Foals To Headline At Eden Sessions

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Indie-rock band The Foals are set for a huge headline gig at Eden Sessions in Cornwall, UK, on 11th July. The event takes place at the Eden Project, and involves some of the most high profile gigs in the country. This will be The Foals only non-festival gig, and one of only two UK summer shows for the band this year.

For those who are not familiar with The Foals, they are an indie band who pack a powerful punch with emotionally charged melodies driven by highly energetic beats, and sweetened by poetic and philosophical lyrics. It has a broad appeal, from indie lovers and pop freaks, to poker professionals like Celina Lin who have included it on their playlist.

The Foals is comprised of five members from Oxford, including lead singer and guitarist Yannis Philippakis, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Smith, drummer Jack Bevan, keyboard player Edwin Congreave, and bassist Walter Gervers.

They have produced a total of four studio albums, each epic in its own right, and all four reaching gold status and making it into the top 10 in the UK album charts. Along the way they have picked up prestigious awards that include Q Awards for Best Act in The World Today 2015, and Best Live Act 2015, as well as a Best Album 2016 NME Award for their masterpiece ‘What Went Down’.

If that isn’t reason enough to see them live then what is? Well, you could check out their music and see if you like it: Audio

Eden Sessions is entering its 16th year this year, and is set to be as massive as ever. Bands that will play gigs at the multi-week event include Royal Blood, Madness, Bryan Adams and Bastille.

Eden’s marketing director Rita Broe said, “It’s a real coup for the Sessions and for Cornwall that Foals have chosen to play Eden for their only non-festival show in England this year… This will be a huge gig at Eden, and an opportunity that no music fan should pass up.”

So, what can we expect from The Foals rare UK gigs? Well, the band has been talking about working on a new album, but may or may not have new material ready to perform by the time the Eden Sessions comes around.

In a interview with NME, Yannis Philippakis spoke about his involvement writing music with Fela Kuh’s drummer Tony Allen. He said, “I started doing some tracks with him last year and then I was on tour. So I went back to finish them in Paris… I’ve been writing bits here and there, but I don’t know if it’s for The Foals yet. We’re not in a hurry.”

Specifically, the frontman said that he “Can’t tell if we’ll have written anything new by then.” Regardless of whether they perform any new material, fans can expect a riot, and a good old sing and dance from this band as they throw out high octane music that only the dead-inside can’t relate to.

The only other venue that UK fans will be able to catch The Foals this summer is at Citadel Festival in Victoria Park, London, the band’s exclusive festival appearance. There they will be joined by the WIld Beasts, Laura Marling and Bonobo among other big names.

Tickets to Eden Sessions are available on their website. For those who can’t make the live gigs there will be a free online stream available on YouTube.

Brenyama and Braddock Station Garrison

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Brenyama Euphoria Love

Brenyama “Euphoria Love”

From the great music capital of Highland Park, NJ, Brenyama is Richard and Maki Brenner, who, through the capable hands of producer Kurt Reil (Gripweeds) have created a hybrid Japanese/American power pop sound. The title track is a catchy single with the duo singing over a great hook.

I have to admit, the songs with them together a more fun, as “Things That You Do” and “Perfect Kind Of Life” are great pop tunes with a retro bubblegum spin on it. In fact, “Get In The Groove” is a dead ringer for a Jackson Five “hit.” Maki’s solo vocal efforts like “Inhuman” and “Overflowing Magic” owe much to J-Pop and Debbie Harry. For some, this might seem a bit too sugary but as a debut, it is still very impressive. Check it out.

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Braddock Station Garrison

Braddock Station Garrison “Saint Stephanie and the Stones”

This Washington DC 4-piece band return and this is another milestone as the group sound even tighter. “Mayday” is pretty solid middle of the road rock, and lead vocalist Steve Schillinger does a great job on the epic “Citadel On The Plains” and  the too-shy guy’s theme song “Zero Confidence Level.”

At points, the band’s clear songwriting starts to resemble The Jayhawks with the title track. But the band can also turn up the fuzz guitar on “Hurry Up, Girl.” It runs out of steam past the mid-point, but this is still a band that deserves to be heard.

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Aimee Mann and Bill Popp

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Aimee Mann

Aimee Mann “Mental Illness”

Aimee Mann’s ninth LP is not exactly a pick-me-up type of pop record, in fact, it is quite the opposite as she told Rolling Stone that Mental Illness is the saddest record she’s ever recorded. It bluntly lays bare painful vignettes of heartache, anger, and remorse. Mann has amazing versatility, as her earlier albums were mostly power pop but recent history as placed her more in the chamber folk category.

The light playful rhythm of “Goose Snow Cone” is the opening track, and the breezy melody showcases the homesickness of a pet and how she’s got to “keep it together when your friends come by.” The restrained tension in Mann’s vocals is her specialty, and it recalls Joni Mitchell at her peak. “Stuck In The Past” is sly waltz of despair, and the darkness envelopes these tunes, like a sweetness with a sour aftertaste on “You Never Loved Me.” It takes a few listens to objectively hear the tragic stories that seem too real to be fiction; “Rollercoasters,” “Patient Zero” and “Lies Of Summer” are also standouts. Mann’s style showcases a sobering record that truly deserves attention.

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Bill Popp and The Tapes

Bill Popp and The Tapes “Popp Hits the 60’s”

Singer/songwriter Bill Popp is a veteran indie player on the New York City rock scene. He’s been performing live in NYC venues since the 1970s, and he has been leading his own band, Bill Popp & the Tapes, since 1981. Pop loves his classic 60’s rock influences and lets it show on Popp Hits The 60’s. This is a great EP that starts with the piano and guitar bounce of “ The World She Knows” and the very Badinger-ish ballad “In My Head” has a terrific slide guitar break toward the songs end.

And Popp doesn’t take himself too seriously either, as the hilarious kazoo-assisted “When I Was Stoned” is like a lost NRBQ track. Popp also has a new 2-song EP out called Popp’s Last Flush! which humorously chronicles his biography (and his day job) on “Flushing This Plumbing Job Down The Drain.”  Great fun!

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EPs: The Tripwires, Mooner, and The Gunboat Diplomats

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Seattle band The Tripwires are an old favorite here, the band’s newest EP Fat City is chock filled with catchy rock and roll. Each track shines, but highlights include the fantastic guitar work on “Nothing of the Kind” and the rockabilly raver “New New New New New.”  Brothers John and Jim Sangster, along with John Ramberg and drummer Dan Peters are as tight as ever, so get this one – it’s super highly recommended. Get it on Amazon.

It has been a while since we heard from Lee Ketch of Mooner, and here he’s teamed up with Kit Shields to make this album of covers. The duo earns major props for starting it with Jeff Lynne’s “Xanadu” and including the rarely covered Beach Boys oddity “I’ll Bet He’s Nice.” Oh did we mention this is a FREE download?

The Gunboat Diplomats are a mixed bag. Some of this was just cringe-worthy, but they have a few decent power pop tunes here if you seek them out. “She Said” has a tight structure and a catchy chorus. “Sweet Abiding Love” and the Elvis-imitation “Crazy About You” have a vintage vibe and are fun to listen to. Another FREE download.

Corin Ashley and Ruby Free

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Corin Ashley “Broken Biscuits”

Corin Ashley is glad to be here, and we are glad to have him back. He was deep in the recording process when he suffered a stroke last year. Corin fought back to regain the ability to sing and play guitar again, and amazingly play on stage and finish this album in a single year.

There is something about “Little Crumbles” that reminds me of McCartney’s Back to The Egg. Like Macca at the time, its aggressive rock approach is a celebratory jam of rebirth. “Broken Biscuit #3” is a quick psyche-pop pastiche, then it launches into the gem “Wind Up Boy” with assistance from Tanya Donelly (The Breeders, Belly) which chugs along full of sweet strings and catchy couplets. The Beatle-isms are out in full flourish with “Edison’s Medicine” a not so distant cousin of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.”

“Broken Biscuits #9” is the personal story of the struggles that left Corin “in tatters, scattered to the wind.” The combo of bouncy and bitterness on “In Appropriate Fashion” is straight out of the Elvis Costello playbook. Towards the end of the album, the songs are more elaborately constructed, “King Hollow” working quite well, while others seem to linger too long. The six-minute “Jellyfish” isn’t a tribute to the famous band (although there are a few musical cues) but the cruel fate that left him partially paralyzed. Overall a highly recommended album.

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Ruby Free

Ruby Free “Shades”

Lisa Cavaliere and singer-songwriter Rick Hromadka make up the duo of Ruby Free and they deliver an even better album on their sophomore effort Shades. They are aided by power pop veterans Joe Giddings (Star Collector), Jim Laspesa (Dave Davies, Susanah Hoffs), and Rick Gallego (Cloud Eleven).

“Take A Ride” is a rollicking road tune with the perfect mix of California attitude and a catchy chorus that makes this a great opener. “Walking Along” is fiendish hooky, like a Steve Miller Band classic that won’t leave your head. “Say Goodnight” and “Owe To The Man” are laid back gems that encourage repeat listens. Lisa also does a very capable solo cover of Karen Carpenter’s “Superstar” and Rick ruminates on the state of modern marriage in “Talk To Me.”

Shades allow both artists to shine together and on solo vocal leads. Styles vary enough from the country ballad “Billboards and Buses” to the Tom Pettyesque “It’s Not Your Dream.” Clearly, no duds here as it earns a spot as a nominee for my top ten for 2017 list. Highly Recommended.

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