This Weeks Reviews on Kevchino.com

This Weeks News on Kevchino.com

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Natureboy perform at Roof Top Films

Brooklyn's Natureboy will perform live tomorrow night Thursday, May 27th at 8:00pm on the roof of Brooklyn Technical High School. At 9pm they will show the film ETIENNE! For more info visit here.


BROOKLYN TECH
Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School
FORT GREENE
29 FORT GREENE PLACE, BROOKLYN, NY 11217

Cat Martino gives away free song

Brooklyn's Cat Martino is giving away a free tune titled "Jennie's Gone Down," in honor of Memorial Day 2010. The tune is off her forthcoming release due out this fall. “Last May (2009), I woke up to read a story on NPR about Jennie Hodgers, a woman who changed her identity to Albert Cashier to fight in the Civil War." says Martino as her inspiration for the song. Cat sings often with Sharon Van Etten including on Van Etten's beautiful new tune "Love More." Martino has a very lovely voice and her songs range from singer songwriter-ish tunes to more experimental stuff which in her live performance she uses a loop pedal to sample a plethora of instruments including an omnichord, electric and acoustic guitars, drums, piano, Casio keyboard and her voice.

Cat Martino - Jennie's Gone Down.mp3

Also check out a live performance of "Jennie's Gone Down," filmed in the Catskills.

Cat Martino: Jenni's Gone Down from Foglight Films on Vimeo.

The Budos Band, Monogold, The Stationary Set

This Saturday! It's only $5 to see some great bands, great art & BBQ. Colt 45 presents The Budos Band, Monogold, The Stationary Set 3pm at The Secret Theatre Saturday, May 29th.

Monogold also have two other dates in June:
Wednesday, June 16th // 9pm | Kevchino.com Presents | Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY
Friday, June 18th // 9pm | North By Northeast Music Festival | El Mocambo - Toronto, Canada

Monday, May 24, 2010

Milagres - Live Bell House May 13th, 2010

Sharon Van Etten recommended that I check out Brooklyn’s Milagres. The band had recently changed their name from The Secret Life Of Sofia to Milagres after gaining quite a buzz with the former moniker. I quickly investigated their tunes on MySpace and was pleased enough with what I heard to check them out live. They were playing on a bill in my neighborhood at the Bell House.

When Milagres’s set began, I noticed the band’s sound had a deep sleepiness to the music with its ethereal guitars and calm vocals, but had a dynamic and contrasting upbeat sound to it with driving bass and drums. The songs ranged from engaging folk to delicate, well-orchestrated indie rock tunes.

Frontman/singer/guitarist Kyle Wilson’s voice sometimes reminded me of Chris Martin meets Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear, but other times he had a haunting uniqueness to his voice I couldn’t quite place. Kyle’s guitar had a Walkmen and And Also The Trees shrilling and fluttering sound (probably no one here is old enough to get this reference).

Members of the five-piece contributed more than the average band mates. The guitar player, Eric Schwortz, added some nice, almost keyboard-like, textures to the songs and also had a mini-drum set up behind him and would play added percussion and drum parts as well as lend his voice for harmonies. The bass player, Fraser McCulloch, was quite interesting in the way he moved, like he should be in a more rocking band. Besides his Ian Curtis stage presence, his bass lines were extremely sticky. He played each note with such brevity that it really hooked the grooves. He also lent his voice to the band’s harmonies, which were as nicely executed as Grizzly Bear’s. The drummer, Steven Leventhal, played a mini xylophone on the intro of one tune and gave the band’s sound lots of dynamics by knowing when to play and when not to play. Chris Brazee added some nice keys with a keyboard bigger than himself. The band was great live. Their song “Moose Collision” really stood out with a drumbeat similar to The Cure’s “Close To Me,” but it’s a much more beautiful and heavy song with a lot of great dynamics. The song swelled into sparse and dreamy, almost IDM-esque, parts (think Müm) with xylophones and chimes, and then went back into a more solid song structure before taking a breath again to showcase the band’s luscious harmonies. I also really enjoyed their tune “Lost In The Dark” and one titled “Snow Room.”

So check them out. I was impressed enough to ask them to perform at our next Kevchino.com showcase. Thanks for the tip, Sharon!

Milagres’s debut album, titled Seven Summits, will be released online on May 25th.

Milagres "Outside".Mp3

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Arcade Fire New Song Previews

Head over to www.arcadefire.com and hear a small taste of two new Arcade Fire tunes "The Suburbs" and the "Month of May." Both due to be released on a 12″ single.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Villagers added to Kevchino Presents Showcase!

We are very excited to announce Domino Recording artist Villagers have been added to our showcase on June 16th at Knitting Factory! The show features the lovely Marissa Nalder, Brooklyn finest Natureboy and Monogold, Ireland's Villagers, Portland's Rey Villalobos and Victoria of Sweden's Taken By Trees DJ-ing between sets. Click here for tickets here

Check out this video of Conor performing on Jools Holland below.

Taken By Trees NYC Show

Taken By Trees aka Victoria Bergsman has confirmed a special show in NYC next week on Tuesday, May 25th at Le Poisson Rouge. Click here for tickets and here for more info on the event. If you haven't seen her perform live this is a must see show. Victoria will be DJ-ing at our kevchino.com III showcase on June 14th at the Knitting Factory.

MP3 of "Watch The Waves"

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Mono, El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles

If aural beauty could be distilled from noise and melody there you would find Mono, the instrumental post-rock foursome from Japan. Touching down at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, Mono's sound was polished and delivery passionate. Fronting this effort was lead guitarist Taka Goto & bassist Tamaki Kunishi; while Yasunori Takada played drums and shiny gong, and Yoda provided otherworldly guitar sound-scapes in the background.

Raison d'être for this live treat was Mono's extensive 31 date US tour, in support of their latest release "Holy Ground"; a live record recorded in NYC with orchestral backing. Bathed in blue light, the band oscillated visually between being shown in silhouette and subtle theatrical light. They treated the audience of the El Rey to well over an hour of ear candy, riding the waves of melodic guitar feedback. Their performance sometimes resembled a rock/post-rock concert, and sometimes seemed as eloquently presented as a recital; the likes of which would be worthy of the Royal Albert Hall.

Mono's sound-scapes were an instrumental cross between Mogwai and Slowdive; reminiscent at times of darkwave luminaries This Ascension, and at other times of alternative legends Sonic Youth. In love with the beauty and emotion of every note, Mono played an introspective set; the kind that invokes memories yet unrealized - the warmth by a cafe fireplace, listening as the rain come down...

Even if you are unfamiliar with Mono, check them out and let yourself get lost in the sounds washing over you.

Clovis IV

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Deli Magazine - Best of NYC Festival

New York music chef's Deli Magazine are putting on a music festival. The shows start this Thursday May 13th and goes thru Saturday May 15th! Click the flyer or visit here for more details. Please note Asa Random won't be able to play the Friday show at Glasslands.

New Music - Milagres

Brooklyn's The Secret Life of Sofia are now called the Milagres. The band will release their debut LP titled Seven Summits on May 25th here.

Their bio says, Seven Summits is an album created out of an obsession with mountain climbing, a passion that songwriter and front man Kyle Wilson picked up in his hometown of New Mexico, but fully realized while daydreaming in New York. Recorded on an abandoned farm in Massachusetts, the album is a collection of stories picked up from mountain guides, fellow climbers, history books and folklore in the climbing community. Part fact, part historical fiction, Seven Summits is approachable as an allegory for continuing struggle.

Milagres will be playing a show at The Bell House this Thursday with Twi The Humble Feather, Arpline, and Mancino the show is 21+ and $8 click here to get tickets.

The National - "Bloodbuzz Ohio" video

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Watch amazing Scott Walker doc on Sundance this Monday

Director, Stephen Kijak's amazing documentry Scott Walker: 30th Century Man, will premiere on US Cable TV on Sundance Channel this Monday. Film will start running on Monday, May 10 at 8pm. Check the website for times.

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Sharon Van Etten - Union Hall 5/7/10

Sharon Van Etten played a intimate Friday night show last night at Union Hall. She had just played a Chris Knox benefit show the evening before which raised over $50,000. Sharon played with Yo La Tengo, Kyp Malone and Jeff Mangum who played a set of Neutral Milk Hotel songs. The benefit show at Le Poisson Rouge was put together by Ben Goldberg of Ba Da Bing Records.

In Friday's show Sharon opened with her new tune "Give Out" and then played some of her tunes from Because I Was in Love. The lovely Cat Martino joined Sharon on stage and sang in harmony with her for two songs, one a lovely version of "Consolation Prize." Sharon then told the crowd she would try out some new tunes and if they were bad if any one had a cane they could yank her off stage. She played one of my favorite new tunes titled "Heart In The Ground" which has a nice country sound. The rest of the new material was really amazing too. After every song Sharon would exclaim "Your all still here!" She ended her set with this powerful and heavy tune that sounded like only a two hundred pound, eighty year old blues artist could sing (see video here.) which she dedicated to Ben Goldberg of Ba Da Bing Records. Sharon will be heading in studio very soon to track this new material. For an encore her and Cat returned to the stage and sung an A cappella version of "For You." She closed with one more tune it was either a cover or a new tune.

Due to a poorly timed epsom salt bath which made as tired as a zombie . . . I unfortunately missed opening acts St. Claire & Drew Victor both I heard were great.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Interview with Theresa Wayman of Warpaint.

Warpaint have been on heavy rotation at kevchino headquarters for many years now. We had a chance to speak with one of the lovely front women of the trio (now four-piece), Theresa Wayman, about the band’s record deal, SXSW, and their new LP. Teresa also stars in a film released this fall titled Pete Smalls Is Dead alongside Tim Roth, Rosie Perez, and Steve Buscemi. Read interview here.

Kevchino.com presents Showcase III Marissa Nadler, Natureboy, Monogold, Rey Villalobos & VIctoria of Taken By Trees Dj-ing between sets

Kevchino.com presents
Marissa Nadler
Natureboy
Monogold
Rey Villalobos
Victoria Bergsman of Taken By Trees DJ-ing between sets.

Wednesday, June 16, 7:00pm at Knitting Factory | Brooklyn, NY
Facebook Event
Get advance tickets

ALL AGES | Doors 7pm Show 8pm | $10 Advance/ $12 Door

Monday, May 03, 2010

Sharon Van Etten shows

Before Sharon Van Etten heads into the studio to work on her follow up to Because i was in love she will be performing two intimate shows in New York. If you haven't had a chance to witness Sharon's room quieting performances, now's your chance!

Other exciting SVE news, she was added to the bill on Friday's Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago where she'll play with Modest Mouse and Broken Social Scene. Bon Ivor has covered her amazing new song "Love More." What are you waiting for?


May 6th Thursday | Chris Knox benefit which is also featuring Jeff Magnum and Yo La Tengo at Le Poisson Rouge | SOLD OUT!
May 7th Friday | Union Hall with St. Claire & Drew Victor Get Tickets

New Wolf Parade Mp3 free download "Ghost Pressure"


Wolf Parade - Ghost Pressure by subpop

Recorded and mixed at Hotel2Tango, with Howard Bilerman, in late February and early March of 2010, EXPO 86 is the name of the new and third album by Montreal’s Wolf Parade. EXPO 86 follows the band’s 2008 album At Mount Zoomer, which itself followed their 2005 debut, Apologies to the Queen Mary. Listen to "Ghost Pressure" above or click the down arrow above to download it.

Truck AMERICA 2010

The thirteen-year running UK Truck Festival had its US debut this weekend in New York's Catskill Mountains billed as Truck America! The festival is run by brothers Robin and Joe Bennett.

Pros:

• Unlimited free lemon water. What, did you say free? Yes, I did. Unlimited free lemon water was served.

• You can see all of the artists playing! At most festivals, stuff overlaps, and you end up making decisions as to what to catch and what to miss. At Truck America, the music was showcased at three venues The Main Stage, The Barn, and The Roadhouse with no overlap.

• You can go in and out of the campground and the festival as long as you go through the security check before reentering. I know many festivals you can't even go in and out of the campgrounds.

• Extremely nice staff. I'm always a sucker for an English accent, but man, everyone who worked at this festival were so pleasant and helpful. Not a militant vibe at all like many festivals.

• Light blue cloth wristbands versus those uncomfortable plastic ones.

• Only a two-and-a-half-hour beautiful drive. It was so nice it went by very quickly.

• Very healthy and good fresh food. No funnel cakes or overpriced teriyaki bowls were served at Truck, but instead some great breakfasts (pancakes, bacon, egg frittata), lunches (sandwiches, hummus, tuna fish), and dinners (grilled chicken, wild rice, mac ’n’ cheese) all served at reasonable prices—nothing more than $10.

Cons:

• Few bigger bands! It was nice discovering a lot of new music, but some bigger name acts couldn't hurt.

• No showers. After camping for a few, you get pretty stinky!


Here are a few pictures of some bands we caught live at the fest. We also heard the most powerful and amazing set by Hopewell from our campground at one or two in the morning.

In addition to the music, they had swimming, yoga, rugby football, hiking, and films to check out. Seven minutes up the road was a great hiking trail we checked out called Giant Ledge.

We caught a very nice documentary on Vashti Bunyan titled Vashti Bunyan: From Here To Before.

Neil Halstead

Once a member of such amazing bands as Slowdive and Mojave 3, Neil Halstead now plays an acoustic guitar, on which he performs some Nick Drake-style folk music. He was joined by a violinist during a few tunes at the end of his set.

Mercury Rev


Mercury Rev played in the main tent with a live orchestra for most of their set. Jonathan Donahue was an entertaining frontman to say the least with his infectiously happy personality and sparkly eyes along with his dramatic stage antics. I really enjoyed their set, especially the song "Holes" and their Flaming Lips-esque "Carwash Hair." I also really enjoyed their Daniel Johnston and Nico covers too.

Set List:

Endlessly
Carwash Hair
Blue Clouds (Daniel Johnston cover)
The Little Prince
Tonight it Shows
Runaway Raindrop
Opus 40
There You Are
Holes
These Days (Nico cover)
Isn't It a Pity
Goddess On A Hiway




The Sadies
The Sadies often collaborate with other country rock artists, such as Blue Rodeo, Jon Langford, The Tragically Hip, The Deep Dark Woods, and Andre Williams and are the preferred live backing band of singer Neko Case. No collaborations this night, but their live set was high energy filled with surf guitar leads and some country twang.

Cat Martino
Cat Martino packed The Barn at 11 p.m. and entertained the crowd with a set using a plethora of instruments including an omnichord, electric and acoustic guitar, piano, Casio keyboard, her voice, and a loop pedal. She was joined onstage by both of the festival founders, Robin Bennett, who sang along with Cat, and his brother, Joe Bennett, on guitar. Her music ranged from very experimental to more folk/singer-songwriter music. Her beautiful and engaging set was talked about the following morning by many.


Natureboy
Brooklyn trio Natureboy put on a great set in The Roadhouse for an intimate early afternoon crowd. Singer/guitarist Sara Kermanshahi's voice sounded just as mesmerizing at one in the afternoon than at one in the evening. The stark and building tunes were brought to life with Sara's amazing voice and live band, which includes Cedar Apffel on bass and guitar and Rory O'Connor on drums and keyboards, both from the band Masterface. Natureboy performed two brand new tunes for the first time at this show and closed the set with the always pleasing "Heart To Fool" off their debut LP.

Well, the pros outweigh the cons, and all in all we had a wonderful time. So a big thumbs-up. A very relaxing music festival. Our only regret is not getting there earlier and enjoying it a bit longer. Oh, and of course, missing one of our favorite bands, Monogold's set on Friday, and also missing Ida, Here We Go Magic, Hopewell, Common Prayer, and The Joy Formidable sets too. Hope to see Truck America 2011 next year.