Video: Motel Motel - “Coffee”
Motel Motel will be playing my very special Charity concert 1 year anniversary/book release on Saturday October 3rd. Details here.
Video: The Rosebuds - “Life Like”
The Rosebuds - "Life Like" (acoustic in Ivan's house) from Merge Records on Vimeo.
Pela Announces Breakup
Pela - Waiting on the Stairs from Matteo Bava on Vimeo.
One of NYC's best bands, Pela, has announced their breakup today.
It is with great sadness that we write you today. Pela’s collective journey has come to an end.
Over the past 2 years we’ve faced tremendous obstacles. We recorded an album twice, had a falling out/legal battle with our old label, fired 2 managers, had a big record deal fall through, and Billy had a hand injury followed by a foot injury.
We’ve worked tirelessly to get our music out of ourselves and into your ears. We worked endlessly to make the music and our live show the best we could. At the end of the day we had to start dealing with some realizations.
We will never be able to thank you enough for your support. For those of you that drove and flew hours just to see a show, we thank you. For those of you who wrote us and gave us the opportunity to get to know you, we thank you. For those of you who told us to keep soldiering on, we thank you. Words can’t really describe how we’re feeling about this difficult decision, but we want you to know that it’s the healthiest decision we could make.
Your lovely faces are etched into our memories. Looking at the Crowd Project videos says it all.
Please keep in touch, we’ll promise to do the same.
xoxo- Nate, Billy, Tom, and Eric
RIP Pela, you'll be missed.
Jawbox Announce Reissue of “For Your Own Special Sweetheart”
Jawbox's For Your Own Special Sweetheart was easily one of the best records of the 90s, coming out of the classic DC Dischord scene led by Fugazi. It's also a record that doesn't seem to get proper respect these days, but with a reissue announced, maybe a new breed will be influenced to start bands with their skilled ferocity.
RE-RELEASE ON CD AND VINYL SET FOR NOVEMBER 24TH
WILL INCLUDE ENTIRE ORIGINAL COLLECTION
PLUS THREE ADDITIONAL TRACKSSeminal DC post-punk band JAWBOX will reissue their consummate release, For Your Own Special Sweetheart, on November 24th. The album, which was originally released on Atlantic Records in 1994, sees the band returning to their roots at the renowned Dischord Records as well as their own DeSoto label, which will work together to release this reissue. JAWBOX was one of the cornerstones of the pivotal DIY punk label, in good company with bands such as Fugazi, Minor Threat, Rites of Spring and Shudder To Think.
With the help of Dischord and engineer Bob Weston (Pixies, Jawbox, and member of Shellac), For Your Own Special Sweetheart is meticulously remastered and will be re-released on both CD and vinyl. And, according to bass player, Kim Coletta, "it just sounds a whole lot better." The collection will include the entire original song line-up along with three additional tracks that appeared on the Savory +3 EP released by Atlantic in 1994. The vinyl version will include a coupon redeemable for free digital download of all songs including the bonus tracks.
Of For Your Own Special Sweetheart, Pitchfork Media raved, "it's one of the greatest slabs of angular guitar throb that the District of Columbia produced during the 90s, which is saying something." They called single "Savory" "the weirdly sexy guitar tangle that remained a cool-kid mixtape staple for at least a decade."
JAWBOX arose from the primordial pond of DC's raucous, vibrant underground in 1989, bringing with them a loud, fast and spirited brand of punk rock that brought zealous fans into the pit in droves.JAWBOX played their first show opening for Fugazi in 1989; For Your Own Special Sweetheart recalls the latter's hardcore leanings. After two releases on Dischord they captured the attention of Atlantic Records, with whom they releasedFor Your Own Special Sweetheart, widely considered to showcase the band at its peak. The combination of heavy rhythms, guitar-driven soundscapes and hooky melodies both hark back to and distinguish the band from their roots among Dischord's finest underground offerings, the boundaries of which they constantly pushed.
JAWBOX is J. Robbins (guitar, vocals,) Kim Coletta (bass,) Bill Barbot (guitar) and Zach Barocas (drums.)
Track Listing:
1. FF=66
2. Savory
3. Breathe
4. Motorist
5. LS/MFT
6. Cooling Card
7. Green Glass
8. Cruel Swing
9. Jackpot Plus!
10. Chicago Piano
11. Reel
12. U-Trau
13. Whitney Walks
14. L'il Shaver*
15. 68*
16. Sound On Sound*(* = tracks not on original release)
Havin fun.
Photo by Elizabeth Weinberg
Interview featured on NY Press.com
Opening with a dramatic violin, fun’s debut record, Aim & Ignite, gives a hint of a sadder side of Nate Ruess, but before long opener “Be Calm” explodes with the type of fanfare that acts as a reminder of former singer of The Format’s gift for shedding a bright light over a cloudy day. From that moment on, Aim & Ignite is a summer record, filled with a refreshingly charming pop sensibility that draws from the ’60s with an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink aesthetic and killer harmonies. (And check out a video below!)
It’s not that the lead singer of fun. hasn’t tried, but try as he might, an uplifting energy always comes through no matter what the subject. He’ll have to leave the songs of sorrow to Mark Kozelek and Morrissey, but that’s not at all a bad thing. When he wrote The Format’s highly underrated sophomore record Dog Problems, Ruess was dealing with a hard breakup and yet managed to transform that into one of the poppiest, most joyful sounding breakup records ever.
Formed only as long ago as last fall fun. features Ruess, along with Anthallo’s Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train. And it hasn’t taken them long to find their footing. With their debut album Aim & Ignite fresh out of the womb and ready to explode, fun. is on the road in support of their record, and tomorrow night the band headlines a sold-out gig at Mercury Lounge—a surefire sign of a promising future ahead. Jonny Leather caught up with Ruess to find out more.
Who is fun? How'd you guys end up forming?
Fun is Andrew Paul Dost, Jack Somethingorother Antonoff, and myself Nate Ruess. Jack and I had always talked about starting a band and once my schedule freed up quite a bit, I put in a call to him and Andrew. Since then we've been chugging along.
How'd you decide on the name?
After a day of demoing in New Jersey we'd decided to take a trip into NYC for dinner with some friends. One of our friends kept pressing us about a name and so we decided to dedicate the dinner to finding a name. At one point someone suggested 'ice cream', which I thought was terrible, but I liked the emotion it conjured up. So jack said 'fun.’ and it almost seemed too perfect. So we sat on it for six months until we were pressed to have a name and that was the only one on the list.
What makes fun. different than your other bands? And more importantly, what makes fun. fun?
1. Different band name
2. Different band members
3. Different songs
Those are pretty big. And I think what makes us ourselves is the same thing that makes fun. fun. We are enjoying it very much. There are few serious moments when not in the studio or something else that requires special attention.
What is your general approach to songwriting? What does each band member bring to the band in order to create the cohesive sound of fun.?
My general approach is to take only the best songs in my head and try to make sense of them so that everyone else can have a listen. It's a bit tedious but I think it's easier than playing an instrument. The other guys, when not writing themselves, help me out by listening to my idea of the song that is in my head and trying to help bring it out and to life. Jack, although talented at everything, is particularly good at supplying a raw energy and helping with the general rhythm of the song. Andrew is much more intricate and can be responsible for a large fraction of the 'sparkle.' These are just some example of their talents though. I truly believe the sky is the limit with those two.
Nate, I loved the The Format, because you had a knack for creating uplifting pop songs out of situations of despair. And with your debut Aim & Ignite, you haven't lost that touch. How do you do it?
Thank you. I always want to write depressing stuff but somehow it never works that way. I'm serious. Just once I'd like to make a record for the winter, or putting your windows up.
Is Sgt. Pepper your favorite Beatles record? Moments like the chorus of "Be Calm" scream Sgt. Pepper, while the record also hints at the theatrical sounds of vintage Queen.
Obviously I love Sgt Pepper, but it's #3 or 4 on my top Beatles list. My favorite is probably Abbey road. Those records, Queen, ELO, Beach Boys, Van Morrison, the list of ’60s and ’70s is endless. The real challenge is to find the modern influence. Believe it or not, there is a lot.
How does it feel to be able to sell out the Mercury Lounge in advance before your debut record was even officially released?
It was special. We were and are nervous about all that type of stuff. And NYC is my new home so I really felt the pressure. Fortunately it happened quick so I didn't have to sweat that one too long. It was exciting.
Are there any songs that you would call your favorites to play live?
Maybe “barlights.” Right now I'm enjoying all of them because it's been so wonderful playing with the band and the amazing crowds.
What do you guys do for fun in New York?
Hmmm. We spend all of our money on dinners. It's really crazy. We are just all about being with our close friends and ordering too much food.
Who makes you excited about being part of the local music scene?
The same thing that gets me excited about living in NY. You really don't know the next thing you're gonna see/hear. Anything is possible and the energy that surrounds that feeling is incredible.
MP3 Exclusive: Hooray For Earth - “Form”
JONNYLEATHER.com is proud to offer an exclusive free download of "Form" a brand new single by Boston/Brooklyn's Hooray For Earth. The band is hard at work on their next record, but in the meantime decided to release "Form" which will not be on the next album, but is definitely deserving to be heard.
In the past I have drawn a comparison between Hooray For Earth and Torche, and "Form" has that same heavy but melodic sound that initially brought out that comparison. It is probably the heaviest song in the Hooray For Earth catalog, and it's that My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything style of heavy, with a layer of Shields-like buzzing guitars that cut through with a slow but loud intensity. Despite the bit of My Bloody Valentine influence showing itself here, it's nothing like the stream of cookie cutter bands riding the current shoegaze trend. Thankfully ,you will not find Hooray For Earth on stage anytime soon, dressed in black with Bob Dylan hair and black sunglasses, staring at the floor, playing one chord, while an impressive pedal setup does all the work.
How I Lost My Hearing: 200 Pages of Jonny Leather Photography
How I Lost My Hearing is a 200 page collection of my best photography work over the last several years. It's been a project I've been working on for nearly 2 years, and I think it is a great looking book
Preview and Buy it online at Blurb
I will have some copies available for sale at my October 3rd event at Bell House
Free Album Download: Libel’s The Prolonged Insult
"Do ears deceive or is it tongues that bleed/ Our mouths taste stale like we've been chewing on iron bars/ We sustain/ On a diet of moldy bread and gruel," sings Gavin Dunaway on the opening verse of Libel's debut album opener "We Sustain," immediately establishing a strong literary foundation, followed by "We aim to please with our symphony/ But we shan't bother to tune the instruments/ We sustain/ A note that went flat some time ago/ We sustain/ A vision we've long known is lies." But this isn't a band who doesn't tune and doesn't play flat notes. Libel is part of a much needed revival of technically proficient rock bands whose influences come from a time when bands like Jawbox, Sunny Day Real Estate and Shudder to Think were kings, or damn well should have been.
Consisting of current Jaguar Club/ex-Alphabetical Order member Gavin Dunaway (vocals/guitar) as well as Art of Shooting's Julie Rozansky (bass/backing vocals) and ex-Bling Kong drummer Jonathan Hanson, Libel establishes themselves as future player in the NYC music scene with their debut The Prolonged Insult.
For a limited to you can download a free copy of Libel's The Prolonged Insult here. And if you like what you hear, Libel will be playing tonight at Public Assembly's back room with Telltale, Screen Vinyl Image, Young Boys, and Religioous To Damn. Libel goes on at 8pm, so get there early.
