L.A.

Celebrate The Dead Ships record release February 28 at The Echo

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A favorite among our readers, (placing fourth in our Best of LA’s Readers’ and Fans’ Poll), The Dead Ships is celebrating its record release Tuesday, February 28, at The Echo. The garage-rock duo, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Devlin McCluskey and drummer Christopher Spindelilus, recorded its debut LP, Electric Ahab, in July of 2011 in the fair city of San Francisco. And though the twosome recorded the album live to analog 2” tape in two takes, the tracks sound well planned and precise. McCluskey’s raspy croons, paired with bouncy guitar riffs and tight percussion, creates infectious hooks reminiscent of The Black Keys’ early days with the right balance of minimalistic lo-fi, soul and pop. The Dead Ships will be accompanied by fellow LA darlings, The Ross Sea Party, Hello Echo and The Muddy Reds. Doors at 8:30 pm. 21+. FREE. – Katrina Nattress

 

Philadelphia

Tri State Indie Music Awards at WCL Feb. 26

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Tonight the nice folks at Tri State Indie will be hosting their inaugural Tri State Indie Music Awards at World Café Live. There will be live performances from local artists Creepoid, Kuf Knotz & LP Stiles, and The Kalob Griffin Band as well as Jerzey’s Lost In Society and DC’s Bellfur. All attendees will receive gift bags with freebees from the event’s partners and sponsors, and there will also be free giveaways throughout the night. Come on – you know that you can always check out the highlights from the Oscars tomorrow so swing by World Café Live for many drinks and to cheer on some of your favorite nominees! World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 6pm – 10pm, $15, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 
NYC

Avan Lava releases debut album at Mercury on 02.25 with ex Ape & Androids Chrome Canyon

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Not to be confused with avant-soul group Ava Luna (who played our 29th issue party last night), Avan Lava is an electronic Brooklyn band that seems to find inspiration in Prince’s mix of dancy tunes and irresistible soul melodies, sung in a vocal range alternating from tenor to falsetto. This is music with the potential to animate a lot of upcoming parties, check them out on 02.25 at Mercury Lounge for their CD release party. Opening, Chrome Canyon, formed by ex members of legendary Apes & Androids, which were featured on the cover of The Deli’s 15th issue – that was 2007.

Philadelphia

Phonographic Arts + EYEGATE II Showcase at The Level Room Feb. 25

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Tonight’s Phonographic Arts + EYEGATE II-presented show at The Level Room should be a rad time. The bill is anchored by local faves, Far-Out Fangtooth (who have a three-track EP dropping May 12 via HoZac Records and will also be making the trek again this year to SXSW), the ever-so sleazy blues-rock explosion of Gondola, and  the stoner rock genius of the Company Corvette (who are getting some love for their 2011 deviously fuzzed-out sludge parade release, End of the Summers), and the devil-may-care post punk-meets-garage pop provocateurs Faux Slang. Plus, there’s also the urban, rock-infused afro-hop of Blayer Pointdujour, balls-to-the-wall garage-metal fanaticism of Heavy Sons (featuring former members of Pony Pants), and the spaced-out acoustic rock-pop of the Reckless Dodgers. Also included this evening is a special EYEGATE II light show. Good things happening on Market Street! The Level Room, 2102 Market St., 7:30pm, $8, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia

Philadelphia

Buried Beds EP Release Show at JB’s Feb. 25

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Beautiful – that’s the first word that pops into mind when listening to Buried Beds’ new EP Small Stories. Why? With a mandolin, keys, acoustic and electric guitars, a viola, heavy drumbeats, and Eliza Hardy Jones’ voice, it is infinitely more soothing than receiving a massage in a garden while being sung a lullaby on an afternoon in early May. Buried Beds are celebrating the EP’s release at Johnny Brenda’s tonight so you can indulge with your body and mind as the band supplies its holistic audio. But before you head over to one of the best venues in the country, you should take a sneak peak at the Small Stories documentary (below), which was filmed at Fairmount Park at Lemon Hill Mansion and directed by Nate Johnson. Complete with culinary and dancing footage, this short film takes you on a dreamlike ride with Buried Beds through the greenest parts of Philly. Joining the band tonight will be Delaware’s The Spinto Band with their fun-spirited pop (and perhaps some sneak peaks of their new album Shy Pursuit due out May 1) and Brooklyn’s The Building with their ambient psychedelic instrumentals. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Brandi Lukas

Small Stories. from Nate Johnson

Philadelphia

Sugar Town’s Inaugural Show at KFN Feb. 25

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After celebrating Sugar Town’s 11th Anniversary and finishing up her tenure at the soon to be closed Tritone, Sara Sherr is ready to start a new chapter when she moves her supportive female rocker event over to Kung Fu Necktie tonight. And she put together a lineup that will make it an inaugural show to remember. With the launching of a new label Mallrat Records, prepping for a music video, and recording new material at Kyle “Slick” Johnson’s Fancy Time Studio, Slutever have been super busy of late. But tonight the “brat punk” duo will take the time to win you over with their in your face live performance. Ever since Michelle Zauner and Kevin O’Halloran cleaned up the ashes of Post Post and made the most out of winning our contest for free recording/mixing time at Fancy Time Studio, they have been rebuilding the buzz that their former project had started. And Little Big League, the quartet that also features Deven Craige (Strand of Oaks, Golden Ages) and Ian Dykstra (Titus Andronicus), will be taking this evening’s opportunity to show what the band made up of some gifted musicians can do. The event will also feature the Zeppelin-esque riffs of Dear Althea performing their first gig with a new bassist, NYC’S Mannequin Pussy, and Julia Factorial of WPRB and England Belongs to Twee spinning music between sets. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front, 9pm, $8, 21+ – Bill McThrill
 
Philadelphia

Extraterrestrial Shredder Nick Millevoi at Highwire Gallery Feb. 25

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Extraterrestrial shredder Nick Millevoi will be wowing the audience tonight at Highwire Gallery. Armed with his 12-string electric guitar, he’ll be invading people’s minds with his otherworldly sounds. Though Millevoi may have some fine, edgy artillery in his arsenal courtesy of his 2011 debut album Black Figure of a Bird, this evening will be his first completely improvised guitar set. So if avant-garde noise and lightning quick guitar work is your thang, then I highly suggest that you make it out to catch one of Philly’s rising stars, and have your brain scrambled. Nick Millevoi will also be joined by locals Flying Sutra and Brooklyn’s killer BOB. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave., 8pm, $6, All Ages – Q.D. Tran
 

Black Figure of a Bird by Nick Millevoi

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, February 24 – 26

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After getting shutdown early by the pigs last year at the OX, it is exciting to see Two Piece Fest back a fifth year for not just one but two days/nights (Saturday & Sunday). This time it will be in a more legal spot at The Rotunda so hopefully Philly’s not-so-finest won’t have a reason to bust this one up. (But you never know – having too much fun is kind of against the law in most U.S. states.) Well, don’t let that stop you from attending the all ages event in West Philly with nearly 40 bands! You can check out when your favorite and hopefully soon-to-be-favorite acts are performing HERE. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 2pm – 11pm (Sat.) & 1pm – 10pm (Sun.), $8 (each day), All Ages – Alexis V.

 
Lots more to do this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Buried Beds EP Release Show
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Lawsuits and Ron Gallo, SAT Sugar Town’s KFN Debut w/ Slutever, Little Big League, Dear Althea, SUN Modern Inventors (ex-The Brakes) and Best Westerns
 
The Level Room (2102 Market St.) SAT Gondola, Far-Out Fangtooth, Company Corvette, Faux Slang, Heavy Sons, Blayer Pointdujour, The Reckless Dodgers
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Bleed Radio Bleed, Voletta, Downtown Club, SAT Study Electricity, Sherman, Electric Boa, The Stammer
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Jeffery Gaines, SAT Big Fat Marker and The Vulcans, SUN (All Ages) The Skin Cells and Life Alike Rabbit, SUN The Lawsuits and Jacob Waters
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Josh Alvarez and Toxic Life, SAT The Donuts, The Improbables, Full Blown Cherry, SUN I Am Not The Universe and Alec Stewart
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Karen Gross, SAT Viv Peyrat
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Velvium, Dugout, AM Analog, Dot Square, The Black Sheep, Brundle Fly, Stiff Motion, The Cutting Heads, SUN Beyond The Lies and Avoiding The Angel
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Dirk Quinn Band, SAT Phillybloco
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Keystone Mountain Boys, SAT Railroad Fever, SUN Rusty Music Service
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Downstairs) The Formulary, The Strange Heat, Black Stars, The Shock Trials, (Upstairs) Sonni Shine & The Underwater Sounds Album Release w/Uzo and Mean Lady, SAT (Downstairs) The Better Half, (Upstairs) Conjunto Philadelphia, SUN (Downstairs) Tristate Indie Music Awards w/Creepoid, Kuf Knotz, Kalob Griffin Band
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Carfax Abbey, SAT Sexy Sadie, Prima Donna, Novelectro, sezHu, SUN Kenn Kweder
 
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) FRI The Happy Dog, SAT Philadelphia Funk Hustle
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SAT Chet Williams, Old People, Roofdoctor
 
JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) FRI KMX Band
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Emily Arin, Ben Tinsley, Ami Verrill, Steve Gollnick & Peter Glanville, Katie Barbato, James Hearne
 
The Barbary (951 N. Frankford St.) FRI The Holy Mess and 1994!
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Geology, SAT Aiden James and Lizanne Knott, SUN Leicht Night with The Beatles featuring Mutlu, Jim Boggia, Scot Sax
 
The Station (1550 McKean St.) SAT Organ Blues, Cherokee Red, Pet Panther, SAT Hott Tubb and Tours
 
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Casket and Angelcrust
 
Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.) SAT Nick Millevoi and Flying Sutra
 
Chicago

Andrew Bird Sampler

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Andrew Bird has released a free four track sampler to continue to build the hype surrounding the release of his upcoming LP, Break It Yourself, on March 6th. The sampler can be found here and features "Eyeoneye" from Break It Yourself, and three covers including a great cover of The Handsome Family’s "So Much Wine".

NYC

Weekly Feature: ARMS plays Mercury on 02.28 with Glass Ghost

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This may sound surprising, but ARMS is one of the first NYC bands I ever heard.The song was “Heat and Hot Water”, and the year was 2009 – I was 16. The setting was an NYU dorm room. I don’t think I had ever fallen in love with a song like I fell in love with that song, playing it over and over and over again, much to the annoyance of everyone around me. Naturally, I was thrilled when I heard about the band’s new album, "Summer Skills," released in November, but upon first listen what I heard exceeded even my wildest expectations. The album (which features a newly recorded version of my favorite song) is beautiful and conveys blissfully melancholy in the best way. Songs like “Sore” and “Curtains” stir up nostalgic feelings that you can’t quite put your finger on but are powerful and passionate like the best summer memories. – See ARMS at The Mercury Lounge on February 28 with Glass Ghost (who graced the cover of our magazine a few years ago), read Amanda Dissinger’s interview with front man Todd Goldstein here.

Chicago

CD of the Month: Rambos

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Rambos seem to have it all, the look, the color scheme, the awesome album title… Rock and Roll Monsters, and the name of course. However, do they have the sound to back it up? Rambos is fronted by Julie Meckler and Jeremy David Miller, along with Ryan Anderson, JJ Evans & Ian Tsan. They play what some are calling "Junk Rock", it is gritty, fun, lo-fi at times, but it packs enough punch to be considered monstrous and worthy of the Rambo name. Rambos resided at an intersection of rage and humor, rock and folk, set up shop and proceed to entertain. The band’s debut album, Rock and Roll Monsters will be released on March 6th by Grape Juice Records.

You can catch Rambos at Empty Bottle on Feb. 25th with Pretty Good Dance Moves and Pictures of Then. The show is free if you shoot an email to rsvp@emptybottle.com.