HighWire Daze » Sketches http://highwiredaze.com Music Magazine Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:20:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Made In Ireland Showcase and Return of the Print Mag http://highwiredaze.com/madeinirelan http://highwiredaze.com/madeinirelan#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 02:31:41 +0000 ken http://highwiredaze.com/?p=3751 HELLO PRINT MAG
It’ s been a while since the last Print Edition of Highwire Daze. As many of you know, we’ve totally had our website redone, and that has been the main focus for the last few months. Many thanks to Jason Mageau at Malus Clothing and BlkHeart Productions for doing such a tremendous job on web design!

We’ve come a long way since our Tripod and Geocities days when Highwire Daze first went online. Print may slowly become a thing of the past, but for now, here you have in your hands Issue 119, our big summer edition that you’ve either picked up at the Warped Tour or at one of the many clubs or record stores who carry it. Please check out our website for exclusive interviews and articles not in this issue as well as longer versions of the stories that do appear here in print. Thank you for your support and now on to the sketches…

MADE IN IRELAND SHOWCASE at Molly Malones, Hollywood, CA – 06/08/10
I’ve been MySpace buddies with singer/songwriter Aaron Shanley for a few years now, so when he told me he was coming over from Ireland to do some shows here in Los Angeles, it was certainly something to look forward to. After a cancellation due to crazy volcano action on the other end of the world, Aaron was finally able to flee Belfast for a week to visit the enigmatic City Of Angels.

I first caught Aaron and few other Irish acts at the Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland – and what a special night it was. Irish pop and $3 beers right in the heart of Hollywood. And then the next night Aaron and his comrades performed a showcase at Molly Malone’s on Fairfax, doing a Made In Ireland presentation for a bunch of industry types.

Up first was the talented Mr. Shanley, opening the night with the wistful Sometimes People Just Fall Out Of Love. Fans of Elliott Smith and The Lilac Time should absolutely enjoy the compositions Shanley has to offer. Moving from acoustic guitar to piano, Shanley closed his short set with the absolutely stunning I Know She Lies.

Silhouette a.k.a. Shauna Tohill was up next, weaving her magical musical spells throughout the room. Channeling the likes of Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell, Shauna is a mesmerizing singer well worth checking into. Playing on both guitar and piano, she exuded a good amount of star quality as well as highly memorable tunes. A few of her best songs include the wondrous Put The Silence On Hold and the mystical Watching The Stars.

Clownparlour took to the Molly stage, presenting a unique set of quirky indie tunes that was impressive to behold. The brainchild of one M. Mormecha, amongst the four songs performed was a terrific little number entitled Stanley Kubrick, of which there is also a video of on their MySpace.

Closing out the night was Kiernan McMullan, a resourceful singer/songwriter originally from Ireland who now makes the roads of the United States his second home. Constantly on tour, McMullan has some terrific stories to tell in his songs, and at the Made In Ireland showcase, he delivered the type of performance that gets you signed! One extremely delightful aspect of the show was when McMullan laid down several loops live on computer on the song Set You Free, including multiple guitar parts and his own backing vocals all created from scratch. Other songs performed included Fireworks, Running On Empty, and That Afternoon. Be sure to check out his new acoustic recording, entitled The Best Part EP – as well as his previous full length Perfect People Are Boring – now available on ITunes!

A perfect night of entertainment at the perfect venue, proving that Ireland does, indeed rock!

Information:
Aaron Shanley – http://www.myspace.com/aaronshanley
Kiernan McMullan – http://www.myspace.com/kiernanm
Silhouette – http://www.myspace.com/silhouetteofficial
Clownparlour – http://www.myspace.com/clownparlour

SEE YA LATEZ
See everyone at Warped Tour, Cool Tour, Scream The Prayer Tour, and all the other tours coming through this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> http://highwiredaze.com/madeinirelan/feed 1 Farewell To The Knitting Factory plus Top Ten of 2009 http://highwiredaze.com/farewell-to-the-knitting-factory http://highwiredaze.com/farewell-to-the-knitting-factory#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:10:44 +0000 ken http://highwiredaze.com/wordpress/?p=130 crematorium102509 209A FAREWELL TO THE KNITTING FACTORY
     October 25, 2009, we all said our goodbyes to the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. The club had been open for nearly a decade with its three rooms filled with the very best of live talent. The club was certainly bustling at their last hurrah, with Hit The Lights and Sparks The Rescue co-headlining the Main Room. In the tiny Alterknit Lounge, local act Cue The Crickets was ripping the place to shreds with their fierce brand of apocalyptic post-hardcore. They certainly had a slammin’ pit going within the small confines of the lounge.
     The Church Of The 8th Day booked the middle room with a tremendously memorable metal show. There was a feeling of loss that a truly great venue was closing, but the party was on as both Letum Ascensus and Crematorium delivered outstanding sets of death metal. Daniel Dismal, frontman for Crematorium (and Church Of The 8th Day founder) took the time to eulogize a place and a scene that we had all come to know and love. Dismal’s comments on the final night were humorous, ironic, deeply moving, and well thought out.
     The first band I ever saw play ar the Knitting Factory was The Dillinger Escape Plan with SHAT back in January of 2001. The last would be the mighty Crematorium. And all the bands and shows in between are many that I, and the community at large, will remember forever. RIP The Knitting Factory. You don’t know what you’ve got until you lose it…

THE HIGHWIRE DAZE TOP 10 of 2009
Well here it is, Editor Ken’s Top 10 list for 2009. Once again, a very strange and eclectic selection – in alphabetical order with brief explanations…

The Best In Town by The Blackout (Epitaph Records) – Breakout band of the Warped Tour 2009 from South Wales. Save Ourselves (The Warning) is definitely the rock anthem of the year.

Lost & Found by Corey Crowder (Self-released) – Country and blues mixed with acoustic and classic intimate vocals. Crowder is an astounding yet underrated singer / songwriter.

Sleepwalkers by Dead Swans (Bridge 9 Records) – Best debut album of the year hands down. This UK-based band breathe new life into the hardcore / metal genre. Expect great things from Dead Swans!

With Thoughts But Not Regrets by 5 Years and Counting (In Vogue Records) – Sean McDonald is finally getting the recognition he deserves – now signed to a label owned by Before Their Eyes front man Nick Moore. Timeless and profoundly. moving, Best tracks: Seattle and Closer. Plus a super-cheeky cover of Poker Face by Lady Gaga.

The Pendle Witch Trials by I Shalt Become (No Colours Records) – Ambient, relentlessly bleak and weaved with Black Metal undertones. Read up on the actual Pendle Witch Trails and get to know Alice Nutter and the gang using this CD as the soundtrack.

Djinn – Les Mystere Des Chats by Louisa John-Krol – Romantic pop / ethereal faerie music in the grand tradition of Loreena McKennitt and Kate Bush. A journey through the secret life of mystical cats. Blue Beyond The Sky and I Am The Djinn are among the magical stories this artist weaves

New Shores by Lunatica (Napalm Records) – Female fronted power metal in its finest hour. Dramatic, sweeping in scope, and socially conscious – here’s hoping this Swiss band make it here to the States in 2010!

Yes by Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone Records) – The comeback album of the year. This highly influential electronic band can still write a tremendously infectious song. Their show at the Greek Theatre in September was one many will remember for a long time!

Monolith by Sights & Sounds (Militia Group) – Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid and company deliver the most progressive album of the year. Imagine Cave In mixed with Nirvana and you are only just beginning to envision the wondrous masterworks of Sights & Sounds. A stunning debut.

The Clearing by Sleep For Sleepers (Dreamt Music) – The most underrated band on the Los Angeles music scene today. Dream-like, visionary and adventurous. An important work from a band we’ll be hearing a lot more from in the future.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

]]> http://highwiredaze.com/farewell-to-the-knitting-factory/feed 0