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If anyone ever wondered what Pink Floyd would have sounded like in 1966 with Paul McCartney replacing Syd Barrett as their acid-tanned creative force, Blastronauts step up to offer a parallel universe glimpse into the possibility. Driven by James Allison and Jacob Halpern and populated by a rotating cast of live and session members, Blastronauts strut and jam with contemporary psychedelic Folk/Funk wackness.
< Dig It: Royal Crescent Mob on electric Kool-Aid at a stoner Rock picnic (BB) - City Beat, cincinnati
This American Duo Create Beautiful Acoustic Melancholic Epics... - www.gigwise.com
Spaced out
By Amanda Heironimus
So you won't make it down to Austin for South by Southwest this year? Never fear. Local indie-rock outfit Blastronauts has organized a mini-festival at home to celebrate the release of their debut EP, Interstellar Groove Machine. The Outer Sounds music festival encompasses two evenings of live indie, psychedelic, alternative and folk rock, with each night culminating in a 45-minute Blastronauts set.
Blastronauts bandmates James Allison and Jacob Halpern spun what started out as a booking error (the band was invited to release their EP at both clubs on consecutive nights) into an opportunity to highlight Ohio talent.
"A lot of bands are seeing music as a competition, and we want to blast away that perception, because it doesn't really help anyone," Allison said. "[The festival] really shows that the whole state is thriving with talent."
Wednesday's event at Rumba Cafe includes Nick Cline, Jonathan Hape, Jon Chinn and Jason Quicksall. Scarlet & Grey Cafe will host Thursday's event with Aperture, The Existentialist Tea Party, Our Cat Philip, Russenorsk and Zephuros. Allison plans to keep things lively between sets with stand-up comedians and a little spinning by DJ Lyno and Redline.
http://www.columbusalive.com/?sec=music&story=alive/2008/0306/m-blastronauts.html - Columbus Alive
James Allison and Jacob Halpern are Blastronauts, a two-person band that splits their time between Columbus and Boston. Their sound is a mix of trippy layered folk, alt-pop, and a touch of pop-punk. And throw in some garage rockabilly too, while you’re at it. In reality, the sound is less of a mix and more of a mutt -- you picture something really ugly, but when you actually meet it, you want to take it home.
Blastronauts are the headliners and brainstormers of Outer Sounds, a music festival featuring local bands that they hope will be an annual Columbus event. The festival is split, with the first shows taking place at Rumba Cafe on Wednesday, March 12 and the following night’s festivities being held at Scarlet & Gray Cafe.
The idea for the two-night Outer Sounds Music Festival came to them while scheduling shows for the brief window in March when Jacob will be in Columbus. They ended up scheduling two venues for back-to-back nights -- a definite local music no-no.
“We were just trying to think of how we could play two shows in Columbus in such a short time period without it screwing us over or pissing people off,” James laughs.
But as the idea of Outer Sounds began taking shape, other reasons for doing the music fest became more clear.
“We feel like nothing’s going to help us unless we try and help the scene,” James told LotC. “The only way to get your band to the next level is if the music scene gets to the next level. Columbus has a great music scene -- it might already be at the next level -- but as a band you gotta help out and really promote it.”
The Outer Sounds features a total of 10 bands. Playing at Rumba will be Blastronauts, Jason Quicksall, Jon Chinn, Jonathan Hape, and Nick Cline. At Scarlet and Gray will be Blastronauts, Our Cat Philip, Russenorsk (from Athens), The Existentialist Tea Party (Blastronauts’ side project), Zephuros (from Athens), and Aperture.
Blastronauts will be going back to the East Coast right after Outer Sounds wraps up to open for Junior Revolution at The Cake Shop in New York City.
Their new 5-track EP (plus a bonus acoustic track) will be available at the two nights of the festival.
http://www.lifeonthecbus.com/Feature%3A%20Blastronauts,%20Outer%20Sounds.html - Lifeonthecbus.com
A picture of a recent Blastronauts show was used in this article, available here:
http://www.playboy.com/blog/2008/07/get-out-of-your-garage.html - Playboy
Blastronauts are quickly taking off on their musical quest on the New York music scene. Starting in the summer of 2007 when core members James Allison and Jacob Halpern got creative and did nothing but jam for a month straight, the pair started recording and mixing every conceivable instrument they could get their hands on. After making some coherent sense of the musical nonsense, melodic epic tunes were born!!! Blastronauts will be playing a string of shows across the Cake ShopMarch 18!!! HOLY CRAP!!!
http://www.thedelimagazine.com/index.php?itemId=179580 - The Deli Magazine
A band called Blastronauts with Columbus tie-ins is the best live music option for the night. The band, with members based in New York, Boston and the UK, will convene in Columbus to present their contribution to the melancholy pop-rock canon, a set of songs that remain compact and catchy despite their space-rock leanings. They'll be at Bernie's, 1896 N. High St., with Athens' Russenorsk and Medina's Con and the Mongols. All three are likely to leave you with some pleasant melodies circulating come morning time. - Chris Deville- Columbus Alive
Blastronauts are a four piece band from the United tates/NYC/Boston/Ohio that play indie rock that is a bit more serious than their name suggests, but, all in all, a band that definitely has my interest right now.
- Pasta Primavera Blog
Blastronauts have hit pimp slapped us again with some lovingly crafted rising/falling pop music. I Am A Ferriswheel moves from some determined guitar strums into a drifting storybook like narrative on the life of a ferriswheel. We get pulled back up by some drums and singalong vocals, and then we get a nice climaxing whoa chanting finale. The world is on fire and we like it. - The Tape (www.thetapeisnotsticky.com)
Mod-obsessed indie rockers/Elephant 6 associates Dressy Bessy make their way from Denver to Bernie's, 1896 N. High St. They'll be joined by Minneapolis tour mates One for the Team and newish local band Blastronauts, whose live show reminds me of '90s-era, pre-soft bulletin Flaming Lips. My preview has more. 9 p.m. doors, $6 cover. - Columbus Alive - Chris Deville
Discography
Interstellar Groove Machine (2008)
1. Shoot Me Dear
2. Ten Black Horses
3. In a Fire
4. Space Love
5. The Croc
*Bonus Track* L.E.D acoustic
I am a Ferriswheel (single) 2008
1. I am a Ferriswheel
2. The Sun's in your Eyes acoustic
3. I am a Ferriswheel acoustic demo
Galileo August, 2009
1. Psychedelic Portabello
2. I am a Ferriswheel
3. Even the Score
4. It's Party Time
5. L.E.D
Photos
Bio
Space, stars, planets, NASA, rockets�blastronauts? Blastronauts is the brain child of duo James Allison and Jacob Halpern and is quickly gathering pace on its musical quest. After being in the popular rock group Jingo and playing in many other bands together and separately, in the US and abroad, James Allison and Jacob Halpern decided to reunite to form Blastronauts, later adding drummer Matt Whitslar to the mix. With an indie psychedelic sound that has garnered comparisons to the Flaming Lips, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Annuals and Royal Crescent Mob, interest in the group has taken off as the trio has embarked on numerous treks across the Northeast and Midwest. The trio released their debut EP, "Interstellar Groove Machine" in March 2008 as part of their own two night festival called "The Outer Sounds." Because of the success of the festival, The Outer Sounds has since become a weekly showcase of some of the best acts in indie, psychedelic, folk, and experimental rock in Columbus, OH and draws acts from all over the Midwest and the national scene, which Blastronauts continue to curate. The group also released a single at the end of 2008, "I am a Ferriswheel." The single received airplay on Columbus' biggest Radio station, CD101, as well as underground radio Columbus, WCRS Public Radio, WERS radio in boston, and Breakthru Internet Radio in New York. The last year has seen the group accomplish many feats including three festival appearances at the Mid American Music Festival in Omaha, the Midpoint Music Festival in Cincinnati (which they have been invited back for in 2009), and the Dayton Music Festival, a live flophouse session for the "band in boston" podcast, a live session on WERS radio in Boston, and live appearances with Gentlemen Auction House, Dressy Bessy (Elephant 6), Fastball, The Rosewood Thieves, Miniature Tigers, and Fink. The future holds many promising opportunities for Blastronauts with the continuing success of the Outer Sounds and a four part EP series based on famous astronomers, starting with the EP "Galileo," to be released in August, 2009.
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