Brooklyn Voices – August 2015

August 10, 2015 by David K. Moseder

Elle King :”Ex’s and Oh’s” Photo courtesy of RCA Records

Skyzoo, Torae, and the Pitch Blak Brass Band are among the local artists who represented our fair borough at the 11^th annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival that moved from DUMBO to 50 Kent in Williamsburg … Kid Cudi, whose career took off in 2008 after moving to Brooklyn from Cleveland, is planning a late-summer release for his latest album, Speedin’ Bullet to Heaven. The musician, rapper and sometimes actor is also taking over for Reggie Watts as the one-man bandleader on IFC’s cult faux talk show Comedy Bang Bang on July 10 … Among Cudi’s favorite collaborators are Crown Heights alt-rockers Ratatat, whose fifth album, Magnifique, is due out July 17 … You’ll have two chances to catch singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz locally this summer. The Texas émigré and 2014 Grammy runner-up opened for another Brooklyn act, the Punch Brothers, at Celebrate Brooklyn! on July 9th and, on August 4th, she will be part of the Prairie Home Companion “America the Beautiful Tour”… You would have had to cross the Williamsburg Bridge, however, to catch Elle King (Ex’s and Oh’s) at the Bowery Ballroom for her July 20^th performance. It was part of the Bushwick artists’ first headlining tour … Sharon Van Etten, no stranger to the music halls of her adopted home borough, had released a new five-song EP, I Don’t Want to Let You Down. It includes the title single and Just Like Blood, one of NPR’s “Songs We Love”… Other new releases in time for summer listening include: Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell; Torres (Mackenzie Scott), Sprinter; Stranger Cat, In The Wilderness; and Kenny Vance, Lost and Found: Archives – Vol. 1.

Notable Quote: “We just wanted to, I guess, sound alike … a gang or a bunch of brothers. So that was the whole idea of using the name Ramone.” –Marky Ramone (Marc Bell) on NPR’s Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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