Band to Watch: Oui Si Yes
I often wonder about Cincinnati’s local music scene and how hard it must be for a band to be from here. From the lack of a viable alternative radio station to Cincinnati’s prevailing backward-thinking conservative suburbanite culture, it can’t be easy to get noticed. A music scene begins when you have a city that embraces and encourages new ideas to flourish. But I see signs of hope. The rebirth of Over the Rhine into a myriad of progressive restaurants along with the opening of stellar indie music venue The MOTR pub and recent groundbreaking of the Streetcar Project are taking a neighborhood that had race riots in the late 90’s and turning it into the city’s artistic epicenter. The success of mainstream indie music acts at MidPoint Music Festival has led to a weekly summer concert series and even the launching of a music festival called Bunbury this July. So change is happening, and change is good. Lost in that last little rant of mine is that there are plenty of great local acts already creating this new scene and, hopefully, this new found growth and interest in alternative music will get them to a bigger stage with more listeners.
Oui Si Yes are an 8-piece band (8!) and the latest Cincinnati act to catch my eye. Consisting of multiple guitars, a horn section, and plenty of percussion, the band plays a highly accessible blend of alternative indie pop. The instant comparison to Broken Social Scene is inevitable with the sheer amount of bodies on stage, and it’s not unwarranted musically either. Their sound is a fun mix of poppy hooks and jam out experimentation that shows up live with a “heart on the sleeve” performance quality. There’s a lot going on with multiple layers inside each song, but this complexity doesn’t prove too large, and adds together to form a feeling of rich nostalgia. They’ll be your favorite band who you think you’ve already heard.
Below you can check out a live performance of the song “Danny Gavin” from the band’s set this past weekend at the Avenue Lounge in Covington, KY. Full of energy and bliss, it features a boisterous chorus led by the brass section and some slick guitar in the break down. Share the good vibes friends.
Connect with Oui Si Yes via Facebook | Bandcamp
Written by Greg Dahman
Band to Watch: The Lumineers
An artificial layer continues to spread through the musical landscape that encompasses my listening experience. The rise of the low budget DIY approach in the independent music scene has paved acres of innovation, while embracing alternate forms of musical communication. The number of musicians that use drum machines and synthesizers to substitute band members mounts. As the electronic influence rises and machines slowly chip away at the human element of music, it grows more difficult to dig up a project that roots itself deep in the dirt of traditional Americana sound. While I appreciate the new direction of independent music, I find myself trying to break the earth for its missing authenticity. Luckily for me, I have cracked my shovel on a dependable band whose roots are deep in the stratum sound.
The Lumineers hail from Denver, CO and have shown that they treat tradition with a specific respect. Their songs ring with an authentic emotion that sends chills down my neck with each play. This band embraces the feeling of vulnerability as their songs are stripped to let the voice of Wesley Shultz shine through their surface. A sense of honesty lures me in, as it feel like I am being let in on a secret with each line. Track, “Ho Hey” highlights their return to the rustic while promoting the rich vocals of Shultz. This song resonates because it perfectly pairs sound with lyrics. Shultz pleads, “I belong with you, you belong with me, my sweetheart,” displaying his confident honesty. This track hangs on an acoustic guitar, tambourine, and back up vocals. While stripped and simple, Shultz’s powerful vocals create a mountain of sound. After each listen of “Ho Hey” I reflect on not only the elevation of this song, but also the future of The Lumineers.
The Lumineers will release their first full length LP on April 3. If you like what you have heard and need to continue your Lumineers fix make sure to check out their Daytrotter session.
Live in Indianapolis:
When: Friday – May 25, 2012
Where: Radio Radio
Tickets: $10-12 via MOKB Presents (On sale beginning March 30th)
Connect with The Lumineers via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Brett McGrath
Band to Watch: ScotDrakula
ScotDrakula is a lo-fi, garage rock trio from Melbourne, Australia. The group released their debut album CRACKSTRENGTH – yes you read that right – last May. I’ll let their Facebook bio suffice as the band’s introduction:
We showed up at your party like a half hour ago, snagged a couple of unguarded beers from the fridge, hassled the dj to play something good, broke the toilet and lit a smoke off your oven. Your Move.
This is the type of licentious behavior that has served as the lifeblood of great rock bands for decades. I say this knowing full well that this same booze-infused debauchery often unraveled more careers than it furthered. But damn it if it don’t make for a good listen from time to time. For evidence, stream “Kick Out the AmberLights” here:
ScotDrakula teeters toward the punkier side of the indie scene. More in terms of energy and vocal delivery than the dense, power chords that serve as a hallmark of the genre’s guitar play. To be honest, the voice of lead singer Matt Neuman is one that took me a few spins to embrace. I tend to gravitate towards more delicate, soulful vocals. It wasn’t until I had clawed through the layers of reverb and fuzzy rhythms that I found a cocksure, classic rock n’ roll essence to Neuman’s voice. I was hooked.
Check out a video for the track “Don’t Do Anything Stupid” below. You can download CRACKSTRENGTH for free via ScotDrakula’s Bandcamp page. Songs “Shake ya Bones!” and “Buy a Shovel” showcase the band’s punk influences more than anything featured here, and are worth a spin on a day when you’re looking for a kick in the pants. Your ears will be running back for repeat listens, I promise.
Connect with ScotDrakula via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 