[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjY4Wj_-Zec] A few things could have affected the Sounds at their Sunday night show in Covington, Kentucky. The fact that they were moved to a smaller venue than the last time they played in Covington, or maybe the fact that their newest album, “Something To Die For” wasn’t well acclaimed. But every single person who attended the concert on Sunday was a die-hard fan and you don’t see that very often anymore. The Sounds have been around since 1999 with their debut release of Living in America in 2002. Since then they’ve released four albums. Their most recent has changed the tone of the music the Sounds are making turning…
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Wild Flag- The First Female Supergroup
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J8n9R8rnB8&ob=av2e] Well… I must say it’s about time. Everyone is always going on and on about supergroups. Some of them are cool and others, well let’s say they never should have happened. The original supergroups included Cream, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and Blind Faith and other notable ones have come and gone but recently, supergroups have seriously been lacking. Not that I don’t enjoy seeing Mick Jagger jump around in a pink suit while singing with Joss Stone and Damien Marley in his new supergroup Superheavy… Yet here we are in 2011 and for the first time, an all female supergroup has emerged. Wild Flag is composed of Carrie…
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Jenny and Johnny
I’m Having Fun Now Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley first met Jonathan Rice in 2005 through Conor Oberst. This proved to be the start of a musical bond. They have played on each other’s recordings and Johnny toured with Jenny, playing live with her at every solo tour she’s done. They decided to start a band in 2009 and I’m Having Fun Now was created. This album has such an Americana sound. It really captures a feeling of driving through the plains of American surrounded by farmhouses and dirt roads. The album was recorded in Omaha, Nebraska in the middle of winter but the sound of the album is warm. The strongest…
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Those Darlins
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiyXjv1aaf8&feature=related] Aside from the terrible scheduling at MPMF, I was lucky enough to see Those Darlins live at the Cincinnati Club. Man… do they rock. They started their set with the always-amusing song “Be Your Bro” and kept rockin’ till the very end. These country-twanged mamas wield their instruments like there’s no tomorrow and you can’t help but move when you’re watching them live. With the recent release of the album Screws Get Loose, they had plenty of great material to play. Of course I just about lost it when they broke into their cover of “Shakin’ All Over.” Seriously, I don’t know if they could be any cooler. I…
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5 Steps to Make Women Equal in the World of Rock
Why is the world of rock, in the year 2011, still dominated by men? In the nineties, female musicians were headed in the right direction. There was the whole riot grrrl movement with Bikini Kill, Babes in Toyland, L7, and others like Sleater-Kinney and Hole. And these ladies did do tremendous things for the role of women in rock. Joan Jett observed, “I read a piece on L7 the other day, and it didn’t mention they were all women until the last sentence. With the Runaways, it would have been the first.” The nineties have marked great improvement but still today it seems females dominate the role of popstar and…
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New Young Pony Club
The Optimist New York Pony Club, what a name. This five piece is from London, England and has a wonderfully catchy sound. The band formed in 2005 and has released two albums now. The Optimist, their sophomore release came out this past March and is a great follow up to their first release, Fantastic Playroom. Known for their upbeat and hook driven sound, New Young Pony Club makes you want to dance. Their sound is post punk and could almost be compared to the Talking Heads except with female vocals. The Optimist marks huge improvement and growth for the band. It is edgier and slightly darker, less monotone vocals but still remains disco-punk. While…
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Agent Ribbons
Chateau Crone Is it the year 2010? Listening to Agent Ribbons you definitely will feel confused as to how this sound can be a product of the year 2010. This three piece is based in Austin, Texas and has been together since 2006. Chateau Crone is their third album and was released in October of 2010. Agent Ribbons has a very dreamy sound that manages to rock. This band is extremely retro and these girls are witty. “I’ll Let You Be My Baby” can be compared to something the Dresden Dolls would play. And well the rest of their music, it sounds like something out of the fifties or sixties.…
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Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers
Teenage and Torture It was probably a dreary Brooklyn day for Shilpa Ray as she attended another day on the job in a boutique helping uppity customers. Yet this day was unlike the others. This was the day Nick Cave called to see if she would like to open a few dates for him on his Grinderman tour. With the release of their second album in January, Teenage and Torture, Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers have spent the last few months touring the country and leaving audiences everywhere in awe. Shilpa Ray leads the band with a sultry, soulful wail of a voice and plays the harmonium. The album starts…
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MPMF
Female Acts you can’t miss at MPMF Thursday: We Are Hex- Artworks on the Biore Strip (10 p.m.) Those Darlins- Cincinnati Club P&G Stage(11:30 p.m.) Jessica Lea Mayfield- *Know Theatre on Biore Strip (11:45 p.m.) The Watson Twins- * (10:30 p.m.) Tristen- * (9:30 p.m.) Lydia Loveless- * (11 p.m.) The Joy Formidable- Dewey’s Pizza Main Stage at Grammar’s (9:30 p.m.) Mates of State- SCPA Corbett Theatre P&G Stage (9:30 p.m.) Kaki King- SCPA Mayerson Theatre P&G Stage (9 p.m.) Friday: Fairmount Girls- Know Theatre on Biore Strip (10:30 p.m.) Deerhoof- Know Theatre on Biore Strip (11:45 p.m.) Xiu Xiu- Artworks on the Biore Strip (11 p.m.) Saturday: Chuck &…