Slothrust Played Asbury Lanes with Summer Cannibals, 4/28/19

Slothrust by Rose Lamela

Robots and Music

Words and Pictures by Rose Lamela

I tend to have a lot of bands on my radar if you have not caught on to this yet. It's a phenomenon brought to me by streaming services that pick out music for me to listen to through robots and stuff. Sometimes, I think all of the new technology is going to just kill us all by making us lazier and dumber. When it comes to music, technology has expanded what I listen to and gets me to a ton of shows. I owe the robots today as much as I owe the music gods.

Slothrust is one of the bands that the robots and algorithms picked for me. They started to appear in my suggested mixes sometime last summer. "Crockpot" was the first song I ever heard. Between the grungy progressions and funny lyrics, I was sold. It was an instant match. They have been on my radar since then, and it finally became the time to see them live.

It was my second visit to Asbury lanes in two days. It was my first "Sunday Funday" in a while as well. I just wanted to rock out and get some photos in the process. I took the ride to the Jersey shore, got some good Mexican food, and propped myself in the front as usual.

As a photographer, I was pushed into using social media more despite my resistance to it. One perk I tend to forget about is making friends with other photographers virtually. Every once in a while, they become human and walk right up to you and say "Hi" at a show. I met two of my virtual friends, and it was great to see them in human form. Keep it up guys as I enjoy looking at your amazing photos!!

Someone else definitely there in human form was Summer Cannibals. They have a familiar grunge sound to them which I am very happy to hear in 2019. "Simple Life" was one of the songs they played which resulted in me I playing it on repeat throughout the week. The audience gave them a lot of love and yelled out funny banter which the band was quick to respond to. If you have not heard their stuff, it's time to add some to your summer playlists.

Summer Cannibals

Summer Cannibals

Summer Cannibals

Summer Cannibals

Slothrust came on next as the headliner. The crowd sang along to every song which made for a night where everyone at the Lanes was comically connected through music. There was a young fan with a Nirvana t-shirt screaming out every lyric and head banging to every beat. Leah Wellbaum delivered on every lyric and guitar riff. They played a lot of tunes from their latest release, The Pact, including "Double Down" and "Peach." I was happy to hear them also play  "7:30 AM" live and that they chose "Crockpot" for the encore.

Slothrust

Slothrust

Slothrust

Slothrust

Slothrust

It was a great night, and Slothrust has made my list of best bands to see live this year. The year is still young, but the list has begun. I look forward as always to more robots sending me great music to infiltrate my music loving brain.

Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, and Aye Nako Played Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 4/3/15

Mal Blum played the She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase last Friday. Great photo by Mike Petzinger.

Words by Allyson Dwyer

Yesterday, I gave you Mike Petzinger's photo highlights of last Friday's She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase featuring Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, and Aye Nako at Knitting Factory Brooklyn. As promised, here's Allyson Dwyer's take on the event.

The same pair covered the Screaming Females show at Asbury Lanes for us, and I'll get you that tomorrow. For now, here's Allyson. Now, it's time for a limoncello with George.

She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase at Knitting Factory Brooklyn

by Allyson Dwyer

CoolDad is in Italy, probably on a yacht with George Clooney drinking fancy wine and wearing designer scarves; so I'm stepping up to do his dirty work. Usually the designated beer runner, I've finally graduated to covering shows while CoolDad HQ CEO laughs from a distant private yacht.

On Friday, I headed into Brooklyn by my lonesome to check out the She Shreds release showcase with Don Giovanni Records. In between sets, DJ SAD13 (aka Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz) spun tunes. As with the record label's previous three showcases this year, it was held at the Knitting Factory.

I arrived just in time for the beginning of Aye Nako's set. I had listened to Aye Nako, having come across them on a random Spotify playlist, and was excited to catch them live. The Brooklyn-based band had a wonderful dynamic on stage – lo-fi power pop-punk musings, with lead vocals traded off between guitarists Mars and Angie. Roommates, they shared that they have the best name for a dog ever...Broccolini. Holy shit! So cute.

I caught up with Mike Petzinger and other friends, and then got up front to check out Slothrust. I had never seen them before, and I was blown away. From Brooklyn via Boston, they are a band you have to experience live. Watching them play is like watching a perfectly edited, timed short movie. Leah Mallbaum's neurotic lyrics are made unique by her precise guitar playing and calculated-yet-warm voice. My clothes literally floated above my skin to Kyle Bann's basslines, and the hair on my neck rose to each soaring, rising crescendo of a song. Since, their album has not left my car stereo.

Next up was Lauren Measure's Worriers, a band I have seen quite a few times now. It felt like seeing old friends. Sadly, the night was going to be the last that guitarist Rachel Rubino would be playing with the band for some time. But they played their hearts out to an absolutely packed and enthusiastic room. The band are working on a new album. I'm excited to hear more and, of course, to see them again.

The fantastic Mal Blum and band took the stage to play tracks off her recent Tempest In A Teacup as well as new songs from her upcoming album that will be her first for Don Giovanni. Saying I'm excited for this new album is an understatement – and so hearing some of the songs again made me very happy. Plus, Mal Blum is just such a wonderful personality. Her stage presence is just another part of what makes her music so warmly inviting and familiar.

The night was building up for Mirah, an artist each band gushed about being excited to play with. It seems that everyone has a history with her music. I have a few of her albums, but I haven't yet made that deep connection with her in a way that others, like her peers, have. With a long drive ahead of me, I headed out for the night after just a few songs. I heard from Mike Petzinger that, for many in the audience, it was like a religious experience. I can certainly identify. I have a few artists who would, no doubt, do that for me (All Praise Queen Björk).

Stay tuned for another takeover, in which I visit Saturday's Screaming Females show at the Lanes. I know, I'm hella interesting. Xoxo.

Photo Highlights of Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, Aye Nako at Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 4/3/15

Mirah headlined the She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase on Friday night at Knitting Factory Brooklyn.

She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase

So I told you I was lining up some quality substitutes while I was away on vacation. Well, I got talented photographer Mike Petzinger and voice of her generation Allyson Dwyer to cover the She Shreds Magazine / Don Giovanni Showcase on Friday night. The bill featured Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, and Aye Nako. I'm telling you. You will not do any better than the duo of Mike and Allyson when it comes to getting the feel of what it was like to be at any show.

In the interest of SEO and milking the event for all it's worth, I'm first sharing Mike's shots of the evening. Allyson will chime in with her take a little later.

These are just some highlights. For the rest, head over to Mike Petzinger Photography and give his page a like. You'll be treated to plenty of fantastic shots from shows around the NY / NJ area.