One of the bigger surprises of 2014 for us was discovering the band Seagulls’ debut LP Great Pine. That’s why when they took it down from their Bandcamp page, it was also a big disappointment. Well, the band will be releasing it on vinyl via Yellow K Records so if you slept on it the first time around when we made it The Deli Philly’s September Record of the Month, you’ll have a second opportunity to soak in its dreamy, delicate vocals and tastefully arrange mix of acoustic instrumentation and 8-bit flourishes. Until its re-release, you can read our interview with the group HERE from when they recently won our Featured Artist(s) Poll.
NYC
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The Landing unveils video for “We Are”
Sci-Fi themes, even though central to a very influential band like The Pixies, are not exactly the most common ones among emerging indie bands. Space-pop group The Landing (brainchild of Brooklyn musician Jon Bell) sounds nothing like Black Francis’ band, but shares with him a fascination for anything intergalactic and extraterrestrial. Or at least that’s what you gather from new video "We Are," whose title is the answer to the question "Are we alone in the universe?" – although the answer gets mischieviously confounded at the end of the song with the tiniest "not." The song is a well orchestrated, hypnotic electro-soul ballad, in which liquid synth pads play the part of space, arpeggiators and sparse guitar notes play the stars, and Bell’s falsetto plays the absence of gravity. "We Are" is the title track of the band’s latest EP.
Nashville
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The Wans, “Never Win”
September 9th saw the release of The Wan’s album "He Said, She Said" and was shortly followed by this video for "Never Win." The Wans nail their juncture of Southern and alternative rock, and it turns out they nail comedy pretty well too, with this montage of the Worst Day Ever. For some reason, watching vocalist Simon Kerr sing straight-faced through a mouthful of Wan-Os struck us as profoundly funny. The trio are part of the lineup for tonight’s Monster Bash at Silver Point Studios, with no dates on the books beyond that yet, so come out to the show tonight and keep up with the boys at thewansmusic.com. -Terra James-Jura
Philadelphia
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“Real Halloween Party” at Toby’s Purgatory Oct. 31
It’s gonna be a punk Halloween tonight at Toby’s Purgatory, featuring locals only that represent a variety of sounds from the genre in the city. Adding a refreshing female voice to the scene is Cool Points’ Jill Mallon. She leads the noise-rock crew with a straightforward sass and aggression that will charm your pants off, but she’s definitely “not your bro”! Cool Points will be joined by headliners Mumblr, who are pulling double duty, warming up earlier in the night at TJ Kong’s Halloween Murder Show. You’ll also find antagonistic punks Cousin Brian stirring up trouble while we patiently wait for the follow-up to their debut LP First. Rounding out the bill will be hardcore outfit Disinterest and pop-punkers Cold Foamers. Get sweaty, and celebrate at the “Real Halloween Party” the right way – fast and loud. Toby’s Purgatory, (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.), 6pm, All Ages – Emily DiCicco
L.A.
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Stream: Snoh, “Bad Things” featuring Common
After listening to Snoh Aalegra’s sultry voice, I took away a version of the song that changed how I heard it. ”I’m in a nightmare having a dream…I find good things in bad versions of me.” Collecting all the images of self-doubt I have of myself, her latest track "Bad Things" put them away in the back of my mind while making me realize that the bad things I find within myself just make up who I am. Of course, the way Aalegra chooses to portray her imagery of it is noticeably more spellbinding and more pleasurable on the ears. Alas, Producer Rich ‘No I.D.’ Daily laid out the tracks to this single, mixing R&B and soul with hip hop to create a blended rendition of what sounds like the daughter of Alicia Keys and Kat Dahlia. Aalegra is due to be signed with Sony later next year, and with that in her future, there really is no stopping this bombshell. – Kayla Hay
Nashville
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Chrome Pony, “Burnout”
Are the next few posts just a thinly veiled plug for tomorrow night’s Monster Bash 2014? Or is it just a coincidence that so many bands in the lineup have done some really cool stuff in the past few months? Tough to say; with 16 bands in the lineup, the numbers could go either way.
Chrome Pony released this video for "Burnout" in support of their EP "You Are the Pisces" released this August. Shot in Puerto Rico, it’s mostly footage of what kids do when their f*cking around in a US territory: drinking, skateboarding, making upside-down faces, playing ridiculously spot-on, grungy odes to, well, being young and disaffected. Okay, so kids don’t typically do the last bit, probably because they don’t have a grasp on the finer points of the organ’s role in garage rock.
The brothers Davis and crew are following up their appearance at Monster Bash on Friday night with a show at The Stone Fox on November 1st with Avi Buffalo and Adia Victoria. Check out "You Are the Pisces" on their Bandcamp. -Terra James-Jura
Portland
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Preview: White Mystery + Mister Tang at Bunk 11.1
The day after Halloween is the perfect time to gently nurse your hangover (with candy), wipe the residual makeup and fake blood off your body (with candy wrappers), kick your feet up (on your heap of candy), have a couple Reese’s for breakfast, snort some pixie stix and GET HYPER, MAN! Then bring all that sticky, sugary energy down to Bunk Bar (1028 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR 97214) for some wacky and frenetic jollification with White Mystery, The Cry, Mister Tang, and DJ Andrew Loomis (of Dead Moon!).
Chicago’s own brother-sister powerduo White Mystery is a sludgy rock band best compared, fortuitously, to Nashville’s own brother-brother powerduo Jeff the Brotherhood. They play the same brand of cheeky, shreddy, fuzz-saturated, burners. Also they’re rocking the Orange amp so you can bet they’ll be playing heavy enough to have you involuntarily bowing down after a single power chord.
Have you ever noticed a group of 3-4 startlingly well-dressed neo-modsters with that Manchester haircut stalking local shows and wondered if they’re all in a band? That’s The Cry. Their ’60s inspired garage-pop is so sticky sweet you won’t be sure if its the music or the Jolly Ranchers in your ears. Afterward, Mister Tang will corrode said Jolly Ranchers out of those ears with their acidic, lo-fi, garage-punk jams.
To cap off the night, buy a damn sandwich and get something else in your system besides sugar for god’s sake. That shit’s bad for you.
Words by Bryce Woodcock. White Mystery photo by Alison Eden Copeland
Toronto
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King Clancy
King Clancy is back! After a five year hiatus King Clancy is back for one badass Halloween party! We’ve missed you guys! Since 2008 these guys have been making fans happy coast to coast with raw rock n’ roll! They like it LOUD! Check out their latest record ‘Volcano’, the entire album is addictive! Each track has unique powerful vocals, heavy guitars with memorable riffs, swinging-monster drums and bottomless basslines. See them Friday 10/31 @ Porcelain Records Halloween Party with The Vaudevillian and Laura Cole. Check FB for upcoming shows. It will be a badass time!
Philadelphia
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Hop Along Signs to Saddle Creek Records
The force has been strong with these guys and gal so it comes as no surprise that they’ve been signed to a bigger record label. Congrats to Hop Along whom are now part of the Saddle Creek Records roster! Their upcoming full-length album is slated for release in spring 2015. They’ll also be celebrating New Year’s Eve at Johnny Brenda’s so make sure to grab your tix before they’re all gone. Cheers, lady and gents!
NYC
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Ziemba unveils new video for “Phantom See” + plays Cake Shop on 11.02
We noticed (and blogged about) Brooklyn’s Ziemba and her track "Phantom See" this past April and were impressed with her Femme Fatale attitude and that beautiful, sparse song. The young lady (aka René Kladzyk) obviously didn’t shy away from that observation, delivering this remarkable video (for that same track) that doubles down on dark seduction and comfirms her confidence – also in front of a video camera. You can catch her live at Cake Shop on Sunday November 2nd at 8.30pm.
NYC
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Anthony Pirog’s video for “The New Electric”
Anthony Pirog may be the best electric guitarist on the East Coast, and his new album, Palo Colorado Dream, is his best work yet. The album covers as much ground as the electric guitar allows, and is impossible to describe in just a few words. One could call it "avant" something, like "jazz" or "indie," but what it really is is Anthony Pirog incarnate. The guitar has become an extension of the man, his technical brilliance limited only by his fantastic imagination. How Anthony found time to craft such a gem is a mystery, as he’s the most in demand guitarist in the area, part of countless other projects. Yet craft this he did, and it’s gorgeous, and he made a video to go along with it too. Check out the video below, and follow the link to the album above for more. Take some time with it; you wont be disappointed. –Natan Press
Philadelphia
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Philly Tapes Philly w/Brian Dale Allen Strouse & Bij Lincs at Ortlieb’s Oct. 30
You can see Friday/Halloween in the near distance, and the collaboration between members of Commonwealth Choir and Big Tusk, known as Philly Tapes Philly, has a show this evening at Ortlieb’s. Not only will tonight’s show be free, but the first 50 people in the door will also get a free split cassette of 2 original songs (Volume 7) featuring the night’s performers Brian Dale Allen Strouse of The Lawsuits and producer Bij Lincs, 1/3 of the hip-hop trio Ground Up. Ease into your weekend by starting a day early as Philly Tapes Philly brings you 2 bands, 2 songs and 1 tape. Ortlieb’s, 847 N. Third St., 8pm, Free, 21+ (Photo by Wendy McCardle) – Michael Colavita