Happy New Years!

New Years Eve - Rundown

NYE and still at home, eh? Well if you're not snowed in here's a short rundown of what we have already mentioned and some stuff we may have missed happening today.

-Florida = Death, In Every Room, Krushes, Odei and DJ You B @ The Submarine - FREE - 8pm

-Mt Bearington w/ Quiet Life @ Oasis Pub -$5 - 9pm

- Duecebug and LordBB @ The Factory Underground studio - $20 - 11pm

-The Breakfast @ Daniel St - $25 - 9pm

-Badfish, All in Blind and One Jack Move @ Toads Place - $25 - 8pm

-Domeringer, Cursed by Reason, Imperium Mortis @ Heirloom Arts Theatre- $5 - 9pm

and a little New Years Diddy

tiny reviews pt. 5

Here's part 5 of a big set of reviews I did this week. If you want to see the full list of reviews, just click here.

Ipsissimuss - The Three Secrets of the Fatima

Pretty killer full-length black metal release from Ipsissimuss. The album is relentless and doesn't let you come up for air. It's got a bit of a reckless attitude and it's a bit sloppy around the edges, but it's good shit. You can pick up a copy on black, black vinyl from hot air press. The picture doesn't really do this one justice.


Fatal Film - Sisterwife

This EP has some songs that are catchy as hell. Fatal Film plays straightforward powerpop - distorted guitars, brash lyrics, and powerful rhythms. The tunes are danceable post-punk, and you can't go wrong with "Something in the Water." You can stream this album at their bandcamp site. In fact, you can stream all their stuff there!


The Mountain Movers / Titles split

The first thing you'll notice about this is the artwork - the vinyl is a picturedisc, front and back, and it looks great. Both bands really shine on this one. How Titles managed to fit two songs on here, I'll never know. Either way, this split is phenomenal, and it's another great release from Safety Meeting.

tiny reviews pt. 4

The Liz Larsons - Talk Like a Male Artist

Hell yeah - Liz Larsons knows how to rock. She emits an attitude of complete nonchalance as she belts it out. Her songs sound like cleaned-up grunge tunes - rather than going for the fuzz pedal, the guitar sounds tiny and jangly. I find myself wishing there was just a bit more grit here, but at the end of the day it's still a solid album. Check it out on her bandcamp site.


David Bello - People of People That Are Confusing

David Bello is from West Virginia, but he released this album through Willimantic label OHYM, so I'm going to talk about it, just try and stop me. It's a best-of compilation of Bello's tunes through the years. The guy is a brilliant songwriter and the album's one of those you'll spin over and over again. I'd describe it like a cinnamon red hot - sweet indie pop, but it's still got a bit of an edge to it. You can download it for free right here.

Skobie Won - Autodidact

I'm not usually one to talk about hip-hop, but I somehow stumbled across Skobie Won and liked it. Sure, he's got kind of nerdy rhymes but he's got a DIY spirit that I really agree with, and the beats are good. The guy is offering the album as a free download so listen to it, who knows, you might like it.

New Years Eve at The Oasis

Don't forget that this New Year's Eve there's a killer show at The Oasis! It's a Safety Meeting show, and Quiet Life and MT Bearington will be playing. This is Quiet Life's first show back in CT since moving out to Portland, Oregon - so you know that means a big party. They'll be giving away copies of their new "California Vacation" EP at the door, which I've managed to sneak a listen to, and it's fuckin fun as hell. And of course, you probably all know MT Bearington, so I don't really need to tell you how good he is, do I? There's guaranteed to be a lot of surprises in store, so this is the one to make it to.

9pm, 21+, $5
The Oasis, New London

tiny reviews pt. 3

Bottle Up & Go - Them Bones

NY's Bottle Up & Go is getting a lot of great press for this album - and although I admittedly wasn't that into them when I saw them open for Dead Meadow, I think the album is a lot different than they are live. It's a fun blend of open-tuning blues slide and don't-give a fuck punk screams. Released on Durham, CT's Kill Normal Records, this is cheap fix for when the whiskey runs out.

Giles Corey - self-titled

Giles Corey is the solo project of Have A Nice Life's Dan Barrett. If you're familiar with HANL, you'll be glad to hear that this album is also bleak and dark, but there's a lot of upbeat moments as well. It's still morbid, just in a slightly different way than what Enemies List has released before. I guess the best way to describe it would be black folk with prominent keyboards. The LP hasn't officially been released yet, but you can download some samples from last.fm. And it'll be available from Enemies List real soon!

Quiet Life / Widower split

I really enjoyed this 7" split by Oregon-based Quiet Life and Washington's Widower. If you're a fan of roots-rock, you'll be into these guys. If you're one of the thousands of people who like John Prine or Neil Young, I don't see why you wouldn't dig on this. They released this one through Safety Meeting, so I suppose I'm allowed to talk about it, right?

M.T. Bearington Video Fearing Every Moment

New Joseph Merrick inspired video from M.T. Bearington!

Florida = Death, In Every Room, Krushes, Odei and DJ You B @ The Submarine - NYE

Still looking for a show to go to on New Years? The guys of Fake Babies will be throwing a show at The Submarine located at 75 Daggett St Apt G-2 in New Haven (Enter at first door on left along building right) The show is open to everyone and theyll have a bar for all your drunken needs. Playing will be fellow DIY enthusiasts Florida = Death , MA's In Every Room , Krushes , Odei and DJ You B. Oh yeah , its free!



The Submarine - December 31st
75 Daggett St Apt G-2
New Haven, CT
In Every Room
Florida = Death
Krushes
Odei
Dj You B
Time:8:00pm
Cost:Free (donate)

Blastoids w/ Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt @ Oasis - January 2

This show will be a trip and a half. If Blastoids sonic molestation doesnt get to you it will be TPDR's crazed light and dance party that will be the death of your senses.

Blastoids - Human Bells (live) from ryan green on Vimeo.

Oasis Pub - January 2nd
16 Bank Street
New London, CT

Blastoids
Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt

when it comes to shows oasis pub is usually sketch with the info im guessing the show will start around 8pm and be no more than $10

tiny reviews pt. 2

Ponybird - Full Cold Moon

Ponybird is the project of Jennifer Dauphinais, and Full Cold Moon is her first full release. An introspective minimalist folk album with all kinds of strange instrumentation that drives you to madness; it's an intensely personal work, and it's still psychadelic and fun. The vocal harmonies are to die for, and the entire album just has this lush sound that I can't get enough of. It also features a ton of local musicians and names you should be familiar with if you read our blog regularly... You can stream and purchase the album right here.


Coldsnap - Godspeed

Wow, Coldsnap has come a long way. I wasn't as into their demo CD-R as Jay was, but this changes things a bit. This 7" has two great tunes on it. It's sludgy hardcore - stomping rhythm and killer riffs. The first track "Can You Even Hear Me Scream" is a doozy. Pick it up at hot air press. Hell yeah.

Crooked Hook - The Captain Will Be Your Guide

Crooked Hook is heavy shit, man. It's great stoner metal - I dare you not to love the hell out of this album. Everything's buried a layer of deep, wooly fuzz, and kicks a serious amount of ass. You can stream the whole thing on their last.fm, and snag a copy at Safety Meeting. While you're there, you might as well snag a copy of the self-titled EP which is equally badass.

Ghost Sonata's Last - Morning After Reunion - Sub Verso Release

Friday, January 1st, 2010:

This will be The Ghost Sonata’s final Connecticut show (they are playing up in Mass on January 9th at Legion) with special guests: The Morning After (reunion show) and Sub Verso doing their CD release. More deets in the post here: CLICK

LOCATION:
Heirloom Arts Theatre
155 Main St
Danbury CT
$5 - 4:00PM - all ages

tiny reviews pt. 1

As the year is winding to a close, I figured I'd dig through the bin and yap about a bunch of albums and EPs. This is my holiday gift to you, faithful readers. Because I hate doing "best of" lists here's a bunch of quick reviews. No real rhyme or reason here, but be sure and check all these artists out. Pay attention! This is the stuff to snag. I'll publish these in groups of three every day this week right up until the new year.


Medication - Don't Die / Fog

Medication is the bedroom project of Mikey Hyde. This is his first official release, and it's a fucking killer. Perfectly warped reverbed-out pop tunes from start to finish. Both songs are so good, it's hard to see why this guy isn't huge right now. The 7" was only released as a very short run of 150 on HoZac Records in Chicago, and they're completely sold out. Fortunately, What Would I Want? happened to upload it for your perusal. Anyway, he has a full-length LP that just got released and should be in my oven mitts real soon - I'm super-psyched!

ovlov - Crazy Motorcycle Jump

Remember listening to Pinkerton on repeat thinking it was a perfect album? Then you might like ovlov. A lot of their music comes sounds like mid-90s pop punk, in the best way possible.

Put on your headphones and grab your skate deck, because this is the perfect soundtrack. You can download their new EP "Crazy Motorcycle Jump" for free right here.

The Black Hollies - Gloomy Monday Morning / Heart of the Country

Believe it or not, I saw this in Newbury Comics the other day - I was kind of surprised, it looks like Los gets around! Anyway, The Black Hollies are from Jersey, but they're not typical Jersey dudes. Their music is straight out of the 60s, and this 45 is probably the most vintage-looking modern release I've ever seen. As always, the packaging is pristine - and so are their tunes. They've got a sleepy psychedelic sound that instantly takes you back in time about 40 years. You can pick up this gem at Safety Meeting Records. Keep in mind this is a single off their full length release "Softly Towards the Light" which is incredible.

IndepenDisc Holiday Party

Saturday, January 2, at 9:30pm, it's the IndepenDisc Holiday Party

featuring:

Big Fat Combo
Deena w/The Laughing Boys
The Ivory Bills

@ Cafe Nine in New Haven

Hozomeen/CDT website

New London label Hozomeen/CDT's got a new website and it's real slick. You best be heading over there to check it out. ASAP.

From the site: "Seems like we're in another busy season with a lot of great acts rising up in the New London scene here in the middle of nowhere Connecticut" - you got that right! New London is so hot right now it's practically steaming. Keep up the good work, guys.

Also, just a quick sire-note, almost all their bands are using bandcamp. Nice.

Holiday Updates

We will get around to updating the calendar soon. Promise. John's Tiny Review series will be posting starting 12/27, so keep checking back. Meanwhile, whatever you're into this holiday season, keeps it realz with a 9V.

Retribution Gospel Choir - Low - Heaven

Here's the very first thing you all get to look forward to for the upcoming new year. The story begins like this: Low will be the musical accompaniment for an original dance performance of Heaven, choreographed by Morgan Thorson. This performance will be happening Friday & Saturday, January 29 & 30, 2010, 8:00 PM at the Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University. Normally Wesleyan prefers to keep us local hoodlums off their campus, but this an event the public is invited to. There will be a pre-performance talk by Debra Cash on Friday, January 29, at 7:15pm, CFA Hall (formerly CFA Cinema). Depending on how much you want to spend, tickets are $21 for section A, $18 for section B, and $8 for section C. Purchase your tickets online here.

"...formidable and fresh, intelligent and riveting...an explosive physicality tempered by sinuous lines and subtle drama..." -Minneapolis Star Tribune

Minneapolis-based Morgan Thorson makes her Connecticut debut with her newest work, Heaven. This sensory work explores the nature of ecstatic perfection by synthesizing vocal and physical rapture (body) with omnipresent lighting effects (spirit). Thorson's choreography is gleaned from research into religious forms and devotional practices. Light, movement and sound combine as equally expressive partners to create a vibrant onstage world of euphoria and paradise meant to rouse performers and audience into an ecstatic experience. Funded by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project.

About Morgan Thorson: Heaven

But the thing is, before Heaven at Wesleyan, Manic Productions is presenting Retribution Gospel Choir on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at Daniel Street!


LOCATION:
Daniel Street
21 Daniel Street
Milford CT

$12 ($10 adv) - 8:00PM - 21+

DIRECTIONS:
Click here

BUY TICKETS NOW:
Click Here

Retribution Gospel Choir is a rock trio founded in 2007. The group features Low members Alan Sparhawk and Steve Garrington with Eric Pollard on drums and vocals. Those of you already familiar with Retribution Gospel Choir know that two of the songs on Low's Drums and Guns get a new interpretation on RGC's self titled LP. To help those of you unfamiliar, think of Low without Mimi Parker's vintage organ of a voice, or Low's intense restraint, replace both with a full drum kit and heavy guitar driven rock outs, and you can get an idea of where RGC is coming from.

Not to spread rumors, but if you put on your Sherlock Holmes hat, light your pipe, and begin connecting the dots, you might get the feeling there is hope for Mimi Parker to join Retribution Gospel Choir on stage, considering she will be at Wesleyan the weekend following the Daniel Street show.

...Maybe I will use my psionic powers to command Parker to do this, so don't be surprised if she shows up at Daniel Street in a trance.

Shhhhhhh! I am trying to concentrate! Mmmmmmmmmmmmm...

John Nolan at The Space

John Nolan (of Taking Back Sunday, and Straylight Run), Atlanta's Ocean is Theory and locals Gabriel the Marine will be in Hamden playing The Space on 1/7/10. If you're interested, you should probably snag tix at The Space's site as soon as you can!

John Nolan
Ocean is Theory
Gabriel the Marine

at The Space in Hamden
$10, doors at 6:30

last Shaki show pics

The Procedure Club:

Gary War:

photos by M. Bohannan

Sub Verso Album Release w/ Black Churches + Midi and the Modern Dance and more @ Heirloom Arts Theater - Jan 1st

What to do? What to do? New Year's Day and no show to go to. Welp buds, Sub Verso and a plethora of other bands are here to fix that problem. They'll be playing Heirloom Arts Theater Jan 1st to promote Sub Verso's newest album - "Within The Hour." Young guys + fresh sounds = good times with Sub Verso. Midi and the Modern Dance will also be on the bill and from what I hear, the lead singer can bring Jesus to tears. Even though this whole lineup is great if you're like me you'll be going to this for some Black Churches lovin', I mean who can hate a band with piano solos? If I had more space I would describe everyone in this stacked lineup but I don't. Folks, blues, punk or pop whatever you're looking for you'll probably find it at this show. Work off yr hangover.



Heirloom Arts Theater
January 1, 2010 mafuckas

Sub Verso
The Ghost Sonata
Black Churches
Midi and the Modern Dance
Chelce Hessler
Mother Brother
Whats Left of the Trees

Time: 4pm
Cost: $5

Shaki Presents One Last Time at BAR

Sunday, December 20th, 2009 - at BAR:
GARY WAR w/The Procedure Club


LOCATION:
BAR
254 Crown St
New Haven CT
FREE - 9:00PM - 21+

Gary War
The Procedure Club

Money possesses minds and breaks hearts. Demented lo-fi rock is a strong defense against this. Inoculate with cheap immaculate - all flaws are a glue clumping together a glorious and catchy pop trash heap. Even with the curtain falling on Shaki's Sunday concert series at BAR, we are dogs that pack together quickly into new alleys where we will ad hoc new stages to howl again in new ways. Mainstream's dumpsters fill faster than we feed. Shaki is dead, long live Shaki.

2 Ton Bug, florida=death, and The Vultures @ Charter Oak Cultural Center- Jan 9th

Support your local basement!!! 2 Ton Bug (with member D Gookin) , The Vultures and florida=death will be at the basement of the Charter Oak Cultural Center on Jan 9th to start off your year/decade with a show which will most likely remind of your last robotrip.



Charter Oak Cultural Center (basement)-January 9,2010

2 Ton Bug
The Vultures
florida=death

Time:8:00pm

Mckenzie + Slam Donahue + New Years Revolution + 2 Ton Bug @ lil tommu js - December 22

I thought I knew all the best venues around my area. Lil Tommy Jay pretty much turned me into a chump. All their shows this month have been stacked full of great bands and when you think they can't get better he throws a show like this. This is the sickest lineup I've seen in a while. No slack in the mack, no skimp in the pimp.



Little Tommy Jays home for lost boy's
20 Shelley st
Waterbury,CT

McKenzie
Slam Donahue
New Years Revolution
2 Ton Bug
Time: 6:00pm
Cost:Donate

Slam Donahue Videos

Word on the street has it that Bruhder is no longer together. While this is bad news, there is some good news in all this. Their spirit lives on through Slam Donahue. Here's two videos, courtesy of youtube:

Atrina + Wry + Kimono Draggin @ Rudy's - December 19

You're done with finals, you should reward yourself with this show. I don't know much about Wry but Atrina and Kimono Draggin alone should warrant going. Two of the hardest working bands in CT + a newcomer for $3, why would anyone miss it?




Rudy's - December 19
Atrina
Wry
Kimono Draggin'
Cost: $3
Time: 9:00pm

Dinosaur Jr. at Daniel St.

LAST MINUTE SHOW! - Just found out about this and goddamn, this is a good one. Dinosaur Jr. playing Daniel Street! This is gonna be off the hook. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon. Snag em fast from Manic, this will probably sell out.

Friday, January 15

Dinosaur Jr.
Plus Special Guests

$22 ($20 advance), 8:00pm doors - 21+

@ Daniel Street
21 Daniel Street (Milford, CT)

Eric Bachmann at Cafe Nine

I'm sure everyone already knew about this show, but tonight at Cafe Nine, Eric Bachmann will be playing a very rare solo show. For those of you who don't know, Eric Bachmann is the singer from a few bands you may know: Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers... He's been working on a minimalist, stripped-down folk project under his own name. He's only playing a handful of shows - so if you do get a chance to make it down to Cafe Nine, you will not be disappointed. Also playing are locals The Backyard Committee, who have some great alt-country tunes.


Cafe Nine
Thursday, Dec. 17

Eric Bachmann
The Backyard Committee

9 pm, $8

Kimono Draggin'

So, how cool is this: Kimono Draggin' released two albums this year. They just released "Space Orphans," which is way out there, and "We Are the Dudes," which is a little less experimental but is still wicked insanity. For those of you not familiar, they play some really avant-garde stuff. If you're in the mood for some mind-bending, tempo-shifting rock, check them out immediately.

These guys have to be one of the hardest working bands on the East Coast. Seriously, they play a ton of shows, and still have the time to put out two albums! They even have their own label, Spaynsive Productions. Good stuff.

Zappa fans take note - they also did a set of covers: Willie The Pimp and The Torture Never Stops.

Since they are such cool dudes, they've made their entire catalog streamable on bandcamp. You can find it all here.

The Suicide Dolls at Oasis

Saturday, The Suicide Dolls storm New London's Oasis pub to rock the hell out of the place. Also playing is sludge punk band Bedroom Rehab Corporation.

Oasis Pub
16 Bank St, New London

$5, 9pm

Arms & Legs at Heirloom Arts

Arms and Legs

with special guests
Hannibal Montana

Friday, December 18th
Heirloom Arts Theatre
8pm

Shaki Presents Videos

Here are a couple of videos of Shaki Presents shows. The first is the saddest, as many of you already know Jack Rose passed away on December 5th, 2009. Please share links to others in the comments if you so please.

house shows

Hey, check it out, the local house show trend got some press on the Hartford Advocate. Good deal.