NYC

Music Submissions roundup: Grassfight, Syvia, Anjelia

Posted on:

Here’s our (almost) weekly appointment with the best records we found through our digital music submissions system (any artist can submit their music here).

Grassfight might be the gazillionth indie band referencing Joy Division in their sound, but their songs are so good that we are definitely not going to complain about that. Besides, there are a lot of other elements here that make things interesting: this is compelling psych-goth rock that’s dark enough to be credible, noisy enough to be truly edgy and punchy enough to be entertaining. As an added bonus, lead singer Nathan can pull off some seriously high tension cadences a la’ Nick Cave – something that pushes the songs’ climax to thundering heights (see EP opener "Never you Mind," streaming below). The guitar work in the EP is also pretty impressive, ranging from stabs of pure noise to fuzzy walls of sound, to simple acoustic parts to psychedelic, blurred background textures. If you like some sonic horror in your music, keep an ear out for these guys.


A collaboration between lead singer/songwriter Ruthy Mirsky and multi-instrumentalist/producer Simone Ghetti, Syvia is an electronic NYC outfit that crafts ethereal electronic pop and does it well. Their songs shine in particular in the melody and harmony departments, with Ruthy’s voice adding the right amount of character to the mix. See them live at Cake Shop on November 23.

Anjelia is a talented, emerging NJ based singer songwriter – and actress. Her song "A Long Way" is the highlight from her repertoire, and although it’s probably a little too mainstream for us, it’s undeniably a very good song with a catchy, interesting melody featuring an inpeccable vocal performance. Considering also the lady’s looks, there’s potential for a new, slightly more upbeat Lana Del Rey here.


ComScore

NYC

Jones Street Station releases “The Understanding EP” + play Rockwood on 01.11

Posted on:

Somewhat reminiscent of Dawes and the Avett Brothers, Brooklyn’s Jones Street Station are about to release a new EP of their gorgeous, heartfelt brand of Americana. Out in January 2012, "The Understanding EP" features the former Deli Artists of the month, doing what they do best: bluegrass-infused pop music that can make your day brighter (seriously, try it). They also realized a video for the first single “The Understanding”, streaming here. After a couple of west coast gigs, the band will be performing at Rockwood Music Hall on January 11th. – Amanda F. Dissinger

Chicago

Lagos

Posted on:

Lagos is a new collaboration between local downtempo producer Radius and Mexico City’s Leo123 (now living in Chicago). When working together this duo creates a strangely beautiful mixture of 70′s Dub recordings and 80′s house. They are releasing their debut self-titled ep on November 29th through Old Tacoma Records.Below is the track "(your thoughts)" from the ep.

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “100” – Dice Raw

Posted on:

Artillery – check. Drugs – check. Booty-shaking dancers – check. Someone making it rain – check. Boastful rhymes – check. Haha…yup, it’s official. We have a new rap video from Dice Raw for “100” from the first EP of his trilogy The Greatest Rapper Never: Preservation. It’s a hot jam (lovin’ the keys/synths in it). This one is for the suits/9-to-5ers trapped at work on this gloomy Monday. It was directed by Spike Jordan, and produced by Drew Kramer. Enjoy!

Dice Raw – 100

New England

Joey McIntyre Self-Releases Holiday Album, Announces Two Boston Performances

Posted on:

Joey McIntyre (NKOTB) has announced plans to release a holiday album, Come Home for Christmas. The singer will also be performing two (free) shows in Boston within the coming weeks.

For the holiday standards that make up the self-released Come Home for Christmas, McIntyre set out to record versions of some of his favorites that evoke holiday memories, but still retain their traditional sound. With several duets on the album, one highlight in particular is the holiday classic Peace on Earth which finds McIntyre accompanied by longtime friend and fellow New Kid on the Block, Jordan Knight.

McIntyre will perform two tracks from the album at the Macy’s Tree Lighting Ceremony in Boston’s Downtown Crossing on Friday, Nov. 25. An in-store CD signing will immediately follow. The singer will be back in Boston on Thursday, Dec. 1, when he will perform at the annual City of Boston Tree Lighting on Boston Common.

Come Home for Christmas will be available on iTunes Tuesday, Nov. 29.

–Chrissy Prisco

Austin

Thanksgiving Weekend: Reckless Kelly @ Antone’s on 11.26.11

Posted on:

Looking for something to do after cramming your belly with a delicious holiday meal? You know, after you’ve scraped your once-heaping plate of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, spiced yams, green beans and mashed potatoes clean and feel like you’re either going to be sick or pass out? Well, why don’t you take your post-Thanksgiving flabbiness over to Antone’s for Reckless Kelly and dance off those unruly calories. Released on September 13th via their own No Big Deal Records label, Austin-based Reckless Kelly will perform on Saturday, November 26th in support of their ninth—and newest—album Good Luck & True Love. The album marks their first release of all new material since Bulletproof (2008) and is the follow-up to Somewhere In Time (2010). Holding praise from Country Weekly for “injecting [their] hooky songs with rock ‘n’ roll propulsion without sacrificing melody or meaning,” Reckless Kelly are known for straddling rock and country with strong songs and bold performances. The show is all ages and starts at 10:30 pm (doors at 10:00) with the Zack Walther Band opening, so head out and show your support!

Philadelphia

Rock to the Future Benefit w/Everyone Everywhere & More at Crystal Palace Nov. 19

Posted on:

When they are not hosting radio shows on WKDU or biking across the country, the lads in Everyone Everywhere play emo tinged indie rock that often highlight their sarcastic wit and addictive melodies. The band is not all loud/soft, but they do use the dynamic well, and pull both off with ease. When singer/guitarist Brendan McHugh sings, “I can’t wake up without a shower/I’m hardly awake for the entire day/ Mostly asleep, barely awake still dry, still dirty,” there is something that seems deeper and bigger than the pretty mundane image of showering, and there may or may not be, but it doesn’t matter, because it works. Their latest release – last years eponymously titled album has yet to get old, but fans are probably itching for some new tracks. The bill is filled out with Rob, Lately, Glocca Morra, Polar Ice Caps, and Coastal. The whole thing is a Rock to the Future benefit and will support the rad after school program and will help to allow them to continue breeding Philadelphia’s next generation of rock stars. Crystal Palace, (Please check out HERE for deets.), 7pm, $5 – $7, All Ages – Adam G.

Philadelphia

Purling Hiss Ready to Lay It Down at JB’s Nov. 19

Posted on:

Purling Hiss bring their raw brand of psychedelic blues guitar jams to Johnny Brenda’s tonight. Like a mix of the Stooges and Mudhoney, the crew of Mike Polizze (guitar/vox), Kiel Everett (bass), and Michael Sneeringer (drums) lay down unrelenting fuzzed out walls of sound. Fresh from their recent national tour with The War on Drugs, the three-piece should be ready to go for their homecoming performance this evening. They’ll be joined by the emotive dark pop sounds of Puerto Rico Flowers (the latest offering from Clockcleaner’s John Starkey III) and fellow psych rockers Spacin’ (with sometimes bandmate Birds of Maya’s Jason Killinger). All should be feeling quite comfy at JB’s performing to what I’m sure will be plenty of familiar faces in the crowd. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave, $10-12, 8 pm, 21+ – Dan Brightcliffe