Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 10:00AM 
Boston's Old Abram Brown is set to release their sophomore album Restless Ghosts on October 19. If you're like me and missed their debut, I recommend checking this out - especially for fans of moody, melodic, piano-driven indie rock. The band's CD release show is Friday October 22 at Lily Pad.
Preview a track from the new album below:
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 8:14PM 
The Gaslight Anthem brought their breed of Jersey-bred, gutter-punk anthems to the Nor'easter Festival in Lincoln NH, drawing the largest crowd of the weekend for their headlining set. While the records are great - capturing an authentic, youthful romanticsm that I've forgotten - this is a band that needs to be experienced live to really "get it". The Springsteen comparisons are undeniable - Brian Fallon's ragged voice recalls the Jersey legend as he hoarsely barks lyrics and engages the crowd with stories and banter between songs. However, after seeing the band live I'm convinced there's as much Joe Strummer and The Clash in their sound as Springsteen. When it comes down to it, they write heartfelt songs filled with gritty imagery, fist-pumping choruses and relatable stories -- what's not to like?
Their entire set is available below for stream / download. Like the Walkmen set from earlier that night, the sound is very good (though maybe not quite as clear as The Walkmen). In the coming days we will also have some fantastic HD live video from their set, and an exclusive interview with the band -- including some fascinating comments about their experience playing onstage with Bruce Springsteen at Glastonbury. Enjoy!
The Gaslight Anthem
Nor'easter Festival - Lincoln, NH
September 25, 2010
High Lonesome
Boxer
We Came To Dance
The Diamond Church Street Choir
Old White Lincoln
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
American Slang
The '59 Sound
Bring It On
Miles Davis And The Cool
Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis?
The Queen Of Lower Chelsea
Orphans
Film Noir
I'da Called You Woody, Joe
Great Expectations
Say I Won't (Recognize)
Here's Looking At You, Kid
The Backseat
Lossless zip available upon request
UPDATE: Check out some live video from The Gaslight Anthem's set at Nor'easter...
The '59 Sound
Bring It On
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Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 11:07AM
I had a chance to catch up with The Walkmen at the first annual Nor'easter Festival at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire to talk about the process of making Lisbon, their fantastic new record. Watch an excerpt from the interview below, along with some incredible HD video from their set:
All Hands And The Cook
Angela Surf City
Interview + Juveniles
Huge thanks to Steve Legare of kitchensessions.net for filming + editing!
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 10:00AM ;)
;)
The Walkmen's recently-released fifth album, Lisbon, is high on my list of favorite albums of the year. It's a nuanced record that reveals more with each listen, yet seems like it would be perfect listening for almost any situation. The Walkmen have taken a strange path to becoming one of my favorite bands - there wasn't that single song or album that bowled me over or defined a time in my life. I remember being vaguely aware of them back in 2003, shortly after their debut Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone made them one of the NYC buzz bands (remember the Yes New York comp?). I saw them live for the first time circa 2004 or so in a tiny room at Wellesley College. Still, for some reason nothing really stuck. I got A Hundred Miles Off as soon as it came out, and loved it -- All Hands And The Cook, Louisiana and Lost In Boston are great, highly-underrated songs. Still, it wasn't until 2008's You & Me that The Walkmen finally burrowed deep into my consciousness. That masterpiece of an album finally made something click, or maybe it was the result of a growing body of work that finally I couldn't ignore any more.
In any case, sometime in the last two years it finally dawned on me that this was probably my favorite band. The sound (spastic drums, the live-wire electric guitar tone and organ), the lyrics, the attitude, the place (in my opinion, the Walkmen's sound is as inseparably tied to New York City as the Velvet Underground, The Ramones and very few others). With all of that buildup, Lisbon was the first Walkmen album that I listened to with high expectations - and it has exceeded all of them. Angela Surf City, Woe Is Me, Victory are the trademark anthems, but Blue As Your Blood, Stranded, Juveniles and All My Great Designs showcase the restraint and subtlety that the band has developed over time - showcasing the songcraft and the mellower side of Hamilton Leithauser's voice. It is another jewel in the crown of one of the most consistently great bands of the last 10 years - and certainly the most enduring of the buzz bands to emerge from NYC circa 2000.
Complete live recording of The Walkmen's set at Nor'easter is available below for stream/download -- sound quality is fantastic. Kudos to the excellent crew for the excellent sound, and of course huge thanks to The Walkmen for their taper-friendly policies - enjoy!
The Walkmen
Nor'easter Festival - Lincoln, NH
September 25, 2010
Blue As Your Blood
In The New Year
Woe Is Me
Juveniles
Postcards From Tiny Islands
Angela Surf City
Victory
All My Great Designs
On The Water
The Rat
Canadian Girl
All Hands And The Cook
All Hands And The Cook
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 8:35PM 
Sure, it was a Sunday night and Harpers Ferry is a world class dump - but, seriously Boston? A grand total of 11 people made it out to see one of my favorite new bands, Frontier Ruckus. The Michigan quintet played a haunting, intimate set of folk songs from their debut The Orion Songbook and the fantastic follow-up Deadmalls and Nightfalls. As the set drew towards its close, the band gathered at the front of the stage and invited the small group of fans in closer for an un-amplified mini-set, turning a cavernous, mostly-empty room into a special private show that none of us will forget. While we sat cross-legged on the sticky floor, the band played beautiful, heartfelt songs, accompanied by soft percussion, plucked banjo and singing saw. I truly felt honored to be there, and I hope/expect the crowd to be much bigger the next time Frontier Ruckus makes it to Boston.
I recorded the show from the back of the floor, but moved closer for the acoustic set. The sound quality is very good for the most part, but the mics picked up quite a bit of room noise during the acoustic set. Still, I think it captures the intimate atmosphere of the show well.
Frontier Ruckus
Harpers Ferry - Allston, MA
September 19, 2010
Silverfishes
Springterror
Rosemont
Mona and Emmy
Ontario
Orion Town 2
Bethlehem
Acoustic:
The Upper Room
Pontiac, the Nightbrink
Does Me In
Dark Autumn Hour
Support Frontier Ruckus by buying Deadmalls and Nightfalls here (highly recommended for fans of Calexico, Mumford & Sons, The Low Anthem)
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 10:00AM 
Young Mammals have been on my radar for a while - in fact, I picked up their debut album "Carrots" a few months ago. I had every intention of sharing a track back then, but it slipped my mind. So, though it may no longer be that timely of a suggestion, I strongly encourage you to check out the album.
Young Mammals feature huge pop hooks, layered wall-of-sound production and really strong songs - it's an incredibly fun record. "Carrots" is, first and foremost, an album of upbeat indie-pop - but that isn't to say there's no variety. Throughout the record the band will often find a groove and allow themselves to explore, experiment and let the songs unfold organically. As one track seamlessly flows into another, it becomes difficult to tell where one song ends and the next begins - this makes for end-to-end listening and gives the album a cohesive feel. There are plenty of fist-in-the-air singalong moments that may recall Arcade Fire, but there are also moments where it's easy to close your eyes and get lost in the music. Highly recommended stuff.
The following tracks showcase both the upbeat pop (Confetti) and the more restrained (8 4 8) sides of Young Mammals' sound:
Young Mammals - Confetti
Young Mammals - 8 4 8
Download the entire album on bandcamp for just $5 - seriously, don't sleep on this. Get it here
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 10:00AM 
Well, the days are getting shorter and nights are getting colder - it can only mean one thing: summer is over. However, before we all resign ourselves to the fact that another cold, dark New England winter is fast approaching, there's one last chance to load up the car, pop in a mixtape and head out in search of music, sun and good times.
The EMS-sponsored Nor'easter Festival (Sept 24-26) has all the right ingredients - a beautiful setting at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH (just 2 hours from Boston), a fantastic lineup of artists and free on-site camping. The 3 day festival is anchored by indie heavyweights The Gaslight Anthem, The Walkmen, Dr. Dog and !!! - along with a killer mix of lesser-known acts; Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Alberta Cross, Javelin, Sean Bones, Rubblebucket and more. Besides the music there will be pro rock climbing and cyclocross events, sunrise yoga and a costume "fun run" (whatever that means). To top it off, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Conservation Alliance.
Tickets are only $75 for the entire weekend, which includes onsite camping - a great deal if you ask me. Camping space is limited, so it's recommended that you get tickets ASAP. For those that can't make it up to NH for the festivities, be sure to check out visible voice for complete festival coverage. In the meantime, here are a few free downloads from Nor'easter artists:
The Walkmen - Woe Is Me
The Gaslight Anthem - Bring It On
Dr. Dog - Take Me Into Town
Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Just Like Me
Alberta Cross - Low Man
Sean Bones - Let's Do Something Else
Javelin - Moscow 1980
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 10:00AM
Today is one of the bigger new music Tuesdays in recent memory, with lots of new stuff to fill your ipods and turntables. From legends (Mavis Staples, Superchunk) to relative newcomers (Justin Townes Earle) and those in-between (The Walkmen, Of Montreal) there is a lot to look forward to. Here's a preview of three of the releases I'm most excited about:
;)
The Walkmen Lisbon
The established NYC indie rockers return with another solid collection of lilting, slurred tunes that were made for late nights. Time spent in Portugal may have lent the band a bit of inspiration and an album name, but don't expect much of a departure; this still sounds like The Walkmen you know and love.
;)
Justin Townes Earle Harlem River Blues
Harlem River Blues is Justin Townes Earle's third album in as many years. With so many releases to serve as benchmarks, it's easy to see the maturity and confidence grow over time. Harlem River Blues picks up where Midnight At The Movies left off - with traditional country and folk delivered with both reverence and a slight urban/punk-rock edge.
Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
;)
Superchunk Majesty Shredding
The last time Superchunk released an LP I was in high school, but unfortunately back then I wasn't listening to indie rock... With the release of Majesty Shredding, Superchunk is back - and unlike some of their peers that are just cashing-in, they are making some great new music. Digging For Nothing is a killer track that sounds like vintage Superchunk.
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Monday, September 13, 2010 at 10:00AM 
Brenda onstage at the Solid Sound FestivalWe first became aware of Portland ME trio Brenda when the lineup of the Solid Sound Festival was announced this past spring. Being selected by Wilco to take part in the 3-day festival was enough reason to take note, but when their debut Silver Tower was released back in June it became crystal clear what Jeff Tweedy and Co. see in the band. The best of 90s alt-rock, reinvigorated with a modern indie-rock twist.
Brenda kicked-off the festivities on day 2 of Solid Sound, playing to a crowd that was clearly unfamiliar with their music. As the crowd in Courtyard C grew, Brenda played a blistering 50-minute set - a mix of favorites from Silver Tower along with a few new songs. Enjoy the full show, available below for stream or download:
Brenda
Solid Sound Festival - North Adams, MA
August 14, 2010
Delegator
Intro
Girl Don't Grow
Shaililai
Blackout
Ghandi
I'd Be Dead
New Song
Unknown song 1
Unknown song 2
