Matthew Ryan- New album MRVSS

As singer/song writers go there may not be a better and more consistent guy out there over the last 11 years than Matthew Ryan. I first got turned onto Matthew's work back in 97' when i heard his song "Guilty" off of his (Mayday) album. Where some of Matthew's peers have let me down or veered off course over the years, Ryan it seems is getting better with age. It's not that Matthew hasn't taken his chances or evolved musically. His last album (From a Late Night Highrise)was probably his biggest leap away from his musical core. The album was much more ambient and electronic, but maybe his most personal, and in my opinion was his finest work to date.
Matthew is now out with his 11th album in as many years (Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State). The album was recorded in Ryan's garage in the summer 06' and for the most part recorded live, giving it that raw edge. It's stated in the album notes that that they wanted to make a pure rock n roll record, and there's definitely more pure rock moments then on previous releases. "Killing the Ghost" & "Hold on Firefly" help set the heavier vibe, on "Killing the Ghost" Ryan sings "...I will carve you from my life. Couldn't care less, it feels alright".
Ryan is a pure storyteller, who wears his heart on his sleave and is at his best when capturing the mood & struggles of the everyman. It's the fragility of youth in "It Could've Been Worse", which is one of the standout tracks on the album, "... You promised her everything, not knowing what everything was" & "...Her blonde hair was the setting sun, her mascara was born to run". The angst & worry on "American Dirt" ... "I move through days like i were a knife, my eyes were blue, now they're bruises". As grim as Ryan might sound on the surface at times, there is usually an undertone of hope in his music. A perfect example is on the end track "Closing In" where he sings "... sometimes the weather can fall on you, and sometimes it breaks" then later "... maybe we'll never win, but were closing in".
In the uncertanties of today's world Matthew Ryan's MRVSS is a slice of life, capturing the climate of today's society, everything from the hopeless to the hopeful and all that's in between.
The album comes out on Tuesday April 1st on 2minutes59 in the US & on One Little Indian (UK), visit Matthew Ryan Online or check out his Myspace.

Blondfire - Interview

Blondfire is the brother/sister combo of Bruce and Erica Driscoll. The siblings grew up splitting time between Brazil & the US, and first gained popularity back in 2004 with the single L-L Love which was featured on I Tunes as a free single of the week and ended up breaking downloading records. The band had gained this success under their former name Astaire, and in 2005 were threatened by Fred Astaire's estate with a lawsuit. The band had to change names, but has since moved forward and is out with their new album My Someday. They were nice enough to take some time with us for an interview.

BTB-Is it true that every song off the new album was recorded in a different location? Was that by choice?
Bruce: We're a slightly nomadic band, so we tend to travel around a lot. And the thing is that we write and record quite frequently, almost every day, so this new album is the result of many years of recording and taking our studio with us wherever we go. We had the synth sound and main riff for My Someday tracked in my apartment a few months before we finished producing it, and it just so happened that when we felt inspired to finish it we were working on a Digi002 in a room at the K-West hotel in London.

Erica: Yeah, traveling a lot kind of made that happen. It's great that with today's technology you can basically fit a studio in a suit case...

BTB- Having grown up in Brazil and in the States. How do you think having that multi cultural background has influenced the music?
Erica: We grew up with the sound of Brazilian music. My mom had such a great record collection! Being able to absorb the music of people like Caétano Veloso, Astrud Gilberto, and Jobim had a huge influence. They sang the kind of haunting melodies that stay with you.

Bruce: I agree. Having the half-Brazilian background opened our eyes up to a whole different idea of interesting, slightly jazz influenced melodies and chord progressions. And even in addition to melody, Brazilian music has the greatest sense of rhythm. The kind of grooves you can't help but move to. Jorge Ben's Taj Mahal for instance, the song that Rod Stewart lifted for Do You Think I'm Sexy... Talk about an unforgettable melody with a danceable beat.

BTB- How does the writing process work out between the two of you?
Erica: It depends on the song, but the majority of the time we sit down next to each other, turn on Pro Tools, Bruce will either play the drums or make a loop, and we'll fool around on different instruments until we find something unique.

Bruce: Erica dreamed up "L-L-Love" one night and the next day we wrote and recorded the song in about a total of three hours. Some songs start with an idea like that and others come from figuring out a guitar riff or cool synth melody and then building on top of that.

BTB- When you were both growing up did you always know you wanted to make music?
Erica: Our parents put us in music lessons really early on. I've been playing piano since I was three years old and singing since I can remember. Writing and performing music has always been what I'm about, and what feels natural. I can honestly say it's the one thing I'm confident doing.

Bruce: I've always loved playing songs. Growing up I was addicted to film scores, the Beatles, and the Smiths. I don't think I figured out that I wanted to play music with the rest of my life until I started playing the guitar around fifteen years old and got to know how fulfilling and amazing it is to create a melody.

BTB- They always say that when you're in a band that the members in it are as close as family. Does the whole brother and sister dynamic ever get complex?
Erica: We've always gotten along really well, and any complexities we've had as a band have always come from outside forces.

Bruce: We're both pretty mellow people so, yeah, remarkably drama free.

BTB- How difficult was the name change after already having been established under Astaire?
Bruce: Extremely devastating from a progress point of view. We had so much time and money invested in the name Astaire, so it was a jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching experience to be told that the Fred Astaire estate was threatening to sue. But we soon realized, after the initial shock that is, that fans will buy your records even if you're called The Crazy Coconuts From Jupiter as long as the music is good. We're not a schtick band, and our fans know that we are really writing and recording our own stuff, so they've stuck with us. We're grateful for that.

BTB- Did your early success off of I-tunes, having broken downloading records back in 2004 with the free single of “L-L-Love” and then again with the exclusive Ep take you by surprise? How did that relationship come about with them?
Bruce: Our digital distribution company got in touch with the people at iTunes and they flipped out over L-L-Love. It's kind of mind blowing to me that we had that many downloads of a song we recorded for free in a basement in three hours. We are forever indebted to the people at iTunes for using our song.

Erica: When they asked us to do the Exclusive EP we both felt very lucky! It was such a great opportunity to have a chance to reach an audience of that size, and to have a major company like iTunes get behind the music. We actually ended up having a #1 pop album with that!

BTB- The band was signed not that long ago with EMI Uk? What happened with that?
Bruce: To make a long story short... We played a showcase at the London club, the Troubadour. Our manager at the time rounded up every label in London to come down and see us play and EMI swooped us off after the show and wined and dined us. They made an offer, we took it. They flew us out to work with different producers to see what we'd come up with. We ended up working with some very cool people and coming up with a lot of great stuff: Richard X, Hannah Robinson, Dave McCracken (Depeche Mode/Ian Brown), Paul Harris (Dirty Vegas), and Greg Kurstin (Beck/Lilly Allen)... Eventually, around the time EMI got bought out, we were dropped while still owning our masters. I know it's a complete cliché, but 'You live, you learn.'

Erica: It's not that we prefer it, but by now we're used to doing things on our own out of necessity. Without being signed we've managed to get some big licenses in movies, Monster In Law and I Think I Love My Wife, we've done national tours with Ivy and Stars, had our new single featured on the Nike website, and at this moment our album is in the Top Sellers on Cd Baby. We constantly get surprised with how far a band can go if they just keep at it and think of new ways to approach situations. We've also made friends with all the people we've met along the way when we were signed... So it wasn't a negative experience by any means.

BTB- When splitting time between Brazil and NYC? What do you miss from each when your in the other?
Erica: It's hard because when I'm in the States I'm missing Brazil, and when I'm in Brazil I eventually start missing things about the America. What I miss the most is simply the Brazilian lifestyle. The people there have such a great energy, and know how to enjoy the good things in life! Also the food! Every time I come back to from Brazil I feel like a new person. When I'm in Brazil I miss my friends here, and how efficient everything is...

Bruce: When I'm in the U.S. I miss the Brazilian girls. Not the band, the gender/ethnicity. When I'm in Brazil I miss my synths and guitars that I can't bring with me every time! I can't win.

BTB- What's the touring schedule like for the rest of the year? Hitting any festivals over the summer?
Bruce: We're putting the word out right now that we're looking for opening slots on a tour this summer. No concrete dates as of yet, but we update our myspace and website regularly.

BTB- A year from now. Where does the band want to be?
Erica: I want us to be releasing albums as often as possible, touring quite a lot, and having international distribution for our music. We're hoping a label will take notice of the response we've had from fans and the things that we've been capable of doing on our own and provide us with the means to keep on doing what we're doing, but with the ability to reach larger audiences.

Bruce: As long as we can keep writing, recording, producing, and performing, then I think we'll be alright.

Blondfire's new album My Someday is out on Tender Rush records & can be purchased on CD Baby.
Blondfire at Myspace.

photo credit: Chris Eichenseer

Cranes & Crows- review

I have to admit that it wasn't that long ago that i had never heard of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. But thanks to the music coming from Bon Iver and now the band Cranes & Crows it has my full attention. Cranes & Crows is the Indie/acoustic project of Paul Brandt, who has been in the bands (Meridene and The Gentle Guest). Cranes have just recently released their debut album Blame Winter on Amble Down records, and Blame Winter is a gem from start to finish. The band who list Ryan Adams as an influence have created something that to me can be compared to one of Adams' finest works in "Heartbreaker". The album is both intimate and lush and brings the listener deep into the cold Wisconsin winter where you can feel the isolation and despair in Brandts' lyrics.
If given a quick listen the album might be considered slow and quiet, but when listening closely those tracks that begin quiet and sparse build into beautiful crescendo's with rich arrangements. Some of the highlights off Blame Winter are the tracks "Wrecking Ball" with its urgent & frantic piano near the close, "So it Goes" with tight vocal harmonies on the chorus and "Cornered" which comes at you full on with Hammond organ and it's romping beat. Another stellar track is "Ruins" which features tender banjo plucking leading into pounding piano on the swelling build up under Brandts' yells. On the standout track "I'll Never Leave" Brandt sings of the questions that face a shaky relationship "... they were searchin in all the wrong places... they tried too hard and fell in love with love" then "... even though they had to take the long way .. they both found what they needed in the end". Its up close and personal moments like these on Blame Winter that Cranes & Crows take us into a moment in time in that Wisconsin winter and leave us never wanting to come home.
You can stream Cranes & Crows album Blame Winter on Virb or check them out on their Mypsace.

Bat For Lashes supporting Radiohead

Bat For Lashes has confirmed that they will be the support act for a portion of Radiohead's In Rainbows tour. The band will open for Radiohead through most of their Europe and the UK dates in June. Thom York has supposedly been a big fan of the band and even selected them on his top ten playlist of favorites of last year.

Here are the confirmed dates:

Fri June 6th: Dublin Malahide
Sat June 7th: Dublin Malahide
Mon June 9th: Paris Bercy
Tue June 10th: Paris Bercy
Sat June 14th: Nimes Arenes
Sun June 15th: Nimes Arenes
Tue June 17th: Milan Civica Arena
Wed June 18th: Milan Civica Arena
Tue June 24th: London Victoria Park
Wed June 25th: London Victoria Park
Fri June 27th: Glasgow Green
Sun June 29th: Manchester LCCC
Tue July 1st: Amsterdam Westerpark

Consumer music news ... I-tunes & Satellite Radio

Apple and the music industry have been in serious talks to make entire music libraries of the major record labels available on I-tunes for a possible one time fee. In what Apple has said to have proposed to the music execs, users would pay a one-time or a monthly fee to access every song by a major-label artist via Apple's I-Tunes music store. According to most music industry insiders, the deal depends on the price Apple decides to charge for the access to the labels catalogues. It's been rumored that Apple has so far only offered $20 per unit.

... In other music Biz news the two Satellite rival radio companies XM & Sirius have been granted antitrust clearance to merge both companies into one. The justice dept. concluded that there is enough competition out there for the companies with Mp3 players, AM/FM radio and mobile phones competing for business. The deal had been in the works since early 2007 and still needs the approval of the FCC but the anti-trust hurdle was still a major victory. How does this effect the consumer is still undetermined but it's been said that the merger could bring down significantly the price of the radio's being sold if the companies are combined?

Ezra Carey - Interview

For those that haven't heard Portland's Ezra Carey, he has one of those voices that when you hear for the first time, it sounds like a throwback to a different era. It's a voice & an overall sound that easily could have fit in several decades ago but yet sounds fresh in today's folk music world.
Ezra put out an Ep back in 2007 & is currently wrapping up touches on his new full length album which should be out at the end of April and will possibly be available via i-tunes. He was kind enough to sit down for an online interview with us ... here it is:

Where did you grow up?? Are you originally from the Portland area?
Ezra- I was born and bred in Corvallis, Oregon a small town south 2 hours of Portland. It was a nice little bubble but my friends and I found plenty of trouble. I moved up here after I graduated from the corporate conglomerate of the University of Oregon in Eugene. Been here about 9 months.

What were your early musical influences?
Ezra- I know I am supposed to list some obscure bands that show how scene I am but honestly I think the first CD that really made me happy to be alive was the fuckin' blue album from Weezer. I was 11 or 12. From there Elliot Smith's XO, Modest Mouse Lonesome Crowded West. Then a little later in life, I heard Chopin's "Nocturne in F#" and was totally ruined. As well as Mendelssohn's Oratorio "Elijah". That's when I experienced a profound awe of music that has only got stronger. Also, my older brother Jacob has always been a source of musical inspiration. I don't think I know a better natural songwriter and musician. His band "Caves" is a proof of that.

Tell us about the new full length cd your working on?
Ezra- The new full length is a little different from the first with a little more foot stomping and hand clapping but still folk. Also, the first EP was a sort of musical journal through the years that I watched my father die. The majority of the songs were written by his bedside when I visited and he was sleeping. Looking back now, I am eternally grateful to him for giving me that vulnerability. the rest of the songs on the EP are mostly about my friends and my struggles with substance abuse in one way or another. The new album has different lyrical content and a few story songs about my brothers and others close to me.

What's the recording process been like for the album? Has it differed much from when you put out the EP?
Ezra- It is so much different and by different, I mean easier. I will be honest. I am not a natural musician and my rhythm is bad to say the least. The first album took forever simply because I kept dropping beats. This one has been great. My producer, Brian Hall is a genius and has brought out the songs to a new level. Also, we have brought in some more musicians. Of course, I still have my great percussionist Bryson Nist. Also, I have Sean Carwell on bass who took all his parts in one take. Mallory Posedel who is my new vocalist and just has exquisite tone, I had some friends and other musicians Brian, Ruth, Brach, Eric Carlson whom I all payed in beer and cigarettes.

What do you think has helped shaped your sound the most over the years?
Ezra- That is a great question. I took a music class in college that taught on folk music of North America and the many parts of the world and I came to the realization how much music is really weaved into every part of the human experience. I love the idea of simplicity. Maybe because I am not that technical of musician and maybe because when I attended the musical school in Eugene I witnessed such a depressing form of musical snobbery that I grew to hate the idea of the solo performance. A perfomer who pretty much masturbates on stage with a 40 minute, million note instrument solo and has completely forgotten the communal aspect of music. I despise the western idea of Performer/Audience. as Ringo said in the Beatles song 'Love' "ALL TOGETHER NOW!" Know what I mean? I wanted my music to tell stories, be a PART of the listener. Something, a melody, a verse that just helps them through the day. I guess I just want to share what I have experienced of music with others. This idea has shaped my sound I think the most. Plus, I am an addict on finding and playing music I haven't before.

What's the music community like in Portland?
Ezra- The music communuity is great up here. I am currently in a collective with a cluster of extraordinary bands such as Porches, Pay the Coyote, Autopilot is for lovers, Dr. Helicopter, The Viking Funeral to name a few. We really love each other's music and help each other out as much as possible.

What's your take on the state of music today?? Is it easier for artists to get themselves out there with technology now? Or has it lost something with all the digital downloading and the album being a lost concept?
Ezra- I would have to say that Pop is in the worst shape I have ever seen. Hip-hop and rap completely dominate the charts. It is unbelievable how many songs in the top ten are about Booty. Few are about love or breaking hearts, you know, the norm. but just an entire song focused on the female ass. I am a fan of the booty as much as the next guy, but seriously. I would hate it if even Folk music dominated every song on the charts. It is absolutely necessary to hear a variety of styles. That is why I love what is going on in the internet with music. Never before in the history of mankind have we been able to exposed to such a magnitude of music. The major labels almost succeeded in controlling what gets played. There are all these business men not even musicians controlling music. But the internet and Itunes and all that completely fuckin trojan horsed that institution. What Radiohead just did was revolutionary. Hopefully the momentum will continue, independent music will flourish and the just maybe the Artists for the first time in the history of art and music will make more money than the Suits. Just Maybe. There are definitely differing opinions on this however.

Any new artists your excited about?
Ezra- I am very excited about the collective and the bands I mentioned beforehand. Big bands that I am excited about is MGMT. Their song "time to pretend" is superb. I like this Josh Ritter guy. There are so many incredible bands out there I don't even want to sleep at night because I am afraid of missing out.

Are there plans for an extensive tour once the new album is out?
Ezra- Tours plans have been discussed. California, Washington. I would love to play New York. However, the first and foremost thing we need is a Van. So if you know anybody that wants to sell a diesel or biodiesel vanagon. Call me. We need one.

What's up next in 2008 for you??
Ezra- I plan to focus even more on playing music this year and practicing more and playing with others and promoting the collective. Those are the plans so far. I can't believe it's half past March.

Best film you've seen recently?
Ezra- best film recently? Gone, Baby Gone.

Favorite song to cover??
Ezra- Boy Named Sue by Johny Cash


To check out Ezra's music or to purchase a copy of his Ep you can visit his myspace
Thanks again to Ezra Carey for his time!!
-BTB

Ghosts I've Met- "Patience" is a virtue

In the world of the Americana/alt country/folk sound, there's enough bland bands & singer song writers out there to make you think that the genre is about all dried up. While most of it is generic at best or lacking any real emotion, my faith in the sound that i used to love has been wearing thin.
But PATIENCE it seems has a way of paying off. I just recently discovered the project from Sam Watts called Ghosts I've Met and he has a new Ep titled "Payphone Patience". It's tracks are filled with simple tenderly crafted arrangements, the highlight of which is the title track off the EP "Payphone Patience". In my book it's already in the running for best song of 2008!! Another standout is "Ghost in the Snow" with it's beautiful backround vocals and sorrow filled violin.

Watts created Ghosts I've Met back in 2005 in Seattle and it has featured a rotating cast of characters, which includes Darren Jessee from another unheralded band called Hotel Lights . Also found on the Ep are Ben Blankenship(Modest Mouse), Brent Arnold (Built to spill, Modest Mouse) who also did the recording, Jen Turner (Joseph Arthur) & Margaret White (Sparklehorse,Cat Power) to name a few.

Although Ghosts just released the Ep earlier this month Watts will head back into the studio in April to work on a new full length with some of the same players from the Ep,namely Darren Jessee. It will be called "Gunpowder City" & recording is taking place in the West Texas town of Marfa.


-BTB

The Damnwells - New album update

The Damnwells who we last heard from in 2006 with Air Stereo are moving along on putting together their next album. Lead singer Alex has been in the studio in Oxford, MS at Tweed Recording & the band says that the new tracks are being mixed this week in Nashville, TN. In the meantime, to hold you over you can hear two new acoustic demo's from the band "Down With The Ship" and "The Bastard of Midnight" on their myspace.

Pela - re scheduled shows

Brooklyn's own Pela who a few weeks back had to cancel their tour while in Chicago after lead singer Billy fell offstage and cut his palm and pinky finger on some broken glass, has begun to re-schedule some of it's cancelled tour dates.
The band who has come to be known for it's energy driven intense shows announced that Billy got his stiches out the other day and are ready to move fwd stating that almost all the cancelled dates have been re-worked.

Here's a live video off the band's myspace from the Mercury Lounge in NYC.
PELA Live @ Mercury NYC



-BTB

Paper Route - Sxsw news

Some news from the Paper Route camp.
The band has just finalized management with Esther Creative Group in NYC which is home to such artists as Blonde Redhead, Langhorne Slim, Annuals & Lou Reed.
Speaking of Lou, while at SXSW the band was invited to play the Lou Reed tribute show which included performers like... My Morning Jacket, Thurston Moore, Moby, Yo La Tengo, Joseph Arthur and more. Paper Route performed 2 songs, the first of which was from Lou's Metal Machine Music album. Which was an album of nothing but guitar feedback at different speeds. They then performed "Vanishing Act", a song off of Reed's most recent The Raven album.
In other news the band has been in the studio hard at work recording for a new album which according to JT is looking like a fall or winter of 08 release?? You can currently hear 2 unreleased tracks "Carousel" and "Are we all Forgotten" which is one of the band's strongest tracks to date on their myspace.


-BTB

photo by Jeremy Cow޲art޲ - www޲.je޲rem޲yco޲war޲t.com

Ohbijou - crossing the border for their first shows in the US

Is it just me or does it seem like every good new band your finding out about is coming out of Canada? And to be even more specific out of the Toronto, Ontario region. From The Wooden Sky, Hayden, to the Great Lake Swimmers & Serena Ryder, with the abundance of good new talent bein cranked out from our neighbors to the north it looks like Toronto is becoming the new Brooklyn??
The latest band making an impression is Ohbijou who also hail from the same Toronto area. The band is set to make their US debut this may 8th@ the Knitting Factory & May 9th @ Union Hall in Bklyn.
Ohbijou who had success in 2007 with their single "St. Francis" off of the album Swift Feet for Troubling Times, highlighting the soft vocals of Casey Mecija, complete with it's driving bass and violins.

The band is fresh off of it's 2 week music residency at Banff Centre for the Arts in the woods of Alberta, where they had their own cottage to write, practice, meet new producers & engineers, work with classical musicians & even recorded and mixed a new track. They are currently working on their second album which they say should be released possibly in Sept. or early fall??

-BTB

Debut video from William Fitzsimmons

William has a new video up on youtube for his song "It's Not True" off of his 2007 release "Goodnight". The album was self produced and was based from start to finish about his parents divorce.

Here's William in his own words about the album....
"Goodnight" is meant to serve as a fully-themed and coherent story of the dissoloution a family. It just happened to be my own that I was using as a reference. But I also wanted it to serve as a musical and lyrical piece which those who have been through any type of break-up (or break-down), whether relationship or otherwise, could find connection and universality in. Each of us may have our own unique experiences in life...but I think we can all understand loss - and understand the desire to find wholeness and health following a loss. Is there sadness is the record? Yes. Absolutely. BUT, is there hope in it? Yes. Absolutely.

The video was directed by Dave Hill. check it out!!

Devotchka- Globetrotting into your living room

Devotchka is one of those bands that you've probably actually heard without knowing it. The band reached broader audiences when being featured on the supposed indie film "Little Miss Sunshine", which then proceeded to reach box office and critical success alike.
Have you ever wanted to take that month long vacation and just travel the globe??? But couldn't afford it or didn't have the time? .... well Devotchka is back with a new album "A Mad and Faithful Telling", and that trip has arrived on your doorstep. It's not often that you hear these labels ...world music,eastern european folk,american roots and punk in the same review, and nevermind associated with Denver Colorado, where the band is based. Devotchka's four members which sound like a full orchestra at times, enlist a violin, a sousaphone, accordian, and trumpet, somehow making the ecclectic mix work. Listening to " A Mad and Faithful Telling" you'll feel your walking on a hillside in Serbia one minute and the next driving on route 66 across the states. The album is rich with diverse sounds, from the rocking "Transliterator", to the folk croon of "Along the Way" filled with some mariachi trumpet. Some other highlights on the album are "The Clockwise Witness" and the closing track "A New World" which seems fitting if giving them a listen for the first time.
The band is known for it's dynamic live performances and are heading out on a tour across Europe thru most of April, and will be hitting the States from late april through May so far.
You can give a listen to the full album " A Mad and Faithful Telling" out on Anti records for a limited time on the bands myspace page.

-BTB

Wye Oak- If Children (review)

This Baltimore Maryland two piece (named after the state tree) is one of my favorite new discoveries.
Wye Oak formerly known as Monarch until a few months ago (it turned out there were several bands with that name) & fresh off being picked up by Merge records, is made up of Jenn Wasner (guitar & vocals) & Andy Stackall (keys, drums).
It seems to defy your ears when givin a listen that just these two people made up the record. My first introduction to the band was the track "Warning". Listening to the intro my first thought was ok here's another alt country band. Wrong!, immediately the song bursts out at you with well crafted distortion and fuzz, leaving that notion in the dust. Wye Oak is much more than that, and although i've heard them get pigeonholed in the usual shoegaze, alt country, power pop and even folk categories, they brush off any labeling upon giving them a closer listen. From the intimate simplicity of the song "Please Concrete" which takes you on a wave of noise, to the violin tinged driving track "Family Glue", WO is making more than just sweet layered goodness. The band has a sound all their own, & to me their a sort of throwback to the early to mid 90's scene, and i mean that in a good way. Jenn Wasner's voice seems made to match the songs, and even on a few tracks Andy picks up the vocals. which in a lot of guy/ girl combo's lose something cause one is far superior to the other. But here they don't lose a step.

The band can currently be seen at SXSW thru Sat the 15th. with touring picking back up again in April. You can catch shows locally in the nyc area on apr.12th @ Union Hall in Bklyn.

Wye Oak's new album "If Children" is set to be released on April 8th & can be found on Merge records, online and hopefully in your local music store. Check them out at wyeoakmusic.com or on their myspace. Def worth giving a listen.

Getting Started....

First off, i wanna say thanks for stoppin by. Burn the Bowery is a new project that i'm trying to get off the ground by combining two of my passions into one. My first love has and always will be music, but my other (semi -paying) career has been video producing & editing. What i'm going to try and bring to the table is a site with music news, reviews, rants, concert tips and recaps, & more. On top of that i'm gonna start my video interwiew series called "Liner Notes", which will be a sit down with the artist mixed with a short performance.
So my hope is to take all this and turn it into something that the music fans out there can enjoy!!

Thanks for your time,

Steve@
BTB