Even though July is most synonymous with festivals here in the music online community, we’ve decided why wait til’ December to round up the best albums of 2013? Even with
Seeing a band exist so fully within their songs and get such pleasure out of performing them is what makes live music great and what makes Ivan & Alyosha a must-see performance.
Ivan & Alyosha proudly announce the release of their debut album All The Times We Had, out August 7th on Missing Piece Records. The album, mixed by Jesse Lauter (The
Ivan & Alyosha spent much of 2011 on tour as support acts for a variety of different artists, including Aimee Mann and Brandi Carlile. In April, they will return to
The summer concert season is upon us and the Hidden Track staff knows that it’s virtually impossible for us to afford every show we want to hit, and still be able to pay our insanely expensive New York City rents. Luckily for us, there are a plethora of fantastic free concerts throughout the summer that don’t cost a dime. We decided to weed through all the listings and present to you our 4th Annual NYC Free Summer Concert Picks. Let’s take a look…
HT Recommends: Medeski, Martin & Wood / Josh Roseman & The King Froopy All Stars / Jim Black’s AlasNoAxis
Where: Central Park Summerstage
When: Saturday, June 11, 7:00PM
Official Info: The trio’s combination of jazz, funk, “avant-noise” and a million other musical impulses is nearly impossible to classify. Wide open: That’s the phrase that describes Medeski Martin & Wood’s musical sensibilities, attitude, and the spirit of adventure that the band has pursued for over two decades. The trio’s combination of jazz, funk, “avant-noise” and a million other musical impulses is nearly impossible to classify. Although the “jazz spirit” has been ever-present in their songs, the group has won over a substantial audience that is packed with alternative-rock lovers, jam-band aficionados and jazz heads.
The King Froopy All-Stars is an electric 12-piece project from celebrated trombonist and composer Josh Roseman. Featuring some of the edgiest voices harvested from Brooklyn’s new jazz scene, this electro-acoustic supergroup focuses world beat, spontaneous improvisation, dub, satire and psychedelia through Roseman’s unconventional lens. Able to simultaneously compel both your feet and the neocortex, this is what AAJ has called, “jazz-tinged party music with a master’s degree.”
AlasNoAxis is the culmination of famed jazz drummer, Jim Black’s years of experience on stage and in the studio with some of the world’s greatest composers and improvisors. The band’s 2000 self-titled debut, established a new standard for the cross-fertilization of rock, electro-acoustic and jazz, becoming the standard-bearer of “future jazz” and thrilling listeners with its powerhouse combination of virtuosity, rock emotion and noisy catharsis.
Other Free Shows At Central Park Summerstage: 6/22 – Reggie Watts / Natasha Leggero, 6/25 – Lee Fields & The Expressions / Fitz & The Tantrums / Andreya Triana / Rich Medina, 6/26 – Hugh Maskela / Freshly Ground / Somi, 6/29 – Comedy Central Park w. Jim Gaffigan & John Pinette, 7/2 – Everybody Love The Sunshine – Roy Ayers & The Jazz Mafia Symphony, 7/27 – Wanda Jackson / Imelda May, 8/6 – Shelebration! A Tribute To The Words Of Shel Silverstein, 8/7 – Friendly Fires / The Naked & Famous / Cults, 8/20 – Tiken Jah Fakoly / Meta & The Cornerstones / Los Rakas, 8/21 – Rakim / EPMD / Funkmaster Flex
READ ON for the rest of our list of free summer concerts in NYC…
In our never-ending quest to dig up great bands whose tickets cost less than a corned beef sandwich at Katz’s, we bring you another round of Blips. Blips highlights some great bands that are largely still in their larvae stage, but will soon morph into beautiful butterflies. In this edition, we have some really cool new music, so take a sec, poke around the bands’ various websites and see what you think of these four under the radar acts…
Ivan & Alyosha
Sure Seattle’s Ivan & Alyosha take their name from two characters in Dostoevsky’s definitive novel Brothers Karamazov, but if you’re expecting a band that plays some form of twee, hyper-literate music that’s full of arcane polysyllabic words – then you’re likely to be a bit disappointed. Simply stated, the band plays a dreamy brand of folk-pop that’s highlighted by their beautiful, soulful harmonies. Once you dig in a bit deeper, it’s the confessional songwriting of Tim Wilson that truly pulls you in.
Earlier this year Ivan & Alyosha released their sophomore EP Fathers Be Kind, and have garnered a heap of praise from NPR’s All Songs Considered who recently invited the band to perform a Tiny Desk Concert. The band will be out on the road for the next two months holding down opening slots for Aimee Mann, John Vanderslice and Brandi Carlile.
Recommended If You Like: Blind Pilot, Grand Archives, Fleet Foxes
READ ON for intros to Sushi Grade Panda, Henry Wolfe & Allo Darlin’…
