Articles by Renee Locorriere
Renee is a waitress and a contributing writer for Joonbug. She enjoys good food, good music, and good people; when they come together it's glorious. Fall is her favorite season and she has a slight obsession with the moon. If you're ever out with her at a bar, give her a few bucks for the jukebox, it'll make her night.
So since those boys back in the day who graced your glossy pages of Tiger Beat and J-14 that you hung on your walls or taped to your lockers and your trapper keepers are now dads, there are some new tricks in town. Justin Bieber and One Direction are about to be joined by a trio of young men who are going to be seen a lot more in 2013. Before You Exit is an Orlando rock/pop trio made up of brothers Connor McDonough, Riley McDonough, and Toby McDonough, (as well as drummer Thomas Silvers and guitarist Braiden Wood). The guys released a new EP titled I Like That on February 4. Something that is unique and interesting to this boy group is that they have been compared to superstar bands Oasis and The Black Crowes, which you don’t hear every day for boy bands. The brothers work together well and complement each other as artists…and as family. In an interview, Connor said: “We actually get along really well. We all have our thing and work in categories by preference. I write vocal melodies, Riley writes lyrics, and Toby helps with both. There are never fights because each of us can do our own thing, but contribute to each other.” Whether BYE’s songs have either had their start with the brothers in their bedrooms or writing with co-writers in L.A., their music is catchy, bold, and bright. Some full-bodied, upbeat spring and summer tunes are on their way if these guys have anything to do with it!
Earlier this month, Florence Welch (of Florence + the Machine) launched her very own jewelry line, Flotique. The line is inspired by her band’s Grammy-nominated second album, Ceremonials. Like her first album, Lungs, Ceremonials has a spooky and somewhat ritualistic feel to it…similar to the haunting vibe that laces Flo’s baroque-pop music, dancing, and dresses.
The 26-year-old musician has a love for romantic, Renaissance, and vintage styles. Currently, her seven piece capsule collection includes necklaces, earrings, a cuff bracelet, and a ring modeled after her birdcage tattoo, all priced under $100. The line feels very 1920-1930 Art-Deco, (perfect to wear at your Great Gatsby premiere parties!) which is certainly very “Flo”, but I must say, I was expecting even more of her witchy, edgy, magical, and even gothic sides to come through. She has been compared to Kate Bush, Bjork, Siouxsie Sioux, and her musical idol, Grace Slick and is one of the most talented, creative, unique, and vibrant female artists around today. In every way of those words: from her style, to her writing, to her voice, to her music, Florence is bold and refreshing, and I am hoping her jewelry line will convey that more in the future.
Satellite is an indie rock/alternative band with roots in Nashville and Los Angeles and made up of Steven McMorran, Josh Dunahoo, Erik Kertes, and Mitch Allan. The sound of their 2010 EP, Ring the Bells, with their well-known single "Say the Words," has been compared to the sounds of Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, and Mumford & Sons. Recently signed with Sony Music Entertainment and Descendant Records, Satellite will release their first full-length album titled Calling Birds on March 5.
Trying to pick the best soundtrack of all time or even the top ten is nearly ....nope, it's just downright impossible. However, what's easier to determine is someone whose films will always, without a doubt, be in that category: Quentin Tarantino. Fight scenes, sexy dancing, over-the-top gore, and badass music are what come to mind when someone mentions a Tarantino film. His latest western-themed movie about bounty hunting and slavery, Django: Unchained, follows suit. While many movies incorporate the same music and scene irony for dramatic effect; one might say Tarantino is the Godfather of cinematic juxtaposition with his music and scene choices and their comparability...or rather, their contrast. Any fan can recall the ear cut-off torture scene with "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel playing in the background, or Urge Overkill’s cover of Neil Diamond’s Latin-inspired “Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon” as the legendary Mia Wallace overdoses.
Whether elbows, shells, rotini, cavatappi, or peace signs—cover any style of pasta with some type of cheesy deliciousness and we won’t say no. Mac’ n cheese is the ultimate, classic American comfort food that has undergone some of the biggest variations and transformations possible. Whether made with gorgonzola and lobster or simply from the blue box, grab a big bowl and get ready to dig in to a winter staple for everyone’s cabinet or check out a few favorite cheesy spots below.
So you were looking for a large plate of mac’ n cheese Queens-style? Look no further, The Queens Kickshaw makes the classic dish with gruyere, cheddar, smoked mozzarella, French green beans, caramelized onions and topped off with tomato cream. It is nicely paired with their Foggy Ridge Serious Cider, giving a new spin on the classic cheddar cheese and sliced apples snack.
Grimes is often compared to sounding like Mariah Carey, Enya, Bjork, a baby, and an extraterrestrial all at the same time. All four of her New York City shows sold out in just days. If your ear’s interest still hasn’t been peaked, just go watch her music video for her single “Oblivion” where she resembles a little girl with pink hair, bouncing around a packed stadium with an oversized 1991-esque boom box, headphones, as she floats in and out of the men’s locker room while buff dudes in white towels pump iron.
The Montreal-descendent, born Claire Boucher, is an electro-pop singer/producer who is an almost confusing combination of femininity and darkness; draped in soft pinks and harsh blacks with touches of green… mainly in her hair. She has described her own music as "A.D.D. music," which is quite accurate. It is danceable, 1980’s-style synthy-dreamy-pop. It was her time at McGill University in Montreal that she became involved with the underground electronic music and industrial scene. Her music production had its birth in her apartment originally using GarageBand, a Roland Juno-G keyboard, and two different vocal processors (Line 6 M9 and a BOSS VE-20).
Her first album, released in 2010 was followed by Halfaxa that same year, and (what people have claimed her best yet) Visions in 2012.
When asked in an interview with Tiny Mix Tapes why she doesn’t just start a band, she said it’s because she is very picky. “The kind of people I want to be in my band have priorities. The kind of people I want to contribute something cool to the live set are doing their own shit. I can’t ask them to, and I don’t want to just pay for session musicians, because I want someone who’s going to do something weird.” A nice dose of eccentricity is always a good thing and it's certainly something you can expect from Grimes.
See the below schedule for her NYC shows and scoop up any remaining tickets here.
Thursday, October 25- Music Hall of Williamsburg
Friday, October 26, Bowery Ballroom
Saturday, October 27, Bowery Ballroom
Sunday, October 28, Music Hall of Williamsburg
Yoann Lemoine is a French musician, songwriter, director, and photographer who is more widely recognized under the alias of Woodkid. In addition to his alternative music career, he also dabbles in directing, where he's been overwhelmingly successful. Woodkid was even nominated for MTV Video Music Awards for his work on videos for Drake, Lana Del Rey, and Rihanna.
His impressive track-record of artists whose songs have had his unique cinematic touch include Yelle- Ce Jeu (2008), Moby- Mistake (2009), Aides- Graffiti Commercial (2010), Katy Perry- Teenage Dream (2010), Mystery Jets- Dreaming of Another World (2010), The Shoes- Wastin’ Time (2011), and Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die (2011) and Blue Jeans (2012).
Saturday, May 19 was probably the craziest day of one of the year’s craziest music festivals, the Electric Daisy Carnival, held at the Metlife Stadium in New York. There was more glitter and face paint than a seven-year-old’s birthday party and with all the neon cutoffs and shades, the scene could have passed for a circa 1992 episode of Saved by the Bell—the crowd was pretty young but there was the occasional Mr. Belding feeling the beats.
The biggest names in electronic, house, progressive, techno, and dubstep music from across the globe were gathered here for one heart-pounding and sweat-dripping weekend. This was a dance music lover’s dream and one might argue that Saturday had the best lineup of artists.
June 5, 2012 is a very important day for Australian band The Temper Trap for fans and critics alike. Not only is it the first day of their North American tour, but it is also the day their self-titled album will be released in stores. The Temper Trap will feature the singles “Need Your Love" and “Rabbit Hole.” This is the band’s newest album since their 2009, Conditions, which housed the hits “Sweet Disposition,” “Fader,” and “Love Lost.”
The band is now comprised of five members with the addition of Joseph Greer on keyboards and guitar; one of the attributes as to why they have a different, more synth-led sound on this album. When asked what shift the band took this time around, they replied: “The music’s a lot brighter. Some of that L.A. sun seeped in. I mean, lyrically it’s probably more on the darker side. It’s quite interesting how the two opposites complement each other,” (nme.com). Other members include Dougy Mandagi on vocals, Jonathon Aherne on bass guitar, Toby Dundas on drums, and Lorenzo Sillitto on lead guitar.
While the hype regarding The Weeknd’s identity of Canadian recording artist and producer, Abel Tesfaye, has subsided, there is still a mysterious air around this musician and his ethereal sound.
The initially unknown alternative R&B project leaked a free, nine-song album “House of Balloons” in March 2011. The album was the first in a three-part trilogy which also includes “Thursday,” released August 2011, and “Echoes of Silence,” released winter this past December. Under the label XO (which can mean kisses and hugs, or Ecstasy and Oxycontin, depending on your interpretation), “House of Balloons” was nominated for the 2011 Canadian Polaris Music Prize and won the 2012 Sirius XM Indie Awards for Urban artist of the year as well as the Stereogum Award for Top 10 New Acts of 2011.
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