Athens based New Madrid comes to the Frequency this Wednesday, August 3rd. They are joined by (some Midwest love) Milwaukee’s Ladders and Sleeping Jesus from up North in Winona. Doors are at 8pm and the show starts at 9 – you won’t want to miss it!
New Madrid’s sophomore album “Sunswimmer” came to WSUM just as I arrived here in 2014, and we all had to review a CD as a part of our training – I chose Sunswimmer because of its cover’s hot, 70’s summer look. I wasn’t disappointed. New Madrid has the classic college -radio-psych-rock sound that you’re apt to hear on our airwaves at any point in the day: soundscape-esque, sluggish guitars and mushy vocals that I swoon over. Their newest album, “magnetkingmagnetqueen” (Normaltown Records) is undoubtedly the same vibe, but seems much more diverse and complete as an album. There are a lot of different influences on different tracks (notably, as they’ve mentioned, Television – listen to “Untitled III”), but it all comes together beautifully. At first I was a bit shocked to see that it was an hour and ten minutes, but the time passes quickly as you get lost in the dreamy world they’ve created.
Another thing it seemed I can’t go without mentioning is that they are from Athens (although groups from places with such music history like this must get sick of every review that mentions this). What I love about Athens is that, although there are so many different sounds coming from one city (how do you compare bands like R.E.M., of Montreal, and Reptar?), every single one has this undeniably southern feel to them. New Madrid is no exception, and while they may try to channel a more Northern-music-scene (or now, Australian?) psychedelic feel, they are still Georgians.
Join me at the Frequency Wednesday night to see this group – I can’t see what kind of show they put on for us! More information here!
