2010 Newport Folk Preview - Part 2: Dawes

Dawes is a band that's doing things the old fashioned way - they put out a fantastic record, and they're touring the hell out of it.  Debut North Hills is full of laid-back folk-rock, rich with harmonies and tales of lost love.  Live the songs are delivered with a gritty intensity - frontman Taylor Goldsmith passionately spits out every word and carefully wrings each note from the neck of his telecaster.  With such a finely-crafted sound and commanding presence, its easy to forget these guys are in their mid-20s.  Below are two exclusive tracks from their fantastic set at Great Scott back in February -- listen to the crowd reaction(!):

That Western Skyline (Live at Great Scott 2.20.10)
When My Time Comes (Live at Great Scott 2.20.10)

Full recording of the show is available here

Dawes will be on the Quad Stage Sunday at 4:50, which leaves just enough time to make a beeline for the Fort Stage for John Prine.

2010 Newport Folk Preview - Part 1: Justin Townes Earle

Justin Townes Earle at Great Scott 3.4.10First up in the series of artist spotlights is Justin Townes Earle.  The son of Newport veteran Steve Earle mixes traditional country, bluegrass, blues and folk and the result are songs that are steeped in tradition, but somehow completely original.  And while the records are great, the live show is utterly captivating as Earle leads his band through energetic renditions of his songs, and engages the audience with his amusing anecdotes and Southern coloquialisms.  Check out a few songs recorded live at Great Scott back in March as well as a fantastic HD video of JTE covering Buck Owens' Close Up The Honky Tonks from the same show:

What Do You Do When You're Lonesome (Live at Great Scott 3.4.10)
Mama's Eyes (Live at Great Scott 3.4.10)

Full recording of the show can be downloaded here

Justin Townes Earle closes Newport's new Quad Stage on Sunday and provides the perfect segue into Levon Helm's festival-closing set.

Watch visible voice each day leading up to the festival for more artist spotlights!

The Love Language: TT The Bears Cambridge 7.14.10

Charlotte Zoller © 2010 - www.thiskindofmusic.com

By Maria Cristina Romero

Navigating the tightrope between influence and imitation is difficult for any artist. Sometimes it’s downright impossible, and often results in a loss of identity as musicians retreat to the canon of remembered tunes. The Love Language, however, skillfully straddles the line. Mixing harmonies reminiscent of ‘60s girl-group rock with heavy drum lines, raucous guitar riffs, and hefty howls, The Love Language sets its sound apart from rock bands both past and present.

Although the Raleigh-based rockers didn’t pack the house that evening, The Love Language certainly packed a punch as the group celebrated its second album release at T.T. the Bear’s Place in Cambridge last week. Maybe it was the Turkish coffee that front man, Stuart McLamb, admittedly chugged before the show, or maybe it was the excitement following the fresh debut of Libraries—whatever the source, a palpable surge of kinetic energy had the audience bobbing and weaving as the band struck its first note. Kicking off with “Stars” from the group’s self-titled first album, The Love Language wooed fans before revealing “Horophones”—a new tune that’s nearly as infectious as Pete Bjorn’s “Young Folks.” In “Pedals”—a song perfectly punctuated with stormy drum strokes—the quintet presented a kind of organic synergy you’d expect from veteran rockers, not from a band on the day of its second album release in as many years.  Intermingling brief ballads with faster-paced pop melodies and innervating instrumentals, The Love Language stylishly showcased its wide-ranging dexterity and refreshing ingenuity—a combination that will likely propel this band to the forefront of indie-rock’s future. If you haven’t heard it yet, do your ears a favor and listen to Libraries now. 

I'm very happy to share an amazing video from the show, courtesy of our friends at Kitchen Sessions

Note:  more videos and full audio recording coming soon!

Special thanks to all of the contributors that made this post possible - a true team effort.  Please check out and support their fantastic sites:
This Kind Of Music
Kitchen Sessions

New music: Longstay

   

When listening to music, the most important trait for me is authenticity.  I gravitate towards bands that make heartfelt, organic music - regardless of the genre.  And I dig bands that I can relate to, for whatever reason.  I can relate to Longstay.  In fact, their bio reads pretty much like mine:

There is no glamorous behind the scenes story here. They were not raised by wolves, they don't have famous friends on TV, they have never done drugs with hookers or even stayed up past midnight.  LONGSTAY is just a nomadic quintet embedding a soulful passion, best personified by acknowledging their debt to Bob Dylan for selling out.

It's not hard to imagine that Longstay's debut Homes & Houses was written and recorded during long nights with whiskey bottles scattered around the room and Otis Redding and The Band on the turntable.  Keyboards and guitar licks intertwine beneath Nik Ewing's vocals that touch on common themes of home, togetherness and friendship.  Blues guitars and horn-section rave-ups give songs like Together! an Exile On Main Street swagger.  On smoldering album-closer Retired Gospels, an R&B backbeat and Soul-drenched vocals build to a crescendo as guitars and harmonicas wail, before giving way to an a-capella group singalong as bottles clink in the background - the perfect way to close out the album.

There's a ton of excellent, soulful Americana coming out of southern California lately, and Longstay certainly deserves some attention alongside Delta Spirit, Dawes, Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons, The Romany Rye, Blake Mills et al.  Houses & Homes is out now - preview the fantastic track I Swore That Off Before below, then get the album here.  You can also find a few more track downloads by clicking around the band's maze site (kind of like a 'create your own adventure' book).

Longstay - I Swore That Off Before

Fantastic Houses & Homes promo video:

The Love Language: Libraries

   

The Love Language's self-titled debut was probably my favorite record of 2009.  It came as a burst of musical sunshine, and rarely left my car stereo for months.  Stuart McLamb (who played all the instruments and recorded the record himself) found that golden mix of catchy hooks and deeply personal lyrics.  The sound was a gritty, lo-fi, take on soul  and doo-wop melodies.  Sophomore effort Libraries is out today on Merge Records, and it picks up where the last record left off.  Here's how Stu McLamb describes the sound on the new record:

It’s very expansive and rich sonically and all over the board as far as genres. Some songs sound like Motown on steroids, some sound like orchestral My Bloody Valentine, and some sound pretty much like the last album.

Fantastic stuff - I can guarantee this will be on repeat for a while in my car.  Here are a few tracks to sample:  Heart to Tell and Blue Angel are both off Libraries, Providence is one of my favorites from the debut.  Enjoy!

Heart to Tell
Blue Angel (from HearYa live session)
Providence (from WOXY live session)

The Love Language is at TT The Bears this Wednesday 7/14 - tickets still available.

New music: Futurebirds "Johnny Utah"

   

Just a quick one here, but I couldn't pass-up posting this track.  Futurebirds are set to release their debut LP, Hampton's Lullaby, on July 27th.  Their music recalls the lo-fi high lonesome sound of MMJs first three records - which means you'll probably dig it.  The first track off that album, Johnny Utah, is now making the rounds. Highly recommended, check it out below:

Futurebirds - Johnny Utah

If you missed it before, Futurebirds have also made their fantastic EP available for free - details here

Preview: Green River Music Festival

There's something special about local music festivals - while Coachella and Bonnaroo are great, some of my favorite festival memories are from the more intimate local festivals.  And there's no better setting for live music, in my opinion, than outdoors in the clean air of the Berkshires.  Therefore, you can understand my excitement for next weekend's Green River Music Festival.  The festival, now in its 24th year (!), features an electic mix of music -- ranging from bluegrass to folk to R&B -- and both local and national artists.  Things kick-off Friday night with a free show headlined by Hi-Country Lo-Fi (Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst) and extends through Sunday evening with sets from Allen Toussaint, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Low Anthem, Calexico, The Felice Brothers, David Wax Museum and many more.

Tickets are a very reasonable $60 for a weekend pass - available here

Enjoy a few free tracks from some of our Green River artists and watch visible voice for full post-festival coverage:

Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights
Calexico - Sunken Waltz
The Felice Brothers - Frankie's Gun
The David Wax Museum - Persimmon Tree

Full Green River lineup:

Friday July 16: High Country Lo-fi / Joy Kills Sorrow / Academy Freightshakers

Saturday July 17
Old Crow Medicine Show / Allen Toussaint / Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars / Sweetback Sisters / Chatham County Line / Joy Kills Sorrow / Brooks Williams / Donna The Buffalo / Red Stick Ramblers / Rubblebucket / Primate Fiasco / Gandalf Murphy / Fancy Trash

Sunday July 18
Cake / Calexico / The Felice Brothers / The Low Anthem / David Wax Museum / Lake Street Dive / Unit7 / Rusty Belle / Anais Mitchell

New music: Blake Mills "Break Mirrors"

    

Blake Mills has a pretty healthy résumé.  He has toured with Band of Horses, Jenny Lewis, Julian Casablancas, and many more.  He is a highly sought studio musician, and has been featured on records from Bruce Hornsby, Jakob Dylan, Jenny Lewis, Weezer, etc.  He scores movies.  He consults for Apple (computers).  All this, and the dude is only 23.

Mills' solo debut, Break Mirrors is a deep record of introspective, organic folk-tinged songs.  Musically, the songs vary from whispered acoustic and pedal steel-tinged lullabies (Cheers, Like It's Something) to raucous stomps (Under the Underground, Wintersong).  Running through the entire album is an undeniable sense of melody and songcraft - it's apparent that Mills has honed his chops working with other luminaries, and is certainly ready to step into the spotlight.  It'll All Work Out, one of many standout tracks from Break Mirrors is available for stream/download:

Blake Mills - It'll All Work Out

Break Mirrors is currently available for less than $5 on Amie Street.  Also, free EP is available here.

FYI: Mills was a founding member of the band Simon Dawes, now known as just Dawes.  Watch them cover Hey Lover:

New music: Electric Sunset - Soda

  

Desolation Wilderness have put out some fantastic records over the past few years - hypnotic slices of lo-fi, reverb-drenched pop that I highly recommend checking out.  While putting together my July mixtape, which features Desolation Wilderness' excellent Venice Beach as the opening track, I discovered that the band had split up.  However, my mood instantly changed from bummed to excited when I found that guitarist/singer Nic Zwart has a new project Electric Sunset.  Nic was kind enough to share a track from the upcoming self-titled debut.  Soda is a layered and dizzyingly beautiful track.  Reverby guitars, dream-like vocals and drum machine backbeat form the core, atop which a blanket of hazy, atmospheric sounds and samples are added.  Perfect music for a heatwave.

Electric Sunset - Soda

The self-titled debut is out in September on K Records.  Until then, do yourself a favor and check out the Desolation Wilderness catalogue.