Philadelphia

Mutations – Bam Pow III Release Party at PhilaMOCA Jan. 28

Posted on:

To celebrate the release of the 3rd issue of their zine Bam Pow (which also comes with a PhilaMYTHOS concert DVD that features performances by Da Comrade!, Norwegian Arms, Secret Mountains, and Lands & People), Chernobyl Collective Arts has put together a night of art & music at PhilaMOCA. The gallery reception will feature works from members of On The Water, Da Comrade!, Northern Liberties and more. Abandoned Building Brewery will be on hand to vend some of their craft brews, and Eye Gate II will be delivering a light show and video projections. With a new album mixed and ready for print, Rasputin’s Secret Police should have a lot of new material to showcase when they headline. It’s been a few months since ghost punkers Northern Liberties played their last show so you can expect them to come back with a supercharged dervish since it will be only their 2nd show since releasing the band’s latest album Glowing Brain Garden. Top it off with the symphonic space explosion of S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D. and Brooklyn’s No One and the Somebodies, and you have a tripped out diverse lineup to welcome the latest edition of Bam Pow. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 5pm, $8, All Ages – Bill McThrill

Philadelphia

Sugar Town’s 11th Anniversary & Last Show at Tritone Jan. 28

Posted on:

As one of Philly’s most unique music venues, Tritone gets ready to close its doors at the end of February. Its monthly parties are getting ready to end their legendary runs that happened inside the cozy red room. It starts tonight when Sara Sherr celebrates a bittersweet 11th anniversary of her female rockers showcase Sugar Town. Sherr has already found a new home for the event at Kung Fu Necktie, and will be hosting Slutever, Little Big League, Dear Althea, and Mannequin Pussy on February 25. But as someone who has been a driving force behind a lot of Tritone’s booking, she is fully prepared to give the venue a proper sendoff. The evening will also be a momentous occasion for Go-Go’s tribute band Lust2Love who will be playing its final show of sorts until its members reemerge as The Pretty Greens. Rounding out the lineup will be the violin enhanced riot grrl indie vibe of the Shondes, Girls Rock Philly camper band Jurassic Shark, and the debut show of Butterscotch Grim. Add in a hot session of dance music courtesy of Lady Bang Beat DJs Madeline Thomas and Attia Taylor, and you have sweet way to say goodbye to Sugar Town’s soon to be former home. Tritone, 1508 South St., 9pm, $7, 21+ – Bill McThrill
 
San Francisco

New Video: Trash Talk, “Slander”

Posted on:

Sacramento’s Trash Talk has been quietly creating loud, thrash hardcore since 2005. Last year, the band reluctantly emerged from the underground, receiving New York Times ink following an unforgettable CMJ performance.

Check out the new video for “Slander,” off the Awake EP from late 2011, featuring animation by artist Jay Howell, a longtime Bay Area resident now living in LA. Warning: Not a cartoon for kids!

–Whitney Phaneuf

NYC

Best of Austin 2011 for Emerging Bands Submission Results: Gashcat, The White White Lights, The St. James Society + More

Posted on:

Awestiners,

Our Deli jurors just finished rating all the bands that submitted to be considered for our Year End Best of Austin Poll for Emerging Artists – and here are the results for you to check out! The artists in this list will qualify for the next phase of the poll, starting early next week, and will be added to the bands nominated by our jury of local scenemakers.

1.GASHCAT

Gashcat‘s music is a stunning carnival of sounds and influences, ranging from folk-rock to what we like to call avant-indie. Their tunes reveal a rare songwriting talent, paired with imagination in the arrangement department, where horns, synths and strings alternatively accompany the omnipresent power-rock instruments. Fun and musical craft amalgamated in one convincing package.

—

2. THE WHITE WHITE LIGHTS

In the convoluted but somewhat predictable mind of an indie music lover, white light naturally recalls white heat, so we were expecting a very, very, very hot sound from a band called The White White Lights. Well that’s exactly what we found. These guys play some of the most energetic, creative and tense post-punk we stumbled upon in recent times, and their front lady has a voice to die for. Check out this track if you don’t believe us.

—

3a. THE SAINT JAMES SOCIETY

The Saint James Society is not for the faint of heart. Brooding, tense and dark, these guys’ songs draw inspiration from semi-goth bands from the new wave of the early 80s (early Echo & The Bunnymen, Joy Division) and develop them in an entirely new sonic direction, which flirts at once with stoner rock and apocaliptyc drone-rock.

—

3b. WHALERS

We always like it when rootsy music sounds like new again. Whalers achieve this effect in the song "Cheat on Each Other" by introducuing some kind of early Beatles vintage-pop element in this otherwise tratidionally constructed tune, delivered with convincingly raspy vocals. But Whalers are not just that: their latest EP "Paddle Easy" showcases a band able to convey a wide range of emotions and styles.

—

These runners up will also qualify for the next phase of the poll:

4a. EMPIRE MACHINES

—

4b. QUIET COMPANY

—

4c. TIGER WAVES

—

7. BLACK BOOKS

—

8. AUTO BODY

The Deli’s Staff

New England

Interview with The Suicide Dolls

Posted on:

Back in December, The Suicide Dolls won the deli’s Band of the Month poll. However, due to the crazyness of the holidays, a hectic schedule, and an upcoming CD release, they forgot to hit "send" on the e-mail with their interview. After a few laughs and apologies, we here at the deli finally got things coordinated with the band and are happy to report that we are now ready for the fans to read their interview. Even better, next week on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Suicide Dolls will be releasing their latest album, Prayers in Parking Lots.

Tomorrow night, Saturday, Jan. 28, The Suicide Dolls will be performing at the Hygienic Art Rock Fix, which is being held at the Crocker House Ballroom in New London, CT. They go on at 10:15.

Click here to read the deli’s interview with The Suicide Dolls.

–Chrissy Prisco

Photo credit: Adam Campos

New England

Final Night of Lilia Halpern’s Residency Monday, 1/30, at PA’s w/ All Star Lineup!

Posted on:

Monday night, Jan. 30, is the final night of Lilia Halpern (Incinerator)’s residency at PA’s Lounge in Somerville’s Union Square. Halpern is going out with a bang — the lineup is Scarce, Chris Colbourn (Buffalo Tom), Brendan Little (The Painted Lights).

As an added bonus, if you go over to the Incinerator bandcamp page and the Scarce Soundcloud page, free downloads are available.

Click here for an interview the deli did with Halpern a few weeks ago.

Lineup:

10:45 — Scarce
10: 00 — Incinerator
9:30 — Chris Colbourn
9:00 — Brendan Little

Doors 8pm, 21+, $7

–Chrissy Prisco

NYC

Weekly Features: Hunters play Terminal 5 on 02/11

Posted on:

The raw, punk authenticity of Brooklyn noise-rockers Hunters is something many aim for, but few pull off quite as memorably. The band’s sound is unrefined and visceral. You can almost hear the grit and dirt on their instruments as they bash out their grungy, feedback-drenched riffs and almightily-whacked drum loops, while the desperate yelps of lead vocalists Derek Watson and Isabel Almeida add extra frenetic energy. According to the band, the makeshift way each track was constructed was a beautiful accident, more a product of circumstance than design. – Read Dean Van Nguyen’s interview with the band here.

NYC

Weekly Feature: Alec Gross

Posted on:

Like a lot of folk singer-songwriters, Alec Gross paints a specific time and place for the experiences that his character (Ron Avery) makes his way through. Most of these aren’t happy times, and this comes through loud and clear on songs like the haunting ‘Burning Grounds,’ inspired by Alec’s trip to the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem and a poem he saw there by Anatoly Kuznetsov.
Most tracks are quiet and moody impressions of an imagined idyllic existence, from the Irish ballad ‘Be Not Jealous of the Sea,’ to the tormented ‘Looking Glass Lies.’ It isn’t until barnburner ‘Strip the Lanterns’ that we hear Gross really cut loose, but it’s well worth the wait through the record’s more even-tempered and traditional sections. – Read Mike Levine interview with Alec Gross here.

L.A.

3 ½ Shares EP Fo’ FREE!

Posted on:

The LA-based lo-fi outfit 3 ½’s sound may be as adorable as its debut EP First Recording’s album art, which depicts each member of the trio, instrument in hand, with the head of a cat. Led by vocalist Leila Jarman, the three-piece produces straightforward, uncluttered indie-pop with sugary sweet melodies. After taking a two-year hiatus, local radio station KXLU rediscovered the EP, with the help of local record label Co Wave’s radio show on the station, resulting in a scheduled performance at this year’s SXSW festival. You can discover the EP for FREE on the band’s site, and for those of you lucky dogs (or cats) heading down to Austin in March, be sure to check out 3 ½’s set! – Katrina Nattress

 

NYC

b.FUNK opens for Phife Dawg at B.B.Kings on Feb 23rd.

Posted on:

To be or not to b.FUNK? It’s a silly question, really. Tis more noble to spit fly rhymes about outrageous fortune than to effuse a sea of wackness, and by opposing the forces of weak lyricism and poor stage presence, to rise – to sleep no more. b.FUNK is a charismatic MC with a natural talent for engaging lyricism and enthralling energy. Even Shakespeare is rumored to have kept him on regular rotation in his ipod. He’ll be opening for the Legendary Phife Dawg at B.B.Kings on Feb 23rd. Bring your lute. – BrokeMC

NYC

Punk blast from the NYC past: Unsane are back with new record “Wreck” + tour with The Melvins

Posted on:

Unsane‘s press kit offered a quote from an unlikely source: The New York Times. The Grey Lady described the band’s sound as representative of the East Village, which may be accurate if you’re talking late 80’s New York. Unfortunately since then the East Village has lost most if not all its musical reputation to the LES and Williamsburg, hosting now just a couple of venues and a shrinking community of musicians. The fact that the band chose to record their latest album, "Wreck," out in March 20th, in Brooklyn, speaks volumes even louder than Unsane’s aggressive vocals. Unsane have mastered their own brand of noise rock, powered by unstoppable bass and smashing percussion, meshed with grinding guitarwork and the raw vocals mentioned earlier. Unsane will be touring with punk rockers The Melvins, and land in New York on April 29 to play a show at Webster Hall. -allison levin

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, January 27 – 29

Posted on:

If there is one thing to adore about Ape School, it’s Michael Johnson’s unpredictability. In one instant, he’ll throw you moments of poppy synth-psych fuzz that’s made its way through a chunky shoegaze meat grinder. The next, you could be caressed by bittersweet, cloudy ambiance, like on his latest single, "Beneficiary (Don’t Blame Me)." And then he may completely surprise you with a dark, rockin’ set, like the one he played at the recent Union Transfer show with the War on Drugs. On paper, it may seem frantic, but in sonic art form, it’s seriously enjoyable. If nothing else, Ape School is consistent with offering this intensely beautiful haze that’s insidiously captivating. For that reason alone, diehards should be more than excited by his second LP, Junior Violence, slated to drop late spring/early summer. Johnson will preview some tunes from the new album Saturday night at Kung Fu Necktie, where he’ll play with other adored local acts, Norwegian Arms and Nightlands. Expect Norwegian Arms to offer a twisted mix of freak pop, weird folk and alt-Americana, while Nightlands stretches out an empyrean blanket of polished, dream-time soundscapes. You’re welcome. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8 – $10, 21+ (Photo by Q.D. Tran) – Annamarya Scaccia

 
Other things to keep you entertained this weekend…
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Market East Record Release Show w/ Like Wild and The Mendles, SAT Ape School, Nightlands, Norwegian Arms, SUN Burden
 
The Level Room (2102 Market St.) SAT Charmaines Names, SUN Summer Love, Quiet Arcs, Fire in the Hearts and Minds
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Whitewater Press, The Bailey Hounds, Sweet Eureka, SAT First Capital Funk, Sunshine Superman, Chail & The Beige Americans
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Star Syndicate and Atrium Way, SAT Luther and One Win Choice, SUN Rasputin’s Secret Police, Old People, Stinky Smelly
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Lust2Love, Butterscotch Grimm, Jurrassic Shark, SUN G. Calvin Weston
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SAT Casey Alvarez
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Annual Benefit Cabaret and Auction, SUN Drake City
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, Philadelphia Brothers Reunion, Salsa Shark, SUN Caveman and Tha Itis
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI John Train, SUN Cowmuddy
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI LP Stiles, SUN Stonethrown, Parachuting Apostles, The Lux, Sinners Saints, Mach 22, Modern Colour, Twenty 30, Mother
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT The Byways and American Schoolyard
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Discount Heroes, Early Ape, This Way Home, Katie Barbato, Barakka, SAT Gray Fox, The Soundouts, The Good Excuses
 
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) FRI Horizon Wireless and Fikus, SAT Coppertonic and Natural Selection
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SAT Bam Pow Vol. 3 Release Party w/Rasputin’s Secret Police, Starwood, Northern Liberties
 
The El Bar (1356 N. Front St.) SAT Point Breeze, Bardus, Ratkicker
 
Little Bar (738 S. 8th St.) SAT Playboy Bunny Savage, Thee Sutdowns, Twisted in Graves
 
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SUN West Philadelphia Orchestra, The Horrible Department, Octomonkey
 
Merriam Theater (250 S. Broad St.) SAT Philly Fest 7

Theatre of Living Arts (334 South St.) FRI June Divided