Gypsy glamour is the name of the game with Vagabond Opera, the Portland-based sextet that magically melds the sounds of Eastern European folk music and delightfully raunchy cabaret, with a lil’ something called Opera. Yes, Opera. Classically trained, musically adventurous, and scantily clad – sign us up! But don’t go letting the Opera element scare you off. Envision a bourgeoisie Balkan prism through which these tenors and sopranos belt it. Then add everything that comes along with the kitchen sink, you know, like accordion, sax, saw, banjo, stand-up bass. Top it off with lyrics in 13 languages, and you’ve got VO, the bastard love child of World Inferno Friendship Society, Emir Kusturica and the Oregon Symphony. Sound too farfetched? Hear it for yourself.MP3: Chimaeras Be Met
THE STEPS
Taking their amps from the garage to suburban rooftops and downtown bridges, the brash four of The Steps demand to be heard. Invoking the spirit of Brit-pop, their sound is laden with a rich musical heritage that fuses styles of proto-punk and modern glam-rock. The Steps have burst onto the scene with the swagger of seasoned rockers. Cousins Will (vocals/guitar) and Sam Thompson’s (guitar) fervor for classic rhythm and blues styles drew bassist Stephen Ross and drummer Z Lynch into their after-school garage sessions in 2005. The Steps began their aggressive climb to the top, quickly becoming the dominant band at their high schools. Honing style and stage presence at house parties across Austin, The Steps’ blend of classic and modern mesmerized adoring peers. Soon suburbia could not contain their volume, energy, and loyal masses of fans, so the band launched a series of “guerilla gigs” on the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Austin. After rigging gear in the shadow of night, the vigilante rockers played with such force that the bridge literally shook from the quake of hundreds, jumping to the infectious beat. And as the roaring guitars and snare cracks faded under Johnny Law’s disapproving finger, music industry insiders demanded The Steps amp it back up. Launched by this strong Texas following, the band has shared the stage with Bob Dylan, The Raconteurs, and the Black Keys at major festivals Austin City Limits, North American Music Union in Pittsburgh, and South by Southwest.
On July 21, Austin rockers The Steps will release Take It All In, produced by Chris "Frenchie" Smith (JET, Dandy Warhols, Explosions in the Sky). The EP distills the band's 60's influenced garage rock to its most potent and frenetic form.
Hear first single “Cold Floors” HERE!
Commercial features a variety of special guests from Jorge Gonzalez (of Chilean rock legends Los Prisioneros) and Mexican songstress Natalia Lafourcade to Senor Coconut vocalist Argenis Brito and Los Tetas’ C-funk. Los Amigos also enlisted production work from friends like Dimitri From Paris and Cachorro López (Belanova, Miranda).Since their first album in 1995, Los Amigos Invisibles have developed a sound based in the gozadera, an irresistible fusion of Latin rhythms with fiery funk and lounge music.
The band got their first break when David Byrne (Talking Heads) discovered one of their albums by chance in a Manhattan record shop. He immediately called the band up in their native Venezuela and soon after, signed them to his label, Luaka Bop. Byrne opened doors for the band across the globe and Los Amigos Invisibles soon became an international touring machine. Los Amigos Invisibles moved to New York City from their hometown of Caracas in 2001 and entrenched itself in the local scene. With their electrifying live show, the group began building a considerable fan-base across the U.S. Collaborating with artists from Louie Vega (Masters At Work) to Dimitri From Paris, Los Amigos were able to establish themselves in the dance music scene and expand their sound.
While raking in Grammy nominations year after year and performing on programs like the Jimmy Kimmel Show, the group continued to establish themselves. Los Amigos Invisibles spent two years working on Commercial during breaks in their heavy tour schedule.
“The title of the album came out of our desire to make a more accessible record for even bigger crowds,” Pardo explains. “At first, we were hesitant to use the word but eventually we decided to come straight and use it as a concept. In a world where almost no one listens to an entire album and everyone has their thumb ready to press ‘next’ in their iPods, we just wanted to be more focused without taking out what we love about playing.”
Check out Los Amigos Invisibles music and videos:
Free MP3 of “Mentiras” here
“Mentiras” video
Ha Ha Tonka playing Hamtramck Wednesday 6/24
Small's Bar & Grill/8pm/21+/$6
Their latest record, Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South
hits stores Tuesday, 6/16
Rolling Stone raves they "occupy the sweet spot between country and indie, writing ornery songs with big hooks." "Walking on the Devil's Backbone," the single you can download here, is hailed as, "a great, galloping number that's all sturm and twang."
Investigating morality and individual responsibility, Ha Ha Tonka take listeners on a complex tour of the South—through lynchings and mob violence, sacrifice and reconciliation. On the two trails of life, how does your history affect your present, and how much can you change the future? It’s dense subject matter for any artist, but delivered beautifully on this record by Springfield, MO native sons Ha Ha Tonka. Named after an Ozarks state park, the band has earned comparisons to Kings of Leon, Old 97s and Fleet Foxes.
Following their last record, 2007’s critically lauded Buckle in the Bible Belt, the band gathered up their four-part harmonies and tore across the nation, opening for Ben Kweller, Backyard Tire Fire, and Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin before their well-received show at Lollapalooza 2008. This record, driven but contemplative, mysterious but clean, delicate but much more guitar-heavy than the previous effort, is the next logical step in their musical journey—and an amazing step
Check out THE DEAR HUNTER at any of the following stops on their upcoming tour with Mewithoutyou which starts June 8:
ah - we only have mp2s so myspace it and check out the show
With Mewithoutyou:
Mon 6/8 Richmond, VA The Canal Club Downstairs
Tue 6/9 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
Wed 6/10 Orlando, FL The Social
Thu 6/11 St. Petersburg, FL State Theatre
Fri 6/12 Gainesville, FL Common Grounds
Sat 6/13 Metairie, LA The High Ground
Sun 6/14 Houston, TX Java Jazz
Mon 6/15 Dallas, TX The Door
Tue 6/16 Austin, TX Emo’s Alternative Lounge
Thu 6/18 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
Fri 6/19 Tempe, AZ Clubhouse
Sat 6/20 Los Angeles, CA El Rey
Sun 6/21 Pomona, CA Glass House
Mon 6/22 San Luis Obispo, CA Downtown Brew
Tue 6/23 San Francisco, CA Slim’s
Thu 6/25 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
Fri 6/26 Seattle, WA Neumos
Sat 6/27 Boise, ID The Venue
Sun 6/28 Salt Lake City, UT Avalon Theatre
Mon 6/29 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
Wed 7/1 Lawrence, KS Granada
Thu 7/2 St. Paul, MN Station 4
Sat 7/4 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Sun 7/5 Chicago, IL Metro
Mon 7/6 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop
Tue 7/7 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Small’s Theatre
Thu 7/9 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri 7/10 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sat 7/11 Boston, MA Middle East
"MCB IS DETROIT"
Check out more MCB-VIDEOs here