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MUSIC
HUFFINGTON
12.22.13
Dog Ears: Let It Snow
In which we spotlight music from a diversity of genres and
decades, lending an insider’s ear to what deserves to be heard.
BY THE EVERLASTING PHIL RAMONE AND DANIELLE EVIN
DRY THE RIVER
Dry The River is the harmonically smoldering folk-rock quintette captained
by Norwegian-born Brit anthropology/
medical major Peter Liddle (vocals,
guitar). The lineup comprises Matthew
Taylor (vocals, guitars) Scott Miller
(bass, vocals, glockenspiel), Jon Warren (drums) and Will Harvey (violin,
viola, keys, mandolin). The East London ensemble was founded in the late
aughts amid Southampton’s burgeoning gritty music scene. Dry The River
crossed the pond to record their debut
full-length with producer Peter Katis
(The National, Interpol and Jónsi).
Magic moments include Lollapalooza,
the iTunes Festival and the Glastonbury Festival. Discover these gentlemen with “Family,” from their 2012
debut Shallow Bed.
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Alternative
ARTIST: Dry The River
SONG: Family
ALBUM: Shallow Bed
MICHAEL KIWANUKA BLACK REBEL
MOTORCYCLE CLUB
North London folk/soul artist Michael
Kiwanuka was born in the late ’80s, the
son of Ugandan survivors of Idi Amin’s
bloodthirsty regime. His boyhood was
flooded with the classic influences
of Dylan, Redding, Withers, Hendrix,
and Nirvana. After arts studies at the
University of Westminster, Kiwanuka
made his way as a session player, and
soon after landed in the studio with
producer Paul Butler (The Bees) for his
freshman full-length. Collaborations/
shared stages include Adele, Chipmunk,
Bashy, Labrinth (Tinie Tempah) and
James Gadson. This youngblood’s oldsoul sound is earnest in its every note
and breath. Revisit the fully inspired
title track “Home Again,” from Michael
Kiwanuka’s 2012 Home Again, a divine
collection.
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Singer/Songwriter
ARTIST: Michael Kiwanuka
SONG: Home Again
ALBUM: Home Again
California rock trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is comprised of frontman/
bassist Robert Levon Been, guitarist
Peter Hayes and drummer Leah Shapiro. In 1999, BRMC’s self-released debut attracted a rock royal fan base and a
flurried bidding war for their contractual
affections. BRMC has since amassed
more than a half-dozen long-players to
acquire. The ensemble’s tracks have
graced TV’s Sons of Anarchy, Hell on
Wheels, Bates Motel, and films such as
The Twilight Saga: New Moon and End
of Watch. Shared stages include The
Call, The Dandy Warhols, Henry Rollins
and The Duke Spirit. With a trove of
rock treasures to collect, get “Weight
of the World,” from their 2005 release
Howl. Play it loud!
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Rock
ARTIST: Black Rebel Motorcycle
Club
SONG: Weight of the World
ALBUM: Howl