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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Show Preview: Communion Nashville May Club Night – 5/15

Cause A Scene —  May 14, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Communion Club Night returns to Mercy Lounge tomorrow (Thursday), May 15th. This month, enjoy the breadth of styles from eight bands hitting their touring stride. The camaraderie will be palpable with our first three bands deep into a dozen dates together, and the others routing through spirited road calendars of their own. As per usual, doors open at 7:00 PM and music will begin promptly at 8:00 PM. Get your tickets here for $9.50 in advance or $15 DOS.

Here’s the rundown: Neulore comes out strong, boasting muscular, modern folk with expansive and cinematic peaks. The Nashville natives scored a deal with the music supervision titan Alexandra Patsavas’ Chop Shop Records (Twilight, Grey’s Anatomy) earlier this year, but haven’t forgotten their roots.

Pulling themselves up to rarified radio air, Bootstraps create polished, ethereal anthems centered on Jordan Beckett’s raspy vocal. The band’s larger-than-life sonic is enveloping, emotive, and sure to stun the live setting.

Los Angeles’ Busy Living brings a unique energy to the bill with effortless harmony surrounded by pop quirk. The quintet recently beefed up their sound with the help of Spoon’s Jim Eno, who produced two tracks (that we know about) at his Public Hi-Fi studios in Austin.

A familiar friendly face on the Nashville scene, Courtney Jaye’s latest set of breezy, classic country-tinged tunes made American Songwriter’s Top 50 Albums of 2013. NPR’s Ann Powers crowned her Dusty Springfield’s spiritual daughter. Somebody buy a round of box wine.

Landing somewhere between The Donnas and Grace Potter, Oregon native Cooper surrounds herself with an entourage of singers, dancers, and horns to become Cooper and the Jam. The fiery redhead brings blues, burlesque, and bravado to her latest Motown Suite.

Shifting gears, we ease in to the haunting, ethereal ballads of Penny & Sparrow. Expect a big year from the Texas duo, whose super-glued vocal layering a la Civil Wars and Swell Season has landed them on major festivals and the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Kansas City smart-rockers Me Like Bees specialize in angular riffs and intricate rhythms with mechanical precision. With a nod to Modest Mouse, MLB have invented an equally fresh recipe for alternative music that sticks to your ribs.

We arrive at last to Daniel and the Lion, who have been making warm folk pop from Baraboo, Wisconsin for years, but broke nationally with YouTube covers. Just last month, they were asking fans on Facebook to help book shows, and in June they will open twenty-three dates for Counting Crows. It will be a treat to see these shining examples of persistence and humility under their own white-hot spotlight.

– Whitaker Elledge

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Daily Discovery: James Bay

Cause A Scene —  May 13, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Similar Artists: Tyrone Wells, Hozier, The Lone Bellow, Ben Howard, Bear’s Den

Since the release of his debut EP nearly a year ago, 23 year old British singer-songwriter, James Bay, has been causing a scene among indie folk lovers across the globe. Bay began writing songs at a young age, exposing the awkward and embarrassing hopes and fears of being a teenager in his lyrics. The same confidence and carefree spirit he had as a teenager still shines through his music today.

Although Bay claims his style was influenced by his favorite rock bands growing up, such as The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and the Black Crowes, he decided to go with a simple, stripped down style for his first album release last summer, which mainly consists of his powerful, smooth voice and his acoustic guitar. His debut EP titled The Dark of the Morning conveys a common theme of a couple making the most of their last night together before calling it quits on their dying relationship in the morning.

Fans of Bay no longer have to wait with bated breath for a sophomore EP. He has released a copy of his new EP titled Demos on his website and SoundCloud page. No official release date for the U.S. has been set at this time.

– Mary Margaret Boswell

James Bay- ‘Let It Go’

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Show Preview: Vandaveer with Jake McMullen – 5/13

Cause A Scene —  May 12, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Don’t miss your chance this Tuesday, May 13th to catch D.C.-based folk act Vandaveer with local singer songwriter Jake McMullen in the 12 South area of Nashville. As we inch closer and closer to summer, this fantastic alt-folk lineup is sure to help welcome the longer days. This acoustic show is the latest installment of our ever-growing series of secret house shows with Closeup.fm that provide intimate settings to experience your favorite musicians like never before.

From the mind of Ohio born and Kentucky raised alt-folk musician Mark Charles Heidinger, Vandaveer is a project that has changed and morphed continuously through the course of four full-length albums and one EP since it’s conception in 2007, the most recent of which, Oh, Willie, Please… released just last year. In that time, Vandaveer has carved the niche in the folk scene with an Americana sound that intricately weaves haunting themes and tones with infectious and inviting melodies. Collaborating musicians often change from tour-to-tour and album-to-album, but harmonious songstress Rose Guerin has the most prominent. Vandaveer has received glowing press from the likes of The Washington Post, La Blogotheque, Daytrotter, and Consequence of Sound.

Jake McMullen’s masterfully ability to blur the lines between indie rock and country/folk will serve as the perfect compliment to Vandaveer this Tuesday evening. Former frontman for the band York, the Orange County, CA native, now Nashville transplant has spent the last few years focusing on his solo material, and I for one can’t knock the decision. In the time since he has continued writing his own material while also collaborating on a split EP with friend and Boston native Ellex Bree, aptly titled Ellex Bree + Jake that released in 2013. Since his first EP release in 2010, when he was still a teenager, McMullen has successfully crafted a sound that wonderfully displays his expert musicianship and talent as a songwriter.

Don’t miss out on what is sure to be a unique acoustic showcase of some of the best talent in folk music, in the most intimate of settings. Space is very limited with only a select number of tickets available, so get your tickets here for only $10. Secret 12 South location will be disclosed following purchase. Music will begin promptly at 8:00 PM. Doors open at 7:30 PM.

– Christian Lerchenfeld

Vandaveer- ‘Pretty Polly’

Jake and Ellex- ‘In the Valley’

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