Once again, Zambri skews the ordinary in its new video for “From An Angle” with is based on a view of a car wash in motion “from an angle” that we’ve all witnessed (and probably also thoroughly enjoyed as kids) but never really taken in. The music is beautifully complimented by the imagery and melds together in a seamless fashion. The blinking lights and repetitive motions of the car wash become a sort of beautiful dance to the music Zambri provides. The band will be performing at Dumbo Arch in Brooklyn on August 17 at the MTV O Music Awards Presents Unboxed Returns. – Christine Cauthen
Portland
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Great Horned Owl Spreads Its Wings
The elusive indie folk band Great Horned Owl, led by Vanderson Langjahr, just released an LP last month. We Were Fragile is indeed a listening experience of tangible fragility: the whispering vocals and fluttering acoustic guitar create simple, beautiful songs. Not much is known about this mysterious band, and their online presence is minimal, but that’s for the better. Owls fly under the radar; so does Great Horned Owl. The appreciative few will fall in love with this music. Great Horned Owl stops in Vancouver, WA, to play a show at Pop Culture on Thursday, August 23rd. -Sarah Walters
Chicago
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Cameron McGill @ The Whistler
Cameron McGill recently launched a campaign at pledgemusic.com to raise funds to release a new lp called Gallows Etiquette. This will be McGill first solo LP released on vinyl and cd. His previous three albums have featured The Army. Head over to pledgemusic to preorder and help McGill reach his goal.
You can catch Cameron McGill and Judson Claiborne at The Whistler for a free show tomorrow night, August 8th, at 10pm.
Philadelphia
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Brown Recluse Breakup & Announce Final Release
This is a bummer to hear. Slumberland Records’ Brown Recluse has decided to call it quits. The genteel indie pop outfit released a statement (part of which is below) this past weekend via the band’s Facebook profile before Tim Meskers’ performance opening for Gruff Rhys at PhilaMOCA. The band still plans to release a final collection of unreleased material, alternative mixes and demos towards the end of the year. Thanks to The Key for bringing it to our attention.
Brown Recluse has formally dissolved its collective efforts in performance and production. Work is in progress on a collection of unreleased tracks, alternate mixes, and demonstration recordings titled "Odd Ends," which should be available by the end of the year.
We offer our most sincere thanks to all our colleagues, Slumberland Records, Dead Format, and our fans and friends for their endless support. You helped make it beautiful.
Philadelphia
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KahBang Festival 2012 – Yeah, We’ll See You There!
As we sit in beautiful downtown Portland, we at The Deli are eagerly anticipating the start of the KahBang Festival 2012 up in Bangor, ME, whom we have partnered up with this year for a weekend of fun times. The festival has a strong dose of EDM and Hip-Hop, including the Maine MCs Jamezy, Spose and Educated Advocates, who are representing a somewhat strange but undeniably rich hip-hop community in the state. The headliners may be at the top of the marquee, but the focus is on the local indie music scene (and that’s what we’re all about), with a pretty large number of the artists from the New England area, bringing the heavy stuff, the breezy stuff, and everything in between.
While the whole shindig goes down from this Friday – Sunday, one of the most exciting performances is sure to be the headlining set of Lincoln, ME’s bearded prophet Jacob Augustine on Thursday at the KahBang Kickoff Concert & KahBlock Party! Fresh off a short tour armed with nothing but his guitar and voice, Augustine has compiled a monster 7-piece rock band to bring his epic folk compositions to life. He will also be playing his new Bikini Island E.P. (which, like everything else the man makes, is available for free download via his Bandcamp) in it’s entirety. Oh, did we mention that Thursday also has a beer festival? Yeah, we’ll see you there!
NYC
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Album of the Month: Mirror Kisses “Bad Dreams”
Putting Harrisonburg, VA on the map is the dark synthpop duo Mirror Kisses who’s latest LP Bad Dreams (also available on cassette) blows whatever you’ve claimed to be the anthem of summer away. This here is New Order and Less Than Zero dripping in sex on the dance floor. Pull those delorean doors down and get ready to go back to the 80’s inspired future of new wave as MK’s George Clanton and Doug Sexton lead the way.
Enter "Proud", a track that’s kicked off with the ultimate lo-fi teaser before the whoa moment whooshes in. Full of booming bass beats, synths and claps are layered on as powerful vocals shout out "I couldn’t be prouder without you tonight." Should this have been the song to close out the film Drive? Yes.
"She’s Gone" gets an electro boost with swirls of keys, clap echoes, and a tinge of gloom in the lyrics "I waited til she’s gone, forever and ever." Before you know it, you’ll forget what decade this really is, and that’s a good thing. "Call Me Now" dare I say enters the epic arena (epic is a word I try to keep to a minimum, but I can’t escape it’s use in this description.) A slight dose of sci-fi-ish keys and layers of droned out backing vocals come together in a galactic hum.
And that’s just the first three tracks. Basically, these are the 80’s cool kids that Bret Easton Ellis should meet up with. –Dawn
Catch Mirror Kisses live at the Galaxy Hut in Arlington 8/19, and at DC’s Axum Lounge on 8/25.
NYC
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From the NYC Open Blog: Everest Cale at Spike Hill – 08.09
For the past decade, Brett Treacy, Jeremy Kolmin and Aaron Nystrup’s paths have crossed, diverged, reunited and evolved, leading the college friends from South Carolina to New York. In 2010, Treacy (vocals, guitar) began focusing on his original material, and he expanded and matured that sound by involving in the project Kolmin (guitar), Nystrup (bass), Nate Becker (drums) and Ryan Roets (keys, vocals). Everest Cale was born, with each member’s own talents building on Treacy’s foundations.. Infused with classic rock influences, with enough of a modern twist to keep things from ever sounding stale, the band’s dynamic indie rock sound walks the line between fresh and familiar. See them live at Spike Hill on August 9. – (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.
L.A.
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Wildcat! Wildcat! lands August residency at The Echo
It’s not only their name Wildcat! Wildcat! that’s borrowed from Ratatat, it’s a taste for the swagger of a hip-hop beat that sets them at a vital distance from the hundreds of synthpop acts flooding the indie scene every year. The name, it turns out, they actually owe to Eli Cash’s play Wildcat (The Royal Tenenbaums); yet where his project led to failure, things are looking up for this lot. No glee, no kitsch, and for that, hats off. No obsolete vernacular either, for that matter. Just three guys, some spotless keyboard arrangements and a sexy bassline, which amount to a catchy groove stuck in your head until the next takes its place. With only two singles to their name, they’ve already made quite a reputation for themselves. Recently landing a residency at The Echo, they’ll be playing the famous LA stage every Monday evening throughout the month of August.
Philadelphia
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Where Is My Mind?: Everyone Everywhere
Don’t let the nonchalance of Everyone Everywhere fool you, they are as restless and nihilistic as the next guy. In fact, they have kind of made their name on it. Lead singer Brendan McHugh didn’t want to compare the band to Woody Allen, but the similarities are there, from the self-deprecating humor to the vast, internal exploration that is relatable to everyone but a rock. We checked in with the guys of Everyone Everywhere as they get set for their European tour and the official release of their new self-titled album (which is out today) that introduces a notably more mature, yet still youthful and curious band. You can read our interview with them HERE.
NYC
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Dinosaur Feathers tours with Fang Island
Before Grizzly Bear drops their own harmony-soaked full-length later this year, be sure to check out the band just as in touch with the rhythm of the rising tide, and all set to compliment your next beach volleyball game better than mopey Ed Droste ever could anyway.
Dinosaur Feathers’ new single ‘Untrue’ (streaming below, off just-released record ‘Whistle Tips’) is something Franz Ferdinand might have made if they spent some time surfing in Mali. The album as a whole feels like the band mic’ed a barbeque and recorded the site live… Another standout is the groove-a-licious ‘Fantasy Memorial.’ The track is so much fun, you’ll feel like you just met the woman of your dreams (who happens to surf in… Mali!)
Check the group out when they come back home in the Fall after an east coast tour with Fang Island, and be sure and listen to the new record on their blogspot. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
Portland
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Pink Slime get ready for two shows this week
Pink Slime have been making their rounds through the Portland house show circuit over the past year, spawning mosh pits and drunken dance parties along the way. The three piece surf rock outfit play with the anarchic energy of a punk band, placing piercing low-fi yells atop chaotic drum rhythms and catchy, distorted guitar riffs that breathe a whirlwind of energy into their surfy tunes. You can’t help but dance along with these guys, and you have two chances to this week. Pink Slime’s playing at Backspace with Wimps and The Happening this Thursday night and at the House of Preblon Block Party on Saturday. See you in the pit. –Benjamin Toledo
Philadelphia
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New Ape School Album Out Today & Available for Streaming
Michael Johnson’s Ape School just released its new album Junior Violence today via Portland indie label Hometapes. You can stream the full-length in its entirety below. The extremely-talented primates will be celebrating its release on August 17 at Johnny Brenda’s.