Felice Brothers

Felice Brothers Rochester NY in Photos

More photos from the Felice Brothers show in Rochester, NY on July 16, 2011 that I am releasing into the wild:

Felice Brothers 7/16/2011 set on Flickr.

THE FELICE BROTHERS – Goddamn You, Jim (live Rochester, NY 7/16/2011)

For today I’ve uploaded “Goddamn You, Jim” a seemingly impromptu performance during which time bassist Xmas was repairing his bass . . . haunting and lovely:

another video from the Two Sisters ever-growing vaults…this time taken by me this past weekend in Rochester, New York. The other half of Two Sisters couldn’t make it, nor could another dear member of our posse, but as it would happen at the last moment, yet another longtime-should-be-another-sister friend was able to go with me on the fly and supported my need to be at this show. Turns out it was quite a show to be at for many reasons, one of which includes being there to see the last moments of the existence of Ian Felice’s beautiful Guild guitar during “River Jordan” at the end of the show…honestly the most emotionally charged, heart wrenching performance I’ve ever been witness to. I’ll be sharing some of my photos and video and some words about the (somewhat controversial) show with another site, Frankiesgun.com as well sometime within the week.

The Felice Brothers – (non review) Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe, PA

I’ve been sitting on this one because I keep trying to review it and no matter how I slice it, no matter how long I sit here typing and retyping, I have to admit defeat. Pencil down. I’ve been officially and completely swept off my feet and given a 1-2 punch right to the gut by The Felice Brothers and words simply fall short. You just have to be there and see them live. And dance your ass off. And then you’ll want more after it’s all over. They are so completely addicting it’s ridiculous. I think I even might secretly want to BE a Felice Brother. And I’m a girl for cryin’ out loud.

How’s that for a review?

Moving on ever so slightly, I’m now here simply to make good on a promise to share the heap of photos Ady and I took under the guise of Two Sisters and A Show, so over you go to Flickr to over 200 photos, and a video (one that’s not found on youtube) right….here—> The Felice Brothers at Mauch Chunk Opera House 2011.

As always, feel free to share the images amongst your loved ones, but please give credit to Two Sisters.

“Greatest Show on Earth” video footage by Ady:

Speaking of, Two Sisters is starting to morph into an entity of it’s own, we’ve begun tweeting our chronic travels to see live music via a new joint account very recently, if you wish to follow us we can be found at Two Sisters and A Show via Twitter

That is all.

(The video above was shot by another audience member from the opposite side of the stage from where we were…spot the Two Sistas?)

The Felice Brothers, Jim Thorpe, PA 2011

Last time I posted about The Felice Brothers it was to express disappointment I wouldn’t be able to see them again anytime soon. However, things change and last week we made it to the show at the Mauch Chunk Opera House. I have to give thanks to a great friend (erm, you know who you are, Renee) who had been to Jim Thorpe a few times and encouraged me to make the trek there. In the end Ady and I found our way there for another Sisters Dissonance 24 hour trip/town exploration/manic dancing good time last Friday. Consensus all the way around was this was an extraordinary night and I’m so glad we didn’t miss it. Here’s a photo essay thanks to Ady’s new camera.

Christmas / The Felice Brothers live at Mauch Chunk Opera House

View the full Photo set: Felice Brothers live in Jim Thorpe, PA, 2011, a set on Flickr.

Shall I mention the little side adventure that found me back in Jim Thorpe two days later after a tire blew out on the highway on the way back home from Philadelphia to Cleveland? . . . needless to say, I’m home and still reveling in the good times, and in the end the tire debacle will become just a footnote.

Much love to everyone we met in Jim Thorpe, if you’re reading this thanks for making a great trip even greater. I don’t think we’ve ever visited a town where we’ve made so many friends in such a short amount of time.

As for The Felice Brothers live, you’ll read about them all over the place in days to come, I still maintain you have to see them for yourself, words and photos capture but a fraction of their contagious energy.

The Felice Brothers live at First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia PA March 30, 2011

The saga of the two sisters continues. Last night as a birthday present from Adrienne to me, we hopped a train and attended an intimate and close-quartered musical bash courtesy of The Felice Brothers in the heart of Philadelphia, PA.

Before Adrienne told me of her surprise plans for us to celebrate, we’d each independently knew of the band (both of us had heard only good things) but not much else, so when I found out this was my gift, I poked around to listen to them before setting off on our next adventure into music land. Usually when we are on our journeys together it is to see a band in our collective list of very favorite and familiar bands. This time was a little different.

What neither of us anticipated as we headed out the door was just how completely blown away we’d be. The moment The Felice Brothers walked on stage, opening with “Fire at the Pageant,” they had my full and undivided attention. As cliché as it may sound, the stage came alive with intense, menacing, fabulous energy. Here we were in the sparse, crudely lit basement of a church, elbow to elbow with about 200 (?) fortunate others witnessing (no pun intended) the explosive energy spewing forth.

Most-of-the-time lead singer/guitarist Ian Felice’s voice is a vague cocktail of two parts Bob Dylan (running the risk of sounding like everyone else’s observation there), one part Paul Westerberg, and one dash of Kid Rock and even a sprinkle of Eazy E (the last two as noted by Adrienne), all shaken on the rocks of his own truly distinctive and amazing voice. Brother James Felice’s voice, his, booming, powerful and melodic and bassist Christmas each contribute perfect contrast and timbre giving the band a rich vocal sound.

By the time they rolled out “Ponzi,” another track from their forthcoming album Celebration, Florida (which will be released on May 10) Adrienne and I turned looked at each other for that “Holy shit” moment. We both knew that we’d be seeing them live again soon.

Musically The Felice Brothers are all over the map, which I loved. Within their repertoire one could picture being in an 1890’s saloon, down on a bayou in the dark, at a rave, and a second later on a peeling, sunlit porch with a pint of cider. Wafts of Beastie Boys-esque attitude, tints of very early Replacements, dashes of Pink Floyd, Old Crow Medicine Show and Bob Dylan drifted in at times but ultimately I’m most fond of the way they reminded me of a real life version of The Riverbottom Nightmare Band from Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas, and that, in my opinion is just freaking spectacular.

But these are just words and observations and nothing will explain away the mood, excitement and energy of their live show, as with most things nothing will adequately do except you getting out there and seeing them live yourself and there’s plenty opportunity here in the USA, Canada and a few dates in Australia over the next few months.

With that I’ll leave you with a bit from their website, along with some of the videos taken by our trusty blog photographer/videographer, Adrienne.

From The Felice Brothers website:

“Here’s what might come as a surprise about The Felice Brothers: their new and fourth LP Celebration, Florida is an exhilarating amalgamation of frightening horn sections, unexpected 808s, ambient synth lines, schoolyard taunts, booming, primitive drum beats, heavy bass lines, piano, violin, accordion, ringing guitars, rave beats, and sinister acid jazz that captivates and mystifies. Recorded in the gymnasium and theater of Beacon, NY’s old high school, the band explores a multitude of sounds and instrumentation throughout the expansive album. It’s inspired, imaginative, heady, menacing, passionate, and rollicking. Most importantly, it’s as steadfastly authentic as ever, expanding upon the dark, woozy undercurrent of ramshackle barroom blues, vaudevillian atmospherics, and surreal storytelling of their previous albums. Under The Radar wrote in a review of Yonder Is The Clock that The Felice Brothers find “inspiration and freedom rather than constraints in the traditions of folk music.” Celebration, Florida revels in this inventive, outlaw spirit; it’s the sound of a band that knows its roots and knows where it’s growing. It’s a group who just might expand the definition of Americana music along the way.”