New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Hardcore Punk band CT-85 released their self-titled debut cassette last week via Not Normal Tapes. This is the work on Bonam, French, Rivera, and Smith & Revers.
The blazing 9-track collection clocks in at just over 9 minutes and can be streamed below, but we recommend buying the cassette. There are 11 different variations of cassette with only 100 total produced.
Although the new EP from Barney Cortez is titled Pretty Thin, that isn’t because it lacks depth. There’s a rollicking, infectious, let-loose aspect, with melodic, alt-country, silky, soulful introspection. Crisp, composed tracks feel at home in their own skin, and adhere so that you’ll catch yourself humming them as you work through the day. It’s a diverse sampling, hitting on an array of aspects yet fitting together in a pleasant, compact package. (Photo by Michael Zallie)
After twelve years on tour with folk-rock outfit Lake Street Dive, former bassist Bridget Kearney made a rapid transition into a self-made singer/songwriter, initiated by the speedy release of her debut single, “Won’t Let You Down.” This title also serves as the name of her first full-length LP, released in March 2017. Though slower tracks such as “Love Doctor” and "Nothing Does It” give glimpses of her previous group’s rootsy leanings, Bridget’s new sound primarily adheres to the glimmering and catchy traits of indie pop. Songs like “So Long” and “Who Are We Kidding” provide a nonchalant atmosphere to this record and pull her bright energy down to a more relaxed level. The echoey effect she applies to her gorgeous melodies combined with the tracks’ pleasant instrumental landscape gives this collection an enticing, almost seductive feel. You can catch Bridget Kearney playing Union Pool on October 19, and stream her debut album Won’t Let You Down on Bandcamp. – Rebecca Carroll
Tasha has released a second single, “New Place”, from her forthcoming LP, Alone At Last. The album is due out on October 26th via Father/Daughter Records. This track is a downtempo soulful gem featuring Tasha’s acoustic guitar and powerful voice.
You can catch Tasha on November 2nd at Sleeping Village with Yarrow, Kara Jackson, and J Bambii.
Femdot released a new Cole Bennett directed video for “0’Something” from his recently released LP, Delacreme 2, this week.
This is a beautifully directed video for what might be our favorite track from Femdot’s latest album.
This Saturday will officially be The Deli Philly’s 10th Anniversary, and we are honored to be celebrating it with our good ole friends at PhilaMOCA, with performances by Deli faves Sixteen Jackies, American Trappist, and Madalean Gauze, as well as rad tunes spun throughout the night by the good folks of Born Losers Records. And of course, we would love it if any of our readers and the artists that we’ve supported over the years would like to share in what is sure to be a damn good time – you are all certainly invited! So please excuse our early departure for today as we get prepared (and a little rest) for tomorrow evening’s festivities. Thank you for all your support over the last decade, and we look forward to many more years of discovering great Philly music with you – CHEERS!!! – Q.D. Tran
Other places to hit this weekend, if you must…
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT The Deli Philly’s 10th Anniversary Bash: Sixteen Jackies, American Trappist, Madalean Gauze, SUN Brother JT, Philadelphia Women’s Slavic Ensemble
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT The Bul Bey (EP Release Show), Sudo Williams, Balmour
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Palmas, SUN Hold Down The Ocean, The Retinas
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Age Of Truth/DJ Deejay, SAT 6 Underground, SUN Teenage Bigfoot
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Gigantic, Unlovable, Reana, Lower Wolves, SUN Boogieman Dela, CAGEBIRD
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Speedy Ortiz, SAT Belly Of The Beats: Nothing
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Rotation Records Presents The Cool Down
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Conjunto Philadelphia, SUN (Upstairs) Port Arthur, Ascension Drive, Goodthief
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Endless Taile, Knightlife, Frankly Lost, SAT Michael Mythix, Nick Cosmo, SUN Almost Isles, November Lounge, Dipped, Pink Lemons
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Swift Technique, SAT Instupendo, QQQ
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Dweller (Record Release), So Totally, The Tisburys, SAT False Tracks, Secret Nudist Friends, Canine 10, SUN The Mary Veils/The Whips, Zinskē
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Familiar Things, Moment To Capitalize, The Easily Fooled, Twin Beds/Sheena & Thee Nosebleeds, Gringo Motel, Tiger Castle, SUN Erik Kramer, Too Many Talk Shows/Eyes of the Living, Assayer, Sharkbullet
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Hestina, Lauren Scott, Eliza Edens, SAT Z by Z, Midnight Singers, Alec Stewart, SUN Mean Wendy Band, New Alone, Gainstrive
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Day, Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT James Pace Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SUN Show of Hands: A Voter Registration Party + Benefit Show:Brown Rainbow, Roberta Faceplant, Endless Taile, Erin Incoherent, TJ McGlinchey, Alec Stewart
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Cultic, The Human Race Is Filth, Bea$ters, SAT Roadkiller, DipEater, Andhera
The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Sold Out Show, Overcoming Gravity
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Atomic Sky
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT Ed Christof
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Torn & Ironic, Weezadelphia, Almost There, Fair Use, SAT Uncle Dan
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Stolen Rhodes
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SUN Rich Baker
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) SAT Flamingo Chicks, Slow Reader, Screamcloud
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT The Stonewall Vessels, Moral Support, Ringtail Howitzer, Nothing Vital, SUN Dr. Beardface, The Bad Larrys
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Boon, Sandcastle, Nancy Strong
The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT In The Presence Of Wolves, Earth7
Puddle Splashers has released a new “Pallet Session” featuring Floatie and two of their tracks, “Water Recipe” and "Blue Squid". This is the new trio lead by Karla Bernasconi formerly of Date Stuff and Lala Lala.
You can catch Floatie at Subterranean tomorrow, October 6th, opening for Philly’s The Spirit of the Beehive and Boston’s Pile.
In 2016, New York band Mustardmind released the six-song EP Peep; they are back today with a double single featuring singles "Saving Face" and "Bad Juju" – we are premiering the latter here right now, while the former premiered on The Wild Honey Pie yesterday. The quartet calls themselves alternative rock, and their music does hearken back to the early ’90s, when the term became prominent through the grunge explosion. However, six-minute sprawling track "Bad Juju," with its use of synthesizers and ethereal vocals, showcases a more complex sound betraying several other influences from the ’80s to today. These two songs will be on a new EP released early in 2019, so if you like what you hear keep Mustardmind filed away for the new year. – Chris Morgan
Ze’ev will be celebrating the release of their latest album, “GTP”, on October 12th at Bohemian Grove. They will be bringing a friends including ONO and Chelsea Bridge from the American Damage stable.
Ze’ev is the experimental creation of Clyde Moreau, Zachary Caputo, and S. Balto Hosono, and “GTP” is their second album.
“Voyeur” will be found on Warsaw, the forthcoming 7” from grindcore trio Bandit, which is set for release via Cricket Cemetery. In a quaking, brutal flash, the track creates an immediate, heart-racing sense of urgency. The single delves into the lasting effects of past trauma and how they affect families over the course of many generations. In this specific instance, Warsaw is in reference to band member Gene Meyer’s family’s traumatic experiences at the hands of the Nazis during World War II.
In their new EP Before You Go (set for release October 5), bi-coastal duo EXES have expanded their exploratory indie-pop collection. The physical distance between these artists is certainly not palpable in this collection of cohesive, neatly produced tracks. Integrating snapshots of recent thoughts and experiences into their new work, EXES has merged their characteristic mellow pop with a noticeably more candid lyrical approach, showcasing the growth of this duo both musically as well as personally. The duo’s sound is driven by the soft, melodic vocals of Brooklyn-based singer Allie McDonald and the edgy electronic beats of LA-based producer Mike Derenzo, resulting in a soulful interpretation of clean electronica. Single “Before you Break” explores a playful staccato vocal style that, combined with a slow-burning drum track and layers of subtle ambiance, reveals the meticulous production elements of their recent work. Many of their new songs contain very visual and often experience-based lyrics. “Peckham” vividly evaluates abstract subjects such as romance, hopes and fears, showcasing this band’s equal consideration of both sound and substance. You can stream EXES’ Before You Go in full right now via Live Nation’s Ones To Watch, and be sure to keep an eye out for the official release this Friday. -Rebecca Carroll
