Some artists aim to make music that make you think, whereas others seek to make you feel, or move. Recent Brassland signee Fusilier somehow manages to play music that does it all. His electronic-funk sound enters through the ears and spreads to the rest of the body like a virus – a virus that only dancing with abandon can cure. Simple drum grooves drive ‘The Moment,’ while his seductive R&B vocals and the track’s shifting arrangements contribute in forging a very personal sound. Bringing it alltogether is Fusiler’s rock pedigree, as his distorted guitar riffs and bass paterns add a pop to really make the music standout. Fusilier’s sound is fresh, no doubt, and we can hopefully expect an EP from the ex-RIBS member soon. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber – Photo by Chris Oquist
New Music Video: “War” – Tunji Ige
Tunji Ige premiered a new music video over at NPR’s First Watch for the seductive, pulsating single "War," found on his latest EP Mission Calls. Directed by longtime collaborator and visual artist Glass Face, a.k.a. Josh Goldenberg, the video becomes an extension of the album’s cover art, which "was inspired by Magritte & other surrealist artists." It’s easy to get lost in the dreamy landscapes that were shot in Los Angeles.
New Birdie Busch LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from singer-songwriter Birdie Busch. Yesterday, she released her fifth full-length album, Thunder Bridge. The title comes from one of her favorite poems by Sun Ra, “We Must Not Say No to Ourselves”. On the eight-song LP, she is once again backed by the Greatest Night, who were featured on her last album, and Jaron Olevsky (Amos Lee) also lent his musical talents and production skills. You can hear the new tunes performed live at her record release show on Saturday, June 18 at Boot & Saddle.
The Deli presents: Spring Issue launch party with Stolen Jars, Victoria Reed, Girlyboi, Surf Rock is Dead, Howth, RANN and Mobile Steam Unit
Ladies and Gents,
The Best of NYC 2016 issue is about to hit the streets of NYC, and we are ready to celebrate it with a VERY awesome showcase at new Bushwick drinking hole Sunnyvale, on June 9th!
Mark your (Google) calendars and check out all the seven great NYC artists involved in the bill in this rad compilation! Bigger Poster here!
Higuera share their hidden gem “Always Have a Secret Plan”
Bringing back the raw alt-rock tunes from the early 2000’s, Higuera’s genuine passion for creating fresh sounds and heart-wrenching lyrics transpires in all 4 tracks of their EP “Always Have a Secret Plan.” The 5-piece band showcase a flair for writing honest and relatable lyrics, the kind we lay in bed listening to late at night because they simply pierce the heart like a double edged sword. Their most notable track, “Pieces”, starts and ends with a steady beat that evokes a feeling of anticipation, while vocalist and founder Valley Taylor melodically unravels the many stages of love and life. Natives to sunny Southern California, Higuera unveil memorable tracks that show their love for creating music for the sake of the art. – Yesenia Carvajal
WINE LIPS – OUTTA CONTROL VIDEO
Last month Toronto garage trio Wine Lips released their debut EP. It’s a quick blast of true garage rock right in the mouth. Fuzzy guitars, thumpin’ drums, howlin’ vocals and punchin’ basslines all wrapped up in a neat lil EP. The stand out track if you ask me is "Outta Control" and they just dropped a new video for it courtesy of WANTED! LIVE. Enjoy this wicked track and go see Wine Lips at Smiling Buddha on Saturday along with Possum, Spells of Vertigo and Acid Priest. – Kris Gies
Hovvdy’s Album “Taster” Brings the Slacker Promise of Their EPs to Fruition
The laid-back indie rock band Hovvdy came out with their newest album Taster (Merdurhaus and Sports Days Records) on April 15, proving again with the new record just how easily slacker rock can toy with emotions.
This (now) four-piece band started out with just Will Taylor and Charlie Martin at first, both of whom were originally drummers, but in recent days they’ve added Sam Jacobson (bass), and Andrew Stevens (drums) and have expanded their sound heavily. With the emphasis on rhythm heard in tracks like “Note” and “Can’t Wait,” Hovvdy sets a tempo that allows the audience to really think about what the band is doing with that nostalgic vibe they are so great at. One unique aspect of this record is the fact that the band has recorded some of these tracks as iPhone voice memos first, which is also how “Problem” and “In My Head” happened from Hovvdy’s initial EP. The compressed sound in the resulting product gives this album a raw and DIY feel that extends deep into the music, and this interesting recording method creates a mood that is fitting for the slacker act’s intimate and personal lyrics.
If you need music to listen to when you’re out on the road lettingyour hair get swept away by the wind, Taster is the perfect soundtrack for that moment, especially standouts “Meg” and “Try Hard”. The album gives you space to reflect on yourself, and it’s hard to avoid the music taking you back through your memories, good and bad, which is the sign of a mature and well-made piece of art.
Listen below, and see if you feel the same way.
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Chandana Kamaraj
Good Talk’s Debut Album Should Be on Your Summer Playlist
Good Talk’s eponymous debut album at first comes across as straightforward, likable, and above all “summery," but a few more listens reveals unordinary layers. Indie-rock business-as-usual soon takes a turn into a languid cover of “Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music. That’s right. The musical. Julie Andrews would be turning over in her grave if she weren’t still alive.
Easily drawing comparisons to the Front Bottoms and Modern Baseball, with a splash of Pinegrove, Good Talk never gets too jittery on this record, staying solidly upbeat without sacrificing the summery vibes promised in album opener “Heart Attack.” The sunniest track out of the bunch is (unsurprisingly) “Sunny Ray,” which features a noodly guitar lick that combines with vocals for a Sesame-Street style nonsense syllable sing-along.
Pretty much everyone has a favorite Summer playlist lurking in the depths of their Spotify (possibly called something like “Summer Jams ’16,” or "Summer!!!!” or “Margaritas!" if you’re really cool) but believe us when we say Good Talk’s album is one that (really, honestly, truly) belongs on yours.
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Katy Kirby
(Katy Kirby’s own excellent music can be found here)
Warik
Warik (aka Malik Lemon) has released a new collection of song with the impending summer months at heart.
Warik will be performing at Bern Fest: Round Two in June 10th with The Curls, Electric Sheep, Daymaker, and Sex No Babies.
Richmond speed punks Cloak/Dagger to open for Bad Sports, Radioactivity at Black Cat, 6/12
You have plans for Saturday night now. If you had any already, you have new ones now. Richmond-based Cloak/Dagger will be shredding and thrashing and tearing up the Black Cat’s backstage when they open for Texas bands Bad Sports and headlining Radioactivity. It’s gonna be a hell of night for punk fans with these three fantastic acts. Cloak/Dagger burst right into furious, pounding guitars and roaring, raspy vocals that’ll surely have the crowd headbanging along. They haven’t put out an album in quite some time, it seems, but some signs suggest they’ll be putting out new material for the masses soon. Give them a listen and catch what’s bound to be a frenzy of punk rock this weekend. Doors at 7:30, $12. -Jonathan Goodwin
New Video: Audiotree Live Session – Palm
NYC transplants, Palm’s Audiotree Live session, from May 6, 2016, is now available for streaming and/or purchase HERE. The quartet’s soothing vocal/instrumental integrations are meshed with unexpected twists and turns. The band’s performance is polished; however, those shifts reveal an array of intriguing possibilities.