In support of Frames Per Second, the most recent album from Philadelphia instrumental rockers Lotus, the band came to Buffalo for two celebratory nights at the Town Ballroom.
With four sets spread out over two days there was plenty of time to explore tracks both old and new much to the delight of the capacity crowd. Getting things started each night was the Portland, Maine collective Jaw Gems.
AJ Lambert, daughter of Nancy Sinatra and granddaughter of Frank Sinatra, joined the family tradition with the release of Careful You on January 21. Lambert’s innate talent, clearly in her ancestral DNA, has produced a skillfully crafted record, featuring interpretations of songs from artists like Spoon, TV on the Radio, and of course her late, great grandfather.
This album follows Lambert’s extensive experience in the entertainment industry, having augmented a career which spans film music supervision, live performance (Here We Go Magic, The Homosexuals) and radio (“Siriusly Sinatra” on Sirius XM). Produced by Daniel Schlett of The War on Drugs and Boshra AlSaadi, the album includes drummer Parker Kindred (Joan As Policewoman) and bassist Josh Werner (Bill Laswell) as session musicians. The album is both an homage to artists such as Billie Holiday and other legends, and a bold reconstruction of the same musical history, featuring lavish ambient soundscapes in “Ebb Tide,” Lambert’s polished vibrato on “Sleep Warm” and a touch of glam with “You and Your Sister.”
Each track on the album is meticulously sculpted. Every instrument shines through the mix and Lambert’s vocals flow over it all. Songs like Frank Sinatra’s “Sleep Warm” are regarded with holy sanctity as she works to maintain, but slightly revise the original feeling; while songs like “(Glad I’m) Not a Kennedy” are a particular point of fun. The Shona Laing cover supersedes the original with even more flair and modern dance vibes.
The album isn’t perfect — the production is so clean and defined that you’ll find yourself yearning to hear some rambunctiousness. However, Careful You is an insight into how an artist like Lambert can carry on a familial legacy while providing some updated energy at the same time.
Key Tracks: Careful You, I Summon You, (Glad I’m) Not A Kennedy
Read More: Lambert’s “Cleo” Music Video on NYS Music. Find Aj Lambert on Facebook and Instagram. Get the album.
BRIC House Sessions is back for another year with its Thursday night concert series. BRIC House has featured world-class artists that reflect the diversity within Brooklyn. Celebrating 40 years of pioneering the arts and media in NYC as well as one of the leading presenters free cultural programming in Brooklyn. The BRIC organization presents and incubates work by artists and media-makers that reflects New York’s diversity and reaches hundreds of thousands of people each year.
With BRIC House being its main venue, it houses a public media center, a major contemporary art exhibition space, two performance spaces, a glass walled TV studio and work spaces for artists. It also is the space for the Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival in Prospect Park and has BRIC TV, radio and Brooklyn Free Speech media. It’s lead sponsor and supporter is the innovative entertainment and retail destination company City Point, which is 1.8 million square feet of retail, residential, office and entertainment complex at the epicenter of Downtown Brooklyn.
So far this year headlining artists Son Little with special guest singer-songwriter Melissa Laveaux and guitarist Christopher Paul Stelling performing in Fort Greene on Feb. 28. Then on March 7 they have the Electro Arabic act 47SOUL who party with a message, with the female fronted, neo-beat deconstructionist Underground System to open. You can check out other artists performing on their website. Tickets can be purchased online at BRICartsmedia.org.
The Governors Ball Music Festival will hold its 9th event over May 31-June 2, taking place at Randall’s Island Park in New York City. The impressive line up includes Tyler, the Creator, Florence + the Machine, Kacey Musgraves, Charlie XCX, Lil Wayne, The Strokes, Lily Allen, The 1975 and many more.
Starting today you can visit the Governors Ball Music Festival webpage to get special “Announce Day” priced tickets for the event that ends at 11:59 p.m. as well as the full line up for the event. Regular pricing begins at midnight on Jan. 8.
The Governors Ball is a New York grown and cultivated festival that has proven to be one of the country’s most successful festivals in its previous eight years of existence. The festival prides itself on community engagement, working with and donating to numerous non-profits and community groups each year.
