Chicago

Black Bears

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The latest album from Tinyfolk is being released this month through Pattern Hungry Records, and it can be preorder for just $5. The album produced by the talented local musician Jim Laczkowski (aka Garden on a Trampoline), and this added production depth has added a new element to the Tinyfolk sound. The album is fun and filled with tiny sounds and bears, but it does have few more introspective moments. My favorite track is the unexpected Mystikal cover, but the official mp3 tells the tale of the bands transition to life here in Illinois.

Tinyfolk will be performing on Thursday (April 29) at 8:00pm at Space in Evanston with Garden On A Trampoline.

NYC

Best of NYC #56: Jones Street Station – Live at Music Hall of Wburg, April 28

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We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record sotre personnel and DJs). Many of the bands in this list will play The Deli’s Best of NYC Fest in Williamsburg in May (6 shows in 3 different venues between the 13 and the 15).

Jones Street Station will charm audiences once again on April 28 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg with their lively and energetic Americana rock. These guys are all amazing musicians and singers – ask them for an a cappella number and they’ll blow you away. With their banjos, guitars, piano, mandolins, harmonicas and drums, Jones Street Station have the ability to wear many genre hats and to constantly provide variety within their folky approach – therefore maintaining a fresh and relevant sound. – Gina Alioto

Philadelphia

Free Energy Announce Spring Tour Dates w/Mates of State and More!

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Free Energy just announced new spring tour dates in support of already much-buzzed-about Stuck on Nothing which will hit the stores Tuesday, May 4th, 2010. It includes tours with Mates of State, Jukebox the Ghost and Drink Up Buttercup as well as stops at Toronto’s NXNE and Daytrotter’s Barnstormers III shows. They’ll also be traveling to Japan in August for the Summer Sonic Festival so expect plenty more international and national dates to come! – H.M. Kauffman

 

Chicago

Lux

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This month Chicago’s Kranky Records released the studio debut from Disappears. The album is titled Lux, and it very well maybe the hardest rocking album that Kranky has ever released. From the title track to “Magic” to my favorite track “Gone Completely”, this album that was 18 months in the making delivers in a big way.

The band is currently on a cross country tour that spans three months ends up in Canada in June. The band will then hit the road with Woven Bones in June. Their next hometown performance will on July 5th at Millennium Park with The Thermals for Downtown Sound.

San Francisco

Cash-strapped, 924 Gilman sounds the alarm

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924 Gilman is a place that needs no introduction. The 23 year old Berkeley venue is a Bay Area institution in music history. They wrote the book on all ages shows long before venues in San Francisco started getting threatened by the ABC for not selling enough tacos. However, last week their website announced that a recent rent hike has put them under serious financial stress and the future is looking questionable. This news is disconcerting from a historical perspective and from a cultural one as well. 924 Gilman provides not only a space for persons of any age to come and see live music, but a space for a niche of music that is often over looked in the current musical trend of catchy melodies and Casio keyboards. And seriously, at what other venue can you go and dine on an organic bean burrito, apple juice and Red Vines for $3.00?

You can help the all-ages, volunteer run, music and performance venue by attending shows, donating to the Alternative Music Foundation and spreading the word.

-Nicole Leigh

Photo by Murray Bowles

San Francisco

Mates of State cover Girls

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The married Kansan duo Mates of State recently released a cover version of the Girl’s song "Laura" from the San Francisco band’s 2009 release Album. The single is part of larger project called Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) due out this summer with re-interpretations of songs from the likes of Tom Waits, Daniel Johnson, The Mars Volta and Fleetwood Mac. It’s hard to say if all this hi-profile internet buzz about the release will lead to bigger things for Girls or the Bay Area music scene but something tells me that the band might just see a bump in their sales of t-shirts and frisbees.

 -Nicole Leigh

Photo by Bao Nguyen

New England

Save Our Store – It’s a Gift – Fundraiser concert

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sos

I’m proud to announce SOS (Save Our Store) fundrasier for It’s a Gift this weekend in Somerville during the open studios. The line-up is amazing and I’m so happy to see bands from all over New England supporting their community and the arts. There are even bands from Vermont and Western Mass. It’s a Gift is a store which sells crafts and clothes made by people with physical and mental disabilities which needs support to remain open due to financial troubles.

Here’s the line-up:

Saturday May 1st: 1:00-Jaime Farnan. 1:30 (*)., 2:00, Michael Bernier/ The Evolvement. 2:45, Danielle Doyle. 3:30, Christoph Krey/McAlister Drive. 4:45, Black Rose. 5:30, Jason Scolnick/Shakyfoot. 6:15, Brad Shur. 6:30, Brad Shur. 6:45, Yoni Gordon.

Sunday May 2nd: 1:00, Mary Casiello. 1:45, Brendan Hogan. 2:30, Axiom. 3:00, Ghost Quartet. 3:45, Justin Emile/Big East. 4:30, Fully Powered Halo. 5:15, Peter Bertrand/Stop Gravity. 6:00, Sarah Privlar. 6:15 Stephie Coplan. 6:45, OTP. 7:15, Slow Loris.

$5 suggested donation to save It’s a Gift.

29 Union Square Somerville, MA

–The Deli Staff

Philadelphia

Much Love for a Fabulous Time!

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Just wanted to thank everyone who helped to pull our Best of Philly Showcase together through all the headaches and heartaches, especially Reading Rainbow, Grandchildren and Levee Divers, who all absolutely rocked the house (or warehouse) in their own unique way! Also, I can’t forget the good people at The Ox for opening up their home/venue to us – props to Vincent for helping to make the night run so smoothly and of course, Jorgan (Da Man!) for putting together and doing such a phenomenal job with the makeshift sound system! You made it easy for me to finally chill out and have a blast (so much that my body shutdown for 11 hours afterwards). I can’t wait until The Ox’s house system is built. I have complete confidence that it is going to be sweet. And finally thanks to everyone who could find this place and made it out to support! I hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did. We look forward to seeing you again next year. Cheers! – Q.D. Tran

 

Chicago

More Than Words

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If you’re going to have Kid Sister come into the studio to record a version of someone else’s song why would it be this one? However, this does show off her range.

Kid Sister will next perform in Chicago on July 19th at Millenium Park.

L.A.

Stellar residency at Spaceland ends tonight!

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Helen Stellar draws comparisons to London‘s "shoegaze" movement of the early 90s with thunderous drums, thick-grooved bass melodies and distorted guitar bliss. But elements of their sound transcend the genre. A bit Radiohead and a bit Cure. Check out the last night of their Monday-night residency at Spaceland tonight at 11pm.

L.A.

Big Whup in the Flesh April 27th at La Cita!

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If you ever find yourself wondering what it would be like to see Big Whup live and in person, redirect your gaze to the video above.  This band of five does not discriminate against instruments.  These equal oppurtunists do not stop at the go-to guitar, drums and bass.  They utilize saws, violas, tap shoes, organs, triolas, banana shakers and their own bodies.  If that doesn’t sound like a good time, I’m not sure I know what one is.