NYC

NYC Girl with Piano: Dianne Birch, live at Highline Ballroom, June 1

Posted on:

It’s remarkable how in the new millennium you can listen to new music that could have been written in any decade of the second half of the 20th century. The songs of hugely talented Dianne Birch take us back to the classic soul-pop of the 70s, flirting with the sound of Motown, the beautiful jazzy melody of Joni Mitchell and the playfulness of early Elton John. You may have recently seen Diane on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, or heard her new single “Valentino” (here’s the video) as a Song of the Day on NPR. Her voice is a treat – if true talent is what you’re after, don’t miss her show at Highline Ballroom on June 1st.

NYC

Best of NYC #44: Locksley

Posted on:

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 store personnel and DJs).


Each song on Locksley’s album, “Be In Love,” is as peppy as the next, blending the sweetness of doo-wop harmonies and love-infused themes, with the urgent speed and strumming guitar style of punk. Album highlights such as the jovial jukebox jam, “Love You Too,” swinging and dulcet “Darling It’s True,” jubilant and ringing “21st Century” and exultant single, “The Whip,” are bound to lift spirits, charm listeners with a variety of genre tastes, and keep fans bopping and bouncing at shows. – Meijin Bruttomesso

NYC

Soren Well’s CD release party, Mercury Lounge, May 27

Posted on:

NYC based fans of shoegazer rock may want to check out Soren Well‘s CD release party at Mercury Lounge on May 27, also featuring The Morning After Girls – a band that moved here from Australia, leaving their mamas thousands of miles away to live their shoegazing dream in the Big Apple (we respect that!). Soren Well’s wall of guitar is almost revivalistic – it will throw you back to those glorious days when you lost your hearing dancing to MBV’s Loveless (or myabe that was your older sibiling?) The band’s new EP is entitled "Starry Eyes Gone Blank.
 

Chicago

CD Review: The Syllable Section

Posted on:

After a full day of drinking coffee and thinking about the ending of LOST. I sit down to listen one more time to The Syllable Section, a two-piece experimental group from Chicago, and their album "Linear Views". From the first track entitled "Lazy Life", one would be convinced that this is a band that is meant to be "chilled" with. A little listening to their stuff and you will soon realize that you would have to be on many illicit drugs to relax or even understand this band.

The album moves at an unpredictable pace with some of the most random, and at sometimes gratuitous, time signature changes. The best way to describe it would be a high school prom where everyone was loaded with Dramamine. Most of the instrumentation is done by conventional instruments, drums, guitar, bass etcetera. However they also include instruments that sound like you are walking through a strange amusement park of a time long gone. I’ll admit this is creative but not what I expected in any way shape or form.

There is one song on the album (Direction and Go) that it is so discordant at times that I honestly had to stop it and take a break. It does set a perfect example for how the rest of the songs flow, parts that sound like they are going somewhere followed by curveball changes ala Mars Volta and early Modest Mouse.

In the end the songs would be enjoyable only on certain aforementioned substances. If you are looking for a band that delivers predictable music, or you want songs with distinguishable rhythm I would stay away from this band. You would have to appreciate music on another level to like this band, and I really mean another level. – Nick Coamey

Philadelphia

Hezekiah Jones Hosts The Philly Folk Parade at The Fire May 25

Posted on:

Tonight is the final night of the May Tuesday residency at The Fire for The Philly Folk Parade, which was brought to you by Excited Light Productions (Michael Baker and Barbara Gettes of The Spinning Leaves – check out the review of their latest album LOVE below) and friends. One of our favorite songwriters Hezekiah Jones will be hosting the evening. Expect it to be a loose, fun night with a lot of friends joining each other on stage. Come join the warm glow of good vibes that will certainly be filling the room! The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, $6, 21+ (Photo by Lisa Schaffer) – H.M. Kauffman

 

 

Philadelphia

Marshall Allen Celebrates His 86th Birthday at JB’s May 25

Posted on:

It’s bad enough that ever since I turned 21, each birthday seems to loom around the corner. Now, I have to be reminded when someone else’s birthday comes that another year has passed me by. But when it’s a local living legend like Marshall Allen, I gladly cheers to another day of life, and thank that at 86 years young he is ready to take us on another cosmic adventure with Sun Ra Arkestra. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
 

 

Portland

Those Who Lie Beneath Release New Vid for “Awaken”

Posted on:

Metal bands make the best music videos, period. ’80s metal had hot rocker chicks licking the hoods of their cars; the ’90s were all about epic battles and a fight against everything mainstream. But my favorite is the twisted, fucked up videos that get made for the death metal bands of the 21st century.

A death metal music video is basically a five-minute horror film. If you watch the video and you don’t see blood, a hot psychotic chick, or some taboo subject being reenacted, then the director really hasn’t done his/her job. Portland death metal band Those Who Lie Beneath want their music and videos to scare the shit out of people, and when interviewed for Noisecreep, the band even went so far as to say, “What we are trying to do is to be not only as brutal as we can, but as evil. I want people to be like, ‘This band, these guys are amazing, they’re fucking shredding. They’re brutal, they’re evil, they’re dark,’ because we are.”

Those Who Lie Beneath’s new video for their song "Awaken" – from their debut Rise Records release An Awakening – might not scream evil, but it is most definitely a piece of dark, bitter chocolate that looks sweet but leaves a nasty bad taste in your mouth. Check it out below:

I love the abandoned shack location for the video with the light streaming through the cracks of the walls onto only the band members’ faces and instruments. Of course, the video wouldn’t be complete without a pretty psychotic girl – in this case, a girl who starts out very much like Alice in her Wonderland, sitting in front of a teapot looking innocent. She quickly turns into a cheshire cat-grinning she-devil who desperately needs an exorcism, a toothbrush, and a bath. It’s entertaining to say the least. 

Just think: If the video is this good, what might these guys have up their sleave for their live shows? Hmmm, perhaps sacrificing a gerbil or defacing a picture of Justin Bieber? We can only hope.

You can catch Those Who Lie Beneath live at Satyricon this Thirsday, May 27th with Phoenix’s Knights of the Abyss, San Diego’s Burning the Masses, along with And Hell Followed With. Show starts early at 6 p.m. With this kind of lineup, it’s sure to be an epic show. And someone is guaranteed to puke.

– Deanna Uutela

L.A.

Local Natives play Troubadour & Bootleg Theater in June

Posted on:

Local Natives return home from a US tour for two sold-out shows at the Troubadour and the Bootleg Theater on June 4 and 5. After rocking an afternoon set on the final day of Coachella the boys headed out across the frontier for more than a month of solid touring. After they play these two dates back home, they head across the pond, embarking on a European tour until September. So if you’re aching to see these guys, wait at will-call, finagle favors or ring whoever you know because it’ll be a while before you get another chance. 

Nashville

Flood Benefit at Exit In Tonight

Posted on:

 

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past year and a half, tonight, just like every Monday night, the 5 Spot is hosting yet another sock hop. Head on down there if you enjoy 50s boogie, soul, Doo Wop and more.

Gee it’s swell. – Deli Staff