Mating Ritual is the project of Ryan Marshall Lawson, a songwriter whose aiming for a new wave-inspired sound that’s both immediate and evocative. His latest single, "I Wear Glasses", pushes forward a danceable melody with its delectable glittering synths and spindly guitar lines. Lawson’s ability to write singles that instantly grab your attention proves his days as a recluse inside a cave in the Valley, as he once stated, are numbered.
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, July 31 – August 2
Once again, NoLibs’s 2nd Street will be mobbed this Sunday for Philly’s annual 2nd Street Festival, the city’s biggest block party. There will be two stages of live music, featuring local talent such as The Extraordinaires, Dogs on Acid, LOUDS, Tutlie, Tin Horses, Satellite Hearts, and many others. (Check out the schedule of performances HERE!) The streets will also be filled with food stands/carts, beer gardens, art, workshops, and craft vendors. Start working on that excuse for why you’ll be late or won’t be able to make it in on Monday! 2nd Street Festival, N. 2nd St. (between Germantown & Green Sts.), 12pm-10pm, Free, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
Other places to party down this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI St. James and The Apostles (Five Year Anniversary), Mark Lanky & his band, Sad Actor, SAT Grubby Little Hands, The Orange Drop, Man Illuminated, Murmuration
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Roof Doctor
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Momma Hankston, The Plums/Fenris/DJ Sean Hearn, SAT Humanshapes, Address/Grimace Federation (Record Release), Beard o Bees, Colma, Crouse, SUN Salems Outlaws/Whaler (Cassette Release)
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Sheer Mag
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Dean Ween Group
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI WIDE: DJ Coolout, Yolo Ono, SAT (Black Box) Satellite Hearts
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) This is Infinity, SAT Lainey Quinn, 10 Cent Days, Spoken Life, SUN (Balcony) Behind Deadlines, Girl From English
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Box of Rain, Pure Jerry
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SUN (Upstairs) Katelyn Jae
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Stammer (CD Release), Mock Suns, Blood Sound, SAT (4:30pm) Final Showcase, Upstream Color, The Phosphenes, Everything I Lack/(9pm) Thorazine, The Workhorse III, SUN Del Sur
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Lets Get Furious at Cancer (Benefit Show) Kingsnake, Hellblock 6, Cheerbleeders SAT August John Lutz II
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St) FRI Adalie, Skyline the City, SAT Rosali
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Pool of Thorns, The Unwarranted, The Droogettes, SAT The Escape (CD Release), Night Trip, Nobody Yet
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Vikter Duplaix, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Starkey, Dev70, Noah Breakfast
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St) Sat Will Paynter
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI New Pony, SUN Rusty Cadillac
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St) FRI Kate Says, Knightlife, Red Letter Life, Jonathan Monument, SAT (12pm) Thought Patterns, Baby Blitz/(8pm) Bill Bradford, Atomic Sky
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SUN Dark Lo, DJ Geez
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Thief, Steal Me A Peach, Hopscotch Jefferson, SAT Undergun, RFA
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Thanks2U, Last Full Measure, Our Fair City, SAT Keely Sibilia, Nicky P, Adam Travis & The Soul
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Mr. Sonny James, SUN (2pm) DJ Jugo w/percussionist Josh Robinson /(9:30pm) DJ Royale
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) Illvibe Collective, Rich Medina, SAT DJ Francisco Collazo
XO Lounge (1439 South Street) SAT My Dog Bill
The Pharmacy (1300/02 S. 18th St.) SAT Spent Flesh, Kids
Eris Temple Arts (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT King Azaz, Crime Hands, Girl Dog, Matt Holden
Berks 14A (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Aphra, IIl Faut
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Lost Ships, Sadhana, Dmnq Lndn
Baker Bowl (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Three Man Cannon, Krispy Kareem
Cha-Cha’razzi (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI NAH, Soul Glo, Grower
Kat Frat (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Anomie, Littler
Venue Boy (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Seismic Thrust (Tape Release), Pill Friends
NYC
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Brooklyn singer/composer Moonheart unveils ‘Blow’ + plays three NYC shows
A little over a year after releasing her second effort, the quietly moving piano affair ‘little bits,’ twenty-four-year-old singer/composer Moonheart shared latest song “Blow” (streaming below) last week. A subtly thrilling blend of heedful guitars, skipping beats, and the Brooklyn dweller’s agile voice, the romance track seems to be influenced by minimalism (like Doe Paoro’s work) but is very touching. A conservatory graduate, Mayo certainly knows theory but she never lets it stop her from conveying emotion. Kim Mayo is expected to drop her first full-length this year. She performs at Leftfield on August 6, at Rockwood on the 13th and at Muchmores on the 16th. – Zach Weg
Philadelphia
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A Special Evening w/The Dean Ween Group at Union Transfer July 31
I am sure that there were many of our readers (especially those who grew up in Philadelphia/Bucks County area), who were heartbroken to hear the announcement by Gene Ween, a.k.a. Aaron Freeman/Gener, regarding the demise of iconic alt-rock outfit Ween. And considering that he failed to discuss the disbandment with his songwriting brethren Dean Ween, a.k.a. Mickey Melchiondo, Jr./Deaner, I’m guessing that there might still be some unsettled business for all. Well, this evening at Union Transfer, strapped with his new modified Stratocaster, Deaner will have the opportunity to join the rest of the remaining Ween band members once again, which include Claude Coleman, Dave Dreiwitz, and Glenn McClelland, as The Dean Ween Group. Also joining the crew on this special night will be Scott Rednor. Deaner has been in the studio lately working on new material so expect the unexpected, along with some of your favorite classics. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $25, All Ages – Alexis V.
Philadelphia
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The Stammer Album Release Show at The Fire July 31
With a calm, consistent advance, post-punk trio The Stammer continue its march forward. Steady, spoken vocals, delivered by Brian Brotman, offers an air of calm despite the sometimes melancholy narrative, as a clean siren of guitar rings true and the percussion provides that persistent push forward towards the surrounding setting. Tonight, at The Fire, the band celebrates its new release Days in Between, with the comforting psych-pop charge of Mock Suns, who impose a pleasant atmosphere that accelerates at specific instrumental intervals, asserting force onto a gentle peaceful wave. The frenzied synth-friendly gloom-pop of Blood Sound has that knack for keeping you on your toes, and since you’re on your feet, one might as well embrace it. Brooklyn lo-fi dream-pop crew Exiles helps to usher in an evening that pleasantly clouds headspace with a constant rolling current. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Michael Colavita
NYC
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Mount Sharp and Talking Head’s ‘Stop Making Sense,’ free tomorrow (08.01) in Battery Park
Talking Heads were one of the most mind blowingly imaginative bands to come out of NYC (and, frankly, the universe), and their movie Stop Making Sense is a fun testament to their performing and musical talent. Indie rock trio Mount Sharp is an emerging Brooklyn band with an sound that flirts with pop and atmospheric elements, while singing about science, monsters, and bad decisions. You can see both for free tomorrow night (08.01) at the Waterfront Plaza at Brookfield Place in Battery Park. More info can be found here.
NYC
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Brooklyn synth pop duo Kodachrome unveils video for “White Love”
A year ago, Brooklyn synthpop duo Kodachrome self-released their sophomore LP Aftermaths. To support the ten-track full-length, the band recently premiered a lyric video for opening number "White Love." It’s a simple and sensual electro ditty that features Elissa LeCoque’s stark vocals above a bed of jittery synth lines and pumping drum machines. The cleverly conceived visual, shot by still-life photographers Matthew Chaves and John Saponara, depicts frozen, creamy-white molds handmade by Elissa that were melted for the video. – Angel Eugenio Fraden
NYC
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The Mynabirds new album Lovers Know Release 8.07
The Mynabirds‘ third album Lovers Know is set for a summer release, and it’s a miles away from what you’d expect of singer/multi-instrumentalist Laura Burhenn. Seven years out from her indie pop stint as Georgie James, Burhenn’s newest art rock exploration, Lovers Know, melds her love for ’60s psych with the found stylings of her musical sojourn.
Her first step as The Mynabirds carried the spirit of her 2004 debut: 2010’s What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood was a hearty bite of lyricism and melody, carefully propped by acousmatic flakes. Two years after, the sophomore GENERALS mixed Arcade Fire/Vampire Weekend textures and rhythms with 80’s synth soundscapes. Now, the songs of Lovers Know effortlessly weave pop truths through all-manner of effects, with a strong affection for brisk percussion and yesteryear frequencies.
Lovers Know will be out August 7th on Saddle Creek Records — get a first-listen on NPR Music and pre-order your copy now. Burhenn and the gang are playing a free show at the Santa Monica Pier with Ariel Pink on August 20th, too. – Ryan Mo
Austin
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Opposite Day’s Bouncy, Robot-Filled “AI IOU” Music Video
This one’s just plain fun y’all. Opposite Day is a staple of the Austin scene that plays some of the most technical and pure fun music in Austin, a combo you don’t often get. This vid is their new track “AI IOU,” and it’s a series of shots that cut between the band doing their hard-playing, wild-beat thing and then a buncha robot shots that feel very MST3K. That’s a pretty good touchstone in terms of era as well, as this track feels quite outta the 90s though all beefed up with some heavier, mathrockier shit, and the idea of a wilder, more indie Barenaked Ladies that plays faster and punkier isn’t far off. It’s fun too to get great tracks that aren’t really about love or social issues or something pretty, but instead just about a cool ass concept that the musicians like; in this case a mufucking robot made from parts of other robots! Check the lyrics: "I am rememebering what happened to the parts that make me/I am a conscious agent assembled from other machines." That’s the good scifi shit. Tune your robot ears and focus your android eyes on this thing below, and let the AI tell you all about its weird ol’ self!
Philadelphia
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New Video: “Spare the Wicked” (Live) – Hezekiah Jones
Hezekiah Jones, a.k.a. Raph Cutrufello, is preparing to release his next album, In Loving Memory of oosi Lockjaw, this fall. Cutrufello stopped by Caimbridge Sounds Studio to record a session for Root Down In The Show‘s Cover Club series. He and the Joneses also shared a new song off the forthcoming record called "Spare the Wicked," which you can watch a performance of below. (Photo by Lisa Schaffer)
Toronto
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Pete Van Dyk & The Second Hand Band @ Homegrown Hamilton
This 4 piece blues rock group hails from Burlington/Hamilton, Pete Van Dyk & The Second Hand Band are known for throwing down a nice boogie indie rock combo around town. They have just released a new self-titled album (engineered and mixed by bass player JD Norwood) with a music video for the lead single "Talk of the Town". This track has a bluesy banger of a verse that settles into a laid-back stoner groove chorus "Bad Scene" from this record is pure story-telling blues delight with the swaying rhythm being held down smoothly by JD and drummer Scott Carruthers. Pete leads the group with his howlin’ vocals and sweet rhythm guitar. Meanwhle his younger brother (Shr)Ed.is lighting his Strat on fire shredding the blues away…literally. These guys play @Homegrown Hamilton 07/31 -Kris Gies
Chicago
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Willis Earl Beal “Survive”
Willis Earl Beal has released a new single from his forthcoming album Noctunes. The single is called "Survive" and it is slow moving r&b dirge, as Beal has become known for. Noctunes will be released by Tender Loving Empire on August 28th and can be preordered for what ever you would like to pay today.