NYC

Goth Dance trio NYC Bottoms unveils single HIV + plays Baby’s All Right on 12.14

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The NYC scene’s rediscovery of the music of the 90’s isn’t limited to the gutar based sound of grunge and slacker rock. With their first three singles, released in quick succession in the last three month, electronic trio Bottoms tap into the (mostly) European sound of industrial dance, a dark wave born from the marriage of the minimalistic production of Acid House and the goth tendencies that "plague" the home country of anything angular (Germany), but also, kind of unexpectedly, sunny European countries like Italy. The NYC band, comprised (as they say) of "two shitty drag queens, a 303 and a drummer," makes that language their own, by introducing grotesque vocals that, together with the obsessive repetition of their beats and the noisy nature of their arrangements, push their music to extreme levels of paradox and alienation. Their sound is charged with what they call "gender problemizing" content, also recurrent in the sexually provoking cyberpunk imagery. Check out their latest single HIV (released on World AIDS day), from the upcoming debut "Goodbye EP," out on January 20. You can catch them live at Baby’s All Right on December 14. 

NYC

Psych Rock made in Brooklyn: Desert Stars play Glasslands tomorrow (12.02)

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"Desert" is a word that lately has been visiting our blog more often than usual. The aesthetics of "desert rock" are kind of vague, but in most cases refer to rather slow burning rock music with epic overtones and psychedeliic influences, often featuring also roots music and Morriconian elements (our favorite band in this niche was Thin White Rope). Brooklyn trio Desert Stars – whose latest single "Hamster Wheel" recently got some love from NME – fits this description quite well, although they relinquish the typical tension of the genre in favor of a dreamier and more harmonious approach, as if the desert was inhabited by angels rather than bandits. Unless, of course, it’s all just a heat induced hallucination… Find it out for yourself tomorrow night (12.02), when the band plays Glasslands.

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best psychedelic songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Philadelphia

Mannequin Pussy – Your Remedy for the Mondays at Hazard Hall Dec. 1

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The beginning of the week can drag; however, Hazard Hall has a remedy this evening. Mannequin Pussy taps into multiple levels of sound. The trio can lay out there with an unveiled agitated punk release, or lay back somewhat sweetly, stacking up the grit in a controlled yet forceful grunge-injected melody that’s half bubbly and half volatile. That ability to sit back and/or setup at opportune moments illustrates the band’s conscious powerful sense of dynamics. Thin Lips, an offshoot of Dangerous Ponies featuring Kyle Pulley bookended by Chrissy Tashijans, supply excellent riff-centric tunes as Tashijans finds a comfortable spot, distinctly delivering lyrics that you’ll naturally sing along to. Cool Points mesh the threshold of pop-punk and noise adding a menacing undercurrent that coldly cuts. Cincinnati, Ohio’s lo-fi, dream-punk three-piece equation Leggy round out this Monday special. Hazard Hall, (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.), 7pm, All Ages (Photo by Walter Wlodarczyk) – Michael Colavita

Chicago

J Fernandez “Cosmic Was”

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J Fernandez released a video for his track "Cosmic Was" last week. The track appears on his latest release Memorize Now (Atelier Ciseaux).

Nashville

Show Alert: Blue Matches at Exit/In 12.6

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 We hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday; our fingers may be cramped from our so-called "team-building" retreat that consisted of hours and hours of updating our local charts with the rest of the Deli editors, punctuated by the random "unifying" exercises like nature hikes or painting our Editor-in-Chief’s house. But anyway, we’re happy to be back, and we’re looking forward to this show: Blue Matches at Exit/In this Saturday. 

We love these guys not just because they won our Artist of the Month poll a while back, but also because of frontwoman Michelle Marston’s formidable pipe’s and the fact that this band has more hustle than a 5th grade basketball team that no one thought would make it to the playoffs. This Saturday looks like a solid indie-punk lineup, with other faves The Daily Howl, Case Study and The Notion rounding out the bill. Here’s the second track from Blue Matches recent album starting over to get you amped for the weekend. -Terra James-Jura

 

 

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s December Record of the Month: The Spirit of the Beehive – The Spirit of the Beehive

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There is something rather dark and mysterious about a band that takes its name from a classic Spanish film that focuses on its protagonist, a young girl, who becomes fascinated by the 1931 horror movie, Frankenstein. And with an album cover that portrays a child in a bee costume positioned in front of a tombstone saying, “Here Lies Mom-n-Dad Now Their Gone Isn’t That Sad,” you can’t help but be intrigued, if not a bit disturbed. The Spirit of the Beehive is a local fledgling outfit who has popped up on my radar this past year, appearing on numerous bills, oftentimes at DIY spaces. The band has further grabbed my attention with its debut self-titled full-length album, which was recorded by The Weaks/ex-Dangerous Ponies, Evan Bernard and Chris Baglivo, and released via rising Philly indie label Ranch Records.  
 
The record’s opening track, “Roll Over,” begins with an eerie instrumentation before a languid female voice comes in with barely intelligible lines. “Cycles in and out of morphine hazes. Finding spaces between your floorboards. And I watch the dust move.” Thankfully the group provides us with lyrics on its Bandcamp page; otherwise, the beautifully poetic verses filled with drug-fueled imagery would be lost in the wash of power chords and feedback. “All lost in the black market. To wait in the fix aisle, I roll over.” You also get a sense of the band’s lo-fi, DIY aesthetic when you are abruptly taken out of the world, created by the album’s first, with studio chatter before moving on to the next track. With “Short Walk,” you can’t help but feel the influences of greats like Nirvana and more recently Creepoid with the hushed vocals and sonic bursts. These two tracks set the tone for the first half of the LP, where you travel in and out of the territories of dream pop and shoegaze when the female lead vocals grab a hold of you and then the grungier, harder-edged side takes over with the male lead. This juxtaposition provides quite an enjoyable balance that I actually wished went on longer throughout the record.
 
It’s not until “Ether,” where the two combine forces, changing the dynamic of their relationship. The title of the song suggests that you might be finding something more ethereal; however, the driving bass line provides a sense of urgency throughout the track. It also marks the point where the male lead begins to dominate the rest of the album, while taking on some of the characteristics of its counterpart. What remains a constant is a psychedelic, drug-filled angst full of guitar licks and distortion, giving off the vibe of a band that is here to rock, and they don’t care if you are ready for it or not.
 
The Spirit of the Beehive closes out their ambitious LP with the longest and cleanest sounding recording on the album, “Fever Dream,” demonstrating that they don’t need to hide behind studio effects, while making you wonder where their follow-up release will go next. It’s an eclectic and modern sounding record that also pulls from past genres I hold close to my chest. I highly recommend that you go download it ASAP. – Q.D. Tran

Toronto

Mountain of Wolves

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Uniquely harmonious and darkly charming , Mountain of Wolves defines a genre of Dark Folk. Telling emotional tales with dapper vocals and diverse blends of nostalgic elements, from reel accordions to glory trumpets, Mountain of Wolves has us listening! Every track is a different story told, ‘Hurt Myself’ is the one to enjoy, it’s more like dark-folk-pop track with killer hooks and a badass passionate vocal. Stayed tuned in…Mountain of Wolves is a collective to watch!