Tag Archives: NEWS

Introducing:
Black Manila

By Laurence | Published: May 4, 2012

South London’s Black Manila are a three piece Garage/Psych band who have just released their new single “Fiasco” backed with the eight minute acoustic-grinder “England” as a free digital download.

Formed in 2010, the band released their debut 10″ “Reno Rush”/”Happiness” in January last year, via Big Dirty Engine Records. Since then, they have toured France and Italy and have been busy in the studio writing and recording new material. The first fruits of their endeavours is this two track single produced by Selfish C*nt’s Patrick Constable.

First up is “Fiasco,” a skuzzed out guitar-driven psychedelic tune powered by an abused vocal and some mighty gritty intent. As the track enters its latter stages, signified by a screech of feedback, it’s all hands to the deck as the whirlwind of distorted guitar fuses and entwines with the rhythm section to the bitter denouement.

Posted in TVD UK | Tagged NEWS | Leave a comment

TVD’s Jazz Fest Picks for the Second Friday

By Jay Mazza | Published: May 3, 2012

If you don’t make it out to Slackers Day today, then you’re definitely a real slacker. Locals play hooky and hit the Fairgrounds tomorrow for the last less-than-packed day of the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Here are my picks.

There are newcomers in every genre of New Orleans music including the Mardi Gras Indians. You can’t go wrong by starting your day with a little of that Indian spirit. The Red Hawk Hunters are a relatively new tribe, but they definitely bring the fire.

Theresa Andersson (pictured) took a year off to have a baby and stoke the creative fires for her new album, Street Parade. She returns to the Fairgrounds with a huge band that features members of the nearly-all-female ska band the Local Skank on horns.

Slackers Day
Jazz Fest Picks

By Jay Mazza | Published: May 2, 2012

What started out as an experiment has turned into an institution. Alternatively called “Locals Day,” the Thursday before the second weekend of the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is now a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Here are my picks.

Conflicts emerge immediately in the first time slot. Both Hurray for the Riff Raff and Flow Tribe are great young bands that perform with incredible energy. I have seen a few Flow Tribe sets lately and have been impressed with the band’s ability to read a crowd and flow with it. Hurray for the Riff Raff was last year’s sleeper set of the fest. They have now graduated to the opening slot on the Acura stage.

I just saw Hurray for the Riff Raff at the Louisiana Music Factory on Tuesday, and lead singer and primary songwriter Alynda Lee has revamped her band’s lineup once again adding a fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist Casey McAlister on guitar and keyboards. She mentioned how bummed the entire band felt when Levon Helm had to cancel his Jazz Fest appearance this year and then subsequently passed away. She dedicated a spirited version of “Ophelia” to him. It should be a great set by the folk rockers.

Posted in TVD New Orleans | Tagged NEWS | Leave a comment

Threadhead Patry today, 5/1

By Jay Mazza | Published: May 1, 2012

The non-profit group that has helped so many musicians and artists, including this writer, put out new works, only has one major fundraiser a year and it’s at the Old Iron Works today from noon until 9 PM.

Headlining the event is the one and only Irma Thomas. She recently performed at the Big Easy Entertainment Awards and brought down the house with a rousing rendition of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” She hits at 7:30 PM.

The day begins with Lionel Ferbos and the Palm Court Jazz Band at 12:30 PM.

Posted in TVD New Orleans | Tagged NEWS | Leave a comment

Scattered Trees
raise money for their upcoming record
using PledgeMusic

By Eric Slager | Published: April 30, 2012

In the world of crowd-funding, sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo are making it easier for interactions between musicians and fans to benefit everyone. New to my radar is PledgeMusic, and one of their current campaigns just happens to be from Chicago indie-rockers, Scattered Trees.

Raising money to record a follow-up to the incredible 2011 release, Sympathy, Scattered Trees has already reached 35% of their goal with 29 days left.

At the beginning of April, the band headed to Toronto, Canada, to record with producer Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Los Campesinos!). Along with video updates of the recording sessions and early streams of the new tracks, every level of the fundraising campaign is loaded with worthwhile incentives.

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Weekend Shots!

By Eric Slager | Published: April 27, 2012

Looking for some live music in Chicago this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out this weekend’s featured show along with a more extensive weekend list below!

STEPHEN PAUL SMOKER (Record Release Show) at The Empty Bottle, 4/27

Relocating to Chicago from Pennsylvania, Stephen Paul Smoker got right to work shaping indie pop music with psychedelic approach. After forming the group Ripe Fruit to to cover live performance duties, songwriting became a more collaborative effort. The debut full length record, Ripe Fruit was written and recorded last summer, and will be released through Kilo Records at the release show tonight. Take the listen to the album below, before heading out to the Empty Bottle.

You can order a copy of Ripe Fruit on limited edition clear vinyl through Kilo Records for just $16. You might want to get moving, because as of typing this, there are only 95 left. You can also pick up a copy in person tonight at the Empty Bottle.

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TVD’s Jazz Fest Picks,
Day One

By Jay Mazza | Published: April 26, 2012

Well it’s finally here—the event we’ve all be waiting for. You know who all the big names are that are on the schedule, so don’t expect to read about them here. My picks are bands and musicians that you may not be so familiar with. Remember—it’s a marathon not a sprint and if you’re not there all day, you’re not doing it right.

You can’t go wrong starting your day with some Mardi Gras Indians and the Semolian Warriors are led by one of the most impressive Big Chiefs on the streets. Yam, as he is known to all, has masked under some of the most legendary uptown Indians and now leads his own tribe.

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Louisiana Music Factory kicks off Concert Series tomorrow

By Jay Mazza | Published: April 25, 2012

Our favorite folks at the downtown record store have a full slate of in-store performances scheduled for the next ten days. They take off on Jazz Fest days, but the fun begins on Thursday.

The performances begin at noon with trombonist and Where Y’At magazine cover boy Glen David Andrews (pictured) and continue on the hour until 7 PM when the Royal Southern Brotherhood will be concluding their set. In between expect to see Joe Krown, Sarah Quintana. Little Freddie King, the Soul Rebels and the Young Pinstripe Brass Band.

The Soul Rebels are a must-see if you can’t stay for the whole day. They are on a hot stretch since releasing their newest record on Rounder Records. I am also excited about the Royal Southern Brotherhood. This is Cyril Neville’s latest project and I missed then at the French Quarter Fest.

Posted in TVD New Orleans | Tagged NEWS | Leave a comment

TVD Recommends: Archie Powell & the Exports record
release show at the Subterranean, 4/27

By Eric Slager | Published: April 25, 2012

Feeling a bit burnt out after the craziness of Record Store Day? Well, you better pull yourself together, because this weekend Chicago’s Archie Powell & the Exports are gearing up to release their sophomore record, Great Ideas in Action.

The pop rock quartet has been gaining major traction across Chicago and the rest of the country and are preparing to embark on a 25 city tour across the US and Canada.

Archie Powell & the Exports will be celebrating the release and kicking off their tour at the Subterranean this Friday, 4/27. Grab all of the details you need, below.

Posted in TVD Chicago | Tagged NEWS | Leave a comment

Jay Mazza’s book signing schedule
during Jazz Fest

By Jay Mazza | Published: April 24, 2012

If you only buy one book during Jazz Fest, make it Up Front and Center: New Orleans Music at the End of the 20th Century.

Jay Mazza takes readers back to the last decades of the 20th century with passion and deep appreciation for an important period in New Orleans music. His tale is chock full of scintillating stories about the musicians, clubs, and festivals that defined an era.