Do You Hear What I Hear? Micachu Offers Up Delight For Your Ears

Micachu, aka Mica Levi, is a classically trained, British-born, indie experimental pop musician. She formed a band with Raisa Khan (keyboards) and Marc Pell (drums) called The Shapes, then released her debut fill length album, Jewellery, via Rough Trade Records on April 7th in the States. Their band page can be found here or on MySpace. Levi has been praised for her eccentric musical performance style. She "uses a modified guitar played with a hammer action called a ‘chu’ and a bowed instrument fashioned from a CD rack. She also uses improvised instruments, such as glass bottles or a vacuum cleaner." (http://www.roughtraderecords.com/micachu/1195/micachu-the-shapes)

Jewellery sounds like a quirky mix of noise pop scattered with electronica zooms, tinks, and dinks all the while incorporating catchy poppy hooks. "Lips" is a short groovalicious fuzz pop tune lasting only 1:20, just long enough to bob your head and tap your feet. In fact most of the first half of Jewellery is under three minutes. "Curly Teeth" is an indietronica track if I've ever heard one; however, it also falls in the realm of folksy pop (or freak folk) if you listen to the acoustic arrangement underneath. "Golden Phone" is more mainstream electronica with a funky handclapping edge, but even it has a distinct feel apart from what you may be used to. "Ship" sounds like 'video game sound'-infused, funky trip, britpop. "Just In Case" is another example of what seems like a simple acoustic track turned Micachu - the start and stop beat, the looped hip-hop inspired chorus backing, the lyrical quirkiness. "Calculator" is the lead single from this album. It can best be described as thrash acoustic indie pop with a "Tequila"-inspired hook that ends like a bad carnival ride.

Check Micachu and The Shapes out if and when they come to a city near you. You should be in for quite a show . . . and a musical epiphany as well!!

Experience A Riot Grrrl 'Scramble'

The Coathangers fashion themselves a riot grrrl revival band. The Atlanta four-piece started out as girlfriends and in three short years have grown into the band mates they are today. Julia Kugel (guitar/vocals), Stephanie Luke (drums/vocals), Candice Jones (keyboards/vocals), and Meredith Franco (bass/vocals) say "every song is an art project, a starting over, a scramble". The fruit of their loins began with The Coathangers, released in November 2006, and has culminated in Scramble, released earlier this month (April 7th) off the Suicide Squeeze label. Stream their lastest album here.

The first track, "Toomerhead", is a piano-backed, artsy post-punk rock jam. "Stomp Stomp Stompin'" is a garage rock infused, Bikini Kill-inspired, musical art piece. Songs like "Time Passing", "Bury Me", "Pussywillow", and "143" mix the riot grrrl sound with modern garage rock and indie rock stylings. "Gettin' Mad And Pumpin' Iron" is a bouncy, energizing more-classic sounding riot grrrl song, complete with semi-incoherent screamed lyrics and blazin' guitar work. The overall album is quite a treat for fans of the riot grrrl sound and word is these girls put on a show. Be sure to catch them touring in a city near you!

Place Indieface Artist - April 3rd

A Place Indieface Artist you must associate yourself with is Bad Veins from Cincinnati, Ohio. Bad Veins consists of multi-functional vocalist/guitarist Ben Davis and drummer Sebastien Schultz. The twosome play their style of electro indie rock "backed by a reel-to-reel player that runs everything from keyboards to full orchestral sounds", according to an interview done with hometown publication, CityBeat. They call their unofficial third bandmate, "Irene".

Around since 2006, but mainly buzzed about since playing at SXSW last year, Bad Veins has recorded their first full length album, yet to be released. They have a quirky appeal to the steadfast performances surrounding their thought-provoking lyrics. Songs like "Falling Tide" and "Gold and Warm" make you groove out and listen up at the same time. Check out their MySpace and their personal website for songs and news concerning their music.

Place Indieface Artists - March 27th: A Little of The "The"

The highly praised L.A. area based band, The Henry Clay People, is an outfit you should be hearing in your ears right now via Autumn Tone Records. Their throwback sensibilities and infectious live performances make for a rockin' good time. I don't know if they should even be called "indie" because of the "classic" approach they take to rock music, but either way the "nothing extra" feel they take is what makes them stand apart in this indie rock landscape. They let out Blacklist the Kid with the Red Moustache in March 2007 and For Cheap Or For Free in November 2008. "Something In the Water" and "This Ain't a Scene" are standout songs for me off the former.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart hail from Brooklyn and dabble in a form of indie pop music that is equal parts pop nostalgia, noise rock, and shoegaze. What makes them different is also what makes them interesting to listen to. Their music is upbeat, short and to the point, just the kinda music to get you hooked. They released their self-titled debut via Slumberland Records on February 3rd of this year and also have a few EPs they have released in the past available for consumption. "Contender" and "Young Adult Friction" demonstrate the tri-headed concept well.

Place Indieface Artist - March 20th: Brooklyn Band Makes Heavenly Noise

Asobi Seksu (Japanese slang for "playful sex") released a new album last month (February 17th), but I missed out on reviewing it then. The shoegaze, dream pop labeled, NY based band has been around since 2004, having released their self-titled debut album via Friendly Fire Recordings in May of that year. Citrus came out in May 2006. Both collections demonstrate the multi-layered approach to indie music a band has the capability of turning out if they put in the effort. High-strung playing and pedal slamming on their guitar work and opaque, elaborate musicality for their more mellow jams make Asobi Seksu a place indieface artist.

Their first release off new label Polyvinyl Records, Hush, definitely contains more of a celestial feel to it. The ambient nature of the music and the ethereal sound of vocalist Yuki Chikudate truly place this musically educated group to the forefront of your attention. "Glacially" is a bouncy little diddy that captures the harmonizing nature of Asobi Seksu. "Me & Mary" follows in the tradition of the New York sound, with drum beats in a garage rock-like nature produced in unison with the post-punk swagger known to captivate many a listener. Other standouts are "Gliss" and "Sing Tomorrow's Praise". The whole album is a departure of sorts from previous work, but you can still catch their progression as it has developed naturally. Pick up Hush today!

If I Were To Attend, SXSW Must See Bands

If I were lucky enough to have the time and funds to attend this year's South by Southwest Music Festival (just a short drive north), these are just some of the acts/bands I would love be in attendance for [maybe you'll get to go]:

Single Performances Worth Seeing - Wednesday March 18th

dd/mm/yyyy - experimental indie rock with a lot of percussion
SESAC Day Stage Cafe Austin Convention Center (2 pm) OR Emo's Jr (12 am)

Crocodile - quirky indie pop rock with bouncy beats
Wave Rooftop (8 pm)

Starf*cker - synth-heavy indie rock with catchy pop hooks
Radio Room (9 pm)

Winter Gloves - chill groove synth electropop
Habana Calle 6 Patio (10 pm)

Fol Chen - indie pop touching on indietronica sound with mainstream influences
Beauty Bar (10pm)

Port O'Brien - indie rock with a folksy twist
Buffalo Billiards (10pm)

Dan Auerbach - Black Keys guitarist/frontman goes solo
The Parish (10:45 pm)

Miniature Tigers - alternative, poppy indie rock
Spiro's (11pm)

Mother Mother - modernized take on indie pop rock
Habana Calle 6 Patio (1am)

If You Can Only Be One Place:

If you have limited time and money, plan on being at Vice where Cut Off Your Hands, The Von Bondies, Peter, Bjorn, and John, and Glasvegas are playing.

Single Performances Worth Seeing - Thursday March 19th

Arkells - Canadian indie rockers
Cedar Street Courtyard (8:30 pm)

Bishop Allen - rockin' indie pop from the BK
Mohawk Patio (8:50 pm)

The Wet Secrets - unique indie rock with horn section
El Sol y La Luna (9 pm)

Vivian Girls - Brooklyn punk outfit for indie music lovers
Aces Lounge (9 pm)

Dirty Projectors - Brooklyn experimental indietronica
Emo's Annex (9 pm)

Meat Puppets - classic grunge rockers re-up for reunion of band and sound
Stubb's (9 pm)

The Henry Clay Project - L.A. rock quartet much in fashion of The Replacements
The Independent (10 pm)

Crystal Stilts - indie psychedelic rock with punkish influences
Red 7 Patio (10 pm)

The Thermals - Portland, high-energy, alternative indie punk rockers
Red Eyed Fly (10pm)

Two Hours Traffic - alternative feeling indie rock
El Sol y La Luna (11 pm)

Golden Filter - NY based electronica/pop group with a lot of buzz
Beauty Bar (11:45 pm)

Blizten Trapper - Portland, Sub Pop indie rock artist
Radio Room Patio (12 am)

Blind Pilot - Portland, Oregon indie pop
Club de Ville (12 am)

Women - indie rock with a smoother, chill groove feel
Mohawk (12 am)

Army Navy - pop rock with melodic indie incantations
BD Riley's (1 am)

If You Can Only Be One Place:
La Zona Rosa with Dananananaykroyd (8:30 pm), Camara Obscura (9:30 pm), and Glasvegas (11:30 pm)

Single Perfomances Worth Seeing - Friday March 20th

Shiny Toy Guns - indie electro rock band based outta OKC
SXSW Live (The Bat Bar) Austin Convention Center (8 pm)

The Uglysuit - Oklahoma-grown indie rock Flamingo Cantina (9 pm)

Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - unique take on indie pop with banjo & horns

Momo's (9pm)

Datarock - indie rock electronica in fashion of DEVO and Talking Heads
Austin Music Hall (10 pm)

The Cute Lepers - mod styled, modern indie punk with pop tendencies
Red 7 Patio (10:45 pm)

Japanese Motors - beach version of The Strokes' kind of indie rock
Emo's Main Room (11 pm)

Grizzly Bear - experimental/freak indie folk rock
Cedar Street Courtyard (11:45 pm)

St. Vincent - Dallas songstress Annie Clark showing versatile indie rock flair
Antone's (12am)

Laura Marling - British singer-songwriter who delivers distinctive indie folk
Central Presbyterian Church (12 am)

The Bird and The Bee - melodic electropop
Karma Lounge (12 am)

Japanther - high-energy, goofball indie punk
Headhunters (12:05 am)

Asobi Seksu - sweet sounding Brooklyn indie rock popsters with shoegaze feel
Habana Calle 6 Patio (1 am)

Okkervil River - local Austin indie rock with a catchy nature
The Parish (1 am)

Single Performances Worth Seeing - Saturday March 21st

Say Hi - Seattle based rock sound by way of Brooklyn
SESAC Day Stage Cafe Austin Convention Center (1 pm)

Fastball - 90's Austin alt-rockers making noise on scene once again
Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake) (4:50 pm)

White Lies - indie rock that is dark, moody, and dense from London
Stubb's (7:40 pm)

Explosions In The Sky - Austin area post-rock band high on instrumentals
Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake) (8 pm)

Iran - indie noise pop-rock at its best
Club de Ville (8 pm)

Gentleman Reg - indie rock singer-songwriter
Beauty Bar (9 pm)

Harlem - Austin duo with indie rockness in their jamming bodies
Beauty Bar Backyard (9:05 pm)

Hollerado - quirky, catchy, on-the-fly Canadian indie rock
Beauty Bar (10 pm)

The Hours - British post-punk, alternative rockers
Dirty Dog Bar (11 pm)

Voxtrot - Austin indie pop rock
Emo's Jr (11 pm)

The Mae Shi - L.A. experimental, electronic indie rock
Mohawk Patio (11 pm)

Echo and The Bunnymen - Liverpool, England new ravers and rockers
Rusty Spurs (12 am)

Silversun Pickups - L.A. indie rockers who provide melodic tunes
Antone's (12 am)

Ra Ra Riot - Syracuse, NY indie pop featuring cello and violin
The Parish (1 am)

The Spinto Band - Wilmington, DE indie popsters with rock infusions
Room 710 (1 am)

If You Can Only Be One Place:

Maggie Mae's is the place to be on Saturday night. The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, The Little Ones, Anya Marina, The Republic Tigers, Youth Group, Your Vegas appear all in one venue from 8 pm - 1 am!

Place Indieface Artist - March 8th

It seems like music out of Canada has all my attention these days. Maybe there is something to the intent of that Canada Music Fund after all.

Even though his most recent music has been out since September of last year, yet another artist out of the Great North deserves to have your attention right now. Hailing from Nova Scotia by way of Hamilton, Ontario, Matt Mays is a Canadian singer-songwriter who mixes his rock paintbrush in equal parts alternative rock and folk, while dabbling along the way in the electronic arts to highlight a portrait of the artist as a young man, as James Joyce might get you to see. He previously has maintained a presence as a member of the Canadian alt-country group, The Guthries, from the late 90's through the early 2000's. Some have dubbed his sound early Tom Petty/Elvis Costello; others have seen him evolve into more of a Beck/Nine Inch Nails influenced sphere of musicality. Whatever you might hear in his music, Matt Mays is sure to bring about an enjoyable experience.

Continuing in the country-western voice of The Guthries, Matt Mays released his self-titled, debut album, Matt Mays, in 2003, but didn't make a real name in indie music until 2005 when the heavy rotation single and accompanying video, "Cocaine Cowgirl", splashed onto the Canadian music scene. It's a tune that could easily get mistaken for a mid to late 90's alternative diddy, which I just happened to get reared on. The track was off Matt Mays + El Torpedo, his first album with new four-piece backing band featuring Jarrett Murphy on guitar, Brad Conrad on organ and pedal steel, Tim Baker on drums, and Andy Patil on bass. Standouts on the release also include, "St. George's Lane" and "Time of Your Life (Til' Your Dead)", which also conjures up throwback 90's alt-rock.

All this is preface to what is before us now. Released in September 2008, Terminal Romance carries the creative spirit of Mays further than it has ever been before. Tracks like "Tall Trees" and "The Hunter, The Hunted" demonstrate the references to Petty, while the title track rides the rockin' ability of a piano into an epic, Springsteen-like jam. I realize the implications of throwing a comparison out there like this, but if you aren't a fanatical Boss fan who refuses to recognize the inescapable influence the man has had upon music, you might be able to hear me out on this one. Judgement free zone here guys ;-). Also worth mentioning is a film project/soundtrack that Mays developed in 2006. Music for the film, When The Angels Made Contact, proves as eclectic as ever while movie info can be found here.

If you've been asking yourself where you can relive the music you might be missing from yesteryear, you can get it today in Matt Mays & El Torpedo.

Place Indieface Artist - February 25th

Hollerado all grew up on the same tiny street in Ontario, Canada. The band is pure energy about 90% of the time but the other 10% consists of setups to the production of energy. They sound like a good time 100% of the time.

Their full length release Record In A Bag, out since last month, follows in the tradition of their Demo In A Bag series of album releases, most of which can be found on iTunes. "On My Own" carries a heavy drum beat over a catchy lyrical sing-along. "Americanarama" is a very hard song to stop listening to for the mere head-bobbing and "do-do-doing" it induces. "Juliette" talks about the idiosyncrasies of the title character while featuring heavy guitar riffs and a chill, medium toned melody.

You can download the whole album for free at their website through a zip file. Actually, everything you might want to hear, know and see about Hollerado can be found at their website. Be sure to send in your most awesome nacho recipes!

Place Indieface Artists - February 4th

Sometimes bands come along and you just wanna tell everyone you know how great they are, why they should be known, and where you can see them live! Both of these bands just happen to be from our neighbor to the North, but future posts of PIA (Place Indieface Artists) will feature multi-continental music. You may already know about these two acts below, but if you don't, take some time to visit the links and learn why you should place these artists in YOUR face.

The Weakerthans
These lyrically deep Canadian indie rockers from The Peg have been around for about 10 years, but have produced only four albums in that time. They seem to have a solid fan base but need your help to stay relevant. Trust; they're worth the investment! The Weakerthans straddle the indie rock fence involving post-punk, power pop, and alt-country. Two of their best tracks are "Sun In An Empty Room" and "Civil Twilight" from their most recent full length release Reunion Tour out since September 2007. Reconstruction Site features a chill groove title track you can jam out to; this downloadable version was released in January 2008.

The Dears
Inconsistently consistent? However you look at The Dears, the newest lineup of orchestral rock from Montreal mixes power pop elements with harder rock passions to produce a melodic sound sure to peak your interests. Read about their journey at their website. Their most recent release, Missiles, out since October 2008 contains the single "Money Babies". Another haunting-like track with soul searching lyrics worth checking out is "There Goes My Outfit" off the 2006 release Gang of Losers. The video included in this post shows the new formation of The Dears playing their first gig and the joys of life traveling across the Great Northwest [language may be inappropriate for some viewers ;-)]