Monthly Archives: October 2009

The Dayzies replace Sugarplums on Elm City PopFest bill

Here’s another one of those bad news/good news situations for you.

Bad news: Due to some schedule conflicts, transportation issues, etc., etc., The Sugarplums had to back out of their spot on the Elm City PopFest bill. I’m kind of bummed about this, as I’ve heard such good things about the band and was looking forward to meeting Matt and the rest of the band in person. Oh well … maybe next time.

Good news: Middletown, CT’s The Dayzies has been confirmed to fill the empty spot in the line-up.

The Dayzies are made up of area music veterans, Steve Bunovsky, Dan Kohler and Mario Cardenas. Bunovsky and Kohler were both formerly of the well-known CT band The Naomi Star. The Dayzies draw influence from the great powerpop bands of the ’70s and ’80s, including Big Star and Badfinger, as well as bands such as The Beatles, Travis and The Beach Boys.

From The Dayzies:
There was a time not so long ago, before the age of digital downloading and “American Idol,” when popular music actually meant something. It was fun, smart, thought- provoking, uplifting, disturbing or even ugly — it was always relevant. The Dayzies are an original pop/rock band from Connecticut that hopes to help return rock to its former, exalted state. Featuring Steve Bunovsky (vocals/guitar), Mario Cardenas (vocals/drums) and Dan Kohler (vocals/bass), The Dayzies play their own brand of rock and roll that draws deep from the well of classic British and American acts like The Byrds, The Kinks, Cream, Buffalo Springfield and Big Star. If great rock and roll bands never limit themselves to a single genre, count The Dayzies among them — this band is no one-trick pony — and while a diversity of songwriting is evident, they still manage to have a sound all their own.

ArtSpace Underground with Lima Research Society and The Simple Pleasure — Halloween night

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LIMA RESEARCH SOCIETY (Indie rock from NJ in the style of Flaming Lips)
THE SIMPLE PLEASURE (Electro pop from New Haven)
DJ Sofia Cavallo
Art happening by Casey Mullen

Halloween night!
ArtSpace Underground
50 Orange St., New Haven
8-11 p.m. — This gets out early enough that you can go to other parties!
$5. Drinks by 116 Crown.
All ages. Come in costume!

In cooperation with COLLEGES AGAINST CANCER. Wear a pink costume to support breast cancer awareness.

Death To New England, Chariots of Tuna, Sawtelles @ Cafe Nine — Oct. 14

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New Haven band Death To New England will perform with New York pop band Chariots of Tuna and Southington duo The Sawtelles Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven, CT.

Death To England are made up of members of some of New Haven’s best recent — and now defunct — pop bands. Sean Beirne of Joanie Loves Tchotchkes and Battlecats and Jimmy Jude of Battlecats and Lamb Bombs are joined by drummer Blaz. Death To New England play their own brand of blues-inspired rock.

New York City band Chariots of Tuna play lovely baroque alternative pop. Ben Morss’ carefully constructed tunes, delicate falsetto harmonies, loungey vibe, and solid beats recall pop from the Beach Boys to the Shins to the Decembrists and Beck. Morss has also played keyboard on albums by bands such as Cake and Wheatus, and has played with California acid-jazz kings 11:11 at festivals such as SXSW and NXNW.

The Sawtelles are a spare duo, but remarkably complete: Just a drummer and a guitarist manage to fill out a whole spectrum of sound that can be compared to early Traffic, Velvet Underground and Let’s Active. Peter plays guitars, ukulele and sings and Julie plays a stand-up drum kit. The Sawtelles can be seen all over the state of Connecticut playing everywhere from farmer’s markets to intimate shows to opening for up-and-coming indie bands.

Death To New England will perform with Chariots of Tuna and The Sawtelles at Cafe Nine in New Haven Wednesday, Oct. 14. Music starts at 10 p.m. 21+. This is a FREE show.

Fay Rey to round out Elm City PopFest line-up

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New Haven and NYC art-rock band Fay Rey is the last band confirmed for the Nov. 14 Elm City PopFest.

From Fay Rey’s
Eclectic in its genre, FayRey is what happens when you combine a love of classic, gritty NY punk rock, with a love for contemporary classical music. Guitars thrash and buzz blending with front woman Lillian Fuchs vocal growls and taunts. Bass notes surge and recede around carefully crafted primitive drum grooves, all evoking the glitter and grit of punk rock — until the trademark FayRey moment happens of something unexpected. Keyboards and violins slowly weave a melody that rises over the top of the pulsing grind of guitar and bass. Drums drop into a deconstructed shimmer of cymbals and out of it all emerges a haunting vocal line.

Fay Rey site Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground, My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths and Gogol Bordello as influences, among others.