Machines Are People Too

LarryKloess —  January 30, 2013 — Leave a comment

MRP2

The pulsing dance beats and wailing synth riffs that Machines Are People Too dish out are atypical to the sounds most think of when they hear music from the east Tennessee hills. Formed in Chattanooga in 2010 by Brian Sylvester (vocals) and JJ Clark (production) and quickly joined by additions Cain Lassiter (keys) and Ivan Garcia (drums), they began infecting the Southeast with a sound uniquely their own.

With synth-pop instrumentals and hauntingly distinctive vocals from Sylvester, the band has spent the last two years touring across the country playing a wide range of venues spanning local bars and clubs, to festivals such as Bonnaroo and Nocturnal Wonderland. In July of 2012, they released their first EP, Dreams, produced by Lars Stalfors, who has worked with the likes of The Mars Volta and Matt & Kim. Dreams represents the band’s eclectic range spanning five tracks. The composition begins with the trance inducing dance tune, “Freaks,” and closes with the more subtle and emotive, “Better Than This.” Dreams is available for purchase on iTunes.

While Machines Are People Too got their start in Chattanooga, several of the members grew up in Nashville, and they have not forgotten their music city roots. The band has played a number of shows around the city lending their diverse sounds to the ever-growing cultural and musical melting pot that is Nashville. Their most recent Nashville appearance was at Mercy Lounge’s 10 Year Anniversary Party, alongside other talented acts such as, Magnolia Sons, Cherub and Jeff the Brotherhood.

You can catch the next Machines Are People Too experience on February 15th at The East Room, where they will be headlining the Winter 2013 East Nashville Underground. They are also due to play at the Showercap Festival in Athens, GA on April 20th. The band recently finished recording the first track for their second EP that is set to release this spring.

– Christian Lerchenfeld

In Causing A Scene, Nashville Concerts , ,
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Family of the Year

LarryKloess —  January 26, 2013 — Leave a comment

Family of the Year

It is likely that “let me go” is the first phrase many of us ever heard uttered by the Los Angeles based band,Family of the Year, in their hit song, “Hero”. It is just as likely that we might go against their request, as none of us will be letting them go any time soon. With so many bands vying for our attention, FOTY stands uniquely apart from the many, due in part to their tight chemistry both on and off the stage. Just like a family, Joseph Keefe, Sebastian Keefe, Alex Walker, Jamesy Buckey and Christina Schroeter lived under the same roof in Los Angeles while recording their first full-length album, ‘Loma Vista’. When asked about living in such close quarters, they admitted that there was only one bed and one couch in the whole house. Sebastian shared, “It was fun, really fun,” and quickly added, “would never do it again.” Lucky for us, we get to reap the benefits of all their long, meticulous hours in that crowded house on Loma Vista Drive.

‘Loma Vista’ offers a seamless mixture of complementary styles while staying true to its name, just like, yep, a family. You want dance-y? Boom (boom, tap), you got it. Need more melancholy and reflective? It’s there for you, love. Unlike a family, however, FOTY has grown at an excessive rate in only just over three years, having formed in 2009. They have toured with bands such as Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Good Old War, Mumford & Sons and Bell Brigade. They were selected out of almost 700 bands to open for Ben Folds and the Boston Pops Orchestra in Boston, MA after only two previous live performances as a band. Not only that, but they are already selling out venues in the United States, as well as across Europe.

When asked what they would like to say to their fans, Joseph responded, “We don’t know what we’re doing.” Still, it appears that they are doing it well, and it’s that kind of honesty that gains trust and support from a perceptive listening audience. As Family of the Year‘s music continues to fall on fresh ears, their family of fans will continue to grow, and, even though they don’t want to be our hero, we just might go against them on that, too.

Family of the Year will be playing tomorrow night at 3rd & Lindsley as part of Lightning 100’s “Nashville Sunday Night”. Tickets are still available for the show with The Devil Makes Three and Sturgill Simpson at the 3rd & Lindsley website. Hope to see you all there!

– Adam Naylor

In Nashville Concerts ,
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This Friday Night: Abandon Kansas at Cause A Scene

LarryKloess —  January 23, 2013 — Leave a comment

AKLivingRoom

If asked to describe the band Abandon Kansas I suppose I would have two words for you: Folk electronica. Well, perhaps I would add, spiritually inclined synth-rock. Or maybe, lyrical indie-pop with infectious melodies and smooth vocals. And would I go so far as to say Keane meets a club remix? No, let’s not go there. I am no fan of band comparisons. Instead, I’ll say this: I have never really heard anything like Abandon Kansas. And I like it.

This four man band that formed back in 2005, in (you guessed it) Kansas—Wichita to be exact—seems to be able to do just about anything. Take their newest single “Turn it to Gold,” for example. You download the song from iTunes and suddenly you’re lost in a relentlessly driving, danceable, hopeful pop track. You try to stop yourself from tapping your feet, but you can’t. And if you’re anything like me, you’re out of your chair before the first chorus has even ended, fist-pumping toward the sky as you sing along. “Take the darkest part of me and turn it to Gold, oh, oh…”

Now, take a breather, and watch this acoustic YouTube version of the same song. One voice, one guitar, one amazing scat solo. Oh, wait, you think, so they are an indie-folk band? But I thought—Stop yourself right there. Don’t worry about figuring it out. Just keep listening. Abandon Kansas will only keep surprising you.

On Friday, January 25th Cause A Scene will be kicking off the first show of 2013 with Abandon Kansas as the feature. And I honestly could not think of a better band to be headlining this show. As I began digging a little deeper into the history, and what appears to be the mission of Abandon Kansas, one fundamental thing struck me—this is a band that loves its fans. From my first visit to their website (www.abandonkansaslovesyou.com) to reading about their fourth annual Living Room Tour (an “acoustic house tour booked by fans in fans’ living rooms”) I realized that Abandon Kansas understands that the people who listen to their music are perhaps as important as the music itself, that playing shows on a large stage to a packed audience is great, but that playing intimate shows, shows where band and listener get to interact, is equally valuable.

Often by the time one “discovers” a band, the musicians have a certain level of acclaim or notoriety that can distance them from their listeners and likewise distance the listeners from them—the raised stage being the most obvious barrier. As show-goers we often have the opportunity to see a favorite band in a mid- to large-sized venue. If lucky, we even get the chance to queue up for a signed CD and a handshake. A conversation with a band member might go like this:
“I loved your show.”
“Thanks! And thanks for coming out.”
Next.

What strikes me as particularly special about Abandon Kansas is that they have gained a certain level of acclaim and notoriety. (In 2009 they were signed to a label, Gotee Records, have been played regularly on RadioU and have toured frequently nationwide for a more than half a decade.) And still, they have committed, every year, for four years, to embark on a living room tour in which they play in the homes of fans, for an intimate group of fans. I can honestly say I have never heard of such a thing in my life. And it’s awesome.

I hope, like me, you’ll come out for the first show of the year and take the opportunity to join Cause A Scene in supporting the incredible movement that is the House Show and in supporting a band that gives back so much to their fans. And let’s not forget that the music will be great. I know I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday night.

– Molly Black

In House Shows ,
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Jessica Campbell’s New Album “The Anchor & The Sail”

LarryKloess —  January 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

Jessica Campbell

One of the things that has been a driving force and a real source of joy over the course of Cause A Scene’s first year is the prevailing sense that we’re all part of something much larger than ourselves. It’s a sentiment a lot of you all have shared at house shows, where despite there being so many unfamiliar faces, you all seem to feel like you’re part of a community, that you belong and are appreciated at our house shows. Beyond that, it’s the process of going from strangers to resembling family in such a short period of time.

Jessica Campbell is a part of the Cause A Scene family, and we were fortunate to host her for a couple house shows in our first year. Her music is such a charming, heartwarming embodiment of that inherent joy that we’re always searching for in song. Now is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of our friend Jess and show our support as she prepares to release her newest album, “The Anchor & The Sail.” With 16 days left to go in her PledgeMusic campaign, it’s time to help see this album to fruition as I can assure you it’s an album that needs to be heard.

So head on over to the link above and check out the sweet swag you can receive when you pledge. Whether it’s an autographed album or a Live Fashionable scarf you want, or you want to see your name in the liner notes, all those opportunities are available. Step 1: Watch Jess’ video for “Falling Falling” from last year. Step 2: Go Pledge. Step 3: Cheer for altruism.

In Show Your Support , , ,
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Seryn Premiere New Song “Ivory Black”

LarryKloess —  January 10, 2013 — Leave a comment

Seryn2012

Cause A Scene has been on a bit of a blogging hiatus lately as I’ve been planning out a spring calendar of house shows for 2013 and taking some time to reflect on our first year (more on that next week). There are a lot of things I’m really excited to see in 2013, and one of the biggest things I’m keeping my eye on is the sophomore release from Seryn, out sometime in the first half of this year. If you’re new to Cause A Scene, then you should know that Seryn is the band that started it all for Cause A Scene, setting everything into motion with our first house show back in the Fall of 2011.

Over the holidays, our favorite Dentonites (Dentonians?) released a live video of their brand new song “Ivory Black”. In typical Seryn form, the song takes the listener through several movements, ebbing and flowing in tempo with equal parts tenderness and raw emotional energy. “Ivory Black” displays some of the richest harmonies I’ve heard from this band so far with some finely intricate guitar work from lead guitarist Nathan Allen. In short, it stands as one of my very favorite Seryn songs overall and has me even more excited about what is to come from this band in 2013 and beyond.

– Larry Kloess

In Causing A Scene
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