NYC Scene Report – Razor Braids, Bad Mary, & Back From Zero

This week’s NYC Scene Report features Razor Braids preparing to make a Big Wave, Bad Mary deciding to “Forget About It,” and Back From Zero “Taking Back the Night” with an homage to the classic film The Warriors.

* Razor Braids are gearing up for the release of their sophomore album, Big Wave, which is due out June 7th, and they recently whet listeners’ musical appetites with the single “It Goes Quiet.”

Discussing the song in a statement, the indie rock band, which is now a trio consisting of Hollye Bynum, Jilly Karande, and Janie Peacock, said, “‘It Goes Quiet’ is about the intrusive thoughts that live beneath the surface when you’re in love. It’s a song that delves into the innocuous, mundane things that you ask your partner, and how it sometimes feels like there’s this voice in the back of your head wanting to ask these big, totally out-of-pocket questions, but when you let yourself actually be present in the relationship with this person you care about so deeply, that voice melts away, and you get to bask in this safe, warm thing you’ve created together.”

The video for “It Goes Quiet,” which was conceptualized, directed, shot, and edited by Hollye, features Jilly simply trying to walk down the street, but she can’t because everyone keeps bumping into her. The clip is a metaphor for how intrusive thoughts can impede you. It’s also a pretty accurate portrayal of what it’s like to walk down a busy street in the city. By the end of the video I was like, “Stop bumping into Jilly! She’s awesome!”

Click play on “It Goes Quiet,” and you’ll think Razor Braids are awesome, too.

* Bad Mary are one of the most animated bands in NYC’s punk rock scene, so it only makes sense that frontwoman Amanda Mac takes on an animated look in the video for their song “Forget About It.”

“Forget About It” is a raucous, Blondie-esque romp from the band’s upcoming Better(er) Days EP, which is due out this Spring. The EP is a collection of re-recorded and remixed versions of songs from their first album, Better Days, which turns ten this year.

Bad Mary bassist Mike Staub discussed the band’s love of “Forget About It” in a statement, saying, “‘Forget About It is a song we’ve been playing in our sets for years. It’s probably the song that we have played the most as a band. An important part of every set, it’s been a crowd favorite forever. With Better(er) Days we really wanted to capture the live energy and the chaos of a song with less than two chords, one line of lyrics, and a one-note guitar solo.”

Having seen them live a number of times, I can tell you it gets no better(er) than Bad Mary. Click play on “Forget About It,” and get ready to have some fun.

* Speaking of fun times, I’m not sure anyone has ever had as much fun filming a video as NYC rockers Back From Zero had creating the clip for their song “Taking Back the Night.”

The video, which was filmed at Coney Island, and includes scenes shot at Coney Island Brewery, features the Back From Zero foursome of Dean Bonsignore (vocals), Austin Collins (guitar), Erik Samuelsen (drums), and Arthur Cognato (bass) playing numerous roles as the gangs from the classic film The Warriors. Those gangs try to stop the band from getting to a gig, with the band having to thwart them at every turn.

The song itself is a hard rock adrenaline rush, and it’s the first single from Back From Zero’s upcoming EP, Five, which is due out April 26th.

You can feel the rush of “Taking Back the Night” by clicking play … or perhaps I should say, by coming out to play-ay!

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