Cause A Scene Music

Daily Discovery: JMR

Cause A Scene — May 9, 2014 — 1 Comment

If you were ever curious as to what it would sound like if Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon were to try his hand at R&B, you’ll find the answer in JMR’s debut single “Pioneer of Your Heart.” With his sophomore album American Hell slated for release at the beginning of May, JMR leaves expectations high after the dropping of his single.

JMR shared a while back on Facebook that singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne has served as his biggest influence. “He taught me to feel when I use my voice and shut out the room,” and that’s exactly what JMR does in the “Pioneer of Your Heart” video, filmed and produced by Nashville’s Back Down South Films.

One of my favorite parts, besides the look of the video and the way it was shot (WOW) happens around the three-minute mark when JMR seamlessly transitions back and forth between soft falsettos and soulful tones. If this single serves as any indication as to where JMR is headed with his music, I can’t say I expect anyone to be left disappointed.

– Bailey Basham

JMR- ‘Pioneer of Your Heart’

In Daily Discovery Bailey Basham, JMR

Daily Discovery: Ages and Ages

Cause A Scene — May 8, 2014 — Leave a comment

Ages and Ages stands tall on a crowded field of indie-folk, offering snappy, harmony and percussion-forward jaunts imbued with poignant social philosophy. The Portland, OR eight-piece turned the heads of music supervisors and President Obama himself with 2011’s sparse, choral Alright You Restless. On their latest, Divisionary, spiritual leader Tim Perry enlists more intricate production, creative countermelody, and a Rube Goldberg machine of shakers, claps, clinks, and rattles.

We’re drawn in by driving sing-a-long, Light Goes Out, and the swampier I See More. The shimmering acoustic groove and vocal interplay of Big Idea evokes classic California pop (akin to underrated contemporaries The Belle Brigade). But the kicker is the grand finale; an uplifting, anthemic title track that sends us out on a high note, like Row, Row, Row, Your Boat for secular humanists.

– Whitaker Elledge

In Daily Discovery ages and ages, whitaker elledge

Show Review: Noah Gundersen Secret Show – 4/24

Cause A Scene — May 7, 2014 — Leave a comment

After an assortment of secret shows in Nashville, it was a fitting to end the week of intimate performances at the Cause A Scene HQ with Noah Gundersen. House shows offer artists the flexibility of making decisions that can alter the night in an incredible way making no two shows alike.

The night started off with Erin Rae filling the living room with delicate harmonies and music with a smooth, folksy Americana vibe.
Her soft-spoken demeanor and crisp vocals charmed the entire room. I always love when I attend a show to see the headliner and am delightfully surprised by the opening artist.

Armon Jay came up next, and folks, if you dig the sounds of Passenger and Joshua James, give this guy a listen. He will not disappoint.
He played most of the songs off his new album Everything’s Different, Nothing’s Changed which released earlier this year. He had an endearing quality of storytelling that came through when he explained his songs. He played a great set, and the fact that Noah Gundersen was not just in the room, but actually standing next to me, made it all the better. Can’t get that at the Bridgestone Arena.

The final performance of the night was none other than Noah Gundersen, accompanied by his sister Abby, with Armon Jay on the keys.
The chatter in the house fell silent within the first note of “Poor Man’s Son.” I love that he opened with this because it captivates and demands attention from the audience. Noah’s acapella intro transitioned from a single voice to a crowd of people during the chorus. At that moment I knew we were in for a special treat.

Noah is a one of a kind lyricist – only 24 and able to pinpoint and artfully express every possible human emotion within each of his songs. After playing “Isaiah,” his third track on his most recent album Ledges, he jokingly told the crowd “I don’t have any songs abut friendship, only sadness”.

The best moment of the night occurred halfway through the song “Nashville,” when Noah unplugged his guitar, made a b-line for the center of the room, and finished out his set. House shows FTW.

– Rachel Milligan

In Show Reviews armon jay, erin rae, noah gundersen, rachel milligan

Show Review: Arcade Fire At Bridgestone Arena – 5/1

Cause A Scene — May 6, 2014 — Leave a comment

Arcade Fire put on quite the spectacle at the Bridgestone Arena Thursday night; from their staple paper mache heads dancing around, to an elaborate use of mirrors and lights throughout the show.

When I hear Arcade fire, I don’t automatically think of them as a “Rock Arena” type. I was proved wrong from the moment they walked on stage to when it was time for the final bow. They gave a memorable performance and kept everyone on their toes.

As part of the Reflektor tour, Arcade Fire asked each individual to participate in a dress code suggestion of “formal attire or costume”. As some might see as a pretentious request, I saw as more of a playful undertaking. That night I was surrounded by an assortment of people in attire ranging from tuxedos & formal gowns to Winnie the Pooh costumes. It adds an element of lightheartedness to the evening when you’re in line for a drink and turn around to a Jesus, or are washing your hands next to a woman in a ball gown worth more than your car.

The whole night was an exposition of outstanding live music, confetti explosions, ever-changing stage décor and backdrops, and even more confetti (seriously there was a lot of confetti). My eyes were constantly moving across the stage as well as the arena. That was mainly due to frontman Win Butler and his wife Regine Chassagne. They are brilliant musicians with a captivating stage presence.

I couldn’t get enough of Regine- a-jack-of-all-trades. She reminds me of that one person we all seem to know who excels at everything. One minute she’s on stage playing the keys, the next she vanishes only to appear singing and dancing in the middle of the arena. You look away for one second to find that she has made her way back on stage and is now rocking out on the drums and giving a killer rendition of Sprawl (Mountains Beyond Mountains). The girl has some major stamina.

As much as I loved them playing at the Bridgestone and love that they have the ability to fill it, I will always prefer seeing them play in smaller venues. I mean who wouldn’t? Each member is so charismatic, that it is difficult to see and appreciate the individual’s personality through a sea of confetti and backdrop décor. Nevertheless it was a phenomenal performance with a perfect setlist. I have been waiting to see them play again for quite some time, and it was well worth the wait.

– Rachel Milligan

Arcade Fire Setlist:

Here Comes The Night Time
Reflektor
Flashbulb Eyes
Neighborhood #3
Rebellion
Joan of Arc
Get Right
Month of May
The Suburbs
The Suburbs (continued)
Ready to Start
We Exist
Neighborhood #1
Crown of Love
My Body is a Cage
Afterlife
Its Never Over

ENCORE:

Normal Person
Intervention
Broad Minded
Wake Up

In Show Reviews arcade fire, rachel milligan

Daily Discovery: Lulu Mae Release Video For Single ‘Mean River’

Cause A Scene — April 17, 2014 — Leave a comment

Just yesterday, Nashville-based folk-rock band Lulu Mae debuted the music video for the title track off their forthcoming record Mean River. If the single is any indication to the quality of the the new record, you can rest assured that it will retain the same folksy lyricism, soaring harmonies and rock n’ roll attitude that made us here at CAS such fans of the band’s first album, The Mockingbird and the Dogwood Tree.

Lulu Mae has spent the better part of the last year writing and recording the material for Mean River, which was recorded live to tape in a four night marathon session at Soundstage Studios right here in Nashville. The recording sessions were part of a prize package the band won when they finished first in the annual Nashville band/artist competition, “Music City Mayhem,” curated by local independent radio affiliate Lightning 100. The video Mean River, which can be seen below, certainly showcases the raw intensity and soul of the band that was so well captured in the live recording sessions.

Cause A Scene will be presenting Lulu Mae’s official album release show at Exit/In on May 16th, with opening acts El El and The Oak Creek Band. Mean River officially drops on May 13th.

– Christian Lerchenfeld

In Daily Discovery christian lerchenfeld, el el, lulu mae, The Oak Creek Band