Concert Review: Friends / Ganglians – Cincinnati, OH
I’m not a writer or a music critic, although I’d like to be. So what I lack in literary talent, I will attempt to make up for with strength of content on Thought on Tracks. As Rob has graciously allowed me to put my thoughts on his blog, I will do my best to cover my own musical interests along with the music scene from Cincinnati, Ohio.
The latest 2011 buzz band to hail from Brooklyn, Friends, has made a name for themselves over the past few months releasing stellar pop tunes. The quintet is lead by Samantha Urbani on vocals and features Lesley Hann (bass, percussion, backing vocals), Nikki Shapiro (guitar, keyboards, percussion), Matthew Molnar (keyboards, percussion, bass), and Oliver Duncan (drums). While the band has yet to release an LP, infectious dance pop singles “Friends Crush” and “I’m His Girl” show the promise of what is to come.
Opening up for Friends at Mayday was Ganglians, a four-piece psychadelic pop band from Sacramento, California. While I haven’t heard all their albums, I was delighted with their sound. Highlighted by catchy guitar riffs and loud drums, these guys put on a fun show. The two songs that stood out as their best include “Jungle” and “Hair”. With each, take that volume knob and turn it up. Listen and download “Jungle”:
Friends hit the stage after and did not disappoint the hype. I love pop music because it invokes feeling, be it happiness or misery. Samantha’s vocals have a certain darkness to them, like she is longing for something(one) in every word she sings:
I wanna be your friend . I wanna ask your advice on a weekday. I wanna plan something nice for the weekend.
We all can relate to wanting friendship and interaction with another and the excitement that comes with meeting someone new. The angst and longing to learn more, to reach the core of that person’s soul. “Friends Crush” puts this feeling front and center.
The stories in your hair that you carry all around . I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t wanna hear ‘em now . The stories in your hair that you carry all around . I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t wanna tear it out.
In all, I came away extremely impressed with Friends. While their set was short, all their material gets your feet moving and it left me with the post-show euphoria any concertgoer can relate to. They engaged the audience with Samantha even venturing out to dance in the crowd. And if you aren’t convinced Friends is a band worth listening to yet, they finished off their set covering Ghost Town DJ’s 90’s hit “My Boo”. Can you really ask for anything more? Look for their first LP to drop in March of 2012.
Connect with Ganglians via MySpace | Twitter | Facebook
Connect with Friends via Bandcamp | Facebook
Written by Greg Dahman
Album Stream: Everything, Now! ‘Do It On The Moon’
Indianapolis band Everything, Now! dropped their fifth release this week. Do It on the Moon may not be the best play at the start of your day. Save this listen for your drive home from work. This album is a celebration.
The band screams dire warnings about the future over joyous romps of punchy guitars and choruses that sound like choirs of schoolchildren, as if testing the audience to see if they’ll get the joke.
On “Imagine 2040”, the lead singer offers a bleak outloook, saying: “In 2040, Russia owns the beaches where the ice caps used to be / And China has moved to the moon, with the fortunes from all those air factories / They’re fighting off the Mexicans in space stations made from trees.” This post-apocalyptic landscape that Everything, Now! has created is humorous but serves as a legitimate look into the concerns of the present.
This album is rock solid, both from a lyrical and musical standpoint. There is no weakest link. This is not a talentless garage band, mashing out harmonyless recording in their stoner uncle’s makeshift recording studio. This is good shit and the kind of album that Indy residents can be legitimately proud of. Listen below:
Connect with Everything, Now! via Facebook | Bandcamp
Written by Rob Peoni
Video: Dirty Beaches LaundroMatinee Session
Back in September, Alex Zhang Hungtai, known by his stage name Dirty Beaches, visited Indianapolis for a MOKB Presents show at White Rabbit Cabaret. The Taiwanese-born Canadian resident is a multi-instrumentalist known for his unique, genre-bending sound. A month after his show at The Rabbit, the good folks at LaundroMatinee released a pair of videos. All I can say is click play, folks, and prepare yourself for an auditory attack unlike most anything I’ve ever seen. See the rest of Dirty Beaches’ LaundroMatinee Session HERE.
Written by Rob Peoni
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