Portland

Whiskey and Rock Tonight at Tanker

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Tonight, come out and enjoy two of the greatest things life has to offer – whiskey and rock music – for free.

Well, the whiskey may not be free, but the music is and that’s where the most enjoyment will come from. Elements of punk, hardcore and doom focalize for Tanker’s first (and possibly last) show, with sets from post-grunge ghost rock duo Glacial Fall, sci-fi hardcore punks 42 Ford Prefect, the ski masked vigor of G*U*N and the good feels of Bad Sex.

A lineup like this guarantees Tanker‘s first show is going to get a bit rowdy, so come prepared to leave with the stench of booze and sweat all over you. Music will start somewhat promptly at 8pm.

Philadelphia

New Sandcastle EP Available for Streaming & Download

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Philly’s own Sandcastle emerge from their musical lair to traverse across a psych-folk/pop terrain on their new album Netherodes. Nomadic riffs and fragile sometimes eerie vocals complement each other, creating a mystical air around the latest batch of recordings. The EP is made up of five original tracks, accompanied by opener, "How Sweet I Roam’d," which contains the words of William Blake laid over the traditional Scottish folk composition of "The Water Is Wide". You can stream and download Netherodes for free below.

Philadelphia

New Pissed Jeans LP Available for Streaming

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Sub Pop mainstays Pissed Jeans recently premiered their fifth album, Why Love Now, over at Noisey. The Philly via Allentown four-piece recruited the help of Sumerlands‘ Arthur Rizk and punk/no-wave legend Lydia Lunch to produce its latest. The band’s innate ability to come together to create cathartic anthems spotlighting the soul-crushing, mundane aspects of life keeps us dialed in – that and the fact that Pissed Jeans is one of the best live bands out there. Why Love Now officially comes out this Friday, February 24, and Pissed Jeans will be hosting a couple of intimate hometown shows at Boot & Saddle on Friday, March 10 and PhilaMOCA on Saturday, March 10. You need to grab your tix immediately before both shows eventually sell out.

New England

Cardinals Transform With Release of Acoustic EP Aftertaste

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 After a whirlwind year of recording and touring, Boston pop-punkers Tighticus Finch have flown from the nest as Cardinals.  Equipped with a new acoustic EP, Aftertaste, duo Emily Ronna and CJ Rarela are putting the proverbial (and literal) band back together, harnessing the energy of Finch and the mature emotional content that comes with a year of new experiences.  The highlight track for us is "Of Montreal", a ballad that puts Ronna’s vocals to the test (which she passes).  Check them out live at Bungalow Bar & Grill in Manchester, NH with Woven in Hiatus, Paper Monsters, Hours North, and The Grebes. -Brian Varneke

New England

Jack Romanov Releases New EP “The Smoking Room Sessions: I”

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The environment in which an album is recorded can often have a strong effect on a band’s music.  It can also, on occasion, alter the perception of the listener.  Such is the case for Boston indie-rockers Jack Romanov in their new EP, The Smoking Room Sessions: I, recorded, mixed, and mastered in an East Boston funeral home.  The captivating sound of the quartet is amplified, creating a mixed atmosphere of curiosity, melancholy, and introspection.  The first of four EPs to be released in the coming weeks, volume 1 is enough for us to pay close attention to future output from the band.  Check out the album link below and let us know what you think. -Brian Varneke

Nashville

Best of Nashville Folk/Americana Acts: Taylor Alexander and Aaron Lee Tasjan

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 Our Best of Nashville 2017 poll began last week with the Folk/Americana category and, after you-the-people cast your vote, we have the results to share with you!

Overall Poll winner (Jurors vote + Readers’ vote): Aaron Lee Tasjan

Readers’ Poll Winner (Readers’ Vote only): Taylor Alexander

This year’s Folk/Americana poll winners represent a genre looking back on the past and forward to the future. Aaron Lee Tasjan’s new record perfectly captures the new direction of alternative country while Taylor Alexander harkens back to the genre’s classic roots. 

Aaron Lee Tasjan’s new record, Silver Tears takes a progressive political stance: "There’s a redneck bummer in an H2 Hummer / And he sure does hate the queers / I guess some life choices are cries for help / That nobody ever hears," Tasjan sings on "Hard Life." The genius of Tasjan’s songwriting takes the form of a Trojan Horse. He uses the vehicle of roots country to challenge often destructive established southern cultural norms. Songwriting ability isn’t the only creative muscle Tasjan flexes on the latest record either. There’s a wide variety of instrumentation and production that keeps things interesting. From pedal steel and reverb soaked slide guitar-based rockers to saloon style piano blues numbers, Silver Tears has something to offer country fans of all stripes. 

Taylor Alexander makes the kind of music you’d be surprised to know still thrives in certain niches. Alexander’s retro style is decidedly Nashvillian. With numbers you’d expect to square dance to, the songs occupy a unique space in the city’s country scene and serve as a refreshing reminder of country music’s founding influences. With a country accent and deep cowboy-voice remiscent of George Strait, Alexander tactfully crafts everything from cheerful dance numbers to melancholy narratives about past experiences. 

Honorable mentions go to George Shingleton (second in the overall chart) and Whiskey Wolves of the West (second in the Reader’s poll). The full list of nominees can be found under the streaming tracks.

 

Real Good At Saying Goodbye

 

Here is the list of all the finalists in the Nashville Folk/Americana category and their readers’ poll results: 

 Aaron Lee Tasjan
  8%   6 votes
 Alyssa Bonagura
  1%   1 vote
 Christ Stapleton
  1%   1 vote
 David Newbould
  0%   0 votes
 George Shingleton
  2%   2 votes
 Margo Price
  1%   1 vote
 SmithField
  0%   0 votes
 Sturgill Simpson
  4%   3 votes
 Taylor Alexander
  57%   40 votes
 Whiskey Wolves of the West
  18%   13 votes
 William Tyler
  2%   2 votes

 

Austin

Melat Brings Sensual R&B to Central Texas

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In Ethiopia, music is the lifeblood, and an endless trove of quality music and musicians have orginated from the East African nation as part of a rich tradition.  Austin is lucky to have a seed of the Ethiopian diaspora end up in Central Texas where it/she has blossomed into one of the most intriguing and talented chanteuses in the Austin scene. Melat Kassa blends sensual R&B beats with jazz and electronic tinges that are accentuated by her otherworldly smoky vocals. It is no coincidence that Melat won the best emerging artist poll for Soul/Hip Hop given her stratospheric talent and overwhelmingly attractive looks. While Melat may not be the typical style of music to come out of Austin, she has all the tools to become the most succesful yet.

 

 

Nashville

Thad Kopec’s New Dream-Inspired Soundscape

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Thad Kopec’s music is the kind of stuff that makes you remember how alive you are. Like a sun-dappled forrest canopy or light reflected on rippling water, his new track captures a moving image. The soundscape is sparse only to let every instrument fully speak. Strings and horns arrive and depart within a frame, merging together and fragmenting in erratic waves, but they all have something equally important to say. "Second Best" is narrative, and the instrumentation is alive to it. If the song is about remembering yourself by making sense of the past, all the disparate sonic elements mesh so well because of the shared purpose of making a story. Kopec’s intuition is to make the unsconscious conscious, to make a pattern of the fragments of memory and dream. If you’re a fan of melancholy Sufjan Stevens-inspired folk that creates a space for reflection and self-discovery, this is what you’ve been looking for. 

– Andrew Strader

Portland

Stream Get Real’s Debut EP

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It’s about time for us to all get real, dude.

There’s nothing wrong with having lofty dreams and aspirations, just as long as they come with a reality check. Though their name may have been inspired by some wall graffiti in the bathroom of their old practice space, that message is still relevant.

Aside from its bathroom wall writings, it’s thematically written all over the self-titled, debut EP from Get Real. Five songs worth of the band’s fun rock explore living with modest means while coming to terms with one’s own unsavory actions. Sonically, the album blends bits of surf, late 90’s indie and a tinge of garage pop, making for a pleasant way to take in empathetic subject matter.

"The songs are pretty much all about low living. Being fucked up all the time, sleeping with people you have no interest in, fantasies of escaping, feeling trapped in a body and personality you’re not comfortable with," says Get Real frontman Alex Erickson.

Stream their EP below to prep for their release show tonight with Dogheart and Sea Fuzz at the American Legion.

Portland

Turn! Turn! Turn! Keeping Tonight’s Show Despite General Strike

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Portland is a city of protesting. Our propensity to come together in revolt against major issues afflcting society is one of the greater characteristics of the city, as is what is offered locally in music. Today, most of the country has been participating in the General Strike against President fuck up Donald Trump prior to Monday’s President’s Day. Those striking haven’t been partaking in any activities, especially ones that benefit the country’s capatlistic benefit. 

For the most part, everyone wants to aid in spreading this message of strong displeasure, which obviously leaves venues with things scheduled today at a bit of an impasse. Northeast all ages venue Turn! Turn! Turn! was presented with this same problem, and has decided to move forward with the great show they have scheduled for tonight, where Blesst Chest, Sad Horse and Lithics are set to play.

On the decision, Turn! Turn! Turn! said:

After much deliberation between Turn! Turn! Turn!, its employees, the bands and others willing to share their input, we have decided to be open and have our show as scheduled February 17, the day of the general strike. This was a difficult decision, as everyone involved with this show sympathizes with the aims of the strike. Ultimately, we had the opportunity to do more good by having the show than not. To that end, we are making the show free so you don’t have to open your wallet. However, we will be accepting donations at the door for IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) and Portland Homeless Family Solutions. In addition, Turn! will be offering an all-Portland tap list and spirits by Portland distilleries. Those willing and able to spend a few bucks at the bar will also be supporting IRCO and PHFS, as we’ll donate between 25% (for non-donated kegs) and 50% for donated kegs to these organizations. 

End your day of striking the right way by heading up to Northeast Killingsworth with some cash in hand.