Pictured: Warpaint@Summit

Rebirth motherfucker! Yeah, here we go again. A TON of cool shit has happened since we last got together in this official capacity and I’m not gonna tell you anything about it! I will tell you that Duffy made me take some online journalism and creative writing and photography courses while I was on hiatus and as you’re about to see it did absolutely no good!

I will also tell you I picked a good week to decide to start doing this crap again. Super Desserts, Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, Guinea Worms, Warpaint, Don B, and of course, Mike O! If you are at all inclined to listen to a bitter, old, hateful, cynical and all around super cool and totally nice dude’s rant about, you know, stuff, you know what to do! (more…)

MP3: Yr Heart

The Super Desserts are set to release their new record Banjo Forever this Sunday (Jan. 24) at Used Kids Records. In a way, this is a new old record, as many tracks come from previously released material that have been remixed with added instrumentation. Singer/guitarist Bobby Miller explains: “Really it’s just the culmination of a plan we had from day one. We set out to record as many songs as we could in a two-year span, releasing them in DIY fashion along the way. Then, we took our favorites and packaged them with the strongest of our “new” songs to create this record.” Whether you’re new to their music or not, their efforts don’t seem to be in vain as they’ve managed to channel all of their energy into a highly enjoyable album.

This quirky gaggle of artists call on a variety of instruments (as with the first album, Barefoot in the Disenchanted Forest) that seem to tell stories of the mishaps of seeing life through melodic, rose-colored glasses. In fact, their airy way of tale-telling can refresh your inner child and leave you whistling, like in the track “Gotta Lotta Sun.” While I’m left wanting to hear more new material, I’ll be playing outstanding tracks such as the Sondre Lerche-like tune “Falling Out of Fashion,” the charming “Yr Heart” and the tragically fun “I Only Love You Because You Can Play Guitar” on repeat for a while.

On Sunday you’ll be able to purchase your own vinyl copy as well as catch an in-store performance from both Saintseneca and Super Desserts.

MP3: Vetiver – Everyday

We’ve mentioned the Ohio Winter Folk Festival a few times in the past couple weeks. With Sub Pop’s Vetiver and Columbus bands like the Black Swans, Super Desserts and Moon High, plus Athens’ Adam Torres (ex-Southeast Engine), it promises to be a pretty great show. Before Saturday’s show at the historic Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio, there’s also a Music Swap Meet and DIY Art Fair (1 pm).

We’ve got a pair to tickets to give away, too. Send an e-mail to contestdonewaiting@gmail.com with the subject WINTER FOLK FESTIVAL. A winner will be chosen on Friday. You can also buy tickets here ($12 in advance, $15 at the door).

Deets:
Ohio Winter Folk Festival
Saturday, Jan. 16 @ 6pm
Stuart’s Opera House I Nelsonville, Ohio

Recorded at Wholly Craft! in Columbus. More at Ohio Sessions.

Official release show for White Elephants, with Super Desserts and Winter Makes Sailors. Details on the poster.

mp3: Paper Airplane – It’s Almost Over
Poster by Paper Airplane drummer Antonio Garza. Each image is a visual representation of a song on the album.

Three Columbus bands are playing album-release shows on Friday night, and they’re all worth mentioning/attending.

At the Rumba Cafe, Brian Harnetty will be releasing Silent City, his second album for Chicago’s Atavistic Records. This one again finds Harnetty mining the treasures he collected from the Berea College Appalachian Sound Archives, but this time Harnetty’s instrumentation (accordion, bells, etc.) sets the tone for the songs. And floating above three of the tracks are the vocals of Bonnie “Prince” Billy. It’s Harnetty’s best work yet.

Harnetty rarely plays live, so catch him when you can. The Black Swans and Super Desserts open the show.

mp3: Brian Harnetty – Sleeping in the Driveway
mp3: Brian Harnetty – Silent City

Here’s how Monolithic Cloud Parade describes the concept behind its debut: “The album tells the story of a pack of turn-of-the-century carnival freak show children with wolf heads who escape their wagon train in a deadly accident one night and head off into the forest to fend for themselves, where they are confronted with fears both real and imaginary.” If you like Neutral Milk Hotel, you’ll dig these guys. Corey Fry has created an ambitious, lo-fi concept album that succeeds much of the time, bizarro storyline and all. Not bad for a guy who couldn’t even play an instrument a couple years ago.

MCP’s record release is at the Scarlet and Grey Cafe with The Lost Revival and Darynyck. It’ll also serve as Darynyck’s farewell show.

mp3: Monolithic Cloud Parade – Airplanes Full of Flames

Another debut concept album, Wing & Tusk’s The Secret of Toadflax Tea tells a story from three different viewpoints: an old monk, a young monk and a doctor, all of whom are on a European island stricken with the black plague, for which the only cure is a drink called Toadflax Tea. But that cure is known only to the monks… Betrayal, murder and heroism ensue.

Along with Harnetty’s Silent City, this is one of my favorite Columbus releases of the year so far. Singer Josh Rea reminds me a lot of David Bazan, a good thing in my book. Wing & tusk takes its folk-rock foundation and builds on it till it reaches the ether, adding strings, horns, beautiful harmonies and such along with way. Epic stuff.

mp3: Wing & Tusk – Home, Sick Home

Concert posters after the jump. Wing & Tusk’s is particularly cool/creepy.
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Now that his painting “Hammered Head” (above) is building-size downtown (corner of Spring and Third), local artist Jeff Fernengel is having an art show this Saturday to present a new collection of wacky yet endearing paintings to the masses.  Expect loads of color, shape-shifting animals with personality, and maybe a spare PBR can here or there.  The show is being held at the Art Exchange, 17 E. Brickel St., in the heart of the Short North.  This free event runs from 7-11pm, and includes free beverages and a performance from Columbus’ Super Desserts around 9pm.