NYC

NYC artists on the rise: The Immaculates

Posted on:

There are a lot of stories floating around New York. But with so much emphasis on sculpting obtuse dreamscape imagery and lyrical hieroglyphs in music these days, it can be easy to forget the power that rock can have when it comes to just telling a good story, without all the fuss. Three piece The Immaculates is bringing back the form in a big way.

In a strange way, this band reminds me of James Murphy more than perhaps any other artist working right now. And I’m not just referring to their penchant for old-school rock jams fit for bootyshaking either. Perhaps I’m just waxing nostalgic, but I miss the role of the NYC storyteller relating his experiences for the rest of us, supplicated on a clean and simple texture. We don’t have enough of these artists these days, and The Immaculates make up for this deficit with songs ranging from how they spent their christmas, to how their friends are spending their Spring.

For the band, New York is full of engaging characters and drama, and it’s refreshing to hear them build solid basslines and rolling drumlines around these landmarks.- Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

 

Philadelphia

Free Download: Grey Ghost EP – The Homophones

Posted on:

After enjoying such beautiful weather this weekend, this morning’s gloomy overcast has us feeling some sort of way so we felt that The Homophones’s latest offering Grey Ghost EP would be a fitting soundtrack to get us through today. You can listen to and download the entire album for free below. Enjoy!

Philadelphia

New Video: “A Day in the Life” (Hulu Series) – ?uestlove

Posted on:

This one is for all those lazing out on a Sunday. Here’s an episode from Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock’s Hulu series “A Day in the Life” featuring Philly own’s ?uestlove. If you have about twenty-three minutes (not counting commercials) to chill out (which you know that you do because it’s Sunday), follow ?uesto around for a day in his life after turning 40.

Philadelphia

Slavic Soul Party w/Electric Simcha & West Philadelphia Orchestra at The Blockley May 19

Posted on:

The horns are the primary element that will creep into your mind. Subconsciously circling about the listener like a spider, trapping the ear with its subtle sweetness. However, brass is only part of the equation. As the bass continuously thumps along bringing with it a tempo that forces you onto the dance floor. The drums push the limits rolling and smashing along with a pedal to the floor passion. The guitar plays off the onslaught of percussion, shredding with a cruise control consistency. Energy will be at a premium when Hassidic punk rockers Electric Simcha take to the stage at The Blockley. They’ll be sharing the bill with West Philadelphia Orchestra, whose hypnotic interplay of strings and horns is a modern sound yet does not drift too far from traditional roots. The Blockley, 3801 Chestnut St., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Philadelphia

Ugh God & Swimmers Ear in Favor of Weed at Little Berlin May 19

Posted on:

Just in time to coincide with the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival and Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, Little Berlin has a supercharged showcase that may leave you feeling a little baked thanks to BC’s Weed and Indiana’s Honey Radar. But there are also two Philly acts that may transcend you into a higher state of being. When he’s not providing heavy tones for Bleeding Rainbow, Al Creedon joins up with Sam Levine to form Swimmers Ear, the two-man experimental outfit that merges hardcore underground with psychedelia. Sometimes it’s almost hard to believe that Ugh God have been blazing guitars in some form or another since 2004. But with their latest release Rock and Reverb and a successful tour with Pile under wraps, the newest incarnation of the local rock outfit seems reinvigorated. And with this being their first home show returning from tour, it’s sure to be a rager. Little Berlin, 2430 Coral St., 8pm, $5 – $7 Donation, All Ages – Bill McThrill

Austin

Can’t Stop Won’t Stop

Posted on:

There’s something to be said about making resolutions and sticking to them. The former is common, the latter is rare. Autry Fulbright is a guy who has put himself in the latter category. He’s one of the most ambitious, energetic guys I’ve ever met. His “day job” is playing bass for death jam band  …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead. He fills the rest of his time (and then some) with a handful of side projects both in Austin and in New York. Why stop at music? The guy is even co-directing and scoring a film about beat generation writers portrayed as modern day demons in Brooklyn. And I promise, he’s just one guy with one head, two arms, and two legs. His ambition knows no bounds. Read the full article.

NYC

Weekly Feature: Caged Animals plays Electronic Stage at Deli B.E.A.F. on May 23 with Zambri and AIMES

Posted on:

Originally the solo project of Vincent Cacchione, Caged Animals evolved from a handful of rough, acoustic recordings to the beautiful, synthetic soundscape so lushly laid out on their recent album “Eat Their Own”. This man-made dreamland is delicately built on exquisitely arranged synths that pull from the gentler end of the 80s new wave canon, but Cacchione seems less like a new wave revivalist and more like a 21st century successor. – Read Dean Van Nguyen’s interview with the band here, and don’t miss the band show at The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F. on Wednesday May 23 at Brooklyn Bowl with Zambri and AIMES.

NYC

Weekly Feature: Futurist headlines The NYC Deli B.E.A.F. Indie Pop Stage on 05.24

Posted on:

Thanks to their their interactive, fantastical and always unique performances a la’ Flaming Lips (but on an indie budget), the musical collective Futurist is building a reputation in NYC. The band doesn’t really need the added theatrics to draw attention to their music, but it is a well-executed bonus. On their debut "War Is Yesterday," Futurist constructs a colorful, vivacious musical terrain filled with good vibes. – Read Nancy Chow’s interview with the band here, and don’t miss the band’s performance at Public Assembly on May 24, within The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F. with In One Wind, Xenia Rubinos, Pass Kontrol, Illumintr, Wazu and many more!

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, May 18 – 20

Posted on:

Making Time is celebrating their 12th Anniversary tonight at Voyeur with Kindness, which is rather apropo! Dave P and crew have certainly shown it to the Philly indie music scene with all their hard work bringing the radness week after week, month after month. (Yes, if you’ve ever put together an event an eighth of the size of some of the ones that they have pulled off over the years, then you should know that it is definitely hard work.) Come out this evening and have a toast with the Making Time crew (it’s on them, PBR and Sailor Jerry from 9pm – 11pm)! Cheers fellas! Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 9pm, $10 adv/$15 door, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman

 
More potential radness for this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT It’s the Year 1991 w/Reef the Lost Cauze
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Ball w/Prowler, SAT Pet Milk, SUN Time Ghost
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI North End, The Defog, Facts!, SAT Sonni Shine & The Underwater Sounds
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Greg Roth, the Balsa Gliders, Barefoot Walking, SAT The Mendles, Nark, Young Me, SUN Tippy & The Shy Guys, We Are the Flashmob, The Bad Tequilia Experience, Study Electricity, Whackbat
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SAT +Church+, KMX Band, Heikousen, Valacar
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Elwood James Band
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Joshua Bright, Meeting in the Aisle, Miss Kacie Marie
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) SAT Slavic Soul Party w/West Philadelphia Orchestra and Electric Simcha, SUN Innasense
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Modzilla, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI 12th Annual Non-COMMvention w/Good Old War, SUN (Downstairs) Christine Havrilla and Gypsy Fuzz, (Upstairs) Oh! Pears
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Crills Wilson, Barakka, Hunters Canyon, Kid PA, SAT Downspelle, Wicked Bonez, The Madeleine Haze
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) FRI Psalmships CD Release Show w/Allison Polans and Boog, SAT 8Static Presents
 
The Barbary (951 N. Frankford St.) FRI Ship Wrecks
 
Pterodactyl (3237 Amber St., 5th FL) SAT Fast Car, Time Hitler and the Assholes From Space, Eric N Eric, The Way Home
 
Little Berlin (2430 Coral St.) SAT Ugh God and Swimmers Ear
 
Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.) FRI Sonic Sphere
 
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Wisdom in Chains, SAT The Adults
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Dizy Blood and The Broken Prayers, SAT Vintage Kicks, Close to Good, Man the Fire, SUN Lady and Ron Gallo
 
The Station (1550 McKean St.) SAT Juston Stens & the Get Real Gang and Grand Nationals
 
Lit Ultrabar (460 N. 2nd St.) FRI Josh Wink
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Deep C, Stab & Grab, Willyum, Terreyl Kirton, Jeff Heart
 
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) FRI Charles Cohen
 
Italian Market – Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) Italian Market Festival w/SAT Prowler, Sparklefight, Christie Lenee, the Parsnip Revolt, The Way Home, Fast Car, and More, SUN Conversations with Enemies, St. James & the Apostles, Dan Collins, Discount Heroes, The Ope Road, and More
 
Garage Mahal (Please contact one of the acts for details.) FRI East Kensington Neighborhood Association Fundraiser w/Glitter, Bedroom Problems, The Downtown Club
 
The Treehouse (Please contact one of the acts for details.) FRI The Greek Favourites, Ah, Horse Hockey, Little Piourettes, Lana Avacada