Man, I’m kickin’ myself for not going to see Joey Eppard perform at the benefit for the Rosendale Street Festival Saturday night. I heard Josh Eppard ended up sitting in with him and the two played as only the Eppard Brothers can. Dang! But if I had gone I would’ve missed the wonderful Bears With Wings (they’re looking for a bass player) and the wicked Columbia (reminiscent of Breaking Pangaea. named after the space shuttle not the record label or misspelled country) at Valentine’s (downstairs) in Albany. I wouldn’t have missed the band I went there for though. Josh got to the venue in time to catch Nightmares For A Week. I’ve been dying to see them live since I first learned of the project about a year ago. Crazy that I haven’t been able to see them too because since their inception they’ve been constantly touring!
That being said… I’m so ready to see NFAW live again! I don’t believe the size of the stage or the audience did them much justice. I saw explosive energy sparking beneath, though it was still a damn energetic set. It was pretty amazing watching kids (in the audience) jump up and down in unison. It’s been ages since I’ve seen/felt that at a fun punk rock show. Actually, I think the last time was Anadivine’s reunion show at The Basement in Kingston May 25th, 2008… and I got a glimmer of it at John The Baker with Slimy Penis Breath’s 15 year reunion at The Basement on December 5th, 2009. The music brought back memories of Jerk Magnet, Anadivine, The Get Up Kids, The Ataris, Jawbreaker, Lucero, Alkaline Trio, hints of Pitchfork Militia… a whole era that’s sorely missed. NFAW certainly has that quality of accessibility cross-pollinated with intricacy touching upon a wide variety of genres resulting in a completely unique sound. A quality that seems to exist in all projects that grow off the branches of TheFamily3. I definitely agree with Alternative Press Magazine that Nightmares For A Week is a band you NEED to know.
I was compelled to pick up the NFAW EP “A Flood Tomorrow” (Music For End Times / Broken English) and upon listening to it in my car haven’t been able to turn it off. Sounds so much better than on myspace through laptop speakers! In addition to the crisp and sharply beautiful artwork was a phrase that I’m going to take to heart: Please copy and share this CD. http://www.mediafire.com/?iemzi2mmd41
- Drown In The West (The Flood)
- Smoking In Bed [featuring Alicia Castaneda on Violin and Mike Cashen on Vocals]
- Tour Song [featuring Andy Parker]
- Under The Wait
- Graves
A Flood Tomorow was recorded at Leaning Tree Recording Studio as well as Nada Recording Studio by Sean-Paul Pillsworth (Nightmares For A Week. Ex-Jerk Magnet, Anadivine, Divest, Counterfeit Disaster) and John Naclerio (My Chemical Romance, Brand New, Matchbook Romance, Senses Fail, Midtown, Hot Rod Circuit, Polar Bear Club, The Audition, Just Surrender, NCM, I Am the Pilot, Every Avenue, The Forecast, These Green Eyes, Bedlight for Blue Eyes, AutoPilot Off, Joshua, Steel Train, Anadivine, Jerk Magnet, Next II Nothing, D.D.F., Southcott, Lounge, Verona Fair, Tattletales, The Starkiller, Soul For Sale). If you dig it please support the band and purchase the EP at a show ($5), on iTunes, Interpunk (remember that store?), NFAW’s merch store.
There’s a really good and detailed interview with and about Nightmares For A Week by Morgan Y. Evans from Crusher Magazine
>http://www.crushermagazine.com/features9_09/featnfaw.htm
Back on the “I wish I went” tip… Saturday, February 6th Joey Eppard performed at the art gallery- Cornell Street Studios in Kingston, NY. A real unique intimate way to experience the magic that is Joey Eppard in front of the vivid artwork of Scott Ackerman. I heard he performed a new, never-heard-before song. I also heard that there is no recording. Frig.
Back on the “I’m glad I went” tip… Friday night I went to my second favorite NYC venue (of any size. #1 is a completely different market- The Nokia Theatre in Times Square) Sullivan Hall in the East Village. It was Funk Fest 4. The Rozatones were so good I walked away with two copies of their record, “Body on the Move.” Supremely unique band. Though it’s lead by the beautiful red-headed Revi Roza on guitar and vocals, I could not divert my eyes from the keyboard player, Adam Gold. I’m pretty sure he was rockin’ a Fender Rhodes, a Clavinet, AND a Moog Synthesizer. I couldn’t stop dancing either! Adam Gold remained on stage for the headlining act. The three-piece funk-hop, Sophistafunk.
After Sophistafunk’s set was the late night show at Sullivan Hall: BioDiesel. Deeply technical jungle-hop dance music consisting merely of Clay Parnell (bass guitar, samples) and Johnny Rabb (drums, samples). Rabb is the fastest drummer in the world, holding the record for 1,071 strokes in 60 seconds. He’s a prime example of “just because you can doesn’t mean you must.” Their set reminded me a bit of the Weerd Science dudes in that it consisted of a stupidly sick drummer (along with a laptop) and a bass player triple-wielding a keyboard and laptop. A few years back Josh performed awe-inspiring drums with Coheed and Cambria along with Dave “Wavis” Parker double-wielding the keyboards and third guitar (no laptops though, hah). Josh and Dave are both very proficient and diverse musicians pursuing what they love- hip-hop. Because Rabb’s so skilled doesn’t mean he has to melt faces with Math-Rock. Truly extraordinary.
Sunday I was hoping to spend Valentine’s Day with Zach Deputy at The Red Square in Albany. Unfortunately, his van broke down in Pittsburgh stranding he and his team and preventing them from making it to Utica and Albany. Shit happens. Especially when you drive all around the country performing upwards of 270 shows a year. The last time I went to see him I was stuck driving around to find a parking spot in New York City’s East Village and finally got into the venue as he was packing his gear up. Thankfully Sullivan Hall has a ridiculously amazing sound system and recorded the set because before The Macpodz were over I was able to get a CD of his performance. Didn’t stop me from buying his album, “Sunshine,” though it is more fun to listen to. Zach Deputy is all about the live show. He’s a man with one of the most unique, soulful and powerful voices my ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing and he performs solo… looping guitar and sounds to create the illusion and feel of a full band presence. I was introduced to Zach Deputy last March by CJB who was looking for some backing vox for a prodigious artist from South Carolina who traveled up to Woodstock to record with him. The prior day Zach Deputy suffered the ill-fortune of having his van stolen (with all of his equipment) in Paramus, NJ (thus the song “Paramus”). He maintained a cool-demeanor and pulled together all resources he could to get gear to finish up his sophomore record. I ended up at Applehead Studio with Wavis and Ant Masington (Session 606) where we contributed vocals to “Fresh Street,” “Sunshine,” and “Cool Yourself Off.” Ever since I’ve been trying my damnedest to experience Zach Deputy’s music the way it’s meant to… live.
Here’s a list of what I’d like to hit up over the next few months:
thu. Feb 18 - Weerd Science - Red Square (Albany, NY)
fri. Feb 19 - Nightmares For A Week, The Ricochet - The Basement (Kingston, NY)
sat. Feb 20 - Mirk and the New Familiars - Lark Tavern (Albany, NY)
wed. Feb 24 - Weerd Science - The Basement (Kingston, NY) FREE SHOW!
fri. Feb 26 - Session 606 - Puck Live (Doylestown, PA)
fri. Feb 26 - Bernier/Schirmer/Bodie - The Basement (Kingston, NY)
sat. Feb 27 - Joey Eppard, Gartdrumm/Orchid, The Ricochet - Bearsville Theater (Woodstock, NY) [Cahill Elementary School Benefit]
wed. March 3 - The Ataris, Nightmares For A Week - Bogies (Albany, NY)
wed. March 3 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)
fri. March 5 - The Flatline Symphony - CJ’s Bar (Smyrna, DE)
fri. March 5 - Cock Lorge - Pianos (New York, NY)
mon. March 8 - Emily Long - Angels & Kings (New York, NY) [Akoustic Mondays]
wed. March 10 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)
sat. March 13 - Alana Orchid - The Colony Cafe (Woodstock, NY) [Benefit for local Battered Women’s Shelter]
mon. March 15 - Terrible Things - Star Bar (Beaumont, TX)
wed. March 17 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)
thu. March 18 - SXSW - Austin, TX
fri. March 19 - Portugal. The Man - Highline Ballroom (New York, NY)
fri. March 19 - SXSW - Austin, TX
sat. March 20 - Alternative Press’ Bands You Need to Know Free Showcase - Emo’s (Austin, TX)
wed. March 24 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)
thu. March 25 - Benefit to save Bannerman’s Castle - The Loft (Poughkeepsie, NY)
fri. April 2 - Cock Lorge - Pianos (New York, NY)
fri. April 2 - Bears With Wings, Turbine - Bogie’s (Albany, NY)
sat. Apr 17 - Emily Long - Pianos (New York, NY)
sat. Apr 17 - Zach Deputy - Sullivan Hall (New York, NY)
wed. Apr 28 - Brand New, P.O.S. - Northern Lights (Clifton Park, NY)
sat. May 8 - Skate Fest - The Palladium (Worchester, MA)
thu. June 10 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
fri. June 11 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
sat. June 12 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
sun. June 13 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
thu. July 29 - Warped Tour - Marcus Amphitheater (Milwaukee, WI)
fri. July 30 - Warped Tour - Comerica Park (Detroit, MI)
sat. July 31 - Warped Tour - Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (Tinley Park, IL)
sun. Aug 1 - Warped Tour - Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN)
mon. Aug 2 - Warped Tour - Sandstone Amphitheatre (Bonner Springs, KS)
thu. Aug 5 - Warped Tour - Race City Speedway (Calgary, Alberta)
sat. Aug 7 - Warped Tour - Utah State Fairgrounds (Salt Lake City, UT)
sun. Aug 8 - Warped Tour - Invesco Field (Denver, CO)
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