Monthly Archives: November 2014

TVD Recommends: Fellow Creatures, Baby Bry Bry, and Gully Waters at DC9, 11/22

By Olivia | Published: November 21, 2014

With the demise of local band Ugly Purple Sweater, former members Will McKindley-Ward and Sam McCormally knew they wanted to start a new project together. They knew that they wanted the new band to feel like a departure from their previous work, and shortly after the final UPS show, they got to work on a new batch of songs.

Tomorrow, November 22, their experimental work in their new band, the self-described “swampy indie rock band” Fellow Creatures, will be showcased at DC9, along with supporting bands Baby Bry Bry and Gully Waters.

I had the chance to ask Sam McCormally a couple questions about the new band, the show, and Fellow Creatures’ first single, “Allies.”

<a href="http://fellowcreatures.bandcamp.com/track/allies">Allies by Fellow Creatures</a>

How is the music you’re making with Fellow Creatures unique?

I bought a toy piano that a young mom was selling on Craigslist and stuck a pickup on it. You can hear the toy piano solo in the middle of “Shuka Shuka,” a demo that we released on Bandcamp last month. Will took pieces of Duke Ellington songs, sped them up so that they were unrecognizable, and then learned to play them on guitar.

We spent a lot of time doing vocal exercises. For a couple of months, we decided to make music that sounded like a re-imagined soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are—but if it were set in a futuristic swamp—and while I don’t think that is actually what we sound like, it was a useful conceit for a while.

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Needle Drop: Milo Greene, “Lie To Me”

By Nick Nemphos | Published: November 21, 2014

Milo Greene’s forthcoming album Control promises to be a distinct tonal shift from the more folk-pop oriented sound of the their first album, to a more upbeat ’80s electro pop vibe.

The band’s music has always been rooted in a sort of wistful nostalgia with a bit of longing and melancholy stirred in. The only thing that has really changed is the time period the sound evokes.

It takes quite a bit of courage for any band, especially a somewhat newer band, to make such a change, but it is refreshing to see a willingness to follow their instincts and move into new exciting directions. If the latest single “Lie To Me” is any indication, fans have a lot to look forward to.

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Five questions with Yegor Romantsov of Debauche

By Jay Mazza | Published: November 21, 2014

Ever since I first saw Debauche at the Mid City Bayou Boogaloo I have been amazed at the band’s ability to move a crowd and to generate a feeling of joyous abandon among the audience.

Initially, I thought it was an act, ha-ha a Russian mafia band, that’s a good one! But then I found out their leader, Yegor Romantsov is actually from Russia. Hoping to get some answers and more details about Debauche and their music, we sent over some questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0imE5-aCgY

You’ve been creating quite a sensation in New Orleans with your band Debauche ever since you started playing locally. What brought you to New Orleans and tell us a little bit about your background?

I was born in the Soviet Union, in what is now known as Ukraine. I lived for eight years in New York and came to NOLA in 2006. I worked in construction for a few years. In 2008, I started to play solo in a coffee shop. A few months later, I got a few musicians to play with me. They were mostly former members of the Zydepunks. Music and people brought me to NOLA. I like the city very much and Debauche would have never happened anywhere else but New Orleans. It works both ways, and it is a sensation that is only made possible by the people in New Orleans.

You lead what is quite possibly the only Russian mafia band in the United States. Are there similar bands in Russia or other countries in the former Soviet Union?

There are not that many bands that do what we do in the United States or even in the former Soviet Union countries. Russians freak out when they hear Debauche, because of the way we arrange and play these songs. We get compared with Gogol Bordello a lot, which I take as a compliment. And yes, we are the only Russian mafia band in the United States.

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Needle Drop: Miss Kenichi, “The Ghost”

By Anna LeBeau | Published: November 21, 2014

Miss Kenichi is Katrin Hahner from Berlin. She’s about to release her third album, The Trail on Sinnbus—eleven tracks that explore nature, emotion, and delve deep into Katrin’s introspective side.

“The Ghost,” unlike her last single, “Who Are You” is a little more direct. Katrin stares directly into the camera, she commands your attention, and it’s another side to the artist that we haven’t yet seen. The music has more purpose here and as the melody drives on, we see a man running through a field. Katrin is obscured, we’re not sure if he sees her or not…is she “the ghost?”

It’s uncertain what message Katrin is sending, but that’s the charm—it’s almost better that we don’t know, and we just take this beautiful journey with her.

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TVD Recommends: Girls Rock! DC Benefit with Drop Electric, Cigarette, and Young Rapids at the Black Cat, 11/22

By Laura Irene | Published: November 21, 2014

DC has a long history of collaboration between bands and community partners, enriching the city in the process. The Godfather of Go Go, Chuck Brown once said, “People are looking for a way to take action, to do something other than donate on the Turnpike on their way to work, which seems impersonal.”

Look no further than this Saturday night to take action! Three local bands, Drop Electric, Cigarette, and Young Rapids take on the Black Cat mainstage to raise money for Girls Rock! DC—an organization that exists to inspire and cultivate through music.

Girls Rock! DC aims to create a supportive, inclusive, and creative space for girls to develop their self-confidence, build community, stand up, and rock out! It was founded in October 2007 by an all-volunteer collective of DC metro area musicians, teachers, artists, and community organizers—based on the Girls Rock! mission across the nation.

Headliners, Drop Electric, have a history of being philanthropic in their personal lives. Ramtin Arablouei of Drop Electric tells TVD, “Over the last few years we’ve gotten to know a few people who have worked with Girls Rock! DC and totally believe in their mission. We really think there should be a space for young women to learn, write, and play music together. This must continue to be encouraged. Given the history of people discouraging young women from playing instruments we want to see the trend reversed. If we can even do something small to help we are eager to do it!”

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Graded on a Curve:
Montrose, Montrose

By Michael H. Little | Published: November 21, 2014

Nowadays the band Montrose is chiefly remembered as the rock boarding school one Sammy (“I can’t drive 55/With my thumbs stuck in my eyes”) Hagar attended before graduating to a disappointing, if not semi-disastrous, tenure as front man of the post-David Lee Roth Van Halen. How unfair. At their best, namely on their debut 1973 self-titled debut, Montrose rocked balls, kicked ass and took names, and established themselves as perhaps America’s best response to Led Zeppelin. As for Montrose itself, some consider it America’s first true heavy metal LP. Me, I’d go with Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but that’s beside the point.

Montrose came out of California, where guitarist Ronnie Montrose—who played sessions for Van Morrison (amongst others) and did a stint in The Edgar Winter Group—decided to put his own band together. The finished product included Sammy Hagar on vocals, Bill Church on bass, and Denny Carmassi on drums. Ted Templeman, who played an instrumental role in getting the band signed to Warner Brothers, produced the LP. Unfortunately this turned out to be a mixed blessing as Warners, which made it a practice to push only one LP from each genre at a time, already had the Doobie Brothers (!!!) in the rock slot and Deep Purple in the hard rock slot. Without publicity push from Warners, Montrose got left out in the cold, and only managed to reach the 133 spot on the U.S. Billboard charts.

But you can’t keep a good album down, not forever anyway, and the Montrose LP has received increasing attention over the following years, thanks to its strong songwriting, Montrose’s great guitar work, and Hagar’s hard-hitting vocals. I’ve always found it exceptionally easy to poke fun at Hagar, but on Montrose he proves the joke is on me, by doing things with his vocal chords that are illegal in Mormon Utah. (No, I have no idea what that means either.) In any event, Montrose has received its just desserts, which is more than you can say about Warners’ beloved Doobie Brothers, who deserve to be tied to a large stone and dropped into some deep and very black water.

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Hey, Shopkeeper: LA’s The Record Parlour

By Nicole Poulos | Published: November 20, 2014

We’re thrilled to be able to talk to one of our favorite local crate digging establishments in Hollywood, The Record Parlour. Just over a year old, not only does the shop have an incredible collection in house, they can find you just about any title you have your heart set on—they found for me the Pointer Sisters’ Steppin in under 24 hours—and they possess one of the things LA is best known for—vibe.

Stepping into The Record Parlour is like stepping back into time, or stepping into the dream world of any music gear geek. They have on display loads of vintage amps, microphones, and my personal favorite, a Fender Rhodes—most of the pieces in, or getting into working condition.

The store has been building a name for themselves for putting on some of the most exciting and unique in-store shows and showcases in town, from pop-up shows with bands like Vintage Trouble to the event we are honored to be a part of this Friday, November 21—Will Dailey playing live with his band, with the entire performance being recorded and transferred directly to vinyl.

Please introduce yourself. Who are you and what do you do at The Record Parlour?

We are Chris Honetschlaeger, founder of The Record Parlour in Hollywood and Chadwick Hemus, store manager and partner.

How long has the store been open?

We first opened our doors in August of 2013.

But I heard that record sales are in decline—what made you want to open a record store?!

The “vinyl format” was more interesting to me than unreliable record sales figures from dubious sources. Double-digit growth in new record players and triple digit growth at vinyl pressing plants were a better indicator of the market opportunity for me. The Record Parlour is growing steadily month over month since opening and our store focuses on original releases versus new releases.

What is the last record your store sold?

We just sold 20 Zappa records to one guy about 15 minutes ago using Instagram.

Posted in TVD Los Angeles | Leave a comment

TVD Live:
Noah Gundersen at
The Loft, 11/16

By Jenna Simard | Published: November 20, 2014

PHOTOS: AMANDA DEERING | In the deep pauses between lyrics, The Loft was so quiet on Sunday night you could hear only the slightest rustle of a jam-packed crowd and the subtle creaking of the venue’s wooden floor. Nary a chuckle, nor a bout of side chatter, nor even a clank of bar glasses—only the silence of an audience completely transfixed by Noah Gundersen.

At the age of 24, Gundersen has already mastered the art of live performance. Of connecting so deeply with his audiences, drawing us in and quieting even the most fan-girlish among us. On a wintry Dallas night, hundreds cozied up together in the second story of The Loft to see the musician and his sister, Abby, perform a sold-out show. Yet, it still felt like the most intimate performance you’ve ever seen.

Opening with “Isaiah,” the Gundersens progressed through songs both new and old throughout the set—tracks spanning two EPs and a recent LP, as well as brand new songs yet unheard.

Through the ebbs and flows of songs like “Cigarettes” and “Family,” the brother-sister duo’s perfectly harmonized voices transcended from gorgeous, goosebump-inducing bellows to a barely-there whisper and back again. The contrast between his raw and weathered tone and her crystalline one, between highs and lows, sound and silence, dark and light: it all felt unsettling. But then, that, that is artistry—inspiring people, yet at the same time making them feel mildly uncomfortable.

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TVD Ticket Giveaway: Death From Above 1979 at the 9:30 Club, 12/1

By Luanne Lim | Published: November 20, 2014

The boys are at it again! After announcing their break-up in 2006, Death from Above 1979 reunited in 2011 to appease the public demand for a performance, embarking on a year long tour. Three years later, the duo found themselves back on the road and back in the studio.

A decade since the release of their debut album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, the Canadian punk-rockers announced the release of their second album back in June. Titled The Physical World, Death from Above 1979’s latest release hit the online shelves this past September. According to Death from Above 1979 members Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keeler, the album was “written and recorded between 2012 and 2014 in some real life Rorschach test where past and present are perfectly symmetrical and equally terrifying.”

In support of their album release, Death from Above 1979 is embarking on an international tour. The duo recently announced UK tour dates, but prior to crossing the pond, Grainger and Keeler are performing across the U.S. and Canada. Among their stops is a show at the 9:30 Club on Monday, December 1. Don’t have tickets yet? No worries, we’re giving away a pair!

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 7 Comments

Needle Drop: Twist, “Slums And Seaports”

By Mike Olinger | Published: November 20, 2014

Ever wonder what a collaboration between Nancy Sinatra and Ty Segall might sound like?

Twist is the musical partnership between singer Laura Hermiston and producer Brian Borcherdt (best known as a member of the Canadian electronic band Holy Fuck). The band has slowly been releasing music throughout 2013, culminating in the single “Slums And Seaports” which plays like a minted garage nugget—raved up ’60s pop rock and injected with a hardy dose of shoegaze.

The interplanetary Western vibes of the single lock in well with the latent distorted rhythm track, making for a blistering, psychedelic second half. The tension builds to an almost excruciating climax while Hermiston’s vocals remain as tranquil as a summer stroll. A strange sonic dichotomy that the song’s title seems to hint at.

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Shell Zenner Presents

By Shell Zenner | Published: November 20, 2014

Greater Manchester’s most in the know radio host Shell Zenner broadcasts the best new music every week on the UK’s Amazing Radio and Bolton FM. You can also catch Shell’s broadcast right here at TVD, each and every Thursday.

“I’m back on air as usual! Today I talked to my Dad about dreams. He wanted to be a professional footballer or cricketer. Whats your dream? It can be as big or as small as you like. We’re going to talk dreams…

My ROTW is by the awesome The Wharves, The Bay—gorgeous harmonies and retro tinged indie pop! Three tracks incoming as per… This week’s #Shellshock is by Elderbrook and it’s called “Could.” It’s a lovely slice of electronica forthcoming on Black Butter Records whose vocals recall alt-J. You’re going to LOVE it.” —SZ

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Graded on a Curve: Rhyton, Kykeon

By Joseph Neff | Published: November 20, 2014

Rhyton specialize in blending the sonic traditions and instrumentation of Greece and the Middle East with rock trio firepower of an oft improvisational nature. That might read as a recipe for self-indulgence, but the results, while certainly psychedelic in effect, also wield the discipline of top-notch jazzmen. Kykeon, their third LP and second for the Thrill Jockey label, continues their explorations to great reward; it’s a record that plays as strong as its cover is beautiful.

Rhyton consists of Dave Shuford, aka the leader of D. Charles Speer & the Helix and a former participant in the activities of the No-Neck Blues Band, Rob Smith of the Bronx band Pigeons, and Jimy SeiTang, a gentleman also associated with the No Neck scene but primarily known for the outfit Psychic Ills and his electronic solo project Stygian Stride.

The New York City-based No-Neck Blues Band, or NNCK for short, was part of a thriving underground of outsider rock business that came to a head in the midst of last decade. Some of the contributors to this scenario were able to engage, if not the mainstream, then at least larger audiences via Freak Folk and the New Weird, but the deep-psych/improv-rock/free folk of NNCK proved resistant (though not really by intention) to crossing over.

Of course, this isn’t a tidy assumption, since Wolf Eyes managed two discs of noise brutality on Sub Pop during the same era, but it does feel largely accurate. And so it’s doubly interesting how Rhyton’s latest is so downright easy on the ears. It does bear mentioning however that Shuford’s not exactly a novice to rock gestures of possibly wide(r) appeal.

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TVD Live Shots: Slayer and Exodus at the Fox Theater, 11/11

By Jason Miller | Published: November 19, 2014

The year was 1988. I was fourteen and it was the beginning of my adolescent rebellious stage. It was the first time I had heard Slayer and my intro to the band was the song “South of Heaven.” It was a departure from their previous album as they had slowed things down significantly, but somehow they managed to turn up the evil factor a notch or two. This moment changed my life. I had discovered my new favorite band.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that twenty five years later I would be watching this band play one of two sold out nights at one of the most beautiful theaters in the country. Slayer is not just a metal band—they have become a way of life for a lot of metal fans around the world. The one thing you will never hear a critic or fan say, “Slayer returned to their roots on this tour.” Because they never left them behind. There are few bands these days that can lay that claim.

The second the blood stained curtain with the enormous Slayer pentagram on it dropped, the onslaught had begun. It would go on for nearly two hours as the band pummeled the capacity crowd, playing below 4 upside down crosses and a giant evil skull. These guys sounded better than I have ever heard them before and they looked completely in control.

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TVD Live: Ex Libras at
93 Feet East, 11/12

By Anna LeBeau | Published: November 19, 2014

It’s a dreary Wednesday night but there’s a buzz in the heart of East London’s Brick Lane—Ex Libras are about to hit the stage.

It’s been four long years since their debut album Suite(s) impressed music fans across the board. These three boys from Hounslow built their own recording and rehearsal space, lovingly called “The Shed” and this is where they birthed their first few releases as a band. Shortly after Suite(s), EP “Cut(s)” was released and their fan base slowly grew and the press had taken notice.

After this short burst onto the scene, they almost disappeared as quickly as they’d appeared. In the time they’ve taken out, they’ve experimented and moulded their sound, smoothed the edges, and that’s very much evident tonight from the new songs and frontman Amit’s performance.

Every word is a bullet now—Amit emotes this power more than ever before on stage, even during their “older” songs. But let’s stick to the new for a second… “Leap Of Faith” is massive, it feels like the venue is being sonically stretched and pitted against the band’s will. The audience is fully engaged and newer fans seem intrigued. “Woe” is another new track that showcases their strength as a live unit—Ross’ drum beats are tighter than ever, Kieran on the keys gives the track a dreamy depth which marries perfectly with Amit’s powerful vocals.

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TVD Kickstarts: A Girl
I Know, The Lost Tapes

By TVD HQ | Published: November 19, 2014

If you’re to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page you’re reading at present, to the left you’ll note an homage to two people who inspired TVD. You’ll recognize too then why Carolina Hoyos’ Kickstarter campaign struck a chord with us here at the HQ. The upside? There’s still time to extend the good karma to this warm, talented performer. As she told us via email this week:

“Right before I took 2 years off to care for my Father through his cancer treatment, I quietly (unofficially) released an EP and named it “A-Siders,” because it’s the first side of my intended full length release on vinyl, called The Lost Tapes.

The Lost Tapes as a collection has always felt like we’d discovered old, abandoned tapes and then added a modern sound to them. Now that my Dad is healthy and I’ve found my way back to releasing this record, I named my Kickstarter campaign “My Lost Tapes” because when you care for someone with cancer, you can get real lost with the process of your own life, trying to save someone else’s.”

The unreleased B side feels like a relaxing sunny Sunday afternoon of dreamy listening, while the more rocking A side is your Friday night out partying. The “A-Siders” is available right here.

The Kickstarter campaign for “The Lost Tapes” extends until Saturday, December 6, 2014, and there’s some nifty incentives for those of you interested in the vinyl aspect of this project. Probably because you’re reading this now.

A Girl I Know Kickstarter | Facebook | Twitter