Blips: Time To Break Out The Freshies
Today marks the debut of yet another new HT once-in-a-while feature, Blips. Blips is our version of an emerging artists column where we’ll highlight some of the new (not Vampire Weekend) bands that have just started showing up on our radar that might just spark your auditory nerve.
We’re not seeking to turn on the hype machine, but rather just to pick out some bands that still only cost you five or ten samloleans for a solid night of fun. If you’re anything like me and know the URL for the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” site by memory, these might just come in handy.
I caught Turbine at the Knitting Factory a couple weeks ago as part of a typical four band evening. I don’t even remember who we were there to see, but I do remember these guys. Upon hearing their name for the first time, they will probably catch you off guard as the name Turbine makes me immediately think trance-fusion, livetronica or whatever that shit is called these days, but it’s really a burning bluegrass-tinged guitar, an integral, festive harmonica, and versatile drums and bass. Upon seeing one live show, plowing through a few shows on the archive, and spinning through their MySpace page, you can quickly sense that this band is a group of creative songwriters with a love for a whole slew of genres.
There’s no mistaking that this band will evolve, because in just a short 3 years or so, they already have. They terrain covers bluegrass, country blues, straight-ahead rock, and yes, there is some Untz as well.
Read on for more Turbine, as well as three other new bands you need to hear…
This is a tune called Blackout Song (crisp studio cut here) – a really uplifting song that definitely serves well as the band’s cherry popper. Check out the last five minutes for some good-hearted harmonium that’ll make you wanna call your friends, grab some Coronas, fire up the grill, slather it up with some barbecue sauce, and eat that shit up.
Chapel Hill based Mosadi showed up on the radar courtesy of our buddies from the sports blog world at Brahsome. Mosadi brings some deep, laid back funk groves with a feisty female lyricist. Both of the songs featured here showcase Mosadi’s prowess both musically and lyrically. When it comes to hip-hop, I may be whiter than Christie Brinkley’s outfits in National Lampoon’s Vacation, but I can spot a clever wordsmith when I hear one. The front woman of Mosadi is a cut above. Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt around these parts that she drops a Widespread Panic rhyme in the song, My Music.
The Steez boys are taking the University of Wisconsin – easily the headiest school in the Big Ten – by storm with their self-described Creep Funk. Fresh off graduation, this up and coming jamband just completed their first tour, hitting a number of Midwest venues and a few in Colorado. The Creep Funk moniker is about as accurate as you can get to describe the Steez. The sound is reminiscent of a funked out version of the soundtrack music for klobbing your friend’s ass in Goldeneye for Nintendo 64.
The band layers think a thick, funky low end with heavy synthesizer, keys, or sometimes accordion, and sax/flute/oboe/fiddle/you name it for a very full high-energy mix. You can really sense the transition from the college party band into a group of serious musicians. I must admit, while I am excited about the Steez sound, I am not entirely sure I want to be known as a Steezburger – the nickname for the bands denizens. That’s pretty gay. I think I’d prefer Mesteezo, personally.
The Sputter should break into a new fan base this summer when they open two Colorado shows for like-minded jazz freakshow, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. After several years building a steady fanbase of in Denver, the Sputter looks ready to take the next step as the calendar is starting to say things like Fox, Bluebird, and Boulder. The Sputter creates a lively, listener-friendly variety of jazz that is both introspective and jovial.
The relatively stripped down lineup of keys, bass, trumpet and drums maintains the attention span of both astute jazz fans and the crossover fans with well-structured song frameworks with far reaching improvisational explorations. The Sputter is like an elastic waistband; they can stretch that shit out or they can keep it locked down tight. This is a group that continues to grow in both their playing and writing and the songbook keeps growing exponentially. These guys have some interesting side projects as well, including an upstart record label called Bocumast.
GREAT new feature guys, I love it. Can’t wait for the next one.