You’re OK is something like the soundtrack to a high school prom in an alternate reality where the Cold War heated up and everybody ended up all melted and a little off-center. There’s no anger, no aggression, just a cool, goopy go-with-the-flow relaxation the whole way through. It’s lo-fi goodness as good as it gets, weird but not weird just to be weird, and uncomfortable but far from incomprehensible. There are moments of beauty, moments of breaking point tension, and an 8-minute slow burner that closes it all out with a sense of finality. Check out whatever kind of strange brew Mickee Poole’s got going below. There’s a solid chance you’ll like it. –Austin Phy
Warn The Duke celebrates release of ‘Ghost Be Gone’ LP at Bowery Electric tomorrow (06.29)
The Brooklyn-based four piece Warn The Duke is made up of members of River City Rebels and Big D & The Kids Table. Their debut release Ghost Be Gone is a lively punk rock album at once reminiscent of The Replacements and Husker Du. The band blends together the sound of 90’s emo and alt rock to create their catchy brand of melodic punk music. Tracks like “Henry O’Donnell” and “Noreaster” feature smooth melodies and high energy choruses that call to mind alternative punk acts of the early 2000’s like Sugarcult. The opening track “Coastline” (streaming) is characterized by heavy riffs and brash shouted vocals, while still maitntaing a sound that – within the punk rock realm – is softer and quite catchy. Warn The Duke will be celebrating the release of Ghost Be Gone tomorrow (June 29th) at Bowery Electric. – John Honan
Turnover takes over Strange Matter tonight 6.28!
Hailing from the coastal town of Virginia Beach, Turnover has charmed with spellbinding riffs and powerful melodies. Deriving its roots from pop punk, Turnover doesn’t shy from confronting the doubts and nuances that so often plague everyday life; questions of identity, insecurities, and love, which they so beautifully explore in their more indie centric Peripheral Vision. With reverb laden and treaded guitars they manage to evoke a sense of warmth and tenderness in each song tinged with a touch of melancholy and nostalgia through Austin Getz’s vocals. Turnover continue their transition into a gauzy dream pop and indie rock with their most recent single, Humblest Pleasure (streaming below), where it feels like being submerged in a memory of muted colors, speckled by brilliant bursts of vivid colors brought to life with the intricately beautiful guitar work. “What a thing it is to grow” Gretz sings, what a thing it is indeed. Turnover takes the stage tonight at Strange Matter so make sure to catch them! – Adriana S. Ballester
Hero House brings introspective indie pop to Mercury Lounge on 6.29
Hero House is the new indie pop project from singer-songwriter Jamie Bendell. Bendell, also a member of the band Plastic Cannons, released the first single off her upcoming EP ‘Pretty Tough’ at the end of 2015. Her music marries introspective lyrics and lush, hook-laden vocals with folk and soul influences. This first single also showcases a guitar sound very reminiscent of U2 from ‘The Joshua Tree’ era. Hero House will be playing Mercury Lounge on June 29th in support of Todd Lewis Kramer. – John Honan
Stove plays Shea Stadium on 7.04
Stove is the new solo project from Connecticut native, Ovlov member Steve Hartlett and other friends mostly based in Brooklyn. The band released its debut album Is Stupider in November of 2015 on Exploding in Sound, opffering a brand of slacker rock heavily influenced by ’90s acts like Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement. Catchy melodies and memorable choruses abound in tracks like “Wet Food” and “Dusty Tree," and so does the tendency towards introspective and self-deprecating lyrics. “Dusty Weather” (streaming) is the cleanest sounding track on the album, deviating from the band signature sound, until the fuzzy burst of melody at the end. Stove will be playing Shea Stadium on July 4th. – John Honan
Caveman releases third LP ‘Otero War’ + talks about pedals on Delicious Audio
Belonging to the rare category of "bands that keep getting better all the time," Brooklyn’s dream rock quintet Caveman just released their third full length album (and three years in the making) ‘Otero War,’ and is set to play several major festivals this summer including Forecastle in Louisville, KY, Panorama in NYC and Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco, CA. With a gear insider like Jimmy Carbonetti in its ranks – besides being the band’s guitarist, the man is a fine luthier and owns Cobra Guitars – we were tempted to ask him a few question about guitar pedals – check out the link below. Check out latest single ‘Life or Just Living,’ streaming below.
Delicious Audio Q&A with Caveman about their guitar pedals.
New Track: “Balloon To The Moon” – The Writhing Squares
Launch into the stratosphere while you listen to “Balloon To The Moon,” off The Writhing Squares forthcoming LP In The Void Above, which will be released on July 29 via Siltbreeze Records. The bass-anchored propulsion swims in a funky, jazz-accented vessel, providing intriguing twists. The saxophone jumps off that backend drive and psych-oriented vocals, emerging through the clouds. Catch the duo with Alto! and Valley Exit next Tuesday, July 5 at Kung Fu Necktie! (Photo by Ben Leaphart)
Get your morning beach vibes with Mermaid in China
Mermaid in China are dropping premium vibes for summer time with their video for "A Stroll Through Callow Bay." Reminiscent of an early 90’s travel video montage, "A Stroll Through Callow Bay" plays a mellow vocality and stolid instrumental delivery of a dream-like psych pop that when put all together, just makes you want to head out to the coast and plop down in the early morning sand.
Mermaid in China just started a mini stint in Washington yesterday, rolling through Seattle, Port Townsend and Olympia next.
Check out "A Stroll Through Callow Bay" below and let Mermaid in China’s cool sounds easy you into summertime.
Arc Iris release new video for “Kaleidoscope” + plays Cafe` Nine on 07.21
The staggeringly beautiful stylings of Providence, RI group Arc Iris have been brought to life in their new video for “Kaleidoscope,” a single off of their upcoming album “Moon Salon.” The three piece ensemble, which includes former Low Anthem member Jocie Adams, uses tantalizing vocal melodies, mysterious cello lines, emotionally-charged drum beats, and lush harmonies to create mesmerizing performances, both acoustically and visually. The new video is no exception – it features a blended interaction of dancers, musicians, and light for a psychedelic display, reminiscent of Joanna Newsom, Fleetwood Mac, and Animal Collective. The video takes you on a fantastic journey through their sound, which is unique, compelling, and enchanting. You can catch Arc Iris’ enchanting aura this July at their C’mon Everybody residency in Brooklyn, starting on July 5, and in New Haven, CT on July 21. – Dan Rome
Sam Evian unveils single ‘Sleep Easy’ + announces LP ‘Premium’
The solo project of (Deli celebrated) Celestial Shore’s Sam Owens, Sam Evian showcases the transformation of a quirky, talented songwriter into a more mature, original artist. Latest single “Sleep Easy” (streaming) features a more linear sound, without giving up the songwriter’s beloved odd tempo changes, which are almost randomly – but very organically – disseminated throughout the song. Sam’s experimental urges, though, don’t distract from the song, a mid tempo ballad venturing into dreamy territories not entirely foreign to the sound of Celestial Shore, although folkier and twangier than anything ever released by the Brooklyn band. Check out the video here. The track is off debut album, ‘Premium,’ which will be released soon by Saddle Creek Records.
New Track: “Nightswimming” (R.E.M. Cover) – Rob Grote (The Districts)
Before leaving for tour, The District‘s Rob Grote was asked to record a tune for Amazon’s Songs of Summer playlist. He chose to cover "Nightswimming" by R.E.M., off their 1992 LP Automatic for the People. There is certainly a nocturnal feel to this lo-fi version, transporting you into simply a music lover’s bedroom in the middle of the night, where he is alone with his toys and one of his favorite songs. You can stream the new track HERE.
Buzz Alert: NYC’s folk-pop quartet Bailen tours all over the place + plays Rockwood on 06.30
Music fans have different tastes, we all know that, but it’s rare to find somebody who can’t relate to pitch perfect vocal harmonizations. That’s something NYC folk-pop quartet Bailen delivers with flair. The group might have recorded just one song so far ("Something Tells Me," streaming, released at the beginning of the year), but that was enough to open several doors, including the Rockwood Music Hall ones (where they’ll be performing on June 30th) and the… Taipei, Taiwan ones! Yes, the band is scheduled to perform four July shows in the Asian island, supporting local hero Yen-J, before embarking on an East Coast tour that will take them right back to Rockwood Music Hall on August 26th. The video for the single gives us an obvious clue on why Bailen is getting fresh buzz in a scene as crowded as NYC: they are really good performers, and their music is extremely reletable and sincere. Don’t miss the Rockwood show on the 30th!