L.A.

BOYO releases new single “A Social Death By Proximity (Los Feliz)”, new album out 1/19

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On BOYO’s first full-length ‘Control,’ Robert Tilden and his bandmates explored the trippy eccentricities of indie rock with pop songs that were slightly deformed in character. Endowed with a clever title that immediately reminded me of this Associates gem, "A Social Death By Proximity (Los Feliz)" is a fitting continuation of Tilden’s anxiety-ridden explorations, keeping his inner chaos under control as a warm blanket of reverberated guitars mount into a surging chorus.

"A Social Death By Proximity (Los Feliz)" is the latest single off of BOYO’s forthcoming LP, Me Again, which is out on January 19 via Danger Collective Records. Tilden will be celebrating the release with an all ages release show at the Bootleg Theater on January 25. Juan Rodríguez

NYC

Punk rock group QWAM releases debut LP “Feed Me” at The Knit on 01.24

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Walking the line between punk and alt rock, Brooklyn’s QWAM delivers generous doses of anthemic energy in their debut EP "Feed Me" (a title that surely resonates with most emerging musician in the city). The record was born and raised in Brooklyn, and recorded at legendary Studio G in Greenpint by Jack Counce. You can catch the band’s driving guitars, frenetic drums, and snarling vocals from lead singer Felicia Lobo at The Knitting Factory on January 24th, during which they’ll be celebrating the record’s release.

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, January 5 – 7

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Hauntingly exhilarating, FUNeral, the freshly released EP from Madalean Gauze, sits between layers of secluded strangeness and playful enjoyment. Twisting traditional storytelling with a fantasy-laced vibe, the album may catch you off guard in a pleasant, surprising fashion; taking on cinematic undertones, the plot quickly turns. Tonight’s EP release show at Boot & Saddle will benefit Valley Youth House, a Lehigh Valley organization that ensures vulnerable, abused, and homeless youths in the community access to shelter and counseling, and features support from a trio of locals. Recently added to the Topshelf Records family, the harmony-fueled, girl-pop, throwback sounds of Queen of Jeans plan to release their debut album this year, and they’ll be working double-duty this evening, supporting Balance and Composure’s sold-out show at First Unitarian Church as well. Cut from similar musical cloths, the garage-pop quartet of Louie Louie dips into easy-grooving, semi-psych waters that retain a classic catchiness. Unleashing their personal-brand of barraging noise-pop, Empath will get the night started. – Michael Colavita

Other places to stay warm this weekend…

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Madalean Gauze (EP Release), Queen of Jeans, Louie Louie, Empath, SAT Flat Mary Road, Baker Man, Tough Guy Soda

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Nightfall, Trash Knife, The Charley Few, SAT Frog Holler, Hezekiah Jones, Dem Hills

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI All This Huxley/DJ Deejay, SAT Brother Martin, Port Arthur/A Black Celebration: DJ Baby Berlin, DJ Jem/DJ Mighty Mike Saga, DJ Elijvh Vrms, SUN The City and I, So Totally, Lowercase Roses

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D., F. Woods & The Fellow Humans,  Bunny Savage & The Plibmen

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Dance Party Quizzo: The Beating, Crouse

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Alex Catrambone & Friends

TLA (334 South St.) SAT Candy Volcano

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Conjunto, SAT Light of Day(Upstairs) John Byrne/(Downstairs) Ben Arnold, SUN (Upstairs) Diane Monroe &  Tony Miceli Duo

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Panophonic, Sonny Knockout, E.Joseph & The Sparrows, Magnificent Birds of Prey, SAT Outer Heaven, Backslider

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI The Last Generation On Film, Vacation James, SAT Hayley Dare, Seb Isaac Band, SUN Dan Malloy, Nicklas Hughes, Michael J. Vitale, Slenko & McKeys

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT The Jesse Lundy Band: Mach 4

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Sexoffice, Rover Rover, SAT Kiska

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Darla

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Mercury Retrograde, Pet Lizard, Visoon

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SUN Honeygasm

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Chad Jenkins Band, Primatives, Kevin Segal & The Old Souls, SAT Alright Junior, The Good Mess, Phantasm, The Sea Tease

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Stiltwater, Big Mind, Dry Reef, SAT An All-star Tribute to Paul Simon’s Graceland: Ryan Tennis

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Balance and Composure, Queen of Jeans

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Jacopo & The Late Saints, Truant Minds, Tiger Castle, SAT So Totally/Cerulean Blue, Gracie & The So Beautifuls

LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Mista Quik, Prototype:AT, Tapes & Tubes, Alpha Alpha

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Trash Boy, Overwinter, Georgey V

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Fleabite, Susie Derkins

JJ’s Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Past Life, Kinda Alright, SAT Sleepy Freak, Dinosaur Diner

New England

Indie Pop group Mud Fox Tribe release two authentic, psychedelic b-sides

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Mud Fox Tribe, a new musical project consisting of members of the vintage-rock-and-roll group The FORZ, have released two b-sides intended to support their debut single, “She Slipped Away”. The two songs, the FORZ-era “Sent From Another”, and the re-mixed “Pipes”, are both spitting images of the British Invasion period of rock and roll, easily passing as a couple of “far out” Lennon/McCartney compositions from 1965. Though this type of songwriting and production could be perceived as novelty, Mud Fox Tribe bring a level of sincerity and commitment to the psych-laced songs that make them stand out as unique, and simply well done. Check out the songs below. -Charley Ruddell

NYC

Raina Bee & The Hive release music video for “Queen of the South”

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Songwriter Raina Bee returns with her band The Hive in the music video for "Queen of the South", the second track off of her 2016 album Stung. The rough-and-tumble country-inspired romp takes cues from Nancy Sinatra and Fiona Apple as it chronicles the urge for revenge. Bee says of the song: "It’s about someone who wronged me and imagining what I wish I could do to them in response. The whole Queen of the South thing is somewhat alluding to the Civil War and that the relationship was kind of a war."

The video showcases that war in action, as a gun-toting Raina fires rounds at a bound-and-gagged man who tries to make his escape. To see it for yourself, click the Play button on the video below. – Will Sisskind

Philadelphia

New Track: “Breakfast Loops” (Feat. Quelle Chris) – Torito

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Fabric Scraps, the forthcoming album from Torito, is slated for release on January 12 via local label U Don’t Deserve This Beautiful Art. Accompanied by Quelle Chris, the bull’s smooth, relentlessly charismatic rhymes jumps off a runway of jazz piano on his latest single, "Breakfast Loops". The tale intricately connects an array of subjects in a flash, so quick that if you blink, you’ll get lost in its lyrical dust. Catch Torito’s album release celebration (with support from Lt Headtrip, The Karma Kids, JE Double F, Sol Patches, Ronnie Vega, and The Hell Hole Store) on Saturday, January 13 at LAVA Space!

Toronto

The Moody Tulips – “Snarky Baby” EP, Smiling Buddha on 01.27!

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Just when you think Toronto can’t produce another stellar garage rock band here come The Moody Tulips. Less psych than a lot of the currently booming garage bands though. The Moody Tulips lean more towards the garage pop end of the spectrum with their catchy melodies and guitar licks. However they still keep the lo-fi dream alive. They released their debut record last month. “Snarky Baby” is a 6 song EP that’ll get you dancing and singing along to their fun jams. They play the Smiling Buddha on January 27th with Weakened Friends, Feels Fine and the Mooks. – Kris Gies

 

NYC

Nervous Dater bring their indie pop punk to Bushwick Public House on 01.05

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Nervous Dater gives us the best parts of early 00’s pop punk (the energy and fun) minus the worst parts (the whiny vocals). Guitars get big and the lyrics tell stories of bad decisions, broken friendships, and feeling like a hot mess. Singer Rachel Lightner carries most of the band’s tracks as if she’s gleefully marinating in life’s ugliness over the band’s fun, catchy rock. They released full length "Don’t Be A Stranger" in September 2017. Favorite lyrics: "It’s hard to ask for help if you don’t really want it / passed out on the train in your own vomit", "I still dress just like I’m sixteen / and I still get way too drunk during the week", and the shimmer of hope: "I’m so fucking lucky / you’re so fucking lucky". They play Bushwick Public House on Friday, January 5th. We are looking forward to seeing what this band does in 2018 as their tour date book already has them playing Pouzza Fest in Montreal in the spring. – Meghan Rose

NYC

Noise-gazers Neaux release sophomore LP “Chain Up the Sun”

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Neaux (pronounced "no") is duo Sierra Kay and Nick Fit. They describe their music as "the intersection of shoegaze and grunge" – which is actually pretty accurate. Sierra’s wailing and delayed vocals and Nick’s distorted chord progressions have a certain dark and tense quality to them, while the band’s visual style matches their sonic appreciation for the ’90s, as it appears evident in their music videos for the singles off "Chain Up the Sun," their sophomore album, released in November of 2017. Recent video Whistlegirl features an unsettlingly happy papier mache Mario-esque figure dancing in a living room. Favorite lyric: "just give me what i want / it doesn’t have to be so hard." Favorite song: Stuck Like A…" – streaming below. – Meghan Rose

Philadelphia

New Track: “I Want You to Stay” – Michael Do

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Floating in a feathery daydream, “I Want to Stay”, the debut single from Michael Do, gently coasts into the New Year. However, those cozy instrumental cushions are somewhat spoiled as a lyrically illustrated departure creates a crushing vacancy. Maybe it’s best to close your eyes, and hope for just a little bit longer.

Toronto

The Mendozaz – Brand New Toronto Punk Rock

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The newest addition to Toronto’s punk scene…The Mendozaz bring the heat with 90’s inspired skate punk. Made up of former members of Crush Luther, The Danger Bees, Farewell Cool Reason and Divine Hammer. They released their debut record “Two Days to Retirement” this past November. It is filled with straight up pop punk tunes that could easily be heard while playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater for playstation. I hear almost a little bit of Michael Stipe in the vocals. So it’s a must-listen if you ever wondered how Stipe would sound with a 90’s punk band backing him. Johnny, Michael and Matty Mendoza have big plans for 2018 so stay tuned… – Kris Gies