I’ve been following Lightfoot for some time now, so it’s no surprise that I’ve been anxiously awaiting Jessica Dye and company’s first full-length release, Scarlet Sails.
The album includes three brand new songs and new productions (vast improvements with layer upon layer of additional reverberating goodness) of the three songs from their last release, People Who Throw Kisses Are Hopelessly Lazy.
Lightfoot’s music draws heavily on influences of the 50s, 60s, and 70s without specifically pigeonholing themselves into any one era. There are traces of 60s psychedelic garage rock on the opening track, “Pow Wow”, there’s sensible dancehall doo-wop dripping all over the empowered “City Girls”, and “Caged Bird” echoes a version of New Orleans gospel that manages to be lamenting yet remorseless. Ironically, the song least remniscent of the era is titled “1963” in case you somehow missed all the signs along the way.
Jessica Dye’s voice has always been seductive and powerful, but the production of Scarlet Sails and the thoughtfully layered arrangements really bring her vocal emotion to the forefront. Throaty growls, breathy confessions, and belting choruses all find their place on these tracks amidst bold guitar lines, moody brass, and a full spectrum of percussion.
If I have any criticism of the album, it's the brevity – I would have loved a few more songs to develop the album’s mood further. However, as it stands, this is a very strong release from a great, young band. Highly recommended! -Jarrett
Silver Spring MD's post-hardcore rock band When Embers Ignite lit up our recent poll drawing in a staggering amount of votes that got them Band of the Month. With a demo out now and regular gigs around the DMV, these guys are really starting to grow. So we got a hold of Tawni Lee (Lead Vox,) Mike DeProspo (Lead Guitar,) Josh Kennon (Guitar & Vox) Bobby DeRosa (Bass & Vox,) and Mike Nager (Drums & Vox) to find out more about them. Here they tell us about prospects of recording an EP, supporting locals, and equipment they can't live without. Now onto the interview...
Catch them live next in a Battle of the Bands, March 8th at the Hard Rock in Baltimore.
How did the band start? Mike Nager (Drums/Vocals): In the summer of 2010, Bobby and I got the itch to start another band. We had been in a DC-area band together several years ago and had only jammed on covers sporadically since that group broke up in 2007. Bobby’s friend Mike DeProspo supplied his ridiculous lead guitar skills to those cover jam sessions, and we coerced him into joining our newest original music endeavor. Within a matter of weeks, we wrote three songs and started looking for a lead singer and a rhythm guitarist. It took the better part of a year to find those missing pieces, but we ultimately landed two perfect complements in Tawni Lee, another veteran of the local music scene with insane pipes, and Josh Kennon, a transplant from southern Virginia who moved to Alexandria in search of fame and fortune, and a 9 to 5 job when we could provide neither of those things.
Where did the band name come from? Bobby DeRosa (Bass/Vocals): At the time, we were still looking for a lead singer and a rhythm guitarist, but the three of us really wanted to give our music an identity. We were grabbing lunch at Urban Burger in Rockville and talking about how cool it was that our spark had come back after taking a break for a few years. We all really liked that theme, and by the time we finished the last of our French fries, When Embers Ignite was born.
What are your biggest musical influences? Tawni Lee (Lead Vocals): Individually, we’re all over the place. This column probably isn’t big enough for that answer, especially if Mike D. is in charge! But from a band perspective, we’re very passionate about doing something different with our music. We draw inspiration from bands like Saosin, Emery, Story of the Year, and Anberlin, all of whom delicately balance mainstream rock and post-hardcore influences. We really dig that because it caters to a lot of different tastes, and tasty is always good.
What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
Paying homage to our friends in The Young Rapids, “in our cars currently”: JoshKennon (Guitar/Vocals)– For Today, Lisa Miskovsky, Circa Survive, Emery Tawni – Currently on a nostalgia trip; listening to My Chemical Romance-Three Cheers for Sweet
Revenge, A Change of Pace, and Something Corporate Mike DeProspo (Lead Guitar) – Halestorm, Conditions, Breaking Benjamin, Emery, A Perfect Circle Bobby – Tonight Alive, Emery, Neo Geo, Gotye, Skylar Grey, and Taylor Swift. Can’t forget Taylor Swift. Did I mention Taylor Swift? Mike N. – Saosin, Conditions, Secret and Whisper, Sent By Ravens, Icon For Hire, Fireflight, and the occasional Queen tune for good measure.
What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought? Bobby – Ok, so go easy on me, I was 10 years old. The first concert I ever went to was Britney Spears, and the first CD I bought was Hanson.
Tawni – My first concert was Willie Nelson when I was 4 years old, but that was against my will. The first concert I chose to go to was Huey Lewis and the News.
Mike N. – Just want to go on record and say that I will give Bobby a very hard time about his answers, so don’t fret, folks – he won’t get away with it. As for me, oddly, I don’t think I went to a concert until I was in high school. But it was the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters at Nissan Pavilion. And I think the first album I ever bought was Megadeth – Rust in Peace. Ah, the memories.
Mike D. – The first concert I ever went to was Peter Frampton at Jones Beach. My first album purchase was, appropriately, Van Halen – 1984. Because I love them. Madly.
Josh – My first and most memorable concert was John Mayer, and the first album I ever bought was Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory.
What do you love about DC's music scene?
WEI: In both DC and Baltimore there is support for local music everywhere you turn. 98Rock, DC101, and WHFS all have programs dedicated to promoting the scene. There’s a real spirit of community amongst musicians here. Bands come out to support other bands. We have great venues, and booking/promotion companies that get behind local music. It’s a great place to be.
What would you like to see change in the local music scene?
WEI: Quite frankly, we have it pretty good here. If anything, we’d express sadness over seeing a lot of cool venues closing over the past few years. T.T. Reynold’s was always a blast, as was Fletcher’s up in Baltimore, and that’s only a couple of examples. We just hope people will continue to support businesses that work with local bands so that these venues can prosper and continue to give local music a home.
What are your plans for the upcoming year?
Mike D.: We really hope to get into a professional studio to record an EP with all the bells and whistles. We released a totally homemade, self-produced demo in 2011, but we’re all anxious to step it up a notch or two. Aside from that, we definitely want to continue playing shows regularly in DC and Baltimore, with some occasional out-of-state adventures. Basically just taking advantage of any and all opportunities to get our name out there since we’re new to the scene!
What was your most memorable live show?
Josh: Thus far, it would have to be our debut show at The Recher Theatre back in December. The place was practically sold out and the energy was unbelievable. We played our hearts out and it was pretty much magical. Hopefully we can bottle up that magic and bring it with us to shows going forward!
Is there someone who has helped your band grow through support?
WEI: Our family and friends have been hugely supportive. We can’t thank them enough for coming out to shows, putting up with our harassment to vote in online contests, and just generally being awesome. We also have to give a special thanks to the Nager family for providing a free and amazing practice space for us. You can’t beat free. And amazing. We really appreciate it.
Is there a piece of equipment you couldn't live without and why?
Tawni – My iPhone. It’s my one stop shop for music, promotion, and Dropbox!
Mike D. – My Les Paul. It’s like an extension of me. I’ve customized it with everything I look for in a guitar.
Bobby – Seeing as I just replaced my entire bass rig, this is a tough one. Probably my Sans Amp pedal. Nobody notices the bass until I kick this baby into gear. It makes my bass sound huge and gritty. Beautiful.
Josh – My MXR Fullbore Metal pedal is definitely one of my favorite pieces of equipment. I utilize it in every song, and I couldn't see myself using anything else for live distortion.
Mike N. – Considering I’m a hoarder of all things drums, you might find my answer surprising. But my Line6 Pod Studio GX is maybe the best $99 I’ve ever spent. I dabble in a little bit of guitar; enough to write rhythm parts for the band. This thing lets me play the guitar through my computer and use software to model amps and effects. It has totally enabled my songwriting. Honorable mention to my Yamaha bamboo snare drum. You didn’t expect the drummer not to mention a drum, did you?
Why do you read The Deli?
WEI: Quite honestly, we only just stumbled upon The Deli very recently. Once we had a chance to check it out, though, we were hooked in. How great is it to have an entire publication dedicated to local and independent artists? We wholeheartedly support that. So thank you guys very much for doing it. Rest assured we’ll be reading regularly!
The Deli for the second year will be in Austin during the unmentionable festival (we probably could mention it in this context, but at this point we really don't want to...) with a printed magazine!
The issue will be mostly focused on the best unofficial shows and The Deli's favorite emerging artists in the 11 scenes we cover.
Best DC Area Emerging Artists of 2012 [DC Area Scene Blog HERE, DC Area Indie Charts HERE
Next Scene: Austin
DELETED SCENES
DC’s imaginative avant-poppers Deleted Scenes took the lead for the second year in a row as DC Deli’s Best Emerging Band of the Year. 2011 also saw their sophomore release "Young People’s Church of the Air", inspired by cassette warbles heard in Southeast Asian psych-pop, and each track showcases its own concoction of genre morphing and a blend of home vs studio recording. No stranger to huge fests like SxSW. CMJ , and Pop Montreal, Deleted Scenes have also shared the stage with other notables like Cursive, Wild Nothing, Matt and Kim, and more. Their live shows are always intense and severely stimulating, so be sure to catch them on their current U.S. tour. We still can’t get the track “Bedbedbedbedbed” out of our head, head, head…
SWEET LEDA
Annapolis based rock/soul band Sweet Leda soared to the top of our reader's poll for Best Emerging Band of 2011. This support undoubtedly came after numerous releases and features in TV and films over the last 4.5 years of their culmination. This is band with serious technical and songwriting skills and their music - at times reminiscent of a less weird Cake - has immense potential.
BLUEBRAIN
If you’ve ever seen DC based avant-indie duo Bluebrain (ex NYC based Epochs) live, you’ll know that their aesthetic endeavors have the two brothers exploring and pushing both sonic boundaries and the visual landscape. When performing live, their haunting and multi-layered electronic music, rich in deep tones and timbres, textured with interesting instrumentals and various string arrangements, and characterized by dynamic transitions in pace and rhythm, is often accompanied with strange and mystifying visual effects, making them just as much of a performance art act as it is a music show. Their three EPs Soft Power, Cult Following, and Ten By Ten continue to captivate indie rock fans beyond the DMV area. Recently, Bluebrain took their sound to a whole other level of unique art by joining the ever growing world of apps (with location aware album-apps to be specific), and hosted a boombox walk through the U.S. Botanic Gardens earlier this year.
The Deli's Year End Polls' Sponsors
DC AREA POLL FULL RESULTS
BAND
J
W
F
OS
TOTAL
1
Deleted Scenes
3
1
0.001
2
6.001
2
Sweet Leda
3
3
6
3
Bluebrain
5
0.005
5.005
4
Ed Schrader's Music Beat
5
0
5
5
The Mean Season
3
1
0.017
4.017
6
Lower Dens
3
1
0.005
4.005
7
Pianos Become the Teeth
2
1
1
4
8
Brooks Long
2
1.5
3.5
Satori Trova
2
1.5
3.5
10
Big/Bright
3
0.12
3.12
11
Presto Bando
3
0.055
3.055
12
Auroboros
3
0.017
3.017
13
Satan's Satyrs
3
0.005
3.005
14
Storm The Beaches
3
0.003
3.003
15
Black Hills
3
0.002
3.002
Mobius Strip
3
0.002
3.002
Silo Halo
3
0.002
3.002
Warchild
2
1
0.002
3.002
19
Murder
3
0
3
20
Is And Of The
1
0.051
1.5
2.551
21
Dance For the Dying
2
0.037
2.037
22
Shark Week
2
0.011
2.011
23
The Blackberry Belles
2
0.011
2.011
24
Acid Queen
2
0.006
2.006
25
Birdlips
2
0.004
2.004
26
Office Of Future Plans
2
0.004
2.004
27
The Diamond Center
2
0.002
2.002
28
Miyazaki
2
0.001
2.001
29
John C
2
0
2
30
The Capital Hearings
2
0
2
31
The Will To Survive
0.5
1.25
1.75
32
The Great Unknowns
0.008
1.5
1.508
33
Kindlewood
0.078
1
1.078
34
The Flying Eyes
1
0.068
1.068
35
Brittany Jean
1
0.04
1.04
36
White Life
1
0.013
1.013
37
Drop Electric
0.008
1
1.008
38
Borracho
1
0.006
1.006
Teen Mom
1
0.006
1.006
We Were Pirates
0.006
1
1.006
41
Ilsa
1
0.004
1.004
Spine Buster
1
0.004
1.004
The Young Ladies
1
0.004
1.004
43
Deathrats
1
0.003
1.003
Dope Body
1
0.003
1.003
45
Regents
1
0.002
1.002
The Hint
1
0.002
1.002
47
Volta Bureau
1
0.001
1.001
48
Alice Anna
1
0
1
River James
1
0
1
Legend: J = Jury - OS = Open Submissions -
W = Deli Writers - F = Fans
If you’ve ever seen DC based avant-indie duo Bluebrain (ex NYC based Epochs) live, you’ll know that their aesthetic endeavors have the two brothers exploring and pushing both sonic boundaries and the visual landscape. When performing live, their haunting and multi-layered electronic music, rich in deep tones and timbres, textured with interesting instrumentals and various string arrangements, and characterized by dynamic transitions in pace and rhythm, is often accompanied with strange and mystifying visual effects, making them just as much of a performance art act as it is a music show. Their three EPs Soft Power, Cult Following, and Ten By Ten continue to captivate indie rock fans beyond the DMV area. Recently, Bluebrain took their sound to a whole other level of unique art by joining the ever growing world of apps (with location aware album-apps to be specific), and hosted a boombox walk through the U.S. Botanic Gardens earlier this year.
This year The Deli is in Austin during the unmentionable festival with a 2 stage party onThursday March 15 (that's tonight!)at the Gypsy Lounge in the East Side!
Awesome dancey bands on the outdoors stage will tempt the audience to some wild booty shakin' action, while indoors fantastic rock and alt folk acts will alternatively punch you and sooth your soul. Check this lineup out and (if you are going to be in Austin) do not miss! -
This is a free event (no badge required) but please RSVP here to get priority access.
DC's indie pop full of soul and big beat makers The Young Rapids are on the rise in a big way, and the love of their impressive sound was shown via the local crowd as they dominated our recent Band of the Month poll. So we got a hold of Daniel Gleason (Keys/Vocals), Joseph Bentley (Guitars/Drums/Vocals), Colin Kelly (Drums/Bass/Vocals), and Nick Martin (Guitars/Vocals) to find out more about these rad guys. Here they tell us about decision making at Hard Times Cafe, touring post SxSW, and their upcoming album. Now onto the interview....
Catch them live next at their Studio House (see FB for details where) on March 6th @8:30 PM with Grass is Green, Imperial China, and Two Inch Astronaut.
How did the band start? Joe Bentley (Guitar/Drums/Vocals): “We’ve all been in bands around DC for awhile, but this project started with Dan and I demoing song ideas sometime in the winter of 2009. Then we added our lead guitarist Nick to the mix in 2010 and fleshed things out a bit more. We played shows as a three piece under a few different names until we met Colin at a show in Baltimore. He practiced once with us and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Where did the band name come from? Colin Kelly (Drums/Bass/Vocals): “Our band name was actually selected from a big list while drinking beer and eating chili at Hard Times Café in Bethesda. Joey works there and we all went in one night and just hacked it down to a few possibilities. We ended up picking Young Rapids, because it was the one we all disliked the least.”
What are your biggest musical influences? TYR: “We’re honestly very influenced by each other. Each of us has certain styles and tastes that we bring to the table, and that mix is what allows us to create our sound.”
Dan Gleason (Keys/Vocals): “In the past few months we have been writing and recording our first full length and since we have been doing both at the same time the inspiration is very present in the whole experience. Everything is very fresh; emotional almost. Every inspiration has been immediately captured and I don’t know if we know what that inspiration is… maybe its impulsiveness.“
What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to? In our cars currently: Joe - White Denim/ Nick – Brazos/ Colin – The Walkmen/ Dan – The Dodos
What do you love about DC's music scene? TYR: “The support. Everyone in DC has a great way of working together and supporting one another. That’s great to see and be a part of. Not to mention all our friends and family are here and they come out all the time.”
What would you like to see change in the local music scene? TYR: “We actually really like DC the way it is. There isn’t a huge over saturation of art and music like there is in other cities. It’s very easy to get swallowed up in all that. DC is just starting to bubble up and we want to be involved here. There have been some great things popping up in DC lately, i.e. Sockets Records, Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie, and it’s encouraging to us as DC musicians. ”
What are your plans for the upcoming year? TYR: “Well we’re touring down to play SXSW in March for Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie’s DC Showcase, and we have a record coming out. It’ll probably be released sometime in early April. We have a 3-song EP that’s available on our bandcamp for free until that comes out. When we get back from Austin we plan to do east coast runs like crazy, and play DC a lot of course.”
What was your most memorable live show? TYR: “Playing at Rock N Roll Hotel a few months back with Villains Like You, Bobby E. Lee & The Sympathizers and Sunwolf, who are all friends and relatives of ours. It was an amazing experience, the bands, the crowd, the venue; everyone just came together and made the night great.”
Is there someone who has helped your band grow through support? Nick Martin (Guitars/Vocals): “Definitely all our family and friends who’ve helped us out, but in particular, Dorrie Gleason, Dan’s mom. She has helped us so much by letting us set up our recording equipment in her huge basement and practicing till all hours of the night. Without her we wouldn’t be a band at all.”
Is there a piece of equipment you couldn't live without and why? Colin: “The vintage Slingerland drum-kit I picked up about a year ago on eBay. Not to mention the Zilco Cymbals.”
Dan: “My Roland RS-5. I’ve never seen anyone else use it. I call it The Bribe because my dad bribed me to stay in school by buying it for me.”
Nick: “My delay pedal. I'm addicted to it. Even if I didn't gave a guitar to play I think I could still manage to get some sort of sound to come out of that thing...for better or for worse.”
Joe: “Definitely my Fender Telecaster. Changed the way I play the guitar instantly.”
Why do you read The Deli? TYR: “We read The Deli because it’s a great comprehensive website for independent music in the States. Especially being musicians ourselves, it’s awesome to be able to check out what’s going on all over the country on one website.”
