Archive for January 18th, 2010

This Is Cinema- Free Show at the Double Door 1/19

January 18, 2010

Somewhat Indie, somewhat ambient, and whole lot talented, This Is Cinema hails from Chicago, delivering a sound that is comparable to that of Muse, Pete Yorn, and Silverchair ala Diorama.
With five years of making music under the shared belt of Ben Babbit and Marcin Sulewski, eight months ago This Is Cinema welcomed Theo Karon to their ensemble, creating the band as it is today. With a wide variety of other projects in their pasts, more recently, Ben plays guitar alongside friend Dan Smart in The Field Auxiliary (You can read our interview with The Field Auxiliary here, and a review of their recent show here), teams again with Theo and Mark Trecka from Pillars and Tongues, and Marcin drums in a hot jazz trio. Theo also creates music under the guise “Howling Tunnels”- a “mysticaly, elusive, and mostly in-studio band of ghosts that live inside my tape machines.” A roster large enough to prove that these musicians are interested in exploring all that the creative process can offer.

With instrumentals that are come across crisply well composed and vocals that are nothing short of soulful and sultry, the bands single release to date, Birth is not difficult to get behind and enjoy. A great use of percussive sound as well as of their other many strengths shine in this EP, and with it being the soul release we’ve seen since 2006, we can only imagine what could have been brewing between these musicians since then. The trio took the time to talk with Telegram Sam about just that, as well as what influences them, and where they got their start in music.

Visit This Is Cinema online:
Myspace


Telegram Sam: Tell us a little bit about This is Cinema’s past, and any new music you’ve been working on.

Ben: Well, the only release we have put out so far is an EP called ”Birth”, but we are working on a new record at the moment. The gestation period for these songs has been quite long, so we are looking forward to finishing them so we can start fresh. When we made our last record, we were pretty much still half in the womb, and were quite a different band. So, perhaps the last one was a document of our beginning, and being very young and very serious, and now we are, dare I say, more mature? And know how to have fun a bit more.

T.S: What can we look forward to from This Is Cinema in the coming year?

Theo: Overwhelming and all-pervasive sexual liberation, gender equality, and freedom from oppression, which will come packaged with a brand-new full-length studio album.

Ben: A lot of new music and shows.

T.S: Is there any particular muse or concept behind your band?

Theo: “Everything is going to be O.K.”

Ben: I don’t feel like there is some sort of singular muse or concept behind our band. We feel like we are just making the music that we like, and would want to listen to. We live in this coach house together, and have set up a studio in the basement, mostly comprised of Theo’s recording stuff and all of our various instruments. Our roommate Jon has christened it Hotel Earth, and it’s like the clubhouse we never had when we were kids. We have been working on our own music there, writing and recording and practicing, but it’s also become a sort of communal space for us and our friends and friends of friend’s to play and record music. There is always something happening there, and usually it’s something different from the previous day. That has been really inspiring to me personally, and I feel like it has inevitably influenced our band and how we do things.

T.S: What is the most memorable show you’ve ever played? Attended?

Theo: This one show we played in our basement a little while ago was a lot of fun. I have been to a lot of great shows, but the most recent really good one was Mount Eerie at the Lakeshore Theatre a couple of months ago.

Ben: Last year, this pianist came to my school and gave a concert that consisted only of a two hour long set of piano pieces called, “Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus” by the French composer, Olivier Messiaen. It’s a long and difficult piece, and he played it entirely from memory! By the end of it, it felt like he and the music had put every molecule in the room under a spell, I will never forget that. The Rolling Stones at the old Sox Stadium when I was 12 was also sweet.

T.S: How did you each get your start in music?

Theo: My parents forced me to take classical piano lessons from when I was very young, which I was initially very unhappy about. I played in middle school and high school orchestras, and then someone bought me ’Odelay’ by Beck and, in an unfortunate turn, I started making loops of weird noises on my computer and rapping over them. After buying an old TEAC reel-to-reel 4 track at a garage sale, I realized that forcing myself to keep sonic experimentation happening in real time, within the confines of analog media, produced much more compelling results, and I have been refining and adding to that idea ever since.

Marcin: One day my father brought home drums that were being thrown away in an alley, starting my interest in percussion. I was also in orchestra playing bass from 2nd grade to 7th. I’ve been interested in rhythm (playing drums and bass) for most of my time as a musician, but I feel an urge to play guitar).

Ben: I grew up with music in my house, because my parents are musicians. They played mostly classical music in the house, and I know I enjoyed it to a certain degree when I was a kid, but it was more like air to me at the time. Then, on a family vacation, my cousin played me “In Utero” by Nirvana, and I woke up. Also, watching Marty McFly play “Johnny B Good” in the first “Back to the Future” movie gave me the irresistible desire to play the electric guitar.

T.S: Who are your top five musical influences?

Theo: The Microphones/ Mt. Eerie, Scott Walker, Animal Collective, Glenn Branca, Bjork

Marcin: Earth, sky, sun, textures, day dreams, being in (sometimes mentally constructing) synaesthetic experiences. I (maybe we) make music to try and describe or document experience of spirituality or connection to nature or certain landscapes.

Ben: People, traveling, memory, leibe. The music of Brian Eno, Charles Mingus, Will Oldham, Flying Lotus, Nina Simone…

This Is Cinema will be playing a FREE show at the Double Door Tuesday, January 19th

This is Cinema
Paperbear
Yawn
Hey Rabbit
Doors at 8pm, Show at 9 21+

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Loyal Divide

January 18, 2010

From their humble beginning in basement shows back in Ohio, to the warm reception of their recent EP Labrador, Loyal Divide has had a gradual rise out of anonymity. Started casually as an excuse to jam together, the band came to be during the 5-piece’s college years, becoming a more serious endeavor upon a few of the member’s graduation, when the choice to push forward or move on was put in front of them. Fortunately they chose the former, and moved to explore the music scene in Columbus, where they found a healthy number of opportunities. However, like any good thing, it couldn’t last forever, and soon the band found them selves feeling ready for a new stage.“Right before we made the decision to move, we played this show and all of our friends were there, just drinking and yawning, standing around talking to one another and I felt horrible. It was just realizing, “Damn, we need to get out of here and meet some new people, play for people that aren’t just our friends.” (Siddarth Chittajallu) And with that, the band moved to the Windy City, where they found plethora of untapped venues and fans.

“In Chicago we started playing really well- suddenly the five of us were just on the same wavelength” The members of Loyal Divide say they began to feel real musical fusion upon their 2007 move, chalked up to individual maturity, but also giving credit to the influence of fellow band member Adam Johnson. “Adam is a very good song writer and producer. He just has a good ear and he’s the main guy for the sound we do- he’s the filter.” (Andrew McCarthy) Through the time spent playing with and learning from one another, the band can comfortably say, “we know what to expect from each other.” and this confidence has been key to their success over the past few years.

With the creation of two EPs under their belt, a self-titled 2007 release and 2008′s Labrador (which managed to break the 3hive.com’s Top 50 Albums list at #17) , the band is in the midst of self-producing their first full-length, which as of yet has no title. Created completely in house, the LP is tentatively due out this spring, and will be preceded by at least two singles this March. “We’re planning to make a more full time commitment by that point, using the LP as leverage and pushing it to really get out there” (Andrew McCarthy)

In the past the band has full heartedly agreed that their sound was all over the charts, setting foot in numerous camps. When talking about the new album, the band explained that it’s sound is much easier to characterize this time around because they feel they have finally found their niche. Best described as “dark, electronic, pop”, they acknowledge the curious contrast of these adjectives, but that in itself is somewhat the essence of Loyal Divide. While the recent EP Labrador dances in the footsteps of Animal Collective and Can, fusing a sample heavy, electronic sound with the same whisperingly soulful intonation one finds in the background of unconsciousness, the new album promises a more cohesive sound without losing any of the signature style Loyal Divide has created over the years. Some of this consistency may come from the fact that the band’s music “is built on a riff or some kind of texture and really put together mathematically” (Siddarth Chittajallu), a formula well suited for a band with such influences as Radiohead, Talking Heads, and the shoe-gaze genre, with an additional interest in hip-hop production.

On an individual level their influences vary, from the up and coming to 80’s throwbacks: “I like listening to brand new stuff that hasn’t been out too long, but is just starting to get noticed. It’s good to see where new trends are starting, and new genres are being created- which is what I think we’re almost doing. People say a variety of 20-30 different bands when trying to describe us. All five of us listen to completely different music, but we can all zone in around a riff and bring certain new intricacies to it.” (Jonathan Notowidigdo)
“I am the total opposite. I have about four CD’s in my car, three of them all scratched up, so Purple Rain is the only thing I can listen to- I love it. “ (Siddarth Chittajallu)
When talking locally some Chicago favorites Loyal Divide made note of included Netherfriends, Color Radio, D.J. Brad Owen, and Loneliest Monk. While on the subject of the industry, we talked about which big wigs the guys behind the band would like to work with, and mentioned were Nigel Goodrich, Brian Eno, and for the sake of having done so, Quincy Jones. Holding true to their previously stated influences and personal preferences the guys cited Talking Heads, Prince, and Bowie as artists they’d like to cover, placing “Life During Wartime”, “Controversy”, and “Ashes to Ashes” as tracks they’d include, should they ever do a cover album.

While 2009 was a busy year, gaining the support of a manager, opening for Chromeo and Crystal Castles at the Congress Theater, and putting together their LP, Loyal Divide is not taking any time off in 2010 as they prepare the aforementioned full-length for release, garner more dates for their mini tour following their venture to SXSW down in Texas, take part in more of Chicago’s neighborhood festivals, and make the move toward being full-time musicians. They’ll be starting that move the right way as they join The Felix Culpa, Robbers, and Suns at the infamous Chicago Metro this Saturday, January 23rd. On playing the well known venue the band stated simply that the Metro had put on “a lot of great artists over the years. You can’t go wrong.” remaining very humble about their appearance on such a largely coveted stage.

By and large a band for the fan of staggering synth and echoey electronic influence, as well as the more industrial, Loyal Divide is a fine example of creative open mindedness and devotion that music fans should look forward to hearing more from.

Loyal Divide Online:

theloyaldivide.com

Myspace

On a final note, we’d like to leave you with what is sure to be next summer’s blockbuster, as Jon, Sid, Andrew, and Chris walk us through Loyal Divide: The movie.

If Hollywood were to make a movie about your band, what would it be called?
Chris: Probably “The LD” and it’d be kind of boring.

Who would you cast as yourselves?
Sid: Tiger Woods-he needs a comeback, and this movie is going to take him there.

Andrew: I would totally have Nick Lachey play me, because I am his chubby younger brother.

Chris: Jean Claude Van Dam or Steven Segal. It’d be like those Microsoft commercials where I’m all skinny and then it goes to the flashback and I’m just, “(Manly growl)”

Jon: Jet Li. No, wait- Jeff Goldblum.

Adam: Sam O’Neil, that dude from Jurassic Park. (So kindly cast on his behalf by his band mates)

Plot:

Andrew: Blood, Swear and Tears…Actually it’d be like that KISS movie where they’re at that carnival and they use their instruments as weapons to fight the phantom menace. We’d use out signature power moves – like power chords as super powers.
Sid: Pretty much Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle- except Wendy’s because it’s better.

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5 Songs for Monday

January 18, 2010

Last week we did a post concerning songs that feature Monday in their title to help clear Monday’s bad reputation. We’ve decided that from here on out each Monday we will continue to fight the good fight for this dreaded day of the week by posting 5 songs that can make your morning a little brighter, hopefully alleviating your Monday morning moaning.

Let’s Work Out- Crayolala, Boom Shaka Laka
Maybe this track’s title will inspire you to sweat it out at the gym or just get you pumped to get going with your work week, but we know that it definitely will make you bop with it’s New Wave inspired keyboard and cymbal heavy percussion. The upcoming Chicago band offers a fun and nonsensical feel that even the grumpiest of folk can’t ignore. Check them out Tuesday, January 19th with Elephant and Children of Spy at Ronny’s

Fresh Like Us- Chiddy Bang, The Swelly Express
Try not to feel cool as you groove along to lyrics like “fresh like that, I’m the best like that” along side a sweet whistle track complete with bloopy synth. The word Fresh probably hasn’t been this cool since Will Smith was in his 90′s prime, and even if we are confusing cool for something else, we stand behind this song. Recently this four part hip-hop/electronic group has gotten big in their native Philly and across the U.S. through their own tracks as well as with collaborations with such groups as MGMT, and offer a free download via any of the bands web profiles. Check some of those out here, on the groups Purevolume or last.fm.

Coney Island- Good Old War, Only Way to be Alone
Another group out of Philadelphia, Good Old War features members from past band, Days Away . Coney Island is a twangy, clap infused, light-hearted track about reminiscence and holding onto what you’ve already got. A good song to introduce both their album Only Way to be Alone and a new listener, we’re big fans of this track.

Countdown- The Phoenix Band, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Brought to us on their fourth album, 2009′s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, this is one of the more subdued by the French indie/electronic band. We love it for it’s gradual build, tinkling barely-there keys in the background, and solid percussion/vocals switch off, a variation from the more synth reliant tracks the album offers.

Girls of Anthens- Pet Lions, Soft Right EP
Boppy surf rock drums and wah-wah guitar starts this song off right, making it an instant pick-me-up. Indie pop/rock at it’s most basic, Pet Lions offer a sound that is both likable and singable. The band has the Soft Right EP up for free download for those who sign up for their email updates, which you can do here.

Check them out this Friday, January 22nd at the Metro, along with Post Honeymoon, White Mystery, and The Dirty Diamonds. Click the flier to print, and bring to the doors before 9pm for free admission.

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