Music - The Eastern Echo

Matt on Music: The xx

By Matt Rice · Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012

It was 2009, and music critics were doing what music critics do—hyping Animal Collective’s “Merriweather Post Pavilian” as the best album of the year before the year was even halfway through, overrating Grizzly Bear and ignoring Wussy for the third album in a row. It was a typical year. Then, a British band came out of nowhere and took the music world by storm. They were The xx.

Matt on Music: Low Cut Connie

By Matt Rice · Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012

In August of this year, a group of my friends went to a show in Philadelphia that I unfortunately was too young to go to.

Pop-punk staples to return to Detroit for reunion tours

By Carmen Bojanowski · Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012

A while back, I wrote a column discussing the downfall of the pop punk music scene. This is mainly due to the fact that the master pop punk bands of the early to mid-2000s either don’t exist anymore or are still hanging on but releasing mediocre tracks that will never measure up to the songs of their heyday.

Ugly Mug Madhouse event celebrates 1 year

By Melissa Poyle · Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012

Those who have not yet been down to The Ugly Mug Café and Roastery for their monthly Madhouse event have been missing out.

Matt on Music: Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Kiss'

By Matt Rice · Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012

Carly Rae Jepsen’s new LP, “Kiss,” opens with “Tiny Little Bows.” The song begins with a disco-synth riff, followed by a voice singing, “Cupid, draw back your bow and let your arrow go.” Any ’60s soul fan can tell you, after listening to this, that it is a sample of Sam Cooke’s “Cupid,” although Cooke’s voice has been placed in a much higher register.

The White Ravens playing in Ypsi

By Matt Rice · Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012

Ann Arbor band The White Ravens have developed a decent following over the years, with two self-released albums and a third set to be released soon.

Swedish songwriter one of generation’s best

By Matt Rice · Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012

Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman has proven to be one of this generation’s finest songwriters, penning lyrics that are often sad, romantic, funny or combinations of all three.

Music is rockin’ at the Blind Pig

By Carmen Bojanowski · Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012

There is one thing that many of the local bands covered in The Eastern Echo have in common: They have performed at Ann Arbor’s Blind Pig.

Next on Alt-J’s tour: Blind Pig

By Matt Rice · Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012

The British band ?, which formed in 2007, released their first album earlier this year. You may be wondering, “What kind of a band name is ??” It’s actually the Greek letter “delta,” and their name is pronounced Alt-J (‘Alt-J’ being the command to achieve the delta symbol on a Mac computer). It’s like Prince’s “Love Symbol” if he were more computer savvy.

Steinway Campaign relaunches

By Krystal Elliott · Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012

Eastern Michigan University’s Department of Music and Dance will celebrate the relaunch of an ongoing campaign to outfit the entire department with Steinway pianos with an event at Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater Sept.

Local band Rospoem plays show at Launch Board Shop

By Carmen Bojanowski · Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012

Ann Arbor’s Launch Board Shop has housed a few local concerts and this past Saturday, Sept. 15 local ambient, post-rock band Rospoem was the latest to play a show there. For a band that assembled in the fall of last year they’ve come a long way. With an EP released and another recording in the works, they’re one of Ann Arbor’s latest bands to watch out for.

Neutral Milk Hotel meets hip-hop mix

By Matt Rice · Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012

On his Bandcamp page, user Psychosis’ description reads, “Psychosis is a video game programmer who accidentally found audio editing software and the world has been paying the price ever since,” and his slogan is, “Oops, looks like I accidently put one song over another song.

Staff music picks: September

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012

“Broken Social Scene’s self-titled album could not have made it back onto my playlists with better timing.

New Wainwright impresses

By Matt Rice · Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012

As musicians get older, the natural contemplation of death can result in more thought, emotion and personal ideas in their music.

Oddcore, Alibi Crew team up

By Bryan Alfaro · Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012

Ypsilanti-based music producers Oddcore Productions and Alibi Crew will be hosting the “Out of the Box” remix compilation release party Saturday, Sept. 15 at Crossroad’s Bar & Grill, 517 W. Cross St. in Ypsilanti, just south of Eastern Michigan University’s campus.

Circa Survive’s new album more raw, bold than others

By Carmen Bojanowski · Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012

In the entertainment industry, every musician’s dream is to be signed to a major record label, whether they’re still playing in their mom’s garage, opening for bands on tour, or playing moderate sized shows themselves.

Indie-rock band Wussy flexes musical muscles

By Matt Rice · Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012

In 2000, Chuck Cleaver, guitarist and singer for the Cincinnati-based Ass Ponys, was asked to do a solo set. Knowing he had stage fright, his friend Lisa Walker asked if he had ever considered singing with another person. He wrote some words on a napkin; the two of them sang together and a vocal musical duo was born.