SXSW Day 1 w/ Field Report, Shamir, Bully, Trouble In The Streets, and A Giant Dog, 3/12/18

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Bully Played Music Hall of Williamsburg with Aye Nako, 11/13/17

Bully

Mondayin'

I took it kind of easy last week show-wise. CoolMom had a business trip to DC during the first part of the week. Getting up and out to do anything has been kind of a chore for me lately; and, when the temps dropped this weekend, it sapped most of my resolve. I did get to spend some time with CoolMom following her return. We hung out and caught up on some TV shows which is one of our favorite ways to spend time.

Anyway...

By Monday, I was feeling like I should force myself to get out and "cover" something. I scrolled through the "Discover" section on Facebook and, after a while, came across the Bully / Aye Nako show at Music Hall of Williamsburg that I remembered I'd been really interested in when it first came across my feed. "Not sold out. Done."

I've had Bully's Losing in HEAVY rotation since it came out about three weeks ago. And 2015's Feels Like (along with the Bully EP) is one of my goto albums for late-night drives home from Asbury or Brooklyn. Despite my Bully fandom, I'd never managed to catch them live. The fact that Aye Nako, a band I'd already seen live a couple of times and who put out a great album of their own with this year's Silver Haze, were also on the bill made the whole thing that much more of a no-brainer.

Aye Nako

I got to Music Hall of Williamsburg super-unfashionably early. I figured I'd just zone out with my phone up against the stage until the music started, but then Ed from You Don't Know Jersey showed up. We talked a little blogger inside baseball until Aye Nako came on at about 9.

The last two times I'd seen Aye Nako were in the cavernous Asbury Park Convention Hall and in a dark, red-lit space down in Austin. Jade Payne and Mars Dixon traded off on lead vocal duties throughout last night's set; and, without a doubt, Aye Nako sounded as good as I've ever heard them. Loud, sometimes discordant, but still kind of poppy, Aye Nako's 90s-inspired rock pairs well with Bully. And damn if "Particle Mace" isn't just as great live as it is on Silver Haze.

Aye Nako

Bully came out at about 10 and did a roughly one-hour set that hit just about everything in their two-album catalog. Bully driving force, Alicia Bognanno, sometimes sings in a scream so forceful, it's hard to understand how she's able to speak afterwards. But, then, there she is speaking to the audience as if none of that ever happened.

Bully

Bully

For singles like "Trying" and "Feel the Same," audience members rushed up to the stage to sing along about a foot or so from Bognanno who seemed to enjoy it. At the end of both the main set and the encore, Bognanno slammed her guitar down on the stage with a forcefulness that made me wince a little bit, even breaking a string the first time. I have to admit, though, I'm a sucker for rock theatrics; and it was pretty cool.

Bully

It was also pretty cool that I forced myself to head out. Yeah, it's a long drive to Brooklyn; and, yeah, finding parking in Williamsburg kinda sucks. Seeing Bully live, though, has been on my list for a while now; and it all ended up being more than worth it.

Bully

Part of the reason I get there so early is to take pictures. All of those are available in the Flickr galleries and on the Facebook page.

Bully and Aye Nako bring their tour to DC's U Street Music Hall tonight, 11/15. And I've got my fingers crossed that I'll be able to catch them again down in Austin at SXSW.

Some New Stuff from Underlined Passages, Bully, and Sharkmuffin

Sharkmuffin released a new video and have several upcoming NJ dates.

Inbox'n

Today was a crazy morning. Both cooldaughters left for swim practice just after 6am. Then it started to pour and thunder. The coaches kept them there waiting for the thunder and lightning to pass until it became clear that they wouldn't be able to practice. They finally called practice at about 7am, and the mom who had driven the kids had to turn around to go back and pick them up. But CoolDaughter 1 and another member of the team have the Zones swim meet next week, so their coach kept them -- and only them -- behind to get in a few laps. CoolDaughter 2 walked into the house, and we both got in the car to go pick up the last two girls. Anyway, crazy. You don't care.

Here are some things from the inbox that caught my attention over the last few days.

Underlined Passages, "Silverlake"

I first came across Baltimore's Underlined Passages at last year's North Jersey Indie Rock Festival. They were one of the two bands I got to introduce for the day, so I made it a point to familiarize myself with their catalog. As an introduction to my introduction, I wrote a review of 2016's The Fantastic Quest.

The duo of Michael Nestor (guitar / vocals) and Jamaal Turner (drums) just announced that they'll be releasing their new album, Tandi My Dicafi, on on September 15th via Mint400 Records. They gave us single "Silverlake" as a preview.

The band say they're going for a heavier sound on Tandi My Dicafi; and, to that end, they worked with Frank Marchand (The Thermals, Bob Mould) on the recording and mixing. "Silverlake" definitely has a bigger sound than much of The Fantastic Quest, but it also retains the jangly dreaminess that first drew me to Underlined Passages.



Underlined Passages play Brighton Bar this Sunday, August 6th, as part of The Clydes' EP release party along with Casino Sundae and Trim Tabs.

Bully, "Feel the Same"

Bully's debut, Feels Like, was one of my favorite album's of 2015. As frontperson and engineer, Alicia Bognanno gave Bully's major label debut a rawness and honesty that I don't often think of when I think of "alt rock" anymore. But the album gave me a pre-Nevermind, before everything went bananas kind of vibe.

Bully recently announced that they'll be releasing their next album, Losing, with Sub Pop on October 20th; and the match between Bully's 90s-influenced sound and the Seattle label just feels right. Bognanno, once again, engineered this one at Chicago's Electrical Audio. We get the first taste of what's to come with first single "Feel the Same." There are clear influences here from Pixies and Sonic Youth, and Bognanno's rasp is back to rough things up.



Sharkmuffin, "Factory"

Sharkmuffin released a video for Tsuki track, "Factory," last week. The Eric Durkin-directed clip employs an old-style silent film look to tell the story of some factory workers turned vampire factory owners who ultimately have to save their business from a small-handed con artist.

It looks like the band had a lot of fun with this one. And who doesn't love vampires?

Sharkmuffin are getting set to head out AGAIN on tour; and they've got several dates this month lined up in the Garden State, including an August 19th appearance at The Mad Liberation Festival in Hammonton, NJ.

Check out the video for "Factory" and all of Sharkmuffin's upcoming dates below.



Sharkmuffin on tour

8/11 @ Brooklyn Bazaar w/ Hanks Cupcakes
8/12 @ Porta Pizza, Jersey City, NJ w/ The Big Drops
8/16 @ The Meatlocker, Montclair, NJ~
8/19 @ Mad Liberation Fest, Hammonton, NJ~
8/20 TBA, Ashville, NC
8/22 @ Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC~
8/23 @ TBA, Nashville, TN~
8/24 @ Best Friend Bar, Lexington, KY~
8/25 @ Jurassic Park, Chicago IL~
8/26 @ Milkies, Buffalo, NY~


~= w/ Wild Moon

Northside Festival Preview: June 13th & June 14th

Saturday / Sunday

I'm gonna be straight with you. Doing Northside on Saturday and Sunday this year is pretty iffy for me. CD1 has a two-day swim meet. CD2 has softball and other activities. CoolMom leaves for an international business trip on Sunday afternoon.

Here's a preview, though, of the stuff I would love to see if everything goes perfectly and I'm able to head up to Brooklyn. Several of these bands play New Jersey -- even Asbury Park -- often; so, if you can't get to Brooklyn yourself, keep an eye on the listings here for your chance to catch them when they come around.

Saturday, June 13th

Bully, Alvvays at 50 Kent

I've been absolutely loving what I've been hearing from Nashville's Bully as they get closer to the June 23rd release of their debut LP. I tried to make it to Baby's Alright when they last came through NYC, but that show sold out quickly. Alicia Bognanno writes raw and emotional songs delivered in a package of 90s-infused rock.

The self-titled debut from Toronto's Alvvays has been my obsession for the last few months. It's one of those records that I just automatically turn to when I can't think of anything else. "Archie Marry Me," "Adult Diversion," and "Party Police" never get old for me.

Throw in the fact that Built to Spill and Best Coast headline this bill, and this is a can't-miss.



A Deer A Horse at Bar Matchless

I met A Deer A Horse singer / guitarist Rebecca Satellite back in February, and she gave me a download card. I've enjoyed the band's "urgent rock n roll" ever since. There's a strain of that late 70s New York poetry punk running through A Deer A Horse's DNA. This is an early show, so a tough one for me.



Lazyeyes at Black Bear

I went to The Saint for a last-minute show by Jersey City's Overlake and noticed that Lazyeyes were on the bill. You may remember that they were part of the Hearts Bleed Radio Brooklyn mixtape that I shared here a while back. The band do that jangly, reverby thing that I like and I'd love another chance to see them live.



Against ME! / Mitski / Cayetana in McCarren Park

What can I say about this one? This is the free show in McCarren Park on Saturday afternoon. Seeing Mitski has been a goal of mine for a while now. Cayetana made one of my favorite records of 2014. Against ME! are Against ME!



Hey Anna / Coastgaard at Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Despite having many, many opportunities, I've only ever seen Hey Anna one time. It was a late, end-of-night set at Asbury Lanes. They blew me away. Their brand of pop has a tropical feel to it, and they do it so well.

Now, if I do manage to head up to Brooklyn on Saturday, Hey Anna and I will probably pass each other on the road. They play a 1pm set at Knitting Factory (no chance I'll be there early enough), and then they head to Asbury Park for an evening set at APYC.

Also on this bill are Coastgaard. I reviewed the band's beach-tinged self-titled EP for Speak Into My Good Eye, and their live show at Shea Stadium lived up to the sounds of that set.



Viet Cong at Music Hall of Williamsburg

This Canadian quartet plays complex and intricate psychedelic post-punk. Viet Cong sound like they'd be a pretty wild act to see live. They're playing two nights at MHOW.



Toy Cities at Pete's Candy Store

Toy Cities played that same show at Shea where I saw Coastgaard. They do their own take on the post-punk / indie aesthetic. There are a few shoegazy elements here and there, and I remember being pretty impressed by their set. I'd like to check them out again.



Nude Beach at Union Pool

Nude Beach put out a ballsy record in 2014. 77 is an 18-song, 68-minute collection that mines some of the late-70s and early-80s sounds of classic rock and power-pop. Nude Beach bring a punk, DIY attitude to the whole thing; and audiences have responded extremely positively every time I've seen the band play. Some sounds never get old.



Sunday, June 14th

The Brooklyn What at Union Pool

I saw the Brooklyn What with CoolMom at Maxwell's as part of The Everymen's last show there. They put on a fantastic show, and some of the tracks from 2013's Hot Wine ("The Basement," "Punk Rock Loneliness") are actually quite brilliant. It's rock, pure and simple, rooted in The Replacements and Hüsker Dü; and it's a ton of fun.



Whiskey Bitches / Haybaby at The Gutter

More gritty garage rock with Whiskey Bitches. 2014's Never Enough is 4-tracks of bouncing, buzz saw punk.

Haybaby are another of those bands I saw at the Hearts Bleed Radio Showcase last year. They've since signed to Tiny Engines. Their debut LP Sleepy Kids is due this summer. Based on what I saw last year and what you can hear on Superpresent, Haybaby touch on quite a few classic indie rock sounds that I love.



Big Quiet at Black Bear

On Big Quiet's self-titled LP, Marisa Cerio's guitar and Mitch Easter's production yield a sound that blends shoegaze and southern gothic pop into something that was a wonderful discovery for me earlier this year. Big Quiet put their own stamp on some classic sounds by incorporating some noise and Cerio's unique vocals.



So that's it. Like I said, Saturday and Sunday are going to be gametime decisions for me, but head over to the Northside Festival website and make up your own schedule. Feel free to let me know on the Interwebs if you see anything really great.

Another Track from Nashville's Bully

Photo: Pooneh Ghana

"Trying"

Bully, the Nashville band masterminded by singer, songwriter, guitarist, engineer, producer Alicia Bognanno, have released another single from their forthcoming Feels Like (6/23, StarTime International). With each taste of the record doled out by the band, my anticipation for the full-length grows ever greater.

Recorded at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio, "Trying" starts out sounding like some Pixies-inspired alt pop before Bognanno's within-an-inch-of-her-life scream is back. "I'm trying, I am," sings Bognanno. Trying not to question herself so much, trying to figure out what a degree is worth, trying to find some clarity. Reece Lazarus drives things along on bass and, paired with Bognanno's vocals, gives everything a 90s alt-rock vibe that I love.

Bully will be in the area next Wednesday at Brooklyn's Baby's All Right, and they'll swing through again in June when they hit Northside Festival on the 13th.

New Track from Nashville's Bully

"I Remember"

I've got lots of cool stuff brewing this week as I get back into the swing of things. While I wait for the stars to align on a few of those, I wanted to call your attention to this new track from Nashville's Bully.

Last year's single "Milkman" was one of my favorites. I tried grabbing the seven-inch; but, alas, it sold out before I ever discovered this band. Same goes for the band's excellent self-titled EP. Damn.

On "I Remember," singer / guitarist Alicia Bognanno catalogs the moments from a past relationship -- "I remember hurting you so bad!" "I remember that naked photo!" "I remember what you do on Christmas!" -- in a desperate, raspy, cathartic scream over the course of the song's less than two minutes. It's neither as sweet nor as poppy as "Milkman," but it may be even more awesome.

I'll be watching Bully's Bandcamp page for the opportunity to snap this one up. Hope I don't miss out again.