Watch the current incarnation of the Kronos Quartet perform four songs for a NPR Tiny Desk Concert. David Harrington (violin), Gabriela Diaz (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola) and Paul Wiancko (cello) let their instruments speak about the worldwide clusterfuck with these rearranged covers.
Setlist:
English rock trio The McHilson Project is the result of the restart of a restart. When the members of a revived band found out they were not all at the same page it was up to Mark Mcinnes, John Hills and James Snelson to plug in and try to get the engine firing on all cylinders. With their debut album Insurrection they prove that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but that is perfectly fine when you aim for timeless classic rock with just a hint of progressive and a nod to Frank Zappa every now and then.
Lyrically they are over the place. There is a song about the ritualistic suicide of a Japanese princess (Seppuku), they sing the praises of an establishment that serves fine drinks and music (Blues Cafe), and hand out an invitation to a place where kids dreams are still alive (Fantasy Fairground). The sheer of playing together after such a long time and finding out that the connection is still there makes it a joy to listen too. Recommended for rockers of all ages.
Dutch art rock band Oh Hazar will be playing two "Cinema Obscur" shows @ Concordia in Enschede (April 17-18) as part of the Booster Festival. The first one is preceded by a screening of the classic silent movie Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari - the band loves German expressionism. The shows themselves are free, but a ticket is needed for the movie.
Noise rock quartet BLKE have used a motorik back beat underneath Heat, a dark psych soundscape, a track from their forthcoming self-titled album. It is unrelenting, shimmering song, as if it is rising from the embers of a forest fire. It will be smash in clubs that cater to the underground, with the crowd gently swaying to the twin guitars settting up a conversation with the rhythm section.
When you get guys coming up to you in clubs or restaurants or somewhere, and they say how much they've enjoyed your playing on records, then that pays off dividends every day; every time they say it, you think, 'I'm glad I did that.'
Jeff Beck
