Accompanying the the third season of the More Perfect podcast, 27: The Most Perfect album consists of 27 original songs inspired by the Amendments. Suburban Living addresses the 26th Amendment; the warmth and sincerity of the vocals ride the smooth waves of clean guitar licks, synth and percussion. Meshing the coming of age innocence of youthful perspective with dire consequences of war, the track pushes the importance of making one’s voice heard via the voting process. Suburban Living is slated to support Hellogoodbye and Family of Geniuses at a pair of sold-out shows at Boot & Saddle on October 15 & 17. (Photo by Kelly Kurteson)
Chicago
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Black Sandwich
Black Sandwich released a new LP, Arrogant Alien, earlier this month. This is the wild rock sounds of Meo Beenaux (Vocal), John Briggs (Guitar), Luke Blanco (Bass), and Charlie Watt (Drums). We say wild because this collection of 16 songs contain some of the more difficult to define, but utterly enjoyable songs we have heard in awhile.
Philadelphia
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New Garden Gate EP Available for Streaming & Purchase
An eerie, experimental familiarity invites one into Flower Crowns, the new EP from Garden Gate, a.k.a. Tim Meskers (Brown Recluse, White Candles). An enchanting, keys-driven, psych-pop daydream unfolds as the vocals hypnotically soothe. A bridge between baroque and the futuristically vivid, the songs create a world where one is simultaneously welcome to explore yet wary of. Let the music be your guide as you venture into a space where you’ve never been, but vaguely remember.
NYC
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A Deli Premiere: Kid Le Chat share video for “Lost Critters”
The lines are blurred on all fronts in Kid Le Chat’s newest video for "Lost Critters." The new wave influence that housed their vision of what synth heavy rock can be seems to be falling apart, and it’s an astonishing deconstruction of inspirations. The oscillation between digital and analog electronics, bedroom pop verses and arena rock hooks, and colorful visuals layered over naturalistic landscapes in the video makes it difficult to discern where one influence begins and another ends. The song wholly encompasses influences and views them through a singular lens, shifting in tempo and mood yet maintaining it’s cooly driven focus. You can stream the video below and catch Kid Le Chat at Union Pool on October 24 and at Berlin on October 27th. -Tucker Pennington
Austin
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Andrew W.K. Brings Affirmation-Rock To Ravenous Austin Crowd
Andrew W.K. walked into the Mohawk on Saturday night like a knighted champion of the court of partying. The one-man-band who found success with his 2001 debut album, I Get Wet, has continued to get new music out consistently despite issues with his record company. His latest album, You’re Not Alone, might be his strongest to date and his subsequent tour has unveiled a mature yet charismatic Andrew, who approaches his shows with a perfectionist mentality.
While many artists are complacent with lulls in their live show, bookending weaker tracks with hits, Andrew W.K. refuses to concede those nadirs in his show. Beginning with the building track of “The Power of Partying”, the stage then explodes with “Music Is Worth Living For” in flashes of strobe and Andrew in a messiah-like pose. Many of Andrew’s songs, especially off the new album, have affirmation built into them and they serve as much as inspiration as they do for musical entertainment.
While Andrew is the focal point of the chaos onstage, he is surrounded by a perfectly rehearsed band that continuously challenges each other’s energy levels. Guitarist, Amanda Lepre, is a tour de force and also happens to be an Austinite, while his dominant drummer, Clark Danger, was discovered after submitting a personal Youtube video of himself covering
To say the set is polished is wild understatement and theatrical songs like “Ready To Die”, “She Is Beautiful” and “We Want Fun” are met with a riotous crowd reaction. Andrew W.K. addresses the crowd in his most sophomoric but endearing party-voice:
“We’ve been partying in the Hill Country for a long time… And all those parties have swirled into one deja-vu party that keeps getting better. Even if you blackout tonight and don’t remember the show, your soul will still remember!”
W.K would get through 13 riveting tracks before another 4 that would throttle the encore. The final song would be his rainmaker, with “Party Hard” getting one more primal reaction from fans. While Andrew W.K. might have a mainstream reputation of being a meathead headbanger, his songs tell a different story of positivity and resilience that adds another level of depth to his orchestrations. A liberated and optimistic Andrew, makes for a seemingly endless future of inspiring music.
Toronto
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Olivia & The Creepy Crawlies – “Room To Grow” Release Party 10.05 at Lee’s Palace!
Olivia and the Creepy Crawlies are an indie-folk band originally formed in London, Ontario while members attended college together. They now call Toronto their homebase but ventured back to London to record their latest record “Room To Grow” at EMAC Studios with producer Moe Berg and Engineer Rob Nation. The sound is impeccable on the title track with beautiful vocal harmonies throughout. I also particularly like the country & western style lead guitar licks that noodle away as the song progresses. They will be hosting a Double Release Party along with JJ & The Pillars on October 5th at Lee’s Palace. – Kris Gies
NYC
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BOYTOY bring their coast-to-coast vision to Australia on 9.27
BOYTOY are a self-described “summer strut down a New York sidewalk,” but their most recent effort (and sophomore release) Night Leaf is the product of a West Coast environment, recorded at Pump House Studio in Topanga Canyon, California. The synthesis of a bi-coastal environment is immediately apparent on Night: we’re presented with tight, sundrenched guitar lines interwoven between raucous, New York-punk inspired vox and lyrics, manifesting a final product that reads as Mike Love by-way-of the Lower East Side. While many bands struggle to break free from the musical zeitgeist of their home environment, BOYTOY effortlessly bounds outwards into new sonic territory on Night Leaf, proving themselves as one of the more adaptable and exciting bands in NYC today.
BOYTOY will bring their coast-to-coast vision to new shores this September as they embark on their tour of Australia, beginning at Collingwood’s The Tote on 9/27. You can find the rest of their Aussie dates here – in the meantime, check out their video for “NY Rip Off” below if you want a taste of their Northeast origins. –Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)
Chicago
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Yarrow
Yarrow released a new album via Manic Static earlier this month called “Cluster". This is the ethereal ambient music mixed with dreamy bedroom folk, and field recordings of Devin Shaffer. “Cluster" is her third full-length release and perhaps her most fully realized.
Photo By Ryan Edmund
Chicago
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Ratboys “GL” in 8-Bit
Ratboys have released a very fun 8-bit version of the 2018 EP, GL, via Topself Records. Ratboys is primarily the work of Julia Steiner (vox/lyrics, guitar) and Dave Sagan (guitar), but Dave did all of the work in creating these amazing remixes.
Back in July the band released a video for the original version of “Figure” which was direct and animated by Bayley White of Low-Moon Productions.
Ratboys will be performing a sold out show on September 30th at Lincoln Hall with Foxing and Kississippi.
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “The 1 Bad Man” – Remember Sports
A reflective new video for “The 1 Bad Man,” featured on Remember Sports‘s latest album Slow Buzz (Father/Daughter Records), has just arrived. Directed by Faye Orlove, the footage uses a series of mementos as markers chronicling failed relationships, as a clay figure of Carmen Perry stands back and looks through the "Museum of What We Were". The remnants of the past have a way of staying with you. In November, the quartet will be joining The Get Up Kids for a run of Midwest shows; however, they’ll be back in town on Thursday, December 6 at Johnny Brenda’s, as part of a billing that also Justus Proffit & Jay Som, as well as fellow locals Knifeplay.
Chicago
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Dog Mom “Savor”
Dog Mom has released a new single called ”Savor” via Seminary Records. This is bedroom pop of 19 year old Kim Locke.
You can catch Dog Mom on September 27th at The Mutiny with Graves and oeugons are real.
Chicago
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Blue Dream @ Reggie’s (10/6)
Heavy Psych band Blue Dream released their latest LP, Volume Blue, last week. This is the band’s sophomore album, and second LP of 2018. This is the work of Justin Sanetra (Vocals, Guitar), Jimmy Russell (Vocals, Bass), Danny Awisha (Vox & Drums), and Cook (Guitar).
You can catch Blue Dream at Reggie’s on October 6th with War Cloud, Sasquatch Turf War, Black Road, and Mos Generator.