On her new song "You Love Me," pop artist Sereena accomplishes two things: she sings her heart out with a ferocious yet sweet intensity, and blends jazz, R’n’B, and pop into a backbeat jam. There’s a lot of interesting textures- a wash of synths, trap hats, a bold bass sound, and Sereena’s intoxicating voice sits atop it all like royalty. The chorus is, simply put, anthemic, and will have you singing along in your head all day. Describing "You Love Me," Sereena says: "I have trouble accepting love…if you can’t tell." And I’ll bet a lot of folks out there can relate. –Geena Kloeppel
Portland
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All Together Festival
Tender Loving Empire’s 11th annual Friends and Friends of Friends compilation is being released soon. TLE has described it as “by far the best grouping of music that we’ve ever been able to put in one place at one time.” But that’s not all the record label is giving us. TLE and White Owl Social Club are teaming up to throw All Together Festival. The festival, which takes place next Saturday, August 18th, is a celebration of the compilation release. It will feature live sets from local acts such as Luz Elena Mendoza of Y La Bamba, Chanti Darling, and The Fur Coats. The bands will be playing starting at 2 in the afternoon, and starting at 10 DJ’s Rap Class and Max Bass will be taking over. The show is 21+, and free. You can find the event page and full lineup here, and pre-order the Friends and Friends of Friends compilation here.
-By Avril Carrillo
Portland
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Kathy Foster’s New Project Roseblood
When the Thermals first announced they were disbanding, everyone in the indie rock scene was, understandably, a little sad. However, we don’t have to be too sad for too long because bassist Kathy Foster’s latest project, Roseblood, is just as enjoyable. It’s a much different side to Foster, slower and sadder than the work she did in the Thermals. This past month Roseblood released a music video for their first single, “Black Veil." The song is beautiful and melancholic, full of the passion and vitality Foster is known for. The lyrics are cerebral without being pretentious, thought provoking without making the listener work too hard. It’s a testament to Foster’s skill and experience. The music video, directed by Jeff Rowles, is dark and gloomy. It’s a clear step in the moodier, darker direction Roseblood is aiming to take.
Roseblood will be playing In The Lot, Sunday August 26th with Twin Peaks, Dude York, No Kind of Rider, and the Black Tones.
-By Avril Carrillo, photo by Jason Quigley
Chicago
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Bleach Party “Entertain Yourself”
Bleach Party has released a new single called “Entertain Yourself”. This is the fierce garage rock of Meghan MacDuff (Vocals, Guitar), Bart Pappas (Guitar), Richard Giraldi (Bass), and Kaylee Preston (Drums).
You can catch Bleach Party tonight, August 10th, at Empty Bottle with Tacocat and Gymshorts.
Chicago
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Options “Fog”
Options has released a second single, “Fog”, from his forthcoming LP, Vivid Trace, which will be released on Sept. 14th via Sooper Records.
Options is primarily the work of Seth Engel who has been a part of so many great band’s over the years including Coaster, Great Deceivers, Pyramid Scheme, and Lifted Bells. He is also currently the touring drummer for Nnamdi Ogbonnaya.
Options will be touring for most of September and October, and will be performing at The Hideout on September 14th with Fond Han, Floatie, and Jodi.
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, August 10 – 12
Greg Mendez’s songwriting seems to pull away from the periphery, focusing in on subject matter that makes the musical plots play out like intimate scenes. One becomes entranced by the gentle swirl of acoustic guitar and the reverberating haunt of melodic progressions. Subdued but dripping with insanity, there’s the feeling that you’ve been in these rooms/places before, yet something is just a bit off-kilter. Tonight at The Pharmacy, Mendez will be part of a lineup that also includes the tranquil, swaying, fuzz-flecked psych of Sun Organ. In support of their recent debut album It Felt Like Glass (No Sleep Records), the upbeat emo of California quartet No Better, and the eclectic noise-pop of Lava Gulls complete the billing. – Michael Colavita
Other shows to help get you through these dog days of summer…
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Greg Mendez, Sun Organ, SAT Prototype:AT, SUN Too Many Talk Shows
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Line Leader, Fred Beans, SUN Full Bush, Jenna Pup
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI The Dove & The Wolf, SAT E. Joseph and The Sparrows, The Classic Hunt
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Mat Burke and The Painkillers, Breaker Breaker, Pete Hill/Night Drive, SAT Tailgunner, Se7en Heads/Fame Lust, SUN Springbrooke
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Stonethrowers, The Cheddar Boys, SAT Pure Jerry
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Party On The Meekend
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Warchyld, SAT Flannel, White Limo
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT Yolo Ono, DJ Sylo, Tay Banga
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SUN (Downstairs) The Off Switch, Earth7, As Annie Falls, Set in Stone, Steel Crowes, Zymotic Flow
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Mad Conductor, SAT The Good Mess, The Hook, SUN Bohemian Mule
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Chris Kush, John Gilbride, Supreem Da Rezarekta’, Gabrielle, SAT Red 40 and the Last Groovement, Trap Rabbit
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Earth Telephone, No Thank You, SAT Kirby & the VibeTribe, Vilebred
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Die Choking, SUN At Best
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay, DJ Matthew Law
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Joshua Bation, Dizzy Valdez, Patrick Feliciano, SAT Fad Nauseam
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Too Many Talk Shows, Pajent, SAT Stepping Razor (CD Release), The End A.D., The Blessed Muthas, Thorazine
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Gross, Disinhume, SAT Left to Vanish, SUN Big Handsome, Big Mind
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Lean Wit It
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Royale, SAT Ian St. Laurent
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Sharkbullet, World Below, SUN Zombie Shark, The Taste of Vomit, Moyogash, Hallucinogenic Bulb
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Nick Schneblen Band, Greg Sover, SAT Something Divine, Slyfoxes, Jamie & the Guarded Heart
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, SUN Philly Does Willie Nelson: Amber Rae & The Raetones, Jim Mitchell & The Repeat Offenders, Grady Hoss & The Sidewinders, Ali Awan
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT McGuire’s Mob, TV Violence, SUN Eli Capella (Album Release)
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Mint
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Busy Bee Project (EP Release), Honeytiger, Canine 10
Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Walte Young, Tiffany’s House, Plumslugger
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.)
The Tusk (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Chino, Kitty Rotten
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI A Million Dollars
Chicago
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Julianne Q & The Howl
Julianne Quass is the front woman for the Blues and Classic Rock inspired band, Julianne Q & The Howl. They released their debut album Julianne Q back in 2017, and now are preparing to release a great new EP called "Sky Rider" this Fall.
Earlier this year the band released a couple of cover of classic rock songs. Below is their take on the Jimi Hendrix classic “All Along The Watchtower.
Julianne Q & The Howl have several shows coming up in August. You can catch them at Castaways on August 12th opening for Backyard Cohort, at Little Italy Fest on August 19th, and at Oak Park Micro Brew Review on August 18th.
Chicago
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Stardusk Encounter
Stardusk Encounter recently released their latest EP, #perceptionmanagement. This is a blend of Garage Rock and Psych Rock spread across seven tracks. The album as a whole deals with impact advertising and social media is having on our every day lives.
Stardusk Encounter is the work Robbie Rob, John John,, Rob Paz, and Joel.
Philadelphia
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New Chill Dad LP Available for Streaming & Download
The duo of Zack Williams and Nicholas Kearns, a.k.a. Chill Dad, recently shared their new self-titled LP. Coasting in a hypnotic, bedroom cloud, these songs marinate in an aqueous groove. Pulsating in a relaxed, ethereal state, it’s easy to light up and get lost in these sun-kissed tracks. "Cause it’s Friday… And you ain’t got shit to do!"
L.A.
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Mini Trees release emotional new single “Take it Back”
"Take it Back" sounds like an intimate story come to life. As if stumbling into an open diary, the reflective new single by Mini Trees – the solo project of singer-songwriter Lexi Vega – establishes a meditative mood which befits its patient catharsis. Vega is not a showy performer – her raw vocal delivery is meant to absorb and not impress the listener, as it’s an affective force which underscores the song’s lingering guitar lead. It’s also imbued with a gentle ambiance, an element which adds and never disrupts its true essence and further reveals her emotional authenticity.
Given that this is the beginning of Vega’s project, it’s only a matter of time until she makes a visit to your venue of choice. – Juan Rodríguez
NYC
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Mothica brings dynamic synth-pop to Mercury on 08.16
Mothica’s music relies heavily on those dynamic shifts in mood and energy that have become increasingly popular since the EDM bubble burst and more and more artists lifted their ideas into different genres. For the most part, these ideas can fall flat, sounding like cheap excuses to up the amplitude, but this Brooklyn via Oklahoma City transplant infuses these bursts of energy with endearing and tender moments that make each song a thrill to experience. Residing somewhere in between chillwave and bedroom pop, her music comes to life with soft pulses of electronica and gentle drums before her commanding voice takes center stage. It’s only when the hook comes in on songs like “Water Me Down” do the moments of bombast hit an emotional apex; wobbling synths sideswipe and careen upward in a powerful moment of emotional vulnerability. Her music makes for cinematic displays of affection and hurt. You can catch her performing live on August 16 at Mercury Lounge, and you can stream her music below. –Tucker Pennington
NYC
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Curling release LP ‘Definitely Band’ & embark on summer tour
The sophomore LP by Berkeley band Curling, entitled Definitely Band, is a feel-good frenzy of jangly shoegaze rock. This release — a mix of Beatlesque melodies that blow up and pop like bubble gum and fervently executed guitar riffs that make your heart jitter — is entirely their own. The second track on the album, “Flutter” (streaming below), genuinely brings about a thrilling frission, even on your tenth or eleventh spin of the track. Curling have outdone themselves this time. They will be playing at The Down & Out in L.A. on August 16, and then kicking off a summer tour the following day. – Lilly Milman