stereoactivenyc

While We Were Out

We managed to keep busy while the website was in hibernation:

• We finally gave in and established a presence on the all-pervasive MySpace.
• We helped plan and co-host a couple of shows at Asterisk* in conjunction with The Deli Magazine, includng such bands as The Fatales, Unsacred Hearts, The Standing Nudes, Hypertonics, Dirty Excuse, The Pink Meat, F-Holes, Plastic East, Emma La Reina, Man In Gray, The Problem, Goes Cube, The Diggs, Proton Proton, Apes & Androids, Pio Mazzotti, and Arbor Day.
• We also continued writing for The Deli.
• We were proud to sponsor a great show at Southpaw featuring Man In Gray, Americans UK, Unsacred Hearts, and DraculaZombieUSA.

Of course, many of our favorite bands were busy as well:

• In April, the Unsacred Hearts released their first full-length album, a great piece of work that effortlessly blends the mutlitude of sounds and styles we’ve come to expect and love from UH.
• In January, The Secret Life Of Sofia released their first EP, a four song set we described as such at the time:
  

  The Secret Life Of Sofia’s new limited edition EP confirms the band’s arrival on the New York scene. And we couldn’t be happier.

  Made up of members from former NYC bands, their skilled musicianship is no surprise. And it’s probably their previous experience that’s let them emerge in such a fully formed way. The confidence in the songwriting and playing on the new CD sounds more like that of a band that’s been around for some time, not giving away in the least the fact that they’re actually a fairly new group.

  This EP — and the show celebrating its release tonight — is the work of a band jumping fearlessly into the deep end. Learning curves be damned.

  The Secret Life Of Sofia is, perhaps, why the term “one to watch” was coined. And 2006 is the year to watch them.

• In December, El Jezel released their first album, Elements Of Being Put Together. Here’s what we said then:
  

  George, Jess, and Dan, the fine folks of local indie rock trio El Jezel, are quite possibly the nicest people in any band ever. Their lack of pretentious airs as a band and as people is a truly refreshing quality amidst the usual grind of the NYC rock scene. Every time we’ve seen them play — or, for that matter, had a conversation with them — their most striking aspect is how easily visible their love of music is. They write delicate songs with heartfelt, unpretentious lyrics, and music just as likely to pleasantly linger and build as to explode to epic heights. George is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive and versatile guitarists in town, backed by the perfect rhythmic engine that is Jess and Dan. But even with all this great playing going on, the thing that often stands out most are the voices of George and Jess, bleeding with emotion rarely heard in local music. In other words:

  StereoactiveNYC loves El Jezel. And you should, too.

  We’ve had a chance to hear a lot of the recordings for their new debut album (it’s about damn time!) and they sound truly amazing. But now you can hear them, too.

  If you’re a fan of nice people who know how to write and play great music, then it is with the greatest enthusiasm that we encourage you to come out and support them at their release show next week. If you’re not a fan of nice people who make good music, you’re probably an asshole.

So that’s that. We’re glad to be back and hope to be of service. Thanks.