Philadelphia

Work Drugs Christmas Spectacle at Boot & Saddle Dec. 5

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The holiday season is something that puts Work Drugs in the spirit of giving. When the indie-pop band gave away all of their albums for free on Bandcamp during Black Friday, they also released Cayman Islands Volume II, which is a collection of 10 new interpretations of classic Work Drugs singles. With this being the second album that the band released in the past couple of months, they have good reason to be taking a bit of a break, and that’s why tonight’s Christmas Spectacle will be the bands last show for a bit. However, if their new holiday single, “Nicholas,” is any indication, they’re fully poised to make it a Festivus miracle! They’ll be joined by the whimsically harmonious Vita and the Woolf, who will be in support of their debut album Fang Song. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $12, 21+ – Bill McThrill

NYC

Beast Patrol plays Glasslands on December 7

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With a unique band name and their hardcore leather ensemble in tow, Beast Patrol has just about everybody fooled. The NYC band is described as a psychedelic-indie rock band at best, but we at the Deli can’t help to fall in love with their dream pop undertones. The soft delicate voice of lead singer Vanessa Bley captured Rolling Stone’s attention in 2013 (The Deli was about a year ahead)and now the band has all of NYC’s rock enthusiasts under their spell as well since the band’s inception in 2012. The band has released the Unarm Yourself EP earlier in June and will be playing one of Brooklyn’s Glasslands final shows on December 7 before the venue closes their doors by year’s end for good. It will also be the band’s last live appearance of the year. – Robert Frezza

Philadelphia

New Track: “Saturn Pulls Me Apart (Death Of The Unconquerable Night)” – A Sunny Day in Glasgow

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Ah…did you know A Sunny Day in Glasgow just put out a Christmas cassette? The adventurous group has a new release Sketch for Christmas I: New Christmas Classics, which is available via Geography North. You can take a listen to the charming single "Saturn Pulls Me Apart (Death Of The Unconquerable Night)." It’s included on the black liquorice tape (limited 300) that will also come with three other tracks. Make the soundtrack to your family get-together a lot hipper this year.

Philadelphia

Free Download: “Rain” – Busses

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Busses shared a new song called "Rain," which which will appear on their upcoming album, Wizard of the Eye, scheduled for release February 17, 2015. A dampening blend of synth, bass, percussion illustrates the sonic setting. Then, the vocals explain a mindset as horns round out the picture, and a slick fiery guitar comes through, escalating a somewhat smooth environment before calming to a resolution. Busses will performing along with Myrrias and Exit Verse on Wednesday, December 10 at Boot & Saddle.

San Francisco

Icky Boyfriends Open for The Oh Sees at the Chapel – 12/4 and 12/5

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San Francisco/ Baltimore based garage pop rock band, Icky Boyfriends will be opening for the iconic San Francisco (now Los Angeles implants) band, Thee Oh Sees. Icky Boyfriends are an interesting band to open for Thee Oh Sees because their music is sludgy, primitive and wild. You’ll have a good time tonight and tomorrow night at The Chapel. That’s right, you’ll have two opportunities to see this interesting line up. Buy your tickets as soon as you can for this show is liable to sell out an hour or two before it starts!

Austin

Good Vibrations Music Fest

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The tagline for Burger City Rock N Roll’s Good Vibrations Fest says it all…"4 Days of peace, love and punk." Kicking off today and continuing through Dec. 7, the mini fest will take place over three venues, Hotel Vegas, Gypsy Lounge and The Grand. Local Austin acts like Ghetto Ghouls and Nameless Frames are part of the twenty plus lineup. Visiting bands will take part as well and y’all know it will be one hundred percent punk rock. Get more info about tix and set times here. Good vibes = good times. 

Weekend Highlights:

Friday Dec. 5

Hotel Vegas: Bad Sports 

Gypsy Lounge: Annabelle Chairlegs 

Sat Dec. 6

Hotel Vegas: Spray Paint

Gyspsy Lounge – Crooked Bangs 

Sun Dec.7

The Grand: Beth Israel

  

Philadelphia

The 11th Annual WKDU Electronic Music Marathon

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After a 7-year hiatus, the 11th Annual WKDU Electronic Music Marathon has returned. Aimed to raise money for the eclectic, Drexel University student-run  radio station as well as Musicopia and The Village of Arts and Humanities, over 30 local DJs donated their time to take part in the event.
 
Over the past month, WKDU has methodically added these DJ sets via their soundcloud account (http://soundcloud.com/wkdu), which includes among others Dave P (Making Time), DJ Sega (Mad Decent), Noah Breakfast (former WKDU DJ/ex-Chiddy Bang), Les Professionnels (Nurvous Records), Telequanta (Data Garden) and many others.
 
The remaining sets for the 75-hour event, which is listened to worldwide, has just been released today, including a pair of sets by King Britt (a blistering 40 minute afro-future/techno mix & a 90 minute “connecting the dots” mix tracing the history of electronic music from to boogie to hip hop to footwork).
 
WKDU has garnered the support (via monetary donations) of local businesses such as Federal Donuts, Red Bull Philly, Mama’s Vegetarian, R5 Productions, Brewerytown Beats, Creep Records, Philadelphia Record Exchange, and even “rival” WXPN.
 
As always, The Deli is here to support local artists and the mediums such as WKDU that help to shine a light in their direction. Check out some excellent sounds and show your support!
Nashville

Ambrose Way at fooBar Tonight 12.4

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It’s Thursday, meaning that Palaver Records has its weekly showcase at fooBar too. We’ve come to trust in the label’s consistent ability to curate an entertaining lineup of local and touring acts week after week to the point that we will scope out the bands even if we can’t make it to the show. This has lead our attention to Nashville quartet Ambrose Way. A listen to the track "She Walks Alone" shows a keen handle on vocal harmonies rivaling The Beach Boys. Their style is wrought with acoustic guitars, their introspective meanderings puncuated by ocassional banjo or piano. Think The Shins or Dodos goofing off and channeling Simon and Garfunkel. We’re keeping these guys on deck for when the winter weather gets gnarly and we need to hear something that reminds us of spring. -Terra James-Jura

Philadelphia

Lux Perpetua Opening for Divers at Boot & Saddle Dec. 4

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Divers are headlining Boot & Saddle this evening before they release the debut album that they’ve been pushing on Pledge Music. And it will be a solid home performance for South Philly natives Lux Perpetua, who have been marching to the beat of a new drum since the release of Hehbehdehbehbehdeh over the summer. The album that was named for a sound he made while yawning is a bold & beautiful result of a half-decades worth of material that former Extraordinaires member Justin Long had created under the new project. And the addition of Matt Gibson (The Extrordinaires, ex-Man Man)) and Spencer Carrow has elevated the project into a full-fledged power trio that has impressed during live performances. Although the majority of its members call Brooklyn home now, Philadelphia is the second home to Cuddle Magic, where a couple of its members still reside. With what the vibrant indie orchestral folk sextet has been recording in the studio since September, it’s likely that we’ll be seeing more of them in 2015. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
 
New England

IN HEAT and Bugs and Rats Tour Starts Tonight in Providence

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The first time I saw Boston’s excellent Bugs and Rats, Nick from How They Light Cigarettes in Prison told me they sound like Nirvana. I’d never have thought of it, but In Utero is a pretty close comparison.

Providence’s In Heat is screaming angry metal with enough power to make even the old people in the pit move (don’t confuse them with the In Heat who have a Facebook page, though). Tour starts tonight at OE BNB in Providence, with Boston’s Abominable Skimask.

L.A.

Stream: The Controversy, “Two Voices”

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What happens when an unstoppable force hits immovable object? A Controversy. Laura Vall, andThomas Hjorth are the unique and talented duo that make up The Controversy, an electro pop band with psychedelic elements with influences that range from Bjork and Beck to Portishead and Massive Attack. Their newest single, "Two Voices", holds nothing back. “Two Voices is about the insecurities we all battle with everyday,” Vall says, “the doubts that we face and how these can hold you back, even if they are just in your head.” Growing up is inevitable; we begin to realize as adults that the only thing truly stopping us is ourselves. But hard work pays off, and in 2012 the band won Artist of the Year (Artists In Music Awards) and Best Alternative Song (Hollywood Music In Media Awards), but that didn’t make the room smaller for this group. “It was great validation and a pat on the back for us but we know that we need to keep pushing forward and keep fighting. We know that there is still a long way to go and this is just the beginning.”

Varying in analog and digital synths, electronic beats, and even sampling inanimate objects to create a unique sound, The Controversy stops at nothing to keep their audience captivated on their sound. Nothing is out of the question – pencils hitting a glass, bumping pots and pans together and even pieces of wood are used to create that illuminating sound that is unlike anything we hear on the radio. After not playing a live show for over a year, Vall has plans for 2015 that include an exciting light show, a full experience and a strive for greatness. The Controversy is both the immovable and the unstoppable. As Vall suggests, “Just let go and free yourself from all these demons, you’ll enjoy life more and feel better about yourself." – Kayla Hay