With it being a slow Thursday night here in Buffalo, it should be noted that a really good show is going down in Rochester tonight. Brooklyn's Caveman, who you may remember played Babeville's Ninth Ward a couple years back, will be making an under the radar appearance at the Bug Jar this evening, giving you an excuse to get out of Buffalo for the night. The five piece is still touring in support of its very impressive, self titled sophomore release, which saw the band expand on its Eastern-tinged psych rock (think early Yeasayer, sort of) and layered harmonies with moody and atmospheric synths

Following the show will be Rochester party DJ crew Cultr Club, whose members this evening include David Lee Rad of CRUSHES and Patricia from KOPPS, all of whom are alumni of past buffaBLOG parties. 

Tickets for tonight's show will be available at the door. Music kicks off at 8:30pm sharp with Cultr Club taking over at 11pm. And Happy Birthday Patricia.

I became a believer in Caveman after their show last March at the Ninth Ward. Everything about that night was perfect: Cemetaries were great, Aircraft unleashed a killer set that's still my favorite Aircraft show, and Caveman and the off kilter warmth of their 2011 debut album Coco Beware embraced and enveloped the modest/spare crowd lucky enough to be there, in big, warm, indie rock kiss. Coco Beware went into regular rotation, and that show would later receive a fair amount of end of the year blog love, guaranteeing interest in their eponymous second album. Last month I had the chance to interview Caveman's Jimmy Carbonetti about the new album, life on the road, and the "band of brothers" they've become.


Cliff Parks: Was there a new mission for the band or any overriding goals that you had working on your second album?

Jimmy Carbonetti: Well I think the type of record we've done, it's about a lot of changes personally and also together as a group of men. It's inspired us a lot and brought us a lot closer. I think just being together so much, understanding  one another and what was going on in each other's lives and being there for each other... and being in the studio, it kind of really just connected together.

CP: So at this point, would you consider Caveman a "band of brothers?"

JC: Yeah, even further than that. Yeah, at this point it's like we can read each other's minds; we don't have to say anything, you know? Me and Matt (Iwanusa) have been playing music together since 2000 when we first met and then we started meeting everyone else in the band around 2003, 2004, and we're all just became really great friends. And then in 2008 and 2009, we all had projects that weren't really working out for some reason or another and we all just decided to play music with our best friends that we hang out with every day.


CP: How did you settle on the name Caveman? Were you guys fans of Captain Caveman... or those Geico commercials? Or is there a heavier meaning to it?

JC: I don't know, it just felt like that with this band, it's almost like starting over. Now, being together, we were just trying to reinvent whatever we'd already done before but doing it in our way. But it's also about traveling around and touring; with that lifestyle it sort of felt appropriate.

CP: Speaking of travelling and all that, when you guys are on the road travelling this great country of ours, how do you guys handle food? You guys eat a lot of ramen noodles, hit up local spots, or do you just let it roll?

JC: We try to find the best local spots. Usually the people at the clubs are pretty good about telling us what's good around town. Or even some people cook us  awesome home cooked meals. It changes every day, but we do try to keep it healthy.

CP: You try to keep it healthy? You gotta. Rock and roll is a heavy duty lifestyle and you've got to pace yourself.

JC: Yeah.

CP: What do you guys miss the most about home when you're on the road. I'm can ask you this now because you're home and not on the road. I wouldn't do that to you if you were on the road.

JC: I guess, staying out until 4:30 in the morning. Bars close early when we're on tour. I guess it's pretty interesting growing up in NYC and hanging out here and being able to do whatever you want at any time; so to use that in a positive way, that's really great. We're always scheming... and able to work on ideas at all hours at the bar or wherever, so yeah, I guess I miss the NYC life.


CP: On the topic of NYC... it's a pretty crowded music scene down there... so how do you think Caveman differentiates itself from all the competition out there?

JC: I think that, this band is really close and really good friends so we trust each other, so that's out of the way. We really just focus on our musicianship, and taking that as far as we can, and trusting each other and growing other aspects of the band. We're not really thinking about anybody else, we're really just focusing on this group of guys . We've all played in bands for years, and at this time, it's time to take really seriously. We're just trying to make a living as much as possible playing music.

CP: So there's no big competition going on with everybody else. Everything's all cool.

JC: Yeah. We don't really have any "rival" bands. We've got friends in other bands, and we're always pushing each other. We're good friends with Here We Go Magic and White Rabbit; and War On Drugs, we did a lot of shows with them. And what's so good about playing with them is that they're so good, it forces you to be better.

CP: Is there anybody out there beyond the New York scene or internationally who you feel in competition with... OK... I guess I'm just trying to get you to talk trash, and that's not cool.

JC: Yeah. I don't know, actually we've been laughing a lot about how people are so confused that the Stone Roses are headlining Coachella. I think it's a great decision.

CP: People don't even know who they are at this point. When they announced that line up Twitter totally blew up with "who are the Stone Roses?" People couldn't even be bothered to Google them.

JC: Yeah. It's funny. I think it's going to be great. They're a fun band.

CP: Going back to Caveman, getting back from the Stone Roses... who were you influenced by and who were your major influences when you guys were starting out and finding your sound?

JC: Those guys were a big influence for me and I know for Jeff (Berall). George Harrison was a real big influence. David Gilmour. His solo records are great. A lot of John Entwistle too; the bass player in the Who, his solo records are amazing. We just wanted to keep it live and just having it be really open, with everybody doing their thing. Not that there's no pressure, but it's really open musically and we really trust each other and what we're doing. It's great.

CP: Last question. How did you guy's end up in that New York State tourism commercial last summer? That was great. I loved that commercial, and I thought it was great that you guys were in it, but that's just me.

JC: We're all proud New Yorkers. I grew up here; Stefan (Marolachakis) grew up in the Upper East Side; Matt grew up in Park Slope. Jeff is a southern man but he's lived in New York long enough that he counts. We talked about it, an opportunity came up, and it worked out perfect.

CP: When I saw that commercial I thought it was a great choice by the state's ad people and I saluted you guys for going along with it because hell, we're all New Yorkers in the end.

JC: Exactly. We're all excited for a show in Buffalo. It's got a great vibe.

CP: We're definitely looking forward to your return, that's for sure.

No word yet with regards to when that Buffalo show will be, but I am an optimist prefer to have a good feeling about it. In any case, Caveman's well received second album arrived in stores this week, and like Caveman and their debut album Coco Beware, it's worth your time.

Brooklyn's Caveman is far from barbaric or prehistoric in sound or outlook. On its self-titled sophomore album, the five-man band is poised to hypnotize the modern age with its delicate, artfully constructed work.

Caveman is an unhurried, Eastern-tinged record. Tinny New Age via New Wave instrumentals join with dingy garage rock tendencies, psychedelic electropop accents, layered Appalachian harmonies, and campfire folk to create an album that feels like a living world, full of depth and mystery. While songs make aural nods to bands like Local Natives, Beach House, Divine Fits, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, and Fleet Foxes, Caveman present a unified sonic entity that synthesizes rather than steals. The group chemically combines several well-known indie sounds to form an entirely new substance.

Although Caveman progresses slowly, without rush or particular oomph, its tracks trickle beneath the skin. The environment the album evokes is lush and lovely, measured and complete. Lyrics are mostly simple and impressionistic, built into the woodwork of the record, dreamily supporting the musical environment even as they lack freestanding memorability. In consequence, the album is challenging to interpret or penetrate but easy to sink into.

Caveman brings the listener to a place of comfort, a cave worth dwelling in. Although it is at times an abstract, ponderous effort, its sumptuous beauty and cooling flow shimmer and refresh, promising greater wonders to come.

Grade: B+

Brooklyn five piece Caveman have leaked the 2nd tune from their upcoming self titled release.  Slowing down the driving synths found in first single "In The City," "Over My Head" is a languid, dream like number, full of beautiful harmonies and subtle percussion.  The song continues Caveman's inviting  song-to-song change in styles from shoegaze like guitars to more atmospheric, mood pieces.  Caveman will be released on April 2nd.
 

I am consistently amazed by the volume of quality singles that come out on a weekly basis. As I have continued with this column, I have less and less trouble coming up with 5 songs to post each week. Often, I have more than 5 but rarely, if ever, go beyond that maximum because I want to make sure the stuff I like most does not get lost in deluge of releases and it is, quite regularly, a deluge of new music. And while everyone is constantly bringing our attention to all of the things vying for our attention (so much so that articles about how we are being pulled in multiple directions by the endless influx of data is itself a prominent genre within that endless influx of data), it is really staggering to stop and think about everything that is easily available to us at once. That said, it does mean that I never can fully pay attention to these singles after I write about them; however, this in turn creates its own filter as the stuff that really stands out is the stuff that sticks with me in the proceeding weeks. Either way, regardless of how you feel with being inundated with new bands, micro genres, etc., with such regularity, there is really something exhilarating about it all. So, here are this week's tracks, and as always, enjoy!

Melody's Echo Chamber - "Je Me Perds De Vue:" Melody's Echo Chamber's debut, a solid LP of psychedelic indie pop, was one of last year's most underrated records. "Je Me Perds De Vue," the b-side to an upcoming single is more of the same, a feedback drenched song with a creeping rhythm that, when combined with the icy vocals, is reminiscent of Broadcast.



Pond - "Giant Tortoise:" Originally, Tame Impala was a side project for members of Pond, but Tame Impala became a side project big enough for journalists to refer to Pond as the side project. Pond, while definitely in the same vein as Tame Impala,  features a bigger, more anthemic sound. "Giant Tortoise" is a sludgy track featuring a spaced out bridge that slowly builds back to the level of its over the top opening.If you would prefer that Tame Impala be a little more bombastic, Pond might be for you.



Alpine - "Gasoline:" A burst of a song reminiscent of Phoenix at their most catchy. "Gasoline" features female vocals over a blippy synth and guitar and an exceedingly bouncy beat. Alpine, hailing from Australia, will be releasing a debut LP later this year.



Caveman - "In the City:" Caveman's latest single might be my favorite new track this week. The song features a crisp synth line, a steady rhythm and pensive, strident vocals for an overall melancholy effect . The vocals drop out during the last third leaving the dramatic melody to finish out the track.



Washed Out - "The Sound of Creation:" A subtle and drifting track, Washed Out made this as part off a deal with Phillips to create a song exploring his "autobiographical exploration of his musical influences." While I am not really sure what that actually means, the result is "The Sound of Creation." Textured and gentle the song slowly builds until the end, cutting out abruptly before achieving any sort of real climax...that's what she said (HEYO! Sorry.)

Saturday night the crowd at the Ninth Ward at Babeville were on the receiving end of a solid and frequently brilliant night of music from NYC's Caveman and local up and comers Cemeteries and Aircraft. There's been some buzz on the Interwebs about Caveman and locally about Aircraft, and it was real nice and genuinely exciting to have that buzz totally justified.


The show kicked off sharp and on the money with new local favorites Aircraft. It was my first time seeing Aircraft, and yes, I am officially now down with Aircraft. They have the four minute new wave pop song down pat, but because they're more psychedelic than strictly new wave, the pop songs come off explosively, big and shiny within that pleasingly tight song structure. Phoenix by way of early Pink Floyd with terrific vocal harmonies and a fun Talking Heads vibe, that's my initial take on Aircraft, and because I'll certainly be on the lookout for them this summer that's my first of many takes on this excellent up and coming band. Yes, it all works for Aircraft. Local band Cemeteries followed, offering a more atmospheric and moody take on their indie shoegaze rock with nice Ezra Koenig by way of Roy Orbison vocals. They're still a work in the progress inasmuch a lot of their songs just kind of end abruptly, but there wasn't anything wrong with what they were doing up until that point, and like Aircraft they sounded terrific in that excellent brick basement space.


The stage was perfectly set for up and coming NYC buzz band Caveman, and they did not disappoint. Kicking off their set with dual percussion reminiscent of early 00's Radiohead, Caveman settled into a mighty and tasteful groove they maintained throughout thanks to their pleasing Beach Boys vocal harmonies, powerful melodies, and exceedingly solid rhythm section. At a time when indie music is awash in (plagued by?) trends and the never-ending churn of the quest for the next big thing, it was most gratifying to see a "buzz band" operating comfortably above and beyond the fray. Caveman said they were keen to come back to Buffalo and I for one hope they do, and often.


I just hope their lead vocalist survived the Mighty Taco. That could be a deal breaker.


Special kudos are also in order for ESI Events for putting this fine show on, and the sound guy at the Ninth Ward for another magnificent job. The sound in that wonderful venue was astounding.

People often ask me which live music venues in town I like the most.  When I bring up Ninth Ward, I'm surprised at how many people haven't been there, or worse, aren't even aware of it's existence. Ani DiFranco's Asbury Hall has risen to the forefront of noteworthy venues in the city of Buffalo.  What often gets overlooked is Ninth Ward, the converted church's under the radar basement venue, which has hosted some of the best touring and local acts to grace this city's burgeoning music scene. On March 24th, Caveman is the next such act to grace their stage.  Riding off the success of their well reviewed debut, Coco Beware, the band's rhythmic, yet soothing sound is perfectly suited for Ninth Ward's intimacy. Be sure to catch the opener, Cemeteries, an up and coming local act that you're sure to be hearing a lot more about this year.