indie rock

Ra Ra Riot comes home to 'Cuse
By Nathan Mattise
August 30, 2010 - 11:23am
Close relationship with Syracuse remains a constant in college rock heroes' unpredictable ascent.

Ra Ra Riot’s current producer Andrew Maury once told me the reason you have to see the band live is because its energy alone is a “captivating spectacle.”

The Flaming Lips leave a lasting impression
By Nathan Mattise
July 25, 2010 - 1:31pm
Review: The over-the-top rockers capped a strong night of performances at the CMAC with sights and sounds that won't be forgotten.

The Flaming Lips are known for creating a near-circus during their performances with basic touches like confetti cannons to the more unusual items like giant puppet hands that emit lazers.

The Camp Bisco experience
By Nathan Mattise
July 21, 2010 - 9:48pm
Whether you're a newbie or seasoned concert-goer, The Disco Biscuits host a music festival like no other.

Five words to describe Camp Bisco: Vibrant, serene, wild, bumping and unique.

I've been to a lot of shows — indoor and outdoor — in cities and in the middle of nowhere. Last year I was even able to attend my first festival with ATP New York, a unique experience in its own right where I learned about navigating multiple stages and unique side shows.

Camp Bisco Day Three: Daytime at the festival, Ween and lightning strikes
By Nathan Mattise
July 18, 2010 - 11:28pm
Day Three ended prematurely but Ween was among the interesting highlights.

The Camp Bisco hashtag was more active today than ever, filled with people declaring their need for recovery after the weekend. Taking that into consideration, this Day Three recap is downright early:

Camp Bisco Day Two: Major Lazer, Diplo and Bisco at night
By Nathan Mattise
July 17, 2010 - 1:22pm
Day Two of the Disco Biscuits' festival was a juxtaposition of dance heavy music and the deep woods hangout.

These Day Two updates are coming to you live from an NY Thruway Rest Stop the morning after my first all-nighter at Camp Bisco 2010.

Camp Bisco Day One: LCD Soundsystem, the Dance Tent and people watching
By Nathan Mattise
July 16, 2010 - 2:55pm
The festival opening salvo is a win with James Murphy and crew, but people watching is even more compelling.

Night One of Camp Bisco is officially in the books and Day Two is already underway. My regular 8-to-5 might keep me from getting back to the grounds before Thievary Corporation tonight, but it provides the perfect opportunity to provide a quick update (since the festival grounds don't have WiFi and aren't even very cell friendly).

The full recap is coming early next week, but here are some Night One highlights to tide you over:

Otto-Tune Podcast: The Top Females in Indie Rock
By Nathan Mattise
October 27, 2009 - 10:34pm
Fresh off a trip from seeing St. Vincent in action, two Otto-Tune bloggers debate the best leading ladies in indie rock.

Bloggers Jett Wells and Nathan Mattise were working on coverage of the recent St. Vincent show in Ithaca, N.Y. when they decided it was time for the second Otto-Tune Podcast. In the spirit of the trip, the debate at hand (carried on during the roadtrip even!) became who is the current queen of indie rock.

Artist to Watch: Freelance Whales
By Trevor Jett Wells
October 26, 2009 - 4:49pm
Next time you see a street performer, don't just shrug them off. They might be the next "it" band

It's not everyday you run into famous people, or even people who will be famous in the near future.

Top 5 Most Overrated Bands of 2009
By Trevor Jett Wells
October 6, 2009 - 9:20pm
There was a lot of great music in 2009, but some bands didn't deserve the hype.

I loved 2009, and I’m going to continue to love 2009 because it’s been a great year for music. No one can deny that with so many strong acts  hitting their strides, like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dirty Projectors and Phoenix. However, with the release of so much great music, there tends to be a lot of overhyped bands. The bothersome part however, is that some critics herald these bands as some of the best in...

St. Vincent coming to Ithaca
By Trevor Jett Wells
September 29, 2009 - 9:39pm
Indie-pop singer, songwriter and musician Annie Clark makes her way to Ithaca in October.

If you don't know who St. Vincent is, get acquainted. She's coming to Ithaca on Oct. 22. 

St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark and her supporting band, are an electric live band. I was lucky enough to catch Annie Clark perform over the summer at the 2009 All Points West Festival in Liberty Park, NJ, and I underestimated her big-time. With Jimi Hendrix guitar skills, and sultry vocals, Annie Clark is a stead-fast rising star.