New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Mark Nelson (aka Pan•American) has begun to release old recordings on his bandcamp. The first was made available a couple of weeks ago and is the first ever Pan•American release, “Kidnap!”, which was previously a cassette only release from the Mid-90’s on an obscure Richmond label called Tenderette.
“Kidnap!” is a beautifully lo-fi single with the sounds of a typewriter through out and is backed by the ambient b-side “Casino”.
Elijah Berlow recently released a video for a new song called “So Romantic”. The video was filmed in the woods of New Glarus, WI and features Scotty Quill on guitar.
Last month Elijah released a new single called “Roadkill” and a live EP recored at VCR.
The trio of Cold Sweats recently shared its self-titled debut EP. A grim, grungy intensity is immediately apparent. Releasing raw, pent-up emotions, the tension increases as the instruments rumble ahead unforgivingly. However, that heaviness ultimately creates a cathartic sense of relief.
The Rad Trads, one of NYC’s most energetic live acts, have taken to the road once more in order to blow listeners new and old away with their jazz and funk infused style of indie rock. Last September, the five piece released their LP On Tap, which included fun singles like "The Little Pie Blues" and "The Manhattan Bridge Serenade". They’ve traveled far and wide to support the release, having spent this past summer going across the Midwest. They’ll play several dates on the West Coast before heading back towards Brooklyn to play Baby’s All Right on August 20th. In between tour dates, they’ll create exclusive content for their supporters on Patreon. Take a listen to "The Little Pie Blues" below. – Will Sisskind
Few bands show the combination of skill and passion that Connecticut’s Streetlight Shakers do. The trio uses a simple set-up of drums, keys, and bass to produce full-blown Americana gems. The elegant vocals of Jeff Boratko lead the way past intricate basslines and finely-crafted drum patterns, telling a story easy to relate to, easy to imagine. The band’s debut record A Light in the Dark is jam-packed with tunes tailored-made to capture consciousness profoundly: some songs inspiring like "Pull Yourself Together" some cautionary like "Down With the Devil" all demand careful attention. The group’s stories seep into the mind and remain there, fermenting till the next listen. The band has a busy month ahead with the next New England show at First Church in West Hartford on August 13th. We are streaming "Brooklyn Bound" to keep your weekend going in style. – Rene Cobar
The first time we heard of Caroline Kingsbury, a.k.a. Kingsbury, the then-21-year-old was going through a changing period in her life without the support system that she needed at the time. In the time that’s passed, the singer-songwriter experienced love and lost it, facing her painful memories a newfound strength on her latest single, "U Take it Back." "You gave me something I never had / and then you take it back," she exclaims with devastating simplicity, wrapping her salty-yet-sweet vocals over a backdrop of billowing synths and gossamer guitar lines. She invites a calm and stately atmosphere to soothe her unease, reminding us that there’s always comfort in melancholy.
Since then, Kingsbury has supported likeminded indie-pop acts like Aurora, NoMBe, and local artist Miya Folick. Up next is a month-long tour supporting Alex Lahey, which kicks off right here at The Troubadour on August 13. – Juan Rodríguez
Blacker Face has released the video for the lead single, “Tantric Suicide”, from their forthcoming LP, The Distinctive Juju. The video is a fun take on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts, as they present their “Not-Tiny-Desk” video.
The LP is due out October 18th via Sooper Records, and this will be the band’s debut for this fantastically supportive local label.
You can help Blacker Face celebrate the release of The Distinctive Juju on October 18th at The Hideout.
Photo by Sam Callahan
Recorded by Jeff Zeigler at Uniform Recording, Heatmap’s new EP Thank has found its way to us via Dimension Arts, and tomorrow night, the band will be holding its record release show at Ortlieb’s. The trio finds a balance between even-keeled, composed precision with volatile undertones. An authoritative sense of control drives the songs steadily forward, instilling security. However, jagged edges along those smooth, thumping rhythms suggest that within those calculated movements, danger and unpredictability still lies. They’ll be supported by the infectious haze of Goldenaire and the brutal barrage of frustration-releasing aggression that is Desperate Living. – Michael Colavita
More things to do to help you escape this dystopia…
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI IATT, Blasphemous, Polemicist, SAT Heatmap (Record Release), Goldenaire, Desperate Living
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz, SUN DJs Tim Motzer and Jeff White
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SUN Scantron
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Levee Drivers, Todd Fausnacht/DJ-Sun, Rebel Foster, SAT The 1910 Chainsaw Company/Fame Lust
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI No Thank You, Amanda X, SUN Jenna and The Pups
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI DJ Evan Edge, DJ Skeleton Lipstick, SAT Chemical Fix, SUN No Option, Simulakra, 3weekoldroses
TLA (334 South St.) SUN , Black Thought Presents: Delirious
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Function
Franklin Music Hall (421 N. 7th St.) FRI-SUN This Is Hardcore
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Marielle Kraft (Record Release), Chris Paterno, Brianna Nelson/(Downstairs) PhillyBloco Carnival, Unidos da Filadelfia Samba School
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Human Shield, SAT Mars Parker, ALEANA, Moses Mosima, Annon XL, Jizza Raw, Hashland
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Primatives (Record Release)/The Jumping Juvies
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Live Band Karaoke, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) SAT Jac with No K (EP Release), Lovecartel, SUN Keely Sibilia, The Last Generation On Film
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Gracie Martin & The So Beautifuls, Sabrina Pantal, Julia Rainer, SAT The Lot, The Barren Mary’s
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Bill Collector/DJ Mighty Mike Saga, Elijah Vrms
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SUN Cirque Noir
The Tusk (430 South St. above woolly mammoth) FRI At Best, Zymotic Flow, Cvges, SAT The Prisoners
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI The Robinsons, Yeet, SAT Scars Like These, The HeelsDecontrol, Beer Me!
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Knightlife, Bohemian Mule, The Missing Frets, SAT Apple Juice Jones, Cookie Rabinowitz
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Breakwater, Urban Guerilla Orchestra, SAT Dice Raw, Voss, Frankie Vado
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Ricky Lee, SUN Menace Cartel
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Sixteen Jackies, Courier Club
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Flamingo Chicks,Vague Advice, Miracle Swill, SAT Canine 10, Debonair, Nothing Wrong
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Birthday Boy, Here/Now, Secret Drawer
The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT Stinking Lizaveta
Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI Dosk
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT No Sir E
Haus of Yarga (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI In Trouble, Pit Hair, SAT Viscera (Album Release), Zombieshark, Chava
Couchtown (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Daydrunks, Beach Bod
The Bass Mint (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN AmericanTrappist, Lizdelise, Rachel Andie & The Fifth Element, Lily McKown
Pleasure Mountain Ballroom (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Beach Bod, A Million Dollars
The Tide Pool (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Blubird, Slowsie, Americanadian, SAT Ivory
XPoNential Fest (BB&T Pavillon/Wiggins Park) FRI Japanese Breakfast, Killiam Shakespeare/Foxtrot & the Get Down, SAT Low Cut Connie, Ali Awan, SUN Dave Hause & The Mermaid, RFA, Zeek Burse
BJ the Chicago Kid dropped his major label debut album, 1123, today, July 26th. We first wrote about BJ way back in 2011 when he dropped “The Life of Love’s Cupid”, and he has really come a long way since that moment.
This new album features contributions from Buddy, JID, Anderson.Paak, Eric Bellinger, Kent Jamz, Rick Ross, and Afrojack. In addition, on the album’s latest single, “Worryin’ Bout Me”, BJ teams up Offset to bring his brand heavily RNB-influenced Hip Hop to the world.
You can catch BJ the Chicago kid at House of Blues on November 30th.
LURK has signed with Pure Noise to release their latest EP, "Electro-Shock". This is Noise Rock with a good dose of Punk thrown in.
LURK is the work of Kevin Kiley (Vocals), Dan Durley (Bass), Pedro Unzueta (Drums), Alex Rackow (Guitar), and Kevin Maida (Guitar)
You can catch LURK at Underground Lounge on July 31st
Long Island-based indie-pop band MAYVE excels at building catchy songs with an ’80s pop flair. The four-piece first garnered attention after releasing ‘Animals’ in 2016, following it up with the ‘Motion EP’ the following year. Between then and now, their material has become increasingly nuanced and has gone through changes in style, production, and creative choices. The two new most recent singles "Neon" and "Head High" are a clear sign of growth, showcasing a desire to develop the band’s sound in the direction of higher production values.
Speaking about their groovy and whispery new single "Slide" (released today), MAYVE says: "[it’s about] Koinophobia – the fear of living an ordinary life. “Slide” follows the tempo of a mind left to wander. One that slips into a downward spiral and denies the tangibility of our most ineffable moments."
You can experience them live at the Velvet Lounge in East Setauket on August 16. – Susan Moon. – Susan Moon
Remembering The Rockets, the third full-length album from Strange Ranger, is out now via Tiny Engines. Pensive, emotively-vulnerable lyrics are reinforced by the delicate melodic instrumentation. A warm gentleness combines with ongoing, personal exploration, resulting in an album that ventures into soothingly, sensitive depths. You can catch the band in Philly next at the First Unitarian Church on Thursday, November 14, with Chastity Belt.
