As far as stage gimmicks goes, YNGCULT maybe have raised the stakes of masquarading in deliberate anomymity. The R & B informed duo wear tetrahedron head pieces to disguise their physical facade, which in turn, would ostensibly reveal ours since they’re reflective in design. Which would make for a somewhat awkward experience, seeing yourself from the audience through them, though their spectral slow jams are so bewitching it’s possible they’d seduce you into a careless, mellow state of being. The duo just released their latest EP, Capitøll, which they just made available through their official bandcamp page.
San Francisco
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Parae VAINHEIN Grendel’s Claw and Tyler Holmes Play The Hemlock Tavern TONIGHT
Tonight the Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco is hosting a show with performances by: Parae, VAINHEIN, Grendel’s Claw, and Tyler Holmes. Each band holds true to a slew of genres – spanning all the way from electronic music to post-punk.
Opening is electro-goth solo act Tyler Holmes. Also playing is highly surf punk two piece Grendel’s Claw. VAINHEIN is a musical act from Oakland that plays dark, experimental house music. Parae is a San Francisco-based trio that creates post-punk-tinged experimental art rock. The band has confrontational-sounding vocals amidst rough-edged, noisy instrumentals. Last year the band came out with a full-length called Crystal Venom, which is sure to bend conventions of genre. –Erin Dage
San Francisco
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Album Review: Melted Toy – Melted Toys
The sound of ’80s is back and more progressive than ever, thanks to SF based quartet Melted Toys. Smooth guitar leads and thumping drum beats are easily accessible in their newest album "S/T," released with Underwater Peoples.
Easygoing, sweet vibes mixed with on-point vocal waves a la Christopher Owens build and swell in Bummed Out while things take a more post punk vibe with Horizons. A Postcard slows down with breathy vocals and rich basslines to fill the air with demure head swaying happiness. Blush begs to be blasted during a golden coastline drive with the windows down and volume up. Bongo drums make an appearance in Joy Fit as palm trees sway in the distance and echoey vocals flow over a deep bass. The group’s more techno-savvy side comes out in Citrus Honeymoon as silver synth sounds glissade over short guitar bursts and a slowed-down mood. With chill beats and slick-smooth sounds, Melted Toys bring the bacon and all of the syrup. – Kat Collins
NYC
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NYC Rappers on the rise: Cakes Da Killa
Cakes Da Killa is guilty. He murders every microphone he touches. His 808-heavy beats terrorize clubs and send dancers into hedonistic fugues. It’s cathartic to hear a rapper be lewd and lascivious to his own sex, drop Maybelline references, and boast about stealing your boyfriend. Is it politically incorrect if a male rapper sexualizes and objectifies… men? Excellent dinner conversation if you ask me. Regardless, Cakes has the delivery and bounce to keep crowds grooving deep into dance floors. If you feel like dancing, pay a visit to the crime scene. Download his newest release The Eulogy on MishkaNYC’s bandcamp page. – BrokeMc
Austin
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Poll Nominee :: La Snacks
Austin’s premiere party band, La Snacks have had a big year. The Beaumont transplants are releasing their first new music in three years and first full length since 2008, whilst celebrating ten years of keeping it all together. The new record, Le Dope comes off at times like a found 90’s underground relic. It is as much a musical nod to bands like Pavement and Modest Mouse as the lyrics and delivery are to the dry profundity of Frank Black’s solo work. But Le Dope is a fresh and relevant piece of music with modern criticism and enough literary references to make Colin Meloy jealous. Though the band admittedly has had a rocky few years, there isn’t much evidence on Le Dope of any kind of fracture. Le Dope is a great record by a great Austin band and is why they are nominated for our artist of the month poll.
NYC
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Sun Club release new video, play Silopanna Festival in August.
Baltimore’s Sun Club might be the next big thing to come out of a city that’s produced a number of recent indie favorites like Future Islands and Wye Oak. After releasing Dad Claps at the Mom Prom in January, they went on a six week national tour and have scored a slot on Silopanna Music Festival, in Annapolis MD, August 16th (headlined by The Flaming Lips and Dashboard Confessional). Dad Claps at the Mom Prom is full of bouncy indie-rock fun and is sure to be a summer favorite for many. Just last Thursday, a video for the single "Cheeba Swiftkick" premiered on Impose Magazine (watch it below). Listening to Dad Claps at the Mom Prom, I imagine running willy nilly around a fair or the beach or boardwalk during the summer, and Impose describes the music and video as "sugar-buzzed" and "wacky" which is just the state of mind I find myself in at such places. If you can’t wait for their set at Silopanna Music Festival, you can catch Sun Club at the Maryland Institute College of Art this Friday May 2nd, in Baltimore. –Natan Press
Portland
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Party Boyz One Year Anniversary and Zine Release
Tonight, Bunk Bar plays host to local music podcasterz Party Boyz one year anniversary and inaugural zine and compilation release party. Helping the Boyz celebrate these great milestones, in an all-time powerhouse bill, are Genders, And And And, and Sama Dams. The Party Boyz’ brand-spanking-new zine, features art and contributions from various local musicians and tastemakers including Hustle & Drone, Radiation City, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, and Banana Stand Media. Additionally, Party Boyz have put together compilation CDs featuring tracks, including some previously unreleased material, from bands who have appeared on the first season of the podcast. The first 50 people in the door tonight get a free copy of the compilation, as well as first stab at the best seats in the house for an amazing night of music. The show begins at 9pm, and the cover is $7.
– Travis Leipzig
Chicago
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Labors “Blue Funk”
Z.L. Melton and Labors have released their latest album, "Blue Funk", digitally on five different colors of vinyl. The album is thoughtful and inventive, from the muted horns that open on "The Grand East" to the somber strut of "Porcelain" that close. Labors cover several forms of songwriting from the southern devotional to the smoke-filled lounge singers ballad.
You can catch Labors at The Whistler on May 7th to celebrate the release of "Blue Funk".
Philadelphia
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Cayetana, Radiator Hospital & More Make Waiting Enjoyable at The Fire April 29
Nick Fanelli and the Guild crew have been building a home for the ever-growing Philly pop-punk scene in DIY spaces around town like Golden Tea House as well as more legitimate venues like The Fire. This evening at the Girard Avenue watering hole, you’ll find the self-taught, all-female trio Cayetana, who has been all abuzz since signing to Tiny Engines and releasing the uber-catchy single "Hot Dad Calendar." And while we patiently wait for the group’s upcoming full-length, the wait becomes more enjoyable when mixed in with the poetic croons of Radiator Hospital‘s Sam Cook-Parrott as well as Salinas labelmates All Dogs and West Chester rockers NONA. The Fire, 412 W. Girard. Ave., 7pm, $7, All Ages – Alexis V.
NYC
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Baked tours with Titus Andronicus in May
We wonder if, when Marijuana will be fully legalized in the US, Psych Rock and derivatives will be as popular among young NYC musicians as they’ve been during this never ending "prohibition era." Yes because right now North Brooklyn might as well be the region in the US with the highest consumption of weed per capita, and various forms of Psychedelia seem to pop up from every corner of the neighborhood.
A band that chooses to name itself Baked must be contributing heavily to this awesome (alleged) record, not only through heavy (alleged) personal consuption, but also through the creation of music that pretty much begs for an audience with altered states of mind. Thing is, the guys are good at it, which should be concerning for anti-liberalization advocates. They are so good that, thanks to an upcoming spring tour supporting NJ rockers Titus Andronicus, they’ll soon get the opportunity to spread their whiffy vibes through states probably not ready for this, like North Carolina and West Virginia. We wish them good luck with this noble and dangerous mission. See the full list of shows here and don’t forget to ply our collection of Psych Rock songs by emerging NYC bands when appropriate, it features Baked’s single "Wet Blanket".
Philadelphia
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Three Man Cannon Signs to Lame-O Records & Shares New Track
Congrats to Three Man Cannon who just announced that they have signed to local indie label Lame-O Records (Modern Baseball, The Weaks)! Their debut LP Pretty Many People will be released May 27, and you can pre-order the record now HERE as well as listen to the album’s first single, "Patiently," below. Cheers, fellas!
NYC
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From the Digital Submissions: The Morning Sea’s release party on 05.15 at Pianos
The Morning Sea, a softly moving, seductive chamber-pop folk collective rotating about singer songwriter Adam Cohen, is poised to travel the world from their bathtub. Looking like a mermaid (minus the coconut bra) lost in the middle of a his tub on the cover of new record ‘Strange Captive,’ Cohen is one-half confessional late night crooner (‘Mellow Rage’), and one-half whimsical wanderer, as in the brawling rock of ‘Bit My Tongue.’ The music tells slowly developing stories, of lands traveled, and seas swam, no matter how difficult the journey. Especially on the fun abandon of title track ‘Strange Captive,’ where Adam hopefully sings ‘there is still time to face the light.’ And there’s still time to see The Morning Sea when the band releases their 7-track ‘Strange Captive’ at Pianos on Thu, May 15th. See them then and check out ‘Strange Captive’ below. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)