New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
NJ and NYC based Psych Rockers The New Lines – who dropped their fourth single, History of Love/Off Axis at the beginning of August – have a sound that recreates the atmospheres of the psychedelia of the 60s adding to it a modern, mellow flavor – sounding like an even more out there version of Broadcast with male vocals. With the right amalgamation of Wurlitzer and Hammond keys, spacey samples, sparse drums and deep but gentle vocals drenched in reverb, this trio creates compositions bound to send you for a trip back to a time you only dreamed of. In "Off Axis" – on of our favorite songs – the notes from each instrument seem to playfully bounce off each other holding the listener’s attention until 1:47 when Hewson Chen’s hushed, relaxed vocals join the mix, conjuring up some kind of early Pink Floyd ballad. I think the ghost of Syd Barret sang the higher harmony there actually… The New Lines just finished mastering their first full-length album entitled "All That We See and Seem", which will be released in the early fall. The three-piece outfit shares the bill with four other bands at Goodbye Blue Monday on September 9.
Local emcee and graffiti icon Seel Fresh has released a video for the title track from his upcoming ep Fresh to Def. The track was produced by Cash Hits, formerly known as Cashous Clay (Maybach Music), who also has a few other beats on the project. This the first video off the ep which is slated for an October release.
What Dante Bucci is able to achieve with the Hang is dazzling. Using the spherical lap instrument (which, by the way, totally looks like a UFO out of a ’50s cult sci-fi flick), the Holland-born Philly musician can interweave the delicate, layered tresses of classical composition with the smooth breathes of experimental dynamics and the bashful, yet complex diapasons of folk. It’s ambient world music that can expand the atmosphere of small spaces beyond the walls they’re confined to and transport you to a higher state of being. And that’s something Bucci will no doubt achieve when he plays Tin Angel tonight. He’ll be sharing the bill with singer/songwriters Andrea Nardello and Victoria Spaeth. With all the drab weather we’ve experienced as of late, isn’t it time you experience something beautiful? Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 10pm, $10, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
We’ve been following NYC ex-blonde Lana Del Rey for quite some time, and witnessed her evolution from rootsy singer songwriter to pop diva – or "Hollywood Pop" diva, since that’s the genre indicated on her Facebook profile. After releasing an EP a few years ago, Lana is back with a new single – out in October on Stranger Records – paired with this video.
Humorously named Lightninging can create some loud rock ‘n’ roll, but yet aren’t afraid to pull back the reigns and show a little more of the introspective side to their songwriting abilities. The combination of Mark Cruttenden, Greg O’Neill, Dave Pope and Matt Williams swap vocals and instruments like guitars, bass, percussions, and even a trumpet while drummer Greg Foran remains the steady backbone of the group. But let’s be honest. The guys are really more about having fun on stage. They’ll be headlining an early show at Kung Fu Necktie tonight so swing on by and get rowdy with the band and their fans. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7pm, $8, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
Check out the new music video from Lantern for their bluesy garage rocker “I Don’t Know,” which was originally available on the band’s cassette release Stranger I Come, Stranger I Leave and will be the A-side to the trio’s upcoming 7” (the B-side will be “Out of Our Heads”) on September 30 via Mammoth Cave Recordings (which you can preorder HERE). The video was directed by Mike Spano.
Just a couple weeks ago, DC based rock quartet Megaphone Barons released their debut EP Menagerie, no doubt sending a plethora of new fans to their aid as they were voted our Band of the Month. So we conversed via the interwebs with Christopher Lewis (guitar, vocals), Tim Preston (Drums), Dan Davydoff (violin) and Adam Marlowe (bass) to find out more about the Sonic Youth inspired bunch that include cool instruments like the accordian and violin in the mix. Here they dish out their thoughts on the DC music scene, the underrated, and international inspiration. On to the interview…
And check this out-> Megaphone Barons are giving away downloads of their EP Menagerie for a limited time here! Have a listen below…
The Young Evils are on tour parading their dimple-sweet pop charm around the East Coast before they venture homewards to Seattleville. The duo, who’ve thrown out the dating-a-band-member faux pas in favor of . . . well, dating a band member, released their debut LP Enchanted Chapel in 2010 to positive critical acclaim. The album was produced by Barrett Jones, who also worked with Nirvana, The Melvins, and Pussy Galore. Their songs are savory two minute pop constructions that drip enchantment, with straightforward instrumentation and singalong hooks genuinely intoned over gently strummed acoustic guitar. Nice.
-Sep 08
The Red Room @ Cafe 939
Boston, MA
-Sep 09
Truck America Festival
Big Indian, NY
-Sep 09
Lizard Lounge
Lancaster, PA
-Sep 09
Chameleon Club
Lancaster, PA
-Sep 10
Susquehanna Bank Center
Camden, NJ
-Sep 13
NightCat
Easton, MD
-Sep 14
Black Cat Backstage
Washington, DC
-Sep 15
Rockwood Music Hall
New York, NY
-Sep 15
Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2
New York, NY
-Oct 01
The Tractor Tavern
Seattle, WA
-Oct 02
Doug Fir Lounge
Portland, OR
Now that summer is over, The Cool Kids have released their video for the track "Summer Jam" which features Maxine Ashley. The track is off of their debut When Fish Ride Bicycles.
The latest installment of Small Chicago features the sounds of Hospital Garden. The band transplanted a few years ago from Dayton, OH, but they have fully become an important part of the Chicago scene.
