Beach Party make soulful, gritty 60‘s garage rock that is so appealing to the pop sensibilities that it would make Joe Meek proud. In between the abrasive gang vocal shouts of “C’mon, C’mon, let’s have some fun!” are the catchy guitar riffs that keep you coming back for more. It’s their ability to embrace the energy and excitement of old school surf/garage rock, while still managing to keep their sound fresh and firmly grounded in the present that proves this band is one to watch. If you’re jonesing for some modern references, they are at times touching on The Killers territory, and at others The Strokes. But make no mistake, these guys are carving out their our piece of the lo-fi landscape. Beach Party have been forecasted by the tastemakers at Origami Vinyl and The Echo as one of the breakout bands of 2013. They will be joining a handful of excellent, local bands on January 4th to showcase the best of the best. If you can’t wait til the new year, see them live this Friday, December 14 at The Satellite in support of seminal crowd-pleasers, Vanaprasta. – Jacqueline Caruso
Philadelphia
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Purling Hiss Announce Details About New Album
Purling Hiss just announced that their new album titled Water On Mars will be released on March 19, 2013 via Drag City. Since the Hiss’ first three albums and EP were constructed at Mike Polizze’s "inner rock utopia," this record will mark the first studio offering with bandmates Kiel Everett and Mike Sneeringer. Water On Mars was produced by Jeff Zeigler (Uniform Recordings) and Adam Granduciel (The War on Drugs). You can check out the album’s track listing below.
Water On Mars Track Listing:
1. Lolita
2. Mercury Retrograde
3. Rat Race
4. Dead Again
5. She Calms Me Down
6. Face Down
7. The Harrowing Wind
8. Water on Mars
9. Mary Bumble Bee
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Sun Over Old Rag” – Daniel Bachman
Here’s an impressive melding of drone and fingerpicking from Daniel Bachman called "Sun Over Old Rag," which was shared with us earlier today via Ad Hoc. It’s from his album Seven Pines (Tompkins Square). Though Bachman just moved away from Philly, his music is still resonating from the time that he spent as a local native.
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “Dine With The Gods” – Shark Tape
Check out the new music video from Shark Tape for their latest single "Dine With The Gods." The trio will be performing next in Philly on December 28 at Johnny Brenda’s.
NYC
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Video premiere: Johanna & the Dusty Floor – live at Matchless on 12.13 (tonight)
Johanna Cranitch doesn’t sacrifice vulnerability for power. Crashing in to a party usually consisting of tumbling drum fills and keyboards that scream out sine waves at every turn, Johanna stands tall. For her new video ‘Lover’s Dream’ (streaming below), she does all this while covered in daubs of running paint. With band in tow, Johanna and the Dusty Floor cleans house in a song sure to haunt your dreams well after Johanna’s gaze leaves your browser window. Check out the new video below, and see her when she plays tonight, Thursday, Dec 13, at Bar Matchless at 8pm.- Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
NYC
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San Fermin announces album release + plays Pianos on 12.19 with Lucius vocalists as guests
It’s always interesting to see what great backing musicians and songwriters are able to do once they’ve decided to take the reins to their own project in hand, and start baking their own jams. 23 year old Yale composition graduate Ellis Ludwig-Leone couldn’t come better equipped for the adventure. Coming off work for Nico Muhly, through whom he has assisted on arrangements for musicians like Sufjan Stevens, his group San Fermin includes these symphonic influences and more.
Oh.. and he just happens to have enlisted the ladies from Lucius to help out, who if you don’t know yet, may have the strongest voices of anyone in Brooklyn. Leading new single ‘Sonsick,’ off the upcoming self-titled debut, enlists Jess and Holly to take the song through the roof. Make no mistake. This is some big stuff right here. While the song begins simply enough, once the hook comes in, you should be prepared to get carried away. San Fermin’s about as ambitious as I would hope for such a young songwriter, and I’m excited to see them when they play 92YTribeca next month on Jan 19th with Anais Kane. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
This song was added to our SoundCloud playlist of emerging NYC songwriters and roots music bands here.
Philadelphia
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The Interest Group Performing w/Mean Lady at North Star Bar Dec. 13
Ever since making their live performance debut at Kung Fu Necktie in early July, The Interest Group has been tantalizing audiences with their mystical psychedelic haze and siren song of singer Marissa Lesnick. And it took very little time for the likes of Pitchfork to gravitate towards their single “The Boys and the Girls.” The band, which also features current member of Bananas Symphony and former member of Blackhawks Yohsuke Araki, will be the perfect addition to tonight’s lineup at North Star Bar that also features Delaware’s Mean Lady, who are led by the beautiful vocals of Katie Dill and recently released a 7” via Fat Possum, and NYC’s The Last Royals. Rounding out the lineup will be local soulful indie songwriter Geron Hoy. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St, 8pm, $8, 21+ – Bill McThrill
NYC
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Starnes&Shah play Arlene on 12.15
Starnes&Shah are two ladies who hail from diverse backgrounds but come together to create dual harmonies and guitar and keyboard-driven alt-pop. Guitarist Dania Abu-Shaheen, originally from Lebanon and keyboardist Zilpha Starnes, who was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, settled in New York, releasing their third full-length record, “Red Brick Tide” since their formation in 2005. The duo – who can boast slmody 10k Facebook likes – recently released a video for album half-way point, “Lucinda,” which serves as a soundtrack to a variety of individuals enduring suburban life. The two front-women will be performing their last show of 2012 on Saturday, December 15 at Arlene’s Grocery but will be venturing on in the new year with new material and shows to follow. –Meijin Bruttomesso
NYC
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Album review: Erik Voeks – Free Range (EP)
This quick little EP consists of two dreamy folk tunes bookending two indie rock efforts with at least four little piggies in the power pop pool. It’s the good old Neil Young/ Soul Asylum/Paul Westerberg sandwich.
The EP is at its best when the instrumentation is allowed to get a little lush. The moments of Pink Floyd harmonies in the bridge of “There’s a Light” provide a satisfying lift above the song’s otherwise standard folkness. “Hate” and “Ole’” both feature playful, almost spastic at times, arrangements. The straightforward and earnest “Universe Light Years” is a pleasant little piano song to round out the EP.
Lyrically, the songs certainly take you to the deep side of the sink. Erik Voeks is not afraid to confront grand and intangible issues. From estoteric ponderings on time and logic (from “Universe Light Years” – “Infinity can fill you full of phobias and fears /So I understand if you need a god /I understand if you need a drink.”) to the age-old realizing you may have grown into a person you didn’t want to be (From “There’s a Light” – “Do you recognize the face of the asshole /That you swore you’d never be? /Now it’s everything you see /when you look into the mirror. /Are you whole? Or was that your goal?”), Voeks challenges the listener to endure self-reflection. These are the words of thinking-man’s music.
Personally, I think he says it best in the line that produces the EP title. From Ole’ – “You’re gonna die right there /in your easy chair /But you’ll be safe from change /Did you know that you were born free range?”
Voeks is currently celebrating the vinyl release of the Free Range EP with three shows in Spain this week. The album is being released on Spring Records.
–-Zach Hodson
| Zach Hodson is a monster. He once stole a grilled cheese sandwich from a 4-year-old girl at her birthday party. He will only juggle if you pay him. I hear he punched Slimer right in his fat, green face. He knows the secrets to free energy, but refuses to release them until "Saved by the Bell: Fortysomethings" begins production.
He is also in Dolls on Fire and Drew Black & Dirty Electric, as well as contributing to various other Kansas City-based music, comedy, and art projects. |
San Francisco
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Oceanography EP Release at Hemlock Tavern, Dec. 13
Oakland-based Oceanography‘s EP Parachutes of Plenty, was released today on iTunes and Bandcamp. The project of Brian Kelly (Disclosure: Kelly is the East Bay Express’ art director and my colleague), Oceanography combines the depressive folk of Low, the gloom pop of Echo and the Bunnymen, and indie rock — circa early 2000s Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where Kelly used to live.
Catch Oceanography live at its record release show at Hemlock Tavern on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m., with openers Swells and Wilding.
–Whitney Phaneuf
Chicago
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The Kuhls @ Township
Sisters Renee and Grace Kuhl (aka The Kuhls) released the first single from their forthcoming debut full-length album, Holy Rollin’ last week. The track is called "Grimjack" and it is a good example of the way these two combine influences from ’90’s Alt-rock to boozed drenched Country Western. This album with the band’s follow to their 2011 ep.
You can catch The Kuhls at Township on December 15th.
Chicago
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Den “Electric Eyes”
Den released a new three song 7" via Retrograde Tapes last week. The noisy and aggressive trio will be working with the local label BLVD Records in 2013 for perhaps a full-length album. The trio is Ian Piirtola, Ray Keenan, and Adam Harris, who is also the founder of Retrograde Tapes.