Experimental hip hop comes out of the basements of Philly’s DIY scene and onto the stage of Kung Fu Necktie this evening. One-man wrecking crew NAH, a.k.a. Mike Kunh (formerly of 1994!), creates a nightmarish warzone environment with his bombastic drumbeats and unpredictable, mind-scrambling electronic noise samples, beating you into submission. It’s a white flag that you gladly raise in the end. Kuhn will be joined by local grimy grit-hop trio MCs A Dead Fox, Riff Quantum, and DJ Dick Muscles, better known as Static Brothers, and "the bad boyz of noize" Drums Like Machine Guns. They’ll play host to Houston doom-hop artist Babelfishh, a.k.a. Scott Humer. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7pm, $6, 21+ (Photo by Gabe Coffey) – Alexis V.
NYC
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Nu-gazers SHEER working on debut album
They’re a Korn cover band and they like to thank Riff Raff for everything. But when the cheeky quartet SHEER aren’t making puns and nu metal references or praising the Mad Decent rapper, they’re burying audiences with songs that effortlessly blend dreampop, shoegaze, and doom metal. Formed from a diverse group of musicians in Simi Valley, SHEER released their first pair of singles “Uneasy” and “2014” early this year, gaining buzz on the Internet and in the LA scene by playing at The Smell and White Oak Music and Arts, with veterans like San Fernando experimental group The Unending Thread, Hemet’s resident shoegazing cat lovers Crisis Arm, and Los Angeles punkgazing trio Tennis System. SHEER are putting the finishing touches to their debut album, which is up for release later this year. Check out their 2014 single "Skin," streaming below. – Ryan Mo
New England
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Review of Cherry Mellow’s “Oddie & I”
It’s Monday! Isn’t that great?! Regardless of the feelings you may or may not have for this particular day of the week, Boston’s Cherry Mellow have recently released a new song that serves as the perfect distraction from whatever mundane reality you’re currently facing. The swaying arpeggios and steady bass drum of "Oddie & I" create an accurate representation of what it feels like to be alone in your apartment and drunk at 3AM. The plus side of listening to this song is that when it’s over, you aren’t left waking up with a massive headache under your dining room table.
Keep your ears open for more music and updates from the band via their Facebook page.
-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)
NYC
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Parlour Tricks: Q&A about the creative process
Led by confident and charismatic Brooklyn chanteuse Lily Cato, Parlour Tricks (previously known as Lily & the Parlour Tricks) play a sophisticated brand of indie pop centered around Lily’s magnetic presence and sultry vocals, and enriched by tasteful atmospheric arrangements. After years spent striving in the NYC underground (our earliest coverage dates back to 2010), the band recently signed with Bar None, which will release their upcoming album “Broken Hearts/Bones.” We asked them a few questions about their creative and recording process, read the interview on our sister blog for creative musical minds on Delicious Audio.
Philadelphia
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New Dreambook EP Available for Streaming
Shoegaze four-piece Dreambook just shared its new EP Burn the Light Out, which is available for streaming below. The album was recorded this past winter with Daniel Morse (Wigwams, Break It Up), and was mastered by Jeff White (Creepoid). It will be officially released on Saturday, April 18, and the band will be performing at Union Transfer that same evening opening for Rainer Maria.
Philadelphia
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Residuels Opening for The Sonics at the TLA April 12
As we anxiously anticipate the release of their debut LP (which is currently in the works), Residuels open for The Sonics at the TLA this evening. The expanding duo unleashes a tenacious brand of rock ‘n’ roll. Justin Pittney’s attitude-asserting vocals fan the fire of classic grease-under-the-nails garage rock with steady popping off percussion and formidable guitar flare ups that set the music ablaze. With the band’s fresh “Valley of Fire”/“I Got A Right”(Stooges Cover) cassingle due out on April 20 (available at the venue this evening) garnering Iggy Pop’s stamp of approval, the band appears on its way. Tonight, they lay the groundwork for garage-rock legends The Sonics, whom recently released a new LP This Is The Sonics. Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., 8pm, $25, All Ages – Michael Colavita
Philadelphia
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Rescheduled 4th Annual Tri State Indie Awards at WCL April 12
After needing to reschedule because of sleet and icy road conditions, the Tri State Indie Awards are back again at World Cafe Live. Ha…we don’t think the weather will cause any issues this time. This afternoon, you’ll be treated to performances by Cheerleader, Satellites Hearts, and more. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, Son Little and Tutlie won’t be available to perform today. Best of luck to all the nominees! World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 1pm, $15-$50, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
Philadelphia
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Mercury Girls Opening for Suburban Living at Bourbon & Branch April 11
Mercury Girls offer an interesting, organic spin, pulling from a Brit-pop foundation to create clean, jangly pop-rock that invites you along for the journey. The quartet unites former Catnaps members Adrianne Gold (Tender Vision) and Carolyn Haynes (Ghost Gum) with Literature members Kevin Attics & Chris Schackerman, and begins their new musical adventure this evening opening a tri-fold bill at Bourbon & Branch. The invigorating baroque pop of Tutlie bridges the gap. The intoxicating vocal interplay of Jessie Radlow and Rebecca Way takes one into the upper atmosphere as the delicately layered instrumentation establishes a cozy, ethereal environment. Wesley Bunch–led Suburban Living headline as part of their month-long residency at the NoLibs venue. Bunch’s controlled (yet emotively stirring) vocals take a ride on the perpetually moving 1-2 punch of synth and percussion, cruising along the shadowy, dream-pop terrain. Bourbon & Branch, 705 N. 2nd St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
NYC
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LaCour has been working on his baby Pink Royal for some time and originally recorded everything himself. Now, with the collaborative writing efforts of the band and recording a debut full-length with producer/Hembree drummer James Barnes, the project can be fully realized.
The vulnerability of lyrics and sheer sexiness of the groove gives Pink Royal something truly special, and I personally can’t wait till the world can hear it. The guys recently released the single “Give Me Something Real,” a very nice teaser until the record drops.
Pink Royal releases Taps this weekend
I had the privilege to catch up with one of my favorite local bands, Pink Royal. Guitarist and songwriter Steven LaCour, vocalist Dylan Guthrie, and drummer Alex Hartmann invited me out while they were mixing tracks for their upcoming debut record Taps. Bassist Nick Carswell and guitarist John Dorrell were unable to make it due to prior engagements.
LaCour has been working on his baby Pink Royal for some time and originally recorded everything himself. Now, with the collaborative writing efforts of the band and recording a debut full-length with producer/Hembree drummer James Barnes, the project can be fully realized.
It has taken some time but the core of the band has now been playing shows and writing together for about 2-and-a-half years. You can really feel the chemistry during live shows with the way it feels improvised and raw, yet incredibly intricate. To describe what these guys sound like is pretty hard to do. They draw comparisons from Minus the Bear and As Tall As Lions, but as Guthrie points out, they are creating something completely unique. This is mostly due to their different musical backgrounds. "What’s interesting about our musical creation or our synergy, if you will, is what we listen to by ourselves is completely different. Where as I am soul—Gary Clark Jr. and Allen Stone—Steve came from a background of progressive math rock. The synergy of that, I think, gives us a very unique sound.” LaCour continued, “It really feels like we’re creating something different that people haven’t heard before.”
Just by listening to the mixes and the subtle tweaks to get it just right, you can tell this is a well crafted work by some seriously talented musicians. For all its intricacies, it’s very groovy and poppy, which is usually hard to get out of technical acts. “From Steve’s musical background, we have elements of math but we’re more groovy than anything, which makes it more palatable than most math rock is,” explained Guthrie.
Hartman said, “Palatable is the term I always use, because we want the songs first and foremost to appeal to everybody.”
The vulnerability of lyrics and sheer sexiness of the groove gives Pink Royal something truly special, and I personally can’t wait till the world can hear it. The guys recently released the single “Give Me Something Real,” a very nice teaser until the record drops.
–Chris Mowry
Pink Royal will be releasing Taps tonight at The Granada in Lawrence, with special guests Sharp 9, Toy Cartel, and Spencer Mackenzie Brown. It’s a free, all-ages show presented by KJHK 90.7 FM and starts at 8 p.m. If you want to catch them in KC, you can see them at Middle of the Map Fest on Saturday, April 25, at The Riot Room at 3 p.m. for I Heart Local Music’s day party. Facebook event page.
Philadelphia
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Divers Record Release Show at JB’s April 11
After successfully crowdfunding their new album Holding Bodies, Divers will be celebrating its release tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. Led by Emily Ana Zeitlyn (The Weeds) who is back by Ross Bellenoit (Birdie Busch), Todd Erk (Hoots & Hellmouth), and Thomas Bendel (Buried Beds), the folk-tinged indie-rock quartet has the talent and seasoned wherewithal to command an audiences attention. They’ll be joined by LOUDS who are working on their debut EP IF MORE PEOPLE BOUGHT ART MORE PEOPLE WOULD BUY ART, and we are certainly interested in hearing what they’ll have for us next. Also in town to welcome Divers’ new release is Brooklyn folk-rock outfit Hawk & Dove. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
San Francisco
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Day Wave Releases New Track – Drag
Oakland based indie pop artist, Day Wave (also known as Jackson Phillips, who moon lights as one half of the popular electro pop band, Carousel) has released a new single entitled, Drag. This daydreamy modern pop ballad has a light and airy vibe to it, but its lyrical content is basically about being in a bad mood and not wanting to ruin other people’s day.
It takes a lot of talent to be able to write about gloomy subject matter and still make a song listenable and likable. Day Wave is very good at that. Take a few spare moments to listen to this new track below:
NYC
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LEPT (Zula Studio Project) Releases Eponymous Krautrock EP
If ever Wes Anderson produces a film about space exploration (and I wouldn’t put it past him) I hope LEPT does the entire score. Their music, like this hypothetical movie, is whimsical in a measured way. Its playful affectations melt away to reveal something far more substantial, suggesting that a lot of thought and effort went into its production. This should come as no surprise, considering that LEPT is the brain child of two members of Zula, (Henry Terepka and Pablo Eluchans) and E Scott Lidner, proprietor of Studio Radio 45, a recording studio and podcast. Entirely a studio project, the songs on the eponymous LEPT EP take on the familiar trappings of krautrock, and share Zula’s fascination with rhythm, credit to percussionist Eluchans. Reorient, the EPs third song is built upon his poly-rhythmic architecture, with undulating synth and bass passages weaved throughout, giving it an organic feel. It’s a shame these songs won’t be performed live, but you can catch Zula with Palm on May 3rd at (le) poisson rouge and listen to the entire LEPT EP here. – @emilioherce