Philadelphia

Radio Eris CD Release Party at M Room Jan. 6

Posted on:

Multimedia art enthusiasts and spacey psych rock veterans Radio Eris have been hard at work on their 6th studio album At Your Service. And it will feature the usual blend of spoken word performances, ambient sounds, mind-bending noise and then some. The band is sure to pull out all the stops during their album release celebration tonight, and they have invited many familiar faces from their Eris Temple Artspace and Discordinalia series at the Tiberino Museum to join them. When he isn’t masquerading as one of the mysterious Radarmen, Playboy Bunny Savage moonlights as a hilarious songwriter who aspires to make you have a serious eargasm. David E. Williams is an eccentric composer of everything from symphonic pop to abrasive electronica and everywhere in between. Add in the ethereally grungy psych rock of Avataria and the musical spoken word of husband/wife duo Happy Gift, and you’re in for an interesting evening of underground arts. M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, $7, 21+ – Bill McThrill

Philadelphia

In Studio Performance Video: “Turn Around” (HotBox Studio Session) – Ground Up’s Malakai & Azar w/The Lawsuits

Posted on:

Check out the collaboration between Ground Up and The Lawsuits as they bring the heat from HotBox Studio! If you can remember that the track “Turn Around” was the first one we posted from Ground Up back in the day (haha…which really isn’t that far back, especially in dog years), then thanks for sticking around and paying attention. Well, emcees Malakai and Azar teamed up with their pals The Lawsuits to bring us this bluesy slow-burner to get blazed to. So light up, watch, listen and enjoy! (BTW: You can also catch Ground Up live tonight at MilkBoy Philly opening for Asher Roth.)

Philadelphia

The Sea Around Us Headline at JB’s Jan. 5

Posted on:

As a music writer, it’s always difficult when you come across a band whose own description of their material you quite enjoy – “the sudden blast of sunshine cascading over a snow-capped landscape.” Local four-piece The Sea Around Us (nice band name too) create contemplative, languid tunes with splashes of sonic waves crashing on heavy hearts. They’ll be taking the stage tonight at Johnny Brenda’s for what I believe will be their first time headlining the beloved music venue, but before you head out to the show this evening, “name your price” and grab a copy of their self-titled 5-song EP HERE. They’ll be joined by fellow Philadelphians Son Step and Atlanta’s Red Sea. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford, 9pm, $8, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
 

Philadelphia

Sickoids Opening for No Statik at The Bikery Jan. 5

Posted on:

South Philly’s Neighborhood Bike Works a.k.a. The Bikery are always happy to lend you their tools or advise to help get your bike running smoothly on Philly’s rough terrain. Well, the nice folks at the shop are proving to be even nicer by welcoming in a badass hardcore punk show tonight in their modest space. There will be plenty of brotherly shoves when Sickoids unleash a can of whoopass. The relatively new band features members from Witch Hunt and Government Warning. Sickoids is set to release a 12” EP in February. Also on the bill and making their live performance debut is The Brood with folks from Lost Cause, Witch Hunt, etc. They’ll be hosting San Fran’s No Statik who is currently on tour with members of Artimus Pyle, Look Back And Laugh, Scrotum Grinder, Memento Mori, Destroy, Scholastic Deth, etc. Shit’s about to crazy just off of South Street! The Bikery, 508 S. 5th St., 7pm, $5 – $10, All Ages – Alexis V.

Philadelphia

Free Download: “Barbarians” – Drgn King

Posted on:

Check out the new psychedelic electro-pop track from Dominic Angelella’s Drgn King called “Barbarians” that was dropped yesterday. The synth-heavy jam gets aggressive with a hint of angst, but mellows outs in the end stoney style-y. You can take a listen and download the song for free below.
 

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Marielle” – Market East

Posted on:

Maybe it’s the sudden chill in the air, and the longing for sun-drenched beach weather to come back already. Or could it be that intense week-long summer fling that we had always wished to experience while on vacation with our families? Whatever it is – fledgling lo-fi, acoustic trio Market East seems to have captured the innocent bygone days and feelings of lost summer love in their new music video for the track “Marielle,” which wades on the shores of classic pop. The song will appear on their debut self-titled EP coming out on January 9.

Philadelphia

Free Download: Kominas – The Kominas

Posted on:

NYC/Philly taqwacore four-piece The Kominas is made up of Basim Usmani on bass, Imran Ali Malik on guitar, Hassan Ali Malik (Sunny Ali) on guitar, and Abdullah Saeed (The Kid) on drums. They recently dropped a new 10-song LP Kominas (a followup to last year’s 7-song EP Escape to Blackout Beach) over the holidays that we’ve been groovin’ out to – hardcore. You can download it for free HERE. Enjoy!

Philadelphia

Buried Beds Releasing New DVD & EP

Posted on:

We’ve mentioned that Buried Beds are planning to release a short performance film entitled Small Stories that was shot by their buddy Nate Johnson and documents the band playing a full day of music in Fairmount Park at Lemon Hill Mansion while partying with their friends. Well, it will also be accompanied by an EP (with live cuts from the film as well as brand new studio tracks from the band’s next full-length album) due out on January 17 via Admiral Byrd Records. There will be a premiere party and after-party for the 32-minute film piece at the Ruba Club on January 20 where you’ll be able to purchase the DVD with the EP.

Small Stories Trailer 1 from Nate Johnson

Philadelphia

New Track: “Control” – Nicos Gun

Posted on:

Nicos Gun quietly dropped their debut 13-song full-length Plush just before the start of the New Year, and celebrated its release on NYE at The Fire. It seems that the band is back down to a trio with its original core members Nick Bockrath, Barney Cortez, and Harry Zelnick after the departure of Andrew Black. Below is a new MGMT-meets-Talking Heads-meets-Prince-esque track called “Control,” which you can also listen to and purchase with the rest of the album HERE.
 
Update: Andrew Black has been replaced by bassist Steven Lyons (who played keys with the band on their last tour and helped to write "Tangerine Express" from Plush as well as a lot of the new material for their next album). Also Josh Laven has been recruited to play keys, percussions and other instruments so Nicos Gun is currently a 5-piece live.
 

Philadelphia

New Track: “The Sounding Of The Earth” – Oh! Pears

Posted on:

Corey Duncan a.k.a. Oh! Pears just dropped a couple of new tracks for his European Tour 2012 Single. As you can tell by its title, he’ll be starting a European tour (which will last about five weeks) on January 18 in Padua, Italy. Duncan will also be joined on the road by his former bandmate and drumming machine Chris Ward (Pattern Is Movement). Below is the A-side to the latest release called “The Sounding Of The Earth.” You can take a listen to and purchase European Tour 2012 Single as well as check out Oh! Pears’ upcoming tour schedule HERE.

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s January Album of the Month: Aurora Lies – Work Drugs

Posted on:

A quick listen to Work Drugs’ official debut label full-length Aurora Lies (Bobby Cahn Records) yields sweet, sedate pop music great for, as the band would say, “dancing, boating, yachting, sexting and living.” However, a closer listen reveals a wandering, albeit smoothly executed take on the uncertainty and disconnection that must accompany being briefly marooned at sea – which as the folklore goes is when Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana had written all of the songs for Aurora Lies. The duo, who have known each other since kindergarten and began making music together in sailing school (more tales from the fanciful crew that are not yet truly verified), seem versed in the art of poring over the sketchy intermingling of open horizons, longing and melancholia without dwelling too much or too heavily. On “Catalina Wine Mixer,” much like other tracks on the album, Tears For Fears-era vocals and MGMT-esque production are blended together and soft-lit, highlighting Work Drugs’ tendency to keep it simple while avoiding saccharine. Peppy synths and drum machinations accompany the lighthearted lyrics on tracks such as “Daddy Bear,” and with lines like “Can’t keep my paws off you/These hives all look the same,” it is evident that the group are not prepared to take themselves too seriously, which is a good thing when it comes to such seductively sexified tunes. The LP’s title track, “Aurora Lies,” slows it down and offers up a somber dose of introspection that seems characteristic of the album on a whole. “Tell me what you want from me/Show me that the best of days/Won’t end up behind me,” and then added to clear up any question of the band’s carefree intent, “Hold on (we were just having fun).”  
 
Work Drugs manages to veil end-of-summer melancholia under a much-needed dose of high-quality dream pop. Their timing could not be more impeccable. While boating and yachting are probably out of season in this neck of the woods, Aurora Lies may prove to be the best soundtrack for winter’s best leisure activities – namely dancing, sexting and living. You can purchase the album HERE. – Leslie Burnette