The Whitehaus Family Record is a three-story house located in the lush town of Jamaica Plain, Massachusettes. Inside this house, a variety of performances such as fire breathing, live radio drama, music playing, and weekly hootenannies occur in the living room. The Whitehaus Family plans to continue these shows until they die.
Arthur Pascale
Japanese Motors Bring Retro Rock to Chicago
Sometimes hype can be destructive. Despite the fact that the indie-rock band Japanese Motors’ self-titled debut album is a mediocre-at-best attempt to hipsterize yet another mid-century retro sound, despite that this band has been pushed so hard by the golden ticket of coolness VICE Records that the influence toward irritation even before hearing the band is inevitable, despite lead singer Al Knost’s attempt to create a West Coast Julian Casablancas (the original retro hipsterizer), despite a half-empty room of uninterested stares at the Empty Bottle — despite all this, this band actually kills it live.
DIY Venue Spotlight: The BFG
Saving the youth of Appleton, Wisconsin from radio rock, the BFG House has been hosting punk shows for over a year. The BFG was established to share new music and an alternative way of life with the Appleton community. Bands who play here can expect home cooked meals and an audience of punks, neighbors and the occasional ‘townie.’
DIY Venue Spotlight: Spazzatorium Galleria
In Greenville, North Carolina “booty dance club music” and cover bands dominate the music scene. The Spazzatorium Galleria offers an alternative for those unsatisfied with sing-a-longs and booty dropping beats. This community space hosts and a variety of local and touring bands; the Galleria is devoted to fostering self-expression and sustaining Greenville’s independent music scene.
DIY Venue Spotlight: The Silent Barn
Queens, New York’s The Silent Barn is the first in ALARM’s ongoing series exploring the country’s best grassroots, Do-it-Yourself music venues and art spaces. If you play in a band and looking for new places to play, or just love supporting independent music, read on.
Jolie Holland: The Living and the Dead
Holland’s newest album, The Living and the Dead, offers a laid-back Americana folk feel, providing a nice contrast to the blues and jazz approach on her last album, Spring Time Can Kill You.
BPM Counter: Weekly Electronic Picks
Chris Fortier contacted me a few months ago to let me know about a series of EPs that he and Australia’s EQ Records (home of the Balance series) were releasing this year based on his 2007 album As Long As The Moment Exists. I liked that album, but I also found some tracks a little too proggy for my tastes and I felt that especially these tracks were in dire need of remixing to help correct what I considered missteps.
Riot Fest 2008 Preview
Chicago turns into a punk rock haven this weekend for the 4th year in a row with the return of Riot Fest. 40+ bands will be playing throughout the weekend at the Double Door, House of Blues, the Cobra Lounge, and an all ages show Sunday at The Congress Theater. The line-up is filled with a diverse mix including the reunion of ALL. Also on the list are Jay Reatard, Horrorpops, Paint it Black, and Reagan Youth among others.
Toronto’s Stars Brighten Up The Avalon in Los Angeles
See? Indie rock musicians are just like you and I! They, too, get bummed out. They, too, have to cope with an economic crunch. They, too, crank up the melodica to drown out life’s sorrows.