Don’t let the geography of the name fool ya, SoCal Hunnies are a groovy three piece band based in Toronto. Their single “Don’t Ever Leave Your Man or Woman” has a quick beat with a funky bassline that really pushed the track into the soul inspired world where they like to live. The guitar solos are extremely cool in this track going from a spacious, chilled out zone into a hectic shred all while keeping the trackflowing nicely. SoCal Hunnies will be playing the Springtide Music Festival in Uxbridge on April 26th. – Kris Gies
There’s a wonderful sense of balance brought to the table by Miss Grit’s new Talk Talk EP, both in its approach to chaotic-tinged songwriting and the brilliant pallet of sounds explored. Each of the four songs toggle between airy and orchestral synthesizers that careen into fuzzy barrages of sound or simply glitch out at the seams. The marriage between the gutsy and the beautifully arranged is a marvel to witness, and this release is proving to be a standout for 2019. You can catch Miss Grit at Elsewhere on April 26 before they embark on a short U.K. tour. –Tucker Pennington
6’10 is the side project of Tobin Bawinkel of Celtic Punk band Flatfoot 56. For this project he explores his roots and love for Americana and traditional folk music.
The group’s latest EP was released last week and is called “Where We Are”. This is their first new album since their 2014 LP, The Humble Beginnings of a Roving Soul.
Aussies, Austinites, and enough funk bass lines to light up Studio 54 in its prime, Parcels brought peak positivity to the Mohawk on Monday night. Daft Punk-produced and brimming with youthful exuberance, Parcels is riding a wave of musical momentum on their first American tour. The Aussie male quintet’s sound emanates from around a core sample of Beegees and KC and the Sunshine band melodies with the effervescence of contemporary synthpop and nu-disco. A cappella harmonies, great hair and a synthesized audio elixir guaranteed to make audiences dance – Parcels brought the goods from down under.
Getting the ball rolling with the slow-build of “Comedown”, Parcels introduced themselves to the crowd, and then promptly launched into the Chic-esque hit “Lightenup”. Patrick Hetherington and Jules Crommelin sat front and center onstage, orchestrating boyish smiles and head nods while crooning with soulful dexterity. “Gamesofluck” dropped suave synths over a disco-laden sea of funk with catchy vocals that accentuated the groove masterpiece.
A mid-set a cappella rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” unveiled the remarkable singing talents of the entire quintet before getting back to the dance electronica at hand. “Tieduprightnow” brought chucking guitars and jazz flutes into a tropical nirvana that had the audience twisting like Uma in Pulp Fiction, while “Everyroad” took its time to build through spoken word and rising harmonies for an orgasmic pinnacle of the Italo-disco variety.
Even during some of the more introspective tracks, the Mohawk audience was vibing along, giving the band spontaneous applause and involuntary hand claps. The sheepish grins of the quintet and genuine surprise on hearing roars of approval, exposed a band that had yet to be calloused over with expectation and road weariness. Ending the night with their discovery song “Overnight” along with “Iknowhowifeel” and “Withorwithout” left a ravenous audience standing around for more music, long after the band had left the stage.
This is the work of Al Costis (Bass), Rajiv Raju (Guitar), and Seth Engel (Drums). Their sounds is somewhere between improvised jazz and math rock, but does not include Rap or Country in any way.
Last time we checked in on Safari Room, they had just released their EP Actual Feelings, and had spent quite a bit of time in the studio recording new music. They released some of that music in the form of February’s single "One Day Here", which also included the B-side "The Rain". Now, Safari Room will release an EP of acoustic versions of their songs, which they recorded in a partnership with art conglomerate OOKO Studios, a recording studio and DIY event hosting site based in Berry Hill. The band chose one song from each of their albums to feature on the acoustic EP, with each of them representing a different step forward for them. "Glass Box" from their debut EP represents loneliness and time passing, while "Vices" from the Actual Feelings EP goes happier and more cathartic with the theme of knowing where you need to be. Meanwhile, "Around The Bend" from the album of the same name covers friendships ending, relationships ebbing and flowing, and dealing with the constant shuffle of loss and growth. You can listen to the acoustic versions of these tracks when Safari Room drops the OOKO Session Live EP on April 12th. Take a listen to The Deli’s premiere of the EP below. – Will Sisskind
The latest and fourth release from the new local label Afterhours Ltd. is from Chicago producer Akabou. This project is called "being" and blends elements of ambient music with downtempo beats and trance of dub techno.
A new single, “Class Killer,” recently arrived via Josh Levinsky & The Shmoos. The song occupies a conversational tone as lines are punctuated by backend exclamations. A confident & somewhat cocky narrator walks through the halls in an agitated manner as an acoustic, garage-punk tone is achieved. Opposing viewpoints are traded back & forth as a thoughtful aggression is released.
Time Revival (aka Supply Fi) is product of Electronic music producer Michael Southard. His latest album, “Brittle Stars”, is a collection of ambient tracks that demonstrate his range and restraint.
Sipper’s Joe Beerman is, as the lyrics of his new track suggests, a modern man – his voice has the breathy quality of Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam with the wandering, occasionally growl adjacent vocal delivery of Stephen Malkmus. Channeled simultaneously over stumbling, guitar driven indie, these elements give his new single “OMG” the quality of a hushed secret you weren’t supposed to hear; the song is dripping with an intimacy that’s as authentic as it is explosive. As its accompanying visual suggests, it’s the perfect soundtrack to a party you don’t want to be at, a fun indie romp wrapped up in malaise. Watch the video premiere below, and be sure to catch Sipper’s debut EP, out today (April 10th) on Invertebrate. – Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)
Philly quartet Mumblr appears to have released its swan song, Genie. The band continues to create a diverse, intriguing sound. Expressing vulnerability and volatility, these songs engage with their melodic yet menacing/fragile/frenetic/funky tones. Casual, observational lyricism makes quick, gravitational shifts, instilling urgency. Ranging from calm to crushing, there’s a poetic, unabashed strength that leaves a lasting impression. Thanks for being original and kicking ass, fellas!
They call it “Fantasy Rock” and I call it very unique and creative songwriting. Combining indie rock with dream pop and some kind of dark avant-garde mood swings is how I describe Gelax. Their main influences are Depeche Mode and Radiohead and they combine that with some all-around mysticism to put together their latest single “Life”. It’s a powerful track with very interesting instrumentation. It would be intriguing to see this track brought to life with a live performance which you can do on April 21st at Handlebar in Kensington Market. – Kris Gies
