If you’re a diehard fan who has the lyrics to “Punk Rock Girl” and “Bitchin’ Camaro” stuck in your brain, then you’re likely looking forward to seeing The Dead Milkmen play Riot Fest on Saturday. But before then, you have the chance to catch their frontman Joe Jack Talcum performing a super rare performance at Fiume tonight. DIY booker Spazz (Jeff Blinder from Danger Danger Gallery and Greenville, North Carolina’s Spazzatorium) has been able to put together an intimate singer songwriter series at the tiny bar of wonders. The showcase will also feature Erik Petersen of Mischief Brew, who has most recently been performing out in support of the band’s latest album The Stone Operation. Also on tap to perform is the former frontman of Sunbrain, Dave Dondero, an artist whom NPR has dubbed one of the “best living songwriters”. Get there early because the capacity is super limited! Fiume (Upstairs), 229 S. 45th St., 9pm, $8, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Nothing But Rain at North Star Bar Sept. 21
You can call it post-shoegaze. You even can call it post-punk revival. But there is one thing definite about Philly’s Nothing–the sounds that this local outfit produce stir in you a haunting, curious hunger that lingers like moments lost. That’s what’s most beckoning about their latest EP, Suns And Lovers (released on Big Love Records)–it’s a scorching mix of sullen indie rock set deep in an expansive, swelling ambient dreamscape that engulfs you in its clouds of deafening crashes and abstracted downbeat. And tonight at North Star, Nothing will fit in cosmically with the bold, jagged "gaze-grunge" edges of Delaware’s the Sky Drops, who just released their EP, Making Mountains, in June. And for the dreary weather we have ahead of us, that’s perfect. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
An Evening w/?uestlove & Swift Technique at The Blockley Sept. 21
SALEM “King Night”
SALEM has released a video for their hit track "King Night". It is also the title track of their 2010 release through IAMSOUND.
Supreme Cuts “Issue” (NSFW)
Supreme Cuts quietly released his new ep "Trouble" late last month. Supreme Cuts is one of the finest and most interesting producers in the city right now. He mashes together sounds and styles to create a wave of sound that pulses and stutters.
Below is the NSFW video for Supreme Cuts’ track "Issues" from "Trouble".
The Hoot Hoots!
The Seattle four-piece The Hoot Hoots have a host of shows coming up, and their flashy, out of control pop sensibilities will be on display around the Northwest in the coming weeks. Their sonic melange is intricate and dense, and their influences are particularly well used in their songs. The upbeat, overwhelming orchestral compositions of Neutral Milk Hotel are a definite reference point, but what they take from The Unicorns I find even more noteworthy. What The Unicorns did so well that The Hoot Hoots have paid attention to is related to song structure. The Unicorns hardly, if ever, repeat lyrics; their choruses are never standard fare. And when considering this from a songwriting perspective, the transitions and overall flow of a song is directly influenced by the very inclination to infuse this variety. What I’m also impressed with is their ability to boisterously belt lyrics about outer space and somehow seem tender at times as well- even in the same song. They’re a strange amalgam of influences, that bunch, and really, they are an incredible live band.
• Sep 21 John’s Alley
Moscow, ID
• Sep 23
Hogan’s Pub
Clarkston, WA
• Sep 24
Raw Space
Ellensburg, WA
• Oct 06
High Dive
Seattle, WA
• Nov 05
Benbow Room
Seattle, WA
• Dec 17
Benbow Room
Seattle, WA
The Hoot Hoots!
The Seattle four-piece The Hoot Hoots have a host of shows coming up, and their flashy, out of control pop sensibilities will be on display around the Northwest in the coming weeks. Their sonic melange is intricate and dense, and their influences are particularly well used in their songs. The upbeat, overwhelming orchestral compositions of Neutral Milk Hotel are a definite reference point, but what they take from The Unicorns I find even more noteworthy. What The Unicorns did so well that The Hoot Hoots have paid attention to is related to song structure. The Unicorns hardly, if ever, repeat lyrics; their choruses are never standard fare. And when considering this from a songwriting perspective, the transitions and overall flow of a song is directly influenced by the very inclination to infuse this variety. What I’m also impressed with is their ability to boisterously belt lyrics about outer space and somehow seem tender at times as well- even in the same song. They’re a strange amalgam of influences, that bunch, and really, they are an incredible live band.
• Sep 21 John’s Alley
Moscow, ID
• Sep 23
Hogan’s Pub
Clarkston, WA
• Sep 24
Raw Space
Ellensburg, WA
• Oct 06
High Dive
Seattle, WA
• Nov 05
Benbow Room
Seattle, WA
• Dec 17
Benbow Room
Seattle, WA
The Lights Out hit the road for “Primetime” LP Tour
Boston’s The Lights Out are hitting the road to play their new concept album, Primetime, that tells the story of a band on the road. The band recently had a song featured on an MTV prison-based show, Cuff’d. The Lights Out also caught national attention for a social media stunt they pulled using the dating site OK Cupid to gain new fans. As if they couldn’t get anymore random, on October 29, they are doing a zombie Michael Jackson show at Church to celebrate Halloween.
The tour dates are below:
·9/23 Holyoke, MA
·9/24 Dewy Beach, DE
·9/30 Boston (at Milky Way)
·10/6 NYC
·10/7 Trenton, NJ
·10/8 Philly
·10/9 DC
·10/13 NYC
·10/14 Albany
For complete show information, check out the band’s website.
–Chrissy Prisco
The Wandas Release New Single and Headline National Tour
The Wandas have released their latest single, Longtime Running off their new self-titled album. Listen to it below. Also, be sure to catch the Wandas out on the road over the next two months on their headlining tour sponsored by Lands End Canvas in support of their critically acclaimed new album.
For a full list of tour dates check out the band’s website.
Longtime Running by the WANDAS
–Chrissy Prisco
NYC Shoegaze: Farewell Republic announces debut “Burn the Boats” in January
Shredded bee-buzz guitars sawing between two chords is how Farewell Republic introduces “Wake” – the lead song off of their impending album “Burn the Boats.” The blended mixture of fluid drumming and layered guitars points to My Bloody Valentine as spiritual ancestors. The vocals come off a bit clearer than in Mr. Shield band’s celebrated records – but there are similarities too: for instance the way background voices blur into icy guitar textures. A clever inclusion of backward-tape-looping tacked on the end suggests there may be more studio manipulation to this than initially realized. “Gliss” opens with a punkier feel (sneered Lydonesque vocal delivery, rough guitars and loose drumming) – but this edge is soon lost on the first chorus change. This alternating structure repeats, with the more tense passages sonically enhanced by sharp speedy guitar strumming and sprinkled with piano notes. “Just go away,” becomes the dominant repeated vocal phrase as the song is carried out via a simple piano line, ambient long-note guitar work and clacketty percussion. “Come Irene” is sparse, slower moving electronica. Deeper washes of background pads twist in unexpected ways, as vocals are delivered in a controlled manner. Acoustic guitar emerges in the mix to add a bit more warmth. “Burn the Boats” is scheduled for release in January, 2012. You can preorder the album on their bandcamp page. Additionally, there are two free download tracks to be had there. – Dave Cromwell
In the Indiestry: Union Transfer’s/R5’s Sean Agnew
Union Transfer has been a long time in the making, well, at least in the mind of R5’s Sean Agnew. Tomorrow Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will be performing at the grand opening of Philly’s newest, most talked about, and most highly-anticipated music venue. We were obviously plenty curious about what to expect from the converted “Italian” restaurant. And Agnew was nice enough to answer our questions and give us some insight into the making of UT as well as reasons why we should be excited about its opening, what we should probably fear more than an English riot and Philly “flash mob,” why R5 hasn’t put together their own festival yet, and much, much more. As always, it was fun to pick his brain about the past, present, and possible future of the Philly music scene which you can read about HERE.
The Tweeds Want Your Weed at JB’s Sept. 20
Originally named Bobbie Peru but forced to change it due to copyright issues, The Tweeds formed at Penn State University out of the frustration of being at college and not being able to play music. They are heavily influenced by a diverse range of artists like My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, The Grateful Dead, The Dandy Warhols, and many others, and it reflects in their debut LP Goliath. The Tweeds won The Deli Philly’s Featured Artist(s) Poll in May 2011 and were also chosen to be featured on our national page. They were just handpicked by Fancy Time Studio as one of the runner-ups in our studio time giveaway to work with Kyle “Slick” Johnson (Wavves, Cymbal Eats Guitar, Creepoid, etc.). The Tweeds are currently working on their sophomore album, and will be opening tonight at Johnny Brenda’s for Belgium’s The Black Box Revelation and Aussies-turned-New Yorkers The Morning After Girls. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman