Portland

MUSICFEST NORTHWEST!

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Holy goodness, is it that time of year already? Yes it is, Portland! MFNW is right around the corner. September 7-11 all around town, MusicFest Northwest is going to blow your brain out of your face. If you haven’t gotten your wristband already, get on it! If you’re not into bracelets, then start scoping for tickets! This year’s lineup looks ridiculously amazing. We’ll be out there catching as much as we can, but here are a few picks from our writers & photographers who’ll be roaming/running around Portland for the weekend. –MH

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Cat Lam, host of Cat’s Cradle on KPSU is really stoked to see: 

The Horrors

They’ve shed their gimmicky over the top goth garb, and have evolved into sonic textural masters. The Horrors are the band I’m personally most excited to see this year. Their latest record, Skying, is the band’s first self produced effort and is an amazingly lush landscape of weaving tones and reverb. See the Horrors on Saturday September 10th at Dante’s.

The Soft Moon

The long reaching influence of Joy Division’s driving baselines is highly evident, most notably on the track “Breathe the Fire”. The faint chanting whisper of Luis Vasquez’s voice is both heavy and haunting. Catch The Soft Moon at Rotture on Sunday September 11th.

Dirty Beaches

Dirty Beaches’ debut LP, Badlands, can be summed up as grimy, lo-fi recordings seemingly from another era. Like the score to a David Lynch film, you can almost visualize the vast landscapes their sounds project. Whip that pompadour into shape, Dirty Beaches is bringin’ back those 1950s vibes. Friday September 9th at Dante’s at 10pm.

Blouse

Blouse’s 7” single for “Shadow” is yet another amazing throw-back-y dream pop record, courtesy of Sub Pop. Both airy and brooding, their tunes are melancholy filtered through the lens of summer. This is going to be a show your inner goth is not going to want to miss. Thursday September 8th at Holocene at 10pm.

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I have impeccable timing in that I will be out of town right when MFNW is going down. Luckily, I’m going to be in sunny California catching my good friends Rad City tour up the left coast. But! If I were in town, my show picks for MusicFest NW would go like this: Mike Harper, founder/blogger/photographer over at Words Cut Open, and editor here at The Deli Portland is looking forward to these bands:

Wild Ones

Well orchestrated pop from the makers of Congratulations, Eskimo & Sons, and more, channeling the summertime joy of all my favourite house shows. Swoon at sway away with these P-town favourites Saturday September 10 at Backspace at 8pm.

Brainstorm

Blisteringly energetic and heartfelt in the most frenetically neo-tribal, trombone wielding way, Brainstorm will make your face explode with a thousand smiles in a flurry of genuine beat-driven, slightly tropical (in a Portland kind of way) tunes. Feel it Thursday September 8 at Doug Fir at 9pm.

Typhoon

This small army of sing-along 20-somethings has become sort of a mascot for Portland these days. From their tender loving latest release to their glowing performance on David Letterman, Typhoon may easily be slated as one of the most looked-forward-to local bands of this year’s MFNW.  Saturday Sept 10 at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 5pm.

Jeffrey Jerusalem

You can expect no less than a rousingly sweaty show of boops, beeps, beats and bright bold vocals from Jeffrey Jerusalem. Persuade yourself into fast moving feet Saturday September 10 at Branx, 9pm.

Onuinu

As I’ve said before, this man will make you sweaty. He might even make you dance. This time around, he will definitely call for both. Don’t let him down. I know he’ll return the favour. Friday September 9 at Doug Fir at 9pm.

YACHT

Ever since his hand in The Blow, I’ve been in love with every danceable beat that’s come from Jona Bechtolt. Yacht continually brings an other-worldy set of light show colour explosion, so do not DO NOT miss this band. Saturday September 10 at 11pm at Branx (same night as Jefferey Jerusalem!).

NYC

NJ Artists on the rise: The Ugly Club

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The New Jersey five-piece indie rock band, The Ugly Club, creates music that carries elements of psych rock, lo-fi and also garage-rock, with an added, strong textural quality. With two self released EP under their belt, the band these days isbusy in the studio, preparing a new release . The band has been making the rounds throughout the tri-state area promoting their "Visions of Tall Girl" EP, and played Cameo Gallery earlier this week with an impromptu acoustic sampling of their song, "Wasted on You", at Williamsburg Waterfront beforehand. – Abigail P. Devora

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Bee Nose (Put Yr Face On)” – Pink Skull

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Pink Skull recently premiered a new music video for “Bee Nose (Put Yr Face on)” via Impose Magazine (which you can check out below). The video was directed by Adam Carrigan, who also shares a few words about it. The track is from the band’s upcoming album Psychic Welfare, which will be released on vinyl (September 13) and digitally (September 27) via RVNG Intl.

 
"The "Bee Nose (Put Yr Face On)" video was largely inspired by the visuals incorporated in Pink Skull’s new live show. After I worked through the mass of video feedback, found visuals, etc. that Julian and JG accumulated, I thought a video in the mode of Black Sabbath’s "Iron Man" or Talking Heads’ "Once In A Lifetime" would pay retro honor to the futuristic pursuit of early "green screen" experimentation. Black Boxer helped create the backdrop and domain that Julian appears the reluctant master of in the video. Thanks for having a look." – Adam Carrigan
 

L.A.

RACES preps debut LP on Frenchkiss + Tour Dates

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It would be a lie to describe RACES (formerly Black Jesus) as anything but indie rock. The band’s got all the formulaic indie components— straightforward songwriting; guitar, bass, drum, and piano setup; male/female vocal parts—but that same straightforwardness intrigues its listeners, and the melody resonates in their eardrums long after the last chord is strummed. This catchiness has landed the Los Angeles-based sextet a spot on the oh-so-wonderful Frenchkiss label, as well as gigs with The Get Up Kids, Joy Formidable, and Telekinesis this summer (and the band hasn’t even released a record yet!). RACES self-recorded and produced debut LP is slated for a fall release. Below is a list of September tour dates. – Katrina Nattress

9.10 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s w/ Joy Formidable

9.11 Costa Mesa, CA Detroit Bar w/ Joy Formidable

9.13 Santa Barbara, CA Soho club w/ Joy Formidable, Telekenesis
9.14 Los Angeles, CA El Rey w/ Joy Formidable, Telekenesis


 

 

 

NYC

NYC Artists on the rise: We Are Augustines release debut CD

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After a very good reception as a digital release, We Are Augustines‘ "Rise Ye Sunken Ships" will be released in CD format on Tuesday August 23. The band’s alt folk-rock has a visionary and passionate character, and hopeful tones with deeply meaningful, lyrics often flirting with mysticism. One of their premier tracks, "Book of James", is available for free download on their site (if you subscribe to their mailing list), while "Chapel Song" is streaming below. It’s just enough to sell you on the whole album: “He stood there in his boots unable to move, and I came here to tell you that I love you. And here lies my green eyes rolled back in my head, but they’re alive. And all these words can all get spoken: Just know we tried, and you’re forgiven.” – Caitlin Clive

Philadelphia

Win a Pair of Tickets for Tomorrow Night’s Exclusive In-studio Performance w/Kuf Knotz, Dave Vegas & LP Stiles!

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Kuf Knotz will be doing an in-studio performance tomorrow night at Forge Studios (100 Mill Road – Oreland, PA) with Dave Vegas and LP Stiles. The show will be recorded for a live studio album and DVD. There are only 25 tickets available which will cost $20 each (and you’ll also receive a CD & DVD of the performance). But if you’d like a chance to get in for FREE, we have a pair of tickets to giveaway. Just send us an email at thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with “Get Me In This Joint” in the subject line, and we’ll email you if you are the winner. Good luck!

NYC

Robbers on High Street release new CD + play Monday residency at Brooklyn Bowl

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After two years of work, Robbers on High Street will be releasing their newest album "Hey There Golden Hair" on September 13. This will be the first record they’ve made with their current line-up, still producing the piano-pumping, brass-rocking high energy rock as ever. Until fall, they’ll be playing at Brooklyn Bowl on Mondays in August, and pre-orders are available on PledgeMusic, where fans can receive prizes based on the size of the sum they pay for the new CD.

Austin

Wiretree’s Make Up out 9/6 + @ Waterloo + Skinnys

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Longtime Deli Austin favorites Wiretree are releasing their latest full-length Make Up on 9/6 + celebrating that release with an in-store @ Waterloo (FREE, always free, and usually with a keg of Shiner) this Thursday 8/25 + this Saturday 8/27 the official release @ Skinny’s Ballroom in the company of San Saba County. Make Up already earned a pretty stellar 9 out of 10 from Blurt + we’ll be expecting more rave reviews…

Philadelphia

Free Download: “Swimmer Girl” – Work Drugs & New Video

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Work Drugs are closing out a summer of smooth jams with “Swimmer Girl,” which is available for FREE download below. You can also check out its music video that was created by Cai (as well as Baywatch), who recently did the video for Blood Orange’s “Forget It.” You’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch Work Drugs live this September in Philly when they perform for FREE at Sigma Sound Studios (9/3) and World Café Live (9/12) as well as at Johny Brenda’s (9/16 – but this one will cost you). Enjoy!

Swimmer Girl by Work Drugs

NYC

A NYC supergroup is born: Haunted Hauses – live at Union Pool on 09.01

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What started off as a side project for Autry Fulbright (And They Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead, ex-Midnight Masses), Peter Hale (Here We Go Magic, ex-Boggs, ex-Midnight Masses), Eric Rodgers (VHS or BETA, ex-Midnight Masses) and Leif Huckman (the Boggs), Haunted Hauses has the potential to become a main course served by the NYC music scene – isn’t that what happened to Here We Go Magic anyway? While these musicians’ busy schedules can make it difficult for them to get together, the group is making it work, involving another former Boggs member, Alex Luther, on the drums whenever Hale has Here We Go Magic commitments. Influenced by 1970s kraut-rock (in their Facebook page the band states "Neu! York" as their hometown), Haunted Hauses has a unique sound full of Can inspired rhythms, tight harmonies, bouncy bass and textural guitar and keyboard elements. The songs sound light and fun but have a certain intellectual aura, at times reminiscent of Brian Eno’s early records. Co-vocalist and lyricist Fulbright gives more insight: “I feel free to write about anything, though the very name of the band hints at a prevailing theme: songs about nostalgia and reflecting on loss. Still, it’s more upbeat. More like moving forward rather than looking behind.” You can check these guys out September 1st at Union Pool. Highly recommended! – Kristen Ferreira

NYC

John Brodeur semi-finalist at Googie’s Lounge Songwriting competition.

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NYC musician John Brodeur reached the sem-finals at the Googie’s Lounge Songwriting competition. He recently released "Tiger Pop Ten", a 2-CD set featuring a newly recorded version of his debut album coupled with a 10th-anniversary reissue of the original disc. The other semi-finalist is Massachusetts’ enfant prodige Grace Kelly. The final night of the competition will be at 154 Ludlow Street NYC on August 30th.