It would be too easy to compare Phil Hummer’s baritone to anyone obvious, like Johnny Cash or Elvis Presley. Instead, I heard immediate parallels to the low tone of Adam Turla of Murder by Death, albeit oiled up with a bit more twang. Their 4th album, Pour Me One More, was released May 2013, and provides a refreshingly deliberate and spare take on rockabilly. Get a double dose of upright bass (as slapped by the lovely Ray Doll Hummer) at the Basement this Thursday, or Dino’s this Friday. Caw! – Terra James-Jura
Shiloh “Mrs.”
Shiloh creates a manic form of basement folk music that, at least on their latest album Mrs. from earlier this Spring, is raw and honest and real. Mrs. is the follow-up to their mostly acoustic 2011 debut All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers.
You can catch Shiloh at Cole’s on July 19th with The Peekaboos, Post-Child, and The Joy Kill and at Township on July 27th.
New Track: “Cocainium” (Live at Maida Vale) – Baroness
Baroness premiered yesterday at Pitchfork a scorching version of "Cocainium" (which you can listen to below) from their forthcoming live EP that was recorded at the BBC’s Maida Vale studio. The song originally appeared on last year’s critically-acclaimed full-length album Yellow & Green. The band’s new record Live at Maida Vale is slated for release on July 23 via Relapse Records.
Houndstooth Album Release at Bunk Bar 7.18
The word "soundscape" gets thrown around far too often in the indie world but there’s no better way to paint a picture of what Houndstooth can do on a record. Their music sounds like it was born in the 60s, polished in the 90s and completed with today’s rock by lead singer Katie Bermstein’s soft pop vocals. The spaced out guitars will remind you of a dream you had about California while the hooks will bring you back to the reality of sitting on a Portland stoop with a pbr (aka yesterday). These are soundscapes that can take you on quite the psychedelic journey, all within the same song. – Colin Hudson
Interview with The Ghost Ease
Jem, Fabi and Nsayi of The Ghost Ease were kind enough to answer a few questions about their history, songwriting process and recording their debut self-titeld album. Check out the full interview here and be sure to listen to the album on bandcamp.
New Music Video: “Kissin on the Blacktop” – Daughn Gibson
Check out Daughn Gibson hanging out in one sketchy ass dive bar for his new music video for the track "Kissin on the Blacktop," which was directed by Jeremiah Rouse and is off his latest album Me Moan (Sub Pop). You can catch him perform live at a much less shady place on Friday, August 16 at Johnny Brenda’s.
In The Valley Below Sign to Capitol Records
Self-produced duo, In the Valley Below, have been buzzing around town for a while now, but this summer they are set to release an EP on Capitol Records with a performance scheduled for David Letterman. The first single to come out of this new partnership is “Peaches.” They’ve released a lyric video, which isn’t usually something we share here, but the slow moving kaledescopic images draw you in and set the tone for the what the duo is all about. The fuzzed out, dreamy indie pop tune is sprinkled with layers of hook-laden riffs and airy vocals from both contributors – Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob. “Peaches” is the kind of song you never want to end. The perfect late summer jam, upbeat and easy going covered in that glowy haze of nostalgia. Catch the dreamy duo at Skirball Cultral Center with Jenny O and Body Parts on August 30 before it’s too late. – Jacqueline Caruso
August 16 – Hasselt, Belgium – Pukklepop Festival
August 17 – Leipzig, Germany – Highfields Festival
August 23 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
August 24 – Paris, France – Rock in Seine
August 25 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
August 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Skirball Center
October 1 – Toronto, ON – Opera House*
October 3 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
October 4 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
October 5 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club*
October 7 – Chicago, IL – Metro*
October 9 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall*
October 10 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey*
*with White Lies
Pelican “Immutable Dusk”
Pelican has announced their first full-length album in four years, Forever Becoming. The album will be released on October 15th via Southern Lord. This is the band’s first album with enw second guitarist Dallas Thomas (also of The Swan King) and without founding guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec.
1. Terminal
2. Deny the Absolute
3. The Tundra
4. Immutable Dusk
5. Threnody
6. The Cliff
7. Vestiges
8. Perpetual Dawn
You can catch Pelican at Bottom Lounge on Nov. 13th.
NYC bands on the rise: Chris Cubeta and The Liars Club
Chris Cubeta and The Liars Club are doing for alt rock in the 21st century what confessional artists like The Counting Crows did in the 90s. The Brooklyn band lets it all out on their self-titled LP, but with a much wider palette than expected. From Country to epic ambient jams, this band has a huge range. Surrounded by concern for friends and family (‘Approach’) and the promise of the night (‘Midnight’), Chris Cubeta and The Liars Club – who made their debut at Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 11 – have the potential to bring a whole new mode of confessional rock to the forefront in Brooklyn’s crowded scene. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Alt Rock songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
New Video: “Baby, Please Don’t Go” (Big Joe Williams Cover) – Weird Hot
Below is a live performance video of Weird Hot covering Delta blues musician Big Joe Williams’ classic "Baby, Please Don’t Go." It was filmed this past Friday at PhilaMOCA’s Eraserhood Forever (And Forever) event. The next Weird Hot Wednesday will be happening on July 31 at Kung Fu Necktie. Special thanks to Bob Sweeney for sharing.
Eraserhood Forever (And Ever): Weird Hot "Baby Please Don’t Go" from Bob Sweeney
New Music Video: “Palace” – Bad Braids
Bad Braids (a.k.a. Megan Biscieglia) just shared a new music video last night for the track "Palace," which appears on her latest LP Supreme Parallel (Haute Magie). The footage was pieced together by her friend Diana Martinez, who filmed it on a road trip 10 years ago.
Owl Paws Releases New EP – Cold Lead Bath – Plays Elbo Room 7/17
San Francisco based indie acoustic rock band, Owl Paws has released an honest and reflective EP entitled, Lead Cold Bath. Lead Cold Bath a collection of experimental folk ballads that are accentuated by the heartfelt, somberly attractive voice of Derek Schultz who sings songs that tell stories of heartbreak and quiet sorrow on this new album.
We highly recommend you attend Owl Paws’s Record Release show at the Elbo Room in San Francisco on July 17th with Cold Eskimo, Dogcatcher and The Crux.
You can listen to Owl Paw’s title track, Cold Led Bath below via Soundcloud: