San Francisco

Midnight Sons Down and Outlaws and Sweetwater Black Play Bottom of the Hill TONIGHT

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For those sorely lacking in the rock ‘n’ roll department, be sure to check out a show with the likes of Midnight Sons, Down and Outlaws and Sweetwater Black at tonight at Bottom of the Hill.

Sweetwater Black is a Bay Area based trio that reflects influences from bands like the Black Keys and Black Sabbath. Like Black Sabbath, the band has sludgy-sounding instrumentals backed by powerful vocals. Down and Outlaws is another San Francisco band that’s bluesy, soulful, and above all – raw sounding. Last year the band came out with Backwards From The Dead, a solid and well-recorded release. And headlining is Midnight Sons, a band that does its best to make homespun rock ‘n’ roll with elements of ’60s and ’70s country music. The band is also expected to release an EP soon – check out a few choice tracks from the upcoming release below. –Erin Dage

NYC

Leverage Models debuts new video + plays The Deli’s Northside Electro Stage on 06.14

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Brooklyn’s electro-rock collective Leverage Models keeps surprising us with quality edgy music and visuals – check out their new video for "Night Falls on General Assembly" below – if you don’t get it, find the explanation here. The band – whose debut album got what could be called an "Almost Best New Music" Pitchfork review – is scheduled to headline The Deli’s Northside/B.E.A.F. Fest Electronic Stage on June 14 with Psychic Twin, Zula, Twintapes and WOLVVES among others.

Chicago

Good Willsmith

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Good Willsmith is one of the more original and truly inventive bands in Chicago. Back in March the trio of Maxwell Allison, Natalie Chami, and Doug Kaplan released latest album The Honeymoon Workbook (Umor Rex). The album is an adventure in sound that nearly moves beyond music into something much more ambitious.

Check out the video for the track "If anything happens to me, my password is Lady Lass".

NYC

Handsome Ghost debuts single, goes viral, plays Cameo on 05.09

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Split between NYC and Boston, Handsome Ghost is a brand new electro-pop project that was born when songwriter Tim Noyes (presumably on the right in the picture) decided to delete his Tinder account and give the musical dream a serious shot – pictured, the moment when Tim let one of his Tinder dates know about his decision (we would have dropped her for the unfashionable fur anyway). He left the glamour of internet dating for a studio in Vermont and came out with a record. On April 22, after more than a year since the beginning of the creative process, Handsome Ghost’s first single, "Blood Stutter" (streaming below) was premiered by Popmatters through a Spotify playlist curated by Noyes, featuring also tracks by some of his favorite artists (we gladly found Deli cover band Lucius and St. Vincent in it). Since then the song (or compilation, or both) went viral, and "Blood Stutter" got 75k plays in just two weeks, which by any standards is an awful lot for a new band.

Check out the melanchonic, futuristic track, and Tim vocoded (or auto-tuned?) vocals below and – if you dig – follow the hype to Cameo’s Gallery for the band’s first Brooklyn show on 05.09.

New England

London native Covey brings his acoustic R&B style to Boston

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Covey’s “Comes and Goes” starts off with handclaps and reversed guitars before the singer’s silky voice takes the spotlight. The song is a soft, introspective number; “life only bruises those who want to spend theirs alone,” he remarks on the bridge. The song reaches a perfect conclusion with the deep bass and tinny bell of its final understated chorus. Last month’s cover of Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” proves the singer a versatile one as well. Before attending Boston’s Berklee College of Music, the London native spent time in Indonesia and Hong Kong, which he credits to his unique sound. If you like what you hear, catch Covey at The Red Room @ Cafe 939 at the singer’s alma mater on May 14. – Jake Reed, @jakejreed

Austin

Listen :: Bells And Parks :: New EP Versailles

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The electro-pop duo of Tessa Bennetch and Darryl Schomberg , better known as Bells and Parks, recently delivered Versailles, an acutely polished digital EP of progressive-pop.  With the help of producer and Young Tongue frontman, Stuart Baker, Versailles is at its finest moments, a powerful and ambitious album. An immediate comparison to the work of St. Vincent or even industrial era Bjork comes to mind while hearing Bennet belt out her more affected lyrics.  The group gained a spot on our artist of the month poll this week and will be performing at Holy Mountain May 15th in support of The Gents and Crooked Sails. 

Bells and Parks | Streams from V O X A V I L A on Vimeo.

New England

Boston Calling Block Party Series Moves to Dewey Square

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The Boston Calling Block Party Series will be returning this summer, but this time to a new location. The after-work gatherings have been held in Downtown Crossing for the past 5 summers, but will be relocating to Dewey Sq. (near South Station) starting this Thursday, May 8. This week’s entertainment will be provided by The Swinging Johnsons. The events, presented by Shocktop and Radio BDC, feature a local musical act, food and affordable drink prices. The Business Improvement District (BID) originally started the events, but has recently partnered with Crashline Productions (the folks behind Boston Calling) and The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy to revamp the series. The Block Parties will take place every Thursday from 5-8PM and run from May 8 until September 25 (weather permitting). All Block Parties are free and 21+. Proper ID required. Visit the Block Party Facebook page for more information and updates about future events.

 

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

NYC

Weekly Feature: Spires announces 2014 release + plays The Wick on May 15

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Formed in 2012 by frontman Matt Stevenson, Spires brings uncommonly groovy beats to the Brooklyn psych rock scene. For a young band that has only officially released two songs, they’ve got a lot of accomplishments under their (likely fringed) belts. Spires has played big venues like Irving Plaza and Bowery Ballroom, they toured alongside UK buzz act TOY, they’re amassing a following in England, and they performed a late-April gig with UK-based The Horrors at House of Vans. In the interview we are linking to under this blurb, the band promised a new release in 2014. While waiting, you can see them live at The Wick in Brooklyn on May 15.

LINK: Corinne Bagish’s interview with Spires

NYC

Weekly Feature: LI’s pop-punks Bellwether play Skate & Surf Fest in NJ on 05.18

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Bellwether is one of the newer Long Island Based Pop-Punk bands that’s spreading like a wildfire. The name Bellwether literally means the lead sheep in a flock, chosen by the band to indicate their commitment to differentiate themselves from the mundane sound and egotistical vibe that they feel a lot of today’s Pop-Punkers display. This attitude can be heard in their latest EP “After Reflection” – dropped in February – entirely acoustic (quite rare for the genre), and they’ve been launching themselves forward ever since, playing with bands like I Am The Avalanche and finding inspiration in high school year favorites like Taking Back Sunday. Their vibrant guitar riffs paired with frontman Desmond Zantua’s catchy and well-suited vocals make Bellwether a band to keep an ear on. New Yorkers in a mood for a trip out of town can check them out live on May 18 at Bradley Beach within the Skate & Surf Festival at the Asbury Park Oceanfront.

LINK: Michaels Haskoor’s interview with Bellwether

Philadelphia

Free Download: “Low” – The Stammer

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Below is a new single from The Stammer called "Low" that was recorded during the same sessions as their upcoming full-length album, along with its B-side "First Embrace." Both are available for free download, and were heavily influenced by the works of New Order. We’re also hearing a David Byrne/Talking Heads vibe in the vocals as well. The Stammer will be performing next in Philly on Saturday, May 24 at Kung Fu Necktie for Mock Suns’ album release.

Nashville

Creature Comfort Releases Video for “All My Friends”

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Indie rock outfit Creature Comfort just premiered this epic video for "All My Friends" yesterday. Warning: the raging ”Game of Thrones" styling and firelit nudity may distract from what a solid jam it is.  It keeps the pace at a laid-back amble until the chorus, when Jessey Clark’s vocals take on an aggressive yet doleful tone.  The Deli Nashville recommends watching the video, and then replaying it minimized to fully absorb the vibe of the track, because hearing the guitar hit its high notes near the end definitely releases some dopamine.  Combine that with a few flashes of boobs, Creature Comfort will have you feeling good all day. The band’s next show in Nashville is on June 2nd at fooBar, and June 5th at the 5-Spot. -Terra James-Jura

Philadelphia

Experience the First Time w/Needle Points at JB’s May 7

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Needle Points have been doing a bit of touring like all good psych bands should. After performing an impressive opening set at Plastic Little’s recent return show at Underground Arts (which led to a request by Red Bull Sound Select for them to perform at another one of its showcases), the free-lovin’/pro-psychedelics crew will be headlining Johnny Brenda’s for the first time tonight. I bet that they’ll make good use out of JB’s amassing collection of lighting toys. (BTW: R5 should book them for the Temples show this August at Morgan’s Pier already.) Needle Points will be joined by twangy Portland, OR (via New London, CT) Americana-rock outfit Quiet Life and The Bailey Hounds’ Chris Cardillo. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Alexis V.