See ‘Em Live: Dead Sara

I’m very lucky to have some just-as-obsessed-as-I-am music fans in my life.  When two of them who don’t know each other start talking about a band, I tend to listen.  So about three weeks ago when my friend Dru, who was one of the founders of Alternative Addiction, and my bestie/roomie/partner-in-crime and radio goddess Shelia both mentioned that they were loving the new Dead Sara record within days of each other…I had to check it out.

Dead Sara came to town last night and played The Fillmore opening for The Used … and all I can say is WHOA.

Let me repeat:  WHOA.

I tend not to be a fan of female vocalists in general, but I had the same instant reaction to lead singer Emily Armstrong’s voice that I did when I first heard Grace Potter.  Smoky, gritty, and holy POWERHOUSE Batman. There is no denying that this is a voice that needs – demands – to be heard.  And man, is there anything better than seeing a singer on stage that is obviously feeling every word and note that he or she is singing? This is not soul music, but it was one of the most soulful performances I have seen in a long time. The band was on, and just as into it as she was, and the show crescendoed into a finale banshee-wail song, complete with buzzing, over-amped guitars and a kicked over drum set.  It was a singularly fantastic rock n’ roll show.  Period.

If they come to your town, you MUST go see them.  But don’t take my word for it…let the video below speak for itself.

More Dead Sara:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Debut album on iTunes and Amazon

Friday Awesomeness: Shearwater, “Animal Life”

My good buddy and top Atlanta music blogger, Allison from RadioPotato, was visiting Charlotte and was keen to visit The Evening Muse, my absolute favorite venue in town.  It didn’t matter who was playing, she said, so off we went to see Shearwater – a band I knew nothing about. But hey, they’re from Austin, they have to be promising, right?

This is a band of musical dudes. Originally started a few years ago by two members of the critically acclaimed indie band Okkervil River, and now fronted by one of those fellas, Jonathan Meiburg, the band has an interesting mix of operatic vocals, soothing melodies, strategically used on stage mixing, and a driving rhythms. I adored Danny (Reisch?  I’m not sure if this is right) who was playing drums for them – insanely fantastic – but apparently, he is filling in for their full-time drummer on this tour and on this newest record.  And Lucas Oswald, the little guy that could play everything – guitar, keys, drums, mixing board…flat out fabulous, and obviously just a little talented.

As a gal who loves a happy pop song, this was definitely outside my box, but I found myself really digging some of their tunes.  “Animal Life,” off their new album Animal Joy, is unbelievably catchy and it’s been stuck in my head for the last two days…so it’s definitely worthy of Friday Awesomeness.  So worthy, in fact, that I’m posting it 5.5 hours before Friday.  It’s that good!

I encourage you to check out their other tunes, especially the song “Breaking the Yearlings” a dark, cacophonous, pounding ditty full of metaphor.  A writer’s dream, really, which might be why I like it so much.

More on Shearwater:  Web | Facebook | Twitter | Animal Joy on iTunes or Amazon

Unmasked: Quiet Hounds Reveal Themselves

Unmasked!

Quiet Hounds will unmask themselves this month in Atlanta!

So for those of you that have been following the progression of Atlanta’s mysterious rock band, Quiet Hounds, big things are coming….

The Hounds will be revealing themselves in an unveiling/live show in Atlanta on Saturday, February 25th at the just-as mysteriously named The Goat Farm Arts Center.  Super excited!  I’m dying to find out who the guys are (okay, I might have gotten a hint or two, but they’re still a mystery to me!).

To get everyone excited, the guys are giving away a really cool prize…a chance to get into Quiet Hounds events FREE for life.  All you’ve got to do is visit their Facebook page and pick a mask from their photos and use it in your profile photo for the month of February (I’m partial to the Loud Hound and Poetic Hound, but you can pick from Drum Hound, Bass Hound, and Evil Hound, too).

Don’t forget, you can still pick up the Hounds debut EP (which was my numero uno EP last year, in case you missed it) for free on their website.  Don’t know how long that is going to last, so get it now while you can.  And, from the pictures that have been floating around on the band’s Instagram, it seems like there might be a limited edition hard copy of the EP in existence soon…

Check out all the details on the unmasking event at the links below…

Event Details: http://www.quiethounds.com/onthefarm.html
RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/201020776661274/
Watch a Video: http://vimeo.com/36062612

More Quiet Hounds:  Website | Facebook | Twitter

Will Hoge Melting Faces Worldwide on Jimmy Kimmel

About eight years ago, I got turned on to a sweaty, rock n’ roll singer and his band from Nashville.  Since that fateful fall of 2003, Will Hoge and his boys have become one of my favorite bands of all time, and my absolute favorite act to see live (yes, even eclipsing The Boss, kid – and that’s a huge statement for me to make).

Last night, the fellas made their debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live.  Watching them rock it out on national television was just the best thing…I am so excited for them, for the long overdue attention they are getting, and I’m so proud to be one of their fans.   The world needs more Will Hoge!   Hit the link below to see what I’ve been going on and on about for years…..

Long live rock n’ roll!!  Long live Will Hoge!

Will performing Fool’s Gonna Fly on Jimmy Kimmel

Go Forth Young Sons (and Daughters!) – New FREE Saints of Valory Music & Show In Charlotte This Week!

Saints of Valory

My favorite Young Sons, Saints of Valory, have a new song out for free download AND will be in Charlotte at the Live Out Loud Festival this Saturday, September 17.

You have three days, people.  Three days to download one hot new jam from Austin’s blistering little quartet, Saints of Valory, for nada.  Zip.  Zilch.  Free.

Go download “Young Sons” over at Pure Volume.  Then thank the boys for the gift by following them on Twitter.

Or, if you live in Charlotte, go check out this phenomenal rock band, along with Sequoyah, Margolnick, Paper Tongues and 13 other bands, at the Live Out Loud Festival at NC Music Factory this Saturday, September 17.  I have to miss it, and it is BREAKING MY HEART… so it would make me feel a lot better if they developed a massive following in Charlotte and had to keep coming back due to high demand.  Seriously, please go out, support these bands and a good cause.  Proceeds from the show go to Samaritan’s Feet and The Free Store to help Charlotte’s homeless and others in need.

And may you have a lovely little Tuesday earworm all day.  “We are, we are, we are far too young…”

More Saints of Valory:  Web | Twitter | Facebook | Bandcamp | iTunes | YouTube