A diamond in the rough..... from my vinyl vault: Sarah Gorby's, "Russian Melodies"....

Front cover of Sarah Gorby's, "Russian Melodies".

Here's an interesting world music album I picked up here in Alexandria, a small trip from my apartment to the closest record store, the Record and Tape Exchange. Although it's a tiny shop with not a lot of choices, I've found a few good picks here and there once in a blue moon. When Stephanie and I first moved here, months later we passed by it on accident and stopped in, and although the world music section was rather small- it was also virtually untouched by any of their other customers or even anyone who worked there. This is another one of these neat records I got  on a whim and I'm glad I did-- as I didn't really know who Sarah Gorby was- but it was only a dollar or two, and certainly appeared up my alley so to speak; world/Russian folk music, the title says it all-- so I decided what the heck, I'll pick this one up.

Although the material itself isn't surprising given the straightforward title, it's still a  great album. The record opens up with a lively number called, "My Sweetheart Lives Up North" featuring a hopping alternating bass line paired with a pulsating thumping folk beat, topped off with a incredibly simple but very effective catchy chorus. Next is the incredibly gorgeous tune, "Autumn Wind" with Gorby's vocals reaching a climatic mournful peak; such a beautifully written piece, one would dare say its possibly the strongest on the album, or at least certainly the strongest on the A-side.

Half-way thru the A-side, we reach the violin led, "Be Sorry For Me"-- a melancholic instrumental soaring that though peaceful and sweet, is the appropriately placed but also only dull moment on the first half of the album. The next two tunes are fun dancey accordion-led Russian numbers, "The Enchanted Circle" and, "Love Of A Gypsy" wrapping up the first portion of the album on a high note.

Back of Sarah Gorby's, "Russian Melodies".

Side B kicks off with, "Black Cat" another foot stomping charming Russian folk tune. Then things calm down a considerable notch, "I Will Not Come Back" another gorgeous tune, similar to, "The Autumn Wind" from the A-side, with bursts of energy and jangling guitars.

Halfway thru the B-Side, we reach, "The Coachman" a beautiful and quite recognizable instrumental piece-- I can't ever place where I first heard it, but it's a very memorable famous Russian song. Next is another highly recognizable song, "On The Road To Her" a beautiful typical Russian song that slows and speeds back up gloriously over and over beautiful bringing us to the closer, "Take Your Guitar"; which wraps up the record on a wonderfully simple rhythmic guitar and Gorby letting her voice take the reigns on this weepingly pretty tune.

I don't know much or own any other material by Sarah Gorby, but after I quickly googled her and based on the wonderfully effortless display of Russian folk on this particular album, I will certainly say it'll be worth keeping both an eye and ear out for more.  

Out on the road again with the Fighting Jamesons....

The Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort, NY.

We headed south for our first stop in July to Corolla, North Carolina for a fun night in a beach town, so we felt right at home. Then we came back up north for the Annapolis Irish Festival in Maryland, it was a nice setup with several stages spread out along multiple closed blocks, it had a similar atmosphere to that of the Rockville street festival a while back. My fiance Stephanie managed to get to come out with a friend and also some folks she knew through work; she doesn't always get to come out, but since we live in Alexandria-- Annapolis isn't more than a hop and a skip away-- and it's always special for me when she can come out. We played a killer set, and had a awesome night before gearing up for the long haul to our next stop in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.

 In South Kingstown, RI.

Now that I stop to think about it, we were lucky to get to be on so many beaches this month! South Kingstown, Rhode Island was a lovely beach vacation town with a really pretty atmosphere and a relaxing vibe. We arrived early with plenty of time to set up, and hung out a bit with the locals. We thrashed out our usual celtic rock mayhem, before packing up and heading home for a few days off before our next stop the surprsingly not so spooky- Amityville, NY!!!!

We arrived in Amityville relatively early with time to spare, so naturally- how could we NOT go see the Amityville Horror House? It was neat to pass by it, but as a heads up to any tourists-- you can't actually go inside, people live there-- so while it was neat, and luckily just a few minutes down the road for us, you wouldn't want to go out of your way to see it- I'm sure it's probably freaky in the historical sense, but from the outside- it's quite honestly just a normal looking house. But hey! It's not every day you get to check out a famous haunted house, right? Unfortunately, Amityville wound up being cancelled- however, on the bright side we will be doing a make-up date for it soon, and the details for the make-up date will be on our site in the near future.

The Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort, NY.

We closed up July with two nights at the Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort, New York. It was a fantastic outdoor setup in perfect weather, completed with enormous white big-top tents. It was our first time being a part of this particular festival, and it was a great experience-- the crowds were really energetic and we enjoyed their enthusiasm to the fullest on that first night with the 8 PM slot--- by the end of the night they were on their feet and dancing all over, and those folks up front were certainly a rowdy bunch!!

The second night we played the 5 PM slot, and were greeted once again by a wonderful audience- some familiar faces from the first day, and some new ones too! Mike's family even managed to come out, and his daughter hopped up to do a bit of Irish dancing on stage. By the end of the night, a ton of folks came up and danced around as we cranked out the Irish Rover to bring the night to a thrilling finish.

We are about to kick back off here in August with a return to New York for the International Celtic Festival at Hunter Mountain! We can't wait to see all of their smiling faces there!! Stay posted to our site for other tour stops. See you soon!!!!!

A diamond in the rough.... From my vinyl vault: Night birds, "Maimed For the masses" EP + "Born To Die In Suburbia" LP

Night Birds, "Born To Die In Subrubia".

Night Birds aren't a generic copycat punk band, they are an original outfit blending elements of hardcore with surf and added just the right sprinkle of pop into the mixture. Recently signing to Fat Wreck Chords, they've rerecorded some material for their debut Fat Wreck Chords seven-inch record, "Maimed For The Masses" (which is named after the song on the A side and will be on the upcoming debut LP for Fat, and was also on the previous Grave Mistake Records LP), and their latest full-length album via Grave Mistakes Records, "Born To Die In Suburbia" is the best breathe of fresh air for this style of music in a while.

I first heard them a while back when browsing what was new at the time on the Grave Mistakes Records site and stumbled on them. I often set up my i-Pod with all albums I've never heard before, so that when I'm in the van with the Fighting Jamesons or on my long 4 hour commute from Alexandria to Norfolk for our practices so I can use that as an ideal time to check out new music. I had downloaded, "Born To Die In Suburbia"-- and I was in the van with the band at the time, and I remember specifically that wonderful light-bulb moment you get when a record really connects with you, and thinking to myself, "man, these guys really hit it out the park with this album". I instantly became obsessed with this album, and it became a must-own from that very moment. Later I picked it up on my down to Norfolk from home at Richmond's, Vinyl Conflict record shop.

 

"Maimed For the Masses" EP cover.

With the, "Maimed For The Masses" EP  sporting its flashy intriguingly blood-drenched cover as  the first recording under Fat Wreck Chords; the band features a nice re-recorded version of the infectious, "Maimed For The Masses" EP on the A-side of the record. The B-side then picks up the intensity with the barbaric, "Barred Out" before its intentionally train-wrecked into the tom-rolling introduction of,"Last Gasp"; a fist pumping rager that then leads into the snare rolling of, "Boat Trash" with the surf guitar-lead instrumental bringing this 45 to a close.

back of, "Maimed For The Masses" EP.

With, "Born To Die In Suburbia"-- Night Birds have pulled off what a lot of bands intend to do, yet fail to actually do. They've taken their influences, some of them even rather obviously, and instead of simply just emulating them- have harnessed them into there own sound, while still coming across as original. The group presents a sound linking them stylistically in some ways to the likes of the Adolescents, Gang Green, the Ramones, A.O.D. (Adrenalin Overdose), the Ventures, and others.

The record starts off with an intriguing tremolo-picked short and sweet surf-rock instrumental number, before exploding into its incredible high energy-packed title-track anthem, "Born To Die In Suburbia". All the right dashes of catchiness happen with choruses like that of, "Modern Morons" and, "Nazi Gold" or the hooks in, "Pretty Poison" or ,"Maimed For the Masses".

"Maimed For The Masses" insert.

Night Birds have cranked the volume all the way and captured their adrenalin fueled spirit, and are so incredibly dialed-in-- the speed and fury is executed with sheer perfection, and more importantly-- isn't overdone either. The melodic elements of the songs take shape without the songs ever losing momentum, ranging from everything from the duel guitar lines to the vocal delivery. Every detail on this record is surprisingly spick and span and yet in a manner not intrusive to their ferocious music (even the reverb level on this album is goldie locks!)  Everything about this record is so precise and well written-- its kind've shocking that for a punk album-- yeah punk, a genre so notorious for being such a so-called "sloppy" area of rock 'n rolls domain-- could be so um perfect.

back of, "Born To Die In Suburbia".

With the excitement of their recent switch to Fat Wreck Chords, it will be really exciting to see what kind of record they will crank out next with that kind of label support behind them. As band that has already made such an impressively balanced record, it will be truly special to see what they manage to come up with next as their story continues to unfold.

They signed to Fat back in July, and it will be worth keeping our eyes peeled to see the full-length arriving fairly soon!