American Pinup Leads a Stellar Indie-Line up at The Fox and King's Annual Farewell Summer Show

American Pinup at Arlene's Grocery. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Last weekend, we bid the summer season adieu with our 5th annual Farewell Summer Show at New York’s famed Arlene’s Grocery. Our closing party featured a stellar line up of indie-rock trios that crushed the stage with a gut-pounding performance and electrifying sounds that pulverized its way across the Lower East Side.

In front of a hands-on crowd that Saturday evening, Mala Vista, FREAKABOUT and American Pinup reverberated the sounds of 70’s punk rock, early 90’s grunge and alternative heartland rock that helped forged the halls of the famed LES venue twenty years ago. Each band displayed a roaring, smoky and exhilarating live performance that blew us all away. Coupled with detailed lyrical compositions and complex musical arrangements, these emerging acts set blaze to a storm of sonic energy, gripping vocals and static chords that set new standards for how our Farewell Summer Shows should be.

Myke Miranda on the strings and vocals at Arlene's Grocery. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Mala Vista kicked off the show with a late 70’s punk rock statement synonymous of the days when The Ramones and the Clash blew the lights out on every corner of The Bowery and East London. Their presence on stage was commanding, economical and innovative. The dominance of their grungy-esque sound, elevated vocals and driving guitar licks portrayed a level of confidence and a no-nonsense attitude that forced us to listen and pay attention.

On Mala Vista’s punk anthem “Bare Bones,” lead vocalist/guitarist, Myke Miranda, portrayed a politically charge vocal that catapulted an array of expressive notes and an oppressing reach. Bassist, Manuel Labour, and drummer, Jordache®, set off an explosive supporting role with exceptionally lean beats and a vicious baseline. With accompanying performances of several covers, this band was an amazing opening act that helped prepare the crowd for the rest of our closing party.

Jordache on the bass at Arlene's Grocery. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Another impressive act that evening, FREAKABOUT, came all the way out from Omaha, Nebraska to kick off their national tour with headliner, American Pinup. Both bands had their anchor dates the night before and were sharing the bill together for a second-straight time in New York. The four-piece act, embedded in classic rock’ n’ roll, steer-headed a dynamic performance with an abundance of energizing sounds, vicious guitar riffs and conquering beats.

Cortney Kirby’s powerful, yet sensual voice, embraced our ears with powerful lyrical compositions that sent our minds floating in a mist of rock and pop melodies. Her roaring vocals portrayed a gentle touch that took command of the audience and guided them through a heart-pounding experience through a journey of how rock ‘n’ roll music is supposed to be.

Aaron Galvin ripping the guitar. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Cortney Kirby on vocals at Arlene's Grocery. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Aaron Galvin’s kick-ass guitar play blew the amplifiers and speakers away with a thunderous assault on the strings, echoing the sounds of heavy blues and hardline rock. Along with drummer, Ian Francis, and bassists, Ben Frerichs, FREAKABOUT put on a masterful live performance that elicit a unique heartland and hard rock sound that had audiences bobbing their head and moving their hips.

American Pinup headlined our Farewell Summer Show with a galvanizing performance that swept Arlene’s off their feet. The three-piece alternative-punk and pop-rock band was sonorously provocative with fist-clenching vocals, leathery beats and an unyielding guitar play that pressured us to breakdown the walls.

Lauren West at Arlene's Grocery. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

With thoughtful music arrangements and seasoned lyrical depth, front crooner, Lauren West, provided a boisterous indie-rock howl that was both versatile and gripping. West’s savvy and rapturous melodies generated edgy hooks and a rousing punk-rock attitude that twisted itself around the band’s music and lyrical structure. John Casale’s vicious drum set rendered a stringent assault of hard-iron beats and impetuous grooves that drew from the band’s expressive punk-rock persona and pop rock explosiveness. Along with a juicy baseline by bassist, Tim Robbins, American Pinup showed us why they're one of the most robust and versatile live acts in the indie-scene today.

John Casale on drums and Tim Robbins on bass at Arlene's Grocery. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Each year we try and pull off something magical and different for you – the fans – for our annual Farewell Summer. Whether it’s extra merch, more bands on the bill or deals at the door, we’ve always put our friends, audiences and artists first: this year was no different. This was truly something special. With three insanely impressive bands, a great crowd and good vibes, this year’s Farewell Summer Show blew the doors off. With a gnarly pro-expressive attitude, these indie live acts provided gut-busting rhythms, savvy grooves, beefy vocals and flaying electric riffs that came out and conquered us all, allowing us to fall victim to the music that we heart the most: rock’ n’ roll. We couldn’t thank you all enough for being with us for the taking.

Listen, like and follow Mala Vista, FREAKABOUT and American Pinup below. Also check out our show recap on our You Tube page below.

Show Recap

Mala Vista

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FREAKABOUT

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American Pinup

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Kapali Long woos crowds on the East Coast leg of “The Different Tour 2016”

With nothing but two guitars and a backpack, Hawaii’s very own Kapali Long, met with The Fox and King in February to kick off the east coast leg of “The Different Tour 2016” in an effort to promote his brand new EP, “The Different.”

Stemming from a beautiful family heritage of Hawaiian folk musicians, Kapali Long started playing acoustic singer-songwriter music at a young age. The aspiring guitarist began playing music at the age of three where he first learned to play piano. He would eventually go on to master the guitar and adopt an early 90’s alternative style that combined captivating lyrics, with vivid storytelling and features derived from traditional Hawaiian folk music.

“I’ve always played acoustic singer-songwriter music ever since I was 14, playing four-hour gigs in coffee shops - covering Van Morrison; to Led Zeppelin; to Brand New; to Taking Back Sunday – it was everything,” Kapali says. “Now I’m back again, 10 years later, playing acoustic singer-songwriter, bluesy, folk, rock-stuff with Hawaiian influences.”

Kapali Long arrived from Los Angeles to New York after performing at the Nissan® Grand Plaza stage at NAMM 2016 (National Association of Music Merchants) where he performed for 20,000 people on the KIA Soul Main Stage. In his first New York performance in over two years, the multi-instrumentalist performed at the lower east side’s very own, Pianos, sharing the bill with other talented emerging artists. Kapali rocked the two-story venue on the first stop of “The Different Tour 2016,” crooning the intimate crowd with a commanding, yet mellow; vocal that illustrated the sounds of blues and hints of Kapali’s traditional folk influences. He transitioned his raw and invigorating performance to another equally legendary venue, Arlene’s Grocery, wooing a hushed crowd on a frigid Valentines Day weekend.

Kapali Long performing at Pianos

During the second week on the NYC tour, Kapali took part in an open mic session at Black Rose, playing along side fantastic local musicians and performers. He also performed at the industry renowned Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1, in front of a full room of fans. His passion for music and sensuous voice lit up the Lower East Side, drawing the audience to a tentative and tranquil state. You could feel the joy and soul of Kapali’s performance radiating off the stage.

“It’s cool to do that at least one time in your set, but for every song the crowd pretty much stopped,” Kapali says. “Those people were there for the lyrics. Getting to share my stories is what fuels me to keep going and keep doing this.”

Kapali plays Rockwood Music Hall

Alongside The Fox and King and production company, For The Xperience, Kapali filmed his first featured music video for the track, “Between Then & Now." Coincidentally, it's a song Kapali wrote just two years earlier when he first came to New York. One day removed from his stellar performance at Rockwood, the TFAK and For the Xperience crew drove Kapali out to the Bushwick and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn. This grassroots production featured Kapali on location, capturing shots of concrete murals, art, historical landmarks, open parks and the Manhattan skyline itself.

Kapali also interviewed with TFAK’s very own, Kevin Vallejos, to provide fans and audiences a clean and more insightful look at where he's been, where the journey as a musician has taking him, what’s next for his music and what to expect from his upcoming album. The interview and video will be featured in a soon-to-be-released mini-documentary about Kapali’s east coast tour in New York.

Behind the scenes with Kapali for his first official music video "Between Then and Now"

Kapali Long’s time in New York has illustrated how far he has come from being the young talented guitarist that soothed coffee enthusiasts in his native hometown of Honolulu. In what has taken him years to forge, Kapali Long is a versatile force in the independent acoustic music scene that has adopted the ability to persuade us with a sense of empathy and compassion. Through the kindness of his music, Kapali continues to share his harmonious lyrics through the spirit of aloha and persuade his fans to cherish how music can bring people together.

“What I’m trying to do is spread the awareness of aloha and just passing it forward,” Kapali revealed. “That’s just the message that I’ve embodied in my music: pass that love forward.”