Indie Sounds NY & Austin

Memories of 2011: Alejandro Escovedo

Alejandro Escovedo continues to be one of my favorite musicians to go see live.  This year that was often for his ongoing residency - with the rocking Sensitive Boys - on Tuesday nights at the Continental Club in Austin, as well as for his regular orchestra show during SXSW.  I also got to see an 'unplugged' performance at the Rubin Museum of Art in NYC, when he revisited his album 13 Years.

It looks like 2012 will be something of a repeat of the one just about to end, with lots of touring.  He has a new album, recently recorded with Tony Visconti in Austin, due out in the spring.  The songs I've heard so far have a bit more of a comment on world events than has been evident in the past.  Expect some rockers and some slow tunes, but always expect a great show.  For me, that's what it's all about.

Memories of 2011: The Airborne Toxic Event

I am a new fan of this absolutely magificent band from Los Angeles, having seen them for the first time in September at the ACL Music Festival, and last month at Terminal 5 in NYC.  Of course, I love strings, and I really love violins, and I especially love violins played by females.  So what I adore about The Airborne Toxic Event is that they make lots of room for Anna Bulbrook (it's actually a viola she plays) within their songs and their live shows.  But I love the rest too - the songs are well crafted (and increasingly socially relevant), the entire band is grounded, talented and work hard, and the shows are just not to miss.

TATE are much bigger than most bands that I follow, though still some ways away from being a household name, or a 'breakthrough sensation'.  They have their fans, though, judging by the number of "best band I ever saw" comments in the blogosphere.  Having played 350+ shows to promote their self-titled debut, I expect them to be on the road for much of 2012 to push out their sophomore release All At Once.  Go see them ... I'm not one for rankings and ratings, but this band has got to be one of the best in the world right now.

Memories of 2011: (Anything with) Trisha Keefer

"Everything's just better with Trisha" is a slogan bestowed on Trisha Keefer by her fans, and it pretty much sums up the contribution she makes to several music projects around Austin.  This year, I've been lucky to see her with The Trishas, the Beckham Brothers and Shawn Nelson - and with Jeremiah Birnbaum's jam band at Harris Radio's 9th Birthday show - and every time this talented and versatile fiddle player elevates the show to truly memorable.

For the next few months, Trisha will be taking it a little easier on the live performance front as she focuses (along with hubby Joe Beckham) on her own little personal release, due early May.  Then, hopefully, she'll be back contributing her violin finesse to more music, making it all better as she so effortlessly does.

Memories of 2011: Sarah Jarosz

I've been a fan of Sarah Jarosz ever since she released her debut album Song Up In Her Head in 2009, which earned her a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance.  But I never saw her live until this year, when the Austin-born, Wimberley-bred and current Boston resident let loose her sophomore offering - Follow Me Down - at NYC's Rockwood Music Hall in May, just a few days before her 20th birthday.  "Possibly the most talented musician you've ever had on your stage," was my comment to the venue's owner.

No doubt, the world-class team that worked with Sarah on her recordings contributed much to their superb sound and success.  But the release gig was a clear demonstration not only of her musical talent, but of her humility, her intelligence and her grace.  Her parents must be as proud as can be.

Memories of 2011: Les RAV

The other act on my 'best new for 2011' list is Les RAV.  Formed just a few months back by Lauren Bruno out of the ashes of her PolySky project, it's been finding a direction in public through a lot of shows, new songs, and new performers, and the pushing of boundaries through chamber pop.

The common thread has been the honest enthusiasm, grace and charm of Ms. Bruno, and it has been such a delight to witness.  Now, thanks to The Recording Conservatory of Austin's singer/songwriter contest - a great night that they had to win, and did win, against established and more traditional opposition - it looks like Les RAV will be able to make a record and push the music out there some more.  Lots of ears are in for a treat.

Memories of 2011: Little Brave

One of my 'best new acts of 2011' - and there's just two on the list - is Little Brave, the performance moniker for Stephanie Briggs.  She took on the name earlier this year, and later moved to Austin proper from nearby New Braunfels.  True, Stephanie has been making music in other bands and under her own name for a few years now, but the new name - and band - represents something of a new beginning, and I am pleased I got to see it from the outset.

What makes Little Brave so bloody good is the combo of Stephanie's songwriting, the range of her delicate-to-belting voice, and the powerful performances of the band, as she pushes out her pop/rock, biographically-influenced, album Wound & Will.  There is surely more to come in 2012 - and I urge you become a patron and enjoy it all.

Memories of 2011: Lelia Broussard

It's been quite a year for Lelia Broussard, a good part of it engaged in a competition to be the first indie act to grace the cover of Rolling Stone.  She almost made it, and along the way got some great exposure, including a performance at Bonnaroo.  She impressed the hell out of a lot of people with her work ethic, and her performances.  But she'd already impressed the hell out of me, with her end 2010 album, Masquerade, produced in Brooklyn by the genius that is Dan Romer.

Now a resident of Los Angeles and originally from Louisiana, Lelia moved via Philadelphia to New York City when she was 17.  She waited tables, got fired for shouting at her boss, and has been a professional musician ever since.  Indie Sounds first covered her shortly after her Big Apple move in 2007, when she was featured by Lauren Jonik in her L Word column.  For myself, I had her pegged as 'pretty good' until Masquerade, when - along with some edgier styling - her music really hit the spot.  And as for her performances, a packed show she played at the Rockwood earlier this year should have been filmed to show other musicians just how to do it.

2012 should see the release of a PledgeMusic-funded live album, and a lot of touring.  I already have my ticket for Stubb's in Austin on January 19.  Meanwhile, there's this live video shot for Rolling Stone.

Memories of 2011: Residual Kid

A great memory - with a touch of sadness - is mine of Residual Kid.  A great rock band from Austin, comprising three guys - brothers Ben and Max Redman and Deven Ivy - who more than know what they're doing with their instruments - drums, bass and guitar - both individually and collectively.  Individually, they are 13, 11 and 13 years old, so collectively you see why they are just a bit special.

I got to see them a few times this year, and booked them alongside a line up of adult bands for Harris Radio's birthday show at Momo's.  There wasn't a person in the room who wasn't blown away ... "We are All The Elements but we want to be Residual Kid," was how Drew Smith put it.

But here comes the slightly sad part: for a few months this year, the band also included Grace London - she's now 12 - on lead vocals, keyboard and guitar ... and the kind of stage presence that has made Ms. GaGa a superstar.  Alas, Grace played her last gig with the band last month, as she focuses on her solo project.  A real shame as she fitted right in.  Hopefully we'll see more great things from both RK and Grace in 2012 ... they sure have the talent.

Memories of 2011: Greg Holden

Scots-born, but North of England-raised (which explains the strange accent) and now Brooklyn-based, Greg Holden released his sophomore album - I Don't Believe You - earlier this year.   Fan-funded via Kickstarter, the goal of $20,000 was quickly surpassed, in the end by 50% - a pointer to his grass-roots popularity.

Greg moved to NYC in 2008 - he just sold everything he owned (which wasn't much) and got on a plane - inspired apparently by the music of Bob Dylan.  I didn't know of him until he performed in Austin in 2009, opening for Ingrid Michaelson at The Parish.  Such is his songcraft and stage presence that playing solo he silenced a packed house who mostly had not heard of him either.

This year, he's been touring the album - recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Tony Berg - across the USA and back to the UK and Europe, and I happily made it to his CD release in NYC at the Rockwood.  He ended the show performing Bar on A, with half the audience joining him on stage.  Quite a few of them - including a number of musicians - are also in the video, posted below ...

Memories of 2011: Underline The Sky

Every day from now until December 31st, I'll do a shout out to an act who has made an impression on me during the past year.  I guess given that the list is limited to just 10, it represents a kind of 'Best Of' but it's not meant to be - I'll leave that to the journos, critics and radio hosts, who seem to think they know what's good out there.  So, in an order only understood by me ...

Underline The Sky is a pop/rock band from Ipswich, in the UK.  I got to see them live - for just the second time - a few months back in Cambridge (the UK one - I was over the pond for work), when they performed songs off their latest Just So You Know EP.

This band knows how to put on a great show ... as they demonstrated in the past by winning several national contests, and on record they just sound better and better.  I particularly like the dual vocals on a number of songs, delivered by Bronwyn and Tom.  I'm looking forward to more new music from them in 2012.  Here's a song called Katie from their debut EP ...