One of the supreme joys of leading the Cause A Scene family is watching artists that I get the chance to work with gain a bigger and bigger audience as people slowly but surely catch on to the secret we’ve known all along. There is something uniquely special about the process of discovering an artist for the first time as any music lover can attest. It’s an even more surreal feeling to see that artist’s career blossom and take on a fuller form, and for the world to recognize the beauty of that person or band’s artwork. This is especially true of next Tuesday’s house show performer, Liz Longley. Since last summer we have been emailing back and forth trying to find a time that made sense for both parties to host Liz for a Cause A Scene house show, with the eagerness to have her play a show increasing more and more with each accolade that comes her way.
This past week, Liz was featured on Billboard, where she played a couple new songs off her forthcoming self-titled album and discussed her benefit show for the families effected by the Boston Marathon bombings. We’ve mentioned Liz many times in the past in conversations about her being “one to watch”, and it appears that some of the biggest artists in the genre agree, with John Mayer calling Liz’s music “Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous” and Amos Lee, Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin having Liz join them on tour.
A week from tonight, April 30, we welcome Liz back to her adoptive home of Nashville for a show that is sure to excite fans, both new and old, and will be looked back on years from now as one of those “remember when…” moments in time as we reflect on Liz’s rapidly rising star. As if seeing Liz play in a house show setting wasn’t enough, we also have the showstopping, soulful Jeffrey James performing and Seattle’s Carson Henley making his first ever Nashville appearance. You don’t want to miss this one!
Tickets can be purchased in advance here, which we recommend doing as we anticipate a sellout. See you next Tuesday!
File the Birmingham-based band, War Jacket, under the heading “Bands We Haven’t Hosted Yet But Can’t Wait To Host”. We’ve known Caleb Chancey, the leader of this orchestral-folk act for several years, and it’s been inspiring to say the least to watch as his band has grown over that time to keep up with his own artistic ambition. With a voice that calls to mind greats like Damien Jurado, Sam Beam of Iron & Wine and even at times the otherworldly Anthony Hegarty of Anthony & The Johnson’s.
It’s still hard to pin down War Jacket’s sound, as there are elements of classical, folk, baroque pop and post-rock seamlessly intertwined. No more apparent is this than on their song “Water Wings”, which the band released a video for via NoiseTrade today. It’s a beautifully shot video that encapsulates the order and chaos present in the song. Just wait until the strings come in around 2:00 and the full band rises to the occasion about 3:15 into the song. It’s chilling. It’s moving. It’s exactly what you would expect from one of Birmingham’s finest up-and-coming bands.
BONUS: If you head over to NoiseTrade, you can also download their brand new album, “Spring Hollow Sessions” for FREE. Happy listening!
Show of hands: Who is ready for this long winter to be over and spring and all its glory to officially be upon us? Raise them high. Oh wow, that seems to be an overwhelming majority. Well, we’re all in luck, because not only does there seem to be just a touch more warmth in the air this week, but San Francisco’s Carousel brings us their synth-laden, long-day-at-the-beach-without-a-care-in-the-world inspired single “Another Day” to us today, just in time to soundtrack these longer, sunnier days ahead of us. For fans of the chiller side of Phoenix, Passion Pit, and Wild Cub, this band is a must-listen. Sit back, relax, and let the breeziness of the track wash over you and take away any memory of the past few chilly months keeping you confined to the indoors, and enjoy the sunshine.
We’re also really pleased to be playing host to the band for their first Nashville stop on Monday, April 15. We’ve been wanting to have an upbeat electronic/pop/dance house show for ages now, and in only a short couple weeks, that dream will become a reality with Carousel, Young Islands, and Pocono bringing Music City all the fun we can handle for one night of music. Check out “Another Day” here, then be sure to purchase your tickets for their show here.
It’s no secret at Cause A Scene that we’re big fans of rising star Rebecca Roubion. We had the pleasure of hosting her for house shows in our first year, and have eagerly watched her blossom into a more mature performer and songwriter with her “Fields” EP release last fall and the highly anticipated “Forests” release coming (hopefully) sometime this spring.
This week, Rebecca released a brand-new video for her single “Love Me Now” that captures all the emotions of first love: the sparks flying, the feeling of floating on air, the childlike joyfulness and awesome brief moments of awkwardness that come with finding your match in another. We’re big fans of this video and think you will be to.
GO BUY this girl’s album, “Fields”! She’s oh-so-close to selling 1,000 copies, which will be the signal that it’s officially time to release the darker, more introspective “Forests” to the world.
Lastly, we are THRILLED to be having Rebecca back for another house show tomorrow night, performing with CherryCase. Tickets are going fast for our show with Audrey Assad, Cereus Bright, CherryCase and Becca Mancari, so be sure to get them here if you’re hoping to attend.
When hearing about new music coming out of Texas, most people’s thoughts go immediately to Austin, but there is a band out of Dallas that is making some big noise that is extending far beyond the Lone Star State lines. Douglas Hale (vocals, keys, guitar), Dragan Jakovljevic (guitar, BGVs, percussion), Richard Carpenter (keys, BGVs, percussion), Jeff Taylor (bass, BGVs), and Justin Robinson (drums) began making music together in 2008 in a suburb of Dallas. In a year’s time they had written enough songs to record and self-release their first record, and Air Review was formed.
The band has spent the years since, spreading their music and honing their craft, playing all across Texas as well as other cities across the southern U.S. In their most recent album, Low Wishes that was released in January of this year, Air Review masterfully utilize a variety of tones and melodies resulting in what I like to describe a sort of ambient-folk sound that gives Air Review a unique musical identity.
I was fortunate enough to recently speak with Richard Carpenter about the new album, the ambitions for the band, as well as number of other worldly topics.
How was the band formed? Did you all know each other beforehand? -CL
Doug and Jeff got together a few times and talked about writing some music when they approached me. Doug and I have known each other since day one, our parents being friends and all. The rest of us knew each from various musician-for-hire scenarios or, what you might call, musical social circles. But the key thing is that we’ve all become better friends since forming Air Review. I don’t know if that happens very often, but it’s been a crucial part of making Air Review what it is. -RC
What/who are the bands’ inspiration and influences? This could be both musical and personal.
We all have different musical interests these days. Doug loves electro girl pop, and so do I. I can’t stop listening to Purity Ring. Last year I was obsessed with Youth Lagoon (still kind of am) and I’m listening to POLICA right now. Jeff has always been a big Elbow fan as well as Doves. Justin would probably tell you about David Bazan or Rogue Wave and Dragan would shamelessly tell you that he listens to Boy George, though I don’t know if he’d call it an influence…
Is there anything about Texas that spills into your music?
Though we’re not all from Texas, we’ve all been here for a while. I’d say that it spills into our music in many ways, though it would be hard to pinpoint anything. For me, I think there is something about Texas that makes people feel big and small at the same time. Watching the Texas skyline has always been a favorite part of growing up here. Standing under something so huge and beautiful has always made me feel insignificant while simultaneously nudging me to reach for big things. That may sound silly, but I feel like it’s true.
What is your favorite Air Review moment or accomplishment thus far?
We’re all pretty proud of the new record. We put a lot of our own guts into it and in a way we’re still doing so. We certainly don’t think it’s perfect, but we believe in it.
What is the bands favorite city and favorite venue to play in?
I mean, can we really say anything other than our hometown, Dallas? Honestly, we really do love Dallas. It’s been kind to us. As for a favorite venue, there are so many great ones to choose from, but we love Trees in Deep Ellum. Great sound system and great owner.
Not sure if you have made it up to Nashville yet, but if so, what is your favorite venue to play? What do you like most about Nashville?
Unfortunately, we haven’t been to Nashville yet. I don’t think I’ve ever been there, but I have friends that absolutely love it and keep telling me that I’ve got to make the trip. We hope to get there soon.
I know you just released Low Wishes. Is this your second full length album?
Technically, yes, it is our second full length. Our first, Landmarks, is pretty different from Low Wishes. Some people might not even recognize it as us. It was a first and a conglomeration of many years of pent up music. We’re glad we wrote it, but we’re glad to be past it at the same time.
Following the release of Low Wishes, what is next for Air Review? I know you have a few dates scheduled in Texas, but will you be doing an extended tour? Maybe you’ll be making it up this way?
We have some shows booked for south Texas: Bryan, Austin, Waco. Then we have shows in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Jackson, Mississippi in the middle of March. Other than that, there’s lots in the works. We hope people will check in with us regularly.
What is Air Review’s mission? How do you plan to affect the world with your music?
I don’t know if we’re looking to change the world. We want to make the best music that we can and we hope that people will be inspired by it in the same way that we have been inspired by music.
What is the next goal Air Review hopes to accomplish?
We’re dying to hit the road. We love playing live shows and playing in new places. We’ve got all kinds of plans in the works, to play in surrounding states as well as a trip out to the west coast. We’re just trying to be patient and do our best to be ready to go when the right opportunities present themselves.
Any pre-show rituals?
It’s funny, we really don’t. There’s always so much going on before shows and most of the venues we play don’t really have a place for us to gather privately.
If Air Review could play with one artist/band, who would it be?
It varies for each of us, but I think Radiohead comes closest to a band we can all agree on.
What is the Air Review’s favorite fast food/drive-thru tour pit stop?
Oh geez, that’s something we never agree on.
Which angry bird is your favorite angry bird?
I didn’t know there was more than one.
Lethal Weapon or Die Hard?
This is the toughest question for me. I really can’t decide.
