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Young Rising Sons are Kings of the World

19 Jul

Young Rising Sons

 

From the first few harmonized notes of “King of the World,” the second released song off of New Jersey quartet Young Rising Sons’ first EP (to be released on July 22), one can quickly hear why Young Rising Sons are shooting stars in the music world. The band has already been featured on the NHL Awards, the MLB Network, and NBC’s summer television campaign, and it will not be long before both “King of the World” and the more widespread track “High” are staples on mainstream radio. Why? How do I know? The band has all the makings of success. Both tracks off of the soon-to-be-released EP are infectious pop/rock hits with neat harmonies, sprawling lead vocals, and effervescent instrumentation. The band combines the upbeat rhythm of Phillip Phillips with the bubbly jollification of American Authors. In short, the band creates fun music, and who does not like the sing along to fun music?

To celebrate their self-titled debut EP, the members of Young Rising Sons are taking off on an American tour in August with Little Daylight, and soon, as I predict now, the band will be in even higher demand. So, do you want to hear what I am talking about? The band’s music will certainly do a far better job than my words. Let’s first take a listen to “King of the World.”

Drums, guitar, and harmony. A little upbeat Vampire Weekend mixed with Imagine Dragons. The difference? Young Rising Sons seems happier. The music is carried by clicking rhythms, quick keys, and sing-along harmonies. Even the short, intra-verse vocal proclamations are tremendous. The song is rich in sound and excitement, and one is tempted to put the song on repeat and listen to it all day. My favorite part? The short bridge breaks the song down and combines all of its elements in a tasteful and skillful combination of influences. It’s a killer piece!

“High,” which you may have heard before (it’s been making its rounds), begins with a sweet whistle followed by lead vocalist Andy Tongren’s effortless vocal. What makes this song? Did you get to the Mika-like chorus yet? Tongren’s falsetto is sweet and uplifting. The whistle is a bit Noah and the Whale-esque. The song is just a testament to the band’s efficacy. I can’t stop listening to it.

Tell all your friends about Young Rising Sons because when the band hits the big time you can say you heard them first!

Check out the band’s website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Runaway Dorothy in the Blue Kentucky Rain

15 Jul

Runaway Dorothy

Dorothy has run away with a Brooklyn-based four-piece into the blue Kentucky rain. It sounds like a mix between a pastoral film about America’s heartland and a horror movie. But don’t worry, there is nothing horrible about Runaway Dorothy; on the contrary, this band, which has already been featured on a variety of TV, Internet, and Print outlets, successfully melds a bucolic snapshot of America with Northeastern edginess. Runaway Dorothy tugs at the heartstrings of Americana, and much like The Avett Brothers, connects southern folk and country together effortlessly.

Runaway Dorothy is the pet project of Dave Parnell, who, after playing guitar for a showcasing rock band, chose to pursue his own tunes. After moving to Brooklyn, Parnell enlisted the permanent support of his brother Brett “Bert” Parnell (electric guitar), Sam “The Reverend” Gallo (bass), and Evan Mitchell (drums), who aided in the release of the band’s first album, The Wait, in February of this year. The album, a skillful take on classic folk harmonies and subdued country, plays like a potent combination of The Head and the Heart and The Everybodyfields. All of the flowery language and comparisons aside, the album is worth a listen … or two or three.

How can we best showcase the band? Well, let’s take a look at two of its hits – one more country and one more folk. First up, a trip into the “Blue Kentucky Rain” for a little slow-dance Country/Americana; more simply put, a ballad.

A melancholy acoustic guitar strums in the background of Dave Parnell’s smooth, clean croon. There are no rough edges to his voice; he draws out notes effortlessly and with the precision of a professional (which he is). The dulcet harmonies in the chorus help carry out a lugubrious guitar riff of the song’s primary melody. The song is a bit of a lamentation and/or an entreaty. Parnell plays the part exceptionally well; his vocal a testament to desperation mixed with some hope. And the Springsteen-esque harmonica is spot on.

“Sing With Me” has more hop to its step. I love the rhythm of this song. It fulfills all one wants in a song. There is neat harmony when there should be neat harmony. The acoustic guitar is apt, and the lyric falls off the tongue of Dave Parnell with tenderness and ease. The song is just a joy to listen to.

Make sure to check out more about Runaway Dorothy on the band’s website, Facebook, and Twitter.

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The Recovery Blues – Dave Powell and the Lonely Gales

18 May

Dave Powell and the Lonely Gales

I am typing this with one hand. That is the major reason why I have not posted in a week. Shoulder surgery has left my left arm unavailable for use. One-handed typing is cumbersome! That being said, I plan on trying to post as often as I am able despite this temporary disability. For now, I am encountering the recovery blues.

Dave Powell, a wayworn blues musician from the swamplands for Louisiana, is part of the true blues movement among young musicians, and his most recent EP Recovery Blues is a 5-track EP that “catalogues his descent into substance abuse and depression, and the ragged road he trudged back home to health and happiness.” (http://noisetrade.com/davepowell). 

I apologize for the blurriness of the video, but just listen to this fast-paced blues ditty. Powell features a rich vocal that is time-tested, gritty, and passionate. The guitars have a voice of their own and complement Powell’s croon effectively. The swinging rhythm is toe-tapping goodness. A great song and EP to listen to when you are stuck on the couch longing to move!

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The International Saints of Valory

5 May

The Saints of Valory

 

Saints of Valory traverse a wide range of international influences and this is quite apt because the band’s music has rapidly disseminated to an eager international audience that has been consuming its upbeat alternative rock since the release  of its incipient EP The Bright Lights in November 2010. Formed in Brazil in 2008, Saints of Valory is the product of a childhood friendship between Gavin Jasper (lead vocals/bass) and Godfrey Thomson (guitar/vocals), who pair awesome names with serious musical talent. Gerard Labou, a French drummer, was brought in by Thomson, and, craving a space to rehearse, the band of three contacted a well-travelled friend named Stephen Buckle, the band’s current keyboardist/vocalist, who had a small studio in his home in Texas, and relocated the operation to the Lone Star state. 

After the release of its second EP in 2012, the band was recognized by Billboard as one of the Top Unsigned Artists in 2012, and it was quickly snatched up by Atlantic Records, where it released its label debut, Possibilities, last summer. The music has spread like wildfire. As I write this post, the band is currently touring the U.S. with Eric Hutchinson (coming to NY on May 19 at Irving Plaza), and it should come to no surprise that it is gaining new fans everywhere it goes. Good music is good music, and people recognize it quickly. Saints of Valory plays excellent tunes, and if you don’t believe me click play on the embedded videos below.

“Kids” begins with a drowned guitar and heavy percussion that saturate the listener in a full array of sound immediately. The vocal carries over the instrumental effortlessly. It is strong and matches the instrumental like macaroni goes with cheese. A full-bodied harmony introduces a neat riff. The rhythm calls out to bands like Airborne Toxic Event and Imagine Dragons. Saints of Valory’s harmony, though, is unique. It is almost choral – kind of like Bastille but less chanty – and it just bursts into a killer sing-along style that the listener cannot help but get into.

“Long Time Coming” has a cool, American Authors feel. The rhythm is infectious. This is perhaps the strongest component of Saints of Valory’s music – the rhythm. It’s toe-tapping, head-nodding, get on your feet and join the chorus, type of music. It is no surprise that the band has garnered a large collection of diverse music fans. The music is fun, exciting, and effervescent. It is just excellent alternative rock, and I cannot wait to witness the successful progression and growth of this band. You can track it to by visiting the band’s pages.

Website – Facebook – Twitter

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Morning Harmony – Hannah and Maggie

28 Apr

Hannah & Maggie

The Everly Brothers, Simon and Garfunkel, Peter and Gordon, and the Indigo Girls – All duos who effortlessly blended melodious vocals with upbeat instrumentation to create music still eagerly consumed today. What is it about good musical duos that is so attractive to the ears? One might say simply that good music is good music, but I believe it goes a bit further than that. Musical duos share a unique quality that other bands lack. Because of the limited power in numbers (2), paired musicians must completely rely on their partners for creative support. Thus, a symbiotic relationship develops that is evidenced in the music by the distinct vocalizations and the elegant use of melody. That said, there are not many musicians who can successfully fulfill the qualities of a successful music pair. The bands listed above are masters of the craft. Hannah & Maggie, a duo marked by strong harmonies and effervescent strings, is creeping up towards mastery.

An acoustic folk duo, Hannah & Maggie are a dulcet amalgamation of tasteful arrangements and passionate, hard-line folk power performances, an eccentric mix of The Weepies and Mumford and Sons. It is this diverse style that truly sets the duo apart. Some folk groups are easily pigeon-holed into one specific style of the variegated folk genre, but clearly Hannah & Maggie do not have to worry about this limiting specification.

In one word, the duo is refreshing. Each song represents a story and the tremendous harmonies fit like puzzle pieces in each song. Let’s take a listen to two songs off Hannah & Maggie’s latest release In The Company of Strangers, which came out this past February.

“Morning Star” is of the Weepies variety, and it plays even more to this comparison because Hannah & Maggie create a toe-tapping, easy to sing-along to folk piece. The song moves like a tandem bike on a sticky summer day. It may be impossible to listen to this song and not smile. I challenge you to do this. This is the definition of folk easy listening – just a delicate piece that waves in the wind.

“The Final Straw” is grittier. The guitar is choppier and the country whine is well-placed. The vocals are still competent and strong. For a New York duo, Hannah & Maggie sure do invoke a southern muse in this piece and do it as if they were natives. It’s fun. It’s exciting. It gets you moving. What else can you ask for?

You can check out more about Hannah & Maggie at their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

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