Photo by Jen McManus. All Rights Reserved.

Fresh off the press over at Knocks from the underground‘s blog is a review of The Art of Shooting’s upcoming album release. “The Art of Shooting pull their generally shoegazy tendencies through filters of girly innocence and hard rock. The tracks on their first full-length album, Traveling Show (unsigned, due out April 2010) swoon and swirl with noisy guitars and an enveloping haze, but in that sea they’ve always got a handy life preserver tight around their waists.

Their potentially contrasting styles make for compelling shifts in mood that work well, largely due to the strength of singer and main songwriter Kelly Irene Corson. She embodies the startling innocence of a young person who screams of empowerment but is shivering inside, all while employing layering techniques that add a sense of universality at the most crucial moments.

But mainly, Corson is a powerhouse, delivering yelps that recall the likes of Rainer Maria or Sleater-Kinney, and certainly embodying that energy. The wash of guitar noise accompanying her produces a softer effect than the aforementioned groups, a disorienting atmosphere rather than straight-up rebel rock. The percussion is straight and strong, driving the songs through their emotional highs and lows while finding room for flourishes even of the arena-rock kind. Though Corson is upfront, most especially because her already commanding vocals turn out to be quite personal lyrically, the other members Jim Archer, Julie Rozansky, and Gavin Dunaway are no mere background.

“It Goes (Home),” a nice survey of TAOS’s sound, begins with an adorable do-wop vocal line that soon becomes a gentle initial performance by Corson. As the track moves along, extra layers come in as other characters, adding emotions alternate to the one initially established. While the guitars buzz around angrily or clatter in an almost indistinguishable pattern, the combination of strength and confusion is driven home. The kicker, though, is when this all dissipates and some acoustic strums come in among the readoption of the opening vocal line — the roller coater takes charge without ever turning one’s stomach.

The Art of Shooting says that some of their influences are, “Galaxie 500, Boris, Ethel Merman, Sundays, Mcklusky, Belly, Sugarcubes, Dead Meadow, Suicide, Low, Spacemen 3, Suicide, Engine Down, Jawbox, Dismemberment Plan, Sleeper, Rainer Maria, Bettie Serveert, St. Vincent, and Marching Bands across the US of A”.

“No One Two” beings slow and teasing, as if it were going to be the ballad, though the guitars are too sinister for such a thing to actually occur. A prominent maraca shakes over a dreamscape that stews along intoxicatingly with a short and pleasing melody until it becomes clear that everything will explode. And it does so with an energy that suggests this band would be great to see live, all glittery jam with feedback galore and crashing drums. Corson reaches skyward for a couple of lines before settling back into the song’s initial lullaby. A mostly trustworthy narrator with a dark side not to be ignored, it’s unclear whether she should be pitied, trusted, or feared. But she should definitely be listened to.

A basement with no windows saw the birth of songwriting that came from the overactive pelvis, and a love of the ugly and loud. The Brooklyn dream-punks forge an auditory surge that is artful, melodic and full of vocal harmonies. Aggressive, dissonant lullabies are mixed with hints of PJ Harvey, Blonde Redhead and Polvo.

Traveling Show is an intensely personal work for The Art Of Shooting’s singer/songwriter/guitarist Kelly Irene Corson, who growls, shrieks and hums with a vibrato vocally evocative of Siouxsie Sioux and Chrissie Hynde balanced with the tenderness and vulnerability of St. Vincent and Feist.

Week: March 11th to March 14th, 2010.

Sasquatch and the Sick-a-billys (left) bring their psychobilly mix to O’Brien’s (the perfect venue for them) on Thursday. Watch out for flying beer bottles, and puke (no, seriously). With them are old time rock’n'rollers The Egos. Shows at O’Brien’s are 21+, and this one is $8.

According to their fan site describes there music as, “Ruthless, gritty and hellbent!!! This trio will be the break-out band of the year. A relentless touring schedule has cemented SASQUATCH as one of the most high gear, powerhouse entertainers around.

Keeping real music alive and dangerous. Local, Regional and National Music Veterans join forces to launch an attack on the Underground Music Scene… Sasquatch on Guitar/Vocals, MR. JUSTIN on Upright Bass and Mike Levesque on drums were reborn and risen from a not so forgotten past, when Rock N Roll, Metal, Country and Blues still meant something… All will become One, as our bloody fingertips deliver you a matching pair of broken eardrums. Get ready, the Revolution hasn’t happened yet.”

Also at O’Brien’s, this Saturday You Lion celebrates the release of their EP End It On The Bridge. They are sandwiched between openers Nassy, and the mighty Piles headlining. Piles are a mostly instrumental 3 piece with hard hitting drums and Slint dynamics. This is a rare show for them, and not to be missed.

“Nassy are a three piece indy rock/alt/grunge band from Boston. The band first came to be as a two piece in 2008, though Jeff and Jordan had been playing music together since before the two were in high school.

With the line up being completed in the fall of that year, the band went into the studio and completed their debut album in the spring of ’09, “Nassy,” which was released in September. Nassy are currently working on writing the follow up to their self titled debut and playing in and around Boston, with talk of an east coast tour for this coming spring/summer.”

Sunday night, you can catch the recently reunited Shore Leave playing a free show at The Middle East Downstairs. Their brand of math-rock isn’t just technically impressive, but it is also hooky – you might recognize their tune “Water” on a commercial for WBZ-TV news. Joinig them are Air Traffic Controller, and Mugison (from Iceland) – the whole evening is a part of the Taste Of Iceland event. (Knocks From the Underground)

“If you dumped blues, power pop, psych rock and heavy metal into a transmogrifying machine, the machine would rumble mysteriously, then spit out a brightly colored block of a hitherto unimagined polymer known as Mugison.” (According to Fans)

The Air Traffic Controller’s fan page says the band was formed, “After a buzz filled year, which included a nod from MTV, performing at the Boston Garden, and teaming up with legendary power-pop maestro/producer, Bleu, Air Traffic Controller has signed on with Sugarpop Records and has released an extraordinary debut, bound to shake up the airwaves in 2010.

The hype initially started when singer Dave Munro was overseas, serving in the US Navy as a real-life air traffic controller, sending home songs he’d recorded on his old 4-track. “Making music, at that time, was merely a way of coping with homesickness and a long distance relationship,” says Munro of his Navy days, “but things changed when people started listening.” Upon completing his enlistment, Munro returned home to a surprising number of fans in Boston and immediately began constructing a recording studio with his brother, drummer, Rich.

As the heartfelt songs trickled out, an acoustic demo of “Don’t Tell Me What To Do” reached one of Munro’s favorite musical artists, Bleu, who quickly signed on as producer for a full-length debut. The album, entitled “The One”, is a charming, yet daring, creation of classic rock proportion and head-turning indie pop freshness, that is proving itself irresistible to just about anyone with ears.”

The compositions won’t be breaking any boundaries or blowing any minds, but they do achieve that pleasing catchiness that makes it easy to nod the head and wait for the enjoyable payoffs. Coons’ vocals and strums are accompanied by guitar, bass, and drums that create a young rock vibe, bringing rhythms and solos that lift the tunes from pure bedroom sap.

Coons also brings a playful feel to his work through ever-grinning photos and a generally silly tone on his website and press materials. He’s admitting his youth, but this behooves him with its insistence on casual enjoyment and relaxed abandonment to pop. His cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” nicely sets the tone, in that the song itself is inarguably pleasing; listeners are then ready for the presentation of his singing style and general boy-and-his-guitar-ness.

Tracks like “Legs” and “Boxing the Cold” bring guitar pop if that genre ever existed, and it’s soon clear that Coons can write himself a melody. In the end, he comes off as a good pop guarantee — he does soft but not too sappy, rockin’ but not too loud. He’ll make your head bop shamelessly unless the cheese factor makes you puke first. -Review by Knocks From the Underground.

“Jer hit the ground running in 2009, with an impressive batch of new songs earning him comparisons to a younger John Mayer, or an older Nick Jonas (the talented Jonas Brother) and everything else in between. Jer and his live performances are better than virtually all singer songwriters for several reasons:

He does not shop at Urban Outfitters trying to buy trendy things in an attempt to look ten years younger, because if he did look ten years younger, he would look like a ten year old

His backing band is better than the tapes Milli Vanilli used

He won most musical in his high school year book

And boy, can this kid write a pop song.

Armed with drop dead catchy melodies, boyish good looks and a charm equal to or greater than Paris Hilton, Jer is poised for national recognition during the coming year. In the meantime, look for Jer Coons on a crowded street near you. His debut LP “Speak” drops September 29th and you can hear his song “Legs” playing in all Hollister stores.”

“If you happen to be stuck in Boston this weekend and not coming to New York for our Knocks showcase at the Delancey, there are options!

Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents (pictured) are hosting their CD Release party Friday night at TT The Bear’s. You might know Jen from her stints in The Downbeat 5 and The Dents. Joining her are Barrence Whitfield and the Monkeyhips, Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints (ex- World’s Greatest Sinners), Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, Blizzard of 78, and Jed Parish. Eli “Paperboy” Reed and the DJ’s of Soul-le-lu-jah spin between sets. This is a night of soul, R&B, and rock that is not to be missed.

Saturday the 6th, Dear Leader performs at Great Scott. Headed by Aaron Perrino, the band continues the anthemic tradition of The Sheila Divine (who Perrino fronted). Also performing are Arletta and The Hush Now.” — Knocks

“Will you hate the rest of the world or will you renew your life?” asks singer-songwriter-producer LiLi Roquelin on the cover of her brand new album. This question is just as tender as it is thought-provoking and it can reflect how her music blends delicateness with a touch of darkness.

These catchy songs are graced by her crystalline vocals which give a strong, focused presence that haunt her piano-based progressive electronic sound. As we are invited in by the addictive melodies and piano rhythms from the first track “Come and hear my story”, it is quite difficult to resist to the charm of this endearing French import from a small town on the Riviera who came to the US to pursue her music career.

Other pieces in this thoughtful collection reveal her gift for conveying emotional truth and artful songs, like the down-tempo stringsorchestrated “Give you my love” and a French cover of Danny Elfman’s “Sally’s Song” (Tim Burton/ Nightmare before Christmas). This full-length album is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed fan-funded EP, released just over a year ago and recipient of two best music video awards.

With her musical talent and dazzling presence, Ms Roquelin definitely knows how to strike the iron while it’s hot and launches her new record with a breathtaking new music video for “Should you get mad”. A must hear… and see.

Nora E. Lindner with Knocks From the Underground has a great write up about Lili, “Lili Roquelin grew up on southern coast of France and has been propelling herself forward since childhood. She dreamed of coming to the US to have a music career and so far that is exactly what she has done. In the past, she sang with the pop-rock band Phizzy Lager and collaborated on an album with Hate Dies Hard.

Now on her own, it’s hard to imagine that the artist needs anyone else. Crisp with talent, Roquelin is more accomplished than most people of any profession can ever hope to be — her entire album is produced, written, composed, arranged, performed, recorded, and pre-mixed by Roquelin herself. She also does her own PR and marketing.

In fact, the only help she’s seemed to have had is from her dedicated fanbase: Roquelin’s first release, LiLi Roquelin (2008), was completely fan-funded. The music video for the EP’s single, “I Saw You,” won the 2008 Best Music Video Queens International Film Festival and 2009 Best Pop Music Video Indie Gathering Film Festival.

Now Roquelin’s released her first full-length album, Will You Hate the Rest of the World or Will You Renew Your Life? (2010). The first track, “Come and Hear My Story,” is a literal invitation that from any other artist would come off as heavy-handed. But Roquelin, with Sarah McLachlan-esque grace, makes it all sound more appealing.

The sliding dissonance and dense composition that follows puts her music firmly in trip-hop, where it settles deep. Complex ballads with lingering themes of love and loss fill out the 9-track album, all sung with that undeniably endearing accent. “How We Grow” is a music box waltz and “Give you My Love” is a poignant call for the return of an old lover. Violins composed by Roquelin and performed by Laura Kay give this song the profound coating of old folk tradition.

Everything Roquelin touches she makes her own — even things she hasn’t created. Her cover of “Sally’s Song” (written by Danny Elfman for the Tim Burton cult-classic, A Nightmare Before Christmas) is nothing short of perfect. Always a haunting show-stopper, translated into French it becomes a song of grand devastation.

“Renew,” from which the album’s title comes, is a bitter operetta. Arguably the darkest song on the album, the first light grows with a hum of “I’ve been wondering, should I write about this?”

Whether or not she regrets it, we’re glad she did. Will You Hate the Rest of the World or Will You Renew Your Life? is now available for purchase. The new music video for “Should You Get Mad” (premiered February 15) can be seen on Lili Roquelin’s official website.”

Fame, It all began with a dream…

According to professional movie critic Giffordgtech, “This movie is based upon the 1980 film which follows NYC talent attending the New York City High School for the Performing Arts, (Known today as Fiorello H. Laguardia H.S.) students get specialized training that often leads to success as actors, singers, etc.

In 1936, New York City Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia founded the High School of Music & Art in order to provide a facility where the most gifted and talented public school students of New York City could pursue their talents in art or music, while also completing a full academic program of instruction. In 1948, the School of Performing Arts was created to provide training in performance skills to students who wished to prepare for professional careers in dance, music or drama.”

The film promises to be a younger, sharper version of American Idol. Fame really shows all the hard work that aspiring performers must go through for a shot at the big screen. The film tells the story of it all; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Struggling performer’s stories are told about abortion, coming out of the closet, and many other issues.

Fame is the world premier production of director Kevin Tancharoen. “Tancharoen was called in to discuss a remake with producer Gary Lucchesi, “My initial gut reaction was a little violent,” he says. “I loved the first one a lot. I had put it on a pedestal as one of the only raw, gritty looks into being a performer. It reflected the ’80s, and it was a movie that I watched almost every year.”

Still, Tancharoen was intrigued with the idea of updating “Fame,” telling Lucchesi he didn’t envision an exact replica. “Coco, Leroy, Bruno, Ralph, you cannot cast them again,” he says, reeling off the names of the first film’s main characters. “If you recast them, you will already have people who hate it, and I know there will be haters no matter what. You can, however, take the original idea and core message and integrity and play it to 2009.” (Rachel Abramowitz)

When the Quincy Cove movie goers about fame their were mixed reactions. Some of the movie goers thought that the film was fantastic, but other wished they would have seen Surrogates.