The music of Odetta Hartman is fueled by creation, no matter the outcome, and Old Rockhounds Never Die is a wellspring of genuine freak-folk experimentation. Spiraling banjos and country pianos could turn into short, tuneful folk ballads, or they succinctly end as sweet vignettes that playfully tinker with sound. This sophomore album proves that the way Hartman deconstructed home-spun atmosphere on her debut was more than just a phase; it’s a fully integrated accent in her music that unravels throughout each song. Field recordings of oceans and trains are malleably crafted, intertwining with the more “authentic” sounds to instill a trans-generational voice to her songwriting. The shorter instrumentals on Rockhounds often feel like ideas that could bud into their own unique genres, blending hip-hop and noise, almost flaunting the number of potential ideas each song hides. This playfulness doesn’t attempt to hide the raw sentiment of Hartman’s lyrics; sorrow and rage and sensuality feel quite genuine against this idiosyncratic backdrop. Old Rockhounds Never Die finds reverie when it digs its talons into sonic territories that bleed together, and each composition is a grove of ideas begging to be explored. –Tucker Pennington
New Painted Forest EP Available for Streaming & Purchase
Delicately subdued, heartfelt bedroom pop streams from Painted Forest on the band’s new EP Former Home Death. At ease and yet emotively exposed, the album embraces fragility with the stubbornness and strength to move forward; the lingering effects of the past meet the present. Acknowledging the personal impact, which is packaged in a spacious setting, the weight of the moment becomes swept up in the breeze. Float away in the sincere daydream.
Joe Kenkel’s “FBP” is weird, earnest indie music at its finest
Let’s get real for just a second- "FBP" is a weird song. But don’t let that deter you- this is definitely my favorite weird song of 2018. "FBP" stands for Football Poet- at least that’s the main lyrical hook in the song. I’d like to ask singer-songwriter Joe Kenkel what exactly that means, seeing as football and poetry couldn’t be more unrelated, but let’s look to the lyrics for clues, shall we? "Breakin’ my bones / singin’ for you" gives some indication that perhaps there is a sense of beauty in football, or that there’s something poetic about a tackle? Clearly all of this is part of a grand scheme to impress a lover, but for what reason… I’ll let you decide. Kenkel even animated a trippy music video for the song, which you can watch here. Enough speculating on my part- this is weird, earnest indie rock at it’s finest. –Geena Kloeppel
TOKiMONSTA & ZHU Illuminate Stubbs On A Wednesday
Whether it was divine intervention or just luck, the sold-out performance for Zhu and Tokimonsta on Wednesday night at Stubbs had a rare bout of good weather, in what has been a couple weeks of torrential rain. A long serpentine line spilled out of Stubbs as scores of young people prepared for a mental releae in what would be a mid-week dance party. With tickets ranging from $35 – $200 the sold-out crowd was even more impressive, given that the majority of attendees were seemingly cash-strapped millennials.
The pricing was however, justified, as the opening act, TOKiMONSTA is a bonafide headliner all on her own. The New York-based artist, whose real name is Jennifer Lee, has been making blissful electronica for over a decade and is an adroit conductor of her audience’s mood and energy level. Her live act blends serene soundscapes with hip-hop breakdowns and unassailable optimism.
Lee also has one of the greatest comeback stories of recent memory. Diagnosed with a rare brain disease called Moyamoya, Lee had to have two brain surgeries that left her without the ability to walk or make music. Having to relearn most functions, Lee focused on a musical rehabilitation that bore fruit in the form of her fifth album, Lune Rouge.
While TOKiMONSTA’s set raised the bar to a degree that would be uncomfortable for most artists to follow, ZHU is confident in his own magic. The mysterious producer and singer came onstage to a seizure-inducing light show and performed on top of a pyramid.
ZHU would blast through 20 different tracks, each featuring different instrumentation and visual sub-routines. Pausing only to address the ungodly heat and eat some ice cream, ZHU had a sea of entranced fans swaying to his ethereal beats. Hits like “Drowning”, “Faded” and “Guilty Love” all invigorated the crowd’s energy in the sweltering Texas heat.
Both sets had amazing vibes, and each artist has the versatility to play a small club or a mega-festival. However it is the wide-range of fans that they attract that might be the most interesting part of their appeal; EDM, house, hip-hop, indie-electro and trance fans were all included in the array attendees. While both artists have been arguably under the radar until recent years, it feels like we are just beginning to see them take flight.
Tom Galloway’s “Our Due Time” is an uptempo yet sentimental country song
If you like the heavy, plucked western electric guitar leitmotif that has reached even Lana Del Rey’s recorded music, you’re in the right place. Tom Galloway’s new song "Our Due Time" off of his most recent record Cross Currents is of the darker strand of country music that inspired this curmudegon-esque tone and texture. Galloway’s voice is warm and smooth, but the timbre is even lovelier when sung in harmony. There are some really cool, funky instrumental breakdowns in place of a vocal bridge, featuring piano, bass and a groovy synth solo, which are the hidden gems in the song. "Our Due Time" is tastefully sprinkled with these bits of ear candy, and the instrumental moments are just as important as the sections with vocals. Galloway clearly has his own take on country/bluegrass, and we’re here for it. –Geena Kloeppel
Weekend Warrior, September 21 – 23
A pair of Lame-O’s latest releases are being celebrated this Saturday with a dual record release show at the First Unitarian Church. An endearing, country-folk vulnerability is ingrained throughout I’ll Sing, the sophomore album from Shannen Moser. Time-worn tradition meets the empathetic-transformative nature of her personal narratives. Stirring sensitivity sends shivers up your spine, and the warmth of rollicking rockers make this an album that can keep you company or be embraced in a communal collective. Sharing common ground, The Deli Philly’s August Record of the Month, Chosen Family by Thin Lips, is one which unfolds in accessible, revealing lyrics delivered by Chrissy Tashjian. The confidence/ability to put it all on the line forges a instant connection. With that established, the momentous, fire-starting riffs and melodies envelop in songs that tap into a raw swell of feelings and force. With its debut full-length album Sleep Debt out today via Take This To Heart Records, No Thank You’s Nicholas Holdorf-led quintet Cheer Up captures an expansive, bright, bouncy, thought-collecting emo. Speaking of new records, the quartet of So Totally is currently working on its latest. – Michael Colavita
More new sounds to check out this weekend…
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SAT Thin Lips/Shannen Moser (Dual Record Release), So Totally, Cheer Up
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Langor, SAT 5th Annual Night of 1,000 Kates, SUN Lucy Stone
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Yowler, SAT Ben Arnold & The 48HR Orchestra, Cliff Hillis
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Christopher Davis Shannon/DJ Deejay, SAT The Drowned God, The University of South Vietnam School of Warfare, Sleepsculptor, Witness/Fame Lust
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Remember Sports, Corey Flood, SUN 7th Victim
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Goldenspiral DJ, SUN Joey Stix & Frankie Vado, Evan Wize, The Burgeoning, KAYIN, Night Bloom
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) FRI Jedi Mind Tricks
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Agent Zero, Jeff Omega
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT Ceramic Animal, Cold Fronts
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Nothing Wrong, Jefferson Berry & the Urban Acoustic Coalition
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Naps Past Noon, Civil HoldUp, Needless Ghost, SUN Punk Hands
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Dry Reef, Crucial, SAT The Chris Paterno Band, SAT Joshua Chase Miller, SUN Grady Hoss & The Sidewinders
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Grace Vonderkuhn, Tetra, Ali Awan, SAT Welter, Taxes, SUN Sunchoke, Broke Body, Blame Jakob
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Rachel Andie & The V Element, Elaine Rasnake, SAT Gabe Wolf, Destiny X, SUN Randy Scott Carroll
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Among Criminals, La Capitaña, Something Like A Monument / Conversations, Flat Mary Road, South on Sunday, SUN Hellings
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI Chalk & The Beige Americans, The 1940s, All This Huxley, SAT Milton, Kohn
The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI SOLD (Release Show), Ramona, Machine Gun Joe, Blood Sound
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI RFA, SUN Farewell Summer
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SUN Ear Me Now
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Ben Aire, SAT Drootrax
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Danny Newport, Cain Kerner & Joji Ruffin, XPresidents, SAT Sage Turtle, Super Bonanza
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI The Dead Milkmen, She Became Grey, SAT Muscle Tough, SUN Splintered Sunlight
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI Control For Smilers, SAT Ronnie Riggles, Schilly, Charley Coin
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Violet Waves, Mesa Glow, Douse
LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster Ave.) SUN The Obsessives, Strawberry Runners
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Rentboy, Secret Nudist Friends
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Data, TVO, Cavemen
Sonny Falls “Towards No One”
Sonny Falls has released an Emulsion directed video for their latest single “Towards No One”. The track is taken from their recently released LP, Some Kind of Spectre (Sooper Records).
You can catch Sonny Falls at Beat Kitchen tomorrow, Sept 22nd, with Slaughter Beach, Dog and Gladie.
Monobody “Former Islands”
Monobody recently announced that they will be releasing their sophomore album, Raytracing, on November 1st via Sooper Records. This is the experimental instrumental post rock of Al Costis (Bass, Vibraphone, Lap Steel), Collin Clauson (Keyboards), Conor Mackey (Guitar, Keyboards, Vibraphone, Programming), Nnamdi Ogbonnaya (Drums, Percussion), and Steve Marek (Bass).
Below you preorder the LP and stream the album’s lead single “Former Islands”.
Frege releases sultry new single, “Stilfs” with accompanying music video
Mexico City bred and currently Brooklyn-based band, Frege, have create a very intriguing melange of sonic elements with their latest single, “Stilfs.” Released with a sultry accompanying music video, the track blends mellow, noir atmospheres with soulful vocals that satisfy our never-ending craving for catchy melodies. Unexpected sonic developments, like an accelerated chorus driven by an ingenious, fragmented drum pattern, or experimentation with electronic textures, keep things interesting throughout the song, without letting things get too "out there" to be thoroughly enjoyed. Following on the steps of avant-pop artists like Radiohead and Talk Talk, these guys aspire to provoke thought, and pull big sounds and even bigger concepts into each little groove of theirs. Listen to the single below, and check out Frege’s live session of their new track here. – Rebecca Carroll – photo credit: Maureen Evans
Brandon James “There She Goes”
Soul Singer Brandon James has released a new single called “There She Goes”. The song is positive and uplifting, and his smile addictive and endearing. The single is taken from his 2017 collection of songs called The Divine Collection.
You can catch Brandon on October 14th at Reggie’s Music Joint as part of his Soulful Sundays’ residence.
Beastii “Why Why Why”
Beastii released a new single last week called “Why Why Why”. This is Psych Rock of Jen Dot (Guitar, Vocals), Dom D’Amico (Bass, Vocals), and Chris Lee (Drums, Vocals). This is the trio’s second single of 2018 following the release of their LP, Can’t Wait, back in 207.
A gem from the submissions: Casual Male – “EP”
New York-based ensemble Casual Male’s sound is best epitomized by the cover of their most recent (and aptly titled) extended play, "EP": it’s a photograph of a small, tree-covered island in the middle of a verdant river valley. There’s a nostalgic, summer-y quality across the release’s five tracks, not one evocative of an overdone Californian surf-rock trope, but something more nuanced and sonically diverse that reads as a tripped-out summer spent in the Adirondacks. The crux of Casual Male’s artistry emerges in their instrumental tightness – their ability to pull off disorienting tempo shifting numbers like “Resistance,” or incorporate a discordant synthy swirl behind screaming R&B guitar riffing on “Takin’ It Easy,” keeps the entirety of the EP interesting, while walking that careful tightrope between classic and contemporary. Here’s hoping this new group continues to flesh out their vintage vision in the near future. – Connor Beckett McInerney