Tags archives: Modern Baseball
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9 years ago
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While you wait for that new Taylor Swift album which is surely in the works given the artist’s recent break-up, here are a few songs to enjoy in the warm weather. No matter whether it’s more #endlesssummer or more endless bummer...
1. Stabwounds’ “Fragile Boy”
Don’t let their name fool you. Despite the fact that their name makes them sound like a metalcore band, Stabwounds is more indie folk than -core. Together, bandmates Emma March Barash and Amanda Brooklyn form what they call “the sexually charged reincarnation of Simon and Garfunkel”. The duo crafts soft harmonies that drift likes breezes about heartache and relationships. Layered atop acoustic guitar or occasionally unaccompanied, they’re an easy listen. If you missed the chance to see the band live at their recent Pianos gig, they’ll be playing an upcoming show at The Manhattan Inn in Brooklyn on July 11th!
2. Modern Baseball’s “Wedding Singer”
Although both Brendan Lukens and Jake Ewald share the duty of primary vocalist in Modern Baseball, this single off their new record Holy Ghost features Ewald alone and perhaps at his best. The video features a pink haired hearse driver (think a younger Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind) coming to the rescue of a frantic young man, pacing the gates of a cemetery. The two drive around in the modified cadillac, eventually roller skating and karaoking. It’s like a four minute rom-com complete with all the will-they, won’t-they meaningful eye contact yo[...]
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The question of safety at shows gets rehashed at least once a year. Usually around festival season when there's a surplus of concerts, all the top outlets, popular musicians, and related voices chime in as to what they think this means. Factors and examples of good, bad, and ugly behavior are paraded out and readers are asked rhetorically: What do we think about moshing? Is stage diving safe? What about selfie sticks? Should we allow "all ages" shows? Some of these concepts and actions are labeled as questionable or unsafe only for the spirit of debate; however, some raise valid issues. A selfie stick in a thick crowd does have the potential to hurt someone. Or at least really tick off the people behind the user enough to insight a tiny riot.
Most of these concerns, like age restrictions, have the best intentions (eg, the well being of underage listeners) at heart. Warped Tour has intermittently tried to ban moshing, citing the likelihood of injury and a resulting lawsuit. Organizers understand that such behavior is integral to Warped culture, but ultimately take a sort of "this is for you own good" stance. This attitude has become somewhat controversial due to the lack of consensus, amongst members of both the bands and the crowd, on whether Warped has the right to make that decision. Some want to learn to avoid a -core pit the hard way and don't mind chipping a tooth in the process. Others want to be cautioned, but not restricted and given the option to participate i[...]
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In a recent interview with Nylon, indie artist Mitski spoke on the potential musicians have to be representatives and role models to listeners, especially the younger ones in the internet age, saying: “...it’s so valuable that kids confused about their identity can go out and be like, ‘I’m going to Google search this’ or ‘I want to look for other people like me.’ If they look hard enough they can find those communities online..." Anyone googling Mitski at the moment will quickly be directed towards her most recent single, “Your Best American Girl” and it’s accompanying video.
Mitski’s “Your Best American Girl”
In the video, directed by Zia Anger, Mitski is contrasted with the stereotypical indie girl, who enters stage left in a flower crown and press-on tattoos to steal the video's love interest away. It's a timely comparison given that this year's Coachella, a festival known for it's outlandish and occasionally culturally insensitive outfits, is only just behind us. The video also comes at a time at which musicians are using their videos to communicate messages about identity, self-respect, and self-acceptance. Think: Beyonce and the anthem that is "Formation." Even though the temptress wins "the All-American boy" as Mitski calls him in this video, her spirits aren't so easily dampened. After some reflection, Mitski returns renewed and with a smirk shreds her guitar, as if to say 'Sure, I lost the guy, but I also sold out the Bowery Ballroom in June and wrote an ama[...]
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10 years ago
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In 2012, Emily Hakes and Eric Osman started the Philadelphia-based independent label Lame-O Records. A two short years later Lame-O has bands like Johnny Foreigner, Ma Jolie, Steady Hands, The Hundred Acre Woods, The Weaks and Three Man Cannon on its roster. Pulling from this pool of young talent and the surrounding state, Lame-O has compiled a six-way split entitled Strength In Weakness. The album includes songs by all Pennsylvania-area acts. From West Chester's Spraynard to Philadelphia's Marietta, bands from all over the PA (and one by way of Maryland) contributed a track. Proceeds from the album sales will benefit the Philadelphia area chapter United Cerebral Palsy.
Strength In Weakness is available for purchase from the label’s website as of today. For this eye-catching limited pressing, Lameo released 100 Black/Clear Half and Half, 150 Transparent Sea Blue and 250 Grimace Purple vinyl records; however, when the record was made available for pre-order early last month all 500 copies of the pressing sold out immediately. If you did not get your hands on one or if you prefer digital media, the album can be downloaded from Lame-O’s Bandcamp.
One of the most anticipated songs on the album is "Alpha Kappa Fall Of Troy The Movie Part Deux" by Modern Baseball. Brendan Lukens, Jacob Ewald, Ian Farmer and Sean Huber, members of the Brunswick/Frederick, Maryland band, attended Chestnut Hill College and Drexel University in Philadelphia, which explains their connection to th[...]
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