Great Things To Come in "Morning Light" for The Dirty Guv'nahs

The Dirty Guv'nahs will be releasing their new album Hearts On Fire on March 11 because of some loyal fans on a Kickstarter drive. They gave the world the first single called "Morning Light" recently. You can download it free from their website. The Dirty Guv'nahs will be in Louisville at Headliner's on April 4.

Like a lot of The Dirty Guv'nahs tunes, "Morning Light" just makes you feel really good. It starts with a King of Leon-esque bass solo and enters right into a squeaky guitar intro with a good time for hand clapping. The chorus is very ready for sing alongs. If you watch the music video (just like all the others) you will find out that they are a bunch of friends having one hell of a time doing what they love. You can tell that in their music and they want you to do the same when you listen. "Morning Light" will be great in concert or hell, in the car or the shower. Lots of energy and lots of reason to  sing at the top of your lungs. 

Jan. 15: When Festivals Flooded the Internet (Part II: The Explosion)

 

So many lineups. So so many lineup. Brain freeze from so many lineups. Let's get started.

Shaky Knees Music Festival
May 9-11, 2014
Atlanta, Georgia
Tickets on sale Jan. 17th: $150, $169

Headliners: The National , Modest Mouse, TBA
Second Tier: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, Spoon, Local Natives, Cage the Elephant, Iron & Wine, Trampled by Turtles, Dawes, Foals, Lord Huron
Tiny Letters: The Lone Bellow, Deer Tick, Band of Skulls
Really Tiny Letters: Houndmouth, Kopecky Family Band, Bright Light Social Hour, Sleeper Agent

 

Counterpoint Music Festival
April 25-27, 2014
Kingston Downs, Georgia
Tickets: $180, $199

Headliners: Outkast, Pretty Lights, Foster the People
Second Tier: Big Gigantic, Matt & Kim, Moon Taxi
Tiny Letters: St. Lucia, Wild Cub, Dan Croll



Governor's Ball Music Festival
June 6-8, 2014
Randall Island, New York
Tickets: $250

Headliners: Outkast, Jack White, Vampire Weekend, The Strokes
Second Tier: Phoenix, Disclosure, Foster the People,
Tiny Letters: Spoon, Broken Bells, Washed Out, Kurt Vile, Bastille
Even Tinier Letters: Haerts, Hunter Hunted














Mountain Jam
June 5-8, 2014
Hunter Mountain, New York
Tickets: No Camping-- $179 (3 day), $205 (4 day)
              Camping--$215 (3 day), $239 (4 day)

Headliners: Bob Weir & Ratdog, Gov't Mule, TBA
Second Tier: The Avett Brothers, Tedeshi Trucks Band, Jeff Tweedy, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Umphrey's McGee (2 sets), Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Tiny Letters: Trampled by Turtles
Even Tinier Letters: Moon Taxi


Hangout Festival
May 16-18, 2014
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Tickets: $258

Headliners: The Black Keys, The Killers, Outkast, Jack Johnson
Second Tier: Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, STS9, The Flaming Lips, Capital Cities, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Bastille
Tiny Letters: Andrew W.K., Moon Taxi, Wild Cub

Big Guava Music Festival
May 2-4, 2014
Tampa, Florida
Tickets: $165

Headliners: Outkast, Vampire Weekend, Foster the People
The Rest: Girl Talk, Grouplove, Haim, Twenty One Pilots, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience, Walk the Moon, ZZ Ward, MS MR, St. Lucia, Smallpools, Magic Man
 

Now I'm off to really discover these bands at the bottom of the lineups. The best part of festival season.

Jan 14: When Festivals Flooded the Internet

I don't know what the hell happened but someone got together and decided to throw a bunch of festival lineups on the world today. Today we saw Firefly, Savannah Stopover, and New Orleans Jazz Fest announce their full lineups. Hangout Festival is announcing tomorrow. Shit is getting real.

 

Firstly, we have Firefly Festival which takes place in Dover, Delaware from June 19-22. Tickets go on sale on January 20th and will range from $249-299.

This festival has gotten better and better every year. This year is it jampacked with acts top and bottom. First, the headliners: Foo Fighters, Outkast, Jack Johnson. Foo Fighters will be fantastic. I am starting to get the indication that Outkast's reunion may lose prestige because they will be at every frickin' festival. It's probably just me but Jack Johnson's sound is just not big enough for a headlining slot. But the lineup get much better.

Things of note:
Sleeper Agent, New Politics, and Magic Man are tourmates right now and will all be there. Sleeper Agent's new album comes out on March 25, New Politics is riding the momentum of their hit single "Harlem," and Magic Man will no doubt be playing tunes from the debut album which does not yet have a release date.

Hunter Hunted's "Keep Together" is a great breezy, summer tune that makes them perfect for the festival scene and will give them a great summer

Is it just me or is Neon Gold Records dominating Firefly? Haerts, Magic Man, Smallpools, Sir Sly, MS MR. Five bands from one small label. Congrats to them!

Imagine Dragons finally get the slot they deserve.

The Wild Feathers should be getting a much more prominent slot.

Top half has a lot of can't misses: Imagine Dragons, Arctic Monkeys, Grouplove, Cage the Elephant, Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Jake Bugg, Local Natives.

Pretty Lights and Girl Talk might as well be brothers. Constantly on the same festival bill. I ain't complaining.






I like this festival because they seem to really have the demographic and size down very well. They do not go out and get the biggest bands out there because that is not their environment. Also they as diverse as others because they are looking for specific acts to fill a specific need.

If I was going to this festival I know I would be seeing Wye Oak, Future Islands, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Those Darlins, Caitlin Rose, and Magic Man. With more research I know I could enjoy more. 

I have no picture of the New Orleans Jazz Fest because it is way too big. It take place over two weekends and has a huge crop of immensely talents New Orleans musicians but here are the highlights: (separated by day)

Santana, The Avett Brothers, Public Enemy, Jason Isbell
Phish, Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters
The String Cheese Incident, Greensky Bluegrass
Alabama Shakes, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires 
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Foster the People
Arcade Fire, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, John Fogerty

Grammy Performers Turning Out To Be Adequate

I have actually been impressed with the list of Grammys performers this year. We have some very interesting collaborations spawning from a diverse group of artists and a group that deviates from the pop stars we usually see at award shows. The audience can really anticipate many performances because it's anyone's guess what will happen. No one wants to watch the same thing over and over with the same single at a different awards show. This year the Grammys are (hopefully) taking risks and representing a collection of music--which I think is their goal.

The list of Grammys performers so far are as follows:
John Legend
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr
Carole King w/ Sara Bareilles
Daft Punk w/ Pharrell Williams, Niles Rodgers, and Stevie Wonder
Kendrick Lamar w/ Imagine Dragons
Lorde
Metallica
Katy Perry
Pink w/ Nate Ruess (of fun.)
Robin Thicke
Chicago
Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Blake Shelton

The Grammys are January 26 airing from 8-11:30 pm
There are still performers, presenters, and special segments to be announced. Stay tuned. 

The Pass Deliver First of Four Singles

The Pass is in for a big year and they started it today with the release off their first single "Sunny Day." As previously written on Parasitic Noise, That Pass will be releasing one single each month for four month culminating in an album release this summer. In between that, they will be touring and having release shows in Louisville for every single.

"Sunny Day" is a continuation of what they keep getting better at constantly. They have a knack for having this identity of being labeled as the synth pop dance band but they don't forget that they can make the guitar just as dance-y. Its especially obvious in "Sunny Day" when Kyle Peters brings out this quick but memorable riff that he loops around the always catchy synths. It's golden.

A lot of people might continue to compare The Pass to, say, Passion Pit. I urge you not to do so. Songs like "Sunny Day" show that they take this dance pop and make it more fun and more sophisticated. I'll take Peters over Michael Angelakos any day.

If "Sunny Day" doesn't sell you, it at least get you energized for what will come from The Pass in 2014.

Here is the link to Sunny Day at Consequence of Sound

Parasitic Noise Top Ten Albums

I recently got the urge to declare to myself what my favorite albums of all time are. I figured here would be a great place to share them because you can see them and then maybe if you are inspired enough you can share your favorites in the comments section and we can see how different/similar the lists can be.

I would like to emphasize that the albums listed here are in no way the most critically acclaimed albums ever. I'll say right now that you will not see anything by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, or The Rolling Stones on this list. I am of a generation where most did not grow up on those bands. My experience is more shaped by late '70s rock music. At the earliest. These albums are just the ones I have connected with the most, but that's how yours should be too. Never allow your favorites to be everyone's favorites just because you feel like you have to.

Needless to say, I do not trust any large publication with an all time list. They are not fact and sometimes people treat them as such. Same goes for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sure these artists great, but are they all the greatest of all time? Maybe to the critic's ear and eye, but that's not what music is for. We claim no kings and queens of rock. (Even if some silly nickname says so). After all, music is art. Some people forget that. It cannot be judged in terms of right and wrong, good and bad. There are not extremes, just tastes. Do you like it? Be my guest and like that music.

With that being said, here is my list. How about sharing yours?

Disclaimer: There is no order between these albums. There are some oldies on here but also some recent albums that I hope stay on the list for a very long time.


Counting Crows "August and Everything After"
Arctic Monkeys "Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not" 
Pearl Jam "Ten"
Dave Matthews Band "Crash"
John Mellencamp "Scarecrow"
Bruce Springsteen "The Rising" 
Moon Taxi "Cabaret"
The Pass "Melt" 
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers "Damn The Torpedoes"
The Wild Feathers "The Wild Feathers"

 

11 Kentuckiana Bands Who Had a Great 2013

Kentucky is truly filled with great and diverse music. There were many names this year who released great records and made noise nationally. From hip hop and spunky rock to electro pop and down home country, the commonwealth was bursting at the seams with great tunes done by great people. Here are some (and by no means all) of the highlights:

The Debauchees: The rising stars in the Louisville music scene are these three spunky teens. Two things that pop out even before hearing their tunes. The group is two thirds female and they decided to create the band before they knew how to play. With that being said, they create some poppy spunk rock with vocals to kill from their debut release Big Machines & Peculiar Beings.

The Pass: Labelmates with The Debauchees and purveyors of the same scene, The Pass from Louisville keeps getting bigger with every album. They were still ridding the coattails of their second full length Melt when they began 2013 and they are on this list especially for their announcement of a new album and special release of singles that will occur during the first four months of 2014. The Pass's electro pop will keep you dancing and yes, the occasional air guitar.

Cage The Elephant: The biggest name on this list is the alternative rockers from Bowling Green, Kentucky. They made their year with the release of their third album Melophobia (which oddly enough means fear of music). CTE threw us something different on Melophobia including a horn section and a guest spot from Alison Mosshart from The Kills. Supposedly they didn't allow themselves to listen to any music other than their own during the recording process. We are still waiting on a full blown tour from CTE but check out Letterman's reaction when they played lead single "Come A Little Closer" on his show.





 Sundy Best: Here is a pair of good ol' boys from Prestonburg, Kentucky that have been playing the heck out of the state and region throughout all of 2013. The released Door Without A Screen in 2013 and have already made plans for their second album Bring Up The Sun in March 2014. It's simple tunes-one plays guitar, the other is percussion and that usually means the box. They sing very tangible lyrics and down home tunes. Country is real and it's Sundy Best.

Buffalo Rodeo: Buffalo Rodeo is another fantastic band from the crop of alternative bands that keep coming out of Bowling Green. But they definitely have their own style. Hard enough to rock out to and poppy enough to dance and sing along to, Buffalo Rodeo had a great year by releasing their best EP yet in April called Home Videos. They play a crazy live show and they plan on keeping the momentum in 2014. Zanzabar in Louisville seem as if it is becoming the home away from Casa de Buffalo. They return January 16.

Ben Sollee: Ben Sollee can do just whatever he absolutely wants and people will eat it up. Originally from Lexington, he captivates us with his sincerity, generosity and innovation. His activism is always present in his work and that usually deals with his protests of mountaintop removal. This year he released The Hollow Sessions, for free and unannounced. It was an album chalk full of great cover tunes. Sollee started solo but has come to bringing his percussion Jordan Ellis and much more of a full band around now. He went a bike tour earlier this fall where he traveled to each show via bike.

The Hollow Sessions (name your price bandcamp album)  

Nerves Junior: Way back in February, Nerves Junior released what some people have called the best EP of the year in Craters. That garnered the Louisville band an invite to SXSW. Nerves junior continued with walking the fine line between darkness and dreams with ambient synth and driving rhythm section with drowning vocals. Stay tuned for a full length.



Jalin Roze: There may be an argument but Jalin Roze is Louisville's best hip hop act hands down in my opinion. His beats are creative and bumping. His rhymes are catchy, relatable, and driving. Still can't get over when he rhymed "newest thrills" and "are you for real" with "Dumervil" (former UofL LB). The best part of his year was playing Pianos in NYC for CMJ. He documented it. Watch it here. Roze announced today that he will be touring with a full band in 2014.

Matt Duncan: At the very very beginning of the year Matt Duncan (the band, not the dude) released the best throwback with their album Soft Times. We are talkin Motown and Stax for white guys. The key word is smooth--in lyrics and music. The Lexington group brought a '70s flashback with a twist and its definitely easy on the ears.

Kaleidico: Kaleidico released Free Falling Waltz to the world in May in all its psychedelic glory. This record was maybe the most critically acclaimed record to come out of Louisville this year. They have not done too much promotion for it, but that definitely does not take away from how good it is. To compare it to something, I would say a dreamier Tame Impala with less guitar. But it basically sounds like an experiment, there is so much going on. They ring in the New Year at The New Vintage tonight.

Free Falling Waltz

Honorable Mention (because of geography): Louisville has a tendency to kind of claim everything good that comes out of New Albany because it is just across the river and sometimes it really seems like the same city. Sooooo the last band may be the pretty big, but I'll throw it in here anyways.

Houndmouth: Houndmouth had the best year ever. Hailing from New Albany, Indiana, they brought their guitar twang raucous all over the USA and Europe hitting the festival circuit with a fierce energy. From the thumping "Come On, Illinois" to the crowd sing along "Krampus," their debut album From the Hills Below The City officially made them national news. Don't expect it to slow down either.

There you have it: a mix of 10 of Kentucky's best plus one from southern Indiana because I had to. It shows how blossoming Kentucky is in terms of their musical success and diversity. I did not even mention how much bigger Forecastle is getting every year. String Cheese Incident, The Black Keys, and The Avett Brothers headlined this year and we can expect more and more for 2014. Not to forget Cropped Out Music Festival, @LouMUSICulture, the resurgence of the Louisville record shop, and all the fantastic shows that took place this year (some of which you have seen on this blog).

Here's to an even better 2014. Cheers.