Dawes - Majestic Theatre, Madison, 2010 (IA).

From the Internet Archive (IA) this is a concert recording of Dawes performing at the 600 capacity music venue, The Majestic Theatre, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, back on November 12th 2010.

For those unfamiliar with this fine band here is a fairly 'rough and ready' summary from Wikipedia - Dawes was formed from the band Simon Dawes after the departure of co-songwriter Blake Mills, subsequently abandoning a post-punk sound in favour of folk rock. Dawes has been described as having a Laurel Canyon sound derived from artists such as Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.

At the invitation of producer Jonathan Wilson, the band joined a local informal jam session that included Conor Oberst, The Black Crowes's Chris Robinson, and Benmont Tench. The band recorded their debut album, North Hills, in Laurel Canyon in a live setting to analog tape, resulting in a sound that Rolling Stone magazine called "authentically vintage". Wilco multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone is also credited with appearing on the release.

Original keyboardist Alex Casnoff left the band in late 2010, and was replaced by Tay Strathairn. The band made their television debut on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on April 14, 2010. Dawes released their second album, Nothing Is Wrong, on June 7, 2011 and toured the US co-headlining with Blitzen Trapper. Dawes played alongside Jackson Browne at the Occupy Wall Street event in Liberty Park, on December 1, 2011. The band also appeared as themselves on the February 7, 2012 episode of the NBC television series Parenthood.

The band released their latest album back in June this year and they are undertaking a number of gigs in the USA into December, more details can be found on their website (see link below). Dawes is composed of brothers Taylor (guitars and vocals) and Griffin Goldsmith (drums), along with Wylie Gelber (bass) and Tay Strathairn (keyboards).

Recording Details: Soundboard and audience matrix, WAV to FLAC.

Sound Quality: Very Good

Set List:

01. Intro
02. My Girl To Me
03. When You Call My Name
04. So Well
05. That Western Skyline
06. God Rest My Soul
07. My Way Back Home
08. Bedside Manner
09. How Far We've Come
10. Love Is All I Am
11. Time Spent In Los Angeles
12. Peace In The Valley
13. Fire Away
14. When My Time Comes
15. encore break
16. encore intro
17. A Little Bit Of Everything
18. Let Me Be Your Anchor
19. aftershow music on PA
20. recordist's signout

Website: Official Here.

Comments: There are FLAC, Ogg Vorbis and mp3 files along with the streaming material over at the Internet Archive (here).

Stream Below: 

Sundays Alternative Take - Synths and Fine Vocals

River Tiber - When The Time Is Right.

Background - Toronto multi-instrumentalist, producer and vocalist River Tiber has shared When The Time Is Right, his first release since 2013's debut EP The Star Falls. Dummy Mag has a stream of the five song alt R&B gem ahead of its September 16 release and following track features from Complex and The Fader. River Tiber - real name Tommy Paxton-Beesley - captured a flurry of attention earlier this year when Drake's Polaris Music Prize Short Listed If You're Reading This It's Too Late standout "No Tellin'" prominently sampled his then-unreleased "No Talk."

Most recently River Tiber was named one of three Canadian entrants to Red Bull Music Academy Paris 2015. RBMA said this of the future star: "As River Tiber, singer/multi-instrumentalist and producer Tommy Paxton-Beesley is unafraid to push his love for R&B and hip hop production into unusual places: pitching his vocals to sound like Mariah Carey, multitracking his voice into a dozen ghost choruses, and narrowing the gap in the soul spectrum between Jodeci and Flying Lotus."

The EP's title track is down tempo and cleverly layered, vocals drift above the soundtrack, rarely dominating, but always an essential part of the number.

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Oshan - Dafty (feat. Krue).

Background - Oshan has a colorful visual aesthetic combined with the sound of swinging future bass. His first original, "Pusheen", endorsed by Diplo's BBC Radio 1 show, crushed the world over and demanded attention by introducing himself as an artist to watch. Now Oshan returns in a big way with his single "Dafty", featuring vocals from Hamburg based Krue, and mixed and mastered by legend and studio partner of Flume, Naderi.

Already receiving a lot of attention 'Dafty' is a juxtaposition between Krue's talented vocals and the almost quirky musical beginning that finally settles into a charming soundtrack.

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Eons - Molecule (from the EP Serene Machine).

Background - After the release of their EP Serene Machine, which catapulted Eons to the ranks of dream-pop/dreamwave aurality with a sound self-described as, “a moody but slick brand of synth pop,” the Miami-based synth-pop duo release their highly anticipated music video for single “Like A Dream” directed by Claudia La Bianca.

Similar to the EP Serene Machine, “Like A Dream” exudes a plethora of nostalgic 80’s homages and lush soundscapes along with ethereal vocals and pulsating synthesisers. The music video illustrates a once-lovestruck couple experiencing separation while simultaneously reflecting on past memories. The video, directed and animated by Claudia La Bianca, echoes the fantastical nature of the song’s production and sentiment with vivid visuals and out-of-this-world animation.

OK so the video for 'Like A Dream' is featured over on our BeeVids page, and for an additional taste of the band, we have 'Molecule' (from the EP). Finely produced synth pop, with that timeless feel, this band spoil us with really enjoyable music.

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Remmi X CAPPA - Killin It / Star Spangled (Foldy Mashup Mix).

Background - Nashville electronic/pop artists CAPPA and REMMI, along with producer Foldy, have collaborated on a mash-up of the pair's two tracks, "Killin It" and "Star Spangled."

This collaboration is a result of each artist's involvement in MTV's Scream. After each track was featured in the same Scream episode, REMMI contacted fellow Nashville artist CAPPA, pulled in producer Foldy, and the three of them created this end of summer anthem. CAPPA’s “Killin It” was released as a single from her debut self-titled EP on May 26th. REMMI’s “Star Spangled” was released as a single back in May..

Both artists have been praised within the Nashville music scene, but as far as advancing the Nashville Pop scene globally, REMMI says, “Nashville Pop has been around for awhile. Folks like Katie Herzig, Amy Stroup, Madi Diaz have been putting out really catchy, synthy records for the last 5 years at least. They've paved the way for this next generation of Nashville Pop artists to come along and branch out into more experimental, electronic-leaning sounds. I don't want people to hear our music and say, wow that's so different for Nashville. I want them to say that it's different for anywhere. Artists here like CAPPA, Super Duper, KiND... we are growing a scene that is full of artists who would be good anywhere. And that's what excites me about the Nashville music scene."

This just works so very, very well. It's one of those tracks when I could list superlatives, however I just say give it a listen, it promotes itself.

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Saturday Selection: Dead Leaf Echo - Jess Fairlie - For Esmé

Dead Leaf Echo - Lemonheart.

Some background words - Brooklyn's Dead Leaf Echo is an music/art collective that released their debut LP "Thought and Language" in 2013. The album had clear 4AD influences as it was mixed by John Fryer (Lush, NIN, Depeche Mode) with artwork by the label's legendary designer V23's Vaughan Oliver (Pixies, Bauhaus). Their latest EP "true.deep.sleeper" released in 2014 saw them working with Monte Vallier (Weekend, Wax Idols).

They are in the middle of recording their 2nd LP again w/ Vallier and also contributions from Jorge Elbreht (Ariel Pink, No Joy) at Mexican Summer's studio in Greenpoint. A 7" single will be released in September followed by a North American tour and appearance at Desert Stars Festival in Joshua Tree w/ Swervedriver and The Lemonheads.

They've constantly topped the CMJ Top 20 indie charts. They've played twice live on KEXP's John in the Morning and were recently featured as song of the day and are on regular rotation on that station as well as on Nic Harcourt's Morning Becomes Electric on KCSN.

Powerful and expansive music with the vocals whirling through the mix. We featured Dead Leaf Echo way back in the past, this is a welcome new song from the band, and yes we do look forward to hearing more.

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Jess Fairlie - Senses.

Background words -  Melbourne songstress Jess Fairlie is set to impress with her debut single, "Senses". A soulful ballad observing a broken relationship from the perspective of a friend, Senses both lyrically and melodically captures the heart of being a friend through helplessness.

Sitting on the spectrum somewhere between Kimbra and Alicia Keys, the vocally-driven song is coupled with a strong piano backing, with honest song writing and heartfelt delivery key features to attract the listener.

Melbourne singer songwriter, Jess Fairlie, has crafted her own unique flavour of pop-RnB with a touch of soul. Inspired by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Regina Spektor and Ricki Lee Jones, Jess Fairlie is making her own mark as an artist with her eclectic taste.

The versatile songstress is on the verge of releasing her self-titled debut EP "Jess Fairlie" set to be released later this year.

This is a most welcome song. Jess has a really good voice and has crafted a superb song, that both compliments her vocal range, and treats us to some outstanding music.

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For Esmé - Make A Sound.

Martha from For Esmé has this to say about the single 'Make A Sound' (the third single from their upcoming album 'Sugar').

It's a dark yet playfully seductive critique of the social comparison and image crafting so prevalent in our generation.

The song is about the endless need in this industry, in this generation, to show everyone how great your life is and how exhausting that is. I catch myself feeling regret for not thinking to capture a special moment on camera, then catch myself, ‘why isn’t the moment itself enough? 

The album Sugar is coming out October 16th.

Well I can't argue with those sentiments. Thankfully they are put across within, what is, a really fine song. A mixture of electro pop styles and very pleasing vocals.

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Weekend Wonders: The Traveling Zoo - Delamere - Blaenavon

The Traveling Zoo - Believe Me.

The Traveling Zoo, are a  Spanish classic pop band, who tell us they are releasing "Science & Fictions", their third album in three years. Featured song 'Believe Me' is also their first single planned, from the new album.

That's all I know at present, I have heard just three songs from the album and each one was encouragingly good, so perhaps we are going to be on the receiving end of something quite special in the near future.

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Delamere - Heart.

In Brief - This is the bands forthcoming single 'Heart', due out on October 9th, apparently it's a re-recording of an earlier version. Their debut album is due for release in early 2016. The band are described as an 'indie electronica' band and are from around Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, here in the UK.

From what I have been able to learn from a few other music sites, they have been gaining a lot of attention in the North West of England for some time now. This year a mixture of summer festival appearances and London gigs has gained them wider attention. That they are gaining in popularity is hardly surprising, as the featured song is in my opinion quite stunning.

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Blaenavon - Hell Is My Head.

Background words - With every member of the band having now finished school and a record deal with Transgressive signed, Blaenavon are set to release their new EP ‘Miss World’.

Produced by David Pye (Wild Beasts, Egyptian Hip Hop) and mixed by Dan Grech (Radiohead, Wolf Alice, Circa Waves), the boys recorded the EP during a half term and first single ‘Hell Is My Head’ continues a run of evermore committed, detailed and powerful work. A rancid portrayal of mythical love and lust, it’s an impressive return from a band all grown up and ready to take on the world.

Blaenavon also announce their live return, with an intimate headline show at London’s Waiting Room and a run of support shows The Districts, Songhoy Blues and Palace alongside an international festival run including Reeperbahn in Germany.
  
Live Dates:

25th Sep – Germany - Reeperbahn Festival
8th Oct – London - The Waiting Room
11th Oct – Bognor Regis - Rockaway Beach Festival 
21st Oct – Brighton - Green Door Store w/ Palace 
22nd Oct – Glasgow – SW3 Warehouse Studio w/ Songhoy Blues
23rd Oct – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club w/ Songhoy Blues
25th Oct – Manchester – Gorilla w/ Songhoy Blues 
26th Oct – Birmingham – Hare & Hounds w/ Songhoy Blues
27th Oct – Bristol – The Fleece w/ Songhoy Blues
3rd Nov – Brighton – Concorde 2 w/ Songhoy Blues
4th Nov – London – Koko w/ Songhoy Blues
11th Nov – London – Electric Ballroom w/ The Districts 
29th Nov – Brighton – Mutations Festival

Bags of enthusiasm as you might expect from a band just out of school (who have succeeded in reminding me of just how old I am these days), what is more pleasing is the level of maturity and natural raw energy in this song, the EP is eagerly awaited.

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