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 It’s a
Yaimy Party:
From one Port City to another, ilyAIMY plays in
threes
By: Shea
Carver
When I received the mini-package for ilyAIMY, a
band out of Baltimore, I just assumed they were a metal act. Maybe
it was the astute graphic design of their mini cd cover,
predominantly black with a very romantic font and altered photos of
a gentlemen who resembled a cleaned-up version of Rob Zombie. When I
heard their demo, I was wrong on every assumption. There was nothing
metal about their acoustic sound at all. Yet, it did rush out of my
computer’s speakers with staccato force and an impression that was
long lost.
ilyAIMY is a male/female duo, made up of Rob
Hinkal (frontman/primary songwriter) and Heather Lloyd
(singer/songwriter/guitarist). And what both of these highly
talented folks bring to music is passion and innovative guitar
playing. To categorize them is useless. Let me put it this way: If
you were to buy a surprise bag, filled with music that encompassed
mixed genres, ilyAIMY would be in it. They’re acoustic all around,
and the exude hints of grunge-rap, folk, rock and even classical. If
you plugged them in, they would be hard rock. Yet, there is a
subtlety about their music that counteracts the rushed, fast-paced
timing and lyrics of their songs.
With Rob’s uncanny
silimarity to Lindsey Buckingham on vocals and Heather’s crying
belts of range, the two play off each other like two peas in a pod.
There’s an urgency apparent in the way they sing together, between
Rob’s distinctive annunciation and Heather’s angelic back-up
credences that carry over the lyrics. Pair the vocals with the
unbelievable percussive playing style, and there’s a lot to listen
to from this duo.
Rob’s fingers are quick on the scales, and
it’s quite enigmatic to try and listen as fast as the notes are
being played. To see this live, would be an amazing experience, at
best.
Not only do you have a chance to hear them and see them,
you can choose one of three different occasions this week (or go to
all three): October 14 at 7pm at Port City Java (21 N. Front
Street); October 16 at the Soapbox at 9pm ($5); and October 17 at
Costello’s at 9pm.
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Sly Like a Snake: The Medicine Oil show
returns
By: Lindsey
D'Emilio
I was not surprised when I found out Snake Oil Medicine
Show’s album Blue Grass Tafari was as vibrant and colorful as the cd
case it came in. The band is as creative as its name and their art
and music are said to be: vivid expressions of love.
The
band’s bright clothes and joyful artwork, along with their zany,
positive music almost makes you feel bad for ever being sad. Snake
Oil is comprised of founder George Pond on guitar, as well as
Caroline and Andy Pond, Billy Seawell and Phil Cheney. Having
debuted their first album in 1997, the group has not only played
clubs all over North Carolina, but has also made headway around the
rest of the U.S. and England.
There is definitely nothing
out there to compare Snake Oil to. When the first track, “Is it
True?” began, I thought they had a distinctive Bob Marley sentiment
about them. However, by the track “Lately,” I was confused under
what genre to file this band. With a lot of “bop bop’s,” “do wop’s”
and “la la la’s,” the song makes you feel like you are on the beach,
with Frankie and Annette, until it explodes into a trumpet/piano jam
session. The album’s title track “Bluegrass Tafari” is a bluegrass
hoedown without the rudimentary Southern twang in the vocals.
As bands often work to practice and master their songs, two
of the tracks, “Ras Tabla” and “Purple Purple,” are a creation of
total band improv that just seemed to work. Sticking with the
creativity that surrounds thes musicians, “Burying Ground” portrays
a musical show tune, with choreographed dialogue and scene changes.
While I give kudos to the foundation and premise of the song, I felt
it was too long to tolerate, seeming like 30, when, in fact, it was
only five.. Yet, “Love Tea Party” was so sweet, I am surprised it
didn’t give me a cavity. Its declaration of finding and nurturing
true love could have lasted forever, and I would not have minded.
It is obvious Snake Oil Medicine Show is a band of very
talented musicians and artists. With so many styles (reggae, jazz,
Latin, eastern Indian, Irish, etc.) influencing their sound, they
manage to not lose the heart and affection that obviously makes up a
great part of their synergy.
I don’t doubt the talent of this
band, but in the end I felt it was a little to reggae-meets-Rafi,
and I know you all remember Rafi. There were points when I felt I
should have been listening to this album on a cassette tape in my
Sony Karaoke Machine.
Although I am not Snake Oil Medicine
Show’s biggest fan, I encourage anyone who is out to have a
laid-back good time to check them out at The Soapbox on October 15
with Cletus and the Burners. Doors open at 8:30pm. For more
information on the band be sure to check out their website at http://www.snakeoilmedicineshow.net/
A Name Change and New CD: Medusa's Stone is the new
Catfish Lane
By: Alan
Maready
It’s frightening to me just how jaded and cynical I have
become when it comes to music. Every time I am handed a CD to
review, I always expect nothing but the absolute worst. So, this
week when I was assigned to review Hampstead-based Medusa Stone, my
first thought was pretty much, “Hampstead? What the hell band comes
from Hampstead?” I have to admit, however, that I was mildly
surprised when I listened to their recently recorded self-titled,
full-length album.
Medusa Stone, who recently changed their
name from Catfish Lane (smart move), consists of Justin Fox on
guitar and lead vocals, Dave Morse on bass and backup vocals, and
Jeremy Summers on drums and backup vocals. Their sound is a sort of
a soulful rock-n-roll somewhat in the vein of Hedrix, but more so of
Lenny Kravitz. While this kind of music really isn’t my thing, I
cannot deny the level of talent possessed by all three members of
this band. They are all very proficient at their respective
instruments and, structurally at least, their song writing abilities
are very solid.
Fox’s style of playing is simple but
effective; some solid chords interspersed with some pretty good solo
work here and there. Couple this with Morse’s solid bass lines and
Summers‚ impeccably on time beats, and you have a very well-balanced
rock band.
I was amazed when I found out that these guys are
only a three-piece band. Some of the guitar work that Fox is able to
pull off while his is singing is, in one word, impressive. There are
parts of a few songs on the album where he is actually playing solos
and singing simultaneously, which is hard as hell to do. Fox’s voice
is very strong and is particularly well suited for this type of
music. It sounds a bit like a mixture of aforementioned artists,
only a little more falsetto.
Though it’s nothing really new
or innovative, there are some really solid rock-n-roll songs on this
album. A couple of my favorites are “Whisper to Me” and “Stay the
Night,” both of which feature some dazzling guitar work by Fox.
Also, “Stay the Night” has a cowbell in it, and, in my book, any
song that utilizes a cowbell has to be good.
Medusa Stone
recorded this album back in May in Birmingham, AL. They are not
currently on a record label and are self-releasing it. The quality
of the sound on the recording is noble, something that is quite rare
with many self-released albums. Their press release mentions that,
in addition to the recent name change from Catfish Lane, they have
also changed their sound quite drastically. I have no idea what they
sounded like before, but if they keep it up, especially with songs
like “Whisper to Me” and “Stay the Night,” I can definitely see them
going places. It is unfortunate, however, that they live in
Hampstead. If they want to get anywhere with this kind of music,
they’re going to have to get the hell out of there. Just a
suggestion.
Medusa Stone will be playing at Kefion October
16th. This is their cd release party, so it would totally be in your
favor to go grab a few discs for yourself and some friend. They will
be playing with Machine Gun. I wish them all the best.—A.
Maready.
A Thrilling Sophomore Release: Let's Bottle Bohemia now
available by The Thrills
Let’s Bottle
Bohemia is the latest album from a band you should have heard of
but, as always in America, has been overlooked. The band in
question: The Thrills.
This Dublin quintet starts strong on
their sophomore album with “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know.”
Instantly, the electric guitar pulls you in, with the clapping of
the drums enticing you to stay, followed by the sophisticated lyrics
and harmonies. Just when you try to think of what could possibly
make it better, in comes the piano and you realize this band has
dynamic talent.
The Thrills do not rely on one facet of
their band to carry the rest—this album emulates it all—each part is
equally illustrious and impressive. At a time when American society
is over run with reality television and absolutely no artistic
credibility on our air waves, The Thrills step forward and bring
back music once again.
Their humorous account of “Whatever
Happened To Corey Haim?” is not a jab at one of my favs, but the
breakdown of the purity of the industry and the loss of all things
real. Over the last year, The Thrills have toured nonstop and as a
band, they have grown stronger and more secure in their music. They
had the opportunity to work with the legendary Van Dyke Parks (Beach
Boys, Little Feat), who arranged the strings for my favorite track
“The Irish Keep Gate Crashing.” Parks played accordion on the same
track that Peter Buck (R.E.M.) played mandolin on “Faded Beauty
Queens.”
Probably one of the most interesting songs, hidden
and purely instrumental, is arranged so well, you could easily
decide for the song to be last one you hear on your death bed. On
the opposite spectrum, I could definitely do without “You Can’t Fool
Old Friends With Limousines.” Not one to blow smoke where it doesn’t
belong, from the opening music to the opening lyric, “A Hooker with
a heart of gold...”, I wonder: Where did this song come from and why
would it be allowed to stay on the album?
Outside of this one cd
distraction, I have no complaints. And, fortunately, the track is
followed by “Found My Rosebud,” where the music tells the story, and
the lyrics and the voice compliment the track: “For the first time
in my life/felt like a country boy caught in headlights.” Indeed a
treasure, and mysterious at the same time.
I must admit: I
cannot get enough of this band. That being noted, I have to plug
their first cd So Much For The City, because if it were not for “Say
It Ain’t So,” I would have never taken the time to dive deep into
The Thrills—a band worth taking time out to listen to.
Currently, The Thrills are touring the states supporting the
Pixies on their highly anticipated return, and you can catch them at
The Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans on October 16, along with
other bands like Velvet Revolver, Polyphonic Spree, Pixies, Sonic
Youth, De La Soul, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, among many
others. |
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