New England

Metal Feathers Take Unique Approach to Promoting Their Tunes

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Normally when you discover local indie bands, you find out that they are trying to force their music into the ears of anyone who will listen. Most bands have their demos and LPs available everywhere for free (or for very little cash). Portland, Maine’s Metal Feathers appear to laugh in the face of that marketing approach, and that is something I really admire. I first saw these guys at a show in Cambridge, MA last week and I was really impressed by their music. It’s raw, energetic rock n’ roll, with some perfectly sloppy guitar solos and straight-ahead drum beats. These guys put on a great show, and I’m excited get my hands on some of their material.

 

Their most recent release, Handful of Fog, is available through Teenarena Records, but good luck finding it elsewhere online. Their bandcamp discography lists their albums, but is deliberately sparse–to the point of nonexistence–with streaming tracks. One thing they do update, however, is their Facebook page. Be sure to check that out for updates on when the band will be coming through a town near you.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

 

L.A.

The Hsu-nami play the Ivar Theater at the Indie Entertainment Summit

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The Hsu-nami, a local band to the City that Never Sleeps, is coming to The City of Angeles on August 10th for the first time playing at the Indie Entertainment Summit. The Hsu-Nami has two main albums: Entering the Mandala and The Four Noble Truths. One of the most popular songs is Rising of the Sun from the FNT album, in which front-man Jack Hsu uses a Erhu Violin for most of the solos; the Erhu is an ancient Chinese violin dated all the way back to the Tang dynasty. What makes this band truly different and inspiring is they’re an internationally renowned progressive rock band, or ‘Progressive Erhu Rock’. Hsu-Nami has interesting sound palettes full of heavy guitar riffs, natural melodies, and polished solos. I’m a fan myself of Snake Skin Shuffle and Interlude, and I’m sure you will be to after seeing them perform live tonight at the Ivar Theater in Hollywood. Hope to see you there! – Kayla Hay

NYC

Weekly Feature: Lora Faye – unveils new video + releases debut EP

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At 25 years old, Lora Faye is already at a crossroads with her sound,and she still hasn’t released her debut EP yet. Born and raised on country, Lora began playing music that Pop Montreal describes as: “Edith Piaf meets country.” The singer claims to now be on a diet of a complex variety of genres, sounding more like a female Tom Waitsthan another June Carter Cash. In our interview, Lora Faye answers some questions in preparation for her debut EP, “Waltzes.” – Read Sam Kogon’s interview here.

San Francisco

Burnt Ones The Hussy and POW! Play the Hemlock Tavern – 8/9

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Tonight at the The Hemlock Tavern is bringing a showcase full of lo-fi sounds, heavy reverb, and twangy guitar with Burnt Ones, The Hussy, and POW!. Burnt Ones, have kept their streak of eminent local garage punk going with their second release, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Their psychedelic flavor, but garage sound, creates a great sound to truly get into. The Hussy, who have also just released their 3rd LP “Pagan Hiss” this May, take on a trashier sound, with varying levels of intensity that all unify together in their LP as a whole creating a diverse, but familiar, minimalist rock and roll sound. POW! takes advantage of heavy effects for their vocals and their unorthodox use of synths that help to create a memorable garage feel.

Tonight’s show will bring together a unifying genre – the rising garage punk genre – and bring about some talent who are all molding it into different sounds and styles. This is definitely a show to go to! – Victor Casillas Valle

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, August 9 – 11

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We’ve certainly been getting our fair share of talented musician transplants. One of the finest lyricists from the new crop of artists that we’ve come across is former Grand Rapids, Michigan native Sam Cook-Parrott, a.k.a. Radiator Hospital. The heart-on-his-sleeve singer-songwriter captures true raw emotion in such beautifully poetic verses that could easily make the burliest man’s man shed a tear. However, these touching lyrics can easily be lost on some of the tracks of his new LP Something Wild (Salinas Records) because of the jangly, upbeat strums of major power chords from his guitar and his new driving rhythm section. Radiator Hospital will be celebrating the album’s release tonight at West Philly’s Great Indoors alongside labelmates/housemates Swearin’ and Batty, who are also dropping a demo release. Don’t sleep on this one! Great Indoors, (Please contact ghostlightbooking@gmail.com for more info.), 7pm, $5 Donation, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman

Other things to help you make it through the dog days of summer…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, SAT Johnny Showcase, Red 40 and the Last Groovement
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Downstairs) Pill Friends, (Upstairs) Easy Creatures, Tygaton, SAT (Early) Rosetta, (Late) Nothing, Whirr
 
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) FRI This Is Hardcore Fest w/Blacklisted, Rock Bottom, SAT This Is Hardcore Fest w/Wisdom In Chains, SUN This Is Hardcore Fest w/Strength For A Reason
 
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) SAT Mont Brown x A.R.F.
 
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Chase Allen, Lee Mazin
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Penrose, SAT Rob, Lately
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Local Dub, The Rob Perna Band, SAT (All Ages) Eyeshock Swelter, Cut The Motor, Ben Abrams, (Late) Parple, Babe School, Big Tusk, SUN (All Ages) DRGN KING, Mumblr, Rasputin’s Secret Police
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Song Dogs, The Gallerist, SUN Prowler
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N 3rd St.) FRI Commonwealth Choir, Former Belle, Air Is Human, SAT Nick Millevoi
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Steve Marchion, Joe Messina, SAT (Early) Camille Puerto, (Late) Victoria Spaeth, Aly Cat, Strange Heat
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Tiny Cities
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Mutlu, SAT Philadelphia Funk Hustle
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Conjunto Philadelphia, SAT Stone, A Caffeine Dream, SUN Breakwater
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) SAT Dave Steel Blues Band, SUN John Byrne, Rusty Cadillac
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) FRI Dry Feet
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Old Soul, Vibratek
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Hopscotch Jefferson, SUN We So Money Gang, A.M.E.N.
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Pete Grotch, Adam Travis, The Lux, SAT Benefit for Scott Silipigni w/Zach Djanikian Jam Band, Pete Donnelly, Brian Flanagan, Cookie Rabinowitz, SUN Drew Nielsen
 
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Waxahatchee, Michael Cantor
 
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Geb the Great Cackler
 
Don’t Tread On Me House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Young Pilgrims, Airman Trout, Christopher Walking
 
West Kensington Ministry (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Oldermost, Mock Suns
 
The Slow Club (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Batworm
 
San Francisco

Outside Lands Festival Suggestions for Day One – 8/9-8/11

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Even with huge festivals like Outside Lands, there’s still a large amount of local acts that get lost in the shuffle of this fest’s rock star studded line-up’s and the immense number of bands in general. While great underground local bands may be hard to pick out, it isn’t impossible. That’s why we here at The Deli Magazine San Francisco have put together a list of the 12 bands that are currently representing and residing in the Bay Area, and are making amazing music.

Here’s our local underground choice for Day One at the Outside Lands Festival:

Midi Matilda | SAN FRANCISCO | Day 1 @ Twin Peaks Stage – 12:45 pm to 1:30 –  Midi Matilda is an electronic indie band that focuses on the use of synths with a strong rhythmic section. In their song “Love & The Movies”, there is a tasteful mix of modern pop with a hint of nostalgic 1980s Davie Bowie vocals in the verses.

Motion Potion | SAN FRANCISCO | Day 1 @ The Dome by Heineken Stage – 2 pm to 3 – Motion Potion, also known as MoPO, blends together funk, hip hop, and rock and roll to bring a diverse dance type music. In his track, “City of Dreams”, the underlying sample is a fun, dancy sound with light dance synths. It’s as if Disneyland met Justice and made a dance song about it. – Victor Casillas Valle

New England

Kid Mountain Open Up About the Band’s Beginnings and Hopes for the Future

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A few weeks ago, I came across Kid Mountain, a five-piece indie-rock band from Boston with a bright, energetic sound. I had previously reviewed an older disc of theirs, Visitor’s Center EP, which is a great collection of tunes. Their most recent record, Happies, is poppy/surfy/catchy as can be.I’d recommend giving it a listen as well. I was able to get in touch with guitarist Tyler Rosenholm via email, and he was kind enough to offer a brief glimpse into the collective mind of Kid Mountain. Follow this link to view the full interview.


Philadelphia

Psychic Teens Record Release Show at Long In The Tooth Aug. 9

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It’s been a fun ride watching the rise of local gothic post-punk trio Psychic Teens. From the air of mystery around their debut tracks “YUNG” and “CbbK,” to their victory in our Featured Artist(s) Poll, to the band becoming one of the Top Performers in our annual Best Emerging Artist Year End Poll, it’s always been apparent to our staff that Psychic Teens is a seriously dark band with a bright future. And now with the group stepping into the national spotlight as one of Spin’s “Best New Artists of August 2013,” it won’t hopefully be long before the rest of the world takes notice and joins us on this ride. If you haven’t yet, then you can start this evening when they celebrate the release of their latest full-length record COME (SRA Records) at Center City’s Long In The Tooth. You still have an opportunity to be ahead of the rest of the curve by grabbing your copy tonight before its official release next week. Long In The Tooth, 2027 Sansom St., 9pm, Free, All Ages – Alexis V.

NYC

So new they don’t even have a press photo: Tox and Guest

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Tox and Guest, a confessional avant-folk group from Columbia University, is a love affair between two fabulous singers (Jon Perkins, Emilie Schattman), and a trumpeter (Corey Dansereau) that makes them sound larger than life. The band exists in life’s magic hours, from the sensual ‘Dawn,’ opening debut EP ‘Pixelated,’ to the unhurried march of closing track ‘Scatter,’ theirs is a diaphanous sound. Rather than imposing realized feelings through their lush but simple orchestrations, Tox and Guest leave the listener with a series of impressions. For a band that hadn’t played together prior to recording this EP, ‘Pixelated’ is an unlikely surprise, and well worth giving a quiet moment to. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

Philadelphia

Dry Feet Opening for Hunx & His Punx at PhilaMOCA Aug. 9

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Raw unfiltered aggression that only builds additional momentum developing a full downhill avalanche of adrenalized sound with a surf rocking aesthetic, that’s what Dry Feet bring to PhilaMOCA tonight. The trio takes surf-rock ideals and speed them up creating a punk/surf hybrid that is energetically heavy. Taking moments to unleash quick raunchy guitar runs, while consistently running at a pace that suggests “get on board, or get out of our way.” They begin a show that also includes West Coast garage/punk outfit Hunx & His Punx who are supporting their freshly released LP Street Punk. Eccentric DC rockers Chain & the Gang will make an appearance, as will Brooklyn noise rockers Hunters. It’s a stacked bill at the Moz this evening. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 7:30pm, $12, All Ages – Michael Colavita

Austin

Deli Artist Submission Review – Between Spaces by Artificial Earth Machine

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Artificial Earth Machine has tracks so layered it’s hard to believe there’s only one member behind the new album, Between Spaces, which came out last month. One man sound guru, Benjamin Crowley, has made a name for himself in the Austin area as a DJ. Using no laptop, he creates his music using only hardware synths, samplers and drum machines. Some of the sound effects are straight up out of this world and suggest a Bjork influence. From cosmic, celestial soundscapes to ambient rhythms, Artificial Earth Machine creates a mellow music experience. –Written by Faith Braverman

**This artist’s work was reviewed because they submit their music online to our site directly. If you would like your music to be considered, click here.**