Nashville’s William Matheny released his debut Strange Constellations in February of last year to critical acclaim. His songwriting is strong, and his style comes across like an indie rocker gone americana, bridging the gap between Ben Folds, The Avett Brothers, and Ryan Adams. Now hard at work on the road, Matheny will be gracing The Basement stage Wednesday, January 24th alongside J.P. Harris, The Country Westerns, and Richie. The show begins at 9:00 PM, and tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door. If you haven’t made it to a show yet in 2018 (or if you have), this is one you don’t want to miss. Check out Matheny’s track "Living Half To Death" below!
Austin
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Big Destiny Aim High With Classic Sound
Phasing in shades of 70’s black metal with a jam band-esque penchant for instrumental wormholes, Big Destiny is in the business of blowing some big boy smoke up your skirt. Singer, Declan Rory Murtagh, exhales a paint-peeling wail that consumes the rest of the band. Prog rock influences burst from every seam, while tasty bass lines and hook-filled guitars coalesce for an unencumbered romp. Big Destiny could be the wanton love child of Wolfmother, Dead Meadow, and a Yes cover band. While the group has yet to officially release an EP, you can get your fill from their few tracks featured on Bandcamp.
Nashville
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The Fruit Flies debut with lo-fi “Daddy’s Car”
Self-described as The Dead meets The Experience, The Fruit Flies ’60s psychedelic influences are worn on their sleeves. Their new song and accompanying video "Daddy’s Car" are full of lo-fi excitement and a perfect addition to playlists featuring artists like The Strokes or even The Kinks. Check out the video below for "Daddy’s Car" and stay tuned to the band’s Facebook for more coming soon!
Philadelphia
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New Americanadian Split EP Available for Streaming & Download
Americanadian recently contributed two songs to a split EP with South Jersey quartet Nowadays. Both tracks share a reflective state of melancholy. With its dual lead vocal harmonies and breezy tempo, “Carpool Tunnel” feels like an interwoven discourse. In contrast, “Ceramic Cat Plate” carries the emotional weight of isolation, aching within the delicate instrumental movement. Americanadian will be performing next in Philly on Saturday, February 24 at The Hairy Hut.
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Listening In” – Dr. Dog
Critical Equation, the forthcoming album from Dr. Dog, will be released on April 27 via Thirty Tigers. Intertwining an eerie sense of isolation as the steady march of rhythm progresses, “Listening In” carries an unsettling air of mystery. Coupling those haunting vibes with the familiar reinforcement of harmony and jagged instrumental inserts creates a sonic landscape open to discovery. Festival Pier will be playing host to the Philly stalwarts on Saturday, June 23, where they’ll be supported by local wunderkind (Sandy) Alex G.
Portland
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Women Crush Music’s triumphant return
*pictured: Haley Johnsen and Kingsley
Women deserve the most appreciation ever, to be quite honest, and the kind that goes much farther than just wearing a button or posting a picture of a femme you find attractive on a Wednesday. The type of adoration and appreciation women need, especially in a time where it’s becoming more and more widely realized that women are frequently abused and mistreated, is the type that Women Crush Music provides.
Founded by Ashley Kervabon, Women Crush Music is a showcase that started in early 2017 with the mission of encouraging, inspiring and exhibiting local femme singers and songwriters. Now in over 10 cities, it relaunched at the beginning of 2018 as a nonprofit, with a staff spanning from the west to east coast. Portland, its flagship city, will be the only locale chapter to host showcases every month at its new venue home the White Eagle, while the other cities will have showcases six times a year.
“There is such a need for what we are doing here at #WomenCrush, and how quickly we’ve grown in the last 6 months really goes to show that," says Kervabon."
"By relaunching as a non-profit organization we believe we will be better able to fulfill our mission at #WomenCrush Music, which will always be to support women artists in whatever we way can. I am hopeful that we will continue to expand in the states, Canada, Mexico and then intercontinentally and I am excited to continue empowering women in music and for all of our future plans.”
Women Crush Music’s first show of the year features Kingsley, Haley Johnsen, Emily Aldridge, Hayley Lynn, Isabeau Waia’u Walker, Jessa Campbell, Maiah Wynne, Shae Altered, and Tara Velarde.
NYC
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Psymon Spine brings electro-psych rock to Alphaville 1.27
While electronica meets rock is hardly new at this point, Psymon Spine makes it sound like a totally novel idea. The Brooklyn group emphasizes the psychedelic and adventurous aspects of both genres, bringing in complex rhythmic samples, EDM beats, circling harmonies, and even folky guitar interludes. The results capture the intricacy of headier electronic music with the youthful energy of the indie rock of the early ‘00s reinassance (think Animal Collective and TV on the Radio). You can experience Psymon Spine’s unconventional sound live on January 27th when they take the stage at Alphaville. – Cameron Carr
Toronto
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Hot Garbage – “Max Blonda” EP, Playin Smiling Buddha 01.20
Psychadelic garage rock group Hot Garbage just released a brand new EP at the end of the last year called “Max Blonda”. They have some unique characteristics that set them apart from some of the other top notch garage groups in Toronto right now. The main is the jazz influenced drums. That along with the menacing keyboards and atmospheric vocals their tunes take you for a serious ride. All can be heard on the track “Kimono Dragon” from their latest release. Hot Garbage plans on heading to the States for a tour this summer but first they will be playing The Smiling Buddha on January 20th as part of Exclaim’s Class of 2018 Series. – Kris Gies
New England
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Zeus Springsteen are the 90s College rock band of today
Burlington, VT, mostly known for its University which spawned Phish, is a bustling college town full of heady young people and a burgeoning music scene. Enter Zeus Springsteen, a Burlington based power trio rooted in the endearing jangliness and lyrically clever sensibilities of a so called “college rock” band- though their sound begs to question when they’re from. Their eponymous debut album sounds more akin to R.E.M than OCS, exploring the popular sound of yesteryear college rock; steadfast grooves and fuzzy guitar riffs are littered all over the album, woven within tightly knit and smart arrangements. Perhaps the most identifying quirk of Zeus Springsteen are the melodic, yet abstract stories they tell (not unlike Robert Pollard’s), most notably on the cheeky “Joey Is a Robot”. Stream their new album below. -Charley Ruddell
NYC
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Tenderfoot to release new LP on 02.02; listen to single “Semiprecious Life”
Brooklyn via Seattle Tenderfoot‘s newest single "Semiprecious Life" (streaming) has a low hum which lends a calming touch to a song about an existential crisis. The track, which is included in the upcoming LP Break Apart (out February 2nd), features frontman Adam Kendall Woods’s breathy voice waxing about his old and changing home of Seattle, as construction noises pulse behind the rhythm. The other songs on Break Apart will deal with different kinds of change: relationships fading, health deteriorating, hopes dying and growing. To celebrate the release, Tenderfoot will play a show in Seattle in February and then one in Brooklyn on March 16th at C’mon Everybody. Listen to "Semiprecious Life" below. – Will Sisskind
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Inna Funk” – Trash Knife
Later this year, hardcore quintet Trash Knife will be dropping a split 7” with Dumb Vision, via Wisconsin label Kitschy Manitou Records. Building from a rockin’, unified base, “Inna Funk” hits into next gear when the song’s defiant vocals kick in. That impending, unfiltered urgency shifts the tone with a swift shot of adrenaline. The switch is flipped, and there’s no looking back.
NYC
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Birch’s politically aware pop takes the stage at Baby’s All Right on 1.27
“You bought yourself a gun, you think it makes you safer / And stop telling me what to do with my body, it’s my fucking body” Michelle Birsky sings on Birch’s synth-pop slow dancer “Pick Sides.” It can be difficult to confront large societal issues while maintaining the accessibility of pop music, but Birch pulls it off with tact, tucking the personal effects of political and social divisions into buoyant pop filled with sweeping synths and hip-hop inspired beats. Perhaps the duo’s music is all the more reletable because it acknowledges how these issues seep into our ordinary lives. Birch’s next performance will be at Baby’s All Right on January 27th opening for Cape Francis. – Cameron Carr