Hear TLC and The Cure at Rockwood Music Hall Tonight

TLC and The Cure are just two things fans may hear tonight when they see Avi Wisnia's Brazilian bossa nova at the Rockwood Music Hall. Amongst the original songs off his upcoming album, Something New, Wisnia is known to sneak in TLC's "No Scrubs" and The Cure's "Love Song". You can get your own sneak peak of the TLC cover here, but the show is free tonight so there's nothing to lose.

Rockwood Music Hall
184 Allen Street New York, NY
FREE
All ages
7:00pm Chris Merritt
8:00pm The Smooth Maria
9:00pm The Dixons
10:00pm Michael Daves
11:00pm Avi Wisnia
12:00am Dred Scott Trio Click Here to Read More..

Avi Wisnia Celebrates Glen Barratt Produced NY Record Release on June 3rd

Avi Wisnia will be joined on stage with a full band performance at the Triad Theater to celebrate the release of his debut full-length album Something New. Recorded by Grammy-winning producer Glen Barratt (Amos Lee), Something New’s unpredictable cover songs only highlight the main attraction of his new collection of songs: his incomparable mish-mash of piano-pop meets bossa nova pop gems.

The Big Takeover's Jack Rabid, says of Wisnia, "Like a cross between Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Ben Folds, Joni Mitchell, and early Billy Joel. But his approach is refracted through the prism of Brazilian bossa nova, occasional acoustic guitar folk forays, and ‘70s singer/songwriter fare—“I Wish That I Could Stop Writing Songs About You” and “The Back of Your Hand” are especially Mitchell-esque, and “Goodnight” sounds like Art Garfunkel doing jazz—then sings with a smoothly smoky voice that recalls Elvis Costello and Joe Pernice both in sound and delivery.”

Wisnia uses the piano keys to create lush ballads, and his lyrics can be just as melancholic are they are whimsical, depending the song. He uses his quirky bossa nova-turned pop music in a variety of manners on Something New. His penchant to take the usual and flip it upside down can be heard on the album’s “cover” songs (The Cure’s “Love Song” and TLC’s “No Scrubs”). The title track of Something New could be the perfect song to sum up his mélange of genres that you’ve never heard mixed together before.

Want a taste of what you can expect? Download "New Year" and Wisnia's cover of TLC's "No Scrubs". Like what you hear? Reserve your tickets before it's too late! Click Here to Read More..

Fan-Tan Release Age of Discovery Nationally on May 11th

Brooklyn-based via Chapel Hill, NC quartet Fan-Tan, brood with post-punk Gang of Four mentality and synth-pop melodies ala The Cure. On their May 11th release Age of Discovery, Fan-Tan have brewed moody Brit-pop with tones of Arcade Fire sonic layers, honed on building on evocative and moody new wave pop infused with guitar hums since forming in 2006 in NC. New Yorker’s will get a sneak peak of Fan-Tan’s upcoming release at the local record release party at Mercury Lounge tonight with Surf City!

Back in North Carolina, Indonesian expatriates Kuki and Sandee Kooks joined with Ryan Lee Dunlap to draw on influence of the Manchester, England music scene circa 1983. After adding Mike Walter on synthesizers, the group decided on the name Fan-Tan, an ancient Chinese gambling game that was repeatedly mentioned in much of the history of the American west due to the many Chinese immigrant laborers in the area during that time, creating an “east meets west” connection similar to the band’s lineup.

Age of Discovery represents Fan-Tan’s self-discovery as a band and the spirit of adventure and exploration that keeps the excitement within making music. Exhibiting a somewhat vague overtone in order to allow fans to create their own interpretation, the album addresses the various devastating emotions and circumstances of life. The second track, “On Your Wall” shimmers and soars sonically and lyrically, while “Good Men” gives you a rush Interpol wishes they could. In five songs alone, Age of Discovery verges on epic soundscapes and soul gutting emotions. Discover what it makes you feel.

Age of Discovery EP Track Listing
1. Good Men
2. On Your Wall (Download the free mp3!)
3. AOD
4. Earrings
5. No Complaint

Don't miss out on Fan-Tan's upcoming Spring tour dates
May 11 2010 The M Room--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 13 2010 The Plaza Bowl--Richmond, Virginia
May 14 2010 Local 506--Chapel Hill, NC
May 16 2010 Snug Harbor--Charlotte, North Carolina
May 18 2010 Drunken Unicorn--Atlanta, Georgia Click Here to Read More..