Krust Toons: "Been Done" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
NYC
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Sam Evian and Kazu Makino collaborate on “You, Forever”
Sam Owens a.k.a. Sam Evian released his latest album “You, Forever” on Saddle Creek Records over the summer. In 2017, The NYC-based producer and songwriter also co-produced the solo album for Kazu Makino (of Blonde Redhead). Now, the two have joined forces in a re-imagined track entitled “Next To You.” This version is just as billowy and mellow as you might expect coming from the minds of these two musicians. But with help from Kazu’s haunting vocals and a sweeping instrumental section (metronome, violin, and bass), “Next To You” blooms into something more celestial and otherworldly. The song’s central message is short and sweet but tinted with a dreary cynicism about how the world sucks right now. Makino murmurs, “I can’t fight the world’s battles/I just wanna be next to you.” It’s a truly gorgeous track, and you can listen below. – Sara Nuta
Chicago
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How To Dress Well releases The Anteroom
How To Dress Well (aka Tom Krell) released his fifth studio, The Anteroom, last week. The album is more experimental in the implementation of harsh industrial sounds. However, as with Krell’s past work contains countless moments of pure vocal beauty.
Below is the intense and potentially seizure inducing (WARNING!) video for “Nonkilling 6 | Hunger”.
You can catch How To Dress Well at Sleeping Village on Nov. 20th.
Philadelphia
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New Absinthe Father EP Available for Streaming & Download
We are still recovering from what felt like a long weekend, but not seeming to be long enough this morning. Below is a captivating new EP from Absinthe Father (the solo project of Haley Butters), entitled Jane, which is dedicated to their late grandmother. The album "deals with death/death anxiety, survivor’s guilt, & trying to feel okay again." Let the warm, hushed vocals and languid guitar strums help get you where you need to be this chilly fall morning. Butters is getting set to head out on tour with North Carolina’s Jail Socks next month, and you can join them this Friday, October 26 at No Face Studios for a Halloween cover show that also features Coping Skills, Ready Now, Future Teens, and Lady Pills. (Photo by Becky Slack)
Toronto
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Fade Awaays – New Indie Surf Rock Single “Get Along”
This 4 piece indie-surf band have released a brand new single. Fade Awaays bring the noise with their surfy garage jams and drunken sing along choruses. “Get Along” is just that. A song to listen to while getting day drunk, preferably outdoors. This tune is a taste of what’s to come from these slacker rockers. Fade Awaays will be performing at Supermarket in Kensington Market for Indie Week on November 8th. – Kris Gies
Austin
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Pauline Releases “Life Away” In Anticipation of Debut Full-Length
Preparing for the release of their debut album, Little Blue, the Austin-based quartet, Pauline, has rolled out a new single called "Life Away". The single blends 80’s styled analog synths with heartfelt songwriting that drips with introspective melancholy. Vocalist, Ethan Ames, gives an understated but deft vocal performance that matches the instrumentation perfectly. The lyrics are rife with frustrated prose on addiction and shame that give the song depth. Pauline has released two other singles; "When You’re Out There" and "Say Goodbye" but the latest single seems to be building momentum towards the full-length release. Keep any eye on Pauline as they gear up for their debut release.
Portland
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Mope Grooves: The Waves
Mope Grooves released their third LP, The Waves, this past week. Listening to The Waves, you can’t help but feel as if you’re listening to the sort of Christmas music that would get made in a post-apocalyptic underground bunker. Which is to say, the music is disjointed and eerie, but still oddly cheerful. The album’s blend of new wave, lo-fi, and drone rock results in some delightfully gloomy, subtly jazzy tunes. “Repulsive Music”, one of the more upbeat songs, is the best example of this. The steady pace of the drums helps lead along the mellow notes emanating from the synth. Each word sung feels as if it is being teased out of the lead vocals. It’s ideal for the slow and rainy days we have coming up ahead.
The Waves can be purchased for 10 dollars on the band’s Bandcamp, and 7 dollars if you are low-income, disabled, or not a cis white male. You can catch Mope Grooves next on November 6th at Polaris Hall, along with The Goon Sax and Honey Bucket.
-By Avril Carrillo
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, October 19 – 21
Raw agitation and frustration over societal changes and issues are delivered via intimate narratives, speaking to the individual and lighting a fire to which a community can gather around in union. LP5000, the latest album from Restorations, which was produced by Jonathan Low and released via Tiny Engines, delivers on that mission statement. There’s an ability to dig down deep, expressing the essence of the present problems. However, rather than languishing and lamenting in a state of stagnation, the band encourages a pulse of positivity, driven by a gritty groundswell of post-punk and the potential impact of an oncoming wave in the distance. This Sunday, Restorations steps into the First Unitarian Church, where they’ll be joined by tour & label mates Wild Pink, whose reassuring, airy, singer-songwriter composure strolls with synth and then spikes when called upon. As we await the release of their forthcoming self-titled debut album, the roaring, grunge-punk surge of Fight Amp-Legendary Divorce hybrid, Low Dose, completes this lineup. – Michael Colavita
More places to hit this fall weekend…
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SUN Restorations, Low Dose
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Hardwork Movement, Attic Tapes, SAT Darla (Record Release Show), Square Peg Round Hole, Taylor Kelly
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SUN Black Dog Gallery Halloween Show: Yuckmouf, Wrists, Haunted Homes, X88B88
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Canine 10/DJ Deejay, SUN The Retinas
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Cape of Bats, SAT Lovelorn, Don Devore, Korine
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Scorpio (A Scorpions Tribute)
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SUN Varials
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Red Wheelbarrow Trio, SAT (Upstairs) Christine Havrilla, Vanida Gail, SUN David P. Stevens, Carol Riddick, Deverson Patterson
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Joe Jack Talcum, Rodney Anonymous, The PLIBmen, F. Woods and The Fellow Humans, 7th Victim, Starwood, SAT Fonvery, Moonroof, Distant Destroyer
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Homestead Collective, SUN Matthew Schuler, Joshua Howard, Marielle Kraft
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease, Ali Awan, SUN Narcos Family Band, Trash Knife
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Behind The Grandstand, Swwik/The Rectors, Shy Boyz
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Everlit, Dune Puma, SAT Michael Wavves, Tucker Eb’s, Evan Tracy, Jrdn Aris, Alex Catrambone, Malcolm Taylor, SUN Mariano Di Gabriele
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 The Louderbacks, The Pink Angels, Weakknees, SAT The TC Cole Riot, The Cheddar Boys, Side Pocket Louie
The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Lamplighters, The Lot
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Rivers of Nihil, No Gods, SAT DJ Haveboard, SUN Coast 2 Coast Live: Philadelphia Edition
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Fucksake (Tape Release), Los Gueys, Episode, Asthmatix, SAT Body Spray, Faking, Dunning Kruger
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SUN Rich Baker
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI The Peek-A-Boo Revue “Dead Sexy”/Ben Aire, SAT The Peek-A-Boo Revue “Dead Sexy”/Ed Christof, SUN TIT: A Burlesque Tribute to Stephen King
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Effusion 35, Summer Scouts, Dear Forbidden, The Band Sheep, SAT The Output, The Easily Fooled, Goodthief
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Echoes, the American Pink Floyd/Splintered Sunlight
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Clasp
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Bad Shapes, Dweller, Tiger Castle, SUN Science Club, Brandish
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Skeleton Lipstick, Kiss of the Whip
No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) SAT Grayling (solo)
Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Halloween cover show: System of a Down (ft mems of (formerly) Old Maybe, Aubergene), Television Personalities (ft mems of Radiator Hospital, Missing Earth, Big Heet), Everclear (ft mems of closer, Corey Flood, Littler, Everywhen, Prawn), Hilary Duff (ft mems of Susie Derkins, Slow Ref, Microsoft Saint, (formerly) the human fly), The Cure (ft members of Bury Your Fish, Jesse Magenta, and Pachyderm), Broadcast (ft mems of Corey Flood), Fall Out Boy (ft mems of Baby Bush, Here Comes Your Arms)
Chicago
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The Claudettes “Taco Night Material”
The Claudettes recently released a video for their song “Taco Night Material” which is taken from their 2018 LP, Dance Scandal At The Gymnasium!.
Animated video was created by Kate Stone, and features murder, intrigue, Skeltons, and more Halloween themed material.
You can catch The Claudettes at Logan Center Blues Fest on October 21st and at The Hideout on December 8th with Young Hierlooms.
Chicago
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Lulu Be.
Lulu Be. is Ethiopian born and Chicago raised and last month she released her latest single, “Still Rude”. She recorded and produced the track with a little help from Malcolm Flex. Lulu blends hip hop, dance, R&B, and world music to create a sound compelling and completely unique.
It was one year ago that Lulu Be. made a splash with her debut EP, “Lululand”, and this new single is her second of 2018.
NYC
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A Deli Premiere: “Let’s Just Go Surf” with Idle Joy
In their debut single "Let’s Just Go Surf" (streaming below), San Francisco’s Idle Joy wear a few different hats. The laid-back chorus of "let’s just go surf instead" falls directly in line with — you guessed it — West Coast surf-rock aesthetics, but there’s also a certain bounce (and maybe even a twang, although it’s phased out in the second half of the track) that calls back to Americana influences. Not to say this is anywhere near California country, but there’s definitely a melting pot of sounds that blend infectiously into an exciting single. When lead singer Tom Conneely wrote the track he said he was "thinking about his own relationship and a friend’s relationship, and how easy bonds can suddenly feel the strain of external forces that compromise and complicate nice things." Idle Joy will be playing alongside Wax Statues and Killer Whale at Amnesia tonight to celebrate Wax Statues’ album release.
Listen to the Deli’s exclusive premiere of "Let’s Just Go Surf" below.
NYC
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Surfbort shares their “Friendship Music,” plays album release show at Baby’s 10.27
There’s a cognitive dissonance seemingly inherent to New York punks Surfbort and their forthcoming record, Friendship Music. The record’s single “Pretty Little Fucker” is a fast and loose ride of chromatic chord changes and classic dissonant punk energy, with vocals from Dani Miller occasionally dipping from yelling sing-speak into melodic territory, leading one to believe that the choice of Friendship Music as a record title is some ironic inside joke given the track’s aggressive nature. But in dissecting the band’s lyrics, wherein Miller states she “feels so good, no alcohol, no booze” and “can really only get high off of you,” the heart soars for the genuine, authentic affection that informs the song. It’s a fun, fast example of the care at the core of punk music that’s often ignored by wider audiences – a beautiful, twisted pit of love that subverts expectations.
Surfbort will bring their punk-drenched empathy to Baby’s All Right on October 27th for their Friendship Music release party – it’s free if you RSVP ahead of time. Ahead of that, stream “Pretty Little Fucker” below. – Connor McInerney