In honor of the beginning of football season (we really missed ya), here’s the latest music video from STS (a.k.a. Sugar Toungue Slim) where he makes a guest appearance on Joywave’s track "Ray Lewis (Slappers Only)." The video was directed by Kyle "@YungYle" Lloyd, and you can find the song on Joywave’s mixtape 88888 as well as STS’s GOLDRUSH III. Enjoy!
Nashville
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Magnolia Sons at Beer Fest 9.14
Magnolia Sons take the stage like a tornado of soul, swagger and finely tailored suits, and have been ravaging crowds all over Tennessee this summer. They are cheeky retro done ridiculously well, and will conjure up nostalgia for an era when Quisp cereal lined the shelves. Their single, “A Piece Worth Picking Up” has an addictive tension and release that reveals their keen musicianship. On September 14th they take the Gulch for Beer Fest. If Magnolia Sons don’t get you dancing like an idiot, 100 different craft beers certainly will. –Terra James-Jura
Nashville
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MODOC Monday
Congratulations to MODOC, the winner of our Artist of the Month Poll. Get you a listen of their latest single, "Runnin’" off their self-titled album, released August 28th. If you find yourself humming it the rest of Monday, go over to http://www.modocmusic.com/ and purchase the whole thing before your coworkers freak out on you. -Terra Jam
es-Jura
Philadelphia
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The Deli Philly’s Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner: Rosu Lup
The evolution of Rosu Lup has been a slow build, but it seems like the band is starting to hit its stride. With plans in their near future to record a new EP at Miner Street Studios with Brian McTear again and the confidence in their latest material, audiences will most likely be coming across the group of musician who are happily ready to connect with them. You can start that journey by checking out our interview with recent Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner HERE.
San Francisco
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We Move Against the Tides Dayfest Kicks off Today at Thee Parkside
The first annual We Move Against the Tides Dayfest is taking place this afternoon at The Parkside. This event highlights and showcases a very unique line up of underground musicians, including Jorge of Jorge and the Nicoteens, who will be playing a solo set of off syncopated freak folk songs as, Whorehey Writes Psychedelic Music. There will be another appearence by Brent Stratton of The SFPD, as he moonlights his personal acoustic rock jams under the moniker, Open Bar. Rounding out and ending the afternoon of music will be the heavy garage rock band, Caldecott.
We’re always excited to support new festivals and completely out- of- the- box line ups, so this show is something that peaked our interest, and should definitely draw you in. We Move Against the Tides Dayfest begins TODAY at 3 pm and will offer an afternoon happy hour which will include food and drink specials. And did we mention that this event is FREE and ALL AGES? What more can you want?? –jordannah elizabeth
Philadelphia
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WHYY’s 3rd Annual Connections Festival w/Sean Hoots Trio, Hezekiah Jones, Khari Mateen & More Opening for The Might Be Giants & Ben Kweller at the River Stage Sept. 7
Today, WHYY’s 3rd Annual Connections Festival lands at the River Stage at Penn’s Landing. The full-day free event boasts a litany of local musical talent including of the folky Americana stomp grooving Sean Hoots Trio. Hezekiah Jones, a.k.a. Raphael Cutrufello the ever-imaginative folk-baron gathers his ever-evolving ensemble of Joneses. Multi-instrumentalist Khari Mateen offers music that pulls from an array of genres. With an intermingling of classical, jazz, soul and hip hop creating a contagious vibrancy, developing a hybrid that isn’t forced; rather, smoothly woven together. They will be joined by Philly-bred singer/songwriter Jesse Ruben and headlined by pop folkster Ben Kweller and the legendary They Might Be Giants. Be sure to register for this excellent day and support WHYY – we love their programming! River Stage at Great Plaza, 201 S. Columbus Blvd., 3pm – 9:30pm, Free, All Ages – Michael Colavita
L.A.
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Stream: Max & the Moon “All I Know”
Fullerton/Chino Hills quartet Max & the Moon have made a steady progression with each single they’ve released, and their newest, "All I Know", just might be their calling card to attract any record label they wish. With its bubbly keyboard pulse and lithe harmonies, the track has a celebratory fervor that cements their place as one of the most tuneful bands in the local scene today. Though there’s still no announcements about a possible full-length, they’ve just booked an upcoming LA residency at the Bootleg Theater that runs from Octber 7th to the 28th.
NYC
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Weekly Feature – SKATERS plays Webster Hall on October 9
With only a handful of compositions to their name, Brooklyn’s SKATERS have very quickly taken a giant leap beyond the usual blog space race, garnering attention from The Guardian and The New York Times, among others, who have joined the legions captivated by their refreshingly undiluted take on classic melody-driven punk rock. Catch them live at Webster Hall on October 9. – Link: SKATERS interview.
NYC
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Album review: Erik Voeks – Finulu (EP)
Finulu is the first extended follow up to Erik Voeks’s debut EP Free Range (see my review here). While I very much enjoyed the more laid-back and folky sounds featured on Free Range, it is nice to see Voeks further invite the whole orchestra pit to play on this EP.
“Descending From a Daydream” is a solid upbeat pop tune. As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, I am a complete whore for a good chug beat and “woo hoo”s. Both are featured here in spades. The harmonies are air tight, the arrangement is playful, the instrumentation is tastefully lush, and the lyrics are a little mischievous and tongue-in-cheek. Perhaps best is that this song really puts its money where its mouth is, as it is both somewhat a sonic departure from Voek’s previous work that I am familiar with as well as thematically about being sick of the same old tired music.
“And I’ve had enough of 12-bar blues,
And I’ve had all of your face that I can use”
“Cuz I’ve had enough of 1, 4, 5,
and I’ve had all of your shit I can’t survive”
“Voted the boy most likely to succeed at the Dr Who convention…” greets your ear as you groove into the EP’s second track, “Dark Angel of Delmar.” This two-minute song tows the more goofy and playful side of power pop. But even if you don’t know what Tardis is, you can still bob your head to the solid groove and hum along to the hooky guitar line. Complete with a crowd-noise/baby-wailing fade out into the next song, this effort reinforces the sentiment laid out in the first track: don’t be the soulless jerk just rehashing the same crap that has been done over and over and over and over again.
The last two tracks are more like the material I remember from Free Range:heavy doses of thoughtful Americana meets the Beatles in “Hester A.Fish” and early to mid-‘90s power pop ala the Gin Blossoms or Soul Asylum in “What It Feels Like.” Whereas not as experimental or varied in their sonic landscape, these tracks are still top notch.
Finulu, which also happens to feature some of the most adorable album art ever, is another solid effort from Voeks. It is sonically impressive, lyrically astute, and notably coddled into a sincerely enjoyable listen.
You can see Erik Voeks and witness his brilliant range of songwriting at Crossroads Music Fest next Saturday, September 14 at Collection at 9:30 p.m. You can buy tickets in advance at this link for $15, $20 at the gate.
–Zach Hodson
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Zach Hodson is a monster. He once stole a grilled cheese sandwich from a 4-year-old girl at her birthday party. He will only juggle if you pay him. I hear he punched Slimer right in his fat, green face. He knows the secrets to free energy, but refuses to release them until "Saved by the Bell: Fortysomethings" begins production. He is also in Dolls on Fire and Drew Black & Dirty Electric, as well as contributing to various other Kansas City-based music, comedy, and art projects. |
San Francisco
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Buffalo Tooth Creepers Mondo Drag and Urthdance Play Brick & Mortar + Buffalo Tooth & Creeper’s Split 7 inch -9/6
Brick & Mortar will be showcasing a night of rock and metal/punk infused sounds to bring Buffalo Tooth and Creepers new 7 inch split that will release this month.
Buffalo Tooth brings a hard rock/metal sound to the bill, with their newest song, “Shit Show”, which brings metal-influenced guitar riffs and fast paced vocals. Creepers bring a more daze-rock sound to the line up, with their song “Memory Fog” featuring heavy reverb, mumbling vocals and a large amount of instrumentation. Mondo Drag bring a heavy psych rock sound, with fuzzed out guitar riffs, delayed and reverbed vocals and a large emphasis on melodies, guitars, and abstract sounds. Their song, “Love Me (Like A Stranger)” even has some immediate Jimi Hendrix type sound. Urthdance brings a punk vibe to the line-up. Their distorted vocals are simple, yet powerful. Their song “FULLMOON” features repeating guitars and melodies with a garage rock sound.
Be sure to head on out to catch this night full of hard sounds! –Victor Casillas Valle
NYC
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NYC Alt Pop trio Wise Girl plays Arlene’s Grocery on 09.07
The NYC power-pop trio Wise Girl, fronted by the amiable Abby Weitz and her robust vocals, take their passion for rock and roll and radio-friendly hits and put out tunes that are catchy, colorful and honest. Abby’s 60’s rock background and her passion for pop really shine through. The emerging artist recently released a self-titled EP (which you can listen to below via Reverb Nation) that helped attract an audience eager for an LP, one that they will release on 9/10. Check them out at Arlene’s Grocery on 9.7 with American Darlings and Next Best Friend. -Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)
NYC
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Weekly Feature: Happy Lives play Free Candy on 09.07
Brooklyn/Boston hybrid Happy Lives is a shape-shifting monster of sorts – and we mean that as a compliment. Sometimes a duo, sometimes a trio, they’re part band, part computer: thundering drum machine-wrought vibrations march tracks along. In "Slacks and Slippers" (streaming below) off 2012’s self-titled debut, this pulsing drive mingles with garagey guitars to craft some kind of 90s alt sound. You can catch them live at Free Candy tomorrow (September 7). – Read Corinne Bagish interview with the band here.