I'll Be Back in a Sec

A solo album is not a bad thing. Well at least it does not have to be. It shouldn't be. They get a bad reputation because usually the lead singer is the one that goes off and makes the solo record so everyone just looks at it as a problem with the band and they gasp over the whole thing. I'll argue otherwise. Solo albums are therapy. In the band, everyone is constantly compromising. No one is making the exact song in their head or they might as well be a solo artist. A solo album is a chance for someone to recharge and find something especially deep in themselves. And sometimes they just want to keep playing while the band is ready for a break. But anyways here are some tracks from solo albums that were just free expression. No arguments, just more music.

Trey Anastasio (Phish) "Shine"

Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule) "Man in Motion"

Big Talk: Ronnie Vannucci (The Killers) "Katzenjammer"

Jim James (My Morning Jacket) "A New Life"

Julian Casablancas (The Strokes) "11th Dimension"

Ya Listen Here

Ever just wanted to leave all the feedback and listen to something that sounds clean and catchy? You just want that song to make your foot tap or your head bob. You need these songs to find the synthy guitar pop persona in you. Be happy along side these bands. It's impossible to avoid it.

Walk the Moon "Tightrope"

Smallpools "Dreaming"

San Cisco "Awkward"

The Pass "Without Warning"

Wild Cub "Colour"

Music Roundup: News, Notes, and Discoveries (8/1)

• Today Cage the Elephant released a 46 second clip of the first song off of their new album to come out this fall (release date still TBD). The song is called "Come a Little Closer" and while there are some parts that are still truly Cage, you get the feeling that there is definitely a new sound coming out soon. Their tweak in image definitely supports that. Catch Cage the Elephant supporting Muse on their American tour in September
• Speaking of clips, GROUPLOVE is releasing small clips of all the songs on their forthcoming album "Spreading Rumours" (out 9/17) Today was a clip of "Borderlines & Aliens." The tempo and yelling was so full of energy just like typical GROUPLOVE but the guitar was so much more funky and filled with more feedback.  In their video for "Ways to Go" soldiers took their guitars so maybe, as these other clips might show, they are finding different ways to make noise.
• Walk the Moon already has The Mowgli's opening for them this fall. Great show already. But you know what? A wonderful band, smallpools, has been added to the bill starting in October. If I was going to one of those shows, I would definitely need oxygen to keep me from falling over. That is a nonstop action show. You lucky people you. You will be hearing things from small pools. Mark my words.
• For two weeks, through Noise Trade Records, The Dirty Guv'nahs are giving away their latest album, Somewhere Beneath These Southern Skies for FREE!! Take advantage of this offer. So worth it.
• On Monday night Stephen Colbert was not a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Didn't matter. In what seemed unexpected to Fallon, Colbert came from behind the curtain and just danced with Fallon to the tune of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky." According to Colbert News Hub, this was not a coincidence. They say that soon (we do not know when) Daft Punk will be on The Colbert Report. No details are known about an interview, a performance, or if they will show up as robots. But definitely big news.
• Oh yeah and Phish played a 36 minute version of Tweezer last night. Take that in.

Discovery: Wild Cub. I am addicted. Both vocals and music are so easy to like. It can appeal to anyone. I can tell there are so many influences.

 

How to Meander Through Lolla

Ladies and gentlemen, Lollapalooza is quickly approaching and if you aren't going to Chicago this weekend, you are at home wishing you were...like me. But the rest of us can dream, can't we? So for those who are going or those who like to salivate on their laptops about the time they could be having, this is for you. I have for you my imaginary daily schedule. If you want to have the best time at Lolla showcasing every kind of music, follow this. I'll try to convince you of each artist in less than ten words. (each artist has a video attached to their name).

Friday
San Cisco: 100-145 Cheeky playful guitar rock for the young at heart
Twenty One Pilots: 215-300 Anthemic mental pop from a piano/drums duo
Houndmouth: 320-350 Represent the local rising folkies
Atlas Genius: 350-415 Think Phoenix but Australian, less club synths, and smoother voice
Band of Horses: 415-445 Look outlaw. Play outlaw. But be sensitive.
Theophilus London: 445-515 Fashionable British rapper is hooking everyone
Imagine Dragons: 515-615 Everyone plays percussion. You know that one song.
Disclosure: 600-645 British brothers came to dance, techno style
The Killers: 825-1000 I think self explanatory. Kind of headlining.

Saturday
Family of the Year: 1200-1230 Faces youth. Does it with different guitar vibes.
The Bright Light Social Hour: 1230-100 From Austin. 9:44 song on album. Shredding. 
Wild Cub: 210-250 Vocal like Bon Iver (low voice). Music = fun and innocent
Lukas Nelson & P.O.T.R.: 320-345 Willie's son is electric, not acoustic. Sounds multinational.
Matt & Kim: 345-445 You will never be entertained like this again. ENERGY.
Ellie Goulding: 445-515 British songstress that handles pop and house
Eric Church: 515-600 He plays country. Yes, this is Lolla. Go see him!
The National: 600-715 America's saddest rockers continue to captivate
The Lumineers: 715-815 They have more songs than Ho Hey. They are good.
Mumford & Sons: 815-1000 London boys. Do you not know this?

Sunday
The Orwells: 100-145 Chicago boys with a lot of punky energy
The Mowgli's: 320-400 Looks like hippies. More credibility. Lots of people in band.
Machines are People Too: 430-450 Standing up for synths, one beat at a time.
Two Door Cinema Club: 450-530 Scottish quirky guitar rock always plays Lolla
Vampire Weekend: 630-745 Wouldn't seem like I need an explanation at this point
Phoenix/The Cure: YOU CHOOSE! DAMN IT I CANT! I DID EVERYTHING ELSE FOR YOU! RELEASE ME FROM THIS BURDEN OF A CHOICE! SCREW TEN WORDS! I FREAKED!

So I did not really leave room for you to walk from stage to stage or eat or piss. But then again I won't be there so that's your choice. I would recommend a swift sprint. This will fill your weekend nicely. (25)

Buffalo Rodeo at Zanzabar

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Like Us For Who We Are: An Interview with Buffalo Rodeo

Another band has emerged from the gold mine that is Bowling Green, Kentucky and they go by the name Buffalo Rodeo. They started all the way back in the Battle of the Bands circuit but tomorrow they will make their way up to Louisville for what will be a great show at Zanzabar.

When you think of Bowling Green music, you think raw, fun energy. That is what you are going to get with Buffalo Rodeo. They keep drinking the Kool-Aid down there because songs like "Treehouse" and "Holly" on their most recent EP Home Videos are going to keep you rockin'. Singer and keyboardist Jordan Reynolds says she hopes that if someone is at their show and have no idea who they are, they won't be able to keep themselves from dancing. Don't worry, it's impossible to avoid.

You will hear it and you will say it to yourself, but yeah King of Leon has always been an influence on Buffalo Rodeo. Take some other bands like Local Natives, Fleetwood Mac, Manchester Orchestra, and Portugal. The Man, you can put them in the ballpark. But do not try to define them. Because they aren't that band. You cannot pinpoint their sound because all five members of the band come from different interests. Drummer Ryan Gilbert's family actually plays a lot of bluegrass. Reynolds loves her some jazz. Guitarist Nathaniel Davis, at one time, was into Depeche Mode. You will hear a lot of ambient  U2 noise from the Nate, "the gear head" of the band.

Buffalo Rodeo has had  music on bandcamp since 2011 but they have really come into full form with the latest EP that was released in April. Home Videos is six powerful, real, complete tunes. Reynolds and Zach Preston, singer, share vocal duties and are so in sync together, but on songs like "Remington" Preston can hardly be tamed. It's not a yell, but it's so him and so full of emotion, you can feel it as much as he does.

According to Reynolds you must complete the Buffalo Rodeo journey with a trip to their show. She says the EP is "tame compared to the shows." They have no gimmick. You get them for what they are. Rock'n'roll bleeding out of their veins. They aren't going to dress it all up for you. Buffalo Rodeo will make you pay attention to them with their intense instrumentation and their genuine love for the music they created.

See these guys at Zanzabar (2100 South Preston Street) at 9 p.m. tomorrow night. Ancient Warfare and Between the Tide are opening. The show is $6. WHAT??? Yeah! It's ONLY $6.

You guuuuuuys this EP is awesome. Drink of it's goodness.

http://buffalorodeo.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloRodeo

https://twitter.com/BuffaloRodeo

Rye's Back Porch Sessions