New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
J Fernandez has released a video for the latest single, “Common Sense”, from his forthcoming LP, Occasional Din. The LP will be released via Joyful Noise on Nov. 9th, but can be preordered now.
You can help J Fernandez celebrate the release of his album at Hungry Brain on Nov. 10th.
Today, Baby Steps, the new EP from the Kate Lord-led outfit Sleepy Freak, was released, and tomorrow evening, Horror Land will host a showcase of locals to mark the occasion. There’s both a sense of reflective imagination and the push toward adventure in these songs. An ongoing evolution runs a thread through the narratives that steadily simmer and ripple, leading way to a ripping cathartic release/realization. Gradually building tension through transparent vulnerability and melodically stacked progressions, these personal journeys lead you somewhere, while still hitting home. Sleepy Freak will also be joined by the bummer pop of Snowhore and lo-fi, sad folk of Puppy Angst, featuring Alyssa Milman (of Blushed). (Photo by Emily Dubin) – Michael Colavita
Yay!!! Fall is finally coming…
Horror Land (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Sleepy Freak (Record Release), Snowhore, Puppy Angst
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Sammus
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Emily Drinker, SAT RunHideFight
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Tone Bandits/DJ Deejay, SAT Fame Lust
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bri Steves, Beano French, Good Girl, Julian King
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI DJ Sun, Killsing Visionary, Joshua Lang, DJ Hvnlee
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Transistor Rodeo, Betterducks/(Downstairs) Roots, Rock and Research: A Benefit for the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute: West Philadelphia Orchestra, Jeremiah Tall
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Lost Thirds, SAT Burnout Star
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Miss Cantaloupe
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) SUN Storks
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Revolution, I Love You, Maitland, The One2s
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI The Russells, Overwinter, SAT Blue Wonder & The Mystic Woman, Mike Matteson, Zack Krall Band, Knightlife, Brick Nova, SUN Bardus, Dirt Queen
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Lew Jones
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Saint Slumber / The Rich Quick Memorial Show: Reef The Lost Cauze, Ai-Que
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Lean Wit It
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Royale, SAT Ian St. Laurent
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI James Pace Band, Mr. Unloved, The Parameters, SAT New Alone, Local Smokes, JW Farrell, Nematode
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI John Kadlecik’s West Philly Fadeaway, Wax Future
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Alenni, Curtis Cooper
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Jakk Frost
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI Sex With Rollercoasters, Mr. Lisp, Dead Robins
Space 1026 (1026 Arch St.) FRI Tact, Yankee Bluff, Eight, Big Nothing, SAT Tate, Slugqueen, Weller
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Broke Body, Elissa Janelle Velveteen, Busy Bee Project
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Carrie Ford, Egg Soda, SAT Sour Spirit, Bathassaults/Lvsxw (duo), Sewer Pope
The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT Righteous Aquarium & Jet Lightspeed, Dialer, Exmaid
The Tusk (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Spirit World, Shapeshifter
The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Diaphane, SUN. Beach Bod
Lightfoils have released the lead single, “Summer Nights", from their forthcoming album, Chambers, which will be released on November 16th. This is the Dream-Pop of Jane Zabeth Nicholson (Vocals), John Rungger (Drums), Neil Yodnane (Guitar), Zeeshan Abbasi (Guitar), and Cory Osborne (Bass). This is their first release in 4 years, and perhaps their most accomplished.
You can catch Lightfoils on October 31st at Reggies with Cloakroom, Alcest, and Zauis.
Queeva released a new single today called “Stand Out”. This is her second single of 2018, and follow-up to the hit “Live Like A Song”. This is the modern country sounds of fifteen year old (as of today, in fact) musician Queeva McDonagh. Through her music she places a priority on positivity and looks to use her success to be a positive role model.
If she is writing and performing songs like this at 15, the future is extremely bright for this, as of now, unsigned musician. She is definetly ready to "Stand Out".
Get Better Records recently issued a split LP, featuring The HIRS Collective and Jenna and the Pups. The HIRS Collective continues to hit with an immediate, raw, emotive surge. In contrast to the unfiltered hardcore, the downhill, melodic pop-punk of Jenna and the Pups rides dual-guitar lines in crisp, catchy pockets. Both of Jenna Pup’s projects cut to the chase with succinct, honest messages.
Phoenix Uncaged announced this week that their second single, “Oper Your Eyes”, will be released on October 16th. You can now pre-order the single and listen to a 30 second preview of the song.
This is duo of Lexi Jones and Kianna Ryan, and they burst on the scene back in May with their debut single “Pennsylvania Avenue”. They recently released a video of themselves covering Bob Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country”.
Airpark released a new single called "Devotion" on October 12th, previewing what’s to come on their upcoming EP Songs of Airpark. "Devotion" was one of the first songs the indie folk brother duo recorded in Denver during sessions for the EP, which is being produced by Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley of the synth-pop group Tennis. It embodies a sunny vibe that speaks more to July than October, but that comes from the more left-coast inspired sound, where it feels like July almost all the time. The EP will include songs that have the sound you’ll hear on "Devotion", with the general theme centered on "confronting and overcoming confict". That record will drop early next year; for now, take a listen to "Devotion" below. – Will Sisskind
Legendary, Brooklyn-born, mystery schizo-prog-rock musician Von LMO – née Frank Cavallo – was supposed to perform tonight at Market Hotel in Bushwick, but he was hit by a car making an illegal turn, and his pelvis was shattered – now he faces multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation to walk again. Von LMO is on Medicare and his expenses are only covered to a fraction of the astronomical medical expenses he faces
To help the artist offset his expenses, the show organizers have turned the event intpo a benefit to raise funds towards Von LMO’s substantial medical expenses, and a celebration of his music. A gofund me campaign is also underway.
Another NYC legend, Martin Rev from seminal ’70s electro-punk band Suicide, will now headline the show, featuring also James Chance & the Contortions. More info and tickets here.
After initially being earmarked for the Sad13 release Slugger, then being left off Speedy Ortiz‘s Twerp Verse, “DTMFA” will now be included in Adult Swim’s Singles Program. A tale of independence and confidence, the song naturally flows in a catchy, sugary-pop sound that incorporates a strong call-to-action, referencing the Dan Savage catch phrase – "Dump The Motherfucker Already". Speedy Ortiz will be performing next in Philly on Wednesday, November 28 at the First Unitarian Church with Palberta.
James Clifford evolves on both a personal and musical level with "Can’t Undo My Love." Clifford, who now goes by Primaveras, first caught my attention in 2016 with his terrific single "2 AM Chinatown." What once was a soft rock-informed bedroom pop project, ushered with calm reflection, now tries to capture your attention with a forthcoming embrace. He ambles with a cool confidence, taking the lusher aspects of eighties British pop and turning them into a slick, uptempo ballad which has a "driving down the PCH with the windows rolled down" kind of groove. Clifford may have released a song with a summery feel to it, but isn’t the summer a state of mind, anyway?
"Can’t Undo My Love" is taken from Primaeras’ debut full-length album, Echoes in the Well of Being, which came out late last month. Catch him at the Silverlake Lounge on October 30. Juan Rodríguez
No Kind of Rider is embarking on a tour of the West Coast later this month, only a few months after the debut of their full-length album Savage Coast. The album is tender and contemplative, with emotion so earnestly raw at times it makes your heart ache. The band’s mix of gutsy indie rock, jazzy electronic, and moody surf creates music oddly evocative of cold, gray days on the beach. It’s crisp, cool tones hit you like a refreshing fall wind. The slower, moodier elements ground you in a more somber place, without losing any of the music’s more sentimental moments.
No Kind of Rider next Portland show will be October 21st. In the band’s own words, "When booking a tour, always remember to include the hometown crowd." They will be playing one of Rontoms Sunday Sessions, along with Pool Boys and Wave Action.
-By Avril Carrillo
Dance-Rock trio Spectators released their latest LP, and first since 2014, The String and The Bow, this week. This is the trio of Josiah Viland (Vocals), Walter Halliwell (Guitars, Keyboards, Piano, Programming), and Tayler Buck (Drums).
The group has been working on this project for awhile and released the LP first single “When My Humanity Starts Showing Through” in December 2017. The finish project is a truly enjoyable listen with Josiah’s vocal’s really shinning through across all nine tracks. Our favorite of those being “Retro”, a clear node to late 2000’s bands like The Bravery and The Killers.
