Hiccup is a three-piece bubble grunge outfit that – if they weren’t based in space-deprived NYC – would surely sleep in blanket forts in a garage (and eat ice cream for breakfast). Their music would fit perfectly on a mix tape with Charlie Bliss and early Best Coast, and takes us back to that blissful window of our lives when eighth grade summer break was about to end and we procrastinated mowing the lawn by roller blading down that hill one more time. Guitarist Alex Knudson’s Morrissey-esque vocals trade off and harmonize with bassist Hallie Bulleit’s soprano, producing a pleasantly complementary vocal palette. Single "Dad Jokes" (video streaming below) reveals a band that knows how to write songs that go beyond your typical pop-punk power chord fueled tunes, which is a treat for the musically discerning ear. Catch them live at Baby’s Allright on Dec. 28th. – Meghan Rose
New Music Video: “Call Me Cool” – Very Bad Vibes
“Call Me Cool” is the latest single from Sam Huntington, a.k.a. Very Bad Vibes (formerly of The Original Crooks and Nannies). Its accompanying video, directed by Devon Voelkel, is segmented into contextualized fragments of self-absorption and the resulting ramifications. Centralized on phone use as an object/action of consequence, the song is a pop-oriented, low-end heavy commentary. Demonstrating destructive behavior in playful plot twists, you may think twice the next time the phone rings.
Sángo Drops New Short Film “South End”
Of all the places in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle finds itself home to great producers and hip-hop. One of the main proprietors of such is Sángo, who has been making some of the funkiest beats for almost two decades. He’s got a whole new album’s worth of tracks coming to us, titled In the Comfort Of, but in the meantime, he’s dropped a different type of art piece – a short film.
Set to the tune of "One More Thing," one of the songs off of In the Comfort Of, South End is a home-based project, artistically looking at the youth living in South End, Seattle. The film is centered around how everyone needs to do what they can to protect the youth out there from any harm.
"They have a future ahead of them, and it’s important we highlight that," says Sángo. "We have to make sure we uplift them, even when they don’t want to accept the reality of growing up. South End forever."
Watch South End below, and keep an ear out for In the Comfort Of.
Hot Lips – “Limelight” Video Premiere!
This Toronto band has a very unique set up. Hot Lips is a 3 piece rock n roll outfit with bass, drums and synth. Similar to popular 2 piece bass and drum bands like DFA or Royal Blood except they add some wild synth and female vocals over top to give a most interesting sound. Often compared to a crossover between Nine Inch Nails and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. The Deli is pleased to premiere their brand new video for “Limelight”. It’s a rippin’ tune guaranteed to make ya sweat just like the members of the band in the video. They will be celebrating the release of this video on Saturday December 9th at Junction City Music Hall alongside Menage, Micopanik and Honey Beard. Advance tickets available here. – Kris Gies
Glitterer performs synthy bedroom pop at Alphaville 12.11
Though Glitterer has only performed a handful of shows since appearing on the scene in August, you may already be familiar with the project’s mastermind, Ned Russin, from his role as vocalist/bassist in Title Fight. That being said, Glitterer bares little, if any, resemblance to the Kingston, Pennsylvania band’s emo-tinged punk. This solo project leans heavily on keyboards and drum machines, brevity and simplicity. You can catch Glitterer at Alphaville on December 11th. – Cameron Carr
New Track: “Your Name” – Borzoi Boy
Borzoi Boy, a.k.a. Alexandra Gordon, has a new EP out, entitled Bad At Math. Among the six-song set of lo-fi, bedroom-pop ditties, you’ll find album standout “Your Name”. Uniting minimalistic keys and percussion in a gentle, twisting flashback, the playful, daydreaming instrumentation counters the dull ache of a desire to go back to a point in the past. We learn to move forward, yet the pangs of heartbreak still linger in the present.
Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue plays C’mon Everybody 12.07, releases debut EP in January
Those partial to the slow-jam sounds of The Weather Channel’s past and layered vocal harmonies a la Freddie will find solace in the music of Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue, the newest project of Eric "Doc" Mendelsohn, formerly of Ghost Beach. Mendelsohn’s brought his funk to tour with bands like Imagine Dragons and Walk The Moon; now, he’s landed it in the studio, where he forged Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue’s eponymous debut EP, out on January 5th. To promote the record, the Revue will play C’mon Everybody on Thursday 12/7 along with Sam O B and Pilot Violet. For a taste of their salacious sound, check out the groovy first single "I Stand Corrected", below. – Will Sisskind
Free jazz outfit Sudden Duo release compelling debut album “Frontier”
Sudden Duo, a Boston based free jazz/experimental project, is a collaboration between Dylan Sherry on saxophones and electronics and Chris Southiere on drums. The duo’s debut album Frontier is a minimal and abstract approach jazz, with little to no harmonic accompaniment to Sherry’s lone horn. The “freedom” of Frontier is refreshing; the inherent confines of harmonic chord structures are nonexistent, which allows Sherry and Southiere to have a healthy and honest pursuit towards both everything and nothing, and whatever is in between. Frontier, in all of it’s imaginative and compelling space, is like listening to the great Albert Ayler sit in on a Sun Ra drum track. -Charley Ruddell
Synthpop duo Tmboy (ex Tomboy) returns to Mercury on 01.12
Tmboy (ex Tomboy) is the electronic duo of Sarah Aument and Will Shore and their music should tickle the curiosity of fans of Sylvan Esso. While Sarah paints rolling hills of stars with her keyboard stacks, Will mans the beat machine while also filling out the sound on a real vibraphone. Soulful and genuine, Sarah’s vocals are reminiscent of an intriguing blend of Chvrches and Bjork, with lyrics way above the average for what sounds like moody party music.
Their next show is a late night party at Mercury Lounge, starting at midnight on Friday, January 12th. Also performing: Novelty Daughter, Akki, No Intimate, R.E.L. Check out tense and edgy single "Roll Out" from their 2014 debut LP "Tomboy." – Meghan Rose
New Music Video: “Before” – The Morelings
The Morelings recently released a new video for “Before,” which is featured on their debut full-length Same Century (Mostly Venus Records/Custom Made Music). Enchanting vocals, meshed with a percussive push and an ominous, foreboding undercurrent, shape the atmospherics. When that spellbinding music combines with the fragmented, glitchy, VHS visual filter, the final outcome shimmers, and the song’s full effect is realized. The video (which was directed/edited by Shane Gallagher) will surely get you into the mood for Excursions in Light, a new music, visual, and design showcase, taking place this Saturday, December 9 at PhilaMOCA, where The Morelings will be joined by Hidden Lights, The Silence Kit, and Dead Leaf Echo. (Photo by Bob Sweeney)
New Sleepy Freak/Greg Mendez Split EP Available for Streaming & Download
Sleepy Freak, a.k.a. Kate Lord, and Greg Mendez have issued a new split release. Guided by acoustic strums, Mendez’s tranquil, melodic narratives blanket one in steady, harmonic reassurance. Meanwhile, Sleepy Freak’s selection of tracks establishes an emotive core, while measured vocals provides accessible, penetrating imagery that lays akin to fellow Philadelphian Kississippi. Presented by Home Outgrown, Mendez is slated on a bill at Hole Foods on Wednesday, January 31 that will also include Marigold and Major Pursuit.
Calamity the Kid stress our generational divides on “American Muscle”
Calamity the Kid are proud of where they come from on "American Muscle." But the indie rock trio does address how this current generational shift has had to pay for their elders’ immorality, a defiant outcry that a good portion of our population could perceive as, well, unamerican. "Well you’re lucky if you just survive / get arrested and you don’t know why / shot down by cops in doubles," summons singer-guitarist, Sam Doniger, as a fuzz-tinged guitar taints an otherwise modern pop sheen. He’s simply telling it like it is, and there’s no double standard that could ever disprove the song’s message.
"American Muscle" is the first single off of Calamity the Kid’s debut EP, Late Bloomer," which is out on February 2. You can also watch them perform at The Mint on January 8. Juan Rodríguez