San Francisco

Uncle Alberts Holiday Social with Secret Sidewalk Klaxon Mutant All-Stars and Disappearing People TONIGHT

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Tonight, Secret Sidewalk, Disappearing People, and Klaxon Mutant All-Stars will be joining forces at Oakland’s Legionnaire Saloon to play Uncle Alberts Holiday Social.

The show features an array of bands that let instrumentals shine above all else. Headlining the shindig is Bay Area organic electronic quartet, Secret Sidewalk. Seeking to achieve an avant-garde “dirt wave” sound, the band puts on a chaotic yet seamless set. Oakland’s experimental lo-fi duo, Disappearing People will also be making an appearance. The band plays for the long haul cranking out reverb-heavy durational musical arrangements with psych-rock leanings. Klaxon Mutant Allstars also join in on the fun with its own brand of jazz-fusion. The instrumental quartet offers cohesive, caterwauling musical compositions. –Erin Dage

Philadelphia

Ticket Giveaway: Yacht at Underground Arts This Friday

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We continue this week of dancing the cold away with a ticket giveaway to Yacht at Underground Arts tomorrow night. To enter for a chance to win a pair of tix, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line “Anchors Aweigh” Please also include your cell number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency).
 
San Francisco

8th Grader Releases New Music Video – The Sweetness

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Local nu-soul crooner 8th Grader debuted the video for his song “The Sweetness” last week, and we’re enamored. Also known as Jayson Martinovich, the artist seeks to redefine the concept of slow jams by blending elements of pop, R&B and chillwave in his latest release Diamonds, Silver and Gold. As a different version of “All the Sweetness” from the album, the video gives a sultry, soulful air as he and his lady friend move in and out of the shadows in vignetted scenes. And the best way to view this video? Just kick back, relax, and let 8th Grader do all the singing.

If the video isn’t enough, be sure to catch him alongside songstress Jasmine Nichol at Brick and Mortar Music Hall on December 22. – Erin Dage

Philadelphia

Box of Stars’ Sparklehorse/Mark Linkous Tribute Album Needs Your Help!

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Box of Stars, a Philly-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of mental health issues, is gearing up to put out a Sparklehorse/Mark Linkous tribute album entitled Last Box of Sparklers. The compilation already has a fantastic lineup of contributors such as the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Cowboy Junkies, Mark Lanegan, Phantogram, Portugal. the Man, Califone, The Joy Formidable, and other notable names, alongside local up-and-comers like Toy Soldiers and TivaTiva. The compilation will be mastered by Dave Fridmann (the Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, MGMT, etc.), and Box of Stars has also partnered up with Minding Your Mind, an organization that visits schools to educate young adults about mental health. The project is in the final stages of its funding campaign through Indiegogo, where you’ll find vinyl, CDs and downloads of the album, signed items from participating artists, mixing/mastering time, clothing, and much more as a reward for your contribution. We’re sure that there are many of us out there who have been affected by mental health issues in our lives, and we encourage you to give what you can for a truly great cause. Much love!

Portland

Party Boyz Present: December to Forget

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This Saturday night your favorite local podcasters, Party Boyz (also known as Elizabeth Elder and Rachel Milbauer), are living up to their name by throwing a warehouse party with a music lineup that will make your head spin. Old Light will be bringing their vivid brand of garage-infused psychedelia, Hustle and Drone will throw down their addictive beats and The We Shared Milk will bring the hazy indie-rock energy that’s garnered them some well-deserved attention in 2013. But wait, there’s more! Super secret guests, late night DJs, delicious food carts and to top it all off this party’s for charity. Bring a food or toy donation for a few dollars off admission and live it up knowing you gave a little bit back to your community. The festivities are being held at Manifest Station (2020 SE Bush ) and doors open at 8pm. Also, wear a Christmas sweater. – Benjamin Toledo

Philadelphia

Heyward Howkins Record Release Show at JB’s Dec. 12

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Johnny Brenda’s welcomes Heyward Howkins this evening as he celebrates the release of Be Frank Furness. The follow-up to last year’s debut, The Hale & Hearty, is a multi-purposed album whose title/song is a nod to the famous 19th century Philadelphia architect Frank Furness. What captures one’s immediate interest is Howkins’s tantalizing turns of phrase as he crafts vivid descriptions showcasing an attention to detail while demonstrating songwriting abilities that interweave literary meaning with phonetic functionality. However, the words only represent a portion of Be Frank Furness. The instrumental elements breathe life into Howkins’ tales. Some songs provide an energetic open airiness, while others shift toward an intense weighty direction. The great unifier is a musician that finds balance, enriching lyricism via instrumentation. Add the premium blend of jangly psychedelic boogie rock of Needle Points and the first full band appearance of Sad Actor, and you might forget that it’s below freezing outside. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

NYC

Bird Courage plays Masquerade showcase on Friday 12.13

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The new record from Bird Courage is a creative homecoming of sorts. After releasing ‘A Promising Flee’ in 2012, Sam and Erik have gotten back together with creative partner Sean McMahon to record the emotionally charged folk statement ‘music store ‘Māia Manu’. An album that kicks you in the stomach, even as it makes you comfortable with winter’s hibernation. Just check out their moving song ‘Constellation’ (streaming), or listen to ‘Mayshower’s gentle strums and lilting textures, and you’ll start warming up to the idea of staying indoors when it’s too cold outside. But only after you see them at the Masquerade showcase at Professor Pete’s Acoustic Lodge on Friday night (12.13). – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets), photo by ahsleykbarnes.com

NYC

Von Shakes take their anthemic rock to Shea Stadium tonight (12.12)

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Rock quartet Von Shakes have a love for NYC that seems lost sometimes on people that have lived here all their lives. Moving here a few years ago from Ireland, the group is bringing our city the kind of anthemic rock joy ingredient that’s somewhat scarce in our local rock music.

And considering how large their studio recordings sound, it’s easy to imagine how insane they must be when you find yourself in the middle of a sweaty set. So get your butt down to Shea Stadium tonight and see them when they play a just-announced gig, and check out a live recording of the charging ‘Robinson Crusoe’ here. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Philadelphia

New Pink Skull EP Available for Streaming

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The Pink Skull dudes, now consisting of Julian Grefe, Justin Geller and Joe Lentini, have a new six-track EP out on vinyl entitled Huitlacoche, via Canadian label My Favorite Robot Records. The album is out a month before its digital release, but you can stream the record in its entirety below, and the single "Mutant Comfort" is available for free download HERE.

Nashville

Josephine and the Wildfront Experience Major Setback

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Anyone in a band ought to be wincing at this story, which, this being Nashville, should be everybody (except you, Dad.) Josephine and the Wildfront, Artist of the Month Winners from this summer, have recently experienced a devastating loss.

Their Minimoog synthesizer, a $5000 gift and essential 4th member of the band, was ruined the first time it was plugged in while setting up at the Springwater Supper Club on November 15th. To quote from their website: “When we plugged in, the Moog was fried instantly. The screen began blinking, and was unresponsive. We turned it off, unplugged, and tried again, to no avail.”

It seems that was the day the venue/restaurant had their building rewired, and an electrician had been making trips to fix problems as the band was loading in. After an amp belonging to Creature Comfort, another band performing that night, stopped working after being plugged in, and Josephine herself was electrocuted by her own guitar, the gig was cancelled.

The matter is still unresolved; at the moment the band has sent Springwater asking for the amount of damages, and waiting for a response. If you’d like to show your support and wish to prevent the band from digging themselves deeper into the hole by selling their van, visit https://josephineandthewildfront.bandcamp.com/merch and buy a piece of merch. “Noose” is the first track off their EP, “Swallowed by the Ocean,” which, coincidentally, is exactly what your sister wants for Christmas. –Terra James-Jura

NYC

Album review: Man Bear – Power Slop (EP)

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(Photo by Chad Cogdill)
 
I am an absolute whore for woo-hoos. I’m pretty sure I always have been. I would assume it goes back to the steady diet of Oldies 95 I had growing up. Those two hooky syllables, three chords, a juice box and some chuggy guitar, and Zach is a happy boy. It is for this sole reason that “Rocket to Knowhere,” the opening track off Man Bear’s most recent EP Power Slop, surprisingly caught my ear.
 
I say surprisingly as I will admit I have not always been a fan of Man Bear. Their previous efforts (such as Feeling Kinda Lo(Fi) and Infinity Cat are absolutely fine and dandy in their own right, just were never this reviewer’s thing.
 
But Power Slop ironically shows a real escalation and tightness for the KC area trio. The songs are more intricately arranged and envisioned. The instrumentation is quirky, yet purposeful, varied and appealing. The performances seem taut and dutifully prepared. By the end of this review I found myself thinking “Man, they really do sound a lot like They Might Be Giants at times,” which happens to be one of my all-time favorite bands. So, much to the excitement of many of my friends that have always dug them, it seems as though I have been converted.
 
This lo-fi, five-song pop/punk effort comes in at just under 12 minutes. Fans of The ACBs’ most recent LP Little Leaves will really enjoy what Man Bear is offering here. The aforementioned opener powers through a quick ninety seconds with a Presidents of the United States of America straight beat groove, simple contrasting guitar work, and strains of forced, airy vocals. The choices of instrumentation in “Bass Revenge” really shimmer, the guitar work on the choruses especially. The band seems to have a good thing going pairing the stodgy acoustic guitar sound on one side with the more distorted, reverb-laden lead sounds of the other. It’s an age-old home studio trick, but Man Bear seems to have mastered it to great effect.
 
“Oh Well, Whatever” is quick slice of slightly off-kilter, high-energy pop punk, featuring a just-diverse-enough off-time riff structure (and another nod given for the effective use of woos). I appreciate their use, not abuse, of the all-powerful triplet. Dare I say that the last track “Fast Asleep at 10 PM” is a delightful throwback acoustic number reminiscent of a time where hair metal power ballads ruled the airwaves? I guess I just did.
 
They may call it Power Slop, but especially compared to their previous efforts, it is anything but. I am happy to see the sonic progress this band has made in a relatively short amount of time. Well done, Man Bear. Keep wooing in this direction.

–Zach Hodson


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.
 
 
 
Alex Courtney of Man Bear will be playing an acoustic show next Thursday, December 19 at The Brick. Members of Bent Left, Dead Ven, Deco Auto, and Hipshot Killer will also be playing. Facebook event page.

 

 

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