China’s newest single “And Then Nothing Happened” has the classic markers of a good country song: the story-telling, the clever lines, and twang all up in their guitars. Vocalist Michael James Tapscott has more of a Jeff Tweedy style than a true country boy, but we like that. The title track off their new album has lines like: “I’m nothing without my baby/and there’s nothing for me after last call.” Good ol’ fashioned Americana values. Overall, their album has a gentle Tom Petty feeling to it (check out track “Crossing the Ohio”). It’s full of lovely harmonies and everytime that sexy pedal steel touches a song it’s a fine moment indeed. How to summarize the album? To steal a quote from the band, they “…are a bunch of beautiful losers caught in a freeze frame hovering somewhere between mundanity and epiphany.” Give these losers a listen here, see them tonight at Papermill Creek Saloon, and catch them locally when they’re back from their West Coast Tour. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Pancho Morris combines Waitsian lyrics with Lynchian visuals in the folky-funny new music video for “Strangetown USA.” Though the song itself doesn’t have huge lyrical variation, its music video is so completely packed with symbols and statements (and a huge cast) that one really must watch it several times to see all the sights. The video starts off with its star, a young man in an all-white outfit whispering in Russian into a red telephone perched inside a hanging bird cage. If that’s not an illusion to Trump and his Russian buddies, well. The star then walks through a factory full of depressing laborers, where everyone–including himself–is clothed in orange jumpsuits and manufacturing rubbish of some sort. We’re then in a slaughterhouse, where a laughing, blood-splattered man hacks away at a carcass. Ah, animal cruelty.

Speaking of the food industry. The star then marches his way toward a diner–first taking a stroll through some sex-kittens that may or may not be alluding to Trumpy’s sexual escapades in Russia and beyond–and up to the counter, where a disgruntled cook slaps a burger bun on a cell phone. Our star slams a shot and in our next scene he’s in a white suit, carelessly strutting by a protest to which he does not seem to give a fuck. We’ll let you watch the rest for yourselves, and tell us what you think! God bless the USA?

This video was shot with an insanely massive and talented crew of folks based in Oakland and was recorded at Zoolabs. Produced by James “Skyway Man” Wallace. Check out Pancho Morris’ work and stay tuned for more. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

After the “Sky So Blue” single released last month we were excited for Hot Flash Heat Wave’s EP release on February 15th. Praise Prince above we were not disappointed. Tracks are refreshingly varied and full of life, from surfy psych rock to electro pop-rock. Songs have similar feels as Animal Collective but with a touch of Smith Westerns and an Italian pop vibe. Can you picture it? Probably not but listen and discover what we’re putting down here. An EP favorite, “Floating,” starts with a chugging guitar moving with distorted spacey vibrations that gives the same feelings as the song’s title. Hot Flash Heat Wave kicked off their tour last night at The Independent and are about to glide across the states. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

The folks in Catch Prichard just can’t get away with doing anything less than epic. Like their prior EP, Eskota, tracks off Utter Disbelief maintain an undercurrent of Americana, this time with heightened, richer pedals and strings, dark synths and the occasional sax guest. Single “You’re the Worst” is one of the strongest off the upcoming release, though quite frankly, it’s hard to choose. Frontman Sawyer Gebauer has one of the most unique vocal stylings around. He’s a Johnny Cash meets a Leonard Cohen twisted with some Bill Callahan and a touch of Springsteen. Gebauer’s deep, guttural baritone radiates through “You’re the Worst,” bringing life and tough emotion to the song. Pre-purchase the first six tracks off Utter Disbelief here, and be sure to check out their upcoming shows. Lovely. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Photo credit Jack Song

The music video accompanying Pezzettino’s new single “Home” is an ASMR-inducing mix of images and sounds. There’s soapy handwashing, a slow ladeling of sauce over cheesy noodles; images of ginger and leaves and tacos and twinkling lights and it’s all accompanied by the gentle crisp voice of Pezzettinos’ Margaret Stutt. Stutt’s compositions are infused with similarly soothing sounds: twinkling piano, magical percussions, warbling reverberating synth that gives songs a roomy, powerful sound. It’s no surprise Pezzettino’s newest album is enriched with such relaxing feels. After dealing with depression for years, Stutt is an advocate for mental health with the Stability Network and speaks frequently about “the need for fierce hope”–which is exactly what this album brings to the table. Her single “Home” was just released into the world and we welcome the release of her full album, Resin, on February 8th. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

 

There is much to take in with Tay and the JangLahDahs’ latest EP, “Bloomin.” Self-described orchestral psych-folk-rock, this group brings a booming serenade of talent from all angles. There’s the strong vocals of Tay Robin, who sounds like what Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries might have sounded like if she weren’t always yodeling. There’s that lovely stand-up base with a cooing rich trumpet and are we hearing a a glockenspiel? An electric violin? A mandolin? It all comes together with a rich folksy feel, an Irish twist, and delightful harmonies. Purely enjoyable stuff here. Come see them play at The Starry Plough on February 22 and hey, check out their music video for “Wise Words.” Ah, soothing purity. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

The Deli is proud to premier a new single from San Francisco’s own The Campbell Apartment. Campbell is like a loveable mutt: a Doctor Dog mixed with a Sonny and the Sunsets and maybe a Ween. Well aren’t mutts the healthiest breeds? “Saltwater & Sunburn” is a great example of the group’s variations in style. Saltwater is a lovely stray from the group’s previous songs, laced with humming echoing vocals over the story of an ending affair. Beachy vibes are high on this one. Always with a touch of tongue n cheek, Campbell Apartment is just fun to listen to, and they’re killer fun live. Keep an eye out for their upcoming shows. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

The last time The She’s blessed us with an album was in 2017 with the release of the appropriately named “All Female Rock and Roll Quartet.” Mastered by Oakland’s own Piper Payne (we love you) and mentored, as the girls lovingly say, by Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards, another Oakland great), well: the album was as delightful as we were expecting. Though laced with some of the same heart we hear on their first album–lots of those lovely pure melodies and catchy, surfy pop riffs–Quartet is, if we may, a little bolder than their first LP. Remember, these She’s aren’t teens anymore (newsflash, Walter Cronkite, they’ve been playing together since middle school). Exploring funkier, dronier tonalities and writing about more than simple matters of the heart, Quartet takes The She’s to a different place. Special love to “Heartache” and “Lie Again.” What’s next? Find out on February 27th, when they’re playing The Independent with Albert Hammond Jr as part of Noise Pop. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

 

Ah, what a dreamy fine time it is listening to Healing Potpourri. These guys have mastered the art of the silky bossa nova beach vibes, complete with clips of seagulls chuckling away. Songs are pure charm without being too cutesy, heavy with the mastery of their instruments and production. Tunes are filled with hazy keyboards, floating guitar warbles, a gentle sax, and lyrics with a Nilsson-esq cleverness. Fans of Whitney will enjoy the angelic vocals and well, probably everything else. Ah, healing indeed. We’re pleased to announce they’re playing Noise Pop at Bottom of the Hill and before that, they’re playing with Real Estate at The Chapel (sold out). Lovely! –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Self-described rock n’ chair band Credit Electric just released their new EP, “Red Glow” and it is a mighty feast for the ears. If by rock n’ chair they meant that these songs make you want to sit back with a cold one and let the intertwining guitars work their soothing Americana magic, they nailed their goal. Tracks are infused with the sway of a lovely steel guitar, Ryan LoPilato’s vocals are like a less cutesy version of Stuart Murdoch (we love you, Stuart) and title track “Red Glow” provides a platform for some killer folk jam serenades. Ah, let that cosmo electric vibe float in. Recorded at Doc Boyd Audio in Oakland, this EP is truly a refreshing taste off their forthcoming album. Oakland is lucky to have these folks and we’re ready to see them comin’ up next month. Their next show is February 6 where they open for Fantastic Negrito at Harlow’s. Next up, February 7th at The Ivy Room, with Ariel Wang, My Evergreen Soul and Coywolf. So much good to come! –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

There is nothing usual about the vocal powerings of Zelma Stone’s front woman, Chloe Zelma Studebaker. How do we mean that? There are the self-proclaimed modern influences of Angel Olson (we hear that), the haunting calls like Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick, some Kate Bush feels. This stuff is hard to find and there’s a blooming of those same types of lyrical and vocal strengths within this work, repackaged into a more modern type of dreamy folk with some touch-of-grunge rock. Tracks like “Light Bulb Boy” and “River” have surprising key-shifts, killer baselines, sexy drums and a smack of tamborine. Challenging, fierce and empowering. Let’s go see them tomorrow night, where Richshaw Stop hosts their album release party. January the 19th with an all female-fronted bill of Mayya & The Revolutionary Hell Yeah, Moon Daze and Mae Powell. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

We are pleased to debut the new single “Bang Bang” from Schlotman, off their upcoming album Animal Glamour (another success brought to you by Tiny Telephone Studios). Pair this bad boy with their other single, “7-11 Jesus,” and we’re pretty confident that 2019’s album will be on par with 2018’s Future and ‘17’s On a Rope. More like on a roll. Lucas Nevrla’s vocals are lovely as ever (somewhere between Jeff Buckley and Julian Casablancas) and though this track has a sadder feel than a lot of their other songs, we’re kept from crying by those winding melodic riffs, the warm reverberating hum, a taste of grunge and just a little psychedelic guitar. Lines like, “Baby blue, all I want is someone to do bad things to” get stuck in your head as much as the melodies. Tasteful mixing and mastering by Brandon Eggleston and Chris Hanzsek, respectively. We can’t wait to see them live, February 12th at The Gilman and stay tuned for that January 29th full album release. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor