Brooklyn Indie Music Fest

Mother Feather is from New York City. They play POP COCK ROCK fed by the wildfire of pure inspiration.

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Hailing from three music epicenters of North America, Taurus is a band made up of roommates, bandmates and best friends who are aware that a tri-local band sounds hard...but...it's not. At all.

Although their first EP, “Extended Play,” is still hot off the presses, critics and fans have been quick to applaud New York City-based quartet Swear and Shake for their old-school, smoky, soulful vocals, taught harmonies, poignant lyrics and fun folk-pop.

Newsday praised the band, comparing them to indie darlings Mumford & Sons and Bon Iver. Brooklyn Belles described front lady Kari Spieler’s pipes as, “strong but sweet…a young June Carter Cash,” countered only by drummer Tom Elefante’s explosive percussion.

David Malachowski of the Daily Freeman made clear that Swear and Shake is more than fun sounds and pretty faces. “A haunting postcard from a faraway, warmer place, 'Bones,'an ode to love and loss is a highlight, Spieler’s moving, heartfelt delivery takes this to a higher place,” writes Malachowski. “Daring and direct, Swear and Shake points a finger at you, and you can’t help but respond. Well done.” Other reviewers were affected similarly by the EP’s final track, saying that with “harmonies guaranteed to give goosebumps, Swear and Shake do an expert job at bringing the mini record to a dramatic conclusion.”

Reviewer Mike Andronico probably captures the feel of Swear and Shake’s promise as a new band best, writing, “While still in their early 20s, McHeffey and Spieler exude the confidence and quirk of veteran songwriters. The music is warm and accessible, while the lyrics will stay with listeners long after the disc stops spinning. And while the front man and woman could each entertain on their own, Savage and Elefante provide a rhythmic spine that keeps each song standing tall. For a five-track EP of this quality, perhaps its one flaw is its brevity. Let's hope Swear and Shake extends their play to a full-length next time around.”

And he’s not alone. Frost Click called the band’s EP a “treat” and writes, “There's no denying the fact that Swear and Shake know how to make amazing sounds. The quartet has a knack for creating a wonderful balance of emotion, instruments, vocals and lyrics; making you want to listen more and more.”

Are you picking up what we’re throwing down? If you have yet to acquaint yourself with the slick stylings of Swear and Shake you can find their tracks and show listings at www.swearanshake.com. They play all over Brooklyn and Manhattan and are a must see!
Written by Amber C. van Nattan

Seemingly frozen in a time capsule since 1966, garage rockers Stately Ghosts have possessed the NYC indie scene with their paranormal brand of retro sounds.

British-born vocalist Abigail Carson learned to sing the blues the hard way, as street musician living off the gratuities she earned in Australia.
Now teamed up with several NYC veteran musicians she crafts tunes influenced by the 60's Chicago blues and garage rock sound.

Stately Ghosts have recently won the WBAI 99.5 FM Battle of the Bands and will be performing on the air Tuesday 4/26/2011 2pm. Other upcoming shows include Matchless, Arlene's Grocery and the 2011 Clearwater Festival.

Winner of Best Rock Band - 2010 New Haven Advocate reader's poll - 2010 Grand Band Slam. --- Seth Adam creates compelling, accessible, timeless rock music with honest lyrics. With influences ranging from Counting Crows, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, his songs demonstrate a deft pop-sensibility and a compelling vulnerability which continue to touch an ever-growing and remarkably diverse fan base. After the release of 2008's "Where You Come From," numerous shows throughout the northeast for the following year and a half, and the release of the acoustic EP "Everything Is Something Else" in 2009, Seth & company took some time off from performing to work on the new body of work, "Amplify." Currently, Seth & company are supporting the new album and will be performing acoustic and full band shows throughout the northeast, southeast and midwest in 2011.

After the release of Where You Come From in 2008, numerous shows throughout the northeast for the following year and a half, and the release of the acoustic EP Everything Is Something Else in 2009, Seth and company took some time off from performing to work on a new record: a body of work now dubbed Amplify. Amplify was scheduled to be released in the fall of 2009, but after personnel changes, studio switches, and a vocal ailment that prevented Seth from singing for months, the album was delayed.

After rehabilitating his voice during the first six months of 2010, Seth and company re-entered the studio to complete tracking the new record, Amplify. The aim from the start was to make a record as true to the live experience as possible. Seth explains, “Our influences are more ‘vintage’ if you will... The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, etc. We’re also quite the fans of Son Volt, Wilco, and Counting Crows. We wanted to make a record like our influences did - that sounded like a band playing together in a room.” “Topically, these are the most revealing songs I’ve written thus far. They are all rooted in personal experience, but are open to interpretation.”

A critical element in Seth Adam’s music is the passion and impact of the group’s live performances. Seth has assembled a crack line-up of seasoned musicians that bring color from a wide spectrum of musical genres. These band members, fluent in the language of rock & roll, alt-country, and classic pop, propel the live show and give a modern and forceful lift to Adam’s vintage musical vision. The assemblage (Seth Adam - vocals, acoustic and electric guitar; Gerry Giaimo - lead guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals; Anthony Bianco - drums; and Gerard Bianco - Bass) is a melting pot of talent, a singular unit with a common stride, creating timeless pop-rock music in the Americana tradition.

Through performances throughout the northeast, Seth Adam and the band have put together a show of amazing energy. They have opened for artists such as Will Hoge, Alexa Ray Joel, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers and Chris Barron (former Spin Doctors). These live offerings continue to convert the most unattached, jaded listener into rock & roll believers with liberal doses of brawny electric guitar and sensitive acoustic forays, flooded with emotion. It is no wonder that Seth Adam’s performance caused Roger Friedman of Showbiz411.com to proclaim, “Adam’s appearance last night in New York was a rock revelation.”

Since the inception of the project, Seth and company have released several recordings, including the Seth Adam EP in 2006, Live In New Haven 11.8.06 in 2007, the full-length Where You Come From in 2008, and the acoustic EP Everything Is Something Else in 2009. In 2007, Seth’s song “Get Out” was licensed to Volkswagen for their 2007 Sights and Sounds campaign.

Now, with the release of Amplify, Seth and company will continue to deliver on the promise of vintage-laced, Americana influenced rock & roll. “I’m not concerned about trends. I’m concerned about making the best possible art that I can,” explains Adam. “I think this record is a great representation of that. I’m proud.”

PRESS QUOTES

"For example, during 'Troubled Times,' Seth wowed the audience's ears with deep vocal emotions that brought out the sentimental realism found in the lyrics..."

- Southside, Southside On The Town

"This is the best "unsigned" group in America, and the hardest-working best live act in indie rock. All the songs on Where You Come From are potential radio hits, so catchy that once you've heard them it's hard to get them out of your head. That is, if there were still pop/rock radio, they'd be all over "Promise" ... I promise ..."

- Roger Friedman

"Adam, formerly of the band Green Inside, has developed a quite reputation in the area as one of the most talented songwriters in the New Haven area. Taking cues from artists like the Counting Crows, Tom Petty and Wilco, Adam combines a sharp pop aesthetic with deep rooted Americana."

- Jeffrey Petrin, PLAY New Haven

"I would, without a doubt, throw on a Seth Adam record before a John Mayer or Rob Thomas album. And it’s somewhat unfair to even mention those two when talking about Where You Come From, because Adam and his band rock a little harder than those comparisons, but, you know, you need comparisons in a review."

- Patrick Ferrucci, New Haven Register

25 year old songwriter, guitarist and singer Aaron Lee Tasjan has rock'n'roll running through his veins. From his collaborations with BP Fallon and Jack White or Sean Lennon to his stint as the lead guitarist in The New York Dolls he has seemingly done it all. His band, Madison Square Gardeners, became unlikely hometown heroes in Brooklyn where they favored Heartbreakers guitar riffs and choruses over synthesizers and boat shoes. In 2010, the Village Voice called them, "...the best NYC has to offer!" Still Tasjan has proved to be much more than just another young songwriter worshiping at the alter of Petty, Westerberg and Chilton. His remarkable guitar playing and trademark vocal style are something unto themselves, pushing the songs he creates into directions outside those of his heroes, while still ringing true to the heart of rock'n'roll. "Tasjan has a way of writing us back into moments and years that we're no longer a part of," remarks Daytrotter's Sean Moeller. Moeller continues saing Tasjan's writing reminds him of a time when, "...Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty were writing and releasing their seminal recordings about the lives of Americans." A lofty comparison indeed for such a young writer and singer but as Dinosaur Jr., Hold Steady producer John Agnello puts it, "I know that's saying a lot, but you have to hear it to believe."