After a successful kickstarter campaign, and a seemingly interminable build, the folks at the Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen (MCFK) collective have finally completed construction on their new studio. To celebrate they’ve put together their second show this month, this time at the Gutter, Brooklyn’s premier bowling alley/venue which isn’t Brooklyn Bowl. The showcase will feature the gleaming psychedelic soul pop of ghostpal, Goodman’s excoriating garage pop (both Deli NYC Artists of the Month) as well as Toot Sweet, NoPop (whom are not to be missed), The Brooklyn What, and Awkwarium. Stream MCFK’s latest compilation below, and catch them tonight (1/23) at the Gutter. -Emilio Herce (@emilioherce) photo cred: Dan Bracaglia
Pig Iron Theatre’s Annual Benefit Cabaret: Pignometry at The Troc Jan. 23
BART @ the Horseshoe
BART, high flying with a modern seventies energy. They experiment with structure, harmony and rhythm. Like a lucid dream they open doorways into the mind. “The Wall” invites you right in with floating harmonies that easily warm you up with enchanting rhythms of guitars and drums. The video creates a light and fluffy feeling of color and fun with grainy, soft, slow motion head banging. Bart’s latest video creation “Wade” sends you into a mind-bending landscape of light and sound. A masterpiece of color dynamics creating their own laser light show for everyone. See them this Saturday @ the Horseshoe with Wax Atlantic, it will be psychedelic good time!
Bart – Wade from Idée Fixe Records on Vimeo.
New Music Video: “Too Long Here” (Feat. Alex G) – Ryan Hemsworth
Directed by Alex Girav, here’s a video for “Too Long Here” a collaborative effort between Alex G and Ryan Hemsworh found on Hemsworth’s Alone For The First Time. Despite its casual strolling production, the video has a creepy edge as selfies take on a personality of their own. Alex G strolls back into town February 3, performing alongside the freshly transplanted Girlpool as well as Teen Suicide at PhilaMOCA.
Congatulations to Ambrose Way, Our New Artist of the Month!
We got so caught up in the launch of our Best of 2014 poll (check out our nominees in the box on your right and vote for your favorite) that we neglected to tell you about the handsome gentlemen gracing the top of our website. We first heard about Ambrose Way when they were part of a Palaver Thursday at fooBar, and cited some of their 60’s-styled acoustic numbers as perfect reminders that spring is around the corner. The four have just finished an album, Pop A, and it is most definitely worthy of the term ‘epic.’ The album tears out of the gate with a Trans-Siberian Orchestra/Queen influenced instrumental, and keeps up the same vibe for the next 26 minutes through slow jams and more spirited rockers. We’re partial to "Little Mexico;" the horn-driven opening makes us think of Chicago. There’s definitely some clever tag waiting to attach itself to these guys, something along the lines of "Big Band psych-rock," but, you know, cleverer. Check out the full album here. -Terra James-Jura
Borrisokane
We last covered Borrisokane over two years ago, and it’s high-damn-time they got another Deli look. Since our review of their 2012 “Disaster Face,” this Austin indie-gone-complex band has only improved what was already an interesting sound.
Borrisokane use the word “orchestrated” to describe their music on their Soundcloud, and the term fits: Borrisokane tracks have many moving parts, all of which give the impression of having been carefully set down exactly where they should be in the song. Somehow the group walks the tightrope that is balanced, busy layering and avoids the easy pitfall of overstuffing, resulting in dense, but highly approachable pop songs. I get echoes of surf-rock and The Evangelicals in here, but then sometimes a Borrisokane track will go quite electroish, or throw in some Swans-like deep droning vocals. What I’m getting at is that Borrisokane shows their influences, but they use them as influences should be, nailing that Jim Jarmusch-endorsed “authentic theft” that takes the source material someplace new.
Another reason to bring these guys up is that they have been slamming through recording track after track in support of a seriously fucking cool idea this past year. It’s called The Versus Project, and it’s basically a series of EPs that features Borrisokane and another band covering one song each from the other’s discography, then recording a new song each. Bands they’ve worked with include Pageantry, Knifight, Young Tongue and Major Major Major, all interesting in their own right. The resulting records are solid, and well worth a listen, so get your ears over to both the Borrisokane page and the page for The Versus Project and feed those things some freshness.
Tigers Are Bad For Horses Are Back With A New Dark Single “I.V. (Poisoned)”
Indie-pop duo Tigers Are Bad For Horses get a little emo in their new track called "I.V. (Poisoned)." Frontwoman Mellen (Mary-Ellen) Funke’s sultry, folk vocals blend seamlessley with the progressive melody produced by percussionist Lyell Roeder. Singing "sometimes I think the venom in my veins will never leave," TABFH casts a darker cloud over the running theme from their last track "Recovery" –being let down by someone you care about. Roeder says the track is much heavier not only in tone, but in percussion. "We just really wanted to change the balance in this [track]."
The two plan to drop a 5-track EP late February and say we can expect each of their songs to stand out on their own. "They are actually pretty different from each other… even with the next ones, you’ll see even different influences" comments Funke. TABFH have already played most of their EP live. They find performing their music before it’s finished "informs they way [they] write." If you can’t wait until the expected drop of their EP late February, catch TABFH with Eureka Birds at the Treehouse Lounge February 26th and listen to "I.V.(Poisoned)" below. –Sade A. Spence
Ghastly Menace “Real Life”
Ghastly Menace will be releasing their debut album, Songs of Ghastly Menace, on Jan. 27th via The Record Machine. The latest single from the album is called "Real Life". Below is their track "Closing".
You can catch Ghastly Menace live from Studio 10 on Vocalo.org on Jan. 27th at 8pm.
The Pluto Moons drop E$pooky Ep, play Bowery Electric
The Pluto Moons play with magic. It’s your garden-variety, bass-based, synth and sample, four-on-the-floor sort of magic, but magic no less. Their latest, the E$pooky EP, is something of an evolution from their debut, Mannequin Legs, but retains the playful instinct that’s a staple to most of their music. “$pooky,” the first song on the album, begins with a whisper and a bang, Jachary’s undulating bass refrain quickly vaporized by the rest of the of the band’s entrance. It comes back to haunt you later in the song, bigger and more insistent than before, like most of the Moon’s catalogue. The Pluto Moon’s will be playing Bowery Electric on 2/5 with a Mellencamp. -Emilio Herce (@emilioherce)
New Video: “Kill the Medicine Man” (Tiny Desk Contest Entry) – Ron Gallo
Shot by Caitlin McCann and featuring Dom Billett on drums, Ron Gallo’s entry for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest “Kill the Medicine Man” quickly grabs your attention. Gallo’s vocals encapsulate a yearning agitated power. Even though his words express a lingering pain, he rises above it bellowing at his demons.
Rosechild release debut EP on Jan. 29
Alternative rock band Rosechild are prepping up for the official release of their debut EP Remedies, a warm and organic three tracks with a slight psychedelic bend to them. Lead by the evocative vocals of Haile Meirow, the EP is forceful yet tactful, hard-edged mid-tempo songs that pulse with a slight dissonant edge surrounded by ambling guitar textures. You can listen to the entirely of Remedies on their soundcloud page.
Take a Few Steps Closer to Proexhibitors at KFN Jan. 22
Pensive wave with an undercutting yet vigilant groove pieced together with percussion, bass and those futuristically bright synth tones. The duo of Andrew Butler and Carolyn Wayne form Proexhibitors dish out damp, dreary yet danceable songs. With lyrics that are often directed at the listeners, the vocals can be heard as a call to action. Thus, while the groove simmers and stirs in that place just beyond the dimly lit threshold, you’ll find yourself taking a few steps closer to catch a better look. The crisp percussion and short precise guitar licks of The Guests serve as the openers. A pair of Ohio–based bands are sandwiched in between with Cosmic Moon crafting a dark ambiance, while The American Jobs toy with sonic textures in a shady yet intoxicating fashion. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita