|
 |
GUGGENHEIM GROTTO
Happy the Man
BUY
|
After almost a year in and out of the studio, The Guggenheim Grotto has returned with its much-anticipated sophomore record, Happy The Man. When the album was released digitally on iTunes in October, it rapidly moved to No. 1 on the iTunes Folk Chart and garnered three major iTunes homepage placement spots to boot.
Happy The Man boasts The Guggenheim Grotto's signature mix of timeless pop, soaring melodies and emotionally intelligent lyrics, but presents a greater maturity and a higher sense of self-consciousness from the duo. Kevin May and Mick Lynch have spent the past year exploring a range of new sounds and inspirations - working in sampling and electronic techniques along with new philosophies about life and humanity.
The duo is currently stateside to support the January 27, 2009 CD release with weekly residencies in New York, Philadelphia and Boston throughout the month of January, and regional gigs in between. February will see TGG travel across the country for gigs from Nashville to Seattle to LA and in-between, and the band will make its way to Austin for SXSW in March.
Meanwhile the album has been racking up favorable reviews on both sides of the pond. Dublin's HotPress gave the record four stars and exclaimed, "their lovingly crafted sound is both completely contemporary and yet somehow timeless."
Other noteworthy reactions from press:
"...the best music I've heard this year, bar none..." -Philadelphia Daily News
"Happy The Man delivers the same heady lyrics and adroit melodic sensibility, but the sonic canvas feels much larger this time around...leaving your expectations of these talented singer/songwriters in the dust miles below." -Paste Magazine
"...sonically lush, lyrically sharp..." -Philadelphia Inquirer
TGG made a quick trip to Park City, UT for a January 23 performance at the Sundance Film Festival, and did a taping for Park City TV while in town.
Also check out their great new music video for "Her Beautiful Ideas."
Catch The Guggenheim Grotto at other Stateside gigs:
January 27 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
January 28 - The Living Room - New York, NY
January 29 - The Lizard Lounge - Cambridge, MA
January 31 - Wilde Auditorium - West Hartford, CT
February 3 - Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA
February 4 - The Thunderbird Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA
February 5 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
February 6 - Come 2 Go - Fort Wayne, IN
February 7 - Vernon Club - Louisville, KY
February 8 - Mountain Stage - Charleston, WV
February 11 - Nashville, TN - The Basement
February 20 - High Dive - Seattle, WA
February 21 - The Alberta Pub - Portland, OR
February 24 - Hotel Utah - San Francisco, CA
February 25 - Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, CA
February 27 - YI Studios - San Diego, CA
February 28 - Ventura, CA - Zoey's Cafe
March 7 - Steve's Guitars - Carbondale, CO
March 18-22 - Austin, TX - SxSW Music Festival
March 29 - Eddie's Attic - Atlanta, GA
April 10 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
many more dates to be added
Visit The Guggenheim Grotto on Myspace at
www.myspace.com/guggenheimgrotto
|
 |
MAIYSHA
This Much is True:
BUY
|
Maiysha is gearing up for The Grammys on February 8. Her first single, "Wanna Be," has been nominated in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category.
The rising star has been keeping busy in the New Year with performances and interviews. On January 19 she traveled to the Sundance Film Festival for a performance at the ASCAP Music Cafe and a Park City TV taping, which you can check out here. She also did a 40min set before The Guggenheim Grotto during one of the duo's January nights at The Living Room in NYC.
In early February, Maiysha will hit the West Coast for Grammy Week starting with a February 4 Hotel Cafe performance in Los Angeles, as well as a special guest performance for RnB Live LA. On February 6 Maiysha will do an acoustic performance and interview with NPR's News And Notes before a performance at the famous Whisky A Go Go later that night. And on February 8th Maiysha will be attending the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Recently the singer has also done a taping for NYCMusicShow.com and an interview with National soul publication Sobo Magazine.
Maiysha will be performing throughout February:
February 4 - Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Cafe
February 6 - Los Angeles, CA - Whisky A Go Go
Visit Maiysha on Myspace at www.myspace.com/maiyshamusic
|
 |
ENTER THE HAGGIS
Northampton (Live)
BUY
|
After two months in the studio in Toronto, Enter The Haggis has just finished its new record, Gutter Anthems, which is scheduled for a March 24, 2009 CD release. Fans have been getting a taste of the new material during January tour dates, and the band will be back on the road in March, with CDs in hand to sell at shows.
The band's first studio album since 2006's Soapbox Heroes, Gutter Anthems proves to be ETH's most cohesive record to date. Equally full of rousing drinking songs and introspective tunes about life on the road, Gutter Anthems finds the band's blend of Celtic rock with a myriad of influences more seamless than ever.
Enter The Haggis will kick off the release of the new album with a March 17 St. Patrick's Day show at Toronto's Mod Club.
Catch Enter The Haggis if the guys are in your town:
March 5 - Buffalo, NY - Shannon Pub
March 6 - Utica, NY - Mohawk Valley College
March 7 - Troy, NY - Revolution Hall
March 11 - Somerville, MA - Johnny D's
March 12 - New York, NY - The Mercury Lounge
March 13 - Waterville, ME - Waterville Opera House
March 14 - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
March 17 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club
March 20 - Wakefield, QC - Black Sheep Inn
March 21 - Saranac Lake, NY - Harrietstown Town Hall
Also check them out on Myspace at www.myspace.com/enterthehaggis.
|
 |
THE ABRAMS BROTHERS
Blue on Brown
BUY
|
The Abrams Brothers just signed with booking agents The Agency Group in Canada and Keith Case and Associates in the U.S. Look out for tour dates in the coming months as these two teams gets to work and put the band out on the road.
Shortly we'll be announcing the official U.S. release date for the band's UFO debut, Blue On Brown. The album was released in Canada last Fall, supported by a tour across four Canadian provinces with scheduled media and performance stops in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and finally Prince Edwards Island, where a free concert was held in The Abrams Brothers' family town, Abram Village. The CD release show brought together family, friends and fans for a celebration of the latest product of years of Abrams family musical tradition.
The band will be performing at SXSW in Austin this March.
Visit The Abrams Brothers on Myspace at
www.myspace.com/theabramsbrothers
 |
 |
JESS KLEIN
Live at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction
BUY
|
Jess Klein continues to work on her new record and play gigs in her new home of Austin, but that's not all she's working on.
Indeed, Jess and her friend and fellow musician Charlie Faye are in the midst of a battle against a local developer that wants to buy out and knock down a section of cottages in South Austin traditionally home to artists since the 70s. Jess has been living in the area since she moved to Austin earlier this year.
The two have been raising support for the preservation of the cottages, and now a non-profit organization dedicated to affordable housing, the Design Build Alliance, is looking into purchasing a plot of land for several of the structures to be moved to. If all goes through, the cottages on the new land will be reserved as artist housing in Austin, and will be secured at a low rental rate.
Jess will be visiting the Northeast for a string of dates in February, and her cover of Brittany Spear's single "Womanizer" is now available on iTunes. Request it live at her next gig if she's in your town.
March 13 - Philadelphia, PA - Tin Angel
March 14 - Pittsfield, MA - Underground Pub at Crowne Plaza Hotel
March 15 - New York, NY - Rockwood Music Hall
and visit her on Myspace at www.myspace.com/jessklein.
 |
 |
BLACK 47
Iraq
BUY
|
Black 47 continues its 19th annual New York Saturday night residency at Connolly's KLUB 45 in Times Square. Over four more Saturdays, the band will perform at 10:30pm (9pm doors) on Jan 31 and Feb 7, 14, 21 for the recession special of $10
When Black 47 began playing Winter Saturday nights in NYC back in 1989 the country was in the midst of an economic recession. Despite ups and downs since then the band has always endeavored to keep the price affordable for New Yorkers and those who travel from out of town. In fact, Black 47 has held the price steady at $10 for the last 15 years. Leader Larry Kirwan says, "it's our way of saying thank you while allowing people to blow off a little steam in Times Square without risking foreclosure."
While reprising old favorites like "Funky Ceili" and "James Connolly," the band uses its nights at Connolly's to introduce new songs to the hometown crowd before recording them; included this year will be the riotous "Long Lost Tapes of Hendrix" and "Rosemary," a tribute to slain Civil Rights lawyer, Rosemary Nelson. This year's residency will also be sure to feature songs from the band's critically acclaimed 2008 album, Iraq.
The Connolly's gigs and additional dates are:
January 31 - New York, NY - Connolly's KLUB 45
February 7 - New York, NY - Connolly's KLUB 45
February 13 - Piermont, NY - Turning Point Cafe
February 14 - New York, NY - Connolly's KLUB 45
February 20 - Lincoln, RI - Twin Rivers Casino
February 21 - New York, NY - Connolly's KLUB 45
March 4 - Dayton, OH - Dublin Pub
March 5 - Chicago, IL - Beverly Art Center
March 6 - Manhattan, IL - Manhattan Irish Fest
March 8 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
March 12 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
March 13 - New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
March 14 - Charlotte, NC - Epicenter
March 17 - New York, NY - B.B. King Blues Club
March 17 - Boston, MA - Black Rose MA
March 24 - North Adams, MA - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
March 27 - Concord, NH - Capitol Center for the Arts
March 28 - Lowell, MA - Brewery Exchange
Also check them out on Myspace at www.myspace.com/black47band.
INVASION GROUP NEWS AND NOTES
|
 |
JAI UTTAL
Thunder Love
BUY
|
Jai Uttal's new recording, "Thunder Love," will be released March 24, 2009 on Nettwerk Records imprint Nutone. The record is available online now via all major digital retailers.
Evolving past his previous work, Thunder Love displays Uttal's skill not only as a vocalist and interpreter of Sanskrit mantras, but also his ability as an English-speaking songwriter. Performing on guitars, banjo, bass, dotar, harmonium, keyboards and harmonica, among many other instruments, Uttal fuses elements of Americana, roots, jazz, Brazilian and electronic music to create his own unique world sound.
Of the record Alan di Perna of Yoga Journal said, "I'd put this disc in a class with Byrne and Eno's 'My Life in the Bush of Ghosts' or Paul Simon's 'Graceland.' It's like you've got the whole universe onto one CD... you've found a way to subsume the vast ocean of N. Indian devotional music into the equally vast continent of Brazilian rhythms."
For more information go to www.JaiUttal.com
Please support our artists and visit us at www.UFOmusic.com to join the evolution.
United For Opportunity
133 West 25th Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10001 USA
http://www.UFOmusic.com
http://www.UFOmusic.org
|
