Archive for February, 2011

FL Watchlist: Victor Florence

USF Oracle writer Victoria Casal joins the Brasky team, offering up an introduction to a local singer/songwriter-to-watch, Victor Florence.

Victor FlorenceTampa's folk troubadour, Victor Florence, hasn't been in the scene long. He has been playing music for most of his life, but only recently started working on his own songs. Shows are still rare, a manager is lacking, and finding recording studios with a tolerable price is not the easy for a startup. With these obstacles in mind, we thought we'd help Victor's cause with an introduction to his music.

With around 15 songs, Victor tells his stories with captivating peculiarity. His lyrics bear a distinct style, with influences like Rimbaud and Ginsberg. His intricate meshing of words leaves the listener engaged but wondering about the exact underlying message. Florence's live performances are charged with energy and emotion. His recordings haunt listeners with his abrasive voice, blue notes, hesitant words and sentimental hooks.

Victor recently uploaded a new home-recorded demo called "Winter" which, as Brasky would describe it, is a tamer version of his first demo "Trapeze Artist" (and, according to the artist himself, an improved and better rendition of his music). You can download his two releases on his BandCamp page, and you can sample his music below. Continue reading to see Brasky's interview with Victor.

BRASKY: You've cited Vincent van Gogh as a point of inspiration; in what ways does a visual artist inspire you to write music? Are you influenced by any other art muses?

VICTOR: It hard to say, I really like how the impressionist painters portray the world and their emotions and I try to do that with my own lyrics. I really like the way van Gogh looks at the world, he has this peculiar sense of urgency. I try to aspire for that but I'm not actually sure if I have succeeded yet. It is definitely one of my goals to do so.

BRASKY: You've also mentioned being inspired by the poet Rimbaud. Likewise, we feel that your lyrics are complex and embed hidden meaning; would you consider yourself symbolist?

VICTOR: I barely consider myself a poet! It's just the way I write. To me, it's pretty hard writing a straight-forward song. As for Rimbaud, I think it's brilliant how he paints these vivid landscapes with words. Just like van Gogh, there is also this sense of urgency in his writings. Poets and painters such as Van Gogh and Rimbaud are mentors to me. They inspire me to keep working on lyrics. I really like writing and that's really what I want to focus on, more so than the music. Words are very powerful, they are beautiful, just so fucking beautiful. I get obsessed with words. I remember how I was obsessed with the word "thunder" over the summer. It held so much power that it frightened me. I'm terrified and fascinated by the power of words.

BRASKY: One of our Brasky contributors likens your music to that of Neutral Milk Hotel. Would you consider them an influence in your music?

VICTOR: That's such a compliment, thank you! I am a big fan, but I don't really think about them when I write music. To try and replicate what they've made would be disgraceful. I was mostly influenced by whatever writers that came my way. I was particularly fascinated by the works of James Joyce and Dylan Thomas when I was working on "Winter." However, Elliott Smith and Bob Dylan also influenced my music during that time period. It's pretty obvious that Smith inspired the chord progression in the song "Strings and Gears". I had to change it up a little just in case that a Elliott Smith fan would find out and hunt me down!

BRASKY: You seem like a very busy person. How do you find time to balance your personal life with your developing musicianship?

VICTOR: I try my best but usually I just find myself drinking coffee and spending tremendous amount of hours in the library. I mean I should be reading right now instead of doing this interview. Trying to find time to write is hard but it is something that I enjoy doing so I make time for it. Writing means quite a lot to me and I find that I'm the happiest when I'm scribbling down sketches for songs in between classes. It's something I would love to do for a living but it's going to be a challenge to do so!

BRASKY: We recently saw you perform "Fields of Wheat" (off the new Demo compilation "Winter") and felt like it was a moving performance with a lot of channeled emotion. What was going through your mind while performing this song?

VICTOR: Thank you! I try my best to put all I got when I perform. I got to make sure that people get what they pay for. When I'm up there, I try to get into the same frame of mind that I was when I wrote that song. I see songs as pictures that capture an emotion of the writer. I just try to replicate that picture when I'm up there performing.

BRASKY: Your recording compilation "Winter" and your EP "Trapeze Artist" are very different. It seems that "Winter" is more subdued than "Trapeze Artist." Would you agree?

VICTOR: Yes, "Winter" is, in some ways, more tamed than "Trapeze Artist." "Trapeze Artist" was more based around emotions than song-writing. "Winter" was me trying to create something that was all mine. The reason "Winter" is not as emotional as Trapeze Artist is that I recorded the songs in the middle of the night and I didn't want to wake up my roommate. I prefer Winter over Trapeze artist because it's something that was mine. There were no covers or anything like that. I think I improved as a songwriter in Winter, too. Both projects took about the same amount of time to write all the songs for. I recorded Trapeze Artist with my friend Neil Pepi in his studio/dorm room last winter. Recording with him was a great experience and the guy knows what he is doing. For Winter, I recorded it on my little 4-track recorder in my room.


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Songs That Generated Buzz in 2010 (Part 2)

As promised, here is part 2. Fifty more songs, once again accompanied with crucial context info about each track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Nothing But Our Love
“Nothing But Our Love” is the kind of song that stops you, reels in your attention, and insists: “stop worrying and rela…
Wild Nothing
Gemini
One-man band Wild Nothing – Blacksburg’s Jack Tatum – is one of 2010′s noteworthy success stories. The project is barel…
Two Door Cinema Club
Something Good Can Work
Hailing from Ireland, youngsters Two Door Cinema Club have quickly gotten a taste of being rock stars after their very s…
Sufjan Stevens
I Walked
Listening to “I Walked” is a reminder of the songwriting brilliance of Sufjan, who seems far from hitting his peak. Thi…
Candy Claws
Sun Arrow
Candy Claws songs all bear a distinct sound, but what’s amazing is that it’s truly unique. “Sun Arrow”, like the other …
The Black Keys
Everlasting Light
The Black Keys are in a league of their own in the world of blues rock. I still have to remind myself that I’m listenin…
Crystal Stilts
Shake The Shackles
Coming off a well-receive album, Alight of Night in 2009, this noise pop group from NY drummed up some more criti…
Toro Y Moi
Talamak
Toro y Moi is a real-life friend of Washed Out’s Ernest Greene, who has been often been credited as one of the originato…
Tame Impala
I Don’t Really Mind
Tame Impala has quickly become one of the most recognizable names on this list. Their debut album Innerspeaker w…
The Morning Benders
Excuses
We have attributed many songs on this list as sounding “retro” or “nostalgic”, but no song seems more deserving of that …
Caribou
Odessa
I feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of properly reviewing this track. Simply be aware that this was the most wid…
Vampire Weekend
Giving Up the Gun
Vampire Weekend had raised their own bar almost too high for their sophomore album, Contra, but songs like “Givin…
Laurel Halo
Supersymmetry
Laurel Halo became somewhat of an “it-girl” in the Brooklyn club scene, helped by the success of “Supersymmetry”, a song…
Grasscut
Muppets (Nathan Fake remix)
Nathan Fake layers his signature knob-twisting brushstrokes onto Grasscut’s “Muppets”, Nathan’s only release from this y…
School of Seven Bells
Half Asleep
If you’re a guy in a band in New York, leave that band and find yourself a chick or two to collaborate with. This has b…
Wavves
Post Acid
Wavves certainly deserves a few on this list, and choosing just one was a bit challenging. “Post Acid” seems to capture …
Twin Sister
Phenomenons
“Phenomenons” is an especially vibrant single from Long Islanders Twin Sister. Guitars and keyboards measure out a slow…
Crocodiles
Hearts of Love
Be sure to hang on till around 2:30 when the song blooms with a bittersweet Weezer anthem. Very much in the spirit of S…
Tanlines
Real Life (Memory Tapes remix)
Apparently the members of Tanlines have backgrounds in completely different, heavier styles of music. You’d never guess…
Sleigh Bells
Infinity Guitars
We’ve been a little biased in reporting Sleigh Bells because they are sorta tied to FL. Derek Miller, one half o…
Yeasayer
Ambling Alp
If you’ve heard Yeasayer, you know it’s tough to pin them to one genre; the band once described their music as “Middle E…
Domo Genesis
Super Market [Ft. Ace Creator)
Domo Genesis, part of the under-20 rap crew "Odd Future", teams up with the now-infamous Tyler the Creator for a rap bat…
Tobacco
Motorlicker
Tom Fec, a.k.a., Tobacco, is a man to watch. He is most famous for being the frontman of Black Moth Super Rainbow
Marnie Stern
Transparency Is The New Mystery
Marnie Stern teamed up with drummer/producer Zach Hill (Hella) this year to produce a frenetic, progressive album filled…
Lemonade
Lifted
Warning: The following description reads like a parody of other reviews here: "Lemonade is a Brooklyn-via-San Francisco...
The Gaslamp Killer
Carpool Dummy
LA's Gaslamp Killer has been gaslamp killing it the last couple years, but hit a new tier in 2010, thanks in part to the…
Washed Out (ft. Caroline Polacheck)
You and I
For everyone who fell in love with Washed Out's archetypal chillwave music in 2009, here's a 2010 single that you may've…
Broken Social Scene
World Sick
While it's unclear from the lyrics, it's tempting to believe "World Sick" relates to exhaustion of a band known for its …
Frank (Just Frank)
Die in Bed
Frank (Just) Frank are French (Actually) French, which helps further authenticate their adept revival of the post-punk m…
Tennis
Marathon
Tennis, a husband-wife duo, formed after the two spent nearly a year sailing the Eastern seaboard. As the story goes, i…
The Love Language
Heart To Tell
With "Heart To Tell", The Love Language has found the sweet spot between pop folk and indie pop, creating their own bran…
Woodsman
Insects
Woodsman came on strong toward the end of 2010 with the release of a handful of excellent singles from their upcoming al…
Teengirl Fantasy
Floor To Floor
Teengirl Fantasy has not even released a full length LP yet, but has generated a lot of buzz with the EPs and demos they…
Radiohead
Reckoner (Nosaj Thing Remix)
Remixes are often a cheap strategy for piggybacking off of the success of someone else's song, but occasionally someone …
Air
Sing Sang Sung (Black Moth Super Rainbow Remix)
Air's 2009 song-to-hanglide-to, ""Sing Sang Sung"", was the lucky recipient of Black Moth Super Rainbow's remix treatment …
The Drums
Let's Go Surfing
In a year full of surfy music, this takes the trophy for "Surf Song of the Year". It even has whistling in it.…
TV Girl
If You Want It
Jingling bells gently gallop along to funk-sampled drums as San Diego duo TV Girl sings a familiar story about that one …
The Radio Dept.
Heaven's On Fire
Secretly rock veterans, The Radio Dept. dropped what may be their most acclaimed album yet in 2010. "Heaven's On Fire" …
Joanna Newsom
Good Intentions Paving Company
Joanna released yet another monumental album in 2010, 2 discs' worth of Newsom's intricate songwriting and storytelling.…
Letherette
In July Focus
In 2009, Letherette nabbed some attention for his impressive
Bonobo
Black Sands
The title track from Bonobo's breakout album in early 2010, "Black Sands" oozes somber moods and themes of transition to…
The Babies
Run Me Over
When asked "Where can I find more music like Wavves?" (people really ask this), I point them toward this band. It's a s…
Girl Unit
Wut
Girl Unit's "Wut" seemed to penetrate several electronic subcultures in 2010, a rogue hit that would eventually get rele…
Seapony
Dreaming
As its title support, "Dreaming" is an ethereal song that showcases the nostalgic girl pop that drew listeners to Seapon…
Flying Lotus
Zodiac Shit
One of many standout tracks from psych-IDM wizard Flying Lotus (Warp). Cool mini-video here.
Gumar and His Magical Midi Band
Sliding Down Rainbows (The Great Mundane remix)
Portland's self-deprecating beatmaker, The Great Mundane, dolls up a playful song from...
Chloé Lacasse
Les yeux d'un fou
Attn francophiles: Listening to Chloé Lacasse in "Les yeux d'un fou" is like listening to a songbird effortlessly...
Shigeto
Sky of the Revolution
In 2010, Michigan's Shigeto, a.k.a. Zach Saginaw, released a standout album with Ghostly International, Full Circle...
The Bank Holidays
Tripping Up To Fall In Love
If the Bank Holidays weren't on the other side of the earth--Perth, Australia--we'd probably all know who they are by no…
Weekends
Poor Piscies
Poor Piscies [sic…] is an anthemic single from SF-based garage rockers Weekends. Somewhere under wild guitars there are…
Zola Jesus
Sea Talk
Soulful words and soaring synths make for a pleasing ballad from this American youngster who attracted attention after t…
HEALTH
We Are Water
“We Are Water” starts with a furious pace and pulls you along on a splashy noise jam that provokes a variety of moods wi…
Delorean
Real Love
Delorean is back in 2010 with a full length album released at the beginning of the year. In “Real Love”, dreamy dance m…
Surfer Blood
Swim
Being a Florida blog, we beam with pride whenever it’s time to talk about Surfer Blood. The South Florida youngsters ha…
Siriusmo
Einmal In Der Woche Schreien
Siriusmo has been flying somewhat under the radar, but those in-the-know in the electro-house scene have kept their eyes…
Tyler, The Creator
Seven
How the hell is this dude 18? Tyler (one of the rapper’s in the Domo Genesis song also on this list) sounds like a gnar…
James Blake
The Bells Sketch
“The Bells Sketch” is a fine example of buzz-producer (and proper Englishman) James Blake. The 21-year-old demonstrates…

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Hunahpu 2011 Sneak Peek!

Brasky staff was treated to an excellent surprise on Tuesday, when at a regional beer club meeting, Joey Redner from Cigar City Brewing showed up with a brand new case of 2011′s Hunahpu Imperial Stout. In addition to being subject to a sample six weeks before the official roll out (more info below), Brasky was privileged to pop tops in the company of some of Florida’s most distinguished beer aficionados. But wait a second, what’s Hunahpu? Don’t worry, son. Brasky will tell you.

2010′s Bourbon Barrel aged Hunahpu was the number 3 beer in the WORLD, according to RateBeer.com. The regular version? Number 17. No big deal. Not for a brewery in its second year of production. In 2011, Hunahpu and its various incarnations make up three of the top 32 entrants into best beer in the world, including #10 and 12 in the US, and #2 in the world for Stouts. What is it that makes this brew so unbelievable?

Take an award winning Imperial Stout recipe, add Mayan cacao nibs and Madagascar Vanilla beans, and you’re getting into uncharted territory. But top it off with a perfect dosage of Ancho and Pasillo chilis, take the ABV up to 11.5%, and this beer clearly has something special going on.

It pours flat, big black cocoa diesel fuel, clinging to the side of the glass with viscous alcohol legs. The nose is chocolate sweetness, and the first sip is an exploration of texture, as slight carbonation seeps out of a rich, savory thickness. The vanilla is more evident after the initial cacao explosion subsides, and just as one notices the alcohol linger the chili peppers match the tone with a numbing sparkle. Each sip is novel, and the intensity is so balanced and natural in flavor that even the most experienced tasters grasp at terms wise enough to encompass this taste. What amazes us is the sheer body of this beer; Russian imperial stouts and Baltic porters are notorious for their inky black thickness, but Hunahpu is something special. The sheer cojones it takes to dream of this beer are noteworthy, but to make it work, kudos. Kudos.

Cigar City will release the 2011 Hunahpu March 12 at the Cigar City Brewery in Tampa Florida. The Brewery is on Spruce Street just west of Dale Mabry Highway.

*NOTE* Limit four bombers per attendee… there are allegedly only 3,000 bottles available for the event. Plan your trip accordingly!
Join the Event on Facebook!


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