You might not think you know Luke Reed, but odds are you do, at least from the bands he’s in. A member of Bent Shapes, Mini Dresses, Fedavees and Feral Jenny, Reed is deeply embedded in Massachusetts’ music scene to say the least. He’s an accomplished solo artist as well, having released tracks over the past few years that range from mellow to psych pop to a standalone krautrock track — no kidding! His latest single is called "Without You," and seem to take a nod or two from The Avalanches tune of the same name, sounding almost like a hungover version of it. With tropically inflected guitars, Reed’s vocals add another dimension to the track’s wistful, psychedelic and disoriented, and sing repeatedly "I wouldn’t know which way to go without you." This song prooves Reed’s talent is only matched by how busy he must be with all these projects, and you can see him live solo at Great Scott on 8/18. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Jackal Onasis release debut LP + play Shea Stadium on 8.12
Forming as a duo along opposite coasts, Jackal Onasis eventually became a Brooklyn-based fuzz rock trio in 2015. Influenced by bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Autolux, and the Deftones, their music is a fierce blend of shoegaze, post-hardcore, punk, and noise rock. Guitarist Alex Molini and drummer Jordyn Blakely share vocal duties on their debut full length Big Deal Party, creating delightfully mellow harmonies over the band’s chaotic and sludgy tracks. Their fuzzy noise-pop borrows the soft-loud-soft dynamic from grunge, while adopting the wailing ‘wall-of-sound’ element of shoegaze and noise-rock. Molini and Blakely’s melodic and breezy vocals have an hypnotic effect when paired with their crunchy guitar and bass tones and the crashing drum parts. Jackal Onasis will be playing Shea Stadium on August 12th in support of NYC legends Fiasco! – John Honan
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best NYC songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
The Writhing Squares Record Release Show at KFN Aug. 11
Kevin Nickles (Ecstatic Vision, Taiwan Housing Project) and Daniel Provenzano (Purling Hiss, Spacin’) rocket through space as The Writhing Squares. Tonight, the duo celebrates their latest album In The Void Above (Siltbreeze) with a performance at Kung Fu Necktie. The hard-driving record circles as components of chaotic noise emanate amid the locked-down bass and percussion, while the vocal interjections serve as captain-esque reference points. Splashed with the additional sonic colors of flute and saxophone, this noise-rock meets jazz ambiance steers toward the unexplored in a twisted futuristic groove. This evening’s festivities will also feature the local psych-punk of Igneous Eyes and the commanding psych-rock power of Birds of Maya. The genre-elusive, jazz-rock freak-out that is Massachusetts’s The Blues Dream Box completes this adventurous night of music. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by Ben Leaphart) – Michael Colavita
The Gunshy
The Gunshy have released the first single, "11-7", from their forthcoming LP, Porterhouse. The LP will be released on October 7th via Sleep Recordings and can be pre-ordered here.
You can catch The Gunshy at Quenchers on Sept 1st and at Cobra Lounge, for the Record Release, on October 7th.
From the NYC Submission: Foster.
foster., a NYC based artist blending blues and hip hop, delivers a hard-hitting track to the tune of "Think Me a Fool." The song, which lauches with a soul-quaking guitar line a la Gary Clark Jr., combines hip hop beats, with vocals that feature the warm distortion of an old school radio. The single is catchy, raw and seamlessly mixes two genres in a way that feels fresh. Check out the track below, and click here to hear more from foster. – Olivia Sisinni
This artist submitted music for coverage here.
New Track: “No” – Eric Slick
“No,” the new track from Eric Slick (Dr. Dog, Lithuania), will be featured on his forthcoming album Palisades. Surrounded by the ringing echo of guitar bouncing against the steady crisp pecussion, the keys offer a sense of melancholy and warmth, reinforcing his calm approach to the personal lyrics. Slick is part of a bill on Tuesday, August 16 at Johnny Brenda’s that also includes Mary Lattimore, Ahleuchatistas, and Shimmer.
PREMIERE: Sheers – “Depth”
Art pop and classical stylings converge with elemental hip-hop and r&b through the new duo Sheers, and their distinctive debut single "Depth."
Lily Breshears heads up the duo, bringing her seasoned experience from working with artists such as Big Haunt and Haley Heynderickx along with classical training as a harpist and pianist to the table. Intertwined with her mastered piano playing are melodic refrains, emotionally pertinent lyrics and jazzy beats from drummer and collaborator Grant Pierce.
Produced by both Sheers and Scott Schaus and mastering done by David Polluck, "Depth" is only the starting point for what is sure to be an established effort for Breshears.
Sheers will be playing Mississippi Studios with Robin Bacior on the 17th, with a co-album release show also at Mississippi with Lynnae Gryffin on September 19th.
Check out the official premiere of "Depth" below.
Goon announce debut EP Dusk of Punk, play the Echo on 8/11
It seems as if LA. alt-rockers Goon take from two stylistic genres on their latest track "Dizzy" – either they crunch their guitars like their grunge forebearers, or they play their melodic hooks with an unpolished quality that mimics the garage stomp of the last decade. But then you listen closely and you notice they compliment those melodies with pop harmonies. It becomes quite clear how Goon are not concerned with replicating a sound that already exists, more so seeking some way to make it new. One first impression (albeit, a very good one!) is not enough to make a clear assessment of where the band is headed, but to think they’ve already written such a tuneful song that connects on more than one level proves that they are onto something special.
"Dizzy" is the first track off of Goon’s debul EP Dusk of Punk, which will be self-released on September 16. The band is also slated to play a local show opening for Lucy Dacus at the Echo tomorrow, August 11. – Juan Rodríguez
Debut Them Jones LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
A film of filtered, floating clouds runs across the daydreaming vocals, but just as one plants his/her feet, the raunchy blues injection of guitar shoots like a lightning bolt. A Mountain of Nonsense, the newly released album from Them Jones, finds a sweet spot between drifting harmony amid the light rain of instrumentation and the band’s capability to spike into heavier blues-psych scenarios. In that duality of reserve passivity and assertive aggression, the music enthusiastically lives.
New Music Video: “Fools” – CLOAKZ
CLOAKZ, a.k.a. Zachary Ciancaglini (Raccon Fighter), creates for us an intense psychedelic experience in his latest video for "Fools," the opening track off his debut EP Semi-Autographic. The multi-instrumentalist proves to be a bit of a Renaissance man, shooting and editing the video himself. CLOAKZ will be performing live at Bourbon & Branch on Wednesday, September 21 with Kississippi and Hodera.
Lost Boy ? announce their upcoming album ‘Goose Wazoo’ & release lead single
New York native Davey Jones started Lost Boy ? as a bedroom pop project in 2008, but soon found a rotating cast of musicians interested in playing his music, which, however, never completely gave up its original, stripped down DIY sound, equally influenced by early Ween and Pavement. The band just announced the release their sophomore full length Goose Wazoo on September 9th via Little Dickman and State Capital Records. The record is presented as a concept album (accompanied by a comic strip) centered around the quirky idea of a detective in the shape of a blob named Goose Wazoo. The lead single and title track paints a picture of the main character in a fun and light hearted way by employing the use of jangly harmonies and catchy, cheerful vocal hooks. The group uses their fuzzy lo-fi pop and excitable drumming to craft the eccentric narrative of the song. Lost Boy ? has a string of local shows coming up in August leading to the record release show on September 10th at Shea Stadium. Strearming below also second single It Before. – John Honan
New Track: “More” – Ghost Gum
A rapid pace and the searing split of guitar frame the sound of “More,” the new song from dream-pop/noise combo of Ghost Gum. The track will be featured on the band’s forthcoming debut album The Past, The Future, Dwelling there like space. While dissecting existential questions and suggesting a desire to be buried at the sea, the song implores a pleasant tonal outlook.