As a small kick-off to Outside Lands music festival this weekend, local bands Goodnight, Texas, Fox and Woman, and Vandella are coming together at Cafe Du Nord tonight, for a night of folk, sing-a-long 50’s style tunes, and harmonized country music! Goodnight, Texas is finishing up their North American tour which features select dates with The Avett Brothers. They have a folk ballad sound that contains a solid and catchy, rhythmic beat that will have your head softly bobbing to the sound of their lyric and acoustic focused music. Vandella has a more 50s type sound, bringing doo-wop ballads, classic rock n’ roll guitar with a modern vocal addition to top it off. Fox and Woman, who even features some classic country fiddling in the middle of their songs, fits this authentic country folk based line-up and brings a different twist to it simultaneously. – Victor Casillas Valle

Congratulations to the talented ukulele clad singer/songwriter Kitten Grenade for winning The Deli Magazine San Francisco’s Artist of the Month Poll! The readers and fans have spoken and Kitten Grenade has come out of top! This sultry anti folk musician puts out great music and amazing well presented videos and photos. We’re very excited for her and her accomplishments!  Thanks to everyone who voted, and we wish Kitten Grenade continued success on her shining musical journey!

KITTEN GRENADE- simple things, recorded at STUDIO SQ from ryan castañeda on Vimeo.

San Francisco based art nuevo folk rocker, Nate Currin has released his anticipated concept album, The Pilgrim. This is Currin’s second musical effort, and the album is based off of the 1678 novel, The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. This new album is imaginative and potent with literary archetypes and beautiful musical concepts. Currin is already a critically acclaimed artist, and seems to have outdone himself with the interesting and well crafted collection of songs.

Popular Oakland based indie rock band, Forrest Day has released their sophomore full length album entitled, The Second. This hard working band whose music is accessable, quietly blusey, sensative and well produced will also be embarking on a tour, playing a string of shows throughout California and the midwest. You should definitely support this talented band whose following is large and invested into their great work.

You can listen to their new track Horizon below:

Forrest Day Upcoming Tour dates:

Aug 9 McCall, Idaho Foresters
Aug 10 Boise, ID The Reef
Aug 15 Fairfax, Ca 19th & Broadway
Aug 16 Half Moon Bay, Ca Old Princeton Landing A
ug 24 Dutch Flat, CA Mountain Vibe Music Gathering

San Francisco based singer/songwriter anti folk artist, Kitten Grenade has released a hauntingly beautiful music video. The new video is for KG’s new single, Gray and was directed by Ryan Castañeda. The music video sits behind a dense tone of black and white and is tastefully appropriate for the simple and longing tone of the Gray. Katelyn Sullivan’s classic beauty is totally excentuated and we think this video is a total gem! It’s always great to see talented artists share quality work with the world!

You can also listen to this new single online, here.

KITTEN GRENADE- GRAY Dir. Ryan Castañeda from ryan castañeda on Vimeo.

Rex Ball XI may be your final chance to enjoy a homegrown Baltimore based outdoor music festival this year! Located on vast piece of land endearingly entitled, Nick and Julie’s Magical Fairytale Land which is conveniently located in Lanham, Maryland, outside of the College Park area in Baltimore, this festival’s local line up is a strong compilation of talented musicians who derive from all over the Baltimore area.

Local journalist and member of the jam rock band The Rez, Marc Shapiro, founded this long running indie music fest, making Rez Ball a chance for his energetic and resourceful four piece band to celebrate and share the stage with there friends and their community once a year. Make sure you don’t miss this summer fest. Gates open at noon tomorrow. We are always happy to support local events, and this one is going to be a blast! -Jordannah Elizabeth

For information about Rez Ball XI click here.

Rez Ball XI Line Up and Set Times:

Jon Lipsomb 2 pm-2:50
Greasy Hands 3:05 pm-3:55
My Son Bison 4:10 pm-5
Orchester Prazevica 5:15 pm-6:05
Fake Flowers Real Dirt 6:20 pm-7:20
Cara Kelly & the Tell Tale 7:35 pm-8:35
Deaf Scene 8:50 pm-9:50
The Rez 10:10 pm – all night long!

Electronic indie group Mwahaha have just returned from their first UK tour and are playing The Night Light in Oakland to celebrate! Synth-rock band, The Burning of Rome and heavy post-rock group B. Hamilton will be supporting Mwahaha on this local bill. These bands, each coming from similar high-tempo-fast-paced-rock backgrounds, will bring an energy filled show! The stylistically eclectic, yet tastefully similar sounds will definitely bring a fun and entertaining welcome back show. –Victor Casillas Valle

Indie dream pop trio, Mammoth Life will be playing their album release show tonight at the Brick & Mortar Music Hall for their self-titled LP off of Satisfying Records. This is definitely a long awaited release from Mammoth Life, and will be available at the show and can already be purchased and streamed on their BandCamp page. Other local bands involved in this show are spazzy pop Giggle Party, electronic funk band Animal Friend, and psych-synth trio Li Xi with DJ Neil Martinson (SMiLE!) filling in between with some glam, psych rock, and soul tunes.

Be sure to head on out to Brick & Mortar to catch these SF rising bands in action. Doors open at 9PM!  –Victor Casillas Valle

Popular Bay Area based lyricist, singer and producer, Ricky Reed – better known as Wallpaper. has released his anticipated debut album. On July 23rd, Reed released Ricky Reed is Real, which is a collection of songs that were produced after he obained a major label record deal. Wallpaper. emerged from cult success and popularity by releasing an independent EP, #STUPIDFACEDD and grabbed the attention of massive amounts of fans and social media followers.

This self proclaimed "blue collar pop record" is an exciting, humorous and well produced album that should be obtained immediately. To order Ricky Reed is Real, click here.

The monthly alternative indie rock event, Major Leagues is presenting a new line up for the month of July! The upcoming installment of this Monday night event will showcase Jesus Dude Mom, Great American Cities, Date Nite and Kitten Grenade at the Knockout in San Francisco. This is a strong and flowing line up, and all of these bands are staking their claims in the current indie electronic pop scene in SF, so it’s going to be an exciting night of music. Neil Martinson will be DJing between bands nothing but the best psych rock and post punk tracks of the era. 

We definitely recommend you spend your otherwise uneventful Monday night at The Knockout next week on July 29th. You won’t regret it!

The first annual Girls Rock! Baltimore – Baltimore Rock and Roll Camp for Girls will take place at the Baltimore School of Rock to house a five day extensive rock and roll camp for girls between the ages of 10-14 on August 5-9th. Tonight, seven of Baltimore best and brightest female fronted musical outfits will perform to raise money for the camp so the girls can be provided with official camp tee shirts, string and picks for their guitars and boxed lunches. The event’s line up includes: Blood Horses, Dead Whale Ramblers, Jordannah Elizabeth, Silence Kid, The Evokatones, Rabbit and the Hare (NYC), and Neutron Bomb is set to headline!

This benefit is for an amazing cause, so make sure you make it out to support Girls Rock! Baltimore! The show takes place at 5th Dimension on 405 W. Franklin St. in Baltimore City on the 5th floor of the historic H&H building. Doors open at 6:30 pm. First band goes on at 7:00 pm. $5-10 donations are suggested. If you’d like to donate to Girls Rock! Baltimore, click here.

The Baltimore based hard psych rock and roll band, The Flying Eyes are celebrating the release of their latest studio full length album, Lowlands. This heavy and dark LP is a true testament to the evolution of the band’s long running musical career. After raising several thousand dollars from the support of their fans on kickstarter, The Flying Eyes were able to record their first non DIY album at Lord Baltimore Studios in Baltimore, MD, and commissioned the mixing of the record to veteran Austin, Texas psych engineer, Dave McNair (The Black Angels, Scorpion Child). -Jordannah Elizabeth

You can order the record on the band’s European record label Nois Solution here.