Philadelphia

“Experiment and Dance” w/Aphra, QQQ & More at W/N W/N Jan. 31

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W/N W/N is throwing another one of their celebrations of “experiment and dance” this Sunday. Aphra, the solo project of ex-Tutlie member Rebecca Way, takes on a more minimalist electropop side of music; some live performances consist of just her and a keyboard, but her new music experiments more with noise and texture. Either way, expect Way’s powerful voice to be featured heavily. Also making an appearance to get your synapses firing will be sound sculptor QQQ. Synth pads straight out of 80’s depictions of dystopian futures set the foundation beneath displaced beats and glitching samples that bring stark attention to the negative space between notes and grooves. Glades will be performing as well, bringing a more pacified ambience to the party with his chilled-out, cosmic electro-soul. Synth pads drone, warble and bleed into each other, contrasting with sharp, modulating, occasionally arhythmic percussion samples, while Telequanta varies his sound from funky house remixes of disco songs with that classic danceable bass drum backbeat to more ambient, downtempo jams. W/N W/N, 931 Spring Garden St., 8pm, 21+ (Aphra Photo by Megan Matuzak) – Bryce Woodcock

NYC

Julius Smack releases Tomb Songs, release party tonight at pehrspace

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Less than a year since his last album Ghost, the animated avant-pop statue Julius Smack releases Tomb Songs, a collection of works expressing the individual pains of the post-industrial world. The San Francisco transplant’s effete voice swims through isopropyl synths, reappropriated samples, and layered drums to create maximalist narratives ("Poetics I") as dance-y as they are contemplative. Catch Julius Smack as he performs at pehrspace tonight with Practical Records siblings Michael Vidal, Lucky Dragons, Grand Lady Dance House, and Mo Dotti. – Ryan Mo

Nashville

Andrew Adkins invites us into his Glass Castles

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Glass Castles isn’t an album about reinventing the wheel. It’s an album about analyzing the wheel, studying its materials, seeing what makes it turn, and then taking the knowledge, tweaking it, and updating it with a modern frame of reference. The instrumentation is pure classic Nashville country—and it works beautifully. Adkins’ voice ranges from Dylan-esque to a hiss almost reminiscent of Marc Bolan, but far more confident and in-your-face than the sexual purrs of the God of Glam.

Andrew Adkins is a musician who knows what he’s talking about, and he’s more than ready to show you his sources. Get familiar with Glass Castles below and be sure to keep Askins on your radar. -Austin Phy

Portland

Guest post: Daniel Barkness of Dad Works Hard talks Manx

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    After spending the majority of my 34 years on this planet listening to a strange variety music, I sometimes feel like rock and roll is, in fact, dead. I don’t really even listen to much music these days due to the fact that I’m simply not interested. When I do listen, I’m usually listening from the perspective of a producer, an engineer and a fellow musician, hearing all of the technical nuances that tend to destroy the blissfulness of just plain enjoying the fuck out of rock music like I could when I was 13 years old with no responsibilities or worries. 

    A few years ago I met a guy whose band took me back to that summer in the early 90’s when "Black Hole Sun" was played on MTV every 20 minutes, of when I got my first Nirvana bootleg CD and would blast it on repeat until falling asleep in my twin bed back in the south hills of Pittsburgh, PA. The man who took me back to that wonderful place in time is none other than Oregon native John Barnaby who fronts the Portland based band Manx. I invited John into my house a few Saturdays ago to drink some shitty beer, talk about his band, their self titled record, his record label, the new record that’s in the works, and the raw energy that he exudes on stage. Before we got very far into the interview, John was roasting cron flakes and dancing in my studio apartment wearing a pair of platforms studded with plastic gemstones. And…well…I guess that this is all you really need to know. That is Manx and Manx rocks. Fucking hard. Their raw and punchy, high-energy live set makes you want to repeatedly smash your face against a wall in the best possible way. While watching them perform, you can expect to see a crowd of loyal and intoxicated fans going ape shit while Barnaby drops to his knees nailing some sort of wild bass solo – sweat pouring down his face soaking into his denim jacket – attempting to put out the fire in his stomach from the last shot he took. There’s no irony here. Manx is no frills rock n’ roll at its finest. 
 
    Manx usually plays around town and there is typically little if any cover. You can’t afford not to check these guys (and girl) out. Giant bass-wielding front man who has more stage presence than 90% of other local acts combined? Check. Foxy chick on guitar who rips 16 bar solos through an old NYC big muff? Check. Hard hitting, raw-as-all-hell drummer pounding on a set of tequila sunrise Vista-Lites that may or may not have once belonged to the late John Bonham? Check. Next time Manx is playing around town, go check them out. Trust me. Totally. Fucking. Worth it.
 
-DTB
 

Philadelphia

Julie Slick’s 30th Birthday Bash w/EchoTest at Ardmore Music Hall Jan. 30

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Ardmore Music Hall celebrates Julie Slick’s 30th birthday this evening. EchoTest masterfully orchestrates soundscapes with a sense of ambient ease and precision, locking into pensive patterns and digging into chiseled, funky foundations, etc. With a varied appreciation of musical texture, the results are tightly woven explorations that while open to the possibilities of discovery, remain well-grounded in a sense of direction. The melting pot of experimental rock known as Out of the Beardspace adds their unique blend of genre-bending sound, and Hmfo recreates and re-imagines the music of Philly soul legends Hall & Oates. Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., 8:30pm, $20, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Portland

Lubec to have EP release show on February 5th

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Lubec know how to pull some emotions out of you with their music, seamlessly blending shoegaze, indie pop and affection. Their forray into the hearts of Portlanders began around five years ago, yet is sure to stay with us for more years to come. They’ve been recently riding high on the creation of their latest EP, Concentration, due out February 5th via Touchy Feely Records. The release show will be that same night at the Know, along with supporting sets from Versing and Post Moves. Check out the latest single from Concentration, "Late Bloomer," below. You can also preorder the new EP for $5 here.

-Cervante Pope

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, January 29 – 31

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Bands like Queen of Jeans, who openly subscribe to the long history of girl-pop groups, are a great indicator of how much has changed or remained the same through the years within the canon. The excessively soluble pop melodies and sequences dating back to legendary 60’s acts like The Shangri-Las remain intact, but today are saturated with the textural bliss of 80’s bands like Cocteau Twins. The uncertainty and feels associated with courtship rituals are also still a heavy source of inspiration to this girl group – albeit now such confessionals are served with a smaller portion of melodramatic candidness and a thick glaze of emotionally insulating ambiguity. There are songs that move with a languid, dreamy stride that resonate with contemporary artists like La Sera, who exhibit similar influences. But Queen of Jeans colors their songs with more of a jazzy hue than most bands, who fixate on the 60’s era, which gives their sound a distinct sophistication. They’ll be celebrating the release of their debut self-titled EP at Kung Fu Necktie this Saturday with garage-rock rompers Louie Louie, who are another girl group whose focus is largely on 60’s pop, but they are more concerned with the psychedelic and garage-y side of the decade, which will also be represented by The Mysteries.  Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St, 7pm, $8-$10, 21+ – Bryce Woodcock
 
Other places to escape the chill this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Moon Bounce, SUN Glitter, Crybaby, Long Spells
 
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Shark Tape
 
 Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.)  FRI The Last Brontosaurus, This is How I Feel / DJ Elijvh Vrms, SAT Queen of Jeans, Louie Louie/ The Mysteries / Ton-Taun, Kodiak Park, Scantron
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Northern Arms, Minka, Taupe, SAT Cayetana (EP Release), Mannequin Pussy, Jeff Riddle & The Bella Vista Social Club
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Grimace Federation, SAT Famdoola, 30 And Over League, André Altrez, DJ Kirsh
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.)  FRI (Balcony) Tev Geez, Rahketz, SAT I Vampyre, Ashes of Our Sins, Ashes to Vanity, Suburban Murder, Slyphr
 
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Lotus
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Philly Gumbo, SAT (Upstairs) John Flynn
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.)  FRI Molly Rhythm, The ATM Machines, SAT Illinois, SUN Joy Riding
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Chestnut Grove, SAT RFA, The Chelsea Kills
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St) FRI Purple Dialect, SAT Teknacolor Ninja
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Francisco Collazo, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Fishtown Beats, Frank Sriracha
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Hank’s Cadillac (CD Release), SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Post War Dream, Justin Patrick Foley, Vessna Scheff
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI L.A.W., Space Caravan, Danny Justice, Hometown Ghosts
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SUN Track Jumpas, Corey Lee, Fis Geez The Rapper, Chronik
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Sweet Eureka, Joe Jordan’s Experiment, Mesina, The Terribles, Clint Reid Davis, SAT Keystoned,, The Jackson Rider, Soraia, The Better Half, Dan Callahan,
 
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Starwood, Kim Jong Ill, Revolution, I Love You, SAT Laura Cheadle, Lou, Amy Faden, Amy Saul Zerby, SUN Sad Boys, Chugsley
 
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.)  FRI Splintered Sunlight, Cabin Dogs, SAT Echotest (Feat. Julie Slick), HMFO
 
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Illvibe Collective, SAT Ed Christof
 
The Foundry (1100 Canal St.) SUN Montone
 
The Pharmacy (1300/02 S. 18th St.) SAT (Matinee) Welter, Teenage Bigfoot,  , Seeing Snakes, Lamplighters, Science Club , Down With Homework / (8pm) Humanshapes, Horsecops, Girl Dog, Crime Hands
 
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Socialite, The Guests
 
Mantua Yacht Club (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) FRI Howlish, OhBree, Nark, No Stranger
 
Pilam (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) FRI Littler, Blowdryer
 
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SAT Sad Hana, Lead Pipe
 
W/N W/N (931 Spring Garden St.) SUN Aphra, QQQ, Telequanta, Sad Hana
 
Goldilocks Gallery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SAT Arthur Shea, Frontyards, George Quinn, Chad Avery
 
Haus (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SUN Wyndwood (Tape Release), Teenage Spaceship, Liz de Lise
 
 

 

Philadelphia

New Track: “Small Sister (Work of Art)” – Purples

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Purples seem to linger to one’s consciousness, releasing a new song every few weeks.  Their latest “Small Sister (Work of Art)” howls with a sense of horror before rolling into a rumbling bass popping scenario.  While anxiety over handling the exterior world percolates, melodic harmony-fortified psych-pop rules out. Catch Purples at Johnny Brenda’s with Up The Chain on March 11. 

L.A.

Alina Bea announces debut EP Live Undone, shares new track “Everything is Alright”

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Things hadn’t been going well for Alina Bea. Following the end of a five-year relationship and the conclusion of her main project Body Parts, Bea did as many of us do when we go through troubling times: apply it into her art. The result of this is her debut EP Live Undone, a collection of confessional songs that are driven by change. Her first single off of the EP, "Everything is Alright", means to be a direct response to how she feels at the moment; renewed but cautious, the track has a lush, ornate sound wth some artful accents, though never to the point where it obscures its focus on simple, engaging songcraft.

Bea has a show coming up at the Bootleg on January 31st, followed by an album release show at Resident on February 26th. 


NYC

Karla Rose unveils video for ‘Girl Next Door’

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It’s no easy task to reference, in a musical video, a classic movie from the past, but Karla Rose‘s black and white video for single ‘Girl Next Door,’ featuring images of the 1954 film noir by the same title, pulls off this feat in style, feeling uniform and well produced, with Karla’s song functioning as a perfectly suspenceful soundtrack. The singer’s slightly detached delivery and bluesy melodies, reminiscent of a less pretentious Lana Del Rey, are enhanced by the track’s Morriconian references and soft jazz overtones – it’s no accident that she used to play with Morricone Youth.

San Francisco

San Francisco Bay Area Open Submission Results for The Deli’s Year End Poll 2015

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Thanks to all the artists who submitted their music to be considered for The Deli’s Best of San Francisco Bay Area Year End Poll for Emerging Artists!

After tallying our editors’ ratings for the Open Submissions stage, it’s time to release the results. Please note that to avoid conflicts no local editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene.

Total submissions from SF Bay Area: 50

Jurors: Cody Wright (The Deli Toronto), Michael Colavita (The Deli Philly) and PDG (The Deli NYC)

​Wicked Man​ – (Indie) – 8.167​ ​​​

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Eight Belles​ – (Indie Folk) – 8 ​ ​​

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Future Twin – (Soul/Shoegaze) – 7.83 ​

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​Dangermaker​ – (Indie Pop) – 7.67

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Andy Kong​ – (Acoustic Indie Pop) – 7.67 ​

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Emily Afton – (Indie Rock) – 7.67

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Night Shapes – (Kraut/Psych Rock) – 7.3

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Lost Dog Found​ – (Jazz) – 7.3

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​Soft White Sixties – (Rock/Soul) – 7.3

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Honorable Mentions:

Eliquate, The Humidor​s​, Sarchasm, Rin Tin Tiger, Roem Baur, Teens in Trouble, Sunrunners, Citabria, In Letter Form, Sit Kitty Sit, The Total Bettys and War Cloud.

WHAT’S NEXT: These results end the first phase of the poll. We will soon unveil the artists nominated by our local jurors, and then let our readers and our writers influence the poll with their vote. Keep creating, keep supporting, and stay tuned for your chance to vote! —The Deli San Francisco Staff

Philadelphia

Syd Torchio Art Show w/Northern Arms at PhilaMOCA Jan. 29

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With background motifs like the Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum and models like Playboy Bunny Savage, S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D., and members of the Squidling Bros. Circus Sideshow troupe, Syd Torchio’s elaborate portraits have been known to channel another quixotic sense of reality. And his art shows at PhilaMOCA have been mainstays that have also featured some pretty eclectic musicians. Tonight’s exhibit will be no exception since it will feature gothic Americana nine-piece, Northern Arms, and since they’ve been hard at work recording an upcoming album at Miner Street Recordings, you might just be in for a preview. Torchio will also be performing with his multi-instrumental modern folk quartet, Taupe, that also features ex-members of The Oubliette Ensemble. They’ll be joined by the quirky four-piece, Minka, whose sound is filled with 80’s rock nostalgia. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $10, All Ages – Bill McThrill