Last night, The War on Drugs made a surprise appearance at The Boot & Saddle under the name "Dead Greg"! They performed to 100 or so people, and the set went about 90 mins. (You can check out some photos from the evening by Scott Troyan HERE.) If you missed out on yesterday and Friday’s "Free at Noon," then you have your final chance to catch them tommorow night at Union Transfer, before they head out on tour. However, don’t kill the messeger – it’s already sold out. But "where there’s a will, there’s a way." And some cash doesn’t hurt either. ;o)
Portland
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The Ghost Ease Tour Kick Off
The Ghost Ease will be shipping out for a West Coast tour after a kickoff party this Tuesday (3.18) at the industrial northsiders’ favorite venue. Their psych rock tunes will be a perfect fit for the World Famous Kenton Club as their distorted and guitar driven songs echo swimmingly into the garage sound that this music was born into. The Ghost Ease focus on a steady rhythm and noticeable, grungy guitar sections to fill things out while guitar/vocalist Jem Marie’s dreamy vocals bring their songs into folky ballads. Come on out to send them off the proper way. Opening the show is fellow psych-folk rockers, WL. – Colin Hudson
NYC
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Life Size Maps releases “This Same house” single + lands Pianos residency
There is a heroic nature to Mike McKeever’s musical project Life Size Maps. Following in the digital footprints marked out by Kurt Feldman’s Depreciation Guild and other NYC groups like Parts and Labor and Anamanaguchi, McKeever employs similar sound design concepts in personal ways. “This Same House,” the band’s latest single, shimmers with a celestial background pulse as cleanly defined vocals overlay forceful guitar washes and precise synthesizer hooks. Lyrically, the story is about trying to keep focused on what you really want to do, while the endless all night party swirls around you. A number of surprising changes masterfully embedded in this just over three minute songs shows songwriting sophistication and – dare we say it – prog rock leanings. Life Size Maps is currently doing a Wednesday night residency at Pianos, with their next shows on March 12, 19 and 26. – Dave Cromwell
[Streaming content removed upon request of the artist, listen to Life Size Maps here]
Philadelphia
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New Leather Album Available for Streaming & Purchase
Good morning! Did today’s snow and chill snap you out of your springtime daydream? Well, throw your middle fingers to the air, and bash the hell outta something to the soundtrack of Leather‘s lupine new record Easy! The band quietly dropped the nine-track album last week, and the release once again loudly demonstrates why the hardcore four-piece is the real deal from Philly with no need (or desire) for hype. (And Noisey’s Dan Ozzi definitely slept on these guys for his half-assed piece about the Philly punk scene.)
San Francisco
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ToyGuitar Modern Man and Nervosas Play Hemlock Tavern TONIGHT
Tonight! ToyGuitar, Modern Man and Nervosas are playing at the Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco.
Modern Man is an Oakland based band that plays haunting, reverb-filled shoegaze that seems to be soaked in drudgery, simply for good measure. Last year, the band came out with a cassette called Small Waves. The track to check out is Dada, a diddy filled with equal parts angst and anger. ToyGuitar is a Bay Area band that is a new manifestation of the ’90s East Bay punk band, One Man Army. This project was forged last year, and the results have been exciting. Toyguitar released a self-titled 7-inch on Adeline Records that has a definite power pop feel. Nervosas is a touring band from Columbus, Ohio. Their sound can best be described as hook-filled "dark punk" with post-punk aesthetics. They also released an impressive self-titled LP on Let’s Pretend Records.
Be sure to catch this show tonight! You won’t regret it! –Erin Dage
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Asha” – Vita and the Woolf
Below is the latest single, "Asha," from West Chester duo Vita and the Woolf, comprised of Jen Pague and Joey Anderson. The band’s name is derived "from the love relationship between writers, Vita Sack-ville West and Virginia Woolf." The track is off their upcoming album Fang Song, due out this spring. (Photo by Cameron Starr)
Philadelphia
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Vintage Kicks Record Release Show at KFN March 15
After a long two-and-a-half year wait, indie surf-punk four-piece Vintage Kicks finally released on March 1, Suburban Sunshine, the vibrant follow-up to their well-received debut King Geek. The end result is seven fast-paced riff-heavy and synth-laden indie-rock anthems that make for a head-bobbing good time. Vintage Kicks will be celebrating its release at Kung Fu Necktie tonight, and they’ll be joined by Black Dirty, who dropped their debut EP Dirty Water last year. Rounding out the lineup will also be alt-rock outfit The Sixties. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7pm, $5, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “Don’t Believe What They Told You” – Pine Barons
And now here’s another case this week of being puked on for "art." Check out Pine Barons‘ new music video for the track "Don’t Believe What They Told You" below! It’s off the group’s debut self-titled album. There are really a lot of great images captured and edited by Caitlin McCann. The band will be part of a solid lineup this evening at MilkBoy Philly that also includes Commonwealth Choir and Big Tusk, who are putting out a limited-edition cassette Philly Tapes Philly Vol. 1: Big Choir, where both bands perform on each other’s songs, and Broklyn indie rockers Vintage Villain.
New England
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d’s “house sounds” shrouded in mystery
Not much information is offered about house sounds, a short gem of an EP released to Bandcamp by d (aka Danielle Capalbo). The lo-fi album features minimal production and instrumentation, mostly relying on guitar and Capalbo’s never-showy voice. Its six short songs are as beautiful as they are muddled, her harmonies often hidden beneath the thick reverb of the guitar. house sounds appears to be an intended accompaniment to “Waking Up: A Zine About Self-Discovery,” a literary magazine Capalbo created with her own writing and photography, which can be purchased on d’s Bandcamp now. – Jake Reed
San Francisco
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Frozen Folk Releases New EP – Sleepy
This week the Oakland based trio Frozen Folk, released with their most recent EP, Sleepy on Breakup Records. As a band that strives to be "Sweaty, complex and supple," they combine elements of math rock, post punk and prog rock to create their sound. The first track off their EP, Cat Convertersis a testament to those aspirations. Complex riffs with unconventional time signatures are laid upon a foundation of slightly haunting vocals. The band keeps consistency with this formula throughout the EP, with songs such as Eggs and Marrowbone, Sacrilegious Wind and Eat Me Alive.
That said, here are a few shows Frozen Folk will be playing in the near future:
April 6th at El Rio with Lubec and The Peels
April 26th at Eagle Tavern with Everyone is Dirty –Erin Dage
L.A.
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Stream: Criminal Hygiene, “Withdrawn”
Here’s a new one from rowdy garage rockers, Criminal Hygiene. We last caught up with them in an interview feature after the release of their debut self-titled LP. Since then, they’ve had a shift in personnel, without losing their signature sound. This new tune, "Withdrawn," sticks to the "riff-raff wrapped in a pop tune" formula, but strays from their debut’s lo-fi, one take, beer slamming edge. The bridge is actually quite reminscent of early skuffle-era Beatles, while the chorus is solidly rooted in their Replacements influence. Still, their punk-ly concise execution rings true and there’s an undeniable charm in everything they do. Stream "Withdrawn" below, and check out their March tour dates with The Orwells and Twin Peaks. – Jacqueline Caruso
Mar 20 2014 – The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
Mar 21 2014 – Che Cafe – San Diego, CA
Mar 22 2014 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA
Mar 23 2014 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
Mar 25 2014 – Neumos – Seattle, WA
Mar 26 2014 – Star Theater – Portland, OR
San Francisco
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JAM Psychic Jiu-Jitsu Clusmy Concentration and The Twitches Play SUB/MIssion TONIGHT
Psychic Jiu-Jitsu, JAM, Clusmy Concentration and The Twitches offer to guide you through the doors of perception with a night of psychedelic music, tonight at SUB/Mission in San Francisco. Jam is a psych-rock outfit whose music could be the soundtrack to a séance for the spirit of Syd Barrett. Tripped-out folkies, Clumsy Concentration will to make their SF debut with their first ever show, and garage jazz-punks The Twitches are set to kick off the night. Psychic Jiu-Jitsu will headline as this band combines garage rock melodies with shoegaze guitar noise to create a truly mind-bending sound.
Make it out tonight for a night of face-melting psychedelia! –Ethan Varian