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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Barfly comic strip in NUVO Newsweekly 1/27/2010



Thanks to Wayne Bertsch for crowning us "Heroes of the Scene!" Pick up your local newsweekly NUVO at newsstands everywhere in Central Indiana!

Andy's Top 20 albums of 2009 (Annie's to be listed soon)

ANDY’S TOP 20 ALBUMS FOR 2009

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!

2. A Place To Bury Strangers – Exploding Head

3. Major Lazer - Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do

4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

5. MSTRKRFT – Fist Of God

6. Band Of Skulls - Baby Darling Dollface Honey

7. Converge – Axe To Fall

8. Peter Bjorn and John – Living Thing

9. Russian Circles – Geneva

10. Metric – Fantasies

11. Mew – No More Stories

12. Mastodon – Crack The Skye

13. Blakroc - Blakroc

14. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young

15. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

16. The xx - The xx

17. Sonic Youth - The Eternal

18. White Lies - To Lose My Life

19. Mos Def - The Ecstatic

20. Antony & The Johnsons - The Crying Light

Friday, January 22, 2010

Bad Veins



Now here is a band we had the pleasure of performing with at Art vs Art 2009 at The Vogue in Indianapolis, and we couldn't give a higher recommendation to you of a 'new' band to hear. Great live, great on record, and great people as well.

Bad Veins' bio: "Bad Veins are a rarity in today’s musical landscape: An act who didn’t set out to become critical darlings or the next 'buzz' band, but managed to achieve both after only playing a handful of shows. However, despite the fact that Bad Veins’ music has been instantly embraced since their inception in late 2006, the duo of Benjamin Davis and Sebastien Schultz decided not to rush out the disc you’re currently holding in your hand. The result is Bad Veins, an album that’s unique but familiar, and not only lives up to the hype but surpasses it. Looking back, it’s hard to believe it all started out a little over two years ago in a non-descript attic in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The group was originally conceived by Davis as a solo project, yet after Bad Veins’ first gig he quickly realized he would need a collaborator—which is where drummer Schultz entered the picture. 'I always loved watching Sebastien play in his old band because he is just such a dramatic drummer,' Davis reveals. 'We hooked up one day and I showed him all the stuff I’d been working on. I muted the electronic percussion and let him play on top, and after the first practice these songs were way cooler than I ever imagined they could be,' he continued.

Bad Veins’ second gig was opening for Snowden, who were so impressed with the duo they instantly began singing their praises to anyone and everyone – especially in NYC. In no time, the band was performing at a showcase for the popular Manhattan-based web site Gothamist yet this was only their third show. From there, the palpable buzz surrounding the act spiraled out of control, eventually leading to five-figure grants, product endorsements and a deal with Dangerbird Records.

The immediate amorous response to Bad Veins may be directly linked to their live shows, specifically their ability to accurately replicate their luscious songs with some help from a third member: Irene. The lovingly named antique reel-to-reel player handles 50 to 70 extra tracks, allowing the dynamic duo to create their huge orchestrations the way they were intended.

A year after this duo’s first show, they found themselves at CMJ touted as 'the breakout act of the event' on the Festival’s site – yet it was Davis who was taken most by surprise. Although they could have easily capitalized on the attention they were receiving, Davis and Schultz decided instead to work with the music licensing company Black Iris (who hired Davis as a freelance composer after hearing the first Bad Veins demos) and utilize the commercial company’s studios as well as expert engineers in Richmond, Virginia and Los Angeles, in order to fully realize this flawless collection of songs.

The finished album is as cerebral as it is visceral, and showcases what Bad Veins are capable of. 'I’m so glad that we waited and made this record on our own terms,' says Schultz. From the military drum introduction of 'Found' to the final rattle of 'Go Home,' Bad Veins is a cohesive collection of songs that sounds more like a labor of love than an attempt to move units. This is especially evident with the album’s breakthrough single 'Gold And Warm,' a track that unifies the best parts of the Killers and the Walkmen while retaining the band’s indie sensibility and landlocked Midwestern roots. Additionally, Bad Veins are also extremely proud that Dangerbird decided to release the album without changing a note, a fact that’s largely unprecedented but totally understandable.

That same attention to detail is applied to Bad Veins’ lyrics, which are rich in metaphor yet aren’t so ambiguous that you won’t understand what Davis is talking about. 'I think there’s a common thread on the album that stems out of my personality,' he explains. 'There are fears and insecurities involved in no matter what you do and I’m the kind of person who thinks about those things a lot – so they weed themselves into pretty much every song,' he continues. 'I typically write about something that I’ve experienced, so they always have this woven element of my own personal demons.'

There’s no clear genre or box to stash this band into and even Bad Veins themselves aren’t exactly sure where they fit in. But, they can’t wait to start performing live and find out. 'I think everyone from some indie kid in Ohio to a Williamsburg hipster can find something to latch onto with this record and enjoy it,' Schultz explains. 'I don’t feel badly because we don’t fit in anywhere,' he continues, admitting that even if it ended tomorrow, Bad Veins have already accomplished more than they ever imagined. 'If we can spend this next year on the road and see the world by playing the music we want to play, then we’ve already succeeded.'"






Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers live in Indy with Pravada and AOTM

Well, A Squared successfully pulled off another big show here in Indy this past Monday at Locals Only, this one featuring Brooklyn's own Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers with local support from two of Indianapolis' finest bands: Pravada and America Owns The Moon.


photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

We first got turned on to Shilpa Ray by glowing recommendations from Nick Cave, and quickly learned why her live show was causing such a stir in the blogoshere - this little lady has some pipes, people, and her wails complemented her gypsy-like harmonium jamming during her set at the cozy corner we call LOAMP.

The press for this show was nothing short of spectacular, with rave previews coming in from Metromix: "Shilpa Ray makes her case for the stronger presence of harmonium in indie rock. Add that on to her cabaret-style vocals, engaging songs and commanding stage presence, and it’s easy to see why she’s making a name for herself. The band is touring behind debut album 'A Fish Hook An Open Eye,'” while earning Number 5 on their Top 10 Events for the week; and from NUVO: "Judging from a few songs, Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers are worth hearing — they play a dirty but sophisticated cabaret-punk that’s firmly rooted in jazz and blues, a little bit Joplin-esque without the indulgence of Joplin’s later years. But we’ll leave it to the Village Voice to tell us why the Shilpa and her band are worth seeing: 'She looks tiny and jovial (especially surrounded by her menacing, dudely band mates), but goddamn can she ever shriek, alternating jazzy, evocative moans (she's inspired Billie Holiday comparisons, and for once they don't sound totally ridiculous) with a nuclear-grade, paint-evaporating, continent-shifting howl loaded with more volume, rage, and pathos than the entire Ozzfest lineup combined.'" Not bad!

And we are happy to report that it stood up to the previews, the show was entertaining, engaging, and just what we all needed on a Monday night!

Check out our buddy Duncan Alney's interview of Shilpa Ray at the show here: Passionati


Also, here's a review of the local jams:
"The boys were back at it Monday night at Locals Only where the bands America Owns the Moon (AOTM) and Pravada played a show with Shilpa Ray. Christian Taylor of AOTM bounced all over the stage with his signature "knee drop to the floor" power blues solos that reminded me of what could happen if Chicago Blues were to have a one night stand with grunge. The group was tight, and there was great communication going on between all members on stage. Maybe someday I'll be close enough to see the faces melt off of Danny's custom Telecaster. The full set list for the night included: Truth About Us, Bottles and Cans, Prozac City, Blues Now Honey, A Needle and a Record, Death 2 Die, Lighted Melody, DEGA, Box of Bones, Freak Out!, and The Hard Way.

Pravada, which is arguably one of the best live rock and roll bands in Indianapolis right now, followed suit with a more melodic and subtle stage presence. There seemed to be a deeper, rooted connection between Jesse and the lyrics he sang, and after having heard their album Manus Piere, seeing them live absolutely blew me away. There was no wasted sound from what I could hear. Every note was mature and deliberate. My only qualm with their set was that Jesse's microphone needed to be turned up so I could hear him better. Full set list: Holding Han, Flatbush, Teacher, Junkie, Straight Molly, One Foo, You're Fun, and Someone Other Than... There was footage taken of their set, so keep an eye out around A2 Industries for the show to be posted online somewhere."

By Andrews Feigenbaumfor musicalfamilytree.com

Well, Andrews was right, because here it is:



PRAVADA "Straight Guys That Dance Don't Pay" from Marshall J. Baumgartner on Vimeo.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Naptown Roller Girls vs Derby City (Louisville) on 1/16/2010






photos by Tom Klubens

The 3rd home bout of the Naptown Roller Girls flat-track roller derby season (www.naptownrollergirls.com) was held on Saturday, January 16th 2010 at The Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and we are proud to report everyone survived and walked away with a BIG WIN for the home team, it was something like 200 billion to twelve. Seriously, the Tornado Sirens kicked a lot of Kentucky arse in a major rout, keeping the visitors under 20 points for the bout and beating them by over 200 points! Like, whoah! You might think this kind of old fashioned passionate butt whipping would be boring to watch, but everyone involved kept things fresh - a tall order considering the bout was competing with our Indianapolis Colts and their first game of the NFL playoffs.

As always, music was provided by yours truly at A Squared Industries during the bout as well as the after party at Birdy's. This has been such an honor and thrill for us! Honestly, DJing this has been quite a learning experience, we're now realizing just how difficult it is to make everyone happy all the time with track selection and timing and such. Normally when we DJ it is for our own events, parties and concerts that people come specifically to see, hear, and dance. It is quite a challenge to become a piece of a larger puzzle, to complement the situation and not be the attraction; and this is quite a fun challenge. We're getting better and better as DJs because of this challenge and these girls are incredible to support!

If you haven't yet been to a bout you need to make like a computer and get with the program!

How do you play derby??? Glad you asked!



There are 3 positions on the track:
PIVOT: Sets the pace for the pack and is the last line of defense. She wears the helmet with a stripe.

BLOCKER: Tries to stop the jammer and makes life difficult for the opposing team's blockers

JAMMER: Tears through the pack and scores points by passing members of the opposing team. She wears the helmet with a star.

The pack begins with a pivot from each team in front, 3 blockers from each team in the middle, and a jammer from each team in the back. When the whistle blows, the pack takes off, and on a second whistle, the jammers blast off and fight their way through the pack in an attempt to become "lead jammer." The jammers lap the pack and when they re-enter the pack, they receive one point for each member of the opposing team they pass legally. A jam lasts a maximum of two minutes, but the "lead jammer" has the right to call off the jam at her discretion.

It might appear as though there are no rules on the track, but there are penalties such as:

• false starts
• skating and blocking out of bounds
• holding
• illegal blocking
• intentional tripping and falling
• illegal use of the hands

Add all that to general mayhem of skating extra close several other girls who want to knock you down and you'll feel the excitement. See you at the fairgrounds!




Friday, January 15, 2010

A Squared on the radio? A Squared on the RADIO!!!

So the two of us have confirmed with a local terrestrial FM radio station the idea of A2 hosting our own radio program! This actually is becoming a reality - so holy WOW: A Squared Industries bringing you new music from Indy CD & Vinyl, live shows in concert, music from our DJ gigs, and now on the air!

Our program will be on Fridays from 10pm to Midnight and Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm every week, beginning Friday March 19th.

The program will be carried on WITT 91.9 FM in the 9-county Indianapolis metro area, and then eventually streaming on our website and podcasts available for download.

Our good friend Eric Davis has also come on board to produce the show! Now we KNOW it's gonna be good!

We couldn't be more excited about putting this together over the next two months. If you have any suggestions please feel free to let us know; also, if you want to advertise on our program it will be quite reasonable and inexpensive to do so. Hit us back about that too!

Our advertising rate card (click for a larger image):

Our radio one-sheet (click for larger image):
And overall one-sheet (click for larger image):

What we do / Upcoming event schedule 2010


What is A Squared Industries?
We are Andy & Annie Skinner.
-We are concert promoters
-We are DJs
-We are a record label
-We are radio hosts on WITT 91.9FM
-We are designers
-We are having serious fun in Indianapolis!

We launched a new website: http://www.asquaredonline.com/ and we have lots of concerts and parties we're promoting that you should check out! We also Twitter, Facebook and MySpace! Peep http://www.twitter.com/A2industries http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29253474952 http://www.myspace.com/thereturnofa2

*

Tuesday February 2nd 2010 10:00PM
The Lockerbie Pub (21+)
631 East Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

NUVO & A Squared Industries present LET GO!

Every first Tuesday of the month is LET GO! at The Lockerbie featuring:
A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS
DJ SCOTT MATELIC
plus special guest on 2/2/2010 CRAIG "DODGE" LILE from My Old Kentucky Blog

No cover! Beer provided by your local brewer: Sun King Brewery! Appearances from your Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens! 21+ with valid ID only please.

*

Friday February 5th, 2010 9PM
The Vogue (21+)
6259 N. College Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220

The Vogue, A Squared Industries, and Musical Family Tree present:
MAB LAB
JOOKABOX Athsmatic Kitty/Audio Recon Remix EP Release
TWIN MONSTER

with an incredible dance party to follow with your favorite DJs
A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS
DJ ACTION JACKSON

Tickets are $5 at the door day of show. 21+ with valid ID only please.

*

Saturday February 13th 2010 10:00PM
The Elbow Room (21+)
605 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

A Squared Industries presents Kelly & Jill's Birthday Bash!

An incredible dance party with your favorite DJs
A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS

No cover! 21+ with valid ID only please.

*

Saturday February 27th, 2010 10PM
The Vogue (21+)
6259 N. College Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220

The Vogue and A Squared Industries present:
TEASE: An incredible dance party with your favorite DJs
A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS Playing Indie dance and remixes 10pm-Midnight
DJ MARCUS Playing mega-hits and mashups Midnight-Close

Ladies in free 10pm-Midnight. Cover is $3 at the door 10pm-Midnight. Cover is $5 Midnight-Close. 21+ with valid ID only please. $1.50 Smirnoff / $2
Jager baby bombs / $3 Bud & Bud Light / $3 Capt. Morgan / $4 Smirnoff Turbos. The Vogue is relaunching Saturday Dance Nights beginning January 23rd, 2010. Check out The Vogue weekly for details as they're made public. Reserve a table, enjoy bottle service, and party like a rockstar! Call the Vogue Office @ 317-259-7029 Monday Thru Friday 12 - 5:30pm or email VIP.TheVogue@gmail.com

*

Tuesday March 2nd 2010 10:00PM
The Lockerbie Pub (21+)
631 East Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

NUVO & A Squared Industries present LET GO!

Every first Tuesday of the month is LET GO! at The Lockerbie featuring:

A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS
DJ SCOTT MATELIC
plus special guest

No cover! Beer provided by your local brewer: Sun King Brewery! Appearances from your Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens! 21+ with valid ID only please.

*

Tuesday March 30th, 2010 9PM
The Vollrath Tavern (21+)
118 East Palmer Street
Indianapolis, IN 46225

A Squared Industries presents:
TIM BARRY of Avail

$10 presale tickets available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Indy CD & Vinyl in Broad Ripple. Tickets are $10 at the door day of show. 21+ with valid ID only please.

*

Friday April 2nd, 2010 8PM
The Vogue (21+)
6259 N. College Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220

The Vogue and A Squared Industries present:
ELECTRIC SIX
JOOKABOX
with your favorite DJs
A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS

$12 presale tickets available January 15th online at Ticketmaster, at The Vogue box office, and at Indy CD & Vinyl in Broad Ripple. Tickets are $12 at the door day of show. 21+ with valid ID only please.

*

Tuesday April 6th 2010 10:00PM
The Lockerbie Pub (21+)
631 East Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

NUVO & A Squared Industries present LET GO!

Every first Tuesday of the month is LET GO! at The Lockerbie featuring:

A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS
DJ SCOTT MATELIC
plus special guest

No cover! Beer provided by your local brewer: Sun King Brewery!
Appearances from your Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens! 21+ with
valid ID only please.

*

Thursday April 8th, 2010 9PM
The Vogue (21+)
6259 N. College Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220

The Vogue, A Squared Industries, and MOKB present:
BASSNECTAR
MAJOR LAZER

$20 presale tickets available January 15th online at Ticketmaster, at The Vogue box office, and at Indy CD & Vinyl in Broad Ripple. Tickets are $22 at the door day of show. 21+ with valid ID only please.