Brooklyn VOICES – November 2015

November 3, 2015 by David K. Moseder

They Might Be Giants will release their fifth children’s album, Why?, on Black Friday. Their current release, Glean, is the group’s fourth highest charting album, peaking at 67 on the Billboard charts. TMBG are also wrapping up their last-Sunday-of-the-month series at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn with shows on November 29 and New Year’s Eve…Pavo Pavo, the innovative pop band that opened for Lucius at Celebrate Brooklyn! this summer, is currently being featured on Shaking Through, a documentary web series about the vision and process of recording music. The group is seen during a recording session for their song Check the Weather…The Punch Brothers’ The Phosphorescent Blues, which hit number one on the Billboard Bluegrass chart in March (and stayed there for seven weeks), is still hanging in the Top 10…Congrats to Crown Heights rapper Skyzoo, whose summer release, Music For My Friends, became his fourth consecutive album to crack the top 40 of Billboard’s R&B charts…Soulful, four-octave-range singer Maya Azucena, whose last full-length release, Cry Love, made several “Best of” lists, is currently in the recording studio working on a new project. It’s expected to be released before the end of 2015… Look for Summertime Shootout, a new mixtape from Fabolous, to drop this fall… The as-yet-unnamed fourth studio album from experimental rockers Yeasayer, the follow-up to 2012’s high-charting Fragrant World, should also be available before year’s end.

Norah Jones / photo by Howard B. Leibowitz / B.L.Howard Productions

Notable Quote: “This man has it all… Talent, soul, positivity, kindness, moves and a killer fashion sense bundled into a super human.” —Nicole Atkins on R&B singer Charles Bradley. Atkins, Bradley, Norah Jones and Caveman represented Brooklyn at September’s “Neilfest” at the Bowery Ballroom.

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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