So here we are to defend the live show. Deland, Florida – where North Ave is located – has developed an insanely popular music scene. Venues scramble to get acts and you’ll be hard pressed to find a quiet night in the downtown area. And that’s not because they need to be filled, it’s because it’s f-u-n fun. There’s a difference between going to a venue and feeling your chest thump with a bass amp and sitting with your Beats by Dre headphones watching a pixilated lead singer chop through a song as your live stream buffers on the laptop.

Now some people have an anxiety about going to shows. The crowds, the jerks, the prices, but think back to your last show…you didn’t just sit in the corner shaking with fear while the band played, right? You had a great time! I call that the Boy Scout Effect. People worry so much about going somewhere, but once they get there they have a great time. “OK”, you may say, “But how can you justify the price of shows?” Who are you trying to go see? Britney Spears? I saw Surfer Blood by accident one night for free just before they blew up and it was awesome. Most shows cost under fifteen bucks, give you a social outlet, and also great stories. A night at the movies costs more than most shows and you’re not even guaranteed a good time!

On your computer you get absolutely zero interaction. There’s a reason why live clips of shows get so many views on YouTube: it’s the closest thing some get to seeing a live show. I’ve been there. I almost crawled through my computer monitor watching a clip of a band I love a few days ago. So leave your computer and go to some shows: they’re cool, fun, cheap, social, and exciting. To quote a guy I heard in the bathroom at the last Vampire Weekend show I went to: “Pull up your skinny jeans, put on your game face, and get back out there”.
-Jack Kelly (Follow me on Twitter for more @JackKellyIsHip)

I hadn’t given it a ton of thought until receiving the message, but after thinking about it I believe I’ve come to a few decisions I’m going to stand behind. So let’s get to it. I’ve got and artist of the year and a single of the year in mind, and I’m certainly interested in what you all think, so get your opinions ready for the comment box.

Artist of the Year

Technically Young The Giant’s self-titled album almost came out last year. With a release date of January 25, 2011, the album has been out for a while now. But it was a big year for YTG, playing at the MTV VMAs and having success with their singles My Body and Cough Syrup. Sadly, this amazing band seems to have been squashed a tiny bit by acts like Foster The People and missed out on a bit of popularity they might have garnered, but 2011 was still good to the group.

In reality, Young The Giant is tied with Funeral Party, who we’ve previously written about, for first place in my mind. Anyway, posted is just one of the great songs from the self-titled album. The song is called St. Walker. I highly encourage you to pick up this record.

Single of the Year

Neon Indian was a band I was always a bit cautious to get into. Electronic music can be a genre hard for some people to allow themselves to like and, while I love electronic music, I just never felt Neon Indian. That all changed when I heard Polish Girl. This great song is like a heavily layered cake of different noises that just tastes perfect. With floating words, a driving beat, and phazers set to chill this song will be on repeat after your first listen, I guarantee it. I was hard-pressed to choose this as my single of the year but I’m sticking to it. Songs like this and M83’s Midnight City are a gateway drug to great electronic music (and they can play it live with real instruments, which is mind bending to see), and I’ll gladly push those drugs.

Now, these are just my suggestions. It’s inherently crappy to do end of the year round ups because just like the Grammys, Emmys, or Oscars, the things that come out close to the awards get recognition while the rest of the awesome music/TV/movies that came out early get shafted. So this is far from set in stone, but what do you think are your favorites?

Ok, sure, you may have heard of Mutemath and you may have an opinion of them, but just keep reading. Mutemath seems to throw a lot against the walls on their albums. All three have songs that stick and songs that don’t. But the songs that stick stick for a reason. Mutemath has a knack for jamming a bunch of different sounds together and just making it sound good with Paul Meany’s distinct voice and Darren King’s frantic drums.

Mutemath’s newest album, Odd Soul, is no different than their older albums. Some songs stand out, some make you think “what…?” But one song in particular, One More, just has that “it” factor. The song combines church-y keyboard with reverb-y vocals and what feels like a heavy “neo”-rockabilly vibe. I love it. Can’t get enough of this song. Check it out!

It’s always annoying when you figure out a great band name and then someone comes along and uses the idea in a similar way. If I were The Lonely Forest, a band that has earned it’s musical merit through years of hard work and Andy Samberg’s The Lonely Island came on the scene I would be a little miffed. Mainly because I would want to be associated with my own band. But with that said, have you heard of The Lonely Forest?

You may know the band from their third album We Sing The Body Electric!, which plays on Pandora pretty regularly, but if you haven’t heard their new stuff, it’s time to introduce those ears. The Lonely Forest, a band out of Washington, have been creating their sound since 2005 and continue to bring the noise with their fourth album Arrows. The album has an, at time, lo-fi feeling with weird reminders of classic Brand New, though the band’s music is in a totally different ballpark.

The Lonely Forest’s first single for the album, Turn Off This Song and Go Outside, cashes in on the sort of meta-music idea happening via the likes of Cults’ Go Outside and tells the listener to stop listening and come back another time. With lightly muddy guitars and clean, loud vocal part, you’ll want to take the directions of singer John Van Deusen and go out in the sunlight after hearing this one. Maybe I’m late to the party as this video has been online for over a year, but check out The Lonely Forest’s album Arrows and watch the video for their single Turn Off This Song and Go Outside below:

So let’s jump right into it. This isn’t my first time at the rodeo and I’m sure it’s not yours either so let’s talk music, shall we? Steven and Dave have given me a pretty wide berth when it comes to subject material so I figured the best to start with would be a band named Funeral Party. Funeral Party, a band out of Whittier, California (a suburb of LA) combines loud, aggressive, uncomplicated pieces of music to make almost a post-punk indie mesh that I like to think of as just fast moving genius.

The band moves forward often by interesting percussion and relies on vocalist Chad Elliot’s long winded and sometimes scratchy waling that brings the music into it’s own element. Funeral Party is certainly one of those band that once through their album The Golden Age of Knowhere you’ll have a hard time figuring out what to listen to next. And I like that feeling. It means the band left just enough of a mark to make me have to think about what comes next.

The distorted vocals that sound like they’re being sung through wax paper has become a popular effect nowadays (read: Foster the People) and it’s one that Funeral Party seems to laugh at. And that makes me happy. It’s straightforward, thought out music and that’s all I ask for in a band sometimes. Check out the band’s first single and video New York City Moves to the Sounds of L.A. below:

I’m glad to be a part of the North Avenue Studios team and look forward to writing more soon. Follow me on Twitter if you’d like: @JackKellyIsHip.

I am going to keep it short and sweet. Portishead is great. Here’s their most recent single released 2 years ago. It took them 10 years to release their last proper album. Hopefully, the next one comes much sooner.

Follow the link below to listen to Maximino’s E.P. “Not So Cold, Cave”.
Not So Cold, Cave by Maximino

Today’s artist will help fulfill all your minimal, ambient techno needs. The Field’s brainchild, Producer Axel Willner, bases most of his songs on loops and texture. He tends to keep things airy and subdued rather than building the tracks up to a dance club nightmare. So, instead of going out to that “hot club” to hear those “hot beats” tonight, you should stay home, drink some hot tea and nod endlessly to The Field. I hope you enjoy.

Listen to more This Frontier Needs A Hero here.
This Frontier Needs Heroes by This Frontier Needs Heroes