Heathen Reign will be celebrating the release of their self-titled album, which will be available on 12” split purple vinyl with hand-screened covers, tonight when they open for Relapse Records’ Black Tusk, who are just returning from a European tour with Fight Amp. The local hardcore/metal noise-rock outfit is fronted by the howls of Creepoid drummer Pat Troxell who is backed by the heavy riffs of Brad Wallace (Orchid, Transistor Transistor, Wolves, Bucket Full of Teeth), bassist Joe Gough (KTMWQ, Distress Signal, War Emblem), and drummer Steve DiCicco (BrainDead). They’ll also be joined this evening by Richmond, VA psych-sludge, doom-metal five-piece Inter Arma (Relapse) and The Company Corvette. “Dance (or hold a beer and subtly bob your head).” Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $15, 21+ – Alexis V.
Philadelphia
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Tatsuya Nakatani + Lea Cho + Russ Waterhouse at Highwire Gallery Oct. 26
When Japanese solo percussionist and mastermind behind the Nakatani Gong Orchestra Tatsuya Nakatani plays an intimate, experimental set at the Highwire Gallery tonight, he’ll be backed by the perfect musicians in Blues Control. Lea Cho and Russ Waterhouse have been highly regarded for their fevered avant-garde blues-tinged noise rock. And ever since signing to well-respected indie label Drag City, they have gained even more exposure, finding themselves on stage with indie favorites like Deerhunter, Quasi and Maria Minerva. Add in tonight being Sinking Body’s first show in 9 years, and you have a good reason why Fishtown is such a hotbed for underground music. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave., 8PM, $8-$10, All Ages – Bill McThrill
Austin
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Roxy Roca’s Zombie Video
There’s nothing like a true love revival. Leave it to Roxy Roca and Outlander Productions to turn this classic concept into a zombie music video premise just in time for Halloween. From the coffin to the stage, watch the life creep back into Taye Cannon’s bones, and the crowd’s, as he shows up for the after party of his own funeral to reunite with his true love. –Written by Charise Sowells
Portland
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Album Review: Wild Pack by Quiet Life
Based in New London CT and subsequently San Luis Obispo CA, Quiet Life has settled in Portland and brought with them an excellent new album off of Mama Bird Recording Company. Wild Pack (releases on 10/29) blends classic indie folk with tambourine revival-stomp and covers it all in a healthy shade of the blues. Among other influences the band (whose members have been involved in such projects as Delorean, Hip Hatchet and Holy Sons) attribute Wild Pack‘s inspiration to "the road and women". This is particularly evident in the poignant lyrical focus on lost love and the torment of a restless lover. Aside from the lyrics, the blues ache seeps particularly into the track, "Low Blues" a dusty rambler of a busy guitar blues to the beat of nothing but a tambourine (no vocals either). "Devils Kin" chugs along like a Velvet Underground tune complete with a Lou Reed drawl. "New London" is an epic build up of a ballad where organ drone layered with careful, quiet keys stack into a raucous harmonica jam.The organ shines nicely in the album as a whole whether it is beaming chords clear and true, growling them into existence, or just purring with idle vibrato. In short, these guys know how to make a record and Wild Pack certainly deserves your ears. – Ted Jamison
Portland
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Kye Kye at Bunk Bar 10.25
Moving from Estonia to grow up in the humble surrounding of Camas, WA, the Yagolinikov family has been making lush symphonic tracks for three years. As the yet unsigned band Kye Kye they are readying the release of their second album, Fantasize. Olga’s vocals are echoing and breathy, but she is also a songbird twirling high notes with ease. Along with her two brothers Alex and Tim mastering electronics and guitar and her husband Tommy on the drums, they navigate a cool, lucid soundscape touched with piano, horns and grooving bass. They are ambient, synth- drenched and mysterious. Catch them tonight at Bunk Bar with Leagues. – Brandy Crowe
L.A.
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Stream: Bastidas! “Time Portal EP”
San Gabriel trio Bastidas! are driven by the rhythm and the groove, albeit one that is informed by the eccentricities of post-punk. The five songs that comprise their latest EP Time Portal are carried with primal imperfection, creating this symbiotic mesh of pungent noise that welds into a beautifully chaotic whole. Much like their Chino neighbords Abe Vigoda, they embrace kinetic energy with a playfulness that invites the body to surrender. But their new material doesn’t settle on tangled propulsion – the sputtering guitars and whippy bass throbs of opener Pocket Jesus makes for what sounds like a long lost demo from an eighties band from the Athens post-punk scene that never got its proper due. And In the Now is complexly fleshed-out, brandishing an onslaught of spook-laden reverb over latin percussive elements. It careens in random directions, but all these different permutations are still highlighted with a sense of mad menace that’s undeniably theirs. Bastidas! have been around for over five years supporting like-minded acts such as No Age and Health, and it’s about time they start getting some national attention as well.
L.A.
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Artist to Watch: Wild Eyes
If it’s possible to be aggressively laid-back, then noise rockers Wild Eyes have nailed it. Made up of four guys from Covina, they have been steadily releasing singles and EPs over the last two years. The band’s Blue Haze EP is what first caught my attention, with its patiently unfolding delicate dreamscapes, dipping every so gently into the stream of shoegaze, veering off into the world of noise, and gently cascading like a feather falling from a cloud in a dreamy daze. The quartet’s latest release, ‘Lose Your Head’, is two songs of over saturated noise, spacey vibes and cacophonous delay trails. Whether it’s an evolution or simply a maturation, the injection of gritty garage-style antics drives their sound forward. Somewhere in outer space Tame Impala and My Bloody Valentine procreated, and Wild Eyes’ “Lose Your Head” was born. The relaxed repetition of “I don’t care,” swathed in reverb, mixed with the gyration of guitar effects and crowd chatter is the sign of their true artistry. These aren’t just kids making copycat rock music. There’s intentionality and subtlety that show real promise for a full length release. Stream the two songs below from their bandcamp. – Jacqueline Caruso
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, October 25 – 27
Local favorite son Kurt Vile is taking the stage this Saturday at Union Transfer. Equal parts psychedelic, offbeat and profound, Vile has quickly established himself as a music industry darling. Fresh off another critically acclaimed album, his own local holiday, and being paraded through the streets of our city, he’ll be backed by his aptly named Violators. Expect smoky, hypnotic music occasionally interspersed with some of Kurt’s trademark (pleasantly) awkward banter. They’ll be joined by tour mates melodic Brooklyn up-and-comers Beach Fossils and NYC three-piece VBA, with current Violator member Bentley Anderson. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 9pm, $22, All Ages – Daniel Ludwig
Other places to escape the chill this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Joey Sweeney, Northern Arms, The Fantastic Imagination
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT (Early) Heathen Reign, The Company Corvette, (Late) Ruder Then You, The Mighy Paradocs, MMGZ
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SAT Laser Background, Ghost Light
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SUN Air is Human, Harbor
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Literature, Panic Years, SAT Clamfight, Wizard Eye, Screaming Rattler, SUN Bel Heir
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) SAT Family Vacation, Keepers, The Harry Walther Band, Venice Sunlight
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Vice Royal, Anjuli Josephine, SUN Pill Friends, Left and Right, Snoozer
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI PARTY. w/Les Professionnels & Friends, SAT Halfro
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI The Districts, Dominic Angelella (of DRGN KNG), SAT The GTV’s, Midwestern Exposure
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Dead in The Face, Corpse Hoarder, Dark Water’s End, Burial Mound
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SUN Theresa Noye
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Knife and Fork Band, SAT Rusty Cadillac
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Pravda, The Jawn, Wave Radio, Tungsten, SAT Andrew Winter and The Reckless Dodgers, SUN Supreem and The New Experience, Supreem Da Rezarekta
JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) SUN A Day Without Love
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SAT Denison Witmer
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT More Than Alive
The Random Tea Room (713 N. 4th St.) FRI Kristen Sylvester
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Matt Gauss Band
Mt. Thrashmore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Marietta, Cemetery Friends, Jet Set Sail
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Luther, Nona, Omar, Crybaby, SAT Timeshares, Annabel, Manors, SUN The Holy Mess, The Greek Favourites, Address
House of the Rise Up Singing (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Silverton Album Release Costume Party
Great Indoors (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Banned Books, Wet Food, American Spiritual
A House Named Virtue (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Banned Books, Jonagold, Luck Mountain
Don’t Tread on Me House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI When Ships Collide, The Chairman Dances, Television Blood
Duff Gardens (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Low Charge
NYC
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Weekly Feature: Butter the Children – live at Kent 285 on 10.30
There is a playful element running through the speedy punk music of New York City’s Butter The Children. Revealing themselves to be keenly aware of the irony all around us (as well as outright fans of classic comedy) vocalist Inna, guitarist Ray, Drummer Jordyn and bassist Jon bring an intelligent approach to an often maligned genre. The more amusing elements of our television culture serve as a catalyst for the lyrical content running through much of the band’s self-titled seven song EP. Angular guitar lines snake behind straightforward progressions, proving ample sonic hooks for your ears to latch on to. Having recently signed to the prestigious Downtown Records, expect to see the bands profile continue to expand in the coming months, and see them live at Kent 285 on October 30.
LNKS: Dave Cromwell‘s interview with Butter the Children
NYC
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Weekly Feature: Great Caesar – live at The Edison Ballroom on 10.31
The six members of Great Caesar, a big band with brass to spare, are tristate area connoisseurs. They hail from Connecticut, they’ve recently re-located to Brooklyn, and their recent release ‘Scattered Air’ was recorded with Eric Bennett (credentials include Screaming Females, Laura Stevenson & the Cans) in New Jersey. Great Caesar talks to us about crowds in New York versus Connecticut and the "vast universe" that is the Brooklyn music scene. See them live at The Edison Ballroom in Manhattan on 10.31.
LINK: Corinne Bagish’s interview with Great Caesar.
NYC
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From The Deli NYC’s submissions: Of the Opera
Here’s something to consider: How can one be kickass and loud, and still keep a cool, new wave posture at the same time? Those are just two of the sides that make up the chilling electronic rock in Of The Opera. A band with a mysterious way of merging these opposing postures into something entirely original. Latest track ‘Widow’ puts these contradictions on display, where the mysteries of love collide with an electronic pyrotechnics display. Check it out below. Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
This band submitted their music for coverage here.
Chicago
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So Many Ways “Seer”
So Many Ways are releasing a new EP called "Seer" on November 19th via Staple Records. Last week they released the audio for the thrashing first single "Roraima" from the new EP through Youtube.
So Many Ways will be performing a live set on Audiotree on November 5th.