MUSiC SNiTCH » Live Music

Other Lives @ The Earl

lauren — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 20:58:00 +0000

As I was checking through concert listings I saw that Other Lives was playing a show @ The Earl. I had only recently become acquainted with the band but was interested in seeing them live. While I only recognized a few songs during their set it didn’t really matter because the music sounded fantastic, and I was pretty captivated. The five members of Other Lives work seamlessly as an ensemble, and at the same time, all five are obviously talented in their own specialties (violin, keys, trumpet, cello, drums…etc).

From under his tangled long locks and raggedy beard, Tabish delivered the lyrics with ease and a natural vulnerability. This is a listen and feel live show (as it should be), there’s not too much action on stage, not a lot of movement… besides the switching of instruments. But who needs stage antics when the music filling the room is soothing yet powerful and sweeping. Overall, Other Lives was stellar live and I for one would love to see them again.

They’re on tour right now, check out the dates.

Austin’s 4th Annual Fun Fun Fun Fest

lauren — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:12:31 +0000

Countless bands will be descending upon Austin’s Waterloo Park this coming weekend (November 7th – 8th) for the 4th Annual Fun Fun Fun Fest. You can check out all the details here.

Line-up includes:
Atlas Sound
The Riverboat Gamblers
Neon Indian
Crystal Castles
Dead Confederate
Of Montreal
Yeasayer
Ratatat
Fuck Buttons
Pharcyde
No Age
This Will Destroy You
WHY?
Mission of Burma
Vega
Crystal Antlers
Many more…

MyNameIsJohnMichael live @ The Earl

lauren — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:52:38 +0000

Last week a friend mentioned that a band from New Orleans was passing through Atlanta, and that I should check them out because they are a must see. Their name, MyNameIsJohnMichael, sounded a little familiar but when I listened to their album, I didn’t recognize the music. Apparently the band came to fruition based on a dare. In 2008, John Michael, was bound to create one song per week and post the results on his website…the end result was 52 new tracks in a year and a six-piece band (consisting predominantly of Loyola students).

As far as the concert goes, the band was great and I was rather impressed. On the way to the show, I was listening to their album (which was built on fan choices), and while I could certainly sense their talent, I had a sneaking suspicion that a stage, opposed to a studio is their sweet-spot . During the first song of the night, in the empty Earl, I decided that MyNameIsJohnMichael can only be fully appreciated in a live setting because recordings don’t due them justice (Like fellow NO natives, MuteMath). Plus, it’s rather impressive to watch the musically inclined band members switch off and on with various instruments.

I honestly don’t know enough about MyNameIsJohnMichael to rattle off song specific feedback, but from a newcomer’s prospective, I can say I prefer the percussion heavy, slower side of the band. I also adore the fact that they incorporate a New Orleans, street feel into their tunes…whether it be a song featuring the sound of a tin garbage-can being hit with a chain or a track featuring the trumpet accompanied by some tambourine and keys.

Oh, and I must mention, Larry. You know you are in the presence of infectious live music when an older gentleman wielding an umbrella cannot help but wiggle around the dance floor, shoulder shrugging and jazz stepping, without a care in the world!

Take A Listen: The One from MyNameIsJohnMichael

Download: The One (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)

I recommend checking out their live performance of “The One” (not taken at this show).

2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival – Line-Up Announced

lauren — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:29:08 +0000

The 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival, which is set to take place at Zilker Park, October 2nd through the 4th will be headlined by the likes of, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Thievery Corporation, John Legend and The Dead Weather.

This year’s bill boasts more than 130 acts, including: Passion Pit, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Decemberists, The Avett Brothers, Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, Mimicking Birds, Deer Tick, State Radio, The Knux, Dr. Dog and many more stellar musicians.

Three-day passes are $185 and special VIP packages are now available. Head on over to Austin City Limits’ official website to check out all the details.

SummerStage in Central Park – Summer 09

lauren — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:02:01 +0000

New York’s City Parks Foundation has announced the 2009 season of its free performing arts festival: Central Park SummerStage. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, SummerStage will bring music into New York’s Central Park with free performances from the likes of M. Ward and Q-Tip, as well as benefit concerts (not-free shows) from TV On The Radio, 311, Indigo Girls, Matisyahu and Explosions In The Sky.

Central Park SummerStage 2009 Season Schedule
06/12 – Josh Ritter And The New York Pops
06/13 – Smokie Norful, Tye Tribbett, Vanessa Bell Armstrong
06/17 – Word Series: Wally Lamb, Zoë Heller
06/18 – Word Series: Sharon Olds, Thomas Sayers Ellis
06/19 – Word Series: Gabriel Iglesias, Pablo Francisco
06/20 – Majora Carter, Earthdriver, Staceyann Chin, Jennifer Johns, Urban Word and Artbattles
06/21 – Fête De La Musique: Yannick Noah, Coralie Clement, Mayra Andrade
06/27 – Istanbulive: The Sounds And Colors Of Turkey: Mazhar Fuat Özkan, NY Gypsy All-Stars with Husnu Senlendirici
06/28 – Ledisi, Esperanza Spalding, Jonathan Batiste
07/05 – Oumou Sangare,Les Nubians
07/08 – Juana Molina, Curumin, EL G
07/11 – Los Fabuloso Cadillacs, Eric Bobo
07/12 – Family Day!: DJ Lance Rock And Brobee (of Yo Gabba Gabba)
07/13 – The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Featuring Paulo Szot
07/18 – Q-Tip, Chester French, Little Dragon
07/19 – Alpha Blondy And The Solar System, Lee “Scratch” Perry And Dubblestandart
07/24 – Bettye LaVette, Budos Band,Felix Hernandez Rhythm Revue
07/25 – Jerry Rivera, N-Klabe
07/26 – ALL*I* DO, Mark Ronson, The Rumble Strips, Wale, Daniel Merriweather
07/31 – RIOULT 08/01 – M. Ward, Mike Watt, Nels Cline
08/08 – Boys Noize 08/09 – Jazmine Sullivan, Chrisette Michele, Jon B
08/14 – Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company with special musical guest Martha Wainwright
08/15 – Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company with special musical guest Martha Wainwright

Central Park SummerStage 2009 Benefit Concerts Schedule
06/05 – TV On The Radio, Dirty Projectors
06/16 – Indigo Girls, Matt Nathanson
06/26 – 311, Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers, The Expendibles
06/30 – Explosions In The Sky, Constantines
07/09 – Matisyahu, Umphreys McGee

SummerStage Website

Electronic music festival ‘Creamfields’ announces line-up

lauren — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:43:41 +0000

Creamfields Festival 09’
Daresbury, Halton, Cheshire : August 29 – 30

The now ten years in the running electronic music festival, Creamfields, has hosted the likes of Chemical Brothers, Gorillaz, Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Underworld, Outkast, Sasha, Jeff Mills and Paul Oakenfold. Creamfields is one of the premiere destinations for many electronic acts around the world today.

Creamfields has announced its 2009 line-up… below are just a few of the names on the bill. To check out the full line-up, visit the official Creamfields website.

Tiesto, Mylo Live, Basement Jaxx , David Guetta, John Digweed , Paul van Dyk, Sven Vath, Crookers, Pete Tong, Steve Angello, Axwell, Sebatian Ingrosso, Erol Alkan, James Zabiela, Boys Noize, Sasha, Dizzee Rascal, Erick Morillo, Ferry Corsten…and plenty more.

Lollapalooza 2009 @ Grant Park

lauren — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:11:49 +0000

Lollapalooza 2009 – Tickets On Sale Now

The annual festival will take place: August 7-9th in Chicago’s Grant Park

Although the full line-up won’t be announced until April 21st, all of the headliners – Beastie Boys, Jane’s Addiction, Depeche Mode, Tool, Kings of Leon and the Killers – have been confirmed by a Billboard source. Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, Lou Reed, Neko Case, the Decemberists, and Peter, Bjorn and John are among the more than 100 additional acts that will appear at the festival.

Lollapalooza’s WebSite

Bear Hands live @ Drunken Unicorn

lauren — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:32:47 +0000

I was hooked on Bear Hands after the first listen to their EP, Golden. I was pretty excited to see the Brooklyn band live at the dirty little Drunken Unicorn. I was not however excited when I caught a glimpse of the opening band, ouch, my poor ears. It was weird that a heavy metal-ish band was sharing the same stage as Bear Hands but perhaps they were a local band, I don’t know. The crowd was rather dismal, so Bear Hands’ set didn’t have that vibe I would expect it would have if they played to a sold out crowd at Mercury Lounge in NYC. Rau’s voice sounded good…I am a fan of the imperfections that come along with an unpolished vocal tone. The band played well together and I often found myself watching the drummer and the bass player, who also lent a hand on percussions.

Their set-list was rather short on account of them having one album and it was pretty relaxed and casual. I liked Bear Hands and believe that they will continue to get better as they age like fine wine.

Video: “Sickly Brunette” from Bear Hands