Band of the Week - The Joy Formidable

It's pretty weird, the innumerable outlets we have to find out about new (to us) music.  Not that long ago I feel like I was only finding out about bands I had never heard of by going to shows, compilation CD's, recommendations from friends, or even just judging an album by its cover and buying it based solely on the artwork.  For me to stumble on The Joy Formidable the way that I did just feels like a stupid anomaly dictated by the age that we live in.  I noticed that I had a new subscriber, or friend, or whatever on my YouTube account.  When I checked to see who it was my eyes were drawn to the first video in this person's playlist.  The still was of a short haired platinum blonde playing guitar and singing.   I mean I love The Cardigans, Maura Davis, and Kylesa and I really don't mean to sound sexist, but I'm just generally not into much music that involves female singers.  Most guys I know aren't.  Now I'm not really one to believe in fate or that serendipity has time for me, but for whatever reason I watched the video... and here we are.

As a three piece, The Joy Formidable attempt to create as much noise as 3 humans can possibly make live and on recording.  They are successful at both, but for different reasons.  On the recordings there is a lot of focus on electronic layers and while it does sound overdriven and noisy, the low end seems to suffer a bit.  When they play live efforts are made to encompass the electronic loops, but this is where a more raw sound occurs and where The Joy Formidable really flourishes.  On recording they may sound like a poppier Pixies or a female fronted Muse with Ritzy Bryan's vocals being akin to Björk mixed with one of the ladies from Ladytron (take your pick, doesn't matter which one), and this is what they sound like live, too, but with fits of improv noise ala Sonic Youth.  Also, the heavy hitting metal style drumming of Matt Thomas and Rhydian Dafydd's chunky bass add a pummeling that just isn't captured on recording.  Of course, all of this is what I've seen through videos since I foolishly skipped their appearance that was near me.  Don't you do the same.

Ritzy's doll-like attire definitely brings an element of surprise when The Joy Formidable builds up to their infectious choruses because though you might be expecting something kind of poppy and catchy, you aren't ready for the weight with which they deliver it.  Another aspect of their live act is that you can tell they are enjoying the shit out of themselves and having fun no matter the crowd size, reaction, or venue.  At the same time you can watch Ritzy transform as moments in the music seem to just take over her.  It's quite inspiring and genuine.

www.thejoyformidable.com/
www.facebook.com/thejoyformidable

(One thing I do feel the need to add which does detract from them a little bit is that The Joy Formidable is going to be featured on the next Twilight soundtrack.  That said and I still think they're worth talking about)

Where They Started: 2008's A Balloon Called Moaning

Where You Should Start: Doesn't really matter. Though, the latest release  
The Big Roar is the first to feature the harder hitting (and some times double bass-ing) Matt Thomas, it's really not that noticeable until you see them live.  I guess I do enjoy the songs on The Big Roar more, plus is also has the best tracks from the first release rerecorded. 

I'm just going to skip past "Essential Song" here and just give a few remarkable live videos.

The video I first got sucked in by:



I know it's the same song, but it's equally as impressive a performance.

Actually, just watch the whole SXSW performance, it's really great.

Also a must see performance on Conan O'brien where Ritzy tries to shove a guitar up Rhydian's butt:
http://teamcoco.com/content/music-guest-joy-formidable-destroy-stage-literally

They'll also be performing on David Letterman on the unholiest of days, October 6th.

Band of the Week - Gray Young

It doesn't often show itself, but I do have a soft side.  Very rarely is it ignited when I'm venturing out to find a few friends at our favorite local bar.  Sometimes they did have bands playing which was usually more of an annoyance than an evening enhancer. One night, though, while some of my friends were choosing to stand outside with their drinks, I was paralyzed by airy lightly picked guitar chords floating across the room.  The rhythm section began to fill the space with their crescendo as the softly sung vocals started their drift.  Quickly, this seemingly nonthreatening trio had transformed into a loud, emotionally heavy, yet gentle, giant.

Accidentally stumbling onto a band is just as rewarding, if not more so, than sifting through countless recommendations or genre spot checks.  It becomes extremely personal. Gray Young could be easily classified as indie rock, but certainly wouldn't have any difficulty fitting in with any post-rock outfit.  The music is very comparable to the layered sound of Explosions in the Sky with some guitar picked moments of Engine Down and a little bit of pop sensibilities ala Sparta.  The bass is actually quite thick for an indie/post-whatever band, and the drums are viciously hit with tight precision.  Their is also a Sigur Rós vibe, particularly in the sparsely used echoed vocals.  Though captured well on recordings, the sound and emotion (especially that of singer/guitarist Chas McKeown) are showcased best in a live setting.

www.facebook.com/GrayYoungMusic

Where They Started: 2007's Kindle Field 

Where You Should Start: I've stated before that it's harder to recommend an EP over a full length so I would go with their first full length Firmament.  The first  EP and second full length, Staysail, are good listens, too, but Firmament is definitely the stand out release.

Essential Song:


Essential Live Video:

Band of the Week - Pollution People

Let's crack open another can (make sure it's a can) of cheap beer and discuss the new band (or extension of?) from members of Duck Duck Goose.  Pollution People take their name from the last song on the last release by DDG.  If you're familiar with the Ducks, perfect, because Pollution People the band pick up right where "Pollution People" the song left off: dirty metalcore with signs of maturity.

If you weren't aware of the Ducks before they disbanded (went on hiatus?), I don't want the word "metalcore" to turn you off.  Sure they have some similarities to the genre staples; Norma Jean, or even early Cave In, type riffs recorded with the stripped down dregginess of The Chariot, a few southern fried chords ala Every Time I Die with ETID's crisp concise drumming.  Sometimes they sound like the link between Eighteen Visions' Until the Ink Runs Out and Vanity, you know, before 18V started embarrassing themselves by becoming a hair metal band masquerading as a grunge band.  What I mean is 18V still had that metal feel while beginning to experiment with a more traditional rock n' roll sound and James Hart started singing while turning his scream into a higher pitched yell.  That's what you can expect singer David Ribera to bring to the forefront of Pollution People.  If you saw a picture of David after listening to this band, you'd swear his entire torso must be made of lungs.  Sure, his smaller stature probably lends to the higher pitch, but the ferocity with which he screams and belts out the notes of his now refined singing voice is colossal.

And it's definitely the singing elements of their brand new EP Future Trash that stand out as the most memorable, though still not the main focus of their chaotic sound.  You might have heard flashes of it on DDG's Off Yourself, but as Pollution People, the band has found a way to write around and highlight these segments.  Mixed with the turmoil of their heavier moments the new EP does feel like a sort of metalcore At the Drive-In.  Now, don't expect anthems with high tenor rants, the record just has that ATDI impression of an inkling of sanity surrounded by unhinged energy.  Pollution People are a little rough and unfocused at times, but the EP (and name change) show a maturation process and that these guys are tapping into their own sound.  Hopefully they'll stick around for a while and build upon their new endeavor.

www.facebook.com/pages/Pollution-People

Where They Started: Obviously, as Duck Duck Goose

Where You Should Start: Pick up the DDG releases and then go get the Future Trash debut EP TOMORROW!

Essential Song:

going ghost by pollution people

Featured Band: Loss for Words

Loss for Words - The Escapist by scrapescatter

Loss for Words - Orlando tech metal.  This is some really clever technical music.  Truly original and even when the tech genre became over saturated, LFW managed to stand out because of their ability to avoid the trite formulas of the genre.  Definitely Dillinger-esque with some of the noisy elements of the last Deadguy EP.  Vocals range from Zao type screams to clean vocals that are sung with a nervous waver which add an eerie element never allowing the listener to get comfortable in the lighter moments, which is a good thing.  Scott Angelecos of Bloodlet even makes a guest appearance on a song, and LFW’s drummer ended up becoming the drummer for Scott’s other band, Hope and Suicide.

Scrape and Scatter doesn’t really sign bands, but this is kind of as close as it gets and we couldn’t be more excited.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Loss-for-Words/165218423558378?sk=app_178091127385

http://www.facebook.com/scrapescattermedia

Featured Band: And the Sky Went Black

And the Sky Went Black - Scared Citizens are Good Citizens by scrapescatter

And the Sky Went Black - mathy hardcore from West Palm, Florida.  Members of ATSWB came from bands that were quite soulless so they came together to create something that was sincere and honest.  Sometimes sincerity comes out in a crushing wave of pounding metal while the honesty pours out through merciless screams.  A lot of Botch and Coalesce influence here.

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/And-the-Sky-Went-Black/190079347727433

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Not only is vocalist, Mike, a good guy, but he also loves beer. http://www.mikelovesbeer.com/