popwreckoning » mtv http://popwreckoning.com without music, life would be a mistake. Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:15:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Joy Formidable with the Lonely Forest and Mona @ Black Cat, Washington DC http://popwreckoning.com/2011/03/28/the-joy-formidable-with-the-lonely-forest-and-mona-black-cat-washington-dc/ http://popwreckoning.com/2011/03/28/the-joy-formidable-with-the-lonely-forest-and-mona-black-cat-washington-dc/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:30:25 +0000 Mary Chang http://popwreckoning.com/?p=33089

rock band brought their energetic set to Washington’s Black Cat Friday night. Opening for them were from Washington State and Nashville’s . Both bands proved to be good choices as support, as they showed chutzpah in their respective sets. Coming to this gig, I didn’t know anything about the Lonely Forest. In their short 30-minute set, they rocked out on their guitars and jumped all over the stage. At one point, lead singer / guitarist Jon Van Deusen was completely taken in by the moment, he was on the floor and rolled all the way over backwards, losing his blue Seattle Seahawks cap in the process. After sheepishly retrieved the lost hat, he remarked, “I didn’t mean to do that…but it was fun!” Disarming. The band have just put out their debut record, Arrows, last week on Trans Records.

To be honest, I didn’t know what to make of Mona when I got a track of theirs in my inbox in April 2010, when no one in knew who they were. When I heard they were from Nashville, my first thought was, oh no, do we really need another ? Turns out the band is originally from Ohio but moved to Nashville to find fame and fortune. Like Kings of Leon, they’re an American band who have been fully embraced by the British: they won the (UK) poll voted by fans and figured in many top 10 lists of bands to watch in 2011. So I was really looking forward to seeing Mona, to judge for myself what all the fuss was about.

Mona look like four toughs and they rock out hard on their instruments, but judging from their sweet smiles from onstage as they realized the audience was loving their sound, I can tell their hearts are in the right place, -wise. The song that everyone at the Cat seemed to know, “Listen to Your Love,” went down wonderfully, as drums banged and guitars swirled in perfect harmony. “Teenager” was another highlight, with its heavy backbeat and shouted chorus (see below). Their album comes out in mid-May in the UK. See these guys now in small clubs here in U.S. while you can, because I think it’s only a matter of time before they blow up big.

On this night in March, the Joy Formidable had “graduated” from their Black Cat Backstage appearance last November to the upstairs, larger main stage, accommodating 400 more people. By their appointed set time of 11, the place was packed. Good on Washington. They may only be three people, but these three people – (lead vocals / guitar), (bass / vocals), and (drums) – pack enough energy to probably set a jumbo jet into flight. Putting words down on paper (or in this case, on a music blog) to explain what you feel when you see them seems ridiculous because you have to see the band to fully understand how much power they bring when they play. The Joy Formidable is punk with its raw, hard rocking, devil-may-care attitude but they are also evocative and atmospheric in the way only emo and alt-rock can be. Being up in front with my friends, I could feel the stage vibrating madly as the band thrashed about wildly before, during, and in the outros of many of their numbers. If you’d like to watch their performance at the Parish in Austin at this year’s South by Southwest, NPR has it here.

Reflecting on this show, I considered how great it was to see them on a Friday night, when you could get all your aggressions of the work out, headbanging to their raucousness. Their debut album, The Big Roar, just came out here in the States on March 15, but it was obvious by many audience members singing along and pumping their fists in the air that many had already memorized the songs. The band played songs from their 2010 EP A Balloon Called Moaning and tracks from the new album. When Dafydd started in on the trademark bass line of “Austere” and fans cheered, he asked with a smile, “guess you know this one?” That would be a yes. It’s a great song on recording, but wow, seeing them play it live is 1,000 times better. Before “I Don’t Want to See You Like This” (see video below), Bryan asked the audience who had ever visited . Watching this woman chat with fans was heartwarming, but then she launched into the song and you had to pinch yourself. Is that really the same woman? She may be a cute blonde Welsh girl but can she can sure pack a punch in the lyrics and guitar department. The call and response between Bryan and Dafydd of the gentler number “9669″ was a brief respite from the Joy Formidable three-pronged attack showed their softer side.

“A Heavy Abacus” from the new album was to be their last number, but it was clear the 11-song set just wasn’t enough for some people. One fan begged the guitar tech to ask the band to come out for another encore. The tech, busily trying to unplug equipment, was incredulous: “you mean you want an encore to the encore???” I laughed to myself. Yes, the Joy Formidable have come to America with their Big Roar. I only hope more people here will go see them and witness their majesty for themselves.

The Joy Formidable Set List
The Ever Changing Spectrum of a Lie
The Magnifying Glass
Austere
The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade
Cradle
Buoy
I Don’t Want to See You Like This
9669
Whirring
//
Greyhounds in the Slips
A Heavy Abacus

Tour Dates
Mar 28 – Met / Providence
Mar 29 – Brighton Music Hall / Allston, MA
Mar 30 – Johnny Brenda’s / Philadelphia
Mar 31 – Terrace Club @ Princeton University / Princeton, NJ
Apr 01 – Abbey / Harrisburg
Apr 02 – Horseshoe Tavern / Toronto
Apr 04 – Basement / Columbus
Apr 05 – Lincoln Hall / Chicago
Apr 06 – 7th Street Entry / Minneapolis
Apr 08 – Larimer Lounge / Denver
Apr 09 – Kilby Court / Salt Lake City
Apr 11 – Mississippi Studios / Portland
Apr 12 – Crocodile / Seattle
Apr 14 – Bottom of the Hill / San Francisco
Apr 16 – Coachella / Indio, CA
Apr 19 – Rhythm Room / Phoenix
Apr 20 – Launchpad / Albuquerque
Apr 22 – Luminary Arts Center / St. Louis
Apr 23 – Riot Room / Kansas City
Apr 26 – Grog Shop / Cleveland
Apr 27 – Smiling Moose / Pittsburgh
Apr 29 – Webster Hall / New York City

a-lonelyforest1 b-lonelyforest2 c-lonelyforest3 d-lonelyforest4 e-lonelyforest5 f-mona1 g-mona2 h-mona3 i-mona4 j-mona5 k-mona6 l-joyformidable1 m-joyformidable2 n-joyformidable3 o-joyformidable4 p-joyformidable5 q-joyformidable6 r-joyformidable7

The Joy Formidable: website | myspace | The Big Roar review
The Lonely Forest: website | myspace | @ Neumo’s
Mona: website | myspace

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2011/03/28/the-joy-formidable-with-the-lonely-forest-and-mona-black-cat-washington-dc/feed/ 0 Tyler Brown Williams interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/tyler-brown-williams-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/tyler-brown-williams-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:08:46 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25134

Acoustic singer Tyler Brown Williams performs at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The pop rock musician also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/tyler-brown-williams-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 Wil Seabrook interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/wil-seabrook-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/wil-seabrook-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:07:40 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25135

Indie rock musician Wil Seabrook performs at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The singer also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/wil-seabrook-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 Thurlow interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/thurlow-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/thurlow-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:06:08 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25133

Folk act Thurlow performs at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/thurlow-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 Thieves interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/thieves-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/thieves-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:04:22 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25132

Kansas City rock trio Thieves performs at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/thieves-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 The Sexual Frustration interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-sexual-frustration-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-sexual-frustration-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:03:06 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25131

California grunge act The Sexual Frustration perform at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-sexual-frustration-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 The Right Coast interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-right-coast-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-right-coast-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:00:01 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25130

The Right Coast perform at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The Pennsylvania group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the video below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-right-coast-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 The Other Side of Morning interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-other-side-of-morning-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-other-side-of-morning-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:58:34 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25129

California’s The Other Side of Morning perform at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The indie rock group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-other-side-of-morning-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 The New Collisions interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-new-collisions-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-new-collisions-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:57:10 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25128

Massachusetts act The New Collisions perform at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The pop rock group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by .

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/the-new-collisions-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/feed/ 0 Lynhurst interview, performance @ ATN Showcase: SXSW 2010 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/lynhurst-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/06/01/lynhurst-interview-performance-atn-showcase-sxsw-2010/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:43:23 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=25091

Minnesota family trio Lynhurst perform at the All Together Now Showcase at 2010. The pop rock group also took the time to answer a few questions. Check it out in the below:

The All Together Now Showcase was made possible with help from ATN Management, Invisible Children, Big Picture Media, PopWreckoning.com, Fox Clothing, Pop Chips, www.borrowlenses.com, www.philipgrey.com, Jacob Mengelkoch, Bayou Lounge, Kelsey Eckberg, Jennifer DaRe and MTV.

It was the only showcase at SXSW where bands could be sure their would be heard by MTV.

You can learn more about the showcase and other bands featured at www.atnshowcase.com. We’ll also be featuring more bands’ interviews and performances in an ongoing feature at www.PopWreckoning.com.

Were you there? We’d love to hear your memories…

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