L.A.

Shoegaze trio Tennis System release video for new single “C O M I N G D O W N”

Posted on:

 On C L E A R E R, the previous video Tennis System released off of their latest LP, P A I N, a young woman is caught up in the midst of a personal dilemma as the rest of the world continues to move on. Continuing on this theme, the restless shoegaze trio once again focuses on this character’s plight on the video for their latest single, C O M I N G D O W N. This time, though, the young woman is put front and center, as we see her go by her day in a hazy state of lethargy and solitude. Let the trio shimmer a guiding light on this narrative, since their cascading noise hits with an emotional pulse unlike we’ve seen from them before. – Juan Rodríguez

Tennis System will perform at Teragram Ballroom in support of post-rock duo El Ten Eleven on November 29. P A I N is out now on all streaming platforms.

NYC

Birch’s new track is a stirring ode to feminism

Posted on:

Building off a repeated chant of “they want you” Birch creates a stirring ode to the feminist movement on new track “femme.two.” The single takes inspiration from the 2017 Women’s Marches and lays out a view of the current struggle for continued rights that’s both honest and inspiring. The music flows darkly, mirroring the tiresome work of feminism today rather than preaching plain optimism. On top stuttering backing beats the chords progress from minor to major as Birch’s Michelle Birsky sings with reverence. “I don’t wanna wait for the tide to change / listen to my voice and you’ll feel the same.” Musically, it’s fairly minimal and almost dreary at times but that only serves to give more power to Birsky’s voice and lyrics. – Cameron Carr

Portland

Mini Blinds EP Release

Posted on:

Mini Blinds has a new EP coming out, and the release show is this Saturday, September 1st. The EP, titled Dust, is the band’s first album since their well-received Air Signs, which came out in 2016. Dust is only 4 songs long, but if every song is as well done as the already released “Ashes”, then Mini Blinds should be proud. “Ashes” is slower and less pop-centered than their previous work. Leaning more towards shoegaze and surf, the song is slow and romantic. It’s more mature than what we’ve seen from the band so far, but still just as dreamy and fun. The accompanying video is strange and playful. It toes the line between indie-pop music video and the sort of aesthetic favored by found footage fanatics. It’s a great indication of where the band is looking to go. 

Mini Blind’s release show is this Saturday, September 1st at The Fixin’ To with Plastic Cactus and the Pool Boys.

By Avril Carrillo, Photo by Erin Holcomb

 

Chicago

Slushy “Fun Cunumdrum”

Posted on:

Slushy released a new LP last week called Fun Cunumdrum via Tripp Tapes and Rubber Vomit Records. This is surf and garage rock of Chris “Twist" Kramer of The Lemons, and this LP is his first release since 2014’s Nuggish.

Slushy is currently touring Europe with Nobunny, but you can catch him at Reed’s Local on September 27th with Vacuum. He will also be performing at The Burlington on October 18th with Amy Rigby and Hawley.

Chicago

Tyranny Of Dave

Posted on:

Tyranny Of Dave is the solo project Dave Wechsler formerly of Brooklyn’s Piñataland. He is now based in Chicago and is preparing to released a new album, The Decline of America Part 3: Silence in Brooklyn, on November 9th.

The album features contributions from Didi Afana on guitar, Aaron Zemelko on bass and Ami Saraiya, Anna Soltys and Maggie Ward on backing vocals. The album’s lead single is “Silence In Brooklyn” and can be streamed below.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Body” – Roya

Posted on:

“Body” is featured on Egg, the new EP from Roya. The track emerges out of whispering vocals and guitar strums as a lo-fi buzz fills out the room. The momentum/strength builds as the line “so just try to pretend like you don’t know my body” is emphasized and repeated, becoming a mantra of sorts. Whether the song is a monologue directed at an individual, who isn’t listening, or represents a separation or conflict between one’s thoughts and physical being, there’s a magnitude in its simplicity.

Nashville

Ron Gallo releases new music video “Always Elsewhere”

Posted on:

 Ron Gallo’s new song "Always Elsewhere" translates all kinds of anxiety and existential dread into a wild blend of janky guitar riffs, a drivin’ drum kit, slightly absurd lyrics, and an almost exasperated vocal timbre. The combination of textures is at times so overwhelming that I wanted to press pause, but the flipside of that effect is also that you can’t tear yourself away. "Always Elsewhere" is just too interesting. "No time to feel what’s real" is a repeated lyric throughout the song, which becomes Gallo’s battle cry, if you will. Without giving too much away- the video features the artist in a white, workman’s one-piece, carrying a cardboard box labeled "SELF" in various locations. This song and video are a real treat. Ron Gallo is back from tour at the Basement East on 11/17. –Geena Kloeppel

 

Nashville

Telefones’ “Castle Factory” is a new gritty jam

Posted on:

 I felt myself start to head-bang in the powerhouse-intro of Telefones "Castle Rock", which says something. It’s fascinating when the recorded music of a punk rock band accurately replicates what they must sound like live. This is no small feat- trying to convey the sound of a dark, sweaty venue, gritty guitars battling with the vocals and having a riff-off with the drum kit, IN HEADPHONES, is nearly impossible. Or so I thought. Telefones seems to have mastered the art of punk rock recording, so for them I’ll take my hat off. Keep your ears open for their 7" record, which comes out 9/21. –Geena Kloeppel

 

NYC

Raffaella cleans up in new video for “Bruce Willis”

Posted on:

Soulful songwriter Raffaella has released the video for her single "Bruce Willis", a song that explains toeing the line between childhood and adulthood with an air of positivity. To visualize that concept, Raffaella and director Luke Marcus Rosen captured the moments after a wild house party, showing the rising singer-songwriter cleaning up the mess while dancing and singing among the chaos. In the party scenes, twenty-somethings scream in drunken fervor and throw balloons around the room; in the scenes showing the aftermath that follows, all of the revelers have crashed, their bodies wiped of all childish energy, insinuating that in all of us, our time for partying is limited. The well-produced video is the latest accomplishment from Raffaella, who opened for Years & Years last May before a sold-out crowd at Brooklyn Steel. Watch it below. – Will Sisskind

Nashville

reality something’s “Life Noise” is lofi alt-rock at its finest

Posted on:

Aesthetically and sonically, reality something are so intentional and consistent that it almost doesn’t line up with the genre: lo-fi alt rock. The band is fronted by Elena Franklin, whose vocal timbre instantly reminded me of the B-52s. reality something recorded their debut at guitarist Kingsley Brock’s home studio, which gives the record the grit and fuzz characteristic of the genre, but organically. That’s the thing about this band: their songs are arranged well and the instrumental textures are locked in, but it isn’t because of ‘studio magic,’ it’s because at their core, reality something are excellent musicians. Be sure to catch them live at Exit/In on 9/6. –Geena Kloeppel