Man, we have a ton to cover, so HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND??? Mine was pretty good for the most part.
Ernie did great in Beowulf (on a budget), this is an adaptation of the tale with a humerous edge to it. I brought the video camera and filmed it.
Made Venison Chili on Saturday from some of the meat from Peter's kill...it was yummy.
Spent Sunday in music and movies, making copies of the play, finally getting Mom Joan's DVD made and getting music ready for mailing out today. AND GETTING KNOCKED OUT OF THE SURVIVOR POOL!!! arg..I hate Denver!!
Ernie did great in Beowulf (on a budget), this is an adaptation of the tale with a humerous edge to it. I brought the video camera and filmed it.
Made Venison Chili on Saturday from some of the meat from Peter's kill...it was yummy.
Spent Sunday in music and movies, making copies of the play, finally getting Mom Joan's DVD made and getting music ready for mailing out today. AND GETTING KNOCKED OUT OF THE SURVIVOR POOL!!! arg..I hate Denver!!
For those who are fans, Manchester Orchestra is beginning a new mini-tour and will be debuting new material along the way.
Their new album Mean Everything To Nothing, co-produced by Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, My Morning Jacket) and Dan Hannon is slated for a Spring 2009 release.
In the past year, Manchester Orchestra has played major USA festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza and The Voodoo Experience in New Orleans . Accompanying them throughout all dates on the upcoming tour will be Favorite Gentlemen label-mate Kevin Devine as well as Dead Confederate. All Get Out will open the entire tour in support of their self-titled EP, available 11/25, also through Favorite Gentlemen Recordings.
11/28 – Carrboro , NC – Cat’s Cradle
11/29 – Nashville , TN – Rocketown
11/30 – Newport , KY – Southgate
12/02 – Des Moines , IA – House of Bricks
12/03 – Chicago , IL – Subterranean
12/04 – Lansing , MI – Mac’s Bar
12/05 – Akron , OH – Musica
12/06 – Pittsburgh , PA – Diesel
12/07 – Philadelphia , PA – Northstar
12/09 – Allston , MA – Harper’s Ferry
12/10 – Hoboken , NJ – Maxwell’s
12/11 – Baltimore , MD – Ottobar
12/12 – Richmond , VA – Canal Club
12/13 – Wilmington , NC – Soapbox Laundrolounge
12/14 – Columbia , SC – Headliners
12/16 – Athens , GA – 40 Watt
12/17 – Orlando , FL – The Social
12/18 – St. Petersburg , FL – Orpheum
12/19 – Jacksonville , FL – Jack Rabbits
12/20 – Atlanta , GA – Variety Playhouse
Their new album Mean Everything To Nothing, co-produced by Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, My Morning Jacket) and Dan Hannon is slated for a Spring 2009 release.
In the past year, Manchester Orchestra has played major USA festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza and The Voodoo Experience in New Orleans . Accompanying them throughout all dates on the upcoming tour will be Favorite Gentlemen label-mate Kevin Devine as well as Dead Confederate. All Get Out will open the entire tour in support of their self-titled EP, available 11/25, also through Favorite Gentlemen Recordings.
11/28 – Carrboro , NC – Cat’s Cradle
11/29 – Nashville , TN – Rocketown
11/30 – Newport , KY – Southgate
12/02 – Des Moines , IA – House of Bricks
12/03 – Chicago , IL – Subterranean
12/04 – Lansing , MI – Mac’s Bar
12/05 – Akron , OH – Musica
12/06 – Pittsburgh , PA – Diesel
12/07 – Philadelphia , PA – Northstar
12/09 – Allston , MA – Harper’s Ferry
12/10 – Hoboken , NJ – Maxwell’s
12/11 – Baltimore , MD – Ottobar
12/12 – Richmond , VA – Canal Club
12/13 – Wilmington , NC – Soapbox Laundrolounge
12/14 – Columbia , SC – Headliners
12/16 – Athens , GA – 40 Watt
12/17 – Orlando , FL – The Social
12/18 – St. Petersburg , FL – Orpheum
12/19 – Jacksonville , FL – Jack Rabbits
12/20 – Atlanta , GA – Variety Playhouse
On to the music. This first gentleman is Jay Della Valle.
We learn from his bio:
The New Jersey born and bred artist (in every sense of the word) awakens his audience to all the possibilities of life. Those along for the ride travel to coffee shops in Montreal, the boardwalk at Seaside Heights and anywhere else his voice takes them. Each of Della Valle’s four albums is like an aural photo album, the tracks snapshots along the way.
“Most of my early songs were not just about losing someone close, but getting back to yourself,” shares Della Valle. “They became about moving on with your life. As time went on, inspirations were illuminated by new things, and I started to be able to write about being young, innocent, and reckless--three things I always hope to be at heart in many ways. Although, I think it's too late for innocent.”
A musician since childhood, Della Valle’s talent was nurtured from a young age by his father, a singer and bandleader in a wedding entertainment company. “I have never been afraid of an audience,” he reveals. “That's one thing about me as a performer. Even when I was ten years-old, I got up to sing karaoke whenever I could. I never felt self-conscious about my voice or about being on stage. This is half the battle for any performer--getting over this fear--and I never really had it. So I'm fortunate for naturally having this freedom.”
It also helps that Della Valle, a graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School, makes a living as a Wedding & Bar/Bat Mitzvah Emcee, which allows him to practice public performance on the regular. The success of this “day job” has allowed him to self-record and produce all his projects, the most notable of which is The Glorius Mustache Challenge. The acclaimed documentary sparked a revival of the ‘stache among men under 30 years-old and landed Della Valle and his cohorts on the cover of AM New York, live on the air during The Today Show and in The New York Times (just to name a few).
Influenced especially by certain bands like U2, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Ryan Adams, Butch Walker, Elvis Costello, The Replacements, Our Lady Peace and Snow Patrol, Della Valle promises fans can expect Pop-Rock songs that are just as compelling, moving and engaging for him as it is for crowds. “If I have an overall message in my music, it has to say something and be simple in its nature,” he explains, continuing, “and most importantly, it has to be fun for me to sing and play.”
Having rocked stages from coast to coast- including the Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest- alongside Wilco, Spin Doctors, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and Rye Coalition, Della Valle is quite the seasoned performer.
“I take a lot of inspiration and influence from lead singers with outsized personalities that are not afraid to tell stories, speak out and be vulnerable. Guys who not only know how to make beautiful noise, but those who can embrace and utilize silence as an instrument,” he says. “They take control of their audiences and when people leave their shows, they're leaving with more than they came with. I guess more than anything as a musician/singer/performer--I want to have that influence on people.”
I received a 3-song EP and found the music enjoyable in that Southside Johnny, Beaver Brown vein. He has a great sound for those party-type gigs. Jay has a good R&R voice and I am sure he gives a great live performance.
A copy of the EP is available if you like what you hear...
You can learn more at his website HERE and his myspace HERE.
Remember, no matter how you feel, register your vote.
We learn from his bio:
The New Jersey born and bred artist (in every sense of the word) awakens his audience to all the possibilities of life. Those along for the ride travel to coffee shops in Montreal, the boardwalk at Seaside Heights and anywhere else his voice takes them. Each of Della Valle’s four albums is like an aural photo album, the tracks snapshots along the way.
“Most of my early songs were not just about losing someone close, but getting back to yourself,” shares Della Valle. “They became about moving on with your life. As time went on, inspirations were illuminated by new things, and I started to be able to write about being young, innocent, and reckless--three things I always hope to be at heart in many ways. Although, I think it's too late for innocent.”
A musician since childhood, Della Valle’s talent was nurtured from a young age by his father, a singer and bandleader in a wedding entertainment company. “I have never been afraid of an audience,” he reveals. “That's one thing about me as a performer. Even when I was ten years-old, I got up to sing karaoke whenever I could. I never felt self-conscious about my voice or about being on stage. This is half the battle for any performer--getting over this fear--and I never really had it. So I'm fortunate for naturally having this freedom.”
It also helps that Della Valle, a graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School, makes a living as a Wedding & Bar/Bat Mitzvah Emcee, which allows him to practice public performance on the regular. The success of this “day job” has allowed him to self-record and produce all his projects, the most notable of which is The Glorius Mustache Challenge. The acclaimed documentary sparked a revival of the ‘stache among men under 30 years-old and landed Della Valle and his cohorts on the cover of AM New York, live on the air during The Today Show and in The New York Times (just to name a few).
Influenced especially by certain bands like U2, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Ryan Adams, Butch Walker, Elvis Costello, The Replacements, Our Lady Peace and Snow Patrol, Della Valle promises fans can expect Pop-Rock songs that are just as compelling, moving and engaging for him as it is for crowds. “If I have an overall message in my music, it has to say something and be simple in its nature,” he explains, continuing, “and most importantly, it has to be fun for me to sing and play.”
Having rocked stages from coast to coast- including the Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest- alongside Wilco, Spin Doctors, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and Rye Coalition, Della Valle is quite the seasoned performer.
“I take a lot of inspiration and influence from lead singers with outsized personalities that are not afraid to tell stories, speak out and be vulnerable. Guys who not only know how to make beautiful noise, but those who can embrace and utilize silence as an instrument,” he says. “They take control of their audiences and when people leave their shows, they're leaving with more than they came with. I guess more than anything as a musician/singer/performer--I want to have that influence on people.”
I received a 3-song EP and found the music enjoyable in that Southside Johnny, Beaver Brown vein. He has a great sound for those party-type gigs. Jay has a good R&R voice and I am sure he gives a great live performance.
A copy of the EP is available if you like what you hear...
You can learn more at his website HERE and his myspace HERE.
Remember, no matter how you feel, register your vote.
Next up is the band Citizens Of Contrary Knowledge. Now, first off, bands with pretentious names like that tend to lose a point before the music even plays.
The album is You're What You Wish You Are...Over the course of the first four songs I heard Humble Pie (listen to the last third of "Lonely Hearts Society") and then a John Mayer vibe off of a song called "Real Love". Not surprising, as they list their influences as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
From their bio:
This band of 4 journeyman musicians has found indie success with their first release, having licensed music to Showtime's hit series "The Tudors" starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh" and "Zoey 101", MTV's LOGO network, and College Sports Television. Their music has made a splash on college radio from Maine to Virginia, Michigan to Long Island, and the politically charged song "Wrong Side Of The World" is featured in the independent film "PBI: Paranormal Bureau of Investigation."
This is a band of musicians...that became evident early on. Each song comes at you from a different direction. "Spread Your Wings" hearkens back to Bowie as he came out of the Ziggy days. "Brand New Dance" puts you right in an Earth Wind and Fire groove and then you catch a hit of Bowie during his 'funk' period. But by the end of the song it is dueling guitars...Chameleons - that is what this band is.
They can keep their 'pretentious' sounding name...I am keeping them on my rotation.
Their album is available to one lucky Couch Guest.
More information on their website HERE or their myspace HERE.
The album is You're What You Wish You Are...Over the course of the first four songs I heard Humble Pie (listen to the last third of "Lonely Hearts Society") and then a John Mayer vibe off of a song called "Real Love". Not surprising, as they list their influences as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
From their bio:
This band of 4 journeyman musicians has found indie success with their first release, having licensed music to Showtime's hit series "The Tudors" starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh" and "Zoey 101", MTV's LOGO network, and College Sports Television. Their music has made a splash on college radio from Maine to Virginia, Michigan to Long Island, and the politically charged song "Wrong Side Of The World" is featured in the independent film "PBI: Paranormal Bureau of Investigation."
This is a band of musicians...that became evident early on. Each song comes at you from a different direction. "Spread Your Wings" hearkens back to Bowie as he came out of the Ziggy days. "Brand New Dance" puts you right in an Earth Wind and Fire groove and then you catch a hit of Bowie during his 'funk' period. But by the end of the song it is dueling guitars...Chameleons - that is what this band is.
They can keep their 'pretentious' sounding name...I am keeping them on my rotation.
Their album is available to one lucky Couch Guest.
More information on their website HERE or their myspace HERE.
Finally, for today; I give you Stacey Lawson, who has been influenced by Pearl Jam, REM, Coldplay, Tom Petty and Aerosmith.
From her bio:
Out of the clubs of Huntington, West Virginia comes the folk rocking sounds of Stacee Lawson.
Over the past 4 years Stacee has taken her musical abilities from acoustic gigs to her brand of indie infused folk rock. Her album Deranged has national Distribution with BCD Music Goup and DA Records. Stacee has already charted #1 on Major College Radio and has been featured on the XM Satellite Radio Report. You can buy the album at many places online such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Tower Records and many more.
Stacee is currently getting ready to start supporting the release by putting together a band and playing live shows.
You can find more information at her website HERE or her myspace HERE.
She has a Brickell/Nicks/Morrisette vibe going on in her music. Rock with an edge of angst.
Her CD Deranged is available for one of you.
From her bio:
Out of the clubs of Huntington, West Virginia comes the folk rocking sounds of Stacee Lawson.
Over the past 4 years Stacee has taken her musical abilities from acoustic gigs to her brand of indie infused folk rock. Her album Deranged has national Distribution with BCD Music Goup and DA Records. Stacee has already charted #1 on Major College Radio and has been featured on the XM Satellite Radio Report. You can buy the album at many places online such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Tower Records and many more.
Stacee is currently getting ready to start supporting the release by putting together a band and playing live shows.
You can find more information at her website HERE or her myspace HERE.
She has a Brickell/Nicks/Morrisette vibe going on in her music. Rock with an edge of angst.
Her CD Deranged is available for one of you.
I turned on that Stacee chick at 5:55 A.M....I hate waking up and my ears begin to bleed. Her voice. Oh dear God, her voice!! Cheers Vinny!!
Editor's note: humerous?
Tuneage:
JDV: Fabulous voice, Chicklet was a bit indifferent to the first song (as I was) but she and I both loved the second one. We'll be keeping an ear out for more.
COACK (hehehe thanks a funny abbreviation): ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Chicklet and I both got the groove going from the first notes! Now that's a find!
Stacee: I think you did her a disservice by putting a cover song on there. We liked the first song, didn't floor us however.
Oh... and The Tudors? AWESOME show!
The are all fine, but not unique. I think the first band was not being pretentious with its name. With a name like C.O.C.K. I think they are going for the laugh...
Liked the first, didn't like the second, didn't decide on the 3rd.
Had a listen to Manchester Orchestra on their Myspace page - I quite liked it.
Go Raiders!!!! Sorry...I don't get to say that with joy very often these days.
I'll have to come back later to check out the music. Busy busy day today getting ready to head south for the week.
MATT: And the others??? Great day my friend
ANNDI: TY Madam Editor.
I selected two songs for each without thinking about cover/non-cover, but will remember that in the future. Glad you found two you enjoyed.
BUD: And how did I miss that? Sheesh Vinny..OK, not pretentious at all! LOL
TOPCHAMP: Glad you enjoyed at least one. I do like Citizens a lot however.
TRAVIS: Yeah...That is why I did not say I hated the Raiders! Have a fantabulous week my friend...and enjoy DANCING!
I clicked but I cannot hear...will be back. Will be back!
Let it be noted that I, unlike Mr Bud over there in the gutter, didn't forget the "A" in the abbreviation. Sheesh!
*giggle*
MIMI: Hope they work later
ANNDI: Yeah..your mind would never go into the gutter....bwahahahaha
I really liked CoCK...wait, do you think they know what their initials are? Hehe!
I wasn't impressed with Jay Della Valle.
I am impressed with Citizens of Contrary Knowledge...even after reading the comments about their name.
I like the "music" for Stacee Lawson, but her voice doesn't sit well with me. I think, based on her "influences," I was expecting a bit of a harsher, deeper voice.
First guy, eh.
The amusingly abbreviated COCK I liked. Hehehehe....sorry my inner Beavis and Butthead is taking over. Gimme COCK!
Ok, ok, ok. I am better now =)
The chick...yikes. If I needs angsty bitch I'll listen to Hole.
OMG. I managed to bring both COCK and Hole into my comment!
I gotta stop looking at Rob Pattinson pictures on the web. My mind is obviously in the gutter!
JDV: Not impressed. I had somewhat ofan 80's flashback.
COCK: Great band, vocals were so-so
Stacee: Couldn't get there from here. Seems the tunes are no longer cooperating.
And how dare there be another Dana commenting on your blog. I've lost my uniqueness.