KAPOWSKI (cd release party)
Mwahaha, Bells
Wed, February 1, 2012
8:00 pm
Rickshaw Stop
$10.00
Tickets Available at the Door
This event is all ages
http://www.rickshawstop.com/event/80831/
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KAPOWSKI (cd release party)
The Oakland-based Kapowski has spent several years making ambitious home recordings and developing a small but fervid audience for a growing catalog of idiosyncratic pop songs. Lead singer and songwriter Jesse Rimler is influenced by a broad spectrum of classic songwriters, from early masters George Gershwin and Harold Arlen to Ray Davies and Van Dyke Parks.
Kapowski has taken a big step forward with its new record Boy Detective, a culmination of these years of experimentation. Recorded by Eli Crews (tUnE-yArDs’ w h o k i l l, Beulah), it is a rich and varied pop album: a set of tightly-constructed songs buoyed by horns, strings and vocal harmonies. Most striking is the sound of the quartet itself -- an unusual guitar-less lineup of piano, organ, bass and drums, featuring members of the avant-jazz group BEEP. On the driving “Section Eight,” massive, stuttering drums, a spry bassline, scratchy organ and a mesmeric piano line lay the bed for Rimler’s wistful vocals.
Kapowski has taken a big step forward with its new record Boy Detective, a culmination of these years of experimentation. Recorded by Eli Crews (tUnE-yArDs’ w h o k i l l, Beulah), it is a rich and varied pop album: a set of tightly-constructed songs buoyed by horns, strings and vocal harmonies. Most striking is the sound of the quartet itself -- an unusual guitar-less lineup of piano, organ, bass and drums, featuring members of the avant-jazz group BEEP. On the driving “Section Eight,” massive, stuttering drums, a spry bassline, scratchy organ and a mesmeric piano line lay the bed for Rimler’s wistful vocals.
Mwahaha
The band consists of Ross Peacock (formerly of Clipd Beaks) and brothers Nathan and Cyrus Tilton (who were all previously in the Bay Area cult band Ned). Reference points such as Matthew Dear's Black City, The Secret Machines, and the Silver Apples are apt, but Mwahaha carves out their own sound and approach, regardless of the comparisons.
"After the demise of their former indie band Ned, Ross Peacock and brothers Nathan and Cyrus Tilton decided to carve out a new path, first by adopting a more rigorous rehearsal schedule, second by rechristening their outfit, and third by trying a few risky innovations, like surgically opening an amp for modiciation or setting microphones around a koi pond to record the sound of someone dropping a stone in the water. They use analog gear in Mwahaha, including a lot of vintage synthesizers and rickety sounding drum machines. The resulting music often sounds purposefully austere, but it's also riddled with interesting drum sounds and sharp guitar riffs. There's even the occasional pop hook." --East Bay Express
"After the demise of their former indie band Ned, Ross Peacock and brothers Nathan and Cyrus Tilton decided to carve out a new path, first by adopting a more rigorous rehearsal schedule, second by rechristening their outfit, and third by trying a few risky innovations, like surgically opening an amp for modiciation or setting microphones around a koi pond to record the sound of someone dropping a stone in the water. They use analog gear in Mwahaha, including a lot of vintage synthesizers and rickety sounding drum machines. The resulting music often sounds purposefully austere, but it's also riddled with interesting drum sounds and sharp guitar riffs. There's even the occasional pop hook." --East Bay Express
Bells
Blending heavy percussion, soulful vocal harmonies, and thoughtful arrangements Bells has arrived at a sound that is uniquely theirs. Although they are a new group and still working on their first recordings, they are quickly drawing an audience with diverse musical tastes. Birthed from the imaginations of singer-percussionist Sandra Lawson-Ndu, and bassist-singer Doug Stuart. The songs are brought to life with the help of Derek Barber on guitar and vocals, and Geneva Harrison on drums, percussion, and vibes.
