New Single from Laura Stevenson. Album out 3/29 on Don Giovanni.

Cover art for The Big Freeze out 3/29 on Don Giovanni

"Living Room, NY"

Laura Stevenson has long been a favorite around here. Her deeply personal songwriting and stunning voice won me over long ago. 2015's Cocksure, produced by Jeff Rosenstock, featured a full-band, rock n roll sound and remains one of my favorite records. On the upcoming The Big Freeze (3/29, Don Giovanni Records), Stevenson takes a quieter approach and allows her voice and her guitar to take center stage.

That comes across masterfully in today's achingly beautiful single about missing someone and reconnecting, "Living Room, NY."



Stevenson will be touring over the coming months, including a sold-out stop this Saturday at Bowery Ballroom and a trip down to South By Southwest in March before returning to our area with shows in Philly and Brooklyn in May.

Laura Stevenson on Tour

2.7 – Gainesville, FL @ Changeville Festival
2.9 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (sold out)
3.14 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
5.3 – Washington DC @ Black Cat
5.12 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
5.14 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore
5.15 – Seattle, WA @ Vera Project
5.17 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
5.18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theatre
5.22 – Boston, MA @ Sinclair
5.23 – Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA
5.24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
5.25 – Burlington, VT @ Arts Riot
5.29 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
5.30 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
6.3 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
6.5– Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
6.6 – Madison, WI @ Memorial Union Terrace / University of Wisconsin

A Few Things for a Friday in January

Laura Stevenson in Asbury Park's Convention Hall for Don Giovanni's New Alternative Music Festival back in September.

When Black Friday Comes...

Here are a few things that have hit my email box in the past few weeks that I figured I'd gather all together in one place to mark the day.

Charly Bliss, "Turd"

Eva Hendricks of Charly Bliss penned this song after being catcalled, touched without her consent, and followed as she walked home from a guitar lesson. "I wrote this song to make me feel like I had some power in a situation where I felt totally powerless, and we're releasing it for the same reason," wrote Hendricks at the Charly Bliss Bandcamp page back in November.

The song is sneering and angry but full of all of the "bubblegrunge" sound that I've come to love about Charly Bliss.

All proceeds from the sale of "Turd" go to support Planned Parenthood.



ENTRANCE, "Not Gonna Say Your Name"

Los Angeles-based Guy Blakeslee performs under the name ENTRANCE. Earlier this week, Blakeslee released "Not Gonna Say Your Name," a song expressing his feelings about the current political state of affairs in the U.S.

"Not Gonna Say Your Name" is a beautiful entry into the great tradition of American protest hymns.

All proceeds from the sale of "Not Gonna Say Your Name" go to support Planned Parenthood.



Above The Moon, "We're Still Here"

Madison, NJ's Above The Moon released single "We're Still Here" today. Kate Griffin sings, "It's all right to feel defeated," but follows that with, "No matter what, we won't surrender." Her voice -- and the song -- is simultaneously sad and uplifting.

All proceeds from the sale of "We're Still Here" go to support Planned Parenthood.



Laura Stevenson, Live at The Vera Club

I am a huge fan of Laura Stevenson. The Long Island native is one of our great songwriters, has a voice that is otherworldly in its beauty; and she runs one of the funniest accounts on Instagram. Last month, Stevenson released Live at The Vera Club, a document of the second-to-last evening of an eight-week, international, headlining tour. The show took place in Groningen, Netherlands in front of a small crowd.

The set that evening included songs from 2015's Cocksure along with favorites like "Runner," "L-Dopa," "Master of Art," and a cover of the Replacements' "Alex Chilton." The album is available as a free download from Jeff Rosentstock's Quote Unquote Records; though, in exchange for downloading, you're encouraged to make a donation.

All donations for Laura Stevenson: Live at The Vera Club go to support Planned Parenthood.



dollys, tape

This week, Asbury / New Brunswick band dollys released a five-song covers compilation via Little Game Records. The collection includes covers, like "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson and "Cecilia" by Simon and Garfunkel, which have shown up in dollys' live sets from time to time. In addition, the band take on "Somebody Made for Me" by Emitt Rhodes. They turn Nirvana's "Tourette's" into a surf / spy rock instrumental. And they include another instrumental take on a classic with "Ghostbusters."

dollys recorded and mixed everything live to 4-track tape. The first batch of tapes sold out at the band's release show, but there's still a pre-order link up at Little Game Records.

All proceeds from the sale of tape go to support Planned Parenthood.



Kino Kimino, Fruit & Flowers, Lunch Ladies, and EVL MOMMZ at The Saint on January 23rd

On Monday night, January 23rd, Little Dickman Records and CoolDad Music are happy to bring you the final stop on Kino Kimino's March To Washington Tour. The band will be heading home after touring their way down to this Saturday's Women's March On Washington. You can check out my interview from earlier this week with Kino Kimino mastermind, Kim Talon, to read what she had to say about her inspirations for the tour.

The show promises to be a great one. All of the bands put on amazing live shows, and it's really a no-risk proposition since admission is only $5. RSVP to the show here and come out on Monday night.

All proceeds from Kino Kimino's commemorative March To Washington Tour merchandise will go to support Planned Parenthood.

The New Alternative Music Festival at Asbury Park's Convention Hall, Night 2, 9/17/16

Downtown Boys closed out the New Alternative Music Festival at Convention Hall.

You Can't Start a Fire without a Spark

Strangely, given how much I enjoy eating, I usually forget to eat during shows. I get kind of wrapped up in what's going on, and I don't make time to have dinner or whatever. Friday night was no different; so, after Screaming Females' set, I made my way over to Cookman Avenue to get a Korean burrito.

Asbury Park is actually a pretty small community; and, on a busy Friday night, you're likely to run into someone you know. I bumped into Gentleman Jim Norton outside of House of Independents, and we ended up chatting for a while as we've been known to do. When I finally made it to Mogo for some food, Renee Maskin (more on Renee in the next post) walked in; and we lingered over burritos discussing all manner of things. All of this is to say that it was pretty frigging late (or early, depending on your perspective) when I got home. I woke up the next morning and squeezed in a little photo editing before heading back to Convention Hall for Day 2 of Don Giovanni Records' New Alternative Music Festival.

Vagabon were just finishing up as I walked inside, and Jamie Kilstein and The Agenda were up next. Kilstein made it a point to acknowledge the importance of what the festival represented while delivering a politically charged and hilariously funny set.

Vagabon

Jamie Kilstein and The Agenda

Upset were next. Founded by Ali Koehler, formerly of NJ's Vivian Girls, the band are based in LA and rarely make it out this way. The lineup has changed since I last saw them a couple of years ago, and the focus has shifted from Koehler to be more evenly distributed among the rest of the band. Upset still feature the legendary Patty Schemel (Hole, Death Valley Girls, Sharkmuffin [on Chartreuse], and more), and one of the big thrills of the festival for me was awkwardly saying hello to her over at the merch table. The new, more democratic Upset were great; and I look forward to their new music.

Upset

Other standout early sets for me were those turned in by Philadelphia duo Trophy Wife, San Jose's Try the Pie, Baltimore's Outer Spaces (whose A Shedding Snake will be very high on my personal year-end list for what that's worth), and Dyke Drama (the solo project of G.L.O.S.S.'s Sadie Switchblade). Anti-folk hero Jeffrey Lewis took us into what would have been the dinner break had I remembered to eat.

Outer Spaces

Throughout the day, I saw the members of P.S. Eliot and Screaming Females among the crowd enjoying all of the bands. It's a testament to the community that surrounds Don Giovanni Records that headliners from the previous day would clear their schedules to stick around for Day 2 of the festival.

Things then really ramped up with evening sets from Mal Blum, Aye Nako, Sex Stains, Rye Coalition, Laura Stevenson, Girlpool, and Downtown Boys. Mal Blum was as charming as ever, easily chatting with the crowd between their upbeat, singable songs about depression and self-doubt. Aye Nako, a band I've wanted to see for a while now, were worth the wait. They draw from a well of 90s influences and challenge listeners with songs about sexual and racial identity.

Mal Blum and The Blums

Aye Nako

I wasn't prepared for Sex Stains. Fronted by Allison Wolfe (Bratmobile, Partyline), the band gave us probably the wildest set of the entire festival. I couldn't stop snapping pictures as Wolfe and co-lead vocalist Mecca Vazie Andrews bounced, twirled, high-kicked, and rolled around on- and offstage. At one point, they invited audience members up to dance with them (No surprise, Ed the Punk was first to take them up on the offer.). Short, intense blasts of punk / post-punk. Beer raining on me from somewhere as I was taking pictures. Just amazing.

Sex Stains

Immediately following her band's set, Wolfe was right down front going wild for the reunion of Jersey City hard rock band, Rye Coalition. They played one of the longest sets of the night, and the Jersey crowd ate it up along with band-provided cupcakes.

Rye Coalition

Laura Stevenson. One of my favorites. She and the band took the stage after 9, and that's when I got this weird feeling -- after having spent about 7 hours in the windowless box of Convention Hall -- that I didn't really know whether it was day or night anymore. Anyway, Stevenson's set was wonderful, as expected, if a little too short for me. It was hard taking pictures as I just wanted to close my eyes and listen to the music, but I managed. Stevenson's last two records -- Wheel and Cocksure -- are stunning in different ways, and all of that came across during her set.

Laura Stevenson

Philly via LA duo, Girlpool, had the penultimate Convention Hall set. Harmony Tividad (bass, vocals) and Cleo Tucker (guitar, vocals) stood at either end of the stage right setup, their voices weaving around each other as they sang. The pair's friendship comes through on 2015's Before the World Was Big, and they brought the whole audience into that during their set.

Girlpool

Finally it was time for Providence, RI's Downtown Boys. I've written before here about the band's passion. Singer Victoria Ruiz delivers rousing calls to action as intros while the sounds of the sax and the rest of the band build up behind her. The tension rises until everything explodes into "Wave of History" or "Monstro." At times, Ruiz held the mic to members of the audience who shouted "She's brown! She's smart!" along with the band.

Downtown Boys

Downtown Boys included their cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" towards the end of their set, and the line "You can't start a fire without a spark" seemed appropriate for the entire weekend. Yes, the festival ended up having to cancel its scheduled third day. No, there probably weren't as many people in attendance as Don Giovanni Records (or even I) would have liked. But something important happened over those two days. For a weekend, bands had the chance to play not to help sell beer or energy drinks or to up some corporation's street cred with millennials, but simply to share their art with people who cared about it. They got to play as part of a bill that included women's voices, LGBTQ voices, the voices of people of color -- voices that are often lost in the white, male-dominated bills of major "Indie" rock festivals.

Following the festival, bands went back out into the world of gigs sponsored by beer companies and huge music-industrial complex gatherings. But, for two days in Asbury Park, they got to see that an alternative is possible. The New Alternative Music Festival didn't burn the corporate music industry to the ground, but maybe it was a spark.

Pics are all done. I'll be uploading them to the Flickr galleries this afternoon.

Laura Stevenson, Cocksure, 2015

Album Review

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I have my own version of that: The road to renewed happiness starts when you go outside and pick up the first pile of dog shit.

We have a dog who I love very deeply. He really is my best friend. He spends a lot of his day running around in our large fenced backyard, chasing small animals, conversing with his friends through the fence, and crapping all over the place. I get into these funks sometimes where I don't really venture outside much during the day. The poop builds up, both literally and metaphorically. It was during one of these periods for me when Laura Stevenson started releasing singles from her latest album Cocksure.

I loved Stevenson's last record, Wheel. With bits of country and folk accompanying her beautiful voice, Stevenson sang of the plodding nature of life and worried about being unbalanced and a liar. The perspective is similar on Cocksure, but this time Stevenson's self deprecation comes bundled with loud guitars and power pop hooks. That's probably helped along by the fact that her old Bomb The Music Industry! bandmate, Jeff Rosenstock, produced.

"Out with a Whimper" kicks things off with a loud, opening chord. The song is one of the slower burns on the record, as Stevenson belts ("Telluride"-style) over increasingly urgent guitars. She sings of toxic dissatisfaction and disaffection: "We're here while we're here, but I fear we're not here while we're here."

That nearly five-minute opener gives way to the album's two, roughly three-minute, singles. "Torch Song" is bouncy, poppy. On it, Stevenson sounds like she's dealing with the insecurity that accompanies a long-distance relationship.

"Jellyfish" could be my theme song. I've read several reviews of Cocksure that comment on the fact that the album buries its sometimes pretty downer lyrics in power pop or pop punky melodies. That's true, but it doesn't seem so incongruous to me. When I've spent far too long "at home and indoors," when I'm feeling that "I'm wasting away my life and gifts on being a piece of shit" like Stevenson does on "Jellyfish," I rarely turn to something sad and mopey. I turn to something like "Jellyfish," with its loud guitars, feedback, and four-letter words.

The theme of spending too much time "at home and indoors" pops up a couple of times. "Diet of Worms" is a louder version of the country sounds on Wheel. The song finds Stevenson looking down on the world as she sits alone in her room, judging and feeling like an asshole for it: "And I suffer fools like you. And I suffer fools all my life. And I will blow my hot air." On the frantic and punky "Happier, Etc.," we get, "My big blue house, A sinking pit and I'm sinking into it."

"Fine Print" finds Stevenson's character at the altar giving her betrothed one, final warning about all the stuff rolling around inside her head. "There's a monster under all this tulle. You'll never get out."

"Life Is Long" runs with an upbeat, driving song quality that finds Stevenson declaring, "I don't wanna be sick no more." This is one of those cases, I think, where the upbeat nature of the song -- and even that statement taken out of context -- is hiding something pretty dark right in plain sight.

Set closer, "Tom Sawyer/You Know Where You Can Find Me," harkens back to some of Stevenson's more singer / songwriter-style work, but it has its bursts of rock energy. It could be a companion piece to "Life Is Long" with lines like "Does it hurt more where you are?"

As I read through the above, I'm starting to think that I picked out some of the darker aspects of Cocksure to highlight. One thing I want to be clear about, though, is that this is a rock record. In most places, it's loud, noisy and full of rock and roll energy. And that's the way I like it.

There's definitely a time and a place for sitting and wallowing with your insecurities. But sometimes it takes a little anger or ass-kicking to make you want to do something about them. To get you out there picking up that dog shit.

Cocksure is out now on Don Giovanni Records.

Second Single from Laura Stevenson's Cocksure

Laura Stevenson at MHOW in 2014

"Jellyfish"

When the latest single from Laura Stevenson's Cocksure premiered on Noisey the other day, I joked on Twitter:

I've spoken to @laurastevenson for maybe a total of 30 seconds in my life, so it's weird that she knows me so well. http://t.co/4NpB1iUzy0

— CoolDad Music (@CoolDadMusic) September 14, 2015

But I'm telling you: That "I'll be home and indoors. I'll be home and indoors. Because I'm wasting away my life and gifts on being a piece of shit" line really hit home for me. I can only hope that my own being lazy and a loser and a piece of shit can result in things that are maybe one iota as beautiful and inspiring as the stuff produced by Stevenson.

Anyway... ...Cocksure is out on October 30th from Don Giovanni.

New Single from Laura Stevenson. New Album on Don Giovanni October 30th

Laura Stevenson at Asbury Lanes in 2013.

"Torch Song"

I've been a big fan of Laura Stevenson's music since she blew me away at Asbury Lanes back in 2013. Wheel ended up being one of my favorite records of 2013 with all of its allusions to our smallness in the face of nature (the moon, specifically) and its many comparisons of the plodding work of living to the rolling of some giant wheel.

Since that show at Asbury Lanes, I've seen Laura Stevenson and her band, The Cans, whenever I could make it work. I've also waited patiently for her to give us something new. Today, Stevenson released the first single from her upcoming Cocksure, which is due from Don Giovanni Records on October 30th. "Torch Song" is a rolling bit of pop rock that features Stevenson -- in her sweetly beautiful voice -- stating, "I don't like your tone" and challenging, "T-t-test me."

Stevenson also announced a fall tour that, alas, comes too late for her to make another stop at Asbury Lanes; but there are Philly and New York dates. You can head over to SPIN for all the details.

Don Giovanni Records Showcase Starts Tonight. New Brick Mower.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

New Brunswick's Don Giovanni Records has grown into, quite simply, one of the most important independent record labels in the country. Nowhere is that more evident than at the label's annual showcase. Founded as kind of an alternative to the industry / corporate showcases at events like CMJ or SXSW, the Don Giovanni event features bands from the label, bands who are friends of the label, and a real sense of community.

This year's event spans three days in Brooklyn. Tonight's show is at Death By Audio and features Tenement, Vacation, Nuclear Santa Claust, The Groucho Marxists, and the Jersey Shore's Night Birds.

Nights Two and Three take place at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tomorrow night's lineup consists of Laura Stevenson, Shellshag, Upset, Worriers, and Nude Beach; while Saturday brings Screaming Females, California X, Brick Mower, Priests, and the currently Asbury-based Black Wine.

These are some great bands that I've written about often here and elsewhere (click the little tags at the bottom of this post or the "Speak Into My Good Eye" tab up above to see all of that). As of right now, it looks like tickets are still available for each night, including two-day passes to the MHOW shows. If you can't make it, watch for my coverage over at Speak Into My Good Eye.

Also, take a listen to the brand new "Shitty Parade" from New Jersey Pop Punks Brick Mower whose album Teenage Graceland comes out March 25th on Don Giovanni.

CoolDad's Top 5 Favorite Choruses of 2013

All For "One"

The chorus is the most important part of any pop song. If it's a good one, then you remember the song and turn up the radio every time the song comes on, waiting for your chance to sing along when the chorus comes around. I'm not talking about silly earworm type things like, "I live for the applause, applause, applause. / I live for the applause -plause. / Live for the applause -plause." For me, a great chorus comes from either setting some clever wordplay to a memorable melody or from getting a big idea into, maybe, just a few words that stay with you.

I'm gonna come right out and confess something: This list is really just a vehicle designed to let me tell you how much I love my number 1 chorus of 2013. I think, though, that building a list just so that you can have something sit at number 1 is a useful exercise. It made me think about all of the other great choruses from this year and why number 1 stood out from the crowd.

Oh, and there won't be any Katy Perry or Maroon 5 on here. Nothing against them, but I really only hear those things in the minivan. I'm gonna stick to the stuff I really loved.

5. "Life" -- Modern Hut

"I'm not proud of the things that I've done in this life. / But that's alright / 'Cause I will die."

Joe Steinhardt and Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster take turns on this line both to open the song and after each of the verses. I guess -- like most of the record -- it's kind of a downer.

This can be read as, "I'm worthless, but that's ok. Eventually the world will be rid of me." I prefer to take the slightly more upbeat angle of, "Life is short, so I'm gonna keep plugging away, doing the best I can, even though I kinda suck at it."



4. "I Need My Girl" -- The National

"I need my girl. / I need my girl."

It makes sense that one of Matt Berninger's simplest, most easily understood songs would contain this very simple statement about missing his wife. I know that when I'm separated from CoolMom for any length of time -- even though I keep myself busy with the kids and other things -- I find myself saying the same thing to myself in the quiet moments.



3. "Runner" -- Laura Stevenson

"The summer hurts! / The summer hurts! / The summer hurts! / The summer hurts! / The summer hurts! / The summer hurts!"

Stevenson's Wheel isn't about the cycle of life or the changing of seasons. Instead, it's often about futility, plodding, and dealing with life's relentless beat downs. When it first comes around, this chorus is preceded by the phrase, "Like a steady beating."

I think we can all remember periods characterized by personal lows from which we thought we'd never dig ourselves out, and this chorus captures that for me.



2. "Ohm" -- Yo La Tengo

"'Cause this is it for all we know / So say goodnight to me / And lose no more time / No time. / Resisting the flow."

This chorus is, basically, the mission statement for Fade. Indie rock veterans, Yo La Tengo, made an album about aging and the passage of time. To me, anyway, Fade tells us that life is really just a collection of moments. Some of the smallest can be the most special, and it's important to recognize and remember them.



1. "Step" -- Vampire Weekend

"The gloves are off. / The wisdom teeth are out. / What you on about? / I feel it in my bones. / I feel it in my bones. / I'm stronger now. / I'm ready for the house. / Such a modest mouse. / I can't do it alone. / I can't do it alone."

Maybe, for my money, the best song in the Vampire Weekend catalog. There's a lot going on here, but I love this chorus. When Ezra Koenig says that "What you on about?" I smirk every time. I'm not even sure why -- just the way he says it, maybe.

"Step" and its chorus contain all that people love and hate about Vampire Weekend: The precious chamber pop, the overly literate lyrics, and a density of references. I tend to like all those things.

Ezra and the band are older now. They're not kids anymore, and Modern Vampires of the City really has them exploring some of life's bigger issues. "Step" harkens back to some of the stuff on their first record, like "M79," and almost makes fun of that product of the younger Vampire Weekend while improving upon it by leaps and bounds.

Things Have Been Slow

Not For Long, I Hope

Things have been kind of slow around here of late. I guess there are fewer releases towards the end of the year, or maybe it's just that I haven't been particularly inspired. I'm hoping that will all change as the end of the year is packed full of shows and things to do.

Starting this Friday, CoolMom, CD #1 and I will be catching an early showing of Catching Fire, part 2 in the Hunger Games saga. This is actually quite a big deal for them, and I'm going along for the ride. Later that evening, I hope to make it over to The Saint for Speed The Plough, The Glenn Mercer Band, and Wild Carnation.

Then, on Thanksgiving Eve, November 27th, Tom's River's River City Extension will be holding their fourth annual Simple Gifts homecoming show with support from Kevin Devine, Those Mockingbirds, and Harper's Fellow. Frontman Joe Michelini promised in a recent interview with Speak Into My Good Eye that the set will go down as the longest that River City Extension have ever played. That may make it difficult to catch all the bands (Dentist, The Drive Home, Mad Feather Group) at the unofficial after party at Asbury Lanes, but I'll try.

The Asbury Music Awards come to The Stone Pony on December 12th. Jeff Raspe hosts the event and the bill always includes performances from many of the best that our area has to offer. That same weekend, on December 14th, I'll be heading to Brooklyn's Bell House for one of Yo La Tengo's post-Hanukkah shows there. They're doing three nights instead of eight this year and not at Maxwell's, of course.

Nicole Atkins will be bringing a full live performance of her debut album, Neptune City, to The Stone Pony to celebrate the holidays on December 20th. She's bringing along a full string section.

I'll be closing out the year at The Stone Pony for two nights of The Bouncing Souls' Home for the Holidays residency on December 27th and December 28th. The 27th features openers Laura Stevenson and Molly and the Zombies (a band name which many are hoping is a cover for some permutation of a certain New Brunswick band whose frontman / songwriter is a native of Red Bank, NJ). Appropriately, the 28th -- which will probably be my final show of the year -- features support from Titus Andronicus, a band whose shirt I'm wearing as I write and that accounts for a good percentage of the space here at CoolDad Music.

I'll write something about all of this stuff. Of course, I'll probably do at least one year-end post as well. And, remember: If things ever get slow around here, I usually keep my stream of consciousness going on Twitter and Facebook. You can give a follow or a like at either place if you want to make sure that I'm still alive.

I hope to see you at one or two of these upcoming shows.

Come say hi. I'll buy you a beverage, and we can toast 2013.

Too Many Meetings Edition

Way Too Many for a Friday. Or Any Day, Really.

Pesky work has been taking up too much space in my brain lately for me to come up with anything worth posting. School and kids' activities are also in full swing and competing for CPU cycles.

I'll try to mentally reconfigure things by going to Asbury Lanes tonight to see Laura Stevenson, Dentist, Paper Streets, and Cayetana with CoolMom. You should come find us if you're planning on going. And you should plan on going because it promises to be an excellent evening.

In preparation, I did manage to finally write a review of Laura Stevenson's latest album, which you can go check out at Speak Into My Good Eye.

Try to survive until the weekend, and...

Rock on.