Tonight, the three piece blusey thrash-rock outfit STRNGRS start a July residency at Pianos, with featured shows on the 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th. Their 2013 release “5 Dynamic New Tunes!” emphasized a hyper blues energy that drew comparisons to the White Stripes/Black Keys axis. Stand-out tracks like “Subtle Reminder” channeled Jack’s vocal inflections, while “Settle Me Down” went heavier with an angular start/stop progression that leaned more towards early Led Zepplin. 2014’s “Magic Boy” showed the band dialing down its frantic pace on the slow burn intensity of “Running Dry.” While that track emphasizes a bluesman’s harrowing wail, “17 Letters” (streaming) finds the band streamlining their sound into a pop-friendly two and a half minutes. “Never Can Tell” smolders with a “Voodoo Child” vibe, while “Outta My Mind” bursts out on a harmonica enhanced rave up over a rabid psychotic beat. – Dave Cromwell
Rom releases new video for “Jerry Princess Taste”
Rom (formerly The Dead Women) have released a new video for their single "Jerry Princess Taste" off of their debut album Soda Christ. The video features a couple resolving a dispute through the power of dance, in and around an empty New York subway station. Short and sweet. Watch the video below, then see Rom live on tour in August and September, starting with a show at DC9 on August 5th, and another at Galaxy Hut on August 24th.
Weekend Warrior, July 3 – 6
THIS IS US: American Diamond Recordings from Dog Days Films
The Beaches- Little Pieces
The Beaches are Toronto’s girl power band, a cross between The Dead Weather and Jem and the Holograms. Touring this summer at Montreal’s Osheaga Festival, and Riot Fest in Toronto.
Braid ‘No Coast’
The new album from Braid, No Coast, is being released next week via Topself Records. The Braid formed back in 1993 but only lasted 6 years. In that time however they released thre classic albums. This is the reunited band’s first album in 16 years. The album’s title, No Coast, alludes to the challenge of reuniting. The band has a more rounded and established sound then there emo-punk roots on this new album. You can stream the entire album at NPR right now.
You can catch Braid at Township on July 20th.
NYC Band on the Rise: Sunflower Bean plays 4 Brooklyn shows in a month
Sunflower Bean has been powering through the Brooklyn scene for only a little while now, but they’ve got more interest than most bands in this part of town… especially considering how young they are (just out of high school). The band’s sound has taken a direction of clarity that a lot of Brooklyn bands seem to reject. They employ flurries of brightly colored atmospheres along with dark and wispy vocals, taking as much time as they need to let their songs unfold into long and inexhaustible jams of psychedelic trance. Guitarist Nick Kivlen is a whiz on the pedal board, taking after artists like Tame Impala (in fact, they have a song named after the Australian band) and Thee Oh Sees, while co-singer/basssist Julia Cumming’s intimidatingly serious presence provides an unmistakable aura of mystique. All three possess an impressive presence on stage, and a confidence truly hard to come by with bands this young. You have a lot of opportunities to see these guys: at Shea Stadium on July 09 and at Palisades the day after, and then Gigawatts fest on the 17th and Baby’s All Right on August 02. – Jake Saunders
New Radiator Hospital LP Available for Streaming & Download
We were very excited to learn that Radiator Hospital, a.k.a. Sam Cook-Parrott, has made his new fifteen-song LP Torch Song available for streaming as well as download, which you can do so below. Cook-Parrott’s current band lineup consists of Jon Rybicki on bass, Jeff Bolt (Swearin’) on drums, and Cynthia Schemmer providing guitar and vocals. Also making special guest appearances on the record are pals and former housemates Waxahatchee, a.k.a. Allison Crutchfiied, and the rest of Swearin’ which includes Katie Crutchfield, Kyle Gilbride, and Keith Spencer. Torch Song was recorded during the first week of May 2014 at Golden Tea House and Swoon City in West Philly with the help of Wherever Audio. The album will be available on vinyl via Salinas Records, and pre-orders start in August. (Cover art by Phoebe Harris)
CreaturoS drops video for tribute to man’s other best friend: “Short Shorts”
Our new summer anthem has arrived just in time for July 4th barbeques. Vanyaland just premiered the video for the latest by CreaturoS, “Short Shorts,” and the clip is a simple, colorful tribute to the oft-ridiculed menswear trend. “Walkin’ around town gettin’ shit for my short shorts,” the garage tune laments as protagonist Nightime Gallagher wipes tears away, defeated after being booted from a record store with a “No Short Shorts!” sign at the register. If you like what you hear, you can download “Short Shorts” for free over at the group’s Bandcamp page and see them play alongside Boy Toy and Tredici Bacci at Great Scott in Allston on July 18. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)
The Medicine Hat- Old Bones
The Medicine Hats‘ Old Bones is romantic-folk delivered at its best. Catch them in August at The Summer’s Edge Music Festival taking place in Tudhope Park, Orillia. Just an hour North of Toronto!
Melody Joy releases new single “Murica” + plays Hotel Chantelle on 07.03
Hot on the heels of her quirky, Youtube banned spring single “Ronald Reagan,” NYC electro-nymph Melody Joy unleashes another politically-fierce number with “Murica.” Don’t tell anybody, but she’s also The Deli’s summer issue mystery cover girl. Never easy to pin down, Joy goes hip-hop for the second release in a row. This time around, the beats are more extreme, bordering on industrial. Lyrically, things plunge the stars and stripes into sexually provocative territory. It’s obtuse and dark, but never didactic. American corruption is experienced without the least hint of moralizing. And therein lies Joy’s gift as an artist. She doesn’t want your brain, when she’s already got your body. Now make it move by seeing her live at the Hotel Chantelle on Thursday, 7/3/2014, 11pm. – Brian Chidester
New Video: “Woke Up To The Light” (Live – Acoustic) – Strand of Oaks
Strand of Oaks, a.k.a. Timothy Showalter, made a stop at what is left of the Berlin Wall when he was on tour in Germany. Below is a touching, acoustic performance of "Woke Up To The Light," which was recorded by HNDGMCHT. Showalter is currently on a massive tour for the rest of the summer that will be wrapping up on September 19 at The Boot & Saddle; however, he’ll only be home for about a week before he heads out on the road gain in Europe.