3 minute read
This Little Underground: local music
LOCAL RELEASES
Orlando punk veteran Tracey Blades has, over the years, been in an impressive string of great local bands like Fashion! Fashion! and the Image Boys, RunnAmucks and Eat the Elderly. But now he’s finally emerging from all the racket and wreckage to front his very own vehicle with Born Losers, who just released their eponymous debut single.
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Available now as a name-your-price download on Bandcamp, “Born Losers” is a freewheeling punk anthem that revels in fatalist glory, hurtling toward the cliff with the volume up, the top down and the ghost of Johnny Thunders riding shotgun. It’s a fast, loose and catchy drive that mines gold from the gutter.
The live band lineup currently has Nick Mecannic (lead guitar and backing vocals), Jon Lane (bass) and Ryan Went (drums) flanking Blades. But the recording of “Born Losers,” which was done about three years ago, features the illustrious likes of Sam Johnson (New Mexican Disaster Squad, Autarx, Grave Return) on lead guitar and Josh “Danger” Dobbs (RunnAmucks, Danger Room Recording Service) on rhythm guitar.
Besides being a good debut, the noteworthy thing about “Born Losers” is that it’s an auspicious first taste of a catalog that’s already been steadily building for several years. Although his work’s just starting to see light now, Blades has kept recording these past few years, and he’s amassed two albums of material in the can: a first LP recorded with Dobbs and a second with Joe Queer of the Queers.
As for the release of that music, Blades says he’s been in talks with a couple of different record labels, but the most serious so far has been with Joe Queer’s All Star Records. So, speaking of stars, it looks like perhaps enough of them are aligning to make Born Losers an Orlando band to keep both an ear and eye on.
Bright Deltona rapper-producer Mag. Lo has just released new single “Pachinko 2.” Instead of the video game sounds of its predecessor, 2014’s “Pachinko,” “Pachinko 2” is an instrumental track of intelligent dubstep (something apparently not impossible) that’s radiant with melodic pop sensibility and a sunny day-party glow. It’s up on Mag.Lo’s Bandcamp.
Orlando punk veteran Tracey Blades has been in an impressive string of great local bands through the years, but now he’s finally emerging from all the racket to front his very own musical vehicle, Born Losers
MUSIC EVENTS THIS WEEK
Roots music fans, your dance cards overflow this week.
Cruz Contreras: The first noteworthy Tennessean to roll through this week is the head of Knoxville’s Black Lillies, a progressive Americana band with the unusual distinction of having jazz threads in their sound. But Contreras also has some excellent solo music under his belt. Show up early for Orlando country standout Jordan Foley, whose
BY BAO LE-HUU
BORN LOSERS | PHOTO BY ROBBIE MECANNIC
big, rich voice always delivers on stage. (8 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, Will’s Pub, $10 advance/$15 DOS)
George Porter Jr. and Runnin’
Pardners: The legendary bassist of seminal NOLA funk band the Meters makes a stop in Sanford with his own band, who are riding high on their first new album in a decade (Crying for Hope). Here’s your chance to be among the court of high R&B royalty. (8 p.m. Thursday, June 10, Tuffy’s Music Box, $18)
Matt Woods and Austin Lucas: This mighty double-headed bill packs two paragons in the Americana underground who’ve earned tons of Orlando cred through years of bleeding performances here and mixing it up with the locals. The country rock of Knoxville’s Matt Woods is pure muscle and soul, while the folk punk of Indiana’s Austin Lucas is all gut and heart. Welcome back, boys. (8 p.m. Friday, June 11, Will’s Pub, $12 advance/$17 DOS)
ShewBird: Of the city’s strong current Americana class, Orlando’s ShewBird are certainly one of the most distinctive. With a dark Southern rock sound steeped in gothic drama, their music is a thing of mood and mystique. And as part of the Laundry Sessions, the new early-evening weekend live series on Will’s Pub’s back patio, the Friday show’s free.
Hell, come back the next night too, because it’s the return of Laundry Sessions resident Lauris Vidal, a one-man wonder who commands folk music like a rousing church revival. His Saturday show will feature special guest Tom Cooper (Pinto Psychs, FiddleRat). (7 p.m. Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12, Dirty Laundry, free)
baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com
