If it’s true that Italians are notoriously late, it’s as undeniable that New Yorkers have little patience for lateness. It makes sense then for an Italian band in NYC to name itself Late Guest at the Party – which is a little bit like preventing potential complaints by warning about this built in, genetic flaw. (Please note that this writer also hails from that sunny and charmingly bizarre peninsula, although he is a very punctual person). The band has recently unveiled this video for single "Gravel," from their new, full-length album "Repeater," set to drop late this spring, and that features a brand new lead vocalist: producer Caleb Shreve. The song is a mid tempo, melancholic synth pop tune a la` Grandaddy – but a little more dancy – graced by a lazy, stretched melody. So lazy that, as a matter of fact… it may make you late to the party.
Interview with Megaphone Barons.
Megaphone Barons recently released the album here.us.now, available on iTunes and Spotify. Check out their live album on BandCamp, and read the interview where Hannah Brady asks them about their songwriting process, their appearance on the soundtrack of a bloody low-budget movie, and the schematics for the perfect sandwich.
New Track: “Happy Anniversary” – Monday Appreciation Society
Here is a stark, contemplative new track from the pensive indie rock two piece Monday Appreciation Society. The nostalgic track is at once a lonesome ballad and a warm blanket in a frigid room. Complimented by some light keys and a drifting trumpet line, the song slows down time, even just for a couple minutes. The track is off their upcoming album, If You Were Here, I’d Be Home Now, out in June.
Cayetana Rocks Golden Tea House April 8th
South Philly’s high-kicking Cayetana plays Golden Tea House tonight with Strange Relations, Hurry, and Cruiser. Channeling Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney frequencies, Augusta Koch, Allegra Anka, and Kelly Olsen have been touring and hitting the local scene hard since forming at a party in 2011. Check out “Hot Dad Calendar” and “Ella” before tonight’s show or catch Cayetana at The Fire on April 29 and Union Transfer on May 31before they kick off a national tour with The Menzingers on June 4. Please contact one of the acts or Golden Tea House for details. – Jaime Pannone (Photo by Mary Ferrigno)
New Video: “The Sea, The Sea” – Teen Men
Directed by Sylvio Bernardi, this video for Teen Men’s “The Sea, The Sea” is a playfully montage that coincides with the song’s lyrics. Using a plastic salesman and a gorilla costume co-inhabiting the coherent with a touch of the strange.
A Fond Farewell to Fanno Creek: Live Review + Photos
Fanno Creek is one of Portland’s best bands. Unfortunately for the forseable duration of the calendar year, we will have to get along without the band’s live performances as they go on hiatus to catch up on real-life shit. April 2nd at Mississippi Studios marked their farewell (for a while) show.
Tour-tight Animal Eyes opened to an already substantial Wednesday night crowd. Seattle’s Tomten followed with an exciting dream pop set, joined by Radiation City’s Matt Rafferty on guitar.By the time Fanno Creek started the room was ready. All night friends and fans poured into the crowd to send off the local folk-pop rockers in style. Tonight the band was joined by Ryan Neighbors of Hustle and Drone on synthesizers and Ryan Wiggans of And And And on trumpet, adding elements of grit to their pretty arrangements. Their sound thrives on driving beats and unexpected rhythmic deviations, paired with catchy melodies and tight pop harmonies. Whether you’ve seen them as a duo, trio, four piece, or ten piece, Fanno delivers–and tonight was no exception.
The empassioned crowd added a huge layer of energy to Fanno’s live set–singing along, clapping when asked, dancing and screaming at all the right places. They ended the night with a fitting encore of “Don’t Go Away,” allowing fans to sing along their woes over the band taking time off.
– Chandler Strutz
Photos by Todd Walberg
Stream: Banta “Dark Charms”
It’s still a mystery why baby boomer soft rock has become such a commodity with the younger crowd these days, but such are the effects of living in an age of pop culture that commemorates its own past. The fine-tuned midtempo singles of Echo Park troupe Banta sound like they could’ve followed a Steve Winwood number in the radio twenty years ago, but nevertheless, there’s a good reason why they’d even be featured at all. "Dark Charms", for instance, has a stiff groove that instantly grabs you with its minimalist groove, carried by a luscious production that features the seductive vocal delivery of Sharaya Mikael. This isn’t necessarily the first incarnation of Banta’s sound, as their previous release through Bandcamp, "3 Feet From Gold", has more of a neo-soul feel, but the steady, bourgeois tempo of "Charms" suits them very well. Banta are hosting a residency at Silverlake Lounge throughout the month of April.
Megafauna’s Roaring New Album
Megafauna have been busy lately gaining speed. They’ve had a long string dynamic live shows, and the trio’s forthcoming album, Maximalist, has the right amount of grit and whip-quick guitar work from front woman Dani Neff to fill the slick 37-minute run time to the brim. Want a preview? Check out the album’s dynamic first single, “Haunted Factory”. I don’t see Megafauna slowing down anytime soon, and I hope to God they won’t.
You can get Maximalist on the 15th, but the album’s official release is part of the bill for the 101X Homegrown Live show, April 19th at The Mohawk. The all-ages event will serve as a benefit show for SXSW Cares and will also feature UME, Black Books, and Young Tongue. –Written by Marie Meyers
Quickly Quietly release “Daily Echo” + plays Spike Hill on 04.19
Quickly Quietly aren’t your average groove-shaking, alt-dance quartet. This band isn’t afraid to take their music to areas that sultry, laid-back grooves and buzzy analog keyboard-driven bass lines rarely visit: deep guitar based psychedelia. And their latest release, ‘Falling Beams’ EP, builds on this sonic dicotomy to create a sound that’s as much fun as it is heavy.
Latest single ‘Daily Echo’ runs through a continuing process of hazy moog-filled space explorations: at one point sounding close to Godspeed You Black Emperor’s cinematic epic-ness, while at other times cruising at an altitude perfect for laying back and taking it all in. it’s one of the group’s first releases since 2011’s ‘Seven’ EP (other than their fascinating, almost entirely improvised ‘L Sessions’ released last year). See it happen live when they play Spike Hill on Sat, April 19th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
*repeat repeat Album Release Show at Mercy Lounge 4.12.14
*repeat repeat’s debut album, “Bad Latitude” was officially released on March 11th, but it took a minute for the band to get in the position to ring it in proper. With an aptly named spring tour behind and Bonnaroo looming on the horizon, the band is dedicating April 12th as their hometown album release show. Keeping with the Manchester theme, fellow Music City offerings to the ‘Roo altar ELEL and Blank Range join the lineup (as well as Churchyard), and the opportunity to win two weekend passes to Bonnaroo is available to those that order presale tickets (available here.)
As for the record, let the thrashy pop-cocktail of “Chemical Reaction” do the talking. –Terra James-Jura
Chain & the Gang release new video Devitalize
Ian Svenonius (of legendary DC group Nation of Ulyses, amongst others, and author of Supernatural Strategies for making a Rock ‘n’ Roll Group), and his current band Chain & the Gang have debuted a new video, Devitalize, on the A.V. Club. Devitalize will appear on the new album, Minimum Rock & Roll, to be released on May 6th on Svenonius’ label Radical Elite (distributed by Dischord). The video is directed by James Schneider, who is also directing the Punk The Capital documentary. Check it out below! –Natan Press
New Track: “Cowards Get What They Deserve” – Marc Neibauer
This live version of “Cowards Get What They Deserve” by Marc Neibauer was recorded Saturday at The Fire. It casts a dreary grey-cloud tone, which appears appropriate given Mother Nature’s current outlook.