This week brings the midwest a plethora of incredible musicians, as we hunker down in the cold weather for the annual Folk Alliance International Conference. One of our all-time favs – Brooklyn-based indie-folk trio Bandits on The Run – will be making an appearance at this year’s fest, a fact that only gets better when you realize they’ve partnered with a local company for a very unique and fun experience.
This Friday, February 3rd, Bandits on The Run will be playing an intimate show inside the Effing Candle Co. storefront on Main. The experience is brought to us by One in a Million Media, and entry is donation-based. Some quick details to keep in mind:
Set starts at 5 p.m.
Beverages are provided by our friends at 4 Hands Brewing Co and 1220 Spirits. Must be 21+ to enjoy
Street parking is available on 37th Street east or west of Main Street or on Walnut Street
Max capacity is 25 guests, so arrive early
Effing Candle Co. will stay open until 6:30 p.m.
Entry fee: one item for our Period Packing Party, which can be tampons, pads, or liners. All items MUST be individually-wrapped. If you do not bring an item, you can make an on-the-spot donation with cash or via Venmo
Space is limited to the first 25 attendees. Our shop is very small, so plan to arrive early
Donations will be accepted at the storefront even if you cannot make the show. Providing period products to those who need them is an important cause, and one of many that Effing Candle Co. continually supports.
Singer, songwriter, and healing artist Lauren Monroe is on a roll. On the heels of her new show announcements, she brings along her latest single release with the beautiful “Kiss Me Now.” Her first release of 2022, the song reminds us all to take life as it comes at us and, for a lack of better analogy, grab the bull by the horns. Explains Monroe:
[Kiss Me Now is] a reminder of the impermanence of life – a reminder to be grateful for who we have and the journey we have taken with loved ones. It’s about being happy and free, having fun but remembering it all ends one day. The pandemic challenged our ability to celebrate just being with people, and this song reminds us to celebrate the moments we do spend together.
While the pandemic still trudges on, this is a feeling we can all identify with. And this song is a beautiful testament to the humanness that brings us all together. Enjoy the track – and it’s gorgeously compiled lyric. video – below!
We got the Instagram takeover of a lifetime this week with the phenomenal LACES on our lineup. But we were also sitting on her new single all week, and are thrilled that she (finally) shared it with the world on March 19th!
Do yourselves a favor this weekend and spend some quality time with “Breaking Me Heart.” Its pace and instrumental construction make it the perfect anthemic track, really infusing an all-too-common and melancholic story with powerful energy you wouldn’t otherwise expect. The self-awareness is palpable, the vocals an extra, vulnerable form of gorgeous.
“Right now, the music I’m making feels like a conversation and an observation, and less of a judgment.” We would agree, and we’re so very grateful for this phase of her creative journey.
There is a unique cadence to Nainnoh’s vocals that immediately draws you into the psychedelic, genre-bending, soulful work she creates. Her Eastern European upbringing, of course, influences those vocals, and has played an essential role in the type of Georgian folk, indie psych touches we get from her music. With her new track “Vital Illusions,” there is a beautiful, meandering quality from the composition that allows you to sort of melt into the soundscape and absorb the song’s energy as it plays.
What a way to start off 2021 for the talented songstress.
Nainnoh’s self-titled debut is due out April 2021.
In the midst of all the excitement surrounding Imperfect Fifth’s third-year anniversary event, Evelyn Cools cooled things down with her cozy and beautiful live performance on September 8th. Live streaming is different from recorded music, but it’s also not quite the same as true live performance either. In many ways, it feels like a kind of hybrid between the two, with the excitement from the live aspect, but still feeling intimate in the same way that listening to a record can feel. Evelyn’s performance emphasized the latter well, performing songs from her EP Misfit Paradise with only a guitar and her spectacular voice. The shining star of this performance, Cools’ vocals, were so incredibly striking live, inducing chills at least once on every track she sang. Not only that, the melody lines themselves were so well suited for live performance; their sweetness and beauty radiant amongst the bare musical background. They adapted to the tone of each song Cools performed, sometimes dulcet, other times haunting, but always gorgeous.
Aside from the enchanting sonic aspect of this performance, the visual was also fun to watch. Cools was open and humble, and it felt like she was simply just trying to share her wonderful music with us all. She often made eye contact with the camera, giving it that personal feel that is so elusive when at a live concert; wishing, hoping, and praying that the headliner will notice your face in the sea of the crowd.
It’s safe to say that Evelyn delivered an exquisite performance that engaged her entire audience– if you need proof, know that even her dog was compelled to sing along (and made a brief and adorable appearance on camera)! If you’re disappointed that you missed it, don’t fret! You can find the performance on Imperfect Fifth’s facebook page.
