New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Mike Maimone of Mutts released a new EP, “The High Hat Club”, last week along with a fun video for the single “Hey Now”.
The video features an array of local fellow LGBTQ artists in hopes of spreading love, happiness, and positivity. The song and video are a big dose of joy and sunshine, and show that best way to overcome hate and fear is love and friendship.
After learning the abbreviated origin of space-rock outfit Gene Wildest, you can’t help but take notice of the group’s storied past, and root for its continued success. The four-piece, which now consists of Brian Corbett (guitar/vocals), Rob Ealer (guitar), Sean Corbett (bass), and Dave Ashcraft (drums), recently won a heated race to be our Featured Artist(s), and we are happy to learn that the band has also been landing on the radar of nationally touring acts. But we DO NOT condone Corbett’s pickle habit (haha)! You can check out our latest interview with the Gene Wildest frontman HERE.
The local label In The Lake Records released a new Split EP this week called “Split”. It features two suburban punk bands, Hacked Nudes and Mans Bites Dogs, and 6 quality songs.
For Hacked Nudes this is their first release since their self-titled debut EP back in 2015. They take the first half of EP and kick it off with a thrashing but melodic song called “Diced Onions”.
Man Bites Dog has not released new music since 2014 and close the EP out with force, anger, and aggression. The final track is called ”Protest Song” and it’s cathartic, compelling, and the perfect album closer.
The Vast Glissade, the latest album from Jo Kusy, slides into a hypnotic haze of psych-pop. Gliding in a daydream state, the songs musically achieve a relaxed joy. However, whilst hovering in the ether, hard-hitting, lyrical messages are dispensed. Balancing buoyant instrumentation with a gritty, riff-fueled core and pertinent universal themes, the album is a soothing sanctuary that veers from reality but still addresses it.
The climactic peak of “You Know You’ve Not a Thing,” the first single from Paper Fairy’s debut album, may be the drum solo-like bridge two-thirds of the way through the track. Up to that point, the song seems to plod through an obstacle course of noise and silence, as if restrained to simmer but never boil. Twitching instrumentals back dark lines where Chris Gaskell, the Brooklyn musician leading the project, repeats the title phrase: “you know you’ve not a thing to rely on,” “you know you’ve not a thing to hold on to,” but the track doesn’t peak until that middle section where distorted drums battle with chaotic jolts of sound. It’s a fitting introduction to Paper Fairy’s debut album, Haunter Haunted, which Gaskell describes as a horror concept album. Haunter Haunted will be self-released on October 26. Listen to “You Know You’ve Not a Thing” below, and check the project out live tomorrow (09.18) at Sunnyvale. – Cameron Carr
Ural Thomas has a new album, The Right Time, coming out with his band Ural Thomas & The Pain, via Tender Loving Empire. Thomas is best known for opening for legends such as Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones. Now, at 80 years old, Thomas is releasing a brand new album. The album is a great one, proving that time can’t dull a talent and passion for making music. On “No Distance (Between You & Me),” his voice is fresh, bright, and full of a hopeful energy that is heartening to hear. On some slower songs, like “Gotta Say (I Love You),” Thomas’ crooning is incredibly tender and smooth. It easily rivals acts such as The Miracles. Yet, despite how rooted in 60’s R&B Thomas is, it doesn’t mean his music isn’t for the modern day. Ural Thomas makes music that could soothe any heartbreak or put some fire in anybody’s step, be it the 60s or 2018. While the album won’t be out till September 28th, you can pre-order the album now, here. Ural Thomas & The Pain will also be playing the Aladdin Theater a day after the release, on Sep 29th.
-By Avril Carrillo, Photo By Brud Giles
Brandon Rhodes makes love songs in his bedroom. Or, at least, that’s what the "about" section of D. D. Island’s Facebook page tells us. His new EP Last Summer is indeed very love-ly. Frontman Rhodes has a divine, Elliott Smith / Bright Eyes vocal timbre- most of the time it sounds as if he’s either just woken up, or is lounging in a hammock. The same could be said about the rest of the arrangement, especially of "Lover Girl," which features a lightly strummed acoustic guitar and washed out, plucked electric guitars. "Watching All My Days" also reminds me of early Tennis, with that slightly beachy, vintage sound. Overall, Last Summer is a great EP for a nostalgic September day- we know those are slipping through our fingers. –Geena Kloeppel
As rainy days begin approaching, you may find yourself in search of some music to suit the changing seasons. Enter Mimicking Birds, and their two recently released song “On the Warm Side” and “Hi Lo.” When listening to “On the Warm Side,” you cannot help but move your head along to the slow, mournful tones. It is a soft, melodic meditation on change and self-interpretation. “Hi Lo” has a faster, more synth-based beat. While each is strong on its own, listening to them side by side provides more depth and clarity on the band’s message. Warm and inviting vocals elevate the music. In conjunction with the steady percussive heartbeat and romantic, airy synth lines, Mimicking Birds has made music perfect for the dreamy, rainy weather up ahead.
Mimicking Birds are currently on tour, but will be back in the PNW starting September 28th with a show in Ashland. You can get more information here.
-By Avril Carrillo, photo by Jimmy Russell
Once they find that balance of instrumentation, that catchy groove and winsome hook, most bands find ways to build up to those moments, not evolve them. But Dead Tooth’s latest single “Spirit” from their Still Beats EP, masters the transition from a slowburn balance of guitar licks, whispered vocals, and psychedelic bass, to increasingly tense drums with a distinct giddyup, frantic vocals and fuzzy wall of guitars. The track is reminiscent of My Morning Jacket, featuring a trippy, southern-rock jam with whispery vocals that solidify as the song continues to grow into a vibe all its own. And at its apex, the explosiveness returns to the simple melody that kicked everything off, a shift marking just how natural this band can craft dynamics in their music. Dead Tooth are set to perform September 17 at Secret Project Robot, and you can stream “Spirit” below. – Tucker Pennington
Photo-Curio are releasing a self-titled EP this weekend via Invertebrata Records. This is the 4-piece post punk band consisting of Matthew Haddock (guitar), Ben Pfeifer (bass/vocals), Melissa Scales (drums/vocals), and Robie Anson (Guitar, Vocals). This is the bands second EP, and follow-up to 2016’s self-titled EP.
Below you can pre-order the EP and stream the lead track “Maybe Next Summer”.
You can catch Photo-Curio this Sunday, Sept 16th, at Burlington Bar with The Glacial Speed and Mars Hill
Comfort Food have released a new album called Falling Up A Down Escalator via Already Dead Tapes. This is the third album from the duo of Daniel Wolff and Jake Marshall, and first since 2016’s “Waffle Frolic”.
This is a blend of experimental jazz, noise and funk, and features a surprising appearance from Darko the Super on “Dollar Legs"
