San Francisco

Video: “Conundrum” by Horrorscopes Makes You Feel Warm and Carefree

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This music video for "Cunundrum" by San Francisco’s Horrorscopes made my day.

Spoiler alert: it’s a lot of shots of the band playing music, sometimes with that photo booth-y mirror effect, interspersed with clips of them touring around doing awesome stuff. All of this is accompanied by glistening guitars, addictive synth riffs, and a cruising bassline that perfectly complements the rangy, DGAF vocals.

Ultimately, this video will delude you into thinking today is a warm Indian summer day, and not some woebegone grayfest. Special shout out to sparklers and Cabazon dinosaurs.

Be sure to check out Horrorscopes at their next show on November 1st at Brick and Mortar.

Austin

Album Review- Borrisokane- “Disaster Face”

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Listening to “Suehiro” with little to no sleep is a very bad decision. The jarring synth makes one think that the Daleks are hunting you and, with the dark and often destructive lyrics of Borrisokane, it doesn’t seem very likely that any handsome time lords are coming to save you. YOU’RE GOING TO DIE.

Overall Borrisokane’s EP Disaster Face seems stripped down and minimalistic. But each instrument is placed well within the confines of each track, successfully furthering the mood of the piece. Borrisokane has created a strong atmosphere through its use of space and cavernous sounds but truly this album is based around rhythm. The drums are often the center piece for each song, as if the drummer were conducting the band.

The opening track, “Do The Squirmy Worm” has an excellent groove while the guitar skips and scurries over the rest of the song. The tone of the lyrics and cutesy sounding sythns will remind Austin music lovers of the most palpable Baker Family. Borrisokane’s lyrics however have a hint more humor to them (“Elizabeth” for instance: “Let’s flood the basement, let’s set the cats free,”). Bouncing Paul McCartney pianos are always welcome and I particularly enjoyed the anti-ending of “Do The Squirmy Worm”. The tracks “Sinking Catalina” and “Isotel” are equally lovely. The warmth in “Isotel’s” guitar tone is matched only by the gorgeous string section (piccicato is always a plus) and the wonderful vocals by Rebecca Asuan-O’Brien.

Too often songs will telegraph the end of the tune. This is a fault that Borrisokane makes light of in one track and then falls for in the next. The climax of “Elizabeth”, while having an excellent placement of horns, announces the ending a bit too loudly. And in contrast with the subtlety of the rest of the album, it comes off as a bit obvious. The clear climax of “Isotel” is far more successful. The juxtaposition sells the transition and right as this new section of the song hooks the listener with a wonderful melting guitar tone, the whole album stops rather abruptly; kinda like this review. -Taylor Browne

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, October 12 – 14

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Tonight’s show at Johnny Brenda’s is a triptych of scuzzy psych-punk, presented by three local luminaries in the field. Heavy Medical‘s high-strung, buzzing guitar attacks come at you through a wall of agitated, hammering drums, corralling their aggression into short, brutal songs. Bleeding Rainbow are easier on the sensibilities with their luscious harmonies, yet they bring the noise with their biting guitars. Far-Out Fangtooth round out the night, blending dour vocals with tribal drum crashes for an almost monastic sound, if only monks had access to effects pedals. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Connie Ward) – Alyssa Greenberg
 
More fall entertainment this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Prowler EP Release Show w/Sunny Ali & The Kid, Busses
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Downstairs) The Bailey Hounds, (Upstairs) Bandname, Univox, SAT (Early) Frank Cervantes, Yakibato Get Down Party, The Donuts (Late) Mohican, Window Liquor, Moral Crayfish
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Mean Streets, SAT Cousin Brian, SUN Ex Friends
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Mat Burke, Behind The Grandstand, When Ships Collide, SAT Gatherings, SUN One Win Choice, The Greek Favourites, Good Graces
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) FRI Cheap Dinosaurs, Tom Guycot, Joint Chief of Math, SAT 8static 4-Year Anniversary w/An0va
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Mohican, SAT Adrien Reju, Zach Djanikian
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) SAT American Babies, SUN Rone, Voss
 
Ortlieb’s (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Blayer Pointdujour & the Rockers Galore, Shawn Kilroy, SUN Julie Charnet & Her Quartet
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Wizard Eye, Dark Waters End, Prosper or Perish, SUN Jess Kelly
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SAT Starchild and the Dust
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Loose Lipz, SAT Pulling Punches
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI (Early) John Train, (Late) Dave Steel Blues Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT The Plants
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Blackroot, Lost In Company, SAT Sierra Hurtt, SAT Alustrium, The Great Party, The Mighty O.V., Man Like Machine, Once They Were, Transitshop, Prosper or Perish, SUN Anessa Larae,
 
Milkboy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Bedroom Problems, Catnaps, SAT Modern Colour, The Jackson Rider, SUN The Grand Nationals
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Jackie Paper
 
Starlight Ballroom (460 N. 9th St.) FRI MyParasites
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Old Soul, Joe Duffy’s Underwater Window Garden, Railroad Fever, Griz, Soldier On, SAT Montoj, Chronicles of Sound, The Real Feel
 
Bloktoberfest (South St. between 18th & Broad Sts.) SAT Grandchildren, West Philadelphia Orchestra, Toy Soldiers, Modern Inventors, Ali Wadsworth, and More
 
Bartram’s Garden (54th St. & Lindbergh Ave.) Data Garden’s The Switched-On Garden 002 w/King Britt, Spaceship Aloha, Laura Baird, Allen Crawford, Dino Lionetti, Gretchen Lohse
 
Bailey House (4929 Walton Ave.) FRI Dong Johnson, Spent Flesh, The Charley Few
 
Double Deuce (Please contact one of the acts or the venue.) FRI Lana Avacada
 
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or the venue.) SAT Nona, Crybaby
 
Nashville

Sol Cat Premiere Video for “Fishin’ With John”

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This week Sol Cat premiered their music video for "Fishin’ With John," a three-minute vignette of summertime at every dude house you frequented during your college years. (Cover your eyes for this one, Mom and Dad.) The video was directed by Hayden Mason and the song will be featured on the band’s upcoming 2013 release, but you can grab a free download of "Fishin’ With John" now over at Bandcamp.

New England

Homegrown 4: Boston Hassle Fest — Nov. 2 & 3

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Boston Hassle, B.O.W. Shows, and the Boston Counter Cultural Compass  present Homegrown 4: Boston Hassle Fest bringing together over 40 Boston area favorites and nationally touring underground and experimental bands for a two day music festival collectively representing a wide swath of new music.

The Homegrown: Boston Hassle Fest has been bringing together the vast underground music scene of the United States (with an eye especially trained on the Northeast), with its numerous diverse bands and their respective fans and listeners for four years. Jamaica Plain, The Fenway, Somerville/Medford, and the South End have served as past settings.

The organizers have started a Kickstarter page to help raise funds for the 2012 festival. Click here to donate and support local music. Keep the scene thriving!

Homegrown 4: Boston Hassle Fest
The Cambridge Elks Lodge,
55 Bishop Allen Drive
Central Square
Cambridge, MA
Friday November 2nd Doors 5pm, 18+ $15
Saturday November 3rd Doors 4pm, 18+, $15

–The Deli Staff

 

Philadelphia

Cheap Dinosaurs Take on Goblin at PhilaMOCA Oct. 12

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With Halloween around the corner, it’s not surprising that artists are already getting into the spirit of things. Well, tonight for one night only at PhilaMOCA, Cheap Dinosaurs, led by Dino Lionetti with his all-star cast of local chiptune enthusiasts, will be taking on the songs of Goblin. No, not the album by Odd Future’s Tyler, The Creator – I’m talking about Italian prog-rockers Goblin. Get ready for expansive jams of their songs in ways that you may have never thought about before. They’ll also be joined on the bill by the intergalactic ambient sounds of Tom Guycot and experimental rockers The Joint Chiefs of Math. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $7 – $10 donation, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 
Philadelphia

Escape From the Chill w/The Bailey Hounds at KFN Oct. 12

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Now that fall appears to have taken the reins, and an ever-present chill fills the air. The Bailey Hounds, playing Kung Fu Necktie tonight, fit naturally with the bonfire and bourbon scheme. Employing a casually haunting Americana sound that dabbles in rustic blues and folk accented by warming harmonica and guitar that’s rings in a penetrating echo rustling the spirits inviting them to join in, the group leads you deep into the thick of it. The music is the fire that we’ll all gather around. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by Jim Vasquez) – Michael Colavita

NYC

FIDLAR releases new track off debut LP + plays The Echo 10.26 w/ The Shrine

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Hell yeah! – after a couple years on the LA punk scene, garnering a crowd of followers abroad for being one of those oh-so-satisfactory bands that’ll sing (=bark) all the stories you want to hear, silly girls, junk food, drugs, beer, more drugs, piss-drunk antics and more straight-up sillies, FIDLAR will be releasing on January 22nd a first self-titled LP, via Mom&Pop records. Anyone unaware of the band could honestly  just read through their song titles and gather what the deal is, i.e some fun-loving r&r, the kind that exists solely to soundtrack reckless exploits, rabid moshpits and messy house parties, not even half pretending to be anything BUT unserious. To preview the album, they debuted a couple of days ago ‘White On White’, second single off FIDLAR, skuzzed-out treat that’ll be joined on the record by tracks like ‘Blackout Stout’, ‘Wake Bake Skate’, as well as ‘Cheap Beer’ (I DRINK CHEAP BEER SO WHAT FUCK YOU, that one, yes), which they released just over a month ago. A lot to look forward to. And if that’s not enough, FIDLAR’s now off on tour and will be playing The Echo with The Shrine on October 26th! 

NYC

Alex’s Hand Release Debut EP, Playing Show at The Morgue

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Photo Source: Alex’s Hand

Alex’s Hand are going to be performing at The Morgue, a DIY venue in Georgetown, on Oct. 27th with Zander Yates and Fang Chia.

Their self-released debut effort Madame Psychosis features the trio (now a foursome) grappling with a wild spread of musical flavors. The album name itself invites interpretations of conflicting sounds and desires; a veil of manners covering a unpredictable body beneath. Or perhaps the title is simply a fun play with words.

"Stalker" opens with possibly the most delicate passage of the entire EP. A softly strummed guitar, haunting piano chords, occasional ticks of sticks, a chime or two – and then wammo – a poignant pop song lurches forward that would not be out place in a circle of 1980’s post-punk ballads. The guitar solo near the close foreshadows harsher reveries to come, while it bizzarely ends with a Captain Beefheart-esque collapse.

The second track "Laura" erupts with a metal-tinged reverberation, peeling into drum rolls and odd UFO noises. Its three-part structure is exceedingly catchy and becomes hopeless to erase from one’s brain. Equally unsettling and groovy, this is prime evidence for Alex’s Hand’s penchant for avant-pop experimentation. Bonus points for writing a song that pertains to David Lynch’s classic series Twin Peaks.

"Reception," features Kellen Mills’ most convincing vocal performance. Arguably the best all-around written song on the EP, it offers something of value for most listeners’ predilections: big sweeping guitar melodies, gentle whispers of piano, loud emphatic drums, and otherwordly, baritone vocals.

At last, the closer "Robot," a two and a half minute spill of crunchy mania. The song is effortless in its raw energy and gives the impression of being played off-the-cuff in one take. For fans of bass so fat you can sink your teeth into and ’80s and ’90’s noise rock a la The Jesus Lizard and Big Black. And oh my, the feedback into guitar solo in the last minute: part metal, part progressive rock, part space groove.

Alex’s Hand are playing live at The Morgue in Georgetown on Saturday, October 27th. Catch them there with doors at 8:30pm and music beginning at 9pm. Listen to "Laura" below and visit their bandcamp to stream all of Madame Psychosis. It is available through the webpage or in person at Easy Street Records and Sonic Boom.

– Cameron LaFlam

NYC

Album review: Stiff Middle Fingers – Enemies with Benefits (EP)

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Maybe it’s the economy. Maybe it’s the layoffs I recently witnessed. But Stiff Middle Fingers‘ Enemies with Benefits EP resonates. The guys in the Lawrence-based band live up to their name. It’s a big "screw you," but you can’t be mad because the band provides a good set.
Stiff Middle Fingers brings a nice combination of howling vocals, raging guitar, pulsating bass and pounding drums brought to you by Travis Arvey (vocals), Cameron Joel Hawk (guitar/some vocals), Barry Swenson (bass), and JP “Heeps” Redmon (drums). These local band stalwarts already have street cred; this is just another avenue to display their talents.
The opening song “Common Cents” is especially strong. You can’t help but feel the band’s fury at the concept of becoming a slave to money and the value society puts on it. “The only change I’ve ever found is when I see a penny on the fucking ground. Now that I’m old, I don’t waste my time picking that shit up unless it’s a dime,” Avery screams and laments while Hawk, Swenson, and Redmon concur in agreement through their instruments of choice.
Songs on the EP are short, but memorable as if to say: “We’re here to party our asses off and then leave just to make you wonder what the fuck just happened?!” The instrumental riff on “Love Song” is especially catchy. The song starts with a nice drum intro but doesn’t leave you waiting like that guy you met at the dive bar who swears you’re hilarious and will call you. It provides instant gratification. It’s short like most bar relationships. But it just lets you know it’s over by quietly fading out.
And if you’re looking for rage, listen to “World’s Biggest Guillotine.” It really can’t be missed. This song is what you should listen to after a bad day unless you are overly prone to suggestion. If that’s the case, you should probably listen to Yanni or Kenny G because you’re weak.
Overall, Stiff Middle Fingers give a stout recording debut. I recommend listening to this on speakers (not your laptop). Also, don’t listen alone. Invite people over, put plastic on the floor and then start full body thrashing, dancing and hip checking while drinking. I am certain this will greatly enhance your listening enjoyment.
If you’re interested in an inexpensive all-out punk show, Stiff Middle Fingers will be performing with Mr. and the Mrs. and 69 Noses at Replay this Saturday at 9:00 pm. Facebook event page 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.

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