‘Play’ by Dave Grohl celebrates the rewards and challenges of dedicating one’s life to Playing and mastering a musical instrument. Part one opens with narrated behind the scenes footage featuring a discussion of the love of Playing music and the lifelong relationship with an instrument, and detailing the process and challenges of recording and filming this unique performance. ‘Play’ film then segues to the titular 23-minute, one-man-band instrumental recording on which Grohl Plays all seven instruments on the track, all live.
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The Vex – Education Kills
‘Education Kills’, the new video for the track of the same name by the U.K. juggernaut know as The Vex, contains three of my personal guilty pleasures. A gnarly, gritty, dirty bass, buzzsaw attacking guitars, and a penchant for rebellion. The Vex not only combines these very guilty pleasures in such a sublime and cheeky way as to make an anthem for the angst but conveys the musical attitude that they live that angst. By doing that, they show that they are at the heart of indie music.
Whether these guys get signed or not, they will be huge. You heard it here first. As a matter of fact, I put that in here so we show up first on Google when it happens. No shame in my game. And no shame in the future of The Vex. Education kills, but take the risk in learning that.
About ‘Education Kills’
An electrifying injection of no-holds-barred punk rock, ‘Education Kills’ is a tribute to the extraordinary bravery of Malala Yousafzai, shot in the head by the Pakistan Taliban while campaigning for women’s rights to education. With this now Nobel Laureate in mind, The Vex’s treatise on the evil that men do is set to overdriven punky-reggae riffage and a fiercely anthemic chorus.About The Vex
Though hailing from London’s outer fringes, where the capital unceremoniously bleeds into Kent, The Vex actually came into being some 1,500 miles away, with an Eighties pop superstar playing his part. While on tour in Moscow with a previous band, the schisms in the group were made apparent by an offer of management from one Adam Ant. The faction that opposed the deal broke away to form The Vex, playing their debut gig at Moscow’s BlastFest, where the only thing that wasn’t ice-cold was, typically, the band’s beer rider.Back in the UK, Josh (guitar/vox), Jacko (guitar/vox), Andrew (bass) and Joshua (drums) soon honed a sound inspired by the classic roots and rock of both Kingston, Jamaica, and London, England. Dealing in dirty guitars and big beats, played with passion and precision, the quartet’s heavy rocksteady sonics became a draw on both sides of the Thames, their ferocious shows earning them a rep as one of the best live bands on the circuit. The Vex hit hard and they cut deep. Spin this EP and hear for yourself.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thevexofficial
https://soundcloud.com/thevexofficial
https://www.instagram.com/the.vex
https://twitter.com/thevexofficial -
Discrepancies – Rock the Show
Comprised of Garrett Weakley (Bass), Addison Bracher (Guitar/vocals), Steve Declue (Drums), and Antonio Metcalf (Vocals) have formed an undeniably powerful sound. The 4 blend together many genres to create an innovative soundscape that is guaranteed to grab your interest.
Their Release of their Debut Album, The Awakening, was met with a lot of love and success. The first single “Raising The Bar” hit 30,000 views in less than 2 days and continued to rise afterward. The second single “Art Of War” had a strong release and the video for it was featured on Alternative Press, Metal Injection, and more! “Art of War” is currently on a radio cycle and so far is being played nationally in the US.
Together, the four want to connect with people on a deep level and allow for people to be inspired to form their own opinions free from judgment. Together, the four are Discrepancies.
LINKS:
http://www.discrepanciesmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/Discrepancies
https://twitter.com/Discrepanciestv
https://www.instagram.com/discrepancies -
Pls Pls Me – Water Torture
Pls Pls Me has today premiered their new video for the single titled ‘Water Torture’. When I first heard Pls Pls Me last year I fell in love with their style and originality. And, when I interviewed them, I fell in love with their personalities and drive. Jimi Fish and Jessie Torrisi are two artists who could easily have brilliant solo careers but, when brought together, become this original thing that demands a listen and commands an audience.
With ‘Water Torture’, this is proven a solid fact. This video has that slow burn feel that captivates you with that first look and keeps you for a second. The song gives a sonic resilience to the recently disenfranchised and isolated with the assurance that we are not alone yet we can survive isolated. ‘Water Torture’ is a song of strength. And, almost like an anthem, it drives that point to the end and makes that end of the song a new beginning. Take a listen. Take a look. Take the message.
Check out our other features with Pls Pls Me HERE.
Featured image by Jason Leavy.
About ‘Water Torture’
‘Water Torture’ is Pls Pls Me’s send-off to Donald Trump. It is a description of how the duo felt the last 4 years, just hearing his voice. “For anyone who cares about racial justice, or the rising number of COVID deaths, or who wants this country to stand for more than celebrity or ego – it felt like he was taunting us,” Jessie says. Trump’s tweets, history of sexual harassment, his claim of being a super successful businessman while declaring bankruptcy 6 times, all find their way into this song.
Though they’ve been known to inject their politics into their music before, Pls Pls Me didn’t set out to write a song about Trump. One day, Jimi heard a sound clip by Brooklyn producer Noams on instagram. Instantly lyrics popped into his hand, so he reached out to Noams, who had never intended to make a song from the instrumental, and they struck a deal. Soon after, musicians from NYC to Austin TX lent their voices for the chorus; it turns out quite a few people felt bruised ‘n battered by 4 years of a Trump presidency.
The vision further came together when their New York photographer friend Jason Leavy flew out to California and they did a shoot at Hayes Mansion, San Jose, taking pictures masked up by the eery yet entrancing light of the swimming pool at night.
“For me, this song is a purge,” Jimi says. “I love our campiness and our ability to bring queerness to such a serious topic. Right now, America feels split in so many ways. While unity would be great, there will be none until we get the negativity out.”
Music, after all, is catharsis. And we could all use some of that after 2020.
About Pls Pls Me
Pls Pls Me is a Brooklyn-based queer electro pop duo who came together on a grey New Year’s Day in 2016. While launching QUEER MF, a local showcase and party for queer music, singer/multi-instrumentalists Jimi Fish and Jessie Torrisi bonded over writing songs about sex, longing, and surviving the age of Trump.
Their love of eclectic, hip hop-inflected production and otherworldly harmonies crystalized with last year’s long-awaited debut EP, Too Late. Jammerzine called them “a slow melodic burn… that hits in all the right places.” Analogue Trash calls their modern dream-pop “very doomy, but a lot of fun.” And OVRLD says Pls Pls Me are a cross of “early XX and Everything But the Girl.” Their latest track Water Torture, which is a send-off for Trump, is a departure from their summer love anthems.
But this band has a sonic range. More than anything, Pls Pls Me is the story of a deep friendship formed over late nights at the piano while pondering the power dynamics of love and the art of being queer. Their follow-up EP, produced by indie songstress Sarah Jaffe, is due out in Summer 2021.
LINKS:
https://plsplsme.nyc
https://www.facebook.com/PlsPlsMeNYC
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GFPThWEgRKDMICtF5Nb85?si=JMN8DTqgQOKENVw2O1tY1g
https://www.instagram.com/plspls.me
https://www.twitter.com/PlsPlsMeNYC
https://www.soundcloud.com/plsplsme
https://www.youtube.com/user/YouPleasePleaseMe