The fresh-faced guys of Vancouver, WA’s Foreign Talks were still in high school when they began playing together back in 2011. The arrangements of the four piece are allocated evenly, from the brotherly harmonies of Marcus and Madison Fischer to their mystical guitar work and slow, patient train sounds within songs like "Save Your Energy". Their independence is asserted on "Mama", where they apologize for not wanting to "play your precious football" because they have "a musical artery" with tempo shifting percussion and warm strums. There are plenty of coming-of-age and first love themes juxtaposed with an old soul maturity – a genuine musicianship that is bound to find its way into a prime time television drama. Last year Foreign Talks signed with Portland’s Expunged Records (Priory, Blind Pilot), and they will be celebrating the release of first album, The Spell, at Backspace Cafe on April 18th with Red Cloud. – Brandy Crowe
Sorne Record Release @ Holy Mountain on 4/27/13
Every now and then you see a show that blows your mind so much that you see that band time and time again. Sorne took me to another plane the first time I ever saw them with their sonic storytelling, omniscient vocals, chilling visuals and driving drumbeats. When the song was over, the realization set in that it was only a sound check. Everybody looked around at one another as if we’d just witnessed something out of this world and although I’d been planning to leave after the band before them, there was no way I was missing out on this experience now.
Come witness the avant garde magic on Saturday the 27th at Holy Mountain as Sorne releases their second album, Ego Altar. The title track can be heard below. Mighty Mountain and Hikes will be sharing the bill that night. See you there. — Written by Charise Sowells
Black Cobra Vipers Perform Tonight at Slim’s in San Francisco 4/16
San Francisco based alternative pop rock band, Black Cobra Vipers, are performing live at Slim’s in San Francisco with smoldering rising rock star, Reignwolf tonight. These band’s explosive, dynamic and dramatic musical sound and presence are going to make for an amazing show. Do your best to make it out tonight.
From the NYC Open Blog: Chainwave
Chainwave is a duo composed by a musical blood brother and sister if you will. Ian Jacobs (vocals/guitar) and Michelle Feliciano (vocals/drums) craft their own brand of dark, melodic rock and roll, infusing it with surf undertones and psychedelia, casually referencing The Pixies’ catchy embers, Deerhunter’s indie dreamscapes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Clubs’ chugging earthen grooves. Check out their new single "Wrap Me Up". – (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.
Mariee Sioux Album Release w/ Alena Diane & Conspiracy of Venus 5/2 + Two Mariee Sioux Song Premiers
Popular Bay Area based singer/songwriter, Mariee Sioux will be celebrating the release of her upcoming full length album, Gift for the End at Great American Music Hall on May 2nd. A rare San Francisco performance from fellow musician Alena Diane and the women’s choir, Conspiracy of Venus will take place at Sioux’s album release. Don’t miss this empowering event, as Mariee had to overcome obsticles to release her new musical effort.
The Deli Magazine San Francisco is proud to present two brand new tracks from Gift For the End today! Take a listen to never before heard songs, Old Magic and Tule.
Torches announce May residency at The Echo
The City of Angeles, according to Michael Jackson, never stops the beat. Wet guitars, tribal drums and vocals subdued in volume and tone lead singer-songwriters Azad Cheikosman and Eric Fabbro of Torches to release their follow up album to Head Full of Rust with a four track EP called If the People Stare. If you ‘want something worth a feeling’, kick back and let go of those daydreams while listening to the lilt, "When You Gonna"? The tribal beats of this new wave, hometown garage band will indeed give you goose bumps as the bass hits and the rhythmic cadence engulf every memory of your last heartbreak. But there is no room for despair with this modern rock band, after being seen and heard across the country on beloved radio stations like KROQ, KCRW and KPFK. Their new EP drops on May 6th, but that’s not all, as they recently announced a residency at the Echo in the month of May. Torches is more than a cohesive sound with a simple band name; the echoes of Passion Pit, Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Grizzly Bear can be simplified into an avant-garde state of mind. – Kayla Hay
Tuesday Tune-Out w/Farquar Muckenfuss at PhilaMOCA April 16
Tonight, Cinedelphia continues its curation of this month’s Tuesday Tune-Out at PhilaMOCA with Farquar Muckenfuss. The local psych-garage rockers released their last album They Grow Their Own Meat (Grade E, but Edible) in 1999 with production help from The Dead Milkmen’s Joe Jack Talcum, and the record surprisingly sounds way ahead of its time in comparison to the current landscape of music today. However, the band disappeared in October of 2000, but you can catch them this evening once again when they take on the material of the legendary Monkees. I’m sure that they’ll be putting their own spin on the beloved band’s music. There will also be a screening of The Monkees’ film HEAD, which was created as an attempt by the group to both summarize and distance themselves from their television career. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $10, All Ages – Alexis V.
NYC Hip Hop not to miss: Harlem’s Ratking
If you don’t like rappers who rap better than you then Ratking might rub you the wrong way. MF Doom-reminiscent production gives an ethereal beatscape to frame the staccato street blather MCs Wiki and Hak procure. There’s a good deal of angst, but only as much as you’d expect from three cats from Harlem. It’s like Wu-Tang and Camp-Lo’s conjoined rapchild; abrasive but not inaccurate assessments of the Harlem day-to-day with a good dose of Krylon-fumed dementia. – BrokeMC
XPoNential Music Festival 2013 Announces More of Its Lineup
The XPoNential Music Festival, being held this year from July 26 – 28 at Wiggins Park and the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ, just shared the larger chunk of the weekend’s lineup to go along with already-announced acts Dr. Dog, The Lumineer and Polica. Local area artists like DRGN KING, The Fleeting Ends, Aaron & The Spell, Alo Brasil and The Districts were invited this year to join national touring acts Dawes, Dr. John, Wake Owl, Justin Townes Earle, Michael Kiwanuka, Lord Huron, Phosphorescent, Kopecky Family Band and many more. You can check out the rest of the lineup and more details about the fest HERE.
New Video: “Oh Man” (Live) – Spacin’
Good mornin’ – yes, it’s time for a wake ‘n’ bake to get you in the right mood today for Spacin’, who will be providing some far-out, funky psych grooves for breakfast with a live version of "Oh Man"! The footage was recorded on February 23, 2013 at Johnny Brenda’s. Special thanks to videographer Joe Burns for sharing.
What’s This?: Deep Sea Diver
Deep Sea Diver began in 2007 as Jessica Dobson’s solo project. Dobson may be best known for her work with Beck, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Spoon, and as the The Shins’ guitarist. She was signed to Atlantic Records at age 19, but both the finished albums never met her satisfaction, and were eventually shelved by the label. In 2009, she self-released her debut EP New Caves, under her moniker, which was followed by the band’s first full-length album History Speaks last year (which you can take a listen to HERE). What stands out as the LP’s centerpiece is Dobson’s voice that can be hauntingly soulful in one track and then playfully optimistic in the next, creating an energy that crowds gravitate towards. Having a summer tour with Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band already under the group’s belt, Deep Sea Diver is getting ready to hit the road with their pals Telekinesis on an extensive national tour where they’ll be closing things out at the lovely Sasquatch Music Fest. (Photo by Matt Wignall) – John Clements
Catch Lightning 100’s The615 and Road To Bonnaroo Tonight!
Welcome to Monday, Nashville! Though there’s not much a place can do to make the first day of the week feel less awful, Music City does its best to try. If you haven’t caught Lightning 100’s The615 in its new time slot, you can tune in this (and every!) Monday evening at 6:15 to hear Wells Adams and Justin Hammel spend an hour giving away prizes while highlighting local music.
Shortly after The615 wraps up on your radio, 8 Off 8th will host the third and final installment of Road To Bonnaroo. Alanna Royale and Ranch Ghost won rounds one and two, respectively, and tonight’s winner will be the last to be added to the lineup that will represent the Nashville indie music scene onstage at Bonnaroo 2013. Tonight’s competitors are:
Billy Swayze
Cy Barkley and the Way Outsiders
Jacob Jones
Meth Dad
Ponychase
RI¢HIE
Tipper Whore
The Wans
Music kicks off at 9, and the venue will fill up fast, so get to the Mercy Lounge early and grab a ballot to submit your vote!