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Illicitizen – October 28, 2011
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Stan Says:
Illicitizen has a great sound that isn’t heard often anymore. Very much a new wave soun...Stan Says:
Illicitizen has a great sound that isn’t heard often anymore. Very much a new wave sound yet not in a bad way. I say that because I almost feel like I’m insulting them by calling them a “new wave” band, as they’re so much more than that. Initially I did hear a distinct Talking Heads sound, with Elvis Costello thrown in and some Joe Jackson (minus the piano). Illicitizen consists of two members, Maria Zaccaro and Eric Cavanaugh. Maria plays bass and has programmed the sequencer (and so much more) and is responsible for a large portion of their sound. Eric plays guitar and sings, which is why the rest of their sound relies on him. A great look all around as well as a great sound. Eric looks like a cross between Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello, yet totally cooler than either of those two (who, in my opinion do happen to look very cool themselves). Maria’s look honors Debbie Harry, in style and attitude. Though they have that New Wave sound, they’re not stuck in that era. They have a creative approach and a wonderful interplay between them and their instruments. The bass playing is fantastic, keeping the songs going yet great with Maria playing octaves and driving along runs. Eric’s guitar solos are sharp and melodic. Maria doesn’t smile, it’s part of the attitude though and the stage presence, which all works toward the great sound that they have.
Then they covered a Talking Heads song, “Psycho Killer”, which proved to me that their influences run deep. I say that because though Psycho Killer was a hit for the Talking Heads, it’s not a great hit of theirs and not as well known as “once in a lifetime” or “And She Was”. Originals by Illicitizen are also wonderful, they played one called “irresponsible”, which I found to be catchy and very radio friendly.
This band is not just a retro show, they’ve got their own sound and are really an enjoyable show to see as well as hear. I look forward to hearing anything they’ve recorded as well as seeing them perform again. If you like your early 80's New Wave with a modern twist, this is definitely the band for you. I happen to love that people are still into that sound!
Jodi Says:
Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccaro are what comprises Illicitizen. Maria plays bass mostly though I believe she did help program the machine that does drum beats and other random stuff for them. Eric does the vocals and guitar work. Their sound is definitely a pop/folk/indie sound that reminds me of the Talking Heads, crossed with Elvis Costello. Later in the set, I also heard what reminded me of They Might Be Giants, and also for just a moment Eric reminded me of the lead singer for Crash Test Dummies.
I was very impressed with the intricate bass lines that Maria threw all over the place. She had a song or two that reminded me of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers bass lines, and she definitely holds her own during the song creating a very fine underlying mesh of sound for Eric to work with. Eric does a few “talky” songs, which are not high on my list of things I enjoy in a song. They are minimal though, as most of the time he’s singing and he has a very good vocal range. Later in the evening, they covered “Psychokiller” by the Talking Heads, further emphasizing that similar sound.
One note is that Eric is very aware as an audience member. Before going on stage, he helped Bryan Bielanski of Angwish out by adjusting stuff on stage when he noticed something was amiss. To help out another musician during their set without thinking about it is very cool and respectable. Eric jokingly mentioned when he took stage that he was from Instanbul, NC which is between Concord and Huntersville. He is very charismatic on stage, silly, funny, and has a great time performing. I also enjoyed that lyrically he often uses more intelligent words, such as the word insidious being thrown in the middle of a verse. He also shows talent with the guitar and had a couple good guitar solos thrown into the mix.
If you like Elvis Costello or the Talking Heads, you’ve got to check these guys out. They just may surprise you with just how much talent they bring to the stage.
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The Illiest of Citizens
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By Correspondent: John Winn Fri, Apr 01, 2011
Illicitizen, Driven, and Drunk and Disorderly play...By Correspondent: John Winn Fri, Apr 01, 2011
Illicitizen, Driven, and Drunk and Disorderly play Somewhere Else.
Greensboro may have been more sedate than usual the evening of March 12, but as the street hummed with traffic, one tavern nearly throbbed with the sound of ear-splitting bass.
While motorists hurried from their weekend jaunts to get home, a crowd of dozens gathered at the Somewhere Else bar on West Friendly Avenue to hear some of the region's hottest bands in a concert for the ages.
...
Last on deck was Illicitizen. The Charlotte-based alt-rock duo may have been the last to grace the stage, but they still rocked the house, wooing the crowd with a collection of hits including the YouTube sensation "To Arms," "Minervamerica," "Two Eggs Any Style," and a host of others.
Eccentrically dressed in a 70's style leisure suit, frontman Eric Cavanaugh pulled the crowd in with his eerie, David Byrne-like voice, even as he alternated between quirky sets and some of the band's heavier material. Not to be outdone, bassist (and Cavanaugh's girlfriend) Maria Zaccaro managed to keep the crowd entertained with her own mix of bass and keyboard that kept the quirky vibe going well into the midnight hour.
As the evening wound down, the crowd spilled into the street, but the party isn't quite over. Illicitizen is scheduled to pay a visit to Elliot's Revue in Winston-Salem April 8, while Driven rocks the house at Deep South the bar in Raleigh on May 21.
By day, the duo composed of Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccaro are average, well-meaning, law-abiding citizens, coloring within the lines that society set for them. By night, they don their Chuck Taylors and latex skirts, breaking all the musical rules as indie group Illicitizen. The couple's rebellion against the tyranny of the Top 40 has earned them the praise of critics and a legion of fans from Boston to Savannah. Yet there's more to them than horn rimmed glasses and PBRs.
Magazine33 caught up with Eric and Maria. In a brief interview, they discussed their love of Parker guitars, animal rights, and the spark that started them on their musical journey.
33: When did you realize that you wanted to perform professionally as a musician? What were your musical influences?
Eric Cavanaugh: I think it was after college, as far as "professionally." I've always felt like a songwriter and a musician, but I tended to feel more like a composer or experimentalist. But after years of listening to punk rock records I realized that the people I valued just did what they wanted. That was an aesthetic I liked.
Maria Zaccaro: When I met Eric. Collaborating with Eric sparked a creative urge I forgot I had.
33: Your music has been described as a cross between the Talking Heads and the Clash. Any plans to don a giant suit while you're on tour?
EC: I have a fancy turquoise suit I think you'd dig. It's not BIG in the Byrneian sense, but larger than life.
33: You're an outspoken defender of animal rights. What sparked you to make that decision?
MZ: We both feel very strongly about this. The kindness and regard we show (or do not show) to other living creatures can indicate how we treat humans. That being said, humans are by and large not defenseless against cruelty while animals cannot defend against atrocities.
EC: Man is a bad animal.
33: What is the most unusual instrument you've ever played?
EC: I have an old analog synth that is pretty crazy. I think my first instrument choice of 5-string banjo speaks volumes.
MZ: Hardly unusual but...clarinet.
33: Why the love for Parker guitars? You must hate real America.
EC: Haha, my Parkers were made in the U.S.A. by Americans, paid a living wage to craft amazing instruments. I've always liked oddball looking guitars, but the Parkers are just worth the hyperbole. Nothing plays like a Parker. Also, you don't see many other people with them.
By Correspondent: John Winn
Born in an age of legwarmers, boomboxes, and MTV, John Winn still remembers a time when mixtapes were cool. The product of a musical family, from an early age he showed a precocious interest in rock 'n' roll. Finding the world of an ink-stained wretch much cooler, John traded his Fender guitar for a Bic pen, traveling the world interviewing musicians and non-musicians alike. His work has been featured in Racket magazine, Times Square.com, and Buzzy Multimedia, among others.
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Illicitizen - Illicitizen
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Charlotte, North Carolina's Illicitizen are Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccaro and their first release...Charlotte, North Carolina's Illicitizen are Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccaro and their first release, self-titled, is an eclectic mix of fluent blues guitar playing and soft, rhythmic synths and programming to back it up. The two-piece have combined their musical skills expertly to create this great first album, a real testament to their hard work and tireless effort.
A record of 17 tracks in length, it suffers from the problems that all long albums do whereby the first instinct is to be overwhelmed by the number of tracks even though the songs themselves are generally around 2-3 minutes in length. In terms of production there is very little to be rankled with, the only slight issue I have is the volume of the vocal production on some tracks but these small issues aside, Illicitizen have produced an LP of excellent quality for a debut release with very few flaws, and certainly something to be proud of.
Cavanaugh's vocal style echoes David Byrne from his Talking Heads days and a young Jarvis Cocker, slow, quiet yet attention-grabbing and melodic while Zaccaro's steady bass line, similar to that of Joy Division, compliments it wonderfully. The guitar blues are not revolutionary but the tight playing of Cavanaugh is implicative of an accomplished player and the programming is indicative of an imaginative and well-versed band.
Although the band claims to have a positive plethora of influences on their myspace page they have found a niche of their own within all of these and only time will tell how wide this will become. They certainly deserve the chance to make their mark on the big scene.
Tracklist:
1. Minervamerica (Radio Edit)
2. Detached
3. To Arms
4. Monstr0
5. Irresponsible
6. Overwrought
7. Second Best
8. New New One
9. Two Eggs Any Style
10. Olives and Almonds (Radio Edit)
11. Imagine That
12. Estate
13. Therapy
14. Gardenia Radicans
15. It Ends
16. Minervamerica
17. Olives and Almonds
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11/17/2011 Live Preview
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Illicitizen of Charlotte, N.C. is the duo of Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccaro, who make New Wave ele...Illicitizen of Charlotte, N.C. is the duo of Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccaro, who make New Wave electronica they’re quick to admit in their bio earns them comparison to the Talking Heads. But wait, there’s more! Their quirky songs also nod to modern hip-hop and ‘50s slow-dance-in-the-gym songs.
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A HOMEGROWN ACT WORTH WATCHING
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Illicitizen:
WHO: Quirky and original male/female indie-rock duo of Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccar...Illicitizen:
WHO: Quirky and original male/female indie-rock duo of Eric Cavanaugh and Maria Zaccaro that forgoes the popular guitar/drums configuration of most mixed-gender pairings in favor of guitar, bass and vocals against programmed rhythm tracks.
WHEN: 10 p.m. today.
WHERE: Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St.
WHY: The duo celebrates the release of its self-titled 17-track debut, which highlights demonstrative vocalist Cavanaugh, whose dramatic delivery echoes David Byrne in his Talking Heads days and Violent Femmes' Gordon Gano. On the' eclectic disk, the pair swerves from cabaret-folk to arty post-punk to jangly minor chord alt-pop without losing its, identity or its sense of humor on tracks like "Two Eggs Any Style," "Therapy" and "Olives and Almonds."
Tickets: $5. Details: 704-333-9799; www.snugrock.com.
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CD review: Illicitizen
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(By Jeff Hahne)
The Deal: Charlotte's Illicitizen independently releases its debut, self-titled CD ...(By Jeff Hahne)
The Deal: Charlotte's Illicitizen independently releases its debut, self-titled CD on June 4.
The Good: It's not easy to try and categorize the music of Illicitizen – hints of '80s rock, dark mod, indie rock, blues, punk, folk – combined with the fact no two songs sound the same musically. "Detached" reminded me of the tone of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" – though I couldn't decide if it was closer to Donovan or Butthole Surfers interpretation. The music retains a stripped-down, garage feeling to it, without sounding cheap or "high school." "New New One" had the vibe of a song from the 1950s with some punk riffs thrown over the top of it. "Two Eggs Any Style" uses a bit of a reggae groove in it.
The Bad: Using a programmed rhythm section can be limiting, but the band makes the best of it. There's not a whole lot of range in singer Eric Cavanaugh's voice – similar to David Byrne at times (see the Talking Heads vibe of "Imagine That" – which can sound a bit repetitive.
The Verdict: The band finds a way to be unique in its approach while combining familiar elements – giving them a foothold of their own on the music scene. Illicitizen will hold its CD release party at Snug Harbor on June 4, with Beloved Binge and Mumu Tutu.
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Illicitizen
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Illicitizen - Bands that meld together lots of styles of music are usually either A) lauded, more of...Illicitizen - Bands that meld together lots of styles of music are usually either A) lauded, more often than not if they're a younger band, and thus "reveling in their influences" or B) vilified, for not mastering a particular style. Illicitizen's Eric Cavanaugh, a Charlotte music scene veteran (The Blots, the vastly-underrated-at-the-time Frocky Jack) suggests a third paradigm: an open-minded bandleader who enjoys throwing his phonetical fishbasket into the sea and making dinner with whatever happens to come up. Not to further a food analogy, but think of it as cooking with seasonal, if not regional, ingredients, and putting together something that works: in this case, the songs themselves. Free, Keg & Cue, www.myspace.com/kegandcue (Timothy C. Davis)
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Illicitizen
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ILLICITIZEN A Two piece featuring guitarist/singer Eric Cavanaugh (ex-The Blots) and bassist Maria Z...ILLICITIZEN A Two piece featuring guitarist/singer Eric Cavanaugh (ex-The Blots) and bassist Maria Zaccaro, Illicitizen's demos for their upcoming full-length include promising touchstones from throughout the punk/post-punk era: the Jam's spiky beats, the Clash's agit-prop, early Elvis Costello snark, etc. Befitting the demo stage, the sound is a bit rough around the edges and should benefit from non-programmed beats. In other words, stay tuned. This is an item-donations Homeless Benefit, with Kimosabe and Holster also on the bill. Evening Muse ([Writer is John] Schacht).
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Illicitizen
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Our mog friend Doombilly from Illicitizen has posted up a latest demo that's well worth a listen. I ...Our mog friend Doombilly from Illicitizen has posted up a latest demo that's well worth a listen. I played it 3 times in a row, and it got better every time.It's hard to fit their music into a category and this song, "Monstr0", has all the passion of the classic 60's Folk protest song, beefed up, with an element of Indie pop sensibility that draws my attention to The Verve's 90's Britpop. In fact if one listens closely, Doombilly's voice has a boyish Richard Ashcroft sound to it.I like it a lot, particularly the lines, "I will steal your life, and come on to your wife,I disappeared your passport". The vitriol isn't haunting or threatening,it seems to represent a form of resignation to all the political, cultural and security mis-management that many of our friends across the pond feel right now.Give it a listen, I'm sure you'll like it, and give a fellow Mogger our support.Here's the link http://mog.com/doombilly/blog_post/58738Jeff
supersonic
