Singer/songwriter/musician Sylvia Black may have moved away from NYC a while ago, but she left at least part of her heart in the East Village specifically at Nublu, where she played a seasonably spooky set last week. With a fine band that included Ari Bortnik (guitar), Yusuke Yamamoto (vibes), Jacquelene Acevedo (percussion) and Kevin Shea (drums), Black filled out two sets with a mix of originals and covers that was perfect for the days leading up to Halloween.
Known for his legendary contributions to the power pop canonwith singles like Cruel to Be Kind and production work with artists like Elvis CostelloNick Lowe has been musical for almost all of his life. That's thanks to his mother. Born into a military family (his father was in the Air Force), Lowe moved all over the world as a kid. I don't know about now, but there used to be a lot of people I knew in the music business
For a prolific auteur bent on creating a cultlike fanbase, it's essential to the sort of world-building that breeds obsession. What would the Guided by Voices discography be without its slight montages of moth-eaten ephemera; Belle and Sebastian without their early hot streak of loosies? While the streaming era has made it easy to tack bonus tracks onto a "deluxe" release or pad a record with a skippable song that might not fit into its intended vision, Joseph Stevens' lounge-pop project Peel Dream Magazine recognizes the importance of the curated yet fleeting drop.
Thee Heart Tones showcase a soulful sound reminiscent of classic records, with Jazmine Alvarado's emotive voice conveying deep feelings of heartbreak and longing, complemented by fluid guitar and keyboard interplay.