Andrew Belle @ The Utah

What's great about The Hotel Utah Saloon is the same attribute that makes it suck - the size. The tiny stage seems to be blocked from any angle, whether you're on the floor or upstairs. But, there is something sort of magical about seeing such great artists at point blank range, in a tiny, intimate space. Last time we were there it was David Mead gracing the stage, singing solo and playing a mix of guitars and mandolin. He also jumped on the piano in the corner to play Human Nature - it was unplanned and awesome.

This time it was Andrew Belle on stage, playing songs from his getting-super-popular album The Ladder (as well as some material from his previous album All Those Pretty Lights). If you don't know Belle's music, he's a Chicago-now-Nashville singer/songwriter who recently joined the ranks of the 10 Out Of Tenn tour. The Ladder is his first full length album, although you'll probably recognize his music from that show you're addicted to (his songs are being picked up by many a prime-time drama). Sadly, Katie Herzig did NOT make a cameo to sing Static Waves (on which she is featured on the album), but a great performance nonetheless. I highly recommend catching Andrew now, while he's still approachable and able to hang after the show and sell you a CD in person. Soon he will have the management buffer of an Andrew Bird and you'll be hard pressed to shake his hand.

Shoutout to the other super talented artists there as well: Allen Stone bucked all stereotypes by busting out his soul break-up tunes like Quit Callin, Matthew Ryan and Kasey Anderson traded tracks from each others albums, and while he wasn't on the roster this time, San Francisco native songwriter David Greco was spotted in the building.


[Andrew Belle]


[Allen Stone]


[Matthew Ryan]


[Kasey Anderson]

Monday Meshuggah

Let's start the week off with some inspiration from Sweden, shall we?
Fredrik Thordendal on guitar. Morgan Ågren on drums. Happy Monday.

Bajah + Dye Eye Crew: Once upon a time in Oakland

The band: Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew
The venue: The New Parish in Oakland

Once in a while a good show turns out to be more than that. We were excited enough to hear that Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew were hitting Oakland. (This is a band we've been hearing about more and more.) But to have a some of our favorite MONOplayers from NYC backing them was something truly special.

With a proprietary blend of hip hop/funk/dancehall/reggae, The Dry Eye Crew are bringing some much needed sounds to the scene. Add in the real life storytelling of their Sierre Leone upbringing and the music becomes a powerful medium for the messages.

Backing the Crew on this tour is musical director B. Satz on bass (Jay-Z, Big Luther, etc), Daivd Bailis on guitar (Talib Kweli, Elizabeth, etc), Wynne Bennett on keys (Philip Glass, Little Brother, etc) and the mighty Swiss Chris on drums (Kanye, John Legend, etc).


[B. Satz]


[David Bailis]


[Pupa Bajah, A-Klazz, Dovy Dovy]


[Me and Swiss]

UK says "yes"

UK's Guitar & Bass Magazine just printed a great review of the M80 single and dual cases. We got a 94% out of 100. Ok, we'll take that. Among our favorite excerpts:

"The really impressive thing is the ratio of protection to weight."

"Excellent protection in a light, super-durable package."

"Highly recommended."

UK players, hit up Madison & Fifth to gear up! Drummers, you can hit up The Music Shipping Co.
Cheers.

Die Antwoord, Taking Over the Interwebs.

This group is fascinating. I don't know whether to be scared or laugh, or be both. What intrigues me most about this band is their thick South African accent. I couldn't make it out at first thinking to myself...sounds like they are from New Zealand or something. But it wasn't quite like that. I soon realized that "The Answer" hailed from the southern part of Africa and is now soon to be exploding onto American soil. I am also enamored by their hair stylings, a cross between trailer and heavy 80's Euro. I'm sure Vanilla Ice is somewhere dusting off his Puma's ready for a return. Don't even go there, they are definitely taking over the Interwebs with rap/rave next level gangsta $h!t.

P.S. I've got new respect for Pink Floyd now.

Ovall - Don't Care Who Knows That

Ovall's 'Don't Care Who Knows That' is about to be released on March 10th with Origami Productions. MONO got an exclusive preview for this, their firstalbum. The spiritual hip hop journey Ovall takes you on is nothing but bliss. Collaborations from all over the world play an important part to keeping things very fresh. Ovall backs up some really great vocals especially heard on 'I Need Your Music' featuring Hanah. The very next track on the album, 'Supalover, features 20syl spilling some rhymes while David Le Deunff of Hocus Pocus lends his vocal skills.

The album only gets tighter as collaborations with Jo'Leon Davenue, Wayna, Kenn Starr, and Ol'K provide a great balance. 'The Skin I'm In' lands in the middle of the record and really stands out. This is Ovall at their best.

Ovall shall be known. Band consists of members:

Shingo Suzuki (Bass/Keyboards)
Shingo Sekiguchi (Guitar)
mabanua (Drums)

MetroSonics - Focused Fire Pt. 2

You find yourself in Brooklyn on Friday night. Head down to Little Field, get yourself a drink, and enjoy some sounds you might ever experience again. Metrosonics headlines the night. Now throw in fashion giveaways, door prizes, a raffle for the chance to be out fitted by rising star designer-martial artist-native new yorker Angela Gao who will be in attendance with models, breakdancing, martial arts demonstrations by Tai-Chi master C.K. Chu, and YOU, it's adding up to some serious FUN. Each ticket purchased in advance or at the door comes with a copy of the MetroSonics debut album: Focused Fire. The link for purchasing tickets is below. Don't miss this one, bring ALL your friends and come enjoy an amazing night. If you know you're going to be there, buy tickets in advance. It's going to be a full house.

Tickets On Sale HERE!

INFO: $12 Advance, $15 At The Door. Chase is the title sponsor for Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival.
21 and Over
$12 ADVANCE, $15 AT THE DOOR. CHASE IS THE TITLE SPONSOR FOR SOUNDS LIKE BROOKLYN MUSIC FESTIVAL.

WHEN: February 5th, Friday, Doors 9:00pm

WHERE:
Little Field
622 Degraw Street
Between, 3rd and 4th
Park Slope, Brooklyn

Mapped.





Here's a little preview of what you might hear:

Media Mistakes by MetroSonics

Focused Fire by MetroSonics

Shirts Off by MetroSonics

MetroSonics - Focused Fire Pt. 1

MetroSonics [me-troh-son-iks] - listen - proper noun - organic hip-hop gritty, ny, street poetry serious musician ship activism.



Paul Josephs [pawl-joh-zuhfs, -suhfs] - listen - proper noun - Leader of the band, NY street kid, son of a tough Jewish mother, guitarist, MC, college graduate, educator, martial artist, public art school product, captain of the team, oversensitive street brawler, blues junkie, jazz lover, classic rock listening early 90's skater boy, foodie, autocrat of my own kitchen, producer, entrepreneur, session musician, activist ready to take to the streets, world traveler, Cuban soul, wine lover, millionaire, broke artist, health nut, stone cold sober business man, hemp lover, beat-boxer, free style whiz, comedian, rock star, came up with the name MetroSonics while heading downtown on the 2 train to a gig.

By age 16 Paul was performing with some of the bright lights of the New York blues scene. He went on to record a live album, as an emcee, with jazz guitar great Rodney Jones's Soul Manifesto project, and to tour with such musical legends as Maceo Parker, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Idris Muhammed, and Arthur Blythe.

Accomplishments include producing, recording, and performing with some greats. Beyonce, Alice Smith, Groove Collective, Jean Grae, Citizen Cope, The Roots, Baba Israel, Toni Blackman, Imani Uzuri, D.J. Chela, Ra-Re Valverde and rock collective Earth Driver.



Focused Fire [fō'kəs-ed-fahyuhr] - listen - proper noun - A unique blend of the myriad of musical styles that influenced Josephs. MetroSonics newest that is set to launch at the end of this week.

Date, time, location, clips. Pt. 2. Tomorrow.