Nashville

Amy Darling’s debut EP is a reminder to everyone that women are slaying in rock’n’roll

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 Can someone please put more rock’n’roll ladies on our radar? Thanks. I’ll start you off- with Amy Darling’s debut EP Rock’n’Roll Woman, a four-song exposition that fuses your favorite classic rockabilly textures (Jackson Browne, Steppenwolf, a dusty saloon…) with a heap of female assertion and power. The title track is the edgiest of the four, but the slightly slower "Flip the Bird" is just as sonically stunning, if not even a little more interesting. My only qualm about the record is its length: if only there were more songs! Looking forward to a full length in the future! Catch Amy Darling’s EP release show on 9/5 at American Legion Post 82. –Geena Kloeppel

 

Nashville

Jon Worthy and The Bends infuse rock with honesty on “Help Me”

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 "Help Me" is the existential rock jam you’ve been waiting for. It’s the end of summer, and, let’s face it, the hot August weather makes us all wonder what the heck we’re doing and where on earth time went. Jon Worthy perfectly articulates the existential dread many a millennial seems to experience these days. Who needs a mid-life crisis when you can have a quarter-life crisis, right? With rawness and honesty, Jon Worthy tells that story, and listening to him sing it will make you feel just a little less alone in your own anxieties. Catch him and the band live at the Springwater on 9/5. –Geena Kloeppel

 

NYC

J Bengoy channel the entropy of apathy in “Armchair” video

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The Burlington-based indie rock five-piece J Benjoy, according to their own description, make “bummer-rock that makes you smile.” This is an accurate way to characterize their Kayhl Cooper-directed clip for “Armchair,” the entropic anthem off of their LP Dogwood Winter. Filmed during a Vermont winter, the cool-toned visuals alternate between the band members playing instruments together and being carted around on armchairs around the city to much eerier scenes of dark hallways and faceless men wheeling them away. Things must destruct before they can be rebuilt, but as the first verse goes, “things fall down / but they don’t always fall into place.” It is in this space — where life has yet to snap into place, where something doesn’t quite fit but you have to figure out how to move forward anyway — that J Bengoy have created “Armchair” and it’s one worth talking about. J Bengoy will be playing at Brooklyn’s Union Pool tonight (August 25) and will be back with another show in Burlington at ArtsRiot on September 7. – Lilly Milman, photo by Kayhl Cooper

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, August 24 – 26

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At Work,  (Stupid Bag Records/ Drunken Sailor Records) the latest album from Dark Thoughts unleash a blistering, melodic-punk euphoria on their latest album, At Work (Stupid Bag Records/Drunken Sailor Records). The trio forges a forthright, raucous atmosphere – one that  speaks to listeners in a direct, immediate way. It’s a let-loose, launch-into-a-song, hard & fast, sweaty kind of record. It’s a heartfelt, hook-rich release. Tonight at First Unitarian Church, the band will be opening for supercharged shredding of Impalers, the steely snarl of riff-riding locals Grave Turner, and Sedation (who are performing live for only their second time).

BTW: There are numerous landing spots on the musical map in Philly this weekend. Fresh off a run of dates with Hop Along, Thin Lips (and Slaughter Beach, Dog) are making a quick home visit for a sold-out show this Saturday at PhilaMOCA. New release from American Trappist (at Boot & Saddle), Jesus Piece (at Ortlieb’s), and Nothing (Dance on the Blacktop Block Party) will also be echoing through the city’s streets. And of course, freak-folksters Espers triumphantly return to Philly at Union Transfer. So get out, and find your place to be. – Michael Colavita

A shitload of places to hit this weekend…

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Dark Thoughts (LP Release Show), Grave Turner, Sedation

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI The Point Breeze Country Club, SAT Cosmo Baker, Mike Nyce 

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Shane Henderson, June Divided, Saver, SAT American Trappist, The Vernes, Carroll

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Ali Awan, Love? Said the Commander/DJSC, SAT Grimace Federation / Fame Lust

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Cabana Wear, SAT Slaughter Beach, Dog, Thin Lips, SUN Goodnight/Goodluck, The Bad Larrys, AllegrA

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Troi Lauren, Noel Scales, Devin Farrell, SAT Straw Hats, Lester, Gender Work

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Espers

TLA (334 South St.) SAT Reco Havoc, Ronny Alright, WALLO267

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Midlife Crisis, Hotbed, Mattress Food, Rabbit Heart

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI My Funky Brethren, SAT Afterimage, All Good People

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Cult Objects/Taggart, Sick Panda, Honey Radar, SAT Mohican, SUN Horror Show, Jesus Piece (Record Release), Raw Force

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Midfield, Gainstrive, Dead Robins/Rover Rover, Keely Sibilia

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) SAT Knightlife, Vanderlyle, SUN Full Bush

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Aktive, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN DJ Hank McCoy

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Rachel Andie & The V Element, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Bern and the Bastards, Little War, The Red Hand, SAT Primatives, Pravda

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Generation Empty

Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Downtrodder, Disappearances, Binary, SAT Lasciaté

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI The Outlaw Pandas

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SUN Slainte

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Philly’s Foxes/DJ Chris Urban, SAT Ed Christof

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI-SUN Liberty Music Fest

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Steal Your Peach, SAT Denelle Anderson, SUN Countdown to Ecstasy, Muscle Tough

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SUN Nothing Vital

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Andrew Milicia, SAT Camp Candle, A Day Without Love, Weekend Athlete

The Ukie Club (847 N. Franklin St.) SAT Sensorium Music & Arts Festival: Tweed, Worldtown Soundsystem, Minka, Darla, Agent Zero, Patrick Richards

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Droopies, Petunia

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Eel Tank, Yureka Cash

The Waiting Room (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Slow Reader, Elaine Rasnake

Dance on the Blacktop Block Party (Livingston & E. Lehigh) SAT Nothing

NYC

A Deli Premiere: The Sofas’ “Keep Pass Turn Again” from “Chop Water” LP out on 9/14

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Emerging out of NYC’s psych and noise rock scene, The Sofas premiere their latest single “Keep Pass Turn Again” here today. While the track features an explosive wall of buzzing bees guitars and heavy snare drum, the vocal approach is softer and dreamier.  Lyrics “it is strong – but I feel it when you’re not around” are delivered with the cool detachment of J. Mascis on early Dinosaur Jr. records. Sonic breaks between central vocal phrase “burning out” include momentary bursts of chaos along with a well-placed minor chord. “Is this not enough? Enough to keep you waiting?” ushers in a pitch-bendy change, aligning more closely with fellow gazey rockers like Ringo Deathstarr. Extending this segment until the track’s end allows the blending of guitars and vocals to provide an ultimately uplifting warmth. The band’s full album “Chop Water” was mixed by Bill Skibbe (Protomartyr, The Kills, Blonde Redhead) and will be released by Jurrasic Pop Records on 9/14. –Dave Cromwell

Chicago

Lava Mentality “Coffee Queen”

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Lava Mentality released their debut single “Coffee Queen” this week. If you are addicted to caffeine, like most, the opening samples on this track are sure to induce a headache. However, the wild and funky song that follows should go a long way to calm that caffeine headache.

This is art rock for "Coffee People" and anyone who enjoys fun but challenging music.

Philadelphia

Debut Jesus Piece LP Available for Streaming & Purchase

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Only Self, the debut full-length album from Jesus Piece, is out now via Southern Lord. An onslaught of quaking rhythm and guttural vocals enter the equation, hitting the senses at a relentless pace. Ominously, unleashing power as one stomps through the terrain, there’s an unforgiving, no-looking-back aesthetic. You can catch the band’s record release show this Sunday afternoon at Ortlieb’s, where Jesus Piece will be supporting Nicky Palermo’s Horror Show, along with Raw Force.

Chicago

Grey Shore Avenue “Avalanche” Video

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Grey Shore Avenue has released a video for their song “Avalanche”. The is taken from their 2018 LP, The Weary Roadshow, and deals with overwhelming effect depression can have on someone’s mind. Grey Shore Avenue is fronted by Bryan Kuhn (guitar and lead vocals) with Antonio Camacho (drums, vocals) and Stevie Konstatos (bass, lead guitar, mixing/mastering).

You can catch Grey Shore Avenue at Debonair Social Club on Sept 7th with Mary Vaughn and Shy Technology.

Chicago

Single Premiere: Shi la Rosa “Space Queen”

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We are proud to be able to premiere the new single, “Space Queen” from local Indie Pop musician Shi La Rosa. This is the alter ego of Rachel Colonna who release her debut EP, “Sometimes I Think Of You”, in collaboration with producer and multi-instrumentalist Sink Slow back in 2017.

“Space Queen” blend elements of disco, jazz, and radio-ready pop to create a track that is both sultry and danceable. This is a perfect end of summer backyard banger.

L.A.

Creature Canyon unveil soulful new single “Hurricane”

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Creature Canyon document the natural ebb and flow of a meaningful relationship on Hurricane. The collaborative trio of Austin Steele, Ryan Amyot, and Kyle Victoria likens the experience to that of a hurricane, a force of nature which could disturb a seemingly calm phase.  But there’s an optimism that shines through in their soulful resolve – an assurance that things will get better – and they sell it with a hook-driven vibe chorus which beams with color and festivity. Because once that mighty storm hits, the next step is to repair what’s been broken.

You can watch Creature Canyon perform at Resident on October 18. You can buy tickets here. Juan Rodríguez