MOKB Presents
Stars
Diamond Rings, California Wives
Thu, October 4, 2012
Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm
Deluxe at Old National Centre
$17.00
Tickets
This event is all ages
Ticket price includes download of the new album, The North. Download codes will be issues upon purchase. If purchasing at box office, a drop card will be provided with the download code.
http://www.mokbpresents.com/event/141000/
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Stars
![STARS - Fixed [Official Music Video]](http://img.youtube.com/vi/17jdZdVmEuk/2.jpg "STARS - Fixed [Official Music Video]")
All members of stars grew up in Toronto. Torquil Campbell and Christopher Seligman started the first record Nightsongs in New York in 1999. When starting to play live shows they called in Evan Cranley, a childhood friend, to play bass. Evan Cranley then recruited Amy Millan. The four of them then all moved to Montreal and began to work on the second full length album Heart. In Montreal they met Patrick Mcgee, who became their drummer. Heart was released on the new label Arts&Crafts along with their friends Broken Social Scene. While on their first north American tour together, Stars and Broken Social Scene shared and swapped members on a nightly basis.
After critical acclaim for their album Heart, stars rented a house in the eastern townships in the middle of winter. For a month and a half the five of them lived together and wrote Set Yourself on Fire. It was recorded at studio plateau in Montreal and was produced by the band and Tom Mcfall. The record was very highly received, scoring high points and incredible reviews. Set Yourself on Fire and their highly acclaimed live performances, established them as one of the best bands in Canada.
Campbell is currently an active member of Memphis. Millan has released two solo albums, Honey from the Tombs in 2006 and Masters of the Burial in 2009.
They have cited a wide variety of musical likes and influences ranging from Berlioz to Outkast, citing among others Barrett, Paddy McAloon, New Order, The Smiths, Brian Wilson, Momus. They covered The Smiths' "This Charming Man" on 2001's Nightsongs and The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" in 2005. Other indie artists have been guest collaborators on many of their tracks, especially for an early period including the release of their first LP.
Anticipating that their album In Our Bedroom After the War would leak at some point between the final mixing and the official release, Stars was one of the first bands to make their album available in digital form the day after it was completed on July 10, 2007. The CD release included a bonus DVD, a film called "Are we here now". It is a collection of interviews with the band and the bands close allys as well as live performances around the globe, it was directed by Anthony Seck.
On September 1, 2008, the band released the EP Sad Robots exclusively through their online store and on tour. The EP is available as a physical release or an online download.
Their single "Celebration Guns" is the title song for the television series ZOS: Zone of Separation and was provided for free as part of a collaboration with Moms Against Climate Change.
Stars have covered The Smiths' "Asleep" for American Laundromat Records' charity CD "Sing Me To Sleep - Indie Lullabies". The CD was released worldwide on May 18, 2010.
On March 9, 2010, Pitchfork Media reported that the band would be releasing their fifth studio album, The Five Ghosts, on June 22, 2010. In Canada, the album was released via Soft Revolution, the band's own new label. It has been distributed worldwide via Vagrant Records.
On June 21, 2012, the band announced on their website the upcoming release of their sixth studio album, The North, which will be released on September 4, 2012 via ATO Records. With the announcement, the band also offered a free download of the first single "The Theory of Relativity" in exchange for signing up for the band's official e-mail list.
After critical acclaim for their album Heart, stars rented a house in the eastern townships in the middle of winter. For a month and a half the five of them lived together and wrote Set Yourself on Fire. It was recorded at studio plateau in Montreal and was produced by the band and Tom Mcfall. The record was very highly received, scoring high points and incredible reviews. Set Yourself on Fire and their highly acclaimed live performances, established them as one of the best bands in Canada.
Campbell is currently an active member of Memphis. Millan has released two solo albums, Honey from the Tombs in 2006 and Masters of the Burial in 2009.
They have cited a wide variety of musical likes and influences ranging from Berlioz to Outkast, citing among others Barrett, Paddy McAloon, New Order, The Smiths, Brian Wilson, Momus. They covered The Smiths' "This Charming Man" on 2001's Nightsongs and The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" in 2005. Other indie artists have been guest collaborators on many of their tracks, especially for an early period including the release of their first LP.
Anticipating that their album In Our Bedroom After the War would leak at some point between the final mixing and the official release, Stars was one of the first bands to make their album available in digital form the day after it was completed on July 10, 2007. The CD release included a bonus DVD, a film called "Are we here now". It is a collection of interviews with the band and the bands close allys as well as live performances around the globe, it was directed by Anthony Seck.
On September 1, 2008, the band released the EP Sad Robots exclusively through their online store and on tour. The EP is available as a physical release or an online download.
Their single "Celebration Guns" is the title song for the television series ZOS: Zone of Separation and was provided for free as part of a collaboration with Moms Against Climate Change.
Stars have covered The Smiths' "Asleep" for American Laundromat Records' charity CD "Sing Me To Sleep - Indie Lullabies". The CD was released worldwide on May 18, 2010.
On March 9, 2010, Pitchfork Media reported that the band would be releasing their fifth studio album, The Five Ghosts, on June 22, 2010. In Canada, the album was released via Soft Revolution, the band's own new label. It has been distributed worldwide via Vagrant Records.
On June 21, 2012, the band announced on their website the upcoming release of their sixth studio album, The North, which will be released on September 4, 2012 via ATO Records. With the announcement, the band also offered a free download of the first single "The Theory of Relativity" in exchange for signing up for the band's official e-mail list.
Diamond Rings
First conceived in the summer of 2009 by Toronto-based multiplatform artist John O, Diamond Rings burst onto the scene with a series of singles and videos featuring green screen camera trickery, over the top choreography, and daring androgynous outfits and makeup. The videos received international praise from both the online media and fashionistas alike. The singles, pressed to limited edition vinyl, sold out in a matter of weeks and received critical praise including "Best New Music" honors from Pitchfork.
Although initially pegged in some corners as a novelty act, audiences soon began to identify with Diamond Rings' uniquely lyrical brand of pop songwriting and his overtly glamorous live sets. Showcasing real human emotion and honest vulnerability is rare enough for a 24-year-old let alone one who matches his eye shadow with his Air Force Ones while dancing about onstage with the reckless abandon of a teenager in the bathroom mirror. But there's something surprisingly mature shimmering beneath the glamour, hidden in John O's immediately iconic voice, and whip-smart lyrics.
Now Diamond Rings is finally settling down long enough to deliver a fully realized album, the much anticipated "Special Affections". In keeping with his predilection for confounding public expectation the album dabbles in a wide range of styles and soundscapes. Spacey slow jams give way to aggressive guitar rock that leads seamlessly into shuddering club beats and soaring synth lines. Tying everything together are the heartfelt lyrical sentiments of a young artist interested in far more than getting his audience to "just dance."
"I'd compare my music to the Starz on 54 cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" that they did for the soundtrack to the movie Studio 54," John O says, adding, "I do not believe that there needs to be a disconnect between popular music and lyrical honesty."
Although initially pegged in some corners as a novelty act, audiences soon began to identify with Diamond Rings' uniquely lyrical brand of pop songwriting and his overtly glamorous live sets. Showcasing real human emotion and honest vulnerability is rare enough for a 24-year-old let alone one who matches his eye shadow with his Air Force Ones while dancing about onstage with the reckless abandon of a teenager in the bathroom mirror. But there's something surprisingly mature shimmering beneath the glamour, hidden in John O's immediately iconic voice, and whip-smart lyrics.
Now Diamond Rings is finally settling down long enough to deliver a fully realized album, the much anticipated "Special Affections". In keeping with his predilection for confounding public expectation the album dabbles in a wide range of styles and soundscapes. Spacey slow jams give way to aggressive guitar rock that leads seamlessly into shuddering club beats and soaring synth lines. Tying everything together are the heartfelt lyrical sentiments of a young artist interested in far more than getting his audience to "just dance."
"I'd compare my music to the Starz on 54 cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" that they did for the soundtrack to the movie Studio 54," John O says, adding, "I do not believe that there needs to be a disconnect between popular music and lyrical honesty."
California Wives
Joe and Dan's musical influences followed a similar path to Jayson's, beginning with alternative rock and arriving at a strong appreciation of electronic music, more specifically bands that mixed synthetic and traditional instruments like New Order and the Cure. It was via this shared appreciation of music and compatible chemistry that California Wives was formed in 2009, with the current lineup being cemented in 2012 upon the new addition of lead guitarist Graham Masell. For the band's debut album, Art History, they worked with producer Claudius Mittendorfer (Interpol, Neon Indian, Wild Nothing) in NYC. When asked about recording Dan said, "my favorite thing about doing the album with Claudius was how he pushed us to try everything with these songs that we felt we knew so well. Any sound, any part, any rearranging of a song section, when we were skeptical about something he'd convince us to try it out, and most of the time it would turn out great."
For the eleven tracks that comprise their debut, Jayson is quick to point out that, "songwriting is always the most important thing for us as a band. You can talk about vibe and style but if you don't have solid songs you're wasting people's time." He goes on to say that thematically the album, "comes from a relatable place of losing one's youth," highlighting tracks like "Marianne," "23" and "Blood Red Youth" for their focus on that topic: "a lot of our songs are about getting older because that's something we are all familiar with in one way or another. You want to go back to the way things were, but life is changing and people are too."
One person who's taken notice of the band's sound is Joy Division / New Order's Peter Hook who appointed California Wives to open his headlining set with The Light at Chicago's Metro Cabaret. Other memorable appearances include 2011's North Coast Music and Tomorrow Never Knows festivals, the Taste of Chicago, and the Wicker Park Fest. Local press has not been shy either, the Chicago Tribune calling the band one to watch in 2011 and stating California Wives' 2010 EP Affair "will tempt even the most reluctant wallflower."
After a formative performance at the SXSW Billboard Official Showcase in 2011, national outlets started taking notice, with Pitchfork stating "Chicago new wave aesthetes California Wives caught our ears" and My Old Kentucky Blog firmly declaring "This could be the next buzz band everyone is talking about..."
California Wives debut album, Art History, will be available September 4, 2012 through Vagrant Records.
California Wives is:
Jayson Kramer - Lead Vocals, Keyboard and Rhythm Guitar
Dan Zima - Bass, Vocals
Joe O'Connor - Drums
Graham Masell - Lead Guitar
For the eleven tracks that comprise their debut, Jayson is quick to point out that, "songwriting is always the most important thing for us as a band. You can talk about vibe and style but if you don't have solid songs you're wasting people's time." He goes on to say that thematically the album, "comes from a relatable place of losing one's youth," highlighting tracks like "Marianne," "23" and "Blood Red Youth" for their focus on that topic: "a lot of our songs are about getting older because that's something we are all familiar with in one way or another. You want to go back to the way things were, but life is changing and people are too."
One person who's taken notice of the band's sound is Joy Division / New Order's Peter Hook who appointed California Wives to open his headlining set with The Light at Chicago's Metro Cabaret. Other memorable appearances include 2011's North Coast Music and Tomorrow Never Knows festivals, the Taste of Chicago, and the Wicker Park Fest. Local press has not been shy either, the Chicago Tribune calling the band one to watch in 2011 and stating California Wives' 2010 EP Affair "will tempt even the most reluctant wallflower."
After a formative performance at the SXSW Billboard Official Showcase in 2011, national outlets started taking notice, with Pitchfork stating "Chicago new wave aesthetes California Wives caught our ears" and My Old Kentucky Blog firmly declaring "This could be the next buzz band everyone is talking about..."
California Wives debut album, Art History, will be available September 4, 2012 through Vagrant Records.
California Wives is:
Jayson Kramer - Lead Vocals, Keyboard and Rhythm Guitar
Dan Zima - Bass, Vocals
Joe O'Connor - Drums
Graham Masell - Lead Guitar
Venue Information:
Deluxe at Old National Centre
502 N. New Jersey St.
Indianapolis, IN, 46204
http://oldnationalcentre.com/index
Deluxe at Old National Centre
502 N. New Jersey St.
Indianapolis, IN, 46204
http://oldnationalcentre.com/index
Sponsored by: MOKB Presents
