Called by one critic “a more talented version of Kings of Leon,” Vanaprasta is just that. With soaring guitar interludes, solid percussion and relentless vocals, Vanaprasta impresses. Formed in Los Angeles in 2008, the five-piece band has been making a name for themselves with their “blood-stirring” live show and well received debut EP, Forming the Shapes.
Gearing up for their full length LP, Healthy Geometry, the band released a 7-inch vinyl in September which featured two album tracks, giving fans a preview of what’s to come. Singing with distinct urgency, frontman Steven Wilkin’s vocals coupled with the band’s powerful music accompaniment stands out.
Songs like “Minnesota” impress with soaring vocals and haunting musical crescendos mid-song while “Skinny State” continues to pick up the pace with quick guitar licks and equally fast percussion features.
Title track, “Healthy Geometry” showcases the band’s softer side at the song’s start. However, as the track continues, the tempo quickens with a screaming, almost rap-like interlude from Wilkin. By far the most memorable number, “Healthy Geometry” sets Vanaprasta apart from the crowd.
In addition to original music featured on their MySpace page, the band recorded an impressive cover of LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends.” With tracks so diverse, you can expect to hear much more from Vanaprasta in the upcoming months. Be sure to visit them on MySpace.
With hundreds of musicians in New York for CMJ last month, it’s nearly impossible to not discover a new favorite band. While bigger shows like Phoenix at Madison Square Garden created hype, up-and-coming musicians left impressions of their own. Below is a list of five acts to keep your eyes on in the next few months. Whether it was a room of 20 or 200, each band left their mark. Give them a listen and see why.
Rockwood 2 was packed to capacity Saturday night as Elizabeth and the Catapult took the stage. While a line continued to form out the door, the band impressed with a 40 minute set that featured breathtaking vocals from Elizabeth Ziman combined with fitting musical accompaniment. The official CMJ showcase acted as a mini CD release show as the band’s next release was due out Oct. 26. While fan favorites like “Taller Children“ had concertgoers singing along word for word, newer tracks like the powerful “Go Away My Lover” hushed and captivated the room. As Ziman alternated vocals with Jeff Taylor, additional cello and edgy percussion parts accentuated the song well. Complete with whistling and a darker sound than previous songs on their set-list, the stand-out track impressed.
Watch a video of “Go Away My Lover” from Elizabeth and the Catapult’s CMJ performance below.
Based in Nashville, The Honeymoon Thrillers came together after a discovery of records from the 1950s lying around the house. The five members are from four different bands and while they haven’t left their separate projects just yet, after I witnessed them live at CMJ they might soon reconsider. With classic guitar licks and “woah-oh-oh’s” that bring back rock & roll from the 50s, their energetic set was a crowd pleaser. Tracks like “Shine” embody the Beach Boys with spot-on harmonies and catchy choruses while frontman Nathan Barlowe’s energetic stage presence brought to mind Elvis Presley and his gyrating dance moves.
3. Matthew Mayfield
After a jam-packed morning of panels, while waiting for a friend to finish an interview I stopped by Rockwood 2 just as Matthew Mayfield took the stage at 3pm. Alone on acoustic guitar, his vocals reverberated throughout the room, having all in attendance drop everything to listen. With raspy Dave Matthews-esque vocals accompanied by his emotion-filled lyrics, the singer-songwriter struck a chord. Older songs like “Element” livened up his Friday afternoon performance while his intricate guitar finger picking fueled more angst-ridden songs including “Dead To You.” Mayfield’s vocals sound so familiar it comes as no surprise that his music has appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy.” While “First In Line” can easily be pictured on the show, it was “Fact or Fable” that made the greatest impact. Combined with fierce guitar strumming and Mayfield’s deep vocals, his voice silenced the room.
Watch Mayfield perform “Fact or Fable” on YouTube below and learn why he says it’s the heaviest song he’s written.
Combined with powerful vocals and descriptive lyrics, James Maddock’s music holds a certain timeless quality to it. His songs paint vivid pictures of love and failed relationships accompanied by soaring guitar and Maddock’s wavering vocals. Tracks like “Chance” embody an epic sound that can easily be pictured on the big stage while slower ballads like “Beautiful Now” showcase his more sensitive side. At times, his music evokes a certain Bruce Springsteen quality so it’s no surprise that The Boss himself is a fan and frequently plays Maddock’s music before he takes the stage. In the process of recording his next album, fans can expect to hear much more from the Englishman soon.
Watch James Maddock perform “When the Sun’s Out” on YouTube below.
While they’ve been compared to The Band and “the finest Tennessee sippin’ whiskey,” the New York-based ensemble showcased their southern flavor during a performance at National Underground. The Ramblers had the room stomping their feet during upbeat numbers including “Leave a Letter Behind” and “Matter of Fact.” Alternating vocals between Jeremiah Birnbaum and Scott Stein proved effective and additional singer Shanna Zell added to their classic Americana rock. With soulful vocals and fleshed-out piano and guitar interludes, it was hard to assess who was having more fun: the band onstage or the fans on the floor. The Ramblers transformed the NYC venue into a southern honky tonk, having concertgoers sing and dance along during Birnbaum’s impressive guitar licks and Stein’s ferocious strokes of the piano. With frequent NYC gigs, The Ramblers are never too hard to find.
This article was originally posted on The Jazz Lawyer. Stay tuned for more interviews from CMJ in the coming weeks.
An incredibly moving song and equally emotional music video, Lady Antebellum’s “Hello World” strikes a chord. Watch the video below and read my writeup about it on Busted Halo.
I’ve seen many intriguing stage setups over the years, but never witnessed one with lamps surrounding the singer onstage. For Joshua Radin, the dim lighting only added to the atmosphere and his softer vocal style. Read my complete review of his Terminal 5 performance with The Script, on Venus Zine.
No amount of rain could deter fans in New York City from seeing the Script and Joshua Radin at their first of two sold-out shows at Terminal 5. While the Script calls Ireland home, one never would have guessed it as the energetic concertgoers welcomed them enthusiastically, lining up early for the chance to land a coveted spot close to the stage.
Joshua Radin kicked off the show with a 45-minute set that began with he and his acoustic guitar for “No Envy, No Fear,” a song he said was inspired by an idea from Bob Dylan’s biography “to lose all envy and all fear.” The crowd went wild when Radin stepped away from the microphone to sing near the edge of the stage.
For my complete reviews and photos by Wendy Hu, visit Venus Zine.
On Wednesday I shared with you my review of Keith Urban’s impromptu train station performances promoting his new album, ‘Get Closer.’ I was lucky enough to spend the day with him in New York and Philadelphia and covered all the excitement for The Boot. You can read my complete writeup on The Boot and watch the video below!
“I’m playing at Penn Station … I can check this off my bucket list now!” Keith Urban yelled to a sea of surprised rush-hour commuters at the bustling New York City train station Tuesday morning.
The Aussie country superstar performed an impromptu concert at Penn Station, in celebration of the release of his brand-new album, ‘Get Closer.’ Joking that he wanted to make a set-list full of train songs, “like take the last train to Trenton,” he joked, Keith instead kicked things off with an old favorite, ‘Days Go By.’ (He did, however, change the line “better start livin’ right now” to “better start catching your train.”) That was followed by the first single from the new CD, ‘Put You in a Song,’ followed by the heartwarming ballad ‘Only You Can Love Me This Way’ and then another uptempo fan-favorite, ‘Somebody Like You.’
Known best for taking the stage in his hat and sunglasses while energizing audiences everywhere, Eric Church revealed a more serious, songwriter side when I sat down with him after his CMA Songwriters Series performance in New York.
Currently on the road as part of CMT on Tour with Miranda Lambert and Josh Kelley, Church plans to hit the studio for a follow up to his 2009 album, Carolina, and also has a tour with Jason Aldean and Toby Keith filling up his 2011 calender. And although many songs have been written for his next project, fans shouldn’t hold their breath for an album release next year.
“It’s hard to write on the road all the time,” says Church. “I usually write down a bunch of ideas or a bunch of melodies and then I’ll take a month to write, which I just finished doing in North Carolina. I spent a month there and wrote the next record so sometime late this year or early next year we’ll start recording. I get really obsessive and probably unhealthy about the recording process just because it really gets in my head. The biggest fear of my career is releasing a record to the public that’s not the way I intended. I don’t know how long the process is going to take, but we’ll probably start next year.”
For my complete interview with Eric Church, visit The Boot.
