by Meredith Schneider | Nov 1, 2017 | snapshot
In the 18 years I have been going to live shows, I have cried less than a handful of times. In fact, I can only remember twice that I’ve cried at shows. And they both happened relatively recently. (But I digress.) And I’ll admit, I’ve seen Katy Perry several times and she had yet to pull even a single tear from me. But on Friday, October 27th, there were waterworks instead of fireworks, and it made for the feel good musical moment of the year, quite frankly.
Katy took the stage to a large crowd in Kansas City at Sprint Center that night. She dazzled, of course, dripping in diamonds while she sang hit after hit. This time around, she took an 80’s spin to a lot of her tracks, pulling out all the stops in neon outfits and touting ginormous props around like it was no one’s business. She floated on planets amongst the crowd playing acoustic guitar and captivating us with a particularly heartbreaking version of “Thinking Of You”, told her mom during a personal call on speakerphone that – to her dad’s chagrin – she was going to play “I Kissed a Girl” again, and pulled out all the stops for her “California Girls”. Props and dancers supplemented the evening, making tracks off of Witness bigger and bolder than anticipated, leaving quite the mark both politically and spiritually. Katy is about harnessing your own power, and it’s thrilling to watch her inspire generations at her shows. The woman is an entertainer, and you never once question that during a performance.
But the most magical part of the night was when Katy called a random girl up from the audience to make a wish on a giant, glittering prop star. She chose the girl because of her neon orange sweatshirt. (And the fact that she was jumping up and down maniacally in her seat.) And, boy, did Katy’s intuition prove to be correct on that decision.
Zoe Black is twelve years old and – while your pre-teen is losing phone privileges and struggling to figure themselves out – her one big wish was that the kids at her sister’s high school would stop bullying her for her autism. That’s right. A twelve year old wished for that, on stage, in front of an arena full of people.
And we all lost our shit.
I was sitting in front of a row of teenagers, and I turned to them and just exclaimed, “I’m not crying, you’re crying!” And Katy teared up, holding on to Zoe for a few long moments before we all yelled “NO MORE BULLYING!” at the star. It was goosebump-inducing, and really put the night into perspective.
Below are a few photos from Katy’s set, with photos of her opener Noah Cyrus to come.
Learn more about autism and how to make a difference at autismspeaks.org.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 1, 2017 | wolf tracks
Earlier this month, New Jersey-based alternative indie rock trio The Stewart Dolly – comprised of Bob (guitar/vocals), Paul (bass/vocals), and Johnny (drums) – released their EP, affectionately titled Ain’t No Gas Station Gon’ Sell You City Boys No Grenadine. Consisting of five tracks, this EP takes hilarious some topics and goes off the deep end with them, inviting in hilarious lyrics alongside some serious guitar chops.
“Neon Sandwich w Lots Of Pepper” seems like an off title, but the track itself is literally about a neon sandwich. And though the lyrics are simple and silly, the instrumental composition is that of a crashing rock band, slightly reminiscent of early Good Charlotte in its delivery. Second track “Drill Spice” establishes a mid-tempo beat while singing about preferences, while “Archie Get In The House” has a quieter, more ambling beginning that hits its stride pretty quickly with the first line. As the band questions “Why won’t he go in?” and continues to give this “Archie” character life advice, we are taken back in time to when more people were inserting their opinions in our own lives. This song kind of plays off of that, and the humor does not evade us.
Fourth track “Don’t Count On Me” might have the most serious title of the five, detailing an unreliability with such blatant honestly (“Cuz there is no guarantee”, “I’m only good for two out of three,” etc.) that we’re both flummoxed and wondering if we can realistically make this our new anthem. The band rounds out the EP with “Polaroid Trail”, a song that seems, at first listen, to be a slow ballad. But that’s not how The Stewart Dolly is going to go out, they’ll do it with a bang. So, of course, the song speeds up before the vocals hit. And then we realize this is a song of heartbreak, and it’s slightly painful listening to the lyrics.
But we’ll just keep “try[ing] not to think of” the band after this, because five songs is a good taste but it’s just not enough.
Ain’t No Gas Station Gon’ Sell You City Boys No Grenadine is available now. Keep up with the band here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 1, 2017 | wolf tracks
San Diego’s metal/underground/hip hop collective Gus McArthur – not a single man’s name, but the name of a creature of legend that the duo of brothers Honan (“The Destroyer”) and Gordon (“The Hater”) McArthur adapted as their band name – is gearing up to release the Chapter 2: Fanatics EP on December 8th, but until then we’ve got the first single off that work, a song titled “End of Eternity”, to nibble on for a while. And the band waits no time on the track to make you realize they’re up to their usual dark, guitar-heavy antics that sustained them in first EP Chapter 1: Hysterics. Although it takes a moment to understand, perhaps, what the lyrics are amidst the crashing instrumentals, you quickly realize the lyrical content is a critical social commentary. Lines like “What have we done to the government?” make you realize that Gus McArthur is struggling with the same issues we have all been placated with. Although Gus chooses to thinly veil it in upbeat, edgy, fast instrumentals replete with a raspy, hard tone to the vocals while paying homage to some of their greatest influences.
(The guitar solo near 2:35 is absolutely insane, so be sure not to miss it.)
Chapter 2: Fanatics is out December 8th. Keep up with Gus McArthur here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 1, 2017 | wolf tracks
If you’re looking for the best way to burst onto the music scene, you’ve got to captivate your audience. Be it by surprise, a unique sound, an intrinsically relatable song, or otherwise, there has to be a hook. Brooklyn-based musician Pearla has done just that, evoking a sense of childlike wonder in the simplistic and beautiful sounds of her new track “Somewhere”. “‘Somewhere’ is about feeling like a child and being completely thrown off by the real world,” she explains. “It’s about feeling lost and out of control, but trying desperately to trust the universe.”
It doesn’t seem as though she has missed the mark on a single aspect of the track, as it builds up slowly, allowing her to showcase the lightweight and ethereal nature of her vocal range before hitting a plateau where she really has to bring out the big guns. Her ability to hold a high note, to make the listener really feel with just her voice, is remarkable and not something you come across every day. Check out “Somewhere” below, and let us know what you think!
Keep up with Pearla here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 31, 2017 | wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based dream pop trio I, Us, & We – comprised of Jordan Doverspike, Evan Doverspike, and Aaron Doverspike – recently released their mesmerizing track “Tryst”, the instrumental backing which entices its listeners to dance despite its slower tempo. True artists, the three collaborate to create some of the most beautiful tracks in electronic music, and “Tryst” is no exception. As they croon, “Do you ever feel the same as I do?”, you are catapulted into a serene and luxurious soundscape as they struggle to correctly categorize their romantic situation. Is it lust? Is it love? Should it be kept a secret? Find out what happens when you’re led on, and dance it out anyway, with the latest from I, Us, & We below.
Keep up with I, Us, & We here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 31, 2017 | wolf tracks
There is an alt rock band located in Jersey City and Rahway, New Jersey that emerged quite recently onto the music scene. So recently, in fact, that you can judge its timeframe based on the band’s name and – if you need more proof – the title of the album they just released. y u u g e is comprised of Nick Afflitto, Alex Pergament, and Jerry Ramos, and their debut album Inauguration Day is out now. (See what we mean?)
Admits Pergament of the recording of Inauguration Day, “The album is wholly improvised in the studio. Our idea was to focus on the need for listening and accepting over performing and perfecting, as a response to the pressures of being right, winning, competing. To exercise a capacity for empathy and organic response.”
Beginning with the spoken track “Microscope”, y u u g e has created something that draws you in and makes you examine the world around you, with lines like “we’re not that different” driving the piece forward, and in direct contrast to what the overarching political message is and has been since that storied day. “Squirmy Worm” is immediately notable for its quirky percussion, a quick 45 second track that reminds us of the subject of its title, and also has us questioning what other minute details of the every day we should be paying attention to. “Captain Creepy” features Ariel Guidry, though the vocals are all high pitched, as though they inhaled helium before “talking about sandwiches” and other random things. Its follow-up – “Stinky Pants” – also features the vocal stylings of Ariel Guidry, though this time in a more soulful and fulfilling way. (Though we’re not knocking the laughter we got out of its predecessor.)
“Man Cave” is the first song on the album that begins like an actual rock track, really milking the amp on the electric guitar. Crashing drums ensue, and the band goes full metal with harsh, screaming vocals and a dark tone to the instrumentals. (Because, after all, isn’t that what a man cave is all about? Being as manly and loud as possible?) “Snow Man” is heavily characterized by the horns section, a purely instrumental track – until minute five, when calm and beautiful vocals add a layer of softness to it all – that is simplified to an acoustic guitar and trumpet.
The title track is heavy – even more so than “Man Cave” – literally evoking the gloom and doom feeling we had on that fated day in January of this year.Once again, it is only after minute five that any vocals come in, and they’re angry and loud and all-encompassing in their delivery. (Much like someone else we all know.) But meander on into “The Animals Who Saved You”, and there is a delicacy placed back into the music that makes it feel like a slow jazz type of afternoon. Ninth and final track “Grizzly Bear” begins with the trumpet, then percussion, slowly layering and building with softened, almost inaudible, and honest lyrics over the course of almost eleven whole minutes. During minute nine, everything kind of crashes into this distinct and intense cacophony of sound, and then dissolves again, perfectly rounding out this release.
Inauguration Day is available now.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 31, 2017 | wolf tracks
Yesterday, Flotation Toy Warning released a kaleidoscope virtual reality video for their single “Controlling The Sea”. This spectacular, brilliantly colored feat comes just shortly after the release of their brand new full-length album The Machine That Made Us on October 13th. Comprised of beautiful artwork that you can peruse while it dances and causes an absurd scene on your screen, the video is absolutely mesmerizing. The mid-tempo track itself sets a steady, head bopping pace with unamused, 80’s-tinged vocals and joins a host of intriguing and fun songs on the album, including personal favorites “Due To Adverse Weather Conditions, All Of My Heroes Have Surrendered”, “King of Foxgloves”, and “Driving Under The Influence of Loneliness”.
Perhaps it’s the clever nature with which they name their tracks, but we’re thinking that our admiration for the band is amplified exponentially by the fact that we can hit “play” on the entire album and enjoy it in any setting. So we’re going to add a few of these tracks to our October playlist and keep playing this one into our cold winter months filled with family get togethers, Friendsgivings, and cuddled-up hang times.
The Machine That Made Us is out now via Talitres. Keep up with the band here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 31, 2017 | wolf tracks
While we wait with baited breath as progressive/alt metal project Ascending Dawn – comprised of Marlain Angelides (vocals), Mark Weatherley (drums/guitar), and Owen Rees (guitar) – prepares to release their new album Coalesce on December 1st, we’re thinking it might be a good idea to watch their new lyric video for single “Cannonball”. But on repeat. And while you might not necessarily know why, we’ve got the lyric video below for you to take a gander at so you can understand how we fell in love with the intricate natural details of it all.
Set largely with a faded black and white/sepia colored filter over landscape scenery (an ant crawling across a wooden surface, waves crashing over a beach, etc.), it is around minute three that color is allowed to shine through, as the camera then passes over the same landscapes with a soft, ethereal glow over brilliantly colored flowers, trees, bees, etc. The contrast is stunning – almost harshly so – but makes you appreciate the presence of color even more. And all the while, the crashing cymbals and fierce, all-encompassing vocals lent by Angelides make you feel – in a word – like a badass.
Coalesce is out December 1st. Keep up with Ascending Dawn here.
by Meredith Schneider | Oct 30, 2017 | wolf tracks
With the release of experimental dream pop duo Haunted Summer‘s album SPIRIT GUIDES just last month comes a whole new bevy of goodies amongst the music. Recently, this also includes the new music video for husband-and-wife Bridgette Moody and John Seasons’ mid-tempo burner “Every Step”, a journey into a softly lit Los Angeles landscape.
Beginning with a cult-like visual, hooded figures enveloped in rose-colored smoke stand vigilant, just before our protagonist is seen holding a drawing of the three figures, wandering around Southern California with a quizzical look on his face. He sets his own red smoke into the air on an unassuming street as the song slows and simplifies, the vocals becoming the main, raspy, driving force in the track. It is almost as though the protagonist has found what he has been searching for, so momentum slows and the track eases into a more otherworldly, kaleidoscope soundscape. As the sun sets, the narrative comes full circle, and we’re once again focused on that rose colored smoke.
SPIRIT GUIDES is available now. Keep up with Haunted Summer here.
