Photo and video credit: Wendy Hu
Earlier this week, MarieClaire.com featured my interview with guitar goddess Orianthi. Feel free to check out the post here.
Watch my video interview with Orianthi below to learn more about her passion for guitar, what it was like to perform with Santana and her experience working with Michael Jackson. For the complete transcription, click here.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taVupYVVT3g]
Photo Credit: Wendy Hu
Quite possibly my favorite thing about being a music journalist is discovering new bands before they make it big. Whether my coverage precedes a write-up in Rolling Stone or a song being placed in hit TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, in a way it helps confirm that my music taste is ahead of the curve. Or, so I’d like to think!
I’m excited tonight to be catching three sets at Joe’s Pub, two of which are bands I’ve already covered and interviewed. Feel free to follow along on Twitter as I’ll be reviewing the show live. And, if you haven’t yet, check out my interview with Greg Holden here and PT Walkley here. For more on each artist, you can find their MySpace below.
PT Walkley on MySpace.
Greg Holden on MySpace.
Ian Axel on MySpace.
Those that think rock & roll is dead obviously haven’t heard of The Young Things. With music that transports the listener back to the 1960s, it’s easy to envision the Brooklyn-based band opening for the likes of The Beatles and The Beach Boys.
Having just released EP, …is the Killer, the 15 minute, six track album is not nearly enough to satisfy. After just one listen, The Young Things leave music lovers wanting more.
“Uptown” starts off the EP with gritty guitar and percussion instrumentals before the vocals enter. “Callin’ my girl/We’re gonna meet uptown/I gotta hurry/She doesn’t wait around,” The Young Things sing with spot-on precision. A solid and energetic start to …is the Killer, “Uptown” and second track, the tongue in cheek “Case of the Mundanes,” bear familiarity to that of The Beatles’ and their 1965 hit single, “Ticket To Ride.”
Guitar heavy “6 1/2 Stone” portrays a darker sound for the band with fitting percussion. The track slows down midway to the fadeout and is fueled by plenty of guitar fuzz and seductive singing. The EP is rounded out by quirky “All My Friends Are Junkies,” fast paced “The Well” and “Boy You’re Lookin’ Pale.” Complete with slapstick lyrics, “All My Friends Are Junkies,” offers humor to the listener while “Boy You’re Lookin’ Pale” provides seemingly important life lessons (to some, perhaps): “The world may not look half as bad/Through an empty whiskey glass.”
A glimpse of what is to come from the band, …is the Killer takes it back to the 60s where The Beatles and The Beach Boys ruled the music scene. While The Beatles influence can be easily heard throughout much of the rhythm and musical accompaniment within the six-tracks, the vocal harmonies of The Beach Boys are also ever present. All in all, The Young Things satisfy those pining for classic rock & roll. While no group can ever replace The Beatles’ influence, it is refreshing to hear a band that embraces such classics and bring their own flavor to the table.
Having just played the famed Viper Room in California, The Young Things will perform at New York’s Rockwood next month. For more information, visit them on MySpace.
Recommended: For fans of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Gaslight Anthem.
Related Links:
• Band of the Week: The Bloodsugars
• Artist of the Week: Griffin Anthony
• Band of the Week: Nikki & Rich
• Band of the Week: The N Result
Today is the last day of February, which means it’s also the final day to nominate me for SoundCtrl and Pepsico’s contest to win travel and lodgings to SXSW! I know a few days ago I was close to the 50 minimum votes, but I’m sure the more I have the better chance I have to winning and covering SXSW for you!
I thought I’d share part of the interview I had with SoundCtrl just so you know more about me and how my passion for music journalism began.
Why and how did you get involved in the music industry?
I decided to become a music journalist after covering a Gavin DeGraw concert my sophomore year of college. I still remember it perfectly. I was standing in the front row, notebook and pen in one hand, digital camera in the other and I just remember thinking, “If I could do this the rest of my life I would!” Gavin was my first impromptu band interview, I just walked up to him after the show and asked him a few questions for the school paper.
My remaining time at Rutgers was spent writing for the entertainment section, interning at JANE Magazine, MTV News and eventually Rolling Stone. I’d cover and interview every band that came to Rutgers and pitched them to my internships. While I was a journalism major and always knew I wanted to write, it wasn’t until his concert that it hit me that I could actually do this for a living. Since graduating, I started up my blog, managed a band and act as a publicist for artists I truly believe in. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Glad to report that this excitement for covering shows and interviewing bands has never faded. I still can’t believe all the festivals I’ve attended and bands I’ve met the past two years! I just relived everything in photos yesterday when Wendy uploaded her flickr page. Feel free to check out photos of All Points West, CMA Festival, Graceland, touring with Army of Me and The Used and some of my interviews
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wendy_hu/collections/72157623516194336/” target=”_blank”>here.
If you haven’t voted for me yet, you still have a few hours left! To nominate me, click here.
Be sure to list the nominee name as Annie Reuter
Web site http://yousingiwrite.com
Email atreuter@gmail.com.
Make sure you click on the confirmation email after your vote so it registers. Thanks for all your support over the past two years, it means the world!
I received an email about NeedToBreathe a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with their music. Reminiscent to Kings of Leon, the band blends emotional acoustic folk rock with a hint of country.
NeedToBreathe will be hitting the road next week for The Won’t Turn Back Tour so be sure to visit MySpace for tour dates and watch their latest video for “Hurricane” below. I’d love to know what you think!
Watch an acoustic performance of “The Outsiders” below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6xvpQYA94Y]
Last week I interviewed country singer Erica Nicole for Spinner.com’s SXSW coverage. By far one of the most friendly musicians I have spoken with, Erica Nicole filled me in on her excitement of being the first artist to rerecord Dirty Dancing hit “Hungry Eyes,” her plans for SXSW and love of country music.
“Country music is addictive. There’s something about it that people just connect with. You feel the pain, you feel the happiness. You feel the tragedy, you feel the excitement. It’s one of a kind. Country has always been me and there ain’t nothing wrong with a pair of old boots and a cowboy hat,” she said.
Read my interview with Erica Nicole here. And be sure to listen to her breathtaking version of “Hungry Eyes” on her Web site (track 4).
Well, I’m pretty certain you all are aware of my love for John Mayer by now. Despite his controversial interviews in Playboy and Rolling Stone over the past few months, you cannot deny his guitar skills and prowess as a songwriter.
I’m psyched to be attending his concert tonight at Madison Square Garden. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for up to the minute coverage. I’ll try not to gush too much. Keep your fingers crossed for a video interview in the future!
Watch below for clip one of Mayer on VH1 “Storytellers” as he talks of being misunderstood and performs “No Such Thing.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ0tZBC8vuk]
Related Links:
• John Mayer Debuts Tracks Off New Album at Secret Brooklyn Show
• John Mayer Tells All At Z100’s Z-Lounge
• John Mayer, Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen Impress in New Jersey
• Blast From the Past: John Mayer Concert Review on MTV.com
I’m happy to report an interview with me was just featured on SoundCtrl’s blog! Being a contender for their FlashFwd partnership with Pepsico to win a free trip to SXSW, I just found out I’m almost up to 50 votes!
To learn about me, the blog and how I describe myself in 140 characters (believe me, a lot tougher question than you’d think), you can read the complete interview on SoundCtrl here. And, if you’d still like to nominate me to win a trip to Texas to cover the SXSW Music festival, you have until Sunday! If the interview didn’t entice you enough, feel free to read my coverage from last year.
To nominate me, click here.
Be sure to list the nominee name as Annie Reuter
Web site http://yousingiwrite.com
Email atreuter@gmail.com.
Make sure you click on the confirmation email after your vote so it registers.
Thanks so much for supporting me!
Brooklyn-based band The Bloodsugars craft catchy synth-pop melodies that are bound to have every listener dancing along. Having been compared to Phoenix and Neon Indian, the band is quickly making a name for themselves. While numerous critics rave about their “pop sensibilities” it doesn’t hurt that single, “The Pedestrian Boogie” was featured as NPR Song Of The Day in January.
Frontman Jason Rabinowitz and keyboardist Matt Katz met in college, where they “bonded over music and emotion,” listening to records in their dorm rooms. The duo began making music and soon after, Brendan O’Grady and Kenneth Salters joined, filling out the group as it is known today. “Each member brings something essential to the music,” Katz said.
He wasn’t lying. The Bloodsugars’ combined knowledge of jazz, soul, Turkish garage, French house and pop give them their distinct sound. Whether it’s their hand clapping stomp throughout “The Pedestrian Boogie” or Rabinowitz’s hypnotic singing style and “woah-oh-oh’s” on “Self Control,” the band’s feel good electro pop just makes you want to dance.
Debut full-length album, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On, sets them apart from the numerous up-and-coming indie bands out there. The Bloodsugars’ keyboard infused tracks and spot-on percussion and bass beats keep the listener intrigued. According to Rabinowitz, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On is “a modern prom playlist.” Interwoven with tales questioning life, love and the loss of self control, the band gets their point across creatively.
A press release states that the album was written during a time of personal difficulty for the band. As a result, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On is about remembering there is always something to celebrate, even in the face of major adversity. After listening closely, this is evident to the listener. Lucky for us, it’s bands like The Bloodsugars that provide a much needed escape. One can only wonder what their next album will conquer.
Be on the lookout for The Bloodsugars in March at South By Southwest. For more on the band, visit them on MySpace and listen to a stream of “Light at the End of the Tunnel” here.
Recommended: For fans of Phoenix, Neon Indian, Owl City.
Related Links:
• Artist of the Week: Griffin Anthony
• Band of the Week: Nikki & Rich
• Band of the Week: The N Result
• Artist of the Week: Michael Nappi
This past Wednesday, I attended a music panel my friend and colleague David Chaitt was speaking at. The guest speakers included Chaitt, Manger of Social Distribution at Oddcast, blogger and freelance social media strategist, Hayley Cammarata, Digital/Strategic Marketing and Product Manager at Decca Label Group/Universal Music Group, and Eric de Fontenay, Editor-In-Chief & Publisher of MusicDish.
The majority of the two hour panel covered social media and how bands can use the Internet to promote their music. While I’ll admit I was pretty proficient in all the topics discussed, one comment that particularly stuck out to me was MySpace is dead. I posted a question on Twitter and had an overwhelming response from fellow music journalists as well as bands who still rely greatly on MySpace. Although applications within Twitter and Facebook help bands market themselves, in my opinion MySpace is still a huge contributor to getting an artists’ music heard. What do you think? I want to know in this week’s poll.
Feel free to vote on the sidebar and leave comments if you feel MySpace’s influence is dwindling and if so, why? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll leave you with some quotes from the panel below.
“People are going to connect because you’re a storyteller. Be true to your creation and who you are.” — Eric de Fontenay
“If you’re presenting things of value people will reciprocate. You’re doing what you love and that’s all that matters.” — David Chaitt
“Find sites you’re comfortable with that fit in your genre and engage fans that way.” — Hayley Cammarata
“Social media is for connecting with fans, not for selling stuff. The golden rule of marketing is no one cares about you, they care about themselves. It’s all about how you engage people.” — Eric de Fontenay
“If you are an artist and you respond to someone, they’ll see that and they’ll know there’s a real person on the other side of the computer. It feels good for a fan to know that they’re noticed. ” — David Chaitt
“It’s important to know your audience. Stick with your audience and market to them.” — Hayley Cammarata