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23:00:00 01/11/12
Architecture that enhances learning
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 23:00:00 01/11/12
TEDxManhattanBeach - Peter Barsuk - Architectural Design That Transforms Learning Talk title: Architectural design that transforms learning In Peter's architectural practice he explores how the build environment can enhance learning. The newest education spaces encourage four learning modes of the typical school day: socializing, creating, focusing and collaborating. "Campfire" settings allow kids to socialize and create, "performance nooks" are informal spaces where kids can perform, and inexpensive graphics encourage students to feel a sense of wonder and curiosity. "Far from forcing change upon schools," says Peter, "we're finding that the way people learn is transforming the built environment." Peter is an architect at Gensler, with over nineteen years of experience in education and green building design. As a director of the firm's education practice area, he is charged with incorporating the latest research, technology, and thought leadership into the design and delivery of Gensler's projects. A passionate environmentalist, Peter encourages resource conservation through design thinking, both in the office and local community through lectures, the formulation of grass roots initiatives and volunteer committees. Peter is the former Board Chair of the US Green Building Council, Los Angeles Chapter, In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxManhattanBeach, where x = independently
0 Views
23:00:00 01/11/12
TEDxManhattanBeach - Peter Barsuk - Architectural Design That Transforms Learning
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 23:00:00 01/11/12
Talk title: Architectural design that transforms learning In Peter's architectural practice he explores how the build environment can enhance learning. The newest education spaces encourage four learning modes of the typical school day: socializing, creating, focusing and collaborating. "Campfire" settings allow kids to socialize and create, "performance nooks" are informal spaces where kids can perform, and inexpensive graphics encourage students to feel a sense of wonder and curiosity. "Far from forcing change upon schools," says Peter, "we're finding that the way people learn is transforming the built environment." Peter is an architect at Gensler, with over nineteen years of experience in education and green building design. As a director of the firm's education practice area, he is charged with incorporating the latest research, technology, and thought leadership into the design and delivery of Gensler's projects. A passionate environmentalist, Peter encourages resource conservation through design thinking, both in the office and local community through lectures, the formulation of grass roots initiatives and volunteer committees. Peter is the former Board Chair of the US Green Building Council, Los Angeles Chapter, In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxManhattanBeach, where x = independently
2 Views
16:57:51 12/19/11
Family Of The Year - Live in Studio B - Part 1- Living On Love
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 16:57:51 12/19/11
Part 1 of Family of The Year performing at Mevio Studios in San Francisco For the entire performance CLICK HERE
WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER About
Most bands function like a family, seeing how touring, writing, and studio time force them to share a lot of small spaces for extended periods of time. But Family of the Year has taken that familial feeling a step further, and not just with its moniker. The members of the Los Angeles outfit have formed unbreakable bonds amongst themselves that come from cohabitating in a run-down house and relying on each other for inspiration and support, which has led to the kind of camaraderie that allows members to finish each other’s sentences. It also doesn’t hurt that frontman Joe Keefe and drummer Sebastian Keefe are real-life siblings.
Not surprisingly, many of the group’s songs feature numerous voices, and more than a few include a chorus of joyous handclaps. Some even sound like they should be sung by the tight-knit group around the campfire while the s’mores are melting and the wine is flowing, especially the ones that name-drop members of the band. Guitarist Jamesy Buckey, in particular, has received the lion’s share of shout-outs in FOTY songs, to the point where it’s become a Family tradition.
Family of the Year’s story began in 2009, when Joe assembled a band around an album, Songbook , that he completed while decompressing from a five-year stint with Unbusted, the alt-rock trio he started in Boston with Sebastian that gained some notoriety for its inclusion on the soundtrack to the Farrelly brothers’ film Stuck On You . Instead of relying on the distortion of his past, suddenly pianos, horns, acoustic guitars, and other assorted instrumentation were being used to display a more sophisticated—yet equally as playful—indie-rock sound that brings to mind classic pop bands like The Smiths, The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, and The Go-Betweens.
To say that Family of the Year has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time would be an understatement. In addition to Songbook , the band has issued a pair of EPs on its own Washashore Records imprint, 2009’s Where’s The Sun and 2010’s Through The Trees , and songs from all three discs have made their way onto various international releases. Media attention has come from various corners of the world, including heavy rotation on French radio as well as glowing reviews from NME , the BBC, and Spin .
Now the group is preparing for its busiest schedule yet, with shows and tours being planned around two new releases: the St. Croix EP, which is coming out on Sept. 27, and the full-length Diversity , which is due in early 2012. In addition to plenty of stateside dates, the Family plans to return overseas, where it has already developed a significant fanbase. In early 2011, the band played sold-out shows in England and across Europe, including a triumphant set at France’s largest music festival, Les Vieilles Charrues.
The list of artists that FOTY has played with over the years is notable, including Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes (who took the band on tour early in its career), Mumford & Sons, Gomez, and The Antlers, though arguably the most impressive opening gig so far was when the band warmed up a Ben Folds performance with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Handpicked by Folds and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Family of the Year beat out 700 other hopeful artists to open the Oct. 2009 event. Not a bad way to spend your third show ever.
“We went back home to Boston to play at Symphony Hall, which was the sweetest homecoming ever,” says Joe. “The show was amazing. Our mom got to stay at a nice hotel and get dressed up and come see us play. Musically we were a bit shaky, it being our third gig, but it was a great room to play in.”
Proving its versatility, the Family has made fans of a couple of fellow Massachusetts-bred musicians who, on the surface at least, don’t have much in common: singer-songwriter Willy Mason and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. Mason contributed to the reggae-tinged “The Princess And The Pea” on Through The Trees , while the demon of screamin’ discovered Family of the Year through a mutual connection and compared what he heard to “The Mamas And The Papas on acid.” Interestingly enough, the Keefe brothers used to live next to the apartment in Boston that once housed Aerosmith.
“I don’t think Steven Tyler is getting a tattoo anytime soon, but he likes our music,” says Sebastian. “We had the opportunity to meet him once, and he was really cool.”
But a band is only as good as its most recent output, which is why it’s fair to say that Family of the Year has positioned itself for greatness. Recorded by what now constitutes the core of FOTY—Joe (vocals, guitar), Sebastian (drums, vocals), Buckey (guitar, vocals), and Christina Schroeter (keyboards, vocals)—the group completed 14 songs with producer Wally Gagel at his new studio in Hollywood. This is the first time that the band has worked with a producer and gone outside of its own camp to release its music.
With Gagel’s assistance, the band has crafted a stirring set of songs teeming with catchy melodies, clever ruminations on love, heartbreak, and staying up late enough to watch the sun rise, and a cosmopolitan flavor enhanced by the fact that the members of Family of the Year hail from all over the globe. After being born in Martha’s Vineyard, the Keefe brothers followed their father’s bloodline back to Wales during their formative years (during which time Britpop was booming); Buckey is from Jacksonville, Florida, where he familiarized himself with that town’s all-ages punk scene; and Schroeter is the lone Southern California native, having grown up in Huntington Beach. Though still only in their 20s, the members of this Family are music veterans, and the precision with which they play is a testament to all of the hard work that got them here.
Gagel is another Boston native, having played with ’90s power trio Orbit prior to his current status as half of the hit-making production duo Wax Ltd (he and Xandy Barry have collectively and individually worked with artists like Folk Implosion, Muse, New Order, and The Rolling Stones). Joe had already developed strong ties with Gagel before the band entered the studio.
“Having him be a really close friend instead of a random producer assigned to us was really helpful, because you have to be pushed to edit yourself and be better, be stronger, work harder on things,” says Joe. “Working with someone like that who knows exactly what we wanted it to sound like with the same exact vision, it was really kind of a no-brainer.”
St. Croix ’s title track and “Living On Love” perfectly encapsulate what FOTY does best, and the two songs will also appear on next year’s full-length. “St. Croix” is a dreamy, jangly tune about “a boy from Florida / took a trip to the Caribbean … he came to get over her,” and in case you’re wondering, yes, it’s about Jamesy. “Living On Love” is as spirited as the band members themselves, promoting carpe diem over a bouncy, keyboard-driven rocker that brings to mind Vampire Weekend at its best. As a bonus, the EP features a slow-bumping electro remix of “St. Croix” by Hooray For Earth’s Noel Heroux, who over the years has shared various stages with the Keefe brothers. The track is a reminder of their origins, while the EP and LP as a whole are glorious celebrations of just how far they’ve come.
“It feels like the first time in so many ways, because it’s the first time things have really clicked,” says Joe.
“We inspire each other,” says Sebastian. “It was important for this record to be something that would stand up as one piece, rather than something that sounded like songs strung together. We really wanted to have a record with a clear identity.”
And Family of the Year’s future is clearly a bright one. Playing every show like it’s a special occasional and writing each song with complete conviction has allowed the band to accomplish everything it has set its sights on. As “Living On Love” notes, “they say that you can’t get every little thing that you want … it’s such a lie.” Contact Information
Booking: AJ Paul / APA apaul@apa-agency.com
Online: Sneak Attack, Zach Hinkle, zach@sneakattackmedia.com
Label: tinyOGRE, marketing@tinyOGREent.com
10 Views
00:19:16 12/17/11
Family Of The Year - Live In Studio B - Part 2 - Chugjug
[LESS INFO] 10 VIEWS | ADDED 00:19:16 12/17/11
Part 2 of Family of The Year performing at Mevio Studios in San Francisco For the entire performance CLICK HERE
WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER About
Most bands function like a family, seeing how touring, writing, and studio time force them to share a lot of small spaces for extended periods of time. But Family of the Year has taken that familial feeling a step further, and not just with its moniker. The members of the Los Angeles outfit have formed unbreakable bonds amongst themselves that come from cohabitating in a run-down house and relying on each other for inspiration and support, which has led to the kind of camaraderie that allows members to finish each other’s sentences. It also doesn’t hurt that frontman Joe Keefe and drummer Sebastian Keefe are real-life siblings.
Not surprisingly, many of the group’s songs feature numerous voices, and more than a few include a chorus of joyous handclaps. Some even sound like they should be sung by the tight-knit group around the campfire while the s’mores are melting and the wine is flowing, especially the ones that name-drop members of the band. Guitarist Jamesy Buckey, in particular, has received the lion’s share of shout-outs in FOTY songs, to the point where it’s become a Family tradition.
Family of the Year’s story began in 2009, when Joe assembled a band around an album, Songbook , that he completed while decompressing from a five-year stint with Unbusted, the alt-rock trio he started in Boston with Sebastian that gained some notoriety for its inclusion on the soundtrack to the Farrelly brothers’ film Stuck On You . Instead of relying on the distortion of his past, suddenly pianos, horns, acoustic guitars, and other assorted instrumentation were being used to display a more sophisticated—yet equally as playful—indie-rock sound that brings to mind classic pop bands like The Smiths, The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, and The Go-Betweens.
To say that Family of the Year has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time would be an understatement. In addition to Songbook , the band has issued a pair of EPs on its own Washashore Records imprint, 2009’s Where’s The Sun and 2010’s Through The Trees , and songs from all three discs have made their way onto various international releases. Media attention has come from various corners of the world, including heavy rotation on French radio as well as glowing reviews from NME , the BBC, and Spin .
Now the group is preparing for its busiest schedule yet, with shows and tours being planned around two new releases: the St. Croix EP, which is coming out on Sept. 27, and the full-length Diversity , which is due in early 2012. In addition to plenty of stateside dates, the Family plans to return overseas, where it has already developed a significant fanbase. In early 2011, the band played sold-out shows in England and across Europe, including a triumphant set at France’s largest music festival, Les Vieilles Charrues.
The list of artists that FOTY has played with over the years is notable, including Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes (who took the band on tour early in its career), Mumford & Sons, Gomez, and The Antlers, though arguably the most impressive opening gig so far was when the band warmed up a Ben Folds performance with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Handpicked by Folds and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Family of the Year beat out 700 other hopeful artists to open the Oct. 2009 event. Not a bad way to spend your third show ever.
“We went back home to Boston to play at Symphony Hall, which was the sweetest homecoming ever,” says Joe. “The show was amazing. Our mom got to stay at a nice hotel and get dressed up and come see us play. Musically we were a bit shaky, it being our third gig, but it was a great room to play in.”
Proving its versatility, the Family has made fans of a couple of fellow Massachusetts-bred musicians who, on the surface at least, don’t have much in common: singer-songwriter Willy Mason and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. Mason contributed to the reggae-tinged “The Princess And The Pea” on Through The Trees , while the demon of screamin’ discovered Family of the Year through a mutual connection and compared what he heard to “The Mamas And The Papas on acid.” Interestingly enough, the Keefe brothers used to live next to the apartment in Boston that once housed Aerosmith.
“I don’t think Steven Tyler is getting a tattoo anytime soon, but he likes our music,” says Sebastian. “We had the opportunity to meet him once, and he was really cool.”
But a band is only as good as its most recent output, which is why it’s fair to say that Family of the Year has positioned itself for greatness. Recorded by what now constitutes the core of FOTY—Joe (vocals, guitar), Sebastian (drums, vocals), Buckey (guitar, vocals), and Christina Schroeter (keyboards, vocals)—the group completed 14 songs with producer Wally Gagel at his new studio in Hollywood. This is the first time that the band has worked with a producer and gone outside of its own camp to release its music.
With Gagel’s assistance, the band has crafted a stirring set of songs teeming with catchy melodies, clever ruminations on love, heartbreak, and staying up late enough to watch the sun rise, and a cosmopolitan flavor enhanced by the fact that the members of Family of the Year hail from all over the globe. After being born in Martha’s Vineyard, the Keefe brothers followed their father’s bloodline back to Wales during their formative years (during which time Britpop was booming); Buckey is from Jacksonville, Florida, where he familiarized himself with that town’s all-ages punk scene; and Schroeter is the lone Southern California native, having grown up in Huntington Beach. Though still only in their 20s, the members of this Family are music veterans, and the precision with which they play is a testament to all of the hard work that got them here.
Gagel is another Boston native, having played with ’90s power trio Orbit prior to his current status as half of the hit-making production duo Wax Ltd (he and Xandy Barry have collectively and individually worked with artists like Folk Implosion, Muse, New Order, and The Rolling Stones). Joe had already developed strong ties with Gagel before the band entered the studio.
“Having him be a really close friend instead of a random producer assigned to us was really helpful, because you have to be pushed to edit yourself and be better, be stronger, work harder on things,” says Joe. “Working with someone like that who knows exactly what we wanted it to sound like with the same exact vision, it was really kind of a no-brainer.”
St. Croix ’s title track and “Living On Love” perfectly encapsulate what FOTY does best, and the two songs will also appear on next year’s full-length. “St. Croix” is a dreamy, jangly tune about “a boy from Florida / took a trip to the Caribbean … he came to get over her,” and in case you’re wondering, yes, it’s about Jamesy. “Living On Love” is as spirited as the band members themselves, promoting carpe diem over a bouncy, keyboard-driven rocker that brings to mind Vampire Weekend at its best. As a bonus, the EP features a slow-bumping electro remix of “St. Croix” by Hooray For Earth’s Noel Heroux, who over the years has shared various stages with the Keefe brothers. The track is a reminder of their origins, while the EP and LP as a whole are glorious celebrations of just how far they’ve come.
“It feels like the first time in so many ways, because it’s the first time things have really clicked,” says Joe.
“We inspire each other,” says Sebastian. “It was important for this record to be something that would stand up as one piece, rather than something that sounded like songs strung together. We really wanted to have a record with a clear identity.”
And Family of the Year’s future is clearly a bright one. Playing every show like it’s a special occasional and writing each song with complete conviction has allowed the band to accomplish everything it has set its sights on. As “Living On Love” notes, “they say that you can’t get every little thing that you want … it’s such a lie.” Contact Information
Booking: AJ Paul / APA apaul@apa-agency.com
Online: Sneak Attack, Zach Hinkle, zach@sneakattackmedia.com
Label: tinyOGRE, marketing@tinyOGREent.com
5 Views
22:32:21 12/16/11
Family Of The Year - Live In Studio B - Part 3 - St. Croix
[LESS INFO] 5 VIEWS | ADDED 22:32:21 12/16/11
Part 3 of Family of The Year performing at Mevio Studios in San Francisco For the entire performance CLICK HERE
WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER About
Most bands function like a family, seeing how touring, writing, and studio time force them to share a lot of small spaces for extended periods of time. But Family of the Year has taken that familial feeling a step further, and not just with its moniker. The members of the Los Angeles outfit have formed unbreakable bonds amongst themselves that come from cohabitating in a run-down house and relying on each other for inspiration and support, which has led to the kind of camaraderie that allows members to finish each other’s sentences. It also doesn’t hurt that frontman Joe Keefe and drummer Sebastian Keefe are real-life siblings.
Not surprisingly, many of the group’s songs feature numerous voices, and more than a few include a chorus of joyous handclaps. Some even sound like they should be sung by the tight-knit group around the campfire while the s’mores are melting and the wine is flowing, especially the ones that name-drop members of the band. Guitarist Jamesy Buckey, in particular, has received the lion’s share of shout-outs in FOTY songs, to the point where it’s become a Family tradition.
Family of the Year’s story began in 2009, when Joe assembled a band around an album, Songbook , that he completed while decompressing from a five-year stint with Unbusted, the alt-rock trio he started in Boston with Sebastian that gained some notoriety for its inclusion on the soundtrack to the Farrelly brothers’ film Stuck On You . Instead of relying on the distortion of his past, suddenly pianos, horns, acoustic guitars, and other assorted instrumentation were being used to display a more sophisticated—yet equally as playful—indie-rock sound that brings to mind classic pop bands like The Smiths, The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, and The Go-Betweens.
To say that Family of the Year has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time would be an understatement. In addition to Songbook , the band has issued a pair of EPs on its own Washashore Records imprint, 2009’s Where’s The Sun and 2010’s Through The Trees , and songs from all three discs have made their way onto various international releases. Media attention has come from various corners of the world, including heavy rotation on French radio as well as glowing reviews from NME , the BBC, and Spin .
Now the group is preparing for its busiest schedule yet, with shows and tours being planned around two new releases: the St. Croix EP, which is coming out on Sept. 27, and the full-length Diversity , which is due in early 2012. In addition to plenty of stateside dates, the Family plans to return overseas, where it has already developed a significant fanbase. In early 2011, the band played sold-out shows in England and across Europe, including a triumphant set at France’s largest music festival, Les Vieilles Charrues.
The list of artists that FOTY has played with over the years is notable, including Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes (who took the band on tour early in its career), Mumford & Sons, Gomez, and The Antlers, though arguably the most impressive opening gig so far was when the band warmed up a Ben Folds performance with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Handpicked by Folds and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Family of the Year beat out 700 other hopeful artists to open the Oct. 2009 event. Not a bad way to spend your third show ever.
“We went back home to Boston to play at Symphony Hall, which was the sweetest homecoming ever,” says Joe. “The show was amazing. Our mom got to stay at a nice hotel and get dressed up and come see us play. Musically we were a bit shaky, it being our third gig, but it was a great room to play in.”
Proving its versatility, the Family has made fans of a couple of fellow Massachusetts-bred musicians who, on the surface at least, don’t have much in common: singer-songwriter Willy Mason and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. Mason contributed to the reggae-tinged “The Princess And The Pea” on Through The Trees , while the demon of screamin’ discovered Family of the Year through a mutual connection and compared what he heard to “The Mamas And The Papas on acid.” Interestingly enough, the Keefe brothers used to live next to the apartment in Boston that once housed Aerosmith.
“I don’t think Steven Tyler is getting a tattoo anytime soon, but he likes our music,” says Sebastian. “We had the opportunity to meet him once, and he was really cool.”
But a band is only as good as its most recent output, which is why it’s fair to say that Family of the Year has positioned itself for greatness. Recorded by what now constitutes the core of FOTY—Joe (vocals, guitar), Sebastian (drums, vocals), Buckey (guitar, vocals), and Christina Schroeter (keyboards, vocals)—the group completed 14 songs with producer Wally Gagel at his new studio in Hollywood. This is the first time that the band has worked with a producer and gone outside of its own camp to release its music.
With Gagel’s assistance, the band has crafted a stirring set of songs teeming with catchy melodies, clever ruminations on love, heartbreak, and staying up late enough to watch the sun rise, and a cosmopolitan flavor enhanced by the fact that the members of Family of the Year hail from all over the globe. After being born in Martha’s Vineyard, the Keefe brothers followed their father’s bloodline back to Wales during their formative years (during which time Britpop was booming); Buckey is from Jacksonville, Florida, where he familiarized himself with that town’s all-ages punk scene; and Schroeter is the lone Southern California native, having grown up in Huntington Beach. Though still only in their 20s, the members of this Family are music veterans, and the precision with which they play is a testament to all of the hard work that got them here.
Gagel is another Boston native, having played with ’90s power trio Orbit prior to his current status as half of the hit-making production duo Wax Ltd (he and Xandy Barry have collectively and individually worked with artists like Folk Implosion, Muse, New Order, and The Rolling Stones). Joe had already developed strong ties with Gagel before the band entered the studio.
“Having him be a really close friend instead of a random producer assigned to us was really helpful, because you have to be pushed to edit yourself and be better, be stronger, work harder on things,” says Joe. “Working with someone like that who knows exactly what we wanted it to sound like with the same exact vision, it was really kind of a no-brainer.”
St. Croix ’s title track and “Living On Love” perfectly encapsulate what FOTY does best, and the two songs will also appear on next year’s full-length. “St. Croix” is a dreamy, jangly tune about “a boy from Florida / took a trip to the Caribbean … he came to get over her,” and in case you’re wondering, yes, it’s about Jamesy. “Living On Love” is as spirited as the band members themselves, promoting carpe diem over a bouncy, keyboard-driven rocker that brings to mind Vampire Weekend at its best. As a bonus, the EP features a slow-bumping electro remix of “St. Croix” by Hooray For Earth’s Noel Heroux, who over the years has shared various stages with the Keefe brothers. The track is a reminder of their origins, while the EP and LP as a whole are glorious celebrations of just how far they’ve come.
“It feels like the first time in so many ways, because it’s the first time things have really clicked,” says Joe.
“We inspire each other,” says Sebastian. “It was important for this record to be something that would stand up as one piece, rather than something that sounded like songs strung together. We really wanted to have a record with a clear identity.”
And Family of the Year’s future is clearly a bright one. Playing every show like it’s a special occasional and writing each song with complete conviction has allowed the band to accomplish everything it has set its sights on. As “Living On Love” notes, “they say that you can’t get every little thing that you want … it’s such a lie.” Contact Information
Booking: AJ Paul / APA apaul@apa-agency.com
Online: Sneak Attack, Zach Hinkle, zach@sneakattackmedia.com
Label: tinyOGRE, marketing@tinyOGREent.com
2 Views
19:55:48 12/16/11
Family Of The Year - Live in Studio B
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 19:55:48 12/16/11
Family of The Year performs at Mevio Studios in San Francisco WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER About
Most bands function like a family, seeing how touring, writing, and studio time force them to share a lot of small spaces for extended periods of time. But Family of the Year has taken that familial feeling a step further, and not just with its moniker. The members of the Los Angeles outfit have formed unbreakable bonds amongst themselves that come from cohabitating in a run-down house and relying on each other for inspiration and support, which has led to the kind of camaraderie that allows members to finish each other’s sentences. It also doesn’t hurt that frontman Joe Keefe and drummer Sebastian Keefe are real-life siblings.
Not surprisingly, many of the group’s songs feature numerous voices, and more than a few include a chorus of joyous handclaps. Some even sound like they should be sung by the tight-knit group around the campfire while the s’mores are melting and the wine is flowing, especially the ones that name-drop members of the band. Guitarist Jamesy Buckey, in particular, has received the lion’s share of shout-outs in FOTY songs, to the point where it’s become a Family tradition.
Family of the Year’s story began in 2009, when Joe assembled a band around an album, Songbook , that he completed while decompressing from a five-year stint with Unbusted, the alt-rock trio he started in Boston with Sebastian that gained some notoriety for its inclusion on the soundtrack to the Farrelly brothers’ film Stuck On You . Instead of relying on the distortion of his past, suddenly pianos, horns, acoustic guitars, and other assorted instrumentation were being used to display a more sophisticated—yet equally as playful—indie-rock sound that brings to mind classic pop bands like The Smiths, The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, and The Go-Betweens.
To say that Family of the Year has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time would be an understatement. In addition to Songbook , the band has issued a pair of EPs on its own Washashore Records imprint, 2009’s Where’s The Sun and 2010’s Through The Trees , and songs from all three discs have made their way onto various international releases. Media attention has come from various corners of the world, including heavy rotation on French radio as well as glowing reviews from NME , the BBC, and Spin .
Now the group is preparing for its busiest schedule yet, with shows and tours being planned around two new releases: the St. Croix EP, which is coming out on Sept. 27, and the full-length Diversity , which is due in early 2012. In addition to plenty of stateside dates, the Family plans to return overseas, where it has already developed a significant fanbase. In early 2011, the band played sold-out shows in England and across Europe, including a triumphant set at France’s largest music festival, Les Vieilles Charrues.
The list of artists that FOTY has played with over the years is notable, including Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes (who took the band on tour early in its career), Mumford & Sons, Gomez, and The Antlers, though arguably the most impressive opening gig so far was when the band warmed up a Ben Folds performance with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Handpicked by Folds and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Family of the Year beat out 700 other hopeful artists to open the Oct. 2009 event. Not a bad way to spend your third show ever.
“We went back home to Boston to play at Symphony Hall, which was the sweetest homecoming ever,” says Joe. “The show was amazing. Our mom got to stay at a nice hotel and get dressed up and come see us play. Musically we were a bit shaky, it being our third gig, but it was a great room to play in.”
Proving its versatility, the Family has made fans of a couple of fellow Massachusetts-bred musicians who, on the surface at least, don’t have much in common: singer-songwriter Willy Mason and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. Mason contributed to the reggae-tinged “The Princess And The Pea” on Through The Trees , while the demon of screamin’ discovered Family of the Year through a mutual connection and compared what he heard to “The Mamas And The Papas on acid.” Interestingly enough, the Keefe brothers used to live next to the apartment in Boston that once housed Aerosmith.
“I don’t think Steven Tyler is getting a tattoo anytime soon, but he likes our music,” says Sebastian. “We had the opportunity to meet him once, and he was really cool.”
But a band is only as good as its most recent output, which is why it’s fair to say that Family of the Year has positioned itself for greatness. Recorded by what now constitutes the core of FOTY—Joe (vocals, guitar), Sebastian (drums, vocals), Buckey (guitar, vocals), and Christina Schroeter (keyboards, vocals)—the group completed 14 songs with producer Wally Gagel at his new studio in Hollywood. This is the first time that the band has worked with a producer and gone outside of its own camp to release its music.
With Gagel’s assistance, the band has crafted a stirring set of songs teeming with catchy melodies, clever ruminations on love, heartbreak, and staying up late enough to watch the sun rise, and a cosmopolitan flavor enhanced by the fact that the members of Family of the Year hail from all over the globe. After being born in Martha’s Vineyard, the Keefe brothers followed their father’s bloodline back to Wales during their formative years (during which time Britpop was booming); Buckey is from Jacksonville, Florida, where he familiarized himself with that town’s all-ages punk scene; and Schroeter is the lone Southern California native, having grown up in Huntington Beach. Though still only in their 20s, the members of this Family are music veterans, and the precision with which they play is a testament to all of the hard work that got them here.
Gagel is another Boston native, having played with ’90s power trio Orbit prior to his current status as half of the hit-making production duo Wax Ltd (he and Xandy Barry have collectively and individually worked with artists like Folk Implosion, Muse, New Order, and The Rolling Stones). Joe had already developed strong ties with Gagel before the band entered the studio.
“Having him be a really close friend instead of a random producer assigned to us was really helpful, because you have to be pushed to edit yourself and be better, be stronger, work harder on things,” says Joe. “Working with someone like that who knows exactly what we wanted it to sound like with the same exact vision, it was really kind of a no-brainer.”
St. Croix ’s title track and “Living On Love” perfectly encapsulate what FOTY does best, and the two songs will also appear on next year’s full-length. “St. Croix” is a dreamy, jangly tune about “a boy from Florida / took a trip to the Caribbean … he came to get over her,” and in case you’re wondering, yes, it’s about Jamesy. “Living On Love” is as spirited as the band members themselves, promoting carpe diem over a bouncy, keyboard-driven rocker that brings to mind Vampire Weekend at its best. As a bonus, the EP features a slow-bumping electro remix of “St. Croix” by Hooray For Earth’s Noel Heroux, who over the years has shared various stages with the Keefe brothers. The track is a reminder of their origins, while the EP and LP as a whole are glorious celebrations of just how far they’ve come.
“It feels like the first time in so many ways, because it’s the first time things have really clicked,” says Joe.
“We inspire each other,” says Sebastian. “It was important for this record to be something that would stand up as one piece, rather than something that sounded like songs strung together. We really wanted to have a record with a clear identity.”
And Family of the Year’s future is clearly a bright one. Playing every show like it’s a special occasional and writing each song with complete conviction has allowed the band to accomplish everything it has set its sights on. As “Living On Love” notes, “they say that you can’t get every little thing that you want … it’s such a lie.” Contact Information
Booking: AJ Paul / APA apaul@apa-agency.com
Online: Sneak Attack, Zach Hinkle, zach@sneakattackmedia.com
Label: tinyOGRE, marketing@tinyOGREent.com
61 Views
11:09:30 09/29/11
Faster Than The Speed Of Light – Paranormal Report 84
[LESS INFO] 61 VIEWS | ADDED 11:09:30 09/29/11
Einstein wrong? More Phoenix lights? Is Nic Cage a Vampire? We'll answer these questions and more on this edition of The Paranormal Report! –Jim Harold’s Campfire: True Ghost Stories– Also, please check out Jim Harold’s Campfire: True Ghost Stories. 73 tales of the strange and supernatural…pick it up at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com and fine bookstores everywhere! CLICK HERE for links on & info on how to get your copy signed!
63 Views
11:07:06 09/15/11
Man Pig – Paranormal Report 82
[LESS INFO] 63 VIEWS | ADDED 11:07:06 09/15/11
The guys look at great UFO video from around the world, a mirror that may be a portal to the other side and a man pig on this edition of TPR! Show Notes are HERE --Jim Harold's Campfire: True Ghost Stories-- This episode of TPR is brought to you by Jim Harold's Campfire: True Ghost Stories . 73 tales of the strange and supernatural...pick it up at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com and fine bookstores everywhere! CLICK HERE for links on & info on how to get your copy signed!
0 Views
16:11:45 08/09/11
How to Make S'mores Brownies
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 16:11:45 08/09/11
One of the best parts of camping is crowding around a roaring campfire and roasting marshmallows for a S’more. http://www.WatchMojo.com shows you how to get the campfire flavor at home with S’mores Brownies.
35 Views
14:35:50 06/02/11
Product Review Quick Start Firestarter Fuel Cells
[LESS INFO] 35 VIEWS | ADDED 14:35:50 06/02/11
This is a look at the Quick Start Firestarter Fuel Cells by LCL Hunting Shop.
1 Views
04:03:29 05/26/11
Video: Forest patrols crack down on illegal burning
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 04:03:29 05/26/11
we found out today while working on a story about extra fire patrols in the sandia mountains. patrols will be out in force for the busy memorial day weekend. joe vigil is live in sandia park with what those patrols have uncovered so far. the sandias are under stage two fire restrictions which means no open burning---something patrols have seen plenty of lately. some people who live in the east mountains get a little tense minute thumbnail 10:04 pm around memorial day weekend with more people out to potentially spark a fire. "well i worry. we have a lot of animals, horses, dogs and stuff so we worry about being gone and not having anyone to get the animals out." the forest service has taped off grills at picnic areas because open fires are not allowed. but that hasn't stopped people from burning elsewhere. listen to what's happened since fire restrictions went into place may 9th. "we've had ten abandoned campfires. that we have found and not cited anybody for. 10? 10." some mountain residents weren't happy to hear that. "i think that if somebody came outside and saw how really dry it was out here and walked around in the forest they probably wouldn't do that. it's extremely extremely dry." and all of those abandoned campfires were smoldering at the time patrols found them. "we would call everyone of those a good catch that potentially saved the forest from a large wildfire." minute thumbnail 10:05 pm patrols caught 3 people who built campfires...and cited them. "fine for that is 125 dollars plus a filing fee." over memorial day weekend the district will have 9 of its own people out patrolling...alon g with two extra crews. including this one from the angeles national forest in california and another crew from idaho. the district requested the crews as part of severity funding because of dry conditions. if someone builds a campfire and it flares out of control they would have to pay for anything that burns---including houses.
2 Views
09:19:05 04/18/11
Homeless Man Charged for Sparking Texas Blaze
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 09:19:05 04/18/11
At least 18 homes are damaged in the Austin area after a homeless man apparently started a campfire that turned into a large wildfire. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.
73 Views
21:00:08 01/05/11
Cruising Has No Limits Preview
[LESS INFO] 73 VIEWS | ADDED 21:00:08 01/05/11
Skimming before caressing trade winds, savoring tropical landfalls, evading stormy seas—such is the image of the cruising life under sail. It is all this, but Lin and Larry's latest documentary: Cruising Has No Limits shows you how it can be so much more. Join Lin and Larry at their New Zealand home base as they recount some of their most memorable adventures during more than 30 years of cruising.
YOUTUBE RENTALS
Cruising Has No Limits is now available as a YouTube Rental for just $2.99 (US Only). Rent our sailing documentaries at TheSailingChannel YouTube Documentary Playlist . Sail with them across the Indian Ocean on board 29-foot, 9-inch Taleisin. Learn how they planned and executed a seven month "Champagne Safari on a Beer Budget," outfitting a 4X4 to reach remote corners of southern Africa. Share their memories of campfire evenings with Kalahari Bushmen, life in a sculptors' commune in Zimbabwe's northern reaches, and days of animal-watching at waterholes far from game reserves. Then voyage onward with them to Brazil , and see how two 14-year-old passengers led them into a unique, eight-month-long island encounter with nine Brazilian families who dreamed of their own off shore adventures. Finally, sail north through the Atlantic to Ireland's music-filled shores and a summer of history, classic sailing, and friendship.
Along the way, you'll learn some of the truisms that could help you get out adventuring sooner and more enjoyably—whether on the water or on land. You'll also come to know more about this longtime cruising couple who have been dubbed "the enablers" because of their enthusiasm and willingness to share their secrets for exploring the far corners of the world on a limited budget.
"After voyaging tens of thousands of engineless miles under sail, penning more useful marine books than Hiscock and Moitessier combined, and receiving more awards for their pursuits than Tom Hanks has for his, Lin and Larry Pardey are entitled to their well-earned nautical opinions."
—HERB McCORMACK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, CRUISING WORLD
VIDEO DOWNLOAD
TheSailingChannel.TV offers Cruising Has No Limits as a HIGH QUALITY VIDEO DOWNLOAD available in both Windows Media (WMV) and QuickTime (MOV) versions suitable for full screen viewing. JUST $12.99 . DVD also available.
Just pay with Paypal or your Credit Card, download and watch full screen on your PC or MAC.
Sailing Documentaries from $2.99.
13 Views
21:00:08 01/05/11
Cruising Has No Limits Preview
[LESS INFO] 13 VIEWS | ADDED 21:00:08 01/05/11
Skimming before caressing trade winds, savoring tropical landfalls, evading stormy seas—such is the image of the cruising life under sail. It is all this, but Lin and Larry's latest documentary: Cruising Has No Limits shows you how it can be so much more. Join Lin and Larry at their New Zealand home base as they recount some of their most memorable adventures during more than 30 years of cruising.
YOUTUBE RENTALS
Cruising Has No Limits is now available as a YouTube Rental for just $2.99 (US Only). Rent our sailing documentaries at TheSailingChannel YouTube Documentary Playlist . Sail with them across the Indian Ocean on board 29-foot, 9-inch Taleisin. Learn how they planned and executed a seven month "Champagne Safari on a Beer Budget," outfitting a 4X4 to reach remote corners of southern Africa. Share their memories of campfire evenings with Kalahari Bushmen, life in a sculptors' commune in Zimbabwe's northern reaches, and days of animal-watching at waterholes far from game reserves. Then voyage onward with them to Brazil , and see how two 14-year-old passengers led them into a unique, eight-month-long island encounter with nine Brazilian families who dreamed of their own off shore adventures. Finally, sail north through the Atlantic to Ireland's music-filled shores and a summer of history, classic sailing, and friendship.
Along the way, you'll learn some of the truisms that could help you get out adventuring sooner and more enjoyably—whether on the water or on land. You'll also come to know more about this longtime cruising couple who have been dubbed "the enablers" because of their enthusiasm and willingness to share their secrets for exploring the far corners of the world on a limited budget.
"After voyaging tens of thousands of engineless miles under sail, penning more useful marine books than Hiscock and Moitessier combined, and receiving more awards for their pursuits than Tom Hanks has for his, Lin and Larry Pardey are entitled to their well-earned nautical opinions."
—HERB McCORMACK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, CRUISING WORLD
VIDEO DOWNLOAD
TheSailingChannel.TV offers Cruising Has No Limits as a HIGH QUALITY VIDEO DOWNLOAD available in both Windows Media (WMV) and QuickTime (MOV) versions suitable for full screen viewing. JUST $12.99 . DVD also available.
Just pay with Paypal or your Credit Card, download and watch full screen on your PC or MAC.
Sailing Documentaries from $2.99.
14 Views
21:00:08 01/05/11
Cruising Has No Limits Preview
[LESS INFO] 14 VIEWS | ADDED 21:00:08 01/05/11
Skimming before caressing trade winds, savoring tropical landfalls, evading stormy seas—such is the image of the cruising life under sail. It is all this, but Lin and Larry's latest documentary: Cruising Has No Limits shows you how it can be so much more. Join Lin and Larry at their New Zealand home base as they recount some of their most memorable adventures during more than 30 years of cruising.
YOUTUBE RENTALS
Cruising Has No Limits is now available as a YouTube Rental for just $2.99 (US Only). Rent our sailing documentaries at TheSailingChannel YouTube Documentary Playlist . Sail with them across the Indian Ocean on board 29-foot, 9-inch Taleisin. Learn how they planned and executed a seven month "Champagne Safari on a Beer Budget," outfitting a 4X4 to reach remote corners of southern Africa. Share their memories of campfire evenings with Kalahari Bushmen, life in a sculptors' commune in Zimbabwe's northern reaches, and days of animal-watching at waterholes far from game reserves. Then voyage onward with them to Brazil , and see how two 14-year-old passengers led them into a unique, eight-month-long island encounter with nine Brazilian families who dreamed of their own off shore adventures. Finally, sail north through the Atlantic to Ireland's music-filled shores and a summer of history, classic sailing, and friendship.
Along the way, you'll learn some of the truisms that could help you get out adventuring sooner and more enjoyably—whether on the water or on land. You'll also come to know more about this longtime cruising couple who have been dubbed "the enablers" because of their enthusiasm and willingness to share their secrets for exploring the far corners of the world on a limited budget.
"After voyaging tens of thousands of engineless miles under sail, penning more useful marine books than Hiscock and Moitessier combined, and receiving more awards for their pursuits than Tom Hanks has for his, Lin and Larry Pardey are entitled to their well-earned nautical opinions."
—HERB McCORMACK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, CRUISING WORLD
VIDEO DOWNLOAD
TheSailingChannel.TV offers Cruising Has No Limits as a HIGH QUALITY VIDEO DOWNLOAD available in both Windows Media (WMV) and QuickTime (MOV) versions suitable for full screen viewing. JUST $12.99 . DVD also available.
Just pay with Paypal or your Credit Card, download and watch full screen on your PC or MAC.
Sailing Documentaries from $2.99.
0 Views
03:00:59 10/05/09
Roasting Marshmellows
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 03:00:59 10/05/09
Flash | Quicktime There’s nothing better than sitting in the backyard at night by the campfire roasting marshmellows!
