Black Whales, Seattle’s answer to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, have released a new single entitled "Vietnam."The fuzzed-out rock track features echoing vocals courtesy of lead singer Alex Robert, and an undeniably catchy chorus ("I can’t get out of Vietnam"). What with it’s psych-rock sound and it’s title, "Vietnam" is a love letter to 60’s music, but still feels fresh and modern. The band will play Tractor Tavern July 13th, and "Vietnam" is streaming below. – Josh Johnson

Photo Source: Robin McGarrity

Monogamy Party are set to appear at local D.I.Y. venue the Black Lodge this Saturday, July 7th. The following week they play Chop Suey, opening for Mean Jeans and The Spits.

Made up of a primary vocalist, bassist, and drummer, the fiery group pummels ears with its distinct musical creations. Equal parts noise rock and fuzzed-out punk, they channel the abrasive grooves of a band like Death from Above 1979, but move into territory significantly more aggressive and defiant. 

This past fall they debuted their first EP Pus City via Good To Die Records. The track "Drunk or Dying" introduces itself with a stop-start drum/bass part that gives the impression of a by-the-books punk song before crashing into a wall of noise and shouts. The vocals oscillate between taunting and expressive singing to deeper, roaring screams. 

Eponymous song "Pus City" begins with a segment of quiet and spaced bass tones, the occasional tom roll and bell, before turning into a twisted march of distortion that burns with intensity.

See Monogamy Party at the Black Lodge this Saturday, or Friday, July 13th at Chop Suey for $10. Stream "Pus City" below and check out the band’s entire EP at their bandcamp where it can be purchased digitally or on vinyl.

– Cameron LaFlam

Special Explosion are on the bill for The Next Fifty Plays the First Fifty, an exciting event hosted at the Seattle Center to bring the community together to watch up and coming local bands. Appearing alongside acts like Fly Moon Royalty, Candysound, and Brothers From Another, the performers will be playing original material as well as covers written by some of Seattle’s most enduring musicians.

This young five piece will be a highlight, no questions about it. They self-released their debut EP this past February; the four songs included on the album depict a band electrified with creativity and enthusiasm. Lead track "Lifeguard" builds up its impact with the guitar line and drum beat locking in perfectly – from there, the vocals connect in passionate, soaring fashion. The six minute song flows seamlessly from moment to moment, thereby transcending its patchwork of parts to become a unified whole.

Special Explosion’s take on punk-infused indie rock is novel as it is optimistic: a perpetual positivity exudes from their material, in no small part thanks to their excellent guitar riffage."Two Mile Time Trial" is another six minute tune that decides to take an atmospheric turn two minutes in, showing the band’s ability to slow down and not lose the attention of listeners. Their judicious use of singing – when to let the vocals shine versus letting the instruments do the talking – lends it more thoughtfulness and force than words excessively thrown about.

Hosted at The Mural Amphitheater at Seattle Center, the show is this Saturday, July 7th from 2:00-8:00pm. Best of all, it is free! Eights bands in all are on the bill. For more information on the event, visit EMP Museum’s website. Give Special Explosion’s bandcamp a visit to stream their whole EP right here. 

– Cameron LaFlam

Eighteen Individual Eyes are playing The Comet Tavern this Saturday, June 30th to celebrate the release of Crybaby studios’ new compilation album. Themed around the earth’s apocalypse, the unique collection of songs features twelve bands.

The band, made up of guitarists/singers Irene Barber and Jamie Aaron, bassist Samantha Wood, and drummer Andy King, put out their debut record Unnovae Nights back in March. Ten songs in all, the LP reflects a foursome swimming through a nebulous world of dreams and reality. Opening track "Unnovae Nights" is dynamic and pensive, illumined by the singer’s crystal clear voice over intermittent swells of distortion.

"Rosebud Youth" is a standout, with the guitar interplay slowly building as the drums pound out an assertive, rolling beat a la Helms Alee. The ferocity of the instrumentals also recalls the sounds of defunct group These Arms Are Snakes. The vocals are as powerful as they are airy; you can hear a trace of St. Vincent in there.

Elements of psychedelic rock, post-hardcore, and alternative seep out of their songs. Listening to the album in full is a journey worth traversing. On top of their impressive songwriting, producer and recording engineer Matt Bayles makes every track crisp and decisive; they speak to your ears with genuine authority.

Eighteen Individual Eyes are as authentic as they come – check them out at The Comet this Saturday for $7 as they headline alongside Royal Eyes, Murals and Nightmare Forest. They are also playing the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 20th. You may stream or purchase Unnovae Nights over at their bandcamp.

– Cameron LaFlam

Dude York are issuing Escape from Dude York on July 10th courtesy of UK label The Sound of Sweet Nothing. This release will be followed up shortly thereafter with an appearance at Capitol Hill Block Party on July 22nd.

The band – a rowdy three piece that writes self-proclaimed teenpop jams – is comprised of Alex Cassidy, Andrew Hall, and Peter Richards. Together, they created the material for Escape from Dude York, a five song document which reveals their predilection for the two minute long song.

The brevity of these pieces works in their favor; they ramp up the energy quickly in the track "And Andrew Too" with a Fugazi-like riff and thumping drum beat before tearing into more straightfowardly garage ‘n’ roll territory. The vocals are mature and emphatic, drawing comparisons to Jail Weddings and The Black Lips.

Your bones are going to bounce to the beat instinctively, so be prepared for the head-bobbing and dancing their music induces. Their song "Fuck City" becomes an irresistible anthem by the time it is halfway through its two minute, twenty three second running time.

Dude York will be performing on The Vera stage at 8:20pm on Sunday, July 22nd at the Capitol Hill Block Party. You can stream three of the five tunes off Dude York’s upcoming 7 inch on their bandcamp. Make sure to visit the page for The Sound of Sweet Nothing to order Escape from Dude York digitally or on vinyl.

– Cameron LaFlam

Lazer Kitty released their debut album Ruins earlier this month. They are now gearing up for a performance at The Vera Project, this Friday, June 29th.

The group bypasses the traditional rock trio mold built on guitar, bass and drums, opting instead for the sweeping, evocative tones of a synth in their compositions. The music is instrumental and governed by a penchant for improvisation; they do not needlessly meander or squander their aural explorations though.

They evoke the sounds of a number of dynamic bands upon listening – God is an Astronaut, Mogwai and Boards of Canada are a few that spring to mind. Lazer Kitty blends the climatic build-ups of post-rock with more tempered and celestial moments of rock, such as the track "Magnetic Rose." The album is never content to occupy one space for too long, yet they do not rush the process either, rewarding the listener with eerie, fully-formed soundscapes.

Lazer Kitty’s self-released album is streaming in its entirety over at their bandcamp and is also available for purchase. You can watch the band open for The Humans and Young Empires this Friday at The Vera Project. Doors are at 7:30pm. 

– Cameron LaFlam

With a name like Devil On A Leash, one might think the Tacoma based band dabbles in Satan-worshipping death metal. While the four-piece doesn’t belong to that genre, their music still packs a big punch. With a garage pop sound that experiments in hard rock and psychedelic, Devil On A Leash make tunes that are bound to stick in your head. Songs like “Down The 5” are even tinged with a bit of country. Check out the band in Tacoma at O’Malley’s on July 8th or at Backstage Bar & Grill on July 10th, and listen to “Down the 5” below. – Josh Johnson

Baroque pop band Tomten debuted their most recent LP, Wednesday’s Children, last week. It is their second record, the first being 2010’s self-released Tomten.

By and large the group cultivates a musical aura that does not depend upon contemporary indie music tropes. Their sound is clearly and unabashedly linked to the sonic influences of 1960’s and ’70’s pop music – think The Kinks or Big Star for just a start.

Organist, guitarist and lead singer Brian Noyeswatkins steers the ethereal ship through patient, emotive songs that do not waste a single note. Bassist/vocalist Lena Simon, lead guitarist/vocalist Gregg Belisle-Chi, and drummer Jake Brady join him in forging a unique set of delicate but confident tracks on Wednesday’s Children.

The eponymous song "Wednesday’s Children" is an elegant anthem which feels like a folk song that fell out of a dream. This is a consistent characteristic in their sound: each song conjures its own private universe which the listener is sweetly invited into. "So So So" is a great example of a track that puts Lena’s voice on full display; Jake’s subtleties on the set and Gregg’s reverb-laden guitar parts are critical additions.

Wednesday’s Children is available on vinyl and compact disc via Flat Field Records in local record stores and online.

– Cameron LaFlam

 Watch Tomten perform "So So So" below:

Seattle quintet Motopony, who just released their self-titled debut last month, will headline a show at Neumo’s on July 7th. They will play with two other Emerald City locals, Smokey Brights and Cumulus. Motopony’s sound is a winning combination of Grateful Dead-esque folk music and the funky and soulful voice of frontman Daniel Blue. Listen to one of the album’s highlights, “Seer,” below. – Josh Johnson

After years of performing together (originally under the moniker Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head), Brite Futures announced today that they will no longer be writing and touring with one another. The announcement comes along with the confirmation that the band will play their final hometown show on June 16 at the Vera Project. Brite Futures posted this note on their Facebook page earlier in the day

Friends, BFFs, everyone,

It is with many bittersweet feelings that we announce that as of next month Brite Futures will cease to be an active band, and we will no longer be creating or playing music together. After almost seven years as a band (more than a quarter of our lives) we’ve unanimously reached the decision that it’s time to move on to other adventures-the irony of which, for a band with our name, is not lost on us. This separation is not due to a falling out or any ill feelings between us personally, but with the band’s momentum dying down and other aspirations beckoning, we’ve begun to look toward the next stage in our lives. And that’s exciting at the same time as it’s sad to leave behind a pursuit that saw us grow up together, from awkward high school spazzes singing about our first beards to more confident young adults.

Vocalist Hannah Amdahl and guitarist Robert Kemp are living proof that road trips can lead to great things. The duo played music together in Florida under the name of Hannah and the Halfway House, when they decided to pack it up and make the trek to Seattle, listening to “Highway to Hell” upon crossing each state line. Once in Seattle, the pair connected with percussionist Alex Noble, bassist Michael Plotke, and engineer David Miner, forming a new indie pop sound in The Last Temptations.
There is something very sassy about the group’s six track Penny Dreadfuls. The record, heavy with witty lyrics, kicks off with “Trigger Finger”. The track immediately sucks the listener in with its straightforward rifts, addictive beat, and satisfying breakdowns. Hannah’s voice is sultry as she sings “I don’t want to possess you I just want to caress you sometimes.  I don’t want to control you, I just want to own you sometimes.”  The delicate strumming of guitar gives way to the clear and clever lyrics “I’m not a social butterfly, I’m barely a social sly”  in the moody “Police State”.  The tune features a few different change ups which makes for a tantalizing ride.  “Southern Charm” is also, well, charming. The drum intro grabs the audience’s attention and creates a build up as each instrument is layered on. The disc also features the somewhat beachy “Big Ben Butcher”, the gritty “Share Your Opinions” and the chill “Predatory Glances”.
The Last Tempations have created a brassy and enticing debut album in Penny Dreadfuls and will be following it up with a new single this July. Besides creating more tantalizing tracks, the group has the goal of rockin’ out to “Highway to Hell” in all 48 continental states.

– Kristen Ferreira

GravelRoad’s latest album Psychadelta sounds way less psych and way more Clutch meets the blues meets jam band meets old time rock ‘n’ roll. Going for an “acid blues” feel, GravelRoad digs deep in the grit, kicking the album off with “Devil Eyes”. The twangy guitar and steady drum serve well with the muddy vocals that are half spoken and half wailed in a classic blues way. “Furry” is a purely instrumental jam that melts into “In The Woods” which has an almost country sound. “Caves” sounds like a loner on the road; the instruments clashing together creating a wild bird sound, the vocals echoing, the guitars sad. The boogie groove in “Let Me Hold You” gives a real glimpse into the Mississippi blues form that GravelRoad prides themselves on. When I first started listening to Psychadelta, I wasn’t in love. The more I listened, however, the more I could picture myself in a dirty saloon type of bar, drinking whiskey with the guys (or alone), and the more I liked it.