After months of writing songs in a small town hardware store, just outside of Rockford Illinois, La Historia began playing shows regionally and recording with Mike Hagler at Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago. The band members have all played in a variety of bands, including The Braves and Gods Reflex, over the last fifteen years'sometimes together. They couldnât resist the chance to continue creating electric, Midwestern guitar-rock.
Now, enthusiastic to be making music together again, the members of La Historia spend time writing music and discussing/listening to the records that made them want to do so in the first place.Although their influences are numerous, La Historia manages to filter the inspiration through an atypical lens that is both competent and consistent. The band is more likely to draw influences from the underdog, guitar-based bands from the '80s and '90s that have kept their attention for the past 20 years than anything from classic or modern rock eras.
The band employs a somewhat familiar wealth of sounds in their music, balancing roaring and chiming guitar parts, fuzzy bass tones, and nuanced drumming, but avoid sounding too nostalgic or derivative. La Historiaâ's intersecting guitar-lines, thoughtful, pronounced drums, sturdy bass lines, and commanding yet emotive vocals are the product of four friends who love to listen to one another just as much as they love listening to their favorite bands. The "Awake Enough EP" contains the first five songs the band wrote together. Members: Kevin Schwitters, Jesse Carmona, Phil Goudreau, Luke Kramer.
Merey Kimbrough of Mother Merey and the Black Dirt has a vocal style so unabashed it would make Bessie Smith proud. Combine that with the group's foot stomping energy and this band delivers a solid bluesy folk sound like no other. Last week they were the perfectly placed opener for The Builders and the Butchers at The Buzz Mill's Jamboree. Amid the hatchet tossing, jerky making and flapjack eating, there was Mother Merey and the Black Dirt, bringing down the rain with their glorious down home raucous. On May 29th they'll be releasing their album, Down to the River, at Antone's alongside Holiday Mountain, Whiskey Shivers and Old Gray Mule. -- Written by Charise Sowells
Telequanta is the electronic solo project of musician/graphic designer J. Termini. Check out his latest track "Chala," which combines electro-dance, world beats and ambient-noise to produce a captivating sound that is like the hyperactive cousin of rising Chicago-based artist Mister Lies. He is currently working on a new EP, the follow-up to last year's Programmable Matter EP. Telequanta will be performing live tonight at Johnny Brenda's, accompanied by projections from visual artist Patrick Schlitzer, opening for UK-born German resident/globetrotting producer Gold Panda.
This sound like it would be a lot of fun! If you become a new annual member of Daytrotter, give a gift membership, or extend a current annual one by May 22, you'll get a free grass-green Daytrotter v-neck t-shirt, and be entered to win airfare, a hotel room and transportation to and from the airport to Rock Island so that you can experience a first-hand taping of local area faves Night Panther as well as Baths, Hockey, and more. You can check out the rest of the deets HERE.
Clocking in right around the 20 minute mark, Tender Age's only fault is that it doesn't go on forever. Just in time for summer weather and pool hangs, all of the teasers and hype surrounding the Joy Of Painting's latest effort have paid off. If you start streaming now and buy yourself a copy of Tender Age on Tuesday, you'll know enough of the lyrics to sing along at the band's in-store performance at Grimey's on June 8th. –Brianne Turner
Brothers, Giovan and Mario Polanco, have been making music together for over a decade. Their latest project, Moons of Mars, is pop at it’s best, mixing cleverly crafted hooks with intelligent electronic production. “I Want You Here” is an emotionally-driven mid-tempo tune sprinkled with indie pop touches and an R&B-style melodic groove. It’s got the charm of the bedroom, but the impact of the studio. A full length is expected later this year. Catch them live at Hotel Cafe this Friday, May 17. - Jacqueline Caruso
You should know by now that we have a soft spot for Ditmas Park based roots pop band Lucius. We've been waiting for their debut full length for way too long, so we see the release of this new single "Until We Get There' as an encouraging sign. The band has actually announced that the album will be released this fall, after a late spring US tour.
San Francisco based alt indie rock band, The Orange Peels are playing two shows on Saturday night at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco, CA. The band's late show (10 pm) is SOLD OUT, but never fear, you can catch them playing an early set at 7 pm. This bands laid back and well composed stye of rock is appealing and a joy to listen to. Do your best to catch this great Bay Area band!
Below is a sun-kissed bedroom cover by Joe Kusy of The Troggs' classic hit song "With a Girl Like You," which is available to be downloaded for free below. It's here just in time for all those spring/summer romances popping up. You can catch Kusy performing with his band, Far-Out Fangtooth, on Friday, June 7 at Kung Fu Necktie when they open for A Place To Bury Strangers.
Tonight is the first half of a big two-night run for Kung Fu Necktie with Nashville rising stars JEFF the Brotherhood and Brooklyn noise rockers Hunters. Representing Philly this evening will be New Wave post-punks The Bad Doctors. The trio has certainly been impressing audiences in our local basement/DIY scene, and with the release of their two-song 7” towards the end of last year, we are all looking forward to the band dropping something more substantial hopefully in the near future. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $15, 21+ - Alexis V.
