My CMJ Wednesday began rather inauspiciously since the first band I wanted to see was nowhere to be found five minutes before its scheduled set time. I grumpily left the Alphabet Lounge as I realized I wasted about an hour that could have been spent checking out the Jack White-sponsored Rolling Record Store, which was parked outside Santos Party House throughout the night. Oh well, I guess Mr. White will just have to wait another day for me to blindly throw money at him. – Read Josh S. Johnson full report here – In the picture and streaming, Starred.
New England
Posted on:
Day of the Dead Horrorpunk Show — 11/1 @ Rosebud
The day after Halloween, November 1st, is commonly known as The Day of the Dead. Dark Sky Productions is hosting a horror-punk show, a genre of music popularized by legends such as The Misfits and The Cramps.
The Rosebud in Davis Square Somerville plays host to this event with four ghoulish groups: Jimi Halfdead and the Die-Alongs (pictured), Sans Nomenclature, American Hellbilly (the infamous Rob Zombie/White Zombie tribute band) and Mortuus Ortus.
Doors open at 8:00 PM; cover is $7, and the event is ages 21+. –The Deli Staff
Philadelphia
Posted on:
Restorations’ Soulful Road Rock at FUC Oct. 18
The next time you want to take a road trip without evoking shitty memories of college, bring some Restorations with you. They’ve managed to craft powerful, uplifting post punk with a peripatetic feeling, as if all the members are restlessly, constantly thinking about how to push their influences farther. They’re as grand as a punk band can be, more akin to The War on Drugs than Hot Water Music at times, and never once veering into hokey faux-Americana territory. They’ve also gained a rep for their blisteringly loud shows – for as great as they sound on record, their shows are forceful in a very different way. They’re joined tonight at the First Unitarian Church by some other fantastic locals Into it. Over It., and out-of-towners Make Do and Mend and Hostage Calm, all stalwarts of soaring punk anthems. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 7:30 pm, $12, All Ages – Alyssa Greenberg
Chicago
Posted on:
Poor Lister “Wasn’t Thinking”
Last week the local label Cardboard Sangria released the first single from the new project by Gary Pyskacek from The Part Five, Poor Lister. Pyskacek is currently working on an ep for Poor Lister and the band will make their stage debut on Dec. 10th at Hungry Brain with The Singleman Affair.
Philadelphia
Posted on:
Void Vision Brings Back the Chill at JB’s Oct. 18
The cold wave adrenaline rush of the aptly-named Void Vision, Shari Vari’s minimal solo synth/electronic project, will be on display tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. Void Vision finds Shari melding dark, ominous synth tones with semi-muted female vocals, effectively conveying the cinematic thrill of moving through a dimly lit back alley, bass pushing the tempo on a chase through the streets. This cold wave endeavor, far from being meditative, is one to dance to. The bill also includes the infectious ambient-r&b/techno stylings of the British band Holy Other and the intense drum-bass heavy escapades of Pressure Points. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – Michael Colavita
L.A.
Posted on:
Local Natives announce “Hummingbird”, share new song “Breakers”
A band that certainly needs no introduction, Silverlake darlings Local Natives are back it after a three year wait with the announcement of a new full-length. The follow up to 2010’s Gorilla Manor, Hummingbird is slated for a release date of January 29th on Frenchkiss Records. They’ve also shared a first taste of the record in the form of "Breakers", a clattering, slightly oft-kilter cut that doesn’t abandon their knack for vocal harmonies and twinkling melodic tones.
NYC
Posted on:
Deli CMJ Electro/Avant Pop Stages at The Delancey 10.18 with Wildlife Control, Dynasty Electric, Dinosaur Feathers, Il Abanico, Cultfever + more
DETAILS ABOUT THIS SHOW + STREAMING
COMPILATION OF ALL THE BANDS HERE
This is going to be the longest list of this whole series of announcements. On Thursday, we’re once again taking over both floors of The Delancey with upstairs, a line-up of electro up-and-comers from all sides of the spectrum and downstairs, some creative pop gems fitting under the Avant Pop label, for a total of.. NINETEEN acts! So enough chit-chat, let’s get to the list, because that is sure going to take up enough space.
Opening the (free!) upstairs show, Thomas Simon‘s ghostly mixes, followed by the bizarre folk-tronic experiments of Max Horwich’s Sewing Machines, Cultfever‘s chaotic outputs and Railbird‘s more intimate creations. Next up, we’ve got three out-of-towners, i.e SF’s Maus Haus, Philly’s electro/hip hop artist Lushlife, and finally, Anomie Belle, from Seattle, co-headlining the show with NYC’s own Dynasty Electric. Then, taking it to the later hours of the evening, Ducky, and Drop Electric (coming from DC).
Downstairs, our two headliners will be Dinosaur Feathers (top picture) and Wildlife Control, who both released this year a delicious new album, second for the former and a first for the latter. We’ve also got, on this stage, three acts coming from Los Angeles: openers American Royalty, shoegaze-pop band Letting Up Despite Great Faults, and Kiven, who will be closing the show. Add to this Columbian transplants Il Abanico, Conveyor, whom we covered in our last print issue, the catchy jams of five-piece Modern Rivals and finally, Santah, coming from Chicago, and.. I believe WE’RE DONE! In the pictures: Dynasty Electric & Wildlife Control.
NYC
Posted on:
New video: “Ocean” by The ACB’s
"Ocean" is the newest release from The ACB’s off its upcoming release Little Leaves. Director Danny Joe Gibson creates a playful and entrancing stop-motion video, achieving the same effect as the music. The ACB’s have been able to inject a cerebral atmosphere with their music, while at the same time keeping it melodically sweet for a general audience. The success of their 2010 album Stona Rosa challenges the band to up the ante, but if "Ocean" is any indication, the new album could see the band take off in greater directions than before.
NYC
Posted on:
Album review: Cher UK – Little Blue Soldier (EP)
Cher UK has had more lives and iterations than the Saw, Halloween, and Friday the 13th movies combined. It’s the band that won’t die, and we’re all better for it. The recipient of Entertainment Weekly’s Band Name of the Week title for the week of Oct. 1, 1993, Cher UK has been around a couple of decades.
It is high time the band provide the music-hungry masses with more music to stick on their iPods and phones given the band’s last recording, Berdella, was released about 15 years ago. Thus, Cher UK frontman Mike McCoy and bandmate/bassist Mark Reynolds make good on a promise and bless us with four tracks on the EP Little Blue Soldier. This iteration of Cher UK also includes Bernie Dugan on drums and Michael Stover on lead guitar, with a few special guests along the way.
Kicking off the EP is a song by the same name: "Little Blue Soldier." The song quickly reminds the listener of Mike McCoy’s witty songwriting. Take a portion of the chorus: "Must have been a brain lapse, maybe a collapse of your basic synapse. Hey, maybe you’re crazy. You’re tired of thinking and your thinking’s getting lazy," McCoy croons in a peppy tone. Rounding out the song is a bit of brass courtesy of Kyle Dahlquist on trombone and trumpet.
Dahlquist also makes a turn on "Peace, Love and Fun in the Sun." This song sounds like the band bought stock in some odd Beach Boys. However, it works out in Cher UK’s favor as the song provides a great beat for dancing and some of the most pleasant musical earworms you’ll ever encounter. "Reagan Versus NoLa" is largely instrumental and written by Reynolds. I imagine that a race car driven by guitars sounds like this song. It’s kept at a solid tempo by the drums. In short, it’s a rush of skilled playing.
Cher UK ends the EP with "Denny’s After Closing." Serenaded by Betse Ellis’ haunting violin playing, the song evokes memories of legendary nights out in Kansas City and makes you ache for another epic night in in the City of Fountains. People who have experienced a crazy evening in KC should be able to somehow relate this song and if they don’t, then they either aren’t human or have never really had fun.
I recommend getting your hands on the EP and relishing in its sound, wit, and earworms. As a whole, Little Blue Soldier is a little bit pop, a little bit country, and a little bit rock & roll, but nothing like Marie and Donny Osmond—testify!
Cher UK will be releasing a limited-edition copy of Little Blue Soldier at Davey’s Uptown this Saturday, October 20. They’ll share the stage with Hotdog Skeletons and The Pedaljets. Facebook event here.
–Alicia Houston
| Alicia Houston eats toast, drinks coffee and drives a car. Her view on the Oxford comma continually is up for debate. When she’s had a few beers, Alicia impersonates Katherine Hepburn. She has been writing since she was five and listening to music since she was born. She has a tattoo of a gray unicorn. The unicorn gives her advice and daily affirmations. |
NYC
Posted on:
Album review: Elyria – What Makes Us Who We Are (EP)
Ripping into your ear holes with a righteous guitar scream right off the bat really catches your attention. Subtle synth sounds carry the high-pitched plucks into a full-fledged rock intro. The song (and the EP’s namesake) "What Makes Us Who We Are" is the first thing we hear on Elyria’s first album. Lead singer Kyle Ward tears in with the line “I can’t believe that it has been this long. But it’s safe to say that all your waiting is finally done.”
Elyria has been a passionate project for Ward for almost a year and a half now, and that first hook clarifies everything the band has worked up to. The fast-paced thrasher will keep your energy up throughout the entire album. Obvious pop-punk guitar riffs and almost metal drumming keeps your attention on the music. Masterful production keeps Ward’s lyrics loud and clear and guitarist Caleb Lumby’s work pertinent to smoothing out the song.
The songs selected for this EP carry a heavy, positive message for all who listen to it. The band focuses on their personal hardships on their walk through life. The lyrics explain how these are overcome and how they helped the two men grow as people.
It’s hard to imagine, while listening to this album, that Elyria is not a full band. One singer and one guitarist are all that it took to complete this project. Currently, Elyria is auditioning for an additional guitar, bass, and drums. If interested, contact the band directly on its Facebook page.
–Steven Ervay
| Steven is the intern of Midwest Music Foundation and The Deli – Kansas City. He can’t go to 21+ shows yet and that bums him out. |
Chicago
Posted on:
The Vliets “Pale Solar Stream”
The Vliets have released the second video from their new ep God’s Drug. The band released the ep late last month and have been receiving a lot of well deserved praise. Ty Bohrnstedt is the driving force behind this Dallas band now splitting time between Dallas and Chicago. I haven’t seen any local shows scheduled but I am excited to see the synth driven psych-pop band take the stage.
Chicago
Posted on:
Haleek Maul “88”
Check out the detailed production on this new track, "88" from Brooklyn’s Haleek Maul by Chicago duo The-Drum. The track comes from his Oxyconteen EP which was released this past June for free at Merok Records.