The Rocketboys have released their first music video and it is surely worth the anticipation. With the overlying theme of the distance traveled in life, whether it be the tour the Rocketboys are chronicling on screen or the song’s lyrics, about coming to terms with the distance that grows in between people, these guys really hit the head on the nail with this one. It is never a bad thing in a music video when the song is good enough to stay interesting for 4 minutes with no video, and the same goes for the video without the song…when combined though, they expertly complement each other. Check this one out!
Portland
Posted on:
Seduce Yourself with LPS
LPS definitely have more than one string to their bow: their latest album, Seduce Yourself (Discorporate Tape), casually sways back and forth along the border between sticky seventies and glamorous eighties; pompously glam-rock at its peak, with some sweet spacey synth-led New Wave, early post-punk influences, it sounds something like David Bowie meets Ariel Pink meet The Monochrome Set, with still a touch of the distorted screeching guitars and smashing drums used and abused on Billy Callous, and a series of caricatural accents on Roxy Muzak, for a touch of comedy.
An exciting, generously overproduced effort back to front, teasingly dandy, Seduce Yourself is available to download by ‘naming your price’ on LPS’ bandcamp page; Fairway to Hades, their third album this year, is announced for November (probably once again something completely different), and you can see the band perform tonight (7.28) at The Kenton Club. Tracy Mamoun
NYC
Posted on:
Weekly Feature: New Beard plays Union Hall on 08.18
So, New Beard is not just a clever name, since the band is indeed dominated by facial hair. The Brooklyn-based five-piece, consisting of Tony Waldman, Ben Wigler, Yazan, Maria Eisen, and “Tuba” Joe Exley (not just a clever alias either), adding a creative take on the low end, is not just your average rock band. The title track of their new album "New Beard City" combines feel-good, jazzy melodies and bouncing rhythms, while “I Walk the Streets” features intricate percussion and moments of calypso beats, haunting distortion, and unexpected modulations, which contrasts with somber, low-key, tuba-centric, “Terran Holiday.” New Beard’s self-proclaimed “weird rock” genre is infectiously entertaining and builds the anticipation of their upcoming show at Unin Hall on August 18. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s interview with the band here.
NYC
Posted on:
Weekly Feature: JBM
JBM, the moniker of solo artist Jesse Bryan Marchant, underscores each song with a howl of the isolation and yearning of a much older soul. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Marchant is now based in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, and has released a follow-up to his “only in July” debut called “Stray Ashes.” The singer has already drawn favorable comparisons to that of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Jim James of My Morning Jacket, due in large part to haunting reverb on songs like “Only Now” and “Winter Ghosts.” JMB records most of his work in a cabin in a rainy northern New York town, giving his music an undertone of isolation as he searches within himself. Though JBM may not initially strike an immediate chord with all listeners, it’s in his music’s subtleties that channel his emotionally wrought spirit and draws in audiences. – Read Devon Antonetti’s interview with the artist here.
New England
Posted on:
From our CD submissions: “Lit on the Flash” – Lit on the Flash
Last week, Maine’s two-piece rock band Lit on the Flash released their latest full-length record. The self-titled follow-up to their 2011 debut “Revolution Time” is stacked with memorable hooks and crisp vocals. Combining a 70s classic rock sound with a modern indie rock feel, the band seamlessly blends the old with the new. Lit on the Flash will be touring throughout New England, which will help provide an outlet for all the spontaneous air guitar you’ll undoubtedly be playing after listening to the record. The tour continues with a show in Portland at Big Easy tomorrow, July 28th. The band’s new album, “Lit on the Flash” is streaming below. – Josh Johnson
This artist submitted their CD for review here.
NYC
Posted on:
Grinding Gears with Chris Meck
It’s great to know why musicians do what they do. Why they write songs about heartache or joy. What kind of emotion they’re trying to express. Who they most look up to. That’s the magic of what they do. But then there’s the science of it. How do they make the most raw or sensual sounds come out of their instruments?
For our newest feature, Grinding Gears, we first sit down with guitar extraordinaire Chris Meck, who has been a mainstay in the Kansas City music scene for years. He and his lovely wife Abigail Henderson have been writing music together in The Gaslights, Atlantic Fadeout, and currently, their duo Tiny Horse. Chris, with Abby, is also a co-founder of the Midwest Music Foundation.
Read our interview at the link here!
-Michelle Bacon
Philadelphia
Posted on:
Weekend Warrior, July 27 – 29
Anchor Fest, held tonight at Union Transfer, is a memorial show for Daniel James Krawiec, a.k.a. Dan K., a beloved member of Philly’s music scene who passed away on April 28. This show was organized by his brother, with the bands in the lineup all picked for the roles they played in Dan’s life. Some he supported, played in, toured with, and others he just plain loved. There’s The Great Northern (his band, with his brother filling in and also doing a solo performance), solo hip-hop act B.K. Friendly, bizarro surf punks Farquar Muckenfuss, Mercury Radio Theater’s concert experience, Blayer Pointdujour & The Rockers Galore, the reunited punk band Women (which he was also a member of), DJ Architekt playing Dan’s favorite songs between sets, and a special guest headliner, who have now been revealed to be none other than the Dead Milkmen. All of the proceeds go towards a cause: activity and support groups for recovering addicts at Providence West Chester, a non-profit community center/church that Dan was involved with. It’s a fitting tribute to a life taken much too early. Union Transfer, 1024 Spring Garden St., 5:30pm, $12, All Ages – Alyssa Greenberg
More places to hang this weekend…
FDR Park (1500 Pattison Ave.) FRI Toy Soldiers, Thom McCarthy, Dani Mari, Rev TJ McGlinchey
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI It’s the Year 2001 w/DJs Emynd and Bo Bliz, Reef The Lost Cauze
PhilaMOCA (531 North 12th St.) FRI Collaborative Philly Launch Party w/Eat Your Birthday Cake, The Quelle Source, The Chairman Dance, SAT Arc in Round
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Waireka Hill, The Snails, SAT Blood Feathers, St. James and the Apostles, SUN Prowler
The Barbary (951 N. Frankford St.) SUN Kill Verona, Creepoid, Good Graces
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar Street) FRI The Crooks CD Release w/Early Ape, SAT Tithonus, Depths
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Strange Engineers, United Kingdom, The Doge, SAT Mid-Summer Classic w/The Better Half, Dukes of Destiny
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Control for Smilers, Igor’s Egg, The 9’s
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. Third St.) FRI East Coastamite
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Juliet’s Vice, John Brennan Band, SAT Punchline, Kick Back Tomorrow, Rushmore, Public Noise
The Theater of Living Arts (334 South St.) SAT Phantasm, Crobot, Black Stars
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI The Keystone Mountain Boys, SAT The Original Rays
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Superfive, Time Relapse, Pattern Crash, Woodland Ave., Sand Castle Kings, SAT Run to Sandy, Elderstatesmen, SUN Chavo$, Santo El Condenao
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SAT Sun Ra Arkestra
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Hank Brady, Tree Rats, Duke Brothers, SAT The Great Socio, Grip of the Gods, The Tressels, Scott Radway
Pilam (3914 Spruce St.) FRI Seismic Thrust
Aux (319 N. 11th St.) FRI Crash Course in Science, Psychic Teens, Hurry
Beautiful World Syndicate (1619 E. Passyunk Ave.) FRI Salvation
Tiberino Museum (3819 Hamilton St.) SAT Avataria, Radio Eris
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (1020 South St.) SAT ART/GAGE w/ (Early) Swift Technique, The Really Cooks Hot Bijouxx, Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac, Rock to the Future, (Late) Cuddle Magic, Catnaps, 20Somethings
Brenda (1730 N. 5th St.) FRI Tia & Tamara, Boy Scouts of America
Philadelphia
Posted on:
YIKES the ZERO Release Show at KFN July 27
With hazy beats, mesh of samples, and laid-back, yet almost-sinister flow, local emcee YIKES the ZERO sounds primed to take up Madvillain’s mantle as “America’s Most Blunted.” Tonight, his new album, A Kid And His Monsters, gets a much-deserved release party at Kung Fu Necktie. Released via Bandcamp just a couple weeks ago, A Kid And His Monsters is absolutely filthy, a stellar example of abstract, sample-heavy indie hip hop, and a great record that’s sure to translate live. Still not convinced? Opener E.Grizzly has described YIKES the ZERO and fellow performer Tommy Tucker as “nerd rap” on his personal blog because “all these dudes would be unstoppable in a hip-hop Trivial Pursuit tournament.” Philly underground hip hop continues to rise this evening so don’t miss out! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7:30pm, $5, 21+ – Adam Downer
Philadelphia
Posted on:
Crash Course in Science Reemerge at AUX (Vox Populi) July 27
One of the perks of music journalism is that you get to write about some freakin’ sweet events. Tonight, that freaky sweetness is the reemergence of seminal Philly post-punkers Crash Course in Science at AUX (Vox Populi). The band has been around since 1979 (three years before a scientifically-apt woman blinded fellow new waver Thomas Dolby – guess he should’ve listened to these guys, eh? Anyone? Right, moving on…), playing an experimental type of New Wave that blended the genre’s affinity for quirk with performance art. Traditional instruments were eschewed for toy ones, drum sets for drum machines, and “Frankenstein”-style homemade noisemakers were added for good measure. Their first record, Signals from Pier Thirteen, is regarded as one of the major influences to industrial techno, and is a highly-regarded collectible for music fanatics. And they’re playing hometown show tonight. And other post-punk and fuzz-pop Philly acts like Psychic Teens and Hurry are opening as well as out-of-towners Normal Love and The Young Leaves. And it’s all ages. Pretty freakin’ sweet, right? AUX (Vox Populi), 319 N. 11th St. – 3rd Floor, 8pm, $8 – Adam Downer
NYC
Posted on:
Lots of NYC bands at Delinquency on 07.28, including Dust Engineers
Aputumpu, Birddog Productions, My Social List and Brooklyn Brewery present Breakout Sessions‘ Summer Highlights Fest this Saturday at Brooklyn’s newest venue, Delinquency (1031 Grand St.). The day-long event is not to be missed, and will feature such local luminaries as Grand Rapids, Lost Boy?, The Yellow Dogs, GunFight!, Osekre & the Lucky Bastards, Roadside Graves and more! It’s also the CD release of current Deli NYC Artist of the Month Dust Engineers (streaming below). On top of all these sweet bands, Brooklyn Brewery has generously donated two, two-hour blocks of open bar to the event, which means you’re more than getting your money’s worth. More details here.
Philadelphia
Posted on:
FDR Summer Concert Series w/Toy Soldiers, Thom McCarthy, Dani Mari & Reverend TJ McGlinchey at FDR Park July 27
There is something about the blues and folk music that just resonates with a listener. You’ll certainly get your fill tonight when Toy Soldiers headline the FDR Summer Concert Series joined by Thom McCarthy and its organizers Dani Mari and Reverend TJ McGlinchey. You can hear hints of the Guthries (mostly Woody with some Arlo) in Reverend TJ McGlinchey’s music. Thom McCarthy’s songs offer more upbeat folk with its bursts of trumpets and guitar licks on the recordings. His tunes sound of someone who’s been to or wanting to go many places but is sometimes trapped by logistical limitations like in “Mexico.” Dani Mari plays more minor sounding tunes. There is a secret in her songs that you can speculate about. Toy Soldiers always promises a good time. They’ll bring the ruckus with their raw yet polished tunes. It will be a night of bluesy folk that won’t bum you out (especially for the price of free). FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Ave., 7pm, Free, All Ages – Maura Filoromo
Update: This show has been CANCELLED.
NYC
Posted on:
Viva Mayday CD release Party at Mercury on 07.28
This Saturday, July 28, band of three and recent Deli Artist of the Month, Viva Mayday, will be rocking Mercury Lounge in honor of their new full-length record, “Consuela,” named after the band’s beloved mascot. The 10-track album, which has been keeping the group busy for the past two years, highlights the trio’s swaggering and swinging fusion of blues, rock, reggae, and soul. Three tracks are already available to tantalize on the band’s Facebook page, including surf-tinged “Demonic Woman,” funky “Monster,” and gritty “Bay of Pigs” (streaming below). Everyone who attends the show on Saturday will get a copy of “Consuela” upon entry, so don’t miss the chance to get one of the first hard copies. Doors at 7:30pm, 21+. The late show is also feature great line-up, featuring Philly’s Cold Fronts, and NYC favorites, The Click Clack Boom and The Gay Blades. www.vivamayday.com – Meijin Bruttomesso