NYC

Best of NYC #96a: The Forgetters

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Even though the forgetters like their name without capital letters (our editor has a serious prejudice against bands that do that) they placed 96th in our Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll. Their formula is simple: punk rock done well, i.e. energy, provocative lyrics and some memorable chords. Yet where so many bands have failed, burning their cookies, so to speak, The Forgetters have whipped up a pretty tasty batch. And they even made a baker’s dozen. Led by Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker, Jets to Brazil and a bunch of other bands, the band’s experience shines through in their tight performances. It’s loud, but not messy. This is punk rock with both a heart and a brain. While Schwarzenbach’s lyrics can sometimes be hard to understand (especially at a live show), they are earnest and intellectual, a good contrast to the somewhat aggressive instrumentals behind them. This is music with backbone, no bones about it. P.S. The band doesn’t have music online, but you can see some videos of their live shows here. – allison levin

NYC

The Tunnel release new album + performs twice in SF

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Those of you who are into the sound of the early goth rock (like Nick Cave’s original band The Birthday Party) might be interested in knowing that San Francisco trio The Tunnel is celebrating the release of their new album "Fathoms Deep" with two hometown shows. The album was recorded at Studio SQ in San Francisco, produced by the group and engineered by Chris Crawford (drummer for French Miami, the Downer Party) and is being released by the Glorious Alchemial Co. label. The first show will be on Thursday, Apr 7 at Hemlock Tavern, the second on Sunday, Apr 24 at the Make-Out Room.

Philadelphia

Clark Park Art & Music Festival Benefit at Millcreek Tavern April 7

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Whether it’s been for Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox, or during Best Fest (which we are very sad to hear will not be happening this year), Clark Park has managed to host some interesting music events over the years. And since they have all managed to celebrate the diversity of music by featuring rock, jazz, folk, metal, and then some on the same lineup, they have all been festival that walked to the beat of their own drum. The same thing has to hold true when you host a benefit for the sake of said music festivals, and that’s exactly what Cloud Entertainment has in store when they host one at Millcreek Tavern tonight. Indie pop darlings Arrah and the Ferns will be playing one of their first local shows since coming back from tour with The Armchairs. And psychedelic rock quintet The Tressels will be keeping the crowd in good spirits with songs from their latest album Bourbon Legend. Meanwhile thrash metal band Samsara will unleash a little destruction, and Psychic Teens will bring the noise. Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chestnut St., 9pm, $6, 21+ – Bill McThrill

Portland

TYYYPHHHHOOOOOON!

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The ever whelming sounds of Typhoon crash ever the more concisely wild on their latest release, A New Kind of House. The five tracks from this army of a band break slowly across your ears with a not-quite-gentle but definitely-still-fragile sound, starting with just whispers of the song "The Honest Truth", which grows like a battle drum made of glass, shattering into a yell-along choir after the gracious call to arms: "Be kind to all your neighbours because they’re just like you and you’re nothing special." Horns trace the echo of everyone screaming, fading quickly into "Summer Home", which swells slightly with fadingly crying strings that lead back into more choral harmonies. The whole EP slowly breathes and breaks, shifting between balladesque pianos, weeping strings, and a barrage of brass layered like years of moss trying to hide the ghostly and giant oak it calls home.

A New Kind of House is out on Tender Loving Empire, with a release show to match at Doug Fir this Friday with &&& and Brainstorm! Check out Matt Ross’s video for "The Honest Truth" and just try to tell me that you won’t be picking up this EP. – Mike Harper

New England

Deep Heaven Now 3 Festival Compilation Available For Free Download

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The Deep Heaven Now 3 (DHN3) festival compilation is available for free download! The compilation features 27 tracks by the bands set to perform at the two-day festival taking place April 15 and 16 at PA’s Lounge and Precinct Bar in Union Square, Somerville.

Festival creator, Jinsen Liu (of 28 Degrees Taurus) has successfully put on two previous Deep Heaven Now events within the past year. As with the previous two, the festival features a plethora of New England’s best psychedelic and ambient bands. In addition to local greats like Roh Delikat, Herbcraft, MMOSS and Guillermo Sexo, DHN3 will feature the reunion of the now-defunct This Car Up. Favorites in the Boston indie rock scene for years, this will be the band’s first performance since August 2008!

Also on the bill are a bunch of great acts from around the country such as Alabama psych rock greats The Sunshine Factory, Philadelphia’s The Asteroid #4, Virginia’s The Diamond Center, and Delaware’s heavenly duo, The Sky Drops.

Click here to download the compilation from the DHN3 bandcamp page.

For complete festival information and the schedule, check out the festival’s facebook page.

–Chrissy Prisco

New England

Hear Now Live Presents: Ellis Ashbrook, Miss Fairchild, The Doctors Fox, The Rex Complex — Friday, April 22 at Johnny D’s

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ellis ashbrook

On Friday, April 22, Hear Now Live presents The Rex Complex, The Doctors Fox, Miss Fairchild and Ellis Ashbrook live at Johnny D’s in Somerville.

9pm The Rex Complex – Originally from Boston, but now residing in Brooklyn, this band is a frantic, loud, energetic experimental outfit that has garnered comparisons to Dirty Projectors.
10pm The Doctors Fox – The Doctors Fox are a Boston band with a hodgepodge of influences, from bluegrass to funk to rock and jazz, among other things. Yet, with all these influences comes a diverse eclectic sound that keeps the audience on their toes.
11pm Miss Fairchild – This 8-piece Boston based band has a unique soundscape that’s part funk, part soul, and part 1980’s Prince (before he became The Artist Formally Known As…)
12am Ellis Ashbrook – Also originally from Boston, but now Brooklyn-based, this psych/jam/funk band creates a wall of sound that’s as fun as it is mind-blowing.
 

Friday, April 22, 9pm, 21+
Johnny D’s
17 Holland St. Somerville (across from Davis T-stop)

–Chrissy Prisco

Austin

Hot Tracks Benefit 4/15 w/Leatherbag, Danny Malone, David Wingo + more…

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Matt Smith’s Austin recording studio Hot Tracks has been forced to relocate, and to help cover costs a superb lineup of local bands (and fans/friends/colleagues of Hot Tracks) are putting on a big, badass show at Club De Ville; in addition to helping out a good local biz, this is a phenomenal way to catch 10 killer local bands in one night. All proceeds go toward the relocation. Friday, 4/15, bands inside and out, including David Wingo (above), Leatherbag, Danny Malone, The Eastern Sea, Wiretree, and many more…full lineup (times TBD): 

Corrina, Corrina
Danny Malone
David Wingo (of Ola Podrida)
The Eastern Sea
The Gary
The Great Nostalgic
Leatherbag
My Education
The Pons
Wiretree

Philadelphia

Roman à clef Open for Cloud Nothings at JB’s April 6

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New Philly starry-eyed pop group Roman à clef are performing an opening set at Johnny Brenda’s tonight. The band, featuring Ryan Neymeyer and Anne Fredrickson of A Sunny Day In Glasgow, bring along wispy indie sensibilities from their other group to make moody, hazy twee music. They only currently have one demo posted (which you can check out below), but “The Prisoner” shows promise for this fledgling offspring and hopefully this show opening for Cloud Nothings is a sign of more to come. Hope to see you there! Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Adam G.

Portland

Saturday at The Doug Fir: Departing Canada to Visit Portlandia! The Rural Alberta Advantage

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I caught The Rural Alberta Advantage a couple years back at Backspace, and they genuinely captured my heart, channeling the homespun air that their name evokes. Hints of Jeff Mangum hide in the back of Nils Edenloff’s voice, not to be left alone by the sweet cooing of instrument-hopping Amy Cole. A booming cavern of sounds at times (think Arcade Fire, if they only had 3 members, but still sounded like they had at least 6), and a not more than a calm sing-song at others, The RAA lends an open field of sounds to their live performance. Their newest release, Departing, takes the next step away from Hometowns (doesn’t that seem perfect?) and blooms with a brighter energy while still hanging on to that storytelling swell that makes The RAA what they are. You’ll dance and sing along to "Stamp" as much as you’ll quietly take in the subtle call-and-response of "Goodnight". Playing the Doug Fir this time around with another one of my favorites, Aan, and a newer obsession, Lord Huron, the night is sure to be a deep breath of swelling notes. Peep their video on This Week’s Menu, go to the Doug Fir on Saturday. You’ll be a calmer and happier person for it. –Mike Harper

 

Philadelphia

The Synth Sircus Experimenting at Lickety Split April 6

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The keyboard experiment that is The Synth Sircus will be finding out if they can make the folks dance (or at least nod their head in approval) in the second floor South Street bar Lickety Split. Originally started by Agent Moosehead’s John Briley and Andy “of the Future” Schwartz as a call for other keyboardists and musicians to join them on stage and jam, the project has taken on a life of its own with rotating members from the local music community, and they even have been laying down some mind-fucking dance tracks of down-tempo futuristic soundscapes. Joining them on the bill will be Synth Sircus contributor and dark, sludgy garage rock songstress Avataria. The show is free so you’ll have more cash for social lubrication. Lickety Split, 401 South St., 8pm, Free, 21+ – Alexis V.



Synth Sircus & Funtown On Stage PARTY!

Nashville

2nd annual Tour de Fun Saturday, 4/9/11

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I don’t think Murfreesboro gets enough credit. I know its music scene is largely reliant on house shows, but the music community is close-knit and talented, and for those who don’t believe it, consider making the drive this Saturday for the 2nd annual Tour de Fun. It’s a free community bike ride that stops at a series of local house shows throughout the day and into the wee hours. This music festival on wheels was pioneered by Tyler Walker of Blastoids, Awesome Shirt and Meth Dad. Walker wanted to create something that would reflect the essence of the Murfreesboro music scene and show that it’s thriving. He pulled it off pretty successfully in the first year, with over 30 bands and about 300 in attendance.

Things will kick off at noon this year with a barbecue at Murfreesboro Outdoor and Bicycle (MOAB) at 310 N. Maple Street with performances by Cherub, Schtompa and Prophet Nathan. Two or three bands will play 10 minute sets at each house. The lineup includes bands mainly from the boro, both new and returning from the first Tour de Fun, like Turtle Bangs, Yoseph y la Zilla and Hanzelle. There’s a raffle, too – last year, $800 worth of bike gear was given away. The night ends with a final set at The Temptation Club. For a route, lineup and additional information, see the Tour de Fun Facebook page. Check it out, folks. This thing is legit. – Jessica Pace

Philadelphia

FINAL Tickets for Day Glow Party w/Diplo to Be Released Today!

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Diplo retweeted earlier details about the release of the FINAL tickets for the SOLD OUT Day Glow Philadelphia: Escape Reality Tour (“World’s Largest Paint Party”) that is happening at the Naval Yard on April 15. The release of the last 200 tickets will be at 4pm today. Damn that shit is expensive! But here’s your second chance to take a lot of psychedelics and smother yourself and others in day glow paint while wilding out uncontrollably to Diplo spinning. And you don’t even have to clean up afterwards. Well, maybe yourself, but not the place. You can purchase the final tickets HERE. Good luck! – The Deli Staff