Echo Park indie rock band NO have kept mum about their long-awaited full-length (when it coming, guys!), but that doesn’t mean they’ve been active for the past few months. The band just released a new 7”, What’s Your Name/Eleven Eleven, and now there’s a video to accompany side A. Just as the song quietly builds into a soaring, powerful finale, “What’s Your Name” begins in a hushed sleep, with a man getting up as the sun rises in a dark, overcast morning. The video is stylized with a poetic feel, showing the beginning of a day in the life of a contemplative soul whose silent stroll speaks volumes. It’s told through leisurely, evocative shots that allow its protagonist to hit an emotional chord with striking intensity.
L.A.
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Stream: Fortress Social Club “Business by Day Business by Night”
Rock n’ roll revivalists Fortress Social Club are set to release their new full-length Dreamin’ the Life on June 18th. Here’s the jaunty, rollicking track “Business by Day, Business by Night”.
NYC
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Mary Alouette’s video for ‘Angel’
For reasons beyond our comprehension, the dudes here at The Deli seem to have a weakness for videos with gorgeous ladies bathing au naturel – we are talking about any videos, not just music videos by the way. You can imagine their excitement when they saw the first 30 seconds of this new, beautifully shot MUSIC video by Brooklyn electronic artists Mary Alouette, which features footage of the young lady while having a dream-filled dip in the tub. What makes the whole thing even more exciting though is that the music is actually good! The track is a trip hoppy number, landing somewhere between Tricky’s intense musical marijuana whiffs and some kind of new-age-that-doesn’t-suck placidity. A song about a good, but also weird, trip in the tub, nothing sounds better than that right now… (isn’t that how all David Lynch movies should be watched?)
New England
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Tonight in Boston: Check out Here We Just Dream
Here We Just Dream’s self-titled album, released in June of 2012, is an incredible listen, most notably because it stands out from most other self-proclaimed “prog rock” groups. I’ll refrain from using the term “prog rock” for the rest of this review, mostly because that term makes me want to vomit. What interests me about this band is their use of smooth keyboard lines—they don’t over-power you with ostentatious solos or over-the-top virtuosity. The tracks “Birds Fly Information” and “Phototropism” are prime examples of the elegant use of keys on this record. They blend in beautifully with the intricate guitar licks and vocal melodies found throughout the album. While the record is more of an EP in length, it packs enough energy and musical skill to more than make-up for its brevity.
See them tonight on May 30 at Radio in Somerville or this weekend at Red Room, Café 939 at Berklee College of Music on June 1. – Dan McMahon
Chicago
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My Gold Mask Tour
My Gold Mask announced their summer tour last week in support of their latest album Leave Me Midnight. The band is hitting the road with follow Chicagoans California Wives and the tour kicks off on June 21st at The Hideout. You can find all of their tour dates here.
L.A.
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Stream: BEACH, “Ibuprofen”
Back in Brooklyn, she was known as Bitch. Now that the Indie Electro songstress is putting down roots in sunny Los Angeles, she’s going by the more SoCal appropriate name, BEACH. The first single off her upcoming LP, ‘In Us We Trust,’ set for release July 16 on her own label, Short Story Records, is a humorously biting break-up song hoping to become your summertime anthem. Dirty beats courtesy of her collaborator, Alligator, and a rap breakdown amidst the repeated “Ibuprofen when you gonna kick in?” are harkening to an MIA comparison, but BEACH has her own story to tell. A classically trained violinist from the age of four – she even took fiddling lessons from Andrew Bird – she now brings her dance-y rock tunes to life with an electric version. BEACH is staying busy working on a documentary and touring in support of her upcoming release. – Jacqueline Caruso
NYC
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The Kickdrums release new EP ‘Inspiration for Conversation’
Brooklyn’s The Kickdrums are one of those acts who can play it all — indie, rap, soul, synthpop — and make it sound tight. The title of their new EP, Inspiration for Conversation, might as well be the mantra for hipsterism too, as the accumulation of good taste is pointless if not shared. The EP’s opener, “Hum,” starts out mixing drunken dub beats to a glistening ‘60s sci-fi melody, which, really, would be enough right there. But Andrew Fitts’ pub-soaked vocals (which kick in about a minute later) take things in a decidedly Britpop direction, promising that all that good taste won’t go totally pastiche. “Machines” continues the Euro-psych vibe by matching a basic hip-hop breakbeat to soaring wordless vocals that, while feeling like a million songs you know rolled into one, sound like nothing else. – Brian Chidester
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Electro songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
NYC
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Baby Alpaca releases preview tracks from EP, plays NYC twice in June
Do you think it’s possible to be too well-traveled? Try telling that to Baby Alpaca, a band that sounds like they’ve traveled to the Caribbean and borrowed some tropicalia, then shot over to medieval Europe to borrow an autoharp, and finally ventured to cyberspace for electronic gear… and none of these instruments are used in a way I’ve quite heard before. Latest single ‘Wild Child’ (streaming below) is a crooner reminiscent of Roxy Music from their romantic 80s peak, and presents a traveler’s vision of freedom, complete with Chris Kittrell’s mellifluous tenor, and backed by a road trip all their own. Things get even slower and sparser in the other preview single "Sea of Dreams," which has a beautiful video you can see here.
The band will be traveling back to Brooklyn just in time to announce a new record ‘Baby Alpaca EP’ and play June 27th at the Wooly and the day after at Mercury with Firehorse. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “D” – Restorations
Check out the rad retro-looking new music video from Restorations for their track "D"! The footage was filmed on April 5, 2013 (but you probably wouldn’t have guessed that from the looks of it) at the First Unitarian Church. It was directed/edited by Mitchell Wojcik. Restorations is currently on tour with The Menzingers.
Philadelphia
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Farquar Muckenfuss Opening for The Monochrome Set at PhilaMOCA May 30
Farquar Muckenfuss surfaced last month at Tuesday Tune-Out to perform the oddest versions of Monkees tunes that the world probably has ever heard. After disappearing in 2000 shortly after the release of their album They Grow Their Own Meat (Grade E, but Edible), a record that sounds way ahead of its time, the local psych-garage rockers are ready to dust off their old tunes tonight at PhilaMOCA to open for The Monochrome Set, who are on their first U.S. tour in over 30 years. Do I have to tell you that this is a special evening? PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 9pm, $12, All Ages – Alexis V.
Philadelphia
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Nothing Bringing Along a Grey Storm Cloud of Reflection at KFN May 30
A grey storm cloud of reflection casts its sights on KFN tonight when Nothing enters the building. Surrounding you with a heavy-hitting sonic wall of haze, the band pushes a fog-inducing pensive state coupled with a fury-driven instrumentation that smacks you back toward reality. Nothing will be joined by the synth-driven, deep-space dream that is Arc In Round. The show will also include Austin dream-pop outfit Ringo Deathstarr and eclectic, noisy Brooklyn experimentalists Grooms. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita