Ghost Light kicked off the second leg of their debut tour on Wednesday, April 11. The scene’s newest supergroup, consisting of Tom Hamilton (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, American Babies, Brothers Past, Electron, and former Phil and Friends member), Holly Bowling, Steve Lyons (Nico’s Gun), Raina Mullen (American Babies) and Scotty Zwang (Dopapod), made their east coast debut at Brooklyn Bowl with support from Colorado favourites Magic Beans. Ghost Light’s show consisted of some favourites from Tom Hamilton’s past projects along with some fresh improvisations, and a couple of covers from The Stones and The Dead.
Magic Beans:
Set One:
Give Me Something Real, Mission -> Do Your Thing, Mr Scientist, Lewd -> Lost and Found
Ghost Light:
Set 1: Untitled Jam, Simple Gift of Man *, Streets of Brooklyn
Set 2: Untilted Song> Sway+> Lead Weight > Bullseye Blues
E: Jack Straw&
* Brothers Past Cover, First Time Played
+ Rolling Stones Cover, First Time Played
& Grateful Dead Cover First Time Played
Brazilian ska-punk band Abraskadabra recently released their newest album Welcome and are coming (back) to America to celebrate. Over 15 dates, the group will tour from Boston to Denver with a stop at Brooklyn’s El Cortez on April 1, bringing one of the most interesting punk bands in Brazil to the States.
Guitarist/vocalist Buga looked back on the band’s last time touring America and noted, “We had a great time there four years ago and met one of the greatest ska icons, Brent Friedmann. He’s setting us up with awesome gigs and bands from all over the country and has become a very good friend of ours. We’re very excited to be coming back for the second time.”
Abraskadabra and their latest album, Welcome, delivers the band’s own vision of the ska-punk essence, and according to guitarist/vocalist Du, “It’s an album that sums up what this band is pretty well. Fast punk rock songs with horns, melodic vocals and backing vocals. We wanted to give no chill to the listener because we believe this is what punk rock/hardcore/ska music is all about.”
Tour Dates:
4/13 – Boston, MA @ O’Briens 4/14 – Brooklyn, NY @ El Cortez
4/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
4/17 – Hamtramck, MI @ New Dodge Lounge
4/18 – Chicago, IL @ Liars Club
4/20 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Blue Note
4/21 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links Deep Ellum (Ska By SkaWest Festival)
4/22 – Austin, TX @ Kick Butt Cafe
4/24 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Garth
4/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Trunk Space
4/26 – San Diego, CA @ Tower Bar
4/27 – Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman
4/28 – Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar
4/30 – Portland, OR @ Twilight Cafe
5/01 – Seattle, WA @ The Kraken Bar
5/02 – Boise, ID @ WavePOP
5/04 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
5/05 – Denver, CO @ Seventh Circle Music Collective
Lespecial made their return to Brooklyn on Friday, March 23. It’s been five months since they had the release party for their latest studio album, Cheen, in Brooklyn last October. The Knitting Factory opened their doors at 11:00 p.m. for an “after midnight” show, but in true New York City fashion, the room didn’t fill up till around a quarter to 1. Also in true New York City fashion, the fans came to rage! Lespecial brought the Williamsburg crowd into the early hours of Saturday morning with a set that ran a gauntlet of musical genres. Their original songs contain influences from everything from hip-hop to metal and everything in between. Fittingly, the songs they covered on Friday ranged from Black Sabbath to Cardi B. With an arsenal of talent, high energy and a sound to call their own, Lespeical continues to be on the “must see shows” list.
Set List:
(Mars Attacks Theme Intro), Donut Ghost House I, Jackwise>DnB> Jackwise, HMU*> The Vessel, March of The Pigs> Piggy•, Fruit Wolf Dance> 21st Century Iron Man+> Fruit Wolf Dance, American Life#, American Apocalypse, Fanfarra % > Pray For Me~, Donut Ghost House II, Wake Up! @ > Sound That We Do> Bodak, Yellow¥, Gallows Hill
E: Onlookers, National Anthem£
* Space Jesus
• Nine Inch Nails medley
+ King Crimson/Black Sabbath mashup
# Primus
% Sergio Mendez
~ Kendrick Lamar
@ Zion I
¥ Cardi B
£ Radiohead
If you’re in New York City this week, you should consider checking out one of the upcoming shows from Girl Ray. The London-based group features Poppy Hanking on guitar/vocals, Iris McConnell on drums, and Sophie Moss on bass. They started the group two years ago as teenagers going to school in North London and now they’re on their first tour in the U.S.
Poppy’s songwriting is influenced by pop artists like ABBA and The Beatles and indie artists like Neutral Milk Hotel. Their newest album, which cleverly rhymes with their band name, is called Earl Grey. The vinyl version album is sold out on Bandcamp, but listeners may still enjoy online or on Spotify. They recorded the album at Ramsgate’s Big Jelly Studios and they claimed they little crazy during the process giving it their all. The organ sounds throughout give it a full texture coupled with the distorted guitar. The vocal harmonies are fragile and exciting to listen to.
The girls are still teenagers, and their sound reflects the uncertainty young adults feel as they move through life and have to make important decisions. They’re just what young listeners need to hear in terms of heartbreak and losing friendships. Their music videos are a bit quirky and show their individual personalities.
After a stop in Washington DC, you can catch them at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 23rd in Brooklyn, The Bowery Ballroom on the 24th in Manhattan, and back again in Brooklyn on the 25th at Union Pool.
On Friday, March 16, Dumpsta phunk made a stop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for a night of New Orleans funk at the Brooklyn Bowl. They gave fans everything expected in a show from the Nola-funk gurus with a couple of surprises mixed in, including a cover of The Eagles’ hit “Life in the Fast Lane” and a two-song cameo from guitarist Tash Neal. The Dumpstaphunk tour goes through Philly and Richmond before it hits the West Coast.
Setlist: Make it After All, Let’s Get At It, I Wish You Would, Do You, Street Parade, Life In The Fastlane, Sounds*, United Nation Stomp*, Dumpstamental, Maze, Justice, Up From The Downstroke, Dancin’ To The Truth
Progger has put together a masterful ensemble to release an album that consists of layers of different music to stimulate all your senses. Progressive jazz-rock-funk fusion Progger released their fourth album Dystopia recently. Twelve musicians make up the credits for the album — from New York City, Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles.
This album puts some of the best work right in the beginning to show listeners how explosive this band can be. “Oba-bow” sets the tone for the album with a dramatic build-up that teases the expectation of a musical journey that takes you high and low.
The bass must be played at an appropriate level when listening to Dystopia. Without proper speakers, the listener will not get the full effect of the tremendousness of the sound Progger creates.
Progger does a great job of mixing energy and taking it away to a peaceful melody. On “Housewives” the soothing, soft sounds go from an R&B feeling to something grittier when the guitarist shows off his skills.
The brass and keys really give Progger their impressive sound. The album title track, “Dystopia,” brings out a progressive melody from the saxophone, while delivering some pretty sounds from the piano and going off the other end with the keyboards. Some of it is reminiscent of classical music.
“Adryllanin” is a crescendo that has a very soft beginning and progresses into a loud collaboration of all the instruments to pull together a beautiful song. “Adrenal Interlude” brings out some different sounds from Progger. The funky dance beat is fun. It’s just a short song, but perfect for the middle of the album to keep the energy flowing. The energy stays consistent through “Morning Star.” The end of the album transitions to softer, soulful sounds. “Choom” keeps the same level throughout and is an easy-listening song for relaxation.
“Sinister decisions” features a mellow, energetic tone. The harmony between all the instruments takes on a different journey. “Haunt” comes in soft like a lullaby. The album’s structure flows well to end with softer songs. Beautifully written, “Haunt” feels like a proper conclusion to a good time. One last song, “Sinister Prelude,” is a short outro to conclude the album with just a few more fun noises from the band before they go.
Progger’s Dystopia is a quality album that deserves recognition and accolade. The music is a soundtrack to a good time. Whether you are relaxing by yourself or hosting a party with a few friends, Dystopia is an album to keep in your collection for the right moment.
Performing on this album are Daniel Watson (drums), Devin Collins (drums and electronic percussion), Steve Anthony Belvilus (drums on “Morning Star”), Nicholas Clark (electric bass and synth bass), Bryan Ladd (electric bass), Isamu McGregor (keyboards), Carter Arrington (guitar), Daniel Muniz (guitar), Akira Ishiguro (guitar), Matthew Muehling (guitar), Paul Deemer (trombone), and Brian Donohoe (saxophone, keyboard, drum loops, and additional guitar).
Brooklyn-based trio, Modern Whale, are too pop for indie, yet too indie for pop, and have a released their latest single, “The Dirt,” cultivating a sound rooted in pop-rock. The driving rock of “The Dirt” brings to mind the post-grunge 90’s of Three Days Grace and My Chemical Romance with driving guitar rhythms and symphonic vocals that combine for an instant, and pleasant earworm.
Helmed by Bushwick-based record producer and songwriter Rob Guariglia, Modern Whale is not a specimen of the sea but rather a musical crossing. The group formed in Brooklyn at the infamous rock refuge Meserole Sound Studio, with a name that reflects the animalistic tendency of music and is encapsulated through Rob’s dog Stella, his assistant and muse. “The Dirt” was written by Robert J. Guariglia & Stephen Ericson and produced by Robert J. Guariglia.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) brought their three-night run at Brooklyn Bowl to an end on March 10. JRAD filled the Williamsburg venue with deep jams and surprises from start to finish, from opening with a JRAD debut cover of The Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time,” to finishing the second set with a “Throwing Stones” that went into two other debut covers, Led Zepplin’s “Good Times Bad Times” and The Band’s “Chest Fever,” before coming to an end.
They mixed in some fun teases of songs like Radiohead’s “Myxomatosis,” WOLF!’s “Fastso’s Last Stand” and there may have been a few “Terrapin Station” riffs tossed around at points as well. Topping the whole Brooklyn run off was a “One More Saturday Night” encore that left a capacity crowd calling for more. It’s official, Brooklyn Bowl no longer has a roof. Marco Benevento, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger, Dave Dreiwitz and Joe Russo have blown it clean off. Again.
Set List
Set 1: The Last Time> Shakedown Street> The Other One> Mission in the Rain> Crazy Fingers> Truckin’
Set 2: Slipknot!> Foolish Heart> Help on the Way> Slipknot!> I Need A Miracle> Franklin’s Tower> Throwing Stones> Good Times, Bad Times> Throwing Stones> Chest Fever> Throwing Stones Reprise
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead hit Brooklyn Bowl March 9 for the second of a three-night run. The sold-out crowd was treated to three JRAD debuts: The Grateful Dead’s “Peggy-O,” Junior Parker’s “The Next Time You See Me,” and The Rolling Stone’s “It’s All Over Now.” The show was full of teases as well. JRAD found ways to slip in “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel, “Borderline” by Madonna, and “Becky” by The Benevento Russo Duo just to name a few. The band has one more night in Brooklyn before heading upstate to play two more sold-out shows in Syracuse and Albany.
Setlist
Set 1: Eyes of the World, Dancin’ in the Streets, The Music Never Stopped, Tennessee Jed, Next Time You See Me
Set 2: Iko Iko, Black-Throated Wind, Bertha, Feel Like a Stranger, Peggy-O, Playing in the Band
On March 8 Brooklyn Bowl’s begotten sons returned to the venue of their conception for the first night of three. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead had fans lined up around the block and packed in on the floor. The couches on the bowling allies were pushed back to make room for the freaks in the vip section. With the room ready to burst at the seems, Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger, and Joe Russo took to the stage. With them, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead brought their approach to the music of the Grateful Dead.
Setlist:
Set 1: Alligator, St. Stephen, Dupree’s Dimond, King Solomon’s Marbles, Touch of Grey
Set 2: The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion), Jack Straw, Hell In A Bucket, Scarlet Begonias, I know you Rider, Stella Blue
Progger has put together a masterful ensemble to release an album that consists of layers of different music to stimulate all your senses. 
Helmed by