Toronto

CASPER SKULLS – NOW ON BUZZ RECORDS!

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Last month Casper Skulls joined Buzz Records. To celebrate they released a brand new track "Mink Coats". This in your face rock tune has a more gentle beginning before unleashing it’s fury on your ears. The guitars pierce as you get caught in a trance and before you know it your head is bopping to the thumping drums and the words are speaking directly at you. It’s quite the ride. Be on the look out for more Casper Skulls tunes from Buzz Records. They will be live at the Garrison on May 13th. – Kris Gies

Toronto

WOMB – LOTUS TWIST

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Toronto rock trio Womb are getting ready to release their latest album "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up" this spring and they have done us the pleasure of unleashing a new track! "Lotus Twist" has some interesting parts going on. It has almost a circus feel to it with thumping drums and mesmerizing guitar parts. They always find ways to add a swingy-jazz element to their grunge rock sound. Singer/guitarist Ragwax might give you the creeps with his dragging vocals throughout this track. The Lotus Twist will make your head twist as Womb leads you down the path to the unknown world that Womb came from. Actually I think they came from Ajax but you know what I mean. Womb will be celebrating their record release on June 18th at Cherry Colas along with Flamingo Báy, The Ballroom Babies and The Retroaction. Have a listen to "Lotus Twist" below. – Kris Gies

NYC

DC alt-blues rockers Fellowcraft play House of the Temple, 5/21

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Radio-ready and primed for a slot on the soundtrack of a summer action flick, Fellowcraft is a trio based in DC with a rugged, yet refined sound, one that fuels adrenaline rushes and supports an introspective mood. Distortion is cleverly deployed on the group’s debut album, Get Up Young Phoenix, which has a style blending disparate bands like Staind, Alice in Chains, and The Black Keys. Sick riffs and solos, growling vocals, and high-octane drumming make for some juicy rock and roll. Catch their next show at the House of the Temple, 5/21. -Jonathan Goodwin

NYC

Natureboy returns, at Rough Trade on May 13

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Last we heard from Natureboy’s Sara Kermanshahi was in July 11, 2014 – her post read “Tonight! 8pm! Cameo in BK.” After that, radio silence for two years. That is, until yesterday when she posted once more the info for her upcoming show at Rough Trade. Three years ago we had crowned Natureboy’s “The Sweep” record of the month and eagerly anticipated future works, and though we don’t really know if this means we’ll be getting new songs soon it certainly has us hoping. Kermanshahi’s songs teeter curiously between folk and pop with modern elements, carving out a niche where her moody and evocative tracks blossom exquisitely and delve into the most quiet recesses of our minds. Make sure to see Natureboy play Rough Trade on May 13, you never know when she’ll play next. – Adriana Ballester

Nashville

Makeup and Vanity Set achieves neon electro perfection on “HIT TV”

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Makeup and Vanity Set has been around for a long damned time. He may not be the only guy doing the 80’s electro revivalism thing, but you can bet he’s been around a lot longer than even the most famous names in that field. From the glitchy chiptune dance of his earliest works to the deliciously schlocky dance that came later, and even the ridiculously dedicated locals-tribute dance in between, we’ve seen a lot of faces from a guy known for wearing a ski mask at his performances. The entire weight of that history can be felt on HIT TV, a collection of songs composed for a bloodstained purple-and-red online series of the same name. The ambition of the project lands with both feet solidly on the ground, and it seriously stands up there with the best neon dreamwave you’re likely to hear.

Even if you don’t happen to have the Miami strip right outside your door, any nighttime drive with the windowns down will do just fine. –Austin Phy

Philadelphia

New Lux Perpetua EP Available for Streaming & Download

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Since the turn of 2016, Lux Perpetua aka Justin Wolf has been on a monthly EP releasing run. His latest Music for Solipsistic Tendencies meshes frenetic experimental folk with mellower moments of internal contemplation. It’s as if the search party expanded the perimeter, only to realize what they were looking for was too close to originally see. 

Portland

Get your low key dance on at the Liquor Store tomorrow

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Combine the resonating sounds of Mamai with the soul tinged dream pop of Ellis Pink and 80’s-esque electronica stylings of Fringe Class and you’ve got the makings for a chill night of swaying. It’ll be the funkiest thing to do on a Tuesday and for $6, definitely not a bad way to take in an evolving music scene in the city. Be at the Liquor Store at 9pm so you don’t miss any part of this 21+ show.

San Francisco

Oakland Outfit NineteenEightyEight Release Debut Album

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Oakland’s NineteenEightyEight (aka 1988) has released their debut album! NineteenEightyEight started as the bedroom project of Luis Gutierrez, drummer of much-loved, psychedelic post-rock band Religious Girls, however, live 1988 has grown into a full band featuring revolving contributors from the Bay area music scene. NineteenEightyEight occupies a late-night dreamspace, where the drive of Post Punk crosses over with disco rhythms, horror movie atmosphere, and wasted, ghostly vocals meet washed out guitars and synths, creating a singular vibe not locked into any particular time or place. Check out their music and support up and coming local bands!

Philadelphia

Shaking Through w/Hemming

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For the premiere episode of the new season of Weathervane Music’s Shaking Through (above), the documentary series revamped its usual format a bit, giving us a more in-depth look at their featured artist Hemming (a.k.a. Candice Martello), who has already had quite an interesting journey in the music industry. From getting her feet wet fronting the indie-punk duo Omar to winning VH1’s reality show music competition Make or Break: The Linda Perry Project, you definitely learn some valuable lessons from Martello’s experiences and get the honesty that she’s now trying to achieve with her music. You also find her creating a wonderful track, "All I Want," with friends Augusta Koch and Allegra Anka of Cayetana and Matt Schimelfenig and Pat Brier of Three Man Cannon. Take the new single for a spin and download it for free below!

Portland

PDX Pop Now’s Comp release party coming soon

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 Exactly one week from now, Holocene will be host to yet another year of PDX Pop Now‘s compilation release show. The comp, which has featured upwards of 40 Portland artists (both on and off the festival’s bill) for quite a few years now, has presented the city’s varied music scene with artists of all different genres. 

This year’s release show will highlights three of the comp’s artists, with performances by classic pop act the Minders, along with the noisey indie rock of Months and the endlessly entertaining experimental set from Kulululu.

Admission to the all ages May 15th show is $8-$10, which comes with either a physical or digital copy of the compilation. Listen to Months’ comp contribution, "Cannibal," below.

Philadelphia

Trish Keenan Duo Dives Into the Abyss at W/N W/N May 6

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A folksy, echoing, psychedelic ambiance persists as one dives into the abyss better known as the sonic waves of Trish Keenan Duo. While the layers envelop a somewhat eerie, meditative state, the music constructs itself. Not so distant vibrations shake off the baggage of the everyday, allowing the internal speculations to temporarily rise to the surface as they seek illumination. The multi-faceted, electro-noise pop combination of Flesh Prince and the rich elusive instrumental tunes of R.R. Perkins help to mold this evening at W/N W/N. With a freshly released album Trix Shadow Yogurt, the industrial experimentation of Baltimore’s Kryz Kniv completes this lineup of sonic manipulators. W/N W/N, 931 Spring Garden St., 8pm, All Ages – Michael Colavita