New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Dehd has released a third single, “Happy Again”, from their forthcoming sophomore album, Water, which is due out on May 19th via Fire Talk.
Dehd is the work of Jason Balla (NE-HI and Earring), Emily Kempf (Vail and Lala Lala), and drummer Eric McGrady.
You can help Dehd celebrate the release of Water on May 10 at Empty Bottle with The Hecks and Mavis The Dog.
Sometimes you walk into an open mic or a small music venue in New York and hear something that makes you go, "Well, I’ve never heard that sound before." Gawain and the Green Knight fit that bill. Named after a late 14th-century chivalric romance story, the duo of Alexia Antoniou and Mike O’Malley craft literary folk songs which blend history, literature, and other intellectual pursuits with the usual songwriting themes of anxiety, self-doubt, and desire. Take the band’s song "King Louis", a track about fearing what your crush might say behind your back. However — as Antoniou shows in the just-released music video — the song is also about the titular infamous French ruler, who feared court gossip so much that he kept all of his nobles under his eye. Watch the music video for "King Louis" and see Antoniou decked out in full Louis XIV costume, tearing her wig off as the fear becomes too much to bear. – Will Sisskind
Twin Peaks released a re-recorded version of their single “Natural Villain” last week to coincide with the release of the collaborative Garage Lager with Goose Island. This version of the song features Ohmme on backing vocals and was recorded at Treehouse Records. All proceeds from the sale of the single are going to Chicago Abortion Fund.
Twin Peaks is currently on a Spring Tour with Post Animal and you can find all of their tour dates here.
And now, for something completely different. Lights of Marfa share the Nashville alt-rock scene with colleagues like The Ivins; their thunderous sound shakes stages around town. Recently, the band have pushed themselves to put out a new single each month; last month’s single, an original called "Live To Forget", had a ballad-like quality to it, and February’s "Run To You" was a straightforward rock cover of the Bryan Adams original. This month, Lights of Marfa have again chosen to go for a cover, this time giving their alt treatment to Billy Joel’s 1978 single "Big Shot". Joel’s version laid heavy on the rock elements, making it a timeless track that any modern rock band could tackle with ease. Lights of Marfa do it justice without stripping the original of its fire; take a listen for yourself down below. – Will Sisskind
Bruce Jazz trio Poplife released a new single last month called “Bad Attitude”. This is the funky yacht rock of Ben McFadden (Keys, Vocals, Guitar) (aka McFabulous) along with Foul Tip’s Adam Luksetich (Bass) and Ed Bornstein (Drums). For this single, their first in a year, the trio recruited the talented Vivian McConnell (aka V.V. Lightbody) on backing vocals.
Moor Mother & Zonal combined forces for the 37th chapter in the Adult Swim Singles series. Honing in via static system, a quaking beat spawns an ominous urgency in “On The Range”. As noise consumes on the periphery, an internal fire maintains and propels one’s focus. Climb over the obstacles and individuals that lie along your path, and prosper.
“Thin Wire” (streaming) is the uber-charged debut single of Brooklyn punk rockers Trash TV. A sonic surge of distorted guitars and eruptive drums, this is the kind of tune that jolts you to the front of the crowd. Since late last year, this quartet has been fermenting music they call “scuzzy punk,” distinguished by upbeat tempo, fuzzy guitar licks and the graphic verses of lead singer Habiba Warren, who at one point mentions grease, numb hands, and bleeding eyes—get the picture? The band is revving up for a rooftop party show at Our Wicked Lady on May 22nd. The song serves as a sizzling preview of things to come from the Brooklyn natives, check it out below. – Rene Cobar
The Burst and Bloom seems to be on a mission to release a new song each month this year, and May’s track is called “Winter”. This is the amped-up Emo Rock of Adrian Serrano, Juan Santiago, Tyler Leninger, and Vincent Depierro.
It was only a couple of week’s ago that the group released an introspective track called “Dead Dads Club” that can also be streamed below.
You can catch The Burst and Bloom at Record Breakers on May 18th with Aunt Kelly and The Weekend Run Club.
Dominic Angelella recently shared a new single, “Little Light,” via Lame-O Records. As the charming guitar progression strolls along, the minimal bass & drum keeps in time, providing bright accents. Angelella’s vocal melody brings a delicate vulnerability to the recording, while the lyrics play out like part letter/part stream of consciousness. This track simply makes us feel good inside, and we hope that it does the same for you this morning.
Sporting the “melodic punk rock” tag on Bandcamp, six year old American Television provides a satisfying mix of punk and sentimentality on their latest release, Death Defier. A mere two tracks, the release’s size reflects the character of the band’s songs, simple, to the point, and effective. There is emotion in the music, something that is always welcome as many amateur groups are only willing to grapple with emotions superficially. The hooks are nice, the lyrics are relatable, and the chord changes are twinged with a hint of emotion. In short, there is honesty and a decent amount of work put into the music, can’t ask for much more.
-Mike Dranove
Up for a dose of new music? There is a new group roaming the concrete jungle, wielding a debut single that demands attention.“Fake” has a luring quality to it, with its glaze of post-punk and Southern rock it immediately recalls the panache that catapulted Kings of Leon to the top of the charts. The single of NYC’s Nicotine Dolls is smooth in its delivery of flexible tempos, intricate harmonies, and gritty lead vocals that make way for a ripping guitar solo which culminates the song. The band is debuting with a solid entry and will be undoubtedly playing the single at their next show at Connolly’s NYC on June 28. We have the release here for you below. – Rene Cobar
Town Criers have released a new single called “It Ain’t Love”. This is the first new music we’ve had from the rock trio since their 2018 self-titled debut.
You can catch Town Criers at Empty Bottle on May 6th with Modern Vices and Kachi.
