Random Finds: Etsy Finds#3

Hey and a ding-bang-boo!

Just recently I found this awesome store on Etsy that was just too rock-ing-li-cious. I have to share. (excuse my girly-ness).

I always loved the idea of putting buttons of things you liked (i.e bands, funny sayings, icons) on bags, clothing, bookbags, maybe even shoes. Thus, my constant search of finding and buying buttons (along with patches) on Etsy, Amazon, and other online stores. 

picture courtesy of etsy.com/shop/NecromanceTheatre

And thus, the awesome find on an Etsy store called Necromance Theatre. Owned by a college student who goes by the Etsy username of "Princess", Necromance Theatre holds listings of pins, brooches, and necklaces with images of alternative bands and artists edited in photoshop.

The pins are a bit overpriced, what with one being $3 (plus the shipping). However, when purchasing more than one item, shipping is free. 

ello boys (picture courtesy of etsy.com/shop/NecromanceTheatre

As for the necklaces, they are pretty darn awesome since the pendants are shaped like guitar picks annnnnd they can be used by men and women. I definitelye, absolutely, and outrageously (MAHA!) recommend checking out her store if you are looking to get a $10 or less accessory for the bands you love. After all, there is nothing wrong with expressing your fandom.



Til Next blogpost,
Miss Bobo

Discoveries and Other Finds pt. 2

picture courtesy of rollingstones.com

Hey folks, hope the weeks going great with the new year hub bub and holiday cheer.
Came back because as previously stated, I am going to share with you 2 other bands I found just recently.

Last blogpost in 2012, I talked about Tiger! Tiger!, a band from Atlanta and another band that is NYC based called Peelander-Z.

Today I am going to share with you two bands; one from New York (woo! NYC represent) that has quite some political ammo along with a mix of trombone and guitar riffs; and another artist who was born in Paris and is now living in London known for her sound similar to that of Hole.

Let's start with the band from New York. The way I stumbled on this one was looking at concerts that were going on during the month of December for the Knitting Factory (venue) in Brooklyn. I always have this thing of checking out the music on youtube or the link provided by the website before venturing out towards the venue. Its a good thing to do if you don't like wasting your 10 bucks on music that is just not you. Once I found Outernational, I fell in love with their album "Todos Somos Ilegales". Combining elements of trombones, guitar & bass riffs, drums, powerful lyrics and the occasional accordion; Outernational stands out from most alternative bands. They are very pro-active with the messages in their songs. According to a Rolling Stones article, after releasing their album, they went on tour and played in places like Tijuana and California, meeting those who have crossed the border and war veterans.  If you loved Rage Against the Machine and the powerful lyrics of songs like "Killing in the Name of" & "Testify", you will definitely dig Outernational.

Madame So (picture courtesy of afropunk.com)

As for the London based artist; her musical name is Madame So. I found her looking at some of the articles/blogposts on afropunk.com: a website centered on the afropunk movement. Using mostly drums and guitar riffs, Madame So brings a throwback to Hole & Polaris along with her own tint of lyrics in "Sell-by Date" and "Dig Deeper." And there is also the fact that her voice is smooth like melting sugar in your mouth. For those of you who love "Violet" & "This World" by Hole, you will definitely love Madame So. Check her out on her bandcamp website here.

Til Next Blogpost,
Miss Bobo

P.S. here are the links to the articles I looked at for Outernational & Madame So:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morello-chad-smith-help-indie-band-on-pro-immigration-video-20120709
http://www.afropunk.com/profiles/blogs/london-s-madame-so-makes-sincerely-bizarre-but-bizarrely-catchy

Tally Ho! Discoveries and Other Finds pt.1

Tiger! Tiger! (photo courtesy of tigertigerrocks.com)

Hello Hello. Long time no talk. Hope those who are celebrating are having a happy Thanksgiving day and those who aren't celebrating: I still wish you a good day.

So now at the matter at hand:
Lately I have been music cruising. Listening to some new rockin' sounds and determining which ones to actually put my two cents about. So far I found four to recommend and I'll be breaking 2 of them down in this post.

The first one is a band from Atlanta named Tiger! Tiger! This year they have released a new album with a hot cover titled "Cut Them Where They Bleed" that blend retro 60-ish rock elements with garage sounds and punk riff/drums combo. They've been around since 2005 and have made a name for themselves in Atlanta, Georgia. They are currently signed with a record company called Chicken Ranch Records that have signed other good underground artists. I find this band unique in that not only do they have different play in vocals with different albums (male and female), but they also use instrumental elements that were used in the 1960's such as the organ and saxophone. For those of you who are into garage, punk, and retro melodies that remind you of music such done by artists like The Doors, I definitely recommend listening to this band. You can check their website (tigertigerrocks.com) or preview their stuff on bandcamp. If you dig their album I also recommend purchasing on their bandcamp page or on their Ranch Records page since searching them on iTunes can be a bit too hectic AND you save a $1.

picture of Peelander-Z from their official site

The second awesome band I found is called Peelander-Z. Peelander-Z started in NYC in 1998 and since their first U.S. National tour in 2002, have been continuously performing with their crazy antics and dressing in expression of inspiration of the Power Rangers & other Japanese and American pop Sci-Fi culture icons. Although, they started in NYC, their band members are straight from Japan and have never lost their spunk on stage. Listening to their music, I enjoyed the vivaciousness and strong spirit that have been put in songs such as "Star Bowling" from their most recent album. Their sound kinda reminds me of the Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi show that appeared in Cartoon Network for a short time (if you remember I quantumly high five you). Point: For those of you who loved Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi or love Japanese pop rock (no not J-pop) then I recommend checking this band out. You can look them up on iTunes with no mess (as long as you type it correctly) or you can check their Chicken Ranch Records page that provides links to their different pages.

(Note: all highlighted underlined words are links to pages of aforementioned artists, guarantee of no fake pages.And all aforementioned information has been taken from the Chicken Ranch Records pages along with iTunes bio. Information provided is not owned by Rockinglicious but by the respected aformentioned parties (i.e bands and their pages)

Random Music Finds

Dead Sara

Hello all. Long time no post. Honestly, gotta say I had blog writer's block on what to post here and my apologies for that. But today things are different. Found an interesting band from a random list on Reverbnation, a website for underground and major artists.

Titled as Dead Sara, this band uses elements of blues, soul, and rock to make their own imprint of alternative rock. The vocals done mostly by Emily Armstrong & Siouxsie Medley are reminiscent of the era of the 70's. You could say that Armstrong sounds a bit like Janis Joplin.

With the addition of the drums (Sean Friday) and bass (Chris Null), the music becomes a fusion of rock, some grunge, and a little bit of punk. Their sound is a bit familiar and if you think about it, its similar to Veruca Salt & a little close to L7. Difference is this band will vary with sounds and don't provide the same rhythm for all of their songs. If you like Veruca Salt you will most likely dig this band. So why not check em out.








Til Next Blogpost,
Miss Bobo

No Doubt 2.0: New Album Out!

album cover courtesy of No Doubt's facebook

Hi guys, long time no see. Hope you all are starting your October with a bang if not wish you the best on one.

Hectic as usual I have been lost in transit most of the time going places and meeting people. However big news!!!!

No Doubt just came out on September 25, 2012 with their new album Push and Shove and so far have been able to climb up the Billboards as #33. Folks at Billboard predict that with 125,000 they will be able to be No.3 in the charts.

It was really unexpected that the group will come back with a new album after being "on hiatus" since 2004 (according to the interview on their facebook page) and each going onto their own projects (unexpected babies included). But after their North American tour on 2009, the band decided to get together and make a new album . These past summer months passing by, their facebook page has been updated with new pictures: anticipating their new album Push and Shove.

picture courtesy of celebritybug.net

Infused with old sounds and new sounds of ska, dancehall, and electronic pop, Push and Shove brings out the growth of No Doubt. You will find with songs like "Looking Hot" and "Undercover" the influence of the dancehall sound AND find their old ska elements in songs like "Settle Down" and "Push and Shove."With soft lyrics and Gwen Stefani's sultry voice. I definitely think with this new album they will be back on the charts as a cross-generational band. Hopefully they will be around for the long run.

Point: Check out their album.



Til Next Blogpost,
Miss Bobo

P.S. here's a video of one of their songs. Check. It. Out.

Watch out! It's a Ssssnake!

ssssnake

album cover

As life is blasting through this summer, I have been stuck on a few tracks of some albums. One in particular is Hostile Takeover by ssssnake (exactly how its pronounced too).  I saw this guy live at Spike Hill a few weeks ago and got connected with his album, Hostile Takeover, which include the tracks he performed.
"Wolf and the Bear", "Under the Snow," and "Slow" have been stuck on me and have been 4-starred on my iTunes library.

Ssssnake is a "hip-hop, funk, and gospel-inflected soul project" managed, produced. and performed by Noah Tabakin, a man all the way from Chicago.

While on stage, he tends to not only sing but include the audience in his performances. Seeing him at Spike Hill up and close, I saw he will dance and move around while performing. I think he knows his tracks are irresistibly danceable (sorry Webster Dictionary) so he dances to them too while involving some humor. He of course, encourages dancing from his audience and includes any brave souls who do in his performances. Right now he is on a tour from Ohio to all the way in Austin. (Right now he is on his way to atlanta).

On his website you can play the tracks and buy them at whatever price you want if you really dig this album. However, I suggest at least a dollar or more because this guy really puts himself in his music.

If you want to find out more of this guy you can check his website: http://ssssnake.com/


Til Next Blogpost,
Miss Bobo

Pandora's Muse: Band Found

Victory At Sea Before they disbanded

Hey there, back on the ropes now. Hope you guys had a great Easter break (if any of you celebrate that).  Been MIA for personal drama with friends and now family. But I am back and with new things to share.

While working as an intern, I have been on Pandora a lot lately and found some good bands similar to the ones I love to listen to.The good thing about Pandora is that they pick out the sounds of the songs/bands you put as the title of the radio station; and pick out bands that sound similar to them. One band that has been stuck on me lately is Victory At Sea. I found this one from the Mazzy Star radio station I created on Pandora.

Victory At Sea was indie since they started 1996 but they (sadly) disbanded around 2007 according to their myspace.
However, if you dig their sound as much or even more as I do, I think you can still buy it from ITunes, myspace, or straight from Pandora. Here is the song I have been stuck on, hope you like it :D

Real Live Adventure Time (woops not the show)

*pops in like a weasel* POPPING LIKE A WEASEL HERE!  Glad to see you guys yet again for another blog post! I am here dealing with some school stuff, music, friends, some MClovin groovy lovin! (W00T!) and awesomeness here and there. So I apologize for the irregularity of my blogposts here and in my other blogs. Regardless, I am here out and about! ;D I went to another concert this past Sunday that was OFF THE CHAAAANG! (sorry for the tadbit of slang) I am already pumped talking about. I know its a bit off putting to be partying while an awful thing happened more than a decade ago but I figured the dead don't need no more crying they need to be remembered in a happy way.

a guy literally crowd surfing!

As you can see, in the background there is a miniature replica of the twin towers in commemoration of Sept 11. SOOO don't fret amigos, it was one helluva of a commemoration. This time instead of alternative psychedelic music playing it was straight-up homemade punk (as in intense guitar, shouting/singing, crazy drum rhythm, and the overall beat to mosh to PLUS the moshpit itself). So much was going on, it was RA-di-CAL. The venue itself was the type many gamers would get into especially with the original homemade arcade games available for those who want to play.


There is one arcade game where there is a mat with letters in style of DDR and people were stepping on combos to get this random guy on a screen to climb up to his destination. I was amazed. As the concert progressed things just got more interesting. The first band was these two guys playing gamer sounds on a machine while having some sort of poem in Space Invader style on a small screen. I was amazed by how much I didn't know discovering this new scene. Of course, there was a 5-10 minute break to recover from while the [Beach Boys] played in the background, allowing for people to mingle as the next band got their instruments ready. The next band got on which was mostly an instrumental band incorporating crazy violin sounds that sounded like an opera star singing along with some wicked bass lines. You think, that sounded just intoxicatingly radical? Well, there is M.O.R.E!

everyone gathering around for the last band

Next, was this all girl band that was just amped with soft vocal tones and a punky riot grrrl combo of guitar, bass, and drums. The vocalist hair was blowing in the face of a fan making it just (pardon my french) FUCKING AWE-SOME! I was enjoying this surge like no other, along with my handy dandy companion that night (don't ask lol). I thought to myself, "wow things can't get any better"....... until they did. The last band got up and everyone gathered around. The drummer looked like he had a gas mask on his face while the vocalist rocked his long fro like no other! Sadly I wasn't close enough to catch the glory of the bassist and the composite as a whole, but I do remember the experience of them playing. It was the climax itself ending a long winding down of a yellow brick road with patches and reminiscent cracks of what punk was back in the 90's, 80's and the 70's put all together in a cauldron. (YES IT WAS WORTH ALL THOSE METAPHORS!). It was ridiculous. Not only was the music awesome, the events around the band were just ridiculously shocking [well to me anyway]. As you can see from the photo, a guy decided to take it upon himself on bringing a short board for SURFING so he can LITERALLY [and I mean LITERALLY] crowd surf.
Yeah..the guy didn't even fall. (Things just got intense up in HERE!)The drummer unfortunately didn't get on the board but he did play his drums while being held up by the crowd. Sooooooo, point of this story is: if you are in NYC check out this hotspot on facebook for some underground music ACTIOOOON! Hope you dig it!

Til Next Blog Post,
Miss Bobo

P.S. I haven't forgotten about True Blood. YEEEAAAAH expect a review in a short amount of time. In the meantime eat this blog post with your bare FEET! lol.. Just joshing ya! I apologize for not having the band names but I will investigate more on this such horrifyingly AWE-SOME! (get it awe-SOME!) occurrence. now seriously...til next blog post folks!

Random Concert Moment! OH NO!

I don't even know how to start this, but..I am sorry for NOT BEING HERE ALL THE TIME GIVING YOU THOSE ROCKIN' BLOGPOSTS! (LOL). So anyways...I have been busy for the past few days since I went to see Nova and some other bands two nights ago at Yippie Museum Cafe and literally spent the whole night and day afterward awake and wandering the streets with a group of friends. It's crazy to see how Manhattan looks like in transformation from night to dawn and dawn to plain daylight. Nevertheless, I must continue to tell you how the concert went.
     With bands like Nova, this concert wasn't the one to have a metal band or popular screamo stuff that if you stand close enough it would really damage your hearing for the next 5 days. I stood nearby the sound equipment and I still lost a bit of my hearing the next day. Nevertheless, the music these bands had were more like a reminder to psychadelics and artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd who were more focused on instrumental melodies than just patterns and catchy poppy tunes. So please,if you are around Manhattan check out the Yippie Museum because there is a possibility you will find something.

P.S. check Nova's facebook

Til next blog post folks,
Miss Bobo

It's Time for Some Music (An Underground Band)

I love music so much that lately I have been catching up on different sounds. One right now that has been consistently haunting me (in a good way) is a band named Divine Madness. With a prevalent classic touch, a dash of some rock, and some techno sounds here and there, this band gives you somewhat of its own gothic type of music. You wouldn't be wrong to say it reminds you of Evanescence but don't trip on that because in "Gentle" they prove they are unique. Especially with the lead singer's [Victoria Mazze] rich voice. Once you check out their page (you can click on their name above) you will definitely dig their sound once you check out their influences. For now they are on the underground surface but being on podcasts such as Hall of Mirrors: Tales of the Grotesque (which you can check out on ITunes) and some concerts, they will be able to gain some momentum. If you are on the look-out for a new goth sound I recommend this band.

Something to Definitely Spin To (Band discovery)

Dramatic guitar chords, hypnotic drum beats, and a voice that will remind you of bands like Modest Mouse and maybe even Queens of the Stone Age; this band has something to offer. However, don't be fooled, The Growlers have their own spazzy spicy sound to add to the cauldron.

The Growlers

I came upon this band listening to the Indie Feed Alternative Podcast, in which songs from "new" bands are posted. The minute I heard their almost Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) sound in their song "Graveyard's Full" I was hypnotized and lured by their haunting but still yet groovy beat (yes, I used GROOVY!).  I had to check them out on youtube and yes, definitely stalk their page. 

They did not disappoint me at all. The members are hot! Especially the lead singer. Composed of Brooks Nielson (vocals), Matt Taylor (lead guitar, vocals), Brian Stewart (drums and vocals), and Scott Montoya (bass guitar, vocals); The Growlers started in 2006 in a somewhat funny story. According to the Indie Feed Alternative Podcast, they started out hanging out, drunk, and with a few instruments about them. There they all decided to team up and make this awesome hypnotic dancing beat of a band. Of course, since they aren't really big, some of their videos are a bit of the homemade status. Nevertheless, the sound is priceless. Check. Them. Out!

Warning you Are Entering the BAND Zone!

Tall Ships, a British band composed of three handsome guys, Jamie, Ric, and Matt; are out and about with their single, Plate Tectonics. Last month they played with We are Scientists and are going to record a new album to be released in 2012. Not much is really heard of them here since their popularity is still growing in the UK. But their catchy chords and powerpop beats are sure to catch your attention especially when the music video has an indie feel of a moving photograph. You can check their music on the above link, search their videos on youtube, or check out their funny conversational blog.
Here is another other song from them

Band Alert! Band Alert!

The Beatles, Nirvana, NOFX, and Green Day are all male bands that have started and bloomed in the subgenres of the rock world.  Whether for the purpose of fame, notoriety, or just for the music, they all have made hits and gained popularity with album after album making them celebrities. Although they are well-known names now, there was a point in time where they, like many others today, were struggling to get their names out there. Some have described the journey in music stardom not being an easy feat but still worthwhile.

Nova

And now with the music business booming with artists, one can even say that being an artist one has to have a talent, a name, and a dedication. In the case of Nova, a name that is now seen in venues like the Moonlight Bar and Webster Hall, that is not the problem. In an interview with Rockinglicious, both Ralgy Cepeda (vocals & bass guitar) and Alex (electric guitar) described their experiences being in Nova.

According to Salazar, the lead guitar of Nova, the band started in the fall of junior year of high school. The name back then was Running on Empty and they had 6 members already willing to put down music time. As time passed by, the band started “shedding layers and layers of people” and soon enough the band ended but on a good note.         

Ralgy Cepeda and Alex Salazar

After Running on Empty ended, Nova was born with band members Alex Salazar, Ernesto Baez III, and Ralgy Cepeda. And since then Nova has gained quite a fan base. 

When asked how the band members came up with a name like Nova, Alex answered, “I saw a supernova in my dream. It destroyed the galaxy. The next day I came up to Ralgy and asked him ‘what do you think of Nova?’ 

Of course some things have changed and other things have stayed the same with Nova’s members. At 14, both Cepeda and Salazar thought about different things than music: “I didn’t think about the world as a whole or about universal politics. I guess you can say I was more centered on myself and my friends,” Cepeda shared.

However for Nova, being young and in a band is not easy. “It wasn’t until we were 18 that we had access to venues. Now, venues don’t want to pay anymore. We don’t have money. So now I have to work for Starbucks eight hours a day,” says Salazar. Then there is band rehearsal to take care of as Ralgy notes in the difficulty of meeting up: “We don’t get to see each other every day. A lot of times Alex is in school and on the days that he is not in school I still work [on music].”

But for these two band mates, music is life. When asked what they do when they aren’t playing music, Cepeda answers “Our music reflects our life so metaphorically speaking when we are not playing music, we are playing music. When we talk to each other or look out the window, it serves as an inspiration. We don’t live outside the [band] lifestyle.” For Salazar, music changed his life a little more than expected: “My complete lifestyle was changing. I noticed my complete social life crumbled because I played music.”

Ernesto Baez III on drums

Despite it all, music has brought them many friendships and conversations with their fans. Of course, Rockinglicious was curious to ask what new goals Nova had in mind whether hitting the list of featured artists in the famous Warped Tour or taking part in the Loolapalooza music festival. Surprisingly, for Salazar and Cepeda that goal is not really the main deal. Salazar says, “At the end of the day it’s not about making the dollars but the music. The biggest goal I could say for Nova would be progression. Self- development is very important for us. Right now we are working on writing a five part song with a prelude, a symphonic poem (no lyrical parts), and a lyrical part. It would be mostly influenced by classical music.”

Through hearing the voices of both Alex Salazar and Ralgy Cepeda on what it’s like to be in a band such as Nova, it can be ascertained that starting your own band is like growing a tree: there has to be dedication, care, and a love for music along with the equipment to keep it going. If you want to check out this band and even attend one of their shows, check their gigmaven profile: http://www.gigmaven.com/nynova?f=c