New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
The Psych-rock trio Fotosputnik has released a free digital single called "Montag/Carol". The recorded these tracks a couple of years ago, but have decided to release them digitally for their fans. You can grab the tracks from the band’s website.
Fotospuntik released their sophomore album Idiolects last fall via The Static Cult Label. The band is working on a new ep that they plan to release in the next few weeks.
Al Scorch and his backing band, The Country Soul Ensemble, return with Tired Ghostly Town on May 21st. The band includes the talented former member of Elf Power and several Elephant 6 bands, Laura Carter on Clarinet. In the band you will find fiddles, organs, trumpets, accordions, suitcases, and so many more instruments. Al Scorch is known for his big time banjo playing, fast-paced and jubilant anthems, and the stories he tells in song.
Tired Ghostly Town will be released by Plan-It-X South on May 21st. Check out "Working Dream" from the album below.
It doesn’t get much bigger these days than the flaming hot trio of Jahan Yousaf, Yasmine Yousaf, and Rain Man (aka Kris Trindl) known as Krewella. Last month they joined the AM Only stable with Skrillex, Tiesto, 12th Planet and others and tore up several showcases at SXSW.
Krewella released a new remix this week of the Knife Party track "Fire Hive".
After discovering that the word "bender" is derogatory slang for "homosexual" in Europe, The Morning Benders has changed its name to POP ETC. Read more about the decision here and download a new mixtape in anticipation of the band’s third album out June 12.
San Francisco-by-way-of-Asheville, NC psychedelic rappers Fist Fam has changed its name to Weekend Cult, according to the guys a name inspired by "mushroom addled backwood bonfire gatherings." Stream the latest LP from the boys here or below.
According to SF Weekly, Oakland’s gritty, garage trio Bare Wires has broken up after a disastrous South By Southwest which resulted in the band canceling the rest of its national tour. We’re looking forward to hearing frontman Matthew Melton’s new "pop" project called Warm Soda.
–Whitney Phaneuf
With high-pitched, endearingly meandering vocals, watery guitars, psychedelic samples, and a heavy dose of reverb all loosely bound together into surprisingly catchy and unique pop songs, listening to Milezo may be about what it is like to listen to lost Deerhunter tracks recorded onto an old cassette tape at about 420 feet under the sea. Steadfastly holding down the stranger side of lo-fi shoe-gaze, Milezo’s debut full-length, Where the Rivers Meet the Dark Sea was released last year, with another EP, Echoes Depict the Kid being released earlier this year. Catch their free show and celebrate the anniversary of Apollo 16’s moon landing, the invention of "Vitaphone," and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion along with local favorites Corduroi, BackHanderson, and more Friday, April 20th at Wardenclyffe.
-Brandt Kempin
Spring has sprung for well-coiffed 23-year-old Devin (the artist previously known as Devin Therriault). After catching a lot of attention in 2010, the young man took a year off to work on his new record, which was released under the title "Romancing" on April 10th via FrenchKiss records, home to bands such as The Hold Steady, The Drums, and Passion Pit. Unlike the majority of today’s Brooklyn based artists, Devin’s not about "the indie rocks" – and nothing about him is understated. His boisterous rock n’ roll certainly features very NYC garage-rock influences, but retains an old school charm to it. His dapper wardrobe plus the aforementioned hairdo evoke some sort of young Elvis. The details add up: a look which screams late 50s, an energy-packed live performance (backed by a band), a video (streaming below) featuring a lady moving her pelvis, while Devin sings on the vintage mic made famous by many photos of Presley. And, like Elvis, this Brooklyner is not without sex appeal – and neither he’s afraid to talk about the ladies. In promotion of this album, he’ll be touring Europe in May, and will hopefully be back for a show in NYC in the summer. – Corinne Bagish
Check out the video of Grandchildren performing an acoustic version of new track called “Into Gold” on March 17, 2012 from SXSW. It was filmed by Philly-based Out of Town Films. Below is also a little something that they had to say about the session. You can catch Grandchildren live this Sunday at PhilaMOCA. Enjoy! (Photo by Sean Flannigan)
The lovable misfits of Diarrhea Planet spent last Saturday night floating amid the smoke haze, gas and beer stained garage rock oasis that is the Zombie Shop. Meshed in with a cagey tribe wisdom of rebellious creators, lip rings and brown mobs, the band was lifted and surrounded, exchanging their posts on stage for the heavenly ring of the pit. Camouflaged by sweat and family violence, the planet morphed into an insidious galvanization of mischievous gluttons forming the bowls of the creative marsh land below broken lamps strung out from the mechanical glow of the universe.
Outside, near the fire pit and cracked-out-vehicles-turned-theater seating, loners sneak glances at rock gods in leather jackets and cow hide boots, similar, but more expensive than the stagnant Nashville uniform worn by the gaggles of jolly pranksters who suck in the night air, enjoying the coma of hallucinating weeds and chasing the tail of the night, hoping to lasso through the youngsters and heavy brawlers to take an ear shot of The Ettes.
From California to jump on the spokes of the Nashville bandwagon, The Ettes kept stamina with the rowdy grind thanks to a miraculous drummer who resembled a spider, ninja, and octopus all at once who struck oil with windmill hits, her face a dark blur of hair and pure cannibalistic beauty. The Ettes managed to keep the crowd afloat as their hype deserves mention and anyone taking route to Nashville, lending late nights of sequestered distortion make their own space at historic degrees.
As the night closed and the search for the garage rock Bob Dylan left the crowd aloof another night, and churning gut concert bottom feeders bought out the remaining beer and crapes, little Jack still nursing conversation near the fire, the night chimed out to Easter Sunday, where some of those who fired spirit into the early hours of morning roam in the distant light searching for families, but for bands like Diarrhea Planet, they are creating a Nashville family; honest, brutal, and untamed. – Dh Wright
Brooklyn-based post-rock outfit LUFF will be releasing their new EP, "Maybe It’s Just Sleeping," with a show at Cakeshop on Monday 16. Written in the aftermath of a series of tragic losses suffered by the band members, the EP is a grievous love letter to the lost. The guitars’ elegant interplay, often building towards shoegaze-style sonic "expansions", supports Sheila Sobolewski’s intense vocals and suggestive lyrics.
Freshly formed (and pictureless) LES band Diavel (local Bolognese dialect for “devil”, pronounced Dee-ah-vel) have named themselves after a Ducati for good reason. With just 2 basses and a set of drums, these 3 jazz trained musicians rip instrumental music fast and tight, weaving through musical genres with ease and skill. Having recently returned from SXSW last month (where they played the Deli’s own party at Gypsy Lounge with Reptar and Body Language) they now return to Brooklyn this Monday with a show at Glasslands Gallery on 289 Kent Ave. – Simon Heggie
The Smiling Lies are made up of high school pals Tim Dave (guitar/singer), Sean Moran (drummer), Jeff Bressler (bass) and Chris Koehler (guitar). They have big show coming up this Thursday, April 19 opening for Passion Pit at James Madison University. The band recently rallied their fans and friends to win our Featured Artist(s) Poll. You can check out our interview with The Smiling Lies HERE.
Lately we’ve been giving a decent amount of exposure to NYC based singer songwriter Charlene Kaye, who showed impressive artistic growth in the last year or so. We are happy to hear that she will be leaving for her first national tour in May. Check out bellow her latest single, "Dress and Tie," a duet with her frequent collaborator, Glee’s Darren Criss.
