NYC

Interview with White Life: DC/Baltimore Band of the Month (June)

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We wanted to find out more about the awesome electronic pop project from Baltimore, White Life, who killed it on our recent Band of the Month poll. So we caught up with lead Life-r Jon Ehrens, who spills it on the meaning behind the band’s name, limitless influence, and future plans. Check out the interview here…

White Life also released their stellar s/t album on May 30. Full of beyond radical 80’s dance synths and a nod to the classic scores of Giorgio Moroder, this album is definitely one of B-more’s best of 2011 hands down. Check out the sweet track for "Time is Wasting" below.-Dawn

White Life – Time Is Wasting by Ehse Records

Philadelphia

Sunny Ali & the Kid Open for The So So Glos at KFN June 4

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I’m not a big fan of live albums, mainly because the recordings never capture the true, unadulterated energy of the band at the other end of your headphones. But Sunny Ali & the Kid’s recent Poco Party release, Live @ Shea Stadium, may just be the record to change my mind. The 13-track album captures the duo’s garage-rock rage and sneering country splashes with sharp precision, it’s almost like you’re right there amidst the sweat drops and body jerks. But seriously, it’s not as electrifying as experiencing Sunny Ali and the Kid live underneath the blanket of venue darkness with the smell of spilt beer seeping into your clothes. And guess what? Instead of watching reruns of CBS shows on TNT tonight (because that’s sooooo exciting), you can slink your way to Kung Fu Necktie this evening and see what I mean for yourself. Opening up for Brooklyn’s the So So Glos, Sunny Ali and the Kid will also share the bill with local pop-rock trio, the Fleeting Ends, who released their polished Brit pop-infused three-track EP, Goldmine in the Gutter, in February. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., $10, 7pm 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
 

Philadelphia

Black Landlord, Kuf Knotz & PBC at JB’s June 4

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Kuf Knotz has been making a name for himself throughout Philly’s alternative hip hop scene. So far in his young career, Knotz has been a founding member of the BurnDown All-Stars crew and The Hustle, his own hip hop/soul collective. More recently, though, a solo career has taken front seat since Knotz dropped his debut full-length, BoomBox Logic, back in October. And since the release, Kuf Knotz has hit the show circuit hard, even hosting the “Boombox Collective” series at World Café Live. Tonight, he’ll be looking to further promote his name in the hip hop scene by sharing the stage with Philly favorites Black Landlord at Johnny Brenda’s. Bringing the show to a close, the nine-piece soul/funk/jazz/hip hop collective led by founder MAxx Stoyanoff-Williams (formerly of the legendary Goats) is made of an all-star crew of local music vets mostly known for their wild live performances, which are reminiscent of a Philly Block Party. Aside from their normal live antics, the crew will also give away free digital downloads of their new EP, What You Mean to We. But before Black Landlord performs, the shindig’s host, Philadelphia Brewing Company, will debut its newest commercial filmed by local filmmakers for its Kenzinger beer starring MAxx (fans of both Black Landlord and PBC can look forward to the commercial’s outtakes as well). Local beer, local music, and free downloads. . . What excuse do you have not to be there? Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave, $10, 9pm, 21+ (Kuf Knotz Photo by David Turcotte) – Dan Brightcliffe
 

Philadelphia

No Excuses! Summer Series w/Penrose, Toy Soldiers & Conversation with Enemies at D!D!G June 4

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If summer and free are two of your favorite things, then the Brothers Murphy have your hookup in the best way possible. Because Penrose are teaming up with WXPN and Danger! Danger! Gallery to bring you the No Excuses! Summer Series. This exclusive set of all ages shows kicks off tonight, and will carry on throughout the first Saturday of July, August, and September. And since it’s free to all who show up before 9 PM (and just $5 after). It’s the perfect time to catch up on some of the fine local acts that you may have been missing out on. With a stunning performance at last weeks Sundrop Music and Arts Festival and an appearance at tomorrow’s Mad Dragon Records Showcase at the TLA, Toy Soldiers are already on their way to being the goodwill ambassadors of summer music fests in Philly. So Ron Gallo & the gang are a nice addition to kicking off this series. Between their involvement with Rock to the Future (which has a benefit tomorrow night at World Café Live), Conversations with Enemies is a band that manages to find themselves quite busy. But the artistic gypsy surf rockers will also find the time to deliver an energetic and eclectic set this evening. BTW: You’ll also be treated to some free refreshments. Danger! Danger! Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave., 8pm, $5 (Free before 9pm), All Ages – Bill McThrill
 
San Francisco

Album Review – Misner & Smith: Live At The Freight & Salvage

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“Sometimes so lost all I knew was my name,” sings Megan Smith with Sam Misner on “Greyhound Days,” a song off their new album Misner & Smith: Live At The Freight & Salvage. This song is their modern version of a timeless lost-on-the-road, train-hopping tale: “Never trust comfort, it’s weak and it dies/ Have faith in the struggle/ Don’t rest ‘til you die."

The Northern California natives have been playing original Americana and Roots music since 2004. Misner & Smith: Live At The Freight & Salvage is a live album from their performance at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, and the album features a stunning array of their work to date.

Misner & Smith are known for their beautiful use of vocal harmonies. Megan Smith plays the upright bass and mandolin, and Sam Misner plays guitar. This live album has a perfect pacing—some songs take a slow and mournful approach, while others feature guitar pickin’ madness. Their song “Poor Player,” featured on this album and originally recorded in 2008, won the West Coast Songwriters Association’s Song of the Year competition, and was nominated in the New Folk category in one of the world’s largest international song contests put on by the Just Plain Folks music organization. Other fan favorites on the live album include “Madeline (Paradise Cracked)” from their debut album Halfway Home.

–Shauna Keddy

 

L.A.

Incan Abraham “Sunscreen” video premiere

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Hop in the car and take the trippiest road trip/hike/bonfire party of the summer. Check out the video for Incan Abraham’s latest video of title track “Sunscreen” from their latest release. Their luscious and layered psychedelic pop is the perfect soundtrack to your own summer adventures. Just make sure you’re not the first one to fall asleep! Also, the band will be playing every Tuesday night this June in residency at the Central S.A.P.C. Entrance is FREE, so there’s no excuse for not stopping by. 21+.

~Taylor Lampala

 

 

New England

Big White Clouds kick off tour TODAY!!!

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Boston’s Big White Clouds tour kicks off today. Big White Clouds recently released their debut, Small White Clouds. Their music is folksy, acoustic and reminiscent of early Bright Eyes. They are a band not to be missed. The following is a complete list of dates:

Friday June 3
Tour kickoff house show 
(Email for address), Brighton, MA

w/ The Grownup Noise, Be Brave Bold Robot, Low Static Romance
8pm / $5 / All ages

Saturday June
 4
Sycamore – Brooklyn, NY
w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce, Camille Harris
6pm / $5 / 21+

Sunday June
 5
Bookspace – Philadelphia, PA
w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce, Virtual Virgin, The Thirteen

6pm / $5 / All ages


Monday June 6
(Email for address), Arlington, VA

Acoustic/house show w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce

7pm / Free / All ages


Tuesday June 7
Jax – Blacksburg, VA

w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce, Woofdog and the Hounds of Hell

8pm / $5 / All ages


Wednesday June
 8
the Hideaway – Johnson City, TN

w/ Commerce, Amory Sivertson
7pm / All ages

Thursday June 9
One Unit Art Space – W. Columbia, SC
w/ Commerce, Amory Sivertson

8pm / All ages

Friday June
 10
Snake Nation – Atlanta, GA

w/ Commerce, Amory Sivertson
9pm / All ages

Saturday June
 11
The 567 Gallery Stage – Macon, GA
w/ Commerce, Amory Sivertson

8pm / $5 / All ages



Sunday June
 12
Preservation Pub (Speakeasy) – Knoxville, TN
w/ Commerce, Amory Sivertson

5pm / Free / 21+

Monday June 
13
the Mad Hatter – Covington, KY
w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce, Sweet Ray Laurel, Shoot Out the Lights, Founding Fathers, The Red Maja
7pm / $12 / All ages

Tuesday June 14
Kafe Kerouac – Columbus, OH
w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce

8pm / Free / All ages

Wednesday June 15
Grog Shop – Cleveland Heights, OH
w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce

8pm / $10 ($12 for under 21)/ All ages
Facebook event

Thursday June 16
Filigrees Gallery & Boutique – Buffalo, NY

w/ Amory Sivertson, Commerce, Peter Vullo, Cameron Mitchell

7pm / $5 / All ages

–Chrissy Prisco

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, June 3 – 5

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Honestly, we’re just trying to get the hell out of here for Happy Hour before we head over to Sun Airway at the Church tonight, and we are super stoked about The Roots Picnic tomorrow so you know where we’ll be this weekend. Hope to see you out because the weather should be fantastic! Cheers!
 
Other things to get down to this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Debut of PBC Kenzinger Commerical w/ Black Landlord and Kuf Knotz
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI S.T.O.P., North Lawrence Midnight Singers, Le Fits, SAT The Fleeting Ends and Sunny Ali & The Kid, SUN Ladder Devils and Halo of Snakes
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) SUN Dive
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI (All Ages) Sexoffice and Dirty Cartoons, (Late) Sunshine Superman and The Heat Run, SAT (All Ages) The Great Explainer, (Late) SAT The Warhawks and The Assembly Line, SUN (All Ages) Common Enemy and Scareho, SUN Royal Shoals and Kelly & The Ruths
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SAT The Left Lingo and Old Rival Hope, SUN Agent Moosehead
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Betty Iron Thumbs CD release w/Levee Drivers and Cow Pals, SAT Boogie Witch, Broken Prayers, Dixie Blood, SUN Dancing Goats and Moon Dawgs
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Jeffrey Gaines, SAT Philly Fusion Project
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) SAT Enlighten Philadelphia feat. PEX/Playloop, SUN Hamburger Hunt and Natural Selection
 
Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Psalmships, Annachristie of Sisters 3, Former Belle, SAT Bikeworks Benefit w/The Shakes, Skin Cells, Sour Mash, Pinelands, SUN Party Photographers and Dangerbird
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI One.25 Benefit Concert w/Wild Rompit, Woodlane Ave, Grind City, SUN Rock to the Future Year End Showcase w/Grandchildren and The Creeping Weeds
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Eco-RAGE Fundraiser, Saturday (Day) Sic Bacchus and Philly Youth Poetry Movement, SAT (Night) Penrose & WXPN Present: NO EXCUSES! Summer Series w/Penrose, Conversations with Enemies, Toy Soldiers
 
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) FRI First Friday Showcase Hosted by Dani Mari & Boy Wonder, SAT West Philadelphia Orchestra
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Tapas – A Roots Pre Picnic Treat w/ Dice Raw, Money Making Jam Boys, and Much More, SAT Welter, SUN The Fetals
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Phonographiq and Gabreal
 
Bookspace (Please contact one of the acts for details.) FRI Time Hitler & the Assholes from Space and Dan Malloy, SAT Birthday Bashing Show w/Combine, Suncrusher, Cousin Brian, The Sniffles, Harsh Vibes
 
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Sun Airway
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Missing Keys
 
The Barbary (951 N. Frankford St.) SAT F.O.D.
 
Theatre of Living Arts (334 South St.) FRI Lebowski Fest Philly w/Chipocrite, SUN MAD Dragon Records Showcase w/ Hezekiah Jones, The Spinning Leaves, Kuf Knotz, When I Was 12, Gypsy Death and You, and More
 
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) FRI Certain Circuits Issue 1.1 Issue Launch w/Horsey, Apogee, Radio
Eris
 
Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.) SUN Scott Churchman and Jeff Carter
 
Hong Kong Garden (Please contact one of the acts for details.) FRI Art Show Punk Show II w/HK, Old Scratch, Cool Moms, UANDI
 
The Shorehouse (Contact ECBLAST@gmail.com for more info.) FRI Lie Still (Ex-Benumb), Triac, Nothing Is Over, Amputee
 
NYC

Interview with DC Pop’s Flo Anito

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Month’s ago, Flo Anito graced the headline banner of DC Deli’s site as Artist of the Month. She had just debuted a music video off her latest album "No Dust Bunnies", and as of June 1, that video has recieved the grand prize in Ourstage’s Video Finals. Our intern Jessie caught up with her to find out her musical origins, performing at DC memorials, and how she found Rod Stewart. Full interview here…

Catch Flo Anito this Sunday 6/5 at the Sweet Tea Fest at Almaz, 8 pm, and 6/11 at Celebrate Fairfax.

NYC

NYC Artists on the rise: Tempers

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From the ashes of her previous band “Seasick,” Eastern European chanteuse Jasmine Golestaneh has joined forces with fellow musician Eddie Cooper to form “Tempers.” Their song "Eyes Wide Wider" hit us immediately with a dissonant buzzing-bees guitar tone, not too dissimilar from what Sonic Youth has been known to do over the years. A steady drumbeat follows, providing solid grounding for the deeply reverberated male vocals riding ghostly over top, wihile underlying guitar textures underneath morph in unpredictable directions. "Manners" presents a more electronic pulse, with off-center guitar figures combining for a prime-era Sisters of Mercy vibe. This time Teutonic female vocals mesh with whip crack percussion, completing the leather-boot-lust scenario. Additional keyboard and guitar textures further enhance the multiple layers of vocal hooks. "Hell Hotline” pushes the electronics in even more ambitious directions, covering ground one might expect from Brian Eno or David Sylvian. Those ambient atmospheric are soon matched to a dance percussion pulse that more closely resembles the output of bands like Ladytron, or Client. There is a greater sense of mystery here, however – and perhaps a touch of danger. It all adds up to an intoxicating elixir. – Dave Cromwell

Philadelphia

Where Is My Mind?: Nicos Gun

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Nicos Gun is a band of a chill dudes. Not only do they have their crazy loose hooks, dance-rock freak outs, and fuzzy electric struts, the four-piece – that is Barney Cortez, Andrew Black, Nick Bockrath, and Harry Zelnick, who snagged a Grammy at 17 for his work with Ludacris on “War With God” – also has one hell of an unrelenting sense of humor. It’s a part of their appeal as a local indie outfit that, while only together as a recording act for about a year, has amassed a sick amount of buzz and praise. They’re on their second tour of 2011 already, hitting new cities and playing the major festival circuit (Roots Picnic this weekend, XPoNential, MTK Festival and PEX Festival to name a few). They’re also working on some new EPs that will come out soon like gunfire, and if the names of their DIY EPs are any indications, the titles of the forthcoming EPs should be beyond interesting. We spoke with the guys via phone the Friday before their performance at the Disco Biscuits‘ BISCO INFERNO at Colorado’s hallowed Red Rocks Amphitheater on May 28. We’d tell you what they talked about, but it’s much better if you go in not knowing what to expect. ‘Coz Nicos Gun is nothing if not unpredictable. You can check out the interview HERE.
 
NYC

Red Wire Black Wire back at Pianos on Saturday 06.04 + prepare new album

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It’s been more than a New York minute since electropop six-piece, Red Wire Black Wire, debuted their synthy and sonorous first album, "Robots and Roses" (2009), but this Saturday at Pianos the band will perform a slew of fresh material. While frontman, Doug P. Walters, aims for a fall/winter release date for an EP, he reveals that the band is in no rush, and in the middle of experimenting in search for a signature sound for the new work. RWBW bust out its new jams and older tunes at 11PM, with Santah, Steel Phantoms, and Dinosaur Bones playing before them. – Abigail P Devora