Ireland and her music is really what this story is about.
When I think of Irish music, I think of Belfast and seminal artists like U2, Stiff Little Fingers, and Van Morrison who all weave a rich tapestry of the romantic poet traditions as old as the Emerald Isle itself and the modern problems that plague all divided nations.
While many bands clamor to get attention from record labels, Sacramento’s Trash Talk decided they were better off on their own. After recording with Steve Albini earlier this year, this fall found the hardcore quartet releasing their stark, magnificently abrasive self-titled second album on their own Trash Talk Collective label.
With stunning compositional skills and an impressive stylistic convergence, Jason Schimmel’s Orange Tulip Conspiracy hits the West Coast in November for eight tour dates. Combining jazz fusion, metal riffs, psychedelic jam sounds, and prog rock, the group’s recently released debut from Mimicry Records must be heard.
“The Hysterical Festival is a celebration of fearless female humor launching in New York City in Fall 2008. Showcasing the wide range of ways in which women are hilarious, we aim to both entertain and break new ground for women in the comedic arts.”
Lord knows that there are thousands of record labels in the world. So how does one go about separating itself from the rest (other than through awesome music)? That would be with a good name. Thankfully, these labels all have great music as well.
The Brazilian Girls took to the stage at the House of Blues on Friday October 3rd, fusing the sounds of Kingston, New York, Stockholm, Paris, and Berlin for the swaying heads and respectful lap drumming of a Chicago audience. “What the fuck is she saying?” a young man clad in a Cubs t-shirt and newsboy cap asked. The brunette standing to his side said nothing but instead continued, eyes closed, to gyrate in place to the internationally guided rhythms.
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.
There’s a lot of excellent bands coming through Chicago this weekend, and the ALARM editors will be seeing the likes of Tim Fite, An Albatross, Man Man, and Genghis Tron…when one of said editors isn’t attending his 10-year high-school reunion.
Like many behind-the-scenes songwriters, Jon Brion is better known by music than by name. Much of his musical legacy is known through beautiful accompaniments for songs by Fiona Apple and Aimee Mann as well as scores for Paul Thomas Anderson films.
Chicago’s Catfish Haven pride themselves in living in the past; 2006’s Tell Me was overrun with a soul sensibility ala Joe Cocker fronting an instrumental Phil Spector band circa 1958-1966, while the lovable-via-trashy personaes of George Hunter (vocals/guitar), Miguel Castillo (bass), and Ryan Farnham (drums) coupled with the music perfectly.
With a demolishing dose of horn-heavy chug metal, Jerseyband stands as the logical result of loose forerunners such as John Zorn’s Naked City, Mr. Bungle, and Estradasphere. The seven-piece band’s progressive fusion touches on jazz, groove, big-band flair, and math rock, making a sonic concoction as wild as its live shows.
This week, ALARM guest columnist Sean-Michael Yoder reviews new albums by internationally renowned DJ Behrouz, Glasgow-based legendary producer Howie B. on record with rock/funk group Casino Royale, San Francisco four-piece Tussle, Italian actress turned electroclash artist Asia Argento, and Texas DJ D:Fuse.