There’s a reason Cende is stirring up so much excitement right now. It’s the amalgamation of musicians involving in other breakout NYC bands like LVL UP and Porches. Drummers Greg Rutkin and Cameron Wisch (of the aforementioned groups) are joined by Dave Medina and Bernard Casserly in what’s best described as a joyous, young indie rock band with math pop inclinations. The 8 tracks on their debut album "*#1 Hit Single" are a whirlwind of punk-rock, pairing a fast-paced guitars with bright, pure vocals. Cende’s current national tour with Alex G and Japanese Breakfast provides plenty of opportunities to see them for yourself. Catch them in Brooklyn on July 6th at Music Hall of Williamsburg. – Allie Miller
Philadelphia
Posted on:
Weekend Warrior, June 30 – July 2
Powerful yet sometimes delicate compositions will be emanating from Boot & Saddle this weekend. The South Philly watering hole will be playing host to Northern Arms’s record release tonight for Chapel Cabaret. It’s a fitting title for the band’s new album, which feels, at times, holy and intimate, while sounding joyous and celebratory, at others. The sextet will most likely be joined by special guests on stage this evening to bring the record’s grandiose sound to fruition in a live setting. Northern Arms have invited psych-pop outfit HiSoft to open the festivities. The band is fronted by Gerhardt Koerner, who also lent his recording talents on the latest release.
And you may find yourself, once again, camped out in the beautiful sounding square box of a room the following evening, where The Lunar Year will also be holding their record release celebration. Led by Katie Burke’s mellifluous vocals, the band recently shared its beautiful, revealing, piano-driven full-length album Herodias. They’ll be supported by alt-folk crew Rosu Lup and the “bookish indie rock” of The Chairman Dances. – H.M. Kauffman
More places to spend your holiday-ish weekend…
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Northern Arms (Record Release Show), HiSoft, SAT The Lunar Year (Record Release Show), Rosu Lup, The Chairman Dances
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D. (Record Release Show), Northern Liberties, Curtis Cooper
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Crackhouse, Surgeon/DJ Tony Modica, SAT Narcos/DJ Royale/A Black Celebration: DJ Baby Berlin, DJ Jem, SUN KingTay
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SUN Joy Again, Bahdeavn
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Hound
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.)
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Montega Picasso, Maverick The Poet, Montana Blak, Gran Centennial
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Michele Lynn, SAT (Upstairs) Batiyah, El Gahnt, Saudah Al-Akbar/The Hype presents: Love Fest
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Tessellations, SAT Vanderlyle, John Dominy
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Desoto Jones, Bright and Early, Keeper, SAT Oolala. The Ardvark Felon, You Do You
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Man About a Horse (Album Release Show)/ The Bigness, The Upticks
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Secret Nudist Friends, Tannins
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Rich Medina, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SUN Autumn Passing
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Soraia, Tubey Frank, SUN Jus O
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Bamboo Tommy, Greenough Wilde
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Swift Technique, Lets Danza, Johnny Popcorn, SAT Splintered Sunlight, Whiskeyhickon Boys, SUN Splintered Sunlight, The Jawn
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Menace Cartel
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Clique, Weller, Tombo Crush
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Sublaymen, Hallowed Bells/The Magnificent Shit Hawks, Felipe Pupo, Manikineter, Planet 88, SAT Joshua Alvarez, Child Savage
NYC
Posted on:
Horse Jumper of Love triumphantly return to the Great Scott 7.12
Horse Jumper of Love: still slow, still sad, still one of Boston’s biggest bands. Since the release of their 2016 self-titled EP they’ve been riding on a steady stream of positive reviews and constant bookings. As a result, much has been said about them, described by Consequence of Sound as incorporating "tempo and tone unwavering, like controlled breathing." Aside from sing-a-long tracks such as "Ugly Brunette" and "Bagel Breath" from their EP, they’ve also released "Orange Peeler," a thoughtful, shoegaze-ing journey through the band’s early songwriting and consistent use of spacey-sounding feedback. Horse Jumper of Love is not going anywhere. They recently finished touring with Spencer Radcliffe and Everyone Else, and will play the Great Scott once again on July 12th.-Allie Miller
NYC
Posted on:
Secret Colours premieres single ‘Save Me,’ + celebrates LP release at Martyrs’ on 07.15
Friday July 7th, Chicago’s Secret Colours will be releasing their fourth album, titled Dream Dream. Drawing from British sounds (a clue indicated in their name) the band combines a diverse amount of indie, garage, pop, and psychedelia that makes their material energetic, progressive, yet nostalgic. Single “Save Me,” in particular, does just that; their tenth track on the album launches towards an atmosphere that feels much like classic rock, but then crosses over towards a spacier, indie pop sound with an intriguing shift between past and modern styles. Be sure to check out the upcoming LP, as well as a release show the following week in their hometown of Chicago, at Martyrs’, on July 15th. – Pearse Devlin
Portland
Posted on:
Cat-chella Presents Music for the Animals
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – Portland knows how to use music to benefit those in need. We see it all the time, bands and fans coming together for the benefit of marginalized communities and the socially necessary organizations that support them. Near all of these are for human aid, but finally there is one for the sake of the furry friends many of us love so much. Tonight at Black Water, the inaugural show for Cat-chella Presents is taking over.
A cute name-play on one of the most overrated festivals ever, Cat-chella is the answer animal lovers in the music scene have been waiting for. It’s a new series of shows directly dedicated to benefiting animal rescue efforts in Portland. Proceeds from this first show, with tickets running $5, are going to the nonprofit Animal Aid PDX, a no-kill cat and dog shelter located in Southwest Portland.
Tonight’s show will be one with a bit of post-punk and darkgaze, with sets from electro duo Darkswoon, shoegaze trance from Camino Acid, Anothernight‘s alt-folk and a blend of all the aforementioned from Vibrissae. Win varies prizes by participating in the Cat-chella raffle and be sure to grab something off Black Water’s menu. Eating vegan is encouraged.
Chicago
Posted on:
Ratboys @ Schubas tonight!
Ratboys will celebrate the release of their sophomore album GN tonight at Schubas with Mother Evergreen, Special Death, Sincere Enginer. In advance of the performance tonight the band has released a video for their single “Elvis in the Freezer”. You can stream and/or purchase the album below.
The band will also be performing on Audiotree Live and 1pm ct today, June 30th.
Chicago
Posted on:
Absolutely Not
Absolutely Not have released a new single, “Blood Money”, from their forthcoming fifth album Errors. The album will be released on July 28th via No Trend Records. You can preorder the album here.
You can catch Absolutely Not at Empty Bottle on July 29th.
NYC
Posted on:
Soft News to release EP of classical-infused Everything But the Girl covers
Soft News, the NYC alt-folk project of Erik Laroi, is releasing a four-song EP of Everything But the Girl covers entitled The Only Way Out is Down. The four covers dramatically reimagine the originals, stripping away the sophistipop masters’ electronic arrangement in favor of a chamber instrumentation. Cello and violins abound on this release, and the instrumentalists’ mastery of dynamics lends a contemplative, melancholy air to the songs. The Only Way Out is Down is out today.
Philadelphia
Posted on:
New Circadian Rhythms Album Available for Streaming & Download
Finally, A Peculiar Kind of Afternoon, the new album from Circadian Rhythms, is available online. So now, as the temperatures continue to rise, one can quench his/her need for refreshing melodies. Whimsical, strolling, diverse instrumentation precisely paces and illuminates the voyage. Refining the sonic edges without weighing the listener down in the process, the band latest release lifts one into a joyous daydream of possibility.
L.A.
Posted on:
The Deli LA Premieres: Gestures & Sounds, “Ass Over Tea Kettle”
Does music always have to be so serious? It’s sometimes frowned upon when musicians can carry a tune with a big ‘ol grin, as if there’s anything wrong when open-hearted sentiments are amplified with feral passion. The effusive folk-pop of four-piece Gestures & Sounds sure is lively, but its tunefulness is well-balanced and sensible. Their latest single, “Ass Over Tea Kettle,” is a piano-driven pop ditty that demonstrates a band who’s genuinely excited to be playing together, one that will bring people together on a live setting once that fierce guitar strumming segues into their spirited harmonies. The accompanying video also radiates with a colorful glow, a labor of love coming from four film majors who were involved in developing the promo cut from beginning to end. Things sure seem rather bleak out there in the world, but the beaming Gestures & Sounds have a united and resolute response to these trying times: sometimes it helps to just lighten up.
“Ass Over a Tea Kettle” is the first single off of the band’s debut album, Bill Nye Thinks We’re a Band, due out in September 15. – Juan Rodríguez
Philadelphia
Posted on:
New Track: “Learned Behavior” – Weekend Athlete
Gentle guitar gradually opens the hushed, semi-secretive recollections of “Learned Behavior” by Weekend Athlete. Counteracting the ache of vocals with harmony, the song unwinds as a subdued but smoldering guitar run gives way to the fading trail of voices. There’s a lingering resonance of proximity with an underlying identity of isolation.
NYC
Posted on:
Field Mouse talks about pedals on Delicious Audio
Philly and NYC-based Field Mouse have been known for their dreamy, shoegazey tunes, but while their hook filled songwriting is still on full display on their latest album, "Episodic," the five-piece’s sound has evolved in a punchier direction, which is a bit more barefaced, and less shrouded by layers of fuzz and reverb. Our sister blog Delicious Audio recently spoke to the band about the tonal shift, and what kind of gear goes into the making of their music – check out the link below!
Q&A with Field Mouse about pedals and the creative process.