by Jane Lambert

AP Tobler’s New Music is Authentically Them

AP Tobler uses their own life as a guide for their music. Unlike many musicians out there, you can hear their passion and intimacy with the music, not just the words. We can hear their rawness and vulnerability in their work, allowing the listeners in and feeling along with them. AP Tobler is authentic and that’s what makes them, and their music, so amazing.

Their newest single, “Eclipse” was too big for a single song, so they gave us “Blunt Force,” the single that lives on the B-side. “Blunt Force” is the perfect companion piece to “Eclipse,” a grungy rock song that sounds like Nirvana meets Green Day. “Eclipse” This song is a personal one for AP that most people been through. It describes the way trauma affects our minds and bodies in the music. “Eclipse is about the mental block that comes with suffering a past trauma,” shares AP. “I wrote this song while I was replaying painful events in my head. I was sick of feeling upset over things that had happened years ago. When I write music about personal experiences, the lyrics and melody tend to come together very quickly. This is the case with Eclipse. I was actually on a phone call with friends and started feeling anxious. In the middle of the call, I opened my Notes app and started typing fragments of lyrics about how I was feeling.”

The companion piece, “Blunt Force,” is about a time in which a close friend to AP just left, suddenly and unexpectedly. There was no notice, they were just no longer friends with no explanation. This grunge song depicts this experience and the repercussions it had on AP. “After two years without resolution, I finally wrote a song to express the lingering emotions I was feeling,” says AP. “One night I picked up my guitar and wrote a cord progression that I liked. I started to write the lyrics and within 30 minutes I had a melody and lyrics to represent the emotions of this painful experience. I refined the song over a few sessions, adding layers to fill it out. The writing process was cathartic, as I had encapsulated this traumatic event into a song.”

Listen to “Eclipse” and the B-Side “Blunt Force” here:

You can find AP Tobler via:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud

07.31.14

by viktorsha

Oklahoma’s Trio Psychotic Reaction Out and About in Brooklyn

At a time when it is challenging to seek out bands hailing from regions outside of the musical mecca of NYC, Oklahoma-based group Psychotic Reaction bring forward progressive and mind-numbing sounds. The band crosses the traditional barriers of garage rock and psychedelic tunes and reintroduces subcultural drones of Lou Reed and the Stooges. While their instruments aggregate a concoction of multi-layered guitar snarls, the group constructs a type of narcotic energy that makes the listeners believe and remember the power of rock and roll.

Find them on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/psychoticreactionband?ref=br_tf

09.30.13

by Jane Lambert

AOTEAROA Preview First Single “Pocketful of Scoundrel” from New EP “Luck West of Money”

AOTEAROA is back in action with a fresh new EP and single in tow. Titled Luck West of Money, their latest record dropped September 26 to the ears of eager fans. The long-awaited 5 track EP howcases a new batch of groove-oriented pieces founded on irresistible rhythms and unforgettable melodies. The first single, “Pocketful of Scoundrel” intertwines gnarled guitars and gunmetal vocals with six-foot deep harmonies to create a piece that sets the tone for the rest of this compellingly original album.

Multi-instrumentalists Jake Lerman and Ilan Gitter have spent a far greater portion of the past three years living on the road, playing to venues all around the country. Traveling the United States as modern American nomads, the band has earned the praises of fans and dance-floor goers alike. Aotearoa (pronounced A-O-TAY-UH-ROW-UH ) prove to be a brilliant combination straight from the start. This Thursday in New York City, the group will also kick off an extensive tour of the United States starting at Goodbye Blue Monday. The lengthy set of dates extended all the way into December, with plenty of chances to catch their phenomenal live show on the road. Luck West of Money is out now!

LUCK WEST OF MONEY TRACKLISTING

1. Pocketful of Scoundrel
2. Sometimes Maybe a Horseshoe
3. Underground Stag
4. I Don’t Dig Down
5. Handle #2

TOUR DATES

FROST ON THE FUNKAZON 2013 TOUR

SEPTEMBER::

26 – Brooklyn, NY -Goodbye Blue Monday
27 -Bridgeport, CT – Two Boots
28 – Worcester, MA – Lucky Dog Music Hall
29 – Boston, MA – The Precinct

OCTOBER::

1 – New London, MA – Bean and Leaf
3 – Fryeburg, ME – 302 West
5 – Syracuse, NY – Funk and Waffles
6 – Rochester, NY – California Brew Haus
8 – Cleveland, OH – Mahalls 20
9 – Cincinnati, OH – Mayday
10 – Bloomington, IN – Players Pub

11 – Iowa City, IA – Yacht Club
13 – Lincoln, NE – Duffy’s
15 – Kansas City, MO – Czar Bar
17 – Lawrence, KS – Jazzhaus
20 – Denver, CO – Seventh Circle Music Collective
23 – Madrid, NM – The Mineshaft
24 – Flagstaff, AZ – Flagbrew
25 – San Diego, CA – Tin Can
27 – San Francisco, CA – Neck of the Woods
30 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Frog and Peach

NOVEMBER::

2 – Phoenix, AZ – The Lost Leaf

3 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
5 – Amarillo, TX – Leftwood’s
7 – Tulsa, OK – Sound Pony
8 – Hot Springs, AK – Maxine’s
9 – Austin, TX – The Parish
10 – Baton Rouge, LA – Mud and Water
14 – Mobile, AL – Alabama Music Box
15 – Tuscaloosa, AL – The Green Bar
21 – Athens, GA – New Earth Music Hall
23 – Nashville, TN – The Springwater
26 – St. Louis, MO – Atomic Cowboy

DECEMBER::

2 – Muncie, IN – Be Here Now
3 – Dayton, OH – South Park Tavern
4 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café
7 – New York, NY – The Shrine Harlem

09.12.13

by Jane Lambert

Denver’s The Outfit open for The Lumineers at Red Rocks. Check out “Caesar”!

Watch The Outfit Perform Live on Open Air CPR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrdE5vu2fYU

Just off the heals of releasing their newest EP, Tough Kids, in August, THE OUTFIT will be opening for The Lumineers at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sunday, September 15th. Located in Morrison, Colorado, the legendary theater holds nearly 9,500 attendees and the stage has been graced by legends such as The Beatles and U2.

Known as one of Denver, Colorado’s most talked about bands, The Outfit will bring to the stage an energenic and vibrant performance that will have you singing along to every song. Tough Kids was released on August 24th, with an impressive Album Listening Party on IMPOSE.

The 5-track EP is filled with echoing garage bliss that is laced with killer licks, heartfelt melodies, and straight forwarded, guitar-based pop songwriting. With their critically acclaimed single, “Caesar,” in tow, the standout track sets the tone for the record, which you can listen to above. The band has also recently signed to upcoming Indie label, Hot Congress Records.

Don’t miss out on this incredible lineup!

SHOWS

9/15 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colorado w/ THE LUMINEERS

04.27.12

by Jane Lambert

Mean Jeans Embark on North American Tour

One can not simply listen to Mean Jeans and not without feeling a hint of Punk legends, The Ramones. Ever hear of them? Yea, we thought so. The group who just released On Mars (Dirtnap Records), last Tuesday, will be heading on the road come May 11th. This marks the second album for the group, who have been becoming all a-buzz in the indie and pop punk world alike. The tour spans the country, so you will certainly be able to get your Mean Jeans fix by Summer’s end. Check out the tour dates below, with some accompanying tunes and videos to coincide.

Download “Hangin Tuff” HERE

Watch Mean Jeans “Anybody Out There”

TOUR DATES

May 11 Seattle, WA – Funhouse
May 12 Vancouver, BC – 360 Glen Warehouse
May 25 San Francisco, CA – Thee Parkside
May 26 Oakland, CA – 1234 Go! Fest @ Vitus
Jun. 8 Baltimore, MD – Golden West
Jun. 9 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups (w/ Shaved Women)
Jun. 10 Cleveland, OH – Now Thats Class
Jun. 11 Indianapolis, IN – Melody Inn
Jun. 12 Chicago, IL – Crown Tap Room
Jun. 13 Detroit, MI – PJ’s Lager House
Jun. 14 Toronto, ON – NXNE (@ the shop under Parts & Labour)
Jun. 16 Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Explosion
Jun. 17 Montreal, QC – l’Escogriffe Bar Spectacle
Jun. 18 New Hampshire – Dover Brickhouse
Jun. 19 Boston, MA – Radio
Jun. 20 Manhattan, NY – Cake Shop
Jun. 21 Wilkes Barre, PA – Bones Bar
Jun. 22 Philadelphia, PA – Golden Tea House
Jun. 23 Baltimore, MD – INSUBORDINATION FEST
Jun. 24 Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary
Jun. 25 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
Jun. 26 Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong (w/ the Shirks)

01.17.12

by Jane Lambert

THE BRUTE CHORUS Are Prepared to Bring Their Unique Brand of Indie Rock to the States!

British indie rock sensations, THE BRUTE CHORUS, are finally making their way to the United States!

On the verge of announcing several official SXSW showcases, THE BRUTE CHORUS are ready to take to the stage for their first American shows. THE BRUTE CHORUS are James Steel, Nick Foots, Mark Austin and Dave Ferrett. The band cut their teeth with a residency at Camden’s infamous Hawley Arms, a watering hole popular at the time with the likes of Amy Winehouse and Kate Moss. Championed at a very early stage by The BBC and NME Magazine THE BRUTE CHORUS’ wild blend of garage rock, blues, and folk music with lyrics populated with characters from Greek mythology and Grimm’s fairytales quickly broke the indie guitar band mould. Their accessible sound has so far managed to escape any generalized genre pigeon-holing as they have gone on to carve out their own genuine, word-of-mouth buzz from their frenzied live shows.

And what shows! The band have taken it to the people gig by gig across Britain and Europe and have surely proved they can keep up with the big boys through their many support shows for acts as diverse as ART BRUT, IDA MARIA, THE WOODENTOPS, MARTHA WAINWRIGHT, and THE RUMBLESTRIPS. Their live rep has seen them stand out among the crowd at almost every British music festival of the last three years and they even recorded their debut album LIVE, in one take at London’s prestigious Roundhouse venue.

At the end of 2010 the band had released their sophomore album, How the Caged Bird Sings, to further critical acclaim from the likes of NME, Drowned in Sound, Clash Magazine, Artrocker, The Fly, Zane Lowe, Marc Riley and Steve Lamacq among others. The band’s popularity on radio was boosted when they became Artists in Residence on John Kennedy’s XFM show for a whole week at the start of 2011 where the famed DJ played live session tracks alongside album cuts, highlighting the standard of the band’s live performance and raw rock n’ roll spirit. They’ve also performed live sessions for Radio1 and Radio 6 whilst on TV Channel 4 screened a mini-doc on the band featuring clips of them playing live in Glasgow. Videos for the likes of ‘Birdman’ (Single of the Week on Kerrang! Radio and Q Radio) received heavy rotations on blogs around the globe as well as being aired on MTV Iggy here in the US. Everyone certainly wants a piece of THE BRUTE CHORUS, and now it’s time to get yours.

With such a reputation for their stellar live shows, you can check out what THE BRUTE CHORUS has to offer by getting a glimpse of their live footage from The Roundhouse in Camden, featuring the unbelievably catchy song “All the Pilgrims.” Make room on your SXSW schedule to check out THE BRUTE CHORUS live. You will NOT want to miss these shows.