A lot has happened over the last 6 months – major unexpected surgery, a crazy increase in the hours I am working and – most importantly- a huge shift of my priorities. One of those is this site. Over the last 3+ years writing about and exploring the world of music I have encountered an amazing variety of sounds, sights and people. What began as a little project has become something I cherish deeply. Figuring out a way to make sure I can maintain a space that is as interesting to others as it is to myself has been a central mental volley for me as of late. And, I am happy to announce I have come to a realization. It is time for “The World” covered in this paper cup to become a little bigger.
One of the things that makes writing a music blog so fulfilling is the fact that it is an expression of something I am very passionate about. However, it isn’t the only thing I am passionate about. In fact, I am proudly ADD when it comes to the list of things that excite me; baseball, boardgames, quotes, people watching, spread sheets – I could go on but I’ll spare you. While each of these will probably thread occasionally through TWIAPC there is one passion in particular I have decided to make a more central part the site: food. From this point forward The World In A Paper Cup will be a site dedicated to noise and noms.
Over the next few days and weeks you’ll start to see exactly how these two focuses will come to life. Sometimes you’ll find a little bit of both topics in one post, sometimes you’ll find one or the other. Hopefully, you’ll always find it interesting. I have also made the decision to add a few more regular writers to the roster. You’ll get a proper introduction to the first contributor this week.
I am incredibly excited about the evolution of The World In A Paper Cup and really look forward to providing you all with a more interesting soundtrack and menu to use in your own world.
Oh yeah, I am still working out some kinks in the new design so bear with me.
Maybe it’s not that much of a revelation when a band puts their stamp on a music scene by releasing songs from GarageBand. But the chances of sustaining momentum in Philadelphia? Uhh, yeah. Whatever Slutever. Nicole Snyder and Rachel Gagliardi are the obnoxiously bitching punk duo that are Slutever. In the past six months I’ve seen them go from some band Reading Rainbow likes to a band that makes Philly music news and gets played on Sirius XMU’s Aquarium Drunkard radio show. And at some point, even a ‘fun’ band begins to take itself seriously. The fantasy life that is college has just finished for one of these girls, and no, her plan is not to just smoke mad blunts. Slutever have planned a seven week national tour, partially funded through a Kickstarter campaign, starting on July 1 in Boston. Their first tour across the states. And to think the last time I saw these girls we were trying to figure out how to gain entry to a Dum Dum Girls show. It’s Slutever, right?
Hands down one of my favorite bands to see live, especially when I feel like dancing my ass off. This new video for the first single, “Turn Me On” off of their new album Secret Rituals. The band is now down to a duo with the departure of their drummer Alana and while her sweet percussive presence will be missed I am really excited to hear this album. If the rest of the tracks are a awesome as this first one I’ll be a happy chica.
[MP3] Sukkafish
When I first started listening to Poison Control Center I found myself drawn to it because it kind of made me uncomfortable but still really curious. The Iowa based rockers make really intense music that buzzes with a level of energy you can almost feel right through the speakers. I did eventually adjust to PCCs flavor of punk and with the discomfort abated the allure only grew – I should note seeing them live also served to stoke those fires. When Stranger Ballet came across the wire I was super excited to see what the fellas had to offer since they had promised me something fresh. They were not kidding.
Randomly happening on a really awesome band releases some sort of odd chemical release in me probably because it happens so very rarely. Well, last Thursday while on a bar crawl in Austin with a client I got a solid dose of said chemicals when I caught local act Mobley at the Mohawk. Despite an instrumental make up similar to a lot of the other percussion heavy indie bands out there now Mobley takes a much more distinct approach. They pull the stronger musical lines from a wide assortment of genres – aggressive guitar riffs, bombarding percussion, idiosyncratic synths and pop vocal lines- and hold them together with “only as much thread as necessary for coherence.” Originally from North Carolina Mobley’s front man Anthony Watkins even manages to infuse the music with a hint of alt-country.
Their music was enough to draw me in from the other room but their live set kept me there – even after my group had moved on to the next stop. Besides Watkins, who plays keys, drumpad, guitars and percussion Mobley consists of Tim Shelburne, Jr on bass, keys and percussion and Sergio Trejos on drums and the trio play off each other with a level of energy that reminded me a lot of Sharon Jones (yeah, I know it’s a strange comparison). Watkins’ presence is genuine and you can tell just by watching him there is a unusual level of intelligence behind their music. Trejos and Shelburne are right there with him in energy and precise delivery. They carved out a set that included tracks you could tell were both new (slightly more hopped up) and old (total comfortable in the riffings etc) and was the best Thursday night bar gig I’ve seen in a very long while.
Now that I have some of their recordings in hand I’m equally enthused that they sound fantastic in record as well. Give these two tracks a listen then be sure to keep an eye out from them as I am sure they’re bound to rise quickly.
[MP3] 25
[MP3] Cold War Cold
Leave it to the fellas in Drink Up Buttercup to make a video so outlandish as this. It has the same kind of intensity and insanity that DUB’s live show does which makes it a totally perfect video for “Seasickness Pills” even though it doesn’t really have anything to do with the lyrics. After putting out Born And Thrown On A Hook last year they’ve been touring a whole lot hopefully they’re making time to get back into the studio to give us another fix of their bawdy music.
Warning, do not watch this video of you’ve got a weak stomach.
[MP3] Gods And Gentlemen
Savoir Adore – Loveliest Creature from Haus + Longhitano on Vimeo.
I can’t tell you how much I love seeing a band I truly dig get the praise and attention they rightfully deserve. Savoir Adore is the most recent group to achieve wider acclaim. They’ve been popping up in conversations, play lists and even on TV (their track “Break My Stride” soundtracks a Chase Bank commercial) which delights me greatly. The only thing that matches that delight is the news that they’ve released new material. In the Wooded Forest, their first album, has been a fav of mine for a while and I have been anxious to hear what they would follow it up with. “Sparrow” is just a nibble at what the future of Savoir Adore may sound like. They’re currently in the studio exploring where their wonderful musical curiosity will lead. Hope post production goes quickly cause I want to hear more.
[MP3] Sparrow
AgesandAges “Navy Parade (escape from the Black River bluffs)” HD from Alicia J. Rose on Vimeo.
This is a new group to my ears and I quite like them. They have an alluring sound that includes elements of folk, country and indie pop which is probably drawn from a combination of musical backgrounds and their Portland OR roots. All seven members sing while playing their various instruments which lends a great gospelike delivery which is really at it’s best when playing off each other in rondo. They just released Alright You Restless five tracks of warm good energy tunes you’d be wise to add to your home library. AgnesandAgnes are on the road right now criss crossing the country so get yourself out to see them live if you can.
They’re playing at Kung Fu Necktie on Saturday April 28th with LAKE and Royal Shoals
[MP3] So So Freely
This album made me sit up on my couch and literally say out loud “I need to write about this right now.” I’ve got a really tender spot for Noah & The Whale’s lead singer Charlie Fink’s voice. It’s has an incredibly comforting timbre with a rather distinct growl rolling just below the surface. On the group’s third album The Last Night On Earth Fink is as fantastic as ever but it is presented in a whole new light. All ten tracks resonate with a sense of optimism and musically prove that NATW have built their own sonic comfort zone. There are clear influences – “Wild Thing” smacks of Tom Petty’s influence – a matter of fact delivery countered by a lush back up vocals and there is no doubt that NATW have listened to their fair share of 80′s new wave pop but they have made a sound truly their own.
It’s that time of year again. The time of year when you make your list and plan which of your local record stores you’ll be lining up outside of early on April 16th hoping to get your hands on one of the many awesome limited and special edition releases that will be put forth as part of the fourth annual Record Store Day. Well, maybe that’s just me and my crazy enthusiasm for a) the reemergence of vinyl and b) supporting local businesses. Last year I spent Record Store day wandering around Philly with my vinyl tucked under my arm, passing others rushing to see if they could get a copy of a record that had already sold out one place and meeting all sorts of other dedicated music fans. There was a great spirit amongst the crowd that gave the entire event a certain aura of authenticity. These were all people who recognize this social and experiential aspect of music. Really absorbing music goes way beyond downloading an album. It is the process of combing through the racks for that LP you totally forgot you needed to have, counting the days until an album is released, talking to other record buying folks to find out what their into; it is going out and participating in the culture. So, this year I highly encourage you to join in and head to your local record store(s) to take part in the fun. This year’s list of releases is a nicely mixed bag of genres so there is something for everyone and f you’re lucky your local spots have cool in-store plans. You can check it all out over at www.recordstoreday.com
These are my picks, so far…
Wounded Lion were one of the bands I had the absolute pleasure of discovering -and interviewing- at SXSW. These guys get on stage and let it it all go and magically it sounds really good. Well, not magically, Wounded Lion succeeds sonically because they don’t give a shit they just want to make music and have fun. Theirs is a loose sound with eager guitars and unpretentious vocals with a thumping soul of tasty brash cymbals. After seeing them live I find a lot to appreciate in their recordings that I might not have noticed just giving it a cursory listen. So,if you get the chance to catch them live DO IT. But, if you can’t see them live then check this out then listen to this.
[MP3] Creatures In A Cave
I’ll be honest this is a band that should have been posted long ago seeing as I first heard their stuff in late January but thankfully they have risen to the top of the massive pile of music I’m trying to make sorts of after not staying on top of email for a month. Giving them a refreshed listen I think it is their pure enthusiasm for the classic folk pop music they’re playing. Their new album Wholesome is an absolute pleasure to listen to, definitely caught myself tapping my pen in time with it while listening on my headphones today at work. There is still room for them to grow towards a more distinct Hands & Knees “sound” but they’ve proven they have the assets to work with.
[MP3] Close Your Eyes
Ok folks, after what I think I can safely classify as the hardest and most surreal seven weeks of my life so far I am finally ready to get back to blogging. I figured I’d start with filling you all in a little on what went on over these past few weeks.
Meet Ernesto.
(actually pinata replica of Ernesto made by my fabulous sister)
Ernesto is the name I gave to the tumor that was discovered a little over 6 weeks ago in my chest. Continue Reading →
