Secret Club just sent their song "Why Can’t Friends Just Kiss on the Lips Sometimes?" into the world last week, just in time to fall into ironic lockstep with Valentine’s Day. It’s a heavy, psycho-surf track that the trio grinds through with just enough sleaziness to give it some flavor. There’s a definitely a strain of frustration in vocalist AJ Babcock’s voice as he sings "who makes the rules?" in the breakdown. This is the first single from their upcoming debut album. There’s no release date yet, but the band has been busy playing gigs around Nashville, and have a big show on February 25th at 12th and Porter. Check out their website, and, if you REALLY dig them, visit their amazing fan site. -Terra James-Jura
Heeney unveils single “Brooklyn Pop” from upcoming LP + plays Pianos on 02.26
From their early work, which we’d described as influenced by pre-mainstream-grunge, Brooklyn quartet Heeney has rapidly evolved into an exciting and powerful blend of grunge, post punk and power pop. The band, named after Brooklyn DIY venue Shea Stadium co-founder Sean Heaney, just released this new single, revealingly titled "Brooklyn Pop," from their upcoming debut full length, scheduled for the summer. You can see them live at Pianos on February 26, and the day after at new Greenpoint venue Aviv.
Brooklyn alt folksters Bird Dog play headline Rough Trade on 02.26
Is it just us or the country/folk resurgence that invaded NYC in the early ’10s has somewhat calmed down, surpassed by the 90’s rock revival and also by the take off of the electronic scene? Whether this is true or not (things look different from different perspectives), great rootsy bands keep making good music in the five boroughs, including Brooklyn collective Bird Dog, who will be headlining Rough Trade on February 26th. CHeck out their single "Dear Friend."
Idea the Artist Releases New Single and Music Video – The Ceiling
San Francisco based singer/songwriter, Idea the Artist (Inés Beltranen) has released a new single and music video entitled, The Ceiling. This artistic and magnetic musician is preparing to release her sophomore album, The Seafloor on March 24th, and we’re excited that she has shared this new song for us to share with you!
Idea the Artist highlights her free spirited personality in her music video for The Ceiling. You can watch the music video below and you can see her perform live at her album release show at Rickshaw Stop on March 20th. You can pick up her new album in CD format at the event!
Ticket Giveaway: A Place To Bury Strangers, Ed Shrader’s Music Beat & Pinkwash at Underground Arts This Wednesday
We are doing a ticket giveaway for this Wednesday at Underground Arts with A Place To Bury Strangers, Ed Shrader’s Music Beat, and Pinkwash. To enter for a chance to win a pair of tix, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line "Bury Me in the Black Box!" Please also include your cell phone number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency). Good luck!
Krust Toons: “Murphy’s Law” by Teddy Hazard
Krust Toons: "Murphy’s Law" by Teddy Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations HERE.
Abi Reimold Opening for Mumblr at KFN Feb. 16
Abi Reimold’ s music toes that grey threshold between beautiful reflections with an internal rage as that energy converts from potential to fleshed out unfiltered expression. As we await her forthcoming full-length Wriggling, she hits the stage this evening at Kung Fu Necktie. The tug-of-war sound that Reimold enacts in the instrumental volatility and lyrical component establishes an enticing honesty, representing the strength versus struggle dynamic at its core. Mumblr headlines tonight’s showcase, presented by The Guild, with their pop-punk blend weaving in and out between isolating emotives and their joyful unabashed rocking reactions. The quirky, catchy, unfiltered sledgehammer of punks Brown Rainbow may catch you off-guard, but it grows on you in a delightfully strange manner. Combustible Arkansas two-piece Radradriot wraps up the bill that will blanket this Monday’s deep freeze. Kung Fu Necktie 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $6, 21+ – Michael Colavita
Free Download: Live on WKDU Philadelphia – I IM EYE MY
The tribal psychedelic noise-trance duo of Al Creedon (ex-Bleeding Rainbow) and Sean Hamilton (Spacin’, ex-Acid Kicks), a.k.a. I IM EYE MY, laid down a beautifully twisted in-studio set at WKDU, which you can stream and download for free below. It consisted of soundscapes from their Not Not Fun album 7 Transmissions ("Streetcat Bonfire," "Buying Forty Cattle with Weak Knees," and "Gotta Make the Hay When the Sun Shines") and previously unreleased "Order of the Asp" and "Wheelies in Bleakville." The live performance EP was recorded on air (January 11, 1015) by Adam Hendricks. They’ll be performing this Thursday at Underground Arts opening for Peaking Lights.
Show Alert: Easy Roscoe Album Release Show at Grimey’s 2.19
We covered Easy Roscoe when their album first hit earlier in January. "Keep the Dancin’ Dancin’" is a high-spirited album that had a surprising amount of depth beneath it’s pop surface. Well, the band is going to be at Grimey’s this Thursday for a free album release show. Come out early (6pm) to see the band crank out a few numbers like "Learn to Laugh," then stick around to pick up their debut album. In case you miss Thursday’s show, Easy Roscoe has a solid block of March dates coming up: Exit/In 3/9, Soulshine Pizza 3/11, and The End 3/17. Check out website for announcements and the full rundown of their spring shows. -Terra James-Jura
New Track: “FRIENDS” – Cyberbully Mom Club
Cyberbully Mom Club, the lo-fi project from Shari Heck, has a new and noticeably more polished recording called "FRIENDS." You’ll find her backing band on the track for the first time providing crunchy power chords and a steady backbeat, while Heck delivers her usual charming lines like "And I got some friends that I can hold near. But Oh God – I miss the old ones too!" Cyberbully Mom Club has plans to concentrate on writing and recording new material this spring.
BUHU
Valentine’s is a weird day to release a track, but it kinda makes sense from the strange dudes of BUHU, who use a big ole heart with their name in it as their band logo. BUHU (maybe it stands for "By Us Hug Us?" No idea.) did just that this Feb. 14th with "Daytona Beach," a track of dance-y, weirdkid pop that accompanied the group’s announcement of their upcoming Mostly Midwest Tour (April 1-May 15).
BUHU’s been on the local radar for their 80s-tinged, future-gazing quirkpop for a bit since releasing their excellent 4-Track Cinemat earlier this year (listenable in its full pop goodness here), and "Daytona Beach" is an indication that they may be turning up the Quality Knob on the avant-garde pop machine even further. This track has a lot of moving parts, like lead vocals that indicate BUHU has a healthy interest in Depeche Mode-era Britpop, backing vocals reminiscent of a cheerleading chant and the sick, bouncing, dance-punk drums that are a standard for BUHU tracks. All of it sits on top of a wall of modern synths and furiously picked guitar, and when it all comes together in the final thirty of the track, it’s one of the better pop moments to come out of an Austin band in a long time. Get in on the goods below, and check their tour poster here to take your body to the party physical.
Busses LP Release Show at JB’s Feb. 14
Refined tenacity that purposely explores, navigating through different avenues in a clean, trippy dance and consuming listeners in the process, Dave Brett, Jason Bachman, and Nick Apice, otherwise known as Busses, are set to release their new record Wizard of the Eye on Tuesday, February 17. Tonight, those gathered at Johnny Brenda’s will celebrate the album when the group occupies the middle slot of a bill headlined by Northern Arms and kicked off by Tinmouth. Busses seemed to have mastered their musical vehicle, harnessing a ferocious, spacey nature into focus rather than starting it up and seeing where it decides to go. Though they’re fully capable of drifting, the band always knows that it is in control, and the results are dynamic. With a mesmerizing cascade of vocals in a dimly lit serenading setting providing a spiritual atmosphere, the vast ensemble of Northern Arms gathers steam on their haunting pulpit/stage. With a new album Says scheduled for release next month, melodically loose pop-rock trio Tinmouth get the ball rolling. Johnny Brenda’s 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8pm, $12, 21+ – Michael Colavita