New England

RIBS embark on 9-day East Coast Tour 5/5 – 5/14

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ribs

Boston-based quartet RIBS are setting off on tour this week, taking their Failure-meets-My Bloody Valentine dreamscape down the East Coast for the first time. The tour currently has 9 scheduled stops, starting on May 5th in Boston and ending on May 14th in Athens, GA.

RIBS has built a reputation across New England for the creativity and clockwork of their light-flooded live shows, making them a go-to choice for local support on national tours including Helmet and Circa Survive.

Reviews described their latest release, the double A-side Locrian Singles as a "double-knockout" – comprised of two "futuristic, star-screaming" singles – showing an evolution from the sneaking post-gaze of the band’s debut EP, British Brains, released last June. RIBS rose to prominence after British Brains became one of Reddit’s top music posts of all time.

The RIBS East Coast Tour will include the following stops:
05.05 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
05.06 – Danbury, CT – Heirloom Arts Theatre

05.07 – Albany, NY – Hudson River Coffee House

05.08 – Brooklyn, NY – The Charleston
05.09 – Baltimore, MD – Sidebar Tavern
05.10 – Richmond, VA – Strange Matter

05.11 – Greensboro, NC – Pin Ups
05.12 – Asheville, NC – The LAB
05.13 – Atlanta, GA – The Music Room
05.14 – Athens, GA – Rye Bar

–Chrissy Prisco

NYC

Priestbird releases full length + video

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I just stumbled upon these Priestbird guys (they are on Benzod Records). I’m liking a lot their ssongs – tons of character. It’s like rootsy psych-rock or something along those lines. Check out the embedded video and if you like it you may want to check out their full length Beachcombers, which was released yesterday. Not all songs are this tense by the way – see tunes on their myspace profile in this regard.


 

NYC

Fresh Off the Plane: Sydney’s Bachelorette relocate to Brooklyn – live at Glasslands with Warm Ghost

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One thing is for sure: It’s WAY easier to convince your band to move from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Brooklyn when your band is comprised of just one member. Bachelorette is Annabel Alpers’ brainchild, a young lady who is in love with synths, has a magical voice, and possesses very interesting songwriting/arranging skills. Oh and, of course, who -a few months ago – convinced her band to move to Brooklyn! Her songs are melodic, electronic and rather playful, and could be described as a more electronic, psychedelic (in a Barrettesque way) version of St. Vincent. Annabel is currently enjoying some solo performances with her pre-recorded self – tonight’s one will be at Glasslands with electro-droney Brooklyn’s own Warm Ghosts. As Annabel says: “that’s what Bachelorette’s all about – playing with yourself”. – (photo by David james)

NYC

The Pierces announce release of full length “You & Me” on May 30 + tour the UK in June.

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The U.K. have been very good in many occasions to under-appreciated NYC and US artists (The Strokes and The Pixies being two sensational examples). The Pierces are considered by many as a NYC band that hasn’t yet exploited their potential. With a still recent EP "Love You More" digitally released in January (titletrack’s video below), a sophomore full length scheduled to be released on May 30th, and a UK tour booked for June, sisters Allison and Catherine Pierce aren’t wasting any time. To make things more interesting, the forthcoming album, ‘You & Me’, features cameos from Albert Hammond Jr (The Strokes) and an all star contribution on drums: Will Champion (Coldplay), Glenn Moule (Howling Bells) and Matt Romano (Little Joy). The release is the follow-up to ‘Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge’, an album whose songs have been featured on television shows like Dexter, Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl.

New England

The New England Bicycle Expo kicks off national bike month! Featuring exhibits, presentations, bike rides and live music May 7 & 8.

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NEBE

Island Nine and Desert Race Boston present: The New England Bicycle Expo (NEBE) at Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA on May 7th and 8th. The NEBE will be host to 40+ regional bicycle companies and organizations. There will be two days of exhibits, presentations, discussions, classes, bike rides and live music. Tickets are $6 and children under 10 are free.

The live music schedule is as follows:
Saturday 5/7:
Noon – The Grownup Noise
1:15 – Slowdim
2:30 – Fortune Teller
4:00 – The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library

Sunday 5/8:
Noon – Justin Francos
1:00 – Creek River String Band
2:30 – Acousticana
4:00 – Kristen Ford Band

May 7 & 8, 9 am – 5 pm
Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Avenue Somerville, MA 02143

–Chrissy Prisco

Chicago

CD of the Month: Daniel Knox

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Daniel Knox is an old soul in a modern world, and on Evryman For Himself we hold he is adapting and adjusting to the world around him. These are saloon songs, these are piano ballads in their purest form. Knox reminds me of a mix between Randy Newman, Anthony & The Johnsons, and Tom Waits. On Evryman For Himself he takes the listener on a journey through his life and tells us stories of love, loneliness, and scenes that he has observed. He seems to spot the smallest scenes and find the uniqueness. He is a crooner, a commentator, and marvelous storyteller. It is clear through songs like the haunting "Ghostsong", the biting but humorous "…etc…", or the title track "Evryman For Himself" that Knox is a special talent and a truly gifted singer/songwriter.

Evryman For Himself will be released by La Societe Expeditionnairie on May 10th. Daniel Knox will be performing at The Hideout on May 26th.

 

Philadelphia

Meg Baird Headlines at KFN May 4

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Local folk veteran and darling Meg Baird will be headlining Kung Fu Necktie tonight. Influenced by Appalachian music and contemporary outsider folk among others, the wispy songstress can easily captivate a room simply with her delicate, genteel vocals and guitar. It should also be a very special evening since she’ll be hosting the legendary Kath Bloom, who is also a Baird favorite (check out her cover of Bloom’s “There Was a Boy”). I’m hoping that they’ll have some interesting collaborative pieces planned for us this evening. (Please don’t let it be wishful thinking.) They’ll also be joined by another fine talent in Nebraska’s Ember Shrag. Expect the generally rowdy venue to turn into a listening room for this deserving bill. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7:30 pm, $8. 21+ – Alexis V.