New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Logan Square’s own psych/garage/droners The Clams have placed their two EPs (Close To The Clams and Mindbanging) on Bandcamp for name-your-price or free download. Here’s the link, go make your music collection slightly, but pleasantly, weirder.
The Clams play at Ronny’s on Friday, May 21 with Chicago duo Woo-Man and The Banana and The Hi-Tones, on tour out of Austin, TX. Here’s the video for The Clams’ song "Two and Too Makes Three", featuring Robert Vaughn!
Two things happened last week, I got way too distracted at work by the very cool new game Super Mario Crossover, and I received the “new” ep from I Fight Dragons. That has to mean something right? So, I decide to contact lead singer of I Fight Dragons, Brian Mazzaferri to ask about the band forthcoming debut album, their current tour, and more.
Deli Chicago (DC): The new label is rereleasing the Cool Is Just Number EP. What can old fans expect to find on this new release?
Brian Mazzaferri (BM): Well, first of all all of the tracks have been re-mixed and re-mastered, which was really cool because we did the original on a shoestring, mostly in our home studio. Also, there’s a new track, "Don’t You?" which is one we’ve performed live but wasn’t on the first version of the EP.
DC: The band built a following in a very unique way. Do you feel that The Advanced Guard help built a case to present to Atlantic records? How important is it to have such an engaged fan base?
BM: I think it’s incredibly important to have an engaged fan base, since that basically is the band. I feel like our fans and our connection with them was a big part of why Atlantic wanted to work with us, in addition to liking our music.
DC: How has Photo Finish/Atlantic accepted the lifetime membership model? Do you see this type of fan building and support spreading through the industry like the name of your price model has spread?
BM: The label has been really enthusiastic about keeping the lifetime membership model. There was never any question that everyone who had a membership would have it honored for life. That said, I really don’t think of it as a long-term model, since as you start to expand lifetime membership past a certain number, it starts to cannibalize your living as a musician.
DC: Do you feel or have you thought that the chiptune and NES aspect of the band will begin to wear thin at any point? Are there any plans to move beyond this or add any other elements to the sound?
BM: We’ve always said from the beginning that we’re a band that wants to grow and change as time goes on. Right now we’re still incredibly intrigued by chiptune and the possibilities it presents. For our upcoming album we’re using it in ways that we hadn’t even thought of to begin with, and it’s definitely something we’re still passionate about. As time goes on, that could change, and if it does we’ll stay true to what’s moving us artistically.
DC: Are there stops on The Too Fast For Love tour that the band is more excited to hit than others?
BM: Well of course Chicago, we haven’t gotten to play a show there since December and are really really excited to play our home town again. Also I know we’re really excited about Denver, San Francisco, DC, and a ton of the historic venues we’ve dreamed of playing that we’re going to get to play.
DC: Whats next for I Fight Dragons?
BM: A robot-supported global takeover, followed by a new album hopefully coming out in the fall.
I Fight Dragons will be playing Chicago on May 15th Charter One Pavilion @ Northerly Island as part of Bamboozle Chicago. The Photo Finish Records release of Cool Is Just A Number is now available at the IFD store and at I-tunes.
The Morning Benders are following up their recent US tour with more touring. Since the release of their sophomore album Big Echo in early March, they have been on the road non-stop headlining in several US cities. Beginning May 18th, they can be playing to sold out audiences in the US and Canada with Broken Bells and in July and August with The Black Keys. Additionally, Rough Trade Records will be introducing Big Echo in late June to audiences in the UK, Europe and Australia just in time to help promote, you guessed it, a European tour in the fall. Pack light fellas.
-Nicole Leigh
Since signing with Reach Out International Records, (or ROIR, label home to G.G. Allin, Bad Brains, MC5 and many others), Nashville garage-punk hustlers Bad Cop have been pounding the pavement taking their sporadic brand of youth-infused rock ‘n roll to as many cities as possible, giving them ample amounts of time to meet and collaborate with artists from around the country. This split tape precedes the band’s ROIR record’s debut, Harvest the Beast, due out this spring, and it opens with The Hussy.
This guy-girl duo out of Madison, WI effectively transmits a huge sound capable of referencing the purest dirty punk rock, stomp-inducing beats, and that classic guy-girl back and forth, tweaked to exude a maturity slightly unexpected, given the length of the songs and the tangible piss-and-vinegar element behind them.
Not one of The Hussy’s tracks on this particular outing lasts even a full minute and a half. The opener, "On The Cover," is the longest, clocking in at 1:29. The brevity, however, doesn’t stop The Hussy from cranking some impressive, trashy punk rock to make you move.
The Bad Cop side starts with two slightly logner tracks, "Daylight" and "Ready To Die," and the time-appropriate "Surf Song." The first two demonstrate a broad palette from the guys, offering an overall dark-toned vocal over music that constantly builds to a frenetic explosion of sorts, sometimes taking on the tone of classic troublemakers The Stooges, and, at times, more reflective of the moody psychedelic made famous by bands like The Doors.
"Ready To Die" opens with a trance-esque track reminiscent of Radiohead, evolving spastically into a textured vocals and rapidly ascending and descending guitar. It takes its time to build into a straightforward garage-rock inspired message of "I’ll have no fear when the end is here."
All in all this split serves as an awesome soundtrack to the summer – a lot of pleasant surprises and a diverse sound across the board. You can pick this split up courtesy of Bad Cop singer Adam Moult’s recently launched label Jeffery Drag Records NOW, or by emailing either adammoult@yahoo.com or jefferydragrecs@yahoo.com. They are limited to 200 copies, so get moving! –Jesse Baker
Don’t forget, Nashville, text REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation to help flood victims in our city.
Hosannas (formerly Church) will being celebrating the drop of their new album Now and Then – released on Hush Records – this Sunday, May 9th at Mississippi Studios a full two days before its official release.
The band will be sure to please listeners with their off-the-cuff pop musical musings as they pounce forward with their second release. The principle songwriters of the outfit – who also happen to be brothers Brandon and Richard Laws – are cited as growing up listening to the Beach Boys and Kraftwerk. These influences seem to hold true, though do not restrain their songwriting talent.
You can download the track "Happiness" from their new LP here. The track spins a happy keyboard hook around a race track of energized percussion, as the vocals anchor the experience with a core value of pop sensibility.
The show is a meager $6 and starts at 9 p.m. Opening is the mind-bogglingly cool Tu Fawning, and Deli Portland band of the month nominee Ah Holly Fam’ly! What a deal!
– Joel Sommer
Flood Benefit shows are a great way to support bands and the thousands of Nashvillians who were devastated by last week’s catastrophe. Just last night, Space Capone put on a stellar performance, and all the profits went to help those in need. Big thanks to them.
Tomorrow night Rocketown is hosting another benefit show. Girls Riders Organization, as well as Nashville faves Daniel Pujol, Heavy Cream, and up-and-comers So Jazzy, Ben Stein’s Money and more will be making an appearance. Please support these bands, thereby supporting Nashville during this time of crisis. Thanks to all of these bands and everyone who was involved with creating this event. It’s a huge help!
And don’t forget: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. – Deli Staff
Man/Miracle’s debut album The Shape of Things sold out of its first pressing rather quickly when it was originally self-released by the band towards the end of 2009. Now The Shape of Things has received a proper release thanks to the Bay Area label, Third Culture Records.
The Shape of Things has an admirable diversity, the 10 songs vary enough to all sound unique without sounding like 10 different bands. The four members that make up Oakland’s Man/Miracle are somehow able to shift the energy and intensity of their songs effortlessly, drawing you in for the quiet moments only to explode into an engrossing rhythm moments later. Songs like “Above the Salon” and “Pushing and Shoving” lean on the dancier side of indie rock, while songs like “Up” and “Back of the Card” mix afro pop and Talking Heads into some weird and catchy fun. Not to make The Shape of Things sound too light, there are definitely times when this record gets intense, aggressive, and even dark.
Lead singer, Dylan Travis, heads the diverse musical landscape with a strong and intriguing voice. His vocals can be rather easy going in the more straightforward moments of the record, but once the music intensifies his voice surges with energy, adding a haunting and enthralling narrative to the songs.
There is definitely a substantial afro and David Byrne style pop influence to this record, something that has become popular recently in the indie rock world (i.e. Vampire Weekend). However, Man/Miracle definitely makes it their own, bringing a healthy amount of dirt, grit, and raw energy to the mix. A talented group of musicians and an impressive debut album!
The Shape of Things is out now on Third Culture Records. Man/Miracle just finished up a tour with Rogue Wave and play Milk Bar on May 20th.
-Glenn Jackson
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Maps and Atlases found their beginnings at Columbia in 2004 and have recorded two EPs prior to Perch Patchwork -work that garnered comparisons to TV on the Radio and Deerhoof. For those who haven’t heard the band’s previous work, you’ll find a group who is certainly talented, inventing their own brand of indie folk pop complete with custom guitar playing methods. Though "Perch" is catchy as hell, none of the songs stand out as particularly special.
Instead Perch Patchwork comes off sounding as if producer Jason Cupp manipulated the band’s signature quirk into a palatable mainstream framework that could potentially alienate old fans while attracting a new and perhaps less indie base of listeners.
David Davison’s unique and brassy vocals highlight the group’s folk routes on an album clearly about breaking up. The second track on the album, "The Charm" finds Davison crooning "I don’t think there is a sound that I hate more than the sound of your voice, when you say that you don’t love me anymore." The tragic lyrics continue against a backdrop of ironically upbeat music throughout the album. While Erin Elders’ acclaimed slap guitar playing still sounds interesting, many of the songs on Perch Patchwork sound too similar, for instance "Solid Ground" and "Pigeon." Having a common thread or theme on an album is certainly necessary, but Maps and Atlases may have pushed theirs a touch too far on this most recent effort.
Despite all these criticisms, one would be remiss to deny pop lure of the tunes on Perch Patchwork. Regardless of their similarities, the album-as one big song-gets caught in a listener’s head after a single play through. The blend of folk and pop is almost pastoral and reminiscent of the group’s mid-western roots. If not an album to absolutely love, Maps and Atlases have created a piece that at least has a little something for everyone.
Perch Patchwork comes out on Barsuk Records June 29th 2010. Catch Maps and Atlases opening for Frightened Rabbit at the Metro this Saturday, May 8th at 8pm. – Erin Keane
Bring Our Music Back Festival (B.O.M.B.) will bring together the most promising bands in the Northeast as well as nationally recognized names on May 30th at Durham Fairgrounds in Durham, CT. Frankie Bombaci states on the home site for the festival that B.O.M.B started with the small idea of "“Hey, what if I bring some up and coming local bands and let them play at the same scene with some well-known gigs?" The festival is headlined by Lupe Fiasco, Of Montreal and Jay Electronica. The festival will also feature some stellar local bands such as M.T. Bearington, (New Haven, CT) The Band Eclypse, (Scarsdale, NY) The Shills (Boston, MA) and Clarias (Boston, MA).
Another great thing about B.O.M.B festival is the inexpensive ticket price (A one-day advance ticket price of $50). What is done with the profits is even better than the price itself. A percentage of the money goes to foundations such as The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and The Connecticut Children’s Hospital. Last year’s festivities raised $30,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The Deli will be attending this year’s festival so come find us and say hello!
You can purchase tickets HERE – $50 advance $60 dos
B.O.M.B Festival – Durham Fairgrounds in Durham, CT
–Nicholas Palumbo