On December 27, the San Francisco experimental rock group Dear Banshee released their latest, Viva Guernica. Title track has an accompanying video with dark synth feels and creepy vibes—in a good way. Catch them playing in Oakland at The Golden Bull January 23. -Lucille Faulkner
NYC
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Winnebago Vacation’s “Camp Somewhere” is a muted, lonely affair, plays Muchmore’s 1.5
Queens-based “folk/goth” outfit Winnebago Vacation combines the quiet solitude of bedroom pop with the acoustic textures of the great outdoors on debut LP Camp Somewhere. A project of Queens-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eli Frank, each of the record’s eleven tracks deftly weave guitars, muted lofi drums, and echoing Casiotones to create soft, somber melodies and lonely lyrical testaments, a well-balanced mix of emo, electronica, and indie rock. Overall, it’s an excellent collection of songs for driving down an open road with no destination in mind; listen below, and catch Winnebago Vacation at Muchmore’s on January 5th, supporting Barely Civil. —Connor Beckett McInerney
Austin
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Weaver is the Answer to Your Psychedelia Dreams
Weaver opened for a toasty crowd at Spider House Ballroom on Saturday night. Formerly a two piece from Israel, the band recently added a bass player from the Bronx: Liraz on guitar, Eliav on drums, and Febian on bass. They may be injecting new blood to the Austin music scene, but their style of psychedelic rock feels right at home here.
Red lights reflecting off the red velvet curtains behind them, the whole room glows red with their passionate energy on stage. The hypnotic rhythm of the drums and deep throb of the bass replaces the cadence of your heart beat, while the shredding guitar spirals you into your inner mind. The loops and dips of one song felt like a Tom and Jerry chase scene, running your mind in circles. There’s no lyrics or song titles, only raw sound and chemistry. There’s not even a set list. Listen, close your eyes, and forget what decade you’re in. A couple of songs from their newest EP are available on Bandcamp, Amaranth and Alice.
Sans lyrics and sans titles, the last songs of the set were improvised raw garage rock magic. The instrumental 3 piece tip toes along grunge and punk, but stays true to psychedelia. The bassist and guitarist angle themselves toward the drums allowing the sounds to reverberate and dance off each other. A delicious, fuzzy synergism fills souls and overwhelms the room. There is an attractive mysteriousness surrounding this band that makes you want to hear more.
Weaver is playing Free Week – catch them at The Sahara Lounge on January 2nd. Check out their instagram for other future shows; their bio aptly promises a “fuzz-laced hit for your inner mind.”
Mel Green
L.A.
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01.03: Beers for Fears ring in promising 2020 at The Hi Hat
Because neither Roland Orzabal nor Curt Smith have decided to sue, Beers for Fears will traipse gleefully into 2020 with a show at The Hi Hat on Friday, January 3rd. Beers for Fears first took the stage in 2017, and in late 2018 released their first single "Bone Wizard (Part I: He’s A Bone Lizard)". While the band makes no bones about their sense of humor, they take their music seriously. Cinematic, melodic, and often experimental, Beers for Fears’ music makes for fun listening as well as a raucous live show. Catch them on stage at The Hi Hat previewing an upcoming album on 1/3, along with indie rock tribute act Black Crystal Wolf Kids. Take a listen to "Bone Wizard (Part I: He’s A Bone Lizard)" below. – Will Sisskind
Chicago
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Teen Blush “Futurism”
Teen Blush has released their debut EP, “Futurism”. This follow’s the artist first two singles, “Felt Like Home” and “Honey Stars”, which were released earlier this year.
Kenneth has had a wonderful 2019 and is poised for big things in 2020 including the launch his own music site called Blush Sounds.
NYC
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Twist and shout with Egg Cream’s new LP, plays Alphaville 1.7
Jangle pop project Egg Cream crafts vintage bops evocative of sock hops and soda bars with a grunge-y twist. New record Can’t Stop The Cream is a smattering of concise, primarily minute-and-change songs characterized by catchy hooks, drum machines, bravado-laden vocals and synth flairs, creating music you’d expect from a parallel dimension Buddy Holly. This album will immediately be at home with fans of Christopher Owens / Girls, or those with a penchant for rockabilly seeking a more contemporary spin on the genre; give it a listen bellow, and see Egg Cream at Alphaville on January 7th alongside Paddlefish and ZZZwalk.
NYC
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Answering Machine wax unoptimistically on “Bad Luck,” play Gutter Bar 1.9
Self described “sad and fast” Brooklyn powerpop quintet Answering Machine live up to their own characterization on new single “Bad Luck,” embedding their most recent output with a healthy dose of shredding and brightly lachrymose lyrics. Unwashed guitar tones underscore the progressive churn, positing a melodically grungy instrumental line, made clean by the occasional explosive solo and front woman Samantha Campanile’s sunny vox; neither depressive nor wholly optimistic, “Bad Luck” is a good groove for a warm (yet overcast) afternoon, or visiting Coney Island during the offseason. Listen below, and see Answering Machine at the Gutter Bar on January 9th, supporting Math the Band.
NYC
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Groove into the new decade with Gold Casio at Mercury Lounge 12.31
Since their relocation to NYC, Portland-bred indietronica outfit Gold Casio has been persistently tearing it up at venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, and while the band has been quietly at work at their next forthcoming effort, their performances are something to behold. Witnessing tracks from their most recent EP SINNERS at Berlin this past September, it’s hard not to be impressed by the band’s ability to render the breadth of their nudisco in real time, from the breakbeat four-on-the-floor of “Make You Mine” to the start-stop stutter of “Love vs Logic.” Perfect for fans of Chromeo (or their Pacific Northwest compatriots Yacht), the band’s true magic can only be captured in a live setting; as such, you should stream them below before catching them at Mercury Lounge on New Year’s Eve, supporting Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue and French Horn Rebellion, but only if you want to start the decade in an undisputedly funky fashion —Connor Beckett McInerney
New England
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Goose debuts year-end single “Wysteria Lane”
Goose, the band from Norwalk, Connecticut, surprised with a year-end single so fun it had to save it for last. The year-closing single “Wysteria Lane” is funky with its smooth ‘70s guitar riffs, hot bassline, and reverberating vocals that evoke a festive feel. Known for its excellent live performances, Goose is a group that injects that communal feel into each piece, and this new single is no different: close your eyes, turn up the volume and feel the vibe so lively. The final seconds of the track are exquisite; the overall composition is primed for a solid live showing to come. Stream the new track below to kick off your weekend right. – Rene Cobar
NYC
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Fantastic Negrito’s 2-night NYE residency at The Chapel
As he does all things, Fantastic Negrito is celebrating the end of decade in style. The singer combines passionate blues meets soul meets R&B and is a performer you won’t want to miss. Fantastic Negrito is playing a two-night residency at The Chapel, concluding with a New Year’s Eve show. What a way to end a decade and what a forceful way to start the new year. Here’s a taste of some of his latest work, featuring blind dancer Odil Gerfaut. Presented by Folk Yeah, get your tickets now. –Lucille Faulkner
L.A.
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rook&nomie electrify with coldwave mastery on “me&you”
On Twitter, rook&nomie advertise themselves as a "gay girl band from the cutest hell", but their ghostly coldwave suggests something more grim than cute. That’s not to say that their new album me&you isn’t a wonder of sound; the duo create webs of haunting melodies and spectre-like backbeats that provide gut punches of intensity even in their quieter moments. The album’s lyrics invoke images of cruelty — as well as love — towards oneself and between two people, creating scenes of darkness where little specks of light fight to shine through. On me&you, rook&nomie sing in search of that light. Take a look at the music video for "azure paler than the sky", a track from me&you, below. – Will Sisskind