NYC

Weekly Feature #218b: The Willowz

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The Willowz sprouted out of Anaheim, California in 2002 and soon after, lost their Orange County leaves and became NYC transplants where they have sowed their punk, soul, and garage rock seeds on their newest album, “Everyone.” Bluesy and psychedelic vibes saturate each track, and overlay Richie James Follin’s searching, howling vocals, William-Lewis Mclaren’s (guitar/vocals) continuously bending and ringing riffs, with relentlessly speedy rhythm section of Jessica Anne Reynoza (bass/vocals) and Loren Shane Humphrey (drums). The band’s signature sound blossoms on slide-guitar guided “I Know” and a vibrant title track “Everyone,” as “Way it Seems” plays with a variety of tempos. Album standout, “Repetition” embodies the best of The Willowz’s gritty roots, and jaunty “Destruction” surges forward with wailing vocals and guitars. The Willowz’s “Everyone” certainly branches out to something for everyone. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s interview with the band here.

NYC

Callers CD release party – Zebulon, on 09.08

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We’ve always been huge fans of Callers – their debut album was our CD of the Month about 2 years ago. The duo (recently turned trio with the addition of a drummer) will celebrate the release of their sophomore album with a show on 09.08 at Zebulon in Williamsburg. Listening to the free single streaming here, the signature soulful female vocals and understated guitar work are now integrated with more pronounced jazz elements as well as an interesting percussive component brought by the drums. The record, entitled "Life of Love" will be released under Western Vinyl – home to Dirty Projectors, Glass Ghost and Here We Go Magic among others. Callers will also play Littlefield in Park Slope on September 19.

NYC

CD Review: Scott Thorough and Tone Tank

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Scott Thorough and Tone Tank‘s "Scott and Tone ep”" is getting its swerve on, and it encourages you to do the same. If you put the 80s rap and electro scenes in a blender and set it to “Masticate” you’d have an idea of what it sounds like. It’s bold and belligerent, wet and wild, apathetic and agitated; suffice it to say, it will make you feel awesome and gross at once. Guest spots from Serengeti and Kool A.D. of Das Racist add extra flavor. Hard copies are limited and come hand painted. New Brooklyn label Modern Shark is putting it down. Get in the hot tub now before Scott and Tone pee in it. – BrokeMC

NYC

Lucinda Black Bear announce release of sophomore album

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Lucinda Black Bear’s first album "capo my heart and other bear songs" was a burst of sonic longing, a soulful fusion of cellos, feedback, loops, pianos, drums, and oddly tuned acoustic/electric guitars, with love from place such as NPR, Time Out NY and The Deli, the New York indie folk rockers return with their second album in November, which is even more ambitious, broad and expansive than “capo”. Check out the first offering of LP2 in the form of "Percvial" here. See the band live at Best Buy on 09.24.

NYC

One Ring Zero CD release party, 09.07 at Joe’s Pub

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One Ring Zero is a sophisticated gypsy-orchestral-pop (and now officially gypsy-orchestral-space-pop) band that was kissed by fame in the mid ’00s after releasing a CD of original songs featuring lyrics by world class writers, including Jonathan Lethem, Margaret Atwood, Paul Auster, and Dave Eggers among others. Their new CD finds inspiration in the approaching hundredth anniversary of influential composer Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite "The Planets". One Ring Zero re-visitation of the solar system is a complex pop kaleidoscope of sounds, ranging from classical sounding arrangements with string and brass sections to more stripped down parts dominated by guitars and the band’s signature instruments: the claviola and the harmonica. The album can be streamed here. The band will celebrate the release of the new CD with a show at Joe’s Pub on 09.07.

NYC

From The Deli’s Open Blog: Grandfather play Cameo on 09.18

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New York based three piece Grandfather fashion dynamic, intense and violently rhythmic psychedelic rock. Far from a traditional power rock trio, the band creates a massive, caterwauling maelstrom from the simple concept of allowing each instrument to reach its sonic peak. Conjuring the sounds of a band twice its size, their music is ripe with complex melodies and a lockstep rhythm section, set against the tempestuous guitar riffs. The band recently recorded their debut record, "Why I’d Try" in July, 2010 with stalwart engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies). Firm believers in the raw, unencumbered sound of the analog recording process, Grandfather and Albini have managed to capture the band’s frenetic, live-in-the-room intensity and created a singular, ruminative and altogether bracing introduction to their world. "Why I’d Try" is available for FREE download here. Grandfather will play Cameo Gallery on 09.18 at 10.30 – free admission. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

NYC

Frankie Rose & The Outs – CD release at Glasslands on 09.15

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Frankie Rose & The Outs will be celebrating their self-titled debut release September 15th at Glasslands featuring sets by Light Asylum, MINKS, and Mirror Mirror. Ms. Frankie Rose moved to NYC in 2006 and since then managed to play drums for The Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts, and The Dum Dum Girls. This new all female project falls in line with Frankie’s preference for lo-fi, psych rock atmospheres rich in fuzzy guitars and tambourines. The beautiful vocal harmonies are definitely this band’s main strength though. The band’s self titled album is slated to hit record stores on September 21 via Slumberland.

NYC

Holy Ghost plays at PS1 on September 04

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“We’ve been making our own music since we were 13. It feels like it always did— arduous but necessary,” says Alex Frankel of the clubby-cool, electronic-based Holy Ghost! Clearly, this sense of necessity comes from a commitment to both passion and roots – both Frankel, and music soul mate/band mate/life mate, Nick Millhiser, have been in love with music, and New York, since, well, forever. So, how appropriate that the duo, along with their new live show band members, will be performing this Saturday at the chic music-praising, New York artists- embracing PS1. You should check it out – their seventies dance’y jams will be totally worth the heat (and wind…maybe rain… thanks Earl). And if their catchy sound isn’t convincing enough for you, or you’re too lazy to make that pretty effortless trek to Queens, remember that this will be the last PS1 Warm Up. I mean, how else were you planning on ending your summer with a hipster filled sonic boom? – Alex Daly