Playing Catch Up: Body Language

[mp3] Body Language: "Seeds of Sight"

Body Language found themselves on our short list of CMJ bands to watch. After a late late show, where we couldn't tell if it was our ears or the band that was a little off,  so we're still left on the fence about this band's live show. YET! Luckily for us, Body Language are playing with the excellent (on record at least) Keep Shelly in Athens this Friday at Bowery Ballroom. Needless to say, we're excited to see how both bands deliver on the great equalizer of all buzz bands - the large stage at Bowery. Body Language just debuted their super creative video for their excellent tune "Holiday" from their album Social Studies, out now.

The Antlers Take Away

The Antlers - Two / Epilogue - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

The Antlers: number one on "Best of '09" lists with Hospice and number one in our hearts. These guys can really do no wrong; from their strikingly beautiful and "hand-on-chin-inducing" live performances, to this stripped down La Blogoteque Take Away Show (See "Shiva" here.)

We had the immense pleasure of seeing The Antlers at the Bowery Ballroom last week, a show that not only solidified their number one spot on some of our end-of-year lists, but also got the attention of the New York Times who wrote a truthful and glowing review of the show. We at Stark, had many of the same thoughts as Jon Pareles (one of our favorite writers) enough so that we made this Blackberry note during the performance...

"Watching the Antlers live is like listening to Dark Side of the Moon in the dark on Sennheiser head phones...it is pretty much flawless and awe-inspiring at the same time."

The Tuesday after the show, we had the pleasure of catching up with frontman, Peter Silberman & Co. at a Brooklyn Bowl, Neon Indian show. What did we learn? They are fantastic on-stage, and even more fantastic off. Here's to a great band getting the break they deserve.

Happy Holidays from Stark!

Here We Go Magic: Tour Dates & Awesome New Record

Here We Go Magic "Tunnelvision" - mp3

The blog world has been a-buzz of late over the new project from artist Luke Temple, Here We Go Magic. We gotta say, after getting it last week we fully agree, this record is aces. Temple's first effort under the HWGM moniker is, at times, sweeping and filled with subtle touches of analog synths and murky rhythmic patterns. Yet, the self-titled record still manages to sound wholly natural and home grown, with flashes of Temple's singer-songwriter roots shining through the haze at just the right moments. This looks to be one of the more creative and surprising records of the first part of 2009. Here We Go Magic comes out Feb. 24 on Western Vinyl.

Here We Go Magic hits the road with Department of Eagles on the 17th with a stop at the Bowery Ballroom. Luke Temple plays a solo show at Le Poisson Rouge the night before (1/16). Full tour dates after the jump.



US Tour Dates
01/16 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge (LUKE TEMPLE SOLO)
01/17 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's*
01/18 Cambridge, MA The Brattle Theatre*
01/19 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
02/15 Brooklyn, NY Southpaw
03/03 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge w/ Callers and Cary Brothers
03/07 Washington, DC The Red and The Black**
03/09 Pittsburgh, PA garfield artworks**
03/10 Newport, KY southgate house**
03/11 Indianapolis, IN MOKB Laundromatinee Session
03/11 Bloomington, IN Cinemat**
03/12 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway**
03/13 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen**
03/14 Rock Island, IL Daytrotter Presents**
03/17 Dallas, TX Mountain House**
03/22 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
* w/ Department of Eagles
** w/ Callers

CMJ Hangover 2008: The Best

FRIENDLY FIRES
We caught the Friendly Fires twice during CMJ and they were clearly one of the best we saw all week. We have one Ms. Lucy Wood to thank for getting us out to the Annex on Wednesday to catch the UK quartet in action. They did not disappoint. Blending the best from bands such as Hot Chip and Radiohead (at their most rock and roll,) the Friendly Fires brought passion, great songs, great voices and excellent musicianship to the stage. With heavy use of cowbells, an alternate percussion set and various electronic keyboard elements, the Fires created pulsing-dance-rock; their sound was surprisingly much larger than one would expect from a quartet. We loved them so much we made sure to haul ass to get to Pianos by 3 pm to see them again at the Brooklyn Vegan day party. Although it took them a bit longer to get warmed up (I mean it was 3) they eventually brought the intensity to match the show the evening before. We ran into lead NY Times music writer Jon Parales during the show, and even Mr. Parales let on that the Friendly Fires, were one of, if not THE best thing he had seen at CMJ to date. Although it's hard to judge the buzz during the actual marathon, we received text messages and emails all telling us to make sure we caught them. Hopefully they can ride their CMJ successes to bigger things in the upcoming year. The Friendly Fires self titled record is out now on XL. LIVE VIDEO FROM LEVI'S/FADER FORT AFTER THE JUMP.

AUDRYE SESSIONS
The best thing about the week of shows during CMJ is accidentally stumbling upon a band on the brink of the big time, when no one else seems to be watching. We found ourselves at the Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday night to catch Shugo Tokumaru and Cory Chisel at the Sony showcase. After great sets from Chisel and Tokumaru, California new-comers Audrye Sessions took the stage. After a slow start, they brought on various guest musicians forming a small chamber ensemble (strings and wind) to complement their quartet. From there things took off. The results were a blend of sweeping U2- style arena-rock, mixed with an infusion of Oasis pop songwriting. While maybe not our personal favorites, Audrye Sessions is clearly a band with a skyward trajectory. Signed to the new Sony imprint Black Seal headed by trusted industry veteran Matt Shay, Audrye sessions are a market ready band with the image, money, and music to make a true push into the mainstream. They have an EP coming this fall and a full length planned for Januray 2009. It will be interesting to see what comes from a band with this much potential in a market-place still plagued with challenges.

Friendly Fires at The Levi's® FADER Fort NYC
by thefader

Zambri - Bowery Ballroom and Maxwell's w/ Does it Offend You, Yeah?

Zambri - MYSPACE
Maybe it's because we've been spinning some old P.J Harvey records around here as of late. But, the bass and keyboard driven tunes of New York-based band Zambri recall some of the punk-infused female vocals and anxt found on those early Harvey records. Throw in some catchy pop hooks and some drums hinting at dance rhythms and you get the unique feel that Zambri brings to their music. The duel vocal attack of Jessica and Christi Jo gives Zambri's tunes a frantic feel (a good thing here,) and coupled with their dark overtones, grunge-style guitar overdrive and manic keyboard lines, it's pretty much a sure bet that Zambri will provide a damn good live show. (Youtube videos back up this claim.)

Zambri have just returned from Montreal where they did it up Arcade Fire style, recording their new record in a Canadian church. Zambri's self-titled EP is available now.

They play Saturday night at the Bowery Ballroom with Does it Offend You, Yeah? More tour dates below.

Aug 29 2008 - MIDDLE EAST (downstairs) - Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 30 2008 - Bowery Ballroom w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? - New York, New York
Sep 02 2008 - Les Saints w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Montreal, Quebec
Sep 03 2008 - Maxwell’s w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Hoboken, New Jersey
Sep 05 2008 - DC9 w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Washington, D.C.

Xiu Xiu - Tonight - Bowery Ballroom - mp3

Xiu Xiu "I Do What I Want, When I Want" - mp3
Stark likes Xiu Xiu. Especially Ches. He's dreamy. And he will smash your face with his drums and cymbals. We hope Xiu Xiu likes Stark, but one can never really be sure. They are playing tonight at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City with Common Eider King Eider, Prurient, and the equally awesome and recommended Evangelista. See you there.

Ches also plays in Ceramic Dog. I'm not allowed to tell you how great they are - but go find out for yourself.

The Walkmen @ Bowery Ballroom 8/19/08

"Tuesday night's second sold out Walkmen's show at the Bowery Ballroom restored my faith in music... A bold statement and perhaps I'm biased (Pussy Cat's is in my top 10 albums of forever)... but I think You and Me will easily make the top albums of '08 lists across the board. Live, Hamilton Leithauser's (greatest name ever) vocals killed, even when he was almost shouting. The energy was high, the horns were an amazing addition, and the songs (old and new) have never sounded so good. FYI... The White Rabbits, dressed like they were off for a yachting excursion, were also in attendance. They are apparently working on a follow up to last year's Fort Nightly."
-Karp - Stark guest contributor and photographer

Walter Meego Interview @ Bowery Ballroom 6/5

By Matt
Additional reporting by Ashley

Ashley and I had a chance to sit down with Chicago dance/rock duo Walter Meego last Thursday before their set at the Bowery Ballroom opening for the Presets. What emerged from our conversation was a portrait of a new band striving to define themselves in an ever-changing musical landscape.

For Justin Sconza and Colin Yarck, New York was the end of a 15-date run, during which the band released their debut record Voyager on Almost Gold via Columbia/Sony. Calling New York more "lively" than their current home, LA, and former home Chicago, the two seemed glad to be back. In a year where the dance genre has made many new fans in the wake of groups like Justice and the reemergence of Kanye-fueled Daft Punk, Walter Meego seems to be striking while the iron is hot. Yet, when asked about the attention surrounding their debut release, Sconza was reluctant to credit the growing dance/rock market. “We’ve definitely been receiving more attention recently, but I can’t say it’s specifically because of [the marketplace]”

It’s hard to deny the connection between the band’s signing to a major label and the growth of their genre. For Walter Meego though, their genre and band are not as easily defined as one may think. Yarck comments, “[In Europe] we play more parties – club nights. It’s fun, it’s a different type of show.” These types of shows, while fun, elicit some frustration from the duo, who want to move from being sort of party DJs to becoming more of a band that commands the attention of an audience. Understandably.

More with Walter Meego after the jump...
Their set that night at the Bowery clearly defined the split between the two ends of the musical spectrum. Yarck stood behind a full table of mixing equipment and other electronic pedals and knobs. He moved like a DJ at a club – singing along, and dancing. Juxtaposed to this was the rather reserved Sconza standing behind the microphone, playing the guitar and synthesizer taking the role of the classic rock “frontman.” The thick beats drove the tunes, and were the most compelling aspect of the set. Interspersed between the fantastically hooky verses and choruses were some confusing guitar solos. At one point during the song “Through a Keyhole,” Sconza and guest guitarist Andrew stood at the front of the stage and engaged in dueling guitar-tapping solos reminiscent of something out of the Metallica era.

Speaking with the band’s tour manager, Al Verik, he commented that while the tour with the Presets was a great opportunity Walter Meego is looking to move away from the dance crowd and capture more of the indie-rock crowd. Both Verik and Sconza commented on their fondness for label-mates MGMT and their desire to possibly tour with them in the future. MGMT seems to represent a band that has successfully captured the dance/rock sound and fan base that has come to the forefront in late 2007 and early 08.

More importantly, what has really driven the rising profile of Walter Meego has been their licensing opportunities. The hit show Ugly Betty featured two of Meego’s songs in their episodes. Most notably though, is an upcoming Heineken beer commercial prominently featuring the Meego single “Forever”. Verik commented that this could be a huge break for the duo.

Whatever the outcome, Walter Meego will hit the road again in August. The duo’s development is sure to be rapid, and any lingering questions about where they fit into the marketplace will be answered. Regardless of genre-tag, as long as Walter Meego continues to deliver melodic, richly produced-beats and choruses, fans will come.

Photo credit - Diana Wong

No Age @ Bowery Ballroom, 5/6

I don't have time for a long review here, but I just wanted to drop a few lines about the No Age show I caught last night. I honestly went into it with no expectations - I really didn't know what it was going to be like - a lo-fi duo with a drummer for a lead singer?

The show surprised me in many ways. I loved the use of electronic samples to add depth and color to the tunes. The stage presence of the performers and sheer volume of it all was amazing. Add to that their enthusiasm for playing these songs to a full room of fans on their CD release day and you get quite a show.

Yet, behind all of these positives, something didn't seem to connect. There was tons of late-teen moshing, and even crowd surfing. Humorous enough however, was the sparsely-populated mosh pit's ability to catch those who chose to stage dive - or lack there of. The average weight of these fans was probably around 120 pounds. Skinny arms lack in catching prowess. Perhaps it was because they missed the early 90s, or maybe it was out of love for the band or the songs, but it all seemed a bit forced. No Age failed to move me in the way they seemed to move these kids - perhaps I've grown out of it, but I don't think so. The songs just didn't do it for me.

At that moment though, I realized that No Age is more about punk music than songs, noise, or "indie rock." They shun typical song structures and embrace inaudible vocals. They use their two-minute tunes to communicate through passion and volume, not chord structures or intimate-lyrical imagery. Isn't that what punk music is about? I guess. And, well, that's just fine with me.

Photo credit - Jason Bergman - jbergs.com