NYC

Psych rockers Blac Rabbit play Union Pool on 07.30

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This Sunday night (July 30th), Rockaway based band Blac Rabbit will be bringing their vintage psych-rock tunes to Brooklyn’s Union Pool alongside Brooklyn fellows Taphari and Elbows. With their 2016 self-titled album, including six minute opener “Mind Space,” the band has drawn comparisons to Temples, MGMT, The Beatles, and Tame Impala. Check out our favorite track, the droney and ’60s inspired "All Good," streaming below. – Pearse Devlin

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Homme” (Feat. Benny Sings) – Instupendo

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The fragile sadness of Instupendo’s “Homme” (featuring Benny Sings) is reinforced by the graceful black & white imagery of its video. Director James Rönkkö captures natural beauty and love, while demonstrating the existential crisis of heartache and loss. And while the song’s delicate tone suggests an in the moment appreciation, the music video’s narrative dramatically reflects.

Toronto

ARON D’ALESIO – “DIAMOND RING” MUSIC VIDEO

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Frontman for Hamilton indie trio Young Rival, Aron D’alesio is set to release his debut solo record on August 25th on Paper Bag Records. Young Rival always has interesting music videos so I was excited to see what D’alesio would come up with for the first solo single “Diamond Ring”. This video is actually very in line with the themes of the song as it follows a seemingly lonely man around town in cold weather as he reflects on perhaps some love gone wrong…but one woman’s past could lead to a new woman’s future as we see at the end – loneliness can be cured. The track is a great indie-garage-pop tune with beautiful harmonies and jangly guitar work soaked in reverb. Expect some release party announcements very soon. – Kris Gies

 

NYC

Yusuf Siddiquee brings Dance Rock to Pianos 08.06

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On Sunday, August 6th, Yusuf Siddiquee will be performing at Pianos alongside Franklin Echoes, The Switch, and Moxa. Siddiquee is a Brooklyn-based DIY artist who combines dance, synth, and alternative aspects into his music, particularly in his most recent project, Softee, an EP released back in January. The synth-pop EP possesses plentiful synth layers, pop vocals and dance-driven beats. The opening song, “Honest”, particularly hits the nail on the head, with friendly vocals over electro-pop instrumentation that sound like something that would fit perfectly in a FIFA soundtrack. The EP abounds with other influences, however. The closing song “Maja” starts out sounding like a pop beat, but shifts entirely towards a dance-rock vibe of something like LCD Soundsystem. By combining electronic piano & his familiar dance-driven beat with a distorted guitar and soothing vocals, it becomes clear that the song, along with the project as a whole, is a very cool, modern-day combination of new wave, pop, and alternative. You can check out Yusuf Siddiquee’s performance at Pianos at 10 PM. – Pearse Devlin

NYC

Silent Pictures co-headlines at Bottom of the Hill 07.28

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Bay-area psych quartet Silent Pictures will co-headline a show at Bottom of the Hill on July 28th, alongside United Ghosts and Breaking Lights. On their 2016 full-length release, Let It Begin, Silent Pictures weaves a melancholic tapestry of minor-key disillusionment. The band blends elements of Brit-pop, punk and new wave into a polished and impressive display of musicianship and cerebral songwriting sensibility. –Ethan Ames

NYC

Sad Baxter’s ‘Weirdy’ LP + tour with show at The East Room 8.4

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Nashville duo Sad Baxter has come a long way since their debut EP release in 2015. While the EP (recorded live on an 8-track tape machine) showed their penchant for fast-paced grunge, their full-length LP, Weirdyproves that none of the messy, lovable aspects of their music are lost in production. In Weirdy, their guitars are even louder, their energy palpable, but their harmonies are refined (specifically seen in “The Big One,” which is featured on both projects). Sad Baxter is currently on tour, with a stop in their hometown of Nashville on August 4th at The East Room. –Lilly Milman, photograph by Caroline Bowman

Listen to our favorite track, “The Drip” streaming below. 

L.A.

Chrystyna Marie brings the grungy blues to Lucky Strike on 7/27

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Like most versatile performers, singer-songwriter Chrystyna Marie has dabbled with different aspects of entertainment with steely determination. But music will always be what fires up her creativity. And through her own means, Marie has assembled a vast array of studio players for her upcoming EP, entitled Life, which takes on the rawer side of blues with a dollop of country charm. Lead single "I Want That Boom Boom" is as straightforward as they come, but also effective, a visceral slab of squealing guitars that offers no apologies.

Marie is celebrating Life with a release party at Lucky Strike on July 27.

 

 

 

NYC

From the digital submissions: Jack Labbe’s tender Americana

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When it comes to the New England Americana of Jack Labbe, there is a lot more than meets the eye. For example, his newest release, How to Behave Around Horses, comes with footnotes that, quite literally, teach you about horse etiquette. Meanwhile, his lyrics focus on past relationships. When combined, these two themes work well together, providing a unique approach to future relationships. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Paris Parks at Bennington College (where Labbe himself attends) the production of this EP is masterful—it’s intimate, warm, tender. Listening to this EP is like being in a room with Labbe; no background noise, no outside forces, just the serene picking of his guitar. – Lilly Milman

Listen to our favorite track "Plastic Rose" streaming below.

Philadelphia

New Track: “DJ (Natural Sciences Jam)” – Grant Pavol

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Grant Pavol just released his debut EP Important Videos. Its introductory cut, “DJ (Natural Sciences Jam)," jumps from an oddly intense scenario into the rambunctious bounce of rhythmic power chords. The straight-ahead, momentous climb of the vocals cruises into a valley, before the guitar sprints toward the song’s peak, dissolving with exhaustion.

NYC

Old Table wants to save the environment and make rock music

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Old Table may be the most charming punk band from Tuckahoe, New York. They may also be the only band from Tuckahoe, New York. Despite that, the music coming from this Tri-State Area group is no less charming from their lack of peers. Their accessible, folk-rock-tinged songs strongly recall the friendly sounds of The Beets and The Lentils. Despite their domestic name and homely-DIY style, Old Table shouldn’t be mistaken for a band playing it safe. Recent single, "Co-Own and Operate Your Locate Supermaket NOW!," is a politically-charged yet catchy folk song that brings a welcome appreciation for twee punk and classic protest music. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also backed by almost 10 years of even more experimental releases. You may now just be meeting Old Table, but you should see them as a childhood friend, ready to sit you down for dinner and give you some well-meaning, weird advice. Listen to their single below. -Allie Miller

NYC

88 Palms brings noir disco to Bowery Electric tomorrow (07.27)

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Step into the synth-pop fueled disco of 88 Palms, a group that seduces through glamourous imagery and vintage electronic sounds. The duo released single “Bright Lights” last year, a groovy and smooth track born to be played in vintage looking, semi-lit nightclubs. Featuring lingering synth arpeggios, rigorous electronic drums and the sophisticated, semi-whispered soulful vocals of RIA, the track is accompanied by a sensual video (streaming below) that portrays, in slo-mo, a party for two in an empty NYC discotheque. Catch 88 Palms at Bowery Electric tomorrow (07.27), and watch the video for "Bright Lights" below. – Tafari Lemma