New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
It’s been a few months since we have heard from the mega-psych band Secret Colours. They’ve been spending time in the studio with producer Brian Deck. They are preparing to release a new ep called EP3 on 1/1/12. The band will celebrate the release with a show at Empty Bottle on 1/7.
You can also catch the band this weekend, 11/19, at Beat Kitchen with Soft Speaker.
Oakland psych-rockers Mwahaha have a self-released album due out on Dec 6th. To tickle our fancies about what they’re soon to unleash, they’ve given the interwebs a free download of their upcoming track "Love" featuring fellow Oakster, Merril Garbus, of tUnE-yArDs.
Singer Ross Peacock told MTV Hive, “When I wrote the melody, I heard a kind of country, male/female harmony in my head, like Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton or something." While the song is more Metronomy than Rogers and Parton, at least we know precisely why we’ve been blessed with this lovely collab. Enjoy the free download below!
-Justine Fields
Coruscate at the Meadow Gate, The Sisters3‘s newest album on Modern Vintage, is a kaleidoscope of fantastical folk. From the sweet blasts and whimsical struts of "Chinatown" to the piano intricacies and layered harmonies of "Waiting," the album invokes images of sprawling meadows set against a bright, technicolor sky fading gently into a fiery sunset. But this local trio of sisters is more than Coruscate suggests. Live, they’re absolutely electrifying, and their talent shines beyond what a mere recording can pick up. You can witness this elevation of sound on Sunday at Kung Fu Necktie for our Deli-presented show, which also features local alt-folk act Wendish, Ally Leedy‘s (of Lion Versus) solo project with songwriter/author Luke Bartolomeo (look out for their upcoming EP, which they are currently working on). For extra flavor, the bill is rounded out by New York’s quixotic chanteuse Cat Martino and Brooklyn’s the Loom, whose debut full-length Teeth, released earlier this month on Crossbill Records, is a ten-track epic of chasing, brazen folk that could possibly be the soundtrack to America’s brutal western expansion–in other words, a haunting sweep of lingering melodies. If nothing else, this is a show you don’t want to miss! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ (Phot by Lisa Schaffer) – Annamarya Scaccia
Some bands are able to unlock my composed, western to the bone, over-structured civility and speak directly to whatever primal receptor is left inside me. Apparently some people don’t experience this, and they don’t know what they are missing. Actually, I do know what they are missing: They are missing ROCK’N’ROLL!
Hunters are a very new Brooklyn bass-less noise-rock duo with a wild, exciting sound comprised of menacing, often atonal guitars, clangy and explosive drums, and vocals that (seem to) unapologetically speak of our basic repressed needs and wishes. Like in the opening track from the new upcoming EP "Hands on Fire" – check out these lyrics: "I want it! – I need it! – I want it! – I need it! – I want it! – I need it! – I want it! – I need it!". Now, these are words we all wish we could say more often, aren’t they? This is orgiastic rock – we are sure that the Greek God Dionysus will be at Death By Audio on December 2 for the CD release org… ahem… party.
Amidst hardcore screams, pounding double bass, and a slew of pop-punk acts, Nick LeBlanc and the Pink Beans certainly stand out from their surroundings. While many bands in their hometown of New Bedford, MA are working on catchy choruses and how to get the right “chug” out of their guitars, Nick LeBlanc and the Pink Beans take a different approach, sometimes abandoning choruses all together. Their self-titled debut album is testament to that.
The six tracks are filled with intense energy, solid guitar playing and a powerful rhythm section. Perhaps the most striking feature of the album lies in the backing vocals. Leblanc brought in Easton resident Kristin Santangelo to give the album more soul and, well, it certainly worked. Her backings can be heard scattered throughout the album, but her most striking performance is on track four, I Think It Might Be Right. She closes the track with an emotionally-charged vocal solo, reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s Great Gig In the Sky. This song is particularly interesting because it makes use of a chorus (accompanied by Santangelo and a host of other singers,including recording engineer/producer of the album Trevor Vaughn) to supply the hook for the song, unlike the rest of the album which relies heavily on music-driven hooks in place of choruses.
Overall, the album is a pleasant mix of punk rock, jazz, and classic and indie-rock influences with subtle hints of an ostentatious, "look what we can do” attitude.”
–Daniel McMahon
Forest Fire have self-produced two albums, “Survival” and the brand new “Starting At The X”, “sometimes recording the whole band with only one mic,” says singer/songwriter Mark Thresher. The debut from 2008 drew a considerable amount of international buzz, enabling them to tour Europe – they are actually just about to embark on their 2nd tour of the old continent. The new record was released under Fat Cat’s wing at the end of October and already got a flattering 7.1 by Pitchfork. The band uses simple and familiar sounds to compliment Thresher’s howls. This young man’s singing style alone conjures up images of NYC nightclubs from the 70s. Appropriately, his band’s songs portray a sense of longing and desperation, using bluesy, drawn out harmonies, and loose percussion perpetuate the bands, “no-rush,” attitude. – Read Ed Guardaro’s interview with Mark here.
Whimsical and playful, with a touch of angst and a heavy dose of emotion, Sydney Wayser’s music sings like lullabies throughout the contemporary folk scene of New York City. The young singer-songwriter’s sweet, engaging voice can be likened to Feist or Regina Spektor’s, filling up songs that seem reminiscent of a sunny day in Paris. Her second full-length album, The Colorful, is a lush mix of melodies and chords that intricately tell stories of her youth and experience. Sydney is about to release a new album, we heard the songs live when she played our CMJ show with Lucius and were enchanted! – read Christina Morelli’s Q&A with Sydney here.
Creepoid drummer Pat Troxell has been an integral part of Phonographic Arts and the rockin’ shows that have been coming into South Philly’s Little Bar lately. He has wailed on the skins in the past at the cozy, little music venue before filling in with Acid Kicks, but tonight will be the debut performance with his band Creepoid. It’s pretty simple to predict that they are going to tear shit up this evening! It’ll be a tasting of what to expect when they return with the killer lineup of their friends for this NYE. You’ll also be treated to the pretty, psychedelic rock of their new South Philly neighbors True Gold, who will be releasing a split album with Acid Kicks in 2012 via Phonographic Arts. Little Bar, 738 S. 8th St., 9pm, $7, 21+ (Photo by Brandee Nichols) – Q.D. Tran
Spiritual folk crooner Joshua Britton has been hard at work spending what sounds like lonely late nights recording new material for the new Psalmships album Dark Marches. While the album doesn’t officially release until November 22, Britton will be throwing an release show tonight where he’ll be backed by a full band that includes the likes of Liz Fullerton, Allison Polans, and Matt Landis. He will also be previewing songs from the new album that go well beyond the scope of the four that are already available for your listening pleasure HERE, and there will also be a limited amount of copies available as well at the show. Psalmships will be joined by the great ape TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, who just got back from spreading their debaucherous tales out West on a recent mini-tour and will be headlining the bill, and experimental indie folk octet The Looks of It. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Tomorrow, Nov. 19th, at Reggie’s the eclectic local label XD Records will hold their first annual showcase. The event will act as both a showcase and launch party for this exciting new label. The label currently has three Chicago bands on their roster and here is the line-up for the showcase. Bloody Knives (Austin, TX), bliss.city.east (Chicago), Music for Headphones (Philadelphia), Panda Riot (Chicago), Her Vanished Grace (New York), Lightfoils (Chicago), and 2060 Chiron (Philadelphia).
The entire event is only $8 and is of course 21 and over. Check out "How It Is" by Lightfoils below.
With three successful takeovers already under his wing, Mike Baurer of Folk You Philly has decided to do something a little different for his fourth. And that’s why while three eclectic acts are set to perform at The Fire later tonight, Baurer and Jonas Oesterle of The Teeth, Flashy Python, and Purples fame will be hosting a live podcast featuring The Spinning Leaves, Toy Soldiers’ Ron Gallo, Up The Chain’s Reed Kendall, and Levee Driver’s August Lutz. Levee Drivers will also be headlining the showcase later that evening and will likely be previewing some of the new material that they’ve been laying out in the studio of late (which is about time). If you attended our Halloween Partay at PhilaMOCA, then you might remember Thom McCarthy for crooning the crowd with his best Elvis Presley impersonation. But the artist’s acoustic Americana roots music is equally impressive and should not be missed. The lineup will be rounded out by the psychedelic rock of Satellite Hearts, who will also be playing an early show at the M Room tomorrow with Park the Van’s Brass Bed, and The Districts. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 8:30pm, $7, 21+ – Bill McThrill
