New England

New Music from Newport: Castle (the band)

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Despite having a name more readily associated with a genre like metal (or maybe Gregorian chant), RI band Castle (the band) is a blend of folk and alternative rock, with light, peppy drums and songs that often have an accordion as a lead instrument. Their eponymous debut album has great range, with tracks spanning from upbeat and whimsical to somber and serious, and their female vocalist sings with a girlish, unassuming voice that I found charming. Favorites include ‘It’s not Mine’, ‘Numbers’, and ‘Awesome Powerful Brain’. The band plays Precinct in Somerville February 22nd, and you can listen to their album below. – Geoff Noble

Friday 2/1 – Tiverton, RI @ Sandywoods w/ Vudu Sister – RSVP
Saturday 2/2 – Newport, RI @ Billy Goode’s w/ Toy Soldiers – RSVP
Saturday 2/16 – Wilmington, VT @ Apres Vous – FREE
Friday 2/22 – Somerville, MA @ Precinct w/ Banana Phonetic

Philadelphia

In the Indiestry: Shadowscene’s Ellei Johndro

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Renaissance woman Ellei Johndro, a.k.a. Shadowscene, has been tirelessly documenting Philly’s nightlife scene for years now along with the number of other cities that she has temporarily called home. You may have caught her bustin’ a move with a camera in hand ready to capture moments that others may have forgotten. However, the daughter of a biker has no desire to simply pigeonhole herself as a nightlife photographer, though she is damn good at it. We recently caught up with Ellei to find out more about the origin and evolution of Shadowscene as well as her life outside its shadow, which you can check out HERE.

Philadelphia

Chris Forsyth Drawing Sonic Maps at JB’s Jan. 29

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Chris Forsyth showcases the art of guitar playing tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. In town for some home cooking, Forsyth crafts musical sojourns drawing sonic maps, which turn at a moments notice, even backtracking to a common thread or chord when he sees fit. The key isn’t attempting to nail down the route that this experimental path takes, but rather to embrace the unknown possibilities that accompany a trip off the beaten path. Fellow drone guitarist Ben Seretan will also etch the cosmic musical surface, while Neighborhood Choir, a.k.a. Bennett Daniels who will be joined by Andy Molholt (Laser Background), Paul Sukeena (Spacin’) and Steve Urgo (Speed Skating, ex-War on Drugs), floats on a peaceful cloud of auditory bliss. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Philadelphia

Tuesday Tune-Out w/Hop Along’s Frances Quinlan at PhilaMOCA Jan. 29

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Tonight is the final Tuesday Tune-Out curated by The Key featuring Hop Along’s Frances Quinlan. Though Quinlan and her bandmates bassist Tyler Long and drummer/brother Mark Quinlan released last year’s impressive full-length album Get Disowned, this evening will not find Frances resting on her laurels. Instead, expect to hear a solo set of all new material! She’ll also be screening one of her favorite films following the performance – a 1950s Fellini movie of which one of the band’s earlier songs was named after. PhilMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $5, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 
NYC

Artists on Trial: Various Blonde

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For the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring artists playing the MidCoast Takeover fundraiser shows, sponsored by Midwest Music Foundation.
 
Various Blonde is the brainchild of Joshua Allen, formed in 2008 and presenting a dark, experimental, progressive style unique to Kansas City music. The band has opened for national acts like Russian Circles, Thursday, Murder By Death, Fang Island, and The Electric Six. We talk with them and find out more about what they’re up to as well as their plans for SXSW.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?

Various Blonde: A bunch of experiments with trial and error sprinkled on top.
 
The Deli: Tell us about what Various Blonde has going on.
 
VB:We have been chosen as a finalist for this: http://jansport.sonichub.com/artist/various-blonde
 
It would be awesome to win because if we win, it’s also a victory for KC. It’s good to bring attention to KC. We also have two EPs up on Bandcamp for whatever people will give us. nd if we are talking promotion, there is always Facebook. Please "LIKE" us on there, but more importantly, come to a show.
 
The Deli: What else can we expect from you guys this year?
 
VB: Perform and record as much as possible. Use my axe to chop down a money tree. (sarcasm font)
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?

VB: Promoting and going to shows besides your own.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?

VB: This is a tough question and I know I’m gonna forget someone, but I really enjoy the Jorge Arana Trio, Sons of Great Dane… The Conquerors are super sick, THE DEVIL, Snuff Jazz, Making Movies fuggin’ slays Latin dragons, obviously Hearts of Darkness! Er’body luv HOD! One of KC’s best kept secrets, Clock People (just wait, their first show is March 1 at Riot Room and you should go), Cherokee.Rock.Rifle because they wrote “Black Cauldron,” RADKEY because the guy from Entourage loves them, Janet The Planet (So dope!), MINDEN (even though they moved to Portland will always be KC to me), MONOLYTH!, and The Beautiful Bodies; they’ve really locked in their sound and are headed for big shit!
 
The Deli: Congrats on being selected to play MidCoast Takeover at SXSW. Who are you guys looking forward to playing with or seeing there?
 
VB: Thanks. I’m looking forward to all the KC energy that will be there, but as far as nationals are concerned, I honestly have no idea who is playing. I’ll let you know when I know. Andrew W.K.?
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?

VB: Zechs Marquise, No Spill Blood, Bosnian Rainbows, Chelsea Wolfe, Zach Hill, Dot Hacker, Big Sur, Flying Lotus, Swahili Blonde, Death Grips, Tame Impala, Dirty Projectors, The Stepkids, Bailiff, The Budos Band, and Antibalas are all awesome. I was tempted to write dead artists cause none of them are local to anyone, but I don’t wanna be a smartass.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?

VB: A festival with my band, Radiohead (Ok Computer, KID A, Amnesiac set), Smashing Pumpkins (original lineup Mellon Collie disc 1 and 2 set) The Mars Volta (De-Loused in the Comatorium set), Tool (Ænima cover-to-cover set), The Flaming Lips, Jack White, Blonde Redhead, Queens of the Stone Age with Grohl on drums, NIN (Fragile left and right Set), and if were including dead people that should still be alive… Biggie, Tupac, and Wu-Tang with Ol’ Dirty. After-party with Flying Lotus at Shaun White’s crib.
 
The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio?
 
VB: On stage because you’re creating a moment instead of trying to capture it. I hate to quote Coca Cola, but you can’t beat the real thing!
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?

VB: James Brown (hardest working man in show business, Godfather of Soul), Miles Davis (changed the face of jazz four times over four decades), brown Michael Jackson with fro in tow (King of Pop, indigo child), Hendrix (just ask the Axis).

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?

VB: Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.
 
Various Blonde is:
Joshua Allen – guitar, vocals
Jason Nash – bass
Josh Enyart – drums
 

You can see Various Blonde this Saturday, February 2, where they will be playing the second MidCoast Takeover fundraiser at Riot Room. The group will be playing at 9:45, followed by Drop A Grand, Maps for Travelers, and Six Percent. Tickets available here. Various Blonde 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.

–Michelle Bacon

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Nashville

Review: Alanna Royale EP Release Show At the Basement

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On Friday night, the Basement housed the sold-out EP release show for Alanna Royale, also featuring Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, Golden Spurs, and Maureen Murphy. We told you to head down there, but even we had no way of anticipating of what was in store.

Maureen Murphy can sing. Holding long and powerful notes like a 2013 Whitney Houston (truly, though), the strength behind Murphy’s voice will take you to church, regardless of whether or not you want to go there. The Massachusetts-born singer/songwriter opened the show to a packed house and made some new fans in the process, as exemplified by the boy behind me who couldn’t contain himself and kept screaming "I fuckin’ love you!" (It was well-deserved praise.)

Continuing the Massachusetts theme, Golden Spurs brought their garage-style rock vibe to the stage, adding an additional layer of sweat to every member of the packed and dancing audience. The only surprising thing about the rock trio’s talent is that more people aren’t aware of it. But the band is still relatively new to Nashville, so there’s no doubt we’ll all be on board soon.

We first wrote about Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes back in April of last year and they were fantastic then. But the four piece has sharpened their sound and their live show so effectively that they are currently winning our year-end poll (to your right) and accomplishing everything every independent band sets out to accomplish. After returning from their recent U.S. tour, the band hasn’t stopped, giving everyone little choice but to become a fan of their eclectic blues pop-rock. Essentially, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes are blowing up– and no one is surprised. Their set at the Basement was a testament to how far they’ve come.

Alanna Quinn-Broadus is a powerhouse, both vocally and in personality. Unrivaled when it comes to stage presence, it makes sense that the refreshingly sassy frontwoman is balanced at the front of the stage by the six male band members behind her. From making their radio debut earlier this month to selling out the Basement just a few weeks later, it’s difficult to deny that Alanna Royale are onto something. Playing a set consisting of the songs from their Bless Her Heart EP and a cover of Nirvana’s "Heart-Shaped Box," Quinn-Broadus announced the end of the show and responded to the subsequent groans in the crowd with, "We don’t have any more fuckin’ songs!" Though it seems we’ve all become rabid superfans before Alanna Royale was ready for us, the recently-formed band seems to be handling our new-found obsession like seasoned veterans. And I cannot wait until they give us some more fuckin’ songs. –Brianne Turner

NYC

Kladruy Gold Wins The Deli Seattle’s Artist of the Month Poll

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What began as a solo project of Ryan Cline, Kladruby Gold turned into a full-fledged band here in Seattle. Teaming up with the likes of Gary Thorstensen on lead guitar, Dustin Miller on drums, and Steve Melle on bass, the quartet began producing music with more of a rock edge. These ‘ameri-gaze’ rockers bring a southern flare to their music that gives them a rootsy edge. The band is getting ready to release their full length “Wilderness” due out this spring, with their promising single OBC available on their website. – Lucy Sherman

Read the full interview here.  

NYC

Brooklyn House Music, Michael Bouldry-Morrison is Octo Octa

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In the future, one has every reason to expect things like sausage-making will take place in colourful pop storefronts decorated minimally and sterilized to the point of maximum hygiene (think Pinkberry). And when that day comes, Octo Octa has just the soundtrack. Brooklyn’s Michael Bouldry-Morrison leads this loop-happy lo-fi house music project to highly polished results. Readymade for the Standard Hotel’s poolside lounge or, well, the inside of your nearest Pinkberry, songs like “High Reflection” still feel somewhat derived from the bedroom synthpop style connected ineffably to Williamsburg. Yet sometimes the loop-making experiment becomes so transparent that it sounds like the audio equivalent of watching sausage made. – Brian Chidester

Nashville

First Round Of Road To Bonnaroo Contestants Announced

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If you follow any number of local and emerging artists on your social media stream, then prepare to see your feed blow up with Road To Bonnaroo announcements over the course of the next few weeks. Announced this morning, the first round of Road To Bonnaroo contestants is stacked deep. The lineup boasts a few acts featured in our year-end poll to your right but all eight artists are worth a listen.

The first round of acts will hit the Mercy Lounge stage on February 25th to compete for your vote to send them to Bonnaroo 2k13. The following two sets of bands are as yet unannounced, but you may as well mark your calendars now for March 25th and April 15th to watch Road To Bonnaroo, rounds two and three, also over at Mercy Lounge.

In the meantime, get to know the first eight of your 24 Road To Bonnaroo contestants:

Alanna Royale
DeRobert & the Half-Truths
Dylan McDonald
Five Knives
Grass Root Kids
Schools
Sol Cat
The Young International

For more information on the event, click here.

L.A.

Live Review: Pageants at The Bootleg 1/25/13

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Dripping with cutesy charm, but demanding your respect, the Long Beach dreamy indie pop trio, Pageants, impressed at the Bootleg this past Friday celebrating their ‘Musings of the Tide’ 7” Release. The former keyboard player and backing vocalist for Avi Buffalo, Rebecca Coleman, performed like a seasoned pro. She carries that indefinable “It” Factor – an easygoing grace mixed with a depth of maturity that belies her youth. Cooing as smoothly as a dove and running up and down the fretboard of her electric guitar like a Nashville studio musician, it’s the road ahead of her that excites me. The band’s well-crafted Beach House meets Camera Obscura sound already delights, and I imagine the grit of adulthood will only prove useful fodder for even richer musical enterprises for Coleman and her cohorts – Devin O’Brien and Dylan Wood. The three-piece played a live show that would put most five piece acts to shame. O’Brien’s effortless lead guitar added color and texture, while Wood’s skill with triggering backing tracks and drum loops never missed a beat. Their laid-back, mostly mid-tempo repertoire could easily sweep over you in a banal wave, but the arrangements rapturously ebb and flow, pulling you in like a gentle rip tide that never lets go. Building on the warm pop concoctions they had offered throughout the night, the nearly last song of the set, “No Wonder” – as we were all informed is affectionately code named “No Undies” by the band – floated to the top for me. Maybe it was all the meowing coming from the incredibly supportive and attentive crowd that put me in the right mood, but nonetheless, this is one I’m itching to get in recorded form. Fingers crossed for a sooner rather than later Bobb Bruno-produced full length. For now, enjoy the title track off their 7” and go ahead and pick up the hard copy at Origami. – Jacqueline Caruso