Nevermind The Posers

See ya in the pit.

NGHBRS Premiere First Ever Instagram Music Video September 20, 2013

Filed under: Can You Believe This?!,Music Videos,New Music — NVMP @ 11:57 PM
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Long Island Rock outfit, NGHBRS, have released the first-ever Instagram Music Video for their single, “Hold Up Girl,” on The Wall Street Journal, who called it “the cleverest DIY video since OK Go,” Check it out here: on.wsj.com/169yeaW. In less than 24 hours, the video has acquired thousands of views and wide praise from the music and tech industry-buzzing about the video’s unique concept, perfect execution and the standout track itself, which NYLON Guys calls, “the perfect backyard BBQ tune and full on festival jam.” Instagram has already championed the band’s creative use of the app, tweeting out the video over 26 million followers, fueling a stream of supporting tweets fromThird Eye Blind keyboardist Alex Kopp, Green Bay Packers player Greg Van Roten and Bonnaroo Music Festival‘s official account. Check out the video and be sure to catch NGHBRS on tour this fall with Young Statues.
NGHBRS frontman, Ian Kenny had the idea of using Instagram’s new video function for a music video, but credits the band’s drummer, Jordan Schnieder for pushing the band to follow through as the foursome shot hundreds of individual videos for each scene they cut into the Instagram app.  “It was really challenging to pull off on our own,” says Schneider, who also edited the video. “It was like we were solving some strange two-month long math equation.” The band had to film each scene, map out how to seamlessly time getting from one video to the next. When asked how the band was able to pull that off, Schneider says, “We dove in head first, drank a lot of coffee and refused to sleep. It was totally worth it.”
“Hold Up Girl” is the single off NGHBRS released debut LP, Twenty One Rooms, which was released onJuly 16th via Paper + Plastick Records.  Twenty One Rooms is the follow-up studio release to the band’s successful 2010 EP, Hellomind, which earned them high praise, including a write-up in The New York Times and spots on “Top 100 Bands To Watch Out For in 2013” lists from Alternative Press and AbsolutePunk.net. Purchase Twenty One Rooms on iTunes here:http://bit.ly/13psIcO
Fusing elements of alternative rock with catchy melodies, impressive musicianship, rhodes keyboards, and 90’s grunge, 
NGHBRS has made it their mission to always separate themselves from the pack. Formed in the summer of 2009, the band revolves around a strong work ethic, an intense practice schedule, and a constant fire under their belt. Drummer Jordan Schneider and guitarist Thomas Fleischmann have been playing in bands together for the previous 8 years, when they began to collaborate with vocalist/keyboard player Ian Kenny. Excited and intrigued about their new-found exploration, they moved into a practice space even before writing their first song. The band acquired bass player Eric Vivelo, and wrote and recorded their debut EP Hellomind, which was independently released in the summer of 2010. The band’s infectious sound and theatrical live show have landed them on national tours and shows at some of New York City’s most renowned venues such as Irving Plaza, Highline Ballroom and Gramercy Theatre.
Co-Headlining Tour Dates with Young Statues:
OCTOBER 16 – PROVIDENCE, RI @ McNEIL’S TAVERN
OCTOBER 17 – BROOKLYN, NY @ PAPER BOX (CMJ)
OCTOBER 18 – NEW YORK, NY @ SULLIVAN HALL (CMJ)**
OCTOBER 20 – BAY SHORE, NY @ EVEN FLOW
OCTOBER 21 – STANHOPE, NJ @ STANHOPE HOUSE
** NGHBRS ONLY
 

Congratulations Torrential Downpour!

Filed under: Can You Believe This?!,Music Festivals — NVMP @ 10:32 PM
Tags: , , , ,

TD
Torrential Downpour from Clifton, NJ were the winners of the 2013 MetalSucks band contest. The prize? The chance to play at Euroblast Festival in Cologne, Germany on October 11th! They shared the stage with The Algorithm, The Ocean and Twelve Foot Ninja. Torrential Downpour had the most votes out of the other 19 selected bands with their progressive metal / post rock sound. I remember seeing Torrential Downpour back in the day, at the good ol’ Lodi VFW hall on Union St. Now I feel old, so hopefully I’ve succeeded in making others feel aged too so I’m not alone. Sidebar, I think they would tour great with Clutch. Check out Torrential Downpour here and preview all the finalists below.

 

Interview with New Beat Fund on the Van’s Warped Tour 2013 August 20, 2013

Filed under: Interviews,Vans Warped Tour — NVMP @ 11:14 PM
Tags: , , , ,

DSCN0465

Button:  My name is Button I play guitar.
Benny:  I’m Benny Baker the hit maker and I’m lead vocals and guitar.
Silky:  My name is Silky and I just burped.
Snapz:  I’m Snapz and play funky bass.

TNT:  How has your experience been on Warped Tour?
Silky:  Warped Tour has been absolutely amazing. This is our very first tour as a band so being thrown    into Warped Tour specifically has been absolutely insane. We feel like if we can get through this type of tour, we’re set.

Klone:  Kind of hit the ground running, right?
Silky:  Exactly. We just got thrown in.
Benny:  Like boot camp.
Silky:  We started out with three weeks on the tour and then got added to the whole tour.
Button:  Glad to be here in New York.

Klone:  So what’s the eye-opening experience of boot camp like then? What’s the first shocker you experienced on your first tour?
Snapz:  I would say the shocker was playing in Vegas and on stage it was like 120° and I almost passed out.
Benny:  He almost passed out, I put a water bottle on the black top and it literally melted the water bottle and all my water poured all over the ground. That’s how hot the blacktop was.

Klone:  Was that because you guys were playing on the blacktop?
Button:  Yeah! We brought the heat! We turned it up, we’re like “this shit ain’t hot enough let’s turn this shit up. Bam!”
Silky:  Before we started playing, it was a cool 72°.
Button:  As Vegas normally is.
Snapz:  With a chance of showers. Then the clouds parted, in came New Beat Fund.

TNT:  Tell us about the new album.
Silky:  It’s actually a six-track EP called CoiNz. We released it right before Warped Tour. It’s available for free on our website.
Button: Please enjoy and spread to friends!
Snapz:  And actually, our site is hot-boxed! So you go on our website, you can clear the smoke with your curser and then you can hotbox other people’s websites.
Benny:  Yeah, there’s a little button on the bottom right-hand corner. If you click “hotbox it,” it opens up a little thing and you type in anybody’s website, like your buddy’s website or whatever you want to hotbox. It can be the NYPD website.
Silky:  Everybody please hotbox the NYPD’s website.
Klone:  Freedom of choice and freedom of speech, so I think we should stand up for it.
Benny:  And then post it on Instagram for all your friends to see.

TNT:  I love the song “Scare Me.” How did the video shoot go?
Silky:  It was a great time. Yeah it was awesome. We basically kind of produced the entire video on our own.  It was the first song we ever recorded as a band and the first video as a band and we did it all on our own, we just want to keep it real, show people our lives in LA and along the way we picked up a crazy-ass ghost friend.
Benny:  Ghost amigo.
Button:  And to be honest with you, it was all really fun until ghosty, he got a little too…
Benny:  He started smacking girls’ asses at the end of the party and bitches got cray, he got cray, a couple people lost some limbs and a couple people got stabbed.
Silky:  It got real.
TNT:  Shit went down.
Snapz:  Actually, a girl got hit in the head by a giant cock.
Klone:  Well, it’s not a party until that happens.
Snapz:  I’m actually referring to a rooster that fell off the roof. But she did get hit by a cock.

Klone:  Do you think the fact that there are so many things that are really scary out there, is that sort of a common plane for you guys when you started to come together as a band? Is that why that’s the first song you recorded?
Benny:  Yeah, we were coming out of some shit when the lyrics to that song were written, a lot of turmoil I suppose. We like to make light of it as a comedian would, I mean obviously we spill out what we think and how we feel, but  we don’t want to be like ‘this is exactly how you should feel’ and stuff like that. A lot of kids love the song, but maybe haven’t even caught on to the full message of the song yet. So, I think as time goes on, the more music we produce in a similar light, more people will catch on to it.
Silky:  Definitely as people we observe what’s going on in the world and observe what’s going on around us and just being alive is crazy in itself, so we just kind of bring it to music.

TNT:  We appreciate you not being posers.
Snapz: We do pose for photos.
Benny: We’re actually great posers in that sense.

DSCN0466 DSCN0469 DSCN0467 DSCN0468

TNT:  What has been your craziest experience with a fan?
Silky:  There was a weird moment on Warped Tour; our goal was to hustle our stuff and get it to as many people as possible. I was handing out round CoiNz stickers one day. This girl came up to me and kind of bumped into me and I was like “Wow, you wanna have sex, huh?” It turned out she did want to have sex.  But before that, I noticed she wasn’t wearing a bra and I was like “Well, if you take your shirt off you can put these stickers on your boobs and it will look great.” She did and she was dead sexy in them.  It was the most amazing promotion we could ever get as a band, two CoiNz staring right in your face.
Klone:  The perks of being a rock star.

TNT:  What is your definition of a poser?
Snapz:  It would be someone who doesn’t express themself truly or honestly. I think with anything you do there is a level of honesty that always has to be put into it, especially things creatively. If you’re not speaking from a true place, then I would consider you a poser.
Silky:  I feel like it’s somebody who’s trying to be like somebody else and not following what they’re passionate about. Every time you try to be like somebody else, there already is that person, so you’re never going to be that. So stop it.
Benny: Someone who fakes the funk. If you’re truly funky within, you don’t have to fake it. Don’t fake the funk kids.
Button: We love to write produce record our own music all ourselves, the four of us because it is us, it’s what we love to do and that’s who we are. That’s what NBF is. And that’s why people love us because we’re honest, because of that fact. I would say if someone is doing something for the wrong reason, then they’re a poser.

After finishing up the entire Van’s Warped Tour, New Beat Fund will be tour with Blink 182 in September!
9/06 at The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ
9/08 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT
9/10 at Starland Ballroom in Sayerville, NJ
9/11 at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY
9/12 at Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, PA

 

Interview with Itch – Van’s Warped Tour 2013, 7/13 July 30, 2013

Filed under: Interviews,NVMP's Poser-Free Podcast,Vans Warped Tour — NVMP @ 11:16 PM
Tags: , ,

Click on the link below to hear our interview with Itch on the Van’s Warped Tour at Nassau Coliseum, NY.
DSCN0653

Poser-Free Podcast_2013_Ep. 1 – Artist Interview: Itch – 2013 Vans Warped Tour.

DSCN0768     DSCN0795     DSCN0810

 

 

Ballyhoo! at Hard Rock Cafe in Philadelphia July 16, 2013

Filed under: Concert Reviews,Interviews — NVMP @ 9:04 PM
Tags: ,

by Alexandra Froehlich

Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Philadelphia is where you could find bands: Versus the World, Authority Zero and Ballyhoo! on their Summer Sickness Tour.  As people packed in I got to hang out with Howi Spangler, lead singer and guitarist of Ballyhoo!  Ballyhoo! plays reggae rock music with great lyrics and knows how to have fun.  Their latest album Pineapple Grenade came out on June 25th and is also a shot which includes:

– 1 oz Stoli Vanilla Vodka
– 1 oz of Malibu Rum
– ½ oz of Pineapple Juice
– Shake then pour
– A dash of Grenadine

PG. Bally

They recently had a new single called “Marijuana Laws” that expresses the bands enthusiasm to have marijuana laws banished.  The set they played at the Hard Rock in Philadelphia was amazing.  They kept the crowd dancing and singing along all night, and had wonderful stage presence and energy.  The show overall was a must see.  Getting to know Howi was the best part because he is such a down-to-earth guy who plays because he genuinely loves music and to perform.  He took the time to answer some questions for Nevermind the Posers.

Ally (AF):  Growing up in Aberdeen, MD was there a reggae rock scene? Did you all grow up in Aberdeen together or meet later on?

Howi Spangler (HS):  Yeah, the drummer is my brother and J.R., Scott and I met in about 5th grade, maybe middle school.  We started hanging out in high school; they weren’t in the band then, but another guy was.  He was our bass player, then he left and we got another bass player.  But then he left and that’s when we added J.R. and Scott.  So we have been this line up for about 10 years.  And as far as it goes with the reggae rock scene in Aberdeen, there wasn’t much, but there was a band we loved called Colouring Lesson, and they were playing reggae rock before anyone even knew what to call it.  And I fell in love with Sublime and Goldfinger and Reel Big Fish and No Doubt.  I just took it all and made my music.  So we were really the ones around that area to make it known.

AF:  How did you come up with the name Ballyhoo!?

HS:  We were kids when we started the band.  We were coming up with different names and a friend of ours said you should call your band Ballyhoo, it just means loud noise, crazy events, blatant advertising ‘look at me-look at me’, and it fit because I thought we were loud noise playing in my mom’s basement and it was really colorful in my mind.  We just put the exclamation point on there and it was the first flier for our first show.

AF:  As a band you have traveled all over North America, which city and state is your favorite to play in and why?

HS:  There’s a few; I don’t know if there is a particular favorite, obviously we love playing Baltimore.  Philly is always great and we played in New York City last night.  St. Pete’s Florida is usually beautiful weather, San Diego, LA, and Hollywood are always great too.

AF:  When you have free time, what do you enjoy doing?

HS:  I like to play hidden object games on my laptop because I am a nerd, and I like to record demos and what not.  I just love creating.  I’ve always drawn; I used to draw a lot as a kid.  I wanted to write books, draw comic books, create video games, make iPhone apps and of course create music.  I write most of the music for Ballyhoo! and some of the guys will also have ideas and we just run with it if it fits with our music style.  But we’re always looking to branch out, so we’re not putting out the same album.  There are always new sounds to discover.

AF:  Ballyhoo! has come a long way since the beginning and have a pretty loyal fan base now, how does it feel when you take the stage at shows?

HS:  It feels amazing.  It’s definitely uplifting, it’s an adrenaline rush knowing that people are there to hear our songs.  To see them singing or screaming our songs back to us, and knowing that you came from sitting on your bed writing them down…the live experience is where it’s at.  We try to always put on the best show possible, because when you put on a show the fans pay a hundred percent of the money to see you, so you put on a hundred percent performance. Just try to have a good time.

AF:  What is one thing you try to achieve with your music?

HS:  It all starts for me with myself.  I write things for myself then once they get recorded, they become everyone else’s.  Once it goes there, I want to make sure people have a good time, can relate to the songs.  This one guy last week actually, came up to me and told me that he was actually in Afghanistan for a year and lost a few of his boys in an IED attack on his convoy.  His friends passed right in front of him, and he went through this traumatized stage of his life.  He has three kids and a wife, and he wanted to kill himself.  He was watching a YouTube playlist or something and “Ricochet” came on and he just stopped.  He told me this and I was like that’s really heavy, it’s just like, damn.  So when I hear things like that, it’s not about me anymore.  Now it’s we have a duty to give this music to give everyone.  It’s wild man.  I told that man that I was so glad that he was still here.  We’re just always looking to promote positivity, just want to make people happy.

AF:  If you can say one thing to your fans what would it be?

HS:  Thank you, because there is no way we could keep doing this without you guys.  We could not make it if they didn’t come to our shows and buy our merch, we just couldn’t do it.  We get calls all the time saying that places want to book us because people want to see us and I just couldn’t be more appreciative of that.  The fans keep us going.

AF:  What is your definition of a poser?

HS:  Haha, that’s awesome because poser is such a big word.  I used to use it all the time as a kid, I think it’s somebody that doesn’t fully own up to it or whatever he’s trying to do.  If you’re going for something, commit.  Do it right, go all the way.  Don’t do it cause you think it’s cool, do it because you love it.  Do it because you’re into it and feel it.  Just do you and do what you want to do and whatever you do, give all of yourself.  That would be my definition of a poser.

Howi took the stage and rocked it with his fellow band members after that.  They played about 15 songs from old and new albums and played “Marijuana Laws”.  They took pineapple grenade shots on stage and played two encore songs.  If you don’t have your copy of Pineapple Grenade yet, it’s a must get!

 

Jersey Shore Music Festival on July 20th at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, NJ July 8, 2013

Filed under: Music Festivals,TNT Concert Calendar — NVMP @ 10:37 PM
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JSMF

What are you doing Saturday July 20th in New Jersey this summer?  If your calendar says anything other than checking out over 50 bands on six stages for only $25, cross it out now and enter the Jersey Shore Music Festival at FirstEnergy Park (Blue Claws Stadium) in Lakewood NJ.  This all-ages event will feature national acts including Papadosio, The Front Bottoms, River City Extension, Brick + Mortar, AER and some of the area’s favorite local acts, including one of NVMP’s favorite bands Echo Movement, to represent all genres of music.  Aside from the music, the Jersey Shore Music Festival will also feature an array of New Jersey’s top artisans, crafters, photographers and restaurants to provide plenty of local flavors.  Children 10 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult (limit 2 kids/adult).  Kids will also have access to the Dr. Bernard’s Kids Zone which will include bungee runs, an obstacle course, bounce house, inflatable 22-foot slide and more.  VIP passes are available; $75 for Gold VIP, which include free parking and premier viewing access in front of the main stage.  Platinum VIP passes are available for $150 and include same benefits as Gold VIP pass but also a private buffet, cash bar and access to the BlueClaw’s air-conditioned bathrooms and upstairs sports club.  Don’t forget, general admission tickets are only $25!  All tickets are available online and can be purchased at http://thejerseyshoremusicfest.com/ or at the FirstEnergy Park stadium box office.

We were able to ask co-founder Cory Pedalino a few questions about the festival:

NVMP:  What inspired the creation of the Jersey Shore Music Festival?  What sets it apart from other music festivals this summer?
Cory Pedalino (CP):  The creation of the Jersey Shore Music Festival started with an idea from Jersey Shore natives Joe Ciano and his friend Tyler Culley. I was brought on when Joe and I were introduced through a mutual friend. At first, Joe, Tyler and I weren’t sure what the festival would turn out to look like, but as soon as we completed our team with Justin Hoy from Halogen and Matt Burns from Trendkiller, the planning process compounded with hard work set everything into motion. It’s only been within the past 14 months that Jersey Shore Music Festival was born. JSMF sets itself apart from other summer music festivals because it has almost every genre of music represented and there are no corporate sponsors (other than the personal relationships that Joe and I have attained over the years). Plus it is a homegrown event. We already have ideas for plans to host an annual Jersey Shore Music Festival, a winter event and another event TBD every year. We’re keeping a lot close to chest for now but announcements will be made soon.

NVMP:  Is this your first foray into music festivals?  What is your vision for this festival next year, 5 years from now, 10 years from now?
CP:  For Joe and Tyler, I believe it is their first foray into music festivals other than being an attendee. I’ve been working production on festivals for quite some time. I’ve been engulfed and worked in the local Asbury Park music scene since I was 16. Recently, I came off of a long weekend at this year’s Skate and Surf festival working production on the main stage.  I can’t tell you what the vision is for the festival for next year just yet…but I will say it’s going to be bigger and might include an entire weekend of dates. That’s all we’re releasing as of now. We will always include the local bands, artists and vendors in the festival – that is a promise. Some of the best local and regional bands are featured this year on the Harrison/Lakehouse stage.

NVMP:  There is a very eclectic line-up of musicians, how did that come together?
CP: The relationships that Matt, Justin and I have formed and bonded our entire musical careers with is what is featured at this year’s festival.  Aside from discovering new music, what else can your guests enjoy at the festival?

There will be over 200 craft vendors and artists, an assortment of food choices, a Magic Hat party area, a non-profit village, plus a kids’ area with inflatable slides and did I mention that tickets are only $25??? A great deal for a full day of music and entertainment!

NVMP:  What experience do you hope your audience will take away from the Jersey Shore Music Festival?
CP:  A fun-filled party with a ton of amazing local, regional and national talent. And one more thing…for music fans looking for something to do after the festival, we are in the process of solidifying deals with local bars River Rock and PB Shorehouse to run exclusive after parties with shuttles to and from the festival on the hour every hour.

We are very excited to hear Echo Movement will be playing at the Jersey Shore Music Festival!  Nevermind the Posers was at their record release show at The Stony Pony last September for Love and the Human Outreach and can’t wait to hear their progress with the new album!  Echo Movement has decided to lower their carbon footprint for the summer and tour locally, so be sure to see them live at the Jersey Shore Music Festival! 

echo-movement-love-and-the-human-outreach-album-review

 

Music We Can’t Get Enough Of June 9, 2013

Filed under: Music Videos,Music You've Been Missing,New Music — NVMP @ 10:56 PM
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

John & Brittany is Philadelphia’s latest unique songwriting duo.  Check out their video for hit track “Paper Planes” off their 2013 album Start Sinning.  John & Brittany tell us, ““Paper Planes” is our first music video, and it’s about our inspirations and aspirations. It’s also a pretty accurate portrayal of the dynamic in John & Brittany; we fight a lot but it’s all for the love of rock n’ roll.”

I’ve just started getting into Freak Owls, but can’t seem to get enough of “Optimistic Automatic.”  I woke up the other day with the song in my head and made it my Thursday anthem.

Found another song to add to the ever-growing summer soundtrack, “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)” by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.  For those of you who are Arrested Development fans – check out  Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s very own Daniel Zott in Episode 13 of the new season out now on Netflix exclusively. Danny leads George Michael’s band in the episode’s opening scene. Here’s what he had to see about the experience:

“When I showed up on set Mitchell Hurwitz looked at me and thought I was the wrong guy. It turned out that my hair had just gotten too huge. After taming my mane I got to meet Michael Cera who was playing the piano in between takes. I’m so grateful that I was able to watch a truly talented actor work out his lines and ad-lib in real time. I’m still not sure I was the guy they wanted, but I made the most of my one line and even ad-libbed a blank stare into MC’s eyes.” – Daniel Zott, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. 
 

Free Reign: Clinic Holds the Reins May 28, 2013

Filed under: CD Reviews — NVMP @ 9:04 PM
Tags: ,

Review by Hoverbee

Clinic--Free-Reign-album-cover

In what seems like another lifetime, while record shopping, I was mesmerized by the music being pumped out of the record shop’s speakers.  It grabbed me and brought me on a curious journey before setting me back down on earth.  Entranced, I wandered to the clerk to inquire “Who is this band?”  “Clinic,” he said.

I bought the album Walking With Thee on the spot.  I took it home and played it until I knew every note and had discovered all of its hidden secrets.  After much consideration of a friend’s upcoming birthday, I was convinced this album would be the perfect gift and had been prepared for the album to simply blow her mind.  I did not receive the reaction I expected.  “Every song on the album sounds the same.”  Oh, how I was plagued by this wretched way of thinking!  The beauty of Clinic is their ability the create variations on a theme.  The influence of experimental jam sessions, psychedelia and jazz in the music is what many listeners find attractive.  Look at “Echoes” from Pink Floyd’s Meddle which is essentially one long song that comprises the entire second side of a vinyl record.  Some of us don’t mind if an album sounds like one long song.

On Clinic’s seventh studio album Free Reign, songs like “Seamless Boogie Woogie BBC 10pm (rpt),” “Miss You,” “King Kong” and “You” embody this idea of musical freedom and the spirit of exploration.  The prominently featured wah-wah pedal of 2010’s Bubblegum, a departure from their original sound, is all but gone except for the track “Cosmic Radiation.”  It seems that while Clinic has abandoned their previous attempt to assuage the critics and change their sound in favor of what they do best and what some of us truly love about them, they have not lost the courage to experiment with the music.  Pshaw to those that say Clinic are trapped or tied to a sound and have become stagnant.  Clinic has instead achieved an equilibrium performing a balancing act by managing to remain experimental yet maintain their definitive sound.

For those fans who insist that Free Reign apparently still lacks the gritty raw energy that Clinic creates so well there is Free Reign II, a mix of the album by Daniel Lopatin (a.ka. Oneohtrix Point Never.)  Either way, I’m still as mesmerized and entranced as that day long ago in that record shop.

 

Clinic @ Le Poisson Rouge on 4/20 May 19, 2013

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 9:06 PM
Tags:

Review by Hoverbee

Clinic1A long, long way from Liverpool, Clinic kicked off the 6th show of their 2013 tour in support of their new album Free Reign at 158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY.  Taking the stage in full Clinic fashion sporting surgeons face masks, Ade Blackburn’s with a small hole cut in the center for singing, amid colorful lighting, Clinic became a reality to me.

The intimate setting of Le Poisson Rouge provided the audience with the sense that they could touch the band.  The feeling hummed through the enthusiastic diversely aged crowd.  All in attendance were enveloped in the music, many dancing and singing along.  The band was fantastic live and it was wonderful how great they sounded.  It was as though we were inside a rolling locomotive.  They played a well-balanced set list with the songs “Miss You,” “See Saw,” and “You” from the new album, “Orangutan” and “Lion Tamer” from Bubblegum, “Tusk” and “Children of Kellogg” from Visitations, “Walking with Thee” from the same titled album and a few songs off their early EPs.  Far be it from me to argue with Clinic’s set list choices, but I very much longed to hear them play “Harvest (Within You)” and “If You Could Read Your Mind” also from Visitations.    Ah…the longing continues.

Not counting that small hiccup, overall it was a very satisfying show.  Well done Clinic!  Being that I was seeing the band for the first time, I was unaware that they are known for notoriously short shows (about 25 min) and early in their career for never doing encores.  The show was way too short for a Clinic junky like me, but the band did come back out and do three more songs.  However, these songs do appear on the set list.  Perhaps it’s a “faux encore” done to psychologically lengthen the show and make fans happy.  Either way, I sparked like a match when they returned to the stage.  After the show, I hung around and tried to snag a copy of the coveted set list, but to no avail.  I did, however, meet a nice couple from Toronto who not only got a set list, but were seeing the band again when they returned home.  The nice Canadian gentleman was quoted as saying, “We’re seeing them in three days, but we just had to see them in Greenwich.”  Lucky lollies!  The couple then let me snap a picture of their set list with my phone.  Much thanks to them and to the band for making it a glorious 4/20!

Clinic2

 

Alkaline Trio : My Shame is True May 5, 2013

Filed under: CD Reviews — NVMP @ 10:51 PM
Tags: ,

An Album Review by Alexander ‘Stigz’ Castiglione

alkaline-trio-my-shame-is-true-580x580

The 2013 release My Shame Is True by Chicago triad Alkaline Trio has nothing to be ashamed of.  Delivering a taste of days past; steeped in bitter emotion and new-age angst, this release gives die-hard Alkaline fans the flavor of the kick ass albums of yesteryear.

Frankly this album is broken up into only two categories tracks I like, and track I love.  Bringing back the upbeat yet aggressive pseudo-punk sound that I fell in love with many moons ago, this EP opens up with a foot-tapping, head bopping track, “She Lied to the FBI.”  From that point on in, I rarely found myself eyeballing the skip track button, and really started to get into the album when I heard “Kiss You to Death,” a song reminiscent of some of my favorite classics – “This Could Be Love” and “Private Eye” : Vaguely romantic and slightly disturbing lyrically, driving and warming melodically.

From there I got to a collaboration I really was looking forward to on “I, Pessimist” – a collabo with counter-culture-centric, post-punk front man Tim McIlrath of Rise Against.  However, I do wish it was longer than two minutes and change, as their call-and-answer vocal tactics and aggressive riffs I hoped would’ve ran out for longer.  From there is has some pretty solid tracks, closing with one of the best of the album, in my opinion – “Pocket Knife.”  This jam echoes the sound of albums past, namely Maybe I’ll Catch Fire with hints of Crimson.

All in all, their best release in years – which isn’t saying much if you gave a listen to Agony & Irony – not their best release by any stretch – and Damnesia ­– which only had a couple originals and was comprised mostly of re-cuts of old hits; making it a not-quite greatest hits album.  Regardless, if you grew up on staples like Goddamit and Maybe I’ll Catch Fire – I’d say go scoop up this release ASAP.  Is it the same vibe as earlier work?  Somewhat, but all acts mature, some in ways we like, and some we don’t.  One noteworthy “evolution” if you will, is bringing God into their lyrics.  Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night, I say, but this writer hopes we don’t go off the Jesus freak deep end and release an album like Brand New’s The God and The Devil are Raging Inside of Me.

That being said, the album is taking steps back into the right direction – that is the road which hooked thousands of fans like me with their simplistic song structure, introspective and damaged lyrics, and unpolished yet oh-so-catchy hooks.  Check it out, nonetheless.