SLOW CLUB, GLASSLANDS 8/31

Slow Club is by no means new, but this British duo has undergone a massive transformation in their sophomore album, Paradise, that swings to sassier pop stylings than the indie-folk sound of their debut album, and we're digging it. Watching Harry Potter doing non-Harry Potter things is always an amusement, but there's a layered complexity and understated wit to their their perfectly harmonized and instantly addictive hooks that suggests they've found their groove.  The exuberant vocal swells against the steady momentum of the drums and sharp riffs create a dynamic synergy that reminds you this is great music, and this is great Pop music. So get on over to Glasslands tonight and jam with their thoroughly rockable tunes. Tickets.

Slow Club - Beginners (King of Town Remix) Slow Club - The Dog Slow Club - If We're Still Alive

INTERVIEW: SLAM DONAHUE, 8/23 DELINQUENCY

We just wrote about one of our favorite bands, Slam Donahue when they played Soho House.  And they just released their new EP, Hemlock Tea. Annnnnd they're playing tonight at Delinquency. AND they just did an interview with us...and it's pretty awesome! You must see them play tonight...or in their words "break your dumb plans and come to our show." Respect. 

If you guys could choose to be a rapper, who would you each pick?

Dave:  I'd be Q-Tip circa 1990 because I can kick it, yes I can.

Thomas:  Ghostface, for sure.  I’d get that huge eagle statue bracelet.  Ghostface and Q-tip would be a nice group.

What's the weirdest NYC experience you guys have had?

Dave:  It’s either the time Tom and I went to a Christmas party on acid, not realizing it was a "Christmas party" with knit sweaters and cookies on platters or the time I went to a party and blacked out, only to wake up naked in my kitchen covered in blood with no clue how I got there.  Both of them shits were weird as f-ck.

Thomas:  Two fellas were fighting with a circle of people around them yelling unintelligible things.  One guy was swinging on the other with a crowbar.  It got out of hand very quickly and one of the guys standing in the circle stepped in with a pistol.  As I was running across the street with my head ducked down after he fired a shot, I could hear the pinging of bullets off some stores rolling shutter as people responded.  I was about ten feet away when the guy pulled the gun and it was six thirty in the afternoon.

What current musicians do you really admire?

Dave:  I really love Kevin Barnes from Of Montreal, David Longstreth of The Dirty Projectors, Kanye West from Kanye West, Fiona Apple...I just respect good craftsmanship.  When every sound recorded is completely necessary, and nothing more than that. 

Thomas:  Kendrick Lamar, The Dream, James Murphy, Diplo.  Mainstream.

Best Pizza place in New York?

Dave:  I got to rep my local spot Danny's Pizza on Bushwick Ave.  I go there 4 or 5 times a week and whenever I get pizza from anywhere else, I’m always like "Damn, this is no Danny's".  To me, it's just like a home cooked meal.  Same feeling.

Thomas:  And if you get tired of Danny’s, David’s Italia Best on Grand Street is gross dope stepped on Pizza.  It’s gross but good.  Also, they are always playing Shrek for some reason.  

What inspired you to learn how to play instruments?

David:  When I was growing up my dad was always playing bass or electric guitar and my mom was always listening to Whitney Houston, singing and dancing in the living room.  We would all join in and dance around in circles and so from an early age, I was taught that music was a fun group activity that brought people together.  I didn't start playing myself until i was about 12 though.  i would listen to Nirvana songs and try to write my own versions of all of their hits.  Then I'd show the fam, get positive responses, and then do it again and again.  I'm basically conditioned to do this, so it's not really a surprise.

Thomas:  My dad had a few bands growing up.  I would play Nintendo while they practiced at his buddy’s house.  After mastering Super Mario Bros and Punch Out, I got to f-cking around with their guitars while they were on smoke break.

You recently tweeted, "All bugs go to Heaven." Do they really?

Dave:  I may have been a little too generous with that statement. Some bugs are really big assholes and just fly into your face over and over and I’m sure those ones are going to hell.  I was just trying to raise awareness to the fact that there are some bugs that will go to heaven.  They will just be the decent bugs with good intentions, I guess.

Good Morning World by Cantora Records
Slam Donahue :: "Bug in the Sun" by Cantora Records

ON OUR RADAR, INTERVIEW: HARMONICS

Most days, byd serves as a blog with the main focus on artists that play shows in nyc. However, a little-known group in Denmark caught our attention as soon as we opened the e-mail containing the video for "Make it Up Somehow," by Harmonics. The baby-faced lead singer, Søren, has a unique voice that suits the upbeat indie-pop music Soren, Frederick, and Frederick dish out. 

Frederik Langkjær describes the music as, "melodic folk/indie/rock that portrays the individual standing alone in the crowd. [It's] a universe of the '70s fanciful soundscape embracing the modern folk-melody." 

Søren Damsbo-Svendsen and Frederik Håkonssen met in a high-school summer class and quickly became friends as they played music and talked all night into the early hours of the morning. Søren adds, "The first time I played with him in Frank Zappa-Jam-class, he brought along a drum kit with 4 toms and a double-pedal for the kick drum, and I thought he was kicking butt behind the set. At that time I was a lot into glam rock, worshiping Queen, The Darkness and Guns 'N Roses so he got a few points in my book.  When he came back to the course the next year, all he did was listen to jazz and playing poly-rythmic stuff that I didn't feel and understood nothing of, but still we played funk in the basement for hours with our Norwegian friend Simen Aasen on the bass. Later Frederik H. discovered rock 'n roll and the magic surrounding a good song with simple elements, and that's where we meet now when we create together." 

As Søren and Frederick were trying to put together an early formation of the band, they found another Soren and Frederick to join them as they all found their sound ("strong sounds with simple elements") , by jamming together and recording rough demos on a laptop. They're going to a cottage in Sweden later this year to write and record more songs and while the release date on the EP isn't officially confirmed, we can't wait to hear what these guys have in store later this year!

Come To Dance by HARMONICS
Return Different by HARMONICS
Make It Up Somehow by HARMONICS
Trash Us Out For Good by HARMONICS
  Sally Girl by HARMONICS

THE YES WAY, 8/17 ROCK SHOP

Moody and seductive, The Yes Way effortlessly charms their way into your mind. This is the music you throw on at the end of a crazy party as you sit there alone texting your ex, drinking Gin (on the rocks, of course) having deep thoughts about life and pizza. While The Yes Way are slightly reminiscent of the alt. rock craze that exploded in the 90's, these guys are rock chameleons with cool vibes. So yes. We're hooked. Get your Gin ready and party with them this weekend on the 17th at Rock Shop and the 18th at Don Pedro's.
Barcelona by The Yes Way

THE STATIONARY SET, 8/15 WEBSTER HALL (STUDIO)

It’s interesting to hear how many genres The Stationary Set can fit into one song. Influences are diverse… Sometimes they sound super indie-electro, other times it’s rock and roll. It’s jazzy. It’s dreamy. It’s dark. It’s a little bit of everything. Check them out Wednesday!

Clap Song by the Stationary Set
WKNDS by the Stationary Set
Curtains (Tournament rework feat. Jarina De Marco) by the Stationary Set

SLAM DONAHUE, 8/6 SOHO HOUSE

Officially decided. You know it's a dope party when Slam Donahue is on the playlist. If they're not on it...get out fast. These NYC rockers (signed by Cantora) harbor the kind of sounds i'm digging right now. They're a fuzz-buzz band. (don't break that expression down. it just sounds awesome right now). A little fuzzy, a little distorted, but somehow they make songs that could have been hits of the 60's era sound surprisingly current. So go to Soho House for a seriously dope party on the 6th. (don't break that expression down either...) 

Slam Donahue :: "I Turn On" by Cantora Records
Slam Donahue - This Is All by Slam Donahue
Slam Donahue - How To Be Cool by Slam Donahue
Slam Donahue - Where Are You by Slam Donahue