The Walkmen just shared another new music video today for the track “Heartbreaker.” You can also check out a recording of them covering the Rolling Stones’ “Blue Turns to Grey” for Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 Music show HERE. Enjoy!
Portland
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Eidolons, back in Portland after a summer tour.
Eidolons‘ latest little gem ‘China‘ is an elcectic set of takes on folk, denser, sometimes louder, served with much higher energy than their previous records. The quarted switches at ease from light-hearted and skippy (Yellow Wallpaper) to hypnotic instrumental tracks (China) to catchy indie-rock bits (Denver Wrecks My Nerves), etc…There’s a lot going on in these then tracks. All are carefully de-structured, discordant, often articulating two or more distinct patterns, most being teased by Dan Byers’ soft voice that skips and wraps around the melodies as it pleases. Despite the complexity of certain arrangements, it’s a most comforting album, heartwarming in many different ways, which for whatever reason, was not exactly what I was expecting from the cover art; but you know, books, covers…Back in Portland after a tour promoting ‘China’, Eidolons will be playing at the Ella Street Social Club on Thursday, then at Kelly’s Olympian on the 28th.- Tracy Mamoun
NYC
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CBGB Fest wrap up: Black Wing Halo, Hollis Brown, The Virgins, Glint + more
This past weekend, CBGB Festival extended the 4th of July celebration and extra four days. A music, film, and spirits conference, the first CBGB fest in NYC featured a spectrum of artists throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. I was able to catch a handful of the performances, starting Thursday night with edgy, dark and punky quartet, Black Wing Halo at Trash Bar. Southern rockers from NY, Hollis Brown (pictured and streaming below) rocked The Living Room on Friday, July 6. The quintet hit the stage twice in one night, at 9pm and 12am, showcasing tracks off their recent EP, “Nothing & the Famous No One,” and summer single, “Cold City,” which are both available for free download. Not too far away, Bowery Electric hosted the highly anticipated come back of The Virgins, who have only recently returned to the scene to play shows in conjunction with the release of “Venus in Chains.” Saturday afternoon was a scorcher, but that did not stop a record number of passersby from taking advantage of the music in the center of Times Square. Two stages alternated acts, as the audience hustled back and forth. Kicking off the lineup, GLINT, an electro-rock project comprised of its one and only official member, Jase Blankfort, joined forces with orchestral back up to mesmerize with contrasting styles and impassioned vocals. A few blocks up, the other stage erupted with Big Apple veterans, The Hold Steady’s playful heartland rock which was followed by quirky indie synth-pop, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. –Meijin Bruttomesso
Philadelphia
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Tuesday Tune-Out w/Pet Milk at PhilaMOCA July 10
After taking a break last Tuesday in honor of Independence Day, PhilaMOCA is back with Tuesday Tune-Out tonight. They also have a new curator this month at the helm. Philly-based musician, filmmaker, curator and DIY booker Herbie Shellenberger will be handling the duties for the rest of July. You may be familiar with his work as a guitarist/songwriter for Pet Milk, Brown Recluse (Slumberland Records) and Amateur Party. He has worked at the Ibrahim Theater at International House Philadelphia since 2008, where he curates both film and music programs. He has also booked DIY concerts (with Grace Ambrose) as No Wavelength since 2010, and has been involved in the collectively-run studio/performance space Cha-Cha’Razzi since early 2012. Black Circle Cinema is his new project, where he’ll be curating and presenting film and video screenings in Philadelphia. This evening, Shellenberger will be performing with his noise-pop band Pet Milk, and he has chosen Future Shock, the 1972 Orson Wells narrated/Alexander Grasshoff directed pseudo-documentary film inspired by the book of the same name, for your viewing pleasure. Come tune-out life for the night – you deserve it! PhilaMOCA, 541 N. 12th St., Music at 8pm/Movie at 9pm, $5, All Ages (Photo by Madeleine Lesperance) – Q.D. Tran
San Francisco
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RIP: Girls Calls It Quits
As reported by SF Weekly following Girls’ frontman Christopher Owens’s announcement on Twitter, one of SF’s best-loved bands is done. Owens is leaving to make his own music, calling his reasons "personal" and adding, "I need to do this in order to progress." Girls released two records, Album in 2009 and Father, Son, Holy Ghost in 2011.
Our contributor Justine Fields might be one of the few folks not weeping over a vinyl collection right now. Read her review here of the band’s performance last year at Great America Music Hall.
Watch the official video for "Honey Bunny," off Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
–Whitney Phaneuf
Chicago
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Death By Icon
Death By Icon is the work of Jebediah Percival and Mike Kinowski. This duo trades off throwing fast and tight rymes over off-kilter and experimental beats. Their self-titled debut album was self-released back in May, and is one of those never lets up or allows you to get your footing. These two are a great addition to the booming hip hop scene in Chicago.
Portland
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The Silent Numbers Celebrate New EP Release at Record Room 7/14
The Silent Numbers bring together the most alluring elements of new wave and infuse them with a sense of melancholy that is generally reserved for bands of a darker genre. Their sound is rich with overwhelming guitar effects that add texture to some of the most groove-driven bass and intense drumming I’ve heard in recent months. Add the reverberating vocals of Nick Woods to the mix and you find yourself dancing through the band’s dismal melodies. They’re celebrating the digital release of their new EP, a follow up to April’s “When the Light is On” at the Record Room on July 14th, check it out. – Benjamin Toledo
Philadelphia
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The 2nd Annual WHYY Connections Festival Announces Initial Lineup
The 2nd Annual WHYY Connections Festival will be taking place over 4 days this year, and will run from September 6 – 9. On Saturday, September 8, they’ll be hosting a free afternoon concert that will feature indie darlings Yo La Tengo, Maps & Atlases, and Frank Turner with more to be announced. There will also be a Philadelphia Doo Wop Festival held on the Sunday of that weekend. WHYY members will have access to a lounge where they’ll have free refreshments and opportunities to meet the performing acts. For more info about the festival, you can go to HERE.
NYC
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Foster Care is pissed, and plays Legion on 7/11
Forget everything the last decade taught you about the so-called aesthetics of punk, and welcome back to the days of angry fist-in-the-air pissed-up antics. Hating on hipsters since 2009, Foster Care released last month their debut LP ‘Bad City Vibes’ (Jackshack), a furious set of 13 fast tracks bursting with pure antagonism. I’ll refrain from the critical urge to give them credit for the lyrics (not as thick as one may think) or even the noise (tighter than it sounds) to get straight to the point: these guys are Brooklyn’s straightest answer to an oh-so-docile scene, furiously sticking it up to… Gee, the list is long. As a target of choice, NYC posers beware: they will be down at Legion on Wednesday (7/11), dishing out some rabid hardcore punk to a crowd that may make you swallow your tote bag. – Tracy Mamoun
Portland
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Grandparents work on new EP + play PDX Pop Now!
As they experiment with different ways of articulating their taste for shoegaze and psychedelia, Grandparents‘s sound seems to get deeper and catchier by the record. Developing this blend since 2009, they revealed last month what is probably their sharpest effort to date. And they know it! Teasing the crowds with ‘Bitches‘, $100 single offered to those who bought their poster at Mississippi Studios on June 27th, the band is as we speak working on an EP to be released by the end of summer. Slow, repetitive track coming in warm monotonous waves, ‘Bitches’ is a powerful introduction to the record to come. We’ll let you know more as the time approaches, but for now, you can catch them at PDX Pop Now! Festival 2012!- Tracy Mamoun
NYC
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Found on the NYC Open Blog: Janet LaBelle plays Mercury on 7.12
New York based indie darling Janet LaBelle has released a series of two live videos revealing her brand new single “Just a Little Rain” and a performance of her song “Goodbye, Baby.” Drawing from her pop tinged roots and 1960’s influences, the video series follows her release of the “Blossom & Blue” EP. While this latest EP demonstrates an exploration of styles channeling her main influences from Diana Ross to Tom Waits, from Astrud Gilberto to Fleetwood Mac, LaBelle’s voice emerges as one of its own. Check out the official live video of “Just a Little Rain” (filmed by Chris Carlone at Studio 201) here, and listen to our favorite single "Losing all the Way", streaming below. You can catch Janet with her band at the Mercury Lounge on Thursday 7/12 at 6:30pm. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “The Love You Love” – The Walkmen
The Walkmen just premiered a new music video for the track “The Love You Love” via the Urban Outfitters blog as part of their UO Video Series. It was directed by Sean Pecknold, who has created videos for his brother Robin Pecknold’s band Fleet Foxes as well as Here We Go Magic, Grizzly Bear, Beach House, and Elvis Perkins. You can catch The Walkmen perform in Philly next on October 6 at the Electric Factory with The War on Drugs.