by Meredith Schneider | May 15, 2018 | show review, snapshot, visual
On the night of Friday May 7th, Modest Mouse kicked off the summer season at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO with a visually stimulating – and otherwise utterly incredible – performance. Although the crowd was a bit riled up by the time they took the stage, slightly later than was expected – the sound was still being tweaked early in the performance -, which simply built up the excitement for the performance even more. As soon as the band started to assemble on stage, the crowd stood up and lost their minds, and rightfully so.
Bathed in vibrant lighting and smoke, the band was wildly entertaining through a large catalogue of their music, rendering the breezy, warm evening the perfect beginning to summer. A venue that sees a lot of polite, seated crowds was able to experience an energy unlike any I’ve seen in a while, the majority of concert-goers going wild with each new song that played. “King Rat”, “Float On”, “Shit In Your Cut”, “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes”, the list goes on. It was a night made for memories, enhanced by the alt rock we’ve come to know and love since Modest Mouse’s conception in 1993.
If you’re looking for a fun upcoming event, check out the band at Sasquatch! Music Festival Memorial Day Weekend in Quincy, WA. Keep up with Modest Mouse here.
by Madison Blom | May 14, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Revolutionizing the way their music is enjoyed is just one of the many positive attributes of Biffy Clyro and their incredibly emotional and intricate tracks. How does just one artist do all of this you may ask? Biffy Clyro will soon be releasing their first-ever live, all-acoustic album MTV Unplugged: Live At Roundhouse London. However, before they release their tantalizing full acoustic album, they have just released a teaser video that fully captures what this album is all about. Recently, they have launhced a live video of their hit, “Black Chandelier,” which is available now for listeners to enjoy. Not only does this Scottish trio have what it takes to make it in their home country, but the release of this single video has proven that their new and innovative sound has the potential to travel across the globe.
Throughout the full length of their latest release, fans are transported to a world created by the beautifully arranged soundscapes of the acoustic instruments and beautifully decorated stage. Together, the sound and overall set up of the stage gives the performance a very organic and down to earth feel that rings true to their roots. Vocally, there is an impressive authentic timbre to each of the band members voices that is soothes the soul and invites listeners to continue listening. Without a doubt, their full acoustic album release will be a launch pad into an even greater and more widespread success.
The MTV Unplugged: Live At Roundhouse London album will be released on May 25. On May 26, the MTV Unplugged: Live At Roundhouse London television special will air at 9:00 P.M. ETand again at 12:00 A.M. ET. Additionally, the show will repeat 5 times the following week.
Keep up with Biffy Clyro here.
by Madison Blom | May 14, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
“Elegant gloominess to hyperactive, twitching math rock” are exactly the words used by DIY to describe the new single, “Cold Shower” released by A Festival, A Parade on April, 24 of this year. Not only do these alt-rockers from Newcastle have have what it takes to elevate the sound of classic rock to a whole new level, but the release of their single and the forthcoming release of their EP, Sway Away From Me has the potential to get their name out of the recording studio and into the spotlight.
Talking about this new release, band frontman Joe Allen states, “‘Cold Shower’ is a song which takes a twisted look at endurance, empathy, and the chaos that could ensue when any even-tempered individual is pushed to their boiling point.” Not only is this message conveyed in the driving beats that occupy every second of this single, but it also found in the intense lyrical aspect of their release. Following the success of their first few releases as a fully formed alt-rock outfit, this single has become one of the highlights on play lists throughout the country and has fans sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation for the EP that is scheduled to drop this fall. With some talented producers and musicians in their corner, A Festival, A Parade is a band to watch in the coming months as they continue to release meaningful, intricate tracks.
Keep up with A Festival, A Parade here.
by Madison Blom | May 14, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Rising out of the difficult situation presented to her during her young home life and into a beautifully rewarding career in her true passion is R&B/Soul singer/songwriter Jordan Lomeli and yet another beautiful single, “No Wrong.” Although over time, she has blossomed into an artist, Lomeli’s start was not a smooth one. Since the death of her father at age 10, music became the vice that would fill the cracks in her heart–making this wonderful medium an inseparable part of her life. After running away three times by the time she graduated, she soon discovered that in separating herself from the broken aspects of her life allowed her to face the demons that had been haunting her. The result is the incredibly developed sound of her music that flows and ebbs with with the lush, rich resonance of her timbre.
“No Wrong,” is a perfect showcase of everything that makes Lomeli unique. Since she lives outside of one particular genre, this soulful musician is able to mix and combine any genre that she sees fit to truly express the emotion behind her emotional lyrical lexicon. This latest single expresses the difference between love and infatuation. In her own words Lomeli stated,
“ Being in love and being infatuated are two different things. I really thought for a long time i was in love with this person, but it was really lust and infatuation. I knew it was infatuation because even in the moments when he truly was wrong, he was constantly excused, because I had an overly glorified image of him. Nevertheless, I was enthralled by him that I perceived my compromises as genuine happiness”.
In the end, her talent to combine meaningful lyrics to beautiful soundscapes has allowed her to move on from a difficult past and look towards a bright future.
by Abby Trapp | May 14, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Australian native Vilde just released latest track “Flash In The Pan”, which is the first track on the singer’s new album Thud, set to release July 13th. With a Glass Animals vibe, “Flash In The Pan” is hauntingly psychedelic. The track is infused with tribal beat and synth electronic sounds. The jungle-electronic sound is backed by soft vocals which brings the song home. Vilde is equally excited about the album saying:
Thud was a new experience for me. I realised that I felt like the last time I really knuckled down and dug into something was making the Kins album in 2012. I’d lost touch with the concept of work ethic in music. Everything since had been whimsical, I believed inspiration was reliable. My productivity waned. I felt an urge to prove to myself that I could actually commit to something and follow it through.
Keep up with Vilde here.
by Christie McMenamin | May 14, 2018 | show review, snapshot, visual
Glam rockers The Darkness brought their Tour de Prance to Brooklyn Steel on April 20th. Beloved since they first burst onto the scene in 2003 with their mega-hit “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,” The Darkness has amassed a fanbase of epic proportions over their decades-long career, one whose enthusiasm hasn’t waned.
Made up of frontman Justin Hawkins, guitarist Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain, and drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor, The Darkness is theatrical and over-the-top. They’re a band of superlatives, vibrant and entertaining, animated and hilariously embellished. They’re absolutely, purposely ridiculous, bordering on the absurd. With infectious hooks that sink their claws permanently into your ears and an undaunted, almost impossible falsetto, The Darkness stands alone. They are the absolute best at everything, and they let you know it (in fact, sometimes they’ll outright say it). Their energy is unmatched and incomparable. They’ve carved out a special place for themselves in the music industry, unique enough to have bested even the most remote of rivals; they simply, spectacularly, don’t have any.
Most musicians are afraid to be seen as anything but serious artists. The Darkness proves you can have both talent and fun at the same time without one detracting from the other.
As the band first made their entrance, Justin Hawkins, in his trademark leopard-print, skintight bodysuit, walked the length of the stage, pausing inch by inch and blowing kisses in response to the deafening cheers of the crowd. Each member presented one another to the audience, grandly gesturing as if car salesmen showcasing a brand new vehicle. In response, the fans raised their drinks, toasting to the band as Hawkins dramatically threw his hands in the air, striking a pose. Ripping into “Open Fire,” off 2015’s Last of Our Kind, The Darkness filled the room with joyous, driving, hard-hitting noise as the night kicked off.
Hawkins hammed it up throughout the set, cracking jokes, running, leaping, doing handstands, unzipping the top of his bodysuit to reveal his chiseled, tattooed chest, donning accessories from fans in the audience (such as a pair of glasses, a fedora, and, best of all, a Darth Vader mask for drummer Taylor), and making his way, towards the end, down to a t-shirt and boxer shorts. Hawkins proved himself to be a true performer, both entertaining and powerful.
The setlist consisted of their greatest hits, with songs going all the way back to Permission to Land. There was, of course, one song in particular that the audience held their breath all night for. When the encore arrived, Hawkins became dictatorial, commanding the entire crowd to jump. He wasn’t easily satisfied; it took more than a few tries until he finally relented, playing as everyone sang.
The Darkness could have left it at that; it was an excellent finish to an incredible show. But, being who they are, they took it to one last, even higher level: during “Love on the Rocks with No Ice,” Hawkins sat on the shoulders of a reluctant security guard, triumphantly playing guitar as he was walked through the crowd.
The Darkness will be releasing a live album, Live at Hammersmith, on June 15th.
by Christie McMenamin | May 14, 2018 | show review, snapshot, visual
Mobile Steam Unit makes business music.
Literally.
As openers for Animal Years, they single-handedly managed to grab the attention of the entire audience at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg. Not only are they talented musicians, but they’re hilarious, as well. Based on their experiences working on Wall Street, Mobile Steam Unit has crafted lyrics that hit home for anyone who’s worked in business. For those in New York City, this was an extremely relatable topic that resonated with crowd, who immediately broke into cheers when frontman Sam Huntington asked if anyone in attendance had ever worked on Wall Street.
Solemnly filing out in requisite business attire, the band began their set. Interestingly, Mobile Steam Unit has the uncanny ability to deftly span genres; they can do anything from rock to country to soul and beyond. With lyrical topics ranging from everything such as texting, Microsoft Office, and commuting, to name a few, they document the daily minutia of American life while keeping the crowd in hysterics. And during the last song of the set, Mobile Steam Unit surprised the audience by bringing out yoga dancers who tried, as best they could, to keep straight faces while striking poses throughout the song. It was an epic finish to their performance, rivaling that of Animal Years. Mobile Steam Unit is undoubtedly a tough act to follow.
Work takes up a good portion of our lives. By giving focus to this specific, and usually lamented, chore, Mobile Steam Unit has set themselves apart from other bands. By examining the workday through the lens of humor, Mobile Steam Unit is able to give rise to daily frustrations while enjoyably expelling them at the same time.
Check out their video for “Working Boy” below!
by ImperfectFifth | May 14, 2018 | soundtrack
The beauty of a great song for me has always been when a slow dark song or an underground uptempo dance song can move me the exact same way. One moment I can dance or run to it, the other just lay in bed & let the song take me away. When that feeling occur the song haunts me forever.
Song List:
Chris isaak – Wicked games
Portishead – Glory box
Portishead – Roads
Massive attack – Angel
Banks – Alibi
Banks – Poltergeist
Sevdaliza – The language of limbo
David lynch – Dark night of the soul
Nina Simone – Strange fruit
Cat Power – Satisfaction
Thievery Corporation – Depth of my soul (feat. Shana Halligan)
Nightmares on wax – You wish
Cigarettes after sex – Apocalypse
S.Maharba – Girls in pearls
Savages – You’re my chocolate
Tycho, Heathered Pearls – Division remix
TOKiMONSTA – Smoke & Mirrors
Keep up with Alezzandra here.
by Abby Trapp | May 14, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
LIFE just released their latest single “Grown Up” coming off of their latest LP. Following up from their breakthrough album Popular Music, the band is back with progression and “Grown Up.” “Grown Up” discusses the coming of age with adulthood and the struggles of love. On the song Frontman Mez describes the single as: “Grown Up is about getting to grips with adulthood and wanting to fall in love again. Seeing the decay of human life as it ages in a park with the dying swans. Is there hope between the space on your plate as you fork at your tea? Can you be too grown up for love?” The “Grown Up” track is infused with punk and enough angst to vent your frustrations. The band has a bit of a Blur sound with a retro rock vibe to it.
