The Felice Brothers with Wily Mason
+ Felice Brothers
++ Wily Mason
Wednesday, September 2nd
The German House
7pm
$12 presale, $14 at the door
Presale tickets can be bought at The German House / The Keg, Abeline and Metro Retro.
We’ve had some fantastic shows recently, and this next one is not to be missed. The Felice Brothers are coming back to Rochester for a night of Folk-Rock, Cajun and Carnivalia. Just two years old, the band has received quite a bit of notice on everything from NPR to Pitchfork to the best of the musical festivals. The five piece of three brothers and two friends hail from the Catskill Mountains of New York, and were discovered while busking in NYC subway stations. Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) quickly scooped them up to Team Love Records, where they released a 15 track, self titled album with songs like “Frankie’s Gun” and “Whiskey In My Whiskey” (my two favorites). They have toured extensively, and landed an album of the year nomination for the Uncut Music Awards. Their most recent album “Yonder is the Clock” is truly a little bit of Americana.
With accordions, harmonicas, washboards, and beat-up acoustic guitars, you might think you’re hearing an incantation from a certain classic album recorded in a basement in rural New York State with a certain gifted rambler from Minnesota and his scruffy backup band. Self described as true American Music; The Felice Brothers bring something familiar, yet totally original and modern to their songs. It’s the kind of new music that deserves to be played on an old record player… while friends sit on the front porch, drinking whiskey from a rubber boot.
Check out NPR’s five track recording of The Felice Brothers at the Philadelphia Folk Festival here.
Emma
Cale Parks & Lemonade
Tuesday, August 25th @ 8pm
The Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave, Rochester NY 14607
$8 21+, $10 18+
Cale Parks is a favorite in Rochester, and if you have not had a chance to see him solo, you don’t want to miss him. He is the go-to drummer for bands like White Williams, Passion Pit and Chin Up, Chin Up, and a full time member of Aloha. Cale is a hugely talented percussionist with a fierce live show. Joining him will be Lemonade, a three piece from California, who also bring a dance-happy live show. Here’s a little bit about Cale…
His music is a foray deep into texture, rhythm, pure sound and onwards into the heart of the song. His 2006 album “Illuminated Manuscript” owes as much to his classically trained precision (He studied as an orchestral percussionist) as it does to his ear for melancholy, summoning comparisons with the repetition of Steve Reich, the sadness of Arvo Part & the electronic textures of Mum. 2008’s “Sparklace” builds all these aspects into a more structured whole indebted to the dark 80s British electronics of New Order and Depeche Mode. Never content to rest on his laurels, as Sparklace hit the shelves Cale has already finished the recording of his 3rd LP, “To Swift Mars” which will see release in 2009.
Cale Parks and Lemonade play Tuesday, August 25th at the Bug Jar.
-Marc
Gang Gang Dance & Hex Message
Monday, August 3rd @ 8pm
The Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave, Rochester NY 14607
$10 21+, $12 18+
Gang Gang Dance
Gang Gang Dance is an experimental music group based out of NYC. Started as an improv band, Gang Gang Dance has gradually incorporated structure, melody and elements of pop into their music. In between touring with bands such as Animal Collective, TV on the Radio and Sonic Youth, Gang Gang Dance has released four albums under the label The Social Registry. Their most recent, Saint Dymphna, was described by UK’s Fact Magazine as one of the “best albums we’ve heard all year”.
Hex Message
Hex Message is an experimental music group, described as “a journey of sonic experimentation and positive juju.” Hex Message is based out of NYC, and features members Dan Hougland, Pascal Spengemann, Abigail Portner and Andrew Kuo.
Gang Gang Dance and Hex Message play Thursday, August 3rd at the Bug Jar.
-Marc
Cursive & The Love Language
Thursday, July 30th @ 7pm
The Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave, Rochester NY 14607
$14 21+, $16 18+
Cursive
Cursive is an indie rock band from Omaha Nebraska. Formed in 1995, Cursive has released six full length albums under the Saddle Creek label. In a review of their latest album, Mama, I’m Swollen, Cursive is described by Rolling Stone as “…a dizzying range of amped–up hardcore, horn–powered country rock, and angular balladry.” Cursive toured with The Cure on their 2004 Curiosa tour alongside Interpol, Mogwai, The Rapture and others.
The Love Language
Spin Magazine describes The Love Language’s Stuart McLamb as “…a casually stunning work of one-man-band lo-fi indie pop. McLamb’s songs - a mix of moody piano ballads and bouncy guitar rock - are aching love letters to his ex that combine the emotional directness of Big Star with the raw immediacy of Guided By Voices.” After recording The Love Language’s debut album, McLamb began touring along with six others.
Cursive and The Love Language play Thursday, July 30th at the Bug Jar.
-Marc
Yeasayer, Ponytail & Phantogram
Wednesday, July 15th @ 8PM
The Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave, Rochester NY 14607
$10 21+, $12 18+
Yeasayer
Self described as “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel” and “Enya with bounce,” Yeasayer is an experimental rock band from Brooklyn, NY. Yeasayer has played at such festivals as SXSW, Lollapalooza and Roskilde. Their 2007 debut LP, All Hour Cymbals, is described by Pitchfork as a “unique form of indie rock world music” with elements of new-age, spiritualism, and indie rock.
Ponytail
Named “Best Band” in 2008 by Baltimore City Paper, Ponytail is a four person experimental rock band from Baltimore, Maryland. Ponytail has received praise by Pitchfork and the BBC for their upbeat, energetic guitar work and unique vocal style.
Phantogram
Formed in 2007, Phantogram is the work of guitarist Josh Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel from Greenwich, NY. Described by Sarah as “a combination of Kanye West and Radiohead,” Phantogram has opened for bands such as Ra Ra Riot, Yeasayer, Brazilian Girls and The Slip.
Yeasayer, Ponytail and Phantogram play Wednesday, July 15th at The Bug Jar.
- Marc
