Robotanists have recently been in the studio prepping for a new album, and have released a sneak peek demo and unofficial video for fans to get a glimpse of what’s to come. The track, called "No Loss Really," was created mostly of first takes, and will be re-recorded for the group’s next album, Make It Count, due out later this year.
Nashville
Posted on:
Murfreesboro Band Demonstrates Endurance In Their Career As Well As Sound: An Interview With Joey Kneiser Of Glossary
Tonight at The Basement, local indie-rock legends, Glossary, will play their final Nashville show before heading overseas for their European spring tour. A few weeks ago, we got the chance to catch up with frontman Joey Kneiser, who recently released his solo album, Moonlight for the Graveyard Heart, during a rare break from touring and recording with his band. Now the band is nearing the end of an extensive American tour, and in true Glossary fashion, they seem to have no intention of stopping any time soon.
Throughout seven albums and countless tours, the Glossary sound has remained as solid and unwavering as the tour schedule they maintain. "That was always the plan, to be an American band. We just took all of the things that we loved about American music and tried to squeeze ’em in the band and make them our own. I mean, we are from the South, so most of modern American music, you know, that’s the origins of it. That’s all the Stones were doing– they were trying to sound like an American band," says Kneiser. With a legitimate foundation as a bona fide Southern band and a strong sense of what they want their sound to be, Glossary’s textured rock adheres to a straightforward approach. "In the end, it’s just pop music. We’re just trying to do the song justice, keep it simple and have space, and just try to make the best kind of put-together pop song we can."
Maintaining the balance between rock n roll and soul music, Glossary’s sound can be difficult to define, sometimes causing it to fall into the vague generalization of being described as "Americana music." But with auto insurance companies and banjo players in ironic vests currently claiming the genre as their own, the term "Americana" may not properly represent the music Glossary creates. "Music fads come and go," says Kneiser. But with their feet planted firmly in the roots of their musical heritage, the Murfreesboro five-piece are creating music that is anything but ephemeral.
If you’d like to add a few Glossary albums to your music library, the band is offering some free downloads here, including my personal favorite, The Better Angels Of Our Nature.
Tonight’s show at the Basement begins at 9 pm. Kent Goolsby will be supporting. –Brianne Turner
NYC
Posted on:
Album review: Pilot For A Day – Better AIr
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve heard an album with this much pop sensibility come out of Kansas City. Maybe I’m just not in sync with what’s actually going on, or maybe this really is the new generation pioneer for KC pop-punk music. Either way, Pilot For A Day’s debut full-length album, Better Air, is quite the refreshing listen.
Better Air is a record, that, in its entirety, emits positive vibes. Songs of hopeless romanticism, adolescent angst, girls, and life ambitions in general compose the 10-track, 40-minute album. And no matter how melancholy the lyrics become, the overall essence of every song leaves you feeling good.
Pilot for a Day hits hard on the home opener of Better Air, “Take This Chance.” Synthy siren sounds pop into your audible field first and foremost. The poppy and upbeat diddy that follows instantly lifts your mood. It is a defined precursor to the remainder of the album. “Take This Chance” presents itself with bold lyrics and positive energy, much like the remainder of the album.
Possibly the best track on this album is number three, “Extraordinary Life.” This four-minute anthem features the vocal work of close-to-legendary St. Louis rocker Andrew Volpe of Ludo fame. Pilot’s singer Nolan Smith’s chilling, low-toned voice on “Extraordinary Life” is extraordinarily complemented (see what I did there?) by Volpe’s voice on the chorus. The two have a great vocal chemistry that sounds like something you want to hear more of. The bad news: you don’t hear more of it on Better Air; the good news: the rest of the album is just as incredible.
Consistently keeping the upbeat tempo, there is no clear shift in motifs through Better Air. It is really quite refreshing to know that you don’t have to power through that slow song stuck in the middle of the album just to reach the more poppy ones. The first eight tracks are all equally as dancy and synth motivated as the rest. One thing you can count on is the shift in the last two tracks “From Somewhere to Here” and “Midwestern Kings.” These last two tracks form an appropriate outro.
“From Somewhere to Here” takes the cake for most somber song on the album. Accompanied by the perfect ballad chords of a piano, Smith takes on his haunting tone yet again, setting more of depressing tone. The song does pick up, but maintains that ballad persona. As the song progresses, it picks up more and more throughout the rest of the song.
The final track, “Midwestern Kings,” has the brilliant theme of starting a new life. This is probably the best way to end Better Air. As if saying throughout everything in life, there is always a chance to start again.
–-Steven Ervay
NYC
Posted on:
Friend Roulette announces release + plays Deli UN/OFF show in Austin on 03.15
Brooklyn’s Friend Roulette sounds like an indie band formed by an established and constantly high Hollywood movie soundtrack composer. The band’s instrumentation ranges from your regular electric guitars and drums to strings and other instruments quite foreign to the pop tradition like bass clarinet and EWI. Their music favors not exactly uplifting atmospheres ranging from the melancholic to the downright tense, but pop melodies lie in there, between the guitar and violin drones and the clarinet arabesques. Their sound is rather unique and their live shows very enjoyable, and that’s why we decided to book them for our Deli UN/OFF party in Austin next week on March 15 at Rusty’s (8pm). The band has recently released the first single "Earthrise" (streaming below) from the album "I’m Sorry You Hit Your Head," out in April on Goodnight Records.
Chicago
Posted on:
Deanna Devore “Next to You”
Breaker Records Video Series recently hosted Deanna Devore, and had her perform her song "Next To You". If you haven’t checked out Devore’s recent album X Number of Days (self-released, Jan. 2013) you should do so now.
You can catch Deanna Devore at Metro on Friday, March 8th.
Chicago
Posted on:
Stratus “Alarm”
Patrick Stratton (aka Stratus) is a local EDM producer on the rise. His debut single "Alarm" was released last week on Ultra Music.
Stratus will be taking part in the mega EDM festival, Spring Awakening, coming to Soldier Field this June.
San Francisco
Posted on:
The Soft Moon Releases New Music Video and American/European Tour Dates
San Francisco based underground apocalyptic rock heroes, The Soft Moon have released a new music video entitled, Insides. Insides is a track from the band’s latest LP, Zeros (Captured Tracks), and was shared to accompany the announcement of The Soft Moon’s United States and European 2013 tour dates. Insides was directed by Jacqueline Castel, who also edited and shot the music video in the Mojave Desert. This beautiful and entrancing video marks a wonderful start to The Soft Moon’s 2013 endeavors. The band kicks off their tour today in Las Vegas.
03-06 Las Vegas, NV – The Beauty Bar
03-07 Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom
03-08 El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
03-09 Denton, TX – 35 Denton (Denton Fest)
03-10 Norman, OK – Opolis
03-11 New Orleans, LA – Dragon´s Den
03-12 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald´s
03-14 SXSW – Club De Ville (Insound Showcase)
03-14 SXSW – Hotel Vegas (Austin Psych Fest Showcase)
03-16 SXSW – The Parish (Captured Tracks Showcase)
03-16 SXSW – The Elysium (Moog Showcase)
03-18 Kansas City, KS – Riot Room
03-19 Lincoln, NE – Knickerbockers
03-20 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
03-21 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
03-29 Aarhus, Denmark – Atlas
03-30 Copenhagen, Denmark – Loppen
03-31 Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser
04-02 Helsinki, Finland – Kuudes Linja
04-03 Saint Peterburg, Russia – Mod
04-04 Moscow, Russia – Artpay
04-05 Athens, Greece – Gagarin
04-06 Prague, Czech Republic – Meet Factory
04-07 Budapest, Hungary – A38
04-08 Zagreb, Croatia – Mocvara
04-09 Ljubljana, Slovenia – Menza Pri Koritu
04-10 Rome, Italy – Circolo degli Artisti
04-11 Milan, Italy – Elita Milano Design Week Festival
04-12 Bologna, Italy – Covo
04-13 Padova, Italy – Loop / Bastione Alicorno
04-14 Dijon, France – Consortium (Kill Your Pop Fest)
04-15 Paris, France – Trabendo
04-16 London, England – Islington Academy
04-17 Amsterdam, Holland – Melkweg
04-18 Antwerp, Belgium – Trix
04-19 Lille, France – Le Grand Mix
04-20 Amiens, France – La Lune des Pirates
04-21 Nantes, France – Stakhanov
04-26 Austin, TX – Austin Psych Fest
06-06 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex #
06-07 Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst Atrium #
06-15 Montreal, QC – Il Motore
06-16 Brooklyn, NY – 285 Kent (Northside Fest)
Philadelphia
Posted on:
Fear Tinnitus w/Heavy Medical, Xanax & Drums Like Machine Guns at KFN March 6
Sludge purveyors Heavy Medical are planning another ambush with their battalion of all things noise and mayhem. Ready for the promised destruction that could only be brought on by a bass guitar swallowing two drum kits? Yeah, most people aren’t. Along with them will be my new favorites, the ever so explosive Xanax. This project boasts a lineup featuring members of +HIRS+, Saetia, Des Ark, and Amateur Party, but despite the orgy of sound suggested through previous text, this band wants one thing: to burn down the building with its chunky, punching bass, violent guitars, and piercing howls. Also in tandem will be the brothers of noise Drums Like Machine Guns. Check out this blast beat brigade upstairs at Kung Fu Necktie tonight. Please, don’t forget your earplugs. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 9pm, $3, 21+ – Ed Newton
NYC
Posted on:
Dana Falconberry headlines The Deli’s Hangover Hideout on 03.13 (6pm)
Dana Falconberry’s beguiling twee vocals instantly captivate as she hums her poetic lyrics with little more than a whisper. But Falconberry’s distinctive vocals are matched by her delicate arrangements – the slender plucks of the mandolins, banjos and harps on her latest EP, "Leelanau," build soft instrumentals for her warm words to float over. While her previous releases were more minimalist, Leelanau expands her pallet without losing any of her trademark enchantment. See Dana live at The Deli’s Hangover Hideout at J. Blacks on Wednesday March 13 at 6pm – more info about the event involving 25+ songwriters here. – Listen to a SoundCloud compliation of all the artists playing the Hangover Hideout fest here. – Dean Van Nguyen
Philadelphia
Posted on:
Free Download: “Get Ready” – Free Energy
Free Energy just premiered a new track this morning called "Get Ready" that is available for free download via Stereogum. The song was written for comedian/writer DC Pierson’s sophomore novel, Crap Kingdom, which is about "a young man who discovers that he’s the Chosen One in a not-that-great magical realm." "Get Ready" is part of a compilation that will also be available for free download and will include contributions from Ted Leo, Jean Grae, the Rosebuds and others.
NYC
Posted on:
Brand new from Brooklyn: Leapling plays Shea Stadium tonight (03.06)
Leapling plays what I call "impressionistic pop" – Here We Go Magic’s music is one of this genre’s best examples. Featuring drafts of melodies, gentle arrangements and semi-whispered vocals, this is textured, almost transparent music for the shy – or the sleepy. The Brooklyn based quartet released their debut "Losing Face" EP in January and will play Shea Stadium tonight March 06. Check out opening track "Nature Must Not Win," streaming below.
San Francisco
Posted on:
Afrolicious Album Release At Great American Music Hall March 15th
San Francisco legends Afrolicious will bombard Great American Music Hall on Friday, March 15th, complete with 12-piece live band, to celebrate their first full length release, California Dreaming. Hatched from the acclaimed weekly Afrolicious dance parties, the Afrolicious band preserves the electro-world flavor of the DJ sets while emphasizing the funky Afro/Latin feel only a horn section and live percussion can supply. The players on California Dreaming hail from a diverse range of cultural and geographic backgrounds. Despite the variety of tastes and styles they throw into the pot, the resulting dish definitely gels.
Hosted by Blue Note/Motown artist DJ Smash, the event touts a fully packed roster. In addition to sets by Afrolicious co-conspirators DJs Pleasuremaker and Señor Oz, supporting acts include Bay Area based soul band Midtown Social and KCRW/Los Angeles DJ Jeremy Sole. California Dreaming is available March 12th. You can sample the title track below. -Andy Lambert