Show Update

Some cool shows happening this week. Tonight, Choke Up, Bedroom Eyes, and Onslo are playing, with an art exhibit by Chelsea Mae. Choke Up is an excellent punk band that calls to mind a more aggressive The Lawrence Arms while Bedroom Eyes, a band I've talked about on here before, plays dreamy and thick shoegaze. Unfamiliar with Onslo but this should be a great show no matter what. Check out the Facebook event for more information.

(Flyer by Chelsea Mae)

Next, there's a completely stacked show happening this Saturday in Derry, NH. Armando, the guitarist of the short-lived emo band Athletes., will be opening with a solo set, followed by No Guidance sweethearts Youth Funeral and Chalk Li. I know nothing about Riis but Roosevelt and Notches both recently put out excellent new EPs (expect posts about those soon) and Machete will hopefully be playing some jams from the LP they just recorded. Waller is an interesting and noisy screamo band from Philadelphia (?) and I'm very excited to see them. Check out the Facebook event for more information.

Band Spotlight: Maudslay

(Photo courtesy of Last.fm user "Sayshalala")

Maudslay is a band that has proven to be nearly as mysterious as the supposedly haunted state park they're named after. In an age where nearly everything is accessible online, there is virtually no trace of Maudslay -- no live footage, no blog, nothing. All we're left with is a Myspace page and a couple of photos, yet the pedigree of this band's roster alone is enough to warrant a listen. Sharing members of bands such as L'antietam, Deer Leap, and BDRM EYES, Maudslay is a little-known emo band that is revered by the few people fortunate enough to have seen them perform live.

The majority of Maudslay's songs were mid-tempo and fairly catchy, with the instruments often playing off one another, the guitars intertwining with complimentary melodies. It's very clear to hear how members of L'antietam would be involved with this project, as the guitar work in songs such as "John Lennon" sounds like a less-aggressive and clean adaptation of their earlier work, when they still were more angular and riff-oriented. Meanwhile, the vocals are airy and uneven, charmingly unpolished, fulfilling the emo standard. He can be a little too-pitchy at times (particularly some sections of the song "Skyscrapers and Sheds") but it works for the most part. If I were to compare the vocal delivery to a modern band I'd say they sound very similar to Sore Eyelids. Seriously, compare these:

"Panama Canal" - Maudslay

"365 Days of Nothing" - Sore Eyelids (vocals start at about 0:30)

Anyway, my personal favorite song, "Mostly Swim In Veins", features a more peaceful approach, reminiscent of bands like Sharks Keep Moving and My Winter Nerve. If you're unfamiliar with either of those bands, both of which deserve your attention, I strongly recommend listening to them at some point.

I think of Maudslay as a band that fit neatly into the "emo revival" spectrum, with twisting guitar work played over punchy drums, songs that are very rhythm-based, and vocal melodies that are loose but not abrasive. A short-lived hidden gem of the New Hampshire scene.

Quick aside: Two of the associated bands I mentioned, L'antietam and Deer Leap, have already broken up (actually, I think Deer Leap still exists, they're just inactive). Fortunately, last I heard, BDRM EYES is still around, although I don't think they've played a show in a while. I've seen them play twice now and both times they were very enjoyable to watch. The guitarist and bassist switched instruments mid-way through the set and it created an interesting dynamic.

Anyway, Maudslay:

DISCOGRAPHY: 

Collected Discography (Contains S/T, Gauche, and Fall) | Download

OTHER LINK(S):

Myspace (Inactive)