NYC

Beers in your face on Cal Rifkin’s “Sleeper Hold”

Posted on:

The Replacements, $3 malt liquor, summer vacation, Cal Rifkin‘s music conjurs sounds and memories, a commendable accomplishment. All the ingredients for success are there and are intuitively executed. The driving, lo-fi rock sound, the sentimental lyrics, the secretly sick guitar solo, oh the fond memories that I’m sure it would evoke in me if I had any fond memories of high school and college parties. Rifkin has the basics down, and the result is music made with passion; music that can satisfy the short-attention spans of the inebriated; music that can engage you while also secretly helping you to achieve catharsis. To this I say well done sir!

-Mike Dranove

NYC

Johnny Darlin debuts music video for “Way With Words”

Posted on:

The lush vocals of Brooklyn, NY musician Johnny Darlin slip into the eardrums of the listener early on in his single “Way With Words,” and with the assistance of sixties-styled vocal harmonies, delayed guitar licks, and a groovy drum beat create a sedating listening experience. The lounge-pop sound of Johnny Darlin is intriguing enough as it is, and yet the accompanying music video to the single adds another layer of interest for the listener—the setting of an Arkansas church, where Darlin entertains the devotees, is transformed into a bubbly dance dream to the sound of his baritone voice. The video for “Way With Words” was released last month, and the song is available in his 2018 EP of the same name. Johnny Darlin knows how to tell a good story, see it for yourself here. – Rene Cobar 

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, April 19 – 21

Posted on:

The Madalean Gauze Band commemorates its latest release, Nothing Feels Beautiful Anymore (The Deli Philly’s April Record of the Month), with a fantabulous show this Saturday at Boot & Saddle. The all-female outfit unites an enchanting/tumultuous resound – one that taps into deeply personal songwriting, while retaining a playful, psych approach. That ability to acknowledge life’s pleasantries and pitfalls, as part of a larger learning experience, is encapsulated in beguilingly memorable tunes, which will be brought to life at one of our favorite Philly listening rooms. The femme fatales will also be supported by the fantasy daydream of Tim Meskers’s Garden Gate and the Jo Kusy-fronted four-piece Pouring Silver. So for those of you who are looking for a bit of 4/20 weirdness, you now know where to go. – Michael Colavita

Other places where you can escape your family this Easter weekend…

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Rat Daddy, Dreamswell, Cody Cody Jones, SAT The Madalean Gauze Band (Album Release), Garden Gate, Pouring Silver 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT DJ Mike Nyce, Mr. Sonny James: Philly Loves Prince

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI DJ Deejay, SAT Shitty Wizard, Seeing Snakes/DJSC, SUN Nightfall, The Brood, Arseholes

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Control Top, SAT Sixteen Jackies, SUN Year of the Knife, Kaonashi, Simulakra

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Four Twenty Fest: Dawns Divide, Near Nightmare, Big Handsome, Black Melanite, Knolling Bones 

TLA (334 South St.) SUN Bry Greatah

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SUN Varials

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Gigantic (A Pixies Tribute), DJ Alex Vance/(Downstairs) Splintered Sunlight, Jah People

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Dead:Stop (Acoustic), Groundwork, SAT Famous & Fallen, Night Mission

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT The Donuts, SUN Jamaaladeen Tacuma

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) SAT Levee Drivers, The Valets

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Welter, Mr. Lisp

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Tim Timur, Kevin Schultes and The Wild Dogs, SAT Dappa, Lil’ Blanco, Jaded

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

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT October Black

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI DJ Mighty Mike Saga, Elijvh Vrms

Century (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI Los Gueys (Tape Release), Trash Boy, Roadkiller, Total Whine, SAT The Magnificent Shit Hawks

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Bunny Savage and The Plibmen, Under 95, Gozer, SAT Punk Rock Karaoke

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Los Festingos, The Classic Hunt, El Dwellers, SAT Dot.Gov

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Friend’s of the Devil’s Lettuce: Aron Magner

Rusty Nail (2580 Haverford Ave.) FRI Luminous Fins

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Ben Aire, SAT Ed Christof

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Youthfool

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) FRI Mattress Food, Johanna Baumann

Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI Winkdown, SAT Matthew Law presents Friends & Fam

Pickle Rehearsal Space (5213 Grays Ave., Unit B14) SAT Darlingtyn, Hambone Relay, Erik Kramer

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Church Girls, Grayling, Soupy, SAT JamL

Cousin Danny’s (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Taiwan Housing Project, Chronic Anxiety, Mute Host

Philadelphia

New Sun God EP Available for Streaming & Purchase

Posted on:

The quartet of Sun God has a new EP out, titled Life Skills. A breezy ease creates a composed yet energy-charged, melodic motion. Proximity with a sense of cohesive precision, the record retains a personal, polished dynamic. Sun God will be performing this evening at Anthorna Gallery, joined by locals Cherry, Bleary Eyed, and New York’s RNIE.

NYC

NTHNL’s introspective and exploratory new single “Away We Go”

Posted on:

Music doesn’t have to be confrontational, hammering away or building tension, in order to convey to the listener a sense of gratification. NTHNL has chosen a path of escapism rather than digging into gritty details on “Away We Go,” opting for broad synths and effervescent vocals that lift the track to a headspace that is both introspective and exploratory. Drifting up and down doesn’t mean the production is aimless, however; the seemingly skeletal nature of the song traces the miniature climaxes that occur with every chorus. It’s a delightful soundscape, perfunctory yet powerful. “Away We Go” is the second single off NTHNL’s upcoming album and you can stream it below. –Tucker Pennington

L.A.

Beauty Queen stakes a vibe that is all her own on “Sold You Out,” new EP out 4/19

Posted on:

Kate Iannitello, the artful mind behind Beauty Queen, is set to release her new EP, Out Of Touch, tomorrow. And with two singles already released, we were blessed with her latest drop, “Sold You Out.” Although her sound might be familiar to that of Beach House and Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers, she has staked a vibe that is all her own. Sending dreamy pop sensations up and down her listener’s spine, Iannitello is an instant starter pack to your beach day. 

Out of Touch is out tomorrow, April 19 via Sleep Well Records. Kayla Hay

NYC

No Beyond by Bound is legit post-rock

Posted on:

I didn’t know it was possible to make good music with even more reverb than Mogwai, but Bound does it, quite well I might add. Nuthin like a good ol fashioned post-rock buildup into climax to make an impact on your overloaded senses.  As Ronald Reagan once said, “One thing ’bout music when it hits you feel no pain.” And you gotta appreciate the thought and effort they are putting into the tracks; this is some primo sound design, expense not spared here. Seriously, I listened with headphones and I was basking in the tone quality. Even if you don’t love post-rock, check this out.

Stand out tracks: Current, Hold

-Mike Dranove

 

Nashville

Malibu Blackout release single “Addy” on 04.26; play Springwater Supper Club 05.16

Posted on:

Malibu Blackout brands themselves online as "//fuzz//rock//pop//dance//move//yo//ass", which seems accurate, considering their first two singles "What I’ve Done" and "For The World" have a sizable funky dance rock vibe for a rising band. The trio’s new single "Addy" will drop on April 26th, and from snippets on Facebook, it sounds like it’ll pack quite a punch. If you want to catch Malibu Blackout live, you can see them perform at Springwater Supper Club on May 16th along with Boston-based visitors Blindspot and fellow local acts Pickup Sticks and The Down Squad. Until then, and until "Addy" drops, jam out to "For The World" below. – Will Sisskind

Chicago

Fauvely “What the Living Do”

Posted on:

Fauvely has released a new single called “What the Living Do” via Diversion Records. This is primarily the work of Sophie Brochu, and this is the first single from her upcoming EP which is due out on May 17th. On this project Sophie is joined by Dale Price, Scott Cortez, and Dave Piscotti.

You can help Fauvely celebrate the release this EP on May 20th with a free show at Empty Bottle with Uma Bloo and Star Tropics.

Photo by Rachel Winslow

NYC

Gina Biver’s “Mirror” is 2spooky

Posted on:

The Fuse Ensemble achieves full spookiness on “Mirror” from The Music of Gina Biver. The track features a discordant string/piano thing with Gina Biver intoning, “something looks back each time I move, oh demon mask, sad, turned down mouth” from American poet Colette Inez’s poem “Empress in the Mirror.” In all, the creative mixing and pleasantly random improvisation is able to get the spooky sound, or as the liner notes put it, “awakening new shapes and realities while the repetitive nature of the Biver’s electric guitar maintains an underlying continuing, eternal presence.”

I could see some cool audio/visual collab on this one.

-Mike Dranove

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Hanging Out of Cars” – Empath

Posted on:

Empath‘s Active Listening: Night on Earth is slated to arrive on May 3 via Get Better Records. Directed by Ali Donohue (Fleabite, Swanning, Waxahatchee), a new video has emerged for "Hanging Out of Cars”. Amphibians scatter across and traverse various vibrantly colored, craftily constructed, outdoor settings. The noisy, psych-tinged soundscapes are wonderfully enriched by the video’s creatively intriguing landscapes.