Slingshot 2015: Nightmare Air x Vinyl Mag

Posted on by Emily McBride

NightmareAir_Promo

Nightmare Air are on a roll.  Described as “possibly L.A.’s loudest band” (Surfing on Steam), they’ve been on a recent tirade, tearing up LA with multiple shows, dropping in on South by Southwest last week in Austin, and now heading to Athens, GA for night two of Slingshot Festival.

Even better? The band will be playing a Slingshot showcase hosted by none other than your favorite online music mag (us. Vinyl Mag. I know that’s what you were thinking).  Come out to the Caledonia Lounge tomorrow night for some ear-smashing loud music.  We’ll see you there.

We grabbed some time with NA’s guitarist/vocalist Dave Dupuis to talk about Slingshot, being on a Japanese label, and skateboard tricks.  Enjoy.

Vinyl Mag: What sounds or inspiration did you take from your previous band (Film School) to Nightmare Air?

Dave Dupuis: The wall of sound that we had as a five-piece in Film School is something that I love and is important to me, which we do well in Nightmare Air as the power trio….but with Nightmare Air, we’re making music a little more direct, a bit more rocky and upbeat, which is a natural move for the the three of us in this band.

VM: How does living in LA influence your sound or performance?

DD: Hate to be that guy, but the weather is just nice in LA! For me, when the weather is nice, it gives you a lot of mental freedom, which helps when it comes to making a record. This coming from a New Hampshire native and one who has lived for many years in Seattle…the consistent LA weather is appreciated.

There are lot of great bands in LA, too, which keeps you as an artist pushing your creative limits to be the best you can, live and in the studio.

VM: Where do the rock n roll sounds in your album come from/who are they influenced by?

DD: A lot of time in the studio monkeying around with FX pedals, keyboards…..looping bits and screaming/ mumbling into the mic for hours till you get that sweet combination to create the vibe!

VM: You are on a Japanese label, Vinyl Junkie. How did that come about? Do you have a large following there?

DD: The Vinyl Junkie signing came about through the US label that put High in the Lasers out digitally and on CD, Saint Marie Records. The Japanese version has different art work and some extra tracks, which is quite cool, too. Are we big in Japan? Isn’t everyone!? We have yet to go over there, hopefully soon.

VM: Favorite band you’ve shared the stage with?

DD: Tough question. Last year, we did a co-headline tour with a good pals from London called Roman Remains. They are two members of UK band The Duke Spirit, whom I toured with for a couple years. Great bands, great friends, good times.

VM: “Nightmare Air” is the name of a skateboard trick…do you still try to find time to skate between all the tours and traveling?

DD: I do! Depending on the tour, I love taking a board on tour, too.

VM: While you’re touring, do you find time to write, or do you do all of your writing at home?

DD: It’s next to impossible to write on the road; it’s a different brain for me. We sometimes come up with a few musical ideas at sound checks….pretty rare though. I always have my little lyric book and always write down phrases or words that are inspiring, which most of the time ends up being just a collection of weird tripped out shit. A lot of those things make it into the songs though! The name of our debut LP High in the Lasers definitely came off that list.

VM: Best festival ever attended?

DD: Plissken Festival in Athens, Greece last summer was an amazing experience for us. We ended up staying in Athens for a week. Played the opening night party and ended up doing a really fun live recording session at a great studio out there called Lizard Sound. Great people and made some good friends for life.

VM: What are you most excited to do while you’re in Athens [Georgia] besides play Slingshot?

DD: Hang out!

VM: What can audiences expect from you Slingshot show?

DD: A wild ride.

VM: What’s next for Nightmare Air?

DD: We’re in the process of making a new record, we recorded a bunch of ideas before we left for this tour, and hoping to record another batch when we get back…album and a big tour this fall!

Slingshot 2015: Fascinator x Vinyl Mag

Posted on by Emily Schoone

fascinator

It’s safe to say that Fascinator follows through on the promise that their name implies. With tempered and melodic sounds and psychedelic visuals, front man Johnny Mackay leads the three-man band as the self-declared Lord Fascinator. His previous project, Children Collide, was a Melbourne-based modern rock project that mostly dissolved after Mackay’s move to America.

As Fascinator appears to have become Mackay’s musical priority, he has adopted a whole new style and sound. The synthetic beats may come through your headphones as rather “chill,” but they take on whole new dimension when performed on stage. The guys, clad in multi-colored layered pieces of clothing, have a ritual of covering their faces with masks. From heavy fringe to baklavas covered in googly eyes, their theatrical stage presence enhances their rather self-aware lyrics.

This practice has also carried over into the band’s trippy music videos, wherein images are often fixed over the members’ faces or are heavily covered with hats and large sunglasses.

Fascinator’s last album, Birth/Earth, was a combination of two albums, Birth and Earth, respectively, released in 2013. Birth came first in July with five tracks, and Earth followed in October with another five. The two were combined and enhanced by Mackay’s media production hobby and affinity for still and moving collages.

Be sure to catch Fascinator’s show at Slingshot Festival this Friday at the Georgia Theatre in Athens.

We got a few minutes with Lord Fascinator himself to talk about Slingshot, the band’s collages and masks, and what we can expect next.

Vinyl Mag: Are your social media photoshopped pictures and collages a social commentary of any kind?

Lord Fascinator: Photoshopped? For too long cosmic shaman like myself have been shunned by mainstream society. I’m just here to represent my people and beings of all planets.

VM: Your Facebook page says you’re inspired by Beck…do you have a favorite Beck album?

LF: Mellow Gold for fun. Odelay for tricks. Sea Change for emotions.

VM: Where did the idea of the mask come from?

LF: I want everyone and anyone to be in Fascinator. There’s a unique individuality to this unique brand of anonymity.

VM: Are you using the mask to hide from someone/something?

LF: No. I’m using it to expose something/someone.

VM: Most interesting crowd you’ve played (DJ’d?) for?

LF: Either Burning Man or when I performed my guided meditation, Lord Meditator, to a bunch of dinner dining families on white plastic furniture at Sydney Festival.

VM: Where do you get the inspiration for your psychedelic collage music videos?

LF: From deep, down inside. Or in front of my face. Or coldest, darkest space. See also Maurizio Cattelan, Alejandro Jodorowsky, or whoever’s world I’m sniffing around in at the time…

VM: Who are you most excited to see at Slingshot?

LF: Omar Souleyman, Holly Herndon, Awesome Tapes From Africa, Prince Rama.

VM: Favorite thing about Athens?

LF: The people and the food and the people who give you food.

VM: What’s next for Fascinator?

LF: Finishing up five videos so I can finally release my album, Man.

SXSW 2015: Clean Bandit x Vinyl Mag

Posted on by Rebecca Smith
@thisisvinyl Instagram: No place we'd rather be than here at #NMmakesomenoise watching @cleanbandit @jessglynne and @courtthebesta #vinylmagsxsw
@vinylmag Instagram: No place we’d rather be than here at #NMmakesomenoise watching @cleanbandit @jessglynne and @courtthebesta #vinylmagsxsw

Clean Bandit prides itself on gracefully meshing house and classical music while collaborating with some of the best vocal artists and DJs in the world. Their smash hit “Rather Be” featuring Jess Glynne has been a huge turning point for the band. We sat down with brothers Jack and Luke Patterson, who play keyboard and drums respectively, to talk collaboration, US tours, and flashing the goods.

Vinyl Mag: Can you tell us a little bit about your time in Russia? Was it a conscious decision to blend house music and classical, or was it just a happy accident for you guys?

Jack Patterson: It was kind of an accident. The initial genesis of it was quite lucky. It was kind of circumstantial. Grace had a string quartet, and I was helping them out a lot; I was doing recordings for them and helping them promote their gigs.

Luke Patterson: You said that you lived above a house record shop?

JP: Yes.

LP: I wasn’t there at the time. You said you were self-consciously being driven to making more electronic, more “housey,” not commercial, but more popular music.

VM: Why did you guys choose the title New Eyes for the album?

JP: There’s a song on there that I really like called “New Eyes,” which is actually named after a place south of France called New Eye. That just kind of Anglicized the version of that name, and we just liked it. It seems to fit.

VM: Did you have any idea when you were writing New Eyes how many people would like it – that 300 million people would be dancing to it?

LP: No, I don’t think we knew. For the singles, for the songs, we definitely had an idea that that was really going to take off, but in terms of the album, no. We just find it really cool that we’ve made this body of work into so many different types of music. It’s really humbling to hear that people respect that and are embracing all of these different styles.

VM: Do you guys have certain singers in mind when you’re writing the music, or does that just come later?

JP: It depends, really. Some of the songs we’ll work on with vocalists, half of it is written with the person who’s featuring, the other half is written with other writers. We’ve got a couple of long-standing friends that we write music with. Some of it is all of our own material, and that stuff is probably not written with anyone in mind.

VM: You guys do sing sometimes, but it’s usually just smaller stuff? You try to have as much collaboration as possible?

JP: I’m singing on “Dust Clears” and “New Eyes” as well.

VM: A little birdie told us you guys might be collaborating with Marina and the Diamonds soon. Can you comment on that?

JP: Yeah, we did a session, and it was definitely like a track in the works.

JP: She’s fantastic.

VM: How many times have you been to SXSW?

LP: This is our first time.

VM: How many shows are you guys playing?

LP: Five.

VM: Do you guys work closely with the DJ’s when they do remixes?

JP: It kind of just happens. It depends. Some of the remixes just got sent, and we’re like, “Okay, cool.” Some of them we’ve tried to get ourselves. With Gorgon City, we’ve done really cool remixes, like with our song “Nightingale,” which we play live. It’s really an amazing interpretation of the track.

VM: Have you guys been in any flash mobs since your video for “Rather Be”?

LP: We had a flash mob in Japan.

JP: Luke likes flashing in mobs. He likes flashing to the general public.

VM: What’s the biggest difference playing concerts or festivals in the UK as opposed to the US?

LP: So much more up for it, for the US.

JP: We haven’t really done a lot of US festivals yet. This is our first, but the crowds are just really nice, really warm. It seems like they’re much more ready to let go in the US. You have to work a bit harder to get there in the UK.

LP: You have to really persuade them to have a good time.

VM: What’s next for you guys? Are you going to do more festivals here, or are you going to go back?

JP: Yeah, we’ve got a few more shows. We’ve been touring now for six weeks in the States.

LP: We got Coachella and Governor’s Ball.

VM: Who are you most excited to see at SXSW?

JP: Probably Marina and the Diamonds.

VM: Would you consider yourselves “food truck” people or “BBQ joint” people?

JP & LP: What’s food truck?

VM: Austin has trucks all over the city that sell unique types of delicious food. You need to try it, ASAP!

JP: Okay, sweet! I’m excited.

VM: Anything else you’d like to say?

JP: New single “Real Love,” check it out, our album, and a new video we just put out for a song called “Stronger.”

*You can check out Clean Bandits new video for “Stronger” below!

WATCH: Charli XCX: “Famous”

Posted on by Nikki Smith

At Vinyl Mag, we love Charli XCX; no doubt our readers love her, too. More obscure but equally loved Eric Wareheim of Tim and Eric directed Charli’s newest music video, “Famous.” Two of our favorite artists in one!

If you’re familiar with Tim and Eric, you’re right to expect a video plagued with obnoxious graphics and a slightly creepy vibe. “Famous” is just that, focusing on our generation’s obsession with technology.

Emojis flying, a fake infomercial, and various old people just doing what they don’t do best…taking selfies. Expect an element of the grotesque and one of hilarity. This is a brainchild Vinyl Mag will be nurturing for a while.

SXSW 2015: Parlour Tricks x Vinyl Mag

Posted on by Rebecca Smith

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Made up of three girls and three boys, Parlour Tricks’ sound is every bit as balanced and effortless as their group dynamic. We caught up with Lily, Brian, Morgane, Angelo, DeeDee, and Terry during South by Southwest to chat about their upcoming debut album, Broken Hearts/Bones, changing their name, and some interesting pre-show rituals.

Vinyl Mag: Last year when we interviewed you guys, you were still Lily & The Parlour Tricks. Why did you drop the Lily?

Lily: I left the band! No, I’m just kidding. It was mostly just a practical trimming of fat move. We refer to ourselves as Parlour Tricks, or just Tricks, and so do other people.  When someone asks, “What’s your band name?” and you say, “Lily & The Parlour Tricks,” inevitably they just get confused, so it just seemed like a natural move.

DeeDee: Another thing is that Lily is our bandleader; she writes all the music and all the lyrics, but we are a band. There are six of us, so it was nice. It felt unnatural and unnecessary.

VM: Having an even boy/girl ratio in a band is pretty rare; do you think that affects your dynamic?

Morgane: We actually say that’s one of the reasons we get along so well. We joke about it I think, but it’s also kind of true. The fact of it being evenly split allows there to be somewhat of an equilibrium, that’s magical and makes it easy.

VM: You guys put on a great show. Do you think your stage presence is a result of playing together for so many years?

Lily: Our comfort with each other has been there from square one, but I think it took time to understand. It’s still taking time; it’s an ongoing process. It’s definitely fun. Our main goal is to be enjoying ourselves on stage.

VM: Can you tell us a little bit about the writing process with the new album and maybe some themes that are going on?

Lily: It’s funny. This album was very personal, which is very, very new terrain for me. I used to write almost exclusively drawing from different stories or newspaper articles and stuff like that. It started with “Requiem” and “Love Songs” and “The Storm.”  It was like a little game for myself. With other songs, our guitarist Angelo would call me and challenge me to write another song, and we would record that instead of what we were planning to record. It was an interesting challenge and fun, but it was personal in a way that I had not ever been comfortable doing before. I’m not an instrumentalist at all, but I got an omnichord for my birthday like two years ago, which Brian actually plays when we do acoustic performances. It has like eight chords on it, and it’s very limiting, but in a safe way for someone who doesn’t play an instrument. I began writing on that, and it became weirdly integral to the sound of the album. We don’t play it on the album, but it became a necessity. I would send very bare bones voice tracks with three part harmonies and a bass line to them and begin to put it together.

VM: That sounds like a process.

Lily: This was a very lengthy but relaxed process. The fact that it turned out to conveniently be an album of 10 songs was a bonus. We just wanted to be working on these new songs in a new way.

Brian: It was a different palette and approach to music; you start getting more textures. It defined how we approached and created the album. We were searching for a sound that felt like us. It probably took longer than we wanted.

VM: We heard you guys split a lemon six ways before going out on stage every night. What’s up with that?

Lily: Morgane was sick one time with a 104-degree fever and needed to wake up. We had to go out there, so we all sucked a lemon together. I don’t know if we gave it much thought. It’s just like a slap in the face when you bite the whole thing and eat it.

VM: Being from New York, how did it feel to be named “Best Pop Band of 2014” by Village Voice?

Angelo: It was a really great feeling. If it was our moms voting it would be like, oh…but it’s the Village Voice – more than just our moms.

VM: Is getting so much positive press before your album drops more scary or satisfying for you?

Lily: I think it’ll be interesting. I have absolutely no idea what people will think about this album. None. It’s encouraging to hear people have responded well to the two songs we put out from it. I have no idea if it’ll lead to more press. Strong reactions are what we’re going for.

VM: You’ve performed a lot at festivals in the past year. How is SXSW different?

Lily: The first time we played at SXSW, we did like nine shows in four days, so this is kind of tame. SXSW is such a different animal; it has to be approached differently. Parking is the only really bad thing and having to navigate with all our gear.

Morgane: There’s something about SXSW. We know what to expect; we know it’s going to be crazy, and everyone’s going to come prepared.

VM: This is your third year at SXSW. Do you feel like every year you’re gradually seeing more opportunities as a result of playing here?

Brian: Every time we’ve come, or almost immediately after, we’ve seen a direct effect. In our minds, it’s totally worth it. We have a great time doing it.

VM: What’s the best thing you’ve eaten at SXSW so far?

Lily: We ate at this legit little diner called Magnolia Café. It was so delicious and out of the way.

VM: Who are you excited to see this year?

Morgane: Stromae! He’s a Belgian rapper. We also want to see some of our friends.

VM: What’s next for you guys?

Lily: Taking a nap. We’re playing a fun show next weekend at Rough Trade in New York with Bright Light – Bright Light from the UK. We’re going to be releasing “The Storm” in the spring with a video and then preparing to release the album.

 

*Check out Parlour Tricks perform their new single “Storm” at Austin’s Riverview Bungalow for Paste Magazine.

Built To Spill: “Never Be The Same”

Posted on by Kelsey Butterworth

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As the release date of Built To Spill’s latest record – their first in six years – gets ever closer, the band have given us another preview with their second single, “Never Be The Same.” This is a song that won’t be harshing anyone’s mellow anytime soon. Though the song is relatively short at just over three minutes, the repeating chords and riffs put you in an indie trance. Still, it’s a little more focused than their mathy first single, “Living Zoo”.

Loosely, “Never Be The Same” is about how the experiences we have are constantly forging us into new people, and how time is cyclical. Just your average midtempo metaphysical musings. As with the rest of their body of work, there’s a vaguely cosmic feel to the whole thing; the album’s title (Untethered Moon) and the album art featuring Caaaaats Iiiiin Spaaaaace certainly contribute.

During the band’s absence, plenty have taken up the mantle of jangle – bands like Real Estate, Surfer Blood, and Beach Fossils come to mind. This type of music is inherently appealing because it’s relaxing to listen to. It’s our generation’s soft rock, but not, you know, crappy; it’s the kind of music that will play in the hip dentist offices of the future. But Built To Spill was one of the forebands of the subgenre, and it’s nice to have a return to form once the whippersnappers take over the scene.

Courtney Barnett: ‘Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit’

Posted on by Kelsey Butterworth

Considering the considerable press Courtney Barnett has garnered in recent months, it may surprise some that she’s only just released her first album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. Her singles and EPs have upped the anticipation ante, and have worried initial fans – myself included – about whether or not the album itself would stack up. Well worry not, because it does.

Songs like “An Illusion of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York)” and “Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to The Party” are filled with 90s slacker shoegaze with the low end scooped out. They’re spiky slices of college radio-informed punk. But Barnett’s got other tricks up her sleeve, as the bluesy, circus-y waltz “Small Poppies” and sun-and-surf, Vile-borrowing “Depreston” prove. They’re self-aware, smartly arranged, likable… and very, very relatable. Barnett’s lyrics are rapid-fire and approach spoken word at times, especially on lead single “Pedestrian At Best” and the nervous post-grad anthem “Elevator Operator”. These are songs about the anxious, meta-to-a-fault search for authenticity; about existential quarter life crises, the seemingly inescapable move to suburbia, and always feeling financially behind. “We either think that we’re invincible / Or that we are invisible / Realistically, we’re somewhere in between” she drones on the dark confessional “Kim’s Caravan”.  Even the album’s title expresses the sought-after fine line between excessive reflection and zen-like emptiness. This is a record about the millennials who have simultaneously had everything handed to them and everything taken away.

And who better in this day and age to explore such a theme? Barnett is a woman who shreds her left-handed guitar and makes no attempt to hide her Australian accent for the sake of marketing demos. “Debbie Downer” is a sly feminist nod to the Stop Telling Women To Smile campaign, and she casually refers to Jesus as a “she”. Barnett is the embodiment of a current generation that’s inspired a million thinkpieces, the unsmiling Broad City of indie rock. We can’t wait for album #2.

4/5

 

15 Must-See Shows at Slingshot 2015

Posted on by Kelsey Butterworth

Ahh, spring. That magical time when the freezing rain subsides, the hillsides grow wild with kudzu, and Slingshot slingshots itself back into town. This year’s lineup is as eclectic as it’s ever been, but with significantly bigger names set to fill the marquees of Athens.

Arcade Fire’s Win Butler will be doing a DJ set as DJ Windows 98, as will James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. Reptar will be playing a Georgia Theatre album release show, and cameos will be made by Jamie XX of the xx and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra.

As always, your best bet is to buy a three-day pass. Here are the 15 shows we’re looking forward to the most.

15. Every Art Installation (seriously) (Thurs-Sat @ Creature Comforts)

One of the most unique things Slingshot brings to Athens is the wide variety of thought-provoking electronic art installations. Last year saw hand stitched QR codes, weather balloon projectors, and a ton of reinvented psychedelic imagery. Though the installations are spread across downtown, they’ll be somewhat centered around Creature Comforts. Check out the electronic artists page to see what you’re in for.

14. Ruby The Rabbitfoot and Viking Progress (Friday @ Hendershots)

Athens’ favorite chill pixie dreamgirl Ruby The Rabbitfoot will be playing Hendershots on Friday, in support of her recent release New As Dew as well as even newer material like “Hooky Queen.” She’ll be joined by The Viking Progress, whose appropriately boat-themed songs use the same sad, droning horn sections of Neutral Milk Hotel‘s past.

13. Cottonmouth and SEX BBQ (Thursday @ Go Bar)

Though the billing may sound like a picnic gone horribly wrong, don’t sleep on either of these bands. Cottonmouth‘s alien sounds would fit in well with the electronic art crowd – though “avant hip-hop” is thrown in occasionally, this is a group of whacked out sonic explorers. Atlanta-based SEX BBQ are a little more Ath-traditional, with surf guitars bumping up against coy vocals and playful rhythms.

12. Shehehe, Little Gold, and Pinecones (Thursday @ Little Kings)

Shehehe are a good time any way you slice it. Whether it’s the straight-ahead punk of “Rollin'” or the Corin Tucker-aping “Hail Vagina”, they are in the lucky position of keeping several punk traditions alive. Little Gold, on the other hand, bring trashy Detroit-inspired rock and roll to the table. But what would an Athenian fest be without some indie psych? To be sure they are (generally) a psychedelic band, and their sound is concise but sometimes hard to pin down. Their recent single “Sleep Is Forget” plays like the Byrds fed through Ian MacKaye’s tube amp.

11. Salad Days Screening

Speaking of Ian MacKaye, every punk and hardcore band Athens has ever hosted owes much of their sound to the D.C. hardcore scene of the 80s and 90s. Obviously artists like Minor Threat, Fugazi, and Government Issue ring out, but Salad Days digs deeper into the Dischord vault. Check out the trailer here.

10. Normaltown Records Showcase feat. Dave Marr, Cicada Rhythm, and Daniel Romano (Saturday @ Caledonia)

Here at Vinyl Mag, we love ourselves some Normaltown, so their showcase on Saturday is a must for those getting overwhelmed by the explorative nature of psychedelic rock. Rootsing things down will be Cicada Rhythm with their particular brand of almost jangle noirgrass, plus the back-to-basics country crooning of (somehow Canadian) Daniel Romano. Athens legend and Man About Town Dave Marr will also be there, so, you know, ’nuff said.

9. Comedy Night feat. Kurt Braunohler, Ron Funches, and Kyle Kinane (Saturday @ Morton)

Slingshot also brings the laughs every year, and in 2015 we’re lucky enough to host these big names in alt comedy. That podcast you listen to? Kurt Braunohler has most likely guested on it. And don’t forget his IFC gig hosting the absurd gameshow Bunk!. Ron Funches has rolled through various late night standup corners to muse about Black tuba players and the inherent freakiness of identical twins. Kyle Kinane has guest starred in a ton of shows and movies, and his specials Whiskey Icarus and I Liked His Old Stuff Better show his wide comedic range.

8. Ryley Walker, Roadkill Ghost Choir, and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra (Thursday @ GATH)

Like the Normaltown showcase, Thursday’s GATH shows will be stripped down and based in purer southern traditions. Roadkill Ghost Choir play a shimmering, steroid-popping type of noirgrass that occasionally slips into War on Drugs territory. Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra drops the yowling southern shoegaze affectations when he goes solo – most of his songs are him and an acoustic, featuring more personal and plaintive songs about growing up as a pastor’s kid. And Ryley Walker’s Voice Of The Seven Thunders-esque guitar work is a can’t-miss; he’s also something of a vocal dead ringer for Jim Morrison.

7. Kenosha Kid Album Release w/ Etiene de Rocher (Saturday @ Hendershots)

Athens being the Classic City, the old is bound to intermingle with the new. This juxtaposition will be in full swing on Saturday with the jazz stylings of our own Kenosha Kid, and Etiene de Rocher, an Athens transplant from the Bay Area. Kenosha Kid are known for modern reinterpretations of stalwart jazz ideas, and they play Hendershots all the time so they’re very comfortable in that space. Etiene de Rocher’s music is a grab bag of 60s and 70s influence, and songs like “Juniper Rose” sound like a newly-discovered section in “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”.

6. Reptar Album Release w/ Skylar Spence, Fascinator (Friday @ GATH)

A hometown Reptar show is a special thing to behold, but throw in an album release and you’ve got grounds for another broken floor (hopefully the Theatre is built better than that.) The Joyful Noise recruits will be joined by Skylar Spence, who are similarly funk-sample laden. And make sure to get there early for Fascinator, whose of Montreal-emulating visuals pair nicely with their paranoid, ravine-jumping, Beastie Boys-emulating sound.

5. Single Mothers and Monsoon (Friday @ Live Wire)

The beach-punk-spazz stylings of Monsoon is probably the best live show in Athens right now, so see them any chance you get. Playing alongside them on Friday at the Live Wire (formerly New Earth) is the Canadian hardcore four piece Single Mothers, who sound uncannily like a pissed off Hold Steady.

4. Japan Nite (Thursday @ Live Wire)

Japan Nite 2014 was a festival highlight, so don’t expect anything to change this time around. Peelander-Z are making a colorful return to Live Wire, along with fellow Japanese punkers Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, Quorum, Bo-Peep, and Zarigani$. The fin. will be there to slow things down a bit, with their melodic M83-influenced plinks. God Bless America and all that, but expect these whippersnappers to remind us what punk started as in the first place. There will be leather jackets, and there will be ‘tude.

3. Night of Too Many DJs feat. Michael Lacowski of Pylon, DJ Windows 98 aka Will Butler of Arcade Fire, and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem  (Saturday @ GATH)

Okay, when these names are all sharing the same stage, “too many” doesn’t really apply. Deejaying may not be the same as seeing these folks’ full ensembles, but consider the wealth of musical knowledge that will inhabit the Theatre on this night. This will be the dance party to end all dance parties.

2. Vinyl Mag Showcase feat. Prince Rama, Nightmare Air, and Dream Boat (Friday @ Caledonia)

Our showcase will be kind of trippy, man, so prepare yourself. Dream Boat do indeed sound like a boat to your dreams – they create experimental, faraway sounding beats that vaguely resemble church bells. Prince Rama are more concerned with melodies, but are similarly characterized by distance – their heady songs have Warpaint grooves and creepiness, with plenty of chanting, obviously. Nightmare Air are what you might imagine an all-werewolf band to sound like – dark, loud, and dangerous, but still pretty compelling.

1. Vinyl Mag Presents Nana Grizol and Mind Brains (Saturday @ Live Wire)

Mind Brains are one of the latest iterations of Athens’ storied psych scene, featuring former of Montreal and Olivia Tremor Control players. Like its predecessors, Mind Brains have invented a world for themselves; they classify themselves with monikers like “experimental” and “muffins”, and their press kit states thusly: “Mind Brains’ new album drops on Hamuary 666th, 1945, and hearing it is not unlike happening upon a horde of corrupted Gregorians using garbage-picked toys and circuit-bent home-aids to worship at the high pagan monoliths of Silver Apples, Tubeway Army and Chrome.” Nana Grizol use crunchy indie rock to backdrop singer Theo’s sad, emotive lyrics, and while they may not be as quirky as Mind Brains, they’re a little more danceable. Horns and handclaps will be plentiful.

Laura Marling: ‘Short Movie’

Posted on by Morgan Greenfield

lauramarling

After many grueling hours in the studio, up-and-coming artist Laura Marling may deliver the best folk Americana album this month. With every song drenched in depth, this singer-songwriter branches from her usual acoustic to much grungier electric guitar.

The album’s concept primarily lies within Marling’s exploration of herself. As a child growing up in London, she started strong in the business, even racking up a famous relationship with a Mumford brother. Marling moved to LA during her time off from the scene and searched for her soul, taking a full break from music. However, after two years, she found her way back. Short Movie, recorded in London’s Urchin Studios, marks her return.

The album features musicians Matt Ingram on drums, Ruth De Tuberville on Cello, Nick Pini on bass, Tom Fiddle, and of course Marling on guitar. All songs were written and produced by Laura herself.

The album starts off with song “Warrior,” a Bonnie Tyler/American lyric-inspired synthy western love story. She presents herself in this moody, ambient mix, reminding listeners of exactly who she is as an independent singer/songwriter.

The album only gets better with “False Hope.” Marling fans have probably played this song a thousand times from her “Short Movie Sessions” available both on her website and YouTube.  The song shows off not only Laura’s lyrical abilities but also the band that helps bring her magic to life. As she sings about her life in New York, her band – even live – hits every note perfectly and provides the ideal balance with every riff and drum beat to this upbeat yet melancholy piece of genius.

The next song, which is just as brilliant, has a similar sound to the “Warrior.”  Unlike “Warrior,” however, “I Feel Your Love” includes the beautiful sounds of the violin instead of synth. Touching on relationships in life, this song provides you with a continual chill as she creates an image of a caged bird yearning for freedom, regardless of the love she feels.

The album takes a turn with the song “Strange.” Instead of showing off her singing, Marling speaks straight poetry as bongos and maracas play, giving a different twist to this folk game she plays.

Tracks “Easy” and “Gurdijeff’s Daughter” have a similar taste but differ in the lyrical scenarios Marling presents. And trust me – the album only gets better – “Worship Me” is not one to be overlooked – and worship you, we do, Marling.

Although Marling has been placed in the folk-Americana-indie singer/songwriter genre, which has become overrun with many musicians these days, Marling strives for innovation through self-reflection in this album. Every song brings a different thought to the table.

5/5

Playlist: Slingshot 2015

Posted on by Kelsey Butterworth

This year’s installment of our beloved Slingshot Festival is fast approaching (March 26-28), and we can’t wait to see this year’s incredible lineup live and in person. Slingshot is an event that forces perspective, whether it’s through the mind-bending electronic art, horizon-expanding films, or worldly and forward-thinking musicians. Though no playlist could do these artists justice, here’s a collection of high-quality songs to give you a sense of just how diverse and talented this year’s acts are.