Over the course of eight tracks, Kevin Lamarra creates a compelling, laidback, experimental folk sound on Demo. Sparse instrumentation invites you in as the shimmering acoustic guitars weave through layers of genteel vocals, gaining the harmonious, familiar feels of home. Those subtlety intricate, beautiful stacks of sonics sweep you up in their web, cultivating a comforting environment.
NYC
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Bathe’s “I’ll Miss You” is perfect poolside listening, play Brooklyn Bazaar 5.30
It’s officially almost-summer, and Brooklyn-based duo Bathe have provided a lush soundtrack in their I’ll Miss You EP, a short and sweet alternative R&B effort that’s perfect poolside-listening. The entirety of the extended play is marked by a lurid nostalgia permeating each of the release’s seven tracks, conveyed through ’80s inspired downtempo swinging on songs like “Kimmi,” and jazzy Strat noodling on title track “I’ll Miss You.” By channeling vintage inspiration into thoroughly modern rhythm and blues, Bathe also creates a record with a double meaning: there’s a longing for people and places past in the lyrics, but the music couldn’t feel more of-the-moment. Stream it as you sunbathe at Rockaway Beach during the coming warmer months, pining wistfully over last year’s summer fling, and catch Bathe at Brooklyn Bazaar on May 30th alongside Myles Cameron and Moise. –Connor Beckett McInerney, Photo by Danielle Caño-Garraway
Toronto
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Merival – Folk Singer/Songwriter’s new single “No Brakes, Record Due 06.27
Toronto folk singer/songwriter Merival has released a new track “No Brakes”. It’s a pretty little folk tune with some obscure moments that give the track a very theatrical feel. In her words “It feels messed up to walk that line of mental anguish vs. stability, ‘bad’ art vs. ‘good’ art, but I think we all do it at some point. With this song, I was basically wishing that I was depressed again so I could write ‘better’ music.” Merival’s debut full length album is set for release on June 21st. – Kris Gies
L.A.
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Animal Waves’ “Lately, So Lonely” is well oiled riff-rock
Both in thought and feeling, Animal Waves coast along in overdrive on "Lately, So Lonely." Singer/guitarist Robert Davis, alongside bassist Charles Salvaggio and drummer Matt Zavorski, deliver heavy, pummeling scuzz-rock that captures the looseness of a fun night out. But the trio’s warm, breakneck scuzz is also nuanced—dabbed with a touch of psych-noise, they balance rough and smooth with an unbounded energy that complements Davis’ yearning, impressionistic lyrics.
Check out Animal Waves’ "Lately, So Lonely" single below, and be on the lookout for upcoming gigs by visiting their official website. Juan Rodríguez
Philadelphia
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Krust Toons: “Why Are You Dressed Like That?” by Tedd Hazard
Krust Toons: "Why Are You Dressed Like That?" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
Austin
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Dead Meadow and Sailor Poon Slay at the Barracuda
Barracuda has a rugged dive bar charm that emanates an air of volatility that spills into the surrounding streets. The bars in close proximity are still holding their rugged charm and the graffiti on the Barracuda’s bathroom walls and wood paneled walls is a far cry from modern. The lineup for Tuesday night’s Barracuda show would be a hard rocking triumvirate of Sailor Poon, Saint Pe, and Dead Meadow.
Before Sailor Poon went on as the first opener, someone asked me “Do you ever headbang during a sound check?”. This is the perfect statement to summarize the kind of show Sailor Poon put on. Cheraya the drummer has a pink fuzzy drum set, and when Billie the vocalist and Saxophone player brought out her Sax there was red lipstick stained on the reed. Sailor Poon used a variety of vocal sounds during their set. Screams, maniacal laughs, hysteric laughs, wailing. Spooky, bone collecting, scream queens. Sailor Poon even asked for the lights the be dimmed to a spooky red to raise the spook factor. The performance was theatrical with the vocalists dancing, and facial expressions. A totally engaging show. Billie switching from saxophone to vocals effortlessly. A mix of heavy metal sludge sounds where the music makes you slowly start head banging faster and faster then transitioning to the fast thrashy punk that makes you want to smash around. I think the audience from the Leftover Crack show would of done very well at a Sailor Poon show. Lots of moshing. The reverb of the vocals give an ethereal sound at times too.
Following Sailor Poon was Saint Pe. Ian Saint Pe, a singer from the Black Lips, started Saint Pe. Although the Black Lips are a very established band I felt that Saint Pe was trying to still find their sound as a band. There was ambivalence from the crowd. Some people stayed for a song or two then went to smoke and nobody was up front and center at the stage. Most hung in the back at a cautious distance. Vocals were difficult to hear, and it proved difficult to get into the band’s vibe.
When it was time for Dead Meadows set, there was a total influx of people into the crowd. The venue shifted from a spacious atmosphere to being packed with sporadic clouds of smoke occasionally arising from the newly formed crowd. Before the show I reached out the a member from The Black Angels and asked what he thought about Dead Meadow. “They’re consistently a badass band” is what he said, and the crowds response supported that. Naturally of course, there was the guy with dreads and a dirty shirt dancing around in circles in the back. Dead Meadow gives people who weren’t alive for the birth of psychedelic rock, a band to jam to. Incorporating the extended guitar solos, “wahs “wahs”, and feedback that are staple elements to psychedelic rock. Between songs the crowd would hoot and holler “Dead Meadow!” “Hell yeah!”. People were swaying and singing along, heavy crowd engagement.
-Hillary Harris
NYC
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Groupie’s “Visceral” is 21st Century Revolution Rock – live at Zone One 6.17
It’s hard not to be bitter in this right wing, late capitalist hellscape that we call waking life. Folks with what is deemed “nonessential employment” (including this beleaguered writer) worry about automation, and the crushing weight of political inertia makes it difficult to take action against the seemingly insurmountable challenges of our time. No one understands that better than Brooklyn garage duo Groupie, who, on their newest EP Validated find a way to contextualize our malaise-ridden zeitgeist over the course of four, fast and loose, fuzzed out tracks. From screaming into the void about an uncertain future on the sinister “5 Year Plan,” to embracing a devil-may-care, burn-it-all-down perspective on closer “Cannibal Wave,” Groupie’s punk-tinged rock is very much of the times, expressing anger not just at the powers that be, but at a society-wide fatigue of resisting a political machine that has rigged the game in its favor. Regardless of the frustration, Validated remains as an authentic discordant representation of a post-2016 mindset, reminding the listener that there is power in anger, that you are not alone in your nihilism, and that rage can be a unifying force in questioning (and hopefully changing) the world we live in.
Groupie will deliver their subversive sound to Elsewhere’s Zone One on Jun 17th, alongside Miss June and THICK. In the meanwhile, you can stream Validated from the comfort of you own home. –Connor Beckett McInerney, Photo by Jeanette D. Moses
Chicago
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Town Criers II
Town Criers recently released their latest EP, “Town Criers II”. This is the DIY Rock trio’s sophomore EP and it includes their recent single, “It Ain’t Love”.
You can catch Town Criers at Charm School on June 2nd with Faux Furrs, Kid Lucifer, and Blind Moon.
NYC
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Same Girls debut new single “Wait”
Post-punk pop rock cuatro Same Girls just came out with their new single, “Wait” and it’s a perfect blend of their varied interested and influences. You can hear The Clash and The Strokes and some 80’s energy almost reminiscent of the B-52’s. Lead vocalist Taifa Nia’s is energetic and fun. Nia says the new single, "describe the loneliness and the heartbreak endemic in our esthetically obsessed clout culture." Listen here! – Lucille Faulkner
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior, May 24 – 26
Conversations (Tone Tree Music), the new album from The Dove & The Wolf, is something worth talking about, and this Saturday, the band, led by Paloma Gil and Louise Hayat, are slated to celebrate its arrival at Johnny Brenda’s. Hypnotic harmonies and subtly layered instrumentation induce an intimate, daydreaming state. The gentle, jangly vulnerability of the songs endears with an empathetic, heart-aching honesty. They’ll be joined by multi-instrumentalist and tourmate Michelle Blades, who creates graceful, compelling, genre-experimenting pop. Shamir will also be on hand with their latest, Be the Yee, Here Comes the Haw, in tow. – Michael Colavita
More shows to hit this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Carroll, SAT The Dove & The Wolf, Shamir
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Crozet, Arch of Love
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Bring Da Ruckus: Hip Hip 90s to Now (with special guest DJ Dame Luz), SAT Cardinal Arms/Fame Lust, SUN DRAMA!, Babe Grenade, lylyly
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Mazie, Zack Krall Band, Cold Soul, J Solomon
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Dj Baby Berlin
TLA (334 South St.) FRI A Benefit Concert for Michael Leavy: Jealousy Curve, Jeff Campbell, SAT Blac Papi, Yung K
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Jesse Gimbel, Erin Fox, SAT (Upstairs) Native Harrow
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Green Cathedral, Blackjack Rose, SAT The 1940s, Glass Leaf, SUN Haxon, Perennial
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Dean & Company presents: The Spectrum Series Vol. 3, The Quixote Project
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Nematode, Goodnight/Goodluck, Talk Louder!, SAT Longspells, False Tracks, SUN Effusion 35, Mr. Lisp, Secret Drawer
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Saver, Midfield, SAT The Magnificent ShitHawks Of The Greater Northern Americas, Space Caravan
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Silk City & Eric Wortham II Present: Feast of Art Part 7
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI John Gilbride, Emily Drinker, SAT Patrick Feliciano, Dizzy Valdez, SUN Katie Bird
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Tim Leslie, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI Katie Barbato, AfroBear, Calla Bere
Century (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI Black Cat Habitat, One Hundred Men on Mars, Baffle the Cat, SAT The Barren Marys (Tape Release), Teenage Bigfoot, The P’ids, Under 95
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SUN DJ Drootrax
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) SAT DJ Kevin Kong, Fisher, Menace Cartel, SUN Ear Me Now, DJ Lean Wit It
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Colin Lenox, SAGES, Masila Muli (w/Pet Lizard ), Goodthief, Elaine Rasnake, SAT Tubey Frank, Dweller, Andrew Huston & Friends
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI In Memorium: A Celebration of the life of Brendan Browning Lafferty: The Quelle Source, Seamus Browning, Cardillo
The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT Erik Ruin’s Ominous Cloud
Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI Lifecycle: Aime, Max Swan, Eric Boss
Haus of Yarga (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT The Polychromatics, Double Suede, Yeet
Chicago
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Sloth Hands “Vacation’s Over”
Folk/Punk Trio Sloth Hands released their first album, Vacation’s Over, in four years last week. This is the work of AJ Boucek (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Briana Certa: bass, backup vocals, and John Stenger (drums, backup vocals).
We are hearing elements of Mountain Goats and Paul Baribeau in these tracks that blend the humorous and serious.
Chicago
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Single Premiere: The Prime “Live On”
We are proud to be able to premiere the first single, “Live On”, from the forthcoming EP “Eternal Sky” (due out June 14th) from The Prime.
This is the Alt Rock of Andrew Delneky (Vocals/Guitar), Mike Koelling (Bass/Vocals), Will Moeller (Guitar/Vocals), and Bobby Shields (Drums/Keys/Vocals).
You can help The Prime celebrate the release of their EP on June 14th at Reggie’s.