New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Mammals have released a new single “The Hours b/w Tracks”. Mammals is the work of Dan Wendt, Crawfie Ward, and Brian Demski, and “The Hours” is the perfect example of the jangly indie pop they can create.
You can catch Mammals with Organ Wolf at Montrose Saloon on April 28th.
Solid Goold lives for all things retro, to the point that it’s sometimes unclear whether the ‘70s inspired outfits and ‘60s style harmonies are meant jokingly or lovingly—likely a bit of both. It’s fitting then that the music video for “New Best Friend” plays into similar aesthetic tropes, caking on cheap visual effects and dopey characters to good measure. Frontman Albert Goold finds himself hopelessly chasing a lover when, as the lyrics foreshadow, he may just need a new best friend. It’s the first video from Solid Goold’s 2017 album “Metabeta” and it does an excellent job highlighting the band’s lighthearted, throwback pop style. Watch the video, directed by Patrick Elmore and featuring actress Katy Rea, below and catch the band performing at Sidewalk Cafe tonight as part of the Winter Antifolk Fest. – Cameron Carr
Psychedelic folk band Quicksilver Daydream will be releasing a new EP titled A Thousand Shadows, A Single Flame on 02.09, and to celebrate the occasion, they will be playing an EP release show tonight at Mercury Lounge. Joining Quicksilver Daydream for the evening will be fellow folk artists Samuel R. Saffery and C.F. Watkins. The show will begin at 6:30 PM and will be a 21+ event with tickets being priced at $10. A Thousand Shadows, A Single Flame can be streamed ahead of its official release below. – Alexander Beebe
Oakland rockers The Heartlights are all energy on their debut release Oh Dear, a six-track EP with thrashing guitars, fast-paced percussion, and delightfully melodic vocals. Lead vocalist Maggie Aytac has a saccharine voice that layers infectiously over their garage-influenced power pop arrangements to create instant hits like “You’re So Cute (It Hurts)” (streaming below), which comes across as a fuzzier take on classic surf rock. The rest of the EP shows similar influences, combining angst with energy to create a tongue-in-cheek ode to Californiacation. At the moment, their next announced live show is on March 9th at The Octopus Literary Salon in Oakland. – Lilly Milman
The experimental Metal band Scientist has released the title track from their forthcoming LP, Barbelith. The album, the band’s third full-length, will be released on April 13th.
Scientist will be a part of The DOC Metal Show’s 5 year Anniversary show at Reggie’s on March 24th with Pale Horseman, Snow Burial, and Gamma Goat.
King Shelter want to follow their own course on "Pick Your Poison." But happiness gets in the way for the noise rock trio, as they air their grievances over a number of social norms that don’t necessarily fit well with anyone who wants to follow their art. It takes off with a shimmering lo-fi grime as it leads into a sonic assault during its hummable chorus, later to unleash into a distortion-laden coda that surges with foreceful energy.
"Pick Your Poison" is the first single off of King Shelter’s upcoming full-length record, $hame, which comes out on March 30 via Broken Entertainment. Catch them at The Echo on February 28 with Mt Eddy and Keyrocco. Juan Rodríguez
Ritual Talk’s newest single "More Than I Can Mention" is downright exciting. From the get-go, the sublime guitar hook is intriguing and has you hanging onto the end of each juicy note. The song builds into an old-school, everything-goes indie rock tune with a dose of soul to keep things groovy. This wall of sound is nothing like you’ve heard before- it’s carefully executed, properly funky, but most importantly: huge. "More Than I Can Mention" is a song you’ll want to put on repeat and rock out to, all day. The band plays Union Pool on 2/10 to celebrate the release. -Geena Kloeppel
Take flight aboard the sonic shuttle of Philly psych-rock stalwarts Bardo Pond, whose latest mission Volume 8 was recently released via Fire Records. Unearthing mindful stillness as one’s surroundings spin further out into the ether, there’s a brooding, eye-of-the-storm circumstance. Engulfing heaviness is shot through with moments of beautiful clarity. Bardo Pond will be touching down on Johnny Brenda’s stage on February 16, where they’ll be supported by Honey Radar, Major Stars, and Henry Owings.
Psychedelic garage rockers Las Rosas have released a new 7", Christa, on Greenway Records. While the title track is the first single for the band’s sophomore LP coming this May, the 7" also sports an exclusive B-side, "Lost Cat." Christa is out on pink vinyl with a limited pressing of 200 copies and can be streamed below and purchased here. Las Rosas recently played a release show for the 7" on 2.1 with The Nude Party at Baby’s All Right, and are set to open for Dirty Fences alongside Animal Show and Wives at Rough Trade on 2.15. The show begins at 9 pm and is 21+ with tickets going for $10. – Alexander Beebe
Reflectively serenading pleasant memories, The Vernes‘ video for “Summer’s Gone,” directed by Cody Kussoy, captures a behind-the-scenes encapsulation of touring life. Merging elements of traveling, scenery, silliness, performing etc., it’s a playful, mellow daydream temporarily pulling one out of this deep freeze. Warmth is right around the corner, and the band’s second album is in the works.
The second installment of Monica Mirabile’s Model Home, a live musical performance/exhibition taking place inside a life-sized dollhouse, will be hosted at Secret Project Robot this Valentine’s Day. Performing at the event will be dance punk project SSION (his first Brooklyn live outing of 2018), and experimental multi-media performance artist Ziemba, who will be offering a special fragrance designed exclusively for the event. Performance artists Pauli Cakes and Caitlin Baucom will also appear on stage. By the way, attendees wearing hues of pink and red will receive complimentary drinks! The event will take place at 8 pm, with tickets priced at $15. – Alexander Beebe
The debut self-titled release by Oakland’s RAYS is a fusion of sounds spanning from classic 70s punk, through the reckless pop of the 90s, all the way to the bouncy garage rock that is currently prevalent in the DIY scene. Made by DIY Bay Area vets Stanley Martinez, Eva Hannan, Troy Hewitt, and Alexa Pantalone, the 11-track LP combines the energy of DIY garage rock – via catchy hooks and jangly guitar parts – with the sheer angst and apathy that gave punk its name – most notably seen in Hannan’s detached vocals on tracks like “Lost In A Cage” (streaming below). They are taking cues from the traditional, without making another unoriginal angry punk album. RAYS will be playing live at the Darger Bar in San Francisco on February 10th. – Lilly Milman
