Lingering a smidgen of oblique street beyond the odious ostentation of Regent Street lies Liberty. Probably the finest shop of this fair city yet one that is somewhat inexplicably, somehow, in some way humble it therefore serves as a quite apposite location at which to first encounter Sharon Van Etten . For like Liberty, she is the lusciously remarkable gem lodged barely beneath the bloodthirsty claw of the mainstream – or indeed right beneath the nose of the maddening crowds beyond these practically antiquated, single-glazed shutters. "I never wanna shop but then when I go out, it's like 'danger [...]
Sharon Van Etten brought her signature brand of velvety gut punches to The Earl on Wednesday night in an intimate, arresting concert that kept us all hanging on her every word. Once she stepped closer to the mic and let out a roar, the seeming ordinariness of the evening came to an abrupt halt. Opening the set with the gentle strength and dark desperation of "All I Can," Van Etten moved through Tramp tracks with abundant dexterity, effortlessly switching tones, moods, and instruments. The auto harp she produced for "Magic [...]
Wriggling over to Rough Trade like a snake fresh off a plane , Sharon Van Etten dozily scribbles an autograph or two, still patently enwrapped in a thick fug of jetlag. Her guitar equally discomposed by the shift in timezone, although it dips in and out of tune with fanciful perfection during her succinct set that's coaxed exclusively from magnum opus Tramp (it hangs off nigh on every record rack here) she is, this evening, consummately supreme. Wilting buds entrapped in the headstock of her Jaguar, Van Etten is but blossoming and it's a crude yet vivid joy [...]
[photo courtesy of Chris at Fucking Nostalgic ] Tramp is the next stage in the continued ascent of the career of Sharon Van Etten . If 20102s Epic was the introduction of this immensely talented artist to a wide audience, her new release and first for Jagjaguwar Records is the here-to-stay moment. The album is a mix her strengths - intelligent and heartfelt lyrics and a wide range of vocal approaches. There is a nod to her solo folk past ("Joke or a Lie"), and some straight forward indie-pop [...]
Bryce Dessner booked yet another impressive lineup for his annual MusicNOW Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio over the weekend, including Sharon Van Etten, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, Little Scream, Shara Worden, Doug Keith, Owen Pallett, Megafaun, Tim Hecker, The National, and many others. By all accounts — such as Vernon's morning-after blog post describing Friday night as an "insanely humbling evening of music" — the festivities were a wonderfully collaborative event. Today (h/t Everybody Taste ), we can catch a glimpse at what went down via three excellent videos filmed by A Story Told Well [...]
Watch: Sharon Van Etten - "All I Can" (New Song) Sharon Van Etten's forthcoming Aaron Dessner- produced LP won't likely reach our ears until after her extensive year of touring wraps in September at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Neko Case and The National, but here's a gorgeous new tune while we wait: "All I Can," performed at an IFC-sponsored show last week at SXSW. You can watch another clip from this performance, as well as Ted Leo interviewing Van Etten, Doug Keith, and friends, here . (Via From Go [...]
It's hard to believe we're already on Vol. XII of the Almost Missed mix series. For those of you not familiar with this particular series, it includes singles we really like from recent released albums that for one reason or another we didn't feature when they were originally released. This is our way of catching [...] Read more, get songs or stream the entire mix on Indie Rock Cafe
NYC-based singer/songwriter Doug Keith will be kicking off a summer long national tour on Tuesday, May 18th in Greensboro, NC in support of both his recently released sophomore full-length "The Lucky Ones" and the newly remixed and remastered re-release of his critically acclaimed 2009 debut album "Here's To Outliving Me" on July 13th (both on Keith's co-owned imprint The Village Label ).
It's no secret that we love a good punk rocker turned singer-songwriter around here (Jesse Malin, Elliott Smith, et al.), which explains, I suppose, why Doug Keith 's new record, The Lucky Ones , is one of my favorite recent additions to that proud tradition. Keith, who used to play bass in the punk outfit The Gods Hate Kansas , has plenty of songwriting tricks/catchy choruses up his sleeve and the voice of an old soul to boot, but that only lays the foundation for the album's charm. [...]
On an evening topped by two songwriters steeped in alternative and punk rock roots but now pursuing more mainstream rock sounds, it's up to opening band We The Living from Nashville t o push the full alt-rock envelope. Although I only arrive in time to catch their final song, Sound of Love , it's an anthemic number with a strong emphasis on soaring guitars and a memorable vocal hook. For a one song showing, the band certainly kick things off effectively. [...]
New Yorker Doug Keith's career is rooted in punk rock, as he started out playing bass for the Gods Hate Kansas and other loud, noisy bands, including Up The Empire. However, Keith does a complete 180 when he's by himself, which can be heard on sparse, emotional, acoustic number "We Left Everything." It's a track [...]
"It is my ambition to say in ten sentences; what others say in a whole book. " - Friedrich Nietzsche Because I'm feeling all A.D.D. tonight, here are the twittering briefs of some tunes that have recently fallen into my aural cavities........ MP3: Alessi's Ark - Hands In The Sink [...]
The title track from his soon to be released (March 2010) album The Lucky Ones is the second album from NYC resident Doug Keith. The material on The Lucky Ones ranges from the acoustic starkness of "We Left Everything" to the surging electricity of "The Lucky Ones" to the buoyant textures of "Skip James Radio"; the common threads are the warmth and insight that the artist brings to every track Download [...]
Doug Keith is the former singer/songwriter from punk band The Gods Hate Kansas. He's stepped out on his own now and is poised to release his second solo album, The Lucky Ones, in March. You can hear his new found gritty blue collar sound on "The Lucky Ones". Doug Keith's website Doug Keith's Myspace
There's been something of a hiatus around here at 52 shows, which can be attributed to the holidays, a new PS3, a new Netflix account and cheering on Conan as he sticks it to NBC. Clearly, the resolution for 2010 (and it's twenty ten) is to listen to more music than I did last year. Posting is secondary, which is still an improvement from the abysmal display of blurjourlism (a blog masquerading as music journalism). And now, on to my love of firsty firsties. These are names that use only traditional first names. Doug [...]
Doug Keith - The Lucky Ones Set To Hit March 2010 Select National Tour Dates Announced Doug Keith , an exceptional artist and performer, is set to release his new full-length, The Lucky Ones , in March, 2010 (exact date tbc). The Lucky Ones, an 11-song collection on indie imprint The Village Label, vividly showcases Keith's strengths as a guitarist and songwriter, capturing significant emotional truths in every song. FREE download: "The Lucky Ones" MP3 [...]
Doug Keith writes quiet revelations, stories wound effortlessly around accomplished guitar playing and a gentle, graveled voice. 'Here's to Outliving Me' (in-stores now through The Cougar Label ) introduces Keith's many sides to listeners over the course of 11 songs. They are snapshots that at moments are stripped powerfully bare with just Keith and his guitar, and at others soar with lush harmonies, sliding guitars and warm, sepia-toned backdrops. By the time he was 15, Keith was writing songs and playing local bars in his hometown of Syracuse. Schooled in the picking style of [...]
So I've done what I can to avoid posting any Christmas/Holiday songs here, leaving it mainly to the experts such as the good folks over at Donewaiting and their Christmas blog . This isn't out of any particular hate for seasonal music or anything, but anyway, I'm heading out on the road tomorrow to visit the fam and thought I'd leave a couple Christmas tracks for you to enjoy. Mascott + Gramercy Arms - " This Christmastime " Doug Keith - [...]
Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Doug Keith : "Hey Mrs. Claus" [mp3] Doug Keith : free and legal Here's to Outliving Me EP [mp3]* other Doug Keith posts at Largehearted Boy eagleowl : "Blanket" [mp3] from For the Thoughts You Never Had other eagleowl posts at Largehearted Boy [...]
Dots & Dashes
drive a faster car
nyctaper
TwentyFourBit
Indie Rock Podcast Stream
PlugInMusic.com
Heavier ~ Than ~ Air
MAGNET
Insomnia Radio: Daily Dose
Snob's Music
52 Shows » A live music blog written by and for regular folks.
Band Weblogs
The PhiLL(er)
largehearted boy
City Pages - Gimme Noise
Rihanna Gets Nude For Nude
Pictures From Scamp – Day Two: Bob Weir Sits In With Primus
Diplo Blow Your Head 12 MOOMBAHTON 2k12 MIX
Craft Spells
Childish Gambino ft. Nipsey Hussle – Black Faces (Prod. by Boi1da) [Music]
