Thursday, February 17, 2011

Melissa’s Recs: Folk-y Goodness to R.K. Fries

1. Laura Stevenson & the Cans, “Master of Art”



Laura Stevenson & the Cans recently signed with Don Giovanni Records and are releasing a new full-length, Sit Resist due out on 4/26. “Master of Art” is the first single and I. CANNOT. STOP. LISTENING. Seriously, can Laura Stevenson do wrong? I don’t think so. In “Master of Art” LS dons an electric guitar over her usual acoustic, but still opts for clever lyrics such as, “Cut your hair short so I can see your ears/ So I know that you hear my name.” I challenge you not to get chills during latter half of the song. It’s free for download here!

2. Andy Cook and the Wanderloons, “Mulberry Moon”



I saw first saw Andy Cook & the Wanderloons a few weeks back at Baldwin Wallace’s student center when they opened for American War. The show was sparsely attended and many of the kids just seemed to want a place to grind upon each other (Seriously, I didn’t think it was possible to get low to American War, but that’s whole ‘nother issue). Despite the unlikely crowd participation, Andy Cook and Co. had me hooked. This is my favorite from his most recent release Sing, Dionysus. The video is from their show at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland.

3. Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s—Happy Hour at Sprigg’s



Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s started out the New Year right with Happy Hour at Sprigg’s released on January 11th. The EP features acoustic versions of songs from their 2010 full-length Buzzard and a few previously unreleased tracks. In my favorite, “There’s a Freakshow Downtown,” Richard Edwards sings “He better not be there/ When I get home/ Or I’ll break his nose and shatter his rib bones.” Edwards’s sensuous voice makes violence sound so sweet.

4. Whale Road and Emily & The Complexes in Cincinnati

"Emily, You Were Right" from Joshua Cantey on Vimeo.



This weekend I’m traveling to Cincinnati with best friend and guinea pig in tow to eat some delicious Mexican food and also to see friends in Columbus’s Whale Road and Cincinnati’s Emily & the Complexes at Rohs Street Café on Saturday. Maybe I’m biased, but I’m pretty stoked about the show. Whale Road headlines with feel-good indie-pop and one-man-band Emily & the Complexes open. Check out Emily & the Complexes above in a homemade video from last summer. The show starts at 8 p.m. and Cincinnati-based Kayak also plays.

5. The Grammy Awards

Since early Sunday evening, my Facebook and Twitter feeds have been flooded with talk of the Grammy Awards. I didn’t even watch the Grammys, but I feel like I caught it all.

From Lady Gaga’s egg “vessel” to Bob Dylan’s croak (his voice, not his death), everyone is STILL talking about music’s most coveted award show. The Internet runs wild with Grammy fever! There’s the outcry and general confusion about the night’s biggest winner Arcade Flyer; R.K. Fire; Arcade Fries; Arcade Fire, as shown by the “Who is Arcade Fire?” Tumblr. As well as Justin Bieber fanatics’ assault on Esperanza Spalding’s Wikipedia page. These things were all pretty amusing… the first time I heard about them, but I’m over it. My recommendation? Move on! Everyone’s already heard anyway.

--Melissa Burant, Public Relations Director

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