Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, June 2 – 4

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Sometimes in the midst of the external consuming chaos, one can tap into music as a means of temporary solace. Tonight’s show at Union Transfer provides such an outlet. In celebration of Tired Hands Brewing fifth anniversary, an evening of heady heaviness is on tap. Nothing provides soothing, cloudy melodies, while the grimy, backend rumble punishes in space-clearing fashion and the scorch of guitar engulfs one’s mind. They’ll bridge the divide between the ever-abundant, riff-laced, Arkansas quartet, known as Pallbearer, and the finely-threaded, menacing mayhem of Baroness.

This Saturday, across three stages, Festival Pier hosts the tenth annual Roots Picnic. Along with the event’s namesakes – the legendary Roots crew, the star-studded lineup includes the likes of Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Thundercat, Solange, Noname, etc., while Tunji Ige and PNB Rock reinforce the local link.

Rather than slowing down, the duo of Kevin Nickles and Daniel Provenzano, otherwise characterized as The Writhing Squares, steps into Johnny Brenda’s for a genre-melding, space-boogieing sojourn, with psych-blues trio Fully Glazed setting the table. In support of their new record Vibe Killer (recently released via No Quarter), the snarly, boozy blues-psych of Endless Boogie brings it home. – Michael Colavita

Other places to find solace this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Levee Drivers, Tutlie, Commonwealth Choir, SUN Writhing Squares, Fully Glazed
 
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT The Magnificent Seven, Lower Wolves
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Outer Heaven, Hell To Pay/DJ Deejay, SAT Ecstatic Vision/A Black Celebration, SUN Thorazine, The LOT, The Injections/Gondola, The 1910 Chainsaw Company
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Cold Fronts
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Tweed, Mike Greenfield, The Space Cats
 
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Baroness, Nothing
 
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Adventure Lost (Album Release), The Evergreen Drive, Medusa’s Disco
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Creem Circus, Mach22, SAT In The Presence of Wolves
 
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Vikter Duplaix
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Tioga, SAT (Upstairs) Matt Wheeler           
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Elissa Janelle Velveteen, Bern & The Bastards
Teef, SAT Pray To Keep, Shinobi/Moros
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Chvnce, SAT Cold Climb, Weller, The Sixties, SUN Henri Tyler, S. Taylor, Essonite
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Tinmouth (Record Release), Secret Nudist Friends, Family Volleyball, SAT Needle Points, Throbbing Chakra
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Dav + Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Joey Sweeney and the Neon Grease
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Sweet FA, Duffy’s Cut
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Sheena & Thee Nosebleeds
 
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beat Street, SAT Menace Cartel
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Afro Bear, Tom’s Attic, P-Rents, The Grundles, SAT Whackbat, Somethin’ Divine, Wolf Accent, Christine Irizarry
 
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI The Parameters, SAT The Newspaper Taxis, Bird Watcher, SUN Beranger For Mark Watson: The Whiskeyhickon Boys, Catullus, Tweed, Swift Technique, Circadian Rhythms, Steal Your Peach
 
Festival Pier (601 N. Columbus Blvd.) SAT Roots Picnic: The Roots, Black Thought, PnB Rock, Tunji Ige, Anthony Somebody
 
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Slingshot Dakota, Petal, Grayling
 
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) SAT The Orange Drop, Pube
 
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Joe Jack Talcum, On The Water, Bern The Bastard, Sean Patrick
 
NYC

Bicoastal project Drinker gets love from Buzzband.la + plays Cape House on 06.30

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Being the first to blog about a talented emerging artist is the single most fulfilling thing for any music critic (only second to seeing that artist become huge!), and that’s what The Deli is all about. Buzzbands.la does a lot of breaking new bands too, and we are more than happy to point you in their direction for what is, in all likelihood, the first review for bicostal synth-pop band Drinker, the recording project of singer / songwriter Aaron Mendelsohn and producer/composer Ariel Loh. The fact that reputable NYC show organizers Pop Gun booked them for a show at Cape House in Brooklyn on June 30th comes as a further proof that this act has potential. Check out below the only single currently available for streaming, the melancholic synthetic ballad ‘Which Way Is South.’

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

NYC

Friend Roulette announces new EP, releases lead single “Joan”

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Brooklyn’s avant-pop band Friend Roulette has released a lead single, "Joan," ahead of its forthcoming EP, The Matt Sheffer Songbook, Vol. 1. In a departure from the band’s previous releases, Songbook is a series of covers originally written a decade ago by a friend of the band, songwriter Matt Sheffer. "Joan" is a strong indication of the band’s ability to create something that’s greater than the sum of its parts – Friend Roulette’s proclivity toward lush textures perfectly compliments Sheffer’s Brian Wilson-esque compositional prowess. Listen to the single below, and keep an eye out for The Matt Sheffer Songbook Vol. 1, out June 16th. – Ethan Ames

NYC

Rips celebrate debut LP release at Baby’s All Right on 07.01

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Brooklyn rockers Rips made a name for themselves in the local scene with the sheer number of shows they’ve played since forming in 2013, and a sound that blends rawness and melody. Their debut, self-titled LP took a while to take shape but is finally being released this summer. In their preview single “Malibu Entropy” (streaming below,) they maintain the fuzzy, punhcy sound and casual attitude of garage rock, while adopting dreamy melodies and guitar progressions reminiscent of fellow Brooklynites Real Estate. The record release party will be hosted at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on July 1st at 8 pm. – Lilly Milman

 

NYC

Q&A with Connecticut Punks The Oddbodies

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The Oddbodies are an alternative punk band from Connecticut that makes dirty, distorted, guitar-heavy punk songs with an indie rock twist. At their highest intensity, they sound similar to ’90s grunge classics like Soundgarden, while their more relaxed numbers prove reminiscent of alternative rock staples like Wavves. Hailing from New Haven, the outfit has found a way to stay inspired and active in relatively quiet surroundings. The Deli sat down with this underdog group to chat and get their full scoop. Read the Q&A here!

NYC

Charly Bliss unveil video for ‘Percolator’ + leave for small tour

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New York’s "bubblegrunge" sensation Charly Bliss are climbing our local charts for emerging artists and will soon embark in a small New England/Upstate NY tour. Their new LP, Guppy, is a series of tightly-composed indie-pop romps that are at once lyrically gruesome and disarmingly sensitive. In addition to their impasssioned musicianship, the band’s sense of humor shines brilliantly through in the video for "Ruby," an absurdist take on public access/infomercial television that will appeal to fans of Tim and Eric. Check it out below, together with their latest one for single ‘Percolator’! – Ethan Ames

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Sad Boy” – Deer Scout

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Directed by Haftom Khasai and Nick Morgan, Dena Miller, a.k.a. Deer Scout, recently shared a new music video for “Sad Boy”. The song instantly adheres as keys, bass and percussion unite in a bright infectious bounce, while lyrically providing a personal point of view that exhibits self-assurance and confidence. A neon glow mirrored by Miller’s blue lipstick and video game backdrop permeates throughout. With commentary on the varied perceptions of vulnerability, the track aims, and hits directly.

NYC

Bangladeafy unveil their bass pedalboard on Delicious Audio

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If you understand music from a technical and creative angle, Brooklyn/Long Island duo Bangladeafy will, in all likelihood, blow your mind. We praised them enough already in this very blog blog (they placed 2nd in our Best of NYC 2017 Yearly Poll for emerging artists, and their 2016 album ‘Narcopaloma’ was our NYC Record of the Month in September of 2016). 

If you don’t know them yet, enjoy this little example of their instrumental prowess, and if you are into pedals, don’t miss this piece on Delicious Audio.

NYC

From the digital submissions: Humble Digs releases feel-good folk EP “A Love Song”

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Amherst-based Humble Digs describe themselves as “a non-stop feel-good machine.” This is definitely true for their EP A Love Song, where they marry folk rock with psychedelic undertones. The band is unapologetically easy-listening, crafting songs with soft vocals and often jazzy instrumentals (especially in songs like “Better Game,” which has a substantial intro before any vocals come in). After a brief stay at Disc Jam Music Festival in Stephentown, NY, they will be returning to New England to play at the Radio Bean in VT on July 22nd.-Lily Milman

 

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s June Record of the Month: Rocket – (Sandy) Alex G

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Beyond the glow of a blue screen, a new world comes into view, a space unbound from the material conventions of health and wealth – one’s knowledge and technical prowess act as the key to foraging for content. Free from the traditional constraints that have plagued musicians for decades, there is more room available for experimentation, for tooling around with parts until a flash of understanding allows oneself to arrive at new avenues for conveying one’s art. Software is increasingly accessible and powerful, while platforms such as Bandcamp and Soundcloud allow artists to self-publish and organically develop a following. Alex Giannascoli, the 24-year-old Philly recording artist behind the moniker (Sandy) Alex G, is a prime example of what can be accomplished when making music and making it available is placed in the hands of the artist. Over the past 6 years, Giannascoli has gone from bedroom-pop aficionado to indie-rock sensation, recently releasing his latest album, Rocket, via Domino Records.

The record exhibits a rare sophistication in arrangement, hosting a range of compositions that span from sunny bluegrass and folk ballads to more challenging songs that pummel the listener under a heavy sonic fist. “Horse” and “Brick” hit fast, and play into one another, an off-kilter rhythmic barrage of kaleidoscopic guitars that fold into an industrial head-bobber complete with frantically swirling strings and screaming. This moment of intense catharsis is cut cleanly with piano and auto-tuned vocals, leading eager listeners by the hand in an act of assurance and faith in the album’s direction. Tracks such as “County” and “Guilty” incorporate jazz modalities that are woven in with lush, pop palettes, showcasing his sensibility for meshing a variety of influences into one clean package. “Bobby” and “Proud” open up the space of the record to work in endearing Americana and elements of country, demonstrating his seemingly effortless mastery of melody.

Taken under a microscope, Rocket is composed of a host of genres, yet from start to finish it eludes classification. An understanding of the principles respective to each style at play grants Alex the ability to draw from the wealth of Western guitar-pop to occupy a territory unique to the project, a space that is respectful of his predecessors while making a statement that is characteristically his own. – Josh Kelly

Philadelphia

New Track: “Over and Over” – The Stammer

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In advance of their forthcoming album Face In Peril, The Stammer released a fresh single, “Over and Over”. Rather than meandering in the melancholy of infidelity and a subsequent breakup, the track offers an upbeat opportunity to get loose. Semi-spoken/sung lyrics reconcile with the past as a means to move forward. It’s an energetic jolt, resetting the emotive system. The Stammer are slated to perform on Wednesday, June 21 at The Pharmacy, on a billing that also includes Talk Louder!, Happy Abandon, and Fluorescence.

NYC

Baltimore alt-dance rockers The Milestones drop a couple demo tracks

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Those talented rockers from Baltimore are back with a couple demo tracks in advance of an unannounced EP. The Milestones released "City of Soul" and "Have It All," working to hone the in-studio sound and tame the oft-wild and varied live versions. It’s definitely working: the quartet’s signature is to shift abruptly yet seamlessly from spacey, soothing melodies into hard licks that get audiences everywhere dancing. Both songs are richly layered with well-produced vocals, energetic drumming, and consistently dynamic guitar riffs, mind-blowing when taken holistically for the variety. Get excited for that EP to come out in the hopefully near future and catch them headlining at the 8×10 on 7/1, $12, with Luna June, Pocket Bells, The Fun Boys, and Far Future. -Jonathan Goodwin