Philadelphia

The Last Emperor LIVE at Silk City March 30

Posted on:

Philly’s superhero of hip hop and former Deli Tunes Wiz Wit showcase performer, The Last Emperor, returns from the Red Planet to save the day or should we say the evening when he celebrates tonight at Silk City the release of Science Team…Go!, a 20-song album mixed by DJ Mickey Knox and DJ Concept. It’s full of intelligent lyrical gymnastics that makes our underground warrior a hidden gem among the crappy manufactured hip hop polluting our airwaves. You can download a FREE copy for yourself here, and this is also a link to the artwork. Enjoy! Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 9pm, $5, 21+ myspace.com/redplanetmusic – Q.D. Tran

 

Chicago

This is Versailles @ Bottom Lounge

Posted on:

There is a forcefulness in the vocals of Caitlin Garibaldi. For the band This is Versailles she trades off shouting lyrics with guitar player Jaisen Ehas. Together they are propelling the band into the realm of high-power dance punk. Yet their dance is more of slam dance than anything else. Picture The Killers mashed with Minor Threat or maybe Fugazi, and you may come close to the sound of This is Versailles.

This is Versailles will be performing on April 1st at The Bottom Lounge with Light Pollution and Woodhands.

Nashville

Heavy Cream, Shellshag, Cy Barkley & The Looking Glass @ Little Hammy – 3/26/10

Posted on:

What do you get when you take three hot chickadees, one dreamy bike kid, a bunch of instruments and a lot more PBR? Good times.

Nashville’s local four-piece, Heavy Cream, played alongside Shellshag, Cy Barkley and The Looking Glass (whom I foolishly missed, but apparently they ruled) Friday night at Lil Hammy.

Cy offered a bracing take on 3-chord punk, with his melody/guitar riff-driven gnashing, thrashing and (unintentional) audience singalongs. Most of the youngsters watching him play knew all the words to his songs, especially their fav – a song probably entitled something to the tune of, "We Don’t Give A Fuck." His Myspace page should be up and running soon, and when it is, give him a listen.

Brooklyn band Shellshag was a bit more mellow, lo-fi psychedelic rock, with some occasional up-tempo songs that (questionably) placed them in the punk genre. And while it could have just been a fleeting moment of unconsciousness, the part where they played punk songs seemed to be nonexistent. This is not a criticism, though, because the cool factor was compensated for by drummer/sing Jennifer Shagawat, who wore bells on her ankles, thus making her resemble the badass dude from Battle of Endor, as she beat away on three floor toms. She was joined by guitarist/singer Shell, and together they played some sludgy songs with catchy hooks that drew parallels from bands as varied as Weezer, Hole, really (really) old Liz Phair, or grungy AnHorse. An epic drum tower was hastily constructed, and once it came climactically tumbling down it was time for Heavy Cream to play.

As usual, their good looks only served to enhance their almost blues-chord-tinged punk-rock ‘n roll. The band seems to get better at playing their instruments with each and every show, as well as the growing audience sentiment of love for – well, again, damnit – singalongs. Friday’s set was no different, seeing how the crowd joined lead singer Jessica McFarland as she bounced, belted and squealed her way through every catchy Cream chorus. Her special helpers were Mimi Galbierz, who ripped and roared on the guitar (all the while with a sweet little smile on her face), Melissa Burnett, a gal on the go when it comes to tempo, and Daniel Severs, who handled the bass and balanced out the estrogen to testosterone ratio. "Stiff Lick" was a particular favorite, and makes for perfect background music while you get hyped up on whippets; listen to Shellshag when you’re coming down.

Heavy Cream plays again on April 3rd at Glen Danzig’s house, so be sure to make it out there. You’ll probably also see Cy there, so you can tell him that you dig his shit, and he should therefore make it available on The Internets for our constant listening pleasure. – Erin Manning

Portland

Wax Fingers at Rotture this Wednesday

Posted on:

 

Forget the tribulations of hump day this week. No one ever ends up humping anyway. And what better way to forego your reproductive duties than to indulge in a psych-pop haze at Rotture this Wednesday? I’m willing to bet the guys from Wax Fingers would support you zipping it up for one goddamn night.

With one foot planted firmly in an experimental psychedelic stew, and the other tippy-toed on a tight wire of spastic instrumental noodling, Wax Fingers succeed in injecting their plunky pop with depth, but without the pretension. Case in point would be "Sticky Bees," the band’s single off of their debut EP Ones and Threes (available for free download here). The tune emerges cleanly, steeped in bright chords, tinkly piano, lots of guitar effects, and reverb-washed vocals during the lengthy intro and first verse, only to bust open into a tantrum-laced chorus. The surprises don’t end there, and you’d be foolish to listen to only a snippet to decide if their worth your tutelage.

The Portland trio will be holed up in the Southeast Industrial District this Wednesday at Rotture along with math-y PDX dudes Duck, Little Brother, Duck! and Yeah Great Fine. 9 p.m. $5 at the door.

– Ryan J. Prado

NYC

A new shoegazing experience: Me You Us Them release debut CD

Posted on:


Me You Us Them is the name of the latest addition to the NYC shoegazer scene. This band’s impressive wall of guitars rivals in "My-Bloody-Valentine-ness" that of Asobi Seksu’s first album – I’d recommend any follower of the toe staring sonic cult to check out these guys’ tunes. (By the way, why they call it shoegazer and not toestarer is beyond me). The record release show is April 25th at The Studio @ Webster Hall in NYC.

NYC

(Secret Life of) Sofia gives birth to Milagres

Posted on:

Fans and Deli readers alike will know Milagres by their former name, Secret Life of Sofia, who took home the bronze in the Deli Magazine’s Reader Poll Best of 2008.  More recently, their “Empty Sleeve” album earned them a top-ten ranking in the Best EPs of 2009 list on Pop Tarts Suck Toasted.  Milagres say they’re happier now with the name change, presumably because it is representative of a deeper and more meaningful transformation for the band.  Currently at work on a new album, the only track released thus far is “Lost in the Dark” (Demo). Though the title may represent a necessary step in any major change, the band continues to come across as fearless.  One song may be too small of a sample size to go on, but based on the beautifully ghost-like vocal melodies backed by dreamy and swelling instrumentation, one gets the sense that the band is in fact further developing an already great sound. – PJD

NYC

Report from Alt Rock night at The Studio with Wyldlife, The Auctioneers + more

Posted on:

Thursday night at The Studio at Webster Hall showcased artists selected by Rich Russo from 101.9 WRXP’s “Anything Anything” show for a live “NY Rock Experience.” A lengthy line-up began with Flight from LA whose energy charged The Studio three hours earlier than most New York gigs. Second on the billwere Wyldlife (in the picture), who were guaranteed a radio play after an error in the band’s name during their introduction. The quintet blasted through a punky, power pop set, and finished with a Bruce Springsteen cover in response to encore demands. Third up and the charm were Reckless Sons. Displaying impressive stage dynamics, catching songs, and a new arrangement in duties (Lead vocalist Matt Butler handed off guitar to Ben Rice of Blackbells), Reckless Sons got the audience VERY involved. Shooting Gallery continued the evening’s stripped down rock trend, and added a bit more Blues to the mix. Closing the event and harder hitting with a Southern rock twang, The Auctioneers celebrated their album release with feverish crowd feedback. –Meijin Bruttomesso

New England

Review: Movers and Shakers – Middle East Downstairs – 3/25

Posted on:

Movers & Shakers, Boston’s prodigies of all good-things Americana, performed a tight nine song set at the Middle East Downstairs on Thursday, March 25th. Movers & Shakers’ music encapsulates some of the best elements of Americana: A fusion of rock, country and blues that form a fluid, sometimes gritty, simultaneously mournful and uplifting sound that hits as comforting and familiar even when it’s brand new. Their vocals are strong, at times melancholy and always imbued with a playful twinge of country twang that lends itself to both rambling rock songs and slower, mournful ballads. The balance of alt-rock lamentations and bluesy warbles blend harmoniously to bind the songs to each other, creating a cohesive overarching feel to the music that allows the group to shift focus to different styles ingrained in their work.

The instrumental work is strong: Rambling country-rock guitar sounds break into darker crescendos as effortlessly as they spin into freestyle breakdowns that showcase elements of bluegrass and jam bands. Drum work is tight, forceful without being overpowering, a solid and deep rhythm while the use of symbols adds a layer of metallic dissonance that comes across as being a necessary punctuation to the music. These musical layers inter-weave to create songs that ring as comforting, enjoyably familiar and accessible without being a rehashing of previous styles.

Movers & Shakers have carved their name through their catchy Americana offerings, energizing songs that draw equally from rock and country, bluegrass and rambling jams that all sounds fresh without sacrificing the portmanteau essence of the genre. Indeed, stepping into their music is a homecoming of sorts, a return to the classics ingrained in our musical consciousness that simultaneously challenges the audience to experience those classics in new ways. Movers & Shakers consistently re-examine the roots of American music to create glittering songs that blend dynamic vocals, talented guitars and solid rhythms to create the unique sense that their music is not something heard but something remembered.

–Meghan Guidry

Chicago

Mike Golden & Friends

Posted on:

There is really nothing to hate about the approach and delivery of Mike Golden & Friends. As you read through the posts on their blog and listen through their debut ep Trees Pt 1. This group of musicians is dedicated to having fun, and making songs that you can stomp you foot to.

Trees EP Pt 1 will be released this week and will be available through the bands website and on Amazon.