Twin Wave (a band we booked in 2013 for one of our a CMJ shows) just unveiled a new single, entitled ‘Matador’ (streaming) from their upcoming new EP ‘ Pour Out The Dark.’ The atmoshperic but uptempo track features Tommy Eichman’s sparse and measured production, and a sound that’s between the sophistipop of the ’80s (think Everything But The Girl) and the chilled wave of the new millennium. The trio will be celebrating the single’s release at Baby’s All Right on April 15th with Surf Rock is Dead and Ula Ruth.
Calisse, Hollow Sidewalks and Night Beats tonight at Dante’s
It’s one of the first truly beautiful days of the season, so tonight is guaranteed to be optimal in weather and in fun times. Dante’s will be hosting Seattle’s Night Beats, Hollow Sidewalks and Câlisse in what is sure to be a lively set of performances. The Night Beats have gone through the usual trials and tribulations you see in most bands – disagreements, breakups, makeups, but tonight they’ll be sharing the stage with a pair of incredibly talented Portland acts. Deli favorites Hollow Sidewalks have previously been featured in perfectly "fitting the bill" as an opener for Ringo Deathstarr, and the same can be said for their inclusion in the show tonight. Nora Muphy Hughes’ comforting croon is but one of the appealing draws to Hollow Sidewalks; their increibly relatable songs and perfected instrumentation being some of the others.
Câlisse is set to begin the night with their classic call to garagey pop rock. They just released a new video for their single "Stay" last month, coming off their upcoming album Farewell, Blacksheep, due out on the 15th. A song of longing, "Stay" calls to anyone who has ever desired deep connection with another.
Tickets for tonight’s show are $10, with music beginning at 9pm.
My Gold Mask “Connect”
My Gold Mask have released a video for their track "Connect". The song comes from their recently album, Anxious Utopia, and was directed by Peter Rosenbaum.
New Music Video: “Ennui” – Carol Cleveland Sings
Wishing Well, the new EP from Carol Cleveland Sings (which includes Thomas Hughes of The Spinto Band and Gretchen Lohse) was released yesterday. Directed by French artist Anne Horel, the video for “Ennui” captures the joyful electro-pop vibe, added with an assortment of feel-good home-video pet imagery running across the screen, adorned in glasses, costumes, imposed singing etc. It is silly and playful in a way that’ll make you smile. Carol Cleveland Sings debuts their expanded lineup on April 22, at Everybody Hits on a bill that also includes Lomez Place of Worship and Jo Passed.
The Deli sponsors The Hum’s all-star lineup at Manhattan Inn in April
The ladies over at Hypnocraft certainly got us hypnotized with this weekends lineup for the upcoming appointment of The Hum (the weekly, female-artists-only, collab night that The Deli sponsors) and it’s definitely not the first time., since it’s showcasing mostly local artists we ourselves love and have covered in this very blog.
At this week’s show on Sunday (4.10) the first pair kicking off the night is Casey Dienel (White Hinterland) alongside the lovely and talented ladies of Gracie & Rachel. With beautiful vocals and a keen ear for strong melodies we can almost hear the entrancing, orchestral performance from these gals already. Followed by Julia Easterlin and Hannah Epperson we can already hear a track built up solely by vocal loops and smooth violin chords, something sweet to get us dreaming. For the final performance we can expect to be enticed by solid drum progressions and synth ambiance courtesy of Dani Markham (Tune-Yards), Maia Friedman (UNI IKA AI) & K. Marie Kim (BLANK PAPER).
So stroll on over to Manhattan Inn this Sunday, April 10, for some some great performances in a cozy and intimate environment!
Blood Sound Opening for Humans at Underground Arts April 7
A grey cloud hovers ahead, ominously blanketing the day. However, it may represent a precursor to tonight’s activities in the cozy warehouse space of Underground Arts. Blood Sound delivers haunting synth-sheathed, danceable grooves that roll in front of you. Acknowledging the perplexing thoughts that linger in one’s headspace, while providing an invigorating sense of active movement, the band galvanizes intimacy into action, breaking the personal confusion out of its private cell, diffusing the nightmare and transforming that nightmarish energy into smooth motion. Tonight, Blood Sound is sandwiched between the psych-dance excursions of Risky Disko and the pulsating electro-pop of Vancouver duo and JUNO Awards nominee, Humans. Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., 8pm, $12, 21+ – Michael Colavita
NYC Record of the Month: Ghost King ‘Bones’ – live at Aviv tomorrow (04.08)
Hailing from The Bronx and led by Spires’ drummer Carter McNeil, Ghost King plays muddy fuzz rock brightened by unexpected chord changes, psychedelic overtones, and a ’90s rock inspired lo-fi production that blends the fun attitude of Violent Femmes, the stellar songwriting of The Pixies and the slacking tendencies of Pavement. Early psych rock influences emerge here and there in their debut album ‘Bones‘ (check out the rather Barretesque ‘Bones pt. 1,’ or the chorus explosion of ‘When the Sky Turns blue‘ – streaming below), enriching the sonic palette in ways rarely accomplished, in a single record, without it sounding… all over the place. But beyond the familiar and beloved references to the past, what makes this album great is its consistently brilliant songwriting, and the band’s habit of taking the listener in and out of unexpected places, like for example with the dissonant riffs of ‘Skeleton Dance’ ‘s intro, which slowly morphs into a perfectly consonant verse, or through the bizarre development of ”Til You Belong to Me’ or ‘Bones pt. 2.’
Don’t miss Ghost King’s show at Aviv, tomorrow April 8th.
Terry Malts Cruel Summer and Blades of Joy Play El Rio – 4/9
Come to El Rio on Saturday, April 9th at 9pm to enjoy a vibey night of psychy, shoegazey, post-punk sounds from some essential San Francisco bands. Members of Dissolve and Swanox are coming together to perform their first show ever as Blades of Joy. The internet has literally nada on the project, so get there on time to watch (and listen to) the mystery unravel.
Cruel Summer will be playing as the middle band to the nights ensemble, swooping you up into their time capsule and transporting you along a stream of fuzzy dreamy pop vibrations and happy chord progressions to what might seam like the 80s but is actually the side room to a dive bar in Bernal, with a backyard where smoking is still welcome.Cruel Summer only recently stepped out from a brief hiatus to show face at this years noise pop festival, but they’re back at it again this weekend performing as a crucial leg to a killer lineup.
Bay Area OG’s Terry Malts will be closing out the night down there by the river, with some beloved pop-punk hits. These dudes have been busy releasing LPs, establishing a label, and writing an album since their last full length release, but it’s been three years since they delivered “Nobody Realizes This is Nowhere” and their fans are greedy. We. Want. More. The upcoming, untitled album is due sometime this year, and is rumored to be the album where the Malts get out of their funk, exactly what we think we want to hear from the boys, but what is it?! Who knows, another mystery that cannot be solved until after the sun sets this Saturday, April 9th at El Rio. –Julia deAnda
Taught Abroad
Taught Abroad (aka Chris Sadek) has released the first single, "Pantyhouser", from his EP Harmonizer which is due out in May.
New Music Video: “Floaty Feeling, Blue” – Weekender
Director Jay Yachetta captures a panoramic perspective in Weekender’s new music video for the title-track off their latest EP Floaty Feeling, Blue (PaperCup Music). It utilizes textures of illumination as well as the broader picture to create a pleasant pensive state. Editor Ryan Putnam challenges the natural vibrancy, when an intense tonal change briefly triggers warping/curving of the imagery. The band will be performing in Philly on Saturday, July 9 at Johnny Brenda’s.
HELLO HARVARD – VIDEO PREMIERE “FALLING FAST”
Couple of young fellas here from Burlington, Ontario. Hello Harvard has been makin’ some local noise and stealin’ all the young girls hearts lately. Their EP "Silly Things" is set to be released in May. They sound like what would happen if a pop band from the 50’s had a baby with a pop band from the 90’s. They will be playing the Painted Lady on May 5th as part of Canadian Music Week. Here’s their debut video "Falling Fast".
BILLY MOON – HAMMER GARAGE AT THE ‘SHOE!
Hamilton has had some really good garage bands come through there in recent years but one that has sort of slid past my radar is Billy Moon. This guy has some really nice garage pop-rock goin on…really catchy melodies with fuzzed out guitars…it’s a perfect combo. They’re most recent release is an EP called "Young Adult". These fellas are worth listening to for sure. Have a listen to "Young Girls" to get a feel of what Billy Moon is all about. Then go see the band LIVE at the Horseshoe Tavern this Saturday Night. – Kris Gies