New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Steve Slagg (FKA Youngest Son) is preparing to release his first album, Strange Flesh, in five years on June 27th. Slagg draws upon his personal experiences to create traditional piano-driven pop in the style of Randy Newman or Elton John.
You can help Slagg celebrate the release of the new album on June 27th at Hungry Brain with Allison Van Liere.
Photo by Jonathan Randall Grant
NYC’s songwriter Evangelia‘s single "Always On Mine" is a subdued electropop ballad addressed to a past lover. Following the singer through the lonely streets of a city at night, the visuals that accompany the song grow more and more surreal, almost to the point of feeling like virtual reality. It’s a fitting portrayal for a song that wonders about how things might have been, and how they could be, and whether you’ve imagined it all. Check out "Always On Mine" below, and stream the rest of Evangelia’s music here. -Sunny Betz
Sir Mango released their debut EP, "Whits”, today (6/19). This is the stripped down acoustic rock of Eric Doar (Tubs, Vox), Tion Burke (Guitfiddle, Bass, Vox), and Miles Eddy (Guitfiddle, Bass, Vox).
You can help the trio celebrate the release of their EP tonight, June 19th, at Subterranean with Strange Foliage, Origami Button, and Rainbow James.
Fusing together indie pop and guerrilla riot grrrrl influences, the NYC band moon kissed is making music that touches on to the fun, impulsive sides of self. The bite-sized 3-song debut EP showcases an ability to craft pop music that is both self-aware and danceable. The three leading band members, known only as Emily, Khaya, and Leah are exploring a side of young womanhood that thrives on shared emotional expression and collaboration. Their music is sweet and conversational, swelling dramatically as if to invite listeners to a show.
Notwithstanding the early 2000s nostalgia (we prefer references to earlier musical eras!), moon kissed manages to combine influences and personal experience in a way that is original and fresh sounding. You can see them live at the Bowery Electric on July 2nd. – Susan Moon
This artist submitted music for coverage here.
This artist submitted music for coverage here.
Chore Boy & Brad Kemp are back again with a new album called Stories You Can Tell Yourself. This drops just six months after Exordium and features contributions from femdot., Beloved Gang, Super King Reza, and many more.
The album centers around the idea of our own personal narratives and how they can either help or hurt us and they ways we perceive the world we live in.
Five years have passed since singer-songwriter Audrey Ryan released Let’s go to the Vamp, an indie-folk record heavy on crawling loops and lush harmonies. Ryan’s follow-up Buggy Spell is far more playful and versatile: the Boston-based artist takes full advantage of her multi-instrumental abilities by sprinkling each song with light tambourine rhythms, merry acoustic elements, and cheery vocal melodies that hint at beautiful memories. The elegant sonic layering that Ryan employs is distinctly characteristic of indie-folk music, a genre which continues to blossom as groups like First Aid Kit and The Civil Wars keep going strong. The release show for Buggy Spell is set for Thursday, June 20th at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. We have "After a While Crocodile" from the new record available to stream below. – Rene Cobar
Worry Records recently released the debut EP from radio host, music journalist, and musician Hugo Reyes.
Reyes has been supporting and showing love for the local scene for years and it is great to see him making a strong official entrance on a great local label.
A Distant Call, the forthcoming album from Sheer Mag, is scheduled to arrive on August 23 via Wilsuns RC. Its lead single, “Blood From a Stone,” just hit the blogosphere, accompanied by a lyric video (which was created by Joslyn Crocco). Frontwoman Christina Halladay maintains composure while expressing frustration over the issues, which seemingly never end. That storyline is delivered with a melodic grit and guitar riffs aplenty that we’ve come to know and love from the Philly garage rockers. Sheer Mag will be kicking off the first leg of their summer tour this Saturday, June 22 at World Cafe Live, with local pals Thin Lips and Louisville’s White Reaper.
Busy Bodies recently released their debut EP which is cleverly title “Extended Play”. This is the Americana-Influenced rock of Michael Molitor (guitar, vocals), Ben Baran (guitar, vocals), John Schmisek (keys, vocals), True Markham (bass, vocals), Matt Donnelly (drums).
The band talks about how their sound and process is truly collaborative and it really does shine through in the harmonies the fills this album.
Lovestory Of Philadelphia is the debut album from the quartet of Dirty Soap. Exuberant, raw, soulful vocals and bluesy Americana converge in a sound that sticks in your mind, and quickly becomes familiar, especially for admirers of Man Man. The band entrenches themselves in a catchy, quirky manner that rips at opportune times, retaining a barroom aesthetic. You can catch Dirty Soap at Bourbon & Branch this Saturday, June 22, along with River Bones Band and Dirty Mae.
Brooklyn native group Floam laces its sober basslines and guitar solos with a heavy dose of flair to create, as the group call it, “bouncy rock music” which betrays influences from bands like Talking Heads and Devo, with a touch of Roxy Music’s glam. The group’s 2017 EP Cocoon lays bare the quartet’s tensile style as it effortlessly transitions from upbeat songs like “Just A Cool Breeze” to more ambient tracks like “In A Field.” The band controls its sound efforlessly, honing vintage art rock influences with ease while remaining true to their own style. Check out the music video for the band’s latest single "Hopes and Dreams" here below. – Rene Cobar
Fonfur is a four piece alt rock band from Toronto “playing anything and everything that can be found under the indie rock umbrella”. The members found common ground with influences such as Tokyo Police Club, Alt-J and We Are Scientists. In October of last year they released a 6 Song EP titled “New Rules for Classic Games” which include the catchy pop-rock opener “Denim Dogs”. Fonfur plays The Horseshoe Tavern on June 20th. – Kris Gies
