Something groovy comes this weekend: It’s CHAPPO‘s third album DO IT, which drops on Friday. After a long stretch of tragedies for the band — a member leaving, a lost son, a friend’s suicide — this album stands as a product of catharsis. That comes through in electric anthems like "Cry On Me" and the sizzling single "White Noise". The production expertise of John Vanderslice (The Mountain Goats, St. Vincent, Spoon) brings out the celebratory energy of each transforming track on the record. DO IT‘s release leads into a small stint touring in early March; they’ll head from Georgia to Pennsylvania in support of the Flaming Lips. Catch the latest single, "White Noise", below. – Will Sisskind
Portland
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SXSW Presents: Smokey Brights
*photo by Yunkin Keophoma
The 70s was a good era for music. To today’s generation, much of that decade is considered to have produced nothing but solid gold oldies. But for matrimonial duo Smokey Brights, it’s the era they’ve used as channelled inspiration for their sonic release. They’re like a sift through milk crates full of records, each one touching on a different aspect of rock history.
With a psychedelic flair that encompasses both funky and groovy notes, Smokey Brights have used their new EP, Come to Terms (Freakout Records), to express a list of grievances to come to terms with. Of them, heartbreak, shady politics and empty conversations are all examined within the four tracks on Come to Terms, softened by rousing crystalline rock sounds. It’s entirely too easily to get caught up in Smokey Brights’ textures and whether you’re fervently listening to the lyrics or dazedly zoning out to their resonance, it’s an all around enlivening experience.
Chicago
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Young Jesus “Green”
Young Jesus have released a second video from their recently released self-titled album. The Jordan Epstein directed video is for the single “Green”.
Their album was released digitally last fall, but is coming out tomorrow, Feb 23rd, in all physical formats via Saddle Creek.
Philadelphia
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New Tapes & Tubes EP Available for Streaming & Purchase
Tapes & Tubes, a.k.a. Austin Potter, recently shared his new EP Horse Trailer. Draped in an eerie, cinematic, western-folkie simplicity, the hushed, secret-delivering vocals reverberate and then vaporize. Those bare atmospherics allow one to slow down, collect their thoughts, and maybe flashback to the unresolved questions of the past. Tonight, Potter is part of a lineup at South Philly’s The Pharmacy that also includes Slenko & McKeys, Alpha_Alpha, Suuduer, and Automatic Colors.
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Ruby Red” – Dream Safari
Chris Coulton, a.k.a. Dream Safari, has returned with a new single, “Ruby Red”. A pattern of strings peacefully wades into the momentous, wave-crashing groove. Taking a breath in a time of assessment and cataloging points in the past with an eye on what lies ahead, the song delightfully advances. Dream Safari will be sharing a billing this evening with Max Swan, Rover Rover, and DJ Sylo at MilkBoy.
NYC
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Duo OC80 Premieres “Young Nation” Music Video, Shows in New York
Los Angeles based avant-electronic performance duo OC 80 presents the music video to their second Akoya Books release "Young Nation"—ambient-marbled oration drawn from David Wojnarowicz, Heiner Müller, Ja Rule, and Ashanti punctuated with sparse beats, bleeps, and reverb-hiss. A woman vaping in contemplation is presented in smartphone video resolution laying in a verdant field, reifying the proclaimed motivations behind the track: "environmental collapse, animality, the force of habit, the diffusion of blame, and the inconceivable scale of what has been lost to systems of oppression."
OC 80 will perform in New York this week: Thursday night’s auteur royale HATE WITHOUT REASON at The Mercury Lounge (10PM – 4AM) – Ryan Mo
Portland
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SXSW Presents: SISTERS
*photo by Stanton J. Stephens
They may not be sisters or even siblings for that matter, but SISTERS have that type of likeminded connection that makes for great, danceable pop music. Much like the indie club bangers of the mid 2000’s, SISTERS know the exact formula to make people move.
On their latest release, titled Wait Don’t Wait, the duo employ synths, baritone sax and flute on top of the usual guitar and drum combo in creating their joyous tunes. Some lean heavily on jazz chords while others have grubby basslines that make your shoulders bounce. Whenever everything is combined, there’s an album full of melodious bangers that can up any mood and get any party started.
If you’re looking to dance while at SXSW, take every chance you get to see SISTERS.
L.A.
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Launder teases EP with jerky indie pop on “Annie Blue”
Launder – the songwriting project of John Cudlip – carries his fervent songs with a melancholy undercurrent. Akin to Brooklyn’s DIIV (which makes sense, since key member Zachary Cole Smith plays guitar on this project), Cudlip’s latest, "Annie Blue," also leans on jangly, lilting guitars with a heavy use of cavernous reverb. His is a romantic rumination that spirals off wth a jittery confusion.
"Annie Blue" is the second single off of Launder’s upcoming EP, Pink Cloud.
Austin
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Culture Wars Unleashes Arsenal of Appeal with Self-Titled Debut EP
Culture Wars is coming out of the gate blazing with their debut self-titled EP. Recorded at Sonic Ranch in West Texas, the debut features Alan Moulder (Nine Inch Nails, Artic Monkeys, The Killers) as a featured producer and, the quality control has paid off with their first single “Money (Gimmie, Gimmie),” a track that is as swagger-filled as it is addictive. The leather clad trio are unafraid of incorporating electro elements as the tip of their spear and then fortifying the sound with pounding guitars and soaring vocals. Exhilarating and sonically eruptive, Culture Wars is looking conquer ground in rapid succession and, that begins with a show with the Lagoons on March 1st at Stubbs.
https://stubbsindoor.frontgatetickets.com/event/0gzgcat66ywk6q7s
NYC
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Triathalon plays sold-out album release at Baby’s All Right 2.28
The lo-fi pop group Triathalon will celebrate the release of its third album, “Online,” with a sold-out show at Baby’s All Right on February 28th. After establishing a sound keen on lo-fi aesthetics and jazzy undertones, the Brooklyn group is about to release a record that ventures further into pop territory with a heavy R&B influence. The recordings are cleaner, the tones deeper, and there’s a novel suave element to it that makes it a lot more playful than the previous releases. However, the band’s tracks maintain the band’s signature dark, late night intimacy. With “Online,” Triathalon shows its true potential in the pop realm. For those lucky enough to have tickets, the Baby’s All Right show will be the first performance since the album’s release. Watch the video for standout track “Couch” below. – Cameron Carr
Chicago
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August Hotel @ Beat Kitchen
August Hotel got in the spirit this year and release a new single called “Valentine”. This is the band’s first release since their 2017 EP, Charms.
You can catch August Hotel at Beat Kitchen on Feb. 23rd with The 1 Class and The Academic.
Chicago
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The Evening Attraction @ Empty Bottle
The Evening Attraction will be releasing a new album, The End, Again, on March 3rd. The band recently released a video for their single “Say You Will”.
You can help The Evening Attraction celebrate the release of their new album on March 3rd at Empty Bottle with Lucille Furs and Rookie.