Saturday, June 22, 2013

Born Cages Plays a Midnight Brooklyn Show with Har Mar Superstar


Born Cages winds down their most recent tour by descending upon Brooklyn. Drink an extra cup of coffee and catch them at the Knitting Factory for the midnight show on Friday June 28th opening for #EDAS favorite, Har Mar Superstar. If their EP is any indication, their hard-nosed ruffian rock will wake you up. Stream that EP now on Filter, and get ready for them to drop their first full-length, later this year. Come on over to Billyburg because I'm sure they'll be previewing some new stuff, and because Har Mar doesn't usually disappoint.


Here is my favorite cut off their 'The Sidelines EP', Caiti. Get your tickets here.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Ivan & Alyosha Embark on a Fundraiser Because Some Asshole Stole Their Gear.

The Victims.
You may remember a May 28th post I made celebrating Ivan & Alyosha's latest tour and their first full-length album after years and years of bandhood. Well, back on June 10th, someone in Atlanta liked them so much that they stole their van, and dumped it, sans gear and trailer. If you live in Atlanta, they posted a well-designed gear list and a plea that you check out area pawn shops and eBay/Craigslist for any of it. You should. Some big ass companies pitched in, and they setup a fundraiser with Kickstarter knockoff Pledge Music, because having all your gear stolen sucks. And to show us they are not fucking around, they added even more tour dates:

8/9 - San Diego, CA @ Humphreys Concerts By The Bay*
8/10 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim*
8/11 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
8/13 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Moes Alley
8/14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
8/15 - Saratoga, CA @ Mountain Winery*
8/16 - Turlock, CA @ Turlock Community Theatre*
8/17 - Sacramento, CA @ Bows and Arrows
8/18 - Santa Rosa, CA @ Wells Fargo Center*
8/21 - Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavilion*
9/2 - Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot

* with Brandi Carlile

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Cover Story: Irma Thomas - "I Needed Somebody"

Look past the star-spangled wrapper and you'll hear one of the best voices in soul.

Every time I hear Irma Thomas sing "I Needed Somebody," all I can do is howl "Irrrrmaaaa." It's because I love her so much. And I'm really dramatic. Maybe it’s because it’s a song about how, deep down, everybody needs somebody--even if it's just for a little bump and wiggle. Maybe it’s because she’s got the ability to rip your heart out through your chest with a wail. Or maybe I'm just being dramatic again.

This performance is a cover-tune, but it's not often that a cover is better than the original.



Still, whenever I’m feeling down and Irma sings, "Oh, it gets so lonely sometimes, in this great big ol' lonely town,” it makes me feel a little better.

I heard this song in 2006, almost accidentally, when a friend of mine (who happens to be a studio engineer in Nashville so toot-toot on that horn) and I watched New Orleans Music in Exile, a documentary about Hurricane Katrina's effect on the musicians of New Orleans. Interspersed with interviews with struggling musicians were filmed performances, and Irma was the best of the lot.

We re-wound and re-watched Irma sing this song (not this version, mind you. This Youtube clip was filmed much earilier) close to 10 times that night as we drank too much and turned the volume way up. Then our other roommate came downstairs and told us that it was 3 a.m. and we really needed to chill. Since then, this song has been a go-to whenever I feel like squirting a tear into my vodka--or if I ever need primal-scream therapy, I just sing along.

It wasn't until today that I realized that the original was sung by Ann Peebles.



Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Monday, June 17, 2013

Aerosmith to headline LivingSocial's Backyard Festival, July 13th on Randall's Island.

Just got the word that #EDAS will be covering one of the biggest bands of my childhood this summer. I don't think anyone born in the 80's has to defend liking Aerosmith, but I am beyond pumped to be seeing them headline LivingSocial's delicious Backyard Festival. We will be going a little further in depth to let you know the specifics of the event, but for now, just sit back and enjoy the Aerosmith. 

Aerosmith - Cryin'