The second Mumford & Sons broke out into the mainstream, a flock of folk bands took off like a post-salami sandwich burp into a hand dryer. The Lumineers. Of Monsters and Men. The list goes on, and I say this meaning absolutely no ill will toward any of those acts. They're, of course, stellar in their own way. In any event, Brooklyn's Jus Post Bellum is the latest band to grow out of Papa Mumford and his folk revivalist movement. But, let's not label them a clone of any of the successful folksters I mentioned here. Their sound is way too unique for that, and labeling artists in general is just so convenient for a writer and often unfair. Moving on, JPB's sophomore effort Oh July finds them putting their deep influences in blues, country, roots, and Civil War tunes in full effect. Each song hits you hard, painting a picture of an era gone by yet musically, it's all remarkably contemporary. A few weeks ago, the band's Geoffrey Wilson and Hannah Jensen sat down for a chat and performed on A-Sides in Brooklyn. I can promise you a stairwell never sounded so good. Watch it all below, and get this act on your radar yesterday.
Bonus Jonas:
Check out Hannah and Geoffrey performing "Measure of a Man" here.
Debbie Neigher just dropped her sophomore album, Unravel, on us last month, and it proved to be another solid, piano-driven, singer/songwriter record showcasing her raw power and brutally honest lyrics. A few weeks back, the talented San Francisco native braved the cold in Brooklyn to play a track off Unravel for A-Sides, and sat down for a brief chat. Naturally, it was all kinds of awesomeness. Watch. Listen. Love. In that order perhaps?
Filmed by ShootMePeter.com
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and listened to and liked (phew), posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs my 1 1/2+ year-old son gravitates toward. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank):
12. "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)" (LW-9) - Arcade Fire
11. "Ain't Your Right" (LW-7) - Sky Ferreira
10. "Copy of a" - Nine Inch Nails
9. "Litost" - X Ambassadors (Watch their live performance of the track here.)
8. "You Don't Get Me Twice" - Sleigh Bells
7. "It's About Time" - Young the Giant
6. "Wings" (LW-5) - Haerts
5. "Do What U Want" (LW-4) - Lady Gaga & R. Kelly
4. "Holding On For Life" (LW-2) - Broken Bells
3. "Black Out Days" (LW-3) - Phantogram
2. "Reflektor"(LW-1) - Arcade Fire
1. "The Christmas Song" - The Raveonettes
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing.
Bonus Jonas:
Check out Hannah and Geoffrey performing "Measure of a Man" here.
Debbie Neigher just dropped her sophomore album, Unravel, on us last month, and it proved to be another solid, piano-driven, singer/songwriter record showcasing her raw power and brutally honest lyrics. A few weeks back, the talented San Francisco native braved the cold in Brooklyn to play a track off Unravel for A-Sides, and sat down for a brief chat. Naturally, it was all kinds of awesomeness. Watch. Listen. Love. In that order perhaps?
Filmed by ShootMePeter.com
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and listened to and liked (phew), posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs my 1 1/2+ year-old son gravitates toward. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank):
12. "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)" (LW-9) - Arcade Fire
11. "Ain't Your Right" (LW-7) - Sky Ferreira
10. "Copy of a" - Nine Inch Nails
9. "Litost" - X Ambassadors (Watch their live performance of the track here.)
8. "You Don't Get Me Twice" - Sleigh Bells
7. "It's About Time" - Young the Giant
6. "Wings" (LW-5) - Haerts
5. "Do What U Want" (LW-4) - Lady Gaga & R. Kelly
4. "Holding On For Life" (LW-2) - Broken Bells
3. "Black Out Days" (LW-3) - Phantogram
2. "Reflektor"(LW-1) - Arcade Fire
1. "The Christmas Song" - The Raveonettes
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing.