MP3: Nathan Bell - Moonsblood from Nathan Bell @ 2640 (2008) Nathan Bell probably needs no introduction, particularly to those of you familiar with Baltimore music. In recent years this elder statesmen of Baltimore music (one-time bass player for Lungfish) has come to prominence for his transcendent instrumental expeditions on banjo, as well as his Human Bell project with Arbouretum's Dave Heumann. Bell explains the appeal of solely instrumental compositions simply: it's all about "room." He laments that vocals can [...]
This is a belated posting of an experimental set by Melissa Moore entitled "Wake-making: Ceremony of a Polyrhythmic Biogram." Her stage setup was a melange of homebrew electromechanical devices; a wavering turntable, a collection of flapping electro-kinetic sculptures on automotive jackstands, a Frankensteinian tableau of electronics, and Melissa sprawled on the floor in the center of it all. She continually rearranged the interconnections between these elements with alligator clips, funnelling signals through tortuous mazes of wire. After settling the circuits down to an autopilot drone, she takes up the guitar and adds pensive, improvised [...]
Flickrshow will appear here! Photo credit: Shantel Mitchell I knew about this show for awhile and I had every intention on going, but the day of the show I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was curl up on my sofa in my pajamas and watch a movie or something. However, I grabbed my camera and headed downtown despite my reluctance. I arrived just shortly before Fishbone was scheduled to go on and was surprised to see an empty Rams Head! I was [...]
MP3: The Water - Future Nails Tonight's headliners are one of the newest acts on NoVo's roster. Baltimore duo The Water only really started playing out in 2009, and swiftly gained some traction and notable fans around town, snagging big gigs like the Metro Gallery's Rufustival. Comprised of Dan Cohan (drums, electronics) and James Klink (guitars, keys, electronics), their self-titled and self-released EP was recorded with NoVo co-curator Matthew Leffler-Schulman in 2009, and serves up a strong cut of straight-up post-rock. Technically tight, but not [...]
You've probably seen or heard something about this week's inaugural NoVo ( No Vo cals) instrumental music festival somewhere around town ( City Paper , Fox45, WYPR's Maryland Morning and the Signal , the Baltimore Sun ), and with such an impressive lineup, you'd be a fool to miss it. Since opening the Windup Space , owner Russell de Ocampo (also a member of instrumental band Yeveto ) has yearned to hold a festival that [...]
First off, apologies for being quiet on the classical front. While you may be inclined to trek out to any show at all hours, the majority of the symphony and chamber audience express trepidation on ice. The biggest casualties of the snow: BSO's Porgy And Bes s, and the Candlelight Concert Society's All-Beethoven program with the Leipzig Quartet, which could have gone down as my "concert of the decade" - had it only happened. (Chin up, readers, the elusive and exemplary Leipzig players may still return in late 2010-2011). When the BSO struck up the opening of [...]
MP3: American Folklore - Arrows from Trapped in the Game (2010) What I feel towards American Folklore is an unusual kind of fondness. It's distinct from a critical or artistic penchant, but still very apparent. I don't think I understand it quite yet. Granted, I do kind of like how the name "American Folklore" looks in print, how it rolls off the tongue-but that can't be the whole of it. Maybe it's because I so rarely hear decent music coming out of Westminster, a town whose [...]
MP3: Celebration - I Will Not Fall MP3: Celebration - Open Your Heart Celebration are one of Baltimore's more reclusive groups, and one of the city's best treasures with a sound that is always captivating, always evolving, and always delivering a show-stopping live set. Their [...]
MP3: Lizz King - Mr. Fella MP3: Lizz King - Till They Do Where do I begin? All Songs Go To Heaven was, to me, quite unprecedented. Honestly, I didn't even know about its release until Greg posted a preview for Lizz King's album party at the Windup Space. Shows how informed I am. I'm just glad to not have missed out. Now, although there are a number of routes I might take to [...]
Flickrshow will appear here! Photo credit: Greg Szeto This performance is absolutely transcendant. I am still in a state of disbelief. What we have here is J. Robbins on guitar and vocals with his friend Gordon Withers on cello, playing acoustic arrangements of amazing songs from current and previous bands that have been blessed by the presence of Robbins ( Burning Airlines , Jawbox , Channels , and current project [...]
MP3: Pfisters - She's Mine from the forthcoming 123 Narcicity (Fan Death Records) Pfisters, Landlords, White Suns, Needle Gun @ Ruintown, Doors @ 9PM / $5 Tonight, roll, don't walk, to your friendly neighborhood multi-use warehouse space as the concert venue cum industrial skate space Ruintown hosts yet another killer show. The highlight of highlights will likely be the ferocious and aptly named headliners Pfisters . Fortunately for most, unlike their homophonic namesake, [...]
Photo credit : David Carter Lake Trout is a longtime Baltimore institution. They do not gig nearly often enough as of late, so I was most pleased to have a rare shot at recording one of their shows in mid-January. James has been in the UK working on an upcoming UNKLE release for many months but returned to Baltimore for this excellent set. There is a new Lake Trout release on the horizon as well, with recording sessions scheduled this month, and plans to work with producer Dave [...]
To cap off this series of posts on Human Conduct Records , I exchanged a week-long email relay with all-around Human Conduct man, Rick Weaver . Our conversation exposed what my previous pieces attempted to avoid-the theoretical foundations of Human Conduct's disposition. Coincidentally, it is my impression that we also received a remarkably profound character profile for Rick Weaver (whose works were covered extensively in Part 2 ). Aural States - How about we start with a brief history of Human Conduct. Can you [...]
MP3: Caverns - Arctic Phantoms A week from today, our newest venture (EP label Aural Slate Recordings ) will launch with the release of Caverns' EP We Lied . Caverns have long been one of my favorite local artists, providing a unique take on the stale formula of rock and an explosively engaging live show. I'm really proud to have them on-board as our inaugural release. The first release show will be on Friday February 19th at Comet Ping Pong [...]
In between rehearsals for James Husband and of Montreal , we caught up with Jamey Huggins before both bands begin a short eastern tour. Huggins, who has played drums, bass and keyboards (that I know of) for of Montreal since 1998, has just released his solo effort, A Parallax I . We spoke for a bit about being in two bands at once, being influenced by Guided by Voices and what the future may hold for of Montreal. [...]
An Hour of Kindness- Episode 5- Winks- She Comes in Colors from Polygon Tree Productions on Vimeo . Related posts: An Hour of Kindness : Episode 1 - Lands & Peoples An Hour of Kindness : Episode 5 - In Every Room An Hour of Kindness : Episode 1 - Ava Luna
MP3: Lee Fields & the Expressions - These Moments MP3: The Sound Stylistics - The Taking of Peckham 343 Production does a lot for the music we listen to. Just think about it for a moment-some sort of production must have, at one point or another, generated an effect upon every single vibration that has ever passed through any set of speakers worldwide. Period. Whether the result can be found in the artist's instrument selection, microphones, choosing between analog or digital recording methods, editing, or in your speakers [...]
An Hour of Kindness- Episode 5- In Every Room- Untitled from Polygon Tree Productions on Vimeo . Related posts: An Hour of Kindness : Episode 1 - Lands & Peoples An Hour of Kindness : Episode 3 - Fearsome Creatures An Hour of Kindness : Episode 1 - Ava Luna
MP3: Beach House - Norway Sometime around 2006 or 2007, during my first of two senior years in college, I decided to make a long-overdue effort to actually engage in my hometown music scene. All that really means is I jumped on MySpace and did a search for "Baltimore" under the music section. Not particularly effective or engaging, I realize now. Regardless, I did eventually find my way to Beach House , and they were one of the acts that resonated almost immediately, and one of the few that remained with me. [...]
Felix Lighter - "Doug" , Live @ the Chameleon Club Centered around a shared rehearsal space/ studio, and away from the sometimes harsh glare of Philadelphia and Baltimore, a small independent music scene is starting to grow, flourish, and gain some well-deserved attention in Lancaster, PA. While independent describes their approach, it is the collective power of all the groups that share the studio that give the scene its strength. Over the course of the years, a strong core of musicians and bands has come together [...]
Aural States
Beck - 'I Just Started Hating Some People Today' [Listen]
[LISTEN] Gotye (Passion Pit Remix)
Princesse - Tell Me | MP3
