"Cross That Line," the closing song on Coal Mine Canaries newly released EP We Poor Devils, leaves a lasting impression. The dreamy sparkle of xylophone steps into the soulful, inebriated sway. The song takes on the appeal of an evening shared with a close group or significant other, when everyone reaches that slightly tired but united buzz, thus allowing his or her exterior guard or pretension to drop and embrace the moment. Lyrically describing an unfortunate misstep, the track retains an inherent but slightly mournful fondness.
NYC
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Best of New England Indie Rock/Pop Artist: Tall Teenagers, Mokita, XR Tabs
Deli Readers!
The results are in for our year-end Best Emerging New England Indie Rock Artist poll. The popular vote has elected Tall Teenagers from Providence, RI as our 2016 Deli Readers’ champions for the Indie Rock/Pop category. They are a name we’ve been hearing a lot this past year and we are excited to see what 2017 has in store for them. We would also like to give a shout-out to Boston garage-rockers Mokita for giving them a run for their money.
In addition, the points accumulated through votes cast by our panel of jurors, and a third position in the readers’ poll, crowned XR Tabs and their brand of experimental indie-pop as the Best of New England in this category. Check out their new single "Wet Fire for Edison the Unclean" and see what all the hype is about.
As always, we’d like to thank all of our artists, jurors, and readers for participating in this year’s polls. Stay tuned and vote for all of our remaining genre polls! -Brian Varneke
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Edgar Clinks |
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1% | 5 votes |
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Emerald Comets |
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2% | 10 votes |
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Kal Marks |
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0% | 3 votes |
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Laundry Day |
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0% | 4 votes |
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Mokita |
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34% | 152 votes |
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Oldsoul |
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2% | 13 votes |
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Rick Rude |
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0% | 3 votes |
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Tall Teenagers |
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41% | 184 votes |
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The Right Offs |
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0% | 1 vote |
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The Snaz |
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0% | 2 votes |
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Wolfmen of Mars |
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1% | 6 votes |
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XR Tabs |
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13% | 60 votes |
NYC
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Best of Austin Indie Pop/Rock: Summer Salt, Yuma + more
Our Best of Austin Poll for Emerging Indie Pop Aritsts ended recently and here’s a summary of the results.
We already celebrated Yuma for winning the Readers’ Poll.
Trio Summer Salt was the winners of the overall chart, the one that combines the readers’ votes with the one cast by our "scene experts," who picked the list of nominees we pasted at the bottom of this post.
Summer Salt has been on tip of the tongue of anyone who had the chance to see the trio of best friends in 2016. The equivalent of audio soma, Summer Salt’s musical essence is unobtrusive oldies that might sound like if Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson had been left on a deserted cay to write music for eternity. The trio’s balmy bossanova-influenced tropical tracks are indulgent and entrancing which is why Summer Salt captured the most votes out of our music industry poll on ‘Best Emerging Indie Rock Artist of 2016’.
Big thumbs up also to Tele Novella and Sweet Spirit, who tied on second place in the jurors votes department, and Magic Rockers of Texas, second place in the Readers’ Poll and 4th overall.
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Darkbird |
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4% | 7 votes |
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Hidden Ritual |
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0% | 1 vote |
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Hovvdy |
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1% | 2 votes |
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Magic Rockers of Texas |
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9% | 13 votes |
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Mean Jolene |
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0% | 1 vote |
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Slomo Drags |
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0% | 1 vote |
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Sour Notes |
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0% | 1 vote |
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Star Parks |
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2% | 3 votes |
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Summer Salt |
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1% | 2 votes |
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Sweet Spirit |
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0% | 0 votes |
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Tele Novella |
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2% | 4 votes |
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TOMA |
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2% | 4 votes |
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Yuma |
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72% | 104 votes |
Portland
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Mood Music: Piss Test – “Vegan Coffee”
The next few days will be marked by Portland punx Piss Test, who are playing two shows within the next three days. Tomorrow they’ll be hitting up High Water Mark for a Mississippi Studios and Do503 curated show with Memphis riot grrrl revivalists Nots and locals Patsy’s Rats. On Saturday, they’ll be taking the stage again with garage post-punk acts Lunch, Petite and the Bellicose Minds as part of celebrating the latter’s Incision EP release.
Pumping us up for all the upcoming Piss Test punkness, we’ve been repeatedly playing their boisterous love song "Vegan Coffee," coming off their third self titled EP. It’s got an addicting rhythm and enough energy to serve as sonic caffeine itself, making it hard to not want more and more of.
New England
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Self Portraits Plays The Red Room at Cafe 939 on 2/17
A female-fronted band with a larger-than-life sound, Berklee alt-rockers, Self Portraits, employ an impressive, accessible sound that is sure to leave a mark on the Boston music scene. Their music is full of varied influences, catchy pop sensibilities with an arena rock energy. Full of soaring guitars and powerhouse vocals, Self Portraits is a force to be reckoned with. Catch them at The Red Room at Cafe 939 on 2/17 with The Interlopers and Brandon Diaz ‘N Soul. -Brian Varneke
New England
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White Cassette Premieres Music Video for New Single “Whywhom”
There’s an inviting quality to New World Haunts, the debut effort from indie-rock group, White Cassette. It’s an original, atmospheric sound that never outstays its welcome. Filled with subtle, mature grooves and intelligent, emotional lyrics, Haunts, is an impressively refined entry for the Boston quintet. The album is available on most streaming platforms, but take a few minutes to brush up on your ping-pong skills, and check out the video for their single "Whywhom" below. -Brian Varneke
Portland
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Past Haunts Unites PDX and LA at the Lovecraft
Specializing in the dark swells of rock music’s subgenres, Past Haunts has given XRAY.fm listeners the best in everything from krautrock to coldwave every Monday for the last four years. They’ve hosted some pretty good live shows in their day and their first one of the year is another one to add to the list. Past Haunts is taking over Lovecraft on Friday by joining Portland’s Tender Age with LA’s Drab Majesty, and Soft Metals acting as the artist fulcrum between the two cities.
The slo-fi pop of Tender Age is the perfect sound to fully represent the drizzly minimalism of the Rose City. All three of their releases (comprised of two 7" and an EP) eptiomize noisy soundscapes that are more than easy to get immersed in and this show couldn’t be a better way for them to ring in 2017 with.
Electronic duo Soft Metals have roots here in the Pacific Northwest and SoCal, with their synthesizer sounds indicative of our darkwave scene as well as what’s going on in some of those LA clubs. Rumor has it they’re working some new material, exciting Soft Metals fans who have been craving another release following 2013’s Lenses. Rounded out by the not so drab coldwave of Drab Majesty and this turns into another delightfully dark night at the Lovecraft.
NYC
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79.5 drop new single, “Boy Don’t Be Afraid” and play The Bowery Ballroom 3/31
NYC’s buzzworthy soul ensemble, 79.5, channels a legendary girl-group energy in their new single "Boy Don’t Be Afraid". The second single off of their upcoming album Predictions, the group combines impeccable vocal harmonies, subtly smooth grooves, and their unique modern flavor, to create a sound that embodies the musical culture of New York City. They’ll be playing live 3/31 at the Bowery Ballroom alongside Chicano Batman, and The Shacks, but in the meantime, stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni
NYC
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Synth-pop artist, Birch drops new single, plays Mercury Lounge 2/25
Brooklyn-based artist Birch‘s new single, "Pick Sides" arrives at an exceptionally divisive point in our country’s history. While most people find themselves plagued with a robust outpouring of facebook fights focused on politics, social constructs, or the full gamut in between, Michelle Birsky–the synth-pop artist behind the musical project–turns her attention to the binary ways of thinking that create the false dichotomies that divide us. The single proves to be a bit more pop-minded than her previous releases, but the gravity of the subject blends seamlessly into her infectious melodies, and truly showcases her songwriting prowess. You can catch Birch live at the Mercury Lounge 2/25 alongside, Controller and Madeline Mondrala, but also click the play button to stream her below.-Olivia Sisinni
NYC
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Wild Arrows to play Music Hall of Williamsburg 3/29, slated to drop new album 4/14
Brooklyn-based band, Wild Arrows, crafts indie pop tunes with a seriously dark streak that feels a lot like 80’s goth-pop heaven. Their latest release, "Dark Me" is no exception, combining clean, minimalist beats with harrowing lyricism to create a single that’s as striking as it is catchy. The band is gearing up to release a new album April 14th, and we can only imagine it’s stocked with the same flavor of dreamy synths, moody lyricism and the glittering transe-like aesthetic that we’ve come to love them for. You can catch the band live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg 3/29 alongside Minus the Bear and Bayonne, but before then take a listen to Wild Arrows below.-Olivia Sisinni
Toronto
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MY PSYCHO EX – LIVE AT STOP DROP N’ ROLL
My Psycho Ex seem to specialize in dirty ass rock n roll. Which is deadly. They hail from Toronto and bring the noise with powerbomb like intensity. I’m hearing some stoner rock influences like Kyuss along with some 90’s grunge grooves and a touch of Flash Lightnin’. "Fresh and New" is a banger from their album "Coyotes". It should be played on a highlight reel for anything involving a fight. My Psycho Ex plays at Stop Drop n’ Roll (300 College St.) on Saturday February 18th with Flamingo Báy and The Thinly Veiled Double Entendres. – Kris Gies
L.A.
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Lael Neale and Shannon Lay win Readers’ LA Poll for Emerging Folk/Americana Artists
The Best of LA Folk/Americana Readers’ Poll has just begun and we’ve got our first winner.
Well, winners I should say, as both Shannon Lay and Lael Neale virtually split the vote for us to determine that it’d be fair to declare it a tie. Lael Neale writes stripped-down, spacious ballads that gain potency with her fragile croon. Shannon Lay, on the other hand, conjures ethereal dreamscapes with a haunting display of harmonic interplay.
Shannon Lay is playing the Bootleg tonight, where she’ll be playing songs off of her recently released LP "All This Life Goin’ Down". Lael Neale regularly plays the local circuit, so make sure to follow her facebook account to find out where she’s playing next.
Lael Neale
Shannon Lay