What I have been listening to lately.

So it has been a while that I have posted anything so I am going to post a few albums I have been listening to lately and hopefully you may listen to some of them.

Beau Navire - Hours 

If you know me personally you would know I am a avid fan of Screamo. Though it is a label that has been basically contaminated with metalcore and post-hardcore it is still one of my favorite subgeneres of  punk . Beau Navire features artist from different screamo bands, Loma Pierta, Specters and one of my favorites I Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism in Your Yearbook. Together, Beau Navire is a band that can provide a spectrum of emotions while playing.  This album alone is 22 minutes of sheer emotional explosions. Beau Navire has this skill of having extremely violent songs that end with sounds of remorse and loss.

Unwound- Leaves Turn Inside You

Bryan has already posted a little something about them which is a huge coincidence. This band is one of those post-hardcore bands that doesn't sound like anyone at all. I don't even like calling them post-hardcore I always feel like they are space rock. The songs on this album would probably be perfect if matched up with 2001  A Space Odyssey. Such smooth sounding atmosphere. Ohhh Boy! Good album. Good band check them out.

Danny Brown- XXX

To mix up my music taste here I am posting one of my favorite hip-hop albums of this year. Danny Brown is a Detroit rapper with a style that is his own. This whole album is just rude, crude, emotional, sad, depressing and even funny. He has songs about his many vices (drugs, drinking, partying, sex) ,but also he has songs about his drug fiend family and what being 30 feels like. I feel that there is no low point in this album at all so give it a try,

After the dust settles: A reflection

So the first ever annual Chief Tizo Thanksgiving Fest is already two days in the past and here I am thinking about what I wish I could've done, saw what worked to my surprise and what I think we'll do next.



What went wrong:

I noticed that more than half of those in attendance did not pay a single penny towards the event. While I wasn't too surprised about the usual abundance of freeloaders who come to a house show this was worse than my usual experiences. I only made about $39 dollars including the sales of drinks and I could already see that at least 30 to 40 people were in attendance. So that means about half didn't pay what I think is a reasonable fee of $2 dollars.

I'm slightly baffled as to why some people couldn't pay for what I thought was a genuine event with more than 4 bands performing, and the effort put towards organizing the entire thing. Maybe people don't understand that actually getting these sorts of things together takes effort and can't be done in just a whim of the willing. While I know my closest true friends didn't hesitate to pay (thanks again), it surely is discouraging to learn that people attending an event of a stranger will not pay up.



What went surprisingly well:

I have to hand it to Lithium and Thrill Touch (whom played in Festizo earlier this year) for putting on some solid performances that day. Maybe I am biased for it being my own event but I was more than happy with their material and feel eager to seeing them play again and hopefully with them in the future. 14 Charisma I felt had a second life this time around due to an enhanced light show and the addition of keyboard in the musical aspect, still he needs to work on his stage presence a little more.

Old Soybu was a surprise hit for me as I wasn't sure how people would react to chiptune infused noise rock. It was probably the most fun of the three performances I did that day and hope to play more under the moniker. Ghost Time's performance was rather an emotional experience since we couldn't truly play our last show the way we wanted but we were entirely grateful to have our good friends Mark and Starlon (the guy who co-owns this label!) take the stand when our singer wouldn't.

How Scandinavian's set was pretty much technically flawless for us and surprised the hell out of me when the usual spotty parts of our live renditions worked out. The performance was ultimately a cathartic one as I had been tired and worn out after so many emotions and clandestine feelings. The chilly night air resonated with much of the songs' own dark material and I felt as if I really depressed much of the viewing audience. I suppose it comes with writing/performing sad songs. Luckily we ended the night on a rather happy note and ended the festival with a feeling of completeness.



What we'll do next:

The future of what happens next is rather hazy at the moment because after events like these I tend to feel tired and apathetic. While I myself don't consider profits to be a major point of contention when I host these events I can say I feel discouraged by the lack of support from more than half the audience. Maybe I didn't make myself clear, or perhaps I have to hire big tall people to make them pay? Nah, I don't want to do that but it is rather frustrating.

If there is any sequel to this then it will be one with a much greater emphasis on entrance and attendance. All the other components I felt were spot on and if anything the only things to improve are to have a greater variety of bands on board and rationalize with the audience on what they want to hear and have available to them at a show.

We're all still learning.

New Releases: How Scandinavian/The Latecomers - Narcissists and Ghost Time - Something to Hold No One Over

Great news everyone, after much procrastination I finally got my shit in gear for our second and third releases on Chief Tizo Records!

Chief Tizo Records Release #2: How Scandinavian/The Latecomers - Narcissists (Split EP)

First off is an exciting collaboration for How Scandinavian as I had the awesome opportunity to mix and master the songs by The Latecomers on this split EP. The Latecomers' two songs 'Followed Home' and 'Fault' prove to be fun and exciting lo-fi post-punk that acts as a great counterpoint to my own moody music. Seriously it makes me want to lighten the fuck up! Lovely. Download/Stream it for free right below on the widget.



Chief Tizo Records Release #3: Ghost Time - Something To Hold No One Over

I'm happy to say this is the definitive collection of late-era Ghost Time and it showcases some of the best songs the band had to offer. All recorded live and made to sound as best as possible as rehearsal tapes would ever allow, this is a great assessment to the band's history. Download/Stream it for free right below on the widget.

Chief Tizo Records Presents: Practice Room Sessions #1

So me and Starlon are going to 'try' and start a sort of exclusive lo-fi recording sessions thing for our artists. Of course, we don't have many artists so who else to start with but myself and Starlon in a shaky and uncomfortable performance?

For your viewing pleasure... How Scandinavian live at Practice Room Sessions #1!

How Scandinavian - Gift Card


How Scandinavian - As They Who We're With


How Scandinavian - The Pioneer


How Scandinavian feat. Starlon - Improv Minute/No Hands Jazz Man


More to come at some point

Album Review: Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One:Gens de Couleur Libres

I just started listening to this album and already I think it can possibly be my album of the year. Matana Roberts a native of New York City and a nominee of  The Jazz Journalists Association's 2008 "Up and Coming Musician of the Year" award, shows the perspective of African women being tamed, raped and stripped of their rights during the years of slavery. It covers such topics with the most emotion I have ever seen from any artist.  The greatest part of this album is the great spoken word pieces in-between the chaotic sounds. The poetry is maybe the most sincere and emotional recital I have ever heard and I am very glad I found this album through the massive collection of albums I have never heard on my computer. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE.