New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Despite only releasing a handful of songs in 2017, Jessica Viscius’ Bunny has to be one of my favorite band’s on the year. With the release of their debut EP, Sucker, the band established their own melancholy take on ’90’s grunge.
You can catch Bunny @ Schubas on January 19th with Baltimore’s Snail Mail, Stef Chura, Ratboys, and Lomelda.
The Gloomies just capped off a couple of West Coast dates, which does bode well for the potentiality of new material around the corner. But in the meantime, the indie-pop duo set their sights on the new year with a chilly turn to escapism in the form of new single "Space." Joined by Madeline Follis of Cults, the seraphic track incorporates a hazy swirl of electronic textures that paint the sky like a soft oil canves. Its delicate musical composition inspires one to quell the stress during these cold, wintry months.
"Space" is out now on all streaming platforms. Juan Rodríguez
“Toes” serves as the first single from garage-psych trio Slomo Sapiens‘ forthcoming EP Hot Milk. Directed by Matt Lesko, its video is a trippy, mad experiment gone right. Balancing the backend thump with fiery guitar tangents, the song remains heavy with a playful disposition. That duality makes the Hot Milk EP something to look forward.
If you’ve already cycled through your usual list of New Year’s resolutions and none of them seem worthwhile, then you’ve come to the right place. The Deli SF has the perfect idea for what to change in 2018: go to more local shows! Thankfully, the monthly Milk Was A Bad Choice showcase is giving you the perfect place to start, with a lineup that cannot be missed!
The January installation of MWABC will feature the R&B-infused pop of Sacramento’s So Much Light, who recently released the whimsical, electronic-heavy LP Oh, Yuck. There will also be performances by SF locals Le VICE, a truly one-of-a-kind act that creates an eclectic mix of hip-hop, pop, and soul. Bassist and songwriter Alex Szotak, who has previously worked with other favorites BOSCO and Soft Glas, will also be making his live debut. – Lilly Milman
Make sure to start the year off right by stopping by the Milk Bar on January 3rd, and until then, stream one of Le VICE’s past live performances below.
NYC hardcore is alive and well if it can produce bands as ferocious and tight as Brooklyn’s Closer, who are readying the release of their debut album "All This Will Be." Featuring members of Real Life Buildings, the trio has recently unveiled this video for single "Gift Shop," which reveals drummer vocalist Ryann Slauson’s screaming talent and a group of skilled musicians who, within the format’s overall preference for aggression and depair, are not indifferent to dynamic changes and sonic variety. See them live (with earplugs) at their NYC release party on Jaunary 19th at Silent Barn.
Brooklyn-based quartet High Waisted is a fierce garage pop band that dwells in sunshine surf vibes. Though they draw from the sound of the mid-’60s, the four musicians are fearless in their determination to put their own quirky spin on each one of their tunes. The band is fronted by the formidable Jessica Louise Dye, who recently talked to our sister blog Delicious Audio about the High Waisted’s latest release, and what she’s currently using to coax the wildest sounds out of her gear. Read the Q&A here. Check out their latest video for single "Firebomb," streaming below.
Featured on Spirits (Creep Records), a video for Julia Rainer‘s “Blood Run” has freshly emerged. Directed by Alex Blaszczuk, the imagery is stripped down to its cathartic core. Clearing one’s mind by walking amongst the trees and embracing the sun, a calm washes over you. Or is it just the blood?
Despite one’s best efforts, everything isn’t always bright and bubbly; in contrast, it can be quite the opposite. Rather than avoiding the chaotic darkness, Lunacy‘s new EP, Disposition, invites you to steer directly into it. Released via Black Verb Records, Mental Healing and Funeral Party Records, the release engulfs the listener in a cloud of ominous, futuristic ambience. Succumb to the swirling haunt of uncertainty.
Jamil Rashad AKA Boulevards has two releases to his credit, including last year’s dance-laden breakout album, Groove!. Riding a wave of momentum, Boulevards has made a quick return with the recently released Hurt Town, a high-energy, funkadelic album that features Neon Indian, Laura Reed, and more. Hurt Town evokes the sexualized R&B sounds of Prince, Rick James, and Earth, Wind & Fire, all injected with renewed youthful vigor. Rashad is the breath of fresh funky air that music needs, and with Hurt Town released on December 8th, he’s looking to close out 2017 with a soulful bang.
After listening to your new album Hurt Town, I have one question for you…Who was she? And how bad did she hurt you?
[Laughs] It wasn’t just one girl, it was other relationships in the past as well and just things I’ve been holding onto for a long time. There was a lot of emotional conflict in myself and pain and anger that I was holding onto. I just thought, ‘I gotta get this stuff out man.’ This needs to be an emo and funk record. This needs to be emotional funk! When I would listen to my favorite artists like the SOS Band, Chic, Rick James, or Prince – they were able to mask a lot of emotional tracks behind upbeat funky jams. That’s what I wanted to be able to do with this record.
So making Hurt Town was therapeutic for you?
Yes, I worked really hard on the record. It was an up and down rollercoaster with the entire process. There was a point that I wasn’t going to put it out and some of my family and closest friends kept telling me, ‘You gotta put this body of work out bro! This is some of the best stuff you’ve done’. And now it’s happening!
How did you link up with Alan Palomo of Neon Indian for the album?
A couple years ago I was drunk in a bar in Brooklyn, and Alan was there and drunk too, and I walked up to him and was like, ‘Aren’t you Neon Indian?’ and he said, ‘yeah.’ We talked about doing a collab and he thought it would be dope. I was touring with King Gizzard and Mild High Club in Australia and sent him some tracks and he dug them and then was able to contribute to “Nu Burn Ave.” So it worked out well.
I saw you at SXSW but a mini-hurricane hit before you performed, and you still went on. What happened there?
That was crazy! I think I did four songs and they cut my set to 15 minutes. I just did pedal to the metal funk and the crowd dug it. It was dope, just quick and painless.
Was touring off your first record Groove! the first time you toured the country?
Yes it was the first time. I played New York, went overseas and started playing festivals. I used to be a roadie in some friends’ bands but this was the first time people came to see me play.
A lot of people get burnt out by partying too much on tour and not taking care of themselves. How do you find a balance on the road?
Well, I found a balance. I had a lot of life changing experiences on the road because I’m actually getting into recovery now. I run a lot and take care of my body and plan on going on the road and being clean next time.
Did you have a bottom that changed things?
I saw the person I was becoming and I didn’t like that person. When I was living in New York, my relationships with my family, friends and women just faltered. You get tired of apologizing all of the time. It gets exhausting and depressing. I didn’t like who I was becoming and I wanted to find happiness and peace. I needed to find a balance. I couldn’t do all this stuff, if I wanted to have a successful career. I was on tour with Tuxedo and Mayer Hawthorne – that was my bottom – I was wild n’ out onstage and not performing to the best of my ability. I was tired of it. I want to be able to do music 1000%. I want to be a successful musician, son, brother, friend, and partner. I couldn’t do that partying and drinking and just couldn’t do it anymore, so I had to make some changes. It feels good, it’s been five months, and it’s been the happiest five months of my life.
Musicians tend to glorify partying and it would be nice if a few would tell the truth. You know what I mean?
That’s another part of it. I was obsessed with Rick James, he’s like my favorite artist. I was obsessed with that lifestyle and thought that’s who I wanted to become. I realized that that’s not who I want to become. I saw how I was treating my body. Rick James is a mastermind genius but that’s not how I want to go out. I’m in this for the long haul you know, I want longevity in this. Even if not for the music, I want this for myself.
How big of a role does running play in your sobriety and life?
Running is big man. I’ve been running since I was 12 years old. I ran competitively in college, high school- and middle school. Now that I’m in recovery it keeps me focused and I also meditate. It’s better without a coach yelling at you to go to practice, I can start doing it for myself. I can be one with Mother Nature and just have fun.
Where did your fashion influence come from?
My dad while growing up. Jazz artist and funk artists in NYC in the late 70’s. My dad was a radio DJ so I got to see a lot of funk heads and jazz heads and they’re just cool. I like keeping things classic and timeless.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
Chic, Daft Punk, Pharrell, and Thunder Cat would be tight. Chromeo would be dope as well.
We’ve been keeping an eye (and a couple of ears) on Mothica for a few years now, and the NYC (via Oklahmoa City) electronic artist has been able to confirm her talent also in 2017, with a new EP that takes her soulful synthpop in edgier directions. She has also been keeping a regular live show schedule, something many "web famous" electronic artists aren’t able to pull off. Music fans will have a chance to see her live at Elsewhere on January 28th.
The power trio of The Retinas recently shared a new song, “Necklace Stone”, which was recorded & mixed by Keith Abrams (Pine Barons, The Districts), to close out the year. Levelheaded vocals create a sense of calm, swaying seas, counterbalanced by the choppy grit of pace-establishing backend and escalating guitar. That steady build reaches unexpected heights in short order. Its sock-puppet video (with accompanying feline) playfully circles the globe.
Mind Monogram take a fanciful trip into a lysergic wonderland on "Hedberg." The psych-rock four-piece envelops their grand throwback sound with free jazz embellishments that give the track a true sense of freedom. An ode to idiosyncratic late-comedian Mike Hedberg, "Hedberg" untangles into a beautifully melodic and layered production that keep its tuneful hooks grounded in experimentation.
"Hedberg" is the second single off of Mind Monogram’s forthcoming full-length, Ivory Hall, which is out in early 2018. Juan Rodríguez
