“Underground Interiors” by Foam Castles - BTR Hear & There [ep73]
For the past few years, Portland, Maine’s Tyler Jackson (also of recent BTR Live Studio guests Endless Jags) has been turning out fuzzy pop gems — leaning towards psych rock at times, riff-heavy indie rock at others — under the name Foam Castles. The project began, like many, as a home recording project that then began featuring an amorphous lineup of musician friends before solidifying into a full-fledged band. Here, Jackson presents a new song, stripped down to its essence, as he first wrote it, and performed with only an acoustic guitar and vocal microphone.
In this, the fourth in a series of BTR Hear & There episodes shot on location in Maine, in collaboration with HillyTown.com, Tyler Jackson of Foam Castles performs live and acoustic in his basement practice space in Portland, Maine.
Featured Song: “Underground Interiors”
Foam Castles’ Bonanza vinyl edition will be out soon from Teenarena Records.
Foam Castles on Tumblr: http://foamcastles.tumblr.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foamcastles
Twitter: @foamcastles
Official website for HillyTown:http://hillytown.com
HillyTown on Facebook: http://facebook.com/hillytown
HillyTown on Twitter: @hillytown
Endless Jags - BTR Live Studio [ep197]
Endless Jags is a Portland, Maine-based rock band, comprised of members of Brenda, Gully, Foam Castles, Haru Bangs, Jaw Gems, Astronautalis, and more. With jangly guitars, dual lead singers, killer pop melodies, and a uniquely collaborative approach to songwriting, they’ve quickly made a name for this group with potential to eclipse even their existing — and well-established — other groups. The guys stopped by the studio on a recent tour to play some songs, and to chat with guest host Bryan Bruchman (of Portland music blog, HillyTown, and BTRtv) about their songwriting process, and how they’re not a supergroup, despite being a pretty super group.
Featured song: “Endless Jags”
The Endless Jags EP is available now.
Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://b-t-r.co/WUY2yR
Official website for Endless Jags: http://endlessjags.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/endlessjags
Twitter: @endlessjags
“There In The Water” by Lisa/Liza - BTR Hear & There [ep72]
Lisa/Liza is the project of Portland, Maine’s Liza Victoria. This ethereal-sounding folk singer has an appropriately hazy mystique about her, offering little more in biographical detail than where she calls home. We know there’s more to the story, but it’s not important. Her gentle songs have such a fragile quality that they just barely make it out of her body, and the reward when they do is high. At this shoot, she spoke about wanting to play electric guitar, and contemplating the addition of more instruments and collaborators; in the time since then, she’s performed as a duo with a saw player and later added a drummer plus, boldly, an electric guitar. This is a fresh, evolving project, captured here at a critical point, just as changes were bubbling up and about to come to fruition, but while still performing solo with only an acoustic guitar — train interruptions and all.
In this, the third in a series of BTR Hear & There episodes shot on location in Maine in collaboration with HillyTown.com, Lisa/Liza performs solo on a foggy day in the backyard of her apartment building in Portland, Maine’s West End.
Featured song: “There In The Water”
Lisa/Liza’s Humble Noon EP is available digitally now.
Lisa/Liza on Bandcamp: http://lisalizas.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LisaLiza/193653500693164
Official website for HillyTown:http://hillytown.com
HillyTown on Facebook: http://facebook.com/hillytown
HillyTown on Twitter: @hillytown
“Undone” by if and it - BTR Hear & There [ep70]
if and it are a prolific Portland, Maine, trio with a knack for creative dynamics. Playing sparse folk songs in a modern indie rock format, the group has a warmth and sensitivity often lost on your average rock band.
In this, the first in a series of BTR Hear & There episodes shot on location in Maine in collaboration with HillyTown.com, if and it perform live at Bunker Brewing Company in Portland’s developing industrial neighborhood of East Bayside.
Featured song: “Undone”
if and it’s Grrr Boo Hiss (Cabin Recordings II) is available now.
Official website for if and it: http://www.ifandit.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ifandit
Twitter: @ifandit
Official website for HillyTown: http://hillytown.com
Bunker Brewing Co. on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bunker-Brewing-Co/220777511268316
BRAINSTORM - BTR Live Studio [ep180]
BRAINSTORM is an experimental pop group from Portland, Oregon, who use memorable melodies, polyrhythmic singing, and shimmering guitar lines to build songs bound to lodge themselves in peoples’ heads. Everything the trio does is high energy, danceable, and simultaneously familiar and refreshingly new. The band chatted with Maia about how they blend their eclectic outsider music influences in an organic way, the mixtapes that brought them together, taking internet band friendships offline, and more. Bonus: bassist Dasha gets a new nickname!
Featured song: “Maybe A Memory”
BRAINSTORM’s latest release, Heat Waves, is out now on Tender Loving Empire.
Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://b-t-r.co/TBVAgR
Official website: http://brainstormbrainstorm.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brainstormbrainstorm
Twitter: @brainstormpdx
Tender Loving Empire on Twitter: @TenderLovingEmp
The Rattlesnakes - Serious Business on BTR [ep97]
The Rattlesnakes are a psych-punk band from Portland, Maine, with a touch of an amiable “who cares” attitude that lends a bit of excitement to what they do. Growing from a home recording duo to a three piece to the current quintet, the group’s growing pains show through in their music in the best possible way. Aggressive garage rock and punk at the core, they manage to fit in quite a lot of weirdness alongside their tight pop melodies. The band sat down with Travis (with a noticeable lack of beer, being early on a Sunday) to talk about other Maine bands who’ve graced the studio, as well as their latest cassette tape release.
Featured song: “Spine”
The Rattlesnake’s Spine is available digitally and on green cassette tape.
Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://b-t-r.co/PSi1gO
The Rattlesnakes on Bandcamp: http://therattlesnakes.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/therattlesnakes
Twitter: @therattlesnakes
Kurt Baker - Serious Business on BTR [ep96]
Kurt Baker is a singer, songwriter, and rock n’ roll performer from Portland, Maine ,who has always gone by the famous saying “Have a Good Time All the Time.” As the founding member of notable pop/punk outfit the Leftovers, he toured the world and grew into the living, breathing party machine that he is onstage today. Highly reminiscent of Elvis Costello and backed by the venerable KB Band, Baker breathes new life into the power pop genre with high energy guitars and well-crafted pop songwriting. The guys stopped by the studio to play some tunes and to chat with Travis about classic pop history, helping each other out, and — most importantly — getting girls.
Featured song: “Don’t Go Falling In Love”
Kurt Baker’s Brand New Beat is available now on CD from Collector’s Club Records and on vinyl from Jolly Ronnie Records.
Kurt Baker’s official site: http://kurtbakermusic.com/
Bandcamp: http://kurtbaker.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KurtBakerMusic
Twitter: @Kurtmiltonbaker
Portland, Maine’s The Milkman’s Union are heading out on a Fall tour today. Revisit their Serious Business on BTR session above and then check out all the band’s upcoming dates here.
“Inside Out And Hand Grenades” by A Severe Joy - BTR Hear & There [ep60]
Based out of Portland, Maine, A Severe Joy is the new electro-pop project of musician José Ayerve, formerly of indie rock band Spouse. On stage he wears a Batman-like mask as he plays his beat-heavy pop ballads. Though the music is vibrant and booming, it still retains a sentimental tone, as he often sings about love stories. Here he performs under Tukey’s Bridge in Portland. Thanks to Chelsea Dowd for audio assistance. /// A Severe Joy’s self-titled album is his latest release. /// Official website: http://www.aseverejoy.com /// Twitter: @aseverejoy
Ramona Falls - BTR Live Studio [ep116] (by btrlivestudio)
Based out of Portland, Oregon, Ramona Falls is the experimental indie-rock project of former Menomena member Brent Knopf. His debut album, Intuit, was released in 2009 and featured over 30 various musicians and friends, such as Benjamin Weikel (The Helio Sequence) and Janet Weiss (Wild Flag, Sleater Kinney). Here, the band performs “Brevony,” a new, unpredictably explosive and crunchy track from the forthcoming release, Prophet. /// Featured song: “Brevony” /// Ramona Falls’ sophomore album, Prophet, is out May 1st via Barsuk Records. /// Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://bit.ly/JUyDvK /// Official website: http://www.ramonafalls.com /// Twitter: @ramonafalls
When Particles Collide - Serious Business on BTR [ep65] (by seriousbusinessonbtr)
When Particles Collide is made up of former jazz performer Chris Viner and high school chemistry teacher Sasha Alcott. Based out of Bangor, Maine, the duo blends punk and 90s indie rock, drawing from influences like Sleater-Kinney and the Pixies. Their songs are full of rowdy bursts of energy — especially when Alcott lets out her ferocious yelps. /// Featured song: “Down to the Wire” /// Mass Energy EP is the latest release by When Particles Collide. /// Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://bit.ly/AFghCJ /// Official website: http://www.whenparticlescollide.com
Brenda - Serious Business on BTR [ep58] (by seriousbusinessonbtr)
Brenda channels the vintage sound of ‘50s rock ‘n roll, the angular gruff noise of ‘90s indie rock, and straightforward feel-good pop — like an interesting fusion of Built to Spill and The Walkmen. Their songs are both thrilling and sweet as they travel through dynamic, rough raucousness before sailing into smooth, catchy melodies. In the past they’ve shared the stage with acts like Grizzly Bear and The Flaming Lips, and just last summer upon hearing a rough cut of their debut album, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, invited these Portland, Mainers to play the first Solid Sound Festival in Massachusetts. /// Silver Tower is the debut album by Brenda. /// Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://bit.ly/xQzNv8 /// Official website: http://www.mckeenstreetmusic.com/Brenda.html
Sunset Hearts - Serious Business on BTR [ep52] (by seriousbusinessonbtr)
Hailing from Portland, ME, Sunset Hearts play ‘80s/new-wave inspired pop that can easily pack a dance floor and even stir up some synchronized handclaps and bell jingling. Each of its eight members is a seasoned musician, having come from other local Maine bands. Lead singer Casey McCurry is an emotive frontman, immediately attaching himself to his microphone and allowing for Sunset Hearts’ contagious and synthy melodies to capture him. While the band’s size may cause some crowding on stage, the octet’s chemistry is solid, the sound strong and robust — proving that there is power in numbers. /// Sunset Hearts’ debut album, Haunted Cloud, is out now. /// Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://bit.ly/uMeRpO /// Official website for Sunset Hearts: http://www.sunsethearts.com
Also on Vimeo and YouTube:
http://vimeo.com/32096239
http://youtu.be/VDHUZfJoOFs
“Breakdown on the Beach” by Holy Sons - BTR Live Studio [ep69] (by btrlivestudio)
Holy Sons is the one-man project of Portland’s Emil Amos. The multi-instrumentalist plays raw, lo-fi indie rock, and remains relatively enigmatic, despite having released music under the Holy Sons moniker for the past two decades and having played with bands like Om, Dolorean, and Grails. Amos’ introspective nature and penchant for obscurity, give his music an added haunted, mysterious quality. /// Holy Sons’ latest album, Survivalist Tales!, is available now through Partisan Records. /// Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://bit.ly/vAM92x /// Official website for Holy Sons: http://holysons.com/
Also available on Vimeo and YouTube:
http://vimeo.com/31429565
http://youtu.be/QcWyDd5siwI
The Milkman’s Union - Serious Business on BTR [ep48] (by seriousbusinessonbtr)
Originally starting as the bedroom project of singer-songwriter Henry Jamison, The Milkman’s Union has since evolved into a folk-rock trio heavily influenced by jazz and classical music, and channeling everyone from Iron & Wine to Radiohead. Based out of Portland, ME, the band weaves together complex arrangements, filled with melodies that twist and turn unexpectedly and rhythms that start and stop suddenly. Jamison leads the pack with impressive guitar-picking and his ability to use his rich, expressive voice to turn sullen stories into engaging ear-candy, mellow ballads into howling rock. /// Travis says, “During their visit to NY, Portland, ME’s The Milkman’s Union spent some time backing up rising Maine star Lady Lamb the Beekeeper. I’m glad they found some time to stop and spend an evening with me.These songs are sophisticated, literate and infinitely listenable. I loved it. I need more.” /// The Milkman’s Union just released a 7” entitled Texas Hold Me. /// Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://bit.ly/p58g31 /// Official website for The Milkman’s Union: http://themilkmansunion.com
Also on Vimeo and YouTube:
http://vimeo.com/30563940
http://youtu.be/Rc4YeAp7t2E
