NYC indie rockers Loose Buttons play moody and sophisticated indie pop reminiscent of a hybrid of The Strokes and Prefab Sprout – interesting combination indeed! Their brand new single ‘Milk & Roses’ (streaming) is the most consistently driven track they’ve released in a while, but somehow they still manage to make it sound mellow, which is a pretty cool skill to have. The quartet just announced a new EP entitled "Sundays," scheduled for a Febrtuary release, look out for an EP release party that month.
Philadelphia
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New Video: “Radio Kids” (AB Session) – Strand of Oaks
Strand of Oaks strips away the arena-rock veneer of his latest single "Radio Kids," opting for an intensely intimate solo performance on a piano for the video series AB Sessions, recorded in Brussels. At its core, you find a song that really doesn’t stray far away from the deeply haunting ballads found on earlier releases like Leave Ruin and Pope Killdragon, which is certainly a good thing for those just tuning in. His new LP Hard Love officially comes out February 17 via Dead Oceans, and he’ll be back on stage in Philly on Friday, March 10 at Union Transfer.
Philadelphia
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Rosali Concludes Her Residency at Ortlieb’s Dec. 28
Rosali concludes her month-long residency at Ortlieb’s this evening. After a brief reprieve from the bone-chilling canvas of winter, the local singer-songwriter offers soothing clarity in the form of folk-based songs gently gliding over the hillside. On her debut album Out of Love, Rosali’s recordings are fueled by floral vocal harmonies and a wandering touch of twang-infused psychedelics. The duo of Kevin Nickles and Daniel Provenzano, also known as The Writhing Squares, will firmly orient their opening set in another world, touching down on intertwining threads of noise-rock, garage, free jazz, etc., while unleashing a sensory-loaded spectrum of space sonics. It’s just what you need to get over the final hump of 2016. Ortlieb’s, 847 N. Third St., 8pm, Free, 21+ – Michael Colavita
NYC
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Artist on the rise: Stello – live at Mercury on 01.09
If you find it strangely uplifting to listen to melancholic tunes during the holiday season, this is precisely the time for you to check out NYC Stello‘s latest single ‘Dog on the Run’ (streaming below); like a Christmas movie, it will take you for an emotional ride towards an upbeat, cathartic finale. But if this song can certainly stir up emotion, it doesn’t do so at the expense of style. The band has a one year old, rather upbeat "pop’n’roll" EP under their belt (entitled ‘Five Nite‘), but in their two recent singles (Pretty Thing is the other one) the group finds its comfort zone in slower tempos and moodier atmospheres, which allow the lead vocalist – whose name is conceiled online – to showcase his character, presence and versatility. ‘Dog on the Run’ is a rather impressive track, check it out below and don’t miss Stello live at Mercury on January 9th.
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
New England
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Pulitzer Prize Fighter Prepares for Record Release at Great Scott 1/7
Boston quintet, Pulitzer Prize Fighter is gearing up to celebrate the release of their latest EP, Everything That Makes You Feel Tired. Embracing the aptly named subgenre of "R&Bmo", their music seamlessly combines angsty guitar licks with danceable grooves and soulful vocals. There’s even a sexy saxophone solo or two. Genre-bending and unpredictable, Pulitzer Prize Fighter has created a unique sound that simply works. Check them out at their record release show on 1/7 at Great Scott. Joining them are Jack Romanov, Split/Halves, and Dionysia. -Brian Varneke
New England
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Gretchen & The Pickpockets Tell a Story of Unity in New Video, “Old Souls”
In a time where our nation struggles with division, Gretchen & The Pickpockets, have created a vision of unity and acceptance in their video for "Old Souls". The video follows several couples of different backgrounds and orientations, who find happiness within each other and, ultimately, as a diverse community. A departure from the band’s soulful rock-n-roll style, "Old Souls" is a softer ballad that focuses on harmony and emotion. Directed and produced by lead singer Gretchen Klempa, this is truly a unique and personal vision and a powerful message of togetherness that we should all take to heart. Check out the video, then experience Gretchen & The Pickpockets live at Ocean Mist in Wakefield, RI on 12/30. -Brian Varneke
NYC
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Ethereal songwriter Julie Byrne releases sophomore LP on 01.27 at Rough Trade
Active since the beginning of the current decade (calling it the "10s" sounds still kinda weird), Brooklyn songwriter Julie Byrne writes and performs meditative and sparse songs, always accompanied by her acoustic guitar and a fair amount of reverb on her delicately sensuous vocals. Her 2014 album ‘Rooms with Walls and Windows’ did remarkably well, becoming a testament to the power of the song in its most naked format. Julie recently announced a new LP, entitled ‘Not Even Happiness,’ scheduled to drop on January 2017, with a release party at Rough Trade on the 27th. Check out preview single ‘Natural Blue,’ streaming below.
NYC
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Electro-psych collective Psymon Spine plays Mercury Lounge 1/9
With canned, am-radio vocals, surf-y female harmonies, and interesting, angular beats, Psymon Spine‘s latest release manages to be both haunting and strangely dance-able. The four tracks that make up the self-titled EP utilize a combination of fat synths and energetic drum machine grooves as the backdrop for ethereal vocals that float at the top of the mix. Check them out for yourselves at the Mercury Lounge 1/09 with The Roofers Union, but in the meantime stream them below. – Olivia Sisinni
Philadelphia
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New Steady Hands Charitable Live Album Available for Streaming & Purchase
Modern Baseball‘s Sean Huber, a.k.a. Steady Hands, put out a compilation of his first four EPs and a new track on a double LP, titled Rude Boys Of Bar Rock, earlier this month via Lame-O Records. He also posted a new music video for the single, "Under The Rug," which starred the "#1 daug," Bruce. And in the spirit of giving this season, he has shared a live performance album that will benefit Wags Rescue & Referral, "an organization in Pennsylvania that saves dogs from gassing shelters in the south and brings them to foster homes until they can find a forever family," where we’re assuming that he found his adorable best friend. Steady Hands – Live at Ortlieb’s was recorded on December 4, 2016 by Jeff Travitz at Huber’s recent hometown release celebration, held at the Fishtown watering hole. (Photo by Punks in Vegas)
San Francisco
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Makeunder shares new Akiyoshi Ehara (The Seshen) remix of “Inevitable Conclusion”
The Oakland based band, Makeunder has shared a remix of “Inevitable Conclusion” turned in by Akiyoshi Ehara of The Seshen. Ehara tells Atwood Magazine, "The vocals really stood out to me on this tune as something that would be fun to play with. I found that in a weird way a lot of the vocal runs seemed to have a subtle 90’s R&B flavor, especially when pitched up or down, which started to inform some of the groove. I’ve been going back to Timbaland and Missy Elliot productions a lot as of late, so some of that stuttering and syncopation of the beat was probably due to that stuff being a little fresher in my memory.”
Take a listen for yourself and enjoy new sounds from the Bay Area!
L.A.
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Old Notes play at dba256 on 12/30
Indie rock band Old Notes released their debut full-length earlier this year, Former Self, a poignantly rendered illustration of young malaise that’s calibrated with heart-wrenching musical peaks and troughs. The Rancho Cucamonga trio are greatly informed by the Midwestern emo movement of the late nineties that continues to make a big impact in the current indie rock scene. The trio addresses their impassioned yearning with circular guitar lines and lilting melodic fragments that oftentimes erupt with melodic bursts of genuine clarity.
Old Notes will be playing at deba256 in Pomona on December 30th. Juan Rodríguez
Philadelphia
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Soul Glo Opening for Dangers at The Church Dec. 27
With the deep-gouging, volatile release of unrestrained, pensive-streaming emotion stampeding downhill, encircled by menacing, tension-building, experimental post-punk surroundings, Soul Glo entrenches their heavy sound in the First Unitarian Church this evening. The band strips away any coating of pretension in favor of the a raw, abrasive experience, which immediately affects the listener in a heart-and-head-pounding transfer of ideas. With their latest album, The Bend in the Break, available via Topshelf Records, the pummeling, pissed off, poetic arsenal of Dangers, as well as the noise-shrouded hardcore/hip-hop hybrid of Kids, will help knock off any residual holiday remains. You definitely won’t find any Trump-voting family members there. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8:30pm, $10, All Ages (Photo by Luke Mouradian) – Michael Colavita