Category Archives: Uncategorized

08.15.11
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My Name is Jimmy Lloyd and I Have a TV Show!


We’ve been discovering some great little gems at Modern Mystery lately, and we wanted to share one of our favorites with you. “The Jimmy Lloyd Songwriter Showcase,” which is starting to pick up momentum on TVS around the country, airs interviews and live performances on indie greats such as Jeffrey Lewis, Hank and the Cupcakes, and tons of others.

Since its premiere on NBC’s digital channel NY NonStop in January 2010, “The Jimmy Lloyd Songwriter Showcase” has rapidly achieved widespread success. Now available in the 9 biggest US TV markets, the show’s rapid ascendancy clearly demonstrates not only the quality of the programming, production and concept but also the confidence and excitement host and curator Jimmy Lloyd has inspired in NBC. “The Jimmy Lloyd Songwriter Showcase” is featured on NBC’s digital channels in NYC, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas and Miami.

The series is the creation of Lloyd and co-executive producer Ashish Naik and resembles “Inside the Actor’s Studio” for up-and-coming songwriters. The program’s mission is to identify the best undiscovered songwriting talent and bring it directly to a mass audience complete with high quality live performances, artist interviews and an existential monologue about songwriting done by Lloyd himself in each episode. The show, which originally began in NYC was introduced by NBC into 3 additional markets late last year and has recently started airing in 5 additional markets, is curated solely by Lloyd, a NYC-based singer-songwriter who is plugged directly into the local music scene. Guests for the program are selected organically through word of mouth, personal referrals, or via the email submissions he invites viewers to submit at the end of each episode.

Audiences and musical guests alike have been incredibly receptive to Jimmy’s straightforward charisma and charm. Brooklyn-based band and musical guests Hank and Cupcakes even went so far as to write a song about Jimmy after their very first encounter with him, titled “My Name is Jimmy (and I Have a TV Show)”, which gives a good idea of just how much excitement and passion Jimmy brings to the table with every interaction.

“Jimmy Lloyd totally ‘gets’ the truth about music – that it is the one thing which truly unites everyone around the world,” says E! True Hollywood Story producer Michael Lynn. “Thanks to his dedication and passion, promising singer-songwriters are able to receive the attention they deserve without having to compromise their artistic integrity.”

The show has continued to evolve throughout its run, first being filmed at New York’s Gibson Guitar Showroom and recently expanding to include shooting at live venue settings in New York and Los Angeles with both up-and-coming and more established names. Recent guests have included Ari Hest and Jonatha Brooke. In addition to continuing to grow into new markets, there are near term plans to combine the TV series with Jimmy Lloyd Songwriter Showcase-sponsored live concert events which will begin this Fall along with the inclusion of a new Title Sponsor that the producers are currently in discussions with.

Lloyd is also pitching a reality show that is getting some traction about songwriters in NYC called “The Scene…L.E.S. (a trailer for which can be seen online at: thesceneles.com)

To watch “The Jimmy Lloyd Songwriter Showcase”, check your local listings for broadcast times or catch episodes online at: http://jimmylloyd.com

Current Air Times by Market:
New York City: Mondays at 4:00 am and 9:30 pm
Washington, D.C.: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm
Philadelphia: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm
Chicago: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm
Los Angeles: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm
San Francisco: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm
San Diego: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm
Dallas/Ft. Worth: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm
Miami: Saturdays at 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm

Check local listings for channel information.

07.28.11
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Friendo Debuts New LP And Announces Tour Dates

Friendo is not typically known for their conventional ways and generic sound.  Instead, this band enjoys pushing the envelope and seeking out new ways to expand their musical horizons.  With their recent release, entitled Cold Toads, band members Michael, Nicole and Henry decided to swap instruments allowing them to embark on new creative territory.

Heavily influenced by the sounds of ‘90s experimental rock, ‘70s punk and ‘60s pop, Friendo has recorded a unique masterpiece within the confines of their home and has self-released the album in a retro and smart format, the cassette tape.  The album has now been picked up by the St Ives label which is run by Secretly Canadian and the band is releasing 200 limited edition, hand crafted vinyl albums to run alongside the digital iTunes release in addition to the previously released cassette tape format.

Friendo just made their way through the UK and Europe on a two week tour playing with bands like BRAIDS and Future Islands.  For more information about Cold Toad and Friendo, visit the band’s site here.

07.18.11
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ALLISON’S INVENTION Release Show on July 27th @ Sullivan Hall, NYC


She’s quickly become a Modern Mystery Blog favorite, and we’re loving every bit. Allison’s Invention is bringing us all to Wonderland on Wednesday, July 27th in New York City. The show will take place at Sullivan Hall, and this will be a special release show for her new record titled Sweet and Vicious, which we just can’t wait to hear live.

She mixes up jazz, chamber pop, and folk to go above and beyond your typical singer songwriter. She also plays piano and guitar. Threatened fellas? You should be. Come out for an awesome night of music that you will be glad you experienced. See you there!

05.12.11
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Pygmalion Festival Announces Dates and Initial Lineup


The Pygmalion Festival (located in the idyllic Midwestern town of Champaign-Urbana, Ill.) recently announced their band lineup for this year’s music extravaganza. Currently the September 21-24 festival will include Japandroids, Toro y Moi, Deerhoof, Viva Voce, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Hood Internet, Mansions on the Moon, Ava Luna, Brass Bed, Adam Arcuragi, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Ivan and Alyosha, The Parsons Red Heads and more with Explosions in the Sky headlining. This year the festival will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the indie label Polyvinyl Records. The all-day outdoor Polyvinyl showcase will feature the artists from the label’s roster including Deerhoof, Japandroids, Xiu Xiu, STRFKR, Owen, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, and Asobi Seksu as well as the long awaited reunion of local heroes Braid. Early Bird Festival passes go on sale Friday May 6, 2011 at 12 p.m. CST and cost $60. The price will be increased to $65 and $70 at later dates. The festival pass guarantees admission into every show at the festival, depending on capacity limitations. Single tickets for every show will be available as well.

Single show tickets for Explosions in the Sky will cost $20 in advance. The Polyvinyl 15 Year Anniversary Party will cost $25 in advance. Both of those shows will go on sale Friday May 13, 2011 at 12 p.m. online and at local Champaign-Urbana outlets.

05.09.11
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The Heavenly States Release Single with Britt Daniel

Bay Area’s The Heavenly States are crazy busy right now with releasing EPs, touring with indie (and My So-Called Life cameo) veterans Buffalo Tom, and a member judging the 2011 US Air Guitar Championships.

Their new single, “Berlin Wall” has Spoon leader Britt Daniel as a guest vocalist singing echoed and muffled wishes of living by the Berlin Wall along with prominent and pounding piano, hand claps and other percussion that together create a beautiful and triumphant composition. As if the music wasn’t charming enough, the video is an animated Humpty Dumpty interpretation with cartoon characters clapping with the song, complete with a Humpty electric guitar solo. Certainly a day-brightener.

“Berlin Wall” can be found on The Heavenly States’ Oui Camera Oui EP out now on Hippies Are Dead Records. The band will be touring the West Coast with Buffalo Tom May 17-20th, and don’t forget to stop by the Air Guitar Championships in San Francisco on June 24th where The States’ front man Ted Nesseth will be judging.

05.04.11
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The Drums Release “A Whole New World” For Japan


The Drums recently released the song “The New World” to benefit the Japan disaster efforts. It seems when you are donating all the proceeds of your earnings to charity you are no longer are required to write good music. The song is, in short, awful. I mean, we get it hold on, hold on, hold on. These people are holding on and no thanks to this song. I don’t understand benefit tracks. Generally speaking they are awful. Just because you aren’t making a profit, your talent shrivels up and dies, apparently. In my opinion, donate straight to the Japanese relief funds and skip the song. Unless you want the phrase ‘hold on’ stuck in your head for the next three hours.