San Francisco

Mark Nelsen Curates Smashing Pumpkins Tribute Show at Viracocha – 4/8

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San Francisco based singer/songwriter and rock guitar aficionado, Mark Nelsen has curated a musical tribute night dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the 1995 Smashing Pumpkins album, Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness. Nelsen has named the event Mellon Collie Unplugged: 20 Years of Infinite Sadness and will perform with an all star ensemble of Bay Area musicians including members of The Love Dimension, Void Boys, Gold Minor, Cannons & Clouds and more.

Mellon Collie Unplugged: 20 Years of Infinite Sadness will reinterpret the softer, more acoustic compositions from the 28-song Billy Corgan-penned opus, but will also feature some deep cuts and heavy surprises.

This unique special event will take place at Viracocha on Wednesday, April 8th. This wood paneled music venue is set in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District but upholds a rustic and intimate vibe and setting that is perfect for experiencing this extended and intentionally crafted show. Mark Nelsen puts a lot of time into his live compositions and is a talented arranger. Mark Nelsen & In The Fade are going to outdo themselves with this one.

NYC

DF3 bring their electro-pop from Mexico to NYC, premiere “Gotta Run”

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Relocating from Mexico City to Brooklyn could prove to be a successful move for synth poppers, DF3. Between 2013 and 2014, the band wrote, recorded, and produced their debut album with the help of producers Michael Brauer (Coldplay, Twin Shadow, The Rolling Stones), Dave Bascombe (Chromeo, Goldfrapp, Ereasure) and Chris Zane (Passion Pit, St. Lucia). The band’s first single “Tell Me” is an uptempo jam reminiscent of an 80s escapade, with a lyrically serious undertone. Their follow up “Gotta Run”, which we are premiering here, advocates taking risks with a disreputable woman, a circumstance also encouranged by their EDM-ish sound – isn’t cheap sex what clubbing is all about, after all?  – Robert Frezza

Philadelphia

New Raise The Dead Language EP Available for Streaming & Purchase

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Below is the second installation of Sean Hoots‘ Raise The Dead Language series. The soundscape project "exists for the edification of all explorers, listeners, and inter-dimensional beings." On his new EP Volume 2, Hoots collaborated with percussionist Tom Bendel (Divers, Buried Beds).

Philadelphia

Shark Tape Co-headlines w/Future Thieves at Boot & Saddle March 24

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In honor of Record Store Day, happening on April 18, indie-rock trio Shark Tape will be selling a random color copy of their full-length release Marathon on the band’s website and at select Philly stores. But tonight’s show at Boot & Saddle will be your first opportunity to pick up this rarity. It will also be a good warm up for the group before Shark Tape opens for the iconic house band from The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Polaris, on May 16 at Underground Arts. They’ll be joined this evening by Nashville’s Future Thieves, who are wrapping up the East Coast portion of their Horizon Line Tour. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill

Philadelphia

New Track: “Jacuzzi” (Feat. Lushlife) – Antwon

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When we last caught up with Lushlife (a.k.a. Raj Haldar), opening for Kooth Keith at Kung Fu Necktie, we learned that his upcoming album, which has been mostly produced by CSLSX, is inching closer to completion. He shared a new track during his set that was collaboration with Ariel Pink. And we’re guessing that we’ll also see a contribution from rapper Antwon, whom he just produced a single for and and spat a verse on. You can take a listen to the party vibes of "Jacuzzi" below, which will appear on Antwon’s forthcoming EP Double Ecstasy, scheduled for release this summer. (Photo by HotBox Studio)

NYC

Brooklyn’s Pocket Hercules brings their lo-fi pop to Shea Stadium on 03.25

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Now that, by releasing his band This Pocket Hercules‘ debut album, he unveiled to the world his music preferences, VICE’s staff writer River Donaghey may start getting a lot of emails from NYC bands that play slacker rock or ’90s revival and are looking for coverage. Or maybe he won’t, since most musicians into those genres think it’s totally uncool to care about press (even though they secretly do). Fans of early Pavement will surely find something interesting about this Greenpoint based trio, and they’ll be able to see them live at Shea Stadium on March 25 with Free Throw, Soda Bomb, and Battle Ave.

Nashville

Catch Dustin Sellers at Acme Feed & Seed on Tuesday 3.24

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This is a great show to catch if you find yourself at the end of Broadway tomorrow night or are just jonesing to see some talented bands for $0.

We’ve been tickled by Dustin Sellers and his reformed alt-rocker with an old-school soul visage ever since he won our Artist of the Month poll last fall. We’re excited for his upcoming album “Mint Market,” and are looking forward to hearing some cuts off of it tomorrow night when he and his Rat Pack play No Country for New Nashville’s weekly showcase at Acme Feed and Seed. We’re especially digging the driving, Western vibe of "Mind at All" (check out the Shaker Steps video below.) Joining the lineup are Whoa Dakota, whose blues rock machine has been gaining steady momentum since their self-titled debut EP last year, and has been propelled in no small part to front woman Jessica Ott’s steamy dynamics. Rounding out the evening’s new traditional theme is Amanda Broadway, who is taking a quick step away from being part of Acme’s Funky-Tonk house band to belt out a set of solo material.

Catch Dustin Sellers, Whoa Dakota and Amanda Broadway at Acme Feed & Seed on Tuesday, March 24th.  The show starts a 7pm, and cover is free!

NYC

Seen at SXSW: Heeney unveils new video + plays two NYC shows in the next month

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We were curious to see Brooklyn garage rockers Heeney in action again, after they placed 8th in our Best of NYC Poll for emerging artists, and we caught in them in Austin at Lambert’s BBQ during the SESAC SXSW last Wednesday. They produced an impressively tight, powerful and fun show. Mark Fletcher, Max Kagan and Scott Andrews alternated at the lead vocals and backing vocals, but this didn’t affect the uniformity of their grunge influenced punk rock. The band recently unveiled this one-shot video for single "In the Mind," and will be back in NYC with two upcoming shows at Aviv on March 27 and at The Studio on April 11.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Powerful Man” – Hop Along

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Take a listen to “Powerful Man,” the latest song revealed from Hop Along’s upcoming LP Painted Shut, which will be released on May 5 via Saddle Creek. Despite the song’s distressing narrative that depicts Francis Quinlan witnessing a father hitting a child outside of school and her subsequent reaction, the song also carries an all out contagious groove and clean tearing guitar work, playing into her ability to vocally balance beauty and then reaching down and tearing your heart out. Hop Along performs alongside Thin Lips on May 9 at Union Transfer.