Music Video: Ricky Kendall - Ozark County Blues

Gainesville's Ricky Kendall is one of north Florida's little hidden treasures. His previous projects, Jukebox Wagon and Paxico Via Mexico, received some modest notoriety regionally, but it's his more stripped down workingman's roots music that has really been putting him on the proverbial map of late. His music is simultaneously fresh but classic in it's tonality and playfully charming in it's splendid delivery. That along with a powerhouse voice and superlative lyrical stylings will most assuredly have us hearing much more from him in the near future.


This post was contributed by Paul Chapman, Jacksonville (via Tallahassee) musician/ writer extraordinaire. If you like his style make sure to check out his regular column for metrojax, Pump up the Volume.

Aircraft - Jeff Bridges over Troubled Water

If the concept of a local super group is even possible, Aircraft fit the bill. Some of Tallahassee's finest musicians, including Jake Tobin (Fruit Flesh), Malee Brigardner (Moonlasso), James Folker (Water Brother) and Ben Varian all take part in the collective. Last March I got a chance to check them out at Total Bummer, and their sound was more than ambitious enough to match the skills of their members. Taking cues from the most anthemic of indie bands (think Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene) the band tore through one of the best surprise sets of the festival. Nearly a full year later the band is finally unveiling its first release. The demos which were recorded several months ago are already a testament to Aircraft's evolving sound. "Jeff Bridges Over Troubled Water" finds the band basked in warmth, playing a brand of tropical folk that's manages to sound comfortingly familiar without cliche. "Jeff Bridges" is only the first stop Aircraft's continuing evolution, and a fine introduction to one of the most promising bands in town.

Carrousel - Darling EP

Last week Tallahassee's Carrousel released their debut EP, with an LP to follow in February. With sonic cues coming from the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Beach House, The Darling EP falls squarely in the intersect between Folk and Dream Pop. The album's warmth and accessibility is no accident however. Wisely, the band (originally a duo) decided to hole up in their home studio, focusing entirely on recording and honing their vision for the album without the complications of playing live. Two years in the making, the sense of dedication is palpable on the EP as it glows with a homemade sweetness, intimately crafted in a world all its own.

Holiday Shores - Spells

I certainly don't have a shortage of friends in Tallahassee who consider Holiday Shores the best band in town. Fortunately, their appeal is starting to break through to the outside world: Spells is the second single off of their new album posted on underground godfathers Altered Zones. Spells has been a personal favorite of mine from their live shows for a while now, and its great to finally have it recorded

Spells - Holiday Shores

Music Video: Fruit Flesh - Habit(at)

Download the mp3 on Jake's soundcloud.

Fruit Flesh - Viral Infection

Tallahassee Up-and-comer Fruit Flesh released another song over the weekend. "Viral Infection" is based around saxophone and vocals just like "Sin, Sin Away" but it results in a much more disorienting experience. Recalling Modest Mouse and Dirty Projectors and feeling a lot more woozy than it does breezy, Viral Infection is equally as interesting, but an entirely different beast from Sin, Sin Away. Fruit Flesh are on bandcamp now, so go download Viral Infection and a newly mixed version of Sin, Sin below.

Sin, Sin Away - Fruit Flesh

Tallahassee Wunderkind and Longstreth disciple Jake Tobin has just released the first single of his new project Fruit Flesh. Featuring lounging tribal drums, saxophone and absolutely soaring vocals, Sin, Sin away is a potent combination of tUnE-YarD's breezy ethnic influences and the new romantic revival currently brewing. Its been on repeat for me all night, the perfect soundtrack after a busy summer day.

Sin, Sin Away by Fruit Flesh

If you're digging it, check out Jake's current main squeeze, Wingsuit.

Ha Ha Hospital (Live at the Farside)

This weekend I finally got to see Tallahassee mainstays and Mountain Goat disciples "Ha Ha Hospital" over at the always lovely Farside. Coincidentally, some one recorded and uploaded a few songs from the very same show! They write bite-sized pop numbers with an obviously witty sensibility. Its probably worth mentioning that it seemed like everyone at the show except for me knew all of the words. Definitely a charming duo worth checking out.

Watch a few more videos from our courteous uploader's youtube channel.

Moon Lasso - Lamplighter