tag:flavorpill.com,2005:/newyork/venues/mercury-lounge 2012-05-27T00:00:00-07:00 tag:flavorpill.com,2005:EventListing/68887 2012-05-27T23:00:00Z 2012-05-27T23:00:00Z Today Cultfever is J. Peter Durniak and Tamara Jafar, two artists whose chance encounter in a Manhattan recording studio spawned a partnership of two distinct voices connecting over a shared vision in sound. Within a few months of their first meeting, Durniak, an audio engineer at the studio, and Jafar, an intern at the studio and political activist, decided to move in together, converting their apartment living room into a shared studio space. Soon after, late-night recording sessions and musical sketches began to evolve into the songs that make up their eponymous debut. During the recording process, the duo conceived of the album as a series of cinematic vignettes rather than trying to focus the project around a narrowly tailored theme. Giving themselves that space to explore they now have a better idea of the strengths and weaknesses in the interplay of their individual styles. tag:flavorpill.com,2005:EventListing/71116 2012-05-28T22:30:00Z 2012-05-28T22:30:00Z Tomorrow This woman-heavy gang of rockers takes its name straight from those most infamous of Detroit '60s bad-boys, the MC5. But this ain't no retro act. Because just as the 'Five channeled the spirit of Chuck Berry and Coltrane before them, Sister Anne taps into all things punk, rock, and soul—a Tina Turner scream here, a Black Sabbath bassline there, a little bit of James Brown and a whole lotta Iggy and the Stooges—and stuffs the whole mess into its sparkling 21st-century blender. The result is something at once familiar and brand spankin' new— a frantic, panting, female soul-punk monster that grabs Garage Rock by the scruff of its skinny white neck and shoves it, face first, back into the sweaty rhythm-and-blues murk from whence it sprang. tag:flavorpill.com,2005:EventListing/72586 2012-05-29T00:30:00Z 2012-05-29T00:30:00Z Tomorrow "Oh the youth. Tragic, traumatic, damaged and possibly retarded. What could be written about adolescence that hasn’t already been demonstrated by degenerate behavior? Seems like the kids of today are more confused and disillusioned than ever. Sadly, they’ll never know the pleasures and freedoms of being raised in an arcade. The young man used to satisfy his uncertainties with Earthworm Jim, Road Rash, Skitchin, jerkin off, Toe Jam And Earl, The Simpsons Game, Primal Rage and Narc. Now the poor bastards don’t even have quarter slots to shoot their nervous wads into. Somewhere in the mess of trends and snobbery, Cruising' USA abandoned the jack shacks and weirdness of Tucson, AZ splitting to New York City. After witnessing Bloomberg and his army of crooks tear the rotten apple to shreds with lofts, hookah bars, and yuppie hang outs, the boys decided to start a band where fun and partying were essential to community development. They began practicing in a sunken basement that was littered with tall boys and smut. The floor was used as an ash tray, a veil of moon cabbage drifted from the door and a friend could usually be found passed out in the hallway with his shoes still on. How else could four splintered eyed freaks turn out such numbers as 'Jamaican Me Crazy' and 'Tropical Fantasy'? Cruisin is a band for today, a band for us because they're part of the general youth who are fed up with guys like Bloomberg ruining the party. Their live show is like those happier days when boredom was easily overcome with a 7/11 Slurpee, a cyclone, and game of pinball. So load up on four loko, a stick of tea, and catch 'em before the police commissioner decides to shut them down." -written by Dakota Pollock tag:flavorpill.com,2005:EventListing/72587 2012-05-29T23:30:00Z 2012-05-29T23:30:00Z Tuesday 5/29 The Spanish Channel is Melodic Pop/Rock! -- catchy uptempo rock with harmony vocals, and lyrics that tell the stories of life in New York City. The band lives in Brooklyn, NY, and likes to rock the party, just like Foo Fighters, Weezer, Fountains of Wayne, Lit, The Cars, and Matchbox 20. The inspiration behind Alexander Howard’s solo debut came out of a songwriting trip to Los Angeles, Recording in a sweaty Hollywood studio, the 23 year old singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist dialed in on writing and recording upbeat, pop rock songs with undeniable melodic and lyrical hooks and he found himself constantly wondering—“Where are the guys playing this breed of pop on the radio?” Returning to his hometown of New York, he immediately set to work honing in on the songs and sound that would become his first solo release with the production team ROBOPOP (the masterminds behind the new Gym Class Heroes x Adam Levine single “Stereohearts”). Written and co-produced by Howard, the songs take inspiration from all walks of pop, ranging from sixties Motown to Top40 indie pop. Woven together by Howard’s pop rock vocals and his visual and thematic songwriting, this diverse offering is one of the most relevant debuts in a time when most male solo pop rock artists are few and far between. Off-stage and outside the recording studio, Howard is a highly involved in New York’s fashion community—designing clothing for New York based men’s brands as well as writing up collections and profiles for Interview Magazine, founded by Andy Warhol in the late sixties.