New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
The King of Mars is a 7 piece rock and funk band that formed in 2015 at Columbia College. Today they released their new single, “For A Ride”, across all major platforms. The single is filled powerful horns and the vocals of John Bruner.
You can catch The King of Mars at SPACE on June 22nd with The Dip.
Friday Pilots Club have released an amazing John LeVert directed video for their new single “Gold and Bone”. This is the indie pop sounds of Caleb Hitunen and Drew Polovick, and the duo’s third new single of 2018.
Last month the band released a video for “Would You Mind”, and in March they released “Bad As Hell”.
Brontë Fall is the Americana band founded and lead by Teri Bracken. The band released their debut album, Silhouette Dances, a year ago, and recently began recording new music.
Bronte Fall will be performing at The Hideout on May 22nd to close out the Songwriter’s Round Chicago. The event will feature songwriters Nikki Morgan, Eric Quigley, Dina Bach, Phillip Michael Scales, and Teri Bracken of Bronte Fall.
Plume‘s Paige Pfleger has joined up with Patrick McGuire (formerly of Flashbulb Fires), on his latest project, Straight White Teeth. “Illuminate and Burn” is the first single, featured on their forthcoming release Physical Truth. McGuire and Pfleger interlace vocals over a folky beginning, before an enlightening injection of synth and percussion comes to play. Heartfelt harmonies are cast into motion by the dance-generating backdrop. Sincerity, provided with a dose of sadness over the unpredictable nature of the future the song, captures a bright/bleak dichotomy.
Royal Hands have partnered with Broken Shaker at The Freehand Hotel to create a new music series called “time|space: an exploration in sonic improvisation”. This will be a series of improvised performances from different bandleader’s organizing a new trio each month. The goal is to offer "improvised psychadelia that embodies higher level contemplation through emotion, acceptance of imperfection, and patience within a larger body of work”. These events will take place the last Thursday of every month and will feature the talents of Jon Deitemeyer, Quinlan Kirchner, Matt Ulery, Xavier Breaker, Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo, Rob Clearfield, Anthony Abbinanti, and more.Jon Deitemeyer, Quinlan Kirchner, Matt Ulery, Xavier Breaker, Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo, Rob Clearfield, Anthony Abbinanti, and more.
This series kicks off May 31st at The Freehand Hotel with a trio organized by the talented Makaya McCraven, who released a tremendous LP, Highly Rare, back in November via International Anthem.
Already proven adept at hook-heavy alt-pop, in their new EP Isadora Deal Casino progresses their sound into more nuanced approaches to pop. New single “Soft Machine” showcases this clearly. While still working in the alt-pop realm, the tempos drop considerably, opening up space for a more atmospheric production where synthesizers challenge the edgy guitar parts, while vocals double up in intensity, for a more mature and powerful listening experience. THe arrangement accentuates melodies with bell-like glockenspiel, and peaks with a chorus practically inverted by echoing distorted guitar and a slowed down melody. “Soft Machine” is a strong step for the band toward a more matured sound. Isadora Duncan is out May 18, you can listen to “Soft Machine” below and see the band live at the Asbury Park Brewery on May 20th. – Cameron Carr
Mack Enemy recently shared its latest EP, titled Promo. Combining space-age, suspense-driven transmissions with menacing, backend rhythms, you may feel a sudden urge to flee, as the commanding guttural roar of vocals reign down. Oddly, a danceable despair is molded. But don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to break out, or just simply break something.
San Francisco’s Bone Nest creates music for those disillusioned by the overwhelming prevalence of upbeat, pop-influenced tracks in the electronic scene. His single “Fkbyzantm” (streaming below), which is set to appear on a forthcoming debut LP, features experimental production in the form of a beat that is both warm and a bit abstract. With influences from neo-soul, new-wave, and breakbeat and a perfectly imperfect blend of two sets of vocals, the track keeps the listener guessing. We’re eagerly anticipating what’s to come. – Lilly Milman
Spyder Ryde is the trio of Jessie Oleson, Zohair Hussain, and Sarah Jane Quillin ( Desert Liminal). The trio released their first single, the dream-pop gem “Best Behavior”, back in February.
You can catch Spyder Ryde at Sleeping Village on May 25th with Hi-Ker, Copilot, and Rafting.
In her new EP Kitsch II, New York avant-pop artist Sur Back – real name Caroline Sans – deeply mines the esoteric, incorporating obscure facets of many different genres into the record’s four tracks. It’s part baroque-pop, part new wave, and extremely avant-garde. It’s sweet and melancholy, with unconventional string orchestration and an abundance of compelling, unexpected melodic twists. Listen to "Valentino" below and see them live at Baby’s All Right on Saturday June 2nd, opening for Chaos Chaos. – Ethan Ames
Adam Gogala fronts the Folk Punk Americana band known as Blind Adam and The Federal League. Late last month the band released their self-titled debut LP, and recently an great video for the LP’s sad second single “Another Lonely Weekend”. This video was filmed on location at The Native in Logan Square. The band’s first single was “Happy Hour”, which had a video flimed in part at Empty Bottle. If you love Beer, Chicago, Rock N’ Roll, you will love this band.
You can catch Blind Adam and The Federal league at InnJoy in Logan Square on May 20th and at Emporium Wicker Park on June 14th.
Past Life has a new single, “Apollo,” out now via Drexel University’s MAD Dragon Records. A nod to Greek & Roman mythology, the track exhibits an inherent enthusiasm as well as a deep yearning. From a jogging start to all-out sprint, there’s the feel of burgeoning romance, joyously catching fire in melodic, pop power. The B-side is an acoustic take, whose bare piano-lead provides a confessional ballad approach.
