Streamlining sensitive, out-in-the-open, storytelling songs that simultaneously burst and bloom with enthusiastic instrumental exuberance, Spelling Reform have a knack for detailing those caught-in-your-own-head pensions, without stagnating or slowing down. Tonight, the quartet celebrates the release of its full-length debut, No One’s Ever Changed, available via Black Rd. Records. Cherry, the songwriting vehicle for Russell Edling (Cave People, ex-Kite Party), occupies the opening slot, crafting dreary, contagious bedroom pop. The disenchanted but melodic rock of trio Night Windows completes the locally flavored billing at Johnny Brenda’s this evening. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
L.A.
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Blonde Summer releases new single “Beer on Ice”
Let the fuzz take you in on "Beer on Ice", the latest single by Blonde Summer. The band’s brainchild, Chris Pope, keeps things single by offering a heavy riff with a basic drum pattern that alludes to mid-nineties power pop. But behind the song’s killer guitar part there’s Pope himself, an affable character who writes about the everyday with an economy of language that’s both relatable and absurd.
"Beer on Ice" is out now via Dangerbird.
Portland
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Sweatin’ it Out, Rockin with the Sweatpants
There couldn’t be a better name for a genre than "toilet rock." Kicking out jams freshly from the depths of the white hole of the toilet bowl are the Sweatpants, whose self proclaimed designation as such serves them well.
Nix the association of toilets and boo boo in this instance, since there’s no negative connotation to be affiliated with what the Sweatpants do. Pulling aspects of garage, punk, metal and grunge, the Pants have essentially created a divine concoction of sludgy rock that falls somewhere between Fugazi and Rudementary Peni with a Pacific Northwest twist.
As far as we know, we’ll have to wait until mid-December to see the Sweatpants again. They’ll be sweat rockin’ alongside Frenz and Tiger Touch at the Liquor Store for free on December 14. Until then, congrats to the Sweatpants being our nexts Artists of the Month and enjoy their self titled No Faith Records debut, released in May of this year.
Austin
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Mountebank Gets Things Moving Quickly With Debut EP
The definition of a ‘mountebank’: a flamboyant deceiver; someone who attracts customers through tricks or joke. While the new folk-influenced quartet who go by that name certainly dont need to use deception to gain an audience, they are flamboyant and light-hearted, which shines through definitively in their music. Formed in the Summer of 2016 after other music projects fell through, Mountebank recently released their debut EP Mountebank: Live From Lake Wobegon, which straddles elements of outlaw country, post-pop, and garage rock. The glue holding this tapestry of influences together is the positivity and joviality found in the DNA of the group that makes their charm irresistible. Mountebank is on a tear, playing shows, writing new music, and forging ahead with their new project that doesn’t need tricks or gimmicks to gain new fans.
-Lee Ackerley
NYC
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A staple of the NYC indie scene, Fly Ashtray play Cake Shop tonight (11.18)
The gift of unpredictability, within good songwriting chops, is what makes an artist stand out from the pack: Sid Barret had it, Mac DeMarco has it, and legendary (in a very clut way) NYC band Fly Ashtray have it too. Belonging to the thinning out club of "permanent New York things", the group formed in the early ’80s and has released NINE albums since then, to zero critical acclaim and without taking the scene by storm, playing all along a genre of lo-fi rock very similar to what a gazillion Brooklyn bands play today. Check them out below and live at Cake Shop tonight! (11.18). They deserve(d) better!
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, November 18 – 20
From the start, in this case – the opening set, Mercury Girls deliver crystalline compositions that appear ready to break loose in precise, instrumental strides as the steady, percussive spring clears a path for the fiery/jangly hybrid of guitar, which at times, forges a path with melting precision and at others, cruises along in a casual, determined pace. All the while, an intricate feathery blend of endearing, elegant vocals cascades among the crisp mountainous air. This evening, Mercury Girls will be leading the way to emotively-fueled Missouri outfit Foxing. Melding refined melody and raw expression, Balance and Composure completes this night at the former Spaghetti Warehouse. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8:30pm, $20, All Ages – Michael Colavita
Other things to hit this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Spelling Reform (Record Release), Night Windows, Cherry
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Field Mouse, SUN Kiska, Coronal Mass Ejection
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Congenital Death/The GTVs, SAT DJ Phish, DJ G33k, The Bul Bey, SUN Trap Rabbit, George Engel Brooks
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Void Vision, Westov Temple
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SUN Wisdom In Chains, Nation Of Wolves
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Little Strike, SAT Stellarscope, Henri Tyler, The Cultour, Sadhound, SUN Maps and His Mothball Fleet, Timur And The Squad
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Downstairs) Pasión y Arte, SAT (Upstairs) Not My Dogg, SUN (Upstairs) Owl & Wolf
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Reef The Lost Cauze, 30 And Over League, SAT Adlib w/Space Kamp, J.O the Last Man, DJ Nobi, SUN Last Minute Hero, Only on Weekends, The Mad Splatter
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Darby
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Remote Control, DJs:Shari Vari, WDR, Brandon Setta, SAT Saint Brendan & The Navigators, Joshua Bright
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Dive In The Box, Beer Me
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Activate
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SAT Ed Christof & Friends
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Sweet Eureka, Knightlife, The Black Market Opera, SAT Argonautic, Groove Merchants
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Flux Capacitor, SAT Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers, SUN Skip Denenberg
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Evil Sword, Ursula
All Night Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT MS Saint
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Downtrodder, Kelsey Cork, Gravers Lane, Harmony Woods, Busy Bee, Cheyenne Bartram, Amanda Silberling, Drea Rose
Birdhouse (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Bad Heaven, Crooked Spine
The Blink (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI To the Teeth, By Us, Universe, The Vernes
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Birthday Song” – Dominic
Dominic Angelella has been involved in a multitude of musical projects, like DRGN KING, Lithuania, Elevator Fight, and Dragonzord just to name a small few, since coming to Philadelphia to study jazz guitar at the University of the Arts. Angelella’s latest recordings will be released under his new moniker where he’ll be simply known as Dominic. His upcoming album, Goodnight Doggies., is scheduled for release on February 3 via Lame-O Records, and you can take a listen to the record’s lead single, "Birthday Song," below.
NYC
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A slacking all Brooklyn bill at Shea Stadium tomorrow (11.18) with Peaer, Pupppy, Bethlehem Steel and Cadet Kelly
We live in an era full of paradoxes, and the one we stumbled upon today is that in the most hectic city in the US (NYC) an awful lot of music made by caucasian artists is – one way or another – flirting with the concept of slacking. For those in the mood, tomorrow (11.19) four local bands will bring their own version of slack rock to the Shea Stadium’s stage. Peaer (pictured) is a rotating lineup of musicians led by Peter Katz (formerly of Fugue, Poverty Hollow, Suns); their recent self titled album slacks in very interesting and original ways, mostly through a selection of mid to down tempos, introducing elements foreign to the genre like post rock and math rock. Pupppy (Deli NYC Record of the Month in the summer of 2015) has a folkier and more lyrical approach, while openers Bethlehem Steel and Cadet Kelly both dwell in fast paced dreaminess.
NYC
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Serge Bulat’s “Queuelbum” wins IMA for Best Dance/Electronica Album of the Year
Hailing from Moldova and now living in NYC, electronic musician/producer Serge Bulat (previously NYC Artist of the Month in this very blog) took home the 2016 award for the Best Dance/Electronica Album of the Year at the 15th edition of Independent Music Awards in NYC. The award is for Serge’s debut album called “Queuelbum” which was released in May this year with a fusion of electronica, neo-classical, trip-hop and alternative elements. Check out our favorite track ‘Walker,’ vaguely reminiscent of that essential post-rock record that is TNT by Tortoise.
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Raised by the Wolves” – Miles Chancellor
Miles Chancellor is ushered in under the cloak of shadowy instrumentation in his latest single, "Raised by the Wolves". Recorded, mixed and mastered by Justin Miller & Sketcho, the Philly emcee circles around the listener, methodically and patiently entrancing his prey. Bump it this weekend when you’re out on the prowl.
Portland
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End Up at Another Know End Show Saturday
The Know End in Sight Series has featured some pretty good shows so far, and Saturday’s will definitely be one of the best ways to both end this shitty year on and see off the Know from its northeast Alberta home.
We never miss a chance to see to heavy hitters Danava, who still manage to hold such a special place in our hearts even without having released any new material in a long time. Party rockers Mean Jeans will hopefully play almost all of this year’s Tight New Dimension which, of course, has had us in a whole other dimension of rowdy punkness since April.
With the coolness of Andy Place and the Coolheads and NYC’s Dirty Fences touring through to round out the bill, there’s no doubt shit won’t get crazy.
Tickets are only $12, so it’d be smart to get there early and snag one before the night sells out.