Philadelphia

Recap and Photos: Nightlands (Feat. Jeff Zeigler) & Mikele Edwards at PhilaMOCA

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I just have to gush about what a wonderful experience it was to see/hear Nightlands (a.k.a. Dave Hartley) and Arc in Round’s Jeff Zeigler performing a live original score to 2001: A Space Oddyssey at PhilaMOCA, which was curated by BITBY. I hadn’t viewed the film since I was a little child so I really didn’t remember much about it, and it felt like I was seeing the epic masterpiece for the first time. The cinematography was breath-taking, and the fact that the movie came out over a year before we landed on the moon is absolutely mind-blowing and a magnificent example of the true genius of Stanley Kubrick. Hartely and Zeigler also did a beautifully seamlessly job at composing their material with the film. And since I sat on a couch and really didn’t have a view of them playing their instruments, it was often difficult for me to tell when the music was coming from the duo or the movie, which is also a credit to their masterful hard work. After the performance, I chatted with Dave for a moment. I learned that he only had five full days to orchestrate everything with Jeff since he was on tour with The War on Drugs so the two locked themselves away repeatedly watching 2001. However, Hartley is so familiar with the movie that he did piece together ideas while he was on tour. The final result was one trippy-ass, Pink Floyd-esque evening where I really wished that I had dropped some acid, but there are plans to do the performance again in NYC so I might still have my chance. (Anyone out there have a connect? :o) There was also a fine opening performance by Jeff’s Arc in Round bandmate Mikele Edwards, who was joined by Pink Skull’s Julian Grefe (a.k.a. S PRCSS). You can take a look at our pretty photos from the evening that play with the shadows and lights HERE.
 
NYC

From the Open Blog: Stone Cold Fox plays Bowery Electric on 12.07

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WHAT: Stone Cold Fox with These Animals, Alex Vans and At The Moment! WHERE: Bowery Electric WHEN: December 7 at 6:30pm It’s an undeniable feat to be the voice of a generation that straddles the line between youth and adulthood, struggling with loneliness, anonymity, and finding a place in the world. But Brooklyn’s Stone Cold Fox does just that. “Infectious and poetic indie-pop at its best,” (Popstache) Stone Cold Fox’s debut EP, The Young, perfectly marries Kevin Olken’s gritty vocals with Ariel Loh’s upbeat synthesizer grooves. – (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.

 

NYC

Future Screens’ (even) poppier Chill Wave – live at Cameo on 01.04

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Anyone looking for the next Passion Pit needs look no further than Brooklyn’s next potentially big chill-wave export, Future Screens. Like most quality bands, it appears that also this one was built with hooking up purposes in mind: if their song ‘All My Daydreams’ (streaming below) doesn’t convince her (or him or whatever you’re into) to stick around the bar a little longer, nothing will. Singer Rob Arbelo has taken the normally distant chill-wave vibe, and infused it with a sympathetic heart usually reserved for old Motown soul grooves. It’s an intoxicating (and dizzying) wave of sonic keyboard blasts that should help get you ready to finally start dancing when you’ll see the band live on January 4th at Cameo Gallery. – Mike Levine

This band submitted their music for review here

Philadelphia

Free Download: “Live at Dinosaur Jr.’s 25th Anniversary Show” – Kurt Vile and the Violators (Feat. Purling Hiss’ Mike Polizze & Mike Sneeringer)

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Kurt Vile and the Violators opened at Dinosaur Jr.’s 25th Anniversary Show this past Saturday, December 1 at Terminal 5, which was posted by NYC Taper today and is available for free download HERE. Joining Vile and the band for a seven-song set were Purling Hiss’ Mike Polizze and Mike Sneeringer (subbing for Mike Zanghi on drums). You can also check out “Jesus Fever” and the set list/track list from the show below. (Photo by Dean Keim)

Kurt Vile and the Violators’ Set/Track Listing:
01 Hunchback

02 Monkey

03 Jesus Fever

04 On Tour

05 Ghost Town

06 Freeway

07 [banter]

08 Smoke Ring for My Halo

NYC

Boston garage-folk band on the rise: BANDITAS

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BANDITAS performed at the Boston Music Awards as one of the “Americana Artist of the Year” nominee on December 2nd, joined by Margaret Garrett of Mr. Airplane Man. Their album "Save the Rats," released in September 2012, features garagey, slightly sick folk-punk female vocals that fans of everything from Patsy Cline to Dum Dum Girls will find appealing. A full band backing the crooning duo rounds out the 9-track album that was recorded and mixed on cassette. If that doesn’t have the analog nerd in you running to purchase this band’s record – just wait. Your 12 hard-earned dollars doesn’t just get you an immediate download; you’ll also get the vinyl. Don’t take my word for it: you can preview the whole album at BANDITAS bandcamp. – Hillary Anderson

Philadelphia

Dangerous Ponies Opening for Reptar & Rubblebucket at The Blockley Dec. 6

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Dangerous Ponies have been hiding out in the studio for the past few months working on new material for their upcoming third release only really emerging for big shows. (BTW: Expect to hear the group veering off in a different direction with the next album. I hear that some of the songs that they are currently fleshing out are leaning towards the psychedelic and surf rock genres, but I’m sure that they’ll still contain the band’s usual good time vibes.) Well, tonight Dangerous Ponies will be opening for the “Rubbletar Tour” at The Blockley so you know the showcase with buzzing outfits Reptar and Rubblebucket this evening is one that you’ll want to attend. Though it’s starting to get cold again, there will be plenty of warm bodies dancing off the chill at the University City music venue so come join them. The Blockley, 3801 Chestnut St., $8:30, $15, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman 

NYC

New Brooklyn based electronica: Pearl Necklace

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The fusion of chillwave rhythms and industrial clatter allows Pearl Necklace’s new single “Do You Feel It?” to percolate like something out of an aluminum factory. (That is a recommendation.) The duo (Brooklyn residents Bryce Hackford and Frank Lyon) found a champion in Arp mastermind Alexis Georgopoulos, who not only contributed to several cuts from the band’s debut album, "Soft Opening," but also helped get Pearl Necklace signed to Smalltown Supersound out of Norway. MGMT’s Andrew Van Wyngarden also contributes organ to the proceedings, promising the LP more than a passing glance from the larger electro diaspora. Just don’t expect party-rock from these mood mixers. The term “welding” comes to mind.--Brian Chidester

Philadelphia

True Gold Opening for Psychic Teens at KFN Dec. 6

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South Philly shoegaze-y psych rockers True Gold will be performing tonight in the upstairs at Kung Fu Necktie’s own little DIY-esque lounge. It might be the band’s last show for a while. (Hopefully it’s because they’ll be working on recording and releasing a proper album.) True Gold will be opening for Psychic Teens, who have certainly been in high demand lately and active performing out so I’m expecting the trio to be keeping things tight, and of course, rockin’ the dark, horror vibes. Also on the bill is Bloomington, Indiana’s Kam Kama and fellow locals Combine. Kung Fu Necktie (Upstairs), 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Alexis V.

Chicago

Lore City

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Lore City is Laura Mariposa & Eric Bessel, a duo that formed in Brooklyn in 2011, but have relocated to Chicago. They played a haunting brand of psych rock and released a full-length album, Absence & Time, back in September. Lore City is methodical, but still gorgeous and sharp.

You can catch Lore City at Subt on Dec. 6th and at Abbey Pub on Dec 9th.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Sitgreaves Pass” – Birdie Busch

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After a successful crowdfunding campaign via Pledge Music, Birdie Busch is back with a new LP titled Birdie Busch and the Greatest Night, which officially drops January 8, 2013 and is currently available for streaming HERE. Below is a standout track from the album called “Sitgreaves Pass.” She’ll be performing tonight at PhilaMOCA with Heyward Howkins and Casey Neill, and you are encouraged to BYOILFS (bring your own infused liquor for sippin’) – seriously. 

San Francisco

Fever Charm’s Upcoming Album and Release Show

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I was just chatting with a friend about how, once in a while, we’ll come across those people whose futures we’d want to invest in. I think it’s just a matter of time before the teens in Oakland’s Fever Charm wind up on the charts, and it’d really rev my hipster sensibilities to say, “I knew them when.” 

Fever Charm’s infectious music is a collage of early 60’s rock ‘n’ roll, pop punk, and modern alt rock. If you’re not bopping your head within the first 30 seconds of any song, you’re almost certainly the Grinch.
 
Stream their newest single, “Recognize Me,” off upcoming full-length, West Coast Rock And Roll, for a sock hop swooner, or listen to their last EP, Sail Away, for nostalgic high school goodbyes and youthful ambivalence. I am convinced that “I Won’t Sleep Tonight” could overtake mainstream airwaves as the next big rock anthem.
 
Fever Charm drops their new album and performs at Bottom of the Hill on January 5th. They will share the stage with Rin Tin Tiger, Everyone Is Dirty, and False Priest, who are releasing their own album, Uncanny Valley, that night. 
 
Read our interview with Fever Charm, and definitely make sure to check out the description of their best live show.