Category Archives: Music

Concert Review: Silhouette Rising

Artists: Silhouette Rising, The Scouflaws
Location: West Side Social Club, Wakefield, MA
Date: July 2, 2010

Act I: The Scouflaws
As Glen discussed in his review of their Demo, Demolicious, The Scouflaws mix things up with a mish mash of Punk, Garage, and Pop. Throughout their performance they rocked out hard with a lot of high energy and crowd interaction, not to mention quick witted humor. They played signature songs like “Crazy Desert Island Cats” and “Stupid and Catchy” (a great title, but the latter is more accurate) as well as covers of “Walking On Sunshine,” and “Killing In the Name,” which served as a really kick ass closer, amongst some other fine tunes. I was pleased with their performance and I highly recommend others to see them live or at least check out their Myspace Page, http://www.myspace.com/thescouflaws. If you’re a KLYAM reader, then you know we see bands all the time; The Scouflaws are more energetic than most of those bands and they are still in High School! Give their demo, Demolicious some ear time.

Act II: Silhouette Rising
Ahh yes, Silhouette Rising. Much anticipation led up to this show. Hell, much of my curiosity was devoted to staring at those wacky characters on my ticket, whom also apper on the cover of the CD. Which brings me to my next point, the entire purpose of this show. You see, this wasn’t just another concert from the group, as they play shows often and will be playing more and more shows in the near future. No, this was far more important. The culmination of all their rigorous, dedicated work throughout the years. In other words, the release of their latest and greatest CD, Promises. An epic recording, hard to match live, but the band pulled it off with an undeniable finesse and then some. Based on the energy of the performers and the audience’s reaction, one would think this was a spiritual release show. Each performance evoked a range of emotions: headbanging and jumping up and down to the fast paced Rockers of “Conversations” and “Poseidon’s War,” passionately singing along to the Classic Ballads of “Riverside,” “Behind Closed Doors,” and “A Failed Attempt,” or simply snapping your fingers and appreciating fine tunes with “Wake Me Up” and “New England Sunsets.” A particularly solemn moment came in the soft, slow number, “Perserverance,” a song dedicated in loving memory to Chris Rollins. The band also unleashed a wide variety of cover songs from Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” to The Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition,” they even played a brief rendition of the “Familly Guy” theme! Whilst the band performed they were accompanied by a dazzaling light show and a backdrop of bizarre images, including what appears to be the apocalypse via archive Cold War propaganda footage of buildings exploding, which concluded the band’s set. These neat additions perfectly complemented the group’s muisc and artistic vision. Lastly, it should be noted that this was an ALL AGES show, literally! Fans of all ages were in attendance, anywhere from little tykes to elderly folks. Silhouette Rising was able to captiviate everyone for over 90 minutes. A rare feat, to say the least. In short, check out the band and attend their next performance. If you want to find out what “purple things” she brings to Cory, then you will just have to see the boys live.

http://www.silhouetterising.com/index.php?option=com_poll&id=14:what-is-your-favorite-song

Demo Review: Demolicious [2010]

Band: The Scouflaws
Release: 2010

Comments: The Scouflaws from Wakefield, Massachusetts offer free cake at their shows. They also offer great tunes, some of which are on this Demolicious demo. They’re kind of like the Smith Westerns of yesteryear— formed in 2007/all members under 18 years old. The Smith Westerns didn’t write “Crazy Desert Island Cats” at age 14. The Scouflaws did. Of course, “Crazy” is cheesy (there are ‘meows!’), but between the congruous bass line and four chord guitar progression, it’s the lack of adornment that makes this song memorable and convivial. The next song, “Stupid and Catchy,” is a mesh between Green Day style punk and Cymbals Eat Guitars esque drum + keyboard play. The final song on the demo “Punch” is my favorite. It’s got a neat garage rock feel to it. Not to mention it’s really catchy and standout-ish. Plus when the song gets REAL FUNKY, it gets REAL AWESOME. Keep an eye on these guys.

Grade: A

Gangbang Gordon – Singles 2010

New numbers from Singles ’10!

“I Thought” is a pop tune about doing whatever you want. People might think they know what you’re going to do. In fact, you think you know what you’re going to do. You’re feeling squirrely. It’s the first song that I wrote that is more than guitar/vocal. I came up with the bass riff first and just went from there adding in a couple guitar riffs. The drumming is pretty mindless as is the toy piano/guitar solo at the very end. I think I panned certain instruments left/right so check it out on headphones.

“I’m Your Little Daddy” is one of the more punk angled tunes I’ve composed. It’s totally lyrically inspired by Nobunny. It’s about a kid who aspires to simply get into his lover’s bed and does that…but goes too far and becomes a little daddy. I tried my best at a distorted guitar solo.

“Pick Yourself Down” was recorded shortly after I began playing with an acoustic sounding effect. It’s about this uncle who has the flu and is just ranting. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD HERE: http://www.purevolume.com/GangbangGordon

Black Lips: “Best Napkin I Ever Had”

Retrospecting back to their We Did Not Know The Flower Spirit days, Black Lips have released another new tune! You couldn’t get such a contrasting tune if you tried. “Before You Judge Me” is bluesy, 200 Million Thousand “Body Combat” esque while “Best Napkin” is screechy with those “M.I.A” guitar sounds. Jared Swilley sounds more like Khan singing Almighty Defenders than himself. I’m really liking this one. I sort of over-reacted to “Before You Judge Me.” It’s great, but this one is just an awesome nod to old times and mischief.

No Age To Play NYC Pool Party!

The Pool Parties held on the Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn are back again this summer! No Age and The Strange Boys are just about the only names that stick out to me. I tried to catch No Age at one of their Williamsburg shows last year except it poured. It poured hard. Figuring it got canceled (which I think it did), we ditched Brooklyn. No Age is set to play on July 25, but August 1 would have been much better, ‘yo. That’s because I might be going on the Black Lips NYC cruise on the 2nd. I would have been in town. There’s a shot the Lips could play that August 1 date. The bands haven’t been announced yet.

CD Review: Never Grow Up [2010]

Band: The Crusaders of Love
Release: 2010
Label: Douchemaster

1. “Better When I’m Gone” – B+
2. “Shot to the Heart” – B-
3. “Good Time All the Time” – B+
4. “Little Mind” – B+
5. “Braving Hell” – A-
6. “Can’t Get Enough” – A-
7. “It Doesn’t Change a Thing” – A-
8. “Time” – A
9. “If You Want to Try” – A-
10. “Looking For Us” – B
11. “Looking For a Heart” – A-

Comments: Crusaders of Love have the power-pop thing down pat. There’s not much changing up of things, so I can’t find too many stand-out tracks among the first four tracks. I do dig the punk-lite naivete, which really comes out on the rest of the album. It’s hard not to like the perceived care-free aesthetic of a young band just jamming out and having fun. They’ve got a release on Die Slaughterhaus so if I say they have a similar energy/MO of early Black Lips I don’t think I’d be too far off. Also, I never would have guessed these guys were from France.

Grade: B+ (88)