Chico Fellini has arrived...

If you live in Lexington, KY then you know Chico Fellini. You know Emily Hagihara’s bass, Brandon Judd’s drums, Duane Lundy’s guitar and Chris Dennison’s voice. Most definitely Chris Dennison’s voice.

Perhaps Lexington's most ambitious band since The Scourge of the Sea, Chico Fellini has been going full speed ahead since their inception in 2006. Shows haven't been abundant, yet they have spanned the country, with the band playing CMJ and any of the local and regional dives that were worthy.

Though they had been hard at work for over a year polishing and perfecting their sound, the band seemed to have truly come into their own through their preparation for and their performance at Lexington's Beaux Arts Ball in 2008 (they will reprise their victory with another set at this year's Beaux Arts!). Only one who has attended a Beaux Arts Ball can understand the magic that takes place there. It’s an alternate reality with everyone in a costume of their own making, engaging in what seems to be a nonstop dance party, with the drinks flowing freely… it's impossible to describe and a tragedy to miss. To imagine what it must be like on that stage with hundreds of the most devout fans that money couldn’t even buy, could blow one’s mind. The result skyrocketed Chico Fellini into the studio to finish writing and recording their super ambitious, self-titled debut album.

Chico Fellini consists of nine songs in total, running a mere thirty minutes in length. Though the album is brief, it packs an undeniable punch. Chris Dennison’s vocals are undoubtedly the star, ranging from operatic to soaring falsetto; Dennison covers the bases that no one else does. He seems able to channel a thousand genres with one note, creating a sound and style all his own. Dennison’s vocal style and range bring to mind some sort of androgynous alien being, whose goal is to simply rock our socks off! Imagine Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons) at his weirdest, David Bowie at his most theatric, and Matthew Bellamy (of Muse) singing his hardest and you might have an inclination as to what Dennison is capable of.

Of course, Dennison is only part of the equation. Without his band, his voice would fall flat and thin, and that is what makes Chico Fellini such an impressive machine. No one can exist without the other. The four work together for one common goal; it is a dark, persistent, pulsing, and forever melodramatic goal, which they reach hand in hand. With Lundy’s piercing lead guitar, never too shy to make its way to the forefront, and the thundering, yet understated bass and drum work laying everything down and then keeping it all in check, no stone is left unturned.

Fact is, Chico Fellini is not for everyone. The androgynous but overt sexuality of these songs aren’t fit for the faint at heart and despite the fact that songs like “Despite The Mix Up” and “Electrolyte” are just as infectious as any current pop offering their non-traditional delivery and content will leave some folks scratching their heads. However, somehow I don’t think that appealing to the masses is anywhere near this band’s goal. Simply put, their quirks and theatrics will inevitably drive some away while endearing them to others. Which one are you?


Chico Fellini - self-titled

1. Despite The Mix Up
2. Electrolyte
3. Can’t Deny
4. Hot
5. Prelude
6. Down The Up Ladder
7. Control
8. No Strata
9. Uli

Chico Fellini will be released to the world Tuesday, March 24th and the band is having their CD Release Party at The Dame in downtown Lexington tonight, Saturday, March 21st!

Chico Fellini with Jupiter One and Oblio
Saturday, March 21st
At The Dame
156 West Main St.
Lexington, KY 40507
Doors at 8 p.m.
Show at 9 p.m.
$6
21+
Facebook event

All In Endeavors all the time.

In Endeavors is none other than 5 strapping, young, future superstars from our own metropolis of Lexington, KY. Master songsmith and lead guitarist Clifton Keller never fails to impress with his hook-laden, dance rockers. The band is hot to trot as they perform in support of their You've Got Your Friends, I've Got Mine EP, featuring a bevy of tunes that channel The Strokes at their most inspired. If you want to remember what it's like to be moved to dance to rock music then don't miss In Endeavors.

As of tomorrow night the band is starting their marathon run of three shows in two nights, the last of which is the release show for their new EP. Don't miss 'em!

In Endeavors live:
Thursday, January 8th - C.P.R. (8 p.m.)
w/Noisycrane, Pineapple Explode, Blueberry Fist and Matt Katzenmeijer

Thursday, January 8th - The Dame (11 p.m.)
w/500 Miles To Memphis, Matt Duncan and Cari Clara

Friday, January 9th - CD Release Show @ The Oleika Temple
w/Emarosa, Of Machines, Very Emergency, etc.

Visit In Endeavors on MySpace for more info.

Tonight in Lexington - E6 Holiday Surprise Tour!

The E6 Holiday Surprise Tour
Thursday Oct 26 at the Red Mile Round Barn
1200 Red Mile Road, Lexington, KY
All Ages - FREE - 8:30 p.m.

If you miss it, you be crazy!

Hooray for Sunday

The Minders and Marbles
The Dame in Lexington, KY
8.20.2006


Robert Schneider has been releasing material under the Marbles moniker since 1992; this is hardly a new endeavor. Schneider’s last Marbles release, Expo, came out in March of 2005 after which he did a nationwide tour with Clem Snide showcasing his newest brand of Casio-infused, ELO-inspired, dancetastic music across the land. These shows were being played specifically in support of the new album and there was an entire choreographed stage show that included Schneider performing as a spaceman with a giant boombox and essentially karaoking to his own songs. However, the show at The Dame on Sunday night was different; there was no new album to perform and no expectations placed on Schneider apart from warming the audience and readying the stage for old friends The Minders.

Schneider played an acoustic set of songs that ranged from the Apples’ debut album Fun Trick Noisemaker, the only other Marbles album Pyramid Landing (And other favorites), to the upcoming and highly-anticipated Apples release New Magnetic Wonder. I’ve seen Schneider perform many times, with all of his various endeavors but I have never seen a more comprehensive set. It was a wonderful treat to hear “Tidal Wave” and “She’s Just Like Me” sung onstage; I’m impressed Schneider still remembers them. I imagine such a low-stress show really gave him the freedom to play whatever he wanted to. In fact, many of the songs he did play were requests or suggestions from the audience; Martyn Leaper himself requested “Pine Away”.

Schneider is indeed a true performer; he never fails to entertain, not even when he stops mid-set to check his text messages.


Headlining the show was the Denver, CO based band The Minders. The Minders are close friends of Robert Schneider and, in fact, Schneider was sort of a founding member of the band. He was there from the get go and has been involved with the band, producing albums/songs, and contributing musically since its creation. The Minders produce exactly the kind of sounds that pop into one’s head when they think of the Elephant 6 collective. Googley-woogely pop goodness, with an obvious 60’s psychadelia influence. Martyn Leaper, the band’s premiere singer songwriter, has a great sense of melody and structure. His songs flow perfectly, with a mysterious lead guitar tone or a piano integrated at just the perfect moment, just the right amount of flare. The Minders’ new album It’s a Bright, Guilty World finds the band at the closest they’ve ever come to living up to their seminal debut Hooray For Tuesday, the pop album that is so perfect that not even its creators can top it.


The band’s performance was a perfect representation of their sound altogether. High energy, bouncing around, and all the stuff that makes you want to dance it! The set primarily featured songs from the new album but also included some extra surprises like a cover of the Syd Barrett song “Lucifer Sam” (from Pink Floyd’s Piper at the Gates of Dawn), “Now I Can Smile” and the show’s closer “Hooray For Tuesday”. The band itself is very tight and they seemed well rehearsed, which is pretty par for the course considering they’ve been touring with Of Montreal for the past month, playing in a new city every night. Leaper invited Robert Schneider onstage to play two songs with the band, the fuzz guitar track “357” and the classic “Hooray For Tuesday”. Both times Schneider was playing with the band it was evident how happy they all made each other; they seemed to be simply rejoicing in one another’s sheer presence. By the end of “Hooray For Tuesday”, on which Schneider assisted on tambourine and filling in the backing vocals, which he himself sang on the recording, it seemed that the band didn’t want to get off the stage any more than we wanted them to. It was an elating experience.