Podcast: Play in new window
The ladies of New York make their significant presences felt this week with tracks from Peg Simone and Marla Mase – both artists in every sense of the word and both of whom have plans to cross the Atlantic this year. Brace yourself Europe.
Jospehina – Big Head Todd and The Monsters (Boulder, CO, USA)
Since their formation in the mid-’80s, Big Head Todd & the Monsters have continued to evolve and explore, moving beyond their Colorado club circuit roots to become one of the most adventurous, respected and durable bands in America. Through constant touring and a zeal to travel down new musical avenues in the studio, BHTM (as their dedicated fans call them) have honed their collective stew of influences into a trademark hybrid sound that’s immediately recognizable.
Now, 25 years on, with Black Beehive, their maiden release on Shout! Factory (February 4, 2014), the quartet has made its most personal and poignant album to date, a collection of new studio tracks that, says co-founder and figurehead Todd Park Mohr, “allows us to truly reach our audience through the language of the blues.”
The band approached the recording in an old-school organic fashion, playing together in the studio, which Mohr describes as “a big open space,” and sticking to the basics. “I played resonator guitar on almost every song and most of the album is kind of simple: guitar, slide guitar, drums and bass,” he says. “We only had two guests on the album. One was Eddie Shaw, who was Howlin’ Wolf’s harmonica player for many years, and Ronnie Baker Brooks, who played guitar. And Steve Jordan played on almost every track—various things, percussion, rhythm guitar.”
The band’s last release was 2011’s “100 Years Of Robert Johnson.” Joined by special guests including B. B. King, Charlie Musselwhite, Hubert Sumlin, David “Honeyboy” Edwards and more, BHTM paid tribute to the blues legend both in the studio and on the road.
Our track, Josephina” is a throwback at the rock roots sounds of BHTM’s early releases such as Midnight Radio and Sister Sweetly and the video picks up on that vibe. Check out the premiere of Big Head Todd And The Monsters’s “Josephina” video
www.facebook.com/BigHeadToddandtheMonsters
Ghosts in the Snow – Peg Simone (NYC, USA)
Peg Simone is nothing if not a brave soul pursuing her musical imagination wherever it takes her.
Simone’s songs have the ability to lead your consciousness out of reality and into a world of memory and nostalgia.
Currently she is releasing a track each Sunday to her Soundcloud page. Always interesting and this week’s contemplative piece this rather appealed.
There is talk of Peg coming over to the UK this spring. I’ll let you know when I hear anything.
Peg has recorded three full length CD’s and three EP’s on her own Catdolls label. Prior to that, she played in various bands including Wormhole (Pgh, PA), and all-female glam band, The Glamour Pussies (S.F., CA).
2010 brought the release of Secrets From the Storm on Radium/Table of the Elements, a collaborative effort with musician Jonathan Kane (Swans, Jonathan Kane’s February) and writer Holly Anderson (Mission of Burma, Publication Studios). This release was a mash of dark blues and storytelling as best illustrated on the first track “1927/Levee”, an homage to Memphis Minnie, Kansas Joe McCoy and Peg’s own love of Led Zeppelin. Peg’s most recent full-length release, Witch Tree Road was written, recorded and engineered by Peg and mastered by Tony Maimone at Studio G in Brooklyn. Currently Peg is working on a narrative adaptation of a short story by author Mary Gaitskill, with plans to turn the piece into an animated short film, along with several tracks from Witch Tree Road.
Peg’s current album, Witch Tree Road, is downloadable at pegsimone.com.
In addition to her solo work, she also plays guitar in Jonathan Kane’s February.
www.reverbnation.com/pegsimone
The Heart Beats – Marla Mase (NYC, USA)
Marla Mase is a writer/performer/producer/singer/songwriter from New York City. She writes songs, plays, monologues, short stories, erotica, blogs, and poems. She is known for her gutsy, sexy, raw performance style and her intelligent lyrics and is regarded by her peers as being a true musical pioneer. Her songs, a mix of world beat, spoken word, funk, r&b, punk, soul, and classic rock-n-roll are infused with GLOBAL SOUL, the signature sound of Tomás Doncker, her guitarist, co-writer and producer . She is backed by his band, the Tomás Doncker Band.
She has a new release “Half-Life”On this track Bill Laswell is playing bass (he played a major part in the track from DiNMachine that closed last week’s show.
Marla’s recent blog post about the clean-up of New York poses an interesting question for city authorities:
First it was the homeless, the street addicts, the prostitutes, the trannies, the peep shows — cleaning up the city (some thought –’ah now we are safe’; and ‘I wonder where they went’) It did not stop there –the cleansing continued–buildings went up up up with little patches of green as compensation, and oh we have beautiful paths, waterways, piers, cafes, and designer stores — but what happened to the people, to the Middle Class who used to live here — they are disappearing without a trace, taken away in the middle of the night to, to..where?– soon NYC will be nothing but a place for tourists, wealthy transients, and curiosity seekers who will find nothing curious here except nostalgia for what was. (when is enough, enough?)
Canon Logic At Pianos
The new album WYLD is getting closer and to celebrate they are playing three shows at Pianos this month.
Next Monday they’ll be joined by Petrified Tourist and on 24th by Vensaire and Folding Legs.
http://www.pianosnyc.com/showroom/canon-logic-02102014
Here I Go – Blu Acid (Netherlands)
BLU ACID is a new project !
Mischa den Haring and Jan Mittendorp; two Dutch musicians/producers joined forces in this production unit. Like moonshine, the music as slow brewed in seclusion during all-night-and-day marathons attended only by the two members and the ghosts of the past, who were eager to have their voices echo into the modern world. They call their music ODM (organic dance music).
This is one of two tracks you’ll be able to pick up via all the major download and stream platforms.
https://itunes.apple.com/nl/album/here-i-go-single/id812148902
https://itunes.apple.com/nl/album/a-lie-single/id812294322
You can hear more on their Soundcloud page.
www.facebook.com/pages/Blu-Acid/127784064035572
Via Con Me (Extra Medium’s Extra Wobbly Remix) – Swingrowers (Palermo, Italy)
From Palermo, Sicily, Codger saw this lot perform at Concorde2 in Brighton a couple of weeks. Supporting the ever awesome Chinese Man, their electroswing perfecly complemented their turtablism, hip-hop and dubsteppy performance.
They’re currently a trio with singer, Loredana Grimaudo, “Hot Club de Paris” style guitarist, Alessio Costagliola, and DJ/All-rounder, Roberto Costa. The DJ was particularly amazing, with some scat singing (that sounded like a trombone) and some clever piano licks played on one of those drum pads DJs use. Very inventive.
The track is on the excellent album “The Electro Vintage Sounds of the Speakeasy Vol. 2” which you can get free from:
www.speakeasyelectroswing.com/the-electro-vintage-sounds-of-the-speakeasy-vol-2
CMJ February Mixtape
CMJ presents a monthly mixtape of interesting artists. You can download it FREE when you subscribe or like CMJ on Facebook.
Love and Hate – Red Mecca (Sundsvall, Sweden)
The Second Single from the album “You Were Never Here” by the post punk influenced electronica duo Red Mecca from Sundsvall, Sweden. Vocals: Frida Madeleine. Synthesizers and machines: Jan Strandqvist. Directed, filmed and edited by Emil Nordin who had to remake it after an unfortunate break-in to his studio. Everything gone, all files and equipment.
“Red Mecca rebooted. Frida Madeleine makes entrance as a permanent vocalist. She will lift and highlight the darkly massive and moody synthezised atmosphere with her brittle but yet powerful voice.
Jan Strandqvist, formerly keyboardist and percussionist of Brända Barn, is at the helm of the airship along with Frida Madeleine.”
DTW to DIA (the travels of Mr. B) – Griz (Detroit, MI, USA)
Following the release of his acclaimed sophomore album Rebel Era, artist and producer GRiZ (Grant Kwiecinski) is heading boldly into 2014 with a brand-new EP and single “Need This” set to his new visuals for the third installment in his Rebel Era Tour Video – Watch It HERE. More details on GRiZ’s forthcoming EP will be revealed soon.
After explosive sets on his national headlining fall Rebel Era Tour and massive winter music fests including HOLY SHIP!!! and Mardi Gras World, GRiZ just announced a nationwide tour kicking off in March – he’ll be igniting nonstop dance parties on a Canadian tour hitting Whistler, Vancouver, Victoria and more, then hitting the road once more for his North American Power In Numbers Tour with Pretty Lights Music producer Michal Menert. On this tour GRiZ is going harder than ever, featuring his own dazzling light production and new original music with his unique blend of electro-funk, old-school hip-hop, and of course, live sax.
www.facebook.com/therealGRiZ?fref=ts
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