After a jam-packed run of shows in the UK, Cheerleader are set to perform tonight at The Boot and Saddle. Their latest single “Perfect Vision” (which will be available on vinyl June 16 via Young & Lust/Bright Antenna) incorporates a punchy-percussive-pop bounce, propelling the harmonious low-gravity vocals and establishing an enjoyable dance-centric atmosphere. However, it’s the B-side of their forthcoming release, “Waiting, Waiting,” that’s really helping me enjoy this beautiful weather. The experimental exploits of Needle Points bassist Brian Langan’s psych-pop project Langor will surely entertain with its magnetic melodies and humorous, unpredictable turns and twists. Opening this evening’s festivities will be Chris Coulton’s energy-inducing electro/jungle-pop experience known as Dream Safari. The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Michael Colavita
Philadelphia
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The Bailey Hounds Rock w/the Dead at Laurel Hill Cemetery June 7
Ever since releasing their first album Along the Gallows in 2011, The Bailey Hounds have managed to craft a dark and somber blend of gothic Americana folk that also pulls from their love for metal. Music like this is perfect for a cemetery, and that’s exactly why they’ll be in their element when The Bailey Hounds play their third annual show at the historic Laurel Hill Cemetery tonight. They have been working on a special double set list that features plenty of special requests. So it will be a good time to get out there and rock with the dead. Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Ave., 8pm, $10 All Ages – Bill McThrill
New England
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Watts’ Closet, Young Tricksters and more share show at 13th Floor Music Lounge
On June 7, some of Western Massachusetts’s best local acts will take the stage at the 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence, MA. A fully loaded night with five bands, the show will feature the high-energy spunk of Watts’ Closet and the indie rock groove of Young Tricksters, whose harmony-heavy "Twisted Love" was premiered on The Deli New England back in February. The night will also include the bare bones rock of Wydyde and the spitfire punk of Putty Head, as well as a set by yours truly. The show starts at 8 p.m. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)
L.A.
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Artist to Watch: Prettiest Eyes
Following in the tradition of muddying the rigid patterns of garage rock, Prettiest Eyes are a trio of noisemakers that write clanging, minimalist art rock with a confrontational slant. The Puerto Rico-via-LA transplants are charged with a furious energy in their recently-released EP PEEP, its searing three-tracks burying its hooks and gloriously obtrusive vocal affectations with stark expressionism. There’s a forbidding aspect to their delivery that’s surprisingly inviting, an intensity brewing in its ambling dissonant guitars and frantic keyboard strokes that equally unnerve and fascinate with a sense of freewheeling creativity.
Prettiest Eyes are playing tonight at Silverlake Lounge, followed with a performance at The Glass House on July 20.
NYC
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Album review: Outsides – Million
(Photo by Todd Zimmer)
Though it isn’t actually summer yet, it’s not too late to start that summer playlist. You know, that one you blast when you’re cruising the highways, the back roads, side streets; when you’re headed to the neighborhood pool, the grocery store, so on and so on. Million, by electro-pop band Outsides is the best place to start.
A simple six tracks, Million will grab you by the ears and guide you deep into those wonderful summer vibes. Swelling synth sounds and ethereal “oh oh ohs” kickstart the album. “Just Curious” incorporates simplistic and poppy drum beats from Ryan Shank with delayed synthesizers from Bronson Kistler. A plucky guitar from frontman Tim Ellis creates a flow for the song to rise and fall seamlessly into the chorus and verses, none of which seem the same and create a sort of mini-symphony with several movements under the umbrella of an encompassing theme. The sheer catchiness of this song is a bit outrageous. Smooth vocals keep the song chill and put a smile on your face.
In fact, the whole album is similar to the opening track. Every song sounds like an ‘80s one-hit wonder dance-pop jam waiting to happen, but turns out to be completely different and so much more. The synths are always prominent. The guitars come second, building roads for the songs to travel. The drums aren’t overpowering and are only there to keep your foot tapping and your waist wiggling.
“When It’s Time” offers up a different arrangement with cool guitar work opening up, leading way for the classic piano tones that hide themselves in the crevasses of the otherwise slow jam. The album finishes off with the heavy-hitter, “It’s Gonna Be Alright,” which is by far the most upbeat, fast-paced, and layered track on Million.
Million is six songs that—throughout the duration of each—are ever evolving. No chorus is the same, no verse similar, no musical element static. Each song is dynamic and urges you to move, sing along, and delve deeper into the lyrics and sounds.
—Steven Ervay
Steven is an all-around awesome dude who works tirelessly for the KC music community.
Celebrate with Outsides tonight as they release Million at The Riot Room, with special guests White Girl and The Slowdown. Doors at 7:30 pm. Facebook event page.
Chicago
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Empires “Please Don’t Tell My Lover”
Empires have release a new single from their forthcoming EP How Good Does It Feel. The EP will be released on June 17th. The band also released a video recently for the EP’s title track.
You can catch Empires at House of Blues on June 24th.
NYC
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O’Death announces new album + plays The Wick on 06.07 (tomorrow) with Vietnam, Shilpa Ray and Fletcher C. Johnson
If you aren’t going to Governors Ball and are at a loss for what to do with your festival-lacking life, tomorrow there’s something pretty great at the new Bushwick venue, The Wick. A fantastic lineup of masterful NYC songwriters and musicians, most of whom will most likely take us back to years from whence we came. Fletcher C. Johnson lands us back in Bubblegum Pop era of the 60’s, with Vietnam somehow managing to pull off being a Jam Band in the year 2014 – unheard of, we know. The band of the hour, O’Death, has actually been around for quite awhile, but after three years without releases was recently signed to Northern Spy Records in preparation for their upcoming album. Their sound takes influence from folk and country, but they’ve got this gypsy-gothic, almost medieval tinge to their music; it can be eerie at times – check out the old single ‘Bugs,’ streaming below. Also on the bill noir chanteuse Shilpa Ray. The show is tomorrow at 8:00… don’t be late. – Jake Saunders
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, June 6 – 8
Over the past few years Dock Street Brew Pub has been wrapping up Philly Beer Week in style with an always well-attended music festival that has featured the likes of The Extraordinaires, Skeletonbreath, Bardo Pond, and Stinking Lizaveta. This Sunday the festival returns with a lineup that hosts an eclectic dose of jazzy orchestral pop, Eastern European folk, and stoney hip hop, all while staying true to the fest’s West Philly roots. Grandchildren are no strangers to performing at the Dock Street Festival. However, the last time they played was before they released the tight melodic beats of their last opus Golden Age. West Philadelphia Orchestra will be bringing the good vibes with their multiple horns and Balkan dance beats. And while he may be the younger cousin of Questlove, Gliss has come into his own, and impressed with tracks like “Inner Visions”and “Same Shit,”and he should be the perfect way to round out this diverse lineup. Add in plenty of wood-fired pizzas, brews like Pimp My Rye, and a ton of outdoor games, and you have the perfect way to end Philly Beer Week in style. Dock Street Brewery, 701 S. 50th St., 2pm, Free, All Ages – Bill McThrill
More places to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT The Philly Opry w/Birdie Busch
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Divers, Kate Faust, Sonja Sofya, SAT Cheerleader, Langor, Dream Safari, SUN Nothing, Superheaven, Sad Actor
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Early) OhBree, Moonshine Heather, Boss Logic/Jeremiah Tall, (Late) Many Arms (Record Release), Space Whale Orchestra, Chris Forsyth, SAT Goddamnit, Assemble, Jantones/Drums Like Machine Guns, Material, SUN The Love Club/Dead Tenors, Eyes Shock Swelter
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Beating, Risky Disko
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Avenue Kings, Community Service Band
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Buried Beds, Our Griffins
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.)
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT The Smites
The Barbary (951 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Suicide Pact (Reunion Show), Sun Grande Marshall, Chase Allen
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI W. C. Lindsay (Record Release), Secret Plot to Destroy the Entire Universe, Plainview, SAT Something Like A Monument, North End, SUN The Wanderers, Merring, Avataria
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI We are Fauna (Release Show), School Dance, Meddlesome, Meddlesome Meddlesome Bells, SAT Val De Val (Final Show)
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Psalmships, SAT The Chelsea Kills
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) SAT Defiant Systems, SUN Big Tusk, Like Crazy
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Dead: Stop, Skyline The City, Mercy Starts With Me, These Polar Opposites
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Philadelphia Folk Festival Showcase SAT(Late) Kai Botak, Sarah Alexandra, Hannah Zaic
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Sound for Sustainability: Alps Held, The Weaks, The Retinas, Underwater Country Club, Pine Barons Sat Brian McGee (Release Show), Shitty Summer (Leta of Ex-Friends)
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI John Train SUN Rusty Cadillac
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Standouts From Songbird Season 2: Larisa Bunch, Jovan Chaney, Chris McGinnis, Dan Callahan, Brianna Marie/ Emily Mineo, Chris Gennett, Bickel Brothers, Wave Radio, SAT Metal for Mikki: Release, Black Sun Rising, Citadel, Ketosis, We Our War, StarSkream, Sutter Cane, SUN Amber Ladd
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI The Hawkeyes, James Hearne
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT S.I.N. Sun Entropy
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Funky T, Agent Moosehead, Evil at the Beach, Missing Elements, SAT A Victim of Good Times, Dave Joyce, SUN Willow Talk, The Gang Age, Silverton
The Random Tea Room (713 N. 4th St.) Sun Laura Baird
JR’s Bar (2337 S. Croskey St.) SAT Shitty Friends, Repellers, Black Friday Death Count
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI The Spirit of the Beehive, Sheer Mag, SAT Nona, Twin Pines
Mount Misery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Cousin Brian, Seismic Thrust
Glitoria (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Bad Energy, Bad Canoes
The Petting Zoo (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Family Vacation, The Retinas, Horsecops
Hot Topic (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Blood Sound, Corporate Hearts, The Stone Furs, Triceratoplis (Release Show)
NYC
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NJ’s The Jean Jackets release ‘Freeze Out’ + play Palisades on 06.07
‘Freeze Out,’ The Jean Jackets‘ latest and third LP, will surprise you. Still present are the layered harmonies of previous releases, as well as the band’s fascination with smart lyrical and rhythmic arrangement, but where the band’s previous work could be pretty well triangulated in terms of influences, ‘Freeze Out’ is a more eclectic blend. Despite its title, this is essentially a warm weather record. “Dead Again”is one of those almost criminally catchy songs, though not in the vapid way of most of summer’s indie pop darlings. Similarly, “Cannon of Sound,” captures an upbeat earnestness, equally ethereal and self-aware. Elegantly articulated, “Freeze Out” is astute and engaging, and never loses its joy. The New Jersey based quartet will play MCFK’s Showcase at Palisades on June 7. – @emilioherce
Portland
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PDX POP NOW! Comp Release + Fundraiser 6.8.14
Are you down with local music? Are you down with non-profits? As Portlanders, I think the answer is a resounding yes.
PDX Pop Now! – Portland’s non-profit of rock is celebrating the release of its annual compilation of local talent with a fundraising/concert extravaganza at Mississippi Studios THIS Sunday!
For those of the “below 21” persuasion – never fear. In true, punk rock fashion PDX Pop Now! is including an all ages portion of the event that starts on the Bar Bar patio at 2pm, featuring performances by New Move, Blak Neon, LEO and Natasha Kmeto and a DJ Set. The festivities subsequently move indoors for a 21+ set featuring Illmaculate, Bearcubbin’!, Sara Jackson-Holman and Hosannas.
According to PDX Pop, “all proceeds of this event will support the PDX Pop Now! mission to stimulate and expand participation in the Portland music scene” – an admirable cause to say the least, considering all the hard work this organization has done to support local art. From its early days as a listserv for Portland music lovers in 1998, PDX Pop Now! has grown into an “all-volunteer organization committed to…provid[ing] and support[ing] live performances and recorded materials.”
Listen to Hosannas for spiritual uplifting, check out the track list for the compilation and get a copy for yourself at Mississippi Studios this Sunday.
– Ted Jamison
Chicago
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American Football “Never Meant”
The deluxe reissue of American Football’s 1999 self-titled debut album was release on May 20th and debuted at #68 on Billboard’s 200 Charts. The band has released a nostalgic video for the classic track "Never Meant".
Chicago
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Chuck Inglish @ The Bottom Lounge
Chuck Inglish (The Cool Kids) released a video for his track "Legs" (ft. Chromeo) yesterday. The track was released back in January and is the third single from his debut solo album Convertibles. Inglish also partnered with djbooth.net to launch a "Legs" remix contest.
You can catch Chuck Inglish who is touring with Asher Roth on June 19th at The Bottom Lounge.