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Listen: Dead Cat Bounce - "Living the Dream" and "Food Blogger"
Mike McKinley
September 26, 2011
Dead Cat Bounce saxophonist/bandleader Matt Steckler's compositions are compelling enough on their own, but it's how they are arranged and delivered in this band that gives this music so much punch, depth and life. With a saxophone quartet out in front and a rhythm section that swings like crazy, they create a sound that is both robust and beautifully subtle. Yeah, the horns get blazing hot, but just as equally potent is the fantastic interplay and conversation the players are having.

Check out these tracks from their latest, Chance Episodes (out September 27th on Cuneiform Records), to see what I mean. Also check out some additional info on the band and upcoming tour dates below...

"Living the Dream"
Living The Dream - Dead Cat Bounce by BK Music PR

"Food Blogger"
Food Blogger - Dead Cat Bounce by BK Music PR

Bolstered by bassist Dave Ambrosio and drummer Bill Carbone, DCB features an interactive and inventive frontline quartet of saxophonists: Matt Steckler, Charlie Kohlhase, Terry Goss, and Jared Sims. Drawing inspiration from blues and funk, as well as Caribbean, Brazilian, and West African traditions, DCB's fourth studio album, Chance Episodes (September 27 release on Cuneiform Records) presents a cosmopolitan and international sound, all in a stunning interpretation of Steckler's original arrangements.


Tuesday, October 4 -- Ryles Jazz Club, Cambridge, MA
Thursday, October 20 -- Bela Dubby, Cleveland, OH
Friday, October 21 -- Kerrytown Concert House - Edgefest, Ann Arbor, MI
Saturday, October 22 -- Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL
Sunday, October 23 -- Surrounded by Reality Presents DCB at Audio for the Arts, Madison, WI
Monday, October 24 -- Walker West Music Academy (workshop), St. Paul, MN
Monday, October 24 -- Studio Z, St. Paul, MN
Tuesday, October 25 -- University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Wednesday, October 26 -- University of Iowa (workshop), Iowa City, IA
Wednesday, October 26 -- Blue Moose Tap House, Iowa City, IA
Thursday, October 27 -- Sugar Maple, Milwaukee, WI
Friday, November 25 -- The Stone, New York, NY Video: American Babies - "Joeline"
Mike McKinley
September 10, 2011


American Babies' Flawed Logic is filled with gems, but "Joeline" always seems to rise to the top for me. The band has just released this video for the song in correlation with the launch of their new web site (americanbabies.net) and their fall touring plans that include dates supporting Bruce Hornsby and the Felice Brothers.

AMERICAN BABIES TOUR DATES:

September 23rd - Charlottesville, VA - The Box (Post-Umphrey's McGee Party)
September 24th - Floyd, VA - Sun Music Hall
September 30th - Englewood, NJ - Bergen PAC (Supporting BRUCE HORNSBY)
October 1st - New York, NY - Rockwood Music Hall
October 2nd - Boston, MA - The Wilbur Theatre (Supporting BRUCE HORNSBY)
October 4th - Harrisburg, PA - Appalachian Brewing Co. (Supporting FELICE BROTHERS)
October 16th - Easton, PA - Lafayette College
October 18th - Brooklyn, NY - Spike Hill (CMJ Showcase)
October 20th - Raleigh, NC - The Pour House
October 21st - Wilmington, NC - The Pour House

Bill Frisell Plays John Lennon
Mike McKinley
August 30, 2011
Ever go through musician withdrawal? All of a sudden out of the blue you become super aware that it's been too long since you've had a good listen? Well, the other day an irrepressible urge to hear Bill Frisell came to me and I went back to some classics -- the live release East/West at a healthy volume and Gone, Just Like a Train for good measure.

Frisell's never quiet. If a few months go by and you don't hear about anything, it means he's working on something or that something is about to be released. Case in point, just as I was feeding my urge and looking up tour dates (I'm totally longing to see him play live), my friend Jim sent me over a link to this video of his latest endeavor: the music of John Lennon. Here's a video with great insight from Bill and longtime producer/collaborator Lee Townsend about their connection to this music. The record, All We Are Saying, comes out on September 27th on Savoy Jazz -- see the press release and track listing below.




Press Release
Consummate guitarist‚ composer and musical interpreter Bill Frisell has assembled a trusted ensemble consisting of Jenny Scheinman (violin)‚ Tony Scherr (bass)‚ Greg Leisz (guitars) and Kenny Wollesen (drums) to record his take on the classic songs of John Lennon. Titled "ALL WE ARE SAYING‚" the project has long been in the works-one could go as far back as the first time he heard the Beatles at the age of 13. Fast forward a few decades and Frisell is asked to put together an impromptu set in honor of John Lennon as part of a special event in Paris. The preparation‚ performances and reception to these compositions was an inspiration nurtured to fruition with this project. Recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and produced by Lee Townsend‚ "ALL WE ARE SAYING" will be released on Savoy Jazz on September 27.

Described by the Wall Street Journal as "the most innovative and influential jazz guitarist of the past 25 years" Frisell's artistry has earned across the board praise for his instinctual musicianship-working both within and beyond the parameters of jazz music as he effortlessly incorporates elements of Americana‚ world‚ blues‚ classical‚ creating a rich and unique aural tapestry.

Says Frisell: "John Lennon's music has been with me‚ the band‚ everybody‚ the world...seems like forever. The songs are part of us. In our blood. There was nothing we really needed to do to prepare for this. We've been preparing our whole lives. The songs are there. All we had to do was play them. Everyone involved with this has their own personal‚ deep‚ long‚ relationship to John Lennon's music. It connects us all and brings us together. I feel blessed having the chance to play this music with these people".

"All We Are Saying" song list:

Across the Universe
Revolution
Nowhere Man
Imagine
Please Please Me
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Hold On
In My Life
Come Together
Julia
Woman
# 9 Dream
Love
Beautiful Boy
Mother
Give Peace a Chance Surprise Me Mr. Davis Plans to Liberate Canada!
Mike McKinley
August 17, 2011



I recently sent out a reminder about how Surprise Me Mr. Davis is awesome. This coming week the band has many opportunities to prove me wrong. Most likely… yeah‚ they'll prove me right. They're kicking off their tour this Saturday at Liberate and then moving up north to Canada‚ where hopefully they've convinced the Canadian government that there's a lot of things fucked up in this world‚ however‚ singer/songwriter Nathan Moore is NOT one of them (read below press release on Nathan's quest to enter Canada).

The band has quite the history of making spontaneous magic in Vermont (thanks for the rejections Canada!)‚ so yes‚ Liberate is going to be off the wall, as MJ would say. I'm predicting some northeast High Sierra kind of shit will be going down. I also have a feeling that after Liberate‚ they'll do something in Burlington to get their ya-yas out. I'm going to say Sunday night‚ post-Liberate soul cleanser. They always do something surprising‚ right?

Here are the Surprise Me Mr. Davis tour dates:

August 20 | Liberate Festival | Sheldon‚ VT
August 23 | La Sala Rossa | Montreal‚ Quebec
August 24 | Elmdale House | Ottawa‚ Ontario
August 25 | Horseshoe Tavern | Toronto‚ Ontario
August 26 | Casbah | Hamilton‚ Ontario
August 27 | Slyfest at North Fork Music Park | Warsaw‚ NY
January 9-14 | Jam Cruise 10 | Ft. Lauderdale‚ FL

And here's something for your ears…
"Everything Must Go" from NYE 2010 at Café Du Nord in San Francisco

SURPRISE ME MR. DAVIS

Featuring Brad & Andrew Barr‚ Nathan Moore‚ Marc Friedman & Marco Benevento

Supporting recent EP release That Man Eats Morning For Breakfast

Brooklyn‚ NY -- Surprise Me Mr. Davis is a dogged beast. For a number of reasons the band could have hung it up years ago. To begin with‚ its members live in five cities spread out over two countries: guitarist & vocalist Brad Barr and his brother drummer Andrew Barr in Montreal‚ Canada; bassist Marc Friedman in Lakeville‚ MA; vocalist & guitarist Nathan Moore splitting his time between Staunton‚ VA and San Francisco‚ CA and keyboardist Marco Benevento in Saugherties‚ NY. Everybody is working on a number of different projects: Andrew and Brad are set to release their debut LP with The Barr Brothers as they simultaneously plot the next album by The Slip; Nathan just re-invented the touring paradigm for the modern folk singer with Hippy Fiasco Rides Again after releasing the best record of his career - Dear Puppeteer; Marc is producing the new Big Light album while hatching plans along with Brad and Andrew for The Slip's future; and Marco is recording a new studio album in the midst of playing over two hundred shows this year with both his own trio and Garage A Trois. It would be an understatement to say it's hard to get these five kids on the same page let alone the same stage. Yet when the opportunity presents itself to play a few shows together‚ Surprise Me Mr. Davis jumps at the opportunity. And going back to the dogged beast metaphor‚ in which direction do they decide to head? They announce shows in the one place they're not allowed --Canada.

In 2005‚ Nathan Moore had an encounter with the California police on his way to High Sierra Music Festival. The resulting infractions forbid his entrance into the land of the Maples and Pines. This was discovered when Nathan tried to enter Canada for the recording sessions that would become the ep That Man Eats Morning For Breakfast‚ but was turned away at the border.

All that being said‚ Surprise Me Mr. Davis has petitioned the Canadian government to seek pardon by supplying fingerprints‚ passports‚ criminal history records‚ requests from Canadian promoters‚ a lump sum of cash and letters from members of Nathan's community attesting to the fact that he's not only a pacifist who wouldn't harm a soul‚ but that he's one of the his generation's best songwriters with a treasure chest full of songs that crack the universe open wide to reveal all of its beauty and sadness in myriad colors. Thus the Canadian populace should not be denied. So on a wing and a prayer Surprise Me Mr. Davis head to Canada to play four shows (plus two U.S. festival dates) this August in hopes they encounter a kind and compassionate border crossing agent who sends these wide-eyed musicians‚ simply trying to make music together‚ on their way into the strong and free True North. Listen: Megafaun - "State/Meant"
Mike McKinley
August 11, 2011
Check out the single "State/Meant" from Megafaun's upcoming self-titled record (out September 20th on Hometapes Records).

Brad Cook‚ the band's guitarist/bassist, states‚ "This song was a passing thought that erupted into such a complete piece of music in an afternoon. This was the one song where we essentially added nothing after the first day of recording."

Perhaps that's why you can hear Neil Young on this song‚ one of the great champions of capturing magic spontaneously in the studio. It's a great track and they sound super dialed-in, but what comes off the most is the vibe they got -- if they went back the next day to work on this song again, they probably couldn't recreate it sonically. You could also cite Neil because you can hear some loose borrowing of the vocal phrasing on "Cortez the Killer." Listen -- it's completely forgivable though, right?

The band kicks off their North American tour on September 22nd -- check the dates and go see them live.


Megafaun "State/Meant" by Hometapes

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