set

Maryanne Ventrice Band Photography @ Con Artist Gallery

Con Artist Gallery is a collective dedicated to showcasing a rotating line-up of artists, designed as a one-night-only event on Wednesdays, down under through the steel grate on 119 Ludlow Street. Brian Sevrin is the creator of the workshop/artists collective, where items produced on the premises by the members are sold in the front half of the space, and the workshop turned gallery in the rear. The Con Artist concept is to bypass the gallery system creating opportunities for artists to show their work and connect within a community.

Last night Con Artist featured the band photography by Maryanne Ventrice entitled “More Guitar In The Monitor.” Maryanne has become a staple in the indie music scene documenting bands in Brooklyn and Manhattan since 2007 in venues like Death by Audio, Union Hall, Cake Shop, and Bruar Falls. She is there with her heavy bag of tools and workhorse ethic if there is a show. Her DIY approach to photography and honest, no-nonsense shooting reflects the love she brings to the genre of band photography. She has the patience to capture moments instead of going for the obvious. 

I have seen her work at many shows where she unobtrusively moves around to document different angles or crowd interactions. Just as straightforward as Maryanne is as a person, her gallery debut was no different. Sheets of photo paper dangled unframed from wires attached to the ceiling pipes around the room's perimeter. Her non-pretentious work hung like classic compositions displaying the beauty of The National’s lead singer Matt Berninger intertwined with the mic chord, or James Harvey of Drink Up Buttercup, his hands rising up in the air to soak up the enthusiastic crowd and capturing the intensity of lead singer Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus. Maryanne is a no-frills woman, totally is who she is, honest, hard-working, and approachable. To me, she is a “Trooper Photographer” whose efforts contribute to moving the music culture forward.

Flicker Set List of Photos Displayed:

The Lisps, Union Hall / Liars, Bowery Ballroom / Hopewell, Death By Audio / Dinowalrus, Cake Shop / Choir of Young Believers, Le Poisson Rouge / Drink Up Buttercup, Bruar Falls / We Were Promised Jet Packs, Bowery Ballroom / Get Haunted, Littlefield / The Dears, The Bell House / Tim Fite, The Bell House / Tokyo Police Club, Bowery Ballroom / Holly Miranda, Mercury Lounge / Band of Horses, Bowery Ballroom / Liam Finn, The Bell House / Sian Alice Group, Mercury Lounge / Black Taxi, Blender Theater / The Wrens, Bowery Ballroom / Titus Andronicus, Galapagos / Grooms, Knitting Factory / Fanfarlo, Piano’s / Free Energy, Littlefield / Frightened Rabbit, Webster Hall / Novella, Glasslands / The Bell House / Great Lake / Drink Up Buttercup, Music Hall of Williamsburg / A Place To Bury Strangers, Europa / Japandroids, Swimmers, The Bell House / The National, Bowery Ballroom / Kyp Malone, Rain Machine /The Bell House / Serena Maneesh, Mercury Lounge / Pet Shop Boys, Hammerstein Ballroom /

Drink Up Buttercup; Hot @ Northside Festival

Drink Up Buttercup cools the heat on a hot night at Berry Park in Brooklyn, leaving their garbage cans behind and clearing the air for the sound of upgraded instruments and urgent harmonies. DUB clicks on the refresh button playing their familiar songs from their release Born and Thrown on a Hook with a refreshing twist making a live experience never stale and full of surprises.

I like to document the band's visual sets, and new additions are optical illusion amps and the colorful use of duct tape. The mannequin's mouth was covered with duct tape masking a human expression from an inanimate object. But no one there was expressionless, and this blogger, as usual, could not be contained.

My Flickr Set

Spending time with photographer Maryanne Ventrice is always a treat, her shots can be seen here at the Brooklyn Vegan, and below is the flyer for her gallery show this week.

Happy Birthday To Me

In June of 2006, Obsession Collection Music was born, and I haven't looked back.