Articles by Michael Andronico
Michael Andronico is a journalist and musician from The Bronx, NY. When he's not recapping last night's concert or locked in his room writing songs, you might find him beating up on dudes in Street Fighter. A devout lover of music and all things nerdy, if there's something Mike likes... he'll write about it.
Anthony Raneri found himself in familiar territory last Saturday at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The New York-born singer/songwriter is constantly on the road with Bayside, but his January has consisted of the 4th annual “Where’s the Band?” acoustic tour, alongside like minded-frontmen Ace Enders, Evan Weiss, Matt Pryor, and Chris Conley. Armed with his musical comrades and his debut solo release New Cathedrals, the beloved crooner is getting ready for an intimate evening of inspiring sing-alongs for his music old and new.
Popping in and out of their small backstage dressing rooms, Raneri and his tour brethren, all close to or in their thirties, enjoyed each others company with the exuberance of new college roomates. With a cigarette in hand and a big smile, Raneri sat down with me to talk about New Cathedrals, as well as what it’s like to be on a musical road trip with some of your best friends.
2012 is upon us. It may be our last year on Earth if we believe the Mayans (and that awful John Cusack movie), but that won’t put an end to the preparation, partying, and regretful resolutions that come with the turning of a new page on the calendar. Whether you plan on ordering pizza and watching Dick Clark with mom, or you want to hit the clubs and forget there was a 2011 altogether, here are some jams to have on your New Year’s Eve mix.
U2 – “New Year’s Day”
From Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction in 2004 to The Black Eyed Peas' incredibly auto-tuned "performance" this year, the Super Bowl's Halftime Show has seen music's biggest names take the stage with mixed results. Hopefully, this February's mid-game entertainment won't make your twitter feed explode with rage, as pop legend Madonna will headline the annual show.
If you haven't noticed by now, Spotify has taken the world by storm. And why shouldn't it have? Nothing beats an endless library of free streaming music that you can easily share with the world, or at least your tight circle of Facebook buddies.
According to Mashable, music's biggest new destination just got even bigger, as Spotify just announced it's own series of internal apps. With partners such as Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Fuse, Spotify's apps are meant to integrate news, lyrics, and deeper overall interactivity with the streaming service's massive library of tunes.
Dance heads have reason to rejoice, as renowned DJ Fedde le Grand has landed his own show on Sirius XM radio. The Dutch producer will satisfy the appetites of electronic music fans across the nation with an hour block of tuneage on Friday at 9pm EST and Monday at 10pm EST.
“Like everything I do, I’ve made sure that the show is absolutely perfect before I signed it off," said Fedde in a press release. "I’ll be giving this show 110%, giving listeners a unique experience each time they tune in and delivering the biggest and freshest music I can get my hands on."
'Tis the season for family, reflection, and hours of stressful shopping. Of course, if you're in New York City and need an escape from the glowing wreaths and alluring holiday sales on every corner, there's no shortage of great concerts this December. Whether you want to see the best in indie, pop, or even want to test your own skills on the mic, here are some of your best musical options for escaping the frigid air.
The Hood Internet @ The Knitting Factory - Dec. 3rd (tickets)
Nostalgia is a powerful, inexplicable beast. Images, movies, and even words can instantly take you back to the most memorable portions of your life in vivid detail, evoking just about every type of emotion. And while Saturday night at Starland Ballroom looked and sounded as it did during any other musical evening at the venue, the screams, chills, and tears of everyone present for The Early November’s reunion show proved just as vital to the night's energy as the band's own sounds and words.
The night began with a diverse bill of opening bands who all fit nicely into the musical realm that The Early November were once at the forefront of. The folky, honest pop-rock of Young Statues held the crowd’s attention just as much as the progressive, dazzling indie of A Great Big Pile of Leaves. Ohio pop-punkers Hit the Lights have been a staple in their scene for years, and the audience’s shouty reaction to their material old and new proved that they still are.
We know you’re still recovering from the stress of a trying weekend. The comatose turkey naps, the awkward in-laws, the exhaustion of sifting through Black Friday deals on your MacBook until you find the perfect 32-inch TV. Welcome back to the real world. Here are five sweet tracks to cure your holiday edition case of the Mondays.
Drake – “Take Care”
The annual celebration of violent consumerism...er...Black Friday is only two days away! Whether you're going to be surfing through crowds in the streets of Manhattan or shopping from the comfort of home on the heels of your Turkey-induced coma, there's no shortage of sweet deals for the music obsessed.
As they typically do year-round, Amazon has some excellent savings this week. Ranging from $5 digital CDs to deeply discounted box-sets, there is a ton of cheap tuneage to sift through. Amazon's "lightning deals" are changing by the hour, so be sure to check the site frequently!
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