The self-released debut EP from revival rock disciples Irontom has a slated release date of February 5th, and prior to that they’ll be performing on February 1st at O’briens Pub in Santa Monica. In the meantime, delight yourself with the scorching, yet soothing crunchy riffage of "Mind My Halo".
Chicago
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Angel Olsen “Sweet Dreams”
We posted the new video from Angel Olsen, "Tiniest Seed", earlier this month and now here is "Sweet Dreams". Olsen’s new 7" drops on Feb 8th via Sixteen Tambourines.
You can catch Angel Olsen at The Hideout on Feb 8th.
NYC
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The Deli’s Emerging Kansas City Artist of 2012: #2 – Making Movies
Making Movies has figured out how to create a musical formula to success, combining popular musical genres and constructing a sultry but rhythmic and cohesive catalog. With a focused musical direction and a distinct flair about them, the band’s style marries Afro-Cuban and other Latin-influenced music to indie rock. Making Movies has made itself known around the country with an energetic, engaging live show that’s captured the attention of multi-genre listeners. The four-piece has opened for artists such as Delta Spirit, Fun, Neon Indian, and Los Lobos. Its latest LP, A La Deriva, was recorded by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos fame. (The Record Machine)
Making Movies is:
Enrique Chi – vocals, guitar
Diego Chi – bass
Juan-Carlos Chaurand – percussion, keys
Brendan Culp – drums
Making Movies’ next KC performance will be at The Riot Room on Saturday, March 2. Javier Mendoza and Shy Boys will be opening for the group. Mark your calendars now.
L.A.
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BETS “Rooftop Lover”
If you look towards the Pacific every evening, the LA skyline is usually painted with a gorgeous golden sunset. It’s easy to miss in the rustle-and-bustle of everyday life, but it’s a pleasure when a singer-songwriter like BETS comes along to vividly remind you of nature’s mysterious gifts. "Rooftop Lover" isn’t a song about contemplating this notion. Far from it – the image it evokes is one that comes naturally when we associate being in places that expand our viewpoint for at least a second. Composed of a weeping ukulele arrangement, the lackadaisical tune calmly strums over a gently pulsing keyboard that details a vast ocean. Her vocals are unerringly sweet, a brittle tonality that’s honey-dripped with frolicsome ennui; the thought of Nina Persson came to mind while entranced in her little dinky story about a girl who wonders about the whereabouts of her object of affection. BETS’ debut EP, just released via iTunes, should make the perfect companion while taking the scenic route through Pacific Coast Highway. And if nothing else, at lease it’ll make you curious to go up your own rooftop for once and let your thoughts run free.
NYC
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The Deli’s Emerging Kansas City Artist of 2012: #3 – Schwervon!
(Photo by Lippe)
There has been a wellspring—some might say an oversaturation—of male/female duos popping up around the US in the past few years. They come in a variety of genres, but often the end result is the same: the music lacks a full quality, or one of the performers is exceedingly more talented than the other, causing the music to fall flat after a few songs. Fortunately, the charismatic duo Schwervon! avoids the pitfalls that many others make. Matt Roth and Nan Turner established themselves in the NYC scene, playing with groups like The Vaselines and Belle and Sebastian, and touring around the US and Europe. The two moved to Kansas City last spring, and have been embraced by the local music community, especially with their release of their latest LP Courage (see our review here) in September. Schwervon!’s knack for hook-laden ‘90s pop melodies with a lo-fi garage punk/indie rock edge, combined with a natural chemistry and an appropriate tinge of sweetness, has quickly made them a fan favorite. (Olive Juice Music)
(Photos by Todd Zimmer)
Schwervon!’s next performance will be at recordBar on Wednesday, February 20 with Cher UK and a special guest. Facebook event here. Schwervon! was also one of over 40 KC artists selected to play the 2013 MidCoast Takeover showcase at SXSW from March 13-16 at Shangri-La in Austin, Texas.
Schwervon! is:
Matt Roth – vocals, guitar
Nan Turner – vocals, drums
–Michelle Bacon
L.A.
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Interview: Criminal Hygiene
I caught up with garage rock darlings, Criminal Hygiene, after their record release show at the Satellite. Being touted as LA’s answer to Ty Segall, the debut LP, CRMNL HYGNE satisfies with it’s beer-soaked songs about heartache, and well, drinking beer. While the trio, made up of James Watson (bass, vocals), Michael Fiore (guitar, vocals), and Sean Erickson (drums), may keep their songs short and sweet, their answers to my burning questions were anything but. Stream the entire LP on bandcamp while you read, as the guys open up about their raucous live shows, and needing a helicopter. Continue to Full Interview.
San Francisco
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Noise Pop Preview: Ramona Falls, Social Studies, Mahgeetah, and Harriet Play Brick & Mortar February 21
On February 26, Noise Pop returns for its 21st year to bring us independent music, film, and art. There’ll be some incredible emerging—and not so emerging—musicians playing this year, but there’s only room for one preview per blog entry. Here’s the first:
Ramona Falls, Social Studies, Mahgeetah, and LA’s Harriet rock the festival on February 27 at Brick & Mortar. The lineup is a smart gradient from Mahgeetah and Harriet’s rootsy, Wilco-esqe airs, through Social Studies’ pared-down dark pop, to Ramona Falls’ heavily-layered experimental pop.
Doors open at 7:00, and tickets are $12 in advance/$14 at the door. While you tap your foot impatiently, take a look at this interview with Mahgeetah.
Philadelphia
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Album Review: Love Sign – Free Energy
With their sophomore full-length release Love Sign, Free Energy reinforces their steadfast appetite to produce retro-oriented pop rock. However, some changes were made this time around. John Angello (Kurt Vile, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, etc.) took over the producing duties, previously held by LCD Sound System’s James Murphy. The group is also no longer with DFA Records, and has gone on to self-release the album.
From the jump, “Electric Fever” dips into the nostalgia with a slick doubled-up guitar front, and then just in case you missed the memo, the infamous cowbell makes a not so stealth entrance into the party. The following track “Girls Want Rock” has that anthem-in-the-making feel signified by its initial use of handclaps which provides an influential nod to pop-rock champions The Cars, and is realized by the chorus, “Wild life, it’s alright /all around the world tonight.”
Free Energy doesn’t try to mask their musical intentions. Song after song has that “school’s out, let’s celebrate” aesthetic appeal. The drums and bass are used in that manner building suspense and anticipation, and are culminated by an aggressive yet subliminally premeditated guitar solo.
While the album does show on a slower side with a song like “True Love,” Love Sign doesn’t deviate that far from the script. At their best, Free Energy are producing sleek party-inspired rock harnessing simple user-friendly songs that are ideally used as the soundtrack to a host of fun activities. At it’s worst, the record sounds like the nondescript background music in a Brat Pack film.
This music may not be deep from a lyrical point of view dabbling in the area that detractors call “cheese,” but it delivers in its ability to lighten the air in a room. Love Sign isn’t a cerebral album. It doesn’t break the pop-rock mold, but the band never promised that from the get-go. Love Sign is nicely packaged as a feel-good party record complete with choruses begging for crowds to sing in unison. With its catchy hooks and upbeat mentality, the album may be one of this year’s guilty pleasures. – Michael Colavita
NYC
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Brooklyn Experimental Folk: Adios Ghost
With instruments such as banjos, mandolins, and twangy acoustic guitars it’s surprising that Adios Ghost isn’t more of a new grass band. Instead this Brooklyn quartet goes the rout of experimental indie folk, including varied percussion, hollow harmonies, and echo-like vocals. Some tracks start with a mellow, classic sound before breaking down on a unique beat like "October Snow" or an electric frenzy like "Fernseher." This music is the rebellious teenager of Bluegrass and Folk, throwing away old traditions and embracing the Brooklyn indie scene. Their latest self-titled EP is available here. – Lucy Sherman
NYC
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Best of KC for Emerging Artists Final Results: Radkey wins hands down!
Deli Readers,
We are proud to announce that The Deli’s Best Emerging Kansas City Artist of 2012 is Radkey! The three-piece punk wonder brothers have swept the competition, with a landslide of votes from our local music jurors. Taking second place is the sultry, syncopated group Making Movies, followed closely by recent NYC-to-KC garage pop duo Schwervon!.
Take a look at our chart of 48 Kansas City area bands below. The highest value of votes came from our jurors, who included individuals involved in local music. This includes promoters, venue owners, press, record storeowners, and other music experts. The remainder of votes was compiled by The Deli KC contributors, readers, and open submissions voted on by national Deli editors. Congrats to everyone who made the list!
|
|
ARTIST
|
J
|
W
|
R
|
OS
|
TOT
|
|
|
1
|
Radkey |
36
|
3
|
0.028
|
1
|
40.028
|
 |
|
2
|
Making Movies |
10
|
|
0.052
|
1
|
11.052
|
|
|
3
|
Schwervon! |
7
|
3
|
0.029
|
1
|
11.029
|
|
|
4
|
Antennas Up |
8
|
2
|
0.007
|
|
10.007
|
|
|
5
|
Dream Wolf |
6
|
1
|
0.119
|
1
|
8.119
|
|
|
6
|
The Quivers |
2
|
3
|
0.057
|
1
|
6.057
|
|
|
7
|
Molly Picture Club |
5
|
|
0.046
|
1
|
6.046
|
|
|
8
|
Shy Boys |
6
|
|
0.004
|
|
6.004
|
|
|
9
|
Dollar Fox |
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
|
|
10
|
She’s A Keeper |
4
|
1
|
0.12
|
|
5.12
|
|
|
11
|
The Conquerors |
4
|
|
0.041
|
|
4.041
|
|
|
12
|
The Empty Spaces |
2
|
1
|
0.011
|
1
|
4.011
|
|
|
13
|
Expo 70 |
4
|
|
0.005
|
|
4.005
|
|
|
14
|
Gentleman Savage |
1
|
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
4
|
|
|
15
|
Cadillac Flambe |
3
|
|
0.5
|
|
3.5
|
|
|
16
|
Clairaudients |
3
|
|
0.141
|
|
3.141
|
|
|
17
|
Attic Wolves |
2
|
|
0.086
|
1
|
3.086
|
|
|
18
|
Conflicts |
3
|
|
0.076
|
|
3.076
|
|
|
19
|
Not A Planet |
3
|
|
0.055
|
|
3.055
|
|
|
20
|
The Sibyl |
3
|
|
0.046
|
|
3.046
|
|
|
21
|
Man Bear |
|
|
0.015
|
3
|
3.015
|
|
|
22
|
The Bad Ideas |
3
|
|
0.008
|
|
3.008
|
|
|
|
The Caves |
3
|
|
0.008
|
|
3.008
|
|
|
24
|
Akkilles |
3
|
|
0.005
|
|
3.005
|
|
|
25
|
Beautiful Bodies |
3
|
|
0.001
|
|
3.001
|
|
|
26
|
We Are Voices |
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
|
27
|
Bears and Company |
1
|
1
|
0.5
|
|
2.5
|
|
|
|
Me Like Bees |
2
|
|
0.16
|
|
2.16
|
|
|
29
|
In Back of a Black Car |
2
|
|
0.058
|
|
2.058
|
|
|
30
|
Philadelphia
New Moon Bounce EP Available for Streaming
Check out below the glitchtastic new EP Wheelhouse, the follow-up to Darn Your Best Frock, from Moon Bounce! The latest release from Corey Regensburg is available via Chill Mega Chill Records.
NYC
Artists on Trial: Maps for Travelers(Photo by Todd Zimmer) For the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring artists playing the MidCoast Takeover fundraiser shows, sponsored by Midwest Music Foundation.
Maps for Travelers is a collective of four veteran Kansas City musicians who have toured around the country with a heavy indie rock sound. The band has shared the stage with national acts like Fucked Up, The Jealous Sound, Just Like Vinyl, and others. We find out a little about the band’s upcoming debut LP and its influences.
The Deli: Down and dirty: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?
Maps for Travelers: Four guys paying homage to the most crushing alternative post-rock bands of the ‘90s while putting our own story and sonic point of view on it, with trumpet somehow in there too.
The Deli: Let’s talk about your much anticipated upcoming LP Broken Antlers. What can we expect?
Maps: This record has collectively been one of the most stressful records of all of our musical careers. We have fought for every note, every idea, every beat, and every lyric to be a true picture of who we are and what’s to come. From dynamic chaos to chilling, vibed-out soundscapes, we feel like we are covering it all. Most people that have listened to it say that we have cut out all the fat and focused all the sounds into a powerful work of music. We hope many will agree. This record is made to see live; we put all of these songs through the ringer of playing live and really tuned into being honest with ourselves about how the energy of every moment felt to all of us on stage as we are performing. Every song except for an interlude and an outro have undergone that intense scrutiny and, at the end of the day, we just love it and are excited to share it with everyone we can.
The Deli: What other plans and goals do you guys have this year?
Maps: Release this record, tour in support of this record, do some splits with some of our favorite artists. Make a video or two for a couple of these songs. And tour more and start to look at making another record in 2014.
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
Maps: Supporting local music to us means that we go to other bands’ shows even when we aren’t playing. Getting interested in what others are doing and encouraging the community of musicians to strive for their best. Being in a band can feel very competitive at points and we are trying to do the opposite of that; music is subjective. Everyone has a place and we are looking for people that feel the same way we do and are willing to take it to the highest level and create an even more engaged local music scene. That’s our take on it. We want to encourage people in general to support more, and by working together with other local musicians, we can create our own awesome community to launch out from here and come home to.
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
Maps: Right now we are really loving Cowboy Indian Bear, Clairaudients, Bears and Company, The Casket Lottery, Jorge Arana Trio, Radkey, The Dead Girls, Sundiver, The Slowdown, In The Grove, Wise Guy, Regret, The Informer, The Architects, The Calamity Cubes, honestly we could go on for a minute! So many bands just playing so well right now! We are super pumped on being from KC.
The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?
Maps: Title Fight, Caspian, Junius, La Dispute, Native, Local Natives, Now Now, Russian Circles, O Brother, The Life and Times.
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
Maps: Quicksand, Hum, Failure, Thursday, Nine Inch Nails.
The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio?
Maps: The stage, granted we can look like our awesome selves for the rest of our lives! Performing is where it’s at for us, the interaction and the rush you get from playing and really just bouncing all that energy around. There is no substitute for that anywhere!
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?
Maps: This is nearly impossible to cover the pillars for us, so many and for so many different reasons. We will just pick the closest to our generation that really have pushed on us to strive for nothing less than everything we have.
Jeff Rickley (Thursday): He started a movement that changed our whole decade of music for us.
Walter Schreifels (Quicksand): We wouldn’t be doing what we are doing without him laying the foundation for our style of music.
Allen Epley (Shiner, The Life and Times): Just an amazing songwriter and someone from here that has shown the way for a lot of us Kansas City musicians.
Darryl Palumbo (Glassjaw): Just collectively, Maps For Travelers has come together so much over his band’s music and the way he put it all out there and commanded such an incredible band. We constantly are referencing Glassjaw tracks when writing music together.
The Deli: All right, give us the rundown. Where all on this big crazy web can you be found? The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience? Maps: Tell someone you love them today, hug a friend, and dont be scared to get in the pit and always help the fallen get up.
Maps for Travelers is:
Zach Brotherton – vocals, guitar
RL Brooks – vocals, guitar, trumpet
Kevin Medina – bass
Derek White – drums
You can see Maps for Travelers this Saturday, February 2, where they will be playing the second MidCoast Takeover fundraiser at Riot Room. The group will be playing at 11:15, along with Various Blonde, Drop A Grand, and Six Percent. Tickets available here.
–Michelle Bacon
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