Cruiser started off as a solo project from Andy States with a few self-recorded demos, which were birthed from a walk-in closet of an inner city loft, but after catching the attention Jeremy Park, the producer of Youth Lagoon’s brilliant The Year of Hibernation, his self-titled debut was eventually fleshed out. The 6-song EP is simply chock-full of feel good indie pop, and tonight he’ll be bring those songs to the stage of The Fire for the first time with a full band that also includes Josa Lazas (Tutlie, ex-Golden Ages, ex-Strand of Oaks), Jon Van Dine and Kyle Cook. They’ll be joined this evening by the lazy summer beach vibes of Swiss Alps, noisy post-punkers Ghost Ship, and the seductive, introverted pop of Norfolk, VA’s Suburban Living. Come out and help pop Cruiser’s cherry! The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $8, 21+ – H.M Kauffman
NYC
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Lips to release new EP ‘Look, Listen’
The land that gave us Gotye and Kimbra has now unleashed up-and-comer pop crooner Lips. From Auckland, New Zealand to Brooklyn, NY, singer/songwriter Steph Brown knows how to take a slick, sexy groove and work her voice through sometimes failed, and more times unrequited, relationships. Through a candy-coated alto not unlike Imogen Heap or Frou Frou, there’s a superficial cutesiness you’ll get fooled by, until you start really listening closely. New single ‘We Don’t Have Much Time’ sounds fun enough, but there’s an abiding sadness here as Brown deals with an infatuated love doomed to end. But then, these New Zealanders seem to have a way of dancing off any pain. Look for Lips new EP ‘Look, Listen’ available October 25. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
NYC
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The Meaning Of Life plays Fort Useless 10.13
Those of you that have met singer Marta DeLeon already know it doesn’t take long before you feel like you’ve known her for years. For those of you that haven’t met her, this is the feeling you’ll get after checking out her new band The Meaning of Life. A three piece made up from the spirit of Jesus and the Mary Chain, The Cult, and pretty much any band that landed on the soundtrack to ‘Lost in Translation,’ Meaning of Life celebrates the people you meet along your path… and cranks their stories up to a percolated boil. Mixing shimmering gems written by guitarist (and Chilean explorer) Christian Gallardo with Marta’s transcendent soprano (and love of cats), newest single Laura V. (off new EP ‘Play Fuego’) will have you leaping up into the air ready to proclaim the answer to everything… or at least have you leaping up into the air for the hell of it.
See the band when they play with Black Salad and Wojick on October 13, at Fort Useless. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Out There” – The Ghost In You
Here’s a touching new track from The Ghost In You, a.k.a. Billy Polard, called “Out There” off his new album Wet Wood, which was released earlier this week. You can listen to the record in its entirety HERE. Polard’s emotive songwriting follows in the vein of songwriters like Elliott Smith and Jeremy Enigk. BTW: Check out his music video that we have shared with you before for the song “Losing Light” HERE. It was made completely on a Nintendo DSi, and gets us choked up every time we watch it. Really good stuff – enjoy!
Nashville
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Catch the Horror Vacui At the End Tomorrow Night
The Horror Vacui (pronounced "vac-yoo-eee" when you’re requesting to hear their music on your local radio station) are celebrating their first decade as a band. Formed by Kyle Kelly and Ted Fox, the group that refers to their unit as a "four-piece endearing nightmare" began to take shape in 2002 when Fox, a Nashville native, met Kelly, the recent college transplant from Atlanta. But it wasn’t until last year that the band hit its stride as a burgeoning staple in the local rock scene.
The Horror Vacui initially recorded their self-titled, debut album as a four-piece at Villain Place, the recording studio owned and operated by members of the band, a member of Fireworks Over London, and their friend, Stephen D. Jones. But after the departure of their first two additional members, Kelly and Fox commissioned Rico Whitfield to play bass and Jonathan Parrish to sit behind the drum kit. To better represent their refurbished lineup and sound, they hand-selected five personal and fan favorites and re-recorded the songs for their EP, Scissor Crystal Eyes. "The EP is more a focus of what we’re representing now, reflective of the newer members. [The Horror Vacui] was a blank canvas; Ted and I painted it with an extremely creative vision, and with the second go-’round, we kept the creativity, but streamlined the process to convey what we represent live," said Kelly.
An accurate live representation of The Horror Vacui is essential to the list of things that make the band stand out in Nashville. Tracks like "Cold and Frightening" are built to create an explosive sonic experience, complete with a slow build to an auditory fireworks show of harmony and melody at around the four-minute mark. But it seems that wavering from the typical acoustic live show in what continues to be regarded as "the land of unplugged six-strings" does seem to allow a unique opportunity to connect with the continuously-loyal music community. "There is a strong rock showing here– bands and fans– and while it’s a town known for the acoustic/Americana/country, etc. genres, we feel that there are plenty of folks here who will support good music for good music’s sake."
In the vein of supporting "good music for the good music’s sake," you can make sure to find yourself at The End tomorrow night, where The Horror Vacui will share the stage with Fireworks Over London, Walking Man, and The Die Nasties. The show begins at 9 pm. – Brianne Turner
NYC
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Barnaby Bright release “The Longest Day” on October 23
New York transplants Barnaby Bright has a lot to look forward to this month. The Brooklyn-via-Kansas married duo of Nathan and Rebecca Bliss will not only release their second full-length album, “The Longest Day” on October 23, but just a few days prior are set to compete in NPR’s Mountain Stage Songwriting Contest at Lincoln Center on October 20. Their music is traditional folk centered on intense melodies and Rebecca’s mature, regal vocal style. Barnaby Bright, a medieval term for the summer solstice, will celebrate “The Longest Day” release at Joe’s Pub on October 23 after competing against the 11 other regional finalists for the NPR songwriting contest.Check out the brand new video for the song "Old Coats" here. – Devon Antonetti
NYC
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Foxygen co-headlines Deli flagship CMJ show at Pianos on 10.19 + releases preview song from upcoming album.
Of all bands you’ll praise for putting a new spin on the old, Foxygen stands out as the wildest recent answer to our post-everything inferiority complex. Where many have tried to bridge the gap between past and future, these two guys are just dancing in it, carelessly, cooking up from scratch some wicked psychedelic potions to transport today’s twenty-somethings into their romanticised fantasies of a glamorous, hedonistic past. Their album ‘Take The Kids Off Broadway’, released in August via Jagjaguwar, played it just right; it dove head first into baby boomers’ turf, passing Shangri-Las, Stones, Lennon, Velvet, Roxy Music and more, and carved along the way a niche where ‘old’ and ‘new’ are anything BUT mutually exclusive – out of which came this deliciously retro-fitted DIY extravaganza, paying playful tribute to the 60/70s rock&roll circus whilst creating something both unique and fun. Foxygen just released the track streaming below from their upcoming album to be released in January 2013, and will be co-headlining our "Mostly Psych" stage at Pianos during the CMJ festivities with previous Deli cover bands Snowmine and Ava Luna, and also other noteworthy non NYC artists like Hundred Waters and Murals at Pianos on Friday, October 19th. – Full details about The Deli’s CMJ show schedule can be found here. Tickets for the Pianos shows can be purchased here. – Tracy Mamoun
Philadelphia
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FREE FOR ALL w/Spacin’ Arkestra at ICA Oct. 3
One of our serious Deli faves Spacin’ is performing a free show tonight at the Institute of Contemporary Art for their FREE FOR ALL series. However, the usually four-piece made up of Jason Killinger (Birds of Maya), Sean Hamilton (Acid Kicks), Paul Sukeena (ex-Spooks), and Eva Killinger has expanded to a nine-piece referred to as the Spacin’ Arkestra. No word exactly about who else will be joining them, except Light Heat’s Quentin Stoltfus on “noisy guitar,” but given Jason’s ties in the Philly indie music scene and his love for early 70s Grateful Dead, I’m expecting some talented players and extended jams filling the Penn building. Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th St., 6:30pm, Free, All Ages – Q.D. Tran
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Drift Away” – Bleeding Rainbow
Below is a stone-y new track from Bleeding Rainbow called “Drift Away.” As we reported earlier, the release date for their forthcoming album Yeah Right via Kanine Records had been moved from October 9, 2012 to January 29, 2013, but they do plan to release a very limited 7” series of singles leading up to the new release date so watch out for them.
Philadelphia
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Harsh Vibes & True Gold Packing Punches at Silk City Oct. 3
Tonight’s bill at Silk City packs a serious combination of punches. The thick psych fog that Harsh Vibes cast is a perfect medium to showcase the downhill-full-steam-ahead-freight-train mentality to execute its brand of heavy. Stoking the fire as they go, Harsh Vibes melds lava-hot guitars, drums that will bash through whatever obstacle that stands in its way, and a bass that refuses to be left behind, while the synth is the tie that binds the vehicle with the destination. True Gold is a band that is sneaky good. While the innocent vocals may lure you into a false sense of the security, a threat emerges when the balanced fuzz and polished guitar is awoken by percussion that lights the fuse. This band doesn’t have to pose to flaunt its muscle. It shows its strength when the music calls for it. Silk City Diner, 435 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $7, 21+ – Michael Colavita
Philadelphia
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New Video: “White Mane” (Out of Town Films) – Bad Braids
We know many musicians out there who have used a bathroom to record their vocals for albums or demos so it makes perfect sense that Out of Town Films‘ latest installment with local folk act Bad Braids (the moniker of Megan Biscieglia) sounds so pretty. Below is footage of Biscieglia and her friend Mike Bruno on banjo performing a song called “White Mane” in a “Victorian styled, claw-footed bathtub” at Rigby Mansion. (Photo by Colin Kerrigan)
NYC
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Bleek Records releases compilation of (mostly) NYC artists with Natureboy, Cloud Seeding, Eden Sela + more
Lord knows it’s not easy to start a record label these days. But you could start one for worse reasons than as a way to both immortalize your cat and release singles from Natureboy at the same time. This seems to be the logical explanation behind Kevin Serra’s new Bleek Records. Containing an intimate set of heart-on-sleeve artists including Natureboy, Eden Sela (pictured), Cloud Seeding and Heart of Hearts, the label is a home for many of the musical misfits striking a unique path distinct from obvious kinds of representation.
But don’t take my word for it. Check out the label’s new compilation streaming below and download a fantastic set of songs, many of which appear exclusively here. It’s got tracks from Masterface, House of Wolves, my personal fave (for any fan of TV on the Radio) Two Twins, and lots of other stuff your friends probably don’t know about yet. – Mike Levine