NYC

The Yellow Dogs and illegal rock – live at Cameo on 03.11

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Tell me a story about how your band formed. Yawn, I’m already bored. Besides, it can’t compare with The Yellow Dogs‘ story. How, you ask? Well, is rock ‘n roll illegal where you grew up?
It is in Iran. Like some kind of rock ‘n roll superheroes, The Yellow Dogs assembled a soundproofed hidden practice space, and hosted illegal underground shows. And you thought booking a show in the LES was difficult.
Once they started making waves they had to get out, and headed to the US, which is where this blog entry comes in. They’re going to be playing some shows at SXSW, and if you’re in the area, I strongly encourage you to check them out. The influence of the early 2000s garage rock revival (revival?) is clear, mixed with a bit of dance punk. To make comparisons, they sound a bit like a combination of Bloc Party and The Cribs. If they weren’t Iranian, they’d be British, is what I’m saying basically.
Check out "Gastronomic Meal" and "Dragonflower" which is their newer stuff. The breakdown on "Dragonflower" is joyfully dischordant, and the good-hearted silliness of "Gastronmic Meal" makes for a good stomper. –allison levin

NYC

Live Review: The Twees at The Knit

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New York City’s The Twees play energetic pop’n’nroll featuring the clean, two-guitar-attack made popular by early 2000’s bands like Interpol and The Strokes. The fact that Jason Abrishami’s vocals are reminiscent of the casually relaxed style of Julian Casablancas further invites said comparisons. What matters most, however, is that this band writes some extremely hooky rock songs. Their recently released album "These Girls" is chock full of instantly likeable tunes. "On The Spot" recounts the travails of going out and partying every night. "I don’t think I can descend to this anymore," is the lament. "Fan Fiction" partners rat-a-tat snare drumming with sinewy guitar hooks. "You’re a fan of love, but you’re no lover. If it wasn’t me, it would be another," is the all too familiar tale of relationship shoppers, while the title track finds "These Girls" who "all seem like one" possibly covering the same sentiment Iggy Pop did, when he wrote "all the pretty girls, well they look the same." Additionally, catching a live Twees show (which I did recently at The Knitting Factory) is something of a transformative experience. Not content to merely deliver tightly crafted, energetic tunes (which they admirably do) the band invites anyone in the audience who wants (and I did) to come up on the stage with them and dance with reckless abandon while they play their generational anthem "Wishful Thinking Youth." All generations are welcome. It’s crazy fun, get their EP at thetwees.com and see them live in NYC at The Studio at Webster on 03.31.- Dave Cromwell

Philadelphia

The Spooks & Far-Out Fangtooth Heading Out on a Midwest and Southern U.S. Tour

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Local music pals The Spooks and Far-Out Fangtooth are hitting the road together as they make their way down and through SXSW. They’ll be starting the tour this Wednesday night when they invade Cleveland, OH. It’s a 20+ show tour that will take the bands through the Midwest and the South. You can check out the rest of their schedule as well as purchase tickets here. And if you have any friends in those cities, tell them to come out and party Philly style! (Vomiting is optional, but highly recommended to avoid alcohol poisoning.) – The Deli Staff
 
 
 
L.A.

AM and Shawn Lee at The Hotel Cafe, March 7th

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Los Angeles’ own AM will be joined by beatmaker from across the pond Shawn Lee at the Hotel Cafe tomorrow night, March 7th.

The collaboration between AM and Lee started when AM heard Lee’s Music and Rhythm album on local stations KJAZZ and KCRW and reached out to Lee online, becoming quick friends. The two decided to record together after AM played guitar on a few of Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra shows (including KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic”) in the summer of 2010. Lee, armed with a four-track and other vintage tape machines in his London studio, started sending AM drum and percussion beats in December while AM wrote and recorded songs over the grooves, adding guitars, Casio synths, vocals and occasional bass. Lee sprinkled in bass, keys, guitars, glockenspiel and other assorted instruments to finish things off. The two commented on each other’s work in real time on Facebook for fans to follow-along. The LA to London co-production has resulted in a completely unique brand of electronic soul that promises to get people moving.

-Angelo Lorenzo

Philadelphia

Paint It Black Sold Out Show (Almost) at FUC March 6

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For such a loud, ferocious unit hardcore veterans Paint It Black have had a rather quiet and tame past year. Well, today it will be anything but quiet and tame in the basement of the First Unitarian Church. It’s a big show for our hometown heroes and deservedly sold out with the help of buddies like Screaming Females, Punch, Iron Chic, and Give so be prepared for plenty of sweaty bodies flailing around and bouncing off of you because wherever you may find yourself on the floor, you’ll still be part of the action. Unfortunately, it’s a sold out show, but I did see R5 tweeted that there will be an “EXTREMELY TINY handful of tickets” at the door so grab your rain gear and get there early if you still need one! First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 5pm, $10, All Ages – Alexis V.
 
Philadelphia

WOMYNFEST at The Rotunda March 6

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Every time I hear the word "women", in my mind it translates into this loud, piercing yelp a la French Stewart as Harry in "3rd Rock from the Sun" (you thought I was going with Wolfmother, didn’t you?). It also reminds me of Women’s History Month, which is happening this month. It’s not only essential to recognize, celebrate, and cherish the stories you can share, but to remember the women of yore who’ve helped paved the way  to/for our rights. So make some history tonight at Uni City’s Rotunda for WOMYNFEST, presented by Vitamin D productions. Open to every junk type (ladyjunk, manjunk, pandajunk…whatev), this evening’s shindig will feature a breadth of sickeningly talented musicians, including Chrissy Tashian & Sara Green of the Dangerous Ponies, Victoria Spaeth and the Spaeth Cadets, Voices of Africa, Lexie Smith, Susan Rosetti of Stargazer Lily & Slo-mo fame, and Lauren Adams of Naughty, Naughty Nurses. The brains behind the presenter, Vitamin D (a.k.a. Denise), will play a set with fierce don’t-fuck-with-us drummers Allison Krayer and Deb Cervone. Now go get an education in badass. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 7pm, Free, All Ages – Annamarya Scaccia
 
L.A.

Kyle Nicolaides on Merrifield Records’ Twins compilation

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You’ve waited long enough — now you can get your hands dirty with it. The jam packed Twins compilation, including Santa Barbara native Kyle Nicolaides, was released this month on Merrifield Records. The album contains his dirty ditty of a single “Howl”, a jam that captures the essence of old time rock n’ roll at its raunchiest. Nicolaides vocals carry a blues swagger reminiscent of Jack White (The Raconteurs), Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), and Matt Shultz (Cage the Elephant) over smoking guitar riffs.

You can stream the compilation and even download a few samle tracks including Nicolaides’ "Howl", on Merrified Record’s website.

-Margarita Castellanos

Philadelphia

Free Download: Work Drugs’ “Sunset Junction” & Video!

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Work Drugs have a new (old) track “Sunset Junction” that they just made available for free download here. You can check out the video that goes along with it below, but be careful because it’ll surely make you long for lazy, summer days on the Left Coast. Work Drugs will be heading out on tour in April supporting Two Door Cinema Club, and look out for limited edition, hand-made tour EPs coming soon. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff
 

Work Drugs – Sunset Junction from Thomas Crystal

Philadelphia

Party Photographers Open for Dum Dum Girls at JB’s March 5

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Ian Records darlings, Party Photographers, warm the hearts of listeners with earnest anthems underpinned by emotives and fuzzed out riffs. Nearly synonymous with Black Tambourine’s moody brand of twee with a pinch of Jesus and the Mary Chain’s jangly finesse (like “Never Understand” or the classic “Just Like Honey”), this Philly three-piece continues to garnish well earned buzz for the release of their self-titled 7” alongside frequent live performances. From the clean backbeats of “Let the Red Lights Riot”, clipped close to lo-fi riffs played precise and awash in a mellow melodic daze, to the subtle romanticism of “Penn Treaty” or the surfy vibe of “Piano Vache”, Party Photographers’ moody noise pop captivates. Opening tonight at Johnny Brenda’s for the femme fatales of the Dum Dum Girls, Party Photographers fuzzed out goodness is the perfect premise to a sold out show you’ll wish you had tix for. Also joining the evening will be Minks and Dirty Beaches. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – Dianca Potts
 

Philadelphia

Whiskey-friendly Tunes at Tritone March 5

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There’s nothing I like more than taking in a show that’s just like downing a bottle of whiskey. It’s got that warming kick–a white-hot brashness that’s smooth and lingering. And that’s the only way you should describe tonight’s show at Tritone. It’ll be a set of liquid fire melodies. There’s The Lawsuits‘ intricately modernized Americana that can either breathe a fire in your belly or pull strings in your soul (their forthcoming album, Darleen, should be no different). Then there’s the Levee Drivers, who will have already warmed-up earlier at the PBR Crafting Challenge show, with their salty, brazen, good ol’ fashioned backwoods rockabilly that oozes sweaty swagger. And, lastly, you have Ron Gallo of Toy Soldiers, who encompasses the rebel strut of snotty blues-rock. I won’t be able to make the show, so go on and have one for me. Tritone, 1508 South St., 9pm, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia