We were really into Brooklyn based weird pop duo Sunglasses, so much so that we honored them with our Record olf the Month some time in 2012. The band split up shortly after, and the half known as Samuel Cooper started playing under his own name and working on his solo album, which will see the light of day in April. Here’s a first taste of it.
San Francisco
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Album Review: Cat Converters / Teenage Warpaint – Frozen Folk / Magic Fight (Split EP)
Oakland based Frozen Folk and Magic Fight, (a band who recently relocated to Portland via the Bay Area), effortlessly blends their different backgrounds within their split EP, Cat Converters / Teenage Warpaint, through soul-penetrating harmonies with tumbling reverb that creates a final product that is out of this world!
Teenage Warpaint is sweetly grungy, as a simple harp-esque line leads into laidback soulful vocals with rising cadences that may induce inadvertant head bobbing. Vibes reminiscent of Bastille and Passion Pit stir up charmingly warbled feelings stocked with smiles from the song Barcelona, which is complete with piano overtones and rolling drumbeats.
Things get a bit more experimental in Cat Converters as the vocals get taken up a notch, while the guitars go for a long breezy drive on the coast. The 4-song EP concludes with a slightly silly track called Eggs and Marrowbone that sounds as wild as the title promises. Both bands are coolly confident and clearly talented. We can only hope for more future collabs from these two indie powerhouses. – Kat Collins
Portland
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The Hugs Release New Video: “Let It Go”
The Hugs have just released a video to accompany “Let It Go”, a calm and reflective song that explores the emotions that surface as a relationship comes to a close. The video, directed by Sean Allen, features images of the shores on the Willamette beneath an overcast sky that mirror the intonations of vocalist Danny Delegato’s voice as he recites and sings his lyrical content into the camera. Watch the video below and be sure to listen to The Hugs latest album, Love Led You Here, on bandcamp. – Benjamin Toledo
Nashville
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The New Industry Standard “Responsibility”
The lyric “right now I would will drink pure blood to sober up” should grab anyone’s ear. Followed by a throaty chorus of “WHERE’D I GO WRONG?” the track “Responsibility” by The New Industry Standard could be an anthem for Monday morning. At the very least, it’s a damn catchy tune about getting slobbering drunk. The song comes off their EP “Part 3” released February 5th, of which the band succinctly describes: “The first 3 songs are fast. The last two songs are slow.” You have to appreciate a band so keenly self-aware and apt in creating bouncy punk rock. -Terra James-Jura
NYC
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Folk Alliance International Conference comes to Kansas City
The Folk Alliance International has moved its annual conference to Kansas City, and it kicks off this Wednesday, February 19 with a full list of local bands and solo performers. The conference will be held at the Westin Crown Center Hotel.
On Wednesday, nine showcases will take place from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, including bands like The Grisly Hand, Jorge Arana Trio, Trampled Under Foot, and The New Riddim.
The conference runs through Sunday. It will feature bands and performers from around the world, with official and private showcases throughout the hotel. Graham Nash and Al Gore will be speaking at the event. Music workshops, jam sessions, and films will also be featured.
Tickets are $25 per night. Other information can be found at www.folk.org.
Austin
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THE AUSTIN JAZZ ALLIANCE KICKS OFF THE FIRST ANNUAL 2014 TEXAS JAZZ JAM CRUISE
For more than four years, the Austin Jazz Alliance has served as a grassroots organization to help jazz musicians in Austin and Central Texas promote their music. Since its creation in 2009, it has become dedicated to celebrating jazz music and bringing together jazz musicians, jazz fans, and jazz related businesses. To further celebrate the contributions of jazz musicians across the state, The Austin Jazz Alliance and PEEKS Cruises & Tours have joined forces to organize the first ever Texas Jazz Jam This luxury cruise, which sets sail from Galveston, Texas on October 5th, 2014 and runs through October 12th, 2014 will allow jazz musicians and fans to enjoy a beautiful vacation on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas, while enjoying some of the finest music Texas has to offer. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the mission of several jazz organizations, including The Austin Jazz Society, Women in Jazz, and the Austin Traditional Jazz Society.
To launch this unique and exciting event, the Austin Jazz Alliance will celebrate with a kick-off party at SoundCheck Austin (1501 E. 51st Street, Austin, TX, 78723) on February 22nd from 1pm to 5pm. The party will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and feature performances from members of the Texas Jam House Band, including Paul Klemperer, Evan Arredondo, and Wayne Duncan. The event will also give attendees a chance to network and learn more about the cruise. In addition to hearing members of the Texas Jam House Band, fans will be treated to special guests including Dr. James Polk, the recipient of the 2013 Jazz Journalists Association and AJA’s Jazz Hero Award. Fender Musical Instrument Corporation and Gretsch Drums have come aboard as the official musical instrument/backline provider and sponsor and will be represented by Jeff Van Zandt, manager of the Fender Artist Relations office in Austin, Texas. Fender’s new re-issue, of the ’68 Silverface Twin Reverb will be given away to one lucky attendee during the cruise!
The brainchild of founder Fito Kahn, the Texas Jazz Jam Cruise gives jazz musicians an opportunity to take a vacation while playing with some of the most gifted musicians the state has to offer. Musicians will be encouraged to bring their instruments to jam along with the house band and hone their skills and even take in a workshop or two. Jazz fans will be treated to a trip on a beautiful ship and will also be able to sign up for the workshop of their choice, including “Jazz 101” and “The History of Jazz.” All guests will be able to enjoy the sounds of some of Texas’s finest jazz as they cruise to Roatan, Honduras, Belize City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico aboard the majestic Royal Caribbean’s Luxury cruise ship.
Press Release Submit by Gina Sigillito
Philadelphia
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The 3rd Annual Tri State Indie Awards at WCL Feb. 16
The good folks at Tri State Indie are back with their 3rd Annual Tri State Indie Music Awards that will be held this evening downstairs at World Cafe Live. There will be live performances from nominees like The Lawsuits, Maitland, Chill Moody, Ali Wadsworth and more with drink specials to help provide some social lubrication. Attendees are also encouraged to wear your best/favorite outfits and walk the red carpet, but don’t worry – it’s really a very chill hang with some nice music peeps. Cheers, TSI! World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 3pm – 5pm (Invite Only Pre-party), 6pm (Show), $20, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
Philadelphia
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Southwark Get Ready for SXSW at The Boot & Saddle Feb. 15
What started out as seven musicians kindling a friendship while participating in a mummers band has emerged as a musically sound South Philly act complete with vibrant guitars, multiple horns, keyboards, kazoos, multi layered vocal harmonies, and then some! And Southwork have managed to gain some nice recognition through their first 2 EPs Arise and Seasons Passing. But the band started their winter hibernation by recording a lot of new material that their ready to showcase to the world, and they’ll be doing so with a sixteen-show tour that will be going all the way to SXSW. Tonight’s bill at The Boot & Saddle will be the perfect way to wish the band bon voyage. It will also feature the guitar heavy project of the Hammill brothers, Killer Bangs, which also features Chris Weyh (The Makes) and Stephen Clifford (Circa Survive), and S.T.O.P., which is the new side project of Joe Reno (Southwark, En Fuego) and Jeremy Blessing (The Great Vibration). The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Bill McThrill
L.A.
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Cassorla plays the Bootleg Theater on 2.24
Cassorla is the project of multi-instrumentalist Ben Cassorla, who recently put out an EP of songs recorded in Los Angeles, Portland and Paris. Gathering his Amigos, which coincidentally is the name of the album, he used limited instrumentals, ‘vocals doubled roughly, muted drums, old analog delays, cheap tremolos, vintage microphones and a guitar’, to create an ensemble of sounds strong enough to develop a newfound love for an undefined genre. His music is indescribable and completely original; I found it difficult trying to pinpoint a certain genre he could fall under. So instead, I was left with trying to identify genres that blend together into one: classical, underground electro, indie rock, avant-garde and some new age are just some of the genres I could pinpoint, yet they all intertwine. Future One is quite the highlight – it features Taylor Goldsmith from Dawes, and includes rough guitar picks that naturally bring out my air guitar and foot tapping skills. You can see Cassorla perform an album release show alongside Chris Bauers at the Bootleg Theater on February 24. – Kayla Hay
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, February 14 – 16
Two Piece Fest 7 crash lands upon Pi Lam this Saturday, and whether they’re math rock or metal, electronic or acoustic, musically sound or quirky and action-packed, this year’s festival will feature an eclectic mix of duos that rock. The fest will showcase plenty of out-of-towners like headliners Shellshag, Empty Vessels, and These Branches, but there will also be plenty of locals representing the Philly music community. Co-headliners +HIRS+ may invoke thrills and chills with their slash-and-destroy grindcore, and Driftwood Soldier will stomp a hole in the stage with mandolin-and-bass-infused gutter folk. Weirdo avant-pop outfit Banned Books will show that they haven’t missed a beat since they went from power trio to dynamic duo, and sludge-pop duo Holy Death may preview tunes from their freshly tracked upcoming EP. The fest will also feature the alt-rock sounds of Rasputin’s Secret Police, the fast-paced experimental math-punk of The Joint Chiefs of Math, another sighting of Omar, and a shit ton more! Pi Lam, 3914 Spruce St., 2PM, $5 (before 2pm) – $10 (after 2pm), All Ages – Bill McThrill
Other places to go now that you aren’t trapped this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Stinking Lizaveta, Gondola, The Company Corvette,
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Southwork, Killer Bangs
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Tender Vision, Ghost Gum, SAT Duffy’s Cut
Voyeur (1221 St. James St.) Making Time Valentime
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI American Babies, SAT American Babies
TLA (334 South St.) SAT G. Love & Special Sauce, SUN G. Love & Special Sauce
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Bong Hits for Jesus, SAT Take the Hint!, An Honest Year, Something Started
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Kwesi K, SAT Long Miles, Reef’d, SUN Tri State Indie Awards
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Northern Liberties Winter Music Fest w/Anjuli Josephine, Folly Fields, Acton Bell, Paige Allbritton, SAT The Northern Liberties Winter Music Fest w/Jason Fracticelli and The Wet Dreams, Black Stars, SUN The Northern Liberties Winter Music Fes w/Dirk Quinn Band, Cold Roses, The Wallace Brothers Band
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Modern Suits, Desoto Jones, SAT Halfro, Bey, Verbatum Jones
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Ang & The Damn Band, St. James & the Apostles, SAT The Pretty Greens
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Commonwealth, The Sixties, SAT Morning River Band, The People
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SUN Lo Power Plane, Beyonder
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Mike Slo-Mo Brenner, Matt McAndrew Band, SAT Get Involved!, The Future Race, Adalie, Swarms
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Hoots & Hellmouth
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI John Train, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Bosom Band, Inconsiderate Bastards, The Late Greats
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT The A’s
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Die Choking, Brontide, Wet Fetish, SAT Hound, Low Charge, SUN Brightside, Ephraim Huit, Vveed Vvolf, Danger O’s
Mt. Thrashmore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Girl Brains, Bleach Bath, Blank Book
Nacho House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Bad Canoes, RSO, Great Western Plain, Wet Food
West Kensington Ministry (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Scott Churchman, Hermit Thrushes
Safety Meeting (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI No Other, Amanda X, Fake Goals
502 House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT The Sixties, Honah Lee, Welter, Circadian Frequency
Freedom 35 (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Ma Jolie, Sic Bacchus, Bleeding Fractals, Good Graces
Trinity House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Jack Wright/Jim Strong Duo, Zell Row, SM-R, Chalk Teeth
Nashville
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Weekend Itinerary
Its Valentine’s Day weekend! No matter where you are in love, luck, or finances, there’s something for everyone going on this weekend. Here’s a select sampling:
Friday:
Bad Cop, Gunther Doug, Colorfeels, and Couched at the End. $5 cover, show at 8.
Whiskey Disco and Electric Western present The Valentine’s Day Dance Party at the 5 Spot. $7 before 10 pm and $10 after. Get ready to get messy to a night of soul and funk classics.
Death Comesto Mattenson, Pale Houses and Beards at the High Watt, $7 gets you in, show starts at 9.
Saturday:
"Slurp for a Cause" at Marathon Music Works. Eat a ton Ramen, listen to Guilty Pleasures, and raise money to fight pediatric cancer. If you need to know more, read HERE.
QDProm at Mercy Lounge involves DJs, dancers, and live bands including Ponychase, Tipper Whore and a super secret musical guest will keep this live dance party thumping. Dig out your old prom dress, grab your man or lady, dig out their prom dress, and party straight till Sunday. $10 gets you in, prom starts at 8.
The Goldroom, Ole Mossy Face, Spirits and The Melchizedek Children play at fooBar. Show is at 10, cover is $5.
Nashville stalwarts Blackfoot Gypsies play at the 5 Spot with Justin and the Cosmics, Phil Hummer and the White Falcons, and Haunted Device. Show starts at 9.
Sunday:
The Allen Thompson Band joins Cory Branan and Lucero at Exit/In. Show starts at 8, and is $15 without RSVP.
Did the champagne and rocks drain your pockets? Head to the Basement for the Sunday Post for a free show. City Water, Jordan Carpenter, Pilot Rouge and Elliot perform, starting at 8.
Cleanse your brain of any lingering red, pink or winged thoughts with the sweet hatred of crust metal at Yautja’s album release show at the Stone Fox. Ramming Speed, Cove, and Act of Impalement open; show is at 9, cover is 5. Here is “Denihilist” off of “Song’s of Descent.”
New England
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Exclusive Premiere: Young Tricksters – “Twisted Love”
After enticing Western Massachusetts for nearly two years with its lush and textured brand of indie rock, Young Tricksters is finally set to release its debut EP, Ripples, on February 28. A knack for harmonies and killer hooks has taken the four-piece band from Amherst’s basement show scene to more high-profile shows – including an album release show at Northampton’s Iron Horse Music Hall on release day. As a Valentine’s Day treat to our listeners, we have a peek into what to expect from Ripples: the set’s penultimate track, "Twisted Love," which bites off a bit of Incubus’s alt-rock radio sound while maintaining the band’s own typically catchy riffs and vocal melodies. Take a listen below. – Jake Reed