We are keeping with today’s indie-pop theme by presenting to you the music of Boston’s Chelsey Meyer. The singer-songwriter’s voice is a quick shot of endorphins to the brain, a light to dissipate the gloomiest of thoughts. Despite having a tinge of DIY to it, Chelsey’s latest single “Your Mind Amazes Me (Shots!)” has a sophistication to it that is undeniable. The song’s chipper vocal inflections and grandiose instrumentation are almost theatrical in delivery: piano leads, a warm bassline, and Meyer’s vocal range tell a great story in full performance. The track is a mass collaboration that Chelsey is grateful for; they should all be proud for they have delivered New England a solid tune to forget the world for a while. We are streaming the new single below. – Rene Cobar
Weekend Warrior – August 9 – 11
Bad Heaven Ltd. is the latest project from Snowing’s John Galm, who is also backed by Tyler Bussey (No Thank You, Strange Ranger, The World Is A Beautiful Place…) on guitar and vocals, Ross Barzuk (Snowing) on bass, and Melissa Brain (Amanda X, MARGE) on drums. The band just dropped its new LP Strength last week, the follow-up to the group’s 2016 debut Cool Hell. Originally inspired by acts like Sparklehorse and Elliott Smith, Galm revealed that “Strength is about being young and stupid and thinking things are good and will continue to be good, when realistically they’re not, and it’s just gonna hit you again.” Bad Heaven Ltd. will be bringing all those feels to Philly’s favorite batting cages/DIY space Everybody Hits this Saturday, where they’ll also be joined by Maxwell Stern (of Signals Midwest). – Alexis V.
Other places where you might catch the feels this weekend…
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Goodthief, SAT Max Stern, Bad Heaven Ltd.
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Sitcom, AnnonXL, SUN Sparrow Steeple
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SUN No Thank You, Earth Telephone
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Dumal, Sonja/Function, SAT Truculent/Fame Lust
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI The Extraordinaires, Eddie Sids, SUN Talie
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Yellowhammer Fund Dance Party: Rana Ransom, DJ Delish, SUN Lovelorn
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI August Burns Red, SAT So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz, SUN Simply Christopher
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SUN Function
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Hoochi Coochi
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Knightlife, Little Fawn, Service Dog/The Savories, FONVERY, Rubber, SUN Hand Me Downs, Spinechain
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI The Preps, SAT Full Bush
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Trash Knife, Faking, SAT The Stone Eye, SUN Destiny X
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Twentythreenineteen, Here/Now
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Live Band Karaoke, SAT Live Band Karaoke, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) SAT Homestead Collective, Dylan Jane
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT DJ Elijvh Vrms
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Menace Cartel, SUN New Pony
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Royale, SAT Bye, Bye Boobies! A Top Surgery Celebration / DJ Ian St Laurent, SUN Sinful Sundays
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Reef The Lost Cauze, SAT Whitney Peyton
The Tusk (430 South St.) SAT The Mojo Machine, The Outlaw Pandas, Sex with Rollercoasters, Rasan In The Heyday
Century (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI Episode, The End AD, SAT Loafass (Tape Release), The Barren Marys
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Deck 5, Almost There, Modern Mercury, YelloCake, SAT Uncle Dan, Mr. Lisp
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Splintered Sunlight
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Gloria Deo, PhillyGreen, Humilitarian, SUN No Option, Freeze, Pit Hair
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) SUN Soft Crime
Vox Populi (319 N. 11th St., 3rd FL) FRI Paradise Gardens, Strawberry Hands, Control Point
Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI The Wonder Bars
The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) FRI Datadrift
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI FLNG, Screamcloud
Haus of Yarga (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Magnetic The Shaman w/Calo, ASCXNSION, Jewelssea, SAT Blueprint, Fracture
Anthorna Gallery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Alenni, A Million Dollars, SAT The Dark Tournament, Baphomet Nothing
The Tide Pool (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Blame Jakob, Daydrunks
The Buffalo (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Rubbish, King AniMal, Manikineter, Gutsack
Born Days “Where We Live”
Born Days (aka Melissa Harris) has released the lead single, “Where We Live”, from her forthcoming sophomore EP which is due out October 4th via Rain Heart Records.
You can catch Born Days at Sleeping Village on Sept. 18th with Boyscott, 8-bit crEEps, and Den-Mate.
New No Option LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
Make It Count, the new LP from No Option, was recently released via Life & Death Brigade. A primal fervor shortens the distance as an urgent, immediacy surges with unrelenting angst. Making you ponder, "What options do you really have?!" You can catch the hardcore quintet this Sunday, August 11 at Creep Records, as part of a lineup that also includes Pit Hair, Freeze, Stepping Stone, and Piece of Mind.
The Q-Tip Bandits debut with upbeat single, play Thunder Road Music Club 09.19
Helping you set an upbeat mood for your weekend is “Willow” the debut single from Boston’s The Q-Tip Bandits. The new song is an indie-pop delight that is generously sprinkled with jazz/soul elements creating a number fit for your worst and best moods: it is a smile-inducing jam all the way through. The gorgeous trumpet swells, crystal-clear guitar strums, groovy bassline, and lively-poetic vocals are Young the Giant meets your new favorite jazz group. The drumbeat is steady and smooth; the harmonies are delicately shaped; what more do you want? The band has a performance set for Thunder Road Music Club in Somerville on September 19th. We are streaming the debut single here for your weekend ignition. – Rene Cobar
Yeesh “Victory Lap”
Post-Punk trio Yeesh disbanded back in 2017, but this week released the first single, “Victory Lap”, from their final album, Saw You Up There. The album was recorded at Electrical Audio back in late 2017and will finally be released on August 16th.
Yeesh formed in 2008 and was the trio of Alex Doyle (guitar/vocals), Greg Obis (bass/vocals), and Peter Reale (drums). This is the first new music we have received from them since 2016’s LP, Confirmation Bias.
Debut Highnoon Album Available for Streaming & Download
Produced by Justin Roth (Soft Idiot), Semi Sweet is the full-length debut from Highnoon, a.k.a. Kennedy Freeman, and is out now via Cicada Choir. Freeman (who also performs in live incarnation of Beach Bod) observes and evaluates through personal narratives. Anchored in melody, free-floating yet focused lyrics create a gentle atmosphere. Highnoon is slated to perform at The Barbary on Sunday, September 8, along with Bad Heaven Ltd., Very Bad Vibes, and Proper. (Photo by Morganne Boulden)
Tanzen “Bottle Kids”
Prog Metal band Tanzen has released a new single called “Bottle Kids”. We love how Teddy effortlessly shifts from a guttural growl to a soaring, clear, clean vocal.
This is the work of Armin Maksumic (Guitar), Demostanis Diakoumakos (Bass), Teddy TanZen (Vocals), and Macklin Suhre (Drums).
You can catch Tanzen at Beat Kitchen on August 10th with Danville, Fools’ Brew, and Contra. (Final Show!).
09.26: Long Beard plays Baby’s All Right to release “Means To Me” LP
You know that feeling of spending a few glorious weeks at summer camp, enjoying time out on the water with your bunkmates and roasting marshmallows by the fire and falling in love, only to have to go home with your memories at the end of the season and let them linger in your mind as you try to stay awake in school? That’s what Long Beard‘s new single "Means To Me" sounds like. Feelings of nostalgia come through in Leslie Bear’s ethereal voice; a move back home to New Jersey inspired the wistfulness in her lyrics. The title track on Long Beard’s upcoming album Means To Me — like its previous single "Sweetheart" — explores the meaning of home, not only for Bear to ponder, but for the listener to consider as well. Long Beard will perform at Baby’s All Right on September 26th to support the release of Means To Me; take a listen to the title track below. – Will Sisskind
Fault sets a fierce pace in latest pop-punk single “KIDS”
New Bedford’s Fault opens up its latest single “KIDS” with a furious pace that captures the listener’s attention quickly. The song’s dynamic guitar riffs and acrobatic drum fills create a high-speed sonic pathway for the fierce lead vocals of Sandra Cardoso, summoning the best elements of pop-punk music. The breakdowns and choruses in the song are the mosh-anthems that are oh so sorely missed in contemporary music today; long live 2003! The group is super-charged having just finished a string of shows at home. With members from New Bedford and Providence in the band, there is no doubt New England will hear much more from this group soon. We are streaming “KIDS” below to get a head start. – Rene Cobar
Single Premier: The Phantom Broadcast “Benediction”
We are proud to be able to premiere the new single, “Benediction”, from The Phantom Broadcast. The single, which will be officially released tomorrow, August 9th, is taken from the band’s forthcoming EP Antiquities Vol. II.
You can help The Phantom Broadcast celebrate the release of this single on August 12th at Schubas with Snooze and Faintlife.
New Whaler Jr. LP Available for Streaming
RFA bassist Brendan McHale, a.k.a. Whaler Jr., has a new album out now via Castle Crank Records, titled Wasting Time. Bright, at ease, acoustic guitar and keys radiate an inherent warmth, which draws one toward the shoreline. An inviting, unpretentious nature is soaked in vocal harmonies, soothing the tension and offering reprieve. Tonight, Whaler Jr.’s record release will be held at PhilaMOCA, with support from NYC’s The Misters and Tokyo’s The Molice.