The Art Of Shooting

Kelly Irene Corson, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for the trio the Art of Shooting, uses her band as a way to transform formative and sometimes painful life experiences into melodramatic indie rock songs. "The Birdcage" is one such tune. Inspired by Corson's childhood kidnapping by a family member, the track veers from urgent and guitar-driven to quiet and chorale while Corson -- sometimes poetically, sometimes candidly -- sings about the incident. - WNYC Music Hub

"The Art Of Shooting juxtaposes dreamy shoegaze with crunchy, epic rock”
- Time Out New York

"Eerie, unearthly melodies promise to haunt your dreams."
- CMJ - CMJ

“These dynamic tuned, jerky rhythmed, acerbic tongued, goth tinged, two girl/one boy Brooklyn art punks might've fit right in on Rough Trade in 1980, or opening for Siouxsie a few years later.”
- Village Voice - Village Voice

“Singer/guitarist KELLY CORSON can go from a whisper to a scream at a moment’s notice.”
- The Big Takeover - The Big Takeover

There’s nothing wrong with wearing sequins to brunch. Nothing at all as far as Kelly Irene Corson, front woman for The Art of Shooting, is concerned. Still the Brooklyn-based Detroit native admits to some fashion flops, including a gig with her former band (Mystery RKO), The Von Bondies and The White Stripes, where she showed up in a vintage gown and feather slippers. “I don’t know how good it was, but I was like, ‘Really? This is my first show?’” laughs Corson. “I dressed like such an idiot. I don’t even know what the hell was going on.”

Over-the-top stage attire is not de rigueur nowadays for Corson, but some glitz is still required. A centerpiece of tangled Christmas lights shaped as a birdcage—perhaps an homage to single “The Birdcage,” off of TAOS’ debut Traveling Show (out April 27)—adorned the stage at a recent gig at Southpaw.

The feisty, blond singer, who once attempted singing opera and studying musical theater, says that things fell into place for her as soon as she discovered burlesque and indie rock and picked up a guitar six years ago. “I fell out of love with theater,” says Corson. “I like the sincerity, the honesty, the telling of your story, and that appealed to me far more than pretending you were someone else. Burlesque let my dancing out, and I never really liked acting anyway!”

Corson met her TAOS bandmates while all were in different bands. She immediately knew she had to work with drummer Jim Archer after seeing him play with band Renminbi one evening in D.C. He later relocated to Brooklyn along with bassist Julie Rozansky; guitarist Gavin was the final piece of the quartet’s puzzle. The band name originated while Corson was doing research on a fishing village in Quebec for legendary songwriter (“Stardust”) Hoagy Carmichael’s son and was shocked by some of the language used towards women and African Americans in the some of the late 19-century sporting journals. The most offensive one, “The Art of Shooting,” stuck with her.

Subtle bits of Kate Bush, Sugarcubes, PJ Harvey, the Cocteau Twins and Forget Cassettes are obvious influences on the band, but Corson names Belly’s 1993 debut Star a defining album for her. On Traveling Show, produced by Paul Mahajan (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The National) and Keith Souza (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), Corson channels her Tanya Donelly as a wickedly operatic Siouxsie or Amanda Palmer. More sullen tracks “One Minute Love Song” and “Traveling Show” educe the album’s darker theme of domestic violence.

“I was in an abusive relationship and that’s what Traveling Show is about,” shares Corson, who also stopped drinking before recording the album. “It’s about someone who just kept coming back and after a long time I realized, Wow, I’ve been with this person for years. It’s just about coming to terms with what it’s like being in that kind of relationship. That [track “Traveling Show”] and “No One Two” are about starting fresh and looking at it square in the eye for what it was. Yeah, it’s kind of a sad record.”

Not all somber, the pace picks up with the hypnotic throb of “The Birdcage” and “120 Man,” but even the more spine-tingling tracks evoke a glimmer of hope. “It’s really a personal record,” says Corson. “It used to be the more a song meant to me, the more I would take words out, but with this album I was like, ‘Fuck it, I’m putting names and social security numbers.’ Seriously, do you want a link? I’ll send you a link.” - New York Press

A colleague once wrote, "For every cockroach in New York City, there is a struggling musician banging away at a guitar in his bedroom." These days that adage seems most appropriate for the borough of Brooklyn, which churns out a band as frequently as an eye blink. The latest Brooklyn band to come across this desk is the shoegaze trio The Art of Shooting, fronted by chanteuse Kelly Irene Corson, whose penchant for melodramatic wordplay and artful arrangements seems to know no limits. The group's concise, 10-song debut offering Traveling Show details the travails and pangs of disappointment, heartache and the human condition in a way that is alluring, sensual and acerbic. Intrigued? You should be.

What separates The Art of Shooting from its peers is the band's gauzy way of exploring new ground, being playful and biting one minute, and languorous and twee, the next. Corson has the tortured yelps down pat and this dreamy concoction of feisty art-punk certainly has its fair share of high moments. Take for instance, album opener "Drinking and Dressing," which opens with blunt witticisms and careening guitars, before diving into "It Goes (Home)," a punchy exercise with sprite vocals and a jagged energy that is both rhythmic and charismatic. "One Minute Love Song," is gnomic and cute, as Corson tries to sing about despair and loneliness, and while it's a noble attempt, it's not nearly as sterling or as diamond-tipped as the sparkling "Orange," a radio-ready juggernaut that carves its way through the disc with a swagger and professionalism that's far too hard to ignore.

For all her manic displays of rage, Corson still knows how to be compelling and compassionate. On the ghostly haunt of "No One Two," she channels the warmness of St. Vincent and Feist, with a vibrato that is incredibly controlled, focused and downright captivating. Other vocal triumphs include the epic title track, a symphonic and moody exercise that is heavily nuanced and painstakingly controlled; and "The Keeper," a song, which honors its title by being something both indelible and irreverent. When the disc is towering forward, it almost feel as if Corson is aware of just how important the songs need to be. It's that effortless precision and skilled execution that is so frustrating about the disc.

While there are many inspiring moments, Traveling Show is still a bit of a mess. Angular, herky-jerky arrangements are certainly something to commend, but at times the entire exercise feels wanton and sloppy. "The Birdcage," is over the top in its concussive sentiments, while "120 Man," is stormy and violent. Most disappointing though is the disc's craggy closer, a screeching cut called "Pet." While raw passion and anger is certainly something to appreciate, the album's missteps are both profound and pivotal.

Being that the disc is an intensely personal project it's hard to admonish or disparage any more than what's laid out in the above paragraphs. In the end, Brooklyn has its fair share of upstarts and wannabes and The Art of Shooting may just be the dividing line that separates the pretenders from the contenders. While they're more closely aligned with the latter, their next release needs more consistency before they're relegated to the former.


Read more: http://www.myspace.com/theartofshooting#ixzz0v2B3u6ff
- Absolute Punk

On Traveling Show, the debut album from Brooklyn’s the Art of Shooting, the best moments come in the form of shoegaze-y songs like "One Minute Love Song" (which is actually three minutes and twelve seconds). But don't be fooled by the shoegaze label; this is a band that knows how to turn up the guitars and rock. "No One Two" is a pleasantly ethereal number that makes good use of front woman Kelly Irene Carson's sweet vocals, while tracks like "Orange" deify that sound and prove that even the most saccharine voice can develop some rough edges.

Art of Shooting’s jerky arrangements could use some work, though. On the repetitive "It Goes (Home)," there are noble attempts at leaping between genres on the turn of a guitar chord, but something is missing. Far worse is the banshee-driven speed rock closer, "Pet." Still, there’s definitely enough promise and ambition here to rouse curiosity about what's to come. Hopefully the band will have smoothed out the wrinkles in their sound by their next release. - Venus Magazine

"Although I try to dial back the drama in my personal life, I do enjoy listening to it in other people's music. The Art of Shootings debut album Traveling Show is 11 tracks of art punk melodrama. And that's a good thing.
Weaving a gauzy spider web of vocals, guitar and intensely personal lyrics this Brooklyn based group reminds us of one of the great powers of music; catharsis. For them and for the listener. This is most evident in the lead singer (and songwriter), Kelly Irene Corson's ability to go from a beautiful melodic mood to a screaming caterwaul all in one song.
The emotional roller coaster of this album is what makes it enjoyable. From the opening strains of "Drinking and Dressing" straight through to the more gritty closer "Pet" (unique due to its lack of vocals) TAOS never lets up. Midway through is the song "Birdcage", destined to be the albums' breakout hit. The song juxtaposes Kelly Irene's airy, almost ethereal vocals with an aggressive bass line and driving guitar (courtesy of Julie Rozansky and Gavin Dunaway) and provides further evidence of the bands wicked mood swings.
Traveling Show is riveting, but keeping up with the chaos can be tiring. I'm looking forward to hearing more from The Art of Shooting, hopefully after they work out some of their issues. Or get to know a good pharmacist."
—Pamela Obenchain

- Caught In The Carousel

Blurt! mag decided Kelly Irene wins the crown for "The Most Fucked Up Thing I Have Ever Seen"
http://blurt-online.com/features/view/632/

A pet rabbit, a spaz dog, and a cleavage-loving baby chick create mayhem. Guarantee: no animals were injured during the penning of this story.

BY KELLY IRENE CORSON

First of all, thank you for being interested in just what it is I'd think about anything. That in and of itself is much more attention than I ever thought I'd get.

On the topic of the most fucked up think I've ever seen, 1) There is not just one singular most fucked up thing I have ever seen. There are hundreds, and really, if I tell you about them directly, I think that would be one less song I could write, and I don't want that. I really don't even think I have it in me to share these stories with a large audience without getting cryptic in an effort to protect myself from rocking back and forth in a chair and lets face it folks, I'm three days off smokes and I don't' need that kind of pressure.

What I can do is share a little anecdote about a really silly sitcom like type thing.

When I was ten years old, I lived on a mountain in a hunting community in a hunting cabin with my parents, my three year old sister, and two pets. The pets were a lop eared rabbit with one bum leg with the ever prolific name of "Baby Bunny," and a golden retriever pup in Olympically trained condition named "Alex," that I ripped from Punky Brewster. While I loved Alex he was an unmanageable spaz, and the rabbit was my pet that I was all about. Keep in mind, I was ten. We kept my rabbit outside in a hutch on top of a four foot tree stump and one day, it got out. Who knows how? We assumed it got eaten by a snake or flew away on a magic rabbit carpet, but all we knew is that the thing wasn't there. It was either dead or out in the woods. In the deep creepy ass woods with snakes and critters and creepy crawlies. This metropolitan rabbit, from Detroit originally, who usually had nothing to fear but my little sister and who had known nothing better than cages and carpets and chewing through chords and pooping on paper, was now loose in the woods with a bum leg. I lost my kid mind, but kind of accepted she was a goner.

At school, one of our school projects was to incubate an egg to bring about the life of a little motherless chick and watch the process of hatching the chickie and then pass the thing around on weekends to make sure it didn't die. I offered up my family for this because well, my rabbit was gone, and I was a mess. Now, this seemed like a good idea at the time, but when we got the lil bugger home, it would not stop peeping, and I am talking the long sort of distressful panicked sound of precious Chickie peeping equivalent to that only of cat in heat or screaming colicky baby. This thing would not can it! After some time and many scientifically approved tactics, we found that the only thing that made that Chickie shut up was to stash it in my mom's cleavage. The thing was only contented hanging out in my mother's tube top. Nestled happily between her boobs. My mom didn't care for this so much, but it was a better alternative than listening to the thing peep the whole weekend. She's got a good sense of humor, so she went nearly a whole weekend with a Chickie in her bra.

What do these things have to do with one another you ask? Well, I will attempt to tie them in together to bring about the climax. Let me explain one more thing first. In this strange little hunting community, some people just lived there. Generally older folks retired there or what have you and some had these lovely little cottages, and at the same time some of them had penchants for keeping exotic birds. (This bizarre hobby is the premise for my song The Birdcage) So while we had this little Chickie in distress, my mother took myself, my sister, the dog on a leash, and the Chickie in her cleavage down to the nice neighbors' house to see if they had any sage advice for Chickie manageability. They did not, we left disheartened.

On the walk back, I was walking the dog, and my mom was holding my little sisters hand and the Chickie. All of a sudden, my dog gets an idea and rips the leash out of my hand and goes completely tearing into the woods all bat out of hell style. We're freaked out cuz "Oh, great, another ridiculous metropolitan born and raised pet lost into the wild." But then all of a sudden the dog pops back out of the woods in hot wild pursuit of MY RABBIT. The thing had somehow lived 4 days in the wilderness only to be outed by my spastic golden retrieved who didn't necessarily recognize it as a buddy, but probably more as food. I see the rabbit, and start screaming and crying, my sister freaks out and starts screaming and we're all running around trying to get the dog not to kill the rabbit, my mom trips and falls and almost crushes the Chickie, but no. Pandemonium breaks loose, I am chasing the dog who is chasing the rabbit, who is running for dear life. Now I am chasing the rabbit, and my mom is chasing my sister and the dog and whoa! The Chickie falls out of its cleavage home, and now the dog is after the Chickie, my sister is after the Chickie, my mom is after them all, I am still after the rabbit, END SCENE.

Where are Laverne and Shirley for more antics right now I ask you!

Unlike a lot of my stories, yeah. This one has a happy ending. Dog, mom, sister, Chickie, and rabbit, all return home safely. The Chickie, gets returned to school with some wild stories to tell, my rabbit goes on to live another 4 off years to the great old rabbit age of eight, and we eventually had to leave Alex on top of the hill in the great escape of '89.

Alls well that ends well I suppose. I like to keep things light when I talk and dark when I sing. Listen to "Birdcage" for more details on the mountain. Every word in it is true.


Kelly Irene Corson sings and plays guitar for THE ART OF SHOOTING, who released their debut full-length Traveling Show last month. Check out the group at their official website and their MySpace page.
- Blurt! Magazine

Kelly Irene Corson, The Art Of Shooting

MySpace Profile

* Band(s): 3, The Art Of Shooting, Patrick Bower, and Mystery RKO
* Instruments: Vocals/Guitar
* Age: 31
* Years playing: 17 years
* Hometown: Detroit, MI
Living Now: Brooklyn, NY
* Full-Time Musician: no - I work at a large music law firm, helping musicians like me protect their rights and get the most out of their music, monetarily.
* Has Record Deal: not yet
Owns Music Rights: yes
Owns Masters: yes

How would you describe your music?

Melodramtic indie rock.

What is your role in your band? In the studio? In business or marketing decisions?

I am the songwriter, lead singer, guitar player, booker, and so much more.

Describe your gear.

Tags:
Gear

I play a Gretsch Electromatic guitar, a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amplifier, and an assortment of effects pedals.

Do you think being a woman and a musician is different from being a man and a musician? If so, how? Was there a moment that made a difference clear to you?

Tags:
Onstage
Offstage

Yes, of course! I get people who tell me regularly that they wont come see me because I'm a "chick" in a band. That I hold the guitar like a "chick". "Girls can't really rock"...e.t.c. I get people screaming at me to show them my tits, that we should shut up and play Hole. We're harder to book with similar sounding artists on a larger scale, as there are just fewer female fronted bands that compare. I also get blatantly ignored at big chain guitar shops....and untimately, I once went into Sam Ash to buy an egg shaker. When the person behind the counter asked me which color I'd like I said "Hmmmm,I dunnow...purple." to which he quickly replied "Oh, right...I get it. Purple like your uterus. Totally!" I was so stunned I said nothing and left. But it made for a good story.

Do you see differences between generations of women musicians?

Tags:
Old School / New School

I'd say yes, but I see so many styles whirl back around and become en vogue again that I can't honestly say that I've noticed alot of truth in that.

Did anyone ever give you any valuable advice about making your way in the music industry? What advice would you give to a woman musician just starting out?

Tags:
Advice

"Yes, they said to me "" Don't say you're a girl band"", you are a woman who happens to be in a band, you are no different than any other band aout there trying to do the same thing you are. They've also said ""Don't give up before the miracle"" which has been one of the best pieces of advice I hold to when I'm frustrated.

The advice I regularly give to young women musicians is after usually hearing a bevvy of excuses.... ""Shush up and play anyways!Play no matter what."""

Why did you choose to play the instrument you play?

Tags:
The First Time

I play the guitar becasue I was a bad drummer, and pianos weren't a practical instrument for me once I moved to NY. I also play guitar because my first instrument is my voice, second is pianos, and the best way I've found to form songs is to pluck them out on the guitar, and then find ways to sing around what I've created. - NPR

The Brooklyn-based quartet The Art of Shooting went through several lineup changes in the last decade, but the poppy art-punks have finally settled on a steady lineup. Frontwoman Kelly Irene Corson's rich vibrato (vocals, guitar) is now aided by Julie Rozansky (vocals, bass), Jim Archer (drums), and Gavin Dunaway (guitar).

They will self-release the stark debut full-length, Traveling Show, on April 27. The awash follow-up to Tyrant's Black Eyes EP (Ace Fu Family Business) was produced by Paul Mahajan (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, The National, Liars) in Brooklyn and at engineer Keith Souza's (Battles, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) Machines with Magnets Studios in Pawtucket, RI.

The record's shadowy, lycanthropic cover art and shoegaze-rock songwriting apparently stem from Corson's personal (and even humiliating) problems leading up to the recording sessions. As a result, she revisits all the nervy pressure points that made Siouxsie and the Banshees and its splinter group The Creatures so damn enjoyable.

The Galaxie 500-esque rocker "Japanese" is exclusively on offer today. Its dreamy shoegaze hooks and deep bass will help start your week off on the right foot. Check it out while perusing the band's upcoming tour dates. Listen to more tracks at their Bandcamp page. "The Birdcage" and "It Goes (Home)" are recommended. - Under The Radar Magazine

A small Brooklyn group known as The Art of Shooting has conjured a howling tempest. Their first album, Traveling Show, reveals the haunting personal details of band singer/songwriter Kelly Irene Corson. Ricocheting starched, jerky rhythm and shrieking ballads off the walls, Traveling Show triumphs with eerie personal revelations accompanying ominous musical discourse. Formed from musical influences such as Feist, Pretenders, and Throwing Muses, The Art of Shooting use their Traveling Show to recount a diary of intensely personal, beautiful songs musical stretched between harmonious floating and dissonant anarchy.

From the album’s opening with “Drinking & Dressing,” The Art of Shooting display their knack for unwavering wobbling guitar notes pierced with goth tones. Continuing through the rest of the album, they manipulate and investigate indie rock with their own swirling brush. The fast-paced chaotic moments of “Drinking & Dressing” collide and confuse the elegant, soft opening to “One Minute Love Song,” only to continue through “Srange” and the title song, “Traveling Show.” Nearly every step of the way, Corson’s personal struggles sing through each confusing and heartfelt moment. When firing on all cylinders, The Art of Shooting churn their style with a rhythmic harmony backed by fast-moving lyrical banter. “The Birdcage” could be the best example of this, transitioning between moments of catchy soothing melodies to a gut-wrenching staccato shrieking.

At times, notes aren’t quite eclipsed by the singer, holding the album back. Moments of “120 Man” and “The Keeper” display a singer trying to reach the emotional precipice of each valuable utterance, only to fall slightly short in reaching the proper note.

Overall, The Art of Shooting has a tremendous first album in Traveling Show. Each song offers a complex insight into troubling and rewarding personal struggles. Over time, Traveling Show becomes a wonderful haunted house to explore your own personal struggles, and you will eventually lose yourself amongst its’ walls. - Static Multimedia