Tag: "New York"

There must be something in the water in upstate New York because the last few years have seen dozens of great bands rise from its various scenes, including I Can See Mountains.

If you could step into a time machine and jump back a decade or more, you’d find alternative rock/punk to be a completely differently world than it is today. There were just as many, if not more bands then, but no one had the kind of unlimited access to social networks and recording technology that people do today. If you wanted a solid EP you had to pay for it, and even if you managed to do that there was no guarantee any blogger, critic, label, or casual listener would give it the time of day. Bands had to fight tooth and nail for listeners, and that process of personally trying to connect with thousands would (hopefully) forge relationships that eventually turned into band revenue. Things are different now, of course, but the bands who find flash in the pan success with early material rarely prove to have the heart or talent needed to endure a career in music. If a band wants to make it they still need those connections with listeners to survive, and in an age where everyone is connect that is harder than ever to achieve. I Can See Mountains have mastered this aspect of marketing however, and it’s clearer than ever that they have bright things ahead of them with “I Play The Fox.” Continue reading ‘I Can See Mountains Inch Closer To Global Takeover With “I Play The Fox”’

OurStage artist Yonas has just released the official video for his new single “Clockwork” off of his upcoming EP The Black Canvas, which drops on February 4. “The black sheep in life is the person that stands out amongst the crowd,” Yonas describes. “The black canvas is the art that stands out amongst the industry.” Check out the video below.

More like this:

• Hip Hop Habit: Yonas
• New Music Video Roundup

It’s not often that an independent artist has their music featured on national television, reaches the Top 10 on the Australian iTunes charts, or gets the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Giants Stadium. But there’s one incredible female artist who has done it all (and more), and that’s New York native and OurStage’s own, Jes Hudak.

After learning piano at a young age, and first performing live at only 13 years old, Hudak took the world by storm by recording, producing, and self-releasing two albums, all while performing on the same stages as Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw. Since winning OurStage’s Lilith Fair contest in 2010, she’s won the Billboard World Song Contest in Pop, and released “No One In The World,” which became an AOL Featured Music Video of the Day.

Her music takes the familiarity of catchy pop hooks and combines them with a strong and unique voice, making for a refreshing take on the tried-and-true singer-songwriter formula. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to her track “All Mine” right here.

More like this:

• Vic and Gab: OurStage Pro Artist Of The Week
• All Keyed Up

To those of you who haven’t fainted yet from disbelief at the sight of that headline, I can assure you this is no joke.

For the first time in 20 years, the two surviving members of the legendary ’90s grunge band Nirvana will reunite for a special charity performance tonight in New York to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy. However, since their iconic frontman Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994, the reunion calls for a replacement. So, who better to join drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic than the great Sir Paul McCartney?

That’s right. If a Nirvana reunion didn’t sound bizarre enough, then allow Macca to be the icing on the awkward cake. According to The Sun, the 70-year-old pop rock legend was asked by Grohl to “jam with some mates,” who, unbeknownst to the Beatle, turned out to be Nirvana with the addition of unofficial fourth member Pat Smear.

Next thing you know, they’re playing a reunion show for a star-studded audience like it’s no big deal. Can you even imagine Macca’s aged British accent uttering the angst-ridden drugged out gravely vocals on “Smells Like Tean Spirit?” Who would have thought that “Rape Me” would be sung by the same guy who performed “Yellow Submarine.” Well, millions of listeners are about to find out tonight. It will certainly be a spectacle, that’s for sure. Let’s just hope this is a one time tribute.

If you like Nirvana, then you might also like OurStage’s own Fiction Reform.

More Like This:

Courtney Love (Ew) Says Nirvana Musical (Gross) Isn’t Happening (Thank God)
Watch The Official Trailer For Dave Grohl’s “Sound City” Documentary
GRAMMY Nom Says The Beatles are History/iTunes Brings Them Up To Date

Earlier this week, Hurricane Sandy ripped through the Northeast coast, wreaking havoc on New Jersey, New York City, and all of the surrounding states. Artists and bands have been quick to respond to this disaster, planning various benefit shows, merch specials, and fundraisers. Punk rock band Bayside are among those lending a helping hand.

The Long Island, Queens, and Manhattan natives are selling a limited edition benefit shirt to help their families, friends, and communities who were affected by the hurricane. As stated on their website, “all proceeds will be donated to the Greater New York American Red Cross.” This disaster has been tragic for many, including the members of Bayside, who have lost friends and family members to the storm. So if you’re feeling generous click here to contribute to a good cause.

If you like Bayside, then you might also like OurStage’s own August Ruins.

More Like This:

• Bruce Springsteen To Headline NBC Benefit Concert For Hurricane Sandy Victims
• The xx Announce Fresh US Tour Dates, Hurricane Sandy Makeups
• Pentimento Release New Song From Upcoming LP

What do Jane Fonda, Johnny Depp, Gianni Versace, and Elliott Murphy have in common? They’re all among the recipients of France’s Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris, a high cultural honor that’s presented by the mayor of Paris himself. The most recent singer to be awarded the medal was French chanson legend Juliette Greco, but on October 1, New York-born singer/songwriter Murphy became the first American musician to be so honored, in a ceremony overseen by the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë. Continue reading ‘Riffs, Rants & Rumors: Elliott Murphy, Last of the Rock Stars’

Sure, there are hundreds of bands in New York, but how many of them do full-group live busking performances on subway platforms? Since their string of live street performances in New York, Freelance Whales have climbed their way to the top of the indie rock heap. Songs from their acclaimed first album Weathervanes have appeared in ads for Chevy and Twitter as well as on shows like One Tree Hill and Skins. As the band geared up to drop their follow-up record, Diluvia, which hits stores today, we chatted with Chuck Criss about recording in a rural space, the band’s pre-order pocket planetarium, and the end of the world.

OS: You guys supposedly rented a house in upstate New York to write material for Diluvia. What was it like to work in that environment?

CC: It was amazing. The city has so many distractions, both good and bad.  It was nice to go somewhere isolated with no Internet or cell service. We would just buy groceries for the week, wake up in the morning and write music. The only breaks we would take were to cook food.  I think it really helped us focus. Continue reading ‘Exclusive Q and A: Freelance Whales Talk Floods, Cities, And Outer Space’

• Sure you are, One Direction. Keep dreaming.
• Jay-Z commutes to his shows just like a normal New Yorker.
• Jesus Christ(ina).
• Mumford & Sons keep having the best month ever.
• This dad needs a head check.
• The saga continues.

Coldplay have premiered a new music video for their single “Hearts Like Heaven,” featuring footage adapted from their upcoming comic book series. That’s right, Coldplay are making comic books now. The video is an introduction into the fantasy/sci-fi world of main character Mylo Xyloto, which consequently is also the title of both the series and the album that tell the story.

According to StereoGum.com, Mylo Xyloto will be a “six-part miniseries… reportedly [leading] up to a feature film.” The first issue of this series will be making its debut this weekend at the New York City Comic-Con, with the remaining five installments scheduled for production starting in February 2013.

While this is a brand new direction for Coldplay, they are not the first band to go nerd on us. Prog-rock band Coheed & Cambria are almost a decade into their career of creating conceptual albums with accompanying comic books (which are also currently being made into a movie, coincidentally). Perhaps this may have inspired the English lads in Coldplay to pursue their endeavor. Who knows, maybe we’ll see even more conceptual comic book adaptations from other musicians once Mylo Xyloto hits the mainstream market… The Adventures Of Lady Gaga: Radio-Active Warrior Princess From Outer Space… anyone?

If you like Coldplay, then you might also like OurStage’s own TeamMate

More Like This:

• Coheed & Cambria Frontman’s Comics To Be Made Into Movie
• Beyoncé, Eminem, Bruno Mars And More Team Up For Charity
• UTG: Coldplay Premiere Tiesto Remix Of “Paradise”

Jay-Z’s series of eight shows at the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, will culminate in a live stream of his final show this Saturday night. The performance will be streaming from Hov’s YouTube channel, Life+Times, an offshoot of his lifestyle website of the same name. Even though Jay-Z negotiated a price break for tickets to his Barclays Center shows, the average cost of tickets quickly skyrocketed by several hundred dollars thanks to scalpers. But one lucky Jay-Z fan is bypassing all of that, having won tickets to the final show through OurStage’s Free Ticket Friday promotion. For the rest of us, there’s always YouTube.

If you love Jay-Z and just can’t wait until the live stream tomorrow, check out OurStage artist Tamppa in the meantime!

More like this:

• Hip-Hop’s Verse Problem: Who Is Writing The Rhymes?
  
• Obama, Beyoncé, Jay-Z Mingle At Fundraiser Dinner