While listening to WRCT years ago, I heard DJ Don’t Play Dat’s Brass Band Power Hour. I fell in love with the joyous sound of New Orleans Brass Bands and soon learned that there were other brass bands playing music based on Balkan brass band music. Some of those bands, such as New York’s Zlatne Uste were devoted to playing within within the Eastern European traditions. Others, such as Slavic Soul Party, were happy to bring themes from other brass band traditions to Balkan songs.

Slavic Soul Party are five New York City musicians who put on an excellent live show. I saw them once play a late night show at the Johnstown Folk Festival at one of three stages. The small audience was sluggish at first but by after a few songs, many more folks came in and everyone was on their feet dancing. This is happy, energetic music with room for great improvisations. If you have a chance to see this band live, go for it!

Hear it: Kenny Joe presents Pinkney Hall every Friday morning from 9 until 10

Mclusky is a noise/scream rock band from Wales, fronted by singer/songwriter Andy ‘Falco’ Falkous. They were active 2000-2005, and split up for the usual boring reasons that bands do. Definitely check out Mclusky Do Dallas (2002), but truly all of their albums are worth your time.

After Mclusky broke up, Falco kept the buzz and crunch alive founding Future of the Left in 2006. What makes both of these bands mind-blowing to me is Falco’s singing ability and songwriting. He’s an observer and storyteller who focuses on pretty repugnant characters, but isn’t concerned with telling his audience what is “right” or “wrong”. Humorous, absurd situations are constants (extension cord wrapped around the base of my penis in defiance of societal law. “Why Aren’t I Going To Hell”) throughout all of the albums he’s released with both bands. Musically, Mclusky and Future of the Left kill it with their simple use of pauses, sudden dynamic changes and repetition. They have a wide array of sounds (largely because of Falco’s ability and creativity as a singer), but surprising lyrics and hard core rocking are ubiquitous. These bands, and especially Future of the Left, are my absolute favorite and I’m excited to bring them to you!

If you dig, I’d love to chat more: tmoleswo@wrct.org

–Tee

Mclusky: What I reaaaally wish I could have played

FoTL: What I reaaaally wish I could have played

The House that Hope Built (Official Video)

Saxophonist Albert Ayler stood out among the many free jazz band leaders of the 60s. Like most “new” musical idioms, free jazz broadened the idea of what constituted “jazz,” but Ayler took that to extremes, incorporating into his work whatever elements from other genres he liked. Distinguishing marks of his work were the emphasis on strong melody lines and a joyous spiritually manifested in his best work.

In 1970, Ayler’s body was found in the the East River, the circumstances of his death never having been explained. He was only 31. At the time, his music was becoming more accessible to folks not used to jazz. I would like to think that had he lived, he would have begun to expand the limits of popular music to include arrangements with riotous horns backing wild vocals. But, alas, we got hair bands instead.

Hear it: Kenny Joe presents Pinkney Hall every Friday morning from 9 until 10.