Category Archives: Uncategorized

07.06.10
by

Songs to Keep You Cool in the Summer Heat


In NYC it is currently 102 degrees out. To keep you cool from the obsessive heat, we put together a few songs that have to do with “Summer.” Oddly enough they all use the word in the title as well. From Pavement to The National to Neon Indian, we have it all. We hope these songs will keep you cool today, along with your air conditioner. Enjoy!

Pavement- “Summer Babe”
Pavement- “Summer Babe” by ModernMysteryBlog

Neon Indian – “Deadbeat Summer”
Neon Indian – “Deadbeat Summer” by ModernMysteryBlog

Magic Kids – “Summer”
Magic Kids – “Summer” by ModernMysteryBlog

The National with St. Vincent – “Sleep All Summer”
The National with St. Vincent – “Sleep All Summer” by ModernMysteryBlog

The Drums – “Saddest Summer”
The Drums – “Saddest Summer” by ModernMysteryBlog

Unouomedude – “Island Summer”
Unouomedude – “Island Summer” by ModernMysteryBlog

Vietnam – “Summer in the City”
Vietnam – “Summer in the City” by ModernMysteryBlog

Wild Nothing – “Summer Holiday”
Wild Nothing – “Summer Holiday” by ModernMysteryBlog

Cymbals “Summer Job”
Cymbals -“Summer Job” by ModernMysteryBlog

Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – “Face Like Summer”
Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – “Face Like Summer” by ModernMysteryBlog

Laura Veirs – “Summer Is The Champion”
Laura Veirs – “Summer Is The Champion” by ModernMysteryBlog

07.05.10
by

The Art of Shooting Gets Crazy


The Art of Shooting are one of the most incredible bands that New York has to offer. Fronted by the coolest female singer since Karen O., Kelly Irene and Co. are a band to look out for in the ever growing scene. Last weekend they hit the stage for the second time at the Northside Festival.

Modern Mystery: There are tons of bands in Brooklyn right now. What makes The Art of Shooting stand out from the rest? You DO stand out from the rest.

Kelly Irene, Jim, Julie, and Gavin: Thank you for the compliment. That’s very flattering considering all of the talented bands that are in Brooklyn right now. We love catchy songs as much as the next person, but where’s the emotion? I like to think we bring the emotion back to music. We also have the tendency to genre jump, are willing to keep going no matter the circumstances, a solid sense of humility, and we’ll drive to the midwest to play for cattle.

On a more serious note, I think it’s a concoction nobody’s tried before: blend shoegaze with riot grrl and add some proggy elements for shits and giggles). It’s atmospheric but has strong songwriting; it can be dark and noisy as fuck (“No 12″) or soft and serene (“One Minute Love Song”) or both (“Japanese”).

MM: Being a female vocalist, do you sometimes find it harder to prove yourself musically, to the masses? strong>

Kelly Irene: Oh, yes. Definitely. Without a doubt, I used to try much harder, but lately, as I’ve gotten more comfortable in my skin and musical abilities, I’m not as intimidated or ferocious anymore. The more confident you are in what you’re doing with yourself, the more that radiates and stands on its own. But we are usually the only female oriented band on a bill, and that can be a nice feeling.

MM: Blurt! magazine crowned Kelly the award of “The Most Fucked Up Thing I Have Ever Seen.” How do you feel about that? Does she still have such problems with animals?

Jim: Having been in the band the longest behind Kelly Irene, I can absolutely anoint Kelly the Patron Fucking Saint of Pooches. I have witnessed more crimes-against-person at the paws of canines than I care to mention…we’re talking the widespread destruction of items including her favorite lipstick, drummers’ after-practice-Reuben sandwich, a wallet containing the last of the week’s food money, and a particularly sassy pair of cowboy boots. The fact that she’s lived with two large, mischevious dogs for so long and has not drowned them is a wonder to me…and I’m a dog person.

Kelly Irene: Right now I live with a dog, a cat, and a snake. I share my face and cover art with my dog that I adopted at Barc five yeas ago (Nugget). I’m dedicated to this kind of abuse

MM: How do you write your songs? Is it collaborative or does everyone bring in their own songs and work from there?

Jim: Usually Kelly brings in song ideas and we all work on em, whipping em up into a full-bodied, frothy rock concoction.

MM: What inspires you to write a song? Do you have to be in a certain mood to write a certain kind of song?

Kelly Irene: The tempo that comes out of walking after a really amazing cup of coffee. Breakups, old memories that become old again, and the Little Mermaid.

Jim: Usually I’m inspired to make music when I see another band performing…it usually dredges up the old competitive spirit in me. Also, when i drink.

Gavin: Sometimes drummer Jim won’t lay off the cowbell and I’m inspired to clock him with my headstock. It makes a sound.

MM: Which do you like better, being in the studio/recording process, or playing live on stage?

Kelly Irene: Live, because the rock audience has the shortest attention span and will generally forgive mistakes!

MM: How did you get involved with playing the Northside Festival? Is this your first year?

Kelly Irene: This is our second year. Last year Jezebel Music was nice enough to host us with a band of really great friends including Patrick Bower, Right on Dynamite, and Joe and the Flying Spoons (ex dirty on purpose). It was my favorite show we played last year.

This year we’re hanging out with bands we don’t know as well, but I guess we made a great impression on the Tijuana Gift Shop, since we’ve been asked to play with some killer acts. We also view the Northside Festival as a warmer, friendlier version of CMJ with oftentimes better acts.

Jim: We heard they offer free footwear, that’s how they got us last year. I also view Northside Festival as an opportunity for me to test Heineken’s fortitude as sponsor of free beer at the badge pick-up lounge.

06.30.10
by

Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne Talks Solo


Recently I caught up with solo artist, and guitarist for Fountains of Wayne, Jody Porter. Working with everyone from Albert Hammond Jr. to Jesse Malin, Porter is one of the most well known names in the rock and roll world.

MM: How does working with Fountains of Wayne and being solo differ for you personally, when it comes to writing songs, and crafting a piece of music?

Porter: I think my songs have a bit more flexibility while being cut in the studio. I like to allow things to happen spontaneously after bringing the song in see where it goes. A lot of times happy accidents can lead to some cool moments. Maybe my approach is less conventional than our approach in fountains,but there is still the same goal of making the song live up to what you hear in your head.

MM: You’ve worked with the likes of Albert Hammond Jr., Jesse Malin, Ivy and Juliana Hatfield. How did you decide to work with each of them? Are there any more collaborations you would like to do in the future?

Well they’re all pals and I’m not that hard to find around the village. Albert and Jules have my digits so it was really just guesting on some friends’ records. I’d like to work with Jesus if he ever shows up.


MM: Already being known for your work, before you released your solo material, does that put any pressure on you as an artist?

I don’t feel any pressure. I’m not trying to do repeat what I’ve done before musically or professionally. I just do it because I’ve been doing it all my my life and can’t help it.

MM: What inspires you to write a song? Not only musically, but lyrically.

Anything really. Some of my songs come out of personal experiences but I don’t think of myself as a “story teller”. There are enough boring songs out there about boring people. The best ones pretty much write themselves.

MM: How has your music personally evolved over the years?

I think the stuff I wrote in England with my first band was more complex. I was into the idea of making progressive music that wasn’t prog rock.Might’ve actually succeeded if I wasn’t so lazy but I think over the years I’ve realized simplicity in a song always wins. It’s what you can do in that 4 minutes that gives the artistic license to go outside of the box.

MM: What is your favorite part of being in the studio?

Like a second home to me. Being able to experiment with different places to take the song keeps things interesting.

MM: What is your favorite part about playing live?

I love the interaction with the audience and I like the girls at the after parties.

MM: How did you get involved with playing the Northside Festival this year?

Engine Room folks are cool and said how bout it.

MM:What is up next for you?

Making more hits. Another solo record is in the works as is staying around for a while.

06.28.10
by

Of Montreal Releases New Track, Album Release Date


The time is finally here. Of Montreal have finally spread the news on when their newest effort, False Priest (Polyvinyl), will arrive in our grubby little hands. This will be the first record that hasn’t been produced by the band themselves, as duties were taken over by, for the most part, Jon Brion. Kanye West and Fiona Apple also took part of it, and Solange Knowles and Janelle Monae also appeared on the record with guest vocals. This sounds a bit odd, doesn’t it? Kevin Barnes is involved after all so why would it be normal?

It was time for OM to change their sound, which is kind of nice, especially, as being a long time fan, the glitter and dance fest was getting a bit boring when they came to New York City the last time.

What False Priest has to offer is a brand new look at Of Montreal. Currently inspired by everything 1970’s the group has turned over a new leaf. It can be heard by the recently leaked song “Coquet Coquette,” which you can hear below.

Polyvinyl Records, the band’s longtime label, already has the LP version and a brand new tee shirt featuring the album’s artwork, both designed of course by David Barnes (Kevin’s brother) and Nina Barnes (Kevin’s wife). The record is due out September 13th in the U.S. and September 14th in Europe.

False Priest Tracklisting:

01 I Feel Ya’ Strutter
02 Our Riotous Defects [ft. Janelle Monáe]
03 Coquet Coquette
04 Godly Intersex
05 Enemy Gene [ft. Janelle Monáe]
06 Hydra Fancies
07 Like a Tourist
08 Sex Karma [ft. Solange Knowles]
09 Girl Named Hello
10 Famine Affair
11 Casualty of You
12 Around the Way
13 You Do Mutilate?

Of Montreal Tour Dates:

07-25 Jackson, MI – Land of Nod Experiment
07-30 Montreal, Quebec – Osheaga Festival
07-31 Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
08-02 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
08-07 Lake Worth, FL – Bryant Park (Lake Worth-It) (Kevin Barnes solo)

Of Montreal – Coquet Coquette by modernmysteryblog

06.27.10
by

Matt Pond PA “Starting”

Tonight I am going to see one of my favorite bands, Matt Pond PA. Here’s my little secret. For some reason I have NEVER seen MPPA live. This is beyond wierd isn’t it? I’m not exactly sure how this has happened, being I live in New York, as does the band, but we have unfortunate incidents, that every time for the past 5 years, when MPPA took the stage I either already had tickets to another show or I was on vacation. It seemed to be working against me. Good grief Charlie Brown.

I still remember the first time I discovered Matt Pond PA. It was 2005 and I was interning at big record label in Manhattan. Someone got fired, and as the intern I was, I got to clean out their cd collection, and keep what I wanted to, and put the rest in the trash. Nothing caught my eye but this mix someone had made the person oddly titled “Sunsetting.” Looking at the tracklist, I saw the good Matt Pond PA name on there, noticed it being familar, and took it. The song that was on there was “The Butcher,” and in my ever mess of a room, I didn’t listen to the mix for almost two weeks. It wasn’t until Sunday night two weeks later when I was watching Subteranean on MTV2, that they showed the MPPA video for “Closest (Look Out).” I’ve been hooked ever since.

Well tonight is the night that I get to experience first hand, MPPA at the Bowery Ballroom. With the recent release of The Dark Leaves (Polyvinyl), and some of the strongest songs Pond has ever written, it is sure to be an amazing night. Plus I am going to experience it with someone who I love dearly. I think it was all meant to happen at once.

Recently MPPA released the first video for the record, “Starting,” which features the new-ish lineup featuring the lovely Miss Leslie Sisson of the Wooden Birds (which she plays with Pond and Andrew Kenny formerly of American Analog Set), running away from a slow swerving car with glowing orbs. It MPPA fashion, it’s beautiful.

Matt Pond PA “Starting”

06.22.10
by

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin Releases Album Documentry and Tour Dates

There are 56 days until the new album by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin titled Let It Sway (Polyvinyl) hits stores. Yes I am so excited that I actually just counted the days until I get the record in my hands. That’s August 17th if you need some help there.

The band has just announced some great news that they will be doing a headlining tour with openers Telekinisis, starting the end of August. I have a feeling this is only the start of the tour dates. This may be the album that makes SSLYBY huge, especially with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla behind it. This is the first release that they didn’t produce themselves.

SSLYBY has also put out a mini documentry for the album which has drummer/singer/guitarist Phil Dickey narrating. It shows the band in their daily crazy life and making the record in the studio(s). It really gives an insight, and a little listen, to Let It Sway.

Give it a view below, and be sure to notice the red plaid scarf that bass player Will Knauer is wearing. It makes an appearance three times. I gave him that for Christmas. Am I famous now??

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin Tour Dates08/31 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird *
09/01 – Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club *
09/02 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall *
09/03 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
09/04 – Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo *
09/06 – Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo *
09/07 – Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears *
09/08 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
09/10 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
09/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary *
09/12 – Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop *
09/13 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement *

* = w/ Telekinisis

The scarf!