New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Ne-Hi has released the first single, “Stay Young”, from their forthcoming LP Offers. The new album is due out on Feb. 24th, and is available for preorder now.
Ne-Hi will be touring the country this winter, but will be performing at The Empty Bottle on Feb. 24th to celebrate the release of Offers.
WASHA is the name of Dwight Pendleton’s project, a one man, DIY synthpop act that interestingly blends (a very white version of) soul vocals with noisy backing tracks flirting with industrial and goth. WASHA is currently working on new music, but we really dig this song, entitled ‘Night / Day’ from his 2015 EP ‘The Bright, Part II.’
Stemming from the stacking of strings, on the swift enveloping soulful groove, “Good Thang,” the latest release from Archawah, brightens one’s perspective. In the cold darkness, created by the combination of the harsh political climate and the deep freeze of oncoming winter, the song provides a much-needed shot of optimism. “Don’t worry it’s a good thing, it’ll be alright” may be an overly positive but necessary mantra of the times ahead.
Led by Mike Bruno, the musical collective of Shadow Band, which also features Megan Biscieglia (Bad Braids), recently released a new 7” via Mexican Summer. The pair of songs, “Eagle Unseen” and “Moonshine,” enacts a somewhat drafty psych-folk mysticism. These tracks breathe in the mysterious air of the forest, hypnotically wandering among the foliage, as the warmly interwoven percussion, acoustic guitar, keys, etc. draws one into the shadows. (Photo by Paul Benson)
One of our current Artist of the Month nominees, Floating Room, dropped their debut album Sunless last week. The album’s release show is tomorrow and we couldn’t think of a better way to set the tone of this rainy night and prep for tomorrow than running through the album on repeat.
Floating Room is made up of drowse‘s Kyle Bates, Maya Stoner of Sabonis and bassist Alec van Staveren, who when brought together manifest experimental existentialism rife with emotive intricacies that become evermore realized with each listen.
Tomorrow’s show is at Mississippi Studios, free and 21+ with additional sets by drowse and Hex Vision. You can listen to all of Sunless below, but why not come out and see it performed live?
Many Portlanders end up spending Thanksgiving in town as our friends gallivant off to their home states for unwanted family time. Instead of going into the upcoming holiday feeling sad and lonely, give a little thanks to this special night the Doug Fir is putting together tomorrow.
For their holiday party, skilled mothman King Black Acid will be playing some of our favorite ambient rock scores, while the sheer power that emanates from each member of Skull Diver‘s instruments will slowly take over you. Lubec rounds out this bill, making it an overall mellow night of Portland legends offering pre-Thanksgiving enjoyment befitting of Doug Fir’s mood lit ambiance.
Music’s at 9pm and tickets will run from $10-15. It’s low-key also a birthday celebration for 1/3 of Skull Diver, Ally Payne, so come with an extra bit of party pep in your step.
Here’s something our many readers into dreamy music enjoy: EZTV’s new video for single ‘Reason to Run.’ The camera follows a cowboy lonesomely exploring New York City – is he a Trump voter? That’s not what the video is about (of course he is!), rather, it’s about looking at the city with new eyes. After touring for most of the fall (in Europe too!) the band is currently taking a deserved two week break before embarking on the final leg of their tour, which will culminate in a performance at the Bowery Ballroom on 12.07.
San Francisco-based soul/pop music artist, JAKLYN has premiered an electro-R&B remix of her song “Syrup.” The song comes from her recent debut, full-length album That One Girl, in which JAKLYN explores themes of navigating through the modern world as a young woman. Inspired by the societal pressures on women to be more docile, “Syrup” is a feminist anthem that will especially resonate with listeners who are still reeling from the results of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.
JAKLYN sought out Bay Area producer duo TRKRNR to concoct the remix after hearing their recent album Morning After. The remix is a decidedly modern take on the original 80’s-tinged, electro-funk version. It creatively blends futuristic, ambient sounds over a hip-hop backdrop, complementing JAKLYN’s creative songwriting and personal message.
This track comes in preparation for JAKLYN‘s Syrup – The Remixes EP, which is slated for release in early 2017. It will include additional remixes from That One Girl’s producer Erik Rico and from Bay Area musician and producer ZEBUEL of the Bay Area collective Smoked out Soul.
"Syrup’ is a metaphor for the sexist nonsense that women are fed our whole lives. The damage that this has caused is now painfully evident — 42% of women in America voted for a misogynist as president. I want my music to reach women on both an emotional and intellectual level, so they will be more acutely aware of double standards when they encounter them." –JAKLYN
With tracks like "Burrito" and "Browned Out," it’s clear that slacker punks, GYMSHORTS, are not taking themselves all that seriously–but that’s all part of the band’s charm. With mellowed punk riffs, surf rock beats, riotous vocals, and a cheeky sense of humor, the group is kind of hard to not immediately fall in love with. Check out "BURRITO" off the band’s latest release, Wet Willy, streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni
The Meltaways play riot-grrrl punk the way it was meant to be played–like a knuckle punch connecting with your temple. With spirited, blitzy vocals, schreeching guitars, pointed lyricism and the warmth and scratchiness of a lo-fi recording, the band’s self titled release is a blistering 7 track record of earnest bravado. Check out the Meltaways at IDIO Gallery 12/17 with Turnip King, Deadbeat Club and Human People and stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni
Madaila, a Burlington based group with powerful pop hooks and tasty synths, are making some seriously ripe-for-radio tunes. Armed with soulful vocal performances, infectious grooves and a dash of neon, the band’s sound is catchy and distinctive, but is also free to convey a bit of darkness lingering under the shimmering, synth-y mass. Take a listen to the band below, and catch them playing Burlington’s Higher Ground Ballroom with Arc Iris 12/30.-Olivia Sisinni
Cut Worms is the stage name of a Brooklyn based singer songwriter whose identity isn’t discolsed online – luckily for us, his songs are. The young gentleman presents himself solo on stage, sometimes performing accompanied by only his guitar, others playing along pre-recorded tracks. He offers a brand of charming folk-pop revival that truly sounds as if originated in the early sixties – his recording even feature the vocal distortion typical of that era. Since April 2015 he’s been incessantly releasing digital singles as part of the ‘Soft Boiled Demos,‘ which now add up to over ten tracks all wrapped up in this vintage aura and his songwriting style that flirts with the timeless classics of folk. Masters of revival Foxygen must have noticed, since Cut Worms will be opening for them at Rough Trade on December 1st. Check out single ‘Mad About You’ below.
