The Turn It Offs turn it back on!

If you are in danger of having one name engrained in your brain as a result of this blog, that name would probably be Harry Koniditsiotis.  It’s not that Harry payed me off or anything, it’s just that he is extremely active in the local music scene fronting both The Angel Sluts and Twin Pilot, and running 5 and Dime studios where he has recorded The Gloryholes, Secret People, The Original Three, True Sons of Thunder, and The Bombay Alleys, in addition to his own bands.  Friday September 9th at The Frame (961 Meda), Koniditsiotis’ project with ex-Six String Jet Bryan Leonard, The Turn It Offs, will return after nearly a two year hiatus.  I sat down with him earlier to talk to him about the band’s return.

MRC: What broke up the Turn It Offs?

HK: We never broke up actually.  We just all got kind of busy with things.  I got busy touring with The Angel Sluts for the last two years.  We’ve been on the road like six months out of the year.  Bryan got married, had two kids, so he got tied up with things too.  So it was one of those, we never really broke up, we just kind of stopped playing.  We just all got kind of busy with other things.

MRC:  So is this a reunion or is this the Turn It Off being back in the saddle?  

HK: I think we’re going to start playing around again. I’m not sure how often, but I think we are definitely going to start playing out again.  We all have plans to do some shows every once in a while.

MRC:  For people who know you more for being with The Angel Sluts, and Bryan for The Six String Jets, what can people expect different with this band?  

HK: When Bryan and I decided to start this band, the idea was that we both had songs that we had written that didn’t exactly fit for The Angel Sluts or The Six String Jets, but they were songs that we both liked.  We figured we’d get together, start another band, and kind of combine the two.  At that point in time, The Angel Sluts and The Six String Jets were kind of synonymous together.  We pretty much played every show.  If one of us played, the other was playing too, that’s kind of how those bands grew up, with us playing together.  I think the Six String Jets first show was our third show.  We pretty much started at the same time.

MRC: In the Turn It Offs, you play guitar rather than just being the singer like in The Angel Sluts.  Do you prefer typically to just be the singer or do you see this as your outlet to play guitar?

HK:  When Bryan and I decided to do this band, I had wanted to play guitar and sing because I got tired of just singing with The Angel Sluts.  There is something about bands who have people who just sing.  There’s something about bands who have someone who sings and plays guitar.  I think the fact that Brian and I both play guitar and sing, there is this sort of counterbalance for the fact that we were both in these bands.  He played guitar and sang in the Six String Jets, but it just seemed like the appropriate thing, even though it seems like there are a number of times that I pass off the guitar to somebody, and just go with it.  There is always that little thing, but I enjoy it.  Sometimes I jones to not play an instrument, and sometimes I am really wanting to play one.

MRC: You’re in three different bands.  When you set off to write a song, how do you know if it’s an Angel Sluts song versus a Turn It Offs song versus a Twin Pilot song?

HK: It’s funny that you ask that because I was talking about that the other day.  There are certainly songs that I bounce around to each of the bands.  I think it came down to whichever band happened to be practicing that night.  There is a Twin Pilot song that definitely could have easily been a Turn It Offs song or an Angel Sluts song, but the fact that we had a keyboard player, and I wanted a keyboard part in the song, I just decided I would use that song for that band.  There is a song that is originally a Turn It Offs song called “The Sound” that the Angel Sluts have been using to open our sets.  But that song has also been played by Twin Pilot, so it just came around to whatever was bouncing around.  There’s actually a recording of that song that was supposed to be on The Turn It Offs album, but for some reason we cut it.  I don’t remember why.  I felt like it didn’t fit with the rest of the record , but I think the album sounds fine without it.  There are definitely songs that I hear that I think could fit for all three bands.

The Turn It Offs also feature Cody Fletcher on bass and Bobby Lee on drums.  They will be joined by Modern Convenience, Followed By Static (from Austin, Texas) and Kudzu (from Springfield, Missouri).  The show will start at 9:00pm and is all ages. Cover will be based on donations for the bands.   If two weeks seems to be a bit too much notice, and you worry that you might forget about this show, don’t worry!  We’ll remind you it’s happening!  Vinyl copies of their 2009 debut album Too Much Static are still available or you can download a digital copy of it for $5 here.

Rock for Results

Last night, I spoke with Jeff Hulett, fresh from a poker victory, about the results from Rock for Love 5!  And the verdict is…..

MRC: What did Memphis do for the Church Health Center last weekend?

JH: Rock for Love 5 raised more than $31,000 for the Church Health Center and more important than that, it raised invaluable awareness for all of the services the Center provides to the community. Whether the money supports our wellness center, Church Health Center Wellness or our outreach programs, Memphis came together and raised vital funds and hopefully reached a new generation of supporters.

MRC: Over the years, how has Rock for Love benefitted the Church Health Center?

JH: Over the years RFL has grown into a viable music festival that celebrates diversity, art and the Church Health Center, a place that serves so many working uninsured people, including many Memphis musicians.

MRC: Before you were an employee at the Church Health Center, you played the first Rock for Love with Snowglobe.  How has becoming a Church Health Center employee changed your view on this event?

JH: Performing in year one with Snowglobe was an amazing experience. In all honesty, I can credit this event with helping me get a job at the Center. Organizing RFL as an employee is fantastic. I love music, I love helping others and I love putting on events. It’s such a fun part of my work at the Center.

MRC: Anything you want to say to anyone who attended Rock for Love, bid on the auction, or in some way gave to the Church Health Center?

JH: If I had a mega phone and I could thank everyone who supported RFL 5, I would say thanks to you, many hard working people in our city will receive quality healthcare.

MRC: If someone wants to donate money to the Church Health Center during non Rock for Love time, how do they go about doing it?

JH: if someone wants to make a donation to the Center they can go to www.churchhealthcenter.org and hit the donate now button or they can call (901) 272-7170.

Hulett’s band Glorie will be performing at this year’s Cooper-Young Festival, on September 17, at 1:15pm on the main stage.  If that seems too far off in the future for you to remember, don’t worry.  We’ll remind you!

Bombay Alleys, Ornery Little Darlings, Ripe Fruit photos

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend!  Here are some photos from the Bombay Alleys, Ornery Little Darlings, and Ripe Fruit show at Murphy’s last Friday night.

Ripe Fruit (Stephen Paul Smoker)

Ornery Little Darlings

The Bombay Alleys

If you are looking for trouble to get into this fine Sunday evening, my suggestion is that you head to the Hi-tone at 9:00pm for Totimoshi, Hosoi Bros, and Powers That Be.  The cover is $7 and the show is 18 and up.

For once in your life, you have options!

It’s Friday, and a lot of great shows are happening this weekend!  Three great shows you should know about happening tonight are:

The Bombay Alleys, Ornery Little Darlings, and Ripe Fruit
Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.) 10:00pm, $5, 21 and up

We posted an interview with Agent Ryan of The Bombay Alleys on Wednesday which you can read here.  Their sound is quite reminiscent of early 90’s college rock, and since I’ve heard that their is a bit of a 90’s revival going on, why not check out a band who’s members where actually around and writing music in the 90’s?

Ornery Little Darlings and Ripe Fruit are both on tour from Chicago.  From the songs I heard on their bandcamp page, Ornery Little Darlings seem to be all over the place musically.  Their songs dart back and forth between psychedelic, dream pop and proto-punk, with the occasional male and female crooning vocals that sound something like Scott Walker and Billie Holliday morphing into Lux Interior and Kazu Makino.  You can preview and purchase their debut album O is for Onery on their band camp page.

Ripe Fruit shares some similar sensibilities to their touring mates.  Personally, I felt the two songs on their Neon Green/ No You No Me 7” fit somewhere in between Roky Erickson and the Brian Jonestown Massacre.  Very psychedelic heavy and very good!

Sex Cult and Moving Fingers
Lamplighter Lounge (1702 Madison Ave), 10:00pm, $5, 21 and up

Just down the street from Murphy’s at the Lamplighter, Sex Cult and Moving Fingers will be performing.  Unfortunately, I have not seen Sex Cult yet, and they have very little internet presence.  What I do know is that they include members of The Magic Kids, Vile Nation, and Bake Sale, as well as Moving Fingers’ J.B. Horrell.  Sex Cult has a spot at this year’s Gonerfest.

Moving Fingers features ex-Noise Choir members J.B. Horrell and Patrick Glass with Laurel Ferdon on drums.  This is only the band’s third show, but they already seemed to have a lot figured out during their first show a month back at the Buccaneer.  Expect a sound that is similar yet more stripped down than Horrell and Glass’ previous project, oh and also expect vocals this time around.

Sick Nasty Monsters, Glitch Doctor, and Witnesse
1884 Lounge (Inside Minglewood Hall 1555 Madison Ave.) 8:00pm, $5, 18 and up

Finally, if you’d rather put on your dancing shoes than rock out, head to the 1884 Lounge in Minglewood Hall for Sick Nasty Monsters.  Brought to you by Westham Records, Sick Nasty Monsters is a dub step project from local DJs Homework and Mike Wonder.  Glitch Doctor and Witnesse will also be performing.  This show starts at 8:00pm, has a $5 cover, and is 18 and up.

Upcoming Events!

There’s a lot going on the next couple of days…Here are a few of your options…

Thursday 8/25/11

The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.)
Upsidedown Valkyrie, The White Flights, Sin City Scoundrels,
Richard James and the Special Riders
11pm, $3, 21 and up

Mollie Fontaine Lounge (679 Adams Ave.)
Witnesse, Handsome Mark
10:30pm, No Cover, 21 and up

Friday 8/26/11

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
The Bombay Alleys, Ornery Little Darlings, Ripe Fruit
10:00pm, $5 cover, 21 and up

Lamplighter Lounge (1702 Madison Ave.)
Sex Cult, Moving Fingers
10:00pm, $5 cover, 21 and up

Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Fireworks Over London, Michelle Bush, Animal Sounds
9:00pm, $5 cover, 18 and up

The Frame (961 Meda St.)
Conestyle, Gnarwhal, Edhochuli, Sin City Scoundrels
7:30pm, Donations for touring bands, All Ages

1884 Lounge (Inside Minglewood Hall 1555 Madison Ave)
Westham Records Presents: Sick Nasty Monsters, with
Glitch Doctors and Witnesse
9:00pm, $5, 18 and up

Otherlands Coffee Bar (641 S. Cooper)
The Star Killers, The Andrew Cabigao Band, Rebecca Loeb
8:00pm, $5, All Ages

Saturday 8/27/11

Newby’s (539 S. Highland St.)
Electrocity-End of Summer Blowout
10:00pm, $7, 18 and up

Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
1st Annual Memphis Burlesque Showcase
9:00pm, $8, 18 and up

Sunday 8/28/11

Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Totimoshi, Hosoi Bros, Powers That Be
9:00pm, $7, 18 and up

I’m trying to be as all inclusive as possible, at least in regards to musicians producing original music.  If you want your show up on this list send me an e-mail at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.  Also don’t forget that the South Main Trolley Tour  is tomorrow from 6pm to 9pm.

The Bombay Alleys at Murphy’s Friday August 26th

Bombay Alleys drawing by Gasoline Grace

 The Bombay Alleys are a three piece Memphis band that, according to their singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Agent Ryan play college rock.  It may be a while since you’ve heard that term used to describe a band, but if you hear the Bombay Alleys, it makes complete sense.  Their sound hearkens back to an era of Superchunk, Bill Clinton, and Seinfeld, as it should considering that most of the songs were written in the 90’s.  I sat down with Agent Ryan to talk about the Bombay Alleys, who have a show this Friday at Murphy’s with Ornery Little Darlings and Ripe Fruit.

MRC: You wrote a lot of these songs back in the 90’s when you were in Bloomington, Indiana.  What made you decide to start playing them again?

AR: Well, I hadn’t been in a band for a long time when I moved to Memphis, then I joined Twin Pilot.  With them, I got to play guitar and make a lot of noise, but I really like to sing, so I decided to get a band together for my birthday two years ago, and rather than write a bunch of new songs, I was like, “I’ve got these old songs I think are good.”

MRC: Did you play these songs out when you were in Bloomington or were these just old home recordings?

AR:  A lot of them I did play out with a band called Percy Q.  They were a lot like the Bombay Alleys, just a trio.  A lot of the same songs, but I think with a new band they take on a new life.  There are some new songs, but it is mostly the old stuff.

MRC:  Even the new songs have that feel from the early 90’s.  What is it about the music from that time period that you are drawn to?

AR:  Honestly, it was just from a time when I was listening to a lot of music, and writing a lot of songs, and seeing a lot of bands.  It’s just kind of engrained in me.  I know there’s a lot of talk about a kind of 90’s revival.  Which we are now talking about bands whose members are 20 years old.  I guess maybe they grew up listening to that music when they were kids, but for me it’s just naturally what I fit into.  Especially, doing the home recording thing, I got into Guided by Voices, and you start realizing how many songs Robert Pollard wrote.  It’s really easy to try to emulate that and write not necessarily like him, but try to be as prolific, which I was for a while, but I’m not any longer.

MRC: You mention the 90’s revival.  Are you seeing younger faces coming to your shows?

AR: Not really.  We take a pretty laissez-faire approach to promoting our shows and booking our shows.  We haven’t really made a great effort at getting people out.  We more measure how well we’re doing on stage by how few people leave during our set.  I don’t see the young people leaving any more than the older ones. I see lots of bands that can clear a room like nothing.  We haven’t done that really.  Sure, people leave, but they mostly stick around, and it’s people who aren’t necessarily there to see us, but aren’t offended by what we are playing.

MRC: What about the people who sort of came of age in the 90’s.  What sort of response are you getting from them?

AR: We do get a lot of people, even younger people, who come up to me and say we sound like Pavement, which is interesting because that’s a band I never really listened to.  That’s probably gonna hurt my indie rock cred.  But I don’t know if that’s because I play the same guitar that Stephen Malkmus plays or just that I have a similar sensibility to him, you know, he was making music in the 90’s too.  We get that.  One of the best compliments I hear is people asking me if the songs were covers or not.  They’re my own songs.  That’s a good compliment.  It’s really strange, especially when someone picks up on an influence that you don’t think is overt in your music.  A friend said I sounded like Matthew Sweet, which is an amazing thing, because I don’t really think I write like him, I know I sing like him.  In fact, a musical turning point for me.  I guess in 1991, I was at the record store, and I had enough money to buy one record, and I was torn between the first Smashing Pumpkins album and Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend, and I went with Girlfriend and I think that’s had a big effect on my music.  Though you can say I play some Smashing Pumpkins-esque stuff, because you can’t escape that.

MRC: You recently recorded at 5 and Dime studios with Harry Koniditsiotis.  What’s going to be the result of these recordings?

AR: We’ve recorded six songs with him and one of them was a cover.  It’s not enough songs to do a full length release, and honestly I don’t know what to do with them.  In this day and age, putting out a CD seems really antiquated, putting out a 7” or 12” seems prohibitively expensive, and selling it online seems pointless too.  I think we will probably give it away.  I’m experimenting with some online music sites.  I would like to find a way to monetize it.

MRC: You’re playing music that definitely harkens back to the record store era.  How do you feel about the seeming demise of the record store and the lack of either vinyl and CD hardcopies of albums?

AR:  I don’t know.  I haven’t bought much music from the internet.  I downloaded a lot at a certain point.  I haven’t really been a big record buyer in a long time.  I think its good. I think, especially with things like Spotify and Pandora, there is a real opportunity to democratize the distribution of money that right now is just going to the big acts. You can say Band X, who’s kind of weird, got this many plays and they get this much money.  Though I look at the charts on Spotify and its all Lady Gaga.  Cake had that number one album a few months ago that only sold 38,000 copies in the first week.  I think the DIY, punk thing has kind of smashed the system with a lot of help from Napster.  Ultimately I think it’s a good thing.

MRC: What can we expect in the future from The Bombay Alleys?

AR: We’ll be doing some more recording, more writing, and more playing shows.  I don’t want to say we don’t try or take it seriously, but we are very relaxed, and I think that if we have a charm, it’s that we aren’t taking it too seriously and are just trying to have fun and hope everyone else is having fun too.

The Bombay Alleys also include Ryno Hanson (Antique Curtains) on bass and Marcus Battle (Chasing Squirrels, Richard James and the Special Riders) on drums.

Agent Ryan also wanted to give a special shout out to three Bloomington, Indiana bands that have served as major influences on his songwriting.  United States Three (who’s lead singer apparently now plays with The Lemonheads), Sardina, and El Nino all have music available on the musicalfamilytree.com website.

The Bombay Alleys show is at Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.) on Friday, August 26th with Ornery Little Darlings and Ripe Fruit.  The show should start around 10:00pm with a $5 cover, and is 21 and up.

Blog for Love Ends/ Schwervon! with The New Mary Jane

And so…as Rock for Love ends, Blog for Love bites the big one as well.  The good news is Memphis Rock City lives on, and just one day after the end of Rock for Love, there is already a notable show going on worth writing about!  If Rock for Love hasn’t made you tired of looking at the Hi-tone, then head up there at 9pm tonight for a free show featuring Schwervon! and The New Mary Jane.

Schwervon! is a two piece New York based band, that features Major Matt Mason USA on guitar and Nan Turner on drums.  Their sound could be best described as indie pop, but not that dancey synth driven brand that has been perpetuated by another New York based guy/girl two piece (Matt & Kim).  Something feels tougher (if such a word can be used to describe indie pop) about Schwervon!.  Their sound has a very 1990’s feel (think The Breeders, The Lemonheads, Blake Babies), though they also have a background within the anti-folk scene (the band even toured with ex-Moldy Peach Kimya Dawson).  Recently they’ve spent some time touring Europe, which gained them an opening spot earlier this year with The Vaselines.  According to the band’s My Space page, they are in Memphis recording right now.

If you haven’t heard The New Mary Jane yet, then tonight would be an excellent time to check them out.  Scott Taylor and David Shouse (formerly of the iconic Memphis band The Grifters) along with bassist James Godwin and drummer John Argroves bring a sound that is sure to appeal to fans of shoegaze and psychedelic.  If you would like to hear some of their music, they currently have two songs posted on their Sound Cloud page located here.

Rock for Love Day 3: Night Show

What did you miss last night?  Quite a bit really….

It was great to see The Subteens play again, and Tiger High, Kruxe, The Burning Sands, and Oracle and the Mountain totally rocked out!  Be sure to get to the Hi-tone tonight at 5:30pm for The Bo-Keys featuring Wayne Jackson, Susan Marshall, and John Kilzer.  Your emcee will Marvin Stockwell and the cover is $10!  Also, click here to check out the silent auction, find something you like, and place a bid!

The Silent Auction and Rock for Love Merch!

So while this might be the third post to feature the above photo with Marv and Jeff showing some of the money raised from the first night of Rock for Love 5, there is a new reason we’re posting it this time.  You might be thinking to yourself, “Those are some awesome Rock for Love t-shirts Jeff and Marv are wearing.  How do I get one?”  Well, when you get to the Hi-tone for tonight’s show featuring The Bo-keys with Wayne Jackson, Susan Marshall, and John Kilzer look for the table next to the stage with members of the Memphis Roller Derby girls behind it, and have $10 ready!  All of the money from the t-shirts goes directly to the Church Health Center and were designed by Sasha Barr, a former Memphian who moved to Seattle and has since designed CD booklets, album covers, and posters for bands such as Ben Harper, Band of Horses, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, The Tallest Man on Earth, and The Album Leaf.  If you are interested in his work you can find it here and here.  If you went to any of the events this weekend, are unable to come tonight, but still want a t-shirt they will be available directly from the Church Health Center and from Shangri-La records.  Also posters designed by Barr and a DVD featuring some of the best performances from Rock for Loves 2 and 3 are available with 100% of the proceeds going to the Church Health Center.

I sat down with Hulett last night to discuss the Rock for Love merch and silent auction, but perhaps due to three solid days of being rocked for love, my exhaustion caused me to accidentally delete the interview before I got it transcribed. No worries!  Jeff Hulett is such a solid PR man, I remember a lot of what he said!

What do you do if you win an auction?  You will be contacted via e-mail letting you know that you won.  All auction winnings can be picked up at the Church Health Center (1210 Peabody Ave. Memphis, Tn, 38104) and should be payed for by cash or check.  At that time Hulett was uncertain whether alternate forms of payment (specifically a Paypal account) had been set up, but for questions regarding that at the time of your auction pick up you can contact him at 901-272-0010 ext. 1304.

Finally a few of the auctions that Jeff liked in particular:

The Gary Parrish Experience with the Memphis Tigers:  This package includes lunch with Gary Parrish and a visit to a Memphis Tiger’s practice where you’ll get to meet Coach Pastner and the 2011-2012 University of Memphis Tigers!

Memberships to the Wellness Center: Click here, to bid on a three month membership to the Church Health Center’s Wellness Center or go to the auction page where you can also find 6 month and year memberships!  The Wellness Center memberships are under the Experiences and Services section of the auction page.

Signed tights from Jerry “The King” Lawler and a copy of the Memphis Heat DVD: Pretty self explanatory, I think, but this package includes a two piece set of tights, actually worn by Lawler in the ring, with both pieces autographed.  Also a DVD copy of Memphis  Heat: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin’ is included in this package!

Once again…go check out the auction and get to the Hi-tone at 5:30 tonight for the final installment of Rock for Love 5!  Marv Stockwell will be your emcee and the cover is $10 with 100% of the door going to the Church Health Center!

Rock for Love Day 3 Shangri-La Day Show

In addition to some killer performances from Bake Sale, Silver Seeds, Perfect Vessels, and Wuvbirds, if you didn’t come out to Shangri-La today, you also missed a bake sale from Bake Sale, free yogurt from TCBY, and a huge waterslide.  Here are some photos:

Rock for Love kicks off at the Hi-tone at 9pm tonight with Oracle and the Mountain, The Subteens, Burning Sands, Kruxe, and Tiger High with emcees Gary Parish and Chris Vernon.  Hope to see you all there!