Chappo consists of Baton Rouge, La.-born Alex Chappo and Seattle, Washington-born Chris Olson, who share vocals while playing rustic guitar and space-sounding synth beats. Chappo released their debut album ‘Media Machine’ in 2008, sans Chris Olson. They describes their music as a “cross pollination of indie pop and space rock. It’s The Rolling Stones in space and like The Flaming Lips without gravity. They’ve got space shoes, phantasmagorical adventures, confetti six-shooters and diamond powder-filled hourglasses.”
The bands most recent EP, ‘Plastique Universe,” was released in April 2010. Other accolades to the band include playing at South by SouthWest, having their music featured in a new Ipod touch commercial, and designer Rawan Rihani using their song ‘Come Home’ for her ‘Nightswimming’ collection show at Glasslands Gallery for the Williamsburg Fashion Weekend. This band has played across the United States, and will be playing at the Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn tonight!
By: Elizabeth Stene | Beat-Play Ambassador South Africa | @LizMWL | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC
Bombay Bicycle Club is an indie-rock band from London. Comprised of Jack Steadman (lead vocals, guitar), Jamie MacColl (guitar), Ed Nash (bass) and Suren de Saram (drums), the band just released their third studio album, A Different Kind of Fix. The first single released, Shuffle, provides a microcosm of the album’s feel. Building a gentle, hooky pop song over a looping, dance-inducing piano sample, it’s, like all the best late summer sounds, seventy-five percent exuberant and twenty-five percent melancholy. This album is different than the previous two; it incorporates more electronics and has less folk influences. Watch the video for Shuffle to see for yourself, or see them live in Brooklyn (Music Hall of Williamsburg – Sept. 7) or Philadelphia (Theater of the Living Arts – Sept. 9) – for more tour dates check out their schedule!
By: Elizabeth Stene | Beat-Play Ambassador South Africa | @LizMWL | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC
Deerhoof are currently on tour supporting their tenth LP, Deerhoof vs. Evil. They formed in San Francisco around 1995 by drummer/multi-instrumentalist Greg Saunier and guitarist Rob Fisk. Satomi Matsuzaki (who’d just arrive in San Francisco from Tokyo, Japan) soon began singing overtop of Greg and Rob’s raw tape recordings. Since then the band has had numerous line-up changes and successful tours. Deerhoof vs. Evil may be the band at their most unpredictable: songs sung in Japanese, Catalan, and English as complex acoustic guitar flourishes, sharp bursts of electronic noise, and J-Pop influenced dance-a-longs hide around every corner—sometimes within the same song. Check out The Merry Barracks for a taste of this eclectic indie band. AND they will be playing in Brooklyn on September 20th at The Music Hall of Williamsburg, then the following night in Philadelphia at World Cafe Live.
By: Elizabeth Stene | Beat-Play Ambassador South Africa | @LizMWL | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC
The White House Band is a self-proclaimed “New Vogue” group from Brooklyn, combining hip-hop, hard rock, and blues since February of 2010. Their latest project, “The Stimulus Package EP,” was released earlier this year. It’s quite refreshing to hear a unique sound and the White House Band delivers this. Check out one of their new singles titled “#Sky-High.”
For more information on the group, check out their website or hit ’em up on facebook.
Kyle C. Stilley | Marketing Strategist | @stillz | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC | kyle@musicwithoutlabels.com
Everyone once in a while you hear one of those songs that you swear you could listen to for months on repeat. I found one of those songs this morning. It’s called “I Got It” by Stereo Crowd, an urban alternative quartet out of New York City. The energy they bring is amazing mixed with their hip-hop/funk/rock/soul vibes creates a truly entertaining experience. I look forward to hearing their future projects. Check out their facebook page to keep of with Stereo Crowd.
Kyle C. Stilley | Marketing Strategist | @stillz | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC | kyle@musicwithoutlabels.com
Hats off to Brooklyn’s recent finest, 62 year old Charles Bradley, who teams up with fellow motown vibin’ soul group The Menahan Street Band in this instant classic. The man has an unbelievable voice that stands out like the late James Brown, which you notice a whole lot more on his more recent release, “How Long”. This one here is all about the soul tones delivered in those sensational bass lines and bangin’ dub horns. Here is a track along side a growing list of classic 60s & 70s soul R&B sound like the more recent Mayer Hawthorne. Catch this hit along with the rest of Charles’ newest full length album, ‘No Time For Dreaming” at his website.
Fang Island. I guess the name says it all. One part crazy electric guitar that bites the crap out of you and one part complete and utter fun which I guess you would have if you were on an island? Crappy analogy aside Fang Island is a f*cking party. They hail from Brooklyn, New York but I can hear them all the way down in Los Angeles. In their bio they describe there own sound as “everyone high-fiving each other.” I wish I could have written that. Here’s the fifth track off their 2010 self titled release.
Sideswiper – Fang Island
With a three guitar wall of rock Fang Island will melt your face. They are loud, fast and promise a great listening experience. Opening track “Dream of Dreams” starts the crescendo of pace and volume and they never look back. “Davey Crockett” offers a brief chance to catch your breath mid disc before it takes off into a massive guitar laden trance of awesomeness. Clocking in at just under six minutes, this song will kill your ear drums. Turn it to eleven and be patient.
Davey Crockett – Fang Island
Their bio states that Fang Island started as an art school project. My second favorite band, Talking Heads, came together in the same fashion. Get me into that school immediately because I want to try some of what they’re having.
Fang Island is guitarist Jason Bartell, bassist Michael Jacober, guitarist Chris Georges, guitarist Nicholas Andrew Sadler, and drummer Marc St. Sauveur. They all share collective group vocal harmonies and the occasional hand claps… The goal was to “make music for people who like music.” That is, music without irony that harnesses its uplifting qualities. Just like a classic rock song or classical symphony can stir us emotionally, Fang Island exists to unlock that spirit. — Fang Island
My favorite track on this record is an instrumental with emphasis on the “mental”. It’s called “Welcome Wagon.” The layers upon layers of guitar mixed with all kinds of loud is kind of making me want to get out of my chair and trash my apartment immediately as I sit here and write this blog.
Welcome Wagon – Fang Island
As I listen to this record from beginning to end as I write this post it is literally making me tired. I just want to see them live so I can see if the record holds up. It has to right? With that said they just came off performances at SXSW and I’m sure they destroyed the place. Having listened to this band for a little while (their record came out about a year ago) I think it’s time to give the three guitar rock onslaught their do and buy their record. Here’s the info and, oh yea, one more tune and video.
Good Old War recently performed “My Own Sinking Ship” in Brooklyn NYC. This indie-rock rock trio is Philadelphia, PA and will be playing at the Coachella Festival in Indio, CA this coming April.
Kyle C. Stilley | Online Marketing Strategist | @stillz
Another great album given away for FREE by the guys of The Nico Blues from New York and New Jersey. If you’re a classic alternative indie rock lover than don’t hesitate to download “Blame the Boredom, Blame the Basements” and show some love by donating to keep their sound alive! Please enjoy their album opener, ‘Three’s A Crowd”.
Travis Barker can play just about anything on the drums, and proves it live with this amazing collaboration with independent Dance/HipHop DJ A-Trak from Brooklyn, NY. Having only worked on this mashup briefly they threw-down a great live performance that will definitely bring a new sound and style to acoustic drummers everywhere.
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