A predominantly, but not exclusively, acoustic SnC this week. This
probably reflects my past few weeks of frantic but productive
activity. I'm ready for a break!
The autumn skies are making themselves felt here in Suffolk. It is
fairly warm down here but looks cold up there. You'll be pleased to
know that the hops at the top of the steps are doing well.
I am the Mountain - Fairmont
(New Jersey, USA)
on Mint Records
The release party was last night in Clifton, New Jersey
Indie rockers Fairmont present a different side of their influences
with "The Meadow At Dusk." With the addition of vocalist Samantha
Carradori as a counterpoint to frontman Neil Sabatino, the band is
able to tread new musical ground, stylistacally ranging from folk
ballads to indie dance and 90's alternative. Produced by Bryan
Russell (Straylight Run, Coldplay, etc.) at Red Wire Audio,
Fairmont is releasing this EP as a digital download with a limited
edition vinyl run. Contest winners will find their artwork featured
alongside the band's drawings in the limited edition poster
included with the vinyl release. www.fairmontmusic.com www.myspace.com/fairmont
Tallahassee Turnpike Blues - American
Fiction (Wisconsin/Florida, USA)
Ethan Cook: vocals. guitars. mandolin. harmonica.
It is from the clutches of sub-zero winters and the well tilled
farm fields of Wisconsin that American Fiction comes to the stage
burdened by a thorn in his side and a story on his tongue. Every
song he sings is sung with an urgency and passion to realize our
own cinematic existence. Every song written is not merely a thought
or chapter expressed, but rather an undying hope to stir one tired
organ within the cage of every chest.
American Fiction has struck his six strings atop roofs, on frozen
lakes, in packed auditoriums, corner cafés, and most recently on
Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor on National Public
Radio. Every performance played is treated not as an endowed right,
but a hunger to share an artistic love. Over the past 2 and half
years American Fiction has released both a 5 song EP titled
"Devil's Casino" and a 16 song full length album titled "Lakes"
released in the summer of 2008. Over the past few months "Lakes"
last has been remastered and further promoted as American Fiction
has signed with Branch Records, an independent label based in
Panama City, FL. Although currently pursuing a degree in Religious
Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison, American Fiction
still hopes to tour and see the nation by the roads and highways
that haunt his dreams.
Through a bleeding vocal and a poignant word, American Fiction
walks a road of his own continuing to sing truths amid an
unrelenting sea of compromise and icy complications. www.myspace.com/americanfictionband www.americanfictionfrontier.blogspot.com
Early Midnight - Peppertown
(Lawrenceburg, Indiana)
Remember the rippin’ guitar and tribal drums sounds of the early
70’s, bands like Santana, Little Feat, Allman Brothers and ZZ Top?
Peppertown does. This 5 piece band out of southeastern Indiana is
putting a new twist on what they consider a lost sound in modern
music. Creating their own fine blend of blistering bluesy guitar,
earthy drum jams, and solid songwriting, Peppertown is stirring a
buzz, nationwide, and abroad. The bands D.I.Y. savvy has taken them
from the hills of Indiana into the ears of America. err and
beyond! www.peppertownmusic.com www.myspace.com/peppertownmusic
My Heart - Sahab Tolouie
(Prague, Czech Republic)
Belongs to the group of musicians who derive inspiration from the
traditional music of their native lands. For Shahab, this means
combining traditional Persian elements with traditional Spanish
flamenco.
following his graduation from high school, he departed for Seville,
Spain. There he studied his flamenco master course, attaining the
highest level of achievement, "Nivel Alto."
As a multi-instrumentalist, Shahab incorporates different
traditional Persian instruments such as the Setar, Laud, Mandola,
Daf and Dammam, along with the Flamenco Guitar, in his
compositions. His most important instrument, however, is his voice.
Powerful and dynamic, it is flavored with a special richness
typical of eastern vocalists. When combined with his unique manner
of singing, that voice is an essential and very expressive part of
his musical presentation. www.shahab-tolouie.com www.myspace.com/shahabtolouie www.cdbaby.com/cd/shahabtolouie
Nicolas Cage - Corduroy
(Toronto, Canada)
It's been a long time coming for Toronto four piece, Corduroy.
Developing their brand of haunting folklore tales laced with
sweeping post rock guitars and group hum-a-longs, hasn't been all
that easy. Originally starting out as Whatever Happened to
Corduroy? in 2007, the band released a well received debut self
titled EP of their mixed and messy ideas that was blazing with
promise.
TOUR DATE
Sept. 25 @ Sneaky Dees, TORONTO (w. The Paint Movement, Make Your
Exit) www.myspace.com/thebandcorduroy
For You - Peter Bradley Adams
(Brooklyn, NY/Nashville, TN)
Peter Bradley Adams was one half of the duo "eastmountainsouth"
signed by Robbie Robertson (of The Band) to Dreamworks Records in
2002. He has released two solo records ("Gather Up" and
"Leavetaking") and is set to release his third, "Traces" this
September on Sarathan Records. www.myspace.com/peterbradleyadams
Put the World on Stop - Sean
Fournier (Milford, Connecticut, USA )
Oh My, a six-track EP Sean Fournier published on Jamendo a few
weeks ago, is, evidently, available for free download and not just
on Jamendo. But that’s only a small part of Sean's production so
far. The rest, namely two full-length albums, are for sale. "That
was the plan: to offer a free album to get my music to as many
people as possible, he explains. Currently, there are over 35,000
downloads. Oh My has really helped get my music out there."
In addition to his music, artfully crafted acoustic ballads tinged
with electronic elements (somewhere between Cake, G. Love &
Special Sauce and Ben Folds) that he writes and records alone, Sean
does everything else himself too: artwork, web design, promotion,
etc. "It has morphed from a serious hobby to a second job! It’s
about 30% making music and 70% promoting it. I enjoy doing my own
artwork and website design. I want my music to have a homemade feel
to it and doing my own visuals helps that cause."
At the moment, Sean tours mostly around universities in the
Northwest of the US, but he definitely hopes "to stretch out
further", thanks in no small part to online campaigning and its
"global reach". In the meantime, he's working on his third album.
If you liked what you heard, go check out his homemade website for
more. www.sean-fournier.com/ www.myspace.com/sfournier
Shake Shake - Terio (Miami, FL,
USA) Ariel
With a background as colorful as his music, Terio captures your
spirit with his rhythmic and sophisticated sounds. Born in Costa
Rica to Cuban parents and raised in the Washington D.C.
Metropolitan area, Terio was absorbed from an early age by a
yearning to have lived the golden era of Havana as foretold by his
family's tales of a lush tropical world capital where cabarets,
casinos, late night diners and Hollywoodesque bars riddled a
sea-salt bathed boardwalk famously known as "El Malecon." This is
the era that flourished and nurtured many of his influences such as
Desi Arnaz, Celia Cruz, Benny More, Perez Prado, amongst many
others.
He met and became good friends with songwriter and producer Chris
Rodriguez, who shares, not only his cultural background, but his
passion towards creating music that captures such an era. Together,
began a collaboration and writing endeavor that has resulted in an
amazing and attractive concept. The classic elements to their
composition style gives you a flash-back to Hemingway's Cuba during
the 50's era, while the modern edgy beats and electronic sounds
that carry the tracks keep you quite aware that you’re still very
much indeed in the modern era. www.teriomusic.com www.myspace.com/teriomusic