a night to remember.

It was a cold and rainy night in Williamsburg; the kind of night that keeps even die hard fans in the warmth of their homes. However, the rain and cold were not enough to keep JEFF the Brotherhood at bay. Despite being nearly one thousand miles from home, Nashville's rockingest brothers committed nothing short of murder last night at Death By Audio. Jake's growling guitar cut through the room with an unforgiving intensity. Jamin's drums beat relentlessly, gaining momentum with every highly anticipated swell. The duo blasted through crowd favorites including 'U Got the Feel' and 'Bone Jam' before they ran out of lyrics and, at the room's request, played a slew of instrumental numbers. Unfased by any lack of lyrical content, the crowd undulated incessantly to every tune that tore through the smoke filled venue. Song after song, band and audience joined forces to create an energy that could not be bested. JEFF set a fire to the stage that would burn on for hours after the conclusion of their set.

Though it would have been nearly impossible to match JEFF's performance, Screaming Females put forth a valient opening effort. Marissa's primal screams, face melting guitarwork and, despite her small stature, huge presence brought the room to life. Jarret pounded out compelling beats while King Mike's melodious bass lines syncronized the pulse of the room. Screaming Females are a boisterous and dramatic group whose live show can appeal to an array of musical inclinations.

With love,
Jake

tuesday at death by audio.

Tomorrow's show at DBA is so good!  JEFF the Brotherhood, Screaming Females and Stupid Party are gonna kick mother f-ing ass.

Hailing from Nashville, JEFF is a duo of brothers, hence ' the Brotherhood.'  Jake and Jamin Orrall play hard and fast.  Jake's slick vocals and three stringed guitar are such a dirty combination, only Jamin's heavy as lead playing style can match his riffs.  Despite their small numbers, the duo is as awesome and powerful as any group I've seen. I am confident in saying that JEFF is the next big thing in indie rock.

Screaming Females are a garage/punk rock trio from Brooklyn who kick almost as much ass as JEFF.  While their music is aggressive and energetic, they are not afraid to be a little bitchy with their singing styles.  Love 'em!

Meet me there around 9 for Stupid Party. [more info]

JEFF the Brotherhood - U Got the Look
JEFF the Brotherhood - Bone Jam
Screaming Females - I Do

Love,
Jake

lusine.

Today, thanks to RCRDLBL.com, I discovered Lusine's latest release, 'A Certain Distance' (2009).  Based in Seattle, Lusine is the brainchild of Jeff McIlwain, a student of 90's Brit Electronica.  On 'A Certain Distance,' Lusine combines the sounds of Four Tet, Boards of Canada and Air with verse chorus writing tendencies, as well as the lyrical sensibilities of featured artist Vilja Larjosto on two tracks.  Her vocals bind the air of Portishead and Morcheeba with the depth of Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond.  In tracks 'Twilight' and 'Two Dots,' layered vocals float across wonderfully ambient soundscapes while the combined artists' pop tendencies allow the songs to remain suspenseful.

Lusine has put out seven solo releases and has collaborated with artists on compilations for many labels.  One such collaboration caught my ear.  'Locks,' written in conjunction with David Wingo, was recorded for Ghostly International's 2006 compilation, 'Idol Tryouts Two.'  Wingo's strumming and Lusine's electronic pulses combine for a soothing vamp that, while I can't say I hear the tune develope too much, had my head floating in clouds (and I was totally sober!).


Lusine - Two Dots (feat. Vilja Larjosto)
Lusine - Twilight (feat. Vilja Larjosto)
Lusine - Cirrus

good news, la blogotheque.

Starting this week, you will now be able to find my writing on more than just The Brooklyn Night.  EardrumNYC.com has afforded me the opportunity to display my incite on exciting shows and fresh artists in the blog section of their site.  Eardrum is a relatively new blog, however they are quite thorough in their coverage and have partnered with other sites such as last.fm to provide bios and sound clips of most of the bands that they promote.  EardrumNYC covers shows everywhere from the Market Hotel to Terminal 5 to Cakeshop; no show is too big or small.

I will be writing show previews that can be found in the blog section of the site (linked to on their homepage).  Thanks to everyone who has given me comments and suggestions and everyone else who supported me in the process of writing this blog.  And of course, the fact that I am writing for Eardrum does not mean that I will stop posting here so keep checking in.

In other news, check out this website.  Over the summer my friend Becca showed me 'La Blogotheque,' a French blog site dedicated to indie music (for which you can find a link on the right of this page).  This particular link (La Blogotheque - Les Concerts A Emporter) is to a page with more than a hundred musical videos of hot groups on the indie scene.  It includes videos for Man Man, Bon Iver, The Arcade Fire, The National and so many more.  Some of the videos are professionally produced music videos, the likes of which you might find on Fuse, or MTV if they would ever actually show a music video.  Other videos are of groups reconceiving songs in live and often odd settings; for example, The Arcade Fire performing 'Neon Bible' in an elevator (I have included that video below).  I definitely recommend  you visit the site.

#41 - Arcade Fire - Neon Bible & Wake Up
by lablogotheque

friday night at monster island basement.

Monster Island Basement is hosting Frankie and the Outs tonight with Harlem and Stupid Party.  Frankie and the Outs is another exciting garage rock adventure for Frankie Rose, formerly of Vivian Girls and Crystal Stilts.  Frankie is writing slick pop music for the rock and roll side of the lo-fi spectrum.  Similarily, Austin's Harlem, following in the footsteps of the Strokes and the Pixies', has collected an enormous amount of critical acclaim over the past few months from a slew of respectable blogs including local blogs like Brooklyn Vegan and Pop Tarts Suck Toasted (two of my faves).  And last but not least, Stupid Party has received a veiled but enthusiastic series of reviews from underground blogs for their energetic garage punk.  Stupid Party has been around for a while and knows how to put on a show.  I tend to think that Harlem has a brighter future than either of the other two, however the three bands will combine to make a solid lineup that will deliver at least your fill of garage rock awesomeness.  [more info]

And of course some music from them...

Frankie and the Outs - Thee Only One
Harlem - Friendly Ghost
Harlem - South of France
Harlem - Torture Me
Stupid Party - 1234

Love,
Jake

yeasayer, tonight and tomorrow night.

Yeasayer, one of Brooklyn's most innovative acts, is playing tonight and tomorrow night at the Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg respectively.  If you haven't already checked out Yeasayer I highly suggest you do so.  Yeasayer is formed of vocalist/keyboardist Chris Keating, vocalist/guitarist Anand Wilder, bassist Ira Wolf Tuton and drummer Luke Fasano.  Keating and Wilder played together in high school in Sic Transit and a barbershop quartet, honing their musicianship on multiple fronts.  After splitting for college, the two reunited in Brooklyn in 2006 with drummer and bassist.  Since then, they have steadily risen to critical acclaim in the blog and zine world.    Their first album, All Hour Cymbals, is an eclectic journey through genres and tenses, exploring many instrumental combinations.  Yeasayer does not limit their arrangements on All Hour Cymbals to any single instrumentation utilizing synthesizers, guitars, a double bass, horns, violins, marimbas, an accordion, involved vocal harmonies and all sorts of percussion instruments, accumulating an amalgamation of subtle and profound sounds that will compliment your brain completely.

Yeasayer's latest release was a preface EP to the Odd Blood LP, slated for release on February 9.  The Odd Blood LP, according to Yeasayer in an interview with Rolling Stone, was partially based on an intense acid trip in New Zealand and incorporates Ray Kurzweil's theory that computer intelligence will eventually supersede the human mind.  The Odd Blood EP contains the first single off the Odd Blood LP, entitled "Ambling Alp," as well as another catchy track, "O.N.E."

Opening for Yeasayer at Music Hall of Williamsburg is Javelin and Class Actress.  This will be the first and only US show that Javelin and Yeasayer will be playing together on a February UK tour.  I had the opportunity to catch Javelin at House of Yes a couple weeks ago who, despite some crippling technical difficulties, kept the energy and subsequently the crowd alive.  They are definitely worth seeing and I'm sure that Music Hall of Williamsburg will do a better job of managing their high-power rig (Javelin plays out of a stack of boom boxes, seriously).

happy super bowl.

It's Super Bowl Sunday, are you ready to watch some commercials?!  Yea me neither.  But anyway, Galactic announced a surprise show at Brooklyn Bowl tonight.  Once the game is over, Galactic will take the stage,  which I know is a good stage since I was there last night for Small Black and Keepaway (more on Keepaway coming this week) (and if you missed that show, my condolences).  Galactic, if you're unfamiliar, is a funk/jam band (not my usual suspects) which has received considerable success throughout the US for years.  The best part is that the show is free if you come before half-time!   Happy watching, maybe I'll see you at Brooklyn Bowl for some beer, football, and Galactic.

Sorry, no tracks for this one but I still love you.

Love,
Jake

P.S. I'd like to take this opportunity to share some disappointing news about Dinowalrus.  Last weekend, friends of mine and I visited the House of Yes in Bushwick.  House of Yes is awesome and thanks to the girls that run it for sharing such an excellent space with all of us.  Anyway, Dinowalrus played and we all thought they were great.  After the show one of my buddies found a partially exposed 7" of theirs on the floor of the venue.  He picked it up, brushed it off and put it in his jacket, excited to hear what the vinyl had in store for him.  As he was leaving the venue he gestured, with the 7", to the guitarist of Dinowalrus who was promoting his vinyl at the front table.  Instead of returning the favor, this guy gets up and starts interrogating my friend about where he had purchased the vinyl, insisting that the price is $5.  After explaining that the vinyl had been rescued from the floor, where it faced certain destruction, my comrade was met with the same response: $5.  Seeking to avoid a confrontation my friend offered to give it back and the guitarist happily accepted. I feel bad for whoever purchases that both emotionally and physically tarnished vinyl.  In review, it appears that Dinowalrus has a giant proverbial stick in their assholes.  Well played boys, well played.

friday night at market hotel.

Neon Indian is playing their second show of the week at the Market Hotel tonight.  Neon Indian played last night at the NYU Kimmel Center with Atlas Sound and Sisters.  Tonight they are headlining a sweet lineup at Bushwick's Market Hotel featuring Teengirl Fantasy, Beach Fossils, Adventure and Blissed Out.  It's a night of lo-fi dance pop; it'd be a shame to miss it.  As always, Market Hotel is all ages. $tba.

tracks!

Neon Indian - Mind, Drips
Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
Teengirl Fantasy - Love Don't Live Here
Teengirl Fantasy - Azz Klapz
Teengirl Fantasy - Portofino
Beach Fossils - Daydream
Beach Fossils - Desert Sand
Beach Fossils - Time

Love,
Jake

small black and keepaway at brooklyn bowl.

Small Black and Keepaway are playing Brooklyn Bowl this Saturday, February 6th.  Small Black took Brooklyn by storm last year with their lo-fi loops and enveloping vocal harmonies.  Unlike other lo-fi acts, Small Black inserts beautiful flowing melodies into their songs, making their music catchy and easy to listen to without losing the scratchy, casio keyboard, broken mic quality.  Though Small Black is technically a duo, they will adapt their music to the live setting with drums, bass and guitar to their keyboards.  I've been dying to see these guys and now I finally have the opportunity (and so do you).

Keepaway is another Brooklyn act that is getting a fair amount of attention locally and nationally.  Their sound could be described as a band's take on Animal Collective.  Keepaway achieves a shoegaze quality with huge reverb on guitars and vocals while switching between live and electronic drum sounds.  Pitchfork has made their song Yellow Wings one of their favorite new tracks.

Doors at 6pm. $5, 21+.  Get your tickets here now because this show will likely sell out.

Here are a few tracks...

Small Black - Despicable Dogs
Small Black - Weird Machines
Keepaway - Yellow Wings

Love,
Jake

show of the week, song of the week.

My pick for this week is being hosted by my alma mater, NYU.  On Thursday the 4th Atlas Sound, Neon Indian and Sisters are playing at the Kimmel Center at NYU.

Atlas Sound combines shoe gaze, alt rock, and indie into a schmorgesborg of sounds that you have probably heard in songs like Walkabout and Sheila.  Their innovative use of delay and reverb has massively influenced the indie scene that is bursting at the seams in Brooklyn right now.

Neon Indian is an electronic act that will definitely have the crowd dancing.  Well known for their remixes of Grizzly Bear's Cheerleader, Neon Indian brings synthesizers and samples together in a most satisfactory harmony to create sometimes upbeat, sometimes dark recordings.  I haven't seen them live but their is not doubt in my mind that they will be a crowd pleaser; I just hope that NYU can provide lighting worthy of their set.  (that may have come off a bit cynical, but what do you want from me after 3 years there)

Doors at 7:30, $5 w/ NYU ID, $8 w/o.  [more info]

Some songs from the artists...

Atlas Sound - Quick Canal (featuring Laetitia Sadier)
Atlas Sound - Walkabout (featuring Noah Lennox)
Atlas Sound - Sheila
Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
Neon Indian - Terminally Chill
Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader (Neon Indian sega genesis p-orridge remix)

Song of the week...Yeasayer!  When I heard this for the first time I was in instant need of new underwear.  I know you'll feel the same.

Yeasayer - O.N.E.