The brilliant Caithlin De Marrais unveils songs from her new album 'Red Coats,' out November 8 on End Up Records.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
TEXAS SENSATIONS SONS OF FATHERS WILL BRING “MOVING HARMONIES” TO NYC FOR SERIES OF SHOWS TO PREVIEW DEBUT ALBUM
Indie roots combo Sons of Fathers (formerly Beck and Cauthen), who will release its highly touted self-titled debut November 1 on Blanco River Music, will perform a series of preview concerts in New York in October. The band is rapidly garnering a reputation for captivating harmonies and everything-on-the-line energy, earning them comparisons to the Avett Brothers, albeit with an infusion of Texas grease.
Sons of Fathers, from San Marcos, TX, tore through its live radio debut on WXPN in August. WXPN’s Bruce Warren said, “Their rich vocal harmonies are nothing short of moving.”
David Beck attacks the standup bass and Paul Cauthen puts everything he has into the acoustic guitar while the duo sings stunning harmonies. Beck is son of an internationally-traveling Texas musician and Cauthen learned to play music from his grandfather, a Texas preacher.
WHO: Sons of Fathers (formerly Beck & Cauthen)
WHAT: NYC concerts to preview self-titled debut album
WHEN: October 12, October 14, October 15 (respectively)
WHERE: Freddy’s Bar, Branded Saloon, Southpaw (respectively)
TICKETS: free; free; $10 via Ticketweb or Southpaw box office (respectively)
Sons of Fathers, from San Marcos, TX, tore through its live radio debut on WXPN in August. WXPN’s Bruce Warren said, “Their rich vocal harmonies are nothing short of moving.”
David Beck attacks the standup bass and Paul Cauthen puts everything he has into the acoustic guitar while the duo sings stunning harmonies. Beck is son of an internationally-traveling Texas musician and Cauthen learned to play music from his grandfather, a Texas preacher.
WHO: Sons of Fathers (formerly Beck & Cauthen)
WHAT: NYC concerts to preview self-titled debut album
WHEN: October 12, October 14, October 15 (respectively)
WHERE: Freddy’s Bar, Branded Saloon, Southpaw (respectively)
TICKETS: free; free; $10 via Ticketweb or Southpaw box office (respectively)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
'RED COATS' IS COMING: BROOKLYNITE CAITHLIN DE MARRAIS DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM FILM HISTORY, FASHION, FOOD AND FAMILY ON STELLAR NEW ALBUM
The inspiration behind Caithlin De Marrais' new album reaches deep into the distant and not-so-distant past. (De Marrais is the former vocalist/bassist for Rainer Maria.) Here’s a rundown of the fuel for her creative fire on ‘Red Coats,’ out November 8 on End Up Records, which has been compared to Mirah and Beth Orton:
* Album opener “Lovers Light” is dedicated to the memory of Don Hill and one of the bright spots in the club scene, Don Hill’s nightclub. De Marrais says, "I'm drawn to places where people gather to dance. I hear this song as a dance song, slowed way down. The opening hits that super soft spot I have for analog fuzz-scapes. I composed this song on Garage Band and was sonically inspired as much by The National’s ‘High Violet’ as the soundtrack to the John Hughes’ film, ‘Pretty in Pink.’”
* Caithlin first heard the xx around the time that she wrote “Rose Wallpaper.” “I was really inspired by their brilliant vocals and arrangements." Lyrics recall an overnight stay as a youth in a 19th century abandoned house.
* “Hot Day” is an homage to Patti Smith’s ‘Horses’ album and also includes Ray Saperstein’s cornet a la Caithlin's favorite film genre, 1970s-era American crime films.
* The instrumental “Fizzy Wawa,” a term Caithlin’s son uses for carbonated water, includes his work on the Juno.
* “City Girl” is dedicated to her mother. Caithlin says, “My mom grew up in Jersey, a stone's throw from New York City. We're a Bruce Springsteen family and I was haunted by the lonely silhouette of Asbury Park when I wrote this song on the piano. I remember hearing the album ‘Tunnel of Love’ for the first time as a young girl and I was very moved by the sadness in those songs.”
* She dedicates “Sorry” to the memory of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who possessed a tendency to juxtapose strength with fragility in his designs. Says Caithlin, "I had to catch my breath when I saw his work. It was mind-blowing. I am humbled by his legacy."
* The title track and album closer finds her comparing the Revolutionary War, of which a battle was fought in her childhood town of Fairfield, CT, to her modern day romance with British-born photographer, Spencer Heyfron. “This song is not exactly a metaphor for falling in love, but more the willingness to surrender to any of love’s invasions,” she says.
Check out her music video for “Birds” posted on Brooklyn Vegan.
* Album opener “Lovers Light” is dedicated to the memory of Don Hill and one of the bright spots in the club scene, Don Hill’s nightclub. De Marrais says, "I'm drawn to places where people gather to dance. I hear this song as a dance song, slowed way down. The opening hits that super soft spot I have for analog fuzz-scapes. I composed this song on Garage Band and was sonically inspired as much by The National’s ‘High Violet’ as the soundtrack to the John Hughes’ film, ‘Pretty in Pink.’”
* Caithlin first heard the xx around the time that she wrote “Rose Wallpaper.” “I was really inspired by their brilliant vocals and arrangements." Lyrics recall an overnight stay as a youth in a 19th century abandoned house.
* “Hot Day” is an homage to Patti Smith’s ‘Horses’ album and also includes Ray Saperstein’s cornet a la Caithlin's favorite film genre, 1970s-era American crime films.
* The instrumental “Fizzy Wawa,” a term Caithlin’s son uses for carbonated water, includes his work on the Juno.
* “City Girl” is dedicated to her mother. Caithlin says, “My mom grew up in Jersey, a stone's throw from New York City. We're a Bruce Springsteen family and I was haunted by the lonely silhouette of Asbury Park when I wrote this song on the piano. I remember hearing the album ‘Tunnel of Love’ for the first time as a young girl and I was very moved by the sadness in those songs.”
* She dedicates “Sorry” to the memory of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who possessed a tendency to juxtapose strength with fragility in his designs. Says Caithlin, "I had to catch my breath when I saw his work. It was mind-blowing. I am humbled by his legacy."
* The title track and album closer finds her comparing the Revolutionary War, of which a battle was fought in her childhood town of Fairfield, CT, to her modern day romance with British-born photographer, Spencer Heyfron. “This song is not exactly a metaphor for falling in love, but more the willingness to surrender to any of love’s invasions,” she says.
Check out her music video for “Birds” posted on Brooklyn Vegan.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sons of Fathers artwork
L-R: Dees Stribling, David Beck, Regan Schmidt, Paul Cauthen, Dan CohenSons of Fathers photo by Christopher Durst (click for higher res):
Sons of Fathers album cover for self-titled album, out Nov 1 on Blanco River Music (click for higher res):
Thursday, September 22, 2011
BROOKLYN VEGAN ANNOUNCES CAITHLIN DE MARRAIS’ HEADLINING CMJ SHOW OCTOBER 21 AT LITTLEFIELD, PRESENTED BY BITCH MEDIA
Brooklyn Vegan broke the news that former Rainer Maria vocalist/bassist Caithlin De Marrais will be headlining a CMJ show at Littlefield on October 21, previewing her stunning new album ‘Red Coats’ (November 8 / End Up Records) in a lineup presented by BITCH Media.
It also represents a hometown show for the Brooklyn-based indie rocker, who recorded her ‘Red Coats’ at Saltmines Studios in DUMBO. In the spring, The Wall Street Journal chronicled her work in an article about the Saltmines community: http://t.co/KNCdjf5 . After meticulously demoing the songs in her Cobble Hill basement, she brought them to co-producers Josh Kaufman and Steve Salett and the three worked to craft unfamiliar sounds such as recording handclaps and running the sound through a vintage Silvertone amp; or pressing the keys and dampening the strings of a grand piano to create an abstract autoharp sound. The result is an album that has been compared to Bjork, Lali Puna, and Mirah.
WHO: Former Rainer Maria vocalist/bassist Caithlin De Marrais
WHAT: CMJ show and preview of new album ‘Red Coats’ presented by BITCH Media
WHEN: 8pm, October 21, 2011
WHERE: Littlefield, 622 Degraw St., Brooklyn
TICKETS: $10 at the door or via Ticketfly.com or free with CMJ badge
The bill promises to be a highlight of CMJ with openers to include The Shondes and Alina Simone.
Pitchfork Media has testified, “[De Marrais delivers her music] like a soft slap to the face.”
It also represents a hometown show for the Brooklyn-based indie rocker, who recorded her ‘Red Coats’ at Saltmines Studios in DUMBO. In the spring, The Wall Street Journal chronicled her work in an article about the Saltmines community: http://t.co/KNCdjf5 . After meticulously demoing the songs in her Cobble Hill basement, she brought them to co-producers Josh Kaufman and Steve Salett and the three worked to craft unfamiliar sounds such as recording handclaps and running the sound through a vintage Silvertone amp; or pressing the keys and dampening the strings of a grand piano to create an abstract autoharp sound. The result is an album that has been compared to Bjork, Lali Puna, and Mirah.
WHO: Former Rainer Maria vocalist/bassist Caithlin De Marrais
WHAT: CMJ show and preview of new album ‘Red Coats’ presented by BITCH Media
WHEN: 8pm, October 21, 2011
WHERE: Littlefield, 622 Degraw St., Brooklyn
TICKETS: $10 at the door or via Ticketfly.com or free with CMJ badge
The bill promises to be a highlight of CMJ with openers to include The Shondes and Alina Simone.
Pitchfork Media has testified, “[De Marrais delivers her music] like a soft slap to the face.”
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
THE GOURDS REEP PLENTIFUL HARVEST WITH LARRY CAMPBELL-PRODUCED NEW ALBUM ‘OLD MAD JOY’
The Gourds’ new album ‘Old Mad Joy,’ which was produced by Larry Campbell at Levon Helm Studios, has netted them a plentiful harvest of stellar reviews:
"Their junkyard sound crisscrosses the roots-music spectrum with a whacked-out, independent spirit."
– New York Times
“It's impossible not to sing and clap along to this opening track from the Austin quintet's Old Mad Joy album.”
– USA Today
“[‘Old Mad Joy’] will get your hips shaking and your mind quaking all night long.”
– Spinner
“One special release [that] should end up on every critic's year-end ‘best of’ list.”
- Huffington Post
“Great… You want a modern day ‘Big Pink,’ you say? I got it right here, my friend. ‘Old Mad Joy’ is one of those albums that’s new to your ears but known to your soul.”
- Jambands.com
“Their ability to deliver a relentless rocker or wring out tears from a heartfelt ballad is beyond reproach.”
- Blurt Magazine
“I Want It So Bad could describe my feelings about ‘Old Mad Joy.’”
– My Old Kentucky Blog
“If the Gourds could bottle the music and sell it at the drug store, the corporations who manufacture the endless supply of happy pills would all go out of business.” – Houston Press
The band will play NYC’s Sullivan Hall on October 1. Click here for full tour dates: http://www.thegourds.com/tour-dates
Click here for free download of ‘I Want it So Bad’: http://vanguardrecords.com/downloads/The+Gourds
"Their junkyard sound crisscrosses the roots-music spectrum with a whacked-out, independent spirit."
– New York Times
“It's impossible not to sing and clap along to this opening track from the Austin quintet's Old Mad Joy album.”
– USA Today
“[‘Old Mad Joy’] will get your hips shaking and your mind quaking all night long.”
– Spinner
“One special release [that] should end up on every critic's year-end ‘best of’ list.”
- Huffington Post
“Great… You want a modern day ‘Big Pink,’ you say? I got it right here, my friend. ‘Old Mad Joy’ is one of those albums that’s new to your ears but known to your soul.”
- Jambands.com
“Their ability to deliver a relentless rocker or wring out tears from a heartfelt ballad is beyond reproach.”
- Blurt Magazine
“I Want It So Bad could describe my feelings about ‘Old Mad Joy.’”
– My Old Kentucky Blog
“If the Gourds could bottle the music and sell it at the drug store, the corporations who manufacture the endless supply of happy pills would all go out of business.” – Houston Press
The band will play NYC’s Sullivan Hall on October 1. Click here for full tour dates: http://www.thegourds.com/tour-dates
Click here for free download of ‘I Want it So Bad’: http://vanguardrecords.com/downloads/The+Gourds
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)