Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Video Day #tzaupbeat

The Gossip’s Beth Ditto has finally emerged with a new video off her upcoming release Fake Sugar (out 6/16).  San Cisco, everyone’s favorite indie pop band from Australia, has a light, summery new video for Hey, Did I Do You Wrong.  Rubblebucket is back with a an out of body (and off the phone) experience for the If U C My Enemies video.

Bonus:  Hercules & Love Affair are BACK!!  This creepy new video for Controller brings me back to them.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Sondre Lerche (4/21/17)

Filling out the awesome Grog Shop schedule lately, Sondre Lerche performed there on Friday.  I’ll admit that this was just one of the stops on an packed night, so we weren’t quite as tuned into the music as I would normally be.  Still, Sondre put on a great show.  It did end a little early for the Grog Shop, but we all really appreciated the little dance party the band put on at the end of the night, with Sondre dancing with the crowd! 

Sondre Lerche (4/21/17)

Sondre Lerche (4/21/17)

David Dondero (4/19/17)

David Dondero has a great new album out and I was excited to see he was going to be on tour again.  I was intrigued and optimistic when I saw he would be performing at  BYOB art space in Akron called Hive Mind.  Once we found the space, it turned out to me a little more intimate than I was expecting.  Not a terrible thing I guess, but things felt a little awkward, but can’t quite put my finger on why… Still, David Dondero continues to be one of my favorite male songwriters and I’ll look forward to seeing him somewhere else next time. Maybe next time I should just host him in my living room!

David Dondero (4/19/17)

David Dondero (4/19/17)

The Octopus Project (4/17/17)

The Grog Shop has been on fire lately with these good shows.  The Octopus Project is one of those elusive bands that slowly put out an album every few years.  Their recorded stuff was intriguing, but I really had no idea how this would translate live.  I was impressed to see the crowd they drew, as well as the cool stage effects they packed into the Grog Shop!  This was definitely a trippy / party show that I would put up there with Animal Collective or Rubblebucket.

The Octopus Project (4/17/17)

The Octopus Project (4/17/17)
The Octopus Project (4/17/17)

Operators (4/13/17)

I feel like this show is the closest I’m going to be able to get to seeing Wolf Parade live again.  Still, Operators put on a really good show, highlighting Dan Boeckner’s distinct and familiar voice.  Check it out.

Operators (4/13/17)
Operators (4/13/17)

Operators (4/13/17)

In Training (4/8/17)

In Training & Hollow Eyes Present: Autonomen Aktion at Now That’s Class

In Training (4/8/17)

In Training (4/8/17)

In Training (4/8/17)

The Abyssinian Mass (4/8/17)

Expanding my musical exposure even more, I attended The Abyssinian Mass, composed by Wynton Marsalis and featuring Damien Sneed along with The Jazz Heritage Orchestra and Community Mass Choir. Performed in Waetjen Auditorium at Cleveland State University.  

"The Abyssinian Mass is a sweeping composition for big band and gospel choir written by Wynton Marsalis to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church. The piece earned significant acclaim upon its release in 2008 and sparked a 16-city, 19-concert tour, featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Chorale Le Chateau directed by prominent recording artist Damien Sneed. On April 8, Sneed will conduct one of the first regional productions of the Mass at Cleveland State University’s Waetjen Auditorium, featuring CSU’s Jazz Heritage Orchestra and the Community Mass Choir.

‘The Abyssinian Mass is a stirring work that combines jazz, gospel and blues and evokes the African-American experience while also emphatically stating that all people have a place in this world,’ notes Donna Whyte, interim director of CSU’s Black Studies Program. ‘We are very honored to host the fantastic Damien Sneed and present this amazing concert to the Cleveland community.’"

(Via The Abyssinian Mass Comes to Cleveland | Cleveland State University.)

The Abyssinian Mass (4/8/17)

The Abyssinian Mass (4/8/17)

Preston Masters Graduate Composition Recital (4/7/17)

Supporting a friend’s Masters Graduate Composition Recital, a first for me.  It was great to finally hear all original music composed by Preston Masters!

Maddie Hasebein, Mezzo-Soprano
Matthew Jones, Tenor
Emilio Rosario, Clarinet
Emory Rosenow, Violin
Jacob Campbell, Viola
Elias Manos, Piano
Buck McDaniel, Organ

Preston Masters Graduate Composition Recital (4/7/17)

Nathan Fox (4/1/17)

A couple weeks ago I spent the weekend in Albuquerque for work.  As usual, my first inquiry into a new city is their live music scene - and who will be playing while I’m visiting.  I was disheartened to see only 3 shows were going to be there (or so Songkick said) while I was there.  That first Saturday night, the only artist listed was Nathan Fox at the Rio Bravo Brewing Company.  I’m glad I caught this performance, because it was really my only (best) option for the weekend.  Nathan Fox was great.  The space was huge, so it didn’t lend itself to an intimate singer-songerwriter performance, but he really made it work.  He also worked his set to alternate originals and covers, which I thought was brilliant for the crowd.  His voice and his own songs were great!

Nathan Fox (4/1/17)

Nathan Fox (4/1/17)

Nathan Fox (4/1/17)

Nathan was cool enough to invite me to his place in Albuquerque the next day.  We talked quite a bit about house concerts, so hopefully he’ll be making it up this way sometime soon to play my house!

Local Natives (3/30/17)

It was great to finally be back in the Agora again!  I’ll admit this show was a little more popular than I was expecting, as I didn’t know they were this popular.  The new album is pretty good, though the live show felt like they were taking their sound a little too seriously (Coldplay-like?)

Local Natives (3/30/17)

Local Natives (3/30/17)

CSU Faculty Jazz Quintet (3/27/17)

Trying out some new stuff with the Dr. John A Flower Faculty Concert Series at Drinko Recital Hall in Cleveland State University Music Department.

Joseph Miller, Trumpet
Jason Smith, Trombone
Rock Wehrmann, Piano
Chris Vance, Bass
Bill Ransom, Drums

CSU Faculty Jazz Quintet (3/27/17)
CSU Faculty Jazz Quintet (3/27/17)

Alaska Thunderfuck (3/25/17)

Normally I wouldn’t be posting drag performances on this blog, but Alaska Thunderfuck actually qualifies with several of her own albums out. She’s definitely one of the top queens coming from Ru Paul’s Drag Race!

Alaska Thunderfuck (3/25/17)
Alaska Thunderfuck (3/25/17)

In Training (3/24/17)

Just another In Training party at Now That’s Class!

In Training (3/24/17)

In Training (3/24/17)
In Training (3/24/17)

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Tomorrow: Sondre Lerche @ Grog Shop

I know I’ve seen Sondre Lerche before, but I believe it was pre-blog years (aka pre 2005).  So, it’s been a while… While I was in love with his early stuff, he’s never been known to stay in one place too long, and we kind of went our separate ways for a while.  Now, his music has evolved over the years and I feel like his new album has come back to the place that originally made me take note.  Check out some of the the new videos he’s release, and some articles below!

Sondre lerche 2017 tour pleasure

 

 

"Influenced by exotic Latin American music, singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche started writing songs in his early teens; growing up in Norway, his influences were much more varied than they might have been if he had been born in the U.S., where radio stations adhere more strictly to formats.

Living on what he has called the 'outskirts of popular culture,' he was introduced to a wild mix of music that has subsequently informed his pop sensibilities."

(Via Singer-Songwriter Sondre Lerche to Play the Grog Shop in April | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog.)

I also hope he covers this at the show!

 

"Norwegian musician Sondre Lerche has had a career that most artists would kill for. In his early thirties, he released eight studio albums, composed a film soundtrack and embarked upon numerous international tours. He got his start in the early 2000s, making the sort of smooth indie pop you would expect to hear in a coffeeshop or a bookstore, but after his marriage dissolved in 2013, he started to reinvent his music and style.

Lerche isn’t known for making dramatic changes from album to album, but his new album, Pleasure, features electronic sounds and unusual arrangements. The new release builds on Lerche’s jazz and pop background while drawing upon electronic influences from the '70s and '80s. "

(Via In Advance of his Grog Shop Show, Singer-Songwriter Sondre Lerche Discusses Finding Inspiration in Juxtaposition | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog.)

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Tomorrow: Operators @ Grog Shop

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Another tough night of choices.  If I weren’t so excited to be seeing Operators at the Grog Shop, I’d definitely be seeing the Great Lake Swimmers / Brooke Annibale show at the Beachland Tavern!  There are some other friends going to the Kent Stage to see the Psychedelic Furs.  But I figured I’ve seen both Great Lake Swimmers and Brooke Annibale before.  I’ve also  been a HUGE fan of Wolf Parade over the years, with Operators being one of the recent off chutes from that band.  I was able to catch Wolf Parade back in 2004 (pre blog), and finally again in 2008 and 2010, but it’s been nothing since.  At least the band members have been doing their own side projects, with much of the same vigor and intensity as Wolf Parade.  For the Operators, their ramped up dance sound should translate well at the Grog Shop!  (I only wish there were more to know about the openers…)

Check out some stuff from the Operators, including the only video I could find from their 2014 EP:

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Tomorrow: Six Organs Of Admittance @ Beachland Tavern

Six

There are several decent shows to choose from tomorrow night, including Bombadil at Musica in Akron, and Jukebox the Ghost at the Grog Shop.  But I thought I’d promote something a little newer to me, Six Organs of Admittance.  I liked the description of “spacious and acoustic” to describe the sound, which feels compelling and would make for a great live show. Check it out!  (just note for parking, that it’s a sold out show for the King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard show in the Ballroom tomorrow night too)

"With such a lofty expectation just behind him, Chasny resets the dial once more with Six Organs' latest record, Burning The Threshold. Envisioned, ostensibly, as a clearinghouse for his interpretations on a wide range of thoughts, musical and otherwise, as well as a space for collaborations with friends new and old, the new album is anchored by the seven-minute centerpiece 'Taken By Ascent.' A smoldering, momentous folk-blues burner, the track's sinister energy leads Chasny away from the Hexadic form and back to the strength of his own songwriting."

(Via Hear Six Organs Of Admittance's Fiery 'Taken By Ascent' : NPR.)

Video Day #tzaupbeat

WATERS just announced their new album Something More! (out 5/19) with the release of their cheerful new video for Hiccups! !!! (Chk Chk Chk) has a new album called Shake the Shudder (out 5/19 as well) and their new video for The One 2.  A Tribe Called Quest just put out this amazing new video for Dis Generation.

Bonus: A compelling blend of artists coming together for an album with a planetary theme, giving us this first video & single for Saturn. (Planetarium out on 6/9).

Article: Rock Hall 2.0: It's evolution, baby

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"While much of the construction is ongoing, a quick stroll through the museum already feels noticeably different than it did a few years ago. Fading is the almost clinical feel of the museum's atrium in favor of more deep reds and blacks and striking photos of artists — pillars of the museum's new branding. At the same time, Harris said there's a delicate balance of respecting the internationally renowned architecture but remaining true to the artform it honors.

'We can't treat the building as being too precious. This is rock 'n' roll,' Harris said. 'We can't be a slick shrine. We need to inject some grit and some attitude into what we do. These modernist spaces are terrific, but blank white walls after 20 years is not in the DNA of rock 'n' roll. That's where the color comes in.'

Todd Mesek, the Rock Hall's vice president of marketing and communications, added, 'This is not a museum in a traditional sense. There's a vibrancy. It's a communal space where people can come together — not where we say be quiet, be respectful and behave. Let's rock out.'"

(Via Rock Hall 2.0: It's evolution, baby - Crain's Cleveland Business.)

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Air Announce First U.S. Tour in 7 Years


French electronic duo play Governors Ball and more behind their anthology LP Twentyears