NYCTaper: May 3, 2010 Glasslands
Ghastly City Sleep - "I Never Left My Head" (Live at Glasslands)
Royal Forest - "Borrowed Tune" (Neil Young cover live at Glasslands)
Royal Chains - "Won't Back Down" (Tom Petty cover live at Glasslands)
My friends at NYCTaper.com recorded my May 3rd concert at Glasslands (though they missed Brick+Mortar's phenomenal set). This concert was a memorable one, with all 4 bands playing really strong diverse sets.
You can and should download mp3s of the full sets at NYCtaper.com for free here: http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=3253
3 of my favorite songs have been included above in this post to give a sample, including a wonderful Neil Young cover by Royal Forest.
Here's some kind words about the show from NYCTaper:
Our good friend Jonny Leather has been going above and beyond to give the already-teeming Brooklyn scene access to exciting new music through his semi-regular concert series. We were fortunate enough to capture this excellent bill, featuring Brooklyn’s Ghastly City Sleep, garage rock duo Royal Chains and Austin’s Royal Forest (along with Brick + Mortar, whose set we unfortunately missed) at Glasslands, which is a perfect place to absorb yourself in some new music. Each act was striking in it own way, but perhaps none so much as Ghastly City Sleep, whose music takes a sharp turn from current trends with dark, sometimes lengthy songs that are not afraid to challenge listeners’ expectations. Jonny Leather compares them to Radiohead, and I can see the resemblance in the rhythmic variations, sharp, angular vocals, and the aforementioned dark overall tone. For a young band, these guys have a fully developed sound that is poised for bigger things. Check out their debut album at Robotic Empire Records and see for yourself.
Royal Forest could be called “The Band Formerly Known As Loxsly”, but they probably made the right choice with the wholesale name change to avoid any association with the somewhat weak act by a very similar former name. Apparently in their former incarnation the band earned a lot of comparisons to Grandaddy, which I still hear echoes of, along with occasional hints of my favorites Polvo. Currently the band is promoting a self-titled EP, with a full-length on the way.
Being a garage-rock duo, Royal Chains needed to do everything right to impress me - and they did. Too often, I find these setups aren’t musical enough (or are just too wasted), or seem to treat the whole thing as a joke. Royal Chains came out and played their asses off. With two EPs under their belt, these guys have shown they are serious about songwriting, and they seem determined not to fall into the lame “we’re two drunk guys playing half-assed songs” trap at all. Instead, band members Adam and Dan bring real musicianship and feeling. And, in a perfect ending, they managed to show they don’t take themselves too seriously by playing a cover of Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down.”
Please support Jonny Leather and the shows he promotes. One good way to learn more is to be his friend on Facebook. Thanks to Jonny for inviting us to this excellent show. It took us a month to get it posted, but I think it will be worth the wait!
I recorded this set from the balcony with the DPA microphones in an “XY” pattern. The recordings are generally excellent, with a small caveat - during Royal Forest’s set, the mics were clamped to the balcony rail, which was vibrating due to a fan clamped to it nearby. Therefore, during quiet parts of the music, you can hear these vibrations. The band thought it sounded good despite this flaw, so I think it is still very worth your time. For listeners’ convenience, and to provide maximum exposure to all three bands, the music of all three bands is included in one ZIP file of MP3s. The MP3s are properly tagged for easy importing into iTunes, including artwork!
Full Album Leak: Ghastly City Sleep - “Moondrifts”
Download Full Album: Ghastly City Sleep - Moondrifts
Ghastly City Sleep - "Seven (33 Leagues)"
There is no question that Radiohead is the most critically acclaimed band of the last decade. They're one of the few bands that has been able to maintain indie cred while being incredibly popular. And yet despite all this, how many great bands have really come along with a sound that evokes the thought "this sounds like Radiohead." Sure we've had the sappy watered down Coldplay, and the occasionally amazing Muse, but look at Brooklyn's scene which is overinfested with twee indie pop and lo-fi garage punk. There's about 50 shoegaze bands but you'll have a hard time finding an epic post-rock band.
To just call Ghastly City Sleep a Radiohead-influenced post rock band would be a disservice, but Ghastly City Sleep are a very rare find in our Brooklyn scene—a band capable of pulling off epic swells comparative of Mogwai and Radiohead. Think about those best moments of Mogwai or Sigur Ros concerts when quiet slowly-but-seamlessly builds to a beautifully massive storm cloud of rock that fully engulfs you. That's what Ghastly City Sleep's Moondrifts is like. This shouldn't come as a total surprise with members coming from bands like City of Caterpillar, and getting help from Kayo Dot's Mia on strings. Moondrifts is being released by Robotic Empire, home of Torche, Kayo Dot, Red Sparrowes and Isis.
This is a band that Brooklyn has been waiting for.
Jonny Leather’s Next Wave Concert Compilation
Royal Forest
I've got a total of 4 concerts scheduled for the upcoming months. I'm slowly rolling them all out with full details. Each of the 4 shows is loaded with bands that sit on the verge of breakthrough. They're potentially the next wave of great bands. To celebrate the abundance of shows and promote these amazing bands, I've put together a compilation of all of the bands performing (except Lagoon, who do not have mastered recordings ready at this time).
Download Full Compilation
April 21 @ Union Hall / Neighbors, Lagoon, My Gold Mask, Sunglasses
rsvp on facebook here
April 24 @ The Charleston / Sally Head, Hot Protestants, This is Versailles
(details soon)
Sally Head - "Man With Small Hands"
Hot Protestants - "Sad About An Ice Age"
This Is Versailles - "Gold Pills"
May 3 @ Glasslands / Brick + Mortar, Royals Chains, Royal Forest, Ghastly City Sleeps
rsvp on facebook here
Royal Chains - "Lucy Takes A Dare"
Royal Forest - "Save The Ghost"
Ghastly City Sleep - "Seven (33 Leagues)"
June 18 @ Union Hall / Pacific Theater, Peter Wolf Crier, Judson Claiborne
(details soon)
Peter Wolf Crier - "Crutch & Crane"
Concert: Ghastly City Sleep, Royal Forest, Royal Chains, Brick + Mortar @ Glasslands // 5.3.10
Jonny Leather Presents:
Your New Favorite Band - May Edition Concert
GHASTLY CITY SLEEP
ROYAL FOREST
ROYAL CHAINS
BRICK + MORTAR
at Glasslands
289 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn
doors at 8pm
$6
21+
Brick + Mortar - "20 LB"
Royal Chains - "Lucy Takes A Dare"
Royal Forest - "Save The Ghost"
Ghastly City Sleep - "Seven (33 Leagues)"
GHASTLY CITY SLEEP
Ghastly City Sleep - "Seven (33 Leagues)"
Ghastly City Sleep is the kind of epic post rock band that Brooklyn has been waiting for. Finding a home for their debut LP, Moondrifts, with Robotic Empire—home of such crushing bands as Isis, Torche, Red Sparrowes, and Kayo Dot—Ghastly City Sleep are coming out of the gates with a fully realized sound. Sonically, this is the closest Brooklyn has ever had to a Mogwai, or the heavier leanings of Radiohead. Their massive epic songs are big enough that they could lead the emergence of a new scene in the city of scenes.
"It isn't often new music surfaces that is so deeply intense, just hearing it may induce instant nostalgia; the ancient sensations you get when the seasons change, a vivid dream involving the first person you ever loved. In the same way that select few can simultaneously achieve dark and uplifting songs, the Brooklyn-based quartet known as GHASTLY CITY SLEEP hone in on some immensely powerful elements to deliver a commanding, breathtaking first offering." —Amazon
ROYAL FOREST
Royal Forest - "Save The Ghost"
Changing their name from Loxsly to Royal Forest recently due to the confusion with the generic Brooklyn band Locksley, Royal Forest has bulked up their sound. The Austin-based quintet still has a bit of that Grandaddy-like sound, but the guitars have grown heavier and contain more bite.
"Instead of relying on a couple of offbeat songs to demonstrate a more experimental bent, Loxsly often blends familiarity and new ground within the same song, making for a more intriguing concept."—NPR
ROYAL CHAINS
Royal Chains - "Lucy Takes A Dare"
When The Royal Chains headlined one of my shows a few months ago the garage rock duo managed to fill out the room with a sound bigger than just drums and guitar while turning quite a few heads. My friends at forthebeat were just a few of the new fans they won over with their straightforward-but-electrifying set.
BRICK + MORTAR
Very rarely do I ever check myspace, but with the occasional interesting message coming through I still haven't deleted my account. Even less likely to happen than me checking my myspace is me getting a message from a good band. My inbox is littered with shit bands that want to be my friend. I hardly ever actually check out the bands anymore, but luckily for me I took a chance on Brick + Mortar and was instantly enamored. Their name fits their sound. A drum and bass duo with plenty of electronics, they find a comfortable place between catchy and punishing. Brick + Mortar is the golden nugget of my myspace inbox, found between the most boring bands in the world, and the sluttiest women in the world.
While You’ve Been at SXSW: Jonny Leather’s Non-SXSW Wrap Up
I was jaded, ready to throw in the towel. That's what this industry can do to you. A rat race with very little prize to be had, the joy of being a piece of the music industry pie had become less and less bearable. Following industry insiders, critics, photogs on twitter was like an up to the second reminder that much of my beliefs and tastes clash with theirs. Namedropping, the hype cycle, the never-ending circle jerk and the overall bore that is much of the industry was beating the life out of me, and yet I remained part of it.
Off to SXSW they went, but with the magic of twitter, I could live their every moment. Through the horror that is 4-square (the farmville of twitter), I was constantly updated of their whereabouts. Bands that blogs have already hyped to the brink of irritability played sets all over Austin, as bloggers/critics fought for claim of discovery of the "next big thing."
While my peers drank loads of beer, saw too many bands to remember, and ate loads of Tex Mex in preparation of a week full of post SXSW wrapups, I also did stuff.
Since you've been busy live tweeting from Austin informing me about your every move, and have plans to overload me with plenty more info about your past week's exploits, please allow me to give you a run down of what I've been up to while you've been at SXSW...
- My cat puked in my bathroom. I cleaned it up.
- It was really nice out on Tuesday, so I went to the Highline, then got a few drinks and eventually ended up at Sweet Revenge
- After reading a constant barrage of your 4SQ whereabouts at SXSW, I decided to quit Twitter.
- Then Flavorwire named me one of the 10 most followable music critics on Twitter
- Went to The Delancey on Wednesday night to see Grub Animal, and ended up seeing a terrible frat band cover Vanilla Ice
- Was published on Artinfo.com
- Saw Jon Natchez and Soft Landings at Zebulon. Shared a Jim Beam Milkshake with a great girl at Relish in between bands
- Randomly became obsessed with Supertramp
- Listened to Big Star's "Thirteen" 200 times
- Earned a considerable paycheck from a company whose office feels like a morgue
- Slept in a comfortable bed
- Put on a show at The Bell House that rivals anything that happened at SXSW. Ghastly City Sleep and Lagoon were particularly mesmerizing.
- Beat everyone except Mike Tyson in Punchou
- Saw Alice in Wondland 3D. There was a 3D Friskies commercial before it. I love Burton, but the movie was blaspheme, taking far too many liberties with Lewis Carrol's classic novel
- Hung out with cool people less concerned with being hip than being themselves
- Didn't have to travel to see a load of bands I've already seen a million times before in NYC just so I could hype them as next big thing.
- Enjoyed a peaceful weekend in the perfect weather in Brooklyn rather than risking my safety at MtyMx to see every band that ever plays at Market Hotel
- Randomly became obsessed with Eddie Grant
- Went to the Bronx Zoo on one of the most perfect days of the year and made friends with sea lions, lemurs, giraffes and other furry creature
- Drank Sangria on the roof of Alma, while my peers were stuck waiting for a bus to Mexico thanks to some terrible planning.
- Befriended incredible Brooklyn band, Sad Red
Sad Red - "Just Like An Orange"
- Revived my passion for music thanks to a bunch of great bands that may still exist far under the radar but need to be heard
To all my friends in amazing bands who played at SXSW (The Silent League, Royal Forest, Bear in Heaven, ARMS, Drink Up Buttercup...etc), you're still awesome. Don't mind my rant.
Despite Not Going, I know that all of these bands ruled at SXSW
- Bear in Heaven
- Royal Forest
- The Silent League
- Oh No Ono
- Drink Up Buttercup
- Deleted Scenes
- ARMS
- Spoon
- Besnard Lakes
- Broken Social Scene
- Liars
- Capybara
- Big Star
NYC Live Pick for 03.19.10 // Lagoon
Fri 3/19 • 7:30 PM • The Bell House • 21+ • $5
w/ Kordan, deVries, Ghastly City Sleep
Concert: SXSW-BK / Kordan, DeVries, Lagoon, Ghastly City Sleep @ Bell House // 3.19.10
You don't need to go to Austin for SXSW to discover the next great band... Like many others, I'm not able to make it to the annual music festival of industry schmoozing so rather than setting up a showcase down there, I've decided to host a special showcase of excellent up and coming Brooklyn bands here at home for all the rest of you who can't manage to make it down south for the endless party and tex mex.
Next year these will be the bands that everyone talks about at SXSW. see them now instead and stay ahead of the curve.
Jonny Leather Presents: SXSW-BK
Kordan
DeVries
Lagoon
Ghastly City Sleep
Friday March 19, 2010
@ The Bell House
Doors at 7:30. Bands at 8pm
Tickets only $5
Kordan
Kordan - "Hologram"
"Undiscovered Band of the Month / Kordan recently finished recording their debut full-length album The Longing. Taking cues from their earlier release, The Longing depicts a story of love in a hazy metropolis circa the year 2036, where the sky is tuned to a dead channel, the city glimmers with neon dreams, and holograms of lovers drift away."— Filter Magazine, February 2010
"Fantasy Nation is one of the most pleasurable releases from a Brooklyn act this year, on or off the dance floor."—Jezebel Music, B+ Review of Fantasy Nation EP
DeVries
DeVries - "Darkest Summer"
"...lushly melodic, Britpop-accented album" —Dave Segal, The Stranger
"Death to God is possibly the greatest Manchester album never to have been made in Manchester. a beautiful piece of work. Yes it sounds like it was recorded under a rain cloud but it’ll entertain you from start to finish. Simple. Precise. Haunting. Special. Death to God is a must have for all of those who spend more time looking at their shoes than should be considered healthy. Don’t miss it." —Damian Leslie, Incendiary Magazine
Lagoon
Lagoon's singer Alex Drewchin may be young, but take notice because she very well possess the most powerful set of pipes in New York's saturated indie scene and also has guitar chops. To greater compliment her gift, she's put together a really talented band willing to explore in ways many bands don't dare and couldn't even if they tried.
Ghastly City Sleep
Ghastly City Sleep - "Ice Creaks"
"It isn't often new music surfaces that is so deeply intense, just hearing it may induce instant nostalgia; the ancient sensations you get when the seasons change, a vivid dream involving the first person you ever loved. In the same way that select few can simultaneously achieve dark and uplifting songs, the Brooklyn-based quartet known as GHASTLY CITY SLEEP hone in on some immensely powerful elements to deliver a commanding, breathtaking first offering. On the GHASTLY CITY SLEEP debut, four tracks span thirty minutes... and when it's done, you actually feel different. While two pieces nearly reach the six-minute mark and the other two eclipse nine, the whole offering flows with a smooth liquidity, creating one solidified, captivating body of work. The four young men involved in GHASTLY CITY SLEEP don't stick to one instrument long, as the entire collective can be found playing everything from guitars, keys, various percussion and just about everything in between. The multitude of layers involved here are accompanied by a warm yet haunting array of vocals, all helping to produce this simply epic debut."—Amazon
