Brooklyn Voices – September 2014

September 5, 2014 by David K. Moseder

Shenandoah Congrats to local indie pop-swing band Lake Street Dive. Their Bad Self Portraits album reached number two among Billboard’s Independent Albums and number five on the Top Rock Albums chart. The foursome wowed the crowd at Celebrate Brooklyn! this summer…TV on the Radio has announced that their new album,Seeds, will be released in November. It is their first full-length release since the death from lung cancer of bassist Gerard Smith in April 2011. One track, Happy Idiot, is already available online…Shenandoah and the Night (profiled in Brooklyn Roads Volume 2, Issue 2) recently issued 100 Wants, Part One, the first in a series of quarterly digital releases that will culminate in a vinyl compilation. The group kicked off a promotional tour with a September gig at Friends and Lovers in Prospect Heights…Black Hours is the debut solo studio album by The Walkmen‘s Hamilton Leithauser. It features bandmate Paul Maroon and guest appearances by Amber Coffman from Dirty Projectors and Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, among others. Earlier this year the group’s organist/bassist Walter Martin released his second solo effort, We’re All Young Together, via Family Jukebox…Bad news: Grizzly Bear guitarist/vocalist and longtime Greenpoint resident Daniel Rossen is moving to L.A. Good news: During a recent solo tour, he hinted t
hat the Brooklyn-based band may regroup next year, “if it feels natural”…Mark Allen Berube, whose quirky, humorous songs have made him a darling of the folk-fest set, will be releasing a new CD, Sticky, this fall. Also in the works from Berube: a new “Folkin’ the ‘80s” show with Brooklyn ex-pat Sharon Goldman that will be streamed live via Concert Window…Among the other current releases we’re listening to at Brooklyn Roads are Teeth Dreams by The Hold Steady, Real Estate’s Atlas, folk duo Wool & Grant ’s eponymous CD and Roosevelt Dime’s Full Head of Steam.

Notable Quotes: “Joan Rivers made me realize a Jewish girl from Brooklyn could actually play with the big boys. She made it look so easy while it was very tough for her. Even at 81, she was still breaking down doors for the rest of us who followed her.” –Carole Montgomery

Editor’s Note: When Joan Rivers’ The Late Show began its all-too-brief run on the fledgling FOX network on Oct. 6, 1986, it opened the doors for edgier musical acts that would never get late-night exposure on Johnny Carson’s more mainstream Tonight Show. On any given night her viewers might be treated to the likes of Husker Du, Psychedelic Furs, Oingo Boingo, Poison and Duran Duran.

Artists on our Radar

Janet LaBelle Takes the Spotlight: Blending Vintage Vibes with Modern Magic

Janet Labelle With Guitar In Hand / photo by John Nyboer

Dynamic Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Janet LaBelle continues to push her creative boundaries. Known for her unique ability to fuse analog warmth with modern production, LaBelle has been praised by Jersey Beat for her “sweet voice and sharp, thoughtful songwriting,” and her newest projects are no exception. Her music defies easy categorization, effortlessly blending elements of folk, classic rock, and pop into a sound that feels both fresh and timeless. LaBelle recently released her single “Day in the Sun” on September 13 via her own Wild Violet Records, and it has already been captivating audiences with its sunny melodies and deeply personal narrative. The song, inspired by a meaningful hike with a friend in 2023, showcases her talent for finding beauty in simplicity, a theme that resonates through much of her work. The inclusion of horns marks an exciting creative evolution, adding a new layer of depth to her already richly textured sound. Throughout her career, LaBelle has explored a wide range of musical styles. She first made waves as a teenager in the punk-pop band Avery, and since then, her solo work has spanned genres like classic rock, folk, pop, and even French chanson. Her previous EPs, including Moon Songs (2010) and Blossom & Blue (2011), demonstrate her eclectic tastes, with influences ranging from surf rock to vintage country. Working with respected producers such as Evan Taylor (Bernie Worrell) and Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants), LaBelle continues to expand her sound, evolving with each new release. Fans can catch her live at upcoming performances, including a show at Our Wicked Lady on September 24th and at Sleepwalk on December 3rd. These live shows will give listeners a chance to hear both her new and classic material in an up-close setting. Her combination of memorable songs, captivating performances and a unique voice sets her apart as an artist who continues to rise, drawing listeners in with every new creation.

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