Friday, September 15, 2017

Tomorrow: !!! @ Grog Shop

Tomorrow night !!! (Chk Chk Chk) is coming back to Cleveland, this time at the Grog Shop ($18)!  These guys are still on fire with their dance / funk / rock shows!  It’s a force of nature that you won’t want to evacuate for!  Check out their new video for NRGQ below.

Web chk chk chk 03 20161221130445

Opening are Algiers, “a politically conscious indie rock trio who combine elements of post-punk and no wave with blues, gospel, and even early industrial music.”  Wow.  Also will be another show with our own force of nature, Mourning (A) BLKstar!  Get there early.

Video Day #tzaupbeat

Flint Eastwood (my new favorite Detroit band!!) just put out a new video for Rewind ft. GRiZ!!  Playing off the name GRiZ, Grizzly Bear is known for their unique and intricate videos, and this video for Mourning Sound doesn’t disappoint.  Next up is the obligatory LCD Soundsystem video for tonite.

 

Bonus: Mas Ysa just released their Untitled EP and produced a video accompaniment for the whole EP.  Some good stuff here!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Video Day #tzachill

Everything Is Recorded is new to me, but not this incredible list of guest vocals for Mountains of Gold (Sampha! Kamasi Washington!, Ibeyi!!). I’m just discovering Nick Mulvey for the first time, a London-based musician with a world view, which you can sense in the music in the video for Mountain to Move. Hurray For the Riff Raff has put out a video for Living In the City, my favorite song off her new album!

Bonus:  Everyone was interested in what Shamir’s new album would sound like (out 11/3!), and now we have our first taste with 90’s Kids.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Joe Purdy (9/12/17)

Since seeing Joe Purdy back in 2011, I’ve ended up collecting all his albums and have really become a fan.  Not that I know all his songs that well, but his style of songwriting and story-telling makes him a great performer, particularly live.  He’s a little shy, but a self described angry hillbilly, who’s working on presenting more inclusion & love than youthful hate (his Mom’s advice).  That being said, he’ll also admit that his shows are not the uplifting type, as he said that he was “hoping no one was here to be cheered up."  But you wouldn’t know that by the amount of humor and audience engagement you’ll get at one of his shows. 

Joe Purdy (9/12/17)

Joe Purdy (9/12/17)

(you can also catch an entire recording of My Country here)

NEOCycle Music Festival (9/9/17)

This was my first time attending this NEOCycle event, and of course it was the music that brought me out for it.  But before than, I just have to recognize what a cool event this appears to be!  Bikes, vendors, dogs, music, good beer, all down by the lake in Edgewater State Park.  Next year I’m looking into what more this event has to offer (other than music)!  

As for the music, I was thrilled to see they brought in Columbus-based Saintseneca and the always awesome Strand of Oaks.  Not a huge crowd, as it was a little cool and there was a night ride happening at the same time - but still a superb experience (did I mention it was free!).  Check out some photos &  video.  

Saintseneca (9/9/17)

Strand of Oaks (9/9/17)

Strand of Oaks (9/9/17)

NEOCycle Music Festival (9/9/17)

NEOCycle Music Festival (9/9/17)

NEOCycle Music Festival (9/9/17)

NEOCycle Music Festival (9/9/17)

Roger Sanchez (9/7/17)

Hot on the heals of some great dancing at Tanz Summerfest, they were hosting House Party XI with Roger Sanchez at Magnolia.  This was a new venue that I hadn’t been too before, and I guess is the sister venue to FWD!  A decent space, and a great night out dancing with friends!

Roger Sanchez (9/7/17)

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Tonight: Joe Purdy @ Beachland Ballroom

I was able to catch Joe Purdy on a whim back in 2011 (!), and I’ve been a fan ever since.  His most recent live album “Who Will Be Next?” really showcases his simple and powerful songwriting.  Check out the song below, as well as his show tonight for $20!

Joepurdy

Friday, September 8, 2017

This Weekend: NEOCycle Music Festival

NEOCycle starts today, but the music festival doesn’t begin until tomorrow.  I was thrilled to see Strand of Oaks and Saintseneca as the two main bands Saturday night!  I’ve missed both of these bands when they’ve come through Cleveland these last couple years, so this will be a real treat.  Saintseneca is folk rock band from Columbus, OH - which I didn’t realize until just now!

Saintseneca

Strand of Oaks is in a similar vein, hailing from Philadelphia.

Strandofoaks dusdincondren wide 0a49dc7b9d7b06739265f25a2a1c6319dc84d7e7

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Tanz Summerfest (9/3/17)

I was supposed to be away at camp this Labor Day weekend, but when that got canceled, I was excited to participate in one of the few (only?) techno music festivals I’ve seen in Cleveland!  Not that I was interested in any particular DJs, as ZEDD was the only name I recognized (other than some local regulars), but I was just happy to support this kind of event in the city.  I was also enjoying being outside on one of our last beautiful days of summer!  Check it out.

Tanz Summerfest (9/3/17)

Tanz Summerfest (9/3/17)

Tanz Summerfest (9/3/17)

Tanz Summerfest (9/3/17)

Tanz Summerfest (9/3/17)

In Training (9/2/17)

❤️❤️❤️

In Training (9/2/17)

In Training (9/2/17)

In Training (9/2/17)

Joe Hertler And The Rainbow Seekers (9/2/17)

I was on my way to In Training on this night, and had some time to kill.  I checked out the Winchester Music Tavern’s schedule and saw they had a decent band booked.  They didn’t sound terrible, so I figured this would be a good time to check out the venue!  Musically, they're not really my thing, but it was great to see the renovated space. They moved the stage and it’s a much better setup!  I just hope to see some bands that are more my speed being booked there in the near future!

Joe Hertler And The Rainbow Seekers (9/2/17)
Joe Hertler And The Rainbow Seekers (9/2/17)

Betty Who (9/1/17)

We’ve been getting pretty familiar with Betty Who here in Cleveland these last couple years, and it showed on this night.  The crowd was LIVING for this show.  Everyone knew the words, and were just eating up the dancers (rightfully so).  While I’m not all that familiar with her music, it was a fun night out!

Betty Who (9/1/17)
Betty Who (9/1/17)

Geographer opened.  I saw him back in 2013 and am still liking what I’m hearing today, though I seem to enjoy his live stuff a bit more than the recorded stuff.

Geographer (9/1/17)

Geographer (9/1/17)

Roar Along the Shore (8/31/17)

I’ve heard about Roar Along the Shore in the past, and was glad to see it revived!  The bands were a regular cast of local characters, with one of my favorite being Herzog.  Here are some shots from the night and a clip of Herzog (who will also be performing at Studio-A-Rama on 10/7)

Roar Along the Shore (8/31/17)

Roar Along the Shore (8/31/17)

Roar Along the Shore (8/31/17)

Roar Along the Shore (8/31/17)

Roar Along the Shore (8/31/17)

Darsombra, Blind Spring, and Dead Peasant Insurance (8/30/17)

A random stop in Slavic Village to check out a show at the Magalen!  It’s such a cool space, and one that I love to support.

The Magalen

Dead Peasant Insurance (8/30/17)

Blind Spring (8/30/17)

Darsombra (8/30/17)