Nashville

Thin Veil’s self-titled EP is a foreboding offering

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Thin Veil, the new moniker for the music of James Vincent Oblon, is as close as an album can be to metal without being metal. Make no mistake: despite a lack of roaring solos and crash cymbal freakouts, the album is heavy and foreboding in the most laid-back way, like a wise old demon lounging on a throne of skulls. Oblon chugs and drones, hisses and wails, and creates a pervasive atmosphere of unease from start to finish.  –Austin Phy

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s May Record of the Month: Love Songs – Residuels

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Philly rock ‘n’ rollers Justin Pittney, Mike Cammarata, and Kyle Garvey (a.k.a. Residuels) revamp essential garage cuts on their latest release Love Songs. Available now via Suicide Bong Tapes, the three-piece’s cassette kick-starts with a full-throttle rendition of Rich Berry’s “Have Love Will Travel.” The power trio’s frenetic take on the song that put bands like Thee Headcoatees and Paul Revere & the Raiders on the map is far from derivative. From the very first lick of guitar, Pittney and his bandmates tap into the original fury at the center of “Have Love Will Travel,” using crashing riffs and uninhibited vocals reminiscent of The Gories.
 
Residuels’ take on The Damned’s debut single “New Rose” is similarly inventive, giving listeners an unadulterated taste of the original song’s rhythm and fuzz. Pittney channels Dave Vanian with ease, mimicking the legendary Londoner’s punk-as-fuck diction as if he wrote the track himself. Clocking in at a few seconds shy of three minutes, the second track on Love Songs is arguably one of the best renditions of the ‘76 single.
 

The same could be said for “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” Opening with a guttural scream, the group’s tribute to psych-rock icons The 13th Floor Elevators is perfectly executed, with each chord and clash of cymbal adding to the instrumented intensity of the already well-loved garage classic. “You’re Gonna Miss Me” feels like a stubborn tantrum, the sonic manifestation of the sort of longing that is borne of desperation and pure desire that is mirrored in the album’s closer “It Girl.” Residuels’ jangly styling of one the most lovelorn (and heart-wrenching) tracks on The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s fifth LP is equally captivating, despite being one of Love Song’s quietest tracks, leaving listeners smitten. For die-hard fans of garage rock and newcomers alike, Love Songs doesn’t just pay homage to the genre’s past; it celebrates its vibrant present. – Dianca London

Philadelphia

Marie & The Moans Opening for No Joy at KFN May 1

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Marie & The Moans are bringing their eccentric songwriting to Kung Fu Necktie this Sunday, opening for No Joy and Creepers, and prodding your eardrums with a little musical unconventionality. The group exhibits an almost willful rejection of traditional or intuitive melody structure, yet make no concessions in accessibility. Percussion clatters and stumbles, while an innumerable amount of electronic tones bump and fall across each other, giving an overall impression of narrowly maintained order, as if the very compositions can’t be contained by their recordings. Singer Bridget Boylan’s stoic voice stitches at the seams of disorder, and lends a contrasting elegance to the music, which also serves as an orientating force that guides you through each manically tangled tune. Show up early to catch these Philly locals before ‘gazing out on the ethereal wings of No Joy. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Bryce Woodcock

Austin

Each Track on the New EP from Slomo Drags Is a Pure Psychedelic Indiepop Joy

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Slomo Drags’ new EP out of Already Dead Tapes and Records is complex indie pop that’s a little transgressive when it comes to the rules of that genre, and it’s a record that should do a lot for the band’s popularity both locally and nationally. In that way it reminds me heavily of Elephant 6, especially of Montreal, in its approach to rich song creation, this eponymous EP is five songs of gleefully busy psychedelic indie pop, and like that legendary band, Slomo Drags seems interested in making music to love this weird life to and does a great job accomplishing that goal here.

In addition to the “pretty + odd” thing full of anormal song structures and 60s influenced vocal layerings that they get from of Montreal, Slomo Drags also channels a few other classic 2000s indie acts here, including using big screechy Deerhoof-ish guitar wind-ups and a healthy dose of local funky indie with some Spoon-like attitude added to the sound. Now, if I were to have read that a current band was living in the spirit of these now-aging acts at their height, I’d have been a little worried that the sound in question wouldn’t be as fresh or engaging as it once was, but it takes about five seconds of opener “Going Out of Business” to know that thought is dead wrong.

This kind of music is just as good and just as fun in 2016 as it was in the mid 2000s, mostly because Slomo Drags seriously know how to put together a shitlload of song elements nicely to make something that is crammed full of moving pieces, but which is tight and arranged in well-thought out way that guides you through the layers of musical activity with skill and grace. The expert construction of these tunes leaves you able to just focus on the fun of the album and ride on its central aesthetic. It’s great fun each time you listen, and that structuring allows you to pick out great little parts to focus on with each play-through, as if the tracks taken together were a big, wild psychedelic party that you’re viewing through a giddy first-person recording taken by the band, and they’re showing you all these cool things happening for just a moment. For me at least, it creates a sense of a true, good, colorful fun time going on all around me, and that’s a feeling that it’s been a while since I got from modern indie music.

For a band to be able to create something as bursting with energy and slathered in creative layers as this EP is without things getting messy or completely breaking down, the members of that band have to be each be fully on top of their own musical game and yet still be totally in sync with each other member, and that’s just the groove that Slomo Drags seems to be living comfortably inside of right now. This is a damn fine piece of pop music that both references and transcends the extensive history of the Venn diagram crossover between pop and indie rock, and it’s one of the most thoroughly remarkable and enjoyable records out yet this year in Austin.

Listen below, and make sure to give every track a good once or twice over, because, in a way that feels directly rebellious to our current singles and SoundCloud culture, every track on here is seriously good stand-out music that could thrive on its own, but which does even better in the context of the whole record.

Portland

Muscle and Marrow debut new track, announce 2nd album

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 Muscle and Marrow barreled onto the scene with 2014’s The Human Cry, with rave reviews. The pair, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Kira Clark and drummer and sampler Keith McGraw took their sound to various stages in support of the album last year, including a raving performance at the 2015 PDX Pop Now Festival as well as playing to a packed house with True Widow at White Owl. Whether you deem them as metal, experimental or some sort of dark folk, it’s undeniable that their emotive sounds evoke a contradictive chaotic calm.

Lucky for us, Muscle and Marrow premiered a new track yesterday via She Shreds. Coming off their upcoming sophmore effort, Love, "Bereft Body" builds up with a quiet vocality from Clark, leading into a cacophonic spree of instrumental emotion that suddenly stops, leaving desire.

Love comes out May 27th on The Flenser. Dive into "Bereft Body" below.

Portland

Saturday Night Sounds: Kool Stuff Katie – “You Found a Friend”

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Back in March, Kool Stuff Katie dropped their indelible sophomore effort, It’s Fine. The top notch follow up to their self titled debut holds as a true definitive of the duo’s pleasant mashup of garage, pop and indie rock influences.

Saren Oliver’s candy sweet vocals and drum pounding pleasantly pair with Shane Blem’s chill shred and croon, to result in an infectiously catchy output of rock tinged pop. Their latest to drop off It’s Fine, titled "You Found a Friend," premiered in video form yesterday afternoon. The cleanly shot video perfectly matches the song’s theme, showing Blem and Oliver as friends just hangin out.

Kool Stuff Katie played tonight at Kelly’s Olympian with Comanche Joey and Trick Sensei. Check out the video below to get your fix if you didn’t make it to the show!

Philadelphia

In the Cut: Lushlife

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It’s been about 4 years now since we first sat down for an interview with Lushlife, a.k.a. Raj Haldar. And with the success of his latest LP Ritualized and mutually busy schedules, it took a long string of emails and rescheduling to finally find time to sit down for a chat. We managed to beat out the dinner rush at South Philly’s Khmer Kitchen and snagged a table for a tasty traditional Cambodian meal, drinks, and whole lotta catchin’ up. Come dive into our discussion about Lush’s collaborative work with production trio CSLSX, Ritualized, The Deli Philly’s March Record of the Month, and find out what’s on the horizon for the rising emcee/producer as we pick his brain and get a little silly HERE.

Philadelphia

Grubby Little Hands Record Release Show at JB’s April 30

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Psych-pop purveyors Grubby Little Hands have released their new album Garden Party to the mases via Lefse/Chill Mega Chill. The group was started by multi-instrumentalists Donnie Felton and Brian Hall, after meeting in college while studying music composition and theory. The duo released two previous albums, Imaginary Friends (2009) and The Grass Grew Around Our Feet (2012), and now with their latest record, Felton and Hall have been joined by guitarist Joseph Primavera and drummer Chad Brown to help fill out their hazy, sedative-pop sound. You can help Grubby Little Hands celebrate the arrival of Garden Party this evening at Johnny Brenda’s, where they’ll be joined by labelmate Shelf Life and Cold Foamers, who dropped their new album, Musketball, earlier this year. So take a dab & get lost in the sonics of the night. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, April 29 – May 1

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The Lawsuits have been on the road with labelmate Former Belle in support of their forthcoming album Moon Son, due out May 13 via Randm Records. For the follow-up to Cool Cool Cool, the band has taken what its has learned from the experience of recording with Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man), and set sail on its own, experimenting and self-producing the new release. But don’t fret; the beloved folk-tinged pop ditties still remain true to the group’s core. Former Belle will be warmed up from tour, providing a polished sheen to the intimate songs from his new album Foreign Bed. Foxtrot & the Get Down will provide the spark needed to get this evening going. The Foundry, 1000 Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Ed Newton) – H.M. Kauffman

 
Other places to escape this weekend…
 
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, SUN Questlove
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI LSDXOXO, Moor Mother Goddess, DJ Haram, SAT Grubby Little Hands, Shelf Life, Cold Foamers, SUN Aphra
 
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Louds, The Dove & The Wolf, Myrrias, SAT The Magnificent, Lower Wolves, SUN The City & I, Curtis Cooper, Motherwhore
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Jenkem/Roxy Rollz, Steve Oakley Band, SAT Seraph In Travail, Geniverse, Malphas/Suburban Living/ Reef The Lost Cauze, E. Grizzly, SUN Cllctyrslf, Line Leader, Coping Skills/Sad Actor, Marie & The Moans
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Get Better Fest: Bad Canoes, Blood Uncle, SAT Get Better Fest: +HIRS+
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.)  FRI (Black Box) Littler, SUN West Philadelphia Orchestra
 
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Amanda X
 
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Needle Points, Teen Men, Purples, SAT The Jawn, Medusa’s Disco, Dead:Stop, SUN Keely Sibilia
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Peek-A-Boo Revue, SAT (Balcony) Will IV
 
TLA (334 South St.) SAT PnB Hitta, B Love
  
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) RFA (EP Release), Whiting/(Downstairs) Peek-A-Boo Revue, SUN (Upstairs) Japanese Breakfast
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI irCasim, Sage Laszlo, Hann_11, Josh Hey, SAT Thorazine, Vital Stats, Twin Symptoms, Kensington Nothings, SUN The Insides, Voila!, Black Archie
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI An Honest Year, SAT (12:30pm) Center City Jazz Festival The Jost Project, Anna Cecilia/8:30pm The Band of Rivals, SUN Man About a Horse
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St) FRI Starwood, Mage Hand, SAT Mumblr, Museyroom
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Lee Mayjahs?, DJ Everyday, SAT DJ Deejay
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Center City Jazz Festival: Mike Cemprola, Chris Oatts/Franco and the Detonators, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI A Tribute to David Bowie
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) SUN Dorkosaurus, Paul Marchesani
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Tailgunner
 
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Mr. Sonny James
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Ridge Summit, ArGii, SAT Control For Smilers, The Great Endangered
 
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Start Making Sense: Talking Heads Tribute
 
The Pharmacy (1300/02 S. 18th St.) FRI Likers, Bruise Bath, Caffeine SAT Population Zero, Disjawn
 
Sit and Spin Records  (2243 South Lambert St.) SAT Science Club,  Kinda Alright
The Larch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SUN Evan Cory Levine, Julius Masri
 
Philadelphia Record Exchange (1524 Frankford Ave.) SUN Igneous Eyes
 
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Swarm, Hot Tears
 
All Night Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.)  SAT Doubles Jonagold
Philadelphia

Video Premiere: Tired of Tomorrow (Nothing Documentary – Part IV)

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"There is nothing that is supposed to happen with this band… No one is destined for anything." In episode 4 of Nothing‘s Tired of Tomorrow documentary, the Martin Shkreli plot begins to thicken. However, before the madness breaks out, you experience some possible cringeworthy moments watching Geoff Rickly talk about putting the future of Collect Records on the line with the Nothing release. Dum, dum, dum, dummm….