Whitney is Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich of Smith Westerns. The duo recently announced that they would be releasing an EP through Lead Riders in September and are working on a Full-length. The duo’s first single is called "No Matter Where We Go" and is a Psych-pop gem.
NYC
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SIRENS releases new video for ‘L A’ off forthcoming album “The Perfect Door”
SIRENS aka the "ghost pop" project begun by Brooklyn artist Paris Mancini is a dream vibrated to life through disembodied vocal harmonies and churning bass loops. As her voice swirls into the air, the audience is drawn toward her as if to a flurry of crystal balls, omens, fates, furies, and fragile promises. In the new video (streaming below) for the song “LA” from her forthcoming album ‘The Perfect Door,’ SIRENS strolls through a haunting realm of desert palaces, pyramids, and caverns. You might find your own dreams if you could only look away from hers. – BrokeMC
Philadelphia
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Psychic Teens Opening for Publicist UK & Dälek at JB’s Aug. 26
Purveyors of the underworld, Psychic Teens, have been hidden away working on their third full-length album. Tonight, they’ll crawl up from the undebelly of Philly’s DIY scene to shred the stage of Johnny Brenda’s. Psychic Teens will be opening for Publicist UK, who just released their first LP, Forgive Yourself, last week via revered local label Relapse Records. Also along for the ride are New Jersey experimental hip-hop visionaries Dälek. This will not be your ordinary, homogenous evening of music. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – Alexis V.
NYC
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Newly-formed New York rock trio Foxtrax play Mercury Lounge on Friday (8.28)
High school buddies turned New York rock trio Foxtrax zinged an electric bolt earlier this week with “Dark Of The Night” (streaming below), a single off their forthcoming debut EP ‘The Cabin.’ With its imagistic title and theme of longing, the track may seem to be something out of a blues songbook but the Long Island-hailing guys’ synth-lined sound is actually a compelling marriage between The Killers’ epic rock and Future Islands’ dark pop. For a band that formed only this year, Foxtrax snakes through genres and plays with a tightness that’s very impressive. Foxtrax will have an EP release show this Friday (8.28) at Mercury Lounge. – Zach Weg
NYC
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New York singer/songwriter Rachel Ana Dobken plays Leftfield on 10.17
Earlier this month, New York singer/songwriter Rachel Ana Dobken released “Ability to Memory” (streaming below), a movingly raw love song. Over elegantly chimerical guitar work that would make Andrés Segovia smile, the Bard College-educated musician tells of a broken romance with a novelist’s eye, subtly revealing the remnants of a once full love. Dobken’s voice is a lover’s, though, and she only mines heartbreak in order to illuminate its ultimately wondrous transience. Rachel Ana Dobken plays 10.17 at Leftfield. – Zach Weg
Philadelphia
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New Track: “No Fall (Belle Haven Remix)” – Suburban Living
Suburban Living have plans to release a remix EP of tracks from their self-titled full-length album. Here is the first reinterpretation of one of our favorite songs from the LP, "No Fall," by Belle Haven (Evan Grice of Pleasure Curses). Other contributors on the record include Beard-o-Bees (Jesse Miller of Lotus), Dream Safari, and Spirit Haus (Bruno Catrambone of CRUISR). Suburban Living will be performing next in Philly this Saturday, August 29 at Underground Arts for The Dude Hates Cancer Afterparty Benefit Concert.
L.A.
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FYF 2015 Scene Report: familiar faces mature and new voices shine
This year’s slew of local talent at FYF wasn’t as unpredictable as other years, seeing as the festival booked many familiar faces who happened to be promoting either recent or new releases. Though it left something to be desired, bringing back proven talent does provide a sense of camaraderie and loyalty to an event that is increasingly advancing into the upper echelons of Summer music festivals.
Take a look at some of our highlights from this year’s festival, some of which we’re sure will make future appearances if you’re kicking yourself for having missed them this time around.
Day 1:
The Los Angeles band JUNK opened the festival, christening the Trees Stage with a whirlwind of garage indie rock from their recently released single “Like A Cop”, the first pressing of FYF’s side-venture FYF Records. Despite slaying the night before at Non Plus Ultra with Broncho and Shitgiver, Evan Weiss & co. had lots of energy to burn even though their set was less than 30 minutes. – Words: Ryan Mo // Photo Credit: Carl Pocket for FYF Fest
On the other side of the festival grounds, classic singer-songwriter Kevin Morby also opened the festival at the Lawn Stage with a serene, methodical set that exhibits his zest for soothing, reflective folk melodies. His words were few but his presence was felt, bringing a cool vibe to a sizable amount of attendees who were ready to absorb some pleasant, sun-drenched melodies. – Words: Juan Rodríguez // Photo Credit: Chris Carrasquillo for FYF Fest
Mikal Cronin took the Lawn Stage with opener “Turn Around” from his newest drop MCIII, a blend of scorching fuzz chords and 1960’s pop hooks for sweating fans. Cronin’s start-stop “Apathy” and MCII’s “Weight” hearkened back to his debut performance at 2013’s FYF, right before the festival changed from the Historic Park venue to Exposition Park. – Words: Ryan Mo // Photo Credit: Carl Pocket for FYF Fest
South Bay’s Joyce Manor has become a staple for FYF, taking a slot every year since 2012, and no one is complaining. Performing at the Main Stage just before Dinosaur Jr., the pop punkers drew from their entire discography, from first album hits like “Leather Jacket” to songs from 2014’s release Never Hungover Again like “Christmas Card”. To top it off, Joyce Manor closed out with a cover of Weezer’s “You Gave Your Love to me Softly”. – Words: Ryan Mo // Photo Credit: Todd Seelie for FYF Fest
Slated for a late-evening set, avant grade producer Shlohmo bought back his searing, beatmaking talents to an audience that was yearning for a refresher after Goldroom’s sprightly set. Utilizing a full band, he managed to surprise the crowd with abstruse, though rhythmic dynamics that can stimulate both body and soul. A veteran to the festival, it was a revelation to see him come into his own as such a confident performer, one whose dark electronic passages always emit a chink of hopeful light. – Words: Juan Rodríguez // Photo Credit: Chris Carrasquillo for FYF Fest
Day 2:
If you weren’t keeling over from dehydration and exhaustion, you probably received an early greeting from Girlpool at the Lawn Stage. Fans matted the grass as the LA-to-Philly duo lulled onlookers with hits from their album Before the World Was Big. – Words: Ryan Mo // Photo Credit: Carl Pocket for FYF Fest
After a set cut short from New Yorks’ experimental trio Battles, HEALTH took The Trees by force with“STONEFIST”, the second-track banger of their newest album Death Magic. Jupiter Keyes pummeled the bass as the crowds violently convulsed, moshing and headbanging to the “DIE SLOW” and “GOTH STAR”. Their set was unfortunately cut short after the slow-moving “LIFE”, prompting HEALTH to finish with the half-minute dissonant freakout “GIRL ATTORNEY”. – Words: Ryan Mo // Photo Credit: Chris Carrasquillo for FYF Fest
NYC
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A delicious evening with FineTime: mAsis, Media Jeweler, and Balms at Vega’s Meat Market
It’s Tuesday. You’ve recovered from your FYF haze, and now you’re itching to get out and see some more kickass bands.
Hopefully the tinnitus has gone away, that is, if you didn’t accidentally forget your earplugs for two days straight. If not, you’re gonna want to remember to bring them to this show, because it’s a killer. And if you were disappointed in the lack of local acts this FYF (you probably didn’t wake up early enough for JUNK), don’t worry — you can compensate tonight!
Local show organizers FineTime is holding a three-course performance tonight (event link here) at Vega’s Meat Market with delicious servings of full stop rock, creamy dreamy pop, and ethereal electronic apértif.
Up first to whet your sonic appetite is mAsis, the Glendale act that floats and pulsates serenely — fans of The XX and Odesza’s chilled tones will be pleasantly surprised to hear these guys.
Then, OC’s agitatin’ rock band Media Jeweler changes the pace with full-force hits from their debut album $99 R/T Hawaii, out September 18th on Fire Talk Records. The songs are meaty, filling, and will leave you feeling bloated — everything a main course strives to be.
And ending the night is BALMS, the dreampop trio from San Francisco on the tail end of their summer tour through the Southwest coast. These guys made a recent appearance at Los Angeles’ DreamGaze Fest, showering attendees with their billowy lo-fi pop jangle — a great way to end the evening, unlike that molten chocolate lava cake I had at Chili’s.
Tickets are still available online via Ticketfly, but this isn’t a bougie event; there will be door sales, too! Show starts at 7:30 pm, so mind the horrendous LA traffic. – Ryan Mo
NYC
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Lonely Boy, Old Best Friend playing at Cake Shop this Thursday (8.27)
“Mike Comite is your Old Best Friend. He lives in Brooklyn. Come over and he’ll cook you a mediocre dinner sometime.” True words from the bandcamp page where the Brooklyn-based one-man band Old Best Friend’s music resides. Having released his first full-length album ‘Living Alone’ this past June, Old Best Friend seems to still be figuring out his style. His album is a tumultuous mix of loud-ringing punk rock splattered with some more delicate indie-folk. Like an old best friend, the album leaves us wanting one more second and then has us turning it down the next. Old Best Friend will be playing at Cake Shop Thursday, August 27th. Based on the exciting unpredictability of his music, it should be a show you won’t want to miss! Listen to one our favorite songs, “The Truth,” from his new album below.
Chicago
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Local Motive @ Cubby Bear
Local Motive is releasing their debut EP, Superconductors, this week. The EP was recorded at Rax Trax Recording and mastered at Gravity Studios, and is filled soulful funk and rock. Check out the EP’s first single, "Shallow Water", below.
You can help Local Motive celebrate the release at Cubby Bear on Aug. 28th with Blue Mud, Felix & Lyons, and Collin McGee.
Austin
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Wonderbitch Has a Killer Name, and an Excellent New EP
Austin quartet Wonderbitch has been getting crowds and critics pumped about their brand of music since SXSW, which is not surprising since the indie rock outfit’s music is the equivalent of a swanky post-punk 3-piece suit fitted to perfection then adorned with psychedelic cufflinks and new wave attitude. In fact, they were the Deli’s Artist of the Month for July for their impressive EP, ‘WBlovesyou”- six tracks of snarky pop rock released earlier in the year in the vain of bands such as The Killers and Neon Trees.
Wonderbitch tends to build tracks around a philosophy that energetic upbeat music can be crafted just as artistically and meticulously as their drearier post-prog and alt-rock contemporaries. Songs on the EP range from the Genesis version 2.0 sounding ‘Little Tiger’, to songs like ‘Josanna ‘, which summons up nostalgia of The Clash. The band plays with an infectious energy that jolts the senses, and this factor keeps the music rolling along easily from song to song. The talent the group possesses is obvious, from the groove inducing rhythm section of Evan Wade and Corey Fitzgerald Spears to the new wave crooning of vocalist Alex Chod and the licks of guitarist Colton Hardin — this is a band on the rise.
You can checkout Wonderbitch’s new EP below as well as the first music video from said EP, and you can catch the boys performing at Cheer Up Charlie’s in Austin on Aug. 28 and at Spider House on Sept. 16, and check back with The Deli for the latest news on the group.
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Tavon Perkins
Chicago
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S’Pocket @ Reggie’s
S’Pocket is bringing their unique blend of funk and rock to Reggie’s on September 12th. This performance is SweetWater Brewing’s concert series and will also feature performances by Digeometric and Concrete Roots.