Category Archives: Check ’em Out!

March 12, 2009 · 9:04 am

Your Soul Wants to Dance

After waiting a few years, Tortured Soul is set for their sophomore album release on the 24th. Their debut Introducing had lots of people talking, amazed with the new aspect of LIVE house music.  

Now, Did You Miss Me is a 13 track continuation of Introducing. It’s being released on their own new label, TSTC Records.

Here’s a couple things that have been said about Tortured Soul:

“The future of house music…you have to see them live.” – Gilles Peterson, Radio 1

“Tortured Soul create blissed-out tracks that curl around your head like cigarette smoke.” – XLR8R

 

Incorporating soul with pop and dance, Tortured Soul has dance-able tracks with jazz elements. They’re hitting up some awesome cities this spring, including Pittsburgh, so I’m definitely going to try to make this show.

Here’s their touring schedule:

03/07: Atlanta, GA @ Apache Cafe
03/27: New York, NY @ Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza
04/04: West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy Theatre
05/19: New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
05/21: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
05/22: Chicago, IL @ Double Door
05/23: Detroit, MI @ Cliff Bells
05/24: Pittsburgh, PA @ Shadow Lounge
05/28: Allston, MA @ Harper’s Ferry
05/30: Baltimore, MD @ The 8 x 10
06/27: Los Angeles, CA @ Los Angeles Memorial
You can also check out their website and MySpace

Free download of title track, “Did You Miss Me”

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February 11, 2009 · 11:13 am

Coming Soon: The Atomica Project

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Wade Alin and Lauren Cheatham formed The Atomica Project back in 2004, and released their debut Metropolitan in 2005. Their down-tempo beats and never before heard version of electronic music caught them some attention. Actually, it was considered to be one of the best independent albums of the year.

Last May, almost 3 years later, they returned with their follow-up, Grayscale. But, NOW they are going on a tour along the East Coast to support their newest album, First in a Series of Dramatic Events. The duo has added two additions to their lineup: keyboardist/turntablist Dean Dunakin and drummer Corey McCafferty.

You can go check ’em out next month at Your Inner Vagabond. They’ll be there on March 7th, at 7:00 pm. If you’re into Bjork and/or Portishead, you might enjoy The AP. But, if you aren’t sure, you can take a listen before-hand either on MySpace or Last.fm.

The Atomica Project Schedule:

02/26/09 Chicago, IL – Subterranean
02/27/09 Cleveland, OH – Wilburt’s Food & Music
02/28/09 New York, NY – Arlene’s Grocery
03/01/09 Buffalo, NY – Broadway Joe’s
03/02/09 Brooklyn, NY – TBA
03/03/09 Danbury, CT – Cousin Larry’s
03/04/09 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
03/06/09 Boston, MA – PA’s Lounge
03/07/09 Pittsburgh, PA – Your Inner Vagabond

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February 5, 2009 · 3:46 pm

Speaking of folk music…

Somehow I forgot to mention another great act that’s coming to town…on Monday, actually!

Matt Jones, from Michigan, has a new debut solo album that’s going to be released on the 7th. But I will tell you, I’ve heard it, and it’s good stuff. The Black Path is a good cd to have on while you’re cozied up on the couch reading a book. My favorite tracks are “Threadlines” and “Holy Light”, though all 11 songs are beautiful; melancholic, but captivating.

On Monday, the 9th, he’ll be performing right here in the Burgh. Guess where? Morning Glory Coffeehouse!!! So, check out Matt on last.fm (where, again, I’ve posted the show under his profile)…and then go see him in person. THEN, in another week and a half, you can go again to see The Accident That Led Me To The World!!!

Oh yeah, you can go check him out on MySpace, as well. (Of course!)

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February 3, 2009 · 8:07 pm

It Wasn’t an Accident

Cover from self-titled debut album
Cover from self-titled debut album

“Will disappear into the horizon in the blink of an eye, leaving your panoramic ocean view fathomless and without object.” That is the last sentence in the description on last.fm for The Accident That Led Me To The World. That one sentence sums up their entire persona.

Sometimes we need to be reminded that being a musician takes more than being able to pick out cool beats and mix ’em all up. Mark Mandeville, Raianne Richards, and Zack Ciras can show you all about being musicians. Just listening to their melodies forces you (in a good way) to remember and appreciate the skills necessary in making music.

It’s impossible to get bored by their sounds because of how many instruments they play. They’ve got guitars, bass, a banjo, and clarinet. Not to mention their voices themselves.

They’re a folk music trio from Massachutsetts, and they’re coming this way! They’ll be here in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, February 18th, playing at the Morning Glory Coffeehouse. (I’ve added the event onto their page on last.fm that you can find here.)

If you love listening to music in a relaxed, intellectual setting with like-minded people, you should definitely come to the show. Even if you don’t go to relaxed settings to listen to ‘quieter’ music often, you should still come to this show. It’s a Wednesday people, save your fist-pumping drum-blaring jams for the weekend! (ha!) Show these guys how awesome Pittsburgh is!

Cover from newest album "The Island Gospel"
Cover from newest album “The Island Gospel”

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January 21, 2009 · 4:25 pm

Don’t Keep it on the Low

I wanted to take the chance to tell you guys about my boy Brando. He’s a great friend and cool guy that’s been making music in some form or another for years. He’s recently moved to Orlando, and has just posted a new song up on his MySpace page.

His music ranges from acoustic and reggae and mostly whatevers in between. His new song, “Keep it on the Low” is fantastic. So, if you get a chance, swing by his page (by clicking here) and check it out (along with his other jams, too!)!

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December 31, 2008 · 4:10 pm

The Whitest Boy Alive on the Empire of the Sun

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Today I’m going to tell you about 2 tracks that I haven’t gotten enough of for the past few days.

I expect that the first one, you may know about. Empire of the Sun’s “Walking on a Dream”. It’s been on the blogs the past few months. I actually wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first, but now I love it. You know what I love even more? The Van She remix. If you are a Hype Machine user/lover, go plug it into the search on their site and give it a listen. Or just click here, lazy ass.

NEXT order of business:

The second song that I have (both are on constant repeat) for you to check out is The Whitest Boy Alive’s “Golden Cage” (Fred Falke remix). Yeaaaaah! This one I expect less people to have heard, but if I may say, I love it more than the previously mentioned Van She mix.

So, today after work when I get home…I will be a dancing fool. Out of my golden cage, and walking on the sun…getting ready to party and bring in the New Year.

Hope everyone does the same. Dance to only those two songs. But, if not; more importantly, have fun and be safe!

Cheers! Happy New Year!

This is you tomorrow: happynewyear-2000

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December 23, 2008 · 11:16 am

Impolite Not to Like!

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So Paste Magazine AND elbo.ws calls them “infectious”, and I think I’ve been infected. Plushgun, from New York, are awesome. Indie synth with a dancing beat, you know…some new wave, and it’s a party!

“Just Impolite” seems to be the song everyone knows and talks about. But, the others stuck out to me more. Like “Dancing in a Minefield” and “Union Pool” are just like, “put me in the scene, and plug in this song for my cameo on Gossip Girl,” or something like that. 

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In February, Tommy Boy Entertainment will be putting out Plushgun’s Pins and Panzers album. It’s the band’s first full length album. Girlie Action describes it like this: “Plushgun’s Pins and Panzers bounces in to the room, passes out the glowsticks, hands you a beer and tells your ass to dance.” Whoa, really? That there is enough for me. I’m sold! You? Not just yet? Well, click here to go check out the new video for “Just Impolite”.

Then, after that…when you are sold…you can head over to Girlie Action Media to read more and check out their tour dates and such!

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November 4, 2008 · 4:21 pm

Leftys Can Use Scissors, too

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Scissors for Lefty is just a big, happy family! Or maybe TWO happy families.

Peter and James Krimmel met up with Bryan Garza in the early 2000s while in college. In 2002, after moving to San Francisco, Bryan’s brother Robby joined in on the group. So, there were two pairs from two families. Maybe that was a bit too organized for them, because in 2006 another family member joined yet again. Steven Garza does his part with bass and with dancing. Yes, dancing. Now, Robby has more time to devote to the guitar while playing.

Last year, Underhanded Romance was released. The band’s debut Bruno, came out in 2005. While I haven’t listened to their first album, I can say that I love their second!

I first listened to their track “Ghetto Ways”, figuring that if I liked it, I’d download more. Great choice for my initial listening. Right this moment actually, I am working on downloading the rest of the album. (Emusic, folks…a wonderful thing.)

I must admit, I am saddened that I haven’t learned of these scissor people until now, especially since they’ve played alongside of Interpol and Bloc Party (2 of my faves)! And Pulp is one of their influences!

I’m going to assume that you’ll like Scissors for Lefty. If you don’t, then well okay — you won’t be downloading them. But, if ya do…my faves are (obviously) “Ghetto Ways”, “Nickels and Dimes”, and “Next to Argyle”. I’d skip “Wondering Arms” and “X’s are Forever”. Don’t get me wrong, the whole album is good, but if you’re gonna be picky and not have the whole thing…then skip those two. “Lay Down Your Weapons” is a hilarious song. “I been locked up a long time baby/ since I was nine/ just got out yesterday man/ bought myself this New York steak knife”. Ha!

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September 24, 2008 · 1:37 pm

Oh…what?

Nathaniel Motte and Sean Foreman sure have a lot of people buzzing. Especially if they’ve gone to this year’s Van’s Warped Tour. So, where are they from? They come from the 303. That’s right…Boulder. Colorado. The duo makes up 3OH!3, which began around 4 years ago when they were in college.

Luckily, they had loads of friends in bands, and that’s how they got their start. Playing small gigs around town, they became more known. Then, last year when Warped Tour came around, they joined in on the Denver lineup. Now, this year, they’re hip-hopping around on the whole thing!

The thing I like about 3OH!3 is that there seems to be a little something for everybody. Let’s see, there’s rock, rap, electronica, and comedy! Maybe even a little bit of country since they do call their jams “honky tonk crunk”.

Nonetheless, locals around Denver have known about these guys for quite some time. Now, we’re finally getting in on the action! Last year, they self-released a self-titled album, but I don’t really know much about that. Other than what I just said.

BUT, in fact…just earlier this month they released their first real album, Want, with Photo Finish Records. The track “PunkBitch” is the most known. Have you heard it? If you’ve gone to this years Warped Tour, you probably have. The tour definitely has helped 3OH!3 find tons of new fans, and they show their love by wearing tee shirts bearing the word “PunkBitch” (or just the band’s name).

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