New Music: Linfinity - “MSG”
Linfinity - "MSG"
On April 27th, Linfinity's debut record Martian's Bloom will finally see its release on American Myth Recordings. I've been lucky enough to have had the recordings on my ituns for months, and they're the real deal. "MSG" is the first single for the band who will surely see their fanbase grow after an upcoming tour with Murder By Death and Ha Ha Tonka.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
* = w/ Murder By Death, Ha Ha Tonka
MARCH 2010
11 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge w/ Foreign Born, Free Energy
31 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway*
APRIL 2010
01 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room*
02 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom*
03 - Salt Lake City, UT - Bar Deluxe*
05 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern*
06 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge*
08 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's*
09 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour*
10 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar*
11 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah*
12 - Scottsdale, AZ - The Rhythm Room*
14 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory*
15 - Austin, TX - Emo's Alternative Lounge*
16 - Houston, TX - Mango's*
17 - Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves*
19 - Hattiesburg, MS - Thirsty Hippo*
20 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Downstairs)*
21 - Birmingham, AL - Bottle Tree*
23 - Ybor City, FL - The Orpheum*
24 - Orlando, FL - The Backbooth*
25 - Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds*
27 - Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern*
28 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar*
29 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East (Downstairs)*
30 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground*
MAY 2010
01 - New Haven, CT - Café Nine*
02 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg*
04 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom*
05 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's*
07 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's*
09 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop*
10 - Kalamazoo, MI - The Strutt*
11 - Madison, WI - The High Noon Saloon*
12 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock*
13 - Iowa City, IA - Picador*
14 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall*
15 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club*
Concert: Your New Favorite Bands @ Union Hall // 2.3.10
Jonny Leather Presents:
The Royal Chains
Paul & The Patients
The Waylons
Linfinity (Dylan solo set)
Christopher Paul Stelling
2.3.10 @ Union Hall
702 Union St. Brooklyn, NY
Doors at 7pm
21+
$7 (proceeds will be donated to a Haiti relief fund tbd)
The Royal Chains
Paul & The Patients
"just damn addictive... psychedelic-based songs, the tracks consistently hook in your head" –rcrdlbl.com
"I am exploding with the need to talk about a band I am fucking obsessed with right now: Paul and The Patients" –ultragrrrl.blogspot.com
"Holmes’ knack for writing catchy songs. His vocals loom large over the music on the tracks—it’s mostly smooth, but at points is pushed to a perfect, raspy howl." –New York Press
mp3: Paul & The Patients - "Shooting Star"
mp3: Paul & The Patients - "Complaint 15"
The Waylons
"Their self-titled debut is a solid slab of rock that begs comparisons to other no-frills acts like the Replacements, Buffalo Tom, and even Sloan and the Shins." –popmatters.com
mp3: The Waylons - "Endless Supplies"
Linfinity (Dylan solo set)
"With an eclectic mix of influences brewing in its pot, Linfinity has developed a huge sound most easily comparable to Arcade Fire, Echo & The Bunnymen and DeVotchka." — New York Press
mp3: Linfinity - "Molly Mar of Rome"
Christopher Paul Stelling
Christopher Paul Stelling's rapid finger-picked acoustic tales evoke the genius of Tallest Man on Earth. And much like Tallest Man on Earth, Stelling knows how to engage a crowd.—NY Press
mp3: Christopher Paul Stelling - "Flawless Executioner"
Hopewell Released New Record, Played Pianos with Linfinity on Tuesday
Hopewell/Linfinity
Pianos, 5.19.09
Celebrating the release of their new record Good Good Desperation on Tee Pee Records, Hopewell packed the back room at Pianos on Tuesday night. While a room full of people is always a good thing for a band, having it be at place as small as Pianos was just another reminder of how overlooked Hopewell has been over the years. It's never made a whole lot of sense, but Hopewell has never seen great success despite Mercury Rev-lineage, a tour with My Bloody Valentine, a solid discography, and most importantly one of the better live shows around in the the biggest music scene in the world.
Good Good Desperation is another spaced-out psych rock gem that continues along the road that they began traveling years ago. It's darker and heavier than anything the band has ever done, and that makes for an even more intense live show.
Oddly enough, after pounding mostly through their new tracks, the band ended the set very abruptly which left a lot of fans looking pretty baffled.
On the second night of their Pianos residency, Linfinity preceded Hopewell and did everything in their power to make it known that they are the next big thing in the NYC scene. From the opening seconds of "Holy Rain" to the emotional closer "Molly Mar of Rome," the six-piece displayed an intense sense of urgency not unlike Arcade Fire or DeVotchka (the two bands this band's sound will be compared to most). This was my third time catching the band live in less than a year, and they've grown noticeably tighter, and really developed their songs and live show. Mustachioed frontman/songwriter Dylan Von Wagner carries the type of strong presence and powerful voice necessary to draw the band attention in the near future.
To Linfinity & Beyond
Catching Up with Linfinity's Dylan Von Wagner
During the month of May, two incredible local bands will have residencies at Pianos. Wednesdays will belong to the critically praised Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers. Sharing a common bass player (Nick Hundley), Linfinity will own Tuesday nights.
Linfinity is still relatively unknown, but that shouldn’t last long. With an eclectic mix of influences brewing in its pot, Linfinity has developed a huge sound most easily comparable to Arcade Fire, Echo & The Bunnymen and DeVotchka. For the last couple months the band has been in the studio recording what will be its debut record, and the finished product is bound to be an indie hit.
Defined by sweeping arrangements, and vocalist Dylan Von Wagner’s thunderous voice, the songs carry a powerful emotion wallop. One listen to “Molly Mar of Rome” and you’ll be hooked. Von Wagner took some time to answer a few questions.
How long has Linfinity been a band/how did you form?
Well I made a record in summer 2007 to demonstrate what I was going for. Around then I started to asking around through friends, scored Nick, our bass player, he then found our guitarist Josh, who then knew our drummer Russ. Then Russ knew a violinist [Megan] and keys player [Omer]. It was kind of gradual over a few months, then we played our first show in October 2007.
Besides the solo Live at Marcata record I had done, I did a full band record. We started to play songs from that. We actually had one more guitarist. After about five months of that, we ended up not being able to hold onto one extra guitarist, so we had to rethink and kind of re shape the band as a six piece. So around march 2008 we made our first EP, Songs of the Weeping Willow. I would say that was our true formation as a group, then we took some of songs I had done myself and reworked them—wanted to make that point that we adjusted to a different sound.
How did you develop your big theatrical sound? Who are your biggest influences?
Our big sound was playing in my head, I wanted to do big band stuff with a bang, I think when I bring the songs in, the band arranges well around it and are really articulate in trying to find space and development. As in all bands there's tension, I assume that has something to do with our sound, we all come from different backgrounds and I think all the spices seem to lead to a soundtrack thing around melody. Arcade Fire is a good example of taking pop songs and adding huge arrangements to them, giving them scale and depth. We probably would be a little wilder, but a bunch of our songs were recorded around my father’s death, so things we're chilled out. Influences are the usual Zeppelin, Beatles, Doors, Beastie Boys, Tom Waits [and] even Pearl Jam—they're surprisingly eclectic. I like bands that can do anything and aren't pigeon holed.
Where does your name come from?
Told from an old timer: in World War I in the trenches a general would walk around to his soldiers who were shell shocked and give them a word to calm them, he would tell them to say ‘Linfinity’ over and over to themselves, to relax them. Fucking scary stuff if you heard it from the old man, he said there's not one day he doesn't picture those trenches.
Can you tell me a little about the lyrical imagery of your songs?
Everything from a Martian's DNA, an escape from a prison in Uzbekistan, to a Roman princess who saves the world by giving great head.
What's the biggest difficulty in making a name for yourself in a music scene like New York?
Well there's lots of great bands, I think the key is making a polished recording, than begin playing shows, have a good set of songs and try and get good shows. I think the bands that do well, some blow up quick, some take a few years, basically you do it until it sticks, try everything and just when you think it's too hard, it gets harder. My motto is do what the other guy won't. Although on a simple level, it's not brain surgery, you have to have good songs, play good shows, promote, make friends and it'll happen eventually. Sure connections help, but there's still no excuse. I will say though, if you work your balls off, someone will try and help you, whether it's a manager or a label. I have friends in the film biz, they want you to mop their floors before they give you a chance, so mop some floors!
Your sound seems more fitting for Montreal than New York, how does that effect the booking, and finding bands who are a good fit to play with?
I don't know, Jay at mercury has been nice to us and paired us with some bands that aren't our sound, but a good mix, it's like a festival, 7pm can be Basement Jaxx, 8pm will be Wilco, 9pm Yeah Yeah Yeah's.
What do you all do to make a living?
I've been doing arms dealing....
If you could go on tour with any other band, who would it be?
Well right now we're open to anything. I like The Subjects a lot, they would be fun. Wilco, TV on the Radio, The Walkmen. I'd like to watch Arcade Fire for a month, Jens Lekman, M Ward, and arena show with Pearl Jam. Any which way, we’re looking forward to playing the shows at pianos—lots of good bands. First we gotta find a home for our record and than get on the road.
MP3: "Molly Mar of Rome"
>Linfinity
May 19, with Hopewell, Electric Tickle Machine, You scream I scream, Monument, Pianos, 158 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.); 9, $8.
May 26, with Starling Crush and Contronmano, Pianos, 158 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.); 9, $8.
