Hollis Brown recently recorded a 4 track acoustic set with Daytrotter.

Setlist:

Gypsy Black Cat
Revolution Blues
Nightfall
Ride the Train

According to Daytrotter: “Hollis Brown takes us down a road that’s as bumpy as they’re made. It’s littered with the kind of teeth-chattering, cringe-inducing holes that have been torn into the driving surface through weight, through weather and through careless workmanship. They grow bigger with ever wheel and rim they ring, as if they’re gaining strength and confidence. One of these days, they’ll take a wheel right off, and there will be a faint sound coming from below the ground, as if the devil is laughing his red baboon ass off.”

Last week Rare Monk’s official music video for “Shoot Me Down” began to make its way around the blogosphere. Check out this amazing video from the band we are sure will be making waves in 2012.

On March 2nd, 2012 we debuted our Keeping You Plugged In campaign at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco. The venue sounded amazing, the crowd was enthusiastic and needless to say all the participating bands were great. However, it may have been Rare Monk that was the crowd favorite, earning their single “Shoot Me Down” as the soundtrack to our recap video below. Music from Rare Monk, Roosevelt Radio, Tomihira and The Frail are all available for free by clicking the “Discover Emerging Artists” plug on the right and be sure to stay plugged in with Export ‘A’ for future events.

Undeniably Beach House’s “Teen Dream” was one of the best albums of 2010 and we have been waiting with bated breath to hear any news of a follow up. And now we are happy to share that “Bloom” will be released on May 12th via Sub Pop records with the first single “Myth” just now making its internet rounds. If the first singe is any indication Beach House will not be riding the coattails of any of the current musical trends, but rather continuing to navigate the path of originality and artistic freedom so few dare to travel.

Our good friends Hollis Brown just released a video for their single “Fly” featuring DMC. Feel free to download the track for FREE and don’t forget to check out Hollis Brown down in Austin for SXSW.

We are pleased to see two artists who played our NYC event and official CMJ showcase; Black Taxi and Courtesy Tier placing 1st and 3rd respectively on The Deli Magazine’s Best of 2011 list.

Additionally, Black Taxi just released a new music video and announced some tour dates which are on their website.

Much like the $3 cans of Bomb Lager served at the bar, The Henry Millers proved to be an acquired taste, at first unsettling, but ultimately leaving you thirsting for more at night’s end.

Fronted by the duo of John MacCallum and Katie Schecter, the NYC based pop tarts built momentum as the show progressed with their catchy harmonies and charmed an enthusiastic crowd filling The Studio, Webster Hall’s subterranean lair. The supporting live instrumentation, particularly the contributions of bassist Philip Nuttle, provided more energy and authenticity to their sound than can be heard on their recent, more synth-oirented EP. “Flash Gordon” served an excellent example of how the interplay of John & Katie’s voices, which defines The Henry Millers in a manner similar to The XX, is best framed within the context of a live show. Tremendous poets they are not, as more than one chorus relies on soulful howls and repetition rather than mindful wording, but the band appears comfortable with its identity as creators of fun & free melodies, sure to stick in your head for days.

Black Taxi treated the packed Bowery Electric crowd to one of the more memorable performances of CMJ.

Armed with a rebellious spirit, unbridled energy, and a slew of cameo instruments for frontman Ezra Huleatt to use at his disposal (a bass drum, tambourine, trumpet, keyboard, harmonica, & maraca), Black Taxi achieves what Panic At the Disco! might hope to with more creativity. Not to dwell on the charismatic, if not flamboyant lead, but he does seem to possess (in addition to his stunning resemblance to Brit from Flight of the Conchords). The spirit, poise, and unique appeal to become a true rock star is well showcased on the dazzling “Shoeshine”. Absolutely try to catch the Brooklyn natives in action if you find them playing a venue near you– actually, travel to see them. Now!

That sound can’t be coming from just two people, right? Seriously, I must not be able to see the other band members from the angle I’m standing. No? – Really? – Wow!

Nearly every Bowery Electric patron who previously never had the pleasure of hearing Courtesy Tier perform must have participated in that exact exchange. Wielding only a guitar and drums, Omer Leibovitz & Layton Weedeman proved excellent musicians require very little to produce complex and appealing genre-crossing music. During the course of their set, the Brooklyn duo applied shades of grunge, R&B, southern rock, and blues to a never-dull canvas, at times harmonic, ceaselessly captivating, and climaxing with Hendrix-esque prestige.

Vocal chords refused to be upstaged by such brilliant instrumentation, keeping all neck hair at attention with a resonant coax, full of conviction that lost none of it’s vibrance using less distortion than their recordings. “Friend” was a personal favorite, although one would be hard pressed to find a laggard in the setlist. Along with Hollis Brown the prior evening at Spike Hill, Courtesy Tier provide a shining example that blues are very much alive in the BK.

The Yes Way are one of our featured artists and though we had seen them live in the past, we were absolutely in awe of some recent changes to the lineup and instrumentation.

Frontman Aaron Mendelsoh narrates a journey ranging from undeniably catchy, melodic pop, through spaced-out psychedelia, landing at times for hardcore garage-style grunge. All the while, it’s a tightly guarded secret hidden behind a coy smile what direction he might guide the show next.

Their New song “Anchor” (available for free download on our artists page) appears to be an instant fan favorite, with all 6 feet and 6 inches of Nick Burleigh showing that his mastery of the guitar also translates to the spacey and reverb ablaze violin.

The word mastery absolutely applies… if Aaron is responsible for telling the story, than Nick certainly delivers the subtext with tightly-honed skill. Kudos are also in order for bassist Ian Mellencamp who didn’t miss a beat in just his second show with the band. This should probably be half credited to the flawless, yet often off-tempo drumming style of Jesse Bilotta, which one could imagine if even a note were missed the entire song would fall deep into a noisy abyss.

The Yes Way remain a change-up from what the rest of NYC has to offer and a cut above nearly any comparison you could make.