NYC

Emily Grove – NJ Darling Changes It Up With New Record on the Horizon

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Emily Grove is that missing link between folk balladry, singer-songwriters, and uptempo pop grooves. But her upcoming record will mark one of the biggest changes yet in her career. The alt-folk artist is somewhat of a local hero in Asbury Park, NJ, releasing her debut record ‘Way Across the Sea’ to critical acclaim last year, where she picked up two Asbury Music Awards for Best Female Acoustic Act. I know whenever I’ve seen her perform on Jersey shore boardwalks, there’s always a crowd close by. Preview her upcoming record below where she takes an unexpectedly dark turn, and see her in Jersey when she releases new full-length ‘The Life of a Commoner’ next Friday, March 28th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, March 14 – 16

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This Weekend Warrior pick – we’re keeping it locals only! Alt-folk five-piece The Hundred Acre Woods have been on the rise, coming up through Philly’s DIY community. They’ll be the headliner and anchor of this Saturday’s showcase at Kung Fu Necktie. The group will be supported by another folk-tinged Deli favorite that we predict good things happening to in the not so distant future, Maitland, electro-rock crew SHMNS, and current Featured Artist(s) Poll Nominee, Broken Beak. Take advantage of your good sense to not be at SXSW this weekend. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $5, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman  
 
This weather is crazy! More things to hit this weekend because it won’t be freezing…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI West Philadelphia Orchestra, SAT Jeff Zeigler & Mary Lattimore
 
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT You Do You, Grandchild (Aleks Martray of Grandchildren), SUN Dead Greg, Three Man Cannon, MIDI Wizard
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Kite Party, Shortbread, Queen Jesus, These Elk Forever, Foot, SAT (Upstairs) The Hundred Acre Woods, SHMNS, Maitland, Broken Beak, (Downstairs) Vintage Kicks Record Release Show w/Black Dirty, The Sixties SUN (Upstairs) Ex Friends, Paths 2 Glory, (Downstairs) Thunder and The Glory, Suckered In
 
TLA (334 South St.) SUN Murphee Doyle, The Better Half, Half Past Seven, Transonic, Starskream
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI I Yahn I Arkestra, Iron, Dirty Soap Blues Band, SUN Quigley & Company
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Kingsnake, Post Sun Times, Screaming Rattler, SAT Commonwealth Choir, Pine Barons, Big Tusk
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Likers, The Stammer, Rob Lately, SAT Dan Malloy, Avataria
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Andrew Whitman, SAT The Skyline Industry, Lito and the Shepherds, Dupe Deville
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Defused, The Good Excuses, The Defused, Amber Ladd, Sucker, SAT Modern Colour, Riley Road, Working Class Villains
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI John Train, SAT Problem Solving
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Khalid Quesada, Betty Iron Thumbs, SAT Chris Rattie & The Brush Valley Ramblers, Above Connecticut
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Lovers League
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Shadow Merchant
 
JR’s (2327 S. Croskey St.) FRI Dave Joyce, Alternator Undead, Michael & the Mooncusse
 
The El Bar (1356 N. Front St.) SAT Delco Nightingale, Bikini Spiders, Coffin Fly , The Greg Phoenix Experience
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Memphis Hat, Chaos Thompson, The Great Endangered, The Yokos, Julia Weldon, SAT Missing Elements, Hopscotch Jeffereson, Buddy Roc
 
Glitoria (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Hound, Low Charge
 
Freedom 35 (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Community Service, Ugly Zoo, SUN Left and Right, Pulling Punches, Robins
 
The Dog Morgue (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Cousin Brian, Cold Foamers, The Retinas, Blue Smiley, Time Hitler and the Assholes From Space
 
NYC

Cardiknox Releases New Track “Wasted Youth”

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This is the third time we’ve blogged about NYC’s electro duo Cardiknox, and they just keep getting better.

Last week they premiered their new single “Wasted Youth” on Earmilk. The track is driven by Lonnie Angle’s lead vocals which pierce through charged electronic beats and 80s style production with a ferocious quality – think Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Robyn.
Like their previous singles “Technicolor Dreaming” and “Hold Me Down” – “Wasted Youth” breezily walks the fine line between being pure and sweet and edgy and dirty. Cute, poppy beats and playful synths are casually laid over lyrics like “I can’t get laid in this town without these pointy f***** shoes”. With sexy live show to back up their stand-out sound (they rocked Brooklyn Bowl last week) Cardiknox are a band to watch at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin. – Brescia Mascheretti

Philadelphia

“Big Big” Surprise From Cousin Brian at Dog Morgue March 14

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After dropping their first full-length album and one of my favorite local releases in 2012, the aptly titled First, I’ve been patiently waiting for its follow-up from Cousin Brian, which is in the works. The band does appear quite pleased with how the new album is turning out so far. There appears to have been a change in the group’s lineup since their last record – going from a four-piece to a trio. Tonight, they’ll be performing at North Philly DIY space Dog Morgue near Temple University, and have also promised a “big big” surprise. What will it be? Come find out! Cousin Brian will also be sharing the bill with local pals Cold Foamers, The Retinas, Blue Smiley, and Time Hitler and the Assholes From Space. Dog Morgue, (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.), 9:30pm, $5, All Ages – Alexis V.

Philadelphia

WXPN’s Free at Noon w/The War on Drugs at WCL March 13

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The War on Drugs have already been gaining a tremendous amount of buzz for their newest album Lost In The Dream, and if you’ve had the chance to stream it in its entirety over at NPR’s First Listen, then you may understand why. In a time when many Philly acts are gaining a new found following at SXSW, The War on Drugs will be performing at World Café Live today for WXPN’s Free at Noon with loved ones, diehard fans and those who were smart enough to stay in Philly this year. Hopefully you reserved your spot on the RSVP list for the sold-out live taping. And if you’re one of the unlucky, you can at least listen to it on the XPN website while you purchase tickets to The War on Drugs’ record release show this coming Tuesday, March 18 at Union Transfer. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St, 12pm, SOLD OUT, All Ages – Bill McThrill

NYC

Listen Below – Selena Garcia’s Sophomore Record Packs a Punch

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WIth a smoke-filled voice fitting equally well in piano bars as it would rock clubs, Selena Garcia’s latest self-titled EP keeps one foot in the grave with the shit-kicking ‘Brother,’ and another in friendlier waters with tracks like the luminous ‘Eternal Sunshine.’ Selena brings her angels and demons together for a wild up-and-down of broken hearts and huge piano strokes. Listen to ‘Brothers’ below, and see her when she plays Rockwood Stage 1 on Friday, March 14th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

New England

Glass Arrowhead gets serious on “The Beginning”

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Glass Arrowhead explains The Beginning as an attempt to break into new, “more serious” territory after primarily pumping out trap and dubstep jams. The result is breezy and light while still showing off his skills on the boards. For instance, “C++ Shells” melds a bubbly synth with flute flourishes and drums that drop in and out with ease. The collection’s more serious direction was inspired by “Goodbye Again,” a slow-moving ambient piece, accented by an 8-bit synth that grows more present and more distorted as it moves forward. When the drums enter in the song’s final two minutes, it becomes something of a dance-floor stomper – albeit not something you might hear in your standard Top 40 DJ set. We’ll be looking forward to more from this guy in the future. – Jake Reed 

Portland

Tada’s Way Out

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Portland super group Tada is coming out of hibernation with their third self-released album since 2008, Way Out. The album offers listeners an elegant ebb and flow of sonic tension and release. Although it sounds soft as a kitten at times, and showcases beautiful instrumentation and harmonies by the album’s numerous collaborative members (including members of Builders and the Butchers, Cambrian Explosion, Kelli Shaefer, Modern Kin, and Turbo Perfecto to name a few), it’s not a stretch to feel the presence of Tada front-man Matt Thornton’s dark roots in hardcore and metal music.

Thornton was awesome enough to give The Deli Portland the privilege to be the first to share his tracks ‘Not Alone’ and ‘Way Out.’

‘Not Alone’ begins with the melancholic, slow drone of Matt’s bass strumming, but quickly transforms into a newly inspired, upbeat, banger as he is joined by piano and then drums, as if he’s just realized that significance of who the musicians are who’ve just joined him. Appropriately enough to that theme, the song ends with the triumphant chanting of “we are not alone”, leaving the listener with that feeling of, “fuck… we can do this shit!”  

The album’s title track, ‘Way Out’ carries a similar droning, washy resonance of sadness, but builds to an epic climax of reverbed-out slide guitar, cello and heavy drums. This track has the brilliant and heavy feel of something you would expect to hear if Mogwai, Pink Floyd and OK Computer era Radiohead were to drop acid together and write a song in one day. It’s a good thing.  

Join Tada for the release of Way Out at Red and Black Café on March 15. Kelli Shafer opens up the show at 7pm and Old Age close out the night.

– Travis Leipzig and Cory Huennekens

Portland

Verner Pantons at Valentines 3.16.2014

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Among selfies, teenage twerking and insincere social networking, there’s authenticity left in modern day culture. On March 16th,  The Verner Pantons will be performing at Valentines with The Cry and Chantrelles (members of Modern Kin and Tiger House). The Verner Pantons have been creating engaging rock n roll since 2010, with generous influence from  60s pop art and the underground. Their recordings present clean and flowery lullabies, but their live performance asserts rowdiness and far more energy than what could be experienced without the band members standing right in front of you. Stand-out single "Melancholy Girl" could easily entice the aforementioned twerking teenagers while simultaneously charming your sweet grandma. Bands with that type of power demand attention and this show demands your attendance. This show will also serve as the record release party for The Cry’s newest album Dangerous Game. – Colette Pomerleau

San Francisco

Album Review: The Electric Magpie – Begins

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Along with a revolving cast of live musicians, San Francisco-based artists, Peter Maffei and Hunter Stroope have carved out their own rock and roll sound under the moniker, The Electric Magpie. Sharing lead vocal duties and harmonizing like it’s their natural, intrinsic ability, they invented their own sound that sits between the realms of modern psychedelic folk and classic rock. After self-releasing their debut single, She Said No (To My Love) in 2012, The Magpie was snatched up by Los Angeles based label, Lolipop Records, who introduced the band to a broader Californian audience by releasing their second single, What’s For Tea? in early 2013. A year later, they’re finally ready to drop their debut full length album, Begins. We got our hands on The Electric Magpie’s upcoming release and thought it be privy for us to share a bit about the nooks and crannies of the album.

Opening with the album’s debut single, Mourning Gloria, the record immediately offers a sonic snapshot of what lies ahead within the LP. The first track seduces your ears with a driving organ, acoustic and electric guitar interplay, gorgeous feedback and the tight, effortless harmonies of Maffei and Stroope. Listen to this track with headphones, if only to hear the melodic repetitions of the lyrics, "She’s always there", revolving through your headspace.

The Electric Magpie’s proclaimed anthem, What’s For Tea? is comfortably placed as track two. What’s For Tea? is constructed with tireless riffs made to last a life-time, while being laced with warm vocals. The song reads familiar and friendly. During the heavy, distorted riffs of the next track, Airport Blues the album slightly shifts as the song is dominated by the tense dissonance of volatile guitars, but it is continuously uplifted by breezy vocals.

One of the most charming moments of Begins comes in the form of Birds in the Trees. Anchored by steady acoustic guitars, the song is powered by conversational lead vocals that are accompanied by subtle, playful and echoing backup vocals. A handful of masterful moments transform this song about birds fucking up your morning coffee into an elegant affair. After the hungry Hold On (Hannah) and the cerebral interlude that is DEAN, the record progresses onto an acoustic lullaby that is appropriately titled, Springtime Ease. Minimal percussion allows the track to float along buoyantly, withstanding the brief but erratic psychedelic meandering that sneaks into the ending.

What’s For Tea? (Reprise) offers the same infectious riffs, but this time is projected through a hazy filter that sets the stage for the finale of the album. Soaring string instruments breath life into the track as an organ rings quietly while Maffai proclaims, "So long, farewell, what a time it’s been. Day Is Done but our love never ends." And you believe it. Day’s Done is the proper conclusion to this masterful record. It is an amalgam of rock and roll’s finest moments from the initial pop-educated British invasion, to the psychedelic underground of the 1960s, 1990s and the present day.

For their first full-length offering, The Electric Magpie proves not only that they are well-versed in vintage and modern rock music, but that they have mastered a rounded, patient and distinctive sound. Begins resonates as a cohesive, collective whole. It offers a sonic experience that is much more important than a mere collection of rocking songs, and it does so without delving into sinister realms or indulging in any rock and roll truisms.

The album’s official release is April 15th on Lolipop Records. – Lauren Espina

Chicago

Lamp “Phases”

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Lamp released a new single this week called "Phases". The new track is downtempo psychedelic stroll and leaves you dreaming of lasers.

You can catch Lamp at Schubas on March 26th with Finley Knight and on April 27th at The Whistler.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Astral Plane” (Demo) – Ecstatic Vision

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We caught Ecstatic Vision‘s opening set at Johnny Brenda’s for Creepoid‘s record release show. Featuring ex-A Life Once Lost guitarist Doug Sabolick and drummer Jordan Crouse with Michael Connor on bass, the power trio demonstrated that they are seasoned and not afraid to go for it on stage, tearing through the silence of the room with their brand of heavy psych rock akin to groups like Amon Duul and Hawkwind. Below is a sampling, "Astral Plane," from a demo that they shared towards the end of last year. Their debut record Sonic Praise is currently slated for release in November.