Loop B recently relocated from Brazil. For some weird reason, for 3 weeks in June I ran into him everywhere; The Super Coda, Ze Couch, various functions presented by PAS.  If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Loop you’ll understand what I mean when I say that his presence marked those weeks with the discrete sensation of stumbling into one of Pynchon’s novels.
So I book him.  Here’s the skinny.  Proceed with caution.
A cache of objects transforms the stage; a broken PC keyboard, mixing bowl, plastic sword.  Loop announces he’s “using small things.  No washing machine tonight.”
Loop embarks to accompany, on things, various recordings of slightly damaged Brazilian dance tunes, rapidly sheathing/unsheathing his sword, bouncing a marble (that proves uncooperative) in his bowl, consistently dancing in place.  And all throughout the tension builds to outgrow itself, palpable in a way that’s abominably rare in this life, the realization of pure, unadulterated disbelief, extended all the way down to the bottom of the abyss, wherein lies a –
Strangely shaped hub cap?
Part of a kiln?
A Bundt pan?
Whatever it is, Loop places it on his head and bangs away on both sides with chopsticks, a stereophonic grin peeling off his face and flapping through the audience (which has tripled over the course of his performance).  And that’s how it is, until the backing track sambas it’s final samba, absurdly departing this world as one might imagine a drunk nun.
QED.  WTF.  That’s all, folks. – Valerie Kuehne

The Oh Sees come out swinging with their second LP, Carrion Crawler/The Dream due out November 15th off In The Red Records. John Dwyer’s esoteric use of the guitar provide unforeseen melodies, atop nostalgic 1960s drum grooves. The title track “Carrion Crawler” sucks you into a daze thanks to drummer Mike Shoun’s classy ride cymbal usage and the album is a great adventure through and through. The band has come a long way, emanating from John Dwyer’s solo break, to a now solid-gold five piece. Check out their website for some far-out artwork and tunes and catch them at The Treasure Island Music Festival on October 16th. – Ed Guardaro

Rin Tin Tiger brought down the house at this years Noise Pop fest opening for Max Bemis of Say Anything at the Bottom of the Hill, and from Seattle Washington to Dallas Texas they continue to captivate audiences with their unforgettably energetic and upbeat folk-pop. Check them out live at The Depot (Cesar Chavez Student Center, SFSU) on Thursday September 1st – it’s a free show! – (as posted in The Deli’s SF Open Blog – post your band’s blogs, videos, and Mp3s here).

After one album, one EP, hundreds of show and one of those period most bands experience at one point or another when some "pieces" are lost and then some new one found, Big Tree is back with a new album, entitled "This New Year" and scheduled to be released in early October. Driven by Kaila McIntyre’s malleable vocals, the band plays electric alt-folk with frequent psych-rock-of-the-hippie-kind influences, and an occasional jazzy twist. Their music often conjures up images of free love, high nights at the beach, and – at times – those famously ineffective but nonetheless enthusiastic street demonstrations of the 60s. At least that’s what we hear in the advance single "This Fall", streaming here. Check out also the album title-track here, released as a single in March.

Download Mp3: Big Tree – "This Fall"
 

Washington to Brooklyn, 20 year old Brad Oberhofer (whose band placed 6th in our 2010 Best of NYC poll for emerging NYC artists) is one of the NYC scene’s brightest hopes. The "kid" stunned critics and fans in 2010 with a series of songs that went beyond Brooklyn’s trend of surf-influenced lo-fi, showing uncommon songwriting skills and imagination in the arrangement department. Powerhouse label Glassnote – also home to Mumfor & Sons, Phoenix and Two Door Cinema Club amongst other – just announced the signing of Oberhofer. While waiting for the new release under that label though, White Iris Records is putting out the band’s latest single "Gotta Go / Mahwun". Don’t miss the band at Music Hall of Williamsburg, opening for NYC scene mainstays Les Savy Fav on 09.06.

French, Brooklyn based songstress Julie Peel has the rare ability to pen beautiful and touching songs – and she does it with enviable consistency. Here’s a dreamy, rather sad gem from her debut album "Near the Sun". Julie just announced she’s nearing completion of a new record, shceduled to be released before the end of the year.

Mainland – ex Mainland Fever – on September 5th will be releasing a new EP entitled "Summer Sick". The band is also launching this rather beautiful video of the title track, which has a peculiar square format.

Mainland – Summer Sick [Official Video] from Ian McClerin on Vimeo.

Ava Luna possesses the perfect balance of retro and modern influences. They draw from ‘60s doo-wop but spruce it up with touches from current indie luminaries like Dirty Projectors. Carlos Hernandez leads with his soulful, affected croon that echoes Jamie Lidell’s with a trio of female singers supporting with gorgeous vocal harmonies. The instrumentation is sparse — complex beats accompanied by light synths and bass — but intricate and deliberate, allowing the voices to take the reins and guide listeners through a matchless music experience. – The band is currently working on a follow up to the 2010 "Services EP – Read Nancy Chow’s interview with the band here.

Gross Relations would have been comfortable roommates with Fountains Of Wayne in the 90s (and would have done a much better job with All State’s theme than Weezer, too). Bands like this have dropped like flies as the end of thetwentieth century has also seemed to mean the end of loud guitar combos. I didn’t realize how desperately Brooklyn needed a group like this until I blasted their sweaty, drunken video to ‘Fuzzy Timelines’ a few days back. Gross Relations’ members may look like the boys nextdoor, but trust me… once you get to know them, they are crazy bastards just like you and me. These guys offer some of the catchiest, fuzz-happy and irony-free pop around, and that’s exactly what we need right now. – Read Mike Levine’s Q&A with the band here.

When You Go Down by RavenSingstheBlues

Pterodactyl is one of the most fun and noisy bands to emerge from the Brooklyn DIY scene. The Brooklyn based psych-punk outfit will be playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on 08.27 with Sun Araw, Prince Rama and Julianna Barwick. They are also presenting this new video promoting their Kickstarter campaign to fund their next album. But we’ll embed here an older – better – one!