The Tough Shits are the type of rock ‘n’ roll band whose musical output doesn’t fall squarely into a genre-specific parking spot. However, the elements of influence shine through creating a group that can play with a rough and tumble garage-rock edge and pair that with a California-casual surfer style. Using vocal harmonies and wave-crashing percussion and guitar riffs that nonchalantly start at a jog and turn into a sprint as their musical weapons of choice, the Tough Shits sound has a touch of so many things that you like. They don’t fit into a specific spot, but for the double-fisting rockers, there better be one open. Well, they’ll find one tonight on the bill at Johnny Brenda’s with Sub Pop’s Jaill and Hardly Art’s Fergus & Geronimo so make sure to get there early and grab your spot. Johnny Brenda’s 1201 N. Frankford Ave, 9pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Aliya Strychnine) – Michael Colavita
Gel Set @ Reversible Eye
Gel Set is the work of Laura Callier and under this moniker she creates wonderfully dark and lush electronic dance-pop. Earlier this summer she released a limited edition cassette through the local label Modern Tapes called Cell Jets.
You can catch Gel Set at Reversible Eye on Sept. 14th with Buoyant Sea, Persuasion, and Fagettes.
Natural Child Debuts “Derek’s Blues”
Natural Child‘s contribution to your summer soundtrack was "B$G P$MP$N," the first release from their forthcoming album, Hard In Heaven. The song is an Americana-infused punk song with rap lyrics; the result is a bizarre cacophony that shouldn’t work as well as it does and creates a vibe that stoners are absolutely going to dig. But their second release, "Derek’s Blues," offers a sound a that focuses on the band’s abilities as musicians and delivers a vibe that your parents might also appreciate… if they’re stoners.
"Derek’s Blues" was intially debuted over at Diffuser, but you can check out the track here.
Hard In Heaven is the band’s third full-length album and the second to be released this year. The album will be available on September 18th. —Brianne Turner
From the NYC Open Blog: Treasure Teeth release EP
Treasure Teeth released their new EP "Sell Your Gold"at Public Assembly on September 9th. This is – reportedly – a US-UK duo based between NYC, Miami, and London (somebody must travel a lot!) making aquatic womb-like experimental glitch pop with hip-hop and R & B inflections. – (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.
Residual Kid- “Friend” (New Single and Video)
Residual Kid has released a video along with their fantasticly sludgy new single "Friend". While I’m always a bit skeptical of the actual punkness of skateboarding, the video is an absolute treat to watch; especially near the end when the kids pull a Pete Townsend on their instruments. "Friend" itself is somewhat tongue in cheek, with lyrics like "If they open their chests, and let out the flies, they wouldn’t be so quick to judge". Coupled with a la di da chorus and poppy but clever chords, "Friend" is not a song to pass up.
The trio has a show next week on the 18th at Stubb’s and they’ll also be at Fun Fun Fun fest this November.
Tuesday Tune-Out w/Tadoma & Jeff Zeigler at PhilaMOCA Sept. 11
Tonight is going to get really weird (in a good way) at PhilaMOCA for our second installment of Tuesday Tune-Out! We’re taking it to the furthest reaches of the universe with the interstellar sounds of Tadoma, a.k.a. Joe Patitucci, & Arc in Round‘s Jeff Zeigler. The two artists are a perfect combination to get us lost in the vast galaxies of our minds this evening. Patitucci will also be bringing along his favorite episode of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos called "The Edge of Forever" on VHS. Smoke ’em if ya got ’em, folks, or just ask to join one of our seshes. We don’t mind.
Alexa Wilding releases ‘Painter’ music video
Starting from a place of pastel-soft fantasy, moving at times to hard-bitten reality, chanteuse Alexa Wilding paints an evocative and haunting self-portrait on new record ‘Coral Dust.’ Striking notes familiar to fans of Feist, songs ‘Fire’ and ‘Movie’ provide a churning momentum pulled over a whirlwind of detail supplied by producer Tim Foljahn’s deft slide guitar and keyboard outlines. Check out her new video for first single ‘Painter’ below, where the singer play with balloons and swings in a loveseat in a world painted pink, and see her when she plays Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 on Monday, October 1st. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
The Denzels introduce Admirable Traits + open for The Vaccines
Here’s to the start of a sweet day for The Denzels; on this September 11th they’re taking part in the first steps of a new Brooklyn-based record label, Admirable Traits, whose first release will be their second EP ‘Easy Tiger‘. Revealed in January, the five track-set of fuzzy garage-pop romance floats quite casually between surfing harmonies and noise, working its best moves right at the heart of this gap, where young love tales stay away from cheese, and dramatic synth lines can come glistening through without any of it feeling too nostalgic or too.. gleeful. Taking the release celebrations to the stage, they’ll be opening for The Vaccines this evening at The Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Santah You’re Still A Lover
Over the labor day I found myself camping with my family at the same camp in Wisconsin as Vivian and Stanton McConnell of Santah. It was a wonderful coincidence especially when she performed a Neil Young song by campfire. We talked briefly about Santah and she is extremely pleased with the band’s new ep. The new ep is called "You’re Still A Lover" and will be self-released on October 16th. Our first taste of the ep is a track called "Indigo", an pseudo-anthem fitting for summer’s end. This is the band’s follow-up to their 2011 debut LP, White Noise Bed.
You can catch Santah opening for California Wives on Sept 12 @ Lincoln Hall.
The Gypsy West plays Bowery Electric 9.15
Brooklyn based trio The Gypsy West will be tearing up the stage once more at the Bowery Electric along with Jody Porter (guitarist from Fountains of Wayne) & The Black Swans and Baby Wolves. Known for their wildly energetic live performances and complicated instrumentals, the psychedelic/ grunge rock group has been picking up steam with a successful show at Bowery Electric last August and an impressive performance at the Northside Festival in June already under their belt. Break out your war paint this Saturday, September 15th for what’s sure to be a raucous time!! Get your tickets here. – Chelsea Eriksen
DRGN King Sign to Bar None Records
Congrats to DRGN King who recently signed to Bar None Records! The Hoboken, NJ indie label will release the band’s debut album Paragraph Night in January 2013, and its lead single "Holy Ghost" on October 23 on a limited edition 7" vinyl that will also feature "Son of Wolfman," their collaboration with Peedi Crakk on its b-side. Frontman Dominic Angellela will be making a solo appearance tonight at The Fire, and DRG King’s next band performance in Philly will be on September 28 at Pilam as part of Norwegian Arms/Laser Background’s unique house show residency, which starts this Friday at South Philly’s Dreamcastle.
New Music Video: “Whenever” – Ground Up
Below is a new Tarantino-esque music video from hip hop collective Ground Up for the track “Whenever.” It’s the first official one off their 11th mixtape SuperNatural, which drops September 18. The video was directed by Joe Nolan.