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WailingCity 2011 Year End Survey

by Corrine Jensen & Meghan Kllimade

2011 was the Chinese calendar’s year of the rabbit. Here in New London it was the year of kick-ass music. From the biggest and best Whalies thus far, to the long-awaited CD releases from some of our favorite artists, to show after amazing show put on by both local musicians and ones visiting from all over the country.

WailingCity.com asked a few few local musicians, show-goers, and music lovers to name their 2011 New London County band and song of the year and below are their answers. Some are pretty typical and some are a pleasant surprise, but they are all as diverse as our extrememly talented local music scene. And though there are no awards associated with being on this list, I’m sure there will be a bit of bragging rights among your favorite singers, bands, rappers and DJs and who knows what the future holds? I mean, The Whalies are only a few short months away…

 

 

 

Sue Menhart: (of The Sue Menhart Band)
Band: Definitely the year of Steve Elci. He was just everywhere, he signed an international publishing deal, and will have a new CD coming up in 2012. He's just an incredible songwriter and I've heard the new songs. He's about to blow children's music out of the water!
Song: Speaking of water, my fav song of 2011 was the Franklin Brothers' "I've Been to the Waters" off their Lifeboat to Nowhere CD. It's got a Jackson Browne feel, and I just love the musicianship on it, the message, and how it sounds new, old, and familiar at the same time.

 

Marko Fontaine: (DJ at WCNI & WECS / Show goer)
Band: I gotta go with the Year of The Suicide Dolls. Between the (still ongoing) release of the long awaited Prayers In Parking Lots and their fabulous live shows, they're a lock.
Song: Song of the year? Pish posh! Album of the Year: for me, it's a tie between Erik Lamb's wonderful Blow Up Dolls and the Suicide Doll's Prayers In Parking Lot.

 Some extra 2011 mentions Marko sent us...
Top live show: The Royale Brothers' reunion show has to take the prize.
Honorable mention for top live show: the return of Above/Below this past summer.
Best New Band of 2011: Wrist Like This
Surprise of 2011: The emergence of hip hip artists like Skobie Won, Erik Lamb, N.M.E. The Illest, etc. A welcome addition to our eclectic family!

 

Anne Castellano: (DJ at WCNI / musician Anne Castellano)
Band: My band of the year would be the The Suicide Dolls.
Song: The song of the year would be their song "Smash". Listening to it on their album right now and it sounds great!

Andrew "Doc" Proctor: (Show goer / Freelance Film for New London Band Tube)
Band: The Weird Beards. No show was the same and they are creatively epic. They always bring it, you have to be there to experience them you can't explain it but it's a creative revolution. They always put on a show. I think they will be artiest of the year, next year and I really hope they go far. Skidmore has created a Beard cultural with lobsters, ukes; stand up base, amazing lyrics and pure fun that they have playing with one another. And that's an Aaarrreeeeyaka!!!
Song: Burnouts from Outer Space "Ms Brown". Pure Rock heaven. I wish they would play this more. Pete Barrera kills the solos every time they play this one. Pete might be one of the most underrated guitar players of this region when he wants to bring it he kills it. All of the burnouts are amazing no duds in that band. Jason on guitar blowing it away having a blast. Dave on base sounds killer on Ms Brown. Scott keeps it all steady as Bobby tells the story Ms brown. "Then you love me, then you hate me"

 

Daphne Lee Martin: (of Daphne Lee Martin & Raise The Rent / Manager & Owner of The Telegraph)
Band: Sexual Healing was probably my act of 2011. Working with them was a hoot!
Song: "Bee Keeper" by the Paul Brockett Roadshow was the one song on the comp this year that really got me, so charming I can't even stand it! Although, if I had to choose a 2nd unreleased song, it would be Matt Gouette covering Sandy Allen's "If You Ever Need Me".

 

 

Stephanie Johnson: (Show goer / Graphic Design Artist)
Band: Estrogen & Tonic
Song: "Blow Up Dolls" by Erik Lamb

 

 

 

Shannon Richardson: (Show goer / Bartender at The Oasis)
DJ: I have seen many awesome shows this year, but 2011 was definitely the year of crazy dance parties. And the djs that raised the bar with their laser light infused madness and booty shaking beats are none other than Bad Manners. Those guys fill a room every time and the peeps dance until their clothes come off. Gotta say that's pretty fantastic!
Song: As for song of the year for me I can not stop singing Friends songs. "I'm his girl" replays over and over in my head and I love it. I could hear that song everyday and it wouldn't get old. It's fantastic! I know it's not local but Sam is so I'm sticking with it!

 

Karrie Bulger: (DJ at WCNI / Show goer / The Telegraph crew)
Band: Natural Fathers' performance at Bank Street Cafe March 6th, 2011. It was my first time seeing them live and at the time they were still a 2 piece- I was so impressed by their raw energy.
Song: "I Was Born On A Mountain" by Natural Fathers - as a result of seeing said live show- I ended up annoying friends and family for months playing this song on repeat... as loud as possible. Best to listen to in car or shower- loudly.

 

Ben LaRose: (drummer of Recur Occurrence / Matzah Cigar)
Band:  Gone For Good
Song: "Smash" by  The Suicide Dolls

 

John Fries: (of John Fries & The Heat)
Band: Well, one of the things I enjoyed most was catching Frank Lo dj-ing at the Y-Knot on Thursday nights. Totally not what I do musically but that made it a great change for the ears & very well done by Frank Lo.

 

 

Corina Malbaurn: (bassist from Recur Occurrence / Hellbent & Heartbreakin / Corina & The Wenchmen)
Band:  Bedroom Rehab Corporation
Song: "Fork Tongue Baby" by Bedroom Rehab Corporation.... I love that tune, the bass line is killer!

 

Michelle Montavon: (bassist of The Suicide Dolls)
Band: I really liked Gone For Good 's new album... I thought it was great! I thought Recur Occurrence's cosmo single was awesome, too.
Song: Bedroom Rehab Corporation's cover of The Rivergods "The Point" as well as the Brazen Hussy song we covered, "About You". They were my 2 favorite songs from 2011, and also the 2 songs i had stuck in my head for months!
Best New Band of 2011: I also recently saw Wrist Like This for the first time, and i would absolutely say they are my favorite local band to emerge from 2011. I can't wait to play more shows with them! Also, Burnouts from Outer Space were an awesome addition to the nL music scene this year. I'm looking forward to their album in 2012!

 

Chris Jelden: (Show goer)
Band: Pocket Vinyl - I discovered Pocket Vinyl in 2011. New to New London area they put on an amazing show mixing piano and painting onstage.
Song: GraveRobbers "Whaling City Blues" - A local artist singing about home. Pandering? Maybe. But it worked on me.

 

 

Meghan Killimade: (drummer of Paul Brockett Roadshow & Bedroom Rehab Corporation / Admin & founder of WailingCity.com)
Band: This was a hard question. For me it was a tie between Burnouts from Outer Space and The Suicide Dolls. Both bands have put a huge amount of time and effort in this year... as well as played some amazing shows!
Song: I think the song of the year for me is "Nostradamus" by Daphne Lee Martin (Rasie The Rent) & Erik Lamb/Skobie Won (Sexual Healing). What an amazing collaboration this was! Seriously has been stuck in my head since I heard it!!
Top live show: Depot Memorial Reunion Weekend July 2011 @ The El-N-Gee Club (Doug, Golgo, Afflicted, 17 Relics, Mouth Full Of Dimes, 3$ Depth Charge etc) AND the Low-Beam reunion set at The Whalie's was amazing too!!
Best New Band of 2011: Wrist Like This

 

Adam Wujtewicz: (bassist of Bedroom Rehab Corporation / Music Critic for WailingCity.com)
Band: The Suicide Dolls
Song: "Senses" by  The Suicide Dolls
Top live show: The Royale Brothers reunion show at Backstage Rock Bar with Estrogen & Tonic and Wrist Like This
Best New Band of 2011: Burnouts from Outer Space
Band I'll miss the most: Amido Black

 

Corrine Jensen: (Show goer / Staff writer for WailingCity.com)
Band: Barefoot Truth. This band is great. Their songs are catchy and their lyrics are made of substance. I appreciate what this talented band from Mystic is out there doing and creating and they have me dancing in the clouds.
Song: "Saratoga Rain" by Daphne Lee Martin and Raise the Rent. Much like most of Daphne's music, this song is smokey, smooth and effortlessly sexy. A haunting melody with the power to take me away to another place and time, maybe a dream or a memory... either way, it's real nice there.