Deep Cuts: Alt-Folk

Quilt is a Boston, Massachusetts based alt-folk group featuring John Andrews on drums, Anna Rochinski on guitar and organ, Shane Butler on guitar and Keven Lareau on bass with all members contributing to the vocals.

Their 2011 self-titled album is a "complete" album with songs that are composed in a series of layers. Some come like gentle waves and other like tidal waves that are slowly built up refrain after refrain. Key tracks include Cowboys In The Void, Penobska Oakwalk and Milo.

In Kentucky in early March of 2014, while touring for their new album Held In Splendor, the band flipped their tour van after blowing a tire and totaled it. They walked away from the accident but could only do one more show in Austin, TX. Right now, they are on a sponsored European tour but they only have until the 25th of April to get a working van or bus ready for the spring leg of another US tour. They may have to cancel all US dates and there are many.

4-25 Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle (w/ Woods)
4-26 Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel (w/ Woods)
4-27 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter (w/ Woods)
4-28 Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight (w/ Woods)
4-29 Athens, GA @ Masquerade (Purgatory Stage) (w/ Woods)
5-1 Houston, TX @ Mango’s (w/ Woods)
5-2 Austin, TX @ Austin Psych Fest
5-3 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada (w/ Woods)
5-4 Lawrence, KS @ Seed Co. Studios (w/ Woods, Blood on the Wall, Your Friend, Oils)
5-6 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway (w/ Woods)
5-7 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean (w/ Woods)
5-9 Toronto, ON, Canada @ The Great Hall (w/ Woods)
5-10 Montreal, QC, Canada @ Cabaret Playhouse (w/ Woods)
5-11 South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground (w/ Woods)
5-13 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery (w/ Woods)
5-14 Boston, MA @ The Sinclair (w/ Woods)
5-15 Kingston, NY @ BSP Lounge (w/ Woods)

The band is asking for donations, both large and small, for help towards getting another vehicle for this tour. I think they deserve it. Please go to the official Quilt page for more information.




References:

• Official Site, Quilt
• Bandcamp, Quilt
• Facebook, Quilt Music
• Allston Pudding, Quilt & Happy Jawbone

Deep Cuts: Experimental

Woods is an interesting three piece band based in Brooklyn, New York since 2005. Their instrumentals are complex and rollicking and Woods even go so far as to have a "tape player" G. Lucas Crane who acts as a DJ, soundman and back up vocalist on stage.

The group's leader, guitarist and vocalist Jeremy Earl uses one style of vocals, an eerie falsetto, that is so close to the female register that a listener could swear to it being female. While this is great, in the tradition of Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins, to have a unusual vocal style - Earle's same falsettto is over used on each song on each album. To make matters worse the emotional effect of hearing the same worried falsetto voice creates a sense of impending failure that becomes hard to hear repeatedly.



References:

• The Woods, Official Site
• Wikipedia, Woods Band

Deep Cuts: Alt-Rock

There many descriptions of southern California's The Growlers. They enjoy a large audience on national college radio which, God bless it, calls the group everything from folk to psyche rock. The truth seems to be that they incorporate everything in between these two musical polar opposites and make these influences into their own sound.

The Growlers formed in 2006 and are based Orange County, California. The band consists of Brooks Nielsen (vocals), Matt Taylor (lead guitar), Scott Montoya (drums, formerly bass) Anthony Braun Perry (bass) and Kyle Straka (keyboards, guitar). Since playing SXSW in 2010 the group has steadily been growing in popularity.

The band's third album, Hung at Heart, was released on January 22nd 2013.

The Growlers - One Million Lovers
References:

• The Growlers, Official Site
• Wikipedia, The Growlers
• Facebook, The Growlers

Shows: Jesus And Mary Chain@The Vogue

Alt-rock originals The Jesus And Mary Chain will be playing in Indy on Thursday September 20th 2012.

From the Scottish band's formation in 1983 to it's break-up in 1999 the co-founding Reid brothers careers in music have seen the first wave of Punk, the introduction of Metal, Hair, Grunge and the full blossoming of Alt and Indie.

Over this 16 year period in rock, The Jesus And Mary Chain has carved their own unmistakable brand of searing, distinctive guitar rhythms, pounding drums and vocal performances that ranges from utter detachment to hard-hitting and sinister.

The band embodied disenchanted, disenfranchised groups of young people who were educated enough to see through bleak, pre-packaged "First World" lifestyles that only seemed to perpetuate more mindless behavior. There was a glowering fury at pointless and deeply ingrained ignorance that happily perpetuated injustice, hypocrisy, illness and then failed to acknowledge the existence of a personal identity outside of societal norms.

After a eight year split, in January of 2007, the band confirmed for Coachella, re-formed. The Reids new line-up includes Phil King on bass, Loz Colbert on drums and Mark Crozer on guitar. The Jesus And Mary Chain will be playing in Indy on Thursday September 20th 2012 as part of a new international tour.


References:

• The Jesus And Mary Chain, Official Site
• Wikipedia, The Jesus And Mary Chain
• The Vogue, Upcoming Shows
• Youtube, Jesus And Mary Chain - Head On