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Premiere: Phil Beaudreau – I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times (Beach Boys Cover)

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The great Phil Beaudreau returns triumphantly with this vibed cover of The Beach Boys classic “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times”. One of Brian Wilson’s most harmonically and compositionally accomplished songs, super producer Dawaun Parker adeptly spins Wilson’s tune into an unexpected (and really rewarding) jazz-inflected direction. Warm caterwauling synths, cooled-out beachside vocal layering, and clattering looped horns well outfit Phil’s thematically on point soulful-in-the-aether singing. Phil Beaudreau will close this Monday’s residency night with Zak Waters at The Satellite for a B3SCI presented show, more info here.

Phil Beaudreau california (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
09-26-13

B3SCI @ CMJ: Hit Parade featuring The Sounds, Little Daylight, Lovelife, COIN, Misun, GEMS! Wednesday 10/16 Brooklyn Bowl

HIT PARADE FINAL

In less than one month NYC will once again become a mecca of emerging international talent for the annual CMJ Music Marathon. We’re pleased to announce that on October 16, All Things Go will be presenting Hit Parade, a showcase for CMJ attendees and NYC music fans alike, with a stellar curated bill of talent from the likes of ourselves at B3SCI as well as The Most Definitely and The DO NYC. The party will take place at the iconic Brooklyn Bowl with a line-up that includes The Sounds, Little Daylight, COIN, Lovelife, Misun and GEMS! CMJ badges welcome and tickets are available now for only $5! Purchase and get more information for the event here. We’ll see you there!

Hit Parade @ Brooklyn Bowl (Official Event Info) (Purchase Tickets)

reviewed by
09-26-13

Interview w/ Bo Saris

bo-saris-650-430

Here at B3SCI we love nothing more than a great soul artist. With only two songs released to date, London based (by way of Netherlands) soulster, Bo Saris is one we’ve been keeping a close ear on. The recent Universal Republic signee has set the blogosphere a stir with his more than authentic Motown friendly blend of retro pop. And from our recent conversation with Bo Saris we’ve learned there’s so many more layers to know. Check out his debut EP The Addict this October and have a look at our recent chat with him below. Also for those of you in the UK, don’t miss his upcoming performance October 18th at St. Pancras Old Church in London.

B3SCI: Was there a point in your life that you knew American bred soul and pop music was the perfect sound for Bo Saris?

Bo Saris: I never really thought about it so I guess you could say I fell in love with that type of music naturally, I just connected with it without having a explanation for it.

B3SCI: We’re sure that you get this question a lot, but being from the Netherlands… how is it your sound feels so genuine and authentically from the golden age of Hitsville USA? It’s like you actually lived through it five decades ago…

Bo Saris: First of all, if that’s how I sound to you guys then I’ll take that as a huge compliment! In a way I did go through it by just growing up with that music being played in the house a lot & I could identify with it from the start.

B3SCI: You’ve collaborated with the likes of Bondax amongst others? Do you dabble much in the world of co-writes and music production?

Bo Saris: I do more now & it’s good fun! At first I wasn’t familiar with top lining/writing on dance music, I wasn’t even familiar with remixes being made of my music until last year’s remixes of “She’s On Fire”, which I loved! I guess it made me realize that it doesn’t hurt at all to become more diverse in music when you collaborate & that two styles can blend very nicely. Till now I’ve worked with Chase & Status and Bondax in the UK and both sessions were really cool & great experiences. At the moment my main focus is on the EP & upcoming album but I’ll definitely do more collaborations in the near future.

B3SCI: Has there been any other projects you were involved with that fans may come to find as a surprise, before you found your voice…stylistically?

Bo Saris: No I think that for most people it’s quite obvious that its soul music that has inspired me the most. They may be surprised by the different styles of music I’ve listened to & liked which was very diverse. For example “Rage Against The Machine” which I liked as kid to or “Frank Zappa” the weirdness/humor sometimes in his music I really enjoyed. And yes, in my teens I was a massive hip-hop head both underground & the more popular stuff. Snoops “Doggy Style” for instance was one of my favorite records back in the day, still is actually when I listen to it. But maybe that’s not such a big surprise given the fact it had such a huge “Clinton’s Funkadelic” vibe which is basically the kinda stuff I grew up with too. Soul,Funk & Jazz were my main influences so even Miles/Coltrane/Parker were well appreciated in our house. So as I said quite diverse.

B3SCI: You are currently based in London. How ids things on the UK music scene, and do you gig often? When will you come play a show in the United States and are there any plans for SXSW?

Bo Saris: Yes I’m based in London & I love it because it’s a vibrant city where lots of creative people live & work. It’s definitely the right place for me just now. We’ve gigged a few times, but that’s something we’ll start doing more & more in a few months time. I’ve just announced my first proper headline show in London on October 18th at Old St Pancreas Church.  I needed an album finished and to release some songs first. Now that the album is done I’m able to really focus on the live side. Hopefully we can start doing gigs in the US real soon. I’d love to play SXSW!

B3SCI: “She’s On Fire” and “The Addict”. Two great songs that we’ve had the pleasure of hearing from Bo Saris so far. What more can we expect on your forthcoming EP? Is there a name for the EP and a release date?

Bo Saris: The Title of the EP will be “The Addict” It will contain “The Addict”, “Little Bit More” and another track I picked only for the EP!! Some great producers have done some remixes, including a Todd Edwards mix of “The Addict” which will also be on there. The release in the UK is planned for October, it’s definitely getting released in the US as well. 

B3SCI: Is there a particular track on the EP that you feel especially proud of as an artist? Is there a story with it worth sharing? 

Bo Saris: Well actually there’s a story behind all the tracks for me. So it’s hard to just pick one. But if I had to I would choose “The Addict”.
There’s something about that song that makes me emotional sometimes because of the fact it’s drawn from my real life experiences, which most of the songs are but when you write something about the pain & struggle your friends go through, you share that pain, it’s just something that crawls into your soul & it makes you show a more vulnerable side, which is a good thing I believe.

B3SCI: There’s so many colorful tones and lush arrangements on songs like “She’s on Fire” and “The Addict”. Where does the writing process typically begin for you? Do you have a ‘go-to’ instrument that you first like to write and arrange with?

Bo Saris: I play a little guitar & piano and that’s helped but also being in the studio with a producer creating a track, laying down a groove on the spot works very well for me. I’ve had producers send me tracks and that’s also worked for me. As long as the music triggers me then melodies & lyrics come out quite easy. There are many different ways of writing for me. For example, when I got the music for “The Addict” from my record producer Andrew(Dre) Harris I knew exactly the kind of melody & story I wanted to write. And so did the guy who I wrote the lyrics with bye the way, Jones Wetterberg. 

B3SCI: We have to ask, what would you say to the Godfather of soul, James Brown if you’d ever had the chance to meet him?

Bo Saris: I would say: Let’s make it funky Godfather!! Yeahhh I feéééél good!! And of course I would want to give him a big hug & say thank you for what you’ve created & added to music history. 

Bo Saris netherlands (Facebook)

reviewed by
09-25-13

Interview w/ Max Frost

Max Frost - Main Pub - Jason Haro

It’s been a big year for Austin singer songwriter Max Frost. Post-SXSW buzz, his track “White Lies” became a blogosphere hit. Since then, this 21 years young musician has signed with Atlantic Records and will be touring this fall with Gary Clark Jr in support of his forthcoming debut EP, Low High Low. B3SCI writer Brian Litwin recently had the chance to catch up with the young pop star in the making to chat about his massive year, song concepts, Geddy Lee, Texas BBQ and more! Have a look at their chat below.

B3SCI: Please introduce yourself to the B3SCI audience.

MF: Hey! I’m a 21 year old singer/multi-instrumentalist/producer born and raised in Austin, Texas.

B3SCI: We are picking up some soul, funk and pop influences? Who specifically would you consider your main influences?

MF: I wouldn’t say I have a ‘main’ influence. I draw from lots of music that I’ve loved over my life that spans from Albert King to Bob Dylan to Led Zeppelin to OutKast.

B3SCI: Are there any influences of yours that may come as a surprise to fans?

MF: I’m a huge Rush fan! Haha…

B3SCI: What can we expect from your debut EP Low High Low out October 8th?

MF: Five songs that represent my musical evolution over the past few years and also give a window on the styles I’m developing for the upcoming album. The theme came from the emotional content of the songs as well as the lo-phi against hi-phi production style.

B3SCI: “White Lies” has gained critical acclaim from reputable online press outlets. It’s an extremely nice mix of radio ready dance and catchy pop music, but there is more to it. What was the catalyst that spawned White Lies?

MF: “White Lies” was created as an experiment like most of my songs. I drew the concept from experiences I’ve had in relationships and stylized the song with the idea of creating an old school song on a modern groove.

B3SCI: You recorded all the instruments on “White Lies”. What was your favorite instrument to play on this track?

MF: Playing the bass was the best part for sure. It’s really the most important part and provides the motion of the groove and keeps the song funky against the electronic vibe.

B3SCI: You go on tour with fellow Austin native, Gary Clark Jr. starting on September 26th at The Wiltern right here in LA. You have a major label deal and you are only 21. Life must be pretty crazy right now, how are you handling all of this?

MF: I’m just trying to stay focused on my work and not lose sight of the passion that got me here in the first place. The momentum is great and I’m trying to enjoy everything in stride, but what’s really important to me is continuing to create music that I really love and am proud of making.

B3SCI: What is one artist, dead or alive, that you would want to hang with?

MF: I would kill to be able to go back and just be in the room while John Lennon wrote a song.

B3SCI: The Hype Machine backing seemed to help you get noticed by the overall music world. Do you have any advice for other up and coming artist on how to get your music out there so the “right” people can hear it?

MF: Be patient. Only put out what you think is your best work. Surround yourself with people who truly love what you create. Respect everyone. Be humble.

B3SCI: Last question – Tex Mex or Texas BBQ?

MF: BBQ all day!

MAX FROST ON TOUR

All dates w/ Gary Clark Jr. except *

9/21 Utopia, TX Utopia Fest*
9/26  Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern Theatre
9/27  San Diego, CA House of Blues
10/2  Oakland, CA Fox Theater
10/5 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Music Festival*
10/10 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
10/11 Denver, CO Ogden Theater
11/11 Boston, MA Royale
11/12 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
11/16 New York, NY Terminal 5
11/20 Minneapolis, MI First Avenue
11/22 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue Theatre
11/23 Columbia, MO The Blue Note

Max Frost texas (Official)

reviewed by
09-23-13

Giveaway: FILTER Presents Culture Collide Festival Prize Pack!

culture collide
 
FILTER Magazine’s Culture Collide Festival is preparing for it’s fourth International Music celebration headquartered in the streets and venues of Echo Park, Los Angeles. This October 10-12 the fest welcomes live performances from artists, film screenings, and happy hours featuring food and drinks in celebration of the more than 25 different participating countries. Having raised the talent bar yet again, Culture Collide will play host to live sets from Liars, King Khan & The Shrines, Iceage, Keaton Henson, The Raveonettes, Rhye, Chateau Marmont, GRMLN, Mystery Skulls and many many more. Basically, if you frequent B3SCI then you know that this festival is a yearly highlight and there is definitely some ace coverage coming your way.
 
We are excited to announce that this year we’ll be giving away a Culture Collide 2013 prize pack! That’s right, one lucky B3SCI reader will win a pair of passes to the Culture Collide Festival plus an autographed 12-inch vinyl of participating artist Chateau Marmont‘s Wargames EP. As big fans of this Paris based synth-pop collective, we recommend this group make your ‘must see’ festival plans and that their recent Invisible Eye EP tops your to-do list (get it here). 

Enter to win the contest by emailing us HERE and letting us know that you’d like to be entered in the Culture Collide Prize Pack Giveaway. (One entry per person). We will be picking our winning submission at random this coming October 5th, so keep an eye on your inbox! You can also get more details on purchasing tickets to the festival HERE. 

Culture Collide california (About) (BUY TICKETS)
FILTER Magazine california (Official)

reviewed by
09-23-13

A’LONNA – Fallin

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“Fallin” reminds us of so many things we love about that mainstream late-90s R&B. Dallas Austin, Darkchild, Jermaine Dupri, you know the good stuff. A’LONNA is an L.A. based newcomer with sounds seemingly well beyond her years. Having already caught the attention of producers like Timbaland and INDIAN, take note and sample “Fallin” from A’LONNA below.

A’LONNA – Fallin

A’LONNA california (Twitter)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
09-23-13

Review: Empire Of The Sun w/ Alpine @ Aragon Ballroom in Chicago 9/12/2013

Empire of the Sun at Aragon copy

Review by J.L. Greene

It’s a given with Justin Timberlake, I’d expect it with Justin Bieber and would definitely anticipate it with twerk-magnet Robin Thicke. But I never, ever, ever thought I’d get crushed to death by a savage mob in front of Empire of the Sun’s Luke Steele (see picture above).

Perhaps it was just naiveté on my part, but on Thursday, September 12th it was hard to think of such dangers. Alpine, an up-and-coming group of bewitching Australians, opened the show and brought with them another level of dance-consciousness. It’s easy to see why Rolling Stone named them band to watch in July 2013. With pump and enthusiasm coupled with sparkles and paint, singers Phoebe Baker and Lou James danced with flowing hand motions, and then like clawing cats, while displaying the range of their exquisite voices. Their energy was contagious and they proved to be the perfect opening act for Empire of the Sun.

Between sets, fans waited in Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom, passing around white paint to mark their faces. The humming crowd filled the unique space, a venue built almost to accompany Empire of the Sun’s tour itself. With balconies out of Aladdin, a ceiling painted with shooting stars reminiscent of Mickey’s adventure into wizardry and a touch of the fanciful in the Never-Ending Story, the Aragon stood almost as a testament to the fantastical past, waiting for the fantastical future that EOTS would bring.

Empire exceeded expectations. It was like an hour and a half electronic acid trip. Frontman Steele emerged in a black and gold costume with a magnificent headdress that Shredder would envy. Steele’s quirky “girls of the future” surrounded him continuously as they alternately donned space helmets, anteater-like masks, angel feathers and gigantic pink guitars. With perfect lighting, Steele ran about the stage crushing his guitar but always returned to an anchored spot, a command station post in the middle of the stage where he would work synths and keys.

There was constant, intense motion throughout the long set. With the dancers on stage, Steele running about, and projector images of travels all over the earth, outer-space and phases of evolution. Throughout the show, Steele randomly came down from stage for intimately close encounters with euphoric fans.

The room was absurdly hot and even Steele felt it. He first stripped his headdress to show bleached hair, highlighting his blacker-than-black thin goatee. Then he stripped his jacket, rocking around stage in a black shirt and leatherish pants. The heat, however, would not stop Steele from his futuristic costume changes time and again, each one hitting the elaborate state one would expect from the boundary pushing artist.

As Steele disappeared to the side of the stage, a huge form emerged from the stage back, rising to the multi-tiered platform summit. With two, red leaf-rakers for horns, a giant grey skull with flashing purple and blue eyes donned a multi-colored robe. The stunned crowd screamed its delight as Death pulled out two gasoline pump handles and began shooting fog. After a few minutes, and just as seemingly natural as he arrived, he descended into darkness once more.

But where Death left, Steele emerged in a similar costume if not the same as featured in the EOTS “Alive” video. The three burly musicians wore their attire with grace–including the drummer who’s helmet’s plume matched the height of his torso. You can clearly see why Cirque du Soleil would be so attractive to Empire’s other half, Nick Littlemore.

Speaking of Littlemore… Despite a visually overwhelming show and Steele’s ability to capture the huge ass stage, you couldn’t help but hope that fellow bandmate Littlemore would make a surprise entrance. Littlemore’s missing presence was like J.D without Turk, Wayne without Garth, Troy without Abed. It was a palpable ache you hoped would find a happy ending. Even though it was a given to Empire fans he would never arrive, his missing presence still hurt the soul.

In the midst of this fantastical show, my life passed before my eyes several times as I saw my phone flying through the air punched by a fan’s eager fist, received a blow to my face (bruise included) and was almost crushed to death on a few occasions. Honestly, it was the first time I could see how people died at shows. Again, maybe I was naive but never have I been around such ruthless fans. To say the least, the show was beyond anything I’ve ever experienced–both visually and physically. One thing I know for sure: never again will I underestimate the power of a man in a headdress.

Empire of the Sun australia (Official)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by
09-23-13

Rave’s Fave: Moby w/ Wayne Coyne – The Perfect Life

MOBY

Review By Bruce Rave

Moby can pretty much do what he wants. Although it’s been awhile since he’s hit a commercial bullseye, but he’s got one in “The Perfect Life”. This near-perfect collaboration with Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips has got a sing-along quality that sticks with me big-time, and will probably do the same for you. Moby’s latest album Innocents will drop this October.

Moby w/ Wayne Coyne – The Perfect Life

Moby (Official)

Hear Bruce’s “Go Deep With Bruce Rave” weekly new music show on Indie1031/Los Angeles and WSUM-FM/Madison. Details and archived shows can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
09-23-13

Review: London Grammar – If You Wait [LP]

London-Grammar-If-You-Wait

Reviewed By Mike Olinger

Last year English trio London Grammar posted their debut single “Hey Now” on the Internet. There was something immediately gratifying about the warm female vocals, liquid guitar playing and industrial rhythm section and by 2013; the song went on to receive over 800,000 hits on YouTube. The same song was also chosen to kick-off their debut album If Your Wait, released by Columbia Records earlier this month.

The buzz has only snowballed since the inception of London Grammar less then a year ago. It’s tempting to pop a hole in the hype balloon that has been fed by a Mercury Prize nomination and glowing reviews from cream blogs like Pitchfork and Consequence of Sound. Their reverb-heavy pop fits a little too well next to the burgeoning Alternative Mainstream and sometimes comes off as a well-calculated move towards that marketplace.

Sounding something like the love child of The xx and Florence Welch, the London three piece do manage to keep an evocative edge on their sometimes overly plaintive songs. Their single “Strong” is particularly poignant in its admission “excuse me for a while, while I’m wide eyed and so damn caught in the middle.” It’s confessional and the narrative lends itself beautifully to the band’s speedy rise to prominence, while lead singer Hannah Reid demonstrates just how powerful her vocals can get.

There are some subtle hints to golden era of 90’s trip-hop on “Strong” and “Stay Awake”, and key track “Metal & Dust” conjures up the irresistible vocal breaks of Imogen Heap. There is definitely a synergy between the rhythm section and the vocals of Hannah Reid, one that is captured perfectly throughout the eleven tracks on If You Wait by producer Dot Major. The majority of the album feels intentionally contained and streamlined, which is a positive for people who gravitate towards bands that can recreate their recordings live. No bells and whistles are needed to communicate the impressive dynamics of this band.

London Grammar has certainly answered the call for a stylish debut. It is indeed a slow building, sweltering collection of translucent electronica that calls out for a winter evening and a glass of red wine. Their melancholy lyricism and soft soundscapes seem to be the thread that connects to the majority of their listeners. If You Wait is a little bittersweet, a little over dramatic, but also lovely and confessional. For such a new group, it is an album brimming with graceful sophistication and the promise of greater horizons.

London Grammar england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
09-23-13