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Is Martha becoming a thing?

Felipe — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 19:36:33 +0000

According to the folks who track baby names and their respective popularity, the name Martha peaked in the 1880’s (#14) and has steadily declined to basically no one naming their kid Martha in 2016 (#1076). Given the cyclical nature of many baby names, as well as the fact that the sudden popularity of a celebrity will cause a quick firestorm of naming your child after said person (see: Miley [Cyrus], Adele, Arya [Game of Thrones]), some are predicting that Martha, along with other names popular in the early 1900’s (Audrey, Nora, Florence), are prime for a comeback. Furthermore, since we are a celebrity-obsessed culture, they are calling this the Downton Abbey Effect. Thing is, if you think that only nowadays we are celebrity-obsessed, you’d be mistaken. You gotta remember that back in the day, and then only until very recently, the most popular names were Biblical (or Mohammed). But what were saints other than the celebrities of their day and age? Only with TV and internet did we learn that Shaquille O’neal was awesome, and in turn, everyone name their kid Shaq in 1993, and only 1993.

There’s also a lot of pressure to name your kid something interesting and hip, without everyone in school having their same name (I’m pretty sure I only went to college with Jackie/Lindsey/Sarah. If I forgot someone’s name, I was pretty safe just saying those three names quickly at once, kinda like how my mom combines everyone in the family’s name together so she can address us as individuals and together as a group, simultaneously. Please meet: AnFeDeRichLeo – yes, Leo is the dog… not sure what that says about the rest of us). Officials in New Zealand have had to step in to change some kids’ names, since their parents are jerks and doomed them to a life of ridicule. Examples of names that needed changing were: Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii (wow), Fish and Chips, Sex Fruit (so mean), and in the honor of naming your kid after the place they were conceived, like Brooklyn or London, this baby was named Number 16 Bus Shelter…

Anywho, even though Martha isn’t a terribly popular name at the moment, this very cool foursome from England decided to name themselves Martha anyways. Who knows, maybe their success will help inspire some people to name their kids Martha, or maybe some couple will be listening to Martha’s killer new record (and this week’s Album Of The Week) Blisters in the Pit of My Heart during conception… Who knows? All we do know is Martha is a WAY better choice than Number 16 Bus Shelter… smh

Feli Says Listen and Repeat

Don Broco wearing Don Bronco T-shirts

Felipe — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 15:26:52 +0000

I’ve been listening to this song for a few weeks now, quietly admiring their sweet band name, which for the life of me I thought was “Don Bronco,” not Don Broco. Only upon looking them up for the purposes of this email did I realize my dyslexic error. “Broco” doesn’t make much sense unless you read up on how they named their band (I did, and it’s still not great), while “Bronco” is really a much cooler name. Not only does it immediately invoke images of OJ Simpson speeding down the highway in his white Bronco (Ford is bringing the Bronco back and it’s really awesome if you haven’t checked it out), but there was a cool Australian boxer way back when named Don “Bronco” Johnson. What a name. He was not only a wild swinging fighter who drew big crowds, but also famous for his rodeo riding and his Errol Flynn style mustache (which is regarded as one of the manliest mustaches of all time). More than that, Don Bronco was also ahead of his time through his breaking down of social norms; he was married twice, both to Aboriginal women, not a common occurrence for a white guy in 1950s Australia. Anywho, this Bedford, England band shuffled between several names in their early days, one of which was Don Loco (not bad, sounds like 4Loko). After their guitarist “broke” his wrist playing soccer, they jokingly called themselves Don Broco… See? Not as good as Don Bronco, even if they do seem to be using the whole “bronco” cowboy theme in their video, but what can you do.

Feli Says to pay better attention to band names

Boston Manor guide to life: Be Nothing.

Felipe — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 16:27:25 +0000

Previously covered in February, the Blackpool five-piece is back at it again, out with their debut LP. I’m not gonna lie, there’s a really good chance I’ve been listening to this album nonstop over the last two weeks. Is it the best album of 2016? I wouldn’t go that far given that 2016 has been a great tunes year. Now, is it the best “first” album I’ve heard this year? Hmm… that’s a way better question for sure. I’d have to say it’s probably between them and Trash Boat for best first album of 2016 (maybe even The Sun Days?). And given that Boston Manor are really only just getting started (Trash Boat’s been at it a while), this is a sign of great things to come. Oh ya, have I mentioned the UK is making all the best tunes these days? I can’t remember… That said, Blackpool, sadly, is not the diversity sidekick or little brother of Marvel’s anti-hero Deadpool, it’s a touristy seaside town just north of Liverpool. The Tangerines (as they are known because of their soccer team) and their town became fashionable in the middle of the 18th century (that’s 1700s for you math majors), as the practice of “sea bathing” to cure diseases was in full swing (swimming in the ocean and drinking sea water cured you of diseases back then). These wealthier folk, who also realized not smelling terrible was kinda cool, would trek to Blackpool to “get cured” of whatever nasty diseases they got living in 1700s London. As they continued travelling to and fro, pop-up services started appearing, because well, one needs certain amenities in order to maintain a certain lifestyle. Therein came the birth of Blackpool, as hotels, bowling greens, archery stalls, and holiday cottages started popping up, eventually capped off with the arrival of the railway. Still heavily dependent on tourism to this day, Blackpool has all sorts of (what seem to be) cool stuff (don’t quote me, I’ve never been), and is sometimes referred to as the “gay capital of the North” (I’ve never been, I swear :-/), with Brighton being the gay capital of the South. Being a cultural hub, and that this is supposed to be about Boston Manor, it’s no coincidence that Blackpool hosts the world’s largest punk festival every year, Rebellion Festival, a four day collection of over 200 bands. Much like Coachella, 2017 presale tickets are already sold out. Godspeed.

Feli Says Be Nothing all wknd

#9ad1d7

Moose Blood: drink it in

Felipe — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:56:25 +0000

Just got back from vacay, and what was waiting to ease me back in to the work week?, nothing but the long awaited album release from Canterbury four piece, and heavily FSL mentioned, Moose Blood. I saw them a few weeks ago at a tiny club (killer live, def go see them and grab some sweet merch) and they affirmed their status as a complete band in my book [you need to (1) sound good recorded (obv), but (2) be equally as good or better, live – sadly that is not always the case… cough cough Can’t Swim…smh]. 2016 has been ramping up to be the year of Moose Blood, so let’s get a few things clear. Their name: they knew they wanted an animal in their name and were just “mucking about at work trying to say as many silly names really” and MB just stuck. Well all that mucking about paid off, cuz they aren’t gonna be playing tiny clubs anymore. All I could think about while they were on stage, with 400 people screaming every word back at them, was that if they “pop up” just a tad, you’ll be seeing them everywhere. Hopefully they don’t go pop, though they won’t need to to get big.

Part of me hopes they don’t. There’s that bitter sweetness to seeing your small band become everyone’s band when they make it, especially when you see all the people you pride yourself on being a music snob over start to flood your shows and “ruin” that special band. But there’s a bit of a catch 22: you want them to be successful, of course, but then you as a fan lose that intimacy you share in a tiny underground club (see Fall Out Boy). You want them to make a living, so they can keep doing what they love (and more honestly, to selfishly provide you with more tunes you love), but there’s that part of you where you kinda don’t want them to be too successful; then maybe they’d retain that shard of what made you like them so much to begin with. And then you feel like a real sh*thead (or should at least) for wishing for that. Then you come to the conclusion you’re happy they go big (and then can tirelessly remind everyone you knew of them first – see Sum41), and just pray all the spinners and Dom and sing alongs with Wiz Khalifa don’t “change” them.

Moose Blood sold out their headlining US tour (even had to upgrade to larger venues in certain places do to such high demand), and are already selling out UK shows months in advance. Upset Magazine’s interview with them earlier this summer titled the article “MB’s second album will send them stratospheric.” Fans were already earmarking their new album, Blush, for a nod at best album of the genre before it even came out. I’ll say it’s prettttttyyy prettttyyy good. Idk about AOTY just yet… Tracks 8 and 9 slow it down a lot, and they coulda taken a few more risks with their hooks, but beyond that it’s real tight. It’ll be on repeat for a while.

Can Trash Boat be the Junk Boat of UK Punk?

Felipe — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:00:40 +0000

Just another killer band in the burgeoning UK punk scene? I think not! A Trash Boat, not to be confused (yet) with junk boats (above), which can be found cruising through Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, is a group of 5 young squires from Saint Albans, UK who got together in 2014 and immediately started making waves (boat pun intended). They put out a sweet EP quickly in 2014 called Brainwork, won some random music festival contest thingies, and just now put out their debut full length, and it’s really good. So good actually, that Dan “Soupy” Campell (ya, that’s the dude’s real nickname) from The Wonder Years decided he’d dip his hand in the producing jar. And so their album Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been Through is also his debut album as producer. Hopeless Records (their label) out of Van Nuys, CA has not so quietly been gathering up all the top UK bands (Trash Boat, Neck Deep, Moose Blood, ROAM) along with some killer stateside bands (The Wonder Years, Have Mercy, NFG, Sum41 – ya they are still around too and aren’t bad live, just saw them at Warped Tour… yes I went :-/ ).

Anyways, all of this was just a way to get to talking about junk boats and how awesome they are (and how they relate to Trash Boat). Junks trace their roots back to 2nd century AD China where they were efficient and sturdy ships (obvi since they are still around today) that traveled long distances and incorporated lots of technical advances in sail plan and hull design that were later adopted in Western shipbuilding. Cool right? Even Ben Franklin urged US shipbuilders to take ideas from junks for our own boats. They continued dominating the seas even in the 15th century with Zheng He’s treasure ship’s that were over 390 feet long. In comparison, Christopher Columbus’s ships (same century, remember?) were only about 85 feet long. Basically, junk boats are dope and were used abundantly for almost two millennia. I’m hard pressed to think of something else of such worldwide technical importance (used modern free-flooding design where the hull would auto ballast water in and out to cushion shock and reduce pitching).

So can Trash Boat be the Junk Boat of the UK punk scene? I’m sure they hope so, and they are off to a helluva a start. But for right now they are just trash (and my treasure). Maybe one day, if they work real hard, they can be considered junk. Wouldn’t that be something.

Feli Says Trash Boat isn’t Trash at all

Justly Jonesing for Jones

Felipe — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:00:19 +0000

JONES is a singer whose name, btw, is in all caps, similar to receiving a text from your grandma, or an email from your aged boss – “If it’s not in ALL CAPS, then how will you know I’m yelling?!” The producer of this lovely track is none other than previous FeliSaysListen-er, and fellow all caps enthusiast, HONNE. London-based and mainly Eurocentric (although one random Massachusetts date on her tour this year post-SXSW), JONES is being referred to as “neo-soul,” and before you ask, no, it has nothing to do with the Keanu Reeves and the Matrix and whether we live in it and taking red pills or blue pills (although I’m a red pill guy myself… I’d hope) and what that means about our existence in the universe; although… JONES is a big science nerd and reads loads of nonfiction science books. True Story. She “finds quantum physics fascinating.” I can’t say I disagree. So maybe “neo-soul” IS about the Matrix… hmm… Well you know what they say, entropy isn’t what it used to be :-/

(oh you don’t like that joke? Ok fine, how about this one: Higgs Boson walks into a church and the priest says “we don’t allow Higgs Boson in here.” The Higgs Boson then replies “but without me, how could you have mass?”…. (it’s a good one, I promise))

Rando Trio of Forthcoming new tunes

Felipe — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:47:13 +0000

Seems like a lot of the new tunes out right now really stink. They’re just kinda…. “there,” and in turn super frustrating. So it’s been a bit annoying trying to find cool stuff to post cuz so much is all the saaaaaaame blah. So here’s a random assortment of jams I’ve been listening to a lot lately, some oldies but goodies. First up Nai Harvest, a slacker punk gruesome twosome from Sheffield, UK (also refer to themselves as “pop scum”…). They’ve been featured as a “Band to Watch” on StereoGum and put out a pretty solid album last year. From that album: “Melanie.” Next up, in hot anticipation of their 2nd full length out later this year, Moose Blood, a sweet band on No Sleep Records from Canterbury, England. Seriously, these dudes are just awesome. They’ve been compared to Brand New’s Deja Entendu, The Get Up Kids, and American Football, and were nominated for APMAs 2016 Best Underground Band. Their album I’ll Keep You In Mind, From Time to Time is in my “Saved” folder, if that says anything. Finally, not new, but touring this summer in support of their forthcoming album out in May, The Hotelier, the only band here not from the UK. These dudes are from Worcester, MA, and are definitely the most serious of the bunch. A fave of super serious music reviewer-man Ian Cohen, and rightly so, cuz their last album is tight. Ok that’s it. Happy Friday.

Feli Says Happy Friday!

To Get Inuit, or not to Get Inuit?

Felipe — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:35:04 +0000

Unsigned and uncaring, Get Inuit are some fuzzed out dirty guitar poppers (self-proclaimed Dirty Pop, btw… which is fine, but like, what do they have to do with N’Sync..?) from the south east of England, Kent, to be more precise. They get compared to bands like Vampire Weekend, although it’s hard to put a fix on who they sound like. Definitely a nice blend of lots of folks and a refreshing fast paced happy slew of tunes – def priming you up for upcoming nicer weather. One of the band members, Oliver, came up with their name, “Get Inuit” (which I guess is short for Get In To It?) and it made them laugh… and that’s it. They knew from the start it was a bit of a stupid name, but on the flip side, if you type it in to Google, it’s the first thing that comes up… So take that naysayers for dumb names! Also they just played SXSW last week which is pretty cool way for a label to pick you up, I’d guess.

tbh, Feli Says jazz is what’s up for Spring 2K16…

Send Your Valentine a Shit Present

Felipe — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 17:20:20 +0000

Hailing from Exeter, not the prep school Phillips Exeter, but the Cathedral city in southwest England best known for being a wool trade hub in the late 19th century and then destroyed in WW2, Shit Present (ya… they actually named their band “Shit Present”) rival the six piece Nashville rock outfit Diarrhea Planet for worst poop-featured band name… Despite their crappy names, both bands rock out quite efficiently. Shit Present is a hodge podge of people actively full-time in other bands who figured they weren’t busy enough to take on another project. Their self-titled EP came out a few months ago and has a pretty chill indie-grunge-lofi feel to it, if you’re in to that sorta thing. Still can’t believe they named their band Shit Present, but the internet seems to love it. I mean, it’s definitely…. memorable…? Here’s two different sounding songs: one loud, one soft. Oh ya, they’ve got a sweet music video for “Kick Me” featuring a really cute little girl angsting around town. Definitely worth checking out.

That’s what Feli Said he was doing for V-Day

WSTR: it’s pronounced WASTER, ugh

Felipe — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:30:07 +0000

The UK is crushing the US these days in terms of pop punk. If any of you are friends with me, then you’ve heard me yapping about Neck Deep (sick Welsh band). Well now it’s time to yap about WSTR. The Liverpool pop punk quintet are on the verge of making big splashes in 2016 (think moving from the kiddie pool to the big boy wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon in Orlando – or Blizzard Beach if you’re in to that sort of thing). Although all they’ve got is an EP, they sound like they’ve been together for way longer than they actually have (its only been like 5 months). And I know what you’re gonna say… “they sound just like Neck Deep’s 2014 album “Wishful Thinking” and that just makes them a bunch of copycats.” Ughh, ya it does, which is awesome (if you’re gonna copy, copy the best), but also makes sense since they are all friends and even recorded their EP in the UK with Ben Barlow’s (of Neck Deep’s) brother. When asked what they feel makes a good pop-punk record, they said: “Fast and loud with relatable lyrics and sing-alongs;” check, check and check! Oh ya, they got signed before ever doing anything real to No Sleep Records, a legit rock label who rep The Wonder Years, Balance & Composure, La Dispute, Looming, etc. So ya. Anyways, they’re on repeat these days. (ps – big ups to the Limp Bizkit hoodie)

Feli Says Pop Punk Will Never Die