New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Vapor Eyes has released a new collection of beats called “Smooth FM”. As the title suggests, this album is centered around the sounds and styles of smooth jazz, but in the best possible way.
Vapor Eyes is the work of David Cohen and you can catch him in action on November 24th at Schubas with Guggenz.
Swearin’ recently came back with the release of Fall into the Sun (Merge Records), their first LP in nearly five years. However, during the group’s hiatus, singer/guitarist Kyle Gilbride seemed to refocus his attention towards the studio, refining his recording and production skills while working on critically-acclaimed Waxahatchee releases, Cerulean Salt and Ivy Tripp, as well as with a plethora of talented acts like Yowler, Radiator Hospital, Dark Thoughts, and Mal Blum. It also appears that Gilbride has been working on new material of his own, under the moniker Missing Earth. We came across his fledgling project this past summer, with the interstellar track, "Mean Spirit," catching our attention. And now, you can stream and purchase his debut album, Gold, Flour, Salt, which is out via Salinas Records. The record also features Swearin’ bandmate Jeff Bolt on drums and Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) and Maryn Jones (Yowler, Saintseneca, All Dogs) on backup vocals.
"Magic Coffin Ride" is the title track off Nyxy Nyx‘s forthcoming LP, due out on December 7 via BLIGHT. Records. The single combines the tranquil, sunsetting aura of Brian Reichert’s vocals with the steady, soft, supple plucks of acoustic guitar. Those weightless steps are countered by the fragments of raw fuzz that eventually fade into the distance as the "funeral procession" passes by. "Where this coffin is going, I don’t know, but I’ll ride this thing right out of this world." Have no fear.
Jangle-pop artist and former Paper Rival member Patrick Damphier has announced his upcoming LP Say I’m Pretty, which drops on 02.01.2019. To kick off the countdown to release day, Damphier has posted the first single from the album, called "Pretend It". The track has a hazy feel much like the early 2010s work of Real Estate; Billboard, which premiered the single, called Damphier’s most recent work "broad-ranging" and "intricate". "Pretend It", with its dark post-punk influences, features fellow singer-songwriter collaborators Jessica Lea Mayfield, Richard Swift, and Molly Parden. It’s one of a handful of tracks that Damphier chose for Say I’m Pretty out of a catalogue of over 150. Take a listen to "Pretend It" below. – Will Sisskind
Ahead of its release on November 23 via Sister Polygon Records, Brown Bunny, the new album from Florry, will be celebrated with a release show this Saturday at Tundra Dome. There’s a sense of personal intimacy in a relaxed, folky place, and then again there’s the exploration of tension in raw punk pockets. Intimate contemplations flow forward in combustible swells as the range of the vocals ride the ebb & flow of musicality. The sonic trek is not necessarily a linear one; there are soft-spoken, soothing moments of whimsy that are contrasted or balanced by frenetic flourishes of energy. That ability to build up pressure and release it at points of respite captures a vulnerable/tenacious dynamic. The trio will be supported by the dreary, candid, post-punk melodies of local quartet Corey Flood, the enchantingly earnest songs of Emily Yacina, and tourmates Time Stalkers. – Michael Colavita
More places to hit this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Square Peg Round Hole, SUN Strawberry Runners
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI DJ Deejay, SAT Neighbors Complaint, Old Fezziwig, The Willies/The Donuts/DJ Dame Luz
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Tev Geez, OddBall Nur , Finess Jewelz, SUN Wesley Curtis, JONILL, Joshua Bation
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT DJ SYLO, DJ Next, Astro 8000, AliceXtra
Franklin Music Hall (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Bri Steves
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Downstairs) Philly Loves Animals II, SAT (Upstairs) Minas Presents: Tribute to Jobim & Cole Porter/(Downstairs) Rockdale Music:Fall Showcase
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Black Tie Stereo, Menace Of The Canvas, The Boardwalk Kings, SAT Famous & Fallen, Mr. Lisp, Effusion 35, Weak Knees, SUN Second to Safety, Moment To Capitalize
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.)SAT Jersey Dan’s 40th Birthday Party!!! Live Band Karaoke w/Taggart
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Fire In The Radio, Joy Riding, SAT Stealing From Thieves, Delmont, Rusty Pigeon
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Dylan Jane, Langor, Elissa Janelle Velveteen, Mike Quinn, Punk Hands, SUN Sophie Coran, Spirit Haus, Mariah Del Rio & Logan Roth
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) SUN Jus O, OneTakeDave, Jizza Raw
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Ben Aire, SAT Ed Christof
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Commonwealth Choir,
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT You Go No You / Ethan Berkowitz, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Torito, Bern & The Bastards, Wormtooth, Revolution, I Love You, High Council, SAT Howling Fantods (Record Release), Prowler, Full Bush
The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Dead Robins
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI IATT, Cancer Priest, SAT Tile, Faking, Hover
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI OverEasy, Sea Rae, SAT Sad & Boujee, SUN Fallout Music Festival
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Civil Hold Up, Saint Wilde, Missing Frets, SAT Jac with No K, Cowbell Superstar
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, Greg Sover Band
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI (Sandy) Alex G, SAT (Sandy) Alex G
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Harmony Woods, SUN Bad Heaven Ltd, Tact, Half Thought
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Jesse Gimbel, Matt Tarka
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI Interminable, Little Strike (Joint Album Release), Destiny X
The Art Dept Collective (1638 E. Berks St.) SAT Strange Parts
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Brackish, Puppy Angst, Sleepy Freak
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Florry (Record Release), Corey Flood
Delirium (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Blueroom, Blame Jakob
The Root Cellar (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI The Poms, Mega Mango, Chill Dad, Earthboy
Minor Moon has released a new single called “Hold Me Up (Liar)”. This is the Sam Cantor fronted band’s third single of 2018 following-up “It’s Okay” and “Sacrificial Animal”.
You can catch Minor Moon at Empty Bottle on Nov. 19th with Paul Moody and The Revelators and Deli favorite Brendan Losch.
Closed Sessions label mates Anaji Jones and BoatHouse have released the first single, “Futurama”, from their forthcoming EP. This track is energetic and grimey, and a great sign for what’s to come on the EP.
The trio of Charlie Wynne, Loc Tran and Scott Hartge known as Close Kept released their latest album, Better Yet, last week via Flesh and Bone. The album, their first since 2016 and first as a trio, is collection of tracks recorded over the last three years.
The album’s lead single is also the title track, “Better Yet”, but out favorite track remains the earnest and meditative song they performed last year for Sofar Chicago, “Basement Steps”.
Brooklyn solo artist COTE’s luscious dream pop continues to charm in her newest single, “Restoration.” Having recently released an accompanying video for her single “London,” filmed from the back corner of a local convenience store, this artist has come to define her style by her pure, unembellished approach to production. Her vocals in this track are reminiscent of the haunting styles of Lana Del Rey, exhibiting her balance between delicacy and power. This, combined with her nonchalant sonic demeanor, creates a clean sound that has shed its layers of excessive production. The positive spirit of her previously released single, “Meet Me In The Middle,” belongs in your ‘Morning Motivation’ playlist for when you need a bit of optimism to kick-start your day. This artist has found the middle ground between atmospheric and grounded, and aptly carries it into her timeless sound. Keep an eye out for COTE’s forthcoming album, out this November, and catch her album release show live at Union Pool on November 28.
To close out another Black Friday, dark indietronica group Precog will take The East Room’s stage on November 23rd as part of a bill with Brooklyn industrial rock group Abbey Death and touring goth ambient rockers from Maryland, Ego Likeness. Precog have spent the year creating new music and playing around Nashville; their latest album, Pareidolia, came out last year to critical and public acclaim. The band takes inspiration from classic dark electronic groups like Depeche Mode and Massive Attack; however, their style holds back from copying tried-and-true genre formulas and instead experiments with implementing classical, industrial, and retrowave elements into their music. What results is music that reaches across timelines to become something that could be timeless. Take a listen to Pareidolia below, and catch them at The East Room on Black Friday. – Will Sisskind
Santa Cruz-based band Getaway Dogs take beachy psych rock to a refreshing new place. What makes these guys stand out from the sea of surf pop is the unexpected turns their songs take. There’s plenty of time to zone into the music but you won’t zone out—just as you feel the foggy reverb floating through the air a nice touch of tambourine walks in, a snappy drum, maybe a whistle, and those soothing vocals reminiscent of a younger, more angelic Anthony Kiedis—and we mean that in the best of ways—and you’re hooked all over again. Songs like “Excuses/Opinions II”, which starts, “I cannot explain myself / to my demons” bring listeners into the story and give a feel for the characters within each song. Getaway, indeed. Check out their links and take a little musical journey. -Michelle Kicherer
The Gothic duo of William Faith and Sarah Rose Faith, also known as The Bellwether Syndicate, recently released a new single called “Republik” via Sett Records. This is their first single of 2018 and the follow-up to their 2017 debut EP “The Night Watch”.
