Filed under: Documentaries, Music, News, NHM, Record Releases | Tags: Bonehead Studios, Dan Soto & The Duded Kings, Drunk On VHS, Empty Vessels, It Came From Connecticut, It Shook the World, Jacques Le Coque, Lamb Bombs, New Haven Music, NHM, Pickpocket, Sadplant, Sonic Supercharger 66, The Defcon Five, The Gene Gnomes, The Hulls, The Lost Riots, The Midnightmares, Wrist Like This!
Check out the new CT punk rock documentary ‘It Shook the World‘ now available online in its entirety. Conceived by local filmmaker Moe Porne of Drunk On VHS Productions, ‘It Shook the World’ documents the creation of the ‘It Came From Connecticut, Vol. 1‘ compilation, a 27 song, 13 band collection of original CT punk rock, hardcore, and garage rock. The entirety of the compilation was produced by Tom Bonehead at Cheshire’s Bonehead Studios and is modeled after the 1985 Incas Records punk rock compilation ‘Connecticut Fun‘, which Bonehead had participated in. Copies of the CD can be purchased directly from Bonehead Studios and, according to Moe Porne, DVD copies of ‘It Shook the World’ will hopefully be available in the near future. Rock on!
Filed under: 21+, Artists of the Month, Music, News, Record Releases, Shows | Tags: Artist of the Month, Cafe Nine, New Haven Music, NHM, Old Man Lady Luck, Snake Oil
So, eleven days into June and we’ve finally selected our Artists of the Month (yeah, we know, about time!). Without further delay, the NHM Artists of the Month are….(drum roll, please)…Snake Oil and Old Man Lady Luck!
‘Snake’ who? ‘Old Man’ what?
Snake Oil is a new instrumental collective spearheaded by drummer extraordinaire Jason Labbe. Comprised of current and former members of Weigh Down, Titles, The Mountain Movers, Atrina, Charles Burst, Latitude/Longitude and Meridians (among others), Snake Oil was initially conceived as a recording-only side project to Labbe’s former main band, Weigh Down. After Weigh Down ran its course, Labbe began dedicating more and more time to working on Snake Oil, in the process bringing in a dozen or so musicians to assist on the project. After a few months of production, the collective had finished a cache of recordings which ultimately formed the running order of Snake Oil’s fantastic self-titled debut album.
Self-released by the band this past Tuesday (June 7th) in vinyl and digital formats, Snake Oil is nothing short of a revelation for those unfamiliar with Labbe’s never-ending well of creativity. Beats (both acoustic and electronic) collide off bass grooves, guitars, keys, synths and percussion with utmost ease as if the instrumentation itself were always meant to be combined in this way. Equal parts funky and spacey, Snake Oil is the rare instrumental album that keeps your attention throughout and doesn’t let go until the final drum hit. Its as if your mind and ears have no other choice but to submit to the aural sermon that is Snake Oil, blindly following each snare roll and bass lick ad nauseam. No other God or stimulation required. Of course, this is not to suggest that Snake Oil overstays its welcome at all. At 9 tracks and just over 30 minutes, Snake Oil avoids the common instrumental album mis-step of overwhelming length, instead focusing on quality not quantity. And with a production this adept at sonic placement and attention to detail, each subsequent listen yields more rewards. Be sure to pick up a copy via the band’s website snakeoilsounds.com or at Redscroll Records. In addition, you can catch Snake Oil live next Friday, June 17th at Cafe Nine as they celebrate the album’s release with fellow locals Atrina and DJ Shaki.
Photo by Miss Angie Chambers
Old Man Lady Luck fit the definition of ‘power trio’ to the T. Featuring members of gonzo-riffsters like the Vultures, Bloarzeyd, Humanoid, Murdervan, The Black Noise Scam and Atrina, Old Man Lady Luck knows how to bring the rock (and also the roll). With this said, don’t expect to hear some kind of boogie-woogie old-time music or an endless barrage of guitar pyro-technics, these guys are HEAVY (with all caps). Inter-changing between funeral pace doom and mid-tempo evilness, Old Man Lady Luck succeeds well at keeping things interesting. Their willingness to experiment with and evolve their riffs especially helps to break up any monotony created by tempo and tone. Although all three members are locked in throughout, bassist Warren Brelsford and guitarist Phil Law seem particularly well paired, playing off each other with ease. In addition drummer Andre Roman’s propulsive percussive work never lets the band’s songs become too sedentary.
This past May, Old Man Lady Luck celebrated the release of their debut self-titled album with a now rare Sunday performance at New Haven’s BAR. Recorded in Chicago with legendary producer (sorry, ‘engineer’) Steve Albini (and mastered by Bob Weston), the album is comprised of six tracks, all untitled. The production and performance is warm, full and crisp, showcasing the band’s unique interplay and dirgy sound in a way that only Mr. Albini could capture well. Be sure to pick up a copy on vinyl via the band’s Bandcamp page or, if you need your fix quicker, download a digital copy free. Old Man Lady Luck will be performing tonight as part of a four band riff-fest at New Haven’s Cafe 9 along with Skeletons In The Piano, VRSA and Treebeard. Bring earplugs and a neck-brace.
Filed under: 21+, Music, Record Releases, Shows | Tags: Celebrated Tigers, Delta Hotel, Jo Schornikow, New Haven Music, NHM, The Outer Space, The Shivers, The Stoned Ambassadors
If you’re looking for a show to attend tonight, check out Celebrated Tigers, Jo Schornikow (of The Shivers), Delta Hotel and the Stoned Ambassadors at the Outer Space.
Terror Spells by Celebrated Tigers
Celebrated Tigers, a New Haven based experimental rock duo, will also be celebrating the release of their new record. Although they prefer not to name drop influences, Celebrated Tigers’ Britt and Brian apparently bonded over ‘being last picked in gym class and their unwavering love of the “Blue” album by Weezer.’ The inherent awkwardness of such sensibilities surfaces in their music through and through. Deceptively sloppy at times (okay, ‘lo-fi’), each song is conversely carried by an adept sense of melody that surpasses any notion of insincerity or uncertainty (which despite the rough edges, leads one to believe these guys know what they’re doing). Such ramshackle purity is a blast to listen to, so make sure you stop by if you can.
Cry Your Little Eyes Out by The Stoned Ambassadors
This solid billing is filled out by Jo Schornikow of the Shivers, Delta Hotel (‘honest pop’ from NYC) and the Stoned Ambassadors (another NYC band whose sound is more poppy than their name lets on).
If When You Go:
Celebrated Tigers (Record Release)
Jo Schornikow (of The Shivers)
Delta Hotel (NY)
Stoned Ambassadors (NY)
Tonight
@ The Outer Space
295 Treadwell Street, Building G, Hamden
7pm SHARP / 21+ / $8
Filed under: All-Ages, Record Releases, Shows | Tags: Cold Snap, Gods and Queens, Manic Productions, New Haven Music, NHM, Robots and Empire, Sabotage, The Lows, Wrench In The Works
This Saturday, March 27th Manic Productions will be presenting a six-band, all-ages hardcore/metal/punk bill featuring Wrench In The Works at the Prospect VFW Hall. At this particular show Hartford’s Wrench In The Works will be celebrating the release of their newest record ‘Decrease/Increase’ out on California based Facedown Records. Wrench In The Works has slowly gained a reputation as one of the region’s better hardcore/metal outfits, more often than not breathing new life into the often confining genre with a mix of precision musicianship and original arrangements. This isn’t to say they are not still capable of brutal aggression at times which, based on their new material, they most certainly are. Joining Wrench will be Poughkeepsie, NY.’s Robots and Empire and Philly’s Gods and Queens as well as Connecticut’s own The Lows, Sabotage and Cold Snap, all of whom complement the headliner well. For those at all into hardcore, post-hardcore, metal or aggressive yet compelling music in general, this show is, without a doubt, worth the trek upstate.
If When You Go:
Manic Productions presents
WRENCH IN THE WORKS (Record Release)
ROBOTS AND EMPIRE
GODS AND QUEENS
THE LOWS
SABOTAGE
COLD SNAP
@ Prospect VFW
(218 Cheshire Road, Prospect)
ALL AGES / $8 adv./$10 door
doors open at 6pm
Tickets
Filed under: 21+, Record Releases, Shows | Tags: Cafe Nine, Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, New Haven Music, NHM, The Shellye Valauskas Experience
This Saturday, February 27th Boston’s Motown/Stax influenced Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents (members of The Downbeat 5, The Dents, The Gravel Pit, The Gentlemen) will be celebrating the release of their new record, ‘Keeping Time,’ at New Haven’s Cafe Nine. Joining Jenny & Co. will be New Haven popsters The Shellye Valauskas Experience. Expect alternating sets from the two female-fronted bands, starting with the SVE. Adding to the night’s festivities, Shellye will also be celebrating her birthday, so make sure you stop by and say hello. Definitely looks to be a great night for music and a fun time for all.
If You Go:
JENNY DEE AND THE DEELINQUENTS (Record Release)
THE SHELLYE VALAUSKAS EXPERIENCE
@
Cafe Nine
21+ / $6 cover
music starts after 10pm
Filed under: 21+, Record Releases, Shows | Tags: Goodnight Blue Moon, Jennifer Jane Gallery, Mixtape, New Haven Music, NHM
This Saturday, February 27th at Jennifer Jane Gallery, Mixtape celebrates the New Haven release of their debut self-titled EP. Currently based out of both New Haven and New York City, Mixtape was originally founded by local jazz pianist Craig Hartley in early 2009. Hartley, who is the group’s primary songwriter, fleshed out the group over the course of 2009 adding vocalist Karlie Bruce, guitarist Eli Friedmann, bassist Jake Cohen and drummer Ismail Lawal in the process. Mixtape’s music can be best described as atmospheric-pop with the group’s CD Baby page citing Fiona Apple, Radiohead and the Beatles as reference points for the band’s sound. The band is clearly much more than your standard moody alterna-pop band though, displaying more inherent knowledge of dynamics and musicianship than most ‘rock’ or ‘pop’ bands combined. This energy carries over particularly well in a live setting which allows the band to display the full range of their talents. Highly recommended, to say the least.
Joining Mixtape will be local Indie-Americana outfit Goodnight Blue Moon. Another musical revelation of sorts, Goodnight Blue Moon presents a modernized take on traditional Americana and folk traditions with some catchy songs and arrangements to boot. Among the group’s seven members one can find all sorts of lush instrumentation including guitar, cello, violin, mandolin, banjo, bass, trumpet and percussion. The orchestral quality of the group never overcomes the songs though instead serving only to enhance the nuances and possibilities of the melody and arrangements. Of the songs included on the band’s Myspace page, “Dark Clouds” gets caught in my head the most although the band’s other songs are just as respectable. Again, Goodnight Blue Moon’s music should translate well live and is highly recommended for fans of folk and indie-pop.
If You Go:
MIXTAPE (Record Release)
GOODNIGHT BLUE MOON
@
Jennifer Jane Gallery
(838 Whalley Ave. at West Rock Ave.)
21+? / FREE
music starts after 9pm
BYOB
Filed under: 21+, News, Record Releases, Shows | Tags: Cafe Nine, Daypape, Fay Rey, New Haven Music, NHM, Slam Donahue, The Ballet, Tweefort
Next Friday, February 19th at Cafe Nine, Tweefort Records will be celebrating the release of their newest compilation Home and Abroad Songs, Vol. 2. Performing will be four of the compilation’s thirty-two(!) bands: Slam Donahue (CT.), The Ballet (New York), Fay Rey (New Haven/NYC) and Daypape (Westbrook, CT.). Volume 2 follows up (you guessed it) Home and Abroad Songs, Vol. 1, which was released last August and served as the label’s first release. A limited edition of free physical copies will be available on Feb. 19th although don’t expect a second run on this massive 2-disc set anytime soon (much like the first volume, a digital version will be available through the Tweefort Records website). Other artists that will be appearing on the compilation include New Haven’s own Titles, The Tyler Trudeau Attempt, Mixtape and Shark as well as a host of those outside of New Haven and even ‘abroad.’
If You Go:
Tweefort Records presents
‘Home And Abroad Songs, Vol. 2 Record Release’
SLAM DONAHUE
THE BALLET
FAY REY
DAYPAPE
@ Cafe Nine
21+ / FREE
music starts after 9pm