NYC

NYC bands on the rise: Minerva Lions at Mercury on 09.08

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Not be confused with the Ohio high school mascot of the same name, Brooklyn’s Minerva Lions are quite possibly one of the best bands exploring the realm of “HoboGlam” (though they can also be said to sound more akin to psychedelic-infused folk and dream pop). The quartet has already won the likes of Nicole Atkins, with whom they collaborate and share musicians, and Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco, who remixed their track "For R.A." last year – impressive feats for a band barely two years old. The group released their debut EP "Great Strides, Priestess & Queen" last year, and returned to the studio this past May to record their first full-length album. Minerva Lions will join Jorgensen once again for a shared bill at Mercury Lounge on September 8. – Devon Antonetti

L.A.

A House For Lions plays Echo Park Rising Festival 8.25

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It made sense as scenes got fragmented that the best bands would work on a fence, crafting a fusion that could work beyond the niche. That’s precisely the simple beauty of A House For Lions, who emerged onto LA’s indie-rock scene almost two years ago, and have been drawing attention to themselves ever since. They stand right between alt-folk and alt-rock, singing with penetrating tenderness, playing it raw for those who won’t have it too polished, reverberated, distorted for those who ‘like it rough‘ so to speak. It’s a blissful blend really, that wraps around you, grips you; their first single especially, ‘Let Back‘, which started things off as it settled in founder Daniel Norman’s head and showed him the way.

It’s now been over a year since their first EP “I Want Us To Be Remembered”, and no, we haven’t forgotten them; so when the new year comes and they’re ready to drop this first album they’re working on, we’ll be there. Meanwhile though, you can see them play at Taix for The Echo Park Rising Festival on August 25th. Streaming below is their new track, an original cover of Tina Turner’s classic hit ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ – enjoy! – Tracy Mamoun

Philadelphia

“Jam House” w/Dewey Decibel at Dobbs Aug. 7

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Raw Life presented “Jam House” is providing a home on South Street for beats, rhymes and grooves as well as young artists honing their craft. The FREE bimonthly Tuesday showcase invades The Legendary Dobbs transforming its oftentimes alt rock bills to something with a bit of Philly flava. Tonight you’ll be treated to Dewey Decibel (a.k.a. Dewey Saunders) who caught my attention earlier this year with his YouTube video of “Met Her In L.A.” off his nerdily titled debut release #BOOMBOXBOOKWORM. The Bold New Breed artist predicted that “someone is getting pregnant” tonight so don’t forget your protection. He’ll also be surrounded by “Jam House” alumni Young Gliss and Dice Raw as well as the island stylings of Blayer Pointdujour. The Legendary Dobbs, 304 South St., 8:30pm, Free, 21+ – Q.D. Tran

NYC

From the NYC Open Blog: The Archive plays St. Vitus on 09.04

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Brooklyn’s The Archive recently released this video for the single "Lamb". The Archive isn’t an argument for anything but itself. The band is after a new kind of psychedelia, one dedicated to the notion that Appalachian folk music was the original one-chord rock‘n’roll, the first head trip. The Archive is playing a show at St. Vitus September 4th and releasing their debut album Great Low Down this fall. – (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.

A fifth step in the story of IAMEVE

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Today, Tiff Randol (more recently known as IAMEVE) released the latest in a series of twelve songs debuted in April. Every month, as she builds up to the full-length release of her new project ‘The Everything Nothing‘, she reveals another step in the blossoming of Eve Ami, and every month we watch her evolve on the cover of a single. The lost, drowning girl of April’s ‘Throw Me A Line’ has gained confidence, she’s a ‘Temptress‘, glamorous in her feathers, dangerous; the stage is where you reinvent yourself, and the album describes this journey, the rebirth of Eve like David becoming Ziggy, delivered with the force of a powerful pop voice that grows more seductive by the single. If this is far from being Randol’s first output, who has behind her an album and two EPs, it is surely her strongest narrative effort to date; she’s a storyteller you see, and as she lets this tale unfold step by step like she did with ‘Polyamourous’ in 2009, each time there’s a suspense in the course that makes the next release all the more exciting. – Tracy Mamoun

NYC

King Dude Opening For Wino and Conny Ochs This Sunday at The Comet

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Photo Source: Raz

King Dude is set to appear for a stellar show this weekend at The Comet Tavern. Wino and Conny Ochs are headlining on their Heavy Kingdom tour; Isis & The Ghost is on the bill as well. 

This solo project features the aforementioned artist projecting "dark pagan-fueled folk" into the stratosphere, and he does so with masterful confidence. His latest release Love came out in November of last year courtesy of Dais. The ten tracks are immediately pervasive –  "Don’t Want Me Still" sounds, on one hand, so far away, and yet its layers of echo and distance seem to emit signals from within your own body.

"Spiders In Her Hair" features a bouncy, uptemo riff that sets the tone for TJ Cowgill’s deep and resonant vocals; they are pensive and tuneful. Or take a listen to "Eternal Night" which seems to rumble along some cavernous wagon road, filled with spirited harmonies and an incessant, rattling rhythm.

King Dude’s take on folk as-it-were is no straight and narrow path. His material on Love becomes greatly enriched by buzzing, humming, singing, and other peculiar effects that give rise to a singer-songwriter surrounded by a field of subterranean sounds.

He will appear at The Comet this Sunday, August 12th. Doors are at 8:00pm for this 21+ show that costs $10. Listen to "Eternal Night" below and check out his bandcamp to hear Love all the way through. The album is for sale digitally and on vinyl. Also, keep on the lookout for his upcoming record Burning Daylight which is due out on October 16th.

– Cameron LaFlam

Nashville

The Paranormals Make Official Debut With “American Spirit” EP

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Last week, three childhood friends from Alabama released their first official collection of songs to the the public. Available on the typical digital platforms (Amazon, iTunes, Spotify), American Spirit, the new EP from The Paranormals, is anything but mundane and may be one of the most exciting debuts Nashville has seen this summer.

“All three of us were raised in the Birmingham area. I think we probably all met in the sixth grade, if I remember correctly,” says guitarist Jarrod Randall. Like most musicians, Randall, lead singer David Sutton, and bassist Heath Hendricks played the customary game of musical chairs with other bands before reuniting and forming The Paranormals. “It’s definitely not a rare case by any means, but growing up where we did and being into the same stuff, that’s made what we have today so great. Heath was the best man in my wedding. David is my brother-in-law.” And their tight-knit nature translates seamlessly to their sound. While many musicians flirt with the thin line between “talented” and “overdeveloped,” each member of The Paranormals carries their weight in a skillful and unique way without falling victim to sounding too polished.

In a surprise Phil Collins/Don Henley-esque twist, the lead singer of The Paranormals also spends all of his time behind the drums, which can bring a rare and tricky element to live shows. “It was challenging at first– you have to figure out how to write with that in mind. But now it just happens. Some shows, I’ll turn around and [Sutton] is sweating like a pig and I just smile, thinking, ‘Man you are doing all the work here.’ It’s a challenge to make sure the energy translates when your front man is behind the kit. But we wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Randall.

American Spirit was recorded over the course of one weekend, and the EP’s title track was finished live and in just one take. In keeping with the band’s family-friendly vibe, Rick Sutton, David’s father, made a trip to the studio to play slide guitar for the song. “I’m glad that [song] is on there because it shows kind of a basis for the vibe that all our songs come out of,” adds Randall. With less than 30 hours to record the EP, the time crunch played a definitive role in the result of American Spirit. Working with just a small window of time, the band had no chance to over-think or elaborate. The result is immaculate. “Being a three-piece, we didn’t want the recording to sound like a five-piece.”

When asked about his band, Randall says, “Our band is the real us, you know? Like, how long we’ve known each other and being family. Nothing is pieced together or forced. And we’ve had great support from our friends, but we’ve tried to avoid Kickstarter, etc. on purpose for this EP. Because we wanted it to really just come from us. Then whether someone digs it or not lies solely on if they dig it, no other motive or obligation.”

Between defining their sound and recording songs in one take, The Paranormals make creating great music look easy. Sweaty Southern rock has rarely sounded so thoughtful, and in their two years together as a band, The Paranormals have carved out a niche most musicians spend their entire careers trying to create.

The official release party for American Spirit will take place at The End on August 25th. Lulu Mae, Gnarly Charlies, and Cory Taylor Cox round out the bill. We will see you there. — Brianne Turner

NYC

Artists on Trial: Josh Colburn of Little Rosco

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Little Rosco is one of the newest bands to emerge in what continues to be a growing Kansas City music scene. Though the four-piece rock group only has a couple shows under its belt, it shows promise and willingness to become a force in the musical community. Today, we chat a bit with frontman Josh Colburn.

The Deli: Gun to your head: one sentence to describe your music.  What is it?

Josh Colburn: You know the song that comes on the radio that makes you get a speeding ticket? Like that…

The Deli:  Let’s talk about your latest release or upcoming shows. What can we expect?
 
JC:  We’re are playing a show at Czar Bar on Saturday, August 11 with some other great bands: The Chaotic Goods and The New Imperialism (Wichita). It should be a great show. I know I am ready to throw down and I am super pumped to see the other bands perform! We are just starting out, so for us every show is huge — no matter how big or small.

The Deli:  What does “supporting local music” mean to you?

JC: Of course you can tell your friends about your favorite local bands, but will they actually take the time to go find and listen to them at home? It’s better to take your friends and go to a show and then if you like it, support the band! Buy a t-shirt, CD, sticker, death metal coffee mug for mom, or whatever your fancy is. Getting involved in the local music community is a great way to help and easy to do! For example, one of our members writes concert reviews for a local radio station on a volunteer basis. It may not pay anything, but he gets to meet a lot of great musicians in KC and plug them through a popular medium. There really are lots of ways to help out and make sure the music you love gets out there and doesn’t die on the vine. 
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite “local” musicians right now?

JC: There are a lot of great local bands in the KC area, so it’s really hard to just name a few. Some favorites would be Cherokee Rock Rifle, The Atlantic, The Strive and We Are Voices.

The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?
 
JC:  Well, Foo Fighters tops the list, I think for all of us. Also Jimmy Eat World, The Used, The Joy Formidable, Mutemath, Relient K and The Starting Line are all bands that have influenced us. On the other hand, some of the guys listen to bands that we don’t emulate as well, such as the Alabama Shakes and Japandroids.

The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?

JC: I don’t know if I can speak for everyone, but my personal favorites would be Rockin New Years Eve in New York and the Metro in Chicago. Not lofty, I know. But ever since I was young I’ve loved the intimate setting of the Metro and the energy of New York. But when it comes down to it, I don’t like to be too far removed from our fans during a show.
 
The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio?
 
JC: Definitely on stage. I’ve never heard of "Studio Fright" and there’s a reason. I love the rush and the energy you feel being connected to other people. It’s incredible.

The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore.  What four faces are you putting up there and why?

JC: Dave Grohl (do I need to explain?), Jimmy Page (again…), Frank Sinatra (there has to be at least one true gentleman up there) and Johnny Cash (again, I don’t think that needs an explanation). These guys are legends or legends in the making. Their music and lives inspire musicians daily.
 
The Deli:  All right, give us the rundown.  Where all on this big crazy web can you be found? 

JC:  www.facebook.com/littlerosco
www.reverbnation.com/littlerosco
www.youtube.com/littleroscoband
Twitter – @littleroscoband 
 
The Deli:  Always go out on a high note.  Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?

JC: Go out and support local musicians. They’re your friends or potential friends and they’re working hard for you! Find music you love and don’t ever let it die because, as Quincy Jones said, "What a harmonious world it would be if every single person shared a little bit of what they are good at doing." We like to think we are contributing to such a world, but we need everyone to join us!

Rock out with Josh and the rest of Little Rosco this Friday, August 10 at Club 906 in Liberty, or this Saturday, August 11 at Czar Bar. They’ll be playing with The Chaotic Goods and The New Imperialism. Show starts at 9 pm.

–-Michelle Bacon

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Philadelphia

New Track: “Where’s the Knife” – Grandchildren

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Grandchildren just premiered their first single called “Where’s the Knife” off the band’s upcoming album, via Paste Magazine. Their debut full-length Everlasting was predominantly pieced together by Aleks Martray, who eventually built the band around the recordings with his Danger Danger Gallery compadres to perform out live, so it should be interesting to find out what the cohesive unit has come up with this time around. You can hear “Where’s the Knife” and hopefully more new ones this Sunday at Johnny Brenda’s when they open for The Very Best.