NYC Scene Report – The Bobby Lees, Local Nomad, & Tambino

This week’s NYC Scene Report features The Bobby Lees making us “Move,” Local Nomad’s NYC themed video for “Gates,” and Tambino watching the sun rise.

* If you believe that rock n roll should be loud, filled with attitude, and inspire you to want to go berserk … first off, you’re right, and second, let me introduce you to The Bobby Lees.

A garage rock band from Woodstock, NY, The Bobby Lees will be releasing their new album, Skin Suit, July 17th via Alive Naturalsound Records. The album was produced by Jon Spencer, of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion fame, with the most recent single being “Move.”

Filled with youthful exuberance, “Move” will undoubtedly inspire you to get out of your seat and go nuts. Give it a listen.


* Long Island-based alternative artist Local Nomad has released a video for his latest single, “Gates,” that is so pure NYC it’s wonderful.

No, there aren’t shots of major landmarks, or tourist attractions. Instead, you’ll find the lyrics of “Gates” appearing on various items you’d see while walking down the street, or using public transportation – in other words, the simple things that give the city its soul.

“Gates” is the second single off Local Nomad’s forthcoming EP, due out later this year, and he explained the inspiration for the song in a statement, saying, “I wrote ‘Gates’ about trying to get through the age of 28, and helping my friend battle Xanax withdrawals. At the time I was gigging 6 nights a week, working a 9 to 5, and driving to New Jersey every weekend to write music with, and support, this friend. One day while in a session I was given an ultimatum that I could either go buy a bottle of Jack to keep the recording going, or we would stop working on music for the weekend. We bounced out the track and took a ride to the liquor store. As we pulled out of the driveway I noticed the number of my friends house was 28 … the street sign was Gates.”

Local Nomad continued, adding, “On our way to the liquor store I wrote the first verse and top line in my car – ‘No one knows you like I know you.’ That drive fused the chorus and verse lyrics together. A song that sounded romantic became an anthem of friendship. Ultimately this song is about trying to help someone out of a dark place, and the different hurdles we need to jump to overcome hardship.”

Click play, and swing open Local Nomad’s “Gates.”


* Peruvian-born NYC-based artist Tambino will be releasing his self-titled debut EP on May 12th, the lead single off of which is “El Amanecer,” which translates to “The Dawn” in English.

Synth heavy, and with the feel of an early ‘90s song, “El Amanecer” is all about the moments and emotions that come when you’re leaving a party, and it’s that strange hour that straddles the border of late night and early morning.

Tambino further explained the inspiration for the song, saying, “‘El Amanecer’ is about a hazy moment in the late night/early morning, walking the empty streets with your partner, or friend, and hearing reggaeton beats echoing in the distance. It’s a song about feeling disconnected even though you’re in the middle of it all.”

Click play, and connect with Tambino.


For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.