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Rock Out with Clutch Tomorrow Night at Terminal 5

May 1st, 2013

The guys in Clutch—Neil Fallon (vocals, guitar and keys), Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), Dan Maines (bass and vocals) and Tim Sult (guitar and vocals)—have been making their own brand of rock (think: the Venn Diagram overlap of Led Zeppelin and Faith No More, sort of) since forming in Germantown, Md., in 1990. They gained a loyal following and an interest from several indie labels early on, thanks to their high-energy live shows. But despite putting so much emphasis on their stage performances, they still spend a considerable amount of time in the studio recording new material. In fact the quartet recently released their 10th full-length, the well-received Earth Rocker. And now Clutch (above, doing the new disc’s title track) are out on the road in support of it. See them, along with the Sword and Lionize, tomorrow night at Terminal 5.

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See Some of the Bands You Can Hear This Week

April 29th, 2013

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Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 (Including Peter Buck) Tomorrow

April 25th, 2013

Singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock got his start in music while attending art school in early ’70s London. He played with several bands, including the Soft Boys, before launching a solo career with 1981’s Black Snake Diamond Röle. But Hitchcock didn’t decide to strictly go it alone, because following the release of two more solo albums, he formed the Egyptians, with whom, over the course of a 10 years, he put out a host of LPs, EPs and live recordings. And although somewhere along the way Hitchcock picked up the reputation for being an eccentric, he also earned comparisons to Bob Dylan (for his lyrics and deep repertoire) and John Lennon and Syd Barrett (for his voice). For the past decade or so, Hitchcock, known for his onstage storytelling, has been busy collaborating with others, doing the folkish Spooked with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and then three albums with the Venus 3—R.E.M.’s Peter Buck on guitar, Young Fresh Fellows’ Scott McCaughey on bass and Ministry’s Bill Rieflin on drums. Backing him with layered harmonies and jangly guitars, the Venus 3 bring out the best in Hitchock (above, doing
“Up to Our Nex” for Spain’s FIB). And you’d be silly to miss them—with Peter Buck opening—tomorrow night at Webster Hall.

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With a New EP, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Play Music Hall of Williamsburg

April 24th, 2013

Joshua Epstein and Daniel Zott were each playing in different Detroit bands when they met. Soon after, they began recording together in Zott’s suburban basement. It’s a Corporate World, their first LP, which deftly combines Beach Boys-esque harmonies (they do a mean rendition of “God Only Knows”) and electronics, came out two springs ago, but even prior to that, the two, performing as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., became known for their high-octane live performances. Last week the Motown duo, above, in their video for “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t on the Dancefloor),” put out their third EP, the catchy, dance-heavy Patterns (stream it below), and you’re sure to hear some of those new tunes when they kick off the weekend at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday night.

(Try to win two free tickets to this show.)

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Catch the Warlocks Tonight at Mercury Lounge

April 23rd, 2013

Led by frontman Bobby Hecksher, the Warlocks have been doing their own heady take on Krautrock, prog and space rock since the late ’90s. And although the Los Angeles band has gone through several personnel changes over the years since releasing their self-titled debut EP in 2000, the group’s sound remains uniquely distinctive. Hecksher currently plays alongside Christopher DiPino (bass), Earl Vincent Miller (guitar), J.C. Rees (guitar) and George Serrano (drums), and the Warlocks (above, doing “Warhorses” for Rock NYC Live and Recorded) continue to leave it all onstage every night. Watch them do it tonight when they play the late show at Mercury Lounge.

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Aquarium Drunkard Presents: Bleached Tonight at Bowery Ballroom

April 23rd, 2013

Sisters Jennifer (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Jessica (lead guitar) Clavin first made music together in their garage during high school, which ultimately led to: starting a band, ending a band, going separate ways, becoming a duo, forming Bleached in Los Angeles a couple of years ago. A few well-received melodic punk-pop singles announced their arrival, and their ensuing live shows (done with a drummer and bassist) gained them more attention. Bleached (above, playing “Electric Chair” for NPR Music) recently released their debut LP, the heartbreak-themed Ride Your Heart (stream it below), to a fair amount of acclaim and an accompanying tour, which brings them to New York City. See them with Hunters and Ex Cops, brought to you by Aquarium Drunkard, tonight at The Bowery Ballroom.

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See Some of the Bands You Can Hear This Week

April 22nd, 2013

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Don’t Miss Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Tomorrow at Webster Hall

April 19th, 2013

Talented singer-songwriter Aimee Mann was making winning folkish rock long before the Magnolia soundtrack made her famous, not to mention earned her Academy Award and Grammy Award nominations for “Save Me” in the process. But while she still remains well known for that song and “Wise Up” (another tune from the Paul Thomas Anderson flick), Mann (above, performing “Labrador” for WBEZ FM’s Sound Opinions) hasn’t been pigeonholed by it. In fact, she’s put out six quality albums since the movie’s release, including last year’s Charmer. And while she often sings melancholy tales, her amiable comedic personality comes through live onstage.

As one of the leading forces in East Coast indie rock, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ted Leo (below, performing “Living a Lie” with Mann) has played with a variety of bands, channeling folk, hardcore, punk and soul. But tomorrow night at Webster Hall, alongside Aimee Mann, Leo goes it alone, playing a solo set. This is a great double bill you definitely shouldn’t miss.

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Opeth Bring Swedish Metal to The Wellmont Theatre Tonight

April 19th, 2013

The Swedish metal band Opeth formed in Stockholm more than two decades ago, influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and “occult-infused Scandinavian death metal.” There have been multiple lineup changes since the band’s debut, Orchid, was released in 1995. But the one constant has been frontman (and guitarist) Mikael Åkerfeldt, who is now joined by guitarist Fredrik Åkesson, drummer Martin “Axe” Axenrot, bassist Martín Méndez and keyboardist Joakim Svalberg. And while Opeth (above, doing “The Drapery Falls” at Royal Albert Hall) have long embraced a heavy metal sound, on their 10th album, 2011’s Heritage (stream it below), the five-piece veered in a new direction, employing clean vocals, progressive rock and even jazz fusion to achieve critical and commercial success. (The Guardian called it “brave, melancholic and often beautiful….”) But of course, this doesn’t mean the band’s gone soft. Make no mistake: When they play live, they still bring it, which you can see for yourself tonight at The Wellmont Theatre.

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Shuggie Otis Comes to Brooklyn Tomorrow Night

April 18th, 2013

Like so many of us, much of Johnny Alexander Veliotes Jr. stems from his parents. His prodigious musical chops were passed down from his dad, R&B pioneer Johnny Otis, and his nickname—short for sugar—came courtesy of his mom. Because without them, the world wouldn’t know of Shuggie Otis. A precocious child, he first appeared on an album when he was just 15, which would be a pretty big deal for most kids. But then the next year, 1969, his debut album, Here Comes Shuggie Otis, arrived. Freedom Flight, led by “Ice Cold Daydream” and “Strawberry Letter 23,” followed in 1971. The latter song became known the world over several years later thanks to the Quincy Jones–produced version done by the Brothers Johnson. Otis would then spend three years writing, arranging, producing and recording the soul, funk and psychedelic cult classic Inspiration Information, out in 1974. And then: poof. That was it. Despite overtures from the likes of Jones, the Rolling Stones and Billy Preston, Otis declined to tour or put out any more new music—other than working as a sideman—and eventually his recording contract was nullified. But, fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. Because two days ago Inspiration Information was reissued alongside Wings of Love (stream both below), comprised of unreleased material dating back to 1975. And while that’s great news, the absolute best part of this is that you can see Shuggie Otis tomorrow night at Music Hall of Williamsburg— and you can try to win two tickets.

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Catch Some Great String Music Tomorrow in Williamsburg

April 17th, 2013

The Devil Makes Three are an enigmatic band. First of all, they have no drummer. And despite the group’s three members—Peter Bernhard (vocals and guitar), Cooper McBean (banjo and vocals) and Lucia Turino (upright bass and vocals)—making their home in Santa Cruz, Calif., they each originally hail from New England. Plus, let’s face it, for a band based in California, they have an undoubtedly nuanced Southern sound, layering rhythm and harmonies over blues, bluegrass, country, ragtime and rockabilly to make their own unique folk-punk blend, garnering comparisons to Steve Earle, the Violent Femmes and the White Stripes in the process. The Devil Makes Three (above, performing “Do Wrong Right” for WNYC FM’s Live on Soundcheck) have put out four studio LPs, plus a live album, Stomp and Smash (stream it below), in 2011. NPR Music called it: “unplugged, yet intense, whiskey-drenched, ramshackle fury.” So it should come as no surprise that the trio has earned a reputation on the festival circuit as a band not to miss. So don’t: Join in on the sing-along fun tomorrow night at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

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See the Talented William Tyler Tonight at Mercury Lounge

April 16th, 2013

For quite some time, masterful guitarist William Tyler remained busy recording and touring with such acts as Silver Jews, Lambchop and Bonnie “Prince” Billy before he eventually decided to make his own music—a winning brand of acoustic guitar instrumentals. His debut LP, the much-heralded Behold the Spirit, came out in 2011. And things went so well the first time around that Tyler (above, playing “A Portrait of Sarah”) has returned with another acclaimed album, last month’s Impossible Truth (stream it below), which, according to SPIN, “is cyclical, spiritual, innately visual music, as striking in the background as it is intense on headphones.” In other words, it rules. And you ought to be able to hear a healthy chunk of it tonight at Mercury Lounge.

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See Some of the Bands You Can Hear This Week

April 15th, 2013

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A Party Not to Miss Tomorrow at Terminal 5

April 12th, 2013

NOLA-based instrumental-funk outfit Galactic (above, doing “Hey Na Na” with Corey Glover for KEXP FM) are bringing their shake-your-hips music our way this weekend. They began as an eight-piece with Theryl DeClouet (House Man) as their singer. But over the years, they’ve paired down to five and parted ways with DeClouet. But no doubt, they’re still bringing the funk: Witness their most recent album, the Mardi Gras-themed Carnivale Eletricos. Of course, when they come to play it’s rarely alone, and this visit is no different. Expect plenty of special guests, like vocals from the Revivalists’ frontman, David Shaw, and Nigel Hall, whose band opens the show. That in itself would be a pretty great weekend lineup. But wait, there’s more! Because Galactic—about whom Esquire wrote last year: “In a perfect world, Galactic would be 2012’s Black Keys, consistently underrated veterans who get belatedly huge”—are sharing the bill with none other than ska and rocksteady legends Toots and the Maytals. This is something not to miss. So do yourself a favor and don’t. Instead, head to Terminal 5 tomorrow night.

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See Marnie Stern Shred Tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg

April 11th, 2013

Thanks to an unsolicited demo tape highlighting her uniquely talented finger-tapping guitar style, New York City’s Marnie Stern signed with PDX record label Kill Rock Stars close to a decade ago. Her debut, In Advance of the Broken Arm, a punkish experimental-rock album, out in 2007, earned Stern (above, performing “Vault” for Pitchfork TV) acclaim and introduced her guitar-shredding skills to the world. In the ensuing years, she’s remained busy touring and recording new material. Her fourth full-length, The Chronicles of Marnia, came out last month. With its focus on songcraft, the album is a bit of a departure from her previous work but it’s no less acclaimed. And Stern’s tour in support of it brings her home tonight to play Music Hall of Williamsburg.

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