Although better known as the vocalist and keytarist in LA glam-inspired band Hello Stranger, Juliette Commagere is certainly not unfamiliar with the process of manipulating her vocal chords. In fact it is Commagere's voice that is the one element that binds her material together on her second album The Procession , the follow-up to her debut solo effort Queens Die Proudly in 2008. With the extravagant headdresses displayed within her album artwork and the tribal drumming that pierces the otherwise delicate folky sound that she creates, Commagere will inevitably [...]
[Birthday greetings today to Cat Power ... Now on to the weekend:] Four very different shows that pique my interest: ► Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson , the 73-year-old Queen of Rockabilly whose new album "The Party Ain't Over" (out next week) was produced by Jack White, starts a two-night stand Sunday night at the El Rey Theatre. White and the Third Man House Band back her. Love the video for "Thunder on the Mountain," above. Get your legend on. ► Week 3 of the [...]
I've been a big fan of Tommy Hoehn's ever since I bought his 45 of "Blow Yourself Up" on the seminal Memphis power-pop label Powerplay. I was very sad today to hear of his passing. Someone had left a comment on this blog awhile back that he was ill, but I didn't know for sure until I got the news today. Here are various folks including Tommy and me tackling Alex Chilton and Tommy's co-written power-pop classic "She Might Look My Way". She Might Look My Way - Tommy Hoehn.mp3 [...]
Coming as summer approaches, the latest video from Los Angeles songwriter Juliette Commagere is like a prelude to days of surf and sand. Directed by Aran Reo Mann, who has also directed videos for Bonnie "Prince" Billy and The Chapin Sisters , the video (for "Beceuse" off Commagere's debut album, Queens Die Proudly ) features professional free surfer Hans Hagen and the singer catching some waves. However, like the mix of poppy and elegiac tones of the song, the video isn't all sunshine. In fact, the majority of the clip was shot [...]
Day 2 nearly killed me. There will be much fewer pictures in this post about the day I walked far far too much at SXSW. Has anyone else ever walked about six or more miles in the wrong direction, then tried to wave to hail a cab, only to have the cab driver wave back at you with his empty cab and keep driving? Hmmm... well I did. Part 1: Darren Hanlon Darren Hanlon and [...]
Boston folk/pop veteran Catie Curtis has answered the wishes of many of her loyal fans with Hello, Stranger, a stripped, organic collection of songs from her fifteen years at the forefront of the modern acoustic music movement. From mid-90's Lilith Fair, folk clubs and festival tours to work with artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter and fellow New Englander Dar Williams, Curtis has quietly released nine consistently exceptional albums of intelligent, wry and witty songs, including 2007's warm, lush Sweet Life . Now it was time to revisit some of her best and best-loved songs and render [...]
Juliette Commagere is the former lead singer of the now-defunct Hello Stranger and is currently leading her eponymous solo project. With a penchant for introspective lyrics, a collaboration with Avenged Sevenfold and a Monday night residency at the Echo she is poised to gain ground in the local music scene and possibly on Craigslist. This interview by Steven Martinez.
Words & Interview by Aaron Hunt Marianna Palka's original love story, Good Dick, was turning heads at last years Sundance film festival. It wasn't because the film is a touching expose of one woman's relationship struggles, but because the Scottish artist wrote, directed, produced, and acted in the film! Good Dick is an romantic comedy about a troubled, reclusive young woman; who rents erotic DVDs and the persistent video clerk who draws her out of her claustrophobic world by starting up a unique courtship with her. [...]
Keytar enthusiast and former member of indie rock band Hello Stranger , Juliette Commagere is back on the scene and getting serious. Seriously solo. With her new album Queens Die Proudly , produced by Aeronaut Records (it dropped October 28th), Juliette takes things down a level. By things I mean the tempo, keytar, dance-ability, even the volume a bit, but definitely not the quality. This quality goes to 11! Starting off with the didgeridoo enriched track "Hearts", Juliette sings with cool ambient vocals that echo out through the whole [...]
The southwest U.S. has been experiencing a gawd-awful heatwave for the past week, and on top of that, Indie Mom and I had to go to the desert where it was officially 116 degrees but unofficially probably hotter than that. Time to crank up a mix of hot music. I love making song mixes, which you might not know because I don't do nearly enough of it here. I wish I had discovered Two Hours' Traffic's album Little Jabs last year when it came out. There are lots of good songs on [...]
The internationally branded filmmaker, Wong Kar Wai 's first English speaking, U.S. shot film, My Bluberry Nights opened Friday in Los Angeles! After a nomination for the Golden Palm and opener at the 60th Annual Cannes Filmfest last year in France, I was for sure this film would be picked up for distro sooner or later, and I was in ultra anticipation for it's release. I finally got to see the film and I thought it was totally awesome and I think what did it for me was Norah Jones' character Elizabeth but [...]
Well for pete's sake, GO SEE U2 3D . That was the absolute coolest thing since, well, since Captain E.O. (sorry MJ). I had a huge silly smile plastered across my face for at least the whole first song, barely able to breathe but not realizing I was holding my breath. From superclose Bono yelling the opening count-off of Vertigo (in that creative Spanish), you feel like you're inches from the real live sweating tiny mofo. You can see the limber flex and vibration [...]
If you are struggling young band with a big noise looking for exposure you can decide to open for a more famous big noise band. And that's what Hello Stranger is doing right now. Opening for the Foo Fighters and wow the masses with your own kind of Moog heavy glam rock with a hint of folk. Tour dates: 01/26 Nashville, TN @ Municipal Auditorium 01/28 Fayetteville, AR @ Barnhill Arena 01/29 Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center 02/01 Reno, [...]
L.A.'s Hello Stranger will hit the road for a string of dates with the Foo Fighters and Against Me , beginning this month. A band constantly pushing their limits, Hello Stranger's sound combines elements of both rock and glam, mixed with a hefty dose of raw energy. After years of touring in true indie DIY fashion, and occasionally supporting friends like Kings of Leon and Rooney on national tours, Hello Stranger are excited to finally get a rider and a proper sound [...]
Hello, Ms. Precipitation. We've missed you. Goodbye, November. We'll never forget you. Gran Ronde appears on KXLU's "Demolisten" tonight. Buddy celebrates the release of his new album Alterations and Repairs at the Hotel Cafe with special guests. Aimee Mann kicks off her 2nd Annual Christmas tour with Nellie McKay and others at the El Rey. Jonathan Richman performs at Safari Sam's. Hello
"The indelible pop melodies on their debut album, plus their glammed out performances, have made Hello Stranger a sensation in Atlanta and L.A., plus their sassy, long-legged singer is wicked sexy." – Penthouse "The band's eponymous debut features a timeless musical formula: an ultra-tight rhythm section, a dazzlingly good guitar player, and a pin-up worthy lead singer (Juliette Commagere) with jazzy vocal chops and an intuitive sense of pop melody." – The Onion After taking some much needed time off from touring, Hello Stranger recently announced that it will be [...]
These are some mp3s that have been kindly zipped into my inbox, some I thought you might lilke to hear. southerly soldiers southerly dreams that make men free Band homepage black moth super rainbow the afternoon turns pink black moth super rainbow forever heavy Band homepage shout out louds [...]
Since I have spent the first part of the week catching up on stuff I figured I would go ahead and do the same today by finishing up my coverage of SXSW with a ramble about Hello Stranger. I saw the keytar-lead pop quartet play in Austin and after instantly falling in love I have been listening to them on repeat. Now, the band released their latest self titled effort way back last summer but for once we are going to set aside being ahead of the curve in favor of stepping back to look at what some [...]
Hello Stranger was the band that officially kicked off SXSW for me at the Austinist/Gothamist/Gorilla vs. Bear Party at the Mohawk on Wednesday afternoon. Technically, I had seen The Explorer's Club at Emo's the night before (they played an impressive cover of "Johnny B. Goode" that both rocked and brought back all kinds of memories from middle school music class), and had just watched part of a set by The Shivers inside at the Mohawk (good, but a little too sleepy for me to consider them the kick-off), but nothing says "official start" like a keytar. [...]
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*SIXEYES
Side One: Track One
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