LOCAL SPOTLIGHT NYC
It is surprising that until this August, Afuche had not yet played Zebulon, the Williamsburg bar, restaurant, and music venue known for hosting an eclectic schedule of performances, ranging from jazz to world music to funk to folk, and a wide range of boundary-blurring genres in between. Not unlike this venue, Afuche successfully merges an array of varying musical styles and influences into a singular, form-defying entity. The difficulty in categorizing Afuche’s music of has less to do with their cacophonous and experimental sounds, and more to do with the passionate appreciation of musical expression shared by the band’s members. In Afuche’s distinctive all-instrumental song repertoire are traces of jazz, funk, soul, off-time prog rock beats, and exotic rhythmical and melodic textures born from the music of Latin America.

Performing live, the group pours itself wholly into each moment, fervently sketching and sculpting aural art before the ears of captivated crowds. This music burrows deep – through skin with entrancing melodies, and into bones with penetrating rhythms. A whirlpool of wild, pounding, off-time percussion, inventive, colorfully-toned guitar and keyboard, vivid saxophone harmonies, and impermeable, ground-defining bass build profoundly rich and layered textures; sinister horns crawl and weave, snaking over a locked down rhythm section and buzzing bed of keyboards; melodic interludes lurk and prowl like a mad, stalking giant, accompanied by unison chants and yells, and swerving into crazed breakdowns of tortured, wailing saxophones. Afuche’s palpable onstage energy is key to the unique corner the band has carved for itself in the ever-saturated Brooklyn music scene. Such refreshing music is not accompanied by a shelf life, only an opportunity to blossom.

Before the first of what will undoubtedly not be their last performance at Zebulon, JezebelMusic.com sat down with Ruben Sindo Acosta (drums, keyboards), Zachary Ryalls (guitar), Keith Parker (drums, percussion), Denny Tek (bass), and Jordan Goldstein (saxophone) to talk about the Brooklyn-based band called Afuche.
More on Afuche

RESONANCE PREVIEW
This Wednesday at Bar Matchless, Hannah Fairchild, Dustin Edge, Accidental Seabirds, and Natureboy (pictured) perform at Resonance, for FREE.

Hannah Fairchild and her soft, melodically crafted songs will get the evening started, followed by Dustin Edge’s rock-inspired, high energy acoustic compositions. After Dustin, Accidental Seabirds returns to Resonance with a full band, promising to deliver energetic and dynamic renditions of lead singer Jesse Lee’s exceptional songs. Lee stays on the acoustic as accompanying drums, bass, electric guitar and saxophone expand sonic horizons and create a solid launching pad for the singer’s striking vocals. Closing the night is Natureboy, the atmospheric, often minimalist, electric guitar driven songs of guitarist and vocalist, Sara Kermanshahi. Kermanshahi’s voice is gripping and haunting, and her songs simultaneously soothing and invigorating (listen to “Heart to Fool”).

For show details, click HERE.

Dan D’Ippolito

JEZEBEL MUSIC FEATURE
With openers Peephole, Werewolves, and Your Nature, Twin Thousands (pictured) will headline JezebelMusic.com’s June FEATURE SHOW on Thursday June 11 at Public Assembly!

Several months ago, compliments of the excellent music taste of JezebelMusic.com’s Program Director, I was introduced to the Brooklyn-based, indie-pop ensemble, Twin Thousands. Within approximately three seconds of hearing the band’s single, “Like You A Lot,” I was hooked. Since then, this sunny song has kept me company on many a rainy day. Unknown to the band until its completion, a music video for “Like You A Lot” was produced by British film company Agag Films. Check it out!

Dan D’Ippolito

Photo by Jen McManus

JEZEBEL MUSIC FEATURE
If you missed Miracles of Modern Science performing at Public Assembly for the JezebelMusic.com May Feature Show, that’s really just a shame! MOMS performed an entirely solid set of expertly crafted, string driven pop-rock songs. People danced, sang, laughed and cheered as five friends from Princeton set aside any doubts about how good a band can be that wears matching spacesuits (and MOMS-branded headbands last Thursday).

Highlights included a performance of “Luminol,” the first track on the free-for-download MOMS EP, as well as a hilarious five-minute plus sci-fi spoof. But the best moment was when lead singer Evan Younger demonstrated his extraordinary whistling skills in a performance of the song “524” (which can also be found on the MOMS EP). About a cowboy who can whistle people to death, the stellar, powerful live performance of this intricate track proves MOMS to truly be a band to watch out for.

Cellist Geoff McDonald’s favorite fan comment is: “I really like you guys because you’re good at what you do but you don’t take yourselves too seriously.” Well Geoff, to you I say: I really like you guys because you’re good at what you do but you don’t take yourselves too seriously.

See photos of the show by Jen McManus here!

Dan D’Ippolito

Photo by Jen McManus

JEZEBEL MUSIC FEATURE
With openers Gunfight!, Phil and the Osophers, and Kittens Ablaze, Miracles of Modern Science (pictured) will headline JezebelMusic.com’s May FEATURE SHOW tomorrow night, Thursday May 14 at Public Assembly!

If you have not yet downloaded the Miracles of Modern Science EP, which can be accessed FREE of charge on the band’s website, do it now! While you’re listening, go ahead and learn more about MOMS by reading the Feature Article! And then perhaps your most important task is to bring yourself to Public Assembly tomorrow night (Thursday, May 14) for the JezebelMusic.com May Feature Show!

When most people think about string instruments, they might recall the waiting room of their optometrist, or the sleepy chamber music of times long past. Shattering these preconceptions, MOMS uses a mandolin, violin, upright bass, cello, and rock drum kit to craft “some of the most creative, catchy, and purely fun music in New York City.” At a MOMS show, you won’t find a guitar playing singer soaking up the limelight, nor will you hear stringed instruments bowing softly in restrained acquiescence. No! You will witness five extraordinarily talented and inspired music-lovers wearing matching silver spacesuits, digging their spurs deep into high-energy, danceable pop-rock.

For show details, click HERE.

Dan D’Ippolito

JEZEBEL MUSIC FEATURE
With openers Gunfight!, Phil and the Osophers, and Kittens Ablaze, Miracles of Modern Science will headline the May FEATURE SHOW on May 14 at Public Assembly!

Stop everything you’re doing right now (not including reading this!) and direct your web browser HERE, where you will see the bottom half of a very famous face. By clicking on this grizzly jowl, rejoice in the knowledge that you have embarked on the downloading of the FREE Miracles of Modern Science self-titled four-song EP. Seek out the best headphones available, put them on your head, and listen carefully to “MR2,” “Eating Me Alive,” “Luminol,” and “524.” Remain where you are, not checking your email, taking phone calls, or leaving the house until next Thursday, May 14, at which point and time Miracles of Modern Science will infuse these sounds you have come to know so well with lightning and fire: the gift of life. There will be songs! There will be strings! There will be sweaty men in silver spacesuits! There will be miracles of modern science.

For show details, click HERE.

Dan D’Ippolito

RESONANCE PREVIEW
This Wednesday at Bar Matchless, Sergio Lopez, Zack Borer, Danny Ross, and Laura Meyer (pictured) will perform at Resonance, for FREE.

For two reasons, it’s very important to catch Laura Meyer at Matchless on Wednesday. The first is simply her music. Beams of adeptly and uniquely finger-picked guitar support walls of elegant, earthy vocals and through tall, open windows come remarkably poetic and relatable lyrics. These songs are country roads, rich with story and movement. Speaking of which (and coming to the second reason you should hear Laura while you can), this spirited songster loves to travel. Taking to the road with only four wheels and six strings as company, Laura has accumulated more miles across our expansive nation than most full bands (it’s no surprise to see the names of various U.S. highways scattered amongst her list of influences). See her now! Before long she’ll be back on the granite track…

For show details, click HERE.

Dan D’Ippolito

JEZEBEL MUSIC FEATURE
The verdant warmth of spring has at last sprung and we’re counting down the days until JezebelMusic.com’s May Feature Artist – Miracles of Modern Science – dazzles and dazes us at the Feature Show at Public Assembly on Thursday, May 14. With openers Gunfight!, Phil and the Osophers, and Kittens Ablaze, Miracles of Modern Science will headline NYC’s most electric and eclectic night of live music.

Where many bands use strings as additional, extraneous instrumentation to fill up the sound of their songs, at the core of Miracles of Modern Science (long for MOMS) are mandolin, upright bass, cello and violin. Along with a drummer and matching silver space suits, MOMS brings its sparkling strings and danceable pop rock creations to the stage at Public Assembly May 14.

For show details, click HERE. See you there!!!

Dan D’Ippolito