Chicago

Brad Kemp & Chore Boy

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Chore Boy, frontman of Psychedelic Hip Hop band PUICTK, is back with his first full-length album, Exordium, exclusively produced by Brad Kemp. This word Exordium means the beginning of anything and this album is hoping the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership. The duo are joined by M. Whise, OG Denzo, Pradia, Goose, Unkle Slump, Ano Ba, Eshé, King Rozzie, Vagabond Maurice & Fashawn on the album which gives it an also collective feel.

Brad Kemp is the founder and owner of Second Bedroom Studio and have produced beats for Chore Boy, Glitter Moneyyy, Vagabond Mauric, Fashawn, and more.

NYC

Behaviorist crafts lush, orchestral soundscapes, plays Baby’s 2.1

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Behaviorist is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Stephen Chen, best known for his dynamic saxophone work with Brooklyn chamber pop outfit San Fermin, and as an individual endeavor it carries some of the dramatic, art rock elements of his full band while expanding into more cerebral lyrical territory. Chen states that Behaviorist’s title is derived from “the psychological revolution that imagine[s] living beings as manipulable machines,” informing the songwriting channeled into the project’s four singles as lurid, experimental meditations on facets of the human psyche. “Hard To Please,” Chen’s most recent effort, is perhaps the most lush of these meditations, an at face, explicit presentation of sexual appetites against plucking, echoing guitars and synchronized baritone sax. It’s a track rife with dramatic tension, a consequence of its slow-building, orchestral instrumentation, and promises a climactic live performance when Behaviorist takes Baby’s All Right next month supporting Sean McVerry and Sulene. Until then, you can stream it below. –Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

NYC

Weak Signal craft concise indie on “LP1,” play Union Pool 1.30

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A driving energy permeates the entirety of Weak Signal’s first full length, the aptly titled LP1, a product of the record’s rough, static laden guitar work and the simultaneous vocal delivery of members Sasha Vine and Mike Bones. The entire release relies upon an economy of sound over its nine tracks, where bass, lead guitar, and drums gel to create concise D.I.Y. indie rock. There’s no bells and whistles, and the LP doesn’t stray far from its consistent electric sound, but Weak Signal’s prowess in playing and songwriting rings true, proving the New York trio only need a few instruments and some tube amps to deliver a good time.

Weak Signal will play Union Pool on January 30th, lending support to Honey and Gong Gong Gong. Stream their debut LP1 below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

NYC

Drug Bug brings sweet lullabies to Mercury Lounge 2.12

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The catalog of Drug Bug, a New York recording project lead by Phil Anastassiou and pals, is sparse to say the least; there’s a few songs and demos from 2017 and 2016, one of which (surprisingly) is a cover of “Familiar Haunt” by R.L. Kelly with none other than gobbinjr. That being said, Drug Bug has a few cards up their sleeve, namely in the sheer number of shows they’ve played over the last few years, and the mesmerizing beauty of their limited discography. “Seeing Stars,” the project’s most recent single, is a sweetly discordant lullaby, with Anastassiou’s wavering falsetto crooning that he’s “followed by these ghosts of yours” against uneven arpeggios and noodling electric guitars. It’s a captivating, raw track that, ahead of Drug Bug’s upcoming debut EP, serves as an enticing promise of more enchanting music to follow.

Drug Bug will play Mercury Lounge on February 12th, supporting Bueno and Thick. Stream single "Seeing Stars" below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt), Photo by Mike Cicchetti

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, January 25 – 27

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A haunting, volatile, vulnerability seeps into your ears and under the skin in the music of Curtis Cooper. There’s a confessional, candle-lit closeness that encircles lyrically, as the room appears ready to rip itself apart. They create a keen, lingering, emotively-embedded sense of personal narrative – one which shifts the plot forward with a dramatic edge, wielding the sonic vehicle in a precise manner, while pushing the limits around every corner. These songs mesh an at-home, endearing familiarity with a pressure-regulating heaviness that rains down. Tonight at Everybody Hits, Cooper will be supported by garage-psych quartet Secret Nudist Friends, whom recently made their way home after a string of tour dates. Also, fellow Good How Are You Records labelmates Puppy Angst will be joining in the festivities, along with Atlanta glam-punks Material Girls. – Michael Colavita

Other places to hit this weekend…

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Curtis Cooper, Secret Nudist Friends, Puppy Angst

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Sparrow Steeple, Hermit Thrushes, SAT It’s the Year 2000: DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz, SUN Cabana Wear  

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Cassettes (Record Release), Savage Dads, SUN Concert for Jen Devor: Sweetbriar Rose, Roberta Faceplant

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT George Engel Brooks/Fame Lust

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Yowler, SAT Tate

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Lotus, Tweed, SAT Lotus, Tweed

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT The Willies (CD Release), Renaissance Blvd., Red Letter Life, Whiskey Drippin’

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT Sy Mosquiat, Shaun Sloan

Franklin Music Hall (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Scholito

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) 5th Annual Benefit for Living Beyond Breast Cancer: The Miners, Travel Lanes, Flies in the Kitchen/(Downstairs) Liz Longley, Jesse Ruben, SAT (Downstairs) Live at The Fillmore, SUN (Upstairs) GTS Presents 4th Annual Winter Wreck

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Gene Smith Band, Haha Charade, Surreal Nation, SAT Sins Of Magnus, Syberia, Voodoo Death Cult 

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI American Dinosaur, Thee Idea Men, Full Bush, SAT The Lunar Year

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Lightninging, Soft Crime, Rubber, SAT Hotbed, Cosmic Lottery

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Kingsnake, The Age Of Truth, Clamfight, Ritual Earth/Past Life, Rare Spirits, Drew Sestito, SAT 90’s Alternative Singalong: In The Presence Of Wolves, DJ Baby Berlin

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Aktive, SAT DJ Deejay 

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT The Chedder Pickers, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI The People, Ellen Siberian Tiger

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Tough Guy Soda, Fuzzy Slippers, Frankly Lost, SAT The Ancient Mariners, Knights Reign

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI The Heels, Beer Me,  Loafass

Century (1350 S. 29th St.) SAT Erin Incoherent, The Russells, Los Gueys, Grey C.E.L.L.

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Brian Toll

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Somethin’ Divine, XPresidents, Jac with No K, SAT Adder, Egocentric Plastic Men, Grunge Puppy

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Broken Arrow, AM Radio, SAT Splintered Sunlight, SUN Whiskeyhickon Boys

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI  Glass Leaf, Kobika,The Poms, SAT Babe Grenade, Lisa Chosed, Annalise Curtin, Fauna Finch, SUN Copley Woods, Almost People

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI Great Time, The Bul Bey, Dahi Divine, Destiny X

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Bad Leather, SAT Fox, Backpack, ILY

Chicago

Absolutely Not “Bottom Of The Pit”

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Absolutely Not has released the first single, “Bottom Of The Pit”, from their forthcoming album, Problematic, which will be released on March 1st via No Trend.

This is the rage-filled Post-Punk of Donnie Moore, Madison Moore, Santiago Guerrero, and Chris Sutter.

You can catch Absolutely Not on March 2nd at Empty Bottle with Paper Mice and No Men.

Chicago

Jovan “Synergy Cypher Pt. 1”

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Jovan has released a hot new single called “Synergy Cypher Pt. 1” with the help of a few friends. This is the work of Inter-disciplinary Artist Jovan Landry and she has enlisted three amazing Chicago artist Glitter Moneyyy, Sauda Muse, and Jade The Ivy to back her up.

This is the first new music from Jovan since her critically acclaimed 2017 LP Growth.

Philadelphia

New Writhing Squares EP Available for Streaming & Purchase

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Out of the Ether, the new album from Philly garage-psych duo Writhing Squares, is out today via Trouble In Mind Records. Brimming with pulsating, rhythmic grooves, Kevin Nickles (Ecstatic Vision, Taiwan Housing Project) and Daniel Provenzano (Purling Hiss, Spacin’) launch into space, riding a noise-infused, free-jazz rocket. Step into the future, and have your mind altered. You can catch their record release show at Kung Fu Necktie on Thursday, February 7, where they’ll be supported by Sparrow Steeple and labelmates Headroom.

L.A.

Brandon Hoogenboom spreads good cheer on breezy new single “Feelin'”

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Brandon Hoogenboom evokes the lackadaisical confidence of seventies rock on "Feelin."’ The San Clemente singer-songwriter proclaims his adoration for his object of affection with cheerful optimism, gushing at every turn with the utmost sincerity. But don’t let the breezy demeanor fool you – there’s mannered wisdom in how he constructs a mellow, rootsy vibe over a divinely ornamented rhythm section. Think of him as a worthy successor to other Laurel Canyon-indebted locals like Jonathan Wilson and Dawes, if you will, and that’s good company to be in any day of the week.

"Feelin"’ is featured on Hoogenboom’s forthcoming solo album, For Mabel, which is out tomorrow, January 25th. Juan Rodríguez

Portland

Cry Babe: “Johnny”

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This upcoming Valentines Day, Cry Babe is releasing their EP Be Cool. Until you can hear the full thing, you can listen to the pre-released song “Johnny.” Do you remember the pointless car rides you and your friends would go on when you first started driving? Anxious and impatient, going 10 miles above the speed limit with the wind whipping your face and the setting sun gracing your brow. This is the emotion at the heart of “Johnny.” It’s clever because the song isn’t about being wild for the sake of it. It’s about being impulsive because you’re more afraid of what will happen if you don’t get in that car. Vocalist Anaïs Genevieve combines the anger and ethereality in her voice into something radically new. She sings with a style that I’m tempted to deem operatic punk. Her wild shrieks make Janet from Rocky Horror look tame in comparison. In “Johnny” she becomes both the devil and the angel on your shoulder. If you don’t find yourself thrashing and twirling around while “Johnny” is playing, you’re doing something wrong.

Cry Babe’s release show will be on Thursday, February 14th at the High Water Mark Lounge. Mr. Wrong and Sea Moss will also be playing. You can find out more information here. 

-By Avril Carrillo