Drinking Whiskey from a Rubber Boot: The Felice Brothers
~Olga L.
We’ve had some fantastic shows recently, and this next one is not to be missed. The Felice Brothers are coming up 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.
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.
Croquet Shows Present: An Evening With The Felice Brothers
The Bur Jar, Rochester NY
November 7th
Doors at 9pm
$10 over/12 under
Fredrik
Monday, November 10th, 8 p.m.
Bug Jar, $5
Fredrik (sweden)
+ Andy Gilmore (rochester)
++ DJing by Michael Neault
Fredrik - 1986
Fredrik - Hei Hei
Fredrik - Angora Sleepwalking
Fredrik -
Stereogum - Band to Watch - The band says “Black Fur” is about “small wooden labyrinths, luck and the nature of animosity,” and “Alina’s Place” is about “failing to spell ‘tintinnabular’ and the tremendous hassles of growing up and finding a new home.” We say they’re about the prettiest things we’ve heard all week.
XLR8R - …it’s clear the six members are more than up for experimenting with traditional pop’s sound structure… and have leaked [black fur] to give us a taste of the multi-instrumental, harmony-laden songs we can expect when the band releases Na Na Ni on October 28.
NPR - …the ambiance of Fredrik’s debut makes it the perfect compliment to the changing leaves and darkening skies of the season.
RCRD LBL - Fredrik are drenched in optimism and so their music is some beautiful blue and green avant-folk watercolor stuff for weary folk. Seriously, it feels like this music was specifically written to make its listeners feel better…a six-strong troupe of well-wishers and do-gooders.
URB - Swedish sextet Fredrik have set out, with their own brand of transcendental folk-pop, to challenge the notion that their countrymen (and women) are only capable of producing inconsequential bubble-gum pop. Using mostly acoustic instruments, the band has developed a timeless, almost hymn-like sound that refuses to be taken lightly. Their music is touching without being weepy, always containing that heart-wrenching glimmer of hope that makes the best pop music so powerful.
Exclaim - … is one of the most beautifully arranged albums released this year.
Fredrik - 11 Years from The Kora Records on Vimeo.
Fredrik - 1986 from The Kora Records on Vimeo.
Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise at the Bug Jar October 17th
+ The Music Tapes (Julian Koster)
++October 17th
+++The Bug Jar
$10|12
Doors at 9pm
We couldn’t be more excited to be presenting this one of a kind show. Julian Koster of Neutral Milk Hotel will be bringing his gang of fellow musicians, a 7 foot metronome and some other pretty impressive instruments, the likes of which you may never see again. The band will be performing songs from their album, Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes. They’ll also be sharing “Major Organ and the Adding Machine”, their short film which has been over a decade in the making, and stars Jeff Mangum and Kevin Barnes from Of Montreal. Koster describes The Music Tapes as a “big orchestra variety show” and although Jeff Mangum is not scheduled to come along for the fun…. you never know.
The new album spotlights Julian Koster’s songcraft and distinctive vocals, his almost religious devotion to the singing saw, and numerous contributions from other musicians in the Elephant 6 orbit. As on previous efforts, recording was done using an array of antique hardware, giving Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes a timeless, texturally rich sonic palette. It is the sound of Julian’s world poking through the curtain surrounding objective reality. In his words, “I just find the imaginary more real than the physical. Magic, the way we find things beautiful, the light behind eyes, kindness, and how we want to serve and protect the things we care about, these things seem like the real foundation of the world to me. I hope that the songs on this record can be more that just postcards from a world, but an invitation to it, to anyone at all who may find such a place comforting and nice.”
Unless you’re already a Music Tapes fan, chances are you haven’t experienced anything quite as exquisitely raw, effortlessly transportive, and charmingly distinct in a long time.- Tiny Mix Tapes
This will be a full evening’s worth of music and entertainment, and we know it’s gonna be brilliant.
Trust Me About Jonathan Richman, I’m Your Friend and I Care
~Olga Lukomsky
Jonathan Richman - Live
Bug Jar | Tuesday, Oct. 21st
Doors @ 9pm | $14 over, $16 under
Jonathan Richman - Velvet Underground
Jonathan Richman - Everyday Clothes
Jonathan Richman - Parties in the U.S.A.
With so much new music being released nowadays, it’s hard to figure out what deserves your attention and listening devotion. Some of us go by way of music blogs, some of us ask a trusty friend, and then some of us rely on a musician’s credibility (and I don’t just mean a good Pitchfork review). So, let me give you all three—a blog (this), a trusty friend (me), and a list of credentials (keep reading):
Jonathan Richman has been releasing albums for nearly 30 years, he tours non-stop and has built up an international fan base, he formed a famed band in the 70s known as The Modern Lovers (the first album was produced by his hero from the Velvet Underground, John Cale), and his name is commonly cited as a major influence on proto-punk and new wave, and later in the 80s indie and twee scenes.
I know what some of you might be thinking right now, Credentials shredentials. Lady, can this guy write a good tune?! The answer, my friend, is YES. Richman is known for writing clever, yet innocently catchy rock songs with a variety of world influences. You’re bound to smile through most songs, tap your feet, and maybe feel charmed enough to write your own tune at home. What I’m saying is that his music is as substantial as his history; it’s important and enjoyable.
Jonathan will be visiting us this fall to promote his latest Vapor Records release, Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild. This show is not to be missed. Trust me about Jonathan Richman, I’m your friend and I care.
Tickets are on sale in advance right now. You can buy them via the bugjar website.
Ra Ra Riot Re-Re-Return
+ Ra Ra Riot
++ Walter Meego
+++ Jon Moses
Bug Jar | Saturday, Sept. 6
Doors @ 9pm | $8 over, $10 under
Hi friends,
Ra Ra Riot is coming back to see us. If you haven’t heard them, they’re a 5 piece, with members from all over the East coast, who happened to meet at school in Syracuse. Lead singer Wes Miles was a student of astrophysics, but gave up his career to pursue music. His nonchalant vocals and the chamber-pop strings (played by the two girls in the band) provide an interesting counterpoint to the accelerated indie-pop drive of the keys, guitar and drums.
Walter Meego and our good friend Jon Moses will be opening for RRR. Won’t you join us?
Ra Ra Riot - Each Year (Remix)
Ra Ra Riot - Each Year (original)
Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine
Ra Ra Riot - Winter ‘05
