Posts by Shawn Donohue

Kelley Stoltz has put together a snappy collection of 50’s-60’s dreamy garage-pop with his most recent effort To Dreamers.  Echo vocals, glimmering tambourines, a dash of feedback and random horns all come and go like the breeze as Kelley sings about “getting the girl” and “all of our stars aligning”.  The retro vibe is obvious, but this album was certainly produced in the digital age with clear sound and at times too many instruments/sounds trying to make a mark like on “Keeping the Flame”. 

A fierce trio that plays power punk music with a DIY gritty edge, Screaming Females has produced a complete and exciting record with their newest release Castle Talk.  The group has a knack for producing catchy riffs and choruses before scuffing them up with enough tempo changes and feedback so the proceedings never become too sweet. 

The mad hatters from Los Angeles, California swept into CMJ this year on the back of their upcoming documentary, “Everyday Sunshine” which was screened for a select few before the bands night onstage.  The seven member strong Fishbone wove their way through a night of hits and misses in front of a rambunctious crowd at the intimate Le Poisson Rogue down in the village. 

The official kick off party to 2010's CMJ festival was held in the pristine Brooklyn Bowl with pins crashing and guitars wailing.  MOG put together a free show for fans to catch new all-stars and old superstars before the madness of all day parties, panel discussions and cheap beer starts flowing in every NYC venue possible.

More akin to Crosby Stills and Nash then the recent Monsters of Folk, Fistful Of Mercy play with light and airy textures minus CSN’s political bent.  Songs about love dominate as do violins and ultra repetitive choruses that allow the trio to mesh harmonically but never say anything lasting.

The duo of drummer Dean Spunt and guitarist Randy Randall have gained a lot of buzz as No Age and their newest release Everything In Between proves that the hype is well earned.  The art-punk-pop LA fellas have crafted the rare beast: a catchy, freaked-out pasture of pumping drums and squealing guitars contained in garage DIY style that is not only listenable, but engaging. 

Laura Cortese is a singer/songwriter who plays a mean fiddle and has put together an all female string quartet to record her Acoustic Project EP.  The group of players consists of Natalie Hass on cello, Brittany Haas contributing the 5-string fiddle parts while Hanneke Cassel strums and plucks the 4-string fiddle.  The style of tunes presented by the ladies ranges all over the folk world.  There are acoustic pop such as “Perfect Tuesdays”, old rural traditional numbers like “Greasy Coat” and a Celtic flair that emerges on “Women Of The Ages”. 

The Torches from Washington, D.C. have cobbled together an EP that showcases their off-kilter roots and grimy driving acoustic rock.  The group tackles tunes in the vein of O’Death or a toned down Americana version of Gogol Bordello, but the obvious patron saint prayed to on the self titled EP is Tom Waits.   

Coming from the heart of New Orleans is this pack of rebel-rousers known as the Rough Seven, with their blinding, fantastic debut disc Give Up Your Dreams.  Containing former members of 9th Ward cult heroes Morning Forty Federation, the new outfit strives for a gutter gospel sound and achieves it winningly.

Appropriately, Dax Riggs took to the stage during the witching hour for his compact set of dark rock on Saturday Night/Sunday Morning in lower New York City.  The first of two shows in town, Dax was tighter then some past NYC performances which could have to do with his full backing band of Julian Primeaux on guitar, Charley Seiss on drums and bassist Kevin Fitzsimmons.