Reason To Bleed

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Last year, I stumbled upon the music of Matt McCloskey while looking for something new to listen to.  One listen to his Hard Rains EP and I was hooked.  I have described the sound before as a more accessible Ryan Adams, but it’s more than that. His songs ask the questions that I am facing in my own life right now, questions that at some point I guess every adult asks themselves:  Am I happy with who I am?  What am I doing with my life?  Is it enough?

Steven Bush, a film maker in Austin, chronicled Matt’s battles with these types of questions and his pursuit of songwriting.  The result, a documentary entitled Reason to Bleed, is set to be released in August.  As I sat and watched the trailer on my lunch break today, tears pricked at my eyes.  Takes guts to put yourself out there like that, in your songs, and now, in film.  Gives me mad respect for this incredible songwriter.

The Hard Rains has been taken down from iTunes, but you can download it for free over on NoiseTrade (at least for the time being).

Check out the trailer.  Then go listen to Matt.


More Matt McCloskey:  Web | Facebook | Twitter |

Air Dubai Comes East…TO CHARLOTTE!

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Denver’s smokin’ little hip-hop fusion act, Air Dubai, announced last week that they’d be joining the Journeys Noise Tour with Mariana’s Trench.  And yesterday, they announced that they’re going to be on the Charlotte date at The Fillmore on June 5!

I’ve described them before as the musical offspring of Jamiroquai and Bell Biv Devoe – everything you loved about late 90s hip-hop, fused with a horn section and atmospheric synthesizer.  Then drop in some straight up rock n’ roll guitar, and crazy, hooky melodies here and there…and there you’ve got Air Dubai.  They are totally unique, and I’ve become a big fan of their style over the last two years or so.

Shortly after recording an EP with Dwight Baker in Austin (who also has worked with my beloved Alpha Rev and Saints of Valory boys, and is currently in a project called The Wind and the Wave with Patricia Lynn, formerly of The Soldier Thread), the six-piece signed to Hopeless Records, adding some depth to the label’s roster with their hip-hop flair.

Check out the fellas rockin’ their song “Warning” (featuring the incomparable Patricia Lynn) in the video below…I dare ya to listen to it just once.

 

Should be a killer show.  Pre-sale tickets are already available (Citi Card); general public goes on sale on Friday.  $15.  Pick ‘em up here.

More Air Dubai:  Web | Facebook | Twitter | Buy the Warning Extended Single on iTunes

Grace Potter + Daytrotter: More Than An Awesome Rhyme

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Image ©Daytrotter.

Image ©Daytrotter.

If you know me AT all, you know that I have a ginormous girl crush on Grace Potter.  If you don’t know me … well, now you know.  I’ve never wanted to be someone else in my whole life, but I would trade shoes with Grace Potter for a day in a heartbeat (seriously, I would, the woman has killer shoes).

Anyhow, the fine folks over at Daytrotter recently recorded a 8-song session with her and it is absolutely SICK.  I’m not even sure you can call it 8 songs, since one of them is 12 minutes long.  That particular piece of solid Grace gold could be called “how to get from a mooning love song to a sex anthem in five deft moves” as she transitions from “Stars” all the way to “Paris”  and makes it sound like it was MEANT TO BE THAT WAY.

Daytrotter has a knack for recording these artists in their naked, stripped down beauty, which is, I guess, the point of Daytrotter.  In Grace’s case, it just showcases how truly amazing her voice actually is.  That girl is a vocal powerhouse and listening to her reminds me of just how incredible music can be.

The highlight of the session for me is “Belladonna,” which Grace pulled out of the Nocturnals archives.  It’s gorgeous.  There are a few other non-album song appearances, including “Mystery Train” and “Cinnamon Girl.”

[If you're a member at Daytrotter, you can download the session for free.  If you're not a member, you really should consider joining.  For just $24 a year, you can access literally thousands of unique, intimate recorded sessions with some incredible up and coming and established artists. ]

More Grace Potter & The Nocturnals:  Website | Twitter | Facebook

More Daytrotter: Website

A Haunting New Video from Flagship

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My favorite Charlotte band, Flagship, dropped a new music video today.  It’s definitely a little creepy – figuratively and literally dark – but damn, it’s good. Drake’s voice is, as always, huge.  I just love it. And the drums on this track are bad ass.  I expect we’ll be hearing big things from these kids.

Supposedly, Flagship is dropping a new album this spring on indie label Bright Antenna, which is also home to Middle Class Rut and The Wombats, and the former home of another vocal superstar, Jimmy Gnecco from Ours.  Keep your ears to the ground for more news on a new release from the Flagship fellas.  Until then, go pick up their Blackbush EP from last spring – it will do well for tiding you over.

More Flagship:  Facebook | Twitter | Buy Flagship’s Blackbush EP on iTunes

More Matt McCloskey

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I’m kind of obsessed with Matt McCloskey‘s music right now.  Some fella was nice enough to post a series of videos on YouTube that he shot last week at Matt’s show in Austin.  I just love the way he talks about his music – it’s so honest its painful.  “I thought I’d get better at being alive.”  Jesus – don’t we all?

Not Tonight/The Hard Rains

50 Cent Heart

Thanks to Lenny Sharp for posting the videos.

More Matt McCloskey:  Web | Facebook | Twitter | The Hard Rains on iTunes