Mixtape Cafe and Venue to undergo name and location change

Change isn't always a bad thing. The Mixtape Cafe and Venue, now MXTP, may be announcing a few changes, but it will still be bringing the same great performances to downtown Grand Rapids. The venue will be hosting its final shows at 133 Division Ave before moving to its new, 500 capacity venue on Aug. 13.

The grand opening of the new MXTP location will feature a performance by New Found Glory on Friday, Aug. 13. Detroit-based pop-punk band, Fireworks, will support New Found Glory with openers Balance and Composre and Man Overboard. Tickets are available for $17.50 at the door or online. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Another show announced at the new venue, MXTP, features a performance by The Bigger Lights on Thursday, Aug. 19. The band will be performing with openers The Graduate, You Me and Everyone We Know and Weatherstar. Tickets are $10.

For more information about the MXTP, visit its website.

Friction Records to release Charles the Osprey LP

Friction Records, a Michigan-based label, has announced the new release from Grand Rapids' Charles the Osprey. The band's debut full-length, Consider, is due out June 29th and is now available for pre-order.

Troy Reimink, from the Grand Rapids Press, describes the drum-and-guitar duo as brain-melting instrumental spazz-rock that employs non-fancy guitar and drum sounds, but cover impressive dynamic territory as they weave through thickets of changes in time and tempo, some fluid, some jarring, all compelling.

To hear more of Charles the Osprey, head to Founders this Saturday, June 26. The band will be playing a record release show with label mates Ozenza. Can't wait until Saturday? Listen to a free mp3 of the band's song "Scimitar Children and Their Rugs." For more information about the band visit their MySpace page.

Sarah Winters debuts first single "Not Mine"

It's the deliberate patterned style of the piano paired with harmonizing cello that first commands your attention when listening to "Not Mine," the first single in the debut album from Minnesota native, Sarah Winters. This contrasting duo, driven by almost hip hop-esque beats, only take a back seat to your ears when Winters actually starts to sing.

Winters' voice is vulnerable, exposed and sometimes on the verge of vocally awkward; however, it is still venturesome in a way that makes listeners turn the volume up. Her unique, Tori Amos-like style only grows stronger throughout the single, often taking an unexpected turn with vocal flips and extended notes.

"Not Mine" is the first single from the singer/songwriter's debut album "Smallest Bones," which was released April 9. The album features Winters on piano and vocals, Kristopher Schoen on drums and Baylen Wagner on cello.

The album contains an assortment of love songs in every imaginable fashion: falling in love songs, falling out of love songs, being in love songs and wishing you were no longer in love songs. When combined with her band and lyrics, Winters' full-range vocals give way to an album that has a calming energy backed by high emotion.

"Smallest Bones" is now available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and eMusic. For more information on this upcoming artist, check out her Facebook and Myspace pages.

Randy Thunderbird revs its engine

Short, in-your-face rock songs are Randy Thunderbird’s M.O. How to talk to kids about robots is no exception. From the first track to the 10th, this album with have your blood pumping and your ears pounding. Randy Thunderbird sings about everything from rainbows and unicorns, to cheap shots in an album that would surely offend a mother from the 1950s.

Constant sound bombards your ears as you listen to each song. Jesse Soltis maintains a constant roll of symbols, snare and bass on his drum set while Stu Swope and Joe Fish work together to make sure you always hear one of their guitars. Joe Fleet lays down a backing bass line and all four members sing to complete the sound.

With an angry sounding lead singer and guitar riffs that are even meaner, How to talk to kids about robots is not for the faint of heart. “Science Friday” is the rare song where the band slows things down a bit. “Lockjaw,” the last song on the album, keeps with Randy Thunderbird’s tradition of foul language by ending with the line, “just shut the f--- up.”

Cloud Magic adds a "puff" of electronics into blues/jazz

A mix of jazz, rock and electronica, Cloud Magic’s Puff blends contemporary lounge music with trippy, in-your-face electronic music. Lead guitarist and singer Dave Menzo adds guitar riffs that one could classify as somewhere between blues and jazz to each track, along with intense solos in between. Complementing Menzo with high-pitched backup vocals, Sarah Price adds depth to Cloud Magic’s songs. The mastermind infusing electronics into each song is Chad Golda, who is also responsible for the bass and some of the percussion. Jerod Brocklehurst plays “The Big Drums,” which he does with a great sense of rhythm.

While Puff may not be for everyone, it can be a warm welcome to those who enjoy blues or jazz. Instead of sticking to the usual riffs and chord progressions usually heard in blues and pop, Cloud Magic mixes up the tones and moods of the guitar and adds solos usually reserved for heavy rockers like the ones heard in "Seven" and "Spanish Theme." While the addition of electronics could deter many potential listeners, it also adds a funky twist to the songs unlike anything you’ve heard before. Whether you are looking for an album to listen to while cruising through the city on a summer night, or something to fill an empty lounge, Cloud Magic’s Puff could be the album you are looking for.

The Clogs and The Seven Fields of Aphelion

Reviews by Theo Andrews

Band: The Seven Fields of Aphelion
Album: Periphery
RIYL: Jon Brion/Brian Eno

The Seven Fields of Aphelion is an epic title for a solo artist, but given the nature of the music, it’s a perfect fitting for the various textures revealed throughout the music.

Every track on the album has multiple layers: spacey synthesizer, with ambiance galore, provides the base while industrial sound effects supply a certain sense of abstractness. On the surface, light piano is played to establish some much needed lyricism. The piano, however, is the most important part of the music; it serves as the gloss over the paint.

Three tracks in particular fully emphasize the aforementioned description: “Slow Subtraction,” “Grown” and “Mountain Mary.” Each track has growing and declining synthesizer with piano providing the emotional impact. If unable to picture this, then think of the soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Aphelion’s music can best be described as meditative: perfect of one stays in a spot for a very long period of time. The music appeals to the senses much more than just the eardrums. The music isn’t danceable or foot tapping, but it isn’t bizarre enough to be labeled a turn-off.


Band: Clogs Album:
Genre: Traditional/Classical Folk
RIYL: The Chieftans

The Clogs is a traditional band bordering on the realm between indie and classical folk.
Through its music, the band shows its musical roots, which sounds like it derived from the highlands of Ireland where it isn’t uncommon to hear troubadours belt out tunes.

The new album is a song cycle with all acoustic instrumentation with classically trained voices that almost sound like jam sessions. “Red Seas,” for example, begins with beautiful guitar that is eventually joined by a bouncing beat of percussion that sounds like it was played on a wooden box. Toward the end of the song, wind instrumentation dominates which leaves the listener asking: “what am I listening to?”

The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton is steeped in escapism. Since the album is a song cycle, there’s a story if you listen to the songs in chronological order.

Music for the Mind

Band: The Seven Fields of Aphelion
Album: Periphery
RIYL: Jon Brion/Brian Eno


Review By Theo Andrews

The Seven Fields of Aphelion is an epic name for a solo artist, but given the nature of the music, it’s a perfect fitting for the various textures revealed throughout the music.

Every track on the album has multiple layers: spacey synthesizer with ambiance galore provides the base while industrial sound effects supply a certain sense of abstractness. On the surface, light piano is played to establish some much needed lyricism. The piano, however, is the most important part of the music; it serves as the gloss over the paint.

Three tracks in particular fully emphasize the aforementioned description: “Slow Subtraction,” “Grown” and “Mountain Mary.” Each track has growing and declining synthesizer with piano providing the emotional impact. If unable to picture this, then think of the soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Aphelion’s music can best be described as meditative: perfect of one stays in a spot for a very long period of time. The music appeals to the senses much more than just the eardrums. The music isn’t danceable or foot tapping, but it isn’t bizarre enough to be labeled a turn-off.

The Story of The Dear Hunter

Casey Crescenzo is a songwriter who hates writing about himself.

"I've never really been a fan of just singing about myself in a totally transparent way," said the mind behind the indie/experimental rock band The Dear Hunter. "I always felt it was a little bit selfish, you know, and a little arrogant in assuming that you are important enough to talk about."

Crescenzo started out in playing in the Boston-based experimental, post-hardcore rock band, The Receiving End of Sirens, which broke up in May of 2008. The Dear Hunter was something Crescenzo created on the side.

"I started writing music that was really different from the band that I was in and there was no reason or way to bring it to the band because it probably would never be used."

The result became a six-part story about the birth, life and death of a male protagonist. The first album, Act I: The Lake South, The River North was released in 2006, the second, Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading in May of 2007, and third - most recent - Act III: Life and Death was released this past June.

"I'm a fan of things that have an absolute end to them," Crescenzo said. "Not that [the series] wraps everything up nicely, but that you don't need to go back, it wraps it up enough...so there is some sense of fulfillment in the end and you can move on to something else."

By the time Crescenzo finishes the six-act story, he estimates that he would have spent eight years creating the final product.

Come see Casey Crescenzo and the rest of The Dear Hunter tell its story at Mac's Bar on September 24.

Pick This Up: Unsigned II

On the streets now is GLOBE Design and Vision Presents: Unsigned II, a compilation of musicians connected to the lakeshore.

"We wanted to make this one more diverse," said Bob Schulze, owner of GLOBE Design & Vision in Holland.

Schulze described the first Unsigned as "folky" and used Unsigned II to throw in some of the more poppy and quirky artists such as Jes Kramer, Death By Dancing and We Know Jackson. However, there's still solid folk and acoustic tunes by The Press Delete and Josh Mogck thown into the mix.

"I know every [album] from here on out is going to get better," Schulze said.

Schulze is already getting ready for Unsigned III, which he would like to release in early 2010 and is looking for submissions from bands. The only requirement is the band must have a MySpace.

Bands that meet the requirements can contact Schulze through the Globe Unsigned MySpace at myspace.com/globeunsigned.

In the meantime, fans of local music can pick up Unsigned II at Vertigo, Lemonjello's, Full Circle, Bohemia Too and GLOBE Design & Vision.

Go "DAAC to School"

The DAAC is helping those scholarly types get in the back-to-school mood with DAAC to School.

The September 19 event, which is in its first year, is put on to support local businesses, musicians, artists, as well as welcome the fall and get people geared up to go back to school. Musicians include Crab-Claw, Jesse Stephanopoulos, Positive Noise and more. There will be a bake sale and pot luck that covers a wide spread of dietary preferences.

DAAC to School also features haircuts, glamour shots, monster caricatures, movies by Chad Vickery/Bloom Collective, and a raffle.

The event will start at 3 p.m. and end at 12 a.m. Currently, the cost is not determined, so the DAAC's Web site for more details.

Five Guys Going Crazy

The dudes of The Judgement of Paris are pretty pumped for September.

The band landed a big show at The Intersection opening for Alesana and The Bled, plus its working on new material and just recorded some acoustic tracks - a style different from its post-hardcore rock sound.

The acoustic inspiration came after the band was contacted to play an acoustic set at Hot Topic.

"We didn't really think about playing [acoustically] until that show," said Kyle Viana, lead guitarist for The Judgement of Paris.

When it comes to the band's musical influences, Viana has a difficult time pinpointing a specific one.

"It's the kind of music that we write naturally," he said.

TJOP's manager, Kevin Long says he enjoys The Judgement of Paris' songwriting patterns because they "aren't always consistent, it's not the same stuff you hear on the radio. Andy's vocals are raw...you recognize those kind of vocals..."

After a year together creating music, The Judgement of Paris is ready to go to the next step: expanding the tour schedule and scoring a record deal.

"[The Judgement of Paris] would like a record deal, and it's my job to get them a good one,"said Long. "I would like to see them at Warped Tour level."

As for now, Viana and company are happy playing alongside rockers they respect.

"We're five guys going crazy and throwin' down onstage...we give people what they came for," Viana said.

Come see The Judgement of Paris at The Intersecion with Alesana and The Bled on September 14. Doors 5:30 p.m. Show 6 p.m. Tickets $13.50 advance, or $15 day of.

Free exposure for bands & access for fans

Attention music lovers: fan clubs just went cellular!

Grand Rapids-based Brimstone Radio has met its perfect match: Adva Mobile. The two companies have combined services to become the next big avenue discovering new hot music acts.

Brimstone Radio began with handful of artists, a number that has grown exponentially since the service's beginning in 2006. Artists featured by Brimstone are now available via cell phone, thanks to Adva Mobile.

Adva Moble gives fans access to their favorite bands (and their favorites that they haven't discovered yet) through mobile internet pages, mobile commerce, messaging, and content-- all of which is accessed through the fan's cell phone.

Brad Simmons, Founder of Brimstone Mobile, says, "Adding mobile interaction to their arsenal will certainly enable our family of artists to build a strong and interactive fan base."

The joint effort of these two companies is geared toward independent music artists, specifically increasing their availability and accessibility through music news, downloads, artist interviews, music recommendations, contests, backstage passes and ticket sales, interviews, and more! Members can also communicate with other members and learn about Brimstone events via the Adva Mobile service.

In other words, Brimstone Radio provides all the talent you can handle, while Adva Mobile gives you the means to access it. But what about the cost? It's FREE for fans! And bands, this is an easy way to generate revenue-- FOR FREE!

Simmons says of the merger: "We're in it for the love of music- it's never been a money issue. The bands are why we're here!"

Check out more info about this new music service at www.advamobile.com and www.brimstoneradio.com. Or look them up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BrimstoneRadio and www.facebook.com/pages/Adva-Mobile/43997869275.

Lindsay's Listens: ILAD

Out this week is ILAD's creative funk/jazz venture, Here There.

Clifton McDaniel (vocals) and Gabe Churray (keyboard, electronicist) studied composition together in college and fused their talents together with a hot rhythm section, which includes Cameron Ralston (bass) and Scott Clark (drums). The quartet, which formed in 2004, continues to create music not expected from their Richmond, Virginia upbringing.

At first listen, ILAD's jazzy style sounds a bit like something you would hear at your neighborhood grocery store, such as on "Conservation," the second track. But McDaniel's vocals come in with a breathy, tortured appeal and turn the song into a haunting melody.

"I Just Stopped By" sounds like a track off of Air's Moon Safari (what indie space music sounded like before M83), while "Lou Dobbs'" title may induce laughter - but follows through with jazzy melodies and razor sharp vocals.

Grab this album for a relaxing night or background music at a hip Brooklyn - or Richmond - house party.

Pitchfork Festival Highlights

One word comes to mind when speaking of the Pitchfork Music Festival: Discovery.

2009 was not lacking in that department. Whether eager indie music fans came to discover new music, rediscover their favorite bands of the past (The Jesus Lizard, Yo La Tengo, etc.), or multiple treasures from the wide-spanning vendors, everyone was guaranteed to walk away with something new in their media player, hands, or tummies.

Three stages were set up so there was always at least one band playing starting at 1 p.m. and going until 10 p.m. - when everyone had to leave Union Park. If one band wasn't doing tickling your fancy, there was the option to head over to another, browse the tables of record labels like Sub Pop and Polyvinyl, check out what local artists and craftspeople had to offer, or dine on some above par festival fare.

Unique to the festival was its Write the Night: Set Lists by Request. Bands including Yo La Tengo, Tortoise, Built to Spill, The Jesus Lizard and The Flaming Lips played sets voted by the fans.

Here are some highlights from the shows:

-F***ed Up Vocalist Damian Abraham tore apart beach balls with his mouth and put one over his head, prompting the handful of children at the Festival to follow suit while saying to their parents, "Look! He didn't die."

-The Universal Record Database challenged people to break existing records - or break their own. I set the record for the amount of elbow licks in 30 seconds (it was 45).

-Matt and Kim finalized its set with a killer rendition of Europe's "The Final Countdown."

-M83 won for biggest dance party of the weekend with its electropop set.

However, the set that made it to many people's "number one live band" spot - at least unanimously in my caravan - was The Flaming Lips. Of course, there was Wayne Coyne's Bubble, but also confetti showers, bedazzling lights, and a band entrance through a particular location on the female anatomy (we'll let you guess where) on a giant video screen.

Stay tuned for a picture slide show of performances and highlights.

Division Day: not for emo-tional kids.

If album cover artwork said it all, Division Day's Visitation might be intimidating for some. With a girls face hidden in a black hood, black eyes, and their name printed on her forehead, this could be a vision from a horror movie.

With artwork like that, it's safe to assume that Division Day would be an intense scream-o band. And that couldn't be more wrong.

Trance, melodic and almost grim: all sufficient descriptions of Visitation. Listening a little closer, every song tells a story. Whether a visit from Satan himself or statues coming alive, the music is tragic sounding. There should be a warning label on the side, "If sad, do not listen."

The black music is clearly meant to be interesting. Meant to take the listener to a new level and not only hear the sound, but feel it. Compared to their debut album, Beartrap Island, the pop sound has gone and been replaced with rock. The song "Visitation" is four minute anthem of eerie vocals and experimental harmonies.

Result after 11 tracks: an unsettling feeling and an urge to learn more about the meanings and metaphors of this music. Having one of those days where there is a feeling there is more to life? Listen to Division Day. They might not give answers, but they certainly make life feel a little more profound.

Check them out at myspace.com/divisionday.