Swearin‘s Allison Crutchfield just shared a beautiful new seven-song EP entitled Lean In To It that finds her delving into lo-fi pop driven by casio tones and drumbeats. Assisting on bass and vocals as well as co-writing the track "Lupe" is Sam Cook-Parrott (a.k.a. Radiator Hospital), and the combination is one that should be repeated over and over again. Crutchfield’s Swearin’ bandmate Kyle Gilbride also mixed and mastered the record, which you can enjoy in its entirety and purchase below. So now you can "dance like no one’s watching"!
Show Alert: Dustin Sellers at The Basement 8.11
Dustin Sellers might not be a name immediately recognized, but point out the immaculately-coiffed hypeman on a Magnolia Son’s stage, and things click into place. Sellers has been cultivating his solo work for years, resulting in a far reaching range of material he describes as "different songs for different years." His sound is very riff-heavy rock with shades of 90’s alternative, interspersed with the occasional rueful acoustic number. He can craft a pretty sharp tune, as evidenced in this video for "Bruiser" (and see if you don’t crack a smile when his trumpet player makes his first appearance.) This summer he culled some of his best pieces and released them as "The Valley" on June 24th. On Monday evening he will be performing with Kentucky natives Ondezvous. This evening will also have Angie Fenton baring her Motown heart after a two-year hiatus (if that name sounds familiar, it’s because she is Feedback Revival frontman Dan Fenton’s better half.) It should be a night of compelling performances, so consider staying home if you are allergic to emotion. The show starts at 9pm, and cover is $5. -Terra James-Jura
Rosetta Homecoming at KFN Aug. 10
The originators of “metal for astronauts,” Rosetta, celebrate a triumphant return from China by playing one of their two remaining home shows for the year at Kung Fu Necktie tonight. Along with touring the Far East, they have become the subject of a full-length documentary film that has been successfully crowdsourced via Indiegogo, and are awaiting Translation Loss Records to release their new EP Flies to Flame, which features experimental studio pieces. So the show will be a precursor to many good things on the horizon, and a reunion with their Tucson, AZ friends, North. Rounding out the lineup will be the super-charged metal outfit, Maniacs on Wheels, and Torrential Downpour. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St, 6pm, $7 – Bill McThrill
Philly Summer Fest at PhilaMOCA Aug. 9
PhilaMOCA hosts another summer Saturday barbecue fest today with Dogs on Acid (ex-Algernon Cadwallader) and friends. This one will also be the album release party for fast-paced, sludge punks Cassilis. It will be a good chance to catch garage-pop trio Amanda X (if somehow you missed all the group’s bazillion local performances this summer), before they embark on a U.S. tour, and find out why so many people have been raving about their debut album Amnesia. Hardcore noise duo Bubonic Bear will bring an ample serving of guitar-laden chaos, and Mike Bell & the Movies will deliver an upbeat dose of melodic indie pop. The show will also feature The Weaks, Sleep Study, and more. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 3:30pm, $10, All Ages – Bill McThrill
Bile Sister
Check out Bile Sisters 2 new tracks off Many Moods by Healing Power Records. This compilation record has a electric mix of Canadian artists such as Jennifer Castle, Petra Glynt and Man Made Hill. Love Bile Sisters tracks, they are experimental, avant-pop with vocals that vibrate through you! Listen below!
Weekend Warrior, August 8 – 10
Video: Modern Time Machines, “Loveletters”
Despite the rising number of shoegaze-inspired bands that have come into sight in the last few years, Modern Time Machines have gradually developed into one of the most exhilitaring acts in the local scene. Their latest single, "Loveletters", actually comes eerily close to replicating the sound that Shields brought to the fore in the late eighties. The knockout production elements in "Loveletters" are really what elevates the track to a higher plane, its searing, yet seducing guitars and reverb-drenched vocals coalesced with the video’s variegated visuals. "Loveletters" is the first taste off their upcoming EP, which the band will be releasing in late 2014.
Lantern & Laser Background Represent at Everybody Hits Aug. 8
Tonight, a pair of local groups represents half of the bill at DIY space Everybody Hits – both tapping into a place that’s a touch twisted. The duo of Zachary Devereux Fairbrother and Emily Robb come together in Lantern, producing a steady diet of assertive, snarly, fuzzed-out rock n’ roll that touches down on the glam realm with its steady-churning accessibility, while still retaining a stick-to-your-ribs foundation chock full of authoritative personality and primal penetrating instrumentation. Having recently recorded at The Bottle Garden Studios, Lantern could potentially shine light on some new material. Speaking of which and joining in the festivities, Laser Background, the Andy Moholt-driven pop-psych carnival concoction, has also been hard at work on their next album, Correct. Laser Background balances infectious, poppy, playful bursts, simultaneously wrapping that package in a slightly distorted, oddball point of view. This evening’s lineup is rounded out by Staten Island’s Bueno, who approach punk from a dark shadowy synth shadow, and the ongoing sonic experimentations of Zula. Everybody Hits, 529 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $5-$7 Donation, All Ages – Michael Colavita
Hey Anna celebrates single release at Mercury tonight (08.08)
In the midst of recording their newest album, pop trio Hey Anna is set to release their single “By the Bay (La Revolucion)” and will celebrate with a performance at Mercury Lounge tonight, August 8th. Fronted by the three eclectic Rauch-Sasseen sisters, the single follows self-titled EP “Hey Anna” and their more recent “Pompette,” both short collections of energetic pop layered with quirky synths and dissonant harmonies. Crafting intricate vocal layers like only sisters can, the girls are bringing unabashed joy to the Brooklyn music scene, and we are loving their energy. Be sure to come party with the band tonight, and watch their video for our favorite Pompette track “Dance Until Three” here. – Jillian Dooley
The Motor Tom releases video for ‘Late’ + plays Mercury on August 12th
The Motor Tom are a dance rock group out of New York whose recent album, Tracks, was produced by Gregory Lattimer (Albert Hammond Jr.’s Yours to Keep). The record is hook-heavy, with themes that embody New York City street wandering, from being haunted by Elizabeth Browning, to being stranded on the subway tracks. There’s no question that one of The Motor Tom’s main priorities is to get you up and moving. The songs are aggressively catchy – you might find it hard to prevent your head from bobbing as you stream the song below. You can let your dancing instincts loose at their live set at The Mercury Lounge on August 12th. – Jake Saunders
The Bailey Hounds Headline at The Boot & Saddle Aug. 8
A stacked lineup happens at The Boot & Saddle tonight that sees The Bailey Hounds headlining their first local show since they rocked Laurel Hill Cemetery in June. And they’ll be set to deliver their melodic blend of dark country rock ballads with metal undertones. The show will be a great chance to catch Levee Drivers while they take a break from recording a new album in the studio, so it’s possible that you may be treated to some new material in the process. It will also be a good chance to catch Katie Frank & The Pheromones before they play the local fest circuit at Philadelphia Folk Festival and Clark Park Music & Arts Festival. The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Friday Feature: Vinyl Thief, “Fathoms”
For this Friday Feature we review Vinyl Thief’s "Fathoms." It is their first full-length album released July 22nd, and it is every bit of the masterful synth-pop joyride you would expect from the quartet. To read on, simply avert your eyes to the left sidebar. Yep, we loved it so much, it’s our Record of the Month!