Archive for November, 2009

Posted on November 30, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

The White Tides

They say there’s a certain kind of rum that you’ll have the chance to taste only in the worst bars in Caracas. Still Caracas is the Latin America’s most expensive City. Strange, isn, it? As strange as Mark Zonda and Mic Leffe playing in a small Italian town after midnight in a small place nearby a river. “It’s strange, but it’s true”, just quoting Freddie Mercury. Mark & Mic (also pointed as Chip & Chop for that night) played many Tiny Tide‘ songs leaving some space for blues improvisations with harmonica, post and prog-rock, and some covers as well (Bur “Song 2″, Flaming Lips “Yoshimi Battles Against The Pink Robots”, Everly Brothers “Bye Bye Love”, Echo’s “The Killing Moon” and a R.E.M.ish version of Elisa “Sleeping In Your Hands”). (more…)

Posted on November 29, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Say Watt

Seems like Mike Watt is somewhat some kind of a mysterious niche legend. Also known as “The man in the van with the bass in his hand” this crazy talented guy from Portsmouth brought us through a musical trip from punk to alt-rock through progressive music on the stage of Officina49. Just in one night! (more…)

Posted on November 25, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Cheerleading for Piroth!

“I don’t know if tomorrow we’re gonna play. I have to check the e-mail, actually”~Omar Fra

I was so glad Swedish duo Piroth decided to start a new train tour. Just the idea to embrace a journey across Europe in order to share their new work (”Safe Heaven”, Oma Mundi), is so brave to think at Nina and Johanna Piroth more like romantic picaresque wanderers (as meant in lettereature) rather than just a couple of indie singers.

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Posted on November 19, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Amari: just more than a lot of love

2005 was a magical period for Italy and indie music. Thanks to mysterious tv networks that came from out of the blue like pirate stations on the tube with a non stop of indiependent local an international acts, underground parties and a bloom of local labels, some new interesting acts managed to emerge from the midst of our plains. One of those bands managed to hold on in time keep on emproving songs and sounds. With their new album “POWERI” (a mesh up of Power and the Italian word for poor Poveri) they’re trying to share their alchemies of rock and elettronica with the rest of the World.  Their name is Amari. Here’s my interview with Il Pasta.

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Posted on November 18, 2009 - by Chris Seed

Live Date For Puppets

A cold, Autumnal, Sunday night under the railway arches at The Cockpit in Leeds was lit up by Swedish 5 Piece Sad Day for Puppets. This band from the Blackeberg suburb of Stockholm won over a busy venue gathered to see American noise-rock band APtBS, not the easiest act to precede. (more…)

Posted on November 17, 2009 - by Chris Seed

Not Much Middle Ground To Bury Strangers

A Place To Bury Strangers are the only group touring with their own structural engineer, (not really but perhaps they should). They are reckoned to be the loudest band in New York producing music with kinetic energy that can rattle an RSJ.

Moho Live, like the last 2 venues they played in Manchester, is a well built bunker and it survived an assault from ‘Total Sonic Annihilation’, (an effects pedal employed by the band). (more…)

Posted on November 16, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

POLVO!

Just in case you didn’t know, Italian Indie Scene was shocked by a strong American wave these months. It wasn’t Katrina, there was no Claudette, still it was easily tracked down, as every single dude recognised as… WILCO! Shouting “WILCO!” like an “HELL YES!” or “UEPPA!” enthusiastic shout of joy-de-vivre, was the viral of the year thanks to a YouTube mix with the typical indie bloke stereotypes (along with “The Joy Of Being Pure At Heart”). (more…)

Posted on November 15, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

A New Tiny Round

LaVigna it’s not a big venue for sure, but what’s fun in playing there it’s its great acoustic, due to the fact that everything in there is surrounded by… wood! I really enjoyed playing with Tiny Tide in there, especially because sounds were great indeed and suitable for an acoustic punk act and me and the mates played at our best, with the exception of my voice, that was quite completely gone. (more…)

Posted on November 12, 2009 - by Ellie Crean

Mumford & Sons

From the first mellow acoustic guitar sound heard on title track Sigh No More followed by the haunting Fleet Foxes style harmonies, you know that Mumford & Sons have you wrapped into their world of love, heartache and emotion. The song begins apologetically but builds into an uplifting, optimistic crescendo; proclaiming “love will not betray you, dismay or enslave you/ it will set you free”.  (more…)

Posted on November 10, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

The Origins of the Sarcastic Dharma Society

It’s rare to find  bands you would die to support, being ready to follow’em across the World for not particular reasons, if not for the love of their music and the vision of the World they fit in. Just out of the blue. As for me it happened with Momeraths before, and history’s repeating with The Sarcastic Dharma Society (Portland). What is this sensation? I’m sure I dealt again. Are we dealing with a flash forward?  Will this feeling change? Only Wayne Coyne would be able to answer that… Whatever happened happened! That’s how I ended to interview Mat from “The Sarcastic Dharma Society” and will probably change my mind.  He’s got a sweet tooth for good music anyway and he’s so uncool (in a positive way) that he’s got not even a clue of what “Lost” is. (more…)