Portland

Sex, Lunge and Rock ‘N’ Roll.

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With their sexual thematics and heavy odes to all ’em lecherous kids out there, it seems like California bred noise rock band Lunge may be gambling on a winning combination. The Kids Just Wanna Get Wet? Sure they do, don’t we all, so why not rave on about it loud and louder?

Now established in Portland, the trio specialise in an aggressive, deliciously explicit blend of punk rock and grunge influences, kicked up a notch right onto the edge of hardcore if only to keep your lustful granny out of the pit. Pure noise interacts with short, slow paced interludes, giving you two seconds to breathe only to dive straight back into the screaming, distorted aesthetics of the band’s sound. It’s quick and effective like a punch in the face, and to be fair, isn’t that what most punk purists and amateurs of heavier things are gagging for today? Get messy with them in July, and in the meantime, here’s right below a treat for your next-door neighbour! – Tracy Mamoun

Portland

Faster, Faster, Bubble Cats!

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The featured shot may belie what I am about to say, but flying through fast shredding guitar riffs and screeching solos like four horsemen on amphets’, Portland’s Bubble Cats sure know how to shake it up in their outbursts of soulful garage punk. The distorted vocals, resembling in dramatic intensity Pixies’ Black Francis’ screams of despair, build upon a racing rhythm section a shambolic, and most electrifying style a la Reatards. It’s alive, sounds like teenage fire, and if anything is certainly worth a trip down to the club to bang your head and break a sweat. Check out our listings on the right for more information on their upcoming gigs, as they’ll be performing five shows in Portland over summer, kicking off at The Wilshire Tavern next Saturday! – Tracy Mamoun


Portland

Like Sugar & Spice: Screen Door Porch’s “The Fate & The Fruit”

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It’s a treat to the ears and soothing to the soul. Jackson Hole based Americana band Screen Door Porch delightfully combined the softer acoustics of Western America with the force of their Southern country vibe into a magnetic, energy-fuelled dialogue between lead vocals Aaron Davies and Seadar Rose.

Through a series of contemporary variations on the themes most rooted in American music, Davies’ deep, ever so slightly husky tone marries Rose’s sultry bluesy nonchalance in colourful conversation. Sometimes they’ll oscillate between one and the other, but often they’ll let the ongoing back-and-forth turn into heartwarming harmony, revealing the true power of the fronting duet.

Their eponymous debut EP already received great critical acclaim, and their latest full-length sonic treat “The Fate & The Fruit”, released in May, is as we speak working its way up the US Roots-Rock charts as the whole band begins a summer tour of their state of Wyoming, with over twenty dates and a slight detour via Montana early in August. Sample the album on the website join them at Music In The Hole festival on the 4th of July to celebrate Independence in the finest of American tradition! – Tracy Mamoun 

NYC

The Deli + The Music Building photo shoot. Pics are out!

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We remember how painful it was, when we were in bands, to organize press photo shots: the ones we did ourselves always looked kind of bad… Now that we are in magazines, we know how a great picture can open doors to bigger features! So, to help NYC bands deal with this basic need, The Deli and The Music Building (legendary rehearsal space in Manhattan used by anybody from The New York Dolls to The Strokes) last week organized a free professional photo shoot for local artists. "Where?" we hear you ask? But in The Music Building of course! We now have the final shots, check them out here! (In the picture: NYC band Boy Girl Party)

NYC

Weekly Feature: Saadi – live at Cameo on 06.17

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Saadi is a swirling, vibrant portal into Boshra AlSaadi’s eclectic musical mind. The former Looker vocalist brings together a cornucopia of influences that transport listeners through her musical metamorphosis. Born in Syria, AlSaadi tastefully carries over an Arabic feel to her sultry beat-driven electro pop tunes that also calls on post punk, reggae, dancehall, rock and no wave. Delicate Steve, Prince Rama, Lemonade and The Soundmen have all had their hands in reimagining the songs while maintaining the intoxicating exotic essence and integrity of the originals. See Saadi on Sunday June 17 at Cameo at The Deli’s Northside Electronic Stage. Saadi’s song is included in The Deli’s playlist of Best NYC songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out! – Read Nancy Chow’s interview with Saadi here.

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, June 15 – 17

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Everyone loves a good booze and barbecue filled block party, especially when it’s one with plenty of good tunes. The Jefferson Palace Block Party is going to be LOUD & LIVE when it hosts vendors like Zsa’s Ice Cream and Spot 95 Burgers. And 8 hours worth of music! Shorty boy-boy will kick your ass and smoke your grass with his guitar-fueled rock tunes, while Sex pop band Night Panther (featuring members of White Birds) will be making the ladies purr. Countrified roots rockers The Lawsuits will be delivering some Hot Love. And when Mountjoy aren’t playing tunes from their Squam Lake Tapes, they’ll be sure to give you a preview of songs from their upcoming album. The afternoon will also feature sets from Cherokee Red, Safari Dudes, Los Ombres, New York’s Fishdoctor, and more. “Summer, summer, summertime – time to sit back and unwind!” Jefferson Palace Block Party, 200 Block of Jefferson St., 11am, Free, All Ages – Bill McThrill

 
Other summertime entertainment this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Goodnight Lights CD Release Party w/The Quelle Source, The Bailey Hounds
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT Ladder Devils, SUN Ratkicker
 
The Level Room (2102 Market St.) FRI Aranhas
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Sherman (the band)
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Willy Green & the Wishful Thinkers, KC Jones, SAT (All Ages) Talain Rayne, The GoAround, SAT (Late) Chill Moody, Verse Mega, Uptown Tone, SUN The Original Marta, Coup Coroux
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SAT The Divided, Patches and Pins
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI The Way Home
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Leiana
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Modzilla, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT Toy Soldiers, Thom McCarthy, SUN Man The Fire, Ammunition, The Loser Club
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI The Good Excuses, The Retinas, The Silent Reunion, Soundwavves, SAT Sierra Hurtt, SUN Herostreet
 
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) FRI The Ragamuffins, SUN Topsoil
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) FRI Maybe We Can Go to Hollywood Premiere (Starring the late Mikey Wild), SAT Divine Hand Ensemble, Screw Smart
 
JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) FRI Ominous Black, Bubonic Bear, SAT Cadaveric Spasm, Dark Waters End
 
The Barbary (951 N. Frankford St.) SAT Blacklisted, Stick Together
 
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) SAT Birdie Busch, Adam & Dave’s Bloodline
 
Rebel Rock Bar (100 Spring Garden St.) FRI Funkharp, The Yuzh, Doug Holton
 
Milkboy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Bedroom Problems, Catnaps, SAT Modern Colour, The Jackson Rider, SUN The Grand Nationals
 
The Station (1550 McKean St.) SAT Mr. Unloved, Distant Orange
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Guts Strings, The Grand Nationals, Pawnshop Roses, The Beta Phase, SAT A Cool Stick, Rowboat Casino, Cracker Rogers Gang, SUN Makhaira, On Top
 
Rock to the Future Block Party (Trenton Ave. between Cumberland and Firth Sts.) SAT Jampa, The Grand Nationals, Captain Scurvy and the S.S. Pancake
 
NYC

Show of the day: Erik Voeks and The Quivers at Vinyl Renaissance on 39th St

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 As summer quickly approaches, there are a number of shows going on this weekend (luckily, our concert calendar will tell you where you should be!). But before the night gets kicked into full gear, go check out Erik Voeks and The Quivers (pictured above) doing an in-store performance at Vinyl Renaissance and Audio on 39th Street.

Voeks, the reigning power pop prince of Kansas City, kicks off the set at 6 pm with some of his solo tunes. He’s collaborated with about every reputable musician in Kansas City, and has shared the stage with numerous national acts. Being a veteran of the pop music scene, Voeks has mastered and trademarked the art of the hook and placement of dynamics. And since he doesn’t play solo shows around town too often, this set will be one to catch.

The Quivers’ first EP is our CD of the month, so we’re a bit biased. But still, this high-energy Motown-influenced rock group is not to be missed live. Vocalist and bassist Terra Peal commands the stage with a muscular vocal presence tinged with sex appeal and booming bass lines. Her partners in crime (Todd Grantham, Abe Haddad, and Bernard Dugan) drive and provide more color to a series of quick tunes. Tonight, the four piece will be performing songs off this EP as well as the one they just wrapped up recording on.

 

This is a free, all-ages show. Go early and buy some records at Vinyl Renaissance. Then you still have time to fit in a nap and go see some more great gigs tonight. How’s that for a plan?

NYC

Weekly Feature: Tall Tall Trees play Rockwood on June 16

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Tall Tall Trees (who placed at #12 in our latest Best of NYC for Emerging Artists Poll) may have long hair, beards, and a natural, earthly charm, but they also have the musical chops to back it up. With jazz, bluegrass, and world music backgrounds, the band began with a scattered sound than their recent, more focused work. Their sophomore album “Moment,” recorded in a church, sets the band on their path of refined, banjo-heavy folk rock. Still showing some quirky elements of their debut release, however, “Moment” conjures the image of a giant glowing moon over the Alaskan woods the band claims as inspiration for much of the album. – Read Devon Antonetti’s interview with the band here.

Philadelphia

Sherman (the band) Bringing the Fire at North Star Bar June 15

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At the start of “The Fire” by Sherman (the band), who will be opening at North Star Bar tonight, the electric guitar walks up slowly establishing stride with the bass providing dark undertones and then a grungy voice tells a personal narrative “…I’ve got time on my hands, I’ve got blood in my teeth for you.” When the drums smash in the door, it naturally brings the tension to a head. Slowly the track picks up steam the tempo consistently elevates as the trio gains more slack, the guitar once again takes the lead gradually accelerating until it reaches a peddle to the floor and in classic southern rock style, blisters through – a southern twang with a story to tell: Sherman (the band). Get there early for this one! North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St. 9pm, $8, 21+ – Michael Colavita

NYC

Unexpected NYC sounds: Moon Hooch plays Bklyn Bowl on July 06

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Let me introduce you to one of the most unlikely dance groups around New York. Made up of four-on-floor drum patterns, contrabass clarinet and tenor saxophone, Moon Hooch is just as likely to start a rave on an A train’s platform, as they are to light up Brooklyn Bowl next month.

Whether you call it Jazz music for house fans, or house music for hipsters, the band’s natural settings give the project an organic touch too often missed in the club atmosphere. Their latest track ‘Contra’ neatly occupies both worlds, featuring lovely guest vocals by local jazzcat Alena Spanger, coupled with an equally brutal house mix by Wenzl McGowen.

Whether you call yourself a dance fan or not, it’s time you started respecting these fantastic horn players. Get yourself over to Brooklyn Bowl on Friday, July 6 to hear more, and also check out this video. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Philadelphia

Catnaps Opening for Eternal Summers at MilkBoy Philly June 15

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Virginia’s Eternal Summers are coming to town and headlining the bill at MilkBoy Philly tonight with support from locals Catnaps and Bedroom Problems. Eternal Summers originally started as a lo-fi two-piece on their debut, Silver, but they have recently expanded to a three-piece for their sophomore LP, Correct Behavior. The addition of a bassist has allowed for the former duo to start experimenting with more complex song ideas. Opening the show is Catnaps (formerly When I was 12), the twee/indie-pop group released their debut LP, Why Don’t You Whisper, last July and has steadily been winning over audiences with their songs of innocence and first love. Their most recent recording, Boys Drool, which was released for Valentine’s Day, finds the group adding some harsher sounding electric guitars to the mix, for a more ‘90s alt rock sound. It’ll be interesting to see which version of Catnaps decides to come out for tonight’s show. Also on the bill are local “adultwavers,” Bedroom Problems, who recently released a new digital single, “Oceans/Obligated.” MilkBoy Philly, 1100 Chestnut St., 8:30 pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Dominick Mastrangelo) – Dan Brightcliffe

San Francisco

Stripmall Architecture’s Scandalous Video ‘Dusk Drinks’

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Only a band with the name Stripmall Architecture can successfully produce such a raw and controversial account of sex, scandal, and synthesizers. Watch below the recently released music video for “Dusk Drinks,” off new album, We Are Not Cool. 

Led by Rebecca Coseboom with her brother Ryan after their previous outfit Halou disbanded, the San-Francisco band could be labeled as shoegaze, but also incorporates more down-tempo and dub-laced beats, which are intoxicating in the best way possible.

Warning: “Dusk Drinks” will make you blush and while you may try to look away, Rebecca Coseboom’s mesmerizing voice will draw you back in. NSFW!

–Leah Roh

Stripmall Architecture | Dusk Drinks from Stripmall Architecture on Vimeo.