rissverb

[rissverb]

Mitski's "Be the Cowboy" Tour Hits Brooklyn Steel

by Marissa Matozzo 

“I am so grateful to each and every one of you,” said indie rock singer-songwriter Mitski Miyawaki to her sold-out audience of admirers on December 1, “Because of you, I get to sing every day.” The songstress, widely known by her first name to fans of indie music, sang and shredded through a set that combined hits from each of her album releases. Her opening song, “Remember My Name,” from her August 2018 album, “Be the Cowboy,” was met with great applause and whistles from a crowd full of cowboy hats and flannels.

Before Mitski seized the spotlight, Los Angeles-based indie singer SASAMI played a set of guitar-driven rock with coinciding eloquent lyrics. Providence-based punk rock band Downtown Boys was the second opener of the night, energizing the venue with fast-paced anthems and lyrics regarding protest and activism, in both English and Spanish.

The lights dimmed thirty minutes later, with a silhouette emerging from the shadows. Mitski stood in a monochromatic ensemble, complete with knee-high dark stockings and a black dress. She garnered cheers from the devoted crowd by performing songs from “Puberty 2,” her critically-acclaimed 2016 album. “Your Best American Girl,” “I Bet on Losing Dogs,” “Happy,” and “Thursday Girl,” were all included in her set.

She also played “Townie,” “Francis Forever,” “Drunk Walk Home,” “I Will,” and “I Don’t Smoke,” from her 2014 release, “Bury Me at Makeout Creek.”

Mitski picked up her acoustic guitar to shred through “My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars,” and then again to fingerpick a tender rendition of “A Burning Hill.” The latter brought many audience members to tears due to her piercing words and delicate disposition.

From “Be the Cowboy,” Mitski sang her trending hits, “Nobody,” “Me and My Husband,” “Come into the Water,” and “Washing Machine Heart.” This album is currently being featured on many lists from major music publications like Pitchfork, NPR Music, and Stereogum as one of the best albums of 2018.

The rising star closed her hour-and-thirty-minute set with an encore. Returning to the stage for one last heart-wrenching performance, Mitski sang “Two Slow Dancers,” as a screen behind her depicted rose petals falling in synchronization.

“Goodbye, My Danish Sweetheart,” was her very last song of the evening, a track from her 2013 album, “Retired From Sad, New Career in Business,” which she released as a student at SUNY Purchase. The prolific songwriter thanked the crowd once more, leaving many of them breathless with a final wave and parting curtsy.

(All Photos Taken by Marissa Matozzo)

[rissverb]

Final Noncritical Review: Big Red Machine Sells Out NYC Show

by Marissa Matozzo

The lights dimmed as two silhouettes emerged from the shadows. One walked over to the keyboard to the left of the stage, and another picked up a guitar on the right. A spotlight enveloped the stage. “This project is about people. We appreciate you all being here,” said The National’s Aaron Dessner to overwhelming applause. He smiled to his collaborator, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon as they began their set.

Years after garnering critical acclaim for his rustic indie folk as part of the project Bon Iver, Justin Vernon has been using his signature AutoTune effects and sharp lyricism elsewhere.

Aaron Dessner, guitarist and keyboardist of brooding indie rock band, The National, first collaborated with Justin Vernon in 2009, when they released a song called, “Big Red Machine,” for a collaborative album called, “Dark Was The Night.” The record also featured contributions from Arcade Fire, Conor Oberst, and My Morning Jacket, among others.  

On August 31, 2018, Big Red Machine released their self-titled debut, which features Justin Vernon’s iconic falsetto along with Aaron Dessner’s use of loop pedals and backing keys.

Members of Big Red Machine are currently on tour, and hit their only North American stop on November 7 at Terminal 5 in Midtown Manhattan. Lisa Hannigan, an Irish folk singer who first gained recognition as a member of singer-songwriter Damien Rice’s band, sang backing vocals for the Wednesday show.

Hannigan joined Sam Amidon, a Vermont-based folk multi-instrumentalist as the first opening acts before Vernon and Dessner took the stage. The use of banjos, fiddles and tambourines was another reminder of Vernon’s constant collaborations with fellow indie folk musicians.

After Amidon and Hannigan performed several duets and songs of their own, Baltimore-based rapper Naeem Juwan seized the spotlight as the second opener. His set included screens behind him depicting images of Malcom X, Black Lives Matter, and other political activists as he rapped. Juwan then exited the small stage and the sold-out crowd moved closer to the front, awaiting the headliner as the lights dimmed again.

Big Red Machine began their set with “Deep Green,” the opening track off their debut album. They also played fan-favorite tracks, “Lyla,” “Hymnostic,” “Forest Green,” “I Won’t Run From It,” and “Gratitude,” to much applause. A track penned by Hannigan, “Swan,” was also included in their set, with her on lead vocals.

Vernon was seen wearing a white shirt with the word, “PEOPLE,” on it. This was to represent the artist collective website he started with Aaron Dessner and his brother Bryce, another member of The National. PEOPLE, their streaming platform was created for artists to share projects that sometimes differ from the musical styles of their previous releases.

Vernon’s soaring falsetto echoed through the venue, as did his electric riffs. Dessner’s delicate keyboard playing and occasional guitar provided the foundation for the folky R&B that resonated within the indie community from their experimental album. The group closed their show with “Melt,” the last song off their recent release.

(All Photos Taken By Marissa Matozzo)

[rissverb]

Merely a Muse----- A Personal Essay About Being a  Female Musician

This is a link to my new personal essay!

http://www.newschoolfreepress.com/2018/11/16/merely-a-muse/

[rissverb]

11/3/18 Review:

The Velvet Underground Experience NYC

by Marissa Matozzo

Lou Reed’s signature ostrich guitar can be heard right upon entering the Broadway exhibit dedicated to his breakout 1960’s band, The Velvet Underground, on Broadway in New York City.

“Venus and Furs,” and “I’m Waiting for the Man,” two of the band’s most famous tracks are played as those who bought tickets first check in. Bandsintown, an NYC-based music website, is hosting the exhibit until December 30, 2018.

Each guest is given a pair of headphones that can be plugged in to iPods that contain The Velvet Underground’s discography. Photographs of Lou Reed, John Cale, and other founding members cover the walls of the exhibit on its main floor. The early works of Andy Warhol, who famously managed the band, are also on display.

A main seating area on the first floor allows guests to watch clips of The Velvet Underground in their early recording sessions, and see the history behind their most famous album, “The Velvet Underground & Nico,” with its famous Warhol cover.

An entire room is dedicated to Nico, the German singer-songwriter who was the lead singer of the band when their 1967 critically-acclaimed release was recorded. Documentaries about her are shown that depict her tragic life story, and how she was always seen by Lou Reed and the main members as a muse rather than an artist in her own right.

A second floor of the exhibit allows guests to explore more magazine clips about the band, listen to Nico’s debut album, and see an entire wall plastered with posters of artists inspired by the band. Velvet Underground covers from artists such as Ty Segall, Elliott Smith, and David Bowie are played on that floor.

Overall, this exhibit is a must-visit for Velvet Underground fans due to its inclusion of rare recordings, footage, and photos that are not accessible to the general public. It is also relevant to fans of modern indie and alternative music that was inspired by the band, and its explanation of music history will always be vital, especially in the Velvet Underground’s hometown.

[rissverb]

Live Concert Review—- Beach Fossils Play Spooky BK Set

10/31/18

by Marissa Matozzo

The room was adorned with cobwebs. Skulls, pumpkins, and orange lights hung from the ceiling. Brooklyn-based indie rock group Beach Fossils was about to take the stage. Last night was Halloween, and also the one year anniversary of shows being hosted at Elsewhere, a venue in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Dustin Payseur, the lead singer of Beach Fossils tuned his Fender and began the set with “This Year,” a song off the group’s 2017 release, Somersault. From with every band member wearing Clockwork Orange themed costumes to classic horror movie clips being projected behind them, their setup was dedicated entirely to the spookiest night of the year.

Bassist Jack Doyle Smith, drummer Anton Hochheim and guitarist Tommy Davidson joined together to create the band’s signature lo-fi sound as Payseur’s atmospheric voice transcended through the former warehouse and now venue. The group mostly played tracks from Somersault, such as “Sugar,” “Be Nothing,” “Down the Line,” and May 1st.” Surprise saxophone solos were added for the live performances.

The group also included, to great applause, tracks from their previous releases, such as “Sleep Apnea,” and “Generational Synthetic,” from their 2013 album, Clash the Truth. “What a Pleasure,” and “Adversity,” from the 2011 album What a Pleasure were also performed live.

Beach Fossils are currently embarking on a North American tour with punk group Wavves. They will remain on tour until mid-December.

[rissverb]

Snail Mail New Song Review: “The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl in the World”

By Marissa Matozzo

This is a link to my new article about the indie rock band Snail Mail and their latest release, a cover of a song by Courtney Love:

https://zumic.com/snail-mail-releases-obscure-90s-cover

[rissverb]

A&E Journalism Assignment #2: 20 Years After Matthew Shepard’s Death :   A Discussion with Michele Josue, Director of “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine”

by Marissa Matozzo 

“Everyone loved Matt,” Michele Josue said, “He was so full of life and so curious about the world. He also had an amazing and slightly mischievous sense of humor and would make me laugh so hard. He was and will always be a twenty-one-year-old young gay man with a big heart and extraordinary potential,” she said.

On October 6, 1998, 21-year-old University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was tortured and left to die for being gay. Michele Josue, a 19-year-old film student at the time saw her childhood friend become the subject of headlines on news stations from all over the world.

“His death and the way he died devastated me and marked me deeply,” Josue said, “So ever since that moment, I felt an obligation as Matt’s friend and as a filmmaker to share his story in a sensitive, honest, and human way.” Shepard, who is remembered 20 years after his murder, was firstly a “dear friend” to director Josue, who would later document his life in extensive detail.

Josue gained worldwide critical acclaim for her 2014 film, “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine.” It is now available to stream on Netflix and garnered multiple awards, one of them most notably a 2016 Daytime Emmy award for Special Class Special.

Josue said over the phone that she never expected this response, and that showing Shepard’s story was her main objective. “This film has been something that has been burning inside of me for quite some time,” she said, “It was my duty to help reclaim a small part of him and allow the world to see Matt as not just as victim, but as a human being with flaws and joys and struggles just like all of us. It was only in recent years that I finally had enough courage to give this project expression.”

Born to Filipino-American parents and raised in Burtonsville, Maryland, Josue developed an interest in film at a young age. After graduating from Emerson’s film program, Josue moved to Los Angeles where she worked on TV shows and feature films as a short-form video editor and directed, produced, and edited documentaries for non-profit organizations and international schools. Josue continues to do so to this day.

Twenty years after Shepard’s death, Josue says the LGBT community should consider the real man behind the headlines. “He wasnʼt perfect and he wasn't a martyr,” Josue said, “Matt faced many struggles and challenges in his life, but what was so admirable about him was that he always worked hard to overcome them.”

Plenty of notable accomplishments for the LGBT community have happened since 1998, but hate crimes have not ceased. “Itʼs crucial that people reconnect to Mattʼs story or learn about it the first time, so that history doesnʼt repeat itself,” said Josue.

High schools around the country are commemorating Shepard this month by putting on productions of “The Laramie Project,” a play written by Moisés Kaufman in 2000 about the reaction to Shepard’s murder in Laramie, Wyoming. “The young actors performing the play and the audiences watching it are able to vividly experience his story. And this is so important,” said Josue.

“We watched her film in my school’s LGBT club,” said high school senior Marina Matozzo, “and we saw how incredible she is at telling a story,” she said. “After meeting with her, she inspired me as a young female aspiring artist to do whatever I set my mind to,” Matozzo said.

Josue gave parting advice for women who aspire to film and take part in the industry. “Be tenacious and don’t ever wait around for someone else to give you permission to tell your story,” Michele Josue said, “There’s no one else in the world who can tell a story in the unique way you can,” she said.

“Surround yourself with like-minded people who inspire, nurture, and support your vision,” Josue said, “Many of the most amazing and talented filmmakers are women, and I'm truly honored to be in their company and to tell inclusive stories that represent all types of identities and experiences.” Josue continues to impart her inclusive and feminist beliefs in her many films and projects, as well as how each of us can be better allies for the LGBT community.

[rissverb]

Assignment #1: Final News Article:

Feminist Indie Sells Out BK’s Warsaw Concerts

by Marissa Matozzo

Canadian indie pop band Alvvays headlined Warsaw, a Greenpoint-based Brooklyn venue for three consecutive nights; September 27, 28, and 29, 2018. Each of these shows sold out, with fans of all three acts packing the small venue inside the Polish National Home for a night of female-fronted indie.

Snail Mail, an indie rock band from Ellicott City, Maryland, and Australian synth pop act, Hatchie, were the opening acts for all three shows. For fans of indie music, this lineup is very timely as each act has been received well by music critics for each of their releases within the past year.

Alvvays’s album, “Antisocialites,” was released on September 7, 2017 by Polyvinyl Record Company and spawned the hit indie singles, “Dreams Tonite,” “Not My Baby,” and “In Undertow.” This release came three years after Alvvays’s self-titled debut, also dubbed a success by Pitchfork and Metacritic. Alvvays performed tracks off of both albums for their Brooklyn shows.

It’s also been quite the year for Matador’s newly-signed indie rock group Snail Mail, whose lead singer Lindsey Jordan was named, “The Wisest Teenage Indie Rocker,” by Pitchfork and “An Artist You Need To Know,” by Rolling Stone. The group’s debut album, “Lush,” was released on June 8, 2018 and received rave reviews from Consequence of Sound, New York Times, NME, SPIN, and more. Their EP “Habit,” was released in 2016 and garnered many accolades as well. Jordan performed mostly tracks from “Lush,” but also a few fan favorites from her first EP.

Hatchie, an Australian indie singer/ songwriter is gaining notoriety within alternative music scenes for her use of fuzzy shoegaze-esque guitar sounds and vocals that echo ‘90s dream pop. Her first EP, “Sugar and Spice,” was released on May 25, 2018 from Double Double Whammy, a record label that fellow indie acts Mitski and Frankie Cosmos have also been signed to. Successful reviews were written about her EP, and she has acquired more listeners on digital streaming services after collaborating with Cocteau Twins member Robin Guthrie. She performed tracks from her new EP for the Warsaw shows.

All three acts came together for a final encore after the Alvvays performance. Jordan from Molly Rankin from Alvvays, Lindsey Jordan from Snail Mail, and Harriette Pilbeam covered “Alimony,” by Australian band, The Hummingbirds, to conclude the night.

With three notable female-led indie acts selling out a popular Brooklyn venue, many fans in the crowd were ecstatic. Jordan came out after the show ended to connect with fans after Alvvays completed their set. When asked how long she plans to continue touring, Jordan said, “forever,” with a laugh. Fans told her their songs brought them together and formed their friendships, and she hugged each one, and talked about her hometown in Maryland. Hatchie sold her own merchandise in Warsaw’s bar area, and Alex Bass, the bassist from Snail Mail, sold theirs as well.

All three acts will continue to go on tour in Asia and North America until early December.

Word Count: 493

[rissverb]

Assignment #1 -- News Draft for A&E Journalism Class: Alvvays, Snail Mail, and Hatchie Sell Out Three Brooklyn Shows

by Marissa Matozzo

Canadian indie pop band Alvvays is set to play Warsaw, a Greenpoint-based Brooklyn venue for three consecutive nights; September 27, 28, and 29, 2018. Each of these shows are sold out, and I am attending Friday.

Snail Mail, an indie rock band from Ellicott City, Maryland, and Australian synth pop act, Hatchie, are scheduled as the opening acts for all three shows. For fans of indie music, this lineup is very timely as each act has been recieved well by music critics for each of their releases within the past year.

Alvvays’s album, “Antisocialites,” was released on September 7, 2017 by Polyvinyl Record Company and spawned the hit indie singles, “Dreams Tonite,” “Not My Baby,” and “In Undertow.” This release came three years after Alvvays’s self-titled debut, also dubbed a success by Pitchfork and Metacritic. Alvvays is set to perform tracks off of both albums for their Brooklyn shows.

It’s also been quite the year for Matador’s newly-signed indie rock group Snail Mail, whose lead singer Lindsey Jordan was named, “The Wisest Teenage Indie Rocker,” by Pitchfork and “An Artist You Need To Know,” by Rolling Stone. The group’s debut album, “Lush,” was released on June 8, 2018 and received rave reviews from Consequence of Sound, New York Times, NME, SPIN, and more. Their EP “Habit,” was released in 2016 and garnered many accolades as well.

Hatchie, an Australian indie singer/ songwriter is gaining notoriety within alternative music scenes for her use of fuzzy shoegaze-esque guitar sounds and vocals that echo ‘90s dream pop. Her first EP, “Sugar and Spice,” was released on May 25, 2018 from Double Double Whammy, a record label that fellow indie acts Mitski and Frankie Cosmos have also been signed to. Successful reviews were written about her EP, and she has acquired more listeners on digital streaming services after collaborating with Cocteau Twins member Robin Guthrie.

With three notable female-led indie acts selling out a popular Brooklyn venue, this is a story listeners of this genre would enjoy reading. I will stay after the show and attempt to interview the musicians involved and fans of the music they play.