Archives For Show Previews

Mockingbird Sun Share Influences Ahead of Release Show

Cause A Scene —  March 30, 2015 — Leave a comment
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This past weekend we caught up with the Mockingbird Sun guys in advance of their album release show Friday night at Mercy Lounge (Tickets HERE) to chat about favorite songs and artists and influences on their new record, “This Is Real Life”. Here are the songs that have stuck with the guys. Steam the playlist via Spotify after the jump.
“If I Could Change Your Mind” – Haim – Their album was one of the best last year, and this track in particular is amazing
“Every Little Kiss” – Bruce Hornsby – Nostalgia City on this one, a great driving song.
“Most People” – Dawes – these guys write some of the most kick ass songs around.
“Burning” – Nightbox – we had a day off in South Padre Island, found this song and it stayed in repeat for two days.
“Lawyers, Guns and Money” – Warren Zevon – can’t get away from how groovy and smart this song is. Warren Zevon was able to be funny and profound at the same time.
“Wild Ones” – Flo Rida – Oh ya, party time. Don’t think too hard about this…
“Love to get used” Matt Pond – Absolutely love the way this song feels. It’s just so cool. Even the guitar riff sounds like it doesn’t really give a shit.
“I’m Alive” – Jackson Browne – When this album came out in the 90’s, my dad had it on repeat in his Datsun. The whole record is full of great memories for me. Ironically, I’m pretty sure Jackson Browne wrote it about his divorce from Daryl Hannah. Music turns pain into beauty.
“Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac – This song is like a time machine for me. It’s such a twisted kind of love song. Stevie Nicks is haunting and Mick Fleetwood’s groove feels like the back seat of a Cadillac. I taught myself to sing harmony to this song.
“Call me Al” – Paul Simon – I used to ask my mom to put this song on after she picked me up from kindergarten. Paul Simon’s delivery is so bold and then so neurotic sounding at the same time. I hope pop music can get back to being this smart at some point…..Roly poly little bat-faced girl…..haha
“Take It Easy” – The Eagles – our favorite band. 3 guys singing together. nothing feels more ‘Mockingbird Sun’ to us than this band and this song.
“Wild & Young” – Amercan Bang – Jaren Johnston, who wrote this tune, produced our last record. we’re big fans of what he does. this song is just fun, crazyhearted & unapologetic, while feeling vintage. and loud.
“The City” – The 1975 – this band is wild. young & kinda couldn’t care less about what they say or do. and the drums are massive.
“‘Til I Hear It From You” – Gin Blossoms – we love bands that roll & jangle. these vocals are layered and work together so well. the whole song is just so melodic. it feels good. a story about a girl that helps the guy move towards redemption, he needs her. we relate.
I Ain’t Ever Satisfied – Steve Earle – Steve exudes rebellion. he’s really a tragic figure who just wants to find out how to love a woman. one our most influential artists. musically, it drives, a big chorus with ‘woahs’ and one repeated line. pure & simple. and it has ‘longing’, something we like to write about.

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Show Preview: Tyler Lyle with Emily Elbert, Alex Wong & Joshua Fletcher – 5/30

Cause A Scene —  May 29, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Have you been waiting for Cause A Scene’s next secret house show? Well, the wait is almost over because this Friday, May 30th, at 8:00 PM you can catch Tyler Lyle, Alex Wong, Emily Elbert, and Joshua Fletcher for only $10. It’s a night of music to match the warming evenings of the oncoming change in seasons.

Tyler Lyle has come a long way since vowing at an early age to never pursue music as a career. His lack of interested stemmed from the multiple vacations and Saturdays spent traveling to Nashville to watch his father play at the Blue Bird Café and other local venues. However it was at age 15 that he picked up a guitar and learned a few chords and it wasn’t long before he was following in his father’s footsteps.

For a guy who didn’t want to do the music-business-thing Lyle has accomplished a great deal in a short period of time, releasing four EP’s and one full-length. In addition to his own albums he found an open door co-writing for the Dixie Chicks’ project, Court Yard Hounds.

Upon listening to Tyler’s most recent EP, Ditchdigger, one may hear influences of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Townes Van Zandt. The album shows great range from the subtle guitar and piano on the track “Young Men” to the catchy chorus of “A Song To Sing,” played with a full band. The Georgia native has been heard on network TV shows like ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Private Practice’ and has made appearances at music festivals such as SWSX, Noise Pop, and Musicfest NW.

Tour mate, Alex Wong, who is also on the bill this Friday, will soon be calling Nashville home base. He’s packed up and moving from the Bay Area of California to the landlocked state of Tennessee. Wong arrives in Music City with a debut solo album, A City On A Lake.

Songwriting isn’t all he’s up to. Wong is also a producer. He produced tour mate Tyler Lyle’s song “Young Men,” which was nominated Best Pop Song at the 2014 Independent Music Awards. He’s also arranged his songs into violin, cello, and cimbalom orchestrations to raise money for one of his favorite charities, City Harvest.

Does anyone remember the lounge band “Sausalito” in the movie Lost in Translation? When I heard Emily Elbert’s song, “End of the World”, for the first time that is what came to mind. Elbert’s voice has that smooth-jazz crispness that you’d find in a smokey lounge. The rest of her most-recently released EP, Evolve, keeps that smoothness throughout the album. The Dallas, Texan has played over 700 shows in the United States and worldwide and has opened for artists such as G. Love & Special Sauce.

Opening up the evening will be Joshua Fletcher, whose voice contains a vibe reminiscent of bands like Counting Crows or The Verve Pipe. But the instrumentals in the Macon, Georgia, native’s music stays closer to the alt country and Americana genres. He’ll be releasing a new album, Read, Aim, on In Music We Trust Records some time this summer.

All these accomplished artists are here for your listening pleasure this Friday starting a 8:00 PM. Get your tickets here ahead of time because space is limited! Secret location will be announced to ticket holders DOS.

– Josh Baker

Tyler Lyle- ‘Werewolf’

Emily Elbert- ‘In With The New’

Alex Wong- ‘Are You Listening’ (Live at Sofar Sounds Dallas)

Joshua Fletcher- ‘Oh, Midnight’

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Show Preview: Cardboard Kids Album Release with Golden Youth, Lenachka & Poema – 5/23

Cause A Scene —  May 22, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Cause A Scene is honored to present Cardboard Kids‘ release show for their ambitious debut album, Echo Boomer, this Friday May 23. New Nashvillians by way of Tyler, Texas skate parks, the Kids are self-diagnosed nineties alt-rock lovers with a penchant for thick blues riffs. Don’t miss this historic occasion for the Kids and three other acts on the rise. A cool $5 gets you in the High Watt, or upgrade to an album bundle for $10. Get your tickets here ahead of the crowd. Doors at 8pm. Show starts at 9pm.

Cardboard Kids’ Jake Germany (vocals), Brandon McFarlin (drums), and Austin Cunningham (guitars) pursue a rock prize bigger than Texas, and have hit their marks every time. After a year of dedicated songwriting, the Kids enlisted Tres Sasser as producer and longtime Ben Folds studio engineer Joe Costa to steer organic, muscular production at Sound Shelter Studios in Franklin, TN. Star contributor Ruby Amanfu (Jack White’s Love Interruption) adds a velvet touch to one of the many album highlights, “Dime A Time Lover.”

Tourmates Golden Youth create intricate, cinematic Americana as if Sigur Ros grew up in the Deep South. Be there when vocalist Stephanie Lauren and her army of woodland creatures makes spring burst in bloom. Check out their wonderful debut Quiet Frame: Wild Light.

Twenty-year-old songstress, Lenachka, is one of Nashville’s best-kept secrets. Not for long. The German-born singer pens inventive smart-pop on par with international breakouts Kimbra and Oh Land, and recently has taken strides toward the mainstream with producer-on-fire Charlie Peacock (Civil Wars, Lone Bellow).

Sisters Elle and Shealeen Pucket have a true knack for melody, cranking out effortlessly catchy acoustic pop as Poema. Launching from Albuquerque as a kind of Wreckers gone Warped Tour, the duo had a taste of the major label roller coaster in their teens. Finding a new center in Nashville, Poema will air out their first new material in two years tomorrow night. Cross your fingers for a live collaboration on Cardboard Kids’ “Broke A Promise,” for which they lend tender harmonies.

– Whitaker Elledge

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Show Preview: Swear and Shake with Brave Baby and Ben Cameron at The Stone Fox – 5/22

Cause A Scene —  May 21, 2014 — Leave a comment

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If you are looking for a way to ring in the fast approaching summer season with perfect warm weather tunes, then the line up at The Stone Fox this Thursday is one you will not want to miss. Headlining the evening is the vastly talented New York indie folk band Swear and Shake. Formed in 2010 in the college residence of band members Adam McHeffey and Kari Spieler, the two co-eds cut a rough demo of their first song “Johnnie”. The Americana hooks and spirited presence of “Johnny” quickly yielded the enlistment of McHeffey’s childhood pals Shaun Savage (bass) and Thomas Elefante (former drummer) and still remains a driving force in the band’s current sound.

In the months that followed, the newly formed band took on the name Swear and Shake and recorded their first EP, Extended Play. In the years since, Swear and Shake has gone from playing multiple hot spots in New York and Brooklyn to extended tours up and down the east coast. With the addition of new drummer Ben Goldstein, the band released their first full-length record Maple Ridge (also produced by Goldstein) in the summer of 2012. They also released two new songs, “Brother” and “Fire” last year.

Joining Swear and Shake at The Stone Fox is Brave Baby, an indie rock band from Charleston, South Carolina who has played multiple CAS shows. Their debut album Forty Bells that was released last year draws similarities to My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, Cold War Kids and Coldplay, but wastes no time in establishing Brave Baby’s signature sound. This band has quickly become on of my absolute favorites as Forty Bells has not left the CD changer of my Honda Civic since I picked it up at their first CAS show last May. After having around 500 artists play Cause A Scene shows in the past couple years, it’s no stretch to say Brave Baby is easily one of the Top 5 we’ve had play.

Opening up the evening is Nashville singer songwriter Ben Cameron. Cameron has written and recorded two full-length albums since 2010, the most recent of which, Pas Tout La, released in 2013. Cameron released his new single “I Believe” this past February and is due to play Governor’s Ball Music Festival in NYC next month.

Doors for the show open at 8:00 PM at The Stone Fox in West Nashville (712 51st Ave. N.). Music will begin at 9:00 PM. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here in advance.

– Christian Lerchenfeld

Swear and Shake- ‘Brother’

Brave Baby- ‘Magic and Fire’

Ben Cameron- ‘I Believe’

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Show Preview: Lulu Mae Album Release Show with EL EL and The Oak Creek Band at Exit/In – 5/16

Cause A Scene —  May 15, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Lightening 100’s 2013 Music City Mayhem winners Lulu Mae are back at it again with their second full length album Mean River, which released earlier this week on May 13th.  Lulu Mae is no stranger to Cause A Scene either, having graced several CAS lineups in the past.  Having gotten their start back in 2010, Lulu Mae are experts in serving up folk rock, family style.  Husband and wife duos Joel and Sarah Finley, Adam and Jen Smith, brother Ben Smith, and “adopted brothers” Anthony Mangin and David Sutton offer a whole new meaning to the term family band.

The connection these guys have both with the music and with each other is evident as it in their sound and performance. I feel I can personally vouch for this group, having seen them multiple times, that they don’t mess around when it comes to delivering the best of the best while still having a blast with each other on stage.  After all that Lulu Mae has offered up until this point, I think it’s safe to say that both “Mean River” and their CD release show on Friday, May 16th at Exit/In will not disappoint.

Self proclaimed Indie Pop band EL EL and Americana Rock group The Oak Creek Band will be opening Friday’s release show.  You can find EL EL’s single ‘Kiss Kiss’ on iTunes and The Oak Creek Band’s LP XI on Bandcamp.

The fun will begin at 7:00 PM this Friday at Exit/In. Tickets can be purchased here for $5.

– Bailey Basham

LuLu Mae- ‘Mean River’

EL EL- ‘Live Set on Lightning 100’

The Oak Creek Band- ‘Pixelated’

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