Blog | Music/Arts: Long Island Sound & Beyond

Sing, when the sun comes out
Dressed in our summer clothes
And my neighbor told me I resemble the Holy Ghost
She can’t help but wonder
why I abandoned my holy post

From “Holy Ghost” by Drgn King

Philly’s Drgn King started out as a duo featuring singer/songwriter/guitarist Dominic Angelella and hip-hop producer Ritz Reynolds (The Roots, Wale) and has expanded to include some of their best friends—Steve Montenegro on bass/guitars/effects, Brendan Mulvihill on guitars/samples and Joe Baldacci on drums/effects. The band was signed to Bar/None Records (They Might Be Giants, of Montreal) in the fall of 2012 and Reynolds recently produced its debut full-length, Paragraph Nights, on which he also plays keys, samples and programs drums.

Head to the Big Snow Buffalo Lodge in Brooklyn on Saturday, May 18th for some psychedelic indie music and find out why Drgn King is making ‘bands to watch’ lists in Paste and Esquire magazine.

Pulse: What’s the meaning behind your moniker? Is it related to Dragon?

Dominic: It is related to Dragon. We like dragons—there’s also a great Chinese place by Ritz’s house called Dragon King. 

P: Who are your biggest musical influences— past and present?

D: Presently, there are countless peers that we’re influenced by, local and otherwise. Past-wise, we love Brian Eno, Shuggie Otis, The Beatles and RZA.

P: How do you describe your sound?

D: A drunk person in Macon, Georgia exclaimed that we were “HEAVY POP.” I think that fits us well. We try to mesh post-punk, pop music, hip-hop, and experimental things.

P: Who would you most like to tour with? Why?

D: Touring with Future Islands would be great. Or Van Morrison.

P: What’s your favorite song to play live lately?

D: We have a few new songs that are incredibly fun to play, but “Looking at You” is a strong contender.

P: What’s the meaning behind “Holy Ghost?”
D: “Holy Ghost” actually happened to me. Joe and I lived in a weird neighborhood in North Philadelphia where a girl was threatened by the fact I looked like Jesus. It drove her a little crazy and weirded her out I think.

P: Have you played in NY before?

D: We’ve played NY countless times, submitting an incredibly small part to the vast ocean of musical history in the city. Even when noone shows up.

You can expect to hear music off of Paragraph Nights, along with some new songs and covers by ? And the Mysterians and the Flaming Lips…

Stream Paragraph Nights here: http://official.fm/playlists/HktI

For more info: www.facebook.com/wearedrgnking/

You think you can creep in the shadows
While you figure it out
I’ve listened to enough of all your stuff to fill a book or two
And you can tell everyone I’ve got your number, son

Cause I can shine my light on you

—From “I’ve Got Your Number, Son” by She & Him

Fans of indie pop duo She & Him won’t be disappointed with the third record, Volume 3. Indie songstress/New Girl actress Zooey Deschanel and folk artist/multi-instrumentalist M. Ward have released 14 sunny, throwback tracks consisting of three covers and 11 originals, penned by Deschanel and arranged by Ward.

Guests include Mike Watt, Rilo Kiley’s Pierre De Reeder and NRBQ’s Joey Spampinato, while covers include “Hold Me,Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “Baby” and a stellar, French-infused rendition of Blondie’s “Sunday Girl.” The Beach Boys’ influence can be heard on the fiesty opener, “I’ve Got Your Number, Son” (could this be about ex-hubby, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie?). There are more references to heartbreak in “Turn to White” and “Shadow of Love,” but most of the songs have an upbeat retro-pop feel with the addition of strings on various tracks.

While Wards’s voice would have been a welcome addition to some songs, Volume 3 is another success story for She & Him if you pine for more reverb, handclaps and other Wall of Sound theatrics.

You can see She & Him at Central Park’s Summerstage on July 6th, with special guests Camera Obscura.

For more info: www.sheandhim.com

Have you ever been at war
With someone that you were before
And have you ever shed your skin covered in sin
All covered in sin
From “Peaches” by Mission South

Three-piece roots rock and blues band, Mission South, is often compared to Dr. Dog, Ben Harper and The Black Keys. The DC-based trio—Dan Miller on guitar/vocals, John Beck on bass/vocals and drummer Max Harwood—is about to release its second EP, Migration Vol. 2, and will be headlining NYC’s Sullivan Hall on Thursday, April 11th.

With beginnings as a garage band, the best friends’ original songwriting and energetic live performances have garnered them a spot on DC Deli Magazine’s poll for Best Emerging Artist of 2012 and performances at Austin’s SXSW festival.

Lead singer Dan Miller dishes about everything from his diverse musical influences and covers to the meanings of his songs and how he hit Ben Harper’s sound guy with a CD.

Pulse: Who are your biggest musical influences?

Dan: Otis Redding, B.B. King, Charlie Parker, Bob Dylan, Tupac Shakur, Derek Trucks, and any innovator of sound who can evoke and convey sincere emotion through the music they play and create.

P: What’s your song “Peaches” about?

D: “Peaches” speaks to the contradiction one encounters when reflecting upon who they currently are, and who they were yesterday. A lot of times we sacrifice and do things we don’t enjoy to get to where we hope to be. And at the age of 22, you’re constantly redefining yourself and what you hold to be important.

The chorus refrain “I do it all for you,” is self-reflexive in this case, assuring me that all these things I do will make me better in the end. Although lyrics like that allow the listener to connect to the song on whatever level they feel.

P: How do you describe your sound?

D: We’re currently using the term “Roots Rock” to describe it. I say “currently” because, as a young band, our style changes pretty frequently. Our sound is certainly raw and at times experimental, but we like to carve pockets of soul, pop, and jazz influences into it.

P: Who would you most like to tour with? Why?

D: I’d like to tour with three bands. One of them is Star and Micey out of Memphis. They are great musicians and some of the best damn people you’ll ever meet. No shortage of good times would be had, and that always makes the journey much smoother. 

The second band I’d choose is Kings of Leon. I’ve recently gotten into watching YouTube videos where they completely freak each other out onstage and backstage, and I think it would be great for entertainment—and for giving you confidence in your own band to see people fight like that. 

Lastly, I’ll say Ben Harper. People liken my style to his a lot, and I think he’s an artist that has crafted a very long and diverse career for himself, which is something I respect highly in today’s music world. Would love to shoot the breeze with that guy for a while. I also once nailed his sound guy in the face when I threw a CD on stage at one of his concerts, so I’d apologize for that too.

P: Where did the band’s name come from?

D: A good friend of mine that I worked with during the summers in California would save up all his money from our summer job and then travel through Mexico and Latin America for as long as he could until he ran out. Every year, like clockwork, he had the same plan. The guy was in his mid-30s and one of the happiest people I knew. He would always call it his “Mission South.” The friend had found his place in the world, and the name is an allegory for exactly that.

P: Have you played in NY before? What do you like about playing here?

D: We’ve played in New York a of couple times, usually in Manhattan or Brooklyn. I like playing in the city because there’s an air of importance there that rubs off on you, makes you feel like you’re doing something right. We have a ton of fans in the city so it’s always a blast, and everything is open super late there, so there’s never a shortage of good times to be had.

P: What’s your favorite song to perform live right now? Why?

D: I’ve really enjoyed performing “Saint” off of our new EP Migration Vol. 2 coming out April 9th. It’s a really beautiful song that John wrote, and a slower moment in the set. This song always sort of engulfs me when we perform it live, and I always come out feeling energized and ready to rock the last couple of tunes we’ve got on deck.

P: Do you play any covers live? Which ones?

D: We’ve been playing a cover of Prince’s “Kiss” lately because Prince is the bomb and we were able to put together a really cool version of his classic tune. A fan came up to us after a show recently and rolled up his sleeve to reveal an enormous Prince tattoo. He said we’d done the man justice. Pretty sure that’s all the validation you need in life.

Listen to “Peaches” here: http://music.missionsouth.com
For more info: http://www.missionsouth.com

Ring in the spring with some upbeat rock—featuring two-part vocal harmonies, catchy hooks and surprising string arrangements. Indie power-trio, The Fleeting Ends, just released its second full-length, Our Eyes Are Peeled, and will be playing four shows at NYC’s The Living Room in April—the 2nd, the 9th, the 23rd and the 30th—in addition to The Studio at Webster Hall on May 11th. The record cover is reminiscent of the White Album by The Beatles, an influence which can be heard on many tracks.

The Philadelphia-based twenty-somethings—Matt Vantine on vocals, guitars and keys; Matt Amadio on vocals, drums, and percussion; bassist Rusty Langley—often listened to George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass when making Our Eyes Are Peeled. Aside from The Beatles, the band is inspired by the likes of Neil Young, The Cure, Blur, The Cars, The Pixies and The Verve.

“The biggest inspiration is other people though,” admits Langley. “Every song on the album tells a story about someone or a certain type of situation.”

Produced by Tommy Joyner (Gomez, Dave Matthews) with string arrangements composed by Larry Gold (Lana Del Ray, Jay-Z, The Roots) the album goes beyond the typical indie pop/rock label.

“If you like catchy music with good lyrics and nice harmonies, then you’ll most likely find something to like about us,” notes Langley.

Having already won a Philadelphia songwriting competition and played numerous festivals including SXSW and Musikfest, The Fleeting Ends are definitely a band to watch. When they hit New York City in April and May, they also may be accompanied by their friend, Alfiya Latypova, on violin and keys.

“We’ve been known to do many covers,” reveals Langley. “Currently, we play ‘Barbarism Begins At Home’ by The Smiths, ‘I’m Waiting For the Man’ by The Velvet Underground, and ‘One After 909’ by The Beatles… We’re also working on the entire Steely Dan discography and planning to do a series of tribute shows.—this may or may not be a joke.”

For more info: http://thefleetingends.com

Close my eyes I shake and shiver
Raise my ears to hear a whisper
Now I’m starting to sweat
Can’t get her face out of my head

From “Monsters Under My Pillow” by Matt Zeiss

Matt Zeiss grew up in Lindenhurst listening to artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and Long-Island’s own Billy Joel. The twenty-five-year-old was also influenced by his father, John, who recorded some songs in the 80’s, one of which Matt covered on his debut full-length, Last Train to Rock n’ Roll. The song is called “I Am the Boat,” and interpreting it sparked Zeiss’ desire to write songs.
When Zeiss plays the Studio at Webster Hall on Monday, March 18th and Lulu’s in Port Jefferson on Friday, March 22nd, he will be accompanied by guitarist Brendan Scharen, 2nd guitarist Paul Ryan, bassist Vinny Vigorito, keyboardist Chris Carlucci, drummer Rafe Tangorra or Will Knipper and saxophonist Ben Dobay and you can expect to hear his newly released single, “Danger.”

Pulse: Do you write the music and the lyrics to all of your original songs? What inspires you?

Matt: There isnt one thing in particular that inspires me. I can get inspired by any random thing. Once I start writing I usually hit a stride and keep on going. Once the lyrics are finished, I’ll have some sort of melody in my mind. From there I vocalize it to my producer, Sean Power. He then takes my idea and puts it on a larger scale, and completes the piece instrumentally.

P: What covers do you perform live? What’s one of your favorites to perform, and why?

M: Most of the songs I do live are originals. The few covers that I perform are generally classics. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry. The crowd always loves it because they know it. It’s a song that runs through their veins. Second best for me would be “Too Close” by Alex Clare. The song is fun, very cool to sing and the crowd of course knows it well.

P: I know your rendition of “It’s Over” by Jimmie Rodgers won over your music instructor in high school. What other songs have you covered?

M: The first song I professionally recorded was “That’s All Right” by Arthur Crudup and recorded by Elvis in 1954 at Sun Studio. I also recorded it at Sun Studio in Memphis, TN. That was an epic moment for me. The second cover I recorded, and another epic moment for me, was a song called “Midnight Blues,” written and performed by Charlie Rich. And even though I recorded the song here on Long Island, Charlie Rich Jr. played keyboard on my version of his fathers song.

P: How do you describe your sound?

M: Every time I’m asked this question I sort of buckle. My sound is different I feel, and I know everyone says that. The thing that makes my sound different and unique I believe is that old school flavor. Not to mention the sound is compiled of a lot of different genres. My focus when developing my sound was to have it touch on different styles. If you listen to it you’ll find rock, r&b, funk, blues and even little dabs of country. That in itself I feel provides a unique sound.

P: Who were your biggest influences growing up? Who do you listen to now?

M: As a child, and even now, my biggest influences have remained the same. I grew up in a family that listened to a lot of older music. So my influences are acts such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Billy Joel, Johnny Maestro, Jay Black, Tom Jones, Little Richard and the list goes on. I try to take in as much as I can from these epic and legendary performers. My father was also a big inspiration for me. He too is a singer/songwriter. Growing up listening to him sing and play guitar had a big effect on the way I would continue to sit and write.

P: Who would you most like to tour with, and why?

M: Kid Rock would certainly be my number one choice. I feel his music is really old school rock and roll. I think our styles go well together.

P: What do you like about living on LI? Do you have any musical mentors on LI?

M: This is one of the only places you can get a little bit of everything. You get four seasons, you have an ocean beach—not far from the city, not far from the country areas. There is truly something for everyone on Long Island! In my opinion, Billy Joel’s skills are truly mind blowing. His music is timeless and nearly every Long Islander can attest to that. The man hasn’t released a full album in 20 years and can still pack out any stadium you throw at him. And I am lucky enough to frequently play with Richie Cannata, Billy’s saxophone player. Richie is a mentor to me. I could listen to him all day long. His skill and presence are something I do not take for granted. I consider myself truly lucky to have him as a featured artist in my band.

P: What are your favorite places to play on LI, and why?

M: I enjoyed playing Ollie’s Point, now Revolution, in Amityville. It has a nice intimate setting while also managing to have a grand scale appeal. Great sound, great lighting, easy to get to.

Along with Webster Hall on 3/18 and Lulu’s on 3/22, you can check out Zeiss at the Fashion Arts and Music Expo at Mirelle’s in Westbury on April 7th: http://www.fashionartandmusic.com/?p=445

For more info check out: www.facebook.com/ZeissOfficial and zeisslive.com