Filed under: Emerging Artists, Interviews, XCLUS!VES | Tags: glam-rock, Jay-Z, Lady GaGa, Semi Precious Weapons, Sex Pistols, Warhol
Semi Precious Weapons' Justin Tranter says they are "a filthy rock band."
Each Monday, 20 Watts is poised to feature a new, exclusive artist interview! Here we present our WORDS OF THE WEEK!
PREVIEW: Semi Precious Weapons’ MySpace
LISTEN TO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INTERVIEW:
Led by filthy rock n’ roll purist Justin Tranter, Semi Precious Weapons, are the gritty opener act touring with Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball Tour, but don’t be fooled–these guys are quite the showmen themselves. They keep it simple: they want to party, and they want you to have fun, and they do it in high heels. They started out like your average rock band, but the road they took to get to where they are now is anything but average. Keep a look out for their debut LP You Love You at the end of March.
20 Watts: Describe your band’s overall attitude and style.
Justin Trantor: The overall attitude is to make balls-to-the-wall rock n’ roll that kicks ass, and is really fun. We want people to have fun, to party, we want people to get laid. I think that’s what the whole point of rock n’ roll should be, and another important part is danger, excitement, and kids’ parents should be mad at them for listening to us–all of those good things. Obviously we also get the glam label thrown at us, and I think that’s just because I wear high heels, but there’s definitely a lot of worse things to be called than glam.
20W: Some people say you’re like the glam version of The Sex Pistols. Ever heard that before?
JT: I think my favorite quote was that we’re like The Sex Pistols if they came out of the Warhol scene. I think that’s our favorite description of our band ever.
Filed under: Scene Around Town | Tags: First Contact, Flying Home, jazz, Jazz Central, Jazz Improvisation
Local jazz masters pack Syracuse's Jazz Central
February 5, 2010 at Jazz Central on E. Washington Street.
It may not seem like it, but jazz is still alive in Syracuse. Local all-star band Flying Home are putting their own contemporary spin on the traditional art. Last Friday, Syracuse’s Jazz Central was filled beyond its 63-seat capacity with friends and jazz fans eager to see the debut gig of this elite line-up of young twenty-somethings. What they got was two sets of music: one mostly consisting of upper-tier jazz improvisation and the other a complete run-through of Flying Home’s debut CD First Contact.
This group is as much fun as they are professional. Virtuosic guitarist Tom Bronzetti explores his remarkably wide vocabulary of melodies. He’ll play a fast-flying riff reminiscent of Wes Montgomery, then foll low it up with a snippet of your favorite nursery rhyme.. He effortlessly communicates with his band mates during a tune, all while smiling and nodding along. Keyboardist Dino Losito, a Central New York jazz master, filled in for Andrew Carroll. Many seemed surprised when Tom announced he is not an official band member, as his unquestionable technical and melodic ability allowed him to blend perfectly. (more…)
Passion Pit finally makes a remix that sticks.
PREVIEW THE DJ: Passion Pit’s MySpace
LISTEN: “This Too Shall Pass” by OK Go (Passion Pit Remix)
After Passion Pit remixed “Telephone” by Lady Gaga f. Beyonce, I started having my doubts about Passion Pit’s remixing ability. In their remixes, they add their usual shtick to a song, which comprises of hand claps, excessive synthesizer and high-pitched vocals, but the formula doesn’t work for a lot other bands other than Passion Pit. With that said, after catching a whiff of this OK Go remix, it works beautifully. Remixes, in general, are hit or miss, but I’m proud to say this one is a ground-rule double. Good job, Passion Pit. Now get back in the dugout.
-Jett Wells
Filed under: Editor Picks, Emerging Artists | Tags: booty rap, Dyme Def, Panic EP
PREVIEW: Dyme Def’s MySpace
Before you all point out the obvious, I’m not a huge fan of “booty” rap either. I find it boring, demeaning and tasteless, and so five years ago. However, Dyme Def’s “Do Something” beat is intoxicating and one can’t help oneself but jerk it (my whiteboy statement of the day!). Yes, the lyrics are pretty shallow, but if you can look past them, this song is a bumpin’ good indicator of their Panic EP coming out on April 26. Dyme Def just released this video today, and ehhh— it’s pretty much what the song is about.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Releases of the Week, Uncategorized | Tags: Odd Blood, TV on the Radio, Yeasayer
Yeasayer's Odd Blood succeeds amidst a bevy of experimentation
PREVIEW: VISIT Yeasayer’s MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 16/20 Watts
Honest and eccentric, Yeasayer’s sophomore effort, Odd Blood, dips and dives through a bevy of emotions throughout its 10 tracks. It’s an imposing blend of experimental pop and psychedelic rock, unrelenting as its large collection of sounds caterwaul every which way. However, the album still maintains a loose organization– never dropping its direction or focus as it explores love’s post-mortem with strikingly upbeat results.
The crux of this positive outlook on an otherwise negative situation lies first in the singles, “Ambling Alp” and “O.N.E.” Drawing comparisons to the likes of TV on the Radio, the former bounces along crazed keyboards, lead singer Chris Keating’s occasional falsetto and interspersed horns. It’s a wild, stark bonanza, spinning within the loose confines of the track’s experimental nature. The ladder, on the other hand, while maintaining the same carefree vibe, employs a much more wacky approach. As Keating laments falling out of love, one cannot help but become enamored by the colorful and active background that functions very much as the lyrics’ antithesis. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week, Uncategorized | Tags: Hot Chip, One Life Stand, Spoon
Hot Chip's One Life Stand is a pleasant surprise for listeners
PREVIEW: VISIT Hot Chip’s MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 15/20 Watts
Hot Chip doesn’t seem to have much of a problem putting themselves out there. Their first few albums, squiggly homages to dance, soul and synth-pop fell in quite nicely with the mid-decade boom of equally squiggly dance records out at the time, but as history beats on, they’ve been more and more at risk of becoming nothing more than a retread, a burst of nostalgia for a dead genre few are willing to touch. It comes as equal parts surprise and necessity then, that the band would release an album as incredibly diverse as One Life Stand at the dawn of the new decade.
Instead of letting their method fall by the wayside though, it seems that Hot Chip have instead focused their vision, refracting their synth-dance backgrounds into a broader spectrum of songcraft. While tracks like opener “Thieves in the Night” and “One Life Stand” show a lot of the old tricks and trademarks of the band (maybe add in a few more mind-bending synthesizer sounds), other tracks stretch the band’s skills into new realms. “Hand Me Down Your Love” calls to mind a mix of Spoon and classic 50’s soul, and “Alley Cats” unfolds into a captivating minimalism that begs for replay after replay. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Barsuk Records, Eyelid Movies, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch, Mouthful Of Diamonds.”, Phantogram, Ra Ra Riot
Phantogram finally releases Eyelid Movies
PREVIEW: VISIT Phanotgram’s My Space
WE GIVE IT: 14/20 Watts
Three years into their career, Phantogram is finally gracing the public with their debut album Eyelid Movies. The Saratoga Springs duo, consisting of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, wowed when they were featured as the Starbucks iTunes pick of the week with “Mouthful Of Diamonds.” Following in the footsteps of their fellow upstate New Yorkers Ra Ra Riot, Phantogram will be releasing the record via Barsuk Records.
Eyelid Movies is exactly what one would expect. Dominated by countless layers of sound, the release combines every imaginable style into surprisingly symphonic arrangements. The electronic beats give the album a fast pace, which is ideally balanced with the occasional electro lullabies like “10,000 Claps” and “All Dried Up.”
Lyrically Phantogram aim for simplistic perfection, relying primarily on sound for expression– an effect that is quite haunting to say the least. While the release it utterly melodic, it has a strange horror appeal fit for a David Lynch film. Lyrics such as “ten thousand rats waiting in line for me” can even make Disneyland seem slightly creepy. Strangely the duo makes this work for them. The ghostlike intonation is laced through most of the sounds on the album. While Barthel’s synth sounds are drenched in chilling notes, the background beats give the album a necessary steady pace, making the listen into quite an experience. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Blue Lines, Bristol Sound, Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, Heligoland, Hope Sandoval, Horace Andy, Martina Topley, Massive Attack, Mazzy Star, Mezzanine, Robert "3D" Del Naja, Tricky, Trip-Hop, Tunde Adebimpe, TV on the Radio
Heligoland is yet another classic added to Massive Attack's legendary discography.
PREVIEW: STREAM Heligoland from SPINNER
WE GIVE IT: 15/20 Watts
After a seven-year hiatus, trip-hop’s founding fathers have returned with a record that may not possess the genre-defining significance of Blue Lines, but certainly reaffirms their position as the quintessential embodiment of the genre. Their latest effort, Heligoland, features a sound saturated with the same focused relaxation that has made Massive Attack trip-hop’s most household name.
Heligoland opens in true Massive Attack fashion, with the intimate, yet intense cut, “Pray For Rain.” It stands as a perfect indication of what is to come later on Heligoland. “Pray For Rain” may very well embody the most attractive elements of the record into one track. Massive Attack manages to bind you to the music in a manner that’s nothing short of tangible, all the while maintaining the same cool that characterizes the roots of the Bristol Sound. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: 1970, Black Eyed Peas, Bob Dylan, Colts, Forever Young, Saints, Super Bowl XLIV, Will.i.am
So, in case you were in the dark about it, Super Bowl XLIV is kicking off tonight–terrible pun I apologize, it’s been a long week. It’s no secret that those not rooting for either the Saints or the Colts will most likely be tuning in to CBS tonight for one reason: the world-famous commercials. While this year’s line-up isn’t looking too exciting, I have to admit the commercials last year were priceless, featuring talking babies and the world’s shortest commercial.
It took me by surprise, however, when a certain Pepsi commercial came on–probably immediately after a testosterone-fueled Bud Light ad. The commercial presented various video clips from the 1970’s and related each clip with those of the 21st century. The best part? Actual concert footage of both Bob Dylan and Black Eyed Peas‘ Will.I.Am with Dylan’s “Forever Young” playing in the background. With a tagline of “Every Generation Refreshes The World,” this commercial is actually quite refreshing in itself. Hopefully, this trend will be followed for many years to come.
–Elizabeth Vogt, Assistant Front of Book Editor
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 3Oh!3, Bassnectar, Buffalo, Cobra Starship, Cold Cave, Cursive, Dan Deacon, deer tick, Free Energy, ithaca, Neon Indian, Passion Pit, Rochester, Sleigh Bells, Syracuse, The Flaming Lips, The Hold Steady
Neon Indian is just one of many great upcoming concerts scheduled for CNY
The Spring Central New York concert lineup is turning out to be pretty legendary. Don’t have a car? Carpool with some friends, because star-studded gigs like these don’t come every year when you’re stuck on the banks of the Erie Canal. The highlights are everywhere, whether it’s Neon Indian and Passion Pit in Buffalo, or Sleigh Bells in Syracuse or The Flaming Lips in Ithaca.
Buffalo
Cold Cave @ Mohawk Place (2/21)
Cursive @ Mowhawk Place (3/7)
Free Energy @ Big Orbit Soundlab Space (3/10)
YACHT w/ MNDR @ Big Orbit Soundlab Space (3/7)
Neon Indian @ Big Orbit Soundlab Space (3/12)
Passion Pit @ Town Ballroom (3/28)
Bassnectar @ The Tralf Music Hall (4/20)
