new music

New Band Alert: Hot Brush

Posted on by Kristen

According to the band, Hot Brush is defined as an intense moment/experience; enlightenment; an alignment of fate. If it is fate that brought together Jace (Alright Junior) and Elissa (Karma Bat) on their musical journeys, then certainly we should pay attention! This duo from Philadelphia only has a couple songs up for our listening pleasure, but I’m quite excited about what I hear.  I’ve always been a huge fan of Jace’s voice and I find it only enhanced by the sweetness of Elissa’s harmonies in “Bloodfed Trees”. I’m also digging the pluckiness of the ukulele which is a fantastic juxtaposition to the darker lyrical tones. The other Hot Brush tune “Dr. Fuller” (see below) is another gem. It reminds me of a darker version of Egyptian’s “Doctor Doctor“…it’s as if Hot Brush is the east coast’s answer to the west coast’s power duo of Aja (Nico Vega) and Dan (Imagine Dragons). But I digress…

If you’re in Philadelphia, you need to go check out Hot Brush (and kindly report back). They have a couple shows on the calendar. May 30th at Kung Fu Necktie and June 1st at PJ Ryan’s Underground in Pheonixville.

In the meantime, like them on facebook, follow them on twitter, listen to some tunes on reverb nation, and generally fall in love with some new music! yay!

 


~ Kristen

 

Frightened Rabbit – New Music in T-1 Week

Posted on by Amanda

My excitement can barely be contained for the release of the new Frightened Rabbit CD, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, next Weds (March 10th). The tunes have been leaking all over the place, so really I’ve already heard it…but I still can’t wait to get that physical copy in my hand. I’m in love with what I’ve heard thus far. Their last record, The Midnight Organ Fight was stuck in my player on repeat for quite some time and is just one of those perfect records (every song is brilliant). I actually discovered them at the end of 2008 (thank you Best of Lists!), and their song, “The Modern Leper” managed to make it onto my own years’ end best of mix for ’09. Frightened Rabbit is one of those very rare bands that I actually fell in love with BEFORE I saw them play. I finally got the opportunity to see them live at The Knitting Factory this year and am now counting down the days ‘til I get to see them again (that would be at Coachella-Saturday). They are also playing The Casbah in San Diego May 22…may have to make a special trek down there to see them again. They are from across the pond (Scotland to be more precise) so these live viewing opportunities are few and far between.

If you want to hear the new record, you can go to their myspace page…also some videos!

http://www.myspace.com/frightenedrabbit

~ Kristen