One Hit Wonder Wednesday - 5/27/2009

Anyone who watched 120 Minutes on MTV will remember this band. Put together in 1984 by ex-Clash guitarist and singer Mick Jones, Big Audio Dynamite (BAD) managed to combine punk rock angst with dance music fun, but it never really took off. Though I quite liked them, they are often touted as a One Hit Wonder, getting no real recognition for their two 1991 hits, though Rush did get some radio play.



The Globe by Big Audio Dynamite

As much as I loved Better Than Ezra back in the 90's, even I admit that they never really capitalized on the hype they generated with their breakout-single, "Good". I did buy and enjoy subsequent albums, especially their second release, Friction Baby. "Desperately Wanting" was a good song, but the hype just didn't generate. I personally really liked "Rewind".



You were labeled as WAY uncool if you admitted liking Deep Blue Something. I didn't mind being uncool, and admit to being surprised that these guys didn't manage to make it. At least to put out a second single!

New Music Monday on Memorial Day

I hope you are all making the most of your time off this Memorial Day. Since it's a bit drippy outside, I thought some of you might be looking for some alternate indoor entertainment.

LOCAL MUSIC: Fans of Sleater-Kinney, the Breeders and even old-school Veruca Salt should check out The Holland Dutch out of Atlanta. According to CDBaby.com, "Neither Dutch, nor from Holland, this 3-piece cranks out driving, melodic, harmony-laden indie rock." As a big S-K fan, I can say that The Holland Dutch do have a similar sound, without being copycats. They also remind me a bit of early Letters to Cleo, but with less sugary vocals.

Sad Salute - by The Holland Dutch

The Kids Are All Grown - by The Holland Dutch

Toxic Tour by The Holland Dutch

ACROSS THE POND: I admit to having a music crush on The Joy Formidable a three-piece from North Wales, currently residing in London. Made up of girlfriend-boyfriend lead duo Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd and rounded out with drummer Justin Stahley, their debut album, "A Balloon Called Moaning" was released in February 2009. I'm addicted to their catchy, girly pop-rock sound, so wanted to share them with you.



Free Download: Austere by The Joy Formidable

Free Download: Cradle by The Joy Formidable

Free Download: While The Flies by The Joy Formidable

Weekend Preview: Eleisha Eagle at the 567 Cafe

We had the pleasure of seeing Eleisha Eagle the last time she visited Macon, earlier this year. She played that first Macon gig at the 567 Cafe and she's going to be there again this Saturday, May 23rd. If you like energetic, vocally powerful singer-songwriter piano-based pop with an edge, you'll love Eagle.

It's hard to fully describe her sound, and just as hard to make a comparison. Her own promo materials describe her as a "cross between Ben Folds and Fiona Apple". She has the vocal strength of Apple, and the quirky, would love to be your best friend quality best embodied by Folds, but there's just so much more.

We'll let you make the final call on the best comparison, but there's one big absolute about seeing Eagle live, up close and personal. You're going to get a great show. Her banter with the crowd is quick, witty and sweet - but never sappy. She works the room without working you over, giving you enough time to breathe between songs without leaving you wishing she'd hurry things along. You'll be pleasantly exhausted after the show, because the songs are dynamic and powerful. Go see her. You won't regret it!






Listen to Rocketboy | Click Here

Listen to The Quittin' Kind | Click Here


Fun Facts:

• Ms. Eagle has a thing for high heels, in fact her signature look finds the diminutive redhead sporting 4-inch heels.
  
  
• She worked for room and board as a nanny, then spent her free time visiting studios and chatting up engineers and producers so she'd know how to record her own tracks.
  

Flashback Friday: Revving Up For The Weekend...

I'm rushing out of here early, getting an early start on the weekend after two pretty intense work weeks, so there'll be less chatter and more music video! I'm reminding you of some rev-it-up, get your heart pounding and your feet stomping kids of tunes this week. Enjoy!

This one is a fave standby when I'm running or riding and want to be revved for the exercise. I love listening to it, but more than a few views reminds me of what a weirdo the lead singer is!!!



STP rocked the scene during my college years and helped form my love for driving hard rock. Check out the "sappy-sweet" intro to one of my favorites, peformed live for David Letterman in 1994...



I was a gigantic Social D fan throughout the 90's, and I was always very impressed with one cover they put on each of their albums. Here's a rockin' live performance of Social Distortion covering Ring of Fire by the great Johnny Cash.



And here's one more...my absolute favorite Social D song and my favorite cover. Here they are doing Patsy Cline's "Making Believe"...



(Fun note...Mike Ness, Social D's lead singer was my bad-boy crush through most of my late teens and early 20's!!!)

One Hit Wonder Wednesday...

General Public: Former members of The Beat Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger (love the name) formed General Public in 1983 along with several other fairly big names, including: Mickey Billingham and Stoker from Dexys Midnight Runners, Mick Jones from The Clash and Horace Panter from The Specials. Their only major hit was "tenderness", though I was always a bigger fan of their first UK single, "General Public".



Extra Link: See video for General Public!

Alphaville: We're flashing back to the eighties again for this one! This trio from Germany was best known for the 80's sorta hit "Forever Young", though Laura Branigan's version had more lasting U.S. success. Big In Japan was actually their biggest hit, but it didn't cross the pond from Europe and thus didn't get much radio play in the States.



Trivia Extra! Forever young has made its way into big & little screen prom scenes, including Napoleon Dynamite in 2004.

Haircut 100: OK...it's turned into an all 80's extravaganza around here. So, let's finish it off with this lovely from the very early 80's. 1981 to be exact. This was a band that probably would have continued to churn out top 80's new wave and pop hits. But Nick Heyward, the lead singer, was basically the band. Once he left, it was all over. And he left in 1983 before Haircut 100 could put out a follow-up album. So you'll just have to reminisce here, by checking out their one hit, "Love Plus One".



Extra Video: Nick Heyward's 1990's release, "Kite".

Tuesday Tunes: A Music Sampler

Ashen - Gone But Not Forgotten: A mixture of shoegaze softness and alt-rock intensity, Ashen sometimes "suggest early Smashing Pumpkins or the Cure" and at other times "use the shoegazer style of fuzzy guitars and great harmonics in their music but go even further than that to incorporate some of the better elements of emo". Either way they verge on rock without blowing you out of your seat.

Sadly, shortly following the release of Pull and Repel, Ashen decided to disband, leaving behind a catalog of 15 songs, no fluff, and a lot of disappointed fans - per their label...Two Sheds Music.

LISTEN: Autopilot | Cycle Pinsetter

Stokeswood

Stokeswood - Electroacoustic Goodness: Formed in 2004 by lead vocalist and acoustic guitar player, Adam Patterson and lead electric guitarist, Mark Godwin, this 5-piece from Atlanta creates modern music with a mixed electronic and acoustic vibe. Their CDBaby site describes the sound as..."An eclectic mix of percussion, strong vocals, story telling lyrics, powerful electric guitar and driving synths Stokeswood's sound is described as a "Cosmic Waltz."

LISTEN: An Ode To Accepting Criticism | The Extraordinary Mrs. Crickett

Blake Rainey & His Demons - Lyrics & Music in Harmony: Though he currently makes his home in in Atlanta, the rustic roots of his more rural town birth drive the sound of Rainey's music. Part open-mic night poet, part angsty singer songwriter, you get the impression Rainey's lived the life he details in his music.

LISTEN: Daydream Fields | Feelings Go South

Sunday Sampler: Band of Horses

Our goal here at Scene 13 is to showcase and spotlight local entertainment. When it comes to music, we stretch local to include the entire Southeast. So, it's not over-stepping our goal to showcase Seattle formed, but now making South Carolina their home, Band of Horses.

Though they've been around for a while...since 2004, they first hit my radar with the catchy angst of "Is There A Ghost".



Download "Is There A Ghost". >>Click Here<<

My appreciation for the band continued as I had the opportunity to listen to several songs. The sound is full of emotion, but not wracked with it. You don't finish the listen feeling angsty, even though the songs are full of the pain and human failings we all deal with every day. Instead, you are left with the calm that comes when you realize there are others out there, others dealing with the day to day grind. Surviving it.



Download "The Great Salt Lake". >>Click Here<<

Download "No One's Gonna Love You". >>Click Here<<

Download "The Funeral". >>Click Here<<

In a 2008 Rolling Stone interview, the band stated they will be entering the studio in October to begin recording their third album. Lead vocalist and guitarist Ben Bridwell stated he had about 27 songs written already. I can't wait. If you like the showcase, maybe you'll be looking forward to the new album, too!

Farewell Macon Musical Friend!

Flashback Friday: May 1, 2009

"This is the Day" was a minor hit for the UK band, The The. The song was released in 1983, but has recently given the band a small surge of attention in the United States thanks to an M&M's advertising campaign, which used the song as its theme music.




Depeche Mode is one of the most successful and longest-lived electronic bands. "Behind the Wheel" is from their 1987 album, Music for the Masses.




"Banquet" is a hit single from Bloc Party's critically-acclaimed debut album, Silent Alarm, released in 2005. The video goes well with the song's bouncy rhythm section.




As a bonus, check out the cool animated video for "Pioneers," one of my favorite songs from Silent Alarm.


Enjoy your weekend!