Instructions Archive

  • It’s a funny thing, when I started writing about local music six years ago EPs weren’t really a thing. Everyone was working on their single or their album, usually their album. In the last few years the rise of the EP has exploded, enough that I can fill two pages of JAVA Magazine with six EPs very nearly every month. I love these little postcards to the world from my favorite local bands. It reminds me of collecting CD and vinyl EPs of my favorite artist when I was growing up–which, for the record was a way of life, a...

    ExtendedPlay: Four Fascinating New EPs

    Posted on October 2, 2014 | No Comments
    It’s a funny thing, when I started writing about local music six years ago EPs weren’t really a thing. Everyone was working on their single or their album, usually their album. In the last few years the rise of the EP has exploded, enough that I can fill two pages of JAVA Magazine with six EPs very nearly every month. I love these little postcards to the world from my favorite local bands. It reminds me of collecting CD and vinyl EPs of my favorite artist when I was growing up–which, for the record was a way of life, a...

    Continue Reading...

  • Well, hell it’s been a damned rocky road to get to 2014. I feel like last year I was trucking along full speed and killing it with unbreakable momentum. The fact that I haven’t posted in over a month proves that I hit a roadblock. I apologize for ducking out for an unplanned hiatus. Hey, I’m only one guy–I don’t have a staff and only occasionally do I have other contributors, mostly this is a one man show. A show I intend to get back on the road. The main problem for me began in October when there was a...

    Out with 2013, In with 2014!!!

    Posted on January 7, 2014 | No Comments
    Well, hell it’s been a damned rocky road to get to 2014. I feel like last year I was trucking along full speed and killing it with unbreakable momentum. The fact that I haven’t posted in over a month proves that I hit a roadblock. I apologize for ducking out for an unplanned hiatus. Hey, I’m only one guy–I don’t have a staff and only occasionally do I have other contributors, mostly this is a one man show. A show I intend to get back on the road. The main problem for me began in October when there was a...

    Continue Reading...

  • As some of you may or may not know, I became freed of my day job on May 1st–the news of which I greeted with, at worst, ambivalence and at best a fair amount of happiness. Honestly, I’ve been missing out on a lot of killer shows during the week and the opportunity to spend a few weeks checking out what’s happening between Sunday and Friday, kind of thrilled me. This time has not gone wasted, though, I’ve not spent every night at a show–I’ve certainly tried to make the most of it. I would like to say that first...

    Shows Around Town: The First Half of May

    Posted on May 16, 2013 | 2 Comments
    As some of you may or may not know, I became freed of my day job on May 1st–the news of which I greeted with, at worst, ambivalence and at best a fair amount of happiness. Honestly, I’ve been missing out on a lot of killer shows during the week and the opportunity to spend a few weeks checking out what’s happening between Sunday and Friday, kind of thrilled me. This time has not gone wasted, though, I’ve not spent every night at a show–I’ve certainly tried to make the most of it. I would like to say that first...

    Continue Reading...

  • Rising from the ashes of The Analog Society, The Echo Bombs appear to have emerged triumphant with an engaging sound that is both unique yet right in line with some growing local trends. In the last year or so there has been a wonderful emerging group of fierce, electrically charged pop/rock bands throughout this scene fronted  by amazing women of vision. In my mind The Echo Bombs join the ranks of Zero Zero, Russian Arms and Optics, Therapist, PALMS, The Madera Strand, Factories, Fairy Bones and a few others where a brilliant feminine vision is combined with amazing gutsy music...

    The Echo Bombs-Awkward Summer

    Posted on May 10, 2013 | No Comments
    Rising from the ashes of The Analog Society, The Echo Bombs appear to have emerged triumphant with an engaging sound that is both unique yet right in line with some growing local trends. In the last year or so there has been a wonderful emerging group of fierce, electrically charged pop/rock bands throughout this scene fronted  by amazing women of vision. In my mind The Echo Bombs join the ranks of Zero Zero, Russian Arms and Optics, Therapist, PALMS, The Madera Strand, Factories, Fairy Bones and a few others where a brilliant feminine vision is combined with amazing gutsy music...

    Continue Reading...

  • Quick on the heels of their debut EP released last December, Instructions have released yet another brilliant two song EP. Admittedly, re: sleep is quite a bit more accessible than the ETAOIN SHRDLU release, but no less math rock intensive, no less amazing. There is a touch more pop rationale found here, but the arrangements are every bit as complex, the music every bit as unique and engaging as their debut. Instructions are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands to keep track of and track down when possible, because their live performances are easily as rewarding as their recorded...

    Instructions-re: sleep EP

    Posted on September 14, 2012 | No Comments
    Quick on the heels of their debut EP released last December, Instructions have released yet another brilliant two song EP. Admittedly, re: sleep is quite a bit more accessible than the ETAOIN SHRDLU release, but no less math rock intensive, no less amazing. There is a touch more pop rationale found here, but the arrangements are every bit as complex, the music every bit as unique and engaging as their debut. Instructions are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands to keep track of and track down when possible, because their live performances are easily as rewarding as their recorded...

    Continue Reading...

  • Instructions-ETAOIN SHRDLU It occurs to me that the more amazing the local music scene gets, the more popular it becomes, the more there will appear amazing finds upon the fringe that will rise to the top of the crop in next year’s batch of unsettled cream.   This brings me to Instructions and while what I am talking about is their two song EP, I’m really talking about their math rock/art school aesthetic and the realization that the waves are really only just rolling in.  It’s only two songs and at first, when I was told to check them out,...

    Instructions Amazing Debut ETAOIN SHRDLU

    Posted on February 28, 2012 | No Comments
    Instructions-ETAOIN SHRDLU It occurs to me that the more amazing the local music scene gets, the more popular it becomes, the more there will appear amazing finds upon the fringe that will rise to the top of the crop in next year’s batch of unsettled cream.   This brings me to Instructions and while what I am talking about is their two song EP, I’m really talking about their math rock/art school aesthetic and the realization that the waves are really only just rolling in.  It’s only two songs and at first, when I was told to check them out,...

    Continue Reading...

  • I first heard St. Ranger when they played an opening slot for The Whisperlights CD release party at the Duce and I was stunned—I hadn’t even heard of them before, much less heard their music. I’ve caught them live a couple times since and each time, I’m impressed at how they just continually get better. Last month they released their debut five song EP, Life Coach through their bandcamp site, it will receive its official physical release on February 16th. I was pretty impressed by their single last spring of “Ohnowoe/Shark Week” but the five new songs they present here...

    St. Ranger Life Coach EP Release Party At The Rhythm Room

    Posted on February 20, 2012 | No Comments
    I first heard St. Ranger when they played an opening slot for The Whisperlights CD release party at the Duce and I was stunned—I hadn’t even heard of them before, much less heard their music. I’ve caught them live a couple times since and each time, I’m impressed at how they just continually get better. Last month they released their debut five song EP, Life Coach through their bandcamp site, it will receive its official physical release on February 16th. I was pretty impressed by their single last spring of “Ohnowoe/Shark Week” but the five new songs they present here...

    Continue Reading...