"On the night of the election, I put my daughter to bed and I walked in to find my pregnant wife. We sat together and cried. We thought, ‘We’d better sleep, because tomorrow the real work begins." Bill Eberle’s statement describing his upcoming record Soft Light (9/18) is a sentiment that rings true for many. "Soft" is strangely soothing- not quite the way you’d imagine a protest song to sound. Eberle seems to find solace in the fragility of the world and asserts the healing power of music during darker times. The abstract, old-timey music video highlights the spacey, open-ended textures of the song, taking the fragmented state of the world and turning it into a visual. Bill Eberle plays the Cobra on 8/12. –Geena Kloeppel
Nashville
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Forlorn Strangers release bright folk rock jam “Natalie Cole”
You guessed it- "Natalie Cole" is partially about the death of singer and actress Natalie Cole (yep, that’s Nat King Cole’s daughter.) Indie folk rockers Forlorn Strangers have built a funky, folksy arrangement (featuring a mellotron?) around what could be a pretty dark song. "I don’t wanna feel this anymore / all the things I ever loved before / are slipping through my hands" is a relatable lyric in the singable, hooky chorus. But even the most existential lyrics are paired with bright melodies and warm chord progressions. -Geena Kloeppel
NYC
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Showcase Alert: Throwin’ Bo’s at The Elbo Room (8.2) ft. Same Girls, So Much Light & Satchy
The lineup of this month’s iteration of Throwin’ Bo’s is a melting pot of talent. First on the bill is the incomparable fuzz-pop of Oakland’s own Same Girls, who recently released the Deli-approved single “Domino.” Later in the night, Sacramento’s So Much Light — whose most recent single “Waiting For The Moment” was a collaborative effort with the formerly SF-based artist Geographer —will showcase his infectious electro-pop. Also in the mix is satchy, a neo-soul crooner hailing from L.A. supporting the release of his newest EP, The Muse. Stream our favorite tracks from each of these artists in the playlist below. – Lilly Milman
This event will be on Thursday, August 2 at 9 p.m. Throwin’ Bo’s is a monthly 21+ showcase held at The Elbo Room. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. RSVP on Facebook here.
Austin
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Black Joe Lewis Is Back With New Single “Culture Vulture”
It’s always uplifting news when some new Black Joe Lewis songs begin to trickle out in anticipation of a new album and tour. Joe and the sextet of musicians that make up his backing band, the Honeybears, are purveyors of down-home blues rock that has working class appeal, but also deftly colaesces with awe-inspiring technical musicianship. The upcoming album features producer, Stuart Sikes, who is no stranger to Joe’s music but also claims an impressive resume that includes past relationships with the White Stripes, Cat Power, and Modest Mouse. The upcoming album will be supported by a five week Fall tour that kicks off in September and will hit all of the major markets in the US and Canada. Unlike Gary Clark Jr, who rocketed into the stratosphere of the music world relatively quickly, Joe has been on a steady grind building his fan base outside of Austin. While there are plethora of music acts in Austin that come in a myriad of different genres and styles; Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears stand apart having a distinct Austin blues flavor that pays tribute to Stevie Ray, WC Clark, Albert King and other forefathers. Though Austin is a growing town with a deluge of talent, there may not be another band that is as accurate of a representative of the city’s charm and as deserving of success, as Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.
Check out the new track "Culture Vulture" here
NYC
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Synth-pop artist VÉRITÉ to play unique show at National Sawdust 08.28
Kelsey Byrne, the Brooklyn based artist behind VÉRITÉ, worked as a waitress at the Times Square Applebee’s, (a position feared by most), for three years to foster her career in music. After receiving praise for her first single “Strange Enough” in 2014, she has gone on to record 2 EPs and a full-length album Somewhere in Between in 2017. The standout from that album, “Nothing” is a melancholic, electronic gem that includes all the elements of a great pop song. Her voice is airy yet commanding, the synths behind it powerful but not overwhelming. She will be performing on August 28th at National Sawdust as part of the Hum Series, a showcase that celebrates female and non-binary artists. This particular show will feature custom arrangements for an all-female pop chamber orchestra. – Lily Crandall
Chicago
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Options “And On”
Options (aka Seth Engel) released the first single, “And On”, from his new LP, Vivid Trace, this week. The new album will be released via Sooper Records on September 14th and can be pre-ordered here.
Engel is currently working with bands like Coaster, Great Deceivers, Pyramid Scheme, and Lifted Bells and is currently the touring drummer for Nnamdi Ogbonnaya.
photo by Vanessa Valadez
Chicago
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The Right Now Cover “For What It’s Worth”
Stefanie Berecz and The Right Now released a new single today and it is a funky and jazzy cover of the Stephen Stills classic, “For What It’s Worth”. I can’t think of a better song cover with all that is going on in the world today. This is the band’s first release since their 2017 LP, Starlight.
You can catch The Right Now at Sleeping Village on September 21st with Lowdown Brass Band.
Portland
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The Bedrooms
The Bedroom’s dystopian daydreams give you all the doom with none of the gloom. Though the band’s mood is certainly on the darker side, it’s never too heavy or depressing. With a mix of goth aesthetics, new wave heart, and post-punk sound, The Bedrooms have a unique and enjoyable sound. Their latest album “Dystopia Today” shows incredible range and depth. Some songs such as “Raconteur” give you serious "Friday Im in Love" vibes. With other songs like “I’m not Alive” the band could be in a dark, damp basement surrounded moshing bodies. The album provides a great balance between rough and soft. The Bedrooms may be singing about the world ending, but they’re just getting started.
Photo by Bloodbath Photography
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, July 27 – 29
WXPN’s XPoNential Fest is back for its 25th year at the Camden Waterfront, merging nationally acclaimed acts and those emerging on the local forefront. And when those two concepts come to a head and someone from the neighborhood gains wide-ranging recognition, it’s a sweet spot for the community as a whole. Such is the case with grammy-award winners and Saturday evening headliners The War On Drugs. The long-time Deli faves have the ability to lyrically cut to the core, before soaring through the skies with their guitar-fueled jams. Also, earlier in the afternoon, fresh off Thursday’s performance at Ortlieb’s, the trio of Hurry offers a breezy, open songbook that is simultaneously melodic and self-reflecting. Much like “Hanging On” from their latest LP Every Little Thought suggests, once those soothing, earnest, power-pop ditties take hold, they’ll become something that one will consistently revisit. This Sunday, Sofia Verbilla, a.k.a. Harmony Woods, showcases a keen attention to detail in songwriting, shrinking the distance and thus increasing the impact in the process. And of course, you do not want to miss the legendary David Byrne (of the Talking Heads) kicking things off tonight at this year’s XPoNential Music Festival, presented by Subaru. – Michael Colavita
Other places to hit this summer weekend…
XPoNential Music Festival (Camden Waterfront) FRI Greg Sover Band, Swift Technique, SAT The War On Drugs, Hurry &More (Donn T & Chill Moody), Katie Frank, SUN Mt. Joy, Harmony Woods
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SUN Cheap Dinosaurs
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Queen of Jeans, SAT Ill Doots (Record Release), Rover Rover, SUN Dark Thoughts
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Green Meteor/DJSC, SAT Heavy Temple, Sonja/Fame Lust, SUN Narcos Family Band
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT NAH, Kilamanzego, Ada Babar, Kasra Kurt, SUN Hallucinogenic Bulb, Yeenar
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Worriers
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI JGriff & Lil Zip
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Warchyld
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT DJ Lean Wit It, Swizzymack
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) FRI-SUN This Is Hardcore: FRI Please Die, SAT Year of the Knife, SUN Wisdom in Chains, Jesus Piece
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) DJ Rahsaan/(Downstairs) Osler Circle: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Benefit
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The PLIBmen, SAT Tortuga, SUN Philly DJ Showcase
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Long Miles, Stella Ruze, The Tisburys, SAT The Quixote Project
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Stealing From Thieves, Turnbull Green, SAT Goodnight/Goodluck, The Standing Cinema , Rally/Suburban Living (DJ Set)
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Moonstriker, SUN The Mountain Chiefs, Countdown from Ten, Cellar Fox/Hypothetical
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN The Whiskeyhickon Boys, Darlingtyn
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Sheena and Thee Nosebleeds, The Mojo Machine, Full Bush, Thee Minks
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT DJ Marco
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SUN Gypsy Wisdom
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Brian Toll
Century (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI Sniper Caprice, Hashgrinder, SAT Bear/moth
The Tusk (430 South St.) SAT A Ship Named Beagle, Overcoming Gravity
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Cowbell Superstar, Naps Past Noon, Jac With No K, Brad + Nicole
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Echoes: the American Pink Floyd, Brian Fitzy
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI The Lot, Seeing Snakes, Bern & the Bastards, SAT Burial Fog
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Slingshot Dakota, Ramona, SUN Supine, Binary, Computer
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Peyote Cathedral, Mirrorsigns
Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Woody
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Pollen, Devil Master Zorn
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Fleabite
Goo Lagoon (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Beach Bod
Chicago
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DJ Scandalous “Move On”
DJ Scandalous released a new single, “Move On”, today. This song is an honest look at a recent break-up he had, and is structured in a different format then what Scandalous typically works in.
When asked he had this to say about the track, "The track is a true story about my ex. I put it in a pop/edm form because I like how it’s structured. However, I don’t live in that house. I visit others”.
There is a video for “Move On” coming out on August 10th.
NYC
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From the submissions: alt soul quintet Star the Moonlight plays the Knit on August 28
Star the Moonlight’s debut single “Don’t You Think You Wanna” is a groovy jazz/soul song you won’t be able to get out of your head. Hattie Smith’s timeless caramel-smooth vocals overlay the band’s funky rhythms as she pleads “Don’t you think you wanna slow down?” while Maximillian Zooi’s funk-inspired clarinet interludes give it a kick. Their first single is a promising sign of good things to come from the band; their debut album is set to come out later this summer. You can see Star the Moonlight live at the Knitting Factory on August 28. – Lily Crandall
This band submitted their music for coverage here.
Chicago
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Parker @ Royal Stake & Apparel
Earlier this month the Pop Punk trio Parker released their debut EP, “Never Growing Old”. The band had put out the EP’s lead single and title track back in June, but have now released all four songs on the EP. Parker is the work of brother Devin (vocalist/guitarist) and Patrick Parker (vocalist/bassist) with Trevor Phelps on drums.
You can catch Parker on August 10th at Royal Stake & Apparel in Lansing with Lost Years, The Hallow, and Comatoast.