Thoughtful Discourse and Freestyle Music at CWOL’s Cypher
I was going to take photos to accompany a write-up of Thursday night’s Cypher at Allentown’s Coffee House Without Limits but, truth be told, I was having too much fun participating.
Tag Archives: indie music
VoirVoir Releases DIY Video for ‘I Wanna’
Bethlehem’s own VoirVoir is celebrating the release of its album, “There Are No Good Goodbyes,” with an official, DIY video for its lead track, “I Wanna.”
The video features surrogate footage of the “Rock-afire Explosion” band from the vintage Showbiz Pizza restaurant chain. The high-energy, anthemic track is itself an indie rock explosion, restless in nature as vocalist/guitarist Matt Molchany sings about busting loose and reaching beyond the status quo.
Stream the album in its entirety — and read a killer review — by visiting WXPN’s The Key, and check out the video for “I Wanna” below.
Review: Shawn Cav Ensemble – Glass Houses
Artist: Shawn Cav Ensemble
Album: Glass Houses (Pre-order)
Release Date: Jul. 30, 2016
Genre: Jazz Fusion
On July 30, break out your good headphones and listen to everything happening on Shawn Cav Ensemble’s “Glass Houses.” The eclectic Easton quartet showcases its musicianship and improvisational abilities to speak volumes without saying a word.
The band displays its ability to move between ideas – and even genres – on the new release. A perfect example is opening track, “Four Years in a Box,” which is underscored by groovy rhythms and a tradeoff between Steve Collins’ guitar and Matt Truscott’s tenor sax that walks a tightrope between jazz and rock.
Another highlight is “Faces,” a funk-fueled track with a hooky bass line where Collins and Truscott both take turns speaking lyrically through their instruments. In contrast, title track “Glass Houses” is mellow in a way that ties the effort together, revolving around Shawn Cav’s bass to build a climax and achieve the EP’s resolution.
Track listing
Four Years in a Box
New Beginnings
Faces
Roll Call
Looking Busy
Glass Houses
Sunday Thought Series: The #UndergroundSwell Grows
In three months…
- We’ve made 138 posts (and counting).
- We’ve hit five consecutive weeks with 1,000+ views (special thanks to Scott Marshall for helping us clinch that this week).
- New faces and names are coming into the mix weekly — now including new contributors!
- We have partnerships with fine organizations like Allentown JazzFest, The Valley Ledger, and the Fyre & Ice Show.
…and we’re just getting warmed up!
When I first hatched the idea for Lehigh Valley Underground, I did it because I believed in the talent and passion of our music community. I knew that our original music scene was on the verge of exploding, and it just needed some unifying forces to make the people aware of everything happening in their backyards.
We have a lot of work still to do. However, I must say that, in three months, I’m impressed with and inspired by how far we’ve come together.
Through Lehigh Valley Underground, artists have become aware of opportunities to perform and have their music heard by local and worldwide audiences. Lesser-known venues have received some much-needed and deserved spotlight. There was always a strong arts community here in the Lehigh Valley, but I would like to think that LVU has made it just a little bit closer-knit. So far, so good – we’re adhering to our mission, and we have big ideas to make this resource even better in the months to come.
Of course, it all starts with the beginning of another week. A new episode of The Quinn Spinn will hit sometime tomorrow and you’ll hear about the week’s Can’t-Miss Shows. In those two instances alone, you’re guaranteed to learn something you didn’t know before.
This isn’t any ordinary week, though. Allentown JazzFest kicks off Friday night with Al Chez & the Brothers of Funk. As an official media partner of the festival, you can be sure that we’ll be at that show and many others over the course of ten days.
Thank you for joining us as our #UndergroundSwell continues to grow. Stick with us, because the best is yet to come!
QSLehighValley: Apr. 21, 2016
Bryan Tuk is the founder of Allentown JazzFest, and the CEO and Executive Director of Performing Arts Live!, Inc. Bryan joins us today on QSLehighValley, sponsored by The Valley Ledger, to talk about all things JazzFest — including this year’s performers, new elements added to the mix, and how you can support the cause.
Track listing:
REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become (Opening theme)
JingerKroa – Echo
Duke Maroon – King Shit
Alex Radus – Someday
Avi Wisnia – Sky Blue Sky
Rofo Audio – Tell Me Something
D.S. Bradford – Elemental Evolution
Julius – Sitting on a Ledge
The Quinn Spinn: Apr. 18, 2016
The Quinn Spinn provides more great independent music from all over the world — and all across genres! This episode hops all over the music sphere and keeps you on your toes.
Track listing:
REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become (Opening theme)
Spinn – Addicted
John Scargall – That Wind’s Always Gonna Blow
Audra McLaughlin – Tennessee Cowboy
If It Fails – Carry You Away
The Blisscats – Dead Ringer
Splash – Cherry Lips and Velvet Skin
Ronnie Makkalucci – Rodeo
GC – Déjà vu
Rawboss ft. Artwork and Sariah Mansoer – Color
Taite – Flight
Mindshift – Horizon
Go Evolution – See the World
Ready to Rock the Record Store?
What are your plans for Record Store Day this Saturday?
If you’re near Phillipsburg – and let’s be honest: if you’re reading this, you’re probably not far – Spin Me Round is hosting an in-store show Saturday night, April 16 beginning at 5 p.m.
It’s a pretty stacked lineup, featuring artists such as Wyatt Davidick, Oscillating Eye, World Poison, Sing, Bird of Prey (whom, you might remember, we’ve seen before), Cedar Green, Refuse the Conformity, and Know Your Enemy. Yep, that’s seven – count ‘em, seven – live performers and additional reasons to head out to Spin Me Round and come across something that could change your life.
Planning to go? Let the good folks at Spin Me Round know via their official Facebook event.
The Quinn Spinn: Apr. 11, 2016
The Quinn Spinn brings you great music from all over the world every Monday, and this episode is no different! We’ve got a variety of artists lined up across genres. Some tracks are old, some are new, and all are great indie music!
Track listing:
REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become (Opening theme)
Schroeder – Drop
The Mad Sugars – Queen of the Club
Permanent Ability – Hey Now
Ayoinmotion – Dreams
Rawboss ft. Jennie J – Talk to Me
Steve Omari ft. Alan Z – Getting Over
GC – Demonz
Bill Zanni – Dying Grace
Art Block – Angel
Linda Lou – Nashville
Middle City – No More
The Wayside Shakeup – Optimistic
Sunday Thought Series: Come Together
I had the good fortune of receiving press access to last night’s Easton Rocks! Fundraiser at the State Theatre’s Acopian Ballroom (thanks to The Valley Ledger). The show, presented by DustinSchoof.com, featured music from Carter Lansing, Blue Jean, Alex Radus, and Roi & the Secret People, with proceeds benefitting the State Theatre’s “Get Plastered” campaign to fix its leaky roof.
Photos of the evening are coming later on Lehigh Valley Underground, and I hope they do justice to the great feeling that existed in that beautiful room last night. There was a feeling of togetherness – of an honest, collective desire to make the Valley’s music scene just a little bit better, all while helping one of its most prominent arts venues.
That’s what it’s all about, you see. Last night’s show featured four distinctive acts, each with a sound and presence all its own. These four were united under one, soon-to-be-renovated roof by a cause, and used their unique talents to drive people to it. The end result was a packed house that enjoyed many different shades of rock. Folks were exposed to new artists – I personally hadn’t seen three of the four live before last night – and came away feeling proud to have taken part in such a spectacular night.
To me, last night was further proof that the people on our music scene are capable of doing tremendous things for our community, just like Dustin Schoof and company did for the State Theatre last night. In a world where, all too often, cliques develop and sides are drawn, it was refreshing to be in a room with so many gracious musicians who know that the life and future of this scene depend on every single one of us working together.
Let us learn from this example. Let’s continue to show our support – not only for each other, but for causes greater than ourselves.
QSLehighValley: Apr. 7, 2016
We celebrate the tenth installment of QSLehighValley, sponsored by The Valley Ledger, by giving you almost a full hour’s worth of music from local artists. Today, we put a special emphasis on AVYLON and Mo7s, who will be playing at tonight’s installment of The Originals Music Series in Allentown.
Track listing:
REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become (Opening theme)
VoirVoir – I Wanna
This Way to the Egress – Earworm
The Groove Merchants – John the Savage
Julius – Better Life
Rofo Audio – Shelved
The Revere – Epilogue, Lovely One
AVYLON – Forgive Me
Mo7s – Sweet Young Kid
AVYLON – Don’t Look Back
Mo7s – Make a Stand
Avi Wisnia – I Wish That I Could Stop Writing Songs About You