Destination Moon, a curated concert series and collective, started out as a couple of house shows based in Crown Heights. Since then their events have taken more of a cosmic bent, in more ways than one. Most of their shows are solar powered and all of them incorporate both music and visual art. The collective’s next event, SCREEN/SOUNDS, takes place this Friday (12/5) at new venue Lot 45, and is billed as "multi-disciplinary" and featuring collaborations between musicians and film-makers. The night begins with shorts performed with original, live scores by Carson Moody (of Tigue) & Anthony Vine, and Star Rover followed by sets from local avant rockers Modern Rivals and lounge popper Legs (a band we kind of missed so far, check out their video below), both awash in the projections of Jesse Mann. Recommended for all A/V kids who like to dance. – Emilio Herce

From Japan-to-Brooklyn, girl rock band Hard Nips are not only known for their catchy, anthemic party rock, but also for their quirky live performances that will keep you coming back for more.  They recently released a new EP titled ‘Uncommon Animal’ which packs some heavy riffage but is also fun and light hearted, just like them.  They’ve been playing music since 2009, after they all had just met and decided to form a band, picking up their respective instruments for the very first time – now that’s punk attitude! They also have a kick-ass website might we add. 

See them live at Glasslands on 12.06 and read Michael Haskoor interview with Hard Nips.

Brooklyn rockers Blue & Gold deliver an impressive first single in advance of their debut album with the heavy mid tempo “In My Head.” Combining driving guitars with soulful, bluesy vocals, their sound has the instant appeal of an updated version of blues rock. Solid thunderclap drums and a precise distorted bass lock the track down while well-placed power chords and rippin’ lead guitar solos point to the era when Leslie West’s band Mountain triggered the evolution of the electrified blues-rock hybrid. On the second chorus, girl/boy tandem vocals give way to alternating single lines: “Ain’t got no time” becomes the throw-down vocal hook statement, when “I want you” is followed by “why don’t you want me too?” The band will celebrate the release of their album at Mercury Lounge on January 10. – Dave Cromwell

 

Kangaroo Knife Fight’s new self-titled EP is a soul-searching romp through deep caverns of reverbed out guitars, gospelesque vocals, and flowing melodies reminiscent of Sly and the Family Stone and Kings of Leon. The opening track, “Hold On” is an airy build into a delightful chant-worthy chorus. With the vocals screaming “I don’t think anybody wants to lose,” it’s hard not to sing along the second time around. The song illustrates difficulties everyone struggles with and the sweaty grip people have while trying to hold everything together in life. The challenging nature of the overwhelming instrumentation leaves you asking, how will they make this bigger? KKF doesn’t disappoint with giant swelling vocals and expanding guitars.