The Drums: It’s Never Too Late For Summertime!

This might not be new news to you but The Brooklyn/ Florida based band, The Drums are great. I realize I am almost an entire year late but it is never too late to enjoy the simple, frank, sunny sounds of The Drums.

The summer of 2009 was one filled with great music. But most of the sunny beach sounds were coming from lo-fi, chill wave, hazy bands. The Drums are far from falling into that category. Yes, they are indie like all the other summery bands of 2009 but they are successful not for their cryptic lyrics, or overly synthesized tracks but for their minimalistic nature.

Whistling, clapping, drums, guitar, and yes, some synth are the genetic make up for the infectiously catchy tunes. It is impossible to dislike these songs. You don’t have to think about the deeper meaning of the lyrics, they are what they say they are. You don’t have to decipher the melody, it’s right in front of your face, and you don’t have to wonder what the foreign sounds are, basic instruments are their tools, no spoons here. Even the most cynical, philosophical of us need a sugary, sunny break and The Drums provides us with a super fun one.

The Drums’ members are Jonathan Pierce, Jacob Graham, Adam Kessler and Connor Hanwick. Together these dudes make songs that bring the sun, speak to the beach, and remind you of young love. “Saddest Summer” despite the unhappy lyrics disperses a cheerful and poppy melody. I can’t help but jump and bop my head from side to side while listening. With the exception of “Down By the Water” all seven songs on the EP Summertime! have prime head bop-ability. “Down By the Water” offers a softer, sweeter sandy, sunscreen-lathered ballad.

Summertime! was released last year but the sound it brings is timeless. The beach, sun and kissing will always be around and so will the pleasure I get from listening to this album. Although the songs are best when set to warm temps and water, they can be enjoyed in blizzards as well. So, even if it’s old news to you dig up your The Drums EP and give it a listen.

Happy Hollows Haunt The Rock Scene

I am a major sucker for bad-ass chicks with guitars. Happy Hollows, a three piece LA band, just happens to have one. Sarah Negahdari has an airy, haunting voice. It reminds me of being cozy in an oversized flannel, listening to Belly in the 1990’s. Similarly to Tanya Donelly, Negahdari’s voice transforms from an angel one minute to a melodic banshee the next. While Negahdari sings her heart out in their full-length album Spells, she rips you from track to track with some pro guitar sounds.

At times the tracks on Spells are noisy. You have to brace for a choppy voyage with Happy Hollows. The song “Tambourine” turns form Deerhoof to 7 Year Bitch, in a matter of minutes. But if you’re up for the ride it’s a trip worth taking.

Their catchiest tune “High Wire” has already made it to your TV selling you Samsung cell phones. If you have read me before you know how much that gives me a stomachache, but I’m willing to forgive because “High Wire” is the star of the album. “We Will Find You” adds a girly touch, cute and creepy, it fits Negahdari’s voice perfectly. Another standout track “Death to Vivek Kemp” could just as well be a completely stripped down Karen O hidden track. Spells as a whole has a very naked quality to it. There is no glam or pretensions.

Tracks like “Delorean” and “A Man, A Plan, A Canal” cut the album up, adding a different feel with bassist Charlie Mahoney taking led vocals. It makes for an interesting bump in the road, but the album could live with out it.

Currently, Happy Hollows are the talk of the town in L.A. As painful as it can be for West coast rockers to test the East coast waters, I think we can make room for some California sounds that don’t evoke sunsets, surfboards and hallucinogens.

What you really take away from this album is that their live performance could make or break them. Rumors have it that seeing Happy Hollows live is the real payoff. It’s said that Negahdari, Mahoney and drummer Chris Hernandez refuse to take it down a notch while on stage. I’m dying to see for myself. A tough,wispy, rocker chick with guitar in hand, shoving her songs around the stage with two talented men behind her is the stuff dreams are made of (my dreams at least.)

Happy Hollows takes the stage at North Star Bar March 4.

Los Campesinos! Still Annoyed and Articulate

Los Campesinos! release their third album, Romance is Boring. In fact it may be, but this album is not. The six-piece indie-pop band from Wales proves that it’s been growing up, and not in the bad “mom jeans way,” but in the “starting to master their talent way.” The production value this time around is noticeably pumped up making the slightly off-kilter sound easier to trust. Do not fret, the 15-track album still has Los Campesinos! fingerprints smudged all over. It is still stuffed to the brim with whiney back-alley-honesty through Gareth Campesinos! incredibly, wordy, english-major-gone-awol lyrics. Lyrics that live only to ponder, lousy sex, drinking induced vomiting, corpses, godlessness and soccer. Only a writer like Gareth could take themes that tend to induce images of, sweaty, half drunk 20-somethings, scratching their balls and spin it into beautifully unpredictable sentences that make you want to study their structure.

Some songs are melodic and sing-a-long approved like, “The Sea is a Good Place to Think About the Future.” Others like, “Medias Res,” are glorious noise taking you out of your comfort zone and forcing you to contemplate such things as death and vomit from vodka.

If you like feeling smart and well read while rocking the hell out to your indie-pop picks, then adding Romance is Boring to the line-up is a must.

Psychic Chasms by Neon Indian: Dig Up Your Thong Leotard!

The Hipster life-style has it’s own appropriate clothing, lingo, attitude/outlook on life and now its very own genre of music. Whether it is referred to as glo-fi, hypnagogic pop or chillwave, it’s sound is characterized as danceable, lite-electro-pop which most likely was recorded in a basement or closet. It is the kind of music you can’t help but bop your head to and often evokes images of spandex shorts, Atari, pigtails and ring-pops (for me at least.)

Alan Palomo, a twenty-something from Texas along with visual artist, Alicia Scardetta, make up Neon Indian and are responsible for Psychic Chasms which was released October 13. Neon Indian is Palomo’s third musical endeavor and in my eyes the most successful. The album’s success lies within its ability to have a lo-fi sound that does not fully consume the songs. Lo-fi records often remind me of the Cliff Notes to a really good book. Lo-fi can be seen as an easy way out for musicians, but not in Psychic Chasms’ case.

The video game soundtracks, heavy synth-sounds and the cloudy vocals come together to create a dream-like experience involving the rolling credits of an 80’s newscast. Each song creates its own visual vignette. “Deadbeat Summer”, the single from the album, paints a hot summer day bathed in sunshine, whimsical and love-struck. The track, “Laughing Gas” forcefully shoves an image of an 80’s workout video into my mind, neon sweatbands, high french-cut leotards and all.

Psychic Chasms is one of the few albums that fit under the hipster genre umbrella without cheapening it. Lo-fi does not become a cheat sheet, and the album retains its light and fluffy dance-ability. This is not a soul-searching album, or one with deep metaphoric lyrics but is carefully crafted and extremely visual.

Even if you don’t subscribe to the hipster agenda, you will enjoy this album. It’s tweed business suits on the news, it’s 80’s fabulous workouts, it’s happy, trippy fun.

Girls: Image Isn’t Everything.

When the California lo-fi band, Girls, took the stage last night at Kung Fu Necktie, I was a little concerned. The motley crew looked like it would rather be anywhere else but at that exact place at that exact time. Christopher Owens was a mousey little guy who looked terrified at the thought of playing for the obviously indifferent audience. Not at all what I had expected of the free thinking, drug consuming, cult surviving, writing wizard  that is Owens. I wondered how this band would hold up in front of this testy Philadelphia audience.

However, Owens and his band were quick to win me over. It took a few songs to warm up but soon Owens was wearing his heart on his sleeve and bearing his soul for all to see. It wasn’t an extremely eventful show and the rest of the band seemed to want to fade into the background, but they played beautifully and backed up Owens as he shared the “sad song in his sweet heart.”

They covered most of the aptly named Album, literally breaking my heart when they performed “Hellhole Ratrace” and “Lauren Marie.” I would have loved to hear “Big Bad Mean Mother Fucker.” That seemed like an obvious choice for a live show to me, but it wouldn’t have fit the mood or the zombie like crowd.

I am glad I went. It wasn’t a bad time. However, listening to Album laying in the sun with your eyes closed feeling melancholy is a much more rewarding experience.

Also, listen, watch, and read album review for Girls, here.

Odessa Stair: Beware of Flying Music Equipment

I finally got to see the famed Odessa Stair play live last night at the North Star Bar. I was pretty psyched to see them play considering that I have recently learned that Patrick Niederriter knows a hell of a lot about good music, I have heard Dan Higgins is a pretty tight musician all around, and I know Steve Maurer is a freaking crazy man. I was sure that I was going to get a great show.

I assure you that any set that ends with the guitarist ripping his guitar strap mid-jam, playing so hard that picks go flying and sending a microphone toppling to the ground as he flings himself around the stage in a passionate rock-out is worth seeing. Besides the excitement of the show, the actual sound was pretty cool as well. It was noise-punk, it was loud and rude and funny of course. What did surprise me was there was a lot of melody and precision in there as well, but the guys kept it well hidden.

You will definitely be seeing Odessa Stair around in the future. I look forward to following them as they grow, progress and refine as a band, plus its fun to watch them break shit.

Dead Man’s Bones Gives Me A Boner

I recently missed the Dead Man’s Bones show at the First Unitarian Church.  It was with great despair that I could not attend the show.  Due to the fact that it sold out faster than Tickle Me Elmo at Christmas time, and there were only about fifty tickets to begin with, I was forced to stay home and catch up on Desperate House Wives.  I blame all the teen-aged girls with their Uggs and ever-fading crushes.  Yes, Ryan Gosling happens to be half of the wonderful Dead Man’s Bones but this project proves to be way more than another pathetic attempt at celebrity re-stardom.  Unlike Heidi Montag, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Tyra Banks, or even 30 Seconds to Mars, Dead Man’s Bones self titled album has substance and talent.

Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields have created a surprisingly unique album.  Dead Man’s Bones has a strong ghostly presence consistently throughout.  With influences like zombies, ghosts and death, Gosling and Shields along with the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir emit waves of eerily, spooky lyrics and sounds.

The addition of the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir was a perfect fit for the sound Gosling and Shields were going for.  Their delicate, yet unpolished voices enhance the creepiness of each song.  In “My Body’s A Zombie For You”, a seemingly Elvis influenced ballad, the kids add a more contemporary feel to Gosling’s old soul voice.  However, there is one downside to having these kids on board.  I imagine it’s difficult to play bar venues at night with the youngsters.  It is worth seeing them play an early bird special and at a kid friendly venue because apparently they put on a terrific show.  I wouldn’t know, thanks a lot teeny-boppers!

With track titles like, “Dead Hearts,” ” Lose Your Soul”  and “Werewolf Heart” you know exactly what you’re going to get from this album: great eerie music, spooky vocals and somewhat disturbing lyrics.  Any band that can take a song like “Flowers Grow Our of My Grave” and make it into a love song have my respect!  Dead Man’s Bones is perfect for Halloween but is also an album that can be enjoyed the rest of the year.  I like to play this album in my car, while cleaning and especially when cursing those teenage girls who bought all the tickets to the Dead Man’s Bones show in Philly last weekend.  A little voodoo never hurt anyone.

DEAD MAN’S BONES – “NAME IN STONE” from biz3 publicity on Vimeo.

I Am Still Wild And You Can Be Too.

Where The Wild Things Are Motion Picture Soundtrack.

When you were a kid, if you were one of the lucky ones, perhaps every so often in your room a forest would grow, and your “ceiling hung with vines.” Maybe “an ocean tumbled by with a private boat” to sail you in and out of days.If you were super lucky perhaps you even got to be “king of all the wild things.”

If you have no clue what I am talking about, you are never too old. Run out now and get yourself a copy of Maurice Sendak’s award winning book, Where The Wild Things Are.

For those of you who are following, you probably have been eagerly awaiting the release of Spike Jonze’s new movie version of the beloved children’s book. I have, but with some hesitation. Can you take something that represents a child’s unequaled power of imagination and turn it into a movie that we can all agree on? I don’t know, but when I see this movie I will be back to tell you what I think.

One thing I can say is that Karen O and the Kids have succeeded in making a soundtrack that lets the mind soar at will. It’s creepy. It’s beautiful. It’s imaginative. It’s reminiscent and hopeful. It fits the book and my imagination perfectly.

In an interview with New York Magazine, composer Karen O, says she was influenced by the Langley School Music Project, which is my favorite children’s choir piece, because of it’s sweetness, and imperfections, it’s just pure honesty. This soundtrack has this same raw sound. However, the sounds these young voices emit, somehow sands away the rough edges.

The songs are simple. The instruments are lo-tech and childlike. However, this is not a children’s album by any means. The track “Animal” is scary and wild. It could fit perfectly on Fever to Tell. “Hideaway” is sad and painful and a step forward for Karen O. The rest of the musicians that pieced this project together include some of the most influential in the current indie scene. Including, Bradford Cox from Deerhunter, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence currently from The Dead Weather, Aaron Hemphill form Liars and of course the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

This album totally warms your heart, makes you yearn for simpler times, and reminds you that after all your big adventures, all you really want is a dinner that is still hot and someone who loves you “best of all.”

New to the Scene?: Ten bands to expand your mind.

By: Patrick Niederriter

In honor of this new Web site(HipstersEatforFree.com,) I am writing this article for all you who are new to the whole “indie” scene. Maybe you’re just starting college and feel like discovering new music or maybe you are just bored with what you hear on the radio and feel like expanding your horizons. So, I have listed ten bands from a variety of genres for you to peruse to better find your niche. Those of you who eat and breathe underground music may find this list elementary, but it is not meant for you. Still, give it a read. There may be a few gems you overlooked. This list is in no particular order.

1. Fugazi: Since 1987, these D.C. artists have been a major influence on the progression of punk rock and hardcore. Their music is heavy, sometimes droney, and sometimes almost jammy. Be prepared for some quality yelling. They are equally well known for their DIY (Do it Yourself) methods and musical ethics. For instance, they view pricey admissions to shows as unacceptable and prefer that the cost of admission not exceed $5.

What to Listen to: Repeater, Fugazi’s 1990 release is a great album. Also, 13 Songs is a great compilation of their hits and would give you a good variety of their music.

If You Like This: Then you may be a punk rocker at heart. Go back in time a little and look into The Clash and The Ramones. Also, check out Fugazi frontman Ian MacKaye’s former band Minor Threat. Also cruise around the Fat Wreck Chords, Epitaph, and Dischord Web sites. There is a wide variety of punk out there. If you dig this sound, pay some respect to the godfather of punk, Iggy Pop.

2. Dinosaur Jr.: A little more on the alternative side of the music spectrum, Dinosaur Jr., was formed in 1984 by J. Masic, Lou Barlow, and Murph. Over the years, members have come and gone. Recently the prolific band has reunited its orginal lineup. Their music exemplifies the rebirth of the extended guitar solo, without making it sound masturbatory. The lyrics are simple; the sound is often upbeat and it features heavy feedback and the loud-quiet dynamic.

What to Listen to: If you can only get one album, it should be 1987’s, You’re Living All Over Me. It is great from start to finish and has a great cover of the song “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure. Green Mind was released in 1991 and is also very good and 2009’s Farm proved that the band has not lost its talent.

If You Like This: Check out the bands, Pavement and Husker Du. Both are so good they should have made this list along with Guided By Voices.

3. Gang of Four: This post-punk band has seen some musical changes in their lifespan. They are perhaps best known for their mixing of punk with reggae, and funk with a minimalist quality, making music you can dance to. They were pioneers of the dance-punk/dance-pop movements of today. Still, their music often political, offers several levels of listening.

What to Listen to: Entertainment! was their first full-length release and is often regarded as one of their best. However, Solid Gold and Hard have both been ranked in the charts at one time in both the U.S. and the U.K.

If You Like This: The Rapture, Liars, and Bloc Party have all taken musical cues from this band. If you like to dance, give MGMT a try too. Don’t rule out Beirut, their music blends dance-pop rhythms with eastern European folk.

4. The Pixies: David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, and Thom Yorke can’t all be wrong. Pound for pound, The Pixies are arguably one of the most influential bands of the past 20 years. Bands like Radiohead and Nirvana have named The Pixies as an influence. Their sound blended punk and surf rock. They were able to be highly melodic and abrasive almost simultaneously. They also were proponents of the loud-quiet dynamic. Lyrically, the subject matter often focused on contreversial topics such as, biblical figures, violence, molestation, and incest.

What to Listen to: 1988’s Surfer Rosa is their most widely acclaimed album, which features the song “Where is My Mind” which had some commercial success via covers and movies.

If You Like This: Since they were so influential, you can find elements of their music all over the place. Look into Sonic Youth and Blur to start and add spice to taste.

5. Joy Division: The sad and mournful vocals of lead singer Ian Curtis coupled with the bands slow drone and sparse music has been an indie mainstay since the suicide of Curtis in 1980. Their sound is rather dark and gloomy but still maintains a high level of emotional energy. The songs often relate to their lead singers battles with depression and epilepsy. An interesting piece of trivia: Curtis allegedly hung himself while listening to the Iggy Pop album The Idiot.

What to Listen to: Joy Division only released two albums. 1979’s Unknown Pleasures and 1980’s Closer. A horse a piece.

If You Like This: Bands like Interpol and Nick Cave’s The Birthday Party have very similar musical qualities. If you like low, somber vocals of Joy Division you will appreciate these two.

6. Heavy Vegetable: Minimalism at its best. Heavy Vegetable is Rob Crowes first real foray into the music world and the music is characterized by simple melodies layered on top of one another. The lyrics are simple if not quaint and the vocal harmonizing is often pleasant. Probably one of the least known bands on this list, Heavy Vegetable features a lot of short, catchy songs.

What to Listen to: This band wasn’t around very long, but their album Frisbie has 28 nice tracks.

If You Like This: Then you will like Pinback and Thingy; Crowes other bands that take his minimalist layering to the next level.

7. Hum: The hometown heroes of Champaign, Illinois, Hum is a kind of space rock band that is best listened to loud. The sound seems to stretch for miles and employs a variety of effects pedals and distortion with almost monotone vocals. The lyrics often use metaphors and similes about cosmic phenomena as well.

What to Listen to: Whether you choose to listen to 1995’s You’d Prefer and Astronaut or 1998’s Downward is Heavenward, you will get a great scope of their music. By this point, Hum had refined their sound.

If You Like This: Dig up some Spacemen 3. If you like that, then try and find some Castor or Centaur, which feature members of Hum.

8. Neutral Milk Hotel: Perhaps you prefer things on the softer, folk side. Neutral Milk Hotel formed in the early 90’s uses skilled and intricate instrumentation mixed with passionate vocals. The subject matter is often spiritually motivated and employs poetic imagery.

What to Listen to: 1998’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, is their most acclaimed album to date.

If You Like This: Then you enjoy the softer side of music. Try Destroyer, Iron and Wine, and Rogue Wave. Each has their own style but keep to folk roots. Also, you will probably enjoy Bon Iver.

9. The Velvet Underground: You’ve probably walked down the street and seen people dressed in the “hipster” uniform. You know, the tight black jeans, a disheveled, sickly appearance, and thrift store apparel. These people, whether they know it or not, are taking their fashion from Lou Reed. It’s been said that only 1,000 people bought a Velvet Underground album, but everybody that did started a band. They have a pivotal influence on all sorts of subculture music like punk and alt rock. Andy Warhol was their manager for Christ sake. The music can seem to be all over the place, but normally employs twangy guitar, drones, and nihilistic outlooks on things as well as a non-apologetic approach to drugs.

What to Listen to: The Velvet Underground and Nico from 1967 is one of their best known with songs like “Heroine”, “Venus in Furs”, and “Waiting For The Man.” 1968’s White Light/White Heat is another great album.

If You Like This: You will like bands that have a retro sound. Give The Brian Jonestown Massacre a try. If you are attracted to some of the more innovative, wild, drug related material, then look into Modest Mouse; especially their earlier albums.

10. Big Black: Steve Albini fronted this experimental, noise rock band throughout the 1980’s. This is a band that is not suitable for everybody’s ears, but if you enjoy brutal, angry vocals and slashing guitar you will more than likely like this band. Its harsh, full of energy, and pushes the boundaries of what some people would call “music.”

What to Listen to: Songs About Fucking from 1987. The name says it all.

If you Like This: Listen to Albini’s Shellac. If you like things that are experimental but less abrasive, then look up The Desert Fathers and Don Caballero.

All said and done, you actually have more than ten bands to look into. Have fun and support local music.

Girls, Make a Beautiful Album.

Album, by Girls, is a sad, but painfully beautiful, lo-fi, California pop album. It has the sunshine of the Beach Boys, the experiments of Jesus and Mary Chain, and the voice of Elvis Costello. Album’s mood is consistent throughout. The lyrics, sounds and messages vary from track to track or line to line. Do these boys like girls, love them, or hate them? Are they cheerful, melancholy, hurt, angry, hopeful?

Each song offers a different point of view. Even individual songs contain a mishmash of emotion. In the popped out “Lust for Life,” singer-song writer, Christopher Owens reveals jealousy, followed by anger and disappointment and then perhaps hope, “Oh, I wish I had a boyfriend, I wish I had a loving man in my life. I wish I had a father, maybe then I would of turned out right but now I’m just crazy, and totally mad. yeah I’m just crazy and fucked in the head. Maybe if I really tried with all of my heart then I could make a friend and start a love with you.”

The track “Headache” offers a dark and creepy melody, with lyrics that walk a fine line between beautifully romantic and scary stalker. Then, a song like “Hellhole Retrace” makes your heart ache with the simple lyrics of someone who’s been wronged, “I got a sad song in my sweet heart.”

The pretty melodies on Album are kissed with just enough pain to remind you that the duo that makes up Girls, have some serious life experience.

Owens was raised by his mother under the highly conterversal Children of God Cult. They were always on the road, in and out of various countries while his mother prostituted herself. Eventually Owens was able to escape to Texas where he joined the Punk scene and discovered the power of drugs. Then, like a true “Cinderella Story,” he was rescued by Stanley Marsh 3, a Texas artist and millionaire, who cleaned him up, gave him a job, a place to stay and became a stable father figure to Owens.

In a interview with the UK’s Guardian, Owens and bassist/producer, Chet ”Jr.” White, admit and almost flaunt that drugs, especially pills, were vital to the making of, Album. Whatever their stranger-than-fiction backgrounds may be, they succeed in making a stunningly melodic, sunset, surf album.

Girls are playing Kung Ku Necktie on November 4.

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