Friendly Fires Won't Leave You Cold

One dull New York City evening, my roommate was listening to her iTunes playlist on shuffle. I wasn't the least bit phased by it, so deep in a reading assignment, until I heard a catchy, dance-enducing tune that sounded as if a party had suddenly sprang into our dorm room. I instantly wanted to know the words to so that I could sing them at the tops of my lungs. The song was Jump in the Pool by Friendly Fires.

As three guys from England, Friendly Fires started out at a young age while still in school. After going through college, they signed with XL Recordings, came out with a few EPs, and just recently [September 1, 2008] released their self-titled debut album, which they impressively produced themselves [with the exception, ironically enough, of Jump in the Pool]. The album is as exciting as fireworks on the 4th of July and a product of three highly talented young men. If you need further proof that listening to their music will get you on your feet quicker than a free energy boost at Jamba Juice, you can find it in the song "On Board" which is featured in a Wii Fit commercial.

Their sound is very much Indie rock meets electronic club, so it seems this band would appeal to fans of a variety of genres. Take myself, for example. I'm not usually a big electronic/techno lover, but because in this case it is birthed by rock, it grabbed me the second I heard it. The electronic touch acts as the cherry on the sundae, an extra treat for your ears.

Check out Friendly Fires at http://www.wearefriendlyfires.com/

And if you're in L.A. or New York, you can check them out on tour early next month.

Sooner or Later, You'll Love Michael Tolcher

Does anyone remember that show that Kelly Osbourne was in a few years ago? I think it was called "Life as We Know It" and was about teenagers and their hardships through high school life. If you know this show, you may recognize Michael Tolcher. His single "Sooner or Later" served as the theme song, with lyrics like "Sooner or later, we'll be looking back on everything. We'll laugh about it like we knew what all was happening". Appropriate. The show didn't last, but Tolcher keeps on truckin'.

I first saw this man play a live show in the fall of 2004 and he's continued to blow my mind since. Mind you, he currently has only one album out, titled "I Am", but that record is enough to hold your attention for years, with uplifting, lessons-to-be-learned-infused songs like "Mission Responsible" and my personal favorite, "Kings In Castles". Upon listening, they have the ability to make you feel as if you're on your way to the beach in the sunniest of summers. In other words, if you need an energy/everything's-gonna-be-alright boost, tune in to the music of Michael Tolcher. In addition to the album, Tolcher has created many non-released songs which you can find at his shows or on various online websites. My favorites include "Suggestion Box", "Emerge" and "A Thousand Miles".

I've met Tolcher numerous times and he's been nothing but sweet and personable on each encounter. He goes out of his way to connect with fans and you can tell he enjoys every bit of it, almost as much as he enjoys making music. He's a genuinely cool guy and I would love if you'd give him a chance and just listen.

Currently, Michael Tolcher has an EP out which is available on iTunes. He's also on a U.S. tour from now until mid December. To check out tour dates and to listen to his music, click here: http://www.myspace.com/michaeltolcher

This video is from a show at The House of Blues, SC in Jan. '07. Michael never played my favorite song on stage, so he was nice enough to take my friend and I backstage and record it for me acapella. It's called "Suggestion Box".

The Crash Moderns

A friend suggested checking out a band called The Crash Moderns... something about his teacher being a guitarist. I'm not one to ignore a request, so I typed them into myspace and got this:

A default photo of the group of 5, one of whom I could have sworn was a girl with his slim facial features and accessive amounts of make up. Looks aren't everything, though, and I decided not to judge by a picture alone. This is, after all, only about the music.

The first song, "Where'd all the Scene Girls Go?" shot through my speakers and instantly made me groan and make that face. You know, the one you make everytime Miley Cyrus appears on your television. The title says it all anyway.

I gave the other songs a chance, but it was the same thing; like a cheesy band from the 80's who never even made it to the radio. Their song "Pimp My Life Oh Oh Oh" somehow made it into the trailer of the box office bomber "The Rocker", but if you want my honest opinion, that will be their only shining moment, with lyrics like "I don't need your money or your drugs or your love or your California sun". Yeah, and I don't need to hear your music again, but thanks anyway.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's

While walking to the subway after class tonight, my friend handed me a CD and said, "Listen to this. I think you'll really fall in love". What was placed in my hands was "Animal!/Not Animal", the new album[s] by Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, an 8-person band who formed themselves in 2004. I say albums because the band has done something unique; they've combined two discs to make one: the songs their record company wanted them to do [found on Not Animal] and the ones they felt passionate about [on Animal!].

I listened to the album the second I got home, not expecting anything spectacular enough to keep my attention. Boy was I wrong. The first song I heard, "A Children's Crusade on Acid" was enough in itself to capture my heart and seal my approval. It's haunting and profound and has a bohemian-esque quality, as does the whole album. It sounds like something Radiohead and Deathcab for Cutie would create, had they done an album together. If you listen closely, you'll notice a lot of what they wrote posseses a hint of something having to do with Chicago. That could be because that's where they recorded Animal!.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's are on tour now. Check their website for tourdates and to listen to some of their stuff: http://www.margotandthenuclearsoandsos.com/

My other favorites include:
A Lightning Rod
Love Song for a Schubas Bartender
Pages Written on a Wall
Hip Hip Hooray

Angie Aparo is a God

Roughly five years ago, I got a package in the mail from a penpal in Georgia. In this package was a photo, a handwritten letter, and a CD with a note on it that said something along the lines of "This will change your life". The album was "The American" by Angie Aparo. I popped it into my CD player and I refrained from removing it until weeks later.

Angie Aparo is a singer/songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. He started out playing small acoustic shows in the south throughout the '90's. "The American" was released in 2000 and was made up of self-written songs including "Cry" which is crafted with heart-breaking lyrics like "Could you cry a little, lie just a little, pretend that you're feeling a little more pain". Sound familiar? It was made popular two years later when Faith Hill recorded a version on her album, "Cry". Don't let that fool you, though. Aparo's stuff does not mimic the country-pop sound of Faith Hill.

Today, Aparo has united with a band called the Infidels and those once acoustic songs now have a gritty, rock and roll sound. Ask me which I prefer and I cannot tell you. His older stuff is what you can listen to when you're feeling down, wanting a good [excuse the pun] cry. His new music is just as powerful, but it a way that can send you into a dancing fit or shoot you into a dream-like state of musical happiness. An example of that can be found on his latest album "Praise Be".

Discovering Angie Aparo that day was like the sun bursting through angry clouds after an abundance of storms or finding a shining gem in a pile of dull rocks. It was a breath of fresh air after hearing the boring, redundant music playing on the radio day after day. I swear that album was one of the greatest gifts I have ever recieved, as it played an important role in my life and honestly did change the way I view certain aspects of it.

Don't know what to download? Here are my favorites:
"Memphis City Rain"
"Spaceship"
"Wonderland"
"Third Time Around"
"Rotten"

Discover this treasure yourself at http://www.myspace.com/angieaparo

Ezra Furman/Joseph Arthur @ Williamsburg Music Hall. Brooklyn.

I left class early last night to see Ezra Furman and the Harpoons play at the Williamsburg Music Hall. To my delight, I discovered that Joseph Arthur was headlining, a man whose music I've loved since high school and whose "Come to Where I'm From" album put butterflies in my stomach. I had never seen him live, so this was like two musical gifts in one.

I was surprised by how large the venue was. There were a good amount of people there as well. Ezra and the Harpoons went on first around 9pm and played to a [most likely] crowd larger than they're used to. They had a fourth member again, a friend from Boston named Kevin. I knew right away that this would be a killer show, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I will go so far as to say that of all of the five times I have seen this band, this was by far their greatest performance. It could have been the acoustics in the room, or maybe it was the pressure of such a large audience. Whatever it was, it worked. They had everyone dancing like fools, most of whom had not known of Ezra Furman before this lovely night. "The Worm in the Apple" and the usual "Take Off Your Sunglasses" were the highlights, I'd have to say. When the set ended, everyone proceeded to scream and stomp on the ground, demanding Ezra back to the stage. Sadly, they weren't allowed to return. After this, I was approached by several people throughout the night asking me what that band was called and telling me they sounded like "Bob Dylan but better." Impressive.

A terrible quality picture of Ezra & Adam

Next to hit the stage was Joseph Arthur. As much as I loved the man back in the day, I was skeptical on how he'd sound live, especially now backed by a band [who call themselves the Lonely Astronauts]. I was planning on staying only for a few songs, but each song they played made me want to stay longer. Halfway through, I was on such a high, I wanted Arthur's set to last all night. Backed up by a band, it was like he was a completely different musician, in the best way possible. Only one complaint here: He never played "Honey and the Moon". Come on, man. That's your most well-known masterpiece. *Sigh* Maybe next time.

A poor quality image of Joseph Arthur

Check out Joseph Arthur's tunes at http://www.myspace.com/josepharthur

and Ezra Furman and the Harpoons at http://www.myspace.com/ezrafurman

It'll make you smile.

Jarrod Gorbel of The Honorary Title @ The Living Room. NYC.

Jarrod Gorbel, lead singer of The Honorary Title, played another solo show in New York City last night. Since Gorbel resides in Williamsburg [a hip and artsy part of Brooklyn] he graces us with his presence often, and yes, I am aware of the intense amount of luck I have for living here. It was my good friend's birthday, so we went to the show to celebrate. We arrived at The Living Room, a relatively small and cozy venue on Ludlow, where an enormous line was waiting. We still managed to get seats, though and when I turned to put my coat on my chair, I noticed that Gorbel was seated next to me, talking to a buddy. When they were finished, I asked if he'd play "Snow Day" for my friend's birthday. He very kindly promised he would.

Shortly after our conversation, Gorbel took the stage and began with a short, welcoming speech. One of the first songs he played was "Far More" which seems to be a crowd favorite, but not one I personally love due to it's redundancy and lack of originality. "Stay Away" really got my attention this time. Gorbel put his whole heart and soul into it and his voice was enough to entrance the entire room. "Frame by Frame" sent us all into a simultaneous foot tapping session. He even sang us a Christmas song he just finished writing, which is funny in itself, as he is Jewish. "I always wanted to celebrate Christmas with my friends," he explained. In between songs Gorbel told us bizarre stories in different voices, getting most people to laugh hysterically. He wasn't as talkative as I remember from the last time, but it was still enough to pull us in.

The greatest part of the night: Toward the end of the set, Gorbel's buddy, the one he was speaking with earlier in the night, found out that it was my friend's birthday and shouted, "Play 'Snow Day' for Meimi's birthday!" Gorbel hung his head and apologized for nearly forgetting, then started singing about something vulgar [which I won't repeat incase I have any young readers], then sang, "It's your birthday, happy birthday", then went into "Snow Day" which was phenomenal as usual. Be sure to check out the video of this song at the top of the page.

Overall, Jarrod Gorbel's show was so enchanting, I felt as if he had put a spell on us all. It's difficult to focus your attention anywhere other than what's coming from that stage. Your ears will hear nothing else and you won't be able to take your eyes off of him.

Check Jarrod Gorbel out with his band, The Honorary Title at http://www.myspace.com/thehonorarytitle

New Band Alert: Happy Village

First let me apologize for the lack of live show reviews. I'm just going to be honest and let you know, I am a college kid and have been too broke to attend much of anything. Let's try to see the positive side of this: I can now focus on other things like album reviews and letting you know about new bands. Not as exciting, I know, but that's what this blog is going to come to and I promise, it'll still be worth reading.

With that said, I discovered Andrew's Langer's new band. They're called Happy Village [I know, let's hold off on the jokes for now] and the band is made up of only two. Both are Redwalls alumni; Langer on guitar/vocals and Jordan Kozer, ex-Redwalls drummer, on, well... drums.

I almost don't want to admit it, but at the same time I can not lie to you. When I heard what I heard, I fell in love all over again and felt the need to jump around the room with joy [I won't say whether or not I actually did *ahem*]. The song "Falling Apart" in which Langer sings,
"We'll leave someday together. Things fall apart forever. It's hard to stand the pressure. And time keeps on rollin' on", is captivating and I've dubbed it my favorite, possibly because it's the first I heard. Others sound as if they may be a reference to his departure from his previous band. "Broken Bones" is made up of lyrics like, "When she saw the band, it was not the same. They've changed... it's been a while since they've been clean". Each sounds so different from the next, it's like a breath of fresh air. And I am insanely impressed with Langer's musical capabilities, not that I had no idea about this before. Any Redwalls fan knew he could play a mean guitar, but when you put him as the lead in a completely new band, the story is different. The talent is overwhelming.

This part is like walking on egg shells... I'm not necessarily going to tell you that Happy Village is a better band than the Redwalls, but I will say that they have a purer sound and seemingly more soul, which makes sense as they have not yet been influenced by the big record companies or urged into mainstream radio hell. It's a pleasant sound in the sense that it's a refreshment from what you're used to. At the same time, it's the sound of true rock and roll and makes you want to shout the lyrics from the rooftops and hug whoever is next to you... or maybe that was just my reaction.

In any case, check them out. They have a brand spankin' new MySpace page:
http://myspace.com/happyvillagemusic

If you are a Redwalls fan, you will cry with joy. If you have no idea who The Redwalls are, please read further back in this blog. You are missing out on a huge part of life. Just kidding. Sort of.