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best video of 2010: the temper trap

Scott Pollack — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:16:35 +0000

The Temper Trap – Love Lost

the sun is out, a/b (machines)

Scott Pollack — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:03:53 +0000

a) here’s a song I promised. I was saving it for when the sun finally showed its face. it’s a beautiful song by the middle east called “blood”. Perhaps you caught them opening for the glorious Laura Marling back in May in Buffalo?
Download audio file (03-Blood.mp3)
the middle east – blood download.

b) sorry for lack of updates, news, features, etc. we’re busy here at skipster HQ and trying to figure some stuff out. but no fear, we’ll have some stuff coming up soon, starting with a show in a couple weeks. we’ll have more on that later, but check out today’s pitchfork reviews for a clue, or just go look at our gig calendar for the answer… more tonight, I swear.

BEACH HOUSE TO PLAY BUFFALO SUNDAY

Scott Pollack — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:25:37 +0000

Beach House, the creators of skipster’s favorite album of 2010 Teen Dream, will be bringing their dream pop to Buffalo’s Town Ballroom tomorrow evening. Opening the show is fellow Baltimore act Moss of Aura, who weekly tape deck describes as “Minimalist to the point of sheer euphoria, [their] songs are not trying to complicate your mind but merely orate the sounds of day in the sol”. I honestly cannot stress enough how great this show will be..please, PLEASE just trust me on this one. The venue is gorgeous and the two acts compliment each others’ sound perfectly. It has best show in WNY of the year written all over it.

Doors open at 7 PM, with tickets being 15 in advance, and 18 tomorrow.

Download audio file (03-Gila.mp3)

Download audio file (Swilling1.mp3)

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra play Rochester Jazz Festival

Scott Pollack — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:48:07 +0000

The Annual Rochester International Jazz Festival has commenced, bringing bougie people out of the suburbs and into downtown Rochester to listen to loads of jazz..and Smash Mouth. However, each year there seems to be some gems hidden in the schedule, this years’ being Susanna and the Magical Orchestra. The Norwegian duo which consists of Susanna Wallumrød (vocals) and Morten Qvenild (piano) has been playing slow lush pop since 2000. Susanna and the Magical Orchestra have never toured in America, so that makes this show extra special, and probably your only chance to catch them in this area for a very long time.

Best known for their beautiful covers which are completely given new form, the duo has released three albums to date, one of which is comprised solely of covers. While I love mostly any take on Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, I must say Susanna’s may be the best. They first got the spotlight through for their 2004 single, “Jolene” (originally by Dolly Parton), featured on their album Lists of Lights and Buoys. Their latest release, simply titled 3, came out late last year to rave reviews and is a return to original songwriting (with the exception of a beautiful Roy Harper cover). The collection of songs is beautiful yet dark with gorgeous electronic arrangements. Check out “Palpatine’s Dream below, for proof!

Susanna and Morten take the stage of the Lutheran Church this Friday the 18th at 7:30 with a second show at 9:30. If you bought a club pass, just get there a bit early- if you lack a pass at all, you can purchase tickets in advance or just show up early and grab some at the door!

Download audio file (04-PalpatineS-Dream.mp3)
Download audio file (jolene.mp3)
download.

Mates of State This Week: Guest Blogger Gives the Scoop

Scott Pollack — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:45:07 +0000

Who’s Dancing All Around?: A Look Back on my Mates of State Fandom

I’ll be honest…the original reason I started listening to Mates of State was because my best friend, Brian, found pictures of them online and thought they looked exactly like us. Our interest peaked further upon hearing their 2003 song “Ha Ha” (Listen Below). The song was like an instant whisper from the Gods and right then and there we fell in love with our musical doppelgangers. We wrote to them via email and sent them numerous dance videos in the months that followed to convey our admiration for their work and prove our devotion as fans.

We never thought they would, but they actually responded to all of our e-mails and videos. It was really unbelievable for us, being two high schoolers that had never successfully corresponded with “real famous people” before. As time goes on and you grow up, you realize musicians and artists are normal people just like you, but at the time, it was exciting! We were pretty starstruck by all of this, but knew that we had to see them live, and more importantly, meet them in person, (with hope that our brains wouldn’t explode).

It has now been approximately 5 years since I first saw Mates of State perform. It was winter of 2005 when Brian and I drove two and a half hours with brand new drivers licenses to Alfred State University. The venue was on the third floor of a building at Alfred, with no stage…in fact, it could have been a study lounge for all I know. The opener at this show was the mellow, Ida (at the time MoS and Ida were both on Polyvinyl Records), which no one clearly showed up to see, considering that the entire audience was sitting cross legged on the carpet, bored to death. Brian and I were a little nervous at first, thinking we were at the wrong show. We were literally ready to dance our asses off, however everyone around us looked unconscious.

Bracelet I made for Kori

Naturally, we were standing front and center, closest to the instruments, waiting patiently for the party to begin. What seemed like hours later, Kori and Jason finally took the stage, and did a small introduction before going right into “Goods (All in Your Head)” off of the All Day EP – a perfect show opener (listen below.)

When Kori and Jason screamed their first “WAH – OH”, my and Brian’s cardigans FLEW OFF, revealing matching cross stitched robot “DANCE MACHINE” shirts (I had spent the whole summer preparing these). When the shirts were revealed, we began to MOVE! And we did not stop moving for two hours! And, the best part about all of it was that the zombie audience ALL stood up, one by one, and started dancing. It was CONTAGIOUS!

After the show, and in the many years that followed, our fandom only grew. I sent MOS paintings (one of which was featured on Kori’s Babble blog), friendship bracelets (featured in the “Like U Crazy” music video), and I became pen-pals with GJ Echternkamp, who directed two awesome music videos for them. One summer I even did a special order at a State Park Recreation Hall I worked at to have the new Mates of State CD bought and put into the jukebox where I worked for the summer. That way I could blast them all day, and expose them to new ears.

Dance Machine Shirts

It has been a few years now since I have seen Mates of State, and I miss them. This Wednesday is going to be a really amazing show. The dance machines have multiplied and will be there, so oil your bots. To all SKIPSTER readers, if you want to have one of the best experiences of your life, then I imagine I will see you there.

***
Mates of State will be performing at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester alongside Free Energy this Wednesday. The duo is touring in support of their summer release Crushes which features 10 cover songs. Doors open at 7 for this 16+ show.

Download audio file (01-Goods-All-In-Your-Head.mp3)
Download audio file (01-Mates-of-State-Ha-Ha.mp3)

Written by guest blogger and photographer: Martha Ormiston

Phantogram Does Daytrotter

Scott Pollack — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:51:42 +0000

The ethereal electro pop duo Phantogram, who hail from Saratoga Springs (Holla! Upstate NY!), have recently stopped by Daytrotter to record a few songs. Among those recorded was the recently remixed“Mouthful of Diamonds” as well as a creepy new take on “When I’m Small.” Check it out below.

Download audio file (04-When-Im-Small.mp3)

[via daytrotter]

Tomorrow: Jukebox the Ghost in Rochester

marisa breall — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:27:55 +0000

The piano pop trio Jukebox the Ghost will be taking the stage with Drink Up Buttercup and The Demos in Rochester this Friday (tomorrow!) at the Waterstreet Music Hall. Hailing from D.C./Philadelphia, Ben Thornewill, Tommy Seigel and Jesse Kristin have created an infectious sound that is sure to put a smile on any listeners face. While the band is often compared to Ben Folds, both vocally and because of their piano-centric tunes, this is a lazy comparison. First of all… all three members of Jukebox are about 10x more attractive than 3 Ben Folds put together. But on a more musical note — while there may be vocal similarities between Thornewill (who splits the vocal duties with Seigel) and Ben Folds, Jukebox’s upbeat sound is more akin to Mika. Rainbows and fantastical cartoons seem more in line with the band’s vibe, even if their lyrics are often on the more serious side.

Another reason to check this band out: their 2008 cover of Ace of Base’s “It’s a Beautiful Life” (a skipster favorite). An affinity for Ace of Base usually indicates personality, so they have our vote of confidence! Check it out below!

Download audio file (holditin.mp3)
Download audio file (01-05-Its-A-Beautiful-Life-1.mp3)
download.

Tickets are $10 in advance, with a 16+ age limit (sorry 15 year oldz!). Doors open at 7, show starts at 8.

This Week in Ithaca, Next week in Rochester: Free Energy

Scott Pollack — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:00:13 +0000

Astralworks/DFA recording artist Free Energy will be stopping by Ithaca this Friday to help orchestrate an evening of nostalgia inducing rock. With their wonderful use of cowbell, 70s-esque aesthetic, carefree lyrics, and poppy guitar riffs, Free Energy is undoubtedly the choice soundtrack for a summer night in Ithaca. The band’s debut release Stuck on Nothing, which was produced by James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) was praised heavily by critics at Pitchfork and the Onion alike, with the Onion citing, “Even on tracks that, on the surface, might seem a bit hokey, Free Energy succeeds with loose enthusiasm and unbridled confidence.”

The band, who sprung to life in Philadelphia, is currently on tour with Jukebox the Ghost and Drink Up Buttercup — however, for their night in Ithaca, Free Energy will be playing alongside local fav. Hubcap. Also on Friday, while Free Energy is in Ithaca, Jukebox and Drink Up will be playing in Rochester at Water St. where Free Energy will be playing next week on the 16th with Mates of State. Confused? Here’s the sparknotes:

June 11 - Free Energy in Ithaca
June 11 - Jukebox the Ghost. Drink Up Buttercup, and the Demos in Rochester
June 16 – Free Energy and Mates of State in Rochester.

Tickets for the Free Energy Ithaca show are available now in advance for a mere $8, or you can get them at the door for a smidgen more. The show starts at 8! For tickets to the Mates of State show in Rochester, which is happenin’ thanks to the wonderful 90.5 FM WBER, head over here.

Download audio file (Dream-City.mp3)
Download.

EVEN MORE SLEIGH BELLS REMIXes

Scott Pollack — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:43:02 +0000

As you know, we love sleigh bells (maybe a bit too much, even). Here are some aw3s0Me remixes we stumbled across! Now if only someone would remix a/b machines…..

Download audio file (Run-The-Heart-GhostWaves-Re-Edit.mp3)
download.

Download audio file (Tell-Em-Rodway-Remix.mp3)
download.

(via)

WNY Concert of the Summer w/ the National and……Rufus Wainwright??

Scott Pollack — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:01:38 +0000

The National and Atlas Sound playing together makes sense to me, as does Martha Wainwright playing alongside her brother Rufus. But all four together? Not so much….Nonetheless, leave it to the city of Buffalo, NY to pull out this tomfoolery on June 18th, as these four acts will come forward to participate in this year’s Rockin’ at the Knox. All proceeds from the concert go to the Albert-Knox Art Gallery.

Tickets are a bit pricey at $4o in advance and $45 at the door- but hey, I guess you could argue it’s a great cause. Personally I’m interested to see what strange mix of people this lineup is going to beckon.

Also playing: Acme Nipple; Caitlin and Jamie Moses Band; Linda McRae, ex Spirit of the West, and Jim Whitford; and Djck. Apparently the show is outside considering the warning of “Rain or Shine”– however last time I heard this statement at a National Concert (Ithaca 2007) the show stopped three songs in due to horrendous thunder so buyers beware.

Details here.

Download audio file (01-Secret-Meeting.mp3)
Download audio file (04-Criminals.mp3)