New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Following her appearance at Ontario’s WAYHOME festival, Bishop Briggs (fka BISHOP) releases her new single "Pray (Empty Gun)" to much blog fanfare. The net-banger pits In Return-era Odeszian synths strained through recuperated trap beats, courtesy of producer duo MJ&iRoK, with the cosmopolitan voice of LA-transplant Briggs.
Bishop Briggs plays her next show with Coldplay at the Rose Bowl on 8/20. Listen to Pray (Empty Gun) below. – Photo by Chad Kamenshine
Whether it’s a gradual climb, turbulent, enriching, guitar boosters, or a backend thrust that tempers those confident gravitational vocals, Ceramic Animal catches ones ear with their psych-pop semblance. That casual air lures, and then invigorates, tapping into astral grooves that sharply tunnel at warp speed as the instruments push toward their limits. It’s loose with the capacity to quickly flip the switch and push the afterburners. Tonight, as the band participates in the final night of the 5-year celebration for Milkboy, they’ll be joined by soulful blues inferno of Foxtrot & the Get Down and the energetic contemporary southern rock of The Weeks. Milkboy, 1100 Chestnut St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
"Through Being Hip," the latest single to drop from fuzzy surf-pop band YJY, is an upbeat anthem set against the millenial malaise. The song explores the murky territory of navigating trends while still trying to figure out a person’s own individuality–a crossroads many twenty-somethings face. The ironic lyrics are supported by catchy instrumentals with surf rock drumbeats, that have the potential to become our next earworm. Look out for a full album dropping soon, but in the meantime, check out the latest single below. – Olivia Sisinni
The San Francisco based psych revivalist band, The Gentle Cycle has released a new single entitled, Follow Light.
With a painstaking attention to detail, these songs were filtered through a cool grip of vintage guitars and components, like an antique Echoplex tape delay and a funky old spring reverb unit. They even recorded on a 1970s Tascam 388 analog reel-to-reel, replete with a deadstock spool of old quarter-inch tape. But Derek’s melodic musings come from an abstract foundation that’s more modern and forward thinking than most musicians beholden to period-correct tones. Listen to The Gentle Cycle and you’ll hear a band that somehow balances universal emotions with astral, atmospheric sonic architecture.
Springtime Carnivore, the nom de plume of singer-songwriter Greta Morgan, was going through some significant changes after the release of her self-titled debut. A number of unfortunate life events, from a devastating breakup to becoming a first time solo-dweller, turned Morgan’s world upside down, except that she took from those learned experiences to fuel her spirit and settle her mind as well. This self-actualization can be heard on her latest single "Face in the Moon", off of her upcoming follow-up Midnight Room, a bouncy, finger-snapping number that highlights Morgan’s sweet and tender croon as she confronts the loneliness that overtakes her. In spite of this, the effervescent mood of the track symbolizes a rejuvenating place of sweetness and light.
Morgan recently anounced a fall tour supporting friend and collaborator Katy Goodman (of La Sera). The tour will kick off on October 7 at Pomona, and will continue across the US before wrapping it up with a hometown gig at Bootleg Theter on November 5. Midnight Room comes out on October 7 on Autumn Tone Records. – Juan Rodríguez
Soft Fangs is the lof-fi bedroom pop recording project of singer-songwriter John Lutkevich. His debut album The Light was recorded in the attic of his childhood home, to be then released in March via Exploding in Sound Records and Disposable America. Its lo-fi quality and melancholic vocals breed a warm and intimate atmosphere born from Lutkevich’s desire to alleviate life’s struggles. Evoking the vulnerability of Elliott Smith and atmospheric sonic inclination, Lutkevich wears his heart on his sleeve when talking about growing older, being unable to find a job, and waiting around for someone to love you back. His vocal delivery is desolate, and sometimes borders on a whimpering tone, however, when paired with the tender guitars and lush instrumentation, his songs can provide a cathartic release. Soft Fangs will be playing at the Cake Shop on August 13th and the Throne in Brooklyn on August 19th! – John Honan
After four years, Sleepies are back with a new full length entitled Natural Selection, released on July 16th via Mirror Universe Tapes. The record marks a definite shift for the band towards late ’60s British psych. The opening two songs ‘Chips Left‘ and ‘Genetic Cousins’ (streaming) toy with melodies reminiscent of unforgotten madman Syd Barrett, but fill up the sonic spectrum with a tense and fuzzy blend of garagey distorted guitars. Following song “All Over The Years” follows recycles Parquet Courts’ "Nu-Post-Punk" sound (a recurring influence), although the spacey chord changes never fail to remind us the psych nature of this work. Delirious power-track Sky Chase is filled with urgency and intriguing vocal arrangements, while pushing the saturation of their garagey sound to eleven. Throughout the album, the guitars always lay the groundwork with threatening tones and riffs, but this tension is constantly resolved through memorable choruses and vocal melodies – for a satisfying listening esperience. – John Honan
Following the breakup of Family Vacation, two of its former members, Cody Bluett and Luke Harsel, have continued to collaborate in the project Dweller. Their debut album, This Is What Happens When You Wait Too Long, simmers in a folk-indie pot. Incorporating electro specks into low-key vocal harmony, the album feels refreshing in that faint nightly breeze off the water kind of way.
Dena Miller, a.k.a. Deer Scout, drafts songs that are relatable, personal narratives that feel like part diary entrees/part letters. That bedroom-folk simplicity is brightly detailed and sincere as is her latest EP Customs, which is available to streaming and purchase digitally below, as well as on cassette via Fox Food Records. You can catch Deer Scout’s tape release at PhilaMOCA on Thursday, August 18 with Kississippi, Fits, and Boosegumps. (Photo by Amanda Silberling)
When The Smell was given notice to close for demolition, news spread like wildfire and galvanized Southland’s music comunity into action. Organizer/musician Gregory Cole (Crescendo) scrapped plans for his summer DreamGaze Festival and concentrated efforts to raise funds for the legendary venue. But he was not alone in that endeavor—Cole reached out to two active veterans for help: Top Acid‘s Chris Gonzalez and guitarist/singer Sophie Negrini (Janelane).
"Gregory messaged me out-of-the-blue because he had read a post of mine [where] I wrote about how much The Smell meant to myself and the rest of the community when the building first received its demolition notice," Negrini recalls. Even though the three ran in different scenes, the DIY venue’s monumental influence brought them together.
With owner Jim Smith’s blessing and months of planning and outreach, over 30 bands joined with hundreds of fans on August 6th in a converted warehouse space near the San Antonio Winery. The three were rarely in sight—always running from stage to stage, prepping backlines, moving equipment, and keeping the cross streets free of pedestrian traffic and litter. Crowds moshed and nodded in solidarity. Despite minor issues with sound and schedule (it’s never picture-perfect when you’re DIY), the festival came up with over $15,000 raised.
"This is the teamwork & togetherness that saves The Smell. I have no doubt in our community’s ability to achieve [The Smell’s] permanence of address for generations of music lovers of all ages," says Cole in retrospect.
Gonzalez was even impressed by the results. "I think that’s just a huge indicator and a true testament to how much respect everyone has for Jim and the sober scene he’s created at The Smell."
Check out our photo recap of Save The Smell Fest on our Instagram @TheDeliLA. – photo by Rachel Collins
Hello Shark, a.k.a. Lincoln Halloran, has a new full-length album, Delicate, coming out on September 30 via Chicago-based label Orindal Records, which was produced by Attic Basement‘s Michael Rheinheimer with Katie Bennett (Free Cake For Every Creature) on bass and vocals throughout the record. Below is the first single from the LP called "Drake Night" (available for streaming at Stereogum), and it finds Halloran reflecting on lost love after a run-in with an ex at the artist-themed club night. The lo-fi ditty also features Florist’s Emily Sprague on backing vocals. Hello Shark will be heading out on the road next week with Advance Base, and they will be ending the tour in Philly on Wednesday, August 31 at PhilaMOCA.
