Locally, or at least within my realm, there has been a music and arts festival in Hoboken, something in Sussex County called Jamaroo (discontinued this year), plus festivals of every kind at Hunter Mountain in the Catskills (Mountain Jam, Celtic Festival, etc). The town where my wife lived, Rosendale NY, has its annual street festival, featuring 70 acts over five different stages---no small feat when they play simultaneously in a small town. It's been a while since we've been there, that hot mid-summer weather shows no mercy. That annual event takes place next weekend, if you feel like driving north for some great local performances.
And then we have Maplewoodstock. Nice play on the town name (Maplewood, NJ). Apparently, this festival, unbeknowest to me, has been going on for nine years, but only last year did I realize what it was. Of course, what caught my eye was the fact that Rachel Allyn, to everyone an obscure Country wanna-be, but to me, the hottest artist on my chart the last two years, and her band would be taking the stage that Sunday, the second and final day of the festival, at 2:06 in the afternoon (that's right, 2:06...apparently the location of the park right at the train station has gotten to the schedulers!)
It would have been so nice to just head on out, hang out, enjoy the lineup of local artists, enjoy a beer in the beer garden, and just chill. Unfortuately, we are rooted in reality, and it turned out that our friends Emily and Victoria, from Pine Bush, NY, plus Victoria's boyfriend Connor, all recently graduated high school and let loose on the world, were joining us this weekend. But then I got an idea....why don't all five of us go? We'd check out Rachel, plus several other bands. There would be plenty of booths to shop, eat, and of course the beer garden. Dreams are great aren't they?
Day One, which was Saturday, featured acts like 8Bit, Moodring and Running Late, with the headliner that evening being the Martin Briley Band, who had a top 40 hit in the summer of 1983, with "The Salt In My Tears". We spent that very hot day at home, but were ready to get out there on Sunday.
The forecast for Day 2 was still supposed to be hot--low 90's, but perhaps a little less humid. I convinced the gang to head on over. And we did drive over there arriving at 1 PM. We missed the first two on that day's bill, Sad About Girls and Matt Matheis. Rachel was about an hour away (although I caught her and her folks arriving at the festival when I got there).
So, the first band I was able to enjoy were The Mungers, five guys hailing from Cranford NJ, next door to my hometown in Roselle Park. Coincidentally, I grew up with a family with that name, graduating with Irene Munger in 1974 and wondered if there was any connection; alas, none of the guys had that last name, so it remains a minor mystery. But their music was awesome. They label themselves as a very accessible pop-leaning rock band, with some catchy songs that you'll like immediately. They played about six songs, the one standing out for me is something called "I Don't Wanna Be Your Facebook Friend". They indeed were having fun. Another song, "B School", from their 2008 album Mungertown, also made an impact. More on that later.
After they finished, I got an unexpected request from my wife Barbara, who was checking out the booths during the Mungers' set. She saw everything and was ready to go. After all, it was too hot (much of the shady spots had been taken, plus those who had canopies and tents took up the space). And it was hot, so I couldn't blame her. It even got to Victoria, Emily and Connor as well.
But still, the show went on, and Rachel and her band were up next. This is only the second time I've seen her full bnad (minus the fiddle player; where was he?), and the first time in front of a mass audience (well, relatively so, it was still early in the day). They led off with "Stand Still" (my #3 song of 2010), from her 2009 EP Late Nights and Early Mornings, followed by "Gettin' By", the song about her family, which was my #3 song of 2011. Another song from that EP followed, and then Rachel previewed a new song from her forthcoming full-length album, "Trigger Man". Definitely a worth contender, uptempo, and like her most recent "Ain't No Fun", she's enjoying herself. Following that, her #1 "Lovely Lily" was next and she finished up with a cover of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence".
Rachel definitely knows what she's doing onstage. My only beef was with the sound system. I don't think it really brought out Rachel's voice the way it should. Guitarist and collaborator Warren Hibbert's amp also went dead briefly, but the band otherwise put on a great show. But perhaps because it was still early, the crowd didn't seem all that enthusiastic, and I really don't understand why. Rachel, of course, is a country artist, a genre which has not been popular in North Jersey. There is no FM country station here, and there hasn't been one in New York City for a long time. Perhaps that could be the reason for the relatively subdued response, she deserves much more. But it's been different down in the shore area, where Rachel won the Thunder 106 "House Band" contest last year, and has done many gigs in that area, including opening for Thompson Square at Six Flags Great Adventure, and many dates at Bar A in Lake Como, as well as other shore venues. I have yet to catch a show down there, but I bet she has the crowd support thing going. A nice performance by Rachel.
After with, I agreed with the others to leave. Although I was disspointed in that I only caught two acts, word had it that the next band, Hilton Nawlin’s Funk Marching Band , and the one after that, Shari Pine, really got the crowd going. Shemekia Copeland was the headliner that evening, by which time we were firmly entrenced at home.
Even though we were there a short time, hopefully at one of these festivals, I can hang out all day and take all the sounds in.
As a result of Maplewoodstock, I added The Mungers' 2008 track "B School", entering the SNS chart at #94, a very catchy piece of rock. Hopefully they'll have something newer out soon. As for Rachel Allyn, her new set comes out in a couple of weeks, at which time I will review.
TOP OF THE CHOPS: The Shins' "The Rifle's Spiral" grabs the #1 spot, followed by Grace Potter's "Never Go Back", and Mayer Hawthorne's "Henny and Gingerale" at #3. At #4 was last week's #1 "Come Away to the Water" by Maroon 5. New in the top 10 is M83's "Reunion", and entering the Top 20 is Eve 6's "Victoria" as well as Kelly Clarkson's follow-up to her Hot 100 #1 (and #7 SNS) hit "Stronger", "Dark Side". For Eve 6 it's their first appearance after a long hiatus. They had several hits on the alternative chart, specially their debut single, 1998's "Inside Out" at #1 (from their eponymous debut); "Promise", #3 from their second set, 2000's Horrorscope, and the #9 song from their third effort It's All in Your Head, "Thing Twice". They broke up shortly after that 2003 album, and recent reformed. This song, very catchy, is #25 on the alternative chart, and it from their new album, Speak In Code, which came out in April of this year. No tour dates in this area, the closest would be in Rochester, teaming with The Offspring on July 28.
IT'S MY FAVORITE COLOR: Pink has the top debut this week, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)", coming in at #69. OK, so Ms. Alecia Beth Moore (her real name), isn't alternative, but, in the current crop of female pop singers, she is the best, her only competition would be Kelly Clarkson. She's been popular for 12 years now, and has encompassed many musical styles, which means a lot in this day and age. This one mixed her classic pop sound with an infectious beat, and, with the current landscape resisting rock-oriented, this one fits the void nicely. I know she'll never get alternative airplay (despite at one time working with Linda Perry of Four Non-Blondes fame), but listening to her on Top 40 radio is very refreshing compared to the lame stuff that's been polluting the charts these days. She's been in my SNS top 10 before ("Raise Your Glass", #7 in early January 2011), and no doubt she'll be back with this one. It's the lead track from her newest effort, The Truth About Love, due September 18.
Out of the other debuting artists on this week chart, only one is new to SNS: "Look Homeward Heathen", by Grassfight, an indie-pop/post-punk trio from New York by way of Denton TX. This is another find from the RCD LBL website, and to be honest, the best music I have discovered the last couple years, has been thru this site, which features free downloads from up-and-coming artists.
LIGHTS BACK ON: A few weeks ago, I reported that Ellie Goulding's song "Lights", a hit for me late last year (#1 for a week, #54 for the year 2011), was creeping towards the top 10. It is now #5 on Billboard's Hot 100, advancing on the Adult Top 40 radio format, and two Facebook friends posted the song in the last week. All this action causes the song to re-enter my chart at #96. At this rate, it may make my year-end list once again. It trails Carly Rae Jepsen (#1 for the fifth week), Maroon 5, Gotye, and Katy Perry on the national chart.
Scenes'n'Soundwaves 100 for Week of July 9, 2012:
|
This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
|
1
|
2
|
THE SHINS
"The Rifle's Spiral"
Album: Junk of the Heart
|
14
|
|
2
|
4
|
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Never Go Back
|
13
|
|
3
|
5
|
Mayer Hawthorne - Henny and Gingerale
|
9
|
|
4
|
1
|
Maroon 5 - Come Away To the Water
|
16
|
|
5
|
10
|
Trails and Ways - Nunca
|
7
|
|
6
|
6
|
The Kooks - Is It Me
|
7
|
|
7
|
3
|
Metric - Youth Without Youth
|
11
|
|
8
|
9
|
Passion Pit - Take A Walk
|
8
|
|
9
|
7
|
The Wombats - Jump Into the Fog
|
18
|
|
10
|
15
|
M83 - Reunion
|
8
|
|
11
|
14
|
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - That's What's Up
|
11
|
|
12
|
8
|
Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose
|
18
|
|
13
|
12
|
Linkin Park - Burn It Down
|
11
|
|
14
|
19
|
Best Coast - The Only Place
|
8
|
|
15
|
11
|
Gotye f. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used to Know
|
25
|
|
16
|
20
|
Oberhofer - Away From You
|
12
|
|
17
|
13
|
Florence + the Machine - No Light, No Light
|
26
|
|
18
|
16
|
Ty Segall & White Fence - I Am Not A Game
|
16
|
|
19
|
23
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
EVE 6
"Victoria"
Album: Speak In Code
|
17
|
|
20
|
25
|
Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side
|
6
|
|
21
|
31
|
The Black Keys - Little Black Submarine
|
4
|
|
22
|
17
|
Electric Guest - This Head I Hold
|
19
|
|
23
|
18
|
Lady Antebellum - Dancing Away With My Heart
|
16
|
|
24
|
27
|
Graffiti6 - Stare Into the Sun
|
9
|
|
25
|
28
|
Wolf Gang - The King and All His Men
|
6
|
|
26
|
33
|
The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio
|
5
|
|
27
|
22
|
The Decemberists - One Engine
|
14
|
|
28
|
24
|
Toby Keith - Red Solo Cup
|
16
|
|
29
|
21
|
Jack White - Sixteen Saltines
|
14
|
|
30
|
40
|
Phillip Phillips - Home
|
7
|
|
31
|
55
|
The Heavy - What Makes A Good Man
|
3
|
|
32
|
35
|
Lost n the Trees - Golden Eyelids
|
14
|
|
33
|
38
|
Maroon 5- Payphone
|
9
|
|
34
|
39
|
Fun. - Some Nights
|
15
|
|
35
|
45
|
Beach House - Lazuli
|
5
|
|
36
|
49
|
Gossip - Move in the Right Direction
|
4
|
|
37
|
30
|
Florence + the Machine - Breath of Life
|
9
|
|
38
|
29
|
Marriages - Ride In My Place
|
15
|
|
39
|
32
|
Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary
|
15
|
|
40
|
37
|
The Offspring - Days Go By
|
9
|
|
41
|
26
|
Garbage - Blood For Poppies
|
16
|
|
42
|
46
|
Ty Segall - I Brought My Eyes
|
6
|
|
43
|
48
|
Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye
|
5
|
|
44
|
36
|
The Black Keys - Gold On the Ceiling
|
24
|
|
45
|
70
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
THE RAVEONETTES
"Observations"
Album: Observator
|
2
|
|
46
|
62
|
Matchbox Twenty - She's So Mean
|
4
|
|
47
|
44
|
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
|
30
|
|
48
|
34
|
Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
|
12
|
|
49
|
54
|
The Gaslight Anthem - 45
|
7
|
|
50
|
61
|
Dawes - If I Wanted Someone
|
3
|
|
51
|
57
|
Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound
|
4
|
|
52
|
56
|
Gotye - Eyes Wide Open
|
12
|
|
53
|
63
|
Public Image Ltd - One Drop
|
3
|
|
54
|
64
|
The Royal Concept - Gimme Twice
|
3
|
|
55
|
42
|
Dante vs Zombies - Natural Disaster
|
17
|
|
56
|
41
|
Beach House - Myth
|
17
|
|
57
|
47
|
Dirty Heads - Spread Too Thin
|
17
|
|
58
|
50
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - L.O.V.
|
18
|
|
59
|
43
|
The Hives - Go Right Ahead
|
15
|
|
60
|
58
|
The Rapture - How Deep is Your Love
|
26
|
|
61
|
52
|
Fun. f. Janelle Monae - We Are Young
|
32
|
|
62
|
51
|
Town Hall - Good Boy
|
15
|
|
63
|
53
|
Alabama Shakes - Hold On
|
17
|
|
64
|
59
|
Zach Heckendorf - All the Right Places
|
13
|
|
65
|
83
|
Emeli Sande - Next To Me
|
3
|
|
66
|
65
|
Florence + the Machine - Never Let Me Go
|
18
|
|
67
|
60
|
Foo Fighters - Bridge Burning
|
12
|
|
68
|
69
|
Eric Hutchinson - Watching You Watch Him
|
5
|
|
69
|
----
|
TOP DEBUT:
P!NK
"Blow Me (One Last Kiss)"
Album: The Truth About Love
|
1
|
|
70
|
71
|
The Tallest Man on Earth - 1904
|
5
|
|
71
|
76
|
Dead Sara - Weatherman
|
4
|
|
72
|
80
|
Rihanna - Where Have You Been
|
3
|
|
73
|
79
|
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
|
6
|
|
74
|
67
|
Miike Snow - Paddling Out
|
16
|
|
75
|
72
|
Katy Perry - Wide Awake
|
6
|
|
76
|
89
|
Weeks - The House We Grew Up In
|
2
|
|
77
|
85
|
Dr. Dog - Lonesome
|
4
|
|
78
|
90
|
Silent Rider - I Was A Bomb
|
2
|
|
79
|
92
|
Meiko - Leave the Lights On
|
2
|
|
80
|
----
|
Grassfight - Look Homeward Heathen
|
1
|
|
81
|
75
|
Alex Clare - Too Close
|
9
|
|
82
|
66
|
Chromatics - Kill For Love
|
11
|
|
83
|
74
|
Frank Turner - I Still Believe
|
6
|
|
84
|
78
|
Awolnation - Kill Your Heroes
|
5
|
|
85
|
94
|
Jacuzzi Boys - Automatic Jail
|
2
|
|
86
|
73
|
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Radio Girls
|
6
|
|
87
|
95
|
Rome - Dedication
|
2
|
|
88
|
91
|
Thompson Square - Glass
|
3
|
|
89
|
----
|
The Features - Another One
|
1
|
|
90
|
77
|
Smash Palace - Living It Lonely
|
11
|
|
91
|
68
|
Reptor - Sebastian
|
7
|
|
92
|
82
|
The Fray - Run For Your Life
|
12
|
|
93
|
87
|
Theory of A Deadman - Hurricane
|
5
|
|
94
|
----
|
The Mungers - B School
|
1
|
|
95
|
99
|
White Violet - Lays Around Lazy
|
6
|
|
96
|
RE ENTRY |
Ellie Goulding - Lights
|
25
|
|
97
|
81
|
Train - Drive By
|
26
|
|
98
|
86
|
Gary Clark Jr - Bright Lights
|
24
|
|
99
|
98
|
Zac Brown Band - The Wind
|
2
|
|
100
|
----
|
Jack White - I'm Shaken
|
1
|
TREMORS:
101. J.D. McPherson, Northside Gal
102. 311, Time Bomb
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