Chicago

Nature’s Neighbor “Floating Continent”

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Nature’s Neighbor has always been the work of Mike Walker and friends. Last month he released a new album called Jade that featured Daniel Lee and Terrill Mast. It was a beautiful Lo-Fi, acoustic, adventure.

On February 11th he will be releasing a new album called Ur that promises to take his sound in a whole new direction. For this outing he has enlisted the services of some of the city’s finest. Ur will feature Nnamdi Ogbonnaya (guitars, piano, drums, bass), James Collver (korg, sound effects), Sen Morimoto (saxophone), Cheer Zhao (lyrics, vocals), Conor Mackey (bassoon), Vivian McConnell (flute), Daniel Lee (cello), Seth Engel (drums, guitars, rhodes, bass, sampler, vibraphone, piano) and of course Mike himself on everything else.

They recently released the album’s first single, “Floating Continent”, and it blends Orchestral Rock, Psych Pop, and more.

Chicago

Still World @ Beat Kitchen (2/18)

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Metalcore band Still World released their debut EP A New Beginning back in October and recently released a reimagined version “Pale Blue”.

You can catch Still World at Beat Kitchen on February 18th opening for Tanzen, Archers and Sharptone Records signees, Crystal Lake. This will be the band’s first live performance and one that should not be missed.

Philadelphia

New Track: “She’s a Gun” – Godcaster

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“She’s a Gun,” the new single from Godcaster, plants itself in a funky-glam space. The ticking of keys creates an anticipatory feel. However, it sits back in a groove, momentarily lapsing in a chase before falling back into its casual surroundings; then gets wild again. It has an eccentric, experimental aesthetic, meshing the strange with a shake-your-hips sentiment. Within a single lyrical line, a lot of territory is traversed.

Chicago

Los Black Dogs “Fuego”

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Los Black Dogs are preparing to release their debut single, “Fuego”, on February 9th. This is Rock and Roll of Juan Valdez (vocals/voz), Ricardo Orozco (guitar/guitarra), Joel Ezquivel (bass/bajo), and Gerardo Varela (drums/bateria).

You can catch Los Black Dogs on February 9th opening for Dead Lucid, Bryce Cashman, and The Footlight District at Liar’s Club.

Philadelphia

New Track: “All The Way Home” – Yours, Mookie

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Yours, Mookie recently shared a series of singles. A stripped-down, bedroom-folk intimacy adorns “All The Way Home”. The warmth of twilight and a comfortable closeness creates a revealing perspective, aided by the heartfelt aspects of harmony and an apologetic, loving circumstance. It feels candidly vulnerable.

L.A.

NO WIN play themselves on music video for “Vision,” new LP out 3/22

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The intense and familiar sounds of NO WIN have set the tone for 2019. Bringing back an indie-rock sound we have been craving, their forthcoming LP, downey,  promises a strong collection of real experiences both past and present that front-runner Danny Nogueiras demands his listeners to feel, passionately and honestly. On the video for their latest single, “Vision,” the band takes a literal spin on a few parts of their lyrics and brings it all to life, making it a lively and clever piece for all to enjoy.

NO WIN will be playing a show in Long Beach at The Prospector on February 2nd and again at SXSW in Austin, TX from March 11th through the 17th. Look out for downey on March 22nd via Dangerbird Records. Kayla Hay

NYC

Explore Laundry Day’s youthful alt pop on “Lighter / Time”

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It’s hard to write about New York alt pop outfit Laundry Day without mentioning the baby elephant in the room; each of the group’s five members are still in high school. This isn’t to say that we should yield LD’s youth against them – rather, the band’s music is bolstered by their honest, adolescent songwriting, creating tunes that are contemporaneous to their own experiences and universal to anyone who has passed through the turbulence of teen years and lived to tell the tale. “Lighter / Time,” a standout from last year’s Trumpet Boy, is full of fluorescent imagery detailing young love after dark, set against brooding keys and a relaxed percussive shuffle. While I listened to “Lighter” keeping the band’s background in mind, it’s hard not to find an all-ages ubiquity in the track’s lyricism, especially given its focus on the earnest yearning and romantic fixation we all experience as “the night is falling down.” It’s a landmark effort from their first full length record, and serves as a testament to great things to come from Laundry Day in 2019 – stream it below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt), Photo by Veronica Habacker

Portland

The 2019 Portland’s Folk Festival

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This weekend Portland’s Folk Festival will be taking place at McMenamins’ Mission Theater and Pub. The festival, which was put together by duo Fox and Bones, has set up a talented lineup. It has the best folk and Americana the PNW has to offer. Fox and Bones’ recently released their sophomore EP Better Land, and if you stop by on Saturday at 9:30, you’ll get the chance to hear what critics have been describing as “exceptional, and impossible not to love.”
 
 
Fox and Bones’ weren’t working alone on this years showcase. In a statement, they explained “Our main focus is on community building and have organized this event as a profit share between the artists. We believe the stronger your local community is, the more you can accomplish!” Such teamwork happened this year as Portland’s Folk Festival was created in conjunction with Vortex Music Magazine and Rola Music. This also means that every act there is one to keep an eye on. The Parson Redheads will be headlining Friday night, and Worth be the final act of the festival on Saturday. Not to mention both days promise a surprise “Secret Guest,” amping up the excitement for each night. You can find more information about the lineup here, or check out the festival’s Facebook page here.
 
 

-By Avril Carrillo, quotes from Groundsounds, Fox and Bones

 

Toronto

“Too Young To Go Steady” – Shoegaze track “Genevieve” featured on Kim’s Convenience Season 3!

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Too Young To Go Steady are a five piece dream pop band here in Toronto. They released their debut EP “Dropout” last summer. This album is full of shoegaze and reverby pop goodness. Very atmospheric. There is a peaceful calmness to their songs. A couple tracks from this EP are going to be featured in episodes of the upcoming season 3 of Kim’s Convenience on CBC. One of the featured tracks is “Genevieve”. The video is directed by band member Carlos Coronado and contains footage from Toronto, Vancouver Island and the Yukon. Too Young to Go Steady play live at Junction City Music Hall on February 9th with Bredren, Runnymede and more. – Kris Gies

NYC

A Deli Premier: The Campbell Apartment’s “Saltwater & Sunburn”

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The Deli is proud to premier a new single from San Francisco’s own The Campbell Apartment. Campbell is like a loveable mutt: a Doctor Dog mixed with a Sonny and the Sunsets and maybe a Ween. Well aren’t mutts the healthiest breeds? “Saltwater & Sunburn” is a great example of the group’s variations in style. Saltwater is a lovely stray from the group’s previous songs, laced with humming echoing vocals over the story of an ending affair. Beachy vibes are high on this one. Always with a touch of tongue n cheek, Campbell Apartment is just fun to listen to, and they’re killer fun live. Keep an eye out for their upcoming shows. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor