Melodies and words are in Faccini’s bones and his finely crafted songs
resonate with traces of his ancestry. If his songs were maps they would
stretch from the English moors to the Saharan dunes via the parched
plains of the Mediterrannean before spanning the Atlantic Ocean all the
way to the Mississippi Delta. With the opening track from the new album ‘My Wilderness’, the narrator ‘calls out to…
the darkness’ seeking answers to unknown mysteries, as the rhythm
builds to a Southern Italian Pizzica. Piers Faccini uses this beat,
traditionally associated with healing and trance, to throw out his
lament, weaving in his own lyrics while cellist and long-term friend and
accomplice Vincent Segal replies with his bow. With the track « The
Beggar & The Thief » the creative net widens further. As the
beguiling dialogue unfolds between the two characters, the song becomes
an anthem to the stateless travellers of the world as Ibrahim Maalouf’s
unmistakable trumpet slides between the voices conjuring up the spirits
of early Rai or Balkan dances. Whilst songs such as « Dreamer » «
Three Times Betrayed » or « The Beggar & The Thief » undeniably
evoke the dryness of Mediterranean landscapes. Others, on the map of
this album, such as « A New Morning, » begin like an ancient work song
before flowing into an ocean of choir and strings, transporting us to
other climes and to one of the cornerstones of Piers Faccini’s writing :
the legacy of Skip James, Son House and other pioneer troubadours of
the great American songbook. At the time of his first album in 2004,
‘Leave No Trace,’ Faccini was living more from his painting than
writing and singing songs, and yet the slow-burn impact of his music
around the world since then has allowed him to switch his energies full
time to music. After years of travelling, and countless gigs with
stop-overs in the studios of LA or Paris, collaborating with producers
such as JP Plunier or Renaud Letang, this fourth album, « My Wilderness »
is a return to this home-spun craft – an album which has been entirely
produced and conceived by the singer-songwriter himself. Faccini
recorded this album at his home in the foothills of Southern France,
nestled in the Mediterrannean rocks and flora. For Piers, recording
albums means surrounding himself with old friends, people he can talk
music with, true accomplices, fellow souls who share a common vision.
For the last year or two, the friends he has invited to play and record
music with him, at home, are the bassist Jules Bikoko, the drummer
Simone Prattico and the violinist Rodrigo D’Erasmo. If music is a
journey then with a band such as this it’s easy to travel.
Blood On The Dance Floor is an Electronica duo out of Orlando with a tendency toward mayhem. Their pal Lady Nogrady joins them for “Bewitched.” The busy and colorful video tells the story of a young couple that hook up, drive out to the country, get loaded, get naked and have an unhappy ending. Whether the spell he puts on her necklace sets things right or not is hard to tell.
The song is one of Jackie’s favorites. ”This song is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard in my life. Honestly.” Martina agrees that it’s a great song, and says that it actually changed her opinion of the band.
Both of them also agree that Jayy Von Monroe is, in a word, “beautiful.” They met he and his partner in crime, Dahvie Vanity, awhile back for an interview, and note that Jayy is beautiful even without full stage makeup.
Though the video was “weird” both of our Reform Schoolmarms awarded it an “A.”
Blood On The Dance Floor are currently on tour. Here are the upcoming dates.
Oct 30 The Loft Madison, WI
Oct 31 The Rave Bar Milwaukee, WI
Nov 01 Reggies Rock Club Chicago, IL
Nov 02 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
Nov 03 Pike Room Pontiac, MI
Nov 04 The Basement Columbus, OH
Nov 05 Peabody’s Downunder Cleveland, OH
Nov 08 The Webster Hartford, CT
Nov 09 Crocodile Rock Cafe Allentown, PA
Nov 10 Northern Lights Clifton Park, NY
Nov 11 Rocko’s Manchester, NH
Nov 12 Mexicali Live Teaneck, NJ
Nov 13 Harmony Grange Wilmington, DE
Nov 14 Shaka’s Virginia Beach, VA
Nov 15 Boney Junes Evansville, IN
Nov 18 Fitzgerald’s Houston, TX
Nov 19 The Door Dallas Dallas, TX
Nov 20 White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
Nov 23 The Rock Tucson, AZ
Their album, “All The Rage,” was released earlier this year.
As promised, here’s more coverage from the 2011 CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival, direct from NYC. This time, some shots from Saturday night’s performance by Wavves at Fader Fort by Fiat.
Fader Fort by Fiat held showcases on Friday and Saturday at CMJ, featuring bands like ASAP Rocky, Clams Casino, Danny Brown, Purity Ring, Grimes, Bleached, and of course, Wavves (who played Saturday night at 8:30).
For over a decade, The FADER FORT has established its place as a dedicated venue for music fans to discover new artists in a free location unlike any other of its kind. We’ve partnered with the CMJ music festival this year to bring some of our favorite FADER bands, in addition to some impressive fashion and art activations, to a space that easily caters to our audience.
Andy Cohn, President and Publisher of FADER Media, Inc.
Wavves is a Surf/Punk band out of San Diego, California. Fronted by Nathan Williams, the band has just released an EP titled “Life Sux.” Here’s the track listing.
“Bug”
“I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl”
“Nodding Off”
“Poor Lenore”
“Destroy”
“In The Sand”
Current Members:
Nathan Williams
Stephen Pope
Jacob Cooper
Check back for more from CMJ, and all the latest in the world of music.
Eddie is among those in attendance at the CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival in New York City this week. Yesterday he caught some great shots as Ninjasonik played the Spin Magazine Puma Showcase at Union Square.
Click on any of the images to view.
Ninjasonik also played CMJ’s Afro-Punk “Death to Hip-Hop Showcase” on Tuesday night, along with Death, Cerebral Ballzy and Jersey Klan. The band is described like this.
Ninjasonik’s music speaks for itself and while not defined to one genre it has the ability to perhaps be just punk, just hip-hop and just pop. Derived from the not-so subtle title “hipster-sonic”, a comic reference to the lifestyle of Brooklyn’s innovative DIY musicians, the name Ninjasonik reveals more of the group’s vision and musical taste’s than they suspect.
The CMJ Marathon is one of the largest and longest running events of its kind, focusing on new music. CMJ is considered the primary source for independent, non-commercial and college station music charts.
Check back. We’ll have more from the CMJ Marathon, which runs through tomorrow in New York City.
Adam Curry has an exclusive and extensive interview with legendary Rocker, ESPN.com columnist and now author Duff McKagan on this edition of the Big App Show.
McKagen is likely best known for his bands Guns N’ Roses, Neurotic Outsiders and Velvet Revolver. He has since begun a second career as a writer, penning columns for Seattle Weekly.com, Playboy.com and ESPN.com. His most recent project is a book about his life called It’s So Easy and Other Lies which came out on October 4th. It chronicles the ascent to fame, crash and burn, and rising from the ashes of a man once nicknamed “The King of Beers” to a life of sobriety and deeper meaning.
In It’s So Easy, Duff recounts GN’R’s unlikely trajectory to a string of multiplatinum albums, sold-out stadium concerts, and global acclaim. But that kind of glory can take its toll, and it did—ultimately—on Duff, as well as on the band itself. As GN’R began to splinter, Duff felt that he himself was done, too. But his near death as a direct result of alcoholism proved to be his watershed, the turning point that led to his unique path to sobriety and the unexpected choices he has made for himself since. In a voice that is as honest as it is indelibly his own, Duff—one of rock’s smartest and most articulate personalities—takes readers on his harrowing journey through the dark heart of one of the most notorious bands in rock-and-roll history and out the other side.
-Editorial Review of “It’s So Easy and Other Lies”
In this extensive interview, Duff and Adam chat about the book, Duff’s writing process, high life in the 1980s and how time (and the contemplation of life) truly can heal.
Watch this extraordinary video to learn more about the amazing times and transformations of a soulful and accomplished human being.
Born Valerie Anne Poxleitner to missionary parents, Canadian Synthpop artist LIGHTS set one of the Psalms to music after learning three chords on the guitar when she was only eleven. Now in her twenties, she is a Juno award-winning singer-songwriter. She had her name legally changed when she turned 18 in order to signify the start of a new chapter in her life.
This video for her new song “Toes” features locations around Toronto, including a long sequence of video taken at Dufferin Station. It alternates between that and sequences with the band in what appears to be a small rehearsal or recording space. Both of our critics liked this video, awarding it a grade of “B.” They also noted that LIGHTS is a genuinely nice person, having met her at the Warped Tour a few years back.
The song is from LIGHTS’ new album “Siberia.” Here’s the track listing.
Siberia
Where the Fence Is Low
Toes
Banner
Everybody Breaks a Glass
Heavy Rope
Timing is Everything
Peace Sign
Cactus in the Valley
Suspension
Flux and Flow
Fourth Dimension
And Counting…
Day One
LIGHTS is currently touring the U.S. You can find tour dates and more on her website at IAMLIGHTS.com.
Chickenfoot is made up of Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony (both of Van Halen fame), Chad Smith (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and legendary guitarist Joe Satriani (the virtuoso who made, among other things, the classic instrumental album Surfing with the Alien). The band’s name came from the fact that they started out as a trio (sans Satriani) playing at Hagar’s club in Cabo. Three guys…three talons on a chicken’s foot.
The fact that Jackie and Martina didn’t know that in advance of screening the video makes it all the more fresh, honest and precious.
Either that or they were pretending not to know, in which case they are geniuses.
The video includes sequences of the band playing onstage, interspersed with footage (pun intended) of a guy in a giant chicken suit, wreaking havoc, stealing bicycles from kids, encountering Bigfoot in the woods, chain smoking, and ultimately finding the girl of his dreams (sort of).
Our intrepid reformers didn’t have a lot of good things to say about this one.
That guy looks like the guy from Nickelback. Ew. That guy’s hair is really gross. Chickens are not the most attractive animals. Is this a KFC commercial? This song is actually pretty bad.
In the end, Martina came around and decided that the video was enough for a B grade, while Jackie gave it a D. It would have been worse, except for the surprise ending. We won’t spoil it for you. Watch the video to find out what happens.
Blink-182 has been touring extensively this year, along with Matt & Kim and My Chemical Romance. Eddie caught up with the tour at the Shoreline Amphitheatre on October 5th, and wanted to share some pictures. Click on any photo to enlarge.
The band is on hiatus at the moment, but will be appearing at the VOODOO Music Experience in New Orleans at the end of this month. More information is on the official site at http://www.blink182.com/tour.
All of us at MEVIO Music were saddened to learn of the death of Steve Jobs. After suffering a long battle with pancreatic cancer, he passed from this life yesterday at the age of 56.
He profoundly changed the worlds of business, music, film and communications – perhaps most of all the world of music. He helped make it possible for us to take our music with us wherever we go, and also helped to bring musicians and their fans closer together in ways that had previously not been imagined.
