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RAVE’S FAVE: Trapdoor Social – Out Alive

By Bruce Rave

I’ve been spending some time with a young LA based artful alt band by the name of Trapdoor Social. The group has received kudos for their songwriting, harmonies, videos, and dedication to environmental causes. This final track on their ‘Science of Love’ EP is unique to this band in the same way that “Supermassive Black Hole” is unique for Muse. Trapdoor is typically cleaner with higher notes, which is part of what makes this harder and darker song stand out for them. It kicks off with a magnetic low-end synth hook that repeats throughout. This driving song was developed on top of that hook and is a band favorite of many who have heard it.

Trapdoor Social (Facebook)

* Links and playlists from Bruce Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by b3

09-07-14

Interview with Circa Waves

Interviews Rock Track Reviews

If you still like to rock and roll, then there’s lots (and lots) to love about Liverpool darlings Circa Waves. This young Brit rocker collective know how to jangle their way around a catchy song. Amidst their forthcoming and debut US tour writer Cher Dunn had the chance to chat with band-member Joe Falconer about growing up in Liverpool, their ‘Young Chasers’ EP and forthcoming album, life on the road, and more. Have a look at their conversation below.

B3SCI: Your hometown of Liverpool has been a notable city of great music, tell us what it was like to grow up in the local music scene, as a musician or a fan.

Circa Waves: I moved here about 6 years ago from a small town in the Midlands and the music scene was definitely one of the main reasons I came here. The best thing about Liverpool is that it feels like a big city condensed into a tiny space, so everything creative and interesting coming out of it is happening in a really small area. There’s a lot of independent venues all within a 5 minute walk from each other so it becomes very easy as a fan or musician to become involved and there’s a really strong community spirit. There’s a real diversity to the types of music that people are playing which I think pushes people on to keep trying new things.

B3SCI: When did you start playing music and what made you decide you wanted to try to pursue music professionally?

Circa Waves: I started playing piano when I was really young, but that kind of thing is a very solitary affair which isn’t what I enjoy about playing music. The big thing was when I picked up a guitar for the first time and started to play with other people, and realising that doing that is the thing that’ll make up better. I think moving to Liverpool was my first decision to try and take it more seriously. After that I made sure I played with other people and never resigned myself to a job that would take opportunities away from me, I didn’t want to commit to anything else because I never really saw myself happy doing anything other than music.

B3SCI: So far Circa Waves has released some really strong, upbeat and addictive tracks that seem to have an array of influences. How did the band meet, and what has the writing process together been like?

Circa Waves: We all got together last year in Liverpool. Kieran had just written “Young Chasers” and the rest of us knew that it was something we wanted to be part of when we heard it. The original plan was to give it our best shot, and hopefully (we’d) play at the festival the next year; we managed that, and in the mean time ended up doing things that we never really expected. As we developed as a band, and all brought something to create our sound as a band, we all work on ideas more collaboratively.

B3SCI: You signed to Vagrant Records, an awesome label. How was that experience? What are you most excited for with the release of your self-titled EP this year?

Circa Waves: We’re stoked to be signed to such a cool label, the thing we’re most excited about is getting the opportunity to play shows in the States and tour around, it’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.

B3SCI: When can we expect a full-length album, and where did the band record?

Circa Waves: The album is going to be coming out next year, we spent 5 weeks down in London recording it.

B3SCI: You guys seem to be touring non-stop. Tell us some of most memorable moments while on tour and what you look forward to with your upcoming UK tour.

Circa Waves: Because touring is mainly spent in the van, the secret of staying sane is trying to make the most of each place in the shortest amount of time. If we have a couple of hours before a gig we’ll try and walk around a city and see something worthwhile and then afterwards we go find a bar and drink something worthwhile. Europe has been great for that even if you risk wandering around desperately trying to find a cab at 4am in an area that may or may not be a shady part of town.

B3SCI: What has been your favorite city on tour and where would you like to go?

Circa Waves: At the moment we’ve yet to go out of Europe, but we’ve got some dates lined up in Japan which I’m really excited about. I really love Berlin too, we were there for Record Store Day and played a couple of gigs. It’s one of those cities where you can feel like there’s something going on, everyone there has a really accepting and creative mind set.

B3SCI: How has the festival circuit been for you so far? Have you had any memorable moments?

Circa Waves: Festivals have been a great experience, the crowds so far have been amazing. The first one we did at Best Kept Secret was one of my favourites; we didn’t know what to expect when we showed up but the reaction was great and the crowd put so much energy into it throwing each other.

B3SCI: How do you pass the time while traveling on tour? Is there anything you are reading or listening to you can recommend to your fans?

Circa Waves: Sleep. Read. Listen to Music. Play Fifa. I’m currently reading a biography of a Indian Mathematician called Ramanujan who grew up in a remote village and came to England to study and then went home to die a tragically young death. It’s a good van read, but sometimes the drier bits of the book coupled with the movement of the road make me real sleepy.

B3SCI: What are your goals for the rest of the year?

Circa Waves: More Rock, More Roll.

Circa Waves (Facebook)

Circa Waves On Tour

8/07 Norway @ Oya Festival
8/09 Sweden @ Way Out West Festival
8/16 Japan @ Summersonic Festival
8/17 Japan @ Summersonic Festival
8/23 Reading UK @ Reading Festival
8/24 Leeds UK @ Leeds Festival
9/21 Manchester UK @ Apollo (w/ The 1975)
9/22 Manchester UK @ Apollo (w/ The 1975)
9/24 Glasgow UK @ Barrowlands (w/ The 1975)
9/25 Glasgow UK @ Barrowlands (w/ The 1975)
9/26 Manchester UK @ Apollo (w/ The 1975)
9/27 Manchester UK @ Apollo (w/ The 1975)
9/28 London UK @ Alexandra Palace (w/ The Libertines)
9/29 Wolverhampton Uk @ Civic Hall (w/ The 1975)
9/30 London UK @ Alexandra Palace (w/ The 1975)
10/01 London UK @ Alexandra Palace (w/ The 1975)
10/20 Washington DC @ DC9
10/21 Allston MA @ Great Scott Allston
10/28 Los Angeles CA @ The Echo’s Pop Shop West

reviewed by b3

08-16-14

Jessie Ware – Tough Love

Pop Soul Track Reviews

The Great Jessie makes her return with “Tough Love”. Ware, who broke-out in 2012 on the strength of her top-to-bottom strong Devotion LP, maneuvers in a bit less direct space on “Tough Love”. While the impact of Jessie’s great diction and visceral quality is still very much at the forefront with the new song, “Tough Love” the minimal vocal + beats approach from LP 1 is less at the fore. We like the slight turn in sound and are of course excited for what is next in new material from Jessie Ware. “Tough Love” is out August 3rd on PMR.

Jessie Ware (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by b3

06-18-14

Glass Animals – Holiest (Feat. Tei-Shi)

Soul Track Reviews

Ah yes, Glass Animals. The Harvest-signed (Banks, Arthur Beatrice, Young & Sick, etc) alt R&B crew have been cruising through in recent months with a very impressive list of singles (including the aquarium soul of “Gooey” and the contemporary devotional that is “Black Mambo”). The come hither tones of the Tei-Shi-assisted “Holiest” is the latest very good iteration of the GA sound. complete w/ warm sparkling electronics and a visceral drum track that is circadian in its humanness. “Gooey” is the new EP from Glass Animals and its out April 8.

Glass Animals (Facebook)

Rating 8.6

reviewed by b3

03-28-14

Review: Parquet Courts Live @ The Fonda in Hollywood on 1/17/2014

In the Mix Live Show Reviews Rave's Faves

Parquet Courts headlined at the Henry Fonda in Los Angeles on a Friday night last week. Worth noting, The Fonda (as it’s called) has three times the capacity of The Echo — the site of their last LA appearance in January, 2013. Parquet Courts’ buzz has certainly magnified in this last year and the venue upgrade suited them well, the group had no issues covering the larger room.

My personal taste often leans away from ‘jam’ bands, who can sometimes put me to sleep when they stray too far from course. Not the case with Parquet Courts, who really know the right way to stretch out a song. There’s not a whole lot of showbiz at their gigs. The guys basically stand up and play, which is something they do very well. For this set, the band featured a new drummer who played his third show with the band, and he nailed his beats. The crowd devoured Parquet Courts nicely and better-known songs such as “Borrowed Time” and “You’ve Got Me Wondering Now” brought some added energy and enthusiasm to the house. As the band alternated between fast and mid-tempo, there was a bit of a lull about two-thrids of the way in (where a cover song or change of pace might have helped), but the energy returned with a blistering version of “The More It Works”.

The most popular Parquet Courts song to date has to be “Stoned and Starving”. The band were wise enough to play it on David Letterman recently, even though it’s from their Light Up Gold album as opposed to newer Tally All The Things You Broke EP release. Crowd members started calling out for it as early as two songs into the set… yet they did not play the song at all! When Parquet Courts’ hour-long set concluded, it was assumed that an encore was in store, but instead the lights came on right away. The perplexed crowd quizzically looked at their neighbors. Most people hung around and it was a few minutes before the house music began to play, creating abandonment of any hope. Were there technical issues? It’s doubtful that the venue was shutting them down due to time limitations. It’s one thing to leave the audience wanting more, but you never want leave them disappointed. By Bruce Rave

Parquet Courts (Facebook)

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 b3

01-25-14

Max Frost – White Lies

Soul Video Box

reviewed by b3

12-19-13

B3SCI Best of 2013: Staff Top 20’s

B3SCI Best of 2013 Electronic Hip Hop

It takes a village to build a B3SCI. That, and an exceedingly dope team of music mavens and cool bros & bras (girls). Check out Team B3’s favorite tracks and albums from 2013.

*Mikey C.

Albums:

01. Disclosure – Settle
02. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
03. The 1975 – The 1975
04. Kanye West – Yeezus
05. FOALS – Holy Fire
06. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
07. HAIM – Days Are Gone
08. Jake Bugg – Shangri La
09. Lorde – Pure Heroine
10. Drake – Nothing Was The Same
11. The Neighbourhood – I Love You
12. Arcade Fire – Reflektor
13. Tom Odell – Long Way Down
14. Rudimental – Home
15. London Grammar – If You Wait
16. Phoenix – Bankrupt!
17. PAPA – Tender Madness
18. Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience
19. David Bowie – The Next Day
20. FIDLAR – FIDLAR

Songs:

01. Daft Punk – Get Lucky
02. BANKS – Before I Ever Met You
03. Disclosure – White Noise
94. Lana Del Rey – Young & Beautiful
05. Jungle – Lucky I Got What I Want
06. Rihanna – Stay
07. James Blake – Retrograde
08. Mausi – Move
09. Justin Timberlake – Suit & tie
10. Sam Smith – Money On My Mind
11. The Orwells – Other Voices
12. Phosphorescent – Song for Zula
13. Jaymes Young – Wondering
14. Mapei – Don’t Wait
15. John Newman – Love Me Again
16. James Vincent McMorrow – Cavalier
17. Little Daylight – Overdose
18. Chris Malinchak – So Good To Me
19. Josef Salvat – This Life
20. London Grammar – Wasting My Young Years

*Troy Meyer

Albums:

01. Kanye West – Yeezus
02. Disclosure – Settle
03. Pusha T – My Name Is My Name
04. Volcano Choir – Repave
05. Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels
06. David Bowie – The Next Day
07. Darkside – Psychic
08. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
09. Iceage – You’re Nothing
10. Drake – Nothing Was the Same
11. My Bloody Valentine – mbv
12. Danny Brown – Old
13. Oneohtrix Point Never – R Plus Seven
14. James Blake – Overgrown
15. HAIM – Days Are Gone
16. A$AP Ferg – Trap Lord
17. Phosphorescent – Muchahco
18. Arctic Monkeys – AM
19. Jon Hopkins – Immunity
20. King Krule – 6 Feet Beneath the Moon

Songs:

01. Banks – Warm Water
02. Lana Del Rey – Young & Beautiful
03. Kanye West – Blood on the Leaves
04. Daft Punk – Get Lucky
05. James Blake – Retrograde
06. Drake – Hold On, We’re Going Home
07. Rihanna – Stay
08. Phosphorescent – Song for Zula
09. Disclousure – You & Me
10. HAIM – Falling
11. Ariana Grande – The Way
12. MS MR – Fantasy
13. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Sacrilege
14. Sam Smith – Money On My Mind
15. Josef Salvat – This Life
16. Phantogram – Fall in Love
17. Jungle – The Heat
18. Raleigh Ritchie – Stay Inside
19. Pusha T – Numbers On The Board
20. MO – Waste of Time

*Bruce Rave

Albums:

1. Arctic Monkeys – AM
2. Johnny Marr – The Messenger
3. St. Lucia – When The Night
4. Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart
5. Of Montreal – Lousy With Sylvianbriar
6. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
7. Bastille – Bad Blood
8. Muse – Live At Rome Olympic Stadium
9. Foals – Holy Fire
10. Beady Eye – BE
11. Tribes – Wish to Scream
12. Soft Swells – Lifeboats
13. David Bowie – The Next Day Extra
14. Savages – Silence Yourselves
15. Fidlar – Fidlar
16. Portugal the Man – Evil Friends
17. Cage the Elephant – Melophobia
18. Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside – Untamed Beast
19. Jake Bugg – Shangri-La
20. The Virginmary – King of Conflict

Songs:

1. Frank Turner – Four Simple Words
2. Tribes – Englishman on Sunset Blvd.
3. Temples – Shelter Song
4. Pet Shop Boys – Love Is A Bourgeoisie Construct
5. Everything Everything – Duet
6. Teleman – Christina
7. Bastille – Flaws
8. Local Natives – Ceilings
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito
10. Vampire Weekend – Step
11. Champs – My Spirit’s Broken
12. Moby – The Perfect Life
13. The Jim Jones Revue – Where da Money Go
14. Foals – Providence
15. The Record Company – Feels So Good
16. Placebo – Too Many Friends
17. The Strypes – Blue Collar Jane
18. Cage the Elephant f/ Allison Mosshart – It’s Just Forever
19. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Let the Day Begin
20. St. Lucia – Call Me Up

*Brian Litwin

Albums: (no particular order)

SAVAGES – SILENCE YOURSELF
TORO Y MOI – ANYTHING IN RETURN
CHRVCHES – THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE
THE 1975 – THE 1975
DISCLOSURE – SETTLE
ARCTIC MONKEYS – AM
DAFT PUNK – RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES
KANYE WEST – YEEZUS
AUTRE NE VEUT – ANXIETY
DRAKE – NOTHING WAS THE SAME
HAIM – DAYS ARE GONE
CHARLES BRADLEY – VICTIMS OF LOVE
VAMPIRE WEEKEND – MODERN VAMPIRE OF THE CITY
DANNY BROWN – OLD
BEACON – THE WAYS WE SEPARATE
LORDE – PURE HEROINE
BOARDS OF CANADA – TOMORROW’S HARVEST
ODDISEE – THE BEAUTY IN ALL
FUCK BUTTONS – SLOW FOCUS
A$AP FERG – TRAP LORD

Songs: (no particular order)

STEP ROCKETS – KISSER
CHRIS MALINCHAK – SO GOOD TO ME
JUNGLE – THE HEAT
WAVE RACER – ROCK U TONITE
THE CHAIN GANG OF 1974 – SLEEPWALKING
FRACTURES – TWISTED
JAI PAUL – ANYTHING OFF THE LEAKED ALBUM
THE 1975 – CHOCOLATE
KANYE WEST – BOUND 2
TORO Y MOI – HARM IN CHANGE
KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS – RECOLLECTION
WALLA – NATURE
MAJOR LAZER – BUBBLE BUTT
CHRVCHES – GUN
PHOSPHORESCENT – SONG FOR ZULA
MOUNT KIMBIE – YOU TOOK YOUR TIME (FEAT KING KRULE)
RYAN HEMSWORTH – AGAINST A WALL
VALENTINA – LADDERS
BANKS – THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
HOLY GHOST! – DUMB DISCO IDEAS

*Desiree Autobee

Albums:

1. Mansions – Doom Loop
2. Small Black – Limits Of Desire
3. Haim – Days Are Gone
4. The 1975 – The 1975
5. Sombear – Love You In The Dark
6. Tegan And Sara – Heartthrob
7. Jessie Ware – Devotion
8. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
9. Kisses – Kids In LA
10. Ms Mr – Secondhand Rapture
11. Caroline Smith – Half About Being A Woman
12. Guards – In Guards We Trust
13. Wild Ones – Keep It Safe
14. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
15. Blood Orange – Cupid Deluxe
16. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires Of The City
17. Sharks – Selfhood
18. Joywave – 88888
19. Flagship – Flagship
20. Robby Hunter Band – Magic City Hippies

Songs:

1. The Chain Gang Of 1974 – Sleepwalking
2. Shy Girls – Second Heartbeat
3. Body Language – The Chasing
4. Wild Cub – Thunder Clatter
5. The Limousines – Love Is A Dog From Hell
6. Donora – Under The Lights
7. Gauntlet Hair – Human Nature
8. Phantogram – Celebrating Nothing
9. Ra Ra Riot – Dance With Me
10. Sky Ferreira – You’re Not The One
11. Shout Out Louds – Blue Ice
12. Tennis – Mean Streets
13. Wet – Dreams
14. Josh Ritter – New Lover
15. Glacier Face – Last Days
16. Best Coast – This Lonely Morning
17. Kate Boy – Northern Lights
18. Andrew Belle – Dark Matter
19. Kitten – Graffiti Soul
20. Lazerhawk – The Video Craze

*Joanne Lam

Albums: (no particular order)

Quadron – Avalanche
Bill Callahan – Dream River
Rhye – Woman
Julianna Barwick – Nepenthe
Nils Frahm – Spaces
Tim Hecker – Virgins
King Krule – 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
Mount Kimbie – Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
Forest Swords – Engravings
Theo Parrish – Black Jazz Signature
Julia Holter – Loud City Song
Hiatus Kaiyote – Tawk Tomahawk
Oddisee – The Beauty In It All
Lubomyr Melnyk – Corollaries
Joomanji – Manj
Jackson C. Frank – Forest of Eden
Grouper – The Man Who Died In His Boat
Derrick Hodge – Live Today
José James – No Beginning, No End
Georgia Anne Muldrow as Jyoti – Denderah

Songs: (no particular order)

Tim Hecker – Black Refractions
José James – Make It Right
Bill Callahan – The Sing
Jungle – Drops
Quadron – Crush
Moonchild – All The Joy
Thundercat – Tenfold
Rhye – The Fall
Diggs Duke – Cause I Love You
James Blake – Our Love Comes Back
King Krule – Ocean Bed
Nils Frahm – Says
Hiatus Kaiyote – Nakamarra
Joomanji ft. Lindsay Olsen – Spread Too Thin
Derrick Hodge – Night Visions
The Spandettes – Sweet and Saccharine
Danny Brown – Lonely
Blu – Keep Pushinn
Shintaro Sakamoto – Don’t Know What’s Normal
Omar ft. Pino Palladino – There’s Nothing Like This

*Eliana Segal

Albums:

1. We Are the Same – Tallhart
2. Talon of the Hawk – The Front Bottoms
3. Common Courtesy – A Day to Remember
4. Save Rock n’ Roll – Fall Out Boy
5. Pythons – Surfer Blood
6. You Are Here – Magic Man
7. What You Don’t See – The Story So Far
8. Magnolia – Turnover
9. The Hands That Thieve – Streetlight Manifesto
10. The Greatest Generation – The Wonder Years
11. Ordinary Silence – Mixtapes
12. Adding up the Wasted Hours – The Lonely Forest
13. Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die – Panic! at the Disco
14. Tape Deck Heart – Frank Turner
15. Selfhood – Sharks
16. Doom Loop – Mansions
17. Youth – Citizen
18. Jar – Daylight
19. The Hurry and the Harm – City & Colour
20. True Trans – Against Me!

Songs:

1. Four Simple Words – Frank Turner
2. Twin Size Mattress – The Front Bottoms
3. Passing Through a Screen Door – The Wonder Years
4. City of Ocala – A Day to Remember
5. Lovric’s – The Lonely Forest
6. Paris – Magic Man
7. Follow Your Arrow – Kasey Musgraves
8. Clairvoyant – The Story So Far
9. Young Volcanoes – Fall Out Boy
10. I Was Wrong – Surfer Blood
11. Still Into You – Paramore
12. Roam the Room – Citizen
13. A Ring a Reason – Tallhart
14. Carry You Over – Tigers Jaw
15. A Life Less Ordinary – The Bronx
16. Cannonball – Diamond Youth
17. Conventry – Old Gray
18. Climbers – Mansions
19. Vegas Lights – Panic! at the Disco
20. It’s About Time – Young the Giant

*Charles Walker

Albums:

1. A Color Map of the Sun – Pretty Lights
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. Unorthadox Jukebox – Bruno Mars
4. Magna Carta…Holy Grail – Jay Z
5. Corsicana Lemonade – White Denim
6. Smoke and Mirrors – Brett Dennen
7. good kid m.A.A.d city – Kendrick Lamar
8. The 1975 – The 1975
9. The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – Eminem
10. Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age
11. Yeezus – Kanye West
12. The Bones of What You Believe – CHVRCHES
13. Love Lust Faith + Dreams – Thirty Seconds To Mars
14. The Paradigm Shift – Korn
15. The Electric Lady – Janelle Monae
16. Free The Universe – Major Lazer
17. Random Access Memories – Daft Punk
18. Reflektor – Arcade Fire
19. Amok – Atoms For Peace
20. Disclosure – Settle

Songs:

1. Royals – Lorde
2. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
3. Get Lucky – Daft Punk
4. Fuckin Problems – A$AP Rocky, Drake, and 2 Chainz
5. Wrecking ball – Miley Cyrus
6. Bubble Butt – Major Lazer
7. Holy Grail – Jay Z
8. Safe and Sound – Capital Cities
9. Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke
10. Bezerk – Eminem
11. Chocolate – The 1975
12. So Many Details – Toro Y Moi
13. The Mother We Share – CHVRCHES
14. Who Got It – Break Science
15. The Lottery – The Stepkids
16. Afraid – The Neighbourhood
17. Ashtrays and Heartbreaks – Snoop Lion and Miley Cyrus
18. Falling – Haim
19. Happy – Robert DeLong
20. City Of Angels – Thirty Seconds To Mars

reviewed by b3

12-17-13

Review: Arctic Monkeys @ the Wiltern in Los Angeles on 9/29/2013

Live Show Reviews Rock

When Arctic Monkeys dropped their first album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006, it was one of the hottest debuts the UK had ever seen. No big surprise that like most popular UK bands things haven’t developed quite as quickly for Arctic Monkeys here in the US. Still, here we are in 2013, and the band is at a point where they can sell out a respectful three nights staight in Los Angeles at the 2,300 capacity Wiltern Theater. A big part of their continually growing American profile is the acceptance of their most recent AM album, a release that just might top many year-end lists.

Always a winner live, the Arctic Monkeys has evolved into the kind of precise, energetic machine that not only rocks the floor of a venue from front to back, but also wills the normally quieter balcony audiences to pretty much ‘lose it’ just as well. Opening the show to a roar of familiarity was AM‘s first single “Do I Wanna Know”. The UK second single “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High” also was a highlight that Sunday night, September 29. While the band’s sound has morphed into a more dark, and largely mid-tempo vibe with a bluesy feel over the years, the guys are wise enough to maintain the party atmosphere throughout their live show by performing their early songs like “I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor”, “Dancing Shoes”, “Teddy Picker”, and “D is For Dangerous”.

Arctic Monkeys touched on all five of their studio albums throughout the night. Everything worked, with the moderate exception of the two slow songs they played in succession following “Dancefloor”. Historically, band leader Alex Turner is the kind of guy that can be a premier frontman just by standing and singing in one spot. Notable this time around at the Wiltern, he had become much more animated in presence. Alex has stated recently that he wants to play less guitar so that he can “prat” around the stage. A few years ago, the band played to a quiet but attentive main stage throng at Coachella. Alex showed his modesty by saying after the set that it was one of his favorite gigs. I was surprised by his reaction as I personally felt they deserved a far louder response.

Having headlined various festivals throughout this summer, Arctic Monkeys have got to be delighted with how things are going. And so must their fans. The merch lines at the Wiltern this past Sunday were far longer than the beer lines. Definitely a good sign for longevity.

Review and Photo by Bruce Rave

Arctic Monkeys (Official)

reviewed by b3

10-05-13

Interview w/ Max Frost

Interviews Pop Soul

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 (Official)

reviewed by b3

09-23-13

The Casket Girls – Holding You Back

Pop Track Reviews

Casket Girls is the new project of Black Moth Super Rainbow member Ryan Graveface. On single “Holding You Back”, sunny late 60’s style melodies veneer an underlying creepiness/sinisterness that reminds of one of those horror movie scenes where the little girl is all alone on the squeaky/creaking swing just as she’s about to get devoured/scarfed up by the Wolfman monster or whatever. “Holding You Back” is part of a special cassette-only release from Casket Girls due September 7.

The Casket Girls : (Facebook)

Rating: 8.0

reviewed by b3

08-28-13

Review: Frightened Rabbit w/ Wild Belle @ Park West in Chicago, IL. 8/3/2013

Live Show Reviews Rock

One of the best parts of Lollapalooza comes right after Chicago’s Grant Park closes: the after shows. And when you can couple the magic of a beautiful venue, with an artists magnetic personality and captivating storytelling, you’ve reached another level of “Lolla Heaven.”

On Saturday evening, Frightened Rabbit and Wild Belle took the stage at Chicago’s Park West, the 1920’s vaudeville turned concert venue whose romantic character seemed to weave its touch through the evening.

A crowd gathered on the small dance area below the stage while the rest of the show-goers grabbed one of the many booths or stools dotted throughout the venue. Though furbished for the 21st century, the layout of the club is reminiscent of days gone by and you can almost see a leading lady from Hollywood’s Golden Age capturing the crowd on the stage. It was like the ghost of those classic starlets touched Wild Belle’s Natalie Bergman when she took stage. Her mesmerizing voice held the crowd as she seductively swayed behind the mic, caressing it for dramatic effect. It seemed a contradiction at times, her 90’s inspired artist look (floppy black hat and high rise shorts included) with Reggae inspired tunes and moves right out of the 40’s. Add to that her brother Elliot alternating between synths and sax and you have quite the unexpected amalgamation–and it works.

If Wild Belle mesmerized the crowd, Frightened Rabbit got them jumping. The five member Scottish band carries with them the complete aura of their haggis-eating, tartan-wearing, story-telling culture, whether in the very rhythms of the music ringing out in ceilidh-like beats, the subtle Scottish brogue or story-telling lyrics. The men also exude the manliness one equates with Scottish culture, with beards and stockiness evoking William Wallace-like warriors. Besides, as drummer Grant Hutchison picks up steam during the show, his face transforms into a grizzly bear-like menace. You can just picture him running over hills in a kilt throwing javelins.

And then, lead singer Scott Hutchison brings a gem to the crowd–a new song. As the rest of the band members leave the stage, Hutchison sets the scene. Reassuring the crowd over and over again that he does not condone violence and “thinks it’s bullshit,” he launches into the inspiration of this new, enthralling tune.

“I wrote this next song when I was going through a major love affair–as many people do–with Game of Thrones. And I thought about–and I don’t condone violence, it’s fucking terrible–but I just feel like sometimes, men in particular, don’t really fucking fight for their women anymore.” To this, the crowd cheers and you can almost hear the girls’ quick breath intake. “I don’t mean physically fight, but I mean that if it matters to you, you should go and get it. And I’m not really fucking good at doing it.” With this foundation he emphasizes: “So, this song is a fiction. It’s all bullshit. I thought it would be awesome to try and write a super violent love song. And so this is it. This is about as violent as I was comfortable in making it.”

Following a little more banter and a fellow Scot calling out from the crowd, “Good on ya!” Hutchison launches into “Candlelit.”

Love’s checkered past
Is littered with violent acts
And the blood that fills kindless paths
Each drop drawn in her name.

In this modern age
The image of father has changed
But if you’re ready I’m willing to wage a gut-wrenched war
For a minute of your time

I’m done playing stone paper scissors
Gonna take that stone and bring them all down with it
Steal some scissors and cut some throats
Put pen to paper and write you a note
I won’t get in line
I will not wait for this.
With my bare hands I kill
Just to be candlelit
with you.

I have no checkered past
And I’ve never been a violent man
Maybe you’ve changed all that
Each scar I carve is in your name

So let the suitors come
I can see them off one by one
Open every last artery up
Just for a second of your time.

I’m done playing stone paper scissors
Gonna take that stone and bring them all down with it.
Steal those scissors and cut some throats
Put pen to paper and write you a note
I won’t get in line
I will not wait for this.
With my bare hands I kill
Just for the privilege

Look at the blood bath
Look at the mess I have made
With my bare hands I kill
Just to be candlelit
with you.*

And so, as the ladies swoon and testosterone builds in the guys, Hutchison shares his epic “fiction,” drawing out the romance of his land, his culture and his history–and of course that of Game of Thrones. With themes of valor, honesty, heroism and love, coupled with their Scottish rhythms, it’s hard not to love Frightened Rabbit’s bard-like music and even more appreciate it in a romantic setting. The beauty and history of the scene did nothing but enhance the magic.

Ending with the epic notes of “The Loneliness and the Scream,” Frightened Rabbit sent out a wistful crowd with Hutchison’s bard-like lyrics and Scottish rhythms inspiring elation and creativity. Truly, a great treat.

Check out Frightened Rabbit’s “Candlelit” from Park West. You can compare it to this first version performed in Salt Lake City.

A note on the lyrics:
**Coupled with the Scottish brogue and crowd, these are as best I can make out. If you have corrections, let us know!

Review and Photo by J.L. Greene

Frightened Rabbit (Official)
Wild Belle (Facebook)

reviewed by b3

08-08-13

Review: Jessie Ware with Pacific Air @ Lincoln Hall in Chicago, IL. 8/2/2013

Live Show Reviews Soul

In her official Lollapalooza after show on this past Friday night at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall, London R&B queen Jessie Ware bantered with her adoring crowd with conversations that returned again and again to one region: anatomically speaking, the things down low.

In retrospect, the evening seemed to show the transition from youthful cares to the maturity of the adult world. The appropriately named SoCal band Pacific Air opened the evening with their light-hearted, catchy beats. Brothers in their early 20’s, Ryan and Taylor Lawhon exude “too cool for school.” One’s 90’s bleached, slicked back hair followed by the other’s carefully crafted, top heavy curls, they made for a great 2013 synth pop version of Saved by the Bell’s Zack and Slater. Added with the young enthusiasm of their touring bassist, Alex Lopez and guitarist Steven Lindenfelser, Pacific Air epitomized a band growing into their identity while spreading their catchy, perpetual-summer tunes. Chicagoans will surely cling to these memories during the hard winter months to come.

At midnight, Jessie took the stage. Opening with “Devotion,” her sultry voice, love-riddled lyrics and bluesy beats ooze the complexities of the adult world. And boy does that English girl know her R&B.

Alternating between soul singer and comedian, Ware thanked a couple of fans while receiving flowers, hinting for fans to bring more at future gigs, beginning a night of conversation and banter. As she reminisces about her last time in Chicago, she sees two familiar faces. “You were there!” she says joyfully surprised. “You two were there! You two were dancing so hard.” The crowd looks at the two men, shimmying without regard to the personal space of those around them. “I’m glad to see you’re still with each other and still dancing hard!” And with that, Ware lifts her arms high over her head to join the shimmy-train.

Jessie is a surprising fireball of enthusiasm, spunk and soul. Her pensive songs make her personality even more of a bombshell when the music ends. As she finishes a line about unrequited love, she mentions “You realize, I think we all need to just celebrate that ‘Wildest Moments’ is now in a Durex ad.” The crowd laughs, taken off guard by this curve ball. “I’m going to be throwing out condoms when you come to my next gigs,” she jokes. “Thanks Durex!”

From there, the night took an unexpected turn with colorful commentary filling the spaces between songs. First, Ware introduced “Taking In Water,” a song about her unlucky-in-love brother. “My brother is at home studying to be a doctor and he works very, very hard. He’s a very, very special guy; he’s also very, very unlucky in love. Always chooses the wrong guys. Boys can be really mean to boys! And they’ve been really mean to him and he’s just had the worst luck.”

As she finishes, a fan close-by yells for his friend, pointing to the guy next to him. “He’s a gay doctor!”

Excited, Jessie runs over to do an interview, speaking into the mic for fans to follow. Small pauses with inaudible answers follow the next series of questions, “Are you a gay doctor? Have you got a boyfriend? What kind of doctor?” With one last cheeky comment from the friend, Jessie bursts out laughing, ending the conversation with “You are naughty!”

The band clearly knows Ware’s tendency toward conversation and begins playing the next song, as almost a small shove to remind her why they’re there. Getting the hint, she concludes, “I just ruined the intro to my song; forget about fannies and willies.” And with that, she launches into “Taking In Water.” At the final note, Jessie turns to her new friend and says in exasperation, “All I could think about was fucking asses and fannies! It was awful. You ruined that for me!”

On the next rabbit trail, she shares another advertisement story. “Ok, can I tell you about the advert that I had in Florida?” She pauses for dramatic effect: “‘vaginal rejuvenation.’” The crowd laughs hysterically while she pulls a bewildered face . “Are you shitting me? What the fuck is ‘vaginal rejuvenation?’ And they only do that advert in Florida! How weird. So if you want a ‘vaginal rejuve,’ you need to go down to Florida…”

Technical issues overshadowed the set, but Jessie took it in stride making the awkward moments a part of the show. After the second time her crew member crossed the stage to adjust an unseen tech do-dad on her lower back, Jessie began booty-dancing and wiggling around. She clearly wasn’t going to let inconvenient tech problems change the evening’s tone.

The entire night was full of crowd interaction and storytelling. Ware reached her hands out to the fans continually, looked at their iphone pictures, chatted and continued triying to set up her brother. Despite her pensive, often sad tunes, Jessie is more than spunky. “So, the last time I was here I sang this line, ‘My friends wonder what is wrong with me.’ And someone shouted out ‘Ain’t nothin’ wrong with choo, girl!’ and it made me feel really special. And it was really all the gays being on my side. So, if you want to sing along, or shout out at this song, I don’t mind because I love it. And it reminds me of Chicago.” She certainly got her wish. Throughout the entirety of “What You Won’t Do For Love,” sassy commentary zinged her way from the audience.

“Seriously, though, I wish I could play every gig like this. It’s been so long since we’ve played in such a lovely, intimate space and it feels so nice! I kinda just want to really suck on the next album so I get downsized. It’s been so nice. And I recognize old faces.” She waved to her friends in the crowd and seemed truly touched by such a fun evening. Finally she had to end the fun. “This is our last song. I wish I had some more! I don’t. And it’s past my bedtime and it’s past yours. This has been the best gig in Chicago. It’s been better than the rest.”

It was a surprising, eventful show from an unexpectedly cheeky singer. Her comedic personality easily balanced her lyrics of soulful love-longing. If her music doesn’t make you love her, her quick wit certainly will.

Review and Photo by J.L. Greene

Jessie Ware (Facebook)

reviewed by b3

08-07-13

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