Tag Archives: the basement

Friday: The Eastern Sea @ The Basement

I’ve never met the Austin, Texas band The Eastern Sea but if sounds tell the story, I bet they are really nice guys. I know another band of really nice guys – Death Cab for Cutie – who I saw perform at Bernie’s “back in the day” (an old guy like me can say that and truly mean it) and I remember them sincerely thanking the audience for paying attention after each and every song. It comes as no surprise, then, that The Eastern Sea sort of occupies that same sonic space as Death Cab – nice and dreamy guitars, pretty harmonies, very non-threatening vocals.


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Interview: Juiceboxxx Talks Energy Drinks, Milwaukee Rap, Jeff the Brotherhood & Public Enemy

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Juiceboxxx is a rapper from Milwaukee. He is touring with Jeff the Brotherhood. They are playing the Basement tonight in Columbus, Ohio..
Juiceboxxx and I have a mutual friend here in Columbus so after an exchange of emails this interview commenced. We discussed his DIY energy drink that has been covered by Forbes Magazine, and Vice. We discussed Milwaukee rap. We talked about Juiceboxx’s tour with Public Enemy. People often reject my email interviews because my questions are fairly stupid. So cheers to Juiceboxx for being a good sport.

What’s the status on Thunderzone Energy Drink?
THE DRINKS WILL BE READY FOR MY UPCOMING TOUR WITH JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD!

How the fuck did you get Forbes Magazine to write about your energy drink?
MOGULS RECOGNIZE MOGULS. JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT MOVING, I’VE BEEN RAPPING SINCE I WAS 14.

You’ve been written about in Vice. You are down with the Jeff the Brotherhood. You put out a G-Side 7 inch.
Seems like you are very brandable. Any thoughts of having RedBull sponsor your energy drink?

NAH MAN RESPECT TO RED BULL FOR BEING LEGENDS OF THE GAME BUT I’M TRYING TO DO MY OWN THING. FUCK MONSTER ENERGY DRINK! THUNDER ZONE IS FOR ALL THE KIDS OUT THERE, THIS IS OUR ENERGY DRINK!

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Sunday: Future Islands at The Basement

Of course these guys met at art school, where else do a bunch of Joy Division fans meet? Future Islands’ latest release, On the Water, sounds retro-yet-modern, heavy with ’80s synths, dancey rhythms, Bowie/Smith/Curtis/Sumner-style vocals, and lyrics filled with tales of love and loss.

Future Islands, with newbie Columbus band June66, perform at The Basement on Sunday night. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of show.

Win tix to see Alberta Cross/Everest at The Basement on July 6

We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to the Alberta Cross/Everest show at The Basement on Friday, July 6. Both bands have been featured in our “Live at Electraplay” series which you should definitely watch if you haven’t seen them yet (watch Alberta Cross; watch Everest).

To enter the contest, send an email to contestdonewaiting@gmail.com. We’ll announce a winner on July 3.

Win tickets to see Robert Francis perform at The Basement on Monday, June 18

Though he’s just in his mid-20s, Robert Francis sings like somebody who has lived a full life and has experienced hardships along the way. When he was in town a few years ago opening for Fanfarlo, I mentioned that he brought to mind Bad Blake (Jeff Bridge’s character from Crazy Heart) had Blake been a rock club singer rather than a broken-hearted country crooner. On Strangers in the First Place, released in May by Vanguard Records, Francis hasn’t strayed from the style of music found on his previous releases, 2007’s One by One and 2009’s Before Nightfall.

Francis will be performing at The Basement on Monday night and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky winner. You don’t need to do anything fancy, just send an email to contestdonewaiting@gmail.com. We’ll pick a winner on Sunday afternoon and notify you – if you win – via email. Good luck!

Wednesday @ The Basement: JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound

MP3: Everything Will Be Fine

On Wednesday night, Chicago’s JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound will return to Columbus to play the Basement. They are touring in support of Want More, their second album and first on hometown Bloodshot Records (Lydia Loveless, Justin Townes Earle, ETC.). In the sometimes crowded field of modern funk/soul bands, JCBUS manages to stand apart with their approach that meshes old school gutbucket soul with rock ‘n roll energy (a style they sometimes refer to as “post-punk soul”). While their debut tended to jump around a bit between various ideas and approaches, Want More seems focused on their own take on vintage soul storytelling and party-starting. The fact that a Wilco cover (see video above) fits seamlessly into this collection is a testament to the heart and soul they apply to their material.

While they continue to evolve with their recorded output, JCBUS has also been a live force to be reckoned with for some time (including their role in the Numero Eccentric Soul Revue that appeared at the Lincoln Theatre in 2009), as JC Brooks’ soul-shouting antics lead the show with rock solid support from the Uptown Sound rhythm section.  There is no (listed) opening band for the show Wednesday, so the band will have plenty of room to stretch out and put on a fiery soul spectacle.  Doors are at 7pm, admission is $12 at the door.

Sunday: Charm City Devils @ The Basement

Charm City Devils play a low-dough show ($5) at The Basement on Sunday night. Doors are at 7pm.

The legacy of late ’80s/early ’90s hair rock is alive and well in Charm City Devils’ sophomore release, SINS, released earlier this month, though the John Allen-led band brings enough modern flair to the 11 tracks to be considered peers with artists like Shinedown, Theory of a Deadman, Egypt Central, and Five Finger Death Punch.
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Friday: Local H @ The Basement + new Scott Lucas & The Married Men Columbus tour date

“Dude, I love that one song, you know, the ‘Copacetic’ song. Yeah man, I LOVE Local H.”

I imagine this conversation happens a lot in large part due to the blessing/curse of radio stations becoming fixated on 1996’s “Bound for the Floor” (did you even know that was the title of the ‘Copacetic’ song?) and, for all intents and purposes, making Local H a “one-hit wonder” despite the fact that the duo (Scott Lucas and Brian St.Clair) have been pumping out albums at a steady pace ever since then. Sure, they’ve had a bit of radioplay/success with songs like “All the Kids Are Right”, “High-Fiving MF”, “Eddie Vedder”, “California Songs”, etc., but call CD102.5 or 99.7 and request a Local H song and you’re most likely going to hear “Bound for the Floor”.

Local H is currently putting the finishing touches on their 7th full length, Hallelujah! I’m a Bum, which will hit shelves this year. In preparation of that release, the duo is road testing songs and we should get to preview a number of those on Friday night at The Basement. Don’t expect a ton of deep cuts, so far on this tour they’ve been playing new stuff and greatest hits type material but you never know what they’re going to be pulling out so expect the unexpected.

Scott Lucas’s other band (don’t call it a side project!), Scott Lucas and the Married Men, will also be releasing new material in 2012 – Blood Half Moon is due out in June and you can download the title track here.

Scott Lucas and the Married Men will return to Columbus on June 17 for a show at The Summit, the same venue they played in February 2010. Check out their DonewaitingTV session here.

Interview: Hundred Visions

Can’t really knock it when you’ve scored the opening slot on a buzzed-about tour even if the only consumable music you have out there for people to preview before seeing you is a 3-song EP. Hundred Visions have found themselves in the honored position as the guests of fellow Austin-ites White Denim for a round of touring that drops them into The Basement on Wednesday night (4/18).

While hanging out in Toronto early this week, Hundred Visions singer Ben Maddox answered some questions about his band, Austin, White Denim and his love (or at least appreciation) of Pantera.

Word on the street is that White Denim is hot shit live. Do you concur?

That rumor is fucking founded. I used to watch them at clubs in Austin before we started Hundred Visions and be equally inspired and discouraged by their show- inspired to start my own band, and discouraged that I might never be that good.

Those who have Googled “Hundred Visions” have hopefully stumbled across the Bandcamp page and have digested the 3-song EP you’ve got up there. What’s the best you can expect for out of a crowd whose only exposure to Hundred Visions thus far has just been a trio of songs?

Hopefully to dance, to bob, to move. Something like that.


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Photos: Ben Kweller @ The Basement

Ben Kweller
The Basement
March 26, 2012

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