Ryan's Smashing Life

Our Favorite Records - Volume II

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:00:00 +0000

THE BEST ALBUMS, OUR PERSONAL HISTORIES
The Records that We Love, the Songs that Make Us Go

[Editor's Note: I have tasked our people to write a bit on their favorite records. It's a exercise in exploration; they get to do a little self-evaluation, you get a chance to know them better. The artists celebrated here find new audiences!]

art by Buddy Beaux

Favorite LPs of the Last Decade - Vol II
by rslblog.com's Emma Dessau

I don’t think I fully understood the wonderful narcissistic tragedy that is growing up until Craig Finn explained it to me, one song at a time, on Boys and Girls in America. As I spent most of the 2000s in high school and college, (yes, I’m a young’n), this album was an epic revelation. The Hold Steady stands almost untouched in their poignantly dirty lyrics, which continue to sting with accuracy listen after listen.

I first saw The Hold Steady live in the fall of 2007 after not paying nearly enough attention to the copy of Boys and Girls I had burned from my college radio station. Within 30 seconds of watching Craig Finn’s onstage hand spasms while he sang-spoke, I knew I’d found a new musical obsession.

The Hold Steady
from Joe Keenan

SOUND PROFILE - The Hold Steady has gathered the loose ends Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band left hanging around 1978, and tied them together with influences from roads not traveled by The Boss. Instrumentally, Franz Nicolay’s often-featured snazzy piano hand slide reminds me of Danny Federici’s stylings on Greetings from Asbury Park, while Finn’s lyrical prowess calls to mind a darker, grittier version of street poetry from Darkness on the Edge of Town.

This comparison has been made before, but that shouldn’t take away from The Hold Steady’s uniqueness. In my book, Finn has taken on the “king street-poet” title captured and lost again by so many before him, and updated it. His poetry is jagged, full of references to literature, religion and all that is in between.

SONGWRITING - The use of narrative to weave together two distinct albums also sets The Hold Steady apart. The same characters introduced on The Hold Steady’s 2005 also stellar album, Separation Sunday (Holly, Gideon and Charlemagne) appear on Boys and Girls in America. They continue to seem like people we’ve all known, or at least, people we’ve all wanted to party with. Yet, their catastrophic crashes and burns keep them mortal. Their stories pan out just the way they’d want them to: honest, heartbreaking, and full of pills and beer.

Because we’ve all “had some massive nights and some crushing lows,” because we’ve all wanted to sing “Hey, citrus, hey, liquor, I love it when you come together,” after a rough week, because we’ve all looked around and concluded time and again the timeless truth that “boys and girls in America have such a sad time together,” especially when “guys go for looks” and “girls go for status.” Because there’s a “chill-out tent” at every magical outdoor show and a “party pit” at every sweaty indoor punk show, because sometimes there’s just nothing else to do besides “walk around and drink some more,” because being young and co-dependent “gets inconvenient when you wanna get high alone.” Because we are all made of “arms and hearts and alcohol and faith,” and because “we pull each other in and then we push it all away,” Boys and Girls in America is the album that defined my decade.

The Hold Steady
Web / Myspace

[Editor: This series will be continued! More to come.]

Cassavettes - Ordinary Girls

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:04:00 +0000

NEW LIVE MUSIC VIDEO
Someone You Should Know

Cassavettes live at TT the Bears

Cassavettes -- Ordinary Girls
from Steve Legare on Vimeo.

It's been a little while since Cassavettes released a new album, which is why we were so glad to get Shakedown the Sun from them. The album is a snapshot taken at different intervals of the band's last three years. We are big believers of this band, so we booked them for a live gig and they went ahead and knocked it out of the stratosphere. Video shot by RSL's Steve Legare. You can find more of his incredible work at his new website

Cassavettes on Myspace

Hey Marseilles

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:11:00 +0000

Red Hot & In Town Tonight
Someone You Should Know

James Bailey photo

SEATTLE on the Road to SxSW 2010 - Hey Marseilles is a 7-piece indie orchestral pop band from Seattle, Wa. After releasing their first record independently, Hey Marseilles landed on Sound Magazine’s, “Top 10 Bands to Watch for 2008,” quickly garnered airplay on KEXP and made appearances at Bumbershoot, The Doe Bay Festival, CMJ, SXSW and The Capitol Hill Block Party . 2010 finds Hey Marseilles on a nationally distributed compilation from the Starbucks Corporation (Sweethearts Vol.2) and re-releasing their independent debut, To Travels and Trunks with national distribution, a college radio campaign and increased touring.

Hey Marseilles - Rio
New!

In Boston tonight: Sonicbids presents a live showcase this evening at TT the Bears featuring two more SxSW Music Festival-bound bands: Boston's The Downbeat 5 and Madrid's The Right Ons. Get there early for Hey Marseilles. Doors ($8) at 9pm

Hey Marseilles
Web / Myspace

Neon Indian

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:12:00 +0000

BANDS PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT
Someone You Should Know

Neon Indian play a Boston double-header on Tuesday.
Great Scott in Allston - 7pm $15 / 10pm Sold Out

IN BOSTON, We know all about make-up days (what with the Red Sox having their season beginning and ending in cold seasons, we are familiar.) -up rain days, for example. Well, NEON INDIAN do right by the city on Tuesday after missing a recent date. (Who can blame they, the absence allowed Neon Indian to play before a national audience!) Catch 'em now, or at Bonnaroo.

Neon Indian - Mind, Drips
from LaundroMatinee.

NEW THIS WEEK!
Neon Indian - Mind, Drips
the Summer Dregs remix

Neon Indian
Myspace / Twitter

Johnny A

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:07:00 +0000

NEW ENGLAND GUITAR HERO
Someone You Should Know

Johnny A - One November Night
New live CD/DVD combo (Tuesday 3/9 release)

The noise around Boston guitar legend Johnny A is expected to grow this week with the much anticipated release of a new combination CD/DVD. The set was recorded last November at Scullers Jazz Club. It goes on sale this Tuesday. Purchase on Johnny A's website will include a limited autographed poster.

BACKSTORY - For seven years, Johnny A. rocked out for a seven year stint leading legendary J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf's group and also co-producing Wolf's 1996 solo album Long Line, which garnered a four-star review in Rolling Stone. Following his time with Wolf, A. collaborated with soft of music's best before successfully launching his own celebrated material. In 2003, Gibson recently bestowed a great honor of the guitarist: He has his own Gibson Signature Model; "The Johnny A." Thousands of fans now know what used to be a secret to only his friends in studio: Johnny A is an amazing performer.

Johnny A.
Web / Facebook / Twitter

Dick Dale & The Del Tones

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

MOVING PICTURES
Video You Should See

Video from 1963

Bonus: Misirlou on Guitar with Pencils?!

Dick Dale / Pulp Fiction

Gnarls Barkley sample source

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:35:00 +0000

You Gotta See This to Believe It
Sights & Sounds from Days Past......

The Sample for Gnarls Barkley's Crazy

From a spaghetti western, Viva Django
Don't worry, I hadn't heard of it either.

Check out the big pinnacle scene near the end.
A big tip of the hat to Dan.

Leonard Mynx Spotlight

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:03:00 +0000

One to Watch in 2010

New Music from Leonard Mynx
New Album titled Le Petit Mort

Sing Radio

ONE TO WATCH IN 2010 - Portland's Leonard Mynx is one of those artistic souls whose music I find myself listening to much more than even I realize. His first album Vesper (which the artist is now giving away for free) is in the car. His new demos are playing on the media player as I type these words... And, it's playing in my head. A lot. I am very much hoping that 2010 and - for the near future we begin looking a little more closely about the art and music we digest. Leonard Mynx is making really authentic, in-touch music.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "Over the last several months I have recorded about 25 tracks with my good friend Adam Selzer (M Ward, Norfolk and Western) at Type Foundry studio here in Portland. Lots of great and talented Portland musicians helped out whose other projects include, but are not limited to, Norfolk and Western, The Decemberists, M Ward, Horsefeathers, Loch Lomond, Audie Darling, Laura Gibson, Jolie Holland and many more. The record is called "Le Petit Mort," - Leonard Mynx.

Leonard Mynx
Web / Myspace

I Grew a Mustache

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:18:00 +0000

NEW VIDEO THIS WEEK
BOSTON ALL-STARS

The Motion Sick - Smartest Band in America

The Motion Sick
Web / Myspace

Dropkick Murphys - New Trailer!

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:37:00 +0000

Live on Landsdowne for St. Patrick's Day!
The City's Favorite Sons Unleash a New Live DVD

Live CD / DVD Combo
in stories on March 16.
presale available *

NEW TRAILER

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

3/6 - Ft Lauderdale, FL
Revolution Live
3/7 - Orlando, FL
House of Blues
3/8 - Charlotte, NC
The Fillmore
3/9 - Washington DC
9:30 Club
3/10 - Wallingford, CT
The Dome at Oakdale Theatre
3/12 - Boston, MA
House of Blues
3/13 - Boston, MA
House of Blues - 2 shows
3/14 - Boston, MA
House of Blues
3/15 - Boston, MA
House of Blues
3/16 - Boston, MA
House of Blues
3/17 - Boston, MA
House of Blues

LIVE ON LANDSDOWNE
Pre-order Info:
iTunes Deluxe (extra songs)
iTunes Standard
iTunes DVD
Amazon Deluxe CD/DVD
Amazon Standard

The Dropkick Murphys
Web / Myspace

Bonus from the Boston Globe:
James Lynch of the Dropkicks
Shares his favorite Boston pubs

Hey Mama

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:55:00 +0000

Hometown Summer Rock - Right Now
A Live Experience to Remember

WASHBOARD BLUES ROCK / ALT-COUNTRY ROLL - Hailing from Vermont before relocating to Cambridge, MA, are Hey Mama's Avi Salloway and Celia Woodsmith. In the city, they found collaboration with the talents of Jared Seabrook and Paul Chase. And by that, the Hey Mama sound was born.

The band are touring extensively these days and we just wanted to share their sound. There's a big Boston date on Saturday! I will also be catching them play before audiences in Austin for the SxSW Music Festival. Audiences there will be treated to what I already know - that this is one sweet-sounding band. You better believe this is One to Watch in 2010.

Hey Mama - Drivin' Nails

Mar 5 - Montpelier, VT
Langdon Street Cafe
Mar 6 - Boston, MA
The Paradise
Mar 8 - Washington DC
Madam’s Organ
Mar 9 - Blacksburg, VA
House Concert
Mar 10 - Bristol, TN
O-Mainnin’s
Mar 11 -Knoxville, TN
WDVX - Blue Plate Special
Mar 11 - Johnson City, TN
Acoustic Coffee House
Mar 12 - Asheville, NC
House Concert
Mar 13 - Spindale, NC
Barley’s Tap Room
Mar 15 - New Orleans, LA
Neutral Ground
Mar 17 - Austin, TX
SXSW
Mar 18 - Austin, TX
SXSW
Mar 19 - Austin, TX
SXSW
Mar 20 - Austin, TX
SXSW
Mar 21 - Austin, TX
SXSW
Mar 24 - Knoxville, TN
Barley’s Tap Room
Mar 25 - Thomas, WV
The Purple Fiddle
Apr 8 - Newmarket, NH
The Stone Church on Zion Hill
Apr 9 - NY, NY
Bowery Poetry Club

Hey Mama
Web / Myspace / Facebook

Four Tet

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:04:00 +0000

Photographic Evidence
by Mark Jenko
The Middle East - 2/18/10

Four Tet

Kieran Hebden at the Middle East
photos by RSL's Mark Jenko

Essential mix (January 2010) by Four Tet
Four Tet live at the BBC
PRESS PLAY

The three albums Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet, released in quick succession: Pause (2001), Rounds (2003) and Everything Ecstatic (2005) represent a high watermark in new forms of pioneering musical creativity. These recordings fine-tuned the techniques of electronic music: sampling, sequencing, tweaking and injected them with an almost alchemical warmth. His ethos and immersion in the process of making an evolving body of work is, according to one of his track titles: "Sleep, Eat Food, Have Visions." The result is a highly emotional and thought provoking set of records. Disparate forms such as free jazz, hip hop, concrete tape research music and open string folk tunings are distilled into something that can only be described as sounding like Four Tet

RSL Streaming Photo Album
FOUR TET at the Middle East 2-18-10

FOUR TET
LIVE DATES
March 11th
Club Academy
Manchester, UK
March 12th
TJs
Leeds, UK
March 13th
Bongo Club
Edinburgh, UK
March 14th
Homegame Festival
Anstruther, UK
March 17th
Concorde 2
Brighton, UK
March 18th
Plug
Sheffield, UK
March 19th
Custard Factory
Birmingham, UK
March 20th
Fiddlers
Bristol, UK
March 24th
Social Club
Paris, France

FOUR TET
Web / Myspace / Facebook

The Black Keys - 2010

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

New Album / Tour Ahead
Someone You Need to Know

The Black Keys release Brothers on May 18 on Nonesuch Records. We picked The Black Keys’ 2008 album, Attack & Release, to be one of the 20 Best Records of the Year. Other accolades came from The New York Times, NPR, MOJO, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and the Los Angeles Times. Here's to hoping for more of the same...

MAY 18 Release Date

1. “Everlasting Light”
2. “Next Girl”
3. “Tighten Up”
4. “Howlin’ For You”
5. “She’s Long Gone”
6. “Black Mud”
7. “The Only One”
8. “Too Afraid To Love You”
9. “Ten Cent Pistol”
10. “Sinister Kid”
11. “The Go Getter”
12. “I’m Not The One”
13. “Unknown Brother”
14. “Never Gonna Give You Up”
15. “These Days”

The album includes the Danger Mouse-produced song “Tighten Up” and a cover of the Jerry Butler classic “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The remaining songs on Brothers are written, performed and produced by The Black Keys. With the exception of a handful of tracks, co- production duties were handled by Mark Neill. The record was mixed by Tchad Blake.

The Brothers Album Tour: Ohio's Dynamic Duo will give large audiences the new songs on their upcoming tour - a pair of previously announced dates of note: Bonnaroo is confirmed in June. The Black Keys performance at Central Park’s SummerStage in New York City on July 27 is sold out. (Additional dates will be announced soon).

SXSW 2010 : Much sooner than that, we have learned that The Black Keys will play MOG's Party * at SxSW on March 20th. This might be the hottest set right now heading into the final announcements. If you are at the Festival - and want to run into me, The Mohawk is where I'll be.

The Black Keys
Web / Myspace / Facebook
Page on NONESUCH

New David Vandervelde

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:02:00 +0000

MORE MUSIC THAN MAKES SENSE
Why This is Someone You Should Know

1 of 2 new albums out from Chicago's David Vandervelde

RSLBLOG.COM's ONE TO WATCH LIST

I'll have to admit I don't know nearly as much about David Vandervelde as I would like to. I picked him for a prestigious Best of 2007 for his two remarkable tracks, Nothin' No and Jacket - which were about as good as anything I had heard that year, overall. I know that Vandervelde, a Chicagoan who has since relocated to Nashville, was a friend to the late Jay Bennett (Wilco) and a frequent studio collaborator.

Due to what I see is an influence from the talented Bennett - and an umbilical sound connecting him to Chicago, I like to think of Vandervelde as a makeshift bridge enabling me to access the music of the past - without the crutch of memory. There certainly are some beautiful similarities.

David Vandervelde

Beyond the comparisons, though Vandervelde is his own man. In 2010, this is clearly evidenced as the artist finds two very different albums out at the same time. The first I will tell you about is Psychedelic Saturday - a collaborative record with Where the Moon Came From. (Vandervelde, a multi-instrumentalist, plays keys.) It's a free record folks! - You can download over at RockProper.com - here's the title track:

Psychedelic Saturday

And Vandevelde also has a three-song, digital only EP on Secretly Canadian - which is more in line with how we are used to hearing him... Just take a listen and find out what we already know: There's definitely more to be learned about David Vandervelde in the weeks and months that lay ahead.

Learn How to Hang

David Vandervelde

Myspace / Secretly Canandian / Rock Proper

Magic Man - Real Life Color

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:12:00 +0000

NEW MUSIC -
Someone You Should Know

Songs Bigger Than Life from Boston's Magic Man

RSLBLOG.COM's ONE TO WATCH LIST

The Year 2010 is pretty much continuing on where 2009 left off... By that I mean the quality and breadth of new music being offered up by this city's artistry continues to impress. The modern renaissance continues this week with Real Life Color from Boston duo Magic Man (Sam Lee & Alex Caplow.) The songs here, including Monster which you can play now, are wildly fun indie rock explorations. Punctuated to drum beats and later - synth, rain drops and bass (on the appropriately titled, Layers), Magic Man have crafted an album that could come to define it's listeners. It's a powerful thing music.

Magic Man - Monster
brand new song!

Download the Album for Free: Magic Man are giving away Real life Color for free, hoping that it will help them reach more fans. The record's on Arcade Sound, Ltd. Based on what we are hearing - reaching large audiences may be just over the horizon.

"We've put a lot of work into these ten songs and would really like you to hear them, so we've decided to put the entire album up for free download. You don't have to pay anything (unless, of course, you feel strongly compelled to do so)--all we ask is that, if you like the songs, please share them with anyone you think will enjoy them as well," - Magic Man.

SXSW - Magic Man will play Austin, TX on Saturday, March 20. Magic Man appears as part of the is part of The FMLY Group Hug Party. Awesome lineup also includes MillionYoung, Truman Peyote, I am the Dot, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Rock.

Magic Man album
Myspace / Facebook

Ghosty - I Won't Be Stopped

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:57:00 +0000

New Music Video:
Someone You Should Know

The new Video from Ghosty is "I Won't Be Stopped"
T Sloan photo

KANSAS PSYCH BEACH ROCK - After two full length albums, a slew of EP's, and several miles of tape, Ghosty is now putting the finishing touches on their latest short-form release, entitled "Team Up Again". This will be the third installment in a series of digital EPs released on the band's own More Famouser Records imprint. In the Fall of 2010, a 12" vinyl LP release on More Famouser will collect the highlights of the Ghosty EP series, combined with unreleased tracks, to form the band's third full-length album.

It's fair to say that a sense of longing and reflection permeates Ghosty's music. We will have more on this project - including mp3 downloads and a look at the direction of this increasingly important band when we have had time to digest it all. What you see below is a cool video from the new project. See you soon.

GHOSTY-I WON'T BE STOPPED
from PAT VAMOS on Vimeo.

Ghosty / Myspace

Absofacto - Gnat Years

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:58:00 +0000

New Music this Week!
Someone You Should Know

Brand New Track this week from Absofacto

RSLBLOG.COM's ONE TO WATCH LIST

Another season ends and another is set to begin. Transition brings opportunity and power to the masses. How appropriate then, is our debut of hot new material from Mason Proper's prolific Jonathan Visger. When things begin to quiet down momentarily for Mason Proper [whose Olly Oxen Free made our 20 Albums from 2008 you Need to Own list] Visger stakes out artistically on his own under the name Absofacto. The results can be pretty experimental and damn spectacular.

Absofacto - Gnat Years
amazing new material

Jonathan Visger is

ABSOFACTO

Massive Attack - Heligoland

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:01:00 +0000

On Further Review
by Nick Parker

in stores now

Let me dispense with the usual build up and say something about this album that you’ve probably guessed already, given the history of this band: Massive Attack’s Heligoland is a very good album. It’s typically sinister and serious, built from a mix of industrial beats, sparse synths and driving bass, and the often very beautiful work of guest vocalists like Damon Albarn and Martina Topley-Bird. Fans of Massive Attack will likely not be disappointed with this, their first release in seven years.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, I need to share some of the album's failings... Reasons why the album falls a bit short of being considered, "excellent." I’m not just trying to knit-pick here. I think the limitations of Heligoland tell us a great deal. There's an interesting statement here about the challenges of being in a band as seminal to its audience as Massive Attack. (Let me also let you know that I love this band with a passion, so I’m hardly set against them.)

There are some shaky moments on this album, which show that Massive Attack are not invincible. While tracks like “Babel” and “Girl I Love You” are really compelling, The Guy Garvey guest track, “Flat of the Blade,” reveals that, even when all the ingredients are there (i.e. incredible vocalist, master beat producers, etc.), things don’t always gel when you try to force beautiful melody onto a cold, sterile backing track.

[ ed.'s note: I have to agree with Nick on this thought; Flat of the Blade, for me, is the only track on the album I cannot break bread with. I tried to like it but my brain simply won't allow it. It's just sounds like noise to me, and I have very open ears. Snazzy video though...]

Beyond this, there is the pressure that Massive Attack now face from some other bands, who might just steal their thunder. On one side there are their peers (and friends) from the Bristol-based invention of Trip-Hop of the 90s, Portishead. Last year Portishead brought out “Third.” It drew lots of criticism at the time (although it was on our shortlist for album of the year) for being too austere and unapproachable. I disagreed, but that seemed to be the consensus. Still, listening to “Heligoland” now, you wonder if any of it couldn’t have come from a previous release from some years ago. It makes me feel that, even if the Portishead release was hard to follow, it was more fresh and new than Massive Attack’s new work (Listen to our recent video post of Portishead’s “Chase the Tear,” and see if you agree with me).

Then there is the pressure from newer bands. The album’s opening track, “Pray for Rain,” features Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio. This is a great song, and hearing it here, at the start of the album, seems like a signal that there are bands like TOTR snapping at Massive Attack’s heels. Might Massive Attack be passing the baton to the next generation of musicians here? Isn’t TOTR’s “Dear Science” a more radical album, in a genre built on radical experimentation?

I’d still say go and buy Heligoland, and I hope you enjoy it. Massive Attack will be more of a classic band, a transition band - whose time is gone or on it's way.

[ Ed.'s note: Despite a few shortcomings on both of our scorecards, Heligoland is clearly superior to most material being cranked out by others. This one should be in your collection and needs to be heard. ]

Why don't you readers let us know where it stands in your mind at the end of the year?? Unit then, the beat goes on.

May 2010 Dates
7 Toronto, ONT - Sound Academy
9 Toronto, ONT - Sound Academy
11 New York, NY - Terminal 5
12 New York, NY - Terminal 5
18 Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theater
19 Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theater
25 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theater
27 San Franciscos, CA - Warfield Theater
30 George, WA - Sasquatch Festival

Massive Attack
Web / Twitter

Southern Belle - Walkout

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:00:00 +0000

DEBUT SOUNDS!
Someone You Should Know

Brand New Track from Boston's Southern Belle

RSLBLOG.COM's ONE TO WATCH LIST

Yes, I receive dozens of albums each week (true) and there are always a handful of packages from all over the world unopened at the foot of my desk (also true) and we don't pay for nearly as much music as we used to - but that doesn't make discoveries any less sweet. Having just caught celebrated Editors (RSL Best of 2007 and now touring behind a new album) and indie hotshots Antlers at the House of Blues Boston, it was with great interest I was able to listen to Boston's own Southern Belle join the fray that night on Landsdowne Street. (Not a band start, huh?)

Southern Belle are a rock band, infusing key elements of electronica, keyboard rock and sampling into their fiery atmospheric rock that didn't leave anything on the table. The audiences are still small and the band was ridiculously loud - and very well received.

The brainchild of Isom Innis, who clearly takes this fusion seriously. Radiohead is clearly a source of inspiration: “I used to have this Johnny Greenwood quote taped up on my wall in high school that said: ‘We don’t set out to break barriers, we just copy our favorite records.’ And up to this point that’s exactly what Innis has done, “combine many different influences at once,” into something that simply sounds great.

Southern Belle - Walkout
brand new song!

Fast forward today and the debut track from the band is now playing in the background as I type this. The new single, Walkout, is yours to have. It's a fun little burner filled with swirling, fiery rock antics and infused with hope. This is definitely a band to watch in 2010.

SOUTHERN BELLE

David Wax Museum [HD video]

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:02:00 +0000

Mexo-Americana's Pride
Someone You Should Know

In 2010 David Wax Museum are Boston's Hottest Ticket

photograph by RSL's Sean Hafferty
[here for the full photo set]

At this point, the members of Boston's David Wax Museum have us all in a state of awe. We first wrote about this upstart four-piece fusion act (authentically mixing traditional Mexican and American folk) back in early 2008. We knew right away they had promise, but no one could have expected what would come to fruition just two years later... The Wax Museum (David Wax, Suz Slezak, Jiro Kokubu and Greg Glassman) could be the best Mexo-Americana fusion act in the United States currently.

NPR thinks so too - very highly recommended audio. Overall? The prior year has born witness to the band's release of Carpenter Bird - an RSL Best of 2009 Pick - dates with The Low Anthem and The Avett Brothers, and a growing fan following up and down the American east coast. Not too bad.

Just last week I relayed just how I excited I was to be adding a skilled digital video guy to the website and now is when it begins to pay-off for you. Boston filmmaker Steve Legare has captured the David Wax Museum's Feb 17th live show at Club Passim for Ryan's Smashing Life. The clips feature the extended David Wax Museum (the full band lineup from the recording of Carpenter Bird album) - together again for the very first time. An absolute gem to have on video. Head over to the new David Wax Museum channel on Steve Legare's Vimeo Page for more!

The new David Wax Museum Video Channel
All 17 Tracks from the 2/17/10 show in High Definition!

DAVID WAX MUSEUM
Web - Myspace - Album

David Ford - New Album & Tour

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:01:00 +0000

A TOUR YOU CANNOT MISS
Someone You Should Know

Ford's new album, Let The Hard Times Roll will be released in April.

David Ford - State of the Union
an old favorite to hold you over.

The New Album:

Tracklisting
1. Panic
2. Making Up For Lost Time
3. Waiting For The Storm
4. Surfin' Guantanamo Bay
5. To Hell With The World
6. Stephen
7. Nothing At All
8. Sylvia
9. Meet Me In The Middle
10. Missouri
11. She's Not The One
12. Hurricane
13. Call To Arms

North American
March Tour Dates
March 3 Philadelphia, Pa
World Cafe Life
March 4 New York, Ny
Le Poisson Rouge
March 5 Asbury Park, Nj
The Saint
March 6 Piermont, Ny
Turning Point
March 9 Toronto, Ont
The Drake Hotel
March 10 London, Ont
The London Music Club
March 12 Chicago, Il
Schuba's
March 13 Madison, Wi
The Patio
March 15 Louisville, Ky
Zanzabar
March 16 Atlanta, Ga
Eddie's Attic
March 18, Raleigh, Nc
Six String Cafe
March 19 Norfolk, Va
Attucks Theater
March 20 Charlottesville, Va
The Southern
March 21 Arlington, Va
The Iota
March 23 Northampton, Ma
The Iron Horse
March 24 Cambridge, Ma
Club Passim
March 25 Philadelphia, Pa
World Cafe Life
March 26 Brooklyn, Ny
Union Hall

David Ford Myspace / Web / Twitter
David Ford fan page

Lost Cat, The King of Spain

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:38:00 +0000

Help Us Find this Lost This Cat
File Under: Friday Night, Etc.

The King of Spain - Lost Our Spark

get to know
KING of SPAIN
Web / Myspace

Ben Harper and Relentless 7

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:55:00 +0000

NEW MUSIC VIDEO
LIVE ALBUM IN MARCH
Someone You Definitely Should Know

Ben Harper and Relentless 7 - A live album on March 9
Simone Bonazzoli photo

Long before he was the lap-steel guitar player for Conan O'Brien's send-off band, Ben Harper was already a huge blues and soul man of note. Reinventing himself over the last 16 months, Harper formed a new backing band and crafted a hugely successful new sound - integrating elements of rock into his core sound. RSL named Ben Harper and Relentless 7's White Lies for Dark Times one of the top albums of 2009.

Now things are really heating up. A pair of video (the radio edit and the dirty boy) versions for Lay There and Hate Me - and word that the soundboard from the band's Montreal International Jazz Festival performance last year will be made commercially available as an album next month. For those of you who don't know Harper at this point, here's a great chance:

BEN HARPER and RELENTLESS 7
Web / Myspace / Facebook

Via Audio - Animalore

noreply@blogger.com (Sean) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Live Music this Week
by Sean Hafferty
Middle East Club - Friday 2/25/10
Lineup features: Spirit Kid, Via Audio,
Pattern is Movement, Ha Ha Tonka - 18+ $10

Via Audio is a quartet from Brooklyn that I've been following for a few years, ever since I saw them at a benefit for 826 Boston at The Berklee Performing Arts Center. Although from Brooklyn, they actually met and formed at Berklee before heading back home again.

Jessica Martins of Via Audio at the Middle East 6-20-09
All photos by RSL's Sean Hafferty

Via Audio - Babies
New Single from Animalore

Their first album Say Something is never off my iPod for long and if you haven't picked it up, I highly recommend it. They are great bunch of performers with a boatload of personality. This summer I had the opportunity to catch them performing songs from Animalore (March 9).

With their solid sophomore effort, Via Audio has added a dash of disco. It ratchets up the fun and if you can catch them this Friday at The Middle East Upstairs, I highly recommend it.

RSL Streaming Photo Album
PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED IMAGES
Via Audio at the Middle East 6-20-09

Via Audio
w/ Pattern is Movement

2/26 - Boston, MA - Middle East
2/27 - Hamden, CT - The Space
2/28 - Buffalo, NY - Big Orbit Soundlab
3/1 - Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
3/2 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern
3/3 - Bloomington, IN - Bishop
3/4 - St. Louis, MO - Billiken Club
Saint Louis University *
3/5 - Milwaukee, WI - Club Garibaldi
3/6 - Depere, WI - Baba Louies
3/7 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
3/9 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's
3/10 - Dekalb, IL - The House Cafe
3/12 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
3/13 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Fugue

VIA AUDIO
Web / Myspace

Boston Live Pick of the Week

therslweblog@gmail.com (Ryan Spaulding) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:30:00 +0000

Out On the Town Thursday
3 Acts That'll Get It Done for You

At The Red Room at Cafe 939 in Boston Thursday night

ABOUT OUR SELECTION - We like the red-hot and well known stuff as much as the next guy (actually, probably more) but we are abundantly aware that what lies beneath the surface of popular trendy music and (before that, secret "hipster" picks) is a tide of emerging bands on the rise. We feel an inspired sense of responsibility to provide opportune moments for these kids as well. (And you know what? Sometimes these are the best shows out there!) Every so often we like to steer our regional readers to attend these sorts of shows that might otherwise fall beneath their gaze. Behold, here is one such event. And, it's happening tomorrow night!

Brad Byrd - Better Days

Cafe 939
939 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215
Thursday 2/25/10 - 8pm - $10

An All-Ages Event
no minimum age to attend!

BRAD BYRD - Since singer/songwriter Brad Byrd released his debut album The Ever Changing Picture in 2003 and his EP Release Me in 2007, a number of his songs have been featured on over 20 television shows, independent films, and national ad campaigns. The single "Never Came Back" topped the singer/songwriter charts on Artistdirect.com as the number 1 downloaded song, ahead of artists such as Jewel, Jason Mraz, and Damien Rice.

BEN KARIS-NIX - Ben performs with an ensemble of stringed instruments backed by beats, blips, and spacey synths –Featured on CW show “One Tree Hill,” MTV’s “Road Rules” and “Real World, “NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” and MySpace Compilation Vol. 1 Ben has toured or shared the stage with Elliot Smith, Hello Goodbye, Coheed and Cambria, the Roots, They Might Be Giants.

CASEY SULLIVAN - Casey may be only 18 years-old, but she has the soul and the sounds of much more accomplished folk artist. Sullivan is currently working on her first full-length album – she’s been heavily influenced by songwriters Regina Spektor, Conor Oberst, and Bob Dylan.