Hound’s Perry Shall shows us how to rock and survive in the woods of Pennsylvania in the band’s new video for “Walkin’ The Fine Line”. Co-directed by Shall and BJ Howze, the track can be found on 2015’s Out Of Space (SRA Records). Hound will be performing a cover set of the Damned this Saturday, October 29 at Boot & Saddle, and you can hear their originals live next in Philly on Friday, November 11 at Ortlieb’s.
L.A.
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Stream: Lo Moon “Loveless”
Lo Moon perform with a mercurial elegance that’s both graceful and intense. The LA trio’s introduction is certainly daring for a band who’s just about getting their start: the seven-minute "Loveless" is a sweeping, atmospheric piece that unfurls with a patience that draws out its emotional impact to a very high degree. Even if we’re not entirely sure as to what direction they’ll ultimately take (aside from the fact that their facebook page references eighties soft rock acts like Prefab Sprout and The Blue Nile as influences), the band has already caught the attention of some big names to follow their every step: not only do they have the support of major-label behemoth Columbia Records, but they’ve also enlisted record producer Chris Walla – who’s known for his affecting and poignant approach to songwriting – to work on their upcoming debut effort.
See the hype for yourself when they make a stop at the Bootleg on November 29.
San Francisco
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Lara Downes Set to Release America Again Inspired by the Langston Hughes Poem
San Francisco based pianist, Lara Downes will release her next solo album, America Again on October 28, 2016. The album’s title is taken from Langston Hughes’ poem, Let America Be America Again, written in 1938.
Downes’ 2016 album, America Again, explores music that expresses different facets of the American dream – its hope, its impossibility, and its necessity. Lara Downes conceived of the album in June 2015, in response to the Charleston, SC shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. She recorded the album in March 2016 at Sono Luminus’ studio in Boyce, VA. Downes writes of the meaning in the album, “Today, as I write these words, we are living again in troubled times. For too many Americans, circumstance and skin color still keep the promise out of reach, the dream deferred. The hard-won rights and long-sought justice for which our parents and grandparents fought are too easily slipping away. The rifts and rivalries that divide us as a nation seem to run deeper than ever. But still, we dreamers keep dreaming our dream. This music is a tribute to the generations of Americans who dream the impossible: black and white, men and women, immigrants and pioneers. It tells the story of their journeys, their loves and longings, their hardships and their hopes. American music is made of everything we are, coming from so many different people and places, expressing so many different dreams
NYC
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NYC EDM night at the BEMF on November 12th at Analog, with Turtle Bugg, Mike Servito and Honey Dijon
Turtle Bugg (from Brooklyn, pictured) is, like most artists associated with Bunker Records, of the retro/’80s house persuasion. He plays Analog on the 12 th within the Brooklyn Electronic Music Fest, alongside other locals Mike Servito and Honey Dijon. The latter, BTW, is probably the most completely retro house artist at BEMF this year, what with her use of full-throated soul singers and hard 4/4 beats, which sound life-affirming and totally non-cliché. For a full schedule of the BEMF, go here. – Brian Chidester
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Leaving the Light On” – MINKA
We think that MINKA is trying to answer the question – "What would The Talking Heads sound like fronted by David Bowie?" – with their latest single, "Leaving the Light On". It’s a good question to ponder, and now, we have been given a glorious dance track to set free into the ether. You’ll be able to get down to this one and many others this Saturday, October 29 at TJ Kong Halloween Costume Ball Rock N Roll Murdershow VII, being held once again at Underground Arts.
San Francisco
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Be Calm Honcho Release New Track – Bad Man
The San Francisco based band, Be Calm Honcho has released a new track, Bad Man.
Bad Man tells the story of lead singer Shannon Harney’s brother who is currently serving a jail term. She explains: "In and out of the justice system, various addictions, the whole gamut of trauma and trouble and family can go through. It’s very personal, it’s very dear to me and the themes it tackles are important to the people who gravitate towards my music.
“I wrote this song for my kid brother in jail,” shares Be Calm Honcho’s vocalist Shannon Harney. “In and out of the justice system, various addictions, the whole gamut of trauma and trouble and family can go through. It’s very personal, it’s very dear to me and the themes it tackles are important to the people who gravitate towards my music.”
NYC
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argonaut&wasp releases ‘Ha! Fiction EP,’ plays Rough Trade on 10.29
Brooklyn via Burlington lounge-dance band argonaut&wasp seems to have grown… a band since we last covered them! The duo led by Trey Schibli and Theo Klein, now a quintet, just released their sophomore EP ‘Ha! Fiction,’ and we can already sense good vibes taking over our lives. These guys just can’t make you feel blue, not even with a song titled "Loser Like You," their latest single streaming below, which somehow ended up making us think about something we’d like to say to Donald Trump. These guys’ more crowded live show should be fun, you’ll have a chance to witness it when they will be playing Rough Trade on October 29th.
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “Follow You Around” – Purling Hiss
Mike Polizze of Purling Hiss takes a trek around the city, using the El as his main mode of transportation between Fishtown and West Philly in the band’s latest video for the single, "Follow You Around," off the group’s new album High Bias (Drag City). He also provides more hometown love, sporting a Dead Milkmen‘s t-shirt in Laurel Hill Cemetery, where the beloved punks recently did a special performance last month. It’s a lighthearted look and sound for the normally heavy-rockin’ power trio, who will have a chance to show off the nastier side of their instrumental skills that we have come to know and love this Sunday, October 30 at Johnny Brenda’s, alongside Honey Radar and Hothead. (Photo by Constance Mensh)
NYC
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Buzz Alert: Ro James releases new album ‘ELDORADO,’ plays MSG on 11/10
Ro James’ music is cut from the cloth of a pristine vintage denim jacket. It’s the kind of neosoul music that would sound best on a record player in a candlelit room, or from a jukebox in a swanky room. On his recent debut album ELDORADO, James captures elements of the past, and immerses them with those of the present to create tracks and a project that’s even greater than the sum of its parts. At the center of his soul music, like all good soul music, are the vocals. All over the record James flexes his vocal range, elevating his suave, honey-whiskey vocals at will to devastating effect. His lyrics have a similiar conversational, casual quality to Frank Ocean’s.
The more contemporary elements of the album come in the instrumentals. James sings over arrangements that only take what they need, often featuring only percussion and distorted synth or acoustic guitar. They provide the perfact backdrop for James to reach past speakers and touch hearts directly with his vocals. ELDORADO is overall a really strong effort, and should solidify James in the pantheon of his genre’s best along with the likes of Gallant and .Anderson Paak. You can catch him at MSG, of all places, on 11/10. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Talking To My Own Mirage” – Carroll
Carroll’s forthcoming sophmore LP, As Far As Gardens Go, is due out November 11 via Shattered Orb Records. “Talking To My Own Mirage” hits on a zany, breezy, psych melody as the infectious barrage of percussion lifts the cruising vocals. It’s bright with intriguing instrumental breakdowns and twists. Carroll will be performing next in Philly on the night of their release at The Barbary with Petunia & Thick.
Philadelphia
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Listen to Blacksage’s Aptly Titled EP Shivers + Live at Ottobar Nov. 5
Shivers – seems like an apt title for Blacksage‘s latest album. The combination of Josephine Olivia’s seductively sultry vocals and Drew Scott’s hypnotic production evokes such a physical reaction. Listening to more Blacksage is a no-brainer in my book. Shivers is out now via Friends Records, and you can catch them live on Saturday, November 5 at Ottobar. (Photo by Holly Burnham) – H.M. Kauffman
NYC
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All Your Sisters touring Eastern Europe in support of sophomore album ‘Uncomfortable Skin’
Those of you enamoured with the minimalistic and suspenceful sound of early post punk (think Joy Division, Bauhaus and The Cure from the Pornography years) should check out San Francisco’s duo All Your Sisters, who released their second full length album ‘Uncomfortable Skin‘ this past summer and is currently touring the whole of Europe, a land inhabited by music fans who, on average, appreciate that sound more than Americans do. The tour is a month long, 25+ date tour de force, and has already taken them from Germany to Moscow in two weeks. After playing St. Petersburg and Zurich back to back in the last two days, they’ll head to Zagreb, Basel, Paris, Amsterdam, up to Helsinki, and back east again to Warsaw and Berlin. Legendary stuff! They’ll be back in the US in December with a show at LA’s The Echo on the 4th.