Philadelphia

Free Download: “March of the Pigs” (Nine Inch Nails Cover) – Psychic Teens (Feat. Jeff Browne)

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Psychic Teens are releasing a split CD-R and digital download with Hulk Smash entitled Halo, which will be available at live shows and Doylestown’s Siren Records. Psychic Teen’s half consists of five Nine Inch Nails covers that were performed last year for Halloween with guest vocalist Jeff Bowne (formerly of Dangerbird/Gunna Vahm). Both halves of the split were recorded at the newly renovated Red Planet Recording. Take a listen to and download Psychic Teen’s version of “March of the Pigs” below, and you can also grab the rest of their split for free HERE. They’ll be performing next in Philly this Friday at Goldilock’s Gallery.
 

New England

Reykjavik Calling – Free Concert at Paradise Rock Club Saturday, March 3

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For the first time on the East Coast, Reykjavik Calling celebrates music emerging from both the cities of Boston and Reykjavik. On Saturday, March 3, four Boston-area artists will be paired with four Icelandic counterparts to encourage collaboration on their performances, resulting in an evening of never been heard before musical partnerships. Presented by 88.9 WERS FM, the free concert will feature performances from the following Iceland/Boston duos:

Soley Stefansdottir & Dave Munro (from Air Traffic Controller)
Lay Low & Amory Sivertson (pictured)
Petur Ben & Will Dailey
Mugison &  Eli "Paperboy" Reed

Admission to Boston’s first Reykjavik Calling concert is free and limited to club capacity. Show is 18+. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. For more Information, visit Paradise Rock Club at www.thedise.com.

–Chrissy Prisco

New England

Mod Gun — Fools

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Fools, released in October 2011, is the latest release from Boston-based Mod Gun. After listening to the entire record, it became very clear to me that the band draws on a multitude of influences to achieve their sound. The opening track, “Boxes,” sounds as though Chris Martin wrote a song and had it orchestrated and performed by Built to Spill. The band immediately switches gears on the second track, “Fools.” This song opens with a Jimi Hendrix-inspired riff, bursting into a 90s indie-rock, gang vocal chorus. Mod Gun has an excellent grasp of dynamics—the entire record is full of changes from soft to loud, loud to soft, and everything in between.

One of my favorite tracks on the album is “Mrs. Lansbury.” In addition to their manipulation of dynamics, I found their use of an instrumental chorus quite effective. The opening riff of the song is repeated at various times throughout the track, adding a more hard rock/stoner rock vibe to this tune.

I was also impressed with the fifth track, “Coming Back.” This song takes a more experimental/At The Drive-In approach with powerful vocals and huge, effects-laden guitars. The guitar work on the entire record is quite good; the guitars always seem to play just enough—they don’t over do it with five-minute solos, but they aren’t afraid to show off their chops either.

Overall, I would say Fools is a well-thought out and executed record. The band is able to take ideas from a wide range of styles and unite them under one cohesive, energetic sound. Fools is available for free download at the Mod Gun bandcamp site. If you like what you hear and want to check the band out in person, head on over to P.A.’s Lounge in Somerville on March 16 where Mod Gun will be performing live for your listening pleasure.–Daniel McMahon

L.A.

The New Limb’s blaring beauty

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There are some bands who are able to demand a listener’s attention by playing their music at a high volume and inserting unnecessary chaos into their songs. Then there are bands like The New Limb who grab people’s attention by being loud in a non-literal way. Rather the band’s indie pop sound is powerful in a colorful and sophisticated way that is hard to ignore. The songs demonstrate the push and pull emotions of love in such a beautiful and dramatic way that it becomes enchanting. Emotions seem to escalate and then fall in unexpected ways with sweet piano lines and interchanging male and female vocals. There is a strong sense of yearning on songs like "Work I’ve Done" and "Refugees," the latter being a recently released song, which will be on the band’s upcoming album. Other songs like "Birds and Stuff" are bit more light-hearted and bring to mind work by the Postal Service. The New Limb will be playing at the Silverlake Lounge on Thursday before heading off to Austin for their first-ever SXSW showcase. – Karla Hernández

 

NYC

Craft Spells to Hit the Road with the Drums

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The SXSW-bound Craft Spells will be partnering up with Brooklyn-based indie pop band, the Drums, for a spring tour. Shamelessly retro and unabashedly catchy, the Seattle-based band has produced a full-length album and two EPs of buoyant pop tunes as indebted to Morrissey’s melancholia as they are to the synth-happy songsmiths that they so resemble. Craft Spells pair lighthearted and nostalgic instrumentation with frontman Justin Vallesteros’ whispery utterances, and the combination makes for dreamy soundscapes reminiscent of Vallesteros’ native California. Their first full-length album, Idle Labor, captures the dichotomy in 11 tracks. “Party Talk“ walks the line between dreamy and visceral, with airy melodies and hauntingly morose vocals squaring off against toe-tapping synthetic beats and decidedly party-ready guitar lines. Originally a one-man project, the addition of Jack Doyle Smith, Peter Michel and Javier Suarez adds layers of pulsing rhythms and humming guitars. Stoked by effusive online coverage and approval, the band’s success has taken them overseas on international tours, moving from bedroom recording sessions to headlining slots in a matter just a few years.After six appearances at the Austin festival, the latest Deli Band of the Month will kick off a 19-date tour on April 21 that will take them across the U.S. and Canada. Craft Spells will wrap the tour at this year’s Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, WA.

– Kate Shepherd

NYC

NYC Artists on the rise: Kit Oh Nein!

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Kit Oh Nein! is the latest musical endeavor of The Hotwalls’ singer, Ryan Milligan. Their debut album, which was written entirely by Milligan, is a departure from previous projects into a more distorted and reverb-happy version of an indie pop group. "KON!", an acronym for the band’s name, is a fast moving album with an average track time of around two minutes. The album has a distinctive garage band sound with a polished indie twist and the songs are a disorienting trip down the rabbit hole. Echoing vocals, guitar reverb and spacey organ riffs give Kit Oh Nein!’s songs a dream-like quality. – Jen Mergott

NYC

Computer Magic releases “Orion EP” + plays Santos on 03.08

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Computer Magic – solo project of 22-year-old DJ Danielle Johnson – is making some big moves. This native New Yorker (hailing from upstate) is slated to release first full length via Kitsuné later this year. In the mean time, she’ll be releasing a selection of these tracks on the EP "Orion," set to drop March 12 – you can stream the single "Trinity" below. A little dreamy, a little sci-fi, with positively thumping beats, Computer Magic will be touring throughout this month, including stops at SXSW and a Webster Hall date supporting Of Montreal. – Corinne Bagish

NYC

Alex Winston announces release of full length “King Con”

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On her upcoming debut album “King Con,” singer Alex Winston blends together everything interesting about her hometown of Detroit. Her lyrics dwell on everyday eccentricities, and their 60’s pop hooks only help to get them stuck in your head. Now in New York and already backed by an EP and growing Internet buzz, Winston’s music is light and accessible, joyful and intoxicating. And it should be with a production team that includes electro-poppers The Knocks. “King Con” won’t be released until April, but fans can check out the video for her first single, “Fire Ants,” which recently premiered on Stereogum. – Devon Antonetti

Philadelphia

Chiddy Bang Sold Out All Ages Philly Release Show at North Star Bar Feb. 29

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After a string of critically acclaimed mixtapes, claiming a Guinness World Record, puffing herb with rock ‘n’ roll legend Keith Richards, and plenty of rescheduled release dates, hometown hip hop duo Chiddy Bang finally released their official debut full-length album Breakfast yesterday. Earlier this week, Chiddy and Xaphoon brought their blend of hip hop, electronica and pop to late night TV with appearances on Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno with performances of the album’s lead single “Ray Charles.” Tonight’s show at the North Star Bar will serve as their official record release party in their hometown, which they decided to make an all ages event so all their fans could come by and join in the fun. The duo has expanded to a full band like they did back in their Drexel University days. Unfortunately, the show is already sold out, but fans can stay swelly by streaming the new album here and checking out their performance on Conan below. (BTW: We HATE Jay Leno.) North Star Bar (2639 Poplar Street), $15 (SOLD OUT), 7pm, All Ages – Dan Brightcliffe

Philadelphia

Take a Leap w/Juston Stens and The Get Real Gang & TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb at The Level Room Feb. 29

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Between a three week tour that includes a stopover at SXSW, and the release of his debut full-length album Trash or Treasure, March is set to be a huge month for Juston Stens and The Get Real Gang. But before the month turns, he will be a part of Phonographic Arts twisted Leap Day party at The Level Room tonight, which will be headlined by his fellow Park the Van Records labelmate The Pharmacy. As their Rock ‘N’ Roll Murdershows during Halloween have indicated, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb are no strangers to celebrating the holidays. And hopefully their most excellent new song “Gerald Dean” will be a precursor to more new material on the horizon. They’ll also be joined by the soulful, psych rock of Satellite Hearts. The Level Room, 2102 Market St., 9pm, $8, 21+ – Bill McThrill