Austin

Shoegaze Quartet, Blushing, Unveils Dreamy Debut EP

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Beautiful effervescent melodies float with melancholic precision on Blushing’s debut EP, Tether. The shoegaze quartet is a little over a year old but they already exude the technical proficiency and dreamy wistfulness of their influences like Lush, Slowdive, and Cocteau twins. The band is comprised of two sets of marital partners and the music reflects the comfort and ease of a heightened intuitive understanding. Tether may only have four tracks but quality outshines quantity by a wide margin and, the ebb and flow of their debut EP leaves listeners entranced, particularly with the angelic vocals of Michelle Soto and Christina Carmona. Blushing played their first show at Cheer Up Charlies on the 15th but their sound was as tight and professional as a tenured group, and with an upcoming show at the Sidewinder on February 9th, the group’s momentum is starting to snowball. While many in the music industry pontificated of the demise of Shoegaze in the mid 2010’s but it is band’s like Blushing that are breathing new life into the genre and keeping it fresh for new audiences.

-Lee Ackerley 

 

NYC

Satisfying low key jams from DC area art-rock musician Herschel Hoover

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Rambling/satisfying chord changes, perplexing lyrics, and downtempo grooves define the music of DC area art-rock musician Herschel Hoover.  Owing much to 90s avant-garde Hoover’s album “High-Grade Migraine” offers well thought out jams with driving instrumental solos backed by some nice interplay between the instruments in the rhythm section.  Melodically the music is driven in equal parts by guitar and vocals, with neither of the two straying far from the timbre of the rhythm section.

You can catch Hoover with Purple Orange, Hello Dharma, and Trajectories February 3rd at Velvet Lounge. 

Philadelphia

New Static Mountain Album Available for Streaming & Purchase

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Psych rockers Static Mountain quietly released a new album at the end of 2016, which they titled Dream Boutique. Dedicated to their friends and family, "who have known any personal, professional, conditional, confessional, artisanal, or quasi-political struggle this past year," the Philly four-piece takes us on a guitar-driven musical excursion, laced with airy vocal harmonies and moments of contemplation. The album was mostly recorded by the band’s very own Matt Williams at The HAUS, with addition drums recorded laid down at Spice House Sound, and mastering done by Jeff Lucci (of Air is Human).

NYC

Second Child to bring their psych-folk to Pianos 2/11

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Having a stressful day today? Need something to calm your nerves? After all, it is the day after Inauguration Day.  Second Child’s psychedelic-folk music might just help you relieve all the anger and anxiety you’re going through with their EP, “Years End.” The album consists of soft, delicate tracks that will make you feel all fuzzy inside. Their music is uniquely composed of relaxing rhythms that incorporate a psychedelic twist. So let’s ease the pain together with Second Child’s songs and catch them at Pianos on February 11th.-Jocelyn Huggler 

L.A.

Daise to play The Resident on 1/23

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Indie rock band Daise craft intricate and faintly dreamy songs, countered with sunny harmonies and ringing percussion that are constantly in motion. The San Bernardino quartet sure know their way around a pop melody, and they put it to full effect on their recently released EP, Bewilder, which plays with the more amiable side of post-punk, with their noodling guitars and breezy rhythmic tones, and mixes it with some pan-ethnic flourishes. Fans of genre-bending groups like Yeasayer and Local Natives will find much to enjoy, as their catchy and thoughtful songwriting is as immediate as it is considered.

Daise will showcase their tuneful songs at The Resident on January 23th. – Juan Rodríguez

Chicago

Boy Johnny

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Boy Johnny is the electronic folk-pop of John Tsingas. He recently released his latest album Marine Scale. This is an expiremental journey with many layers of sounds, melodies, and samples.

Chicago

Weekly Free

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The Whistler has launched their new weekly music digest Weekly Free. Each week they will be giving posting a free song or collection of songs recorded live at The Whistler.

The first release is from Chicagoan and current-LA resident, Cosmic Son (aka Jeremiah Chiu).

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, January 20 – 22

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Grey clouds hang overhead; it’s only a matter of time before the skies open up. However, Johnny Brenda’s will be offering shelter from the storm this evening. Ceramic Animal enacts loose, affecting psych-pop – the type that gently seeps into your mind with the casual crash of surf-rock-inspired rhythmic sways, but is fully prepared to attack at opportune moments, demonstrating the force of the instrumental tides. Meanwhile, step into the heady blues-treading vortex of The Mysteries, who will be potentially unveiling material from their forthcoming release, New Age Psychedelic Experiment. With boogie-flavored infectious tones that swiftly transition toward tinges of psych rock, the trio of Satellite Hearts kick off the proceedings. – Michael Colavita
 

 
More places to hide from the grey clouds this Inauguration weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Ceramic Animal, The Mysteries, Satellite Hearts, SAT Beat Society
 
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI American Trappist, SAT Hillary Wallace and the Death, Spot Collins, Josh Nussbaum SUN Inside Voices, Hoser, Disogyny, Body Spray
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Table/Ben Arsenal, No Headphones, Beetee Beats, SAT DJ PHSH, DJ SYLO, SUN Slowburn
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Meg Baird
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Jesus Piece, SAT DJ Shari Vari (Void Vision), SUN Grimace Federation (DJ Set)
 
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Thrills, Ninth Floor Mannequin, Seagulls, SAT Sparkle Pony, SUN Heavy C
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Siravo, The Good Mess, Dead:Stop, SAT (Balcony) (12pm) Masta K, Boy Wonder, Young Trizz & Suckafree G/(6pm) Beneath Polaris, Oblivion Her Majesty, Peach Fuzz, MelloMango, SUN Cruciclit, Buzzherd, Dead Robins
 
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Brotherly Love Benefit Concert for Jeff Bradshaw: Jill Scott, Bilal
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Greg Sover, SAT (Upstairs) Benefit For Children’s Hospital: Osler Circle/(Downstairs) Breakwater, SUN (Downstairs) Glenn Bryan & Friends
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Very Bad Vibes, Stadium Armory, Sonnder, The Vernes, SAT (5pm) Automatic 253, Danger Club, Fell Into Yesterday/(8pm) Gabriele Guma
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI John Faye, The Fractals, Stargazer Lily, Adam Brodsky, Hannah Taylor and the Jesse Lundy Trio, Scott Silipigni, Cookie Rabinowitz, Mia Johnson, Morgan Pinkstone, Hoagy Wing, Hinton, Bower, Jones, Schooly D
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St) SAT Gun$ Garcia, Dentana, Stateschoolgirl
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT The Jersey Corn Pickers, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SAT Amy Faden, Ashley Leone
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Here/Now (Release Show), Teeth, Andorra
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Spike Geez, Young Gravy, Freshsz
 
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SUN Thundercats!: A Burlesque tribute by the Bare and Bold
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Dave Joyce, Common Ground
 
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.)  FRI Hardwork Movement, SAT Music For the Arts: 10 Annual Benefit – West Philadelphia Orchestra, Chris Grunwald, The TC Cole Riot, HighKick, Next Wednesday, Droppin’ Deuce, SUN The Newspaper Taxis
 
The Waiting Room (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Space Whale Orchestra, Hatchers, Bathassaults
 
HH Ranch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Standing Rock Medic and Healer Council Benefit – Eight, ME + Princess Rabbit
 
Philadelphia

New Inauguration Day Protest Compilation to Benefit the ACLU

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"This compilation is an expression of love, anger, hope and protest on inauguration day. Let it serve as a reminder that the fight for justice is not over, that the celebration of diversity is essential to progress, that we must work together for what is fair and good. Can’t stop. Won’t Stop. Don’t stop now."

Featuring a plethora of Philly’s favorite indie musicians like Radiator Hospital, Abi Reimold, Jon Loudon (Restorations), Marisa Dabice (Mannequin Pussy), Pat Conaboy (The Spirit of the Beehive), August Koch (Cayetana), and so many more covering iconic artists (Neil Young, John Lennon, David Bowie, New Order, etc.), the thirty-eight song compilation, Don’t Stop Now: a collection of covers, will hopefully bring you some type of solace as well as inspiration today, as we prepare for the ginormous battle that lies ahead of us. But have no fear – we’ll all be here for each other. FUCK COMRADE TRUMP! All proceeds from this compilation will benefit the ACLU.

Philadelphia

New Theodore Grams EP Available for Streaming

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Vice City, the new EP from Theodore Grams, smacks with a cinematic, suspense-oriented intensity. With Noah Breakfast handling production on the majority of songs and guest appearances by Tunji Ige and GrandeMarshall, the EP toes the threshold, gliding over electronic beats, while maintaining that sense of an authentic narrative, dispensed over a grimy bounce. Give it a spin, and let it ride.

NYC

The Textiles to play Pianos 2/4

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Remember The Bravery? Well, they may be MIA, but there’s a new band in town producing a familiar vintage sound called The Textiles. The trio, hailing from Brooklyn by way of Chicago, have a decided new-wave influence, but their rock ‘n’ roll style makes you want to tap your feet and get up and dance. Their latest release, “Mood Revival,” is no exception (stream below), but The Textiles are a band to be experienced live, so catch them on February 4th when they play Pianos wit thelvnguage.-Jocelyn Huggler

 

Chicago

The Walters

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The Walters recently released a video for their new single “She’s Gonna Leave You”.