Sub Rosa Party

Sometimes we joke that he has eleven fingers. But he doesn’t. He is just that good. On Tuesday, March 2nd 2010, Alex Walker birthed his latest release, Trust The Fire, on Brooklyn’s Lap Dance Academy Records. Alex has been on my radar for several years now. I’m sure I’ve screamed Aloke in your face at least a couple of times, but even before that, Alex was killing Danbury, Connecticut’s Sub Rosa Party under the moniker, Do Shadows Savage? Each time he has graced one of our stages, he has left the audience awestruck. This dude knows what he is doing. Sub Rosa Party has learned to trust Alex Walker – now it is your turn.
Drop everything you are doing right now and treat yourself to a free download of Alex’s latest creations – 2 songs that exemplify the indie-electro course Walker is now treading. I was fortunate enough to lend some vocals to the title track along with Brian Grosz(Dogs Of Winter), Matt Whyte(Earl Greyhound), Shelly Watson and Alyson Greenfield. As good as Trust The Fire is, please do not overlook the ep’s bside, Caught Starin. Alex Walker is definitely on to something with his latest course and lucky for all of us, he continues to give it away for free through Lapdance.

Thanks to the one and only, Reverend, the weekly Sub Rosa Party radio broadcasts will now be available for stream at Subrosaparty.com. In fact, this week’s Feb 15th show is currently posted and awaiting your visit. The plan is to upload each show shortly after it happens(Mondays from 5:30-7pm) so keep checking back often. Of course, you can still listen LIVE on Mondays by tuning your dial to 91.7FM (online at WXCI.ORG) and I still urge you to do so. Thanks to ultimate web slayer, P-UNIT, for helping with getting this online. I know a lot generous and talented people.

So there is already beginning to be talk about a potential Safe To Swim Weekend 3. Although I can’t officially announce anything yet, I can say that I am thrilled with the groundswell of support and excitement about a 3rd installment – nothing would make me happier. If you have been following the event, you know that it has not been without controversy. Working with the City of Danbury certainly has it’s challenges. I am hopeful I can work with the City to come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial. If not, we will find another way to celebrate the astonishing level of talent that now rolls through Danbury on a nightly basis. Until that conversation begins, I thought you might enjoy some incredible pics from last year’s event courtesy of Regina Lagana. Enjoy!

The Gay Blades at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – Heirloom Arts Stage 09/06/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

Earl Greyhound at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – CityCenter Stage 09/04/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

VulGarrity at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – Larry’s Stage 09/05/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

Jacobi Wichita at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – Heirloom Arts Stage 09/06/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

Settle at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – CityCenter Stage 09/05/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

A Love Like Pi at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – Cultural Commission Stage 09/04/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

Lady Radiator at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – Heirloom Arts Stage 09/06/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

Zelazowa at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – Cultural Comission Stage 09/05/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

Arms And Legs at Safe To Swim Weekend 2 – CityCenter Stage 09/05/09 – Photo by Regina Lagana

Take out your calendars and a bright red pen – these are must see artists making stops in Danbury, CT in early 2010!

Super Volcano – Sun Jan 17 – Hailing from Boston, these guys describe themselves as incorporating “…sweeping melodies, harmonic tension, and off-meter time signatures while texturizing their unique soundscapes with guitar effects and breakneck rhythms.” It is no surprise that they are students of Berklee School Of Music as each individual member is a standout musician in their own right. As a collective unit, SV does nothing short of impress. Citing influences such as At The Drive In, Fugazi and Bad Brains, the four piece promises to destroy Larry’s 1 Elm Street on Sunday, January 17. Sharing the bill will be local heavyweights, Shoot The Messenger.

Dr. Manhattan – Tues Feb 16 – Wow! Hands down one of the best bands I have ever booked in Danbury, CT. Their performances are clever, passionate and above all, refreshingly original. Expect sing alongs, oneliners and wacky stories from the road to creep into their Tuesday, February 16 performance at Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury. I expect this band to grow to great things and only hope they continue to make time for our little East Coast hole in the wall. Sharing the bill this night is Lookbook from Minnesota. If you are going to make it down to one show this year, the choice is a simple one.

GreyMarket – Sat Feb 20 – I have seen a wave of duo rock groups (enough to call it a trend) and more often than not, the performances are usually lacking something. Florida’s GreyMarket, however, are a clear example of how to do it right. Usually requesting for the room to be as dark as possible, the drummer tends to a laptop nearby that adds both the visual, as well as the electronic component, to the band’s delivery. They drown a room with pulsating light and a seemingly endless supply of style. If you are into beautiful hooks married with upbeat indie rock rhythms, GreyMarket should be your new favorite band. To make the decision even easier for you, electronic super heroes, Arms & Legs have also signed on to perform on Saturday, February 20 at Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT.

VulGarrity – Sat Feb 27 – Another duo that commands attention is Rhode Island’s, VulGarrity. If you were lucky enough to catch their S2SW2 performance back in September, you’re probably still telling your friends about this brother/sister rock juggernaut. With the help of a loop station, enormous guitar tracks are constructed right in front of the audience. Only when the sound emitting from the 4×12 speaker behind the drummer builds to a froth, do Tracy and Shawn Garrity pounce on the track with drums and bass. An added element to their live presence is their ability to switch instruments(sometimes even mid-song) during a performance. You will be entertained and you will leave humming many of their catchy tunes after their Saturday, February 27 stop at Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury. Along for the ride this night are friends and first time Sub Rosa Party participants, Milquetoast & Co. from Massachusetts.

A complete list of upcoming Sub Rosa Party performances can be found HERE. Tune into WXCI 91.7FM Radio(online at WXCI.ORG) on Mondays from 5:30-7pm to hear tracks from all four above mentioned artists.

Here is a quick list of what’s happening in Danbury, CT. A ton of really talented bands performing in the next two weeks. Don’t miss out!

Mon Nov 30 – WXCI 91.7FM Radio Broadcast – (5:30-7pm) You can listen online HERE

Wed Dec 2 – Fake Problems(Fla) + Play It Faster(CT) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Thurs Dec 3 – Arms And Legs(CT) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Fri Dec 4 – Stuck On Stupid(NY) + Smooth Medusa(CT) + West Rockers(CT) + The Golden Pyramids(NC) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Sat Dec 5 – Road Head(CT) + Social Standards(NY) + Terror From The Year 5000(CT) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Mon Dec 7 – WXCI 91.7FM Radio Broadcast – (5:30-7pm) You can listen online HERE

Tues Dec 8 – Amue(CA) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Wed Dec 9 – An Evening With Blue!(CT) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Thurs Dec 10 – Sean T. Hanratty and the Mighty Mighty(NYC) + A Brief View of the Hudson(NYC) + The Fools(NYC) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Fri Dec 11 – Cinema Cinema(NYC) + Rahlo(NYC) + Dogs Of Winter(NYC) + The Field Recordings(CT) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Sat Dec 12 – Filthy Little Whores(CT) + Penitentiary(CT) + She Eats Planets(CT) + Pink Missle(CT) @ Larry’s 1 Elm Street Danbury, CT 9pm 21+

Do not miss this show! On Monday, October 19th, Sub Rosa Party, Heirloom Arts Theatre and WXCI 91.7FM Radio present an absolutely incredible lineup of bands at The Heirloom Arts Theatre right here in Danbury, CT. Anyone familiar with Sub Rosa Party has undoubtedly heard these names before. The Gay Blades, fresh off a triumphant UK tour and a memorable closing set at this year’s Safe To Swim Weekend, return to the Hat City in search of “someone to dance naked with”. Proclaiming to be made of magic, the pompous duo makes no apologies for their swagger. Their debut record, Ghosts, has proven to have incredible staying power and stands on it’s own as a garage rock masterpiece, however, it does not compare to the live plug and play ruckus that TGB delivers on stage. Vocalist/guitarist, Clark Westerfield knows how to work an audience and he fills in the blanks like a seasoned pro. Expect to be heckled and please try to keep up.

If Puppy Mills can be stopped, New Jersey’s, A Love Like Pi, may just be the band for the job. A recent signing to Florida’s, Thriving Records, and an absolutely beautiful, anthem laden record, Atlas And The Oyster, put them in excellent fighting shape. One of my all time favorite SRP performers, ALLP craft meticulous electro pop songs. They are no slouches at performing them either. Embarking on the There’s Nothing Sweetour tour with them is T13C and Young Bloods. And as if this package couldn’t get any sweeter, advance tix are only $5!!!! You will be charged $10 at the door, so plan ahead and grab your ticket ASAP here.

Monday Oct 19 -
The Heirloom Arts Theatre
155 Main Street Suite 103 Danbury, CT 06810
21+ / 8:30doors / 9:00show / $5advance / $10dayofshow
ADVANCE TIX

I am extremely excited to present Asheville, North Carolina’s Stephaniesid not once, but two times in October 2009. I was introduced to this band when Connecticut patron saints, Saint Bernadette, asked to bring them along for a May 2008 date at Cousin Larry’s here in Danbury, CT. Admittedly, I missed most of their performance that night as I arrived to the bar late, but I remember being instantly drawn to vocalist Stephanie Morgan as soon as I walked in the door. As if channeling a force greater than her, Stephanie had the entire audience captivated. Backed by an unquestionably talented group of musicians that seemed to effortlessly swell and shrink around her command, it was clear she could do no wrong – she was in charge and all in attendance were taken on a roller coaster ride of the ups and downs, and highs and lows that make Stephaniesid such an interesting band. It’s hard not to hear traces of Bjork in her emotional delivery as she alternates between soft whispers and wailing screams on their latest release, Warm People. The record is beautifully recorded and does an excellent job of documenting the mercurial musings of these indie pop giants. Listen to WXCI 91.7FM for two of the more upbeat tracks, “The Weakling” and “Bullet Train” on Mondays from 5:30pm-7pm. Pay attention now, or pay attention later, Stephaniesid is most certainly here to stay. Watch them raise the bar along with Winterpills from MA on both of the following Sub Rosa Party dates…

Friday Oct 9 – The Calhoun School at The Mary Lea Johnson Performing Arts Theatre
433 West End Ave New York, NY 10024 tel: 212-497-6500
Also performing Winterpills, Baby Rockjaw
All Ages / 8pm / $5 students / $10 adults
ADVANCE TIX

Monday Oct 12 – The Heirloom Arts Theatre
155 Main Street Suite 103 Danbury, CT 06810
Also performing Saint Bernadette, Alexander Burnet & The Proud Flesh
All Ages / 8pm / $5
ADVANCE TIX

Compact discs are not yet obsolete. Florida’s GreyMarket recently reminded me of a good idea that I think is most often overlooked by bands trying to get the word out about their shows. Last week I received a package from the Sunshine State that was filled with CDs containing samples of select tracks off the band’s Some Orbits Will Never Decay release. The band elected to wisely spend their money on a spool of CDRs instead of plain paper flyers to promote their upcoming Oct 4 date at Cousin Larry’s. It’s no secret – people like free stuff. And CD players are still a regular fixture in most automobiles. You have to like the odds of putting music directly in the hands of the audience over hoping they’ll remember to visit a website to check it out. As I hand out the teaser to people leaving shows at Larry’s, I often smile as I hear it moments later blasting from a car waiting at the red light on Elm and Main. The cost increase versus print promotion is not that substantial. As long as you have the time to burn the discs, I think you’ll see a higher return rate, providing the music is worth distributing in the first place.

Chicago’s The Atomica Project also grabbed my attention during their last visit to Sub Rosa Party on Sept 9. While perusing their merch table, I noticed thumb drives for sale – the band was selling their music preloaded on very reasonably priced USB drives. It just so happens that TAP’s Grayscale is an excellent record. But even if it wasn’t, you walk away with a very useful USB device that is yours to keep. Not a bad idea.

Strength in numbers is not a revolutionary concept. Brooklyn’s Brian Grosz has adopted the strategy in the form of an artist collective/record label called Lap Dance Academy that boasts free releases of all of it’s contributors’ music. Throw in a very professional and polished website, give the listeners complete pdf album booklets and liner notes, and why wouldn’t they check it out. On top of that, the artists on the label promote each other. Individuals hurrying to the site to download Grosz’s new Dog’s Of Winter record are instantly exposed to other labelmates, Nice New Outfit and mutli-instrumentalist, Alex Walker. The site’s most recent release comes from Mr. Walker himself. Do yourself a favor, stop screwing around on the internet go get some free music here .