Portland

The Hip Sounds of Heavy Handed

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Heavy Handed is a band that describes themselves as not being good, even going so far as to telling potential fans to not even buy their records or give any type of monetary support to their endeavor. That joking, endearing modesty has worked in their fandom favor, because they’ve become a band we want to endlessly support.

With John Palmer on guitar, Jackie McLaughlin on drums and Harvey Buckner on bass, Heavy Handed have already exhibited lasting and infectious talents with their recently released self titled debut, which seamlessly blends garage rock and pop music’s best aspects. From the bluesy "Hesistate" to the slow pop of "Oh, Edna" and the fairly psyched out "Still Life," Heavy Handed has a solid handle on what good music is.

Their next show is set for 12/18 at Blackwater as an entirely "H-bandname" bill, with Helmstron (James Helmsworth of Husky Boys), Hex Vision, Horse Movies and Hard Skulls. It’s supposed to be a benefit for Standing Rock with a $2-$5 donation, but now that it’s successfully been halted (thank goodness!) it’s unsure if it’ll still serve as a benefit show, but either way it’ll be a fun night.

NYC

Fat Heaven releases ‘Tough Luck’ LP

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The punk forces behind Fat Heaven celebrated the release of their new album Tough Luck last night at Moffat Heaven, a new Bushwick venue. The band (recently winner of our NYC Artist of the Month poll) plays high-octane rock’n’roll evocative of early-90s pop punk that so many of us still love love and crave, blended with a very NYC garagey roughness.

The release party for Tough Luck also featured performances from SCARBORO (which includes two members from Fat Heaven), girlwave trio THICK, Olde Tigers from York, PA, and Deli NYC favorite Hiccup. – Will Sisskind

Philadelphia

Steady Hands Hometown Record Release Show at Ortlieb’s Dec. 4

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Steady Hands, a.k.a. Sean Huber of Modern Baseball, is getting set to release a compilation of his first four EPs. The Rude Boys Of Bar Rock double LP will be available on December 9 via Lame-O Records, but if you’re already jonesin’ to hear his catalogue of folk-punk tunes, get your fix this evening at Steady Hands’ hometown record release show at Ortlieb’s. They’ll be rockin’ the bar with hard-riffin’ pals and labelmates Thin Lips, as well as Cold Climb It (featuring Matt Brasch of The Wonder Years) and The Lame-O’s (which I am guessing is an amalgamation of artists and friends associated the beloved Philly record label). Huber will also be performing a very special solo set tomorrow night in Brewerytown at Smokey’s Regal Estate, where he’ll be sharing the bill with Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday, Terrible Things), Pray To Keep, and West Virginia’s Mange. (All agers, you were not forgotten.) Ortlieb’s, 847 N. 3rd St., 8pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Punks in Vegas) – Alexis V.

NYC

Tangina Stone releases new single, plays National Sawdust on 12/10

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Based off the latest single, "Ride Off," off her upcoming debut LP ELEVATE, Tangina Stone is adding additional musical and emotional layers to her already rich RnB sound. While "Wasn’t Love Cafe" offered much of the same catchy, guitar-driven goodness found on much of her The Fall EP, "Ride Off," shows a different side of Stone and her music. Written in response to the passing of a loved one, Stone’s vocals cast a sad shadow over the listener with long-held notes and echoing backing vocals. The instrumental, crafted by CJ The Great, provides the perfect paltform with its haunting synths and sparse guitar licks. An assist from emcee Crystal Caines brings the track to close with a different perspective about a different person. ELEVATE is a record to watch out for, and you can catch Stone live at The National Sawdust on 12/10. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Toronto

The Rickaneers – Brand New Track “Modern Love”

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The Rickaneers have released a brand new single "Modern Love" and no it is not a David Bowie cover. What it is though is a catchy rocker that could have been released in the 60’s…or the 90’s…or 2016! These Toronto fellas did a really good job of recording this song to re-create some 60’s garage sounds but still keep the modern day relevance to the sound. Formerly a 4 piecer looks like Jesse (Guitar/Vocals) and Doug (drums) have taken er back a couple notches and now rock as a 2 piece combo. They will be releasing a record in the new year. The release party is happening January 27th at Junction City Music Hall. – Kris Gies

Portland

Stream the Latest EP from Homies

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If you fancy yourself one with a penchant for Spanish serenades blanketed by heavy fuzz and laid back riffs, then this new record from Homies is just right for you. The foursome, led by Ralf Rodriguez and Omar Cervantes, also features Jared Molyneux and Eric Shanafelt of the Shivas. Their combined efforts may be a somewhat recent development, but hopefully one that will be around for a long time.

The new self titled EP is made up of two previously released tracks and four new singles sung almost entirely in Spanish, for an end product that molds stylings like the Horrors and Halcyon Digest-era Deerhunter with an easily accessbile reverberated likability. It’s addicting, and definitely a great release to end this year on.

Stream Homies below and head over to their Bandcamp page for a download.

Philadelphia

The Transcendental No-wave Sludge of Shimmer at Baird Mansion Atrium Dec. 3

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Philadelphia-based booking collective All Mutable continue to organize noteworthy shows in town, and this weekend’s event is no exception to this trend. Shimmer’s lineup consists of four artists who are each arriving from projects that have become distinguished for their potent blends of musical precision and tonal experimentation. Ani and Nina perform together in Palberta, Paco plays in Big Neck Police and releases solo material under the moniker The Cradle, and Simon plays in Cloud Becomes Your Hand and Tredici Bacci (who recently toured with Gary Wilson as his backing band). The resulting sound is something akin to transcendental no-wave sludge swinging on a pendulum. Find out for yourself what will come of this rare melding of talent on tonight at Baird Mansion Atrium, where they’ll be performing with Philly artists Ursula, Deflector, and Boston-based Pucker Up. Baird Mansion Atrium, (Please contact of the acts or venue for more info.), 7pm, $8, All Ages – Josh Kelly

New England

Boketto the Wolf Brings Debut EP to P.A.s Lounge on 12/9

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Filled with highly charged emotional content, a fully utilized dynamic range, and engaging, vocal melodies from Julia Maree, Boston-based folk-rockers Boketto the Wolf ensure that their formidable debut EP, Sleepless, lives up to its title.  Leading with its stand-out track, "Float Back to Me", which revitalizes the lost art of the 6/8 power ballad, Sleepless is a neatly packaged, 5-track album that perfectly sums up the reach and character of the band.  This haunting debut ensures that you will be "floating back" to it time and time again.  Catch Boketto the Wolf, joined by Drew Angus, Alternate Weekends, and The Silent Wild at P.A.s Lounge on Saturday, 12/9. –Brian Varneke

 

 

NYC

Natural Velvet offers luscious layers of fuzzy post-punk

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"Love is Love/Alien and Strange" croons Baltimore-based Natural Velvet on their latest single, and though the band’s sound may be a bit alien and strange itself, we’re certainly in love. A post-punk act with a serious dash of psych and noise vibes, Natural Velvet invites listeners down a fuzzy, swirling, spacey, rabit-hole freak out with its thick instrumentals and dark vocals. Check them out for yourself, and stream Natural Velvet’s "Love is Love" below. – Olivia Sisinni 

NYC

Noah Kittinger releases new EP “Bloom”

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Noah Kittinger has made a name for himself by crafting complexly textured music with a minimalist structure, and his lastest release, Bloom, further refines that sonic path. Showcasing his keen sense of depth and darkness, the EP prominently features Kittenger’s hazy, haunting vocals, which are contrasted against echo-y beats that almost feel as if they edge toward the void. It’s 7-tracks worth of layers to peel, and single N.Y.E. (streaming below) is a good place to start. – Olivia Sisinni

Chicago

Serengeti “Boy”

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Serengeti and Sicker Man have released a video for their new single “Boy”. The track comes from their new album, Doctor My Own Patience, which is due out on December 16th via Graveface Records. You can preorder the album here.

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, December 2 – 4

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Raw, eruptive, emotive vocals rage through, sprinting along the tenacious tidal wave of blistering instrumentation, and at others, those fitful, unfiltered flashes are tempered by somewhat calmer, melodic-surging grunge/noise rock tones. It’s a ferocious fury of feelings that takes hold and amid that shot of adrenaline quells with soothing melody. This Sunday, Mannequin Pussy celebrates its sophomore album Romantic (Tiny Engines), The Deli Philly’s November Record of the Month, at Everybody Hits. The altered states of The Spirit of the Beehive, whose heady shoegazing/grunge hybrid coasts and then oozes, helps to fuel the evening joining their labelmates, while the wondrously weird post-punk exploits of Beth Israel seamlessly shapeshifts, leading things off. Everybody Hits, 529 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $8-$10, All Ages – Michael Colavita 
 

 
Other places to be this weekend…
 
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Whips, Brandon Can’t Dance, Throbbing Chakra, Decent
  
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Mercury Radio Theater, SAT Dylan Jane
 
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Strand of Oaks, SAT Strand of Oaks, SUN Strand of Oaks
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Molly Rhythm, Dr. Beardfacé and the Spaceman/DJ Deejay, SAT The Mellowells, Past Life/Dear Friend, Lito and the Shepherds/Imposter, Shizz Lo, Gordon Bombay, HSNBRG, SUN The Parameters
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SUN Girls Rock Philly presents: Fall LRC Showcase
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT The Tea Club
 
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) SAT Celeste Giuliano’s Pin-Up Peepshow, SUN June Divided (Record Release), The Superweaks, PHNTMS
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Twin Symptoms, Get Killed, Mauled By A Bear, The Feral Hats, Brick Nova
 
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Code Red: Breaking the Silence, SUN Soraia, John Faye & Those Meddling Kids, The Captain -The Pilot- The Driver, Zymotic Flow, The Quixote Project, Sweet Eureka
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Medusa’s Disco
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.)  FRI Tasty Face, Kingfisher, Tucker Hill, SAT The Space Cats, Genesis Z & The Black Mambas, The Deadeyes, SUN Space Pizza, The Bad Tequila Experience
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Among Criminals, Andorra, Alright Junior, SAT Black Horse Motel, SUN Secret Nudist Friends, Cardinal Arms
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) SAT False Tracks, Aster More, Secret Nudist Friends, SUN Steady Hands, Thin Lips, Cold Climb It, The Lame-O’s
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Dav, Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Hired Guns Blues Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Railroad Fever, The Late Saints, Greg Sover, Jeremy Hollis, SAT The Disgruntled Sherpa Project (CD Release), Coal Mine Canaries, Readership, The Rothland
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Hootsie, Rob Tomlinson, White Limo, Who Better You Bet, SAT Razor Boomarang, Heavensake
 
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Ladybird, Brittany Tranbaugh, Vessna Scheff, SAT The Royal Noise, Tucker Hill Band, SUN American Dinosaur, Selfhelpme, The Heat Run
 
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Hoots & Hellmouth, SAT Lima Bean Riot, SUN Sherwood Brothers
 
Wild Mutation Records (2223 Frankford Ave.) FRI Honey Radar
 
Vox Populi (319 N. 11th St.) SUN Ben Bennett and Michael Foster, Positive Movement Drill Team
 
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SUN Jack Wright, Neil Feather & Rosie Langabear, Bonnie Kane & Big Plastic Finger
 
Double H Ranch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Taiwan Housing Project, Control Top
 
Slime Time Live (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Downtrodder, Birthday Ponies, Moonroof
 
Glitter Galaxy (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Empath, Eight
 
Harmonie Hall (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Falsa, Repelican
 
Baird Mansion Atrium (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Shimmer, Ursula, Deflector
 
Punch Buggy Brewery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Swede, So Totally, Poor Devils