INEVERYROOM has evolved from experimental pop into textual compositions exploring live and sampled sounds. In 2010, Lands & Peoples and INEVERYROOM created a split cassette that got Pitchfork’s attention. Shortly following that, Local Baltimore label, Friends Records released a self titled 7-song cassette and digital download. For their microshow they were inspired by healing and easy listening, R&B, carnivals, textures found in nature and their friends in Baltimore.

Sometimes I am not sure what’s going on with Amy and Chase’s music. Part mad scientists part Brian Eno/Daniel Lanois. It’s completely genre-less. You just don’t know what you are going to get – but you keep wanting more and never wanting it to end. And that happened last week when INEVERYROOM, unfortunately, played their last show.

Chase O’Hara: Vocals, Keyboards, Drum Pads, Sampler
Amy Reid: Vocals, Keyboards, Contact Mic, Drum Pads

Engineered by Alex Champagne and Sean Mercer
Mixed by Mat Leffler-Schulman

Technical info: Amy’s mic: AKG 414, Chase’s mic: Shure SM7, Micro Korg, Sequential Circuits Six-Trak, Roland SP606, Roland Sampling Pad, Contact mic through mixer: All DI, Room mics: AKG D58, Audio Technica AT871R.

Download MP3s - 76.95 MB

(more…)

Dienfenbaker came in this fall to record their debut EP with Alex. These guys are super smart and wonderfully enthusiastic musicians. They also wrote and recorded a stellar EP that has been in my iTunes rotation a lot lately. They draw from the likes of 80s rock awesomeness a la New Order and The Pretenders as well as drawing from modern garage rock and post wave. These guys certainly have something to say and say it loud! And they also play with an ARP. In my eyes you simply can’t go wrong. You can download the album on bandcamp.

Enjoy my favorite cut from the EP:

Radon

Adobe Flash Player is required to play this audio.

Youngster was recently in the studio with Alex to record their first EP! The record turned out amazing. Youngster pushes out electronic jams, but done so organically with no MIDI syncing between the musicians. There is a keyboardist, sampler, bassist and guitarist. They crank out serious groovetronic dance jams a la The New Deal, Underworld and Daft Punk.

Enjoy two of my favorite cuts:

Hoedown

Adobe Flash Player is required to play this audio.

Acid Roach

Adobe Flash Player is required to play this audio.

What’s to say about Eze? He’s an MC. A gentleman. A dad. A kick ass human being. He’s the kinda guy you drink a case of beers with and listen to every word that comes out of his mouth with intent. That and he’s one helluva musician. He also fronts the rap band Soul Cannon as well as being the latest signing to Mania Music. His music speaks for itself and that’s all I can say. Listen to this insane set below with Eze joined by the ever awesome DJ Harvey Dent…

Technical info: Eze’s mic: Shure SM57, Room mic: Audio Technica AT871R

Download MP3s - 82.87 MB

(more…)

I had the great pleasure of working with The Manly Deeds on their debut album last spring. The music they play is not that of our time. And it’s remarkably no less. They create a sense of nostalgia without being a novelty. They simply write and perform great music. It just happens to be with traditional folk instruments and sometimes blazingly fast tempos. That and a suitcase drum and many of beards to go around.

The record was recorded entirely live at the Hampden Baptist Church here in Baltimore on a brisk Saturday last March. The recording was amazing. The church (built in 1874) has a vibe. Not to mention some of the best natural reverb this city has to offer. It’s uncanny and you’ll hear it all over the record. Nothing artificial was added in the mix. Speaking of which, Alex masterfully mixed this record and you can sample two of my favorite songs from the album below. Oh the guests are a-plenty. Dave Hadley on pedal steel guitar, Cameron Blake on fiddle and Ruby Fulton on acordian. The record will be available at the CD release show November 23 at Joe². And you can preorder it here.

Hard Times For The Animal Kingdom

Adobe Flash Player is required to play this audio.

Blacken The Sky

Adobe Flash Player is required to play this audio.

Lands & Peoples has become one of my favorite bands here in Baltimore, not to mention one of the nicest and most giving. Literally impossible to classify, they blend aspects of pop, folk and musique concrète. Fresh off playing a few shows with Wye Oak and Secret Mountains they were able to squeeze in a Microshow here at Mobtown. They certainly are a band to catch live and this show is no exception. Their perfect yet interesting harmonies blend seamlessly here as well as adding a their friend Evan on viola to the set. Enjoy the show!

Caleb Moore: Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Toy Piano, Ukelele
Beau Cole: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Drums
Evan Merkel: Viola

Technical info: Kick: Neumann U87, Snare: Senheisser 441, Tom: EV468, Floor Tom: EV468, Overhead: AKG 414, Caleb’s Vocal Mic: Blue Mouse, Beau’s Vocal Mic: MAudio Sputnik, Beau’s amp: Shure SM7, Caleb’s amp: EV RE20, Evan’s amp: Oktava ML-52 Ribbon.

Engineered by Paul Mercer.
Mixed by Mat Leffler-Schulman

Download MP3s - 54.02 MB

(more…)