Two Cent Revival releases their five-song debut, “The Devil’s in This Whiskey” on June 15th at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1, 7pm. To get a sneak peek, visit their bandcamp page to stream the song “Save Our Souls.”

Video: Save Our Souls – Live

“The Devil’s in This Whiskey” is an engaging mix of bluesy country and folk-rock influences. The lead singer has a deep, timeless voice that suits the raw instrumentation and ageless qualities of the album. Look for big things from Two Cent Revival.

Bar4 will be hosting a concert as part of the Make Music NY Festival on Tuesday, June 21st at 2pm (sun – outdoors/rain – indoors). Following the festival, Bar4′s famed open mic will take place at 8:30pm.

Line-up:

2:00 Lara Ewen
3:00 Dave Beck
3:40 secondstar
4:15 sami.the.great
4:50 Matt Cranstoun
5:25 Chris Michael
6:00 Bryan Dunn
6:35 Matt Singer
7:10 Kevin Johnston
7:45 Third Wheel Band
8:30 Bar4 OPEN MIC

Wild Horse is a loose shape, lushly instrumented with several helping hands but at times bare-boned with only a thin guitar line and a shaky voice. The group is a revolving collective of musicians and kindred spirits led by Brooklyn via Connecticut singer-songwriter Erik Emanuelson.

Wild Horse’s music is infused with that pungent New England feel–dried leaves and water tones swirling around the more mechanical beat of the city. The sound embodies a quiet, raw feel, best illustrated through Emanuelson’s voice; like a graveled road, its rough texture somehow feels natural, with clear direction. However the true power of Emanuelson’s delivery lies in the lyrical meat of each tune. His words turn the colors rich, turning the ostensibly mundane into full-bodied tales.

“Most of my songs are some kind of a projection of other people, with me sort of being a participant in the scene,” says Emanuelson.

Even with the weighty lines, the songs somehow manage to maintain a delicate demeanor, to keep a very simple appeal. Emanuelson’s songs reflect his Northeast upbringing, aurally filled with picturesque nooks and fields, painted with mute-tones. An earthy melody threads its way through the steady pace of acoustic guitar and time seems to slow down. Songs like ‘So’ carry on with warm electric guitar-plucked notes, falling lazily over one another, bedding Emanuelson’s open-hearted recall of a neighborhood’s interweaving. Similarly on the EP’s title track, themes of friendship gone awry and ominous images of scaling a storm-wrecked cemetery are contrasted by thick brushes of electric lead, jangly blots of piano chords, and lackadaisical background vocals.

Like the idea of Wild Horse, the product itself puts Emanuelson directly at the forefront, presenting unassuming, open-palmed candor for a listener to mull over in their own quiet. His music is honest and unassuming reminding us that there is nothing more free than ourselves, and no anchor so great as music.

The 5th Annual LC Fest

Tuesday May 17th – Sunday May 22nd at Bar4

featuring 70 music performances

brought to you by Local Correspondents

and The Deli Magazine http://nyc.thedelimagazine.com/

Tuesday May 17th

Kick-off and special open mic feature

8:00 PM Jim Pennea
8:20 PM Sticker Dude www.raggededgepress.com
8:40 PM Sheryl Cohen www.sherylcohen.com
9:00 PM pinkwing pinkwingmusic.com
9:40 PM Breezy Grass www.breezygrass.com
10:00 PM Brutal East soundcloud.com/brutal-east

Wednesday May 18th

8:00 PM Michaela Anne www.michaelaanne.com
8:20 PM Jeremiah Birnbaum www.jeremiahbirnbaum.com
8:40 PM Shanna Zell www.shannazell.com
9:00 PM Emily Mure www.myspace.com/emilymuremusic
9:20 PM Bucky Hayes buckyhayes.com
9:40 PM Ten Antenna http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ten-Antenna/64691861413
10:00 PM Bright Brown http://brightbrown.bandcamp.com
10:20 PM The Courtesy Tier http://www.thecourtesytier.com
10:40 PM Victory Grin www.victorygrin.com
11:00 PM Hannah Fairchild www.hannah-fairchild.com
11:20 PM Gillian Visco www.gillianvisco.com
11:40 PM Matthew Peverly matthewpeverlysongs.com
12:00 AM Jennifer Richman www.jenniferrichman.com

Thursday May 19th

8:00 PM Jessi Robertson www.jessirobertson.com
8:20 PM E.W. Harris www.ewharris.net
8:40 PM North English http://www.myspace.com/northenglish
9:00 PM sami.the.great www.samithegreat.com
9:20 PM Peter Salvato
9:40 PM Lucius myspace.com/luciustunes
10:00 PM Bryan Dunn www.bryandunnmusic.net
10:20 PM Lara Ewen http://www.unstrungmusic.com
10:40 PM Chris Michael http://eatthatguitarchrismichael.wordpress.com
11:00 PM Matt Cranstoun www.mattcranstoun.com
11:20 PM Ivan Sandomire http://www.myspace.com/ivansandomire
11:40 PM King Owl kingowlmusic.bandcamp.com
12:00 AM Rich Varroney

Friday May 20th

8:00 PM Robin Bacior robinbacior.com
8:20 PM Whale Belly whalebellymusic.com
8:40 PM Dave Beck davebeckmusic.com
9:00 PM Michael Wagner chappymusic.com
9:20 PM Secondstar www.secondstarmusic.com
9:40 PM Heidi Sidelinker http://www.myspace.com/heidisidelinker
10:00 PM Matt Singer www.mattsingermusic.com
10:20 PM Great Elk www.greatelkmusic.com
10:40 PM Lowry http://lowrymusic.com
11:00 PM Steve Waitt stevewaitt.com
11:20 PM Daniel Wayne facebook.com/danielwaynemusic
11:40 PM Third Wheel Band www.thethirdwheelband.com
12:00 AM Joe Dairy

Saturday May 21st

8:00 PM Polly Ammo
8:20 PM Mark Yodice http://www.myspace.com/markyodice
8:40 PM Niall Connolly www.niallconnolly.com
9:00 PM Justin Storer and the Working Effective http://justinstorer.bandcamp.com
9:20 PM Luke Wesley lukewesley.com
9:40 PM Debbie Miller http://thedebbiemiller.com
10:00 PM Abby Ahmad www.abbyahmad.net
10:20 PM Greg Thomas http://www.gregthomasband.com
10:40 PM Kevin Johnston www.myspace.com/kevinjohnston
11:00 PM Paula Valstein http://paulavalstein.com
11:20 PM Grace Love www.gracelovemusic.com
11:40 PM Rob Ingersoll nolindsay.com
12:00 AM Sky M.S.

Sunday May 22nd

8:00 PM Paul Tabachnek http://youtube.com/strumcrystrum
8:20 PM Shannon Pelcher www.myspace.com/shannonpelcher
8:40 PM aCloudedHed
9:00 PM Scott Rudd www.scottruddmusic.com
9:20 PM Andy Mac http://listn.to/AndyMacPage
9:40 PM Melissa Lusk melissalusk.com
10:00 PM Red Orange Morning
10:20 PM Scott Stein www.scottsteinmusic.com
10:40 PM Matt & Elijah of Two Cent Revival http://www.twocentrevival.com
11:00 PM Austin Donohue www.austindonohue.com
11:20 PM The Whispering Tree www.thewhisperingtree.com
11:40 PM Dan Asselin http://www.myspace.com/danasselin

LOCAL CORRESPONDENTS PRESENTS SONGS FOR JAPAN
Compilation Mix on Bandcamp to Benefit Relief Efforts

The musicians of Brooklyn’s Local Correspondents, compelled by the recent tragedy in Japan, created a compilation mix, available April 19th at localcorrespondents.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-japan. All 16 tracks can be downloaded for a minimum donation of $5 and a suggested donation of $10. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised will benefit the continuing global relief efforts of The American Red Cross.

The tracks on this mix include several previously unreleased recordings, and the compilation was remastered by Aaron Nevezie at The Bunker Studio. The album artwork is by Catharina Bruns at workisnotajob. This release has been made possible by these generous donations of talent.

TRACKLIST:

1. Steve Waitt: Like Water
2. Lucius: Shenandoah
3. Casey Shea: Love Is Here to Stay
4. Abby Ahmad: In Favor of Braver Parts
5. Great Elk: Walk Down Your Own Road
6. Greg Thomas: The Rafters in My Head
7. Kevin Johnston: Something I Can’t See
8. Matt Singer: We Are Not Small
9. Brian Bonz: Goodnight, Captain Revelstoke
10. Jessi Robertson: The Damaged Part
11. Niall Connolly: Seagull
12. Lara Ewen: One Day
13. Dave Beck: Alder Roads
14. Debbie Miller: I Rise
15. secondstar: Kites & Arrows
16. Kelli Rae Powell: Old And Innocent

ABOUT LOCAL CORRESPONDENTS
Local Correspondents (LC) is a supportive Brooklyn-based community for independent artists. LC hosts an annual festival as well as weekly showcases and open mic nights at venues throughout New York City, bringing together a talented and diverse group of performers. LC offers a helping hand to performers who live and visit the NYC area by providing them with advice, tips and opportunities to play. Founded in 2005 by Tanya Buziak, Larry Hyland, Greg Tuohey, and Jessi Robertson, the community has grown to support hundreds of musicians, artists, comedians and photographers, and has strong support from local businesses, including several bars and recording and performance spaces. The current team includes Hyland, Tuohey and Robertson, in addition to Niko Kaparos, Paul Basile, Peter Abbruscato, Kevin Johnston, Greg Thomas and Lara Ewen.

LINKS
localcorrespondents.com• localcorrespondents.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-japan
The American Red Cross: redcross.org
Aaron Nevezie at The Bunker Studio: thebunkerstudio.com
Catharina Bruns: workisnotajob.com • facebook.com/workisnotajob

For more information, please email press@localcorrespondents.com

As some of you may or may not know, Matt Frye slipped on some ice this winter and severely injured his leg. He wracked up some major hospital bills, and like many of us musicians, did not have any health insurance whatsoever.

A benefit is planned to raise money to help cover Matt’s hospital expenses. The “On a Broken Leg and a Prayer” benefit will take place on April 21st at Southpaw. Doors open at 7pm.

Performers include:

Matt Frye

Daniel Wayne

The Howling Monkeys

and more.

Come show your support and have a great time listening to some very talented local acts.

Photo by Jenn DeBonis.

Jessi Robertson’s “Small Town Girls”

jessirobertson.com • myspace.com/jessirobertson • bar4brooklyn.com

Jessi Robertson is set to release her long-awaited studio album, “Small Town Girls” with a pre-release party at Bar4 on Saturday February 26th, and a public release date of Tuesday March 1st. The album will be available through iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and most major online outlets.

“Small Town Girls” showcases Jessi’s electric folk sound while lyrically exploring the loneliness and alienation that have become haunting themes in her work. The album was produced by Chris Cubeta (Wakey!Wakey!, Harper Blynn) at GaluminumFoil Productions in Brooklyn, and features Greg Tuohey (Lowry) on guitar and Ryan Vaughn on drums.

10% of album proceeds will be donated to RAINN (http://www.rainn.org), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

From Lucid Culture’s Review of “Small Town Girls”:

“Why is there so much madness in small towns? Because that’s where dreams get ground down into the dirt? Because anyone who can get out does, and those who stay behind are hell to be around? Jessi Robertson explores themes like these on her intense new album Small Town Girls. The women here want one thing and and one thing only: to escape. In a breathy, occasionally gritty contralto, over smartly arranged Americana rock, Robertson chronicles how they do it, or what they substitute for the real thing. More often than not, it’s impossible to turn away from. If you like the idea of Lucinda Williams but don’t like all the cliches she falls back on, Jessi Robertson is for you.” – Lucid Culture [Read More]

FaceBook Event Invite: Pre-Release party at Bar4, Saturday February 26th

8pm Kelli Rae Powell http://www.kelliraepowell.com/

9pm Robert Abel (formerly of The Picture) http://www.myspace.com/thepicture

10pm Jessi Robertson with Greg Tuohey, Brent Follis, Jim McNamara, and special guests

http://jessirobertson.com/

Feel free to dress up or wear your most comfy clothes. Free cookies crafted by Jennie Mouio.

About Jessi Robertson

Musically, Jessi lives on the divide between gutsy indie rockers such as PJ Harvey and gritty Americana artists like Lucinda Williams. Embracing this duality, her performances can feel as intimate as a conversation, or as deep and wide as an ocean, and Jessi refuses to shy away from difficult subjects. In her previous release, “Who We Are, What We Have Done” (2008), Jessi carved out an electronic and folk niche, blending that sound with intensely personal lyrics. On “Small Town Girls,” she opens up wider, focusing her lyrical gaze on issues of domestic violence, mental illness and alienation. Yet woven throughout the album is unflinching hope, too, and it sheds light into Jessi’s own darkest corners. Jessi’s songs have been recently featured on Style Network’s season 3 premiere of “Giuliana & Bill.”

About Bar4

Home to Brooklyn’s Local Correspondents community, Bar4 is located at 444 7th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11215 on the corner of 15th St. and 7th Ave. Take the F train to 7th Ave. or Prospect Park/15th St. The venue phone number is (718) 832-9800.

Local Correspondents Presents at Rockwood Music Hall

Sunday, February 6, 2011

8 – 11pm

Featuring:

Greg Thomas

Return of Simple

Secondstar

peter inc. is getting ready to make an album, and it is long overdue.

peter inc. has been a mainstay of the LC scene from its very humble beginnings in the back corner of Bar4 to the present. His mix of complex guitar rhythms over subtle, reedy vocals is the perfect compliment to songs that explore human relationships with stark honesty.

Now’s your chance to help this album become a reality.

peter inc. has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the album and there are just 10 days left to contribute. But think of it less as a contribution, and more as a chance to both pre-order the album and also help Peter make this reccord. There are also some amazing limited edition packages available with higher pledges.

Visit the Kickstarter project home http://kck.st/bEUGsu to learn more.

ABOUT peter inc.

HELP MAKE AN ALBUM!

Kevin Johnston is using the new crowd sourcing model to raise funds for a studio album via Kickstarter. He has already raised close to $4,500 with the goal of raising $8,000 in the next 9 days.  Funding an album is an exciting way to participate in the process of creating the album, and Kevin takes this concept to new levels by allowing backers to actually sing on his album with a pledge of just $25 or more. At the very least, you can pre-order the album for a decent price, or go all out and go for the in-house private acoustic concert! I guarantee you will be blown away by the anthemic melodies and soaring vocals that have made Kevin a stand-out in the indie music scene.

Visit the Kickstarter project home http://kck.st/cuGLXX for videos and more!

You can purchase or stream Kevin’s new single, “Something I Can’t See” at http://kevinjohnston.bandcamp.com.

ABOUT KEVIN

Kevin Johnston hails from Colorado where his life on stage began early. He’s been writing and performing music for more than a decade. He has performed original songs on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Hulu.com and at SXSW, fronting Michael Eisner’s web-series band The All For Nots. He has played The Mercury Lounge, The Living Room, Rockwood Music Hall and Bar4 in NYC; The Bluebird Theater, Hi-Dive and The Gothic Theater in Denver. His new band has taken his songs to thrilling levels of emotionally nuanced rock-ness, and are poised to record it’s highly anticipated debut in January.

From brooklyntheborough.com article by Robin Bacior:

“I usually say, ‘I’m a lover, not a fighter, but I will fight you, if it comes to that,’” said Kevin Johnston, a Park Slope-based musician, whose former band The All For Nots toured the U.S. as part-musical collective, part web reality-series. “I think I usually try to come up with some jokey bullshit answer, kind of like I just did.”

Johnston moonlights as a bartender for the open mic hub and watering hole, Bar 4 (well-known as a good spot for networking with musicians), and as a barista at El Biet in Williamsburg. Johnston uses these two jobs to his advantage, both as networking tools with fellow musicians, and opportunities to promote shows he plays in the area. “You can’t swing a dead cat without a guy who works at a coffee shop giving you a flier for their band, but it’s a stereotype that works, I guess,” Johnston said.

“When people ask you what you do, they’re more interested in who you really are,” he added. For the artist, it’s easy to become consumed with creation, like Johnston, for whom music seems weaved into his DNA – something that seemed to grow in his marrow from the start.

Through a series of side-projects, Johnston (pictured, right) was sent with a band he was working with to play The Jimmy Kimmel show, where he was fortunate enough to play one of his originals. Even just assessing the present can help an artist to determine what they’ve achieved, what they’re proud of.

“If it came down to it, life is not so bad playing in a great band, and bartending,” Johnston said.

For others, it’s all about the fans.

“If I can make one grin on an orphan,” Johnston said. “Or if I can make one orphan throw their panties…”

New Band Daily Review

This New York based singer songwriter is a feisty one – let us tell you that. He’s got charisma, character, and quite the flare for a live performance. He is choosy about his backing band, and as such has a very catchy, pleasing, and professional take on music.

Interestingly enough, Kevin has portrayed a frontman in a “fake band”, The All For Nots, in a web series funded by a Disney executive… yet his talent is anything but fleeting. With a serious vocal range, insightful lyrics, and creative guitar playing, his harmonies and melodies are spun webs of silken rock sounds.

Originally from a small town in Colorado, growing up in a musically and theatrically oriented family, this guy is clearly meant for the stage.

Songs we recommend you listen to: “Something I Can’t See,” “End of the World,” and “Different Day.”