iPhonic: Four Dudes get iFunky

If I was to tell you that four white dudes formed a band in Athens, Ohio, some assumptions might kick in. Indie rock? DMB cover band? Bluegrass/alt-folk? Naw, in this case we're talking hip hop.

It didn't start that way. Drummer Ed Planisek says the foursome started strictly as a covers band. It wasn't until they realized that Dave, the frontman, could write a killer hip hop song that they made the switch. But they are pretty happy with the change, and so are its followers - a mix of ages, genders, and crowds. Planisek says iPhonic brings in fans of pop punk, metal, and rock, with one characteristic in common: "they like to go out and party."

Songs like "She's Got It" and "It's Ok" take the rhythmic flow of The Roots, a big iPhonic influence, and throw in the pop sensibilities of LFO (hey, remember them?). It's chill, easy to sway to, and injects keyboard, synths, and guitar into the mix.

Up next for iPhonic? Check em out at Peabody's tonight or at the Grog Shop this Thursday, September 3rd.

Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio

One minute the dude is orchestrating brilliant numbers that spew with life, the next he’s writing simplified bullshit that wouldn’t sound out of place on a recent Jason Mraz record. Lucky for us, both ends of the spectrum exist concurrently on Sondre Lerche’s Heartbeat Radio. Over the course of 45 minutes, the Brooklyn-by-way-of-Norway artist puts some of his best material ever next to, well, some very average pop songs. The title track highlights his collaboration with the High Llamas’ Sean O’Hagan, displaying a fearless, explosive mastery of strings. Lerche’s vocals are crisp perfection, a flawless mixture of rasp and crystal clarity. “Easy to Persuade” is a throwback to the slick production of the Cure, with distant electric guitar riffs edgily breaking into pretty acoustics and bubbling synthesizer. The influences here are diverse, from 80s synth pop to 70s Brazilian folk. It’s all fine and dandy until it goes overboard. Underdressed Vegas showgirls come to mind when you hear the backup vocals on “If Only,” a tune where sparkling sound effects transform Lerche into a total cheeseball. Heartbeat Radio is like a game of “she loves me, she loves me not” – except we’re peeling off songs instead of pedals.

David Bazan - Curse Your Branches

The lyrics of David Bazan’s first solo album under his own name read like a personal guide to his conflicts with the Christian faith. He starts at the very beginning, opening the album with “Hard to Be,” a song that doubts the validity of the story of Adam and Eve. Bazan seems to reach up to the heavens for answers with graceful piano and swelling synthesizer, questioning what he has grown up believing while hoping to understand the truth. He reveals deep fears – wayward traditions of the church, alienating his family – as pedal steel guitar swirls around crunchy synthesizers and sweetly strummed guitar. Musically, “Please, Baby, Please” sounds like a digitally cleaned-up version of Neutral Milk Hotel with vocals comparable to Okkervil River’s Will Sheff. What makes the album a stand-out, though, is the Seattle-based musician’s ability to craft his self doubt and personal struggles into poetic prose. Taking a deep, concentrated listen to Curse Your Branches could move you to tears, regardless of your religious standing. The turmoil in Bazan’s voice, the honesty in his lyrics, and the musical craft here make this album a must-hear. Everyone has doubts; Bazan spins his into art.

Ra Ra Riot Keeps on Striking

Fresh off a tour with Death Cab for Cutie, life is looking good for the six members of Ra Ra Riot. Last time they played the Grog Shop, they were opening for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Now they return to the venue as headliners, a position they have earned rightfully. Touring behind The Rhumb Line, the Syracuse-based band’s 2008 debut, the indie poppers continue wowing audiences with a unique take on rock – one injected with the blooming flourishes of cello and violin. The last time fancy string instruments sounded this good was in pop-punk band Yellowcard, and these New Yorkers figuratively have years and years of maturity on those SoCal punks. After this summer’s collaboration with Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij in a side project they dubbed Discovery, RRR’s Wes Miles has probably stolen a few of VW’s fans. They two bands are of the same breed, bringing fans sheer happiness through a rush of choppy drums, bubblegum pop, and simple vocal incantations. RRR’s pals Princeton open with Chicago’s Maps & Atlases at 8 p.m. at the Grog Shop.

A Hawk and A Hacksaw

Whether you are at a concert or a very traditional bar mitzvah celebration may remain a mystery. A Hawk and a Hacksaw evoke Eastern Europe with minor chords and accordion-flavored ditties that fly by with quick ease. Faster than a hawk flutters its wings, countless notes twinkle past the eardrum. The only thing that changes more frequently than the tunings of the band’s string instruments is its lineup and home base. More than twelve musicians have performed or toured with AHAAH, which was temporarily based in France and Budapest, and now rests in Zuzax, New Mexico almost 10 years after the group’s origin. For this tour, founding members Heather Trost (violin) and Jeremy Barnes (drums) share the stage with Sam Johnson (trumpet) and Mark Weaver (tuba). While the set list will consist mostly of rich instrumentals, the occasional whoop or cheer escapes. And on “Kertesz,” sly vocals float over a thrilling masquerade of violin, mandolin, and accordion blasts. AHAAH’s show is a celebration of a different kind, and you don’t have to leave the states to bear witness.

Jesse Dee is the New Soul

The most prized piece of vinyl in your collection comes to mind when you hear the soulful voice ooze out of burgeoning performer Jesse Dee. A surprise is in order – this is today, and these songs are not covers. The new crooner out of Boston is one of a growing group of musicians ushering in a new era of music by drawing from old R&B. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Jamie Lidell, Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears, and Amy Winehouse are all joining Dee, who is re-awakening the beauty of honest, sing-it-from-the-heart soul with a voice that’s thick as paste and a backing band that complements his pipes with snazzy arrangements and swinging style. The current definitions of R&B are thrown out the window when Dee walks in the door; T-Pain and Sean Kingston are not welcome. He pays homage to his old favorites in live shows, emanating his heroes – Al Green, Etta James, and Sam Cooke (the first two for which he has opened).

Oasis is DONE??

I don't even know what to say.