New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Bedroom producer American Wolf has released a new single called “Not My Life”. This is his second single of 2019 follow-up “Growing Pains” which was released back in January.
For this track American Wolf lays down a Synth-Heavy Dream Pop instrumental to embrace his introspective lyrics. The single is accompanied by a beautiful Jeff Engelmann directed video.
The “Are You With It” showcase, presented by Makings, is coming up at Cornerstone the 30th of March and it’s getting quite the local buzz. Makings is a music and artist advocacy group founded by Austin Prince and his manager, Kara McCall. Makings is all about helping promote Bay Area musicians who might not yet have a huge name or representation. The “Are You With It?” series does just that.
Says Austin Prince, “There’s no genres; we’re not trying to put on a big clubby scene or something where you have to know people to get in a set. You just have to be musicians who have talent and the passion to perform. We’re all about making those connections within our communities, at these shows. We want to help less-exposed artists find their footing and get their music out there.” So who’s on feature at this month’s Are You With It? A lot of funk, sassy R&B, and a touch of poppy indie rock, all brought to you by Madi Sipes & the Painted Blue, Trace Repeat & Cereus Bloom and–back by popular demand and fan’s insistence–Austin Prince. To honor Mr. Prince, check out his charming new music video featuring a skateboarding bird. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor
Silent Age released their debut LP, Display, via Play Alone Records. This modern take on vintage New Wave from Patrick Donohoe (Vocals), Vinny Segretario (Guitar), Julian Cabrera (Drums), Benny Hernandez (Bass), and Brian Cundiff (Keyboard).
The album’s first single is called “Scattered (Never Let Me Go)” and can be streamed below.
Maybe you like the Allman Brothers Band. Maybe you like Chris Stapleton. Maybe you’re looking for that sweet spot between Southern rock and good old Americana country music. Put your faith in Kyle Daniel‘s music. His sophomore LP What’s There To Say? comes out on March 15th, and it’s already received write-ups from the press including big names like Billboard and Rolling Stone. The lead track "Born To Lose" sheds light on Daniel’s football field-ready voice, the roar of his band’s organ and electric guitar, the smooth dance of the strings, and the light swing of the drums. Any fan of country music will see that Daniels does it right; if you’re that fan, take a listen to "Born To Lose" below. Daniels is touring the Southeast to support the new album; he’ll be back in Nashville on March 26th to play Twang Tuesday at ACME Feed and Seed. – Will Sisskind
Pearlty is the debut full-length album from the Tj Strohmer-led outfit Knifeplay. A delicate dusting of shoegazing atmosphere melds with breezy introspection. Hovering weightless over the top of one’s thoughts and then crashing climatically down on points of emphasis, there’s a subdued, somber, tranquilizing affect. It hits you in what seems like slow gradual motion, but the blow leaves a mark. (Photo by Doug Dulgarian)
Gold & Grey, the forthcoming album from Baroness, is slated for release on June 14 via Abraxan Hymns. A new video for the band’s latest single, “Borderlines,” has surfaced. The song captures a long haul trajectory, blending the melodic with the heavy in a pummeling yet precise, rifft-tastic power. Baroness will be headlining Decibel Magazine’s Metal and Beer Fest on Saturday, April 13 at The Fillmore Philadelphia.
We are proud to be able to premiere the Ryan Ohm directed video for the debut single, “Heard”, from Nebs. This is the solo project from Ben Kostecki of Engine Summer, and it finds him blending an array of musical styles around his bass-filled vocals.
James Garcia (Over the Counter Culture Record) remixed The Russells‘s Escape from Philadelphia. The album sits in a noisy, psych-metal zone. It’s heavy with an uncompromising, urgent, instrumental drive; however, the raw edges have been somewhat smoothed out, bringing the brutal/blunt sound of the band into clearer focus. The band will be performing next in Philly on Friday, April 19 at Creep Records, as part of a lineup that also includes Zinskē, Screamcloud, and Reflex Machine.
Psalm One dropped a new EP yesterday, March 12th, called “Don’t Get Lazy Now!”. The EP’s opening track is incredible and features contributions from Sophia Eris, Angel Davenport, and SHOWYOUSUCK.
You can catch Psalm One at Brauer House Live in Lombard on March 15th with R.A. The Rugged Man, Mood Swangz, and DJ Handz Solo.
QWAM’s newest single “Buy A Toy” is the sonic equivalent of a Subaru Outback barreling out of the crowded city, taking a scenic ride through the Poconos, and then driving off a cliff into the Delaware Water Gap. It’s energetic, filled with a lot of heart, and ultimately marked by a kind of humorous fatalism that makes it endearing in a “shit happens” type of way. While the crux of the song revolves around a repeating mantra (“just wanna buy a toy for you”), its simplicity plays against QWAM’s discordant shredding to deliver a concise, scorched earth product that may bring the listener to both dance joyously and burn something. Watch the video below, and catch them at The Footlight on March 15th alongside Plaid Dracula and Smock. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt), Photo by Karen Sofia Colon
Nu-Disco continues its resurgence with artists like LEFTI whose new EP Discoteca is a full-blown ode to the intoxicating rhythms of ’70s NYC Disco and ’80s European dance music. Inspired by the colorful disco show posters he saw scattered across the streets of Spain during his childhood family vacations, LEFTI (real name Alex Suarez) injects a heavy dose of house and funk into each song. The lead single “Every Time” (ft. Spencer Ludwig) is a powerhouse of high bass harmonics, snappy snare hits, and of course Ludwig’s fantastic trumpet. New cuts of “Make You Mine” and “All Night” also bring LEFTI’s classic disco influences to light with percussive beats and guitar riffs that would make Nile Rodgers proud. LEFTI will celebrate the release of Discoteca on April 4th at the Toucan Sounds label launch party at Freehold in Brooklyn, NY. – Rene Cobar
Yet, Not Enough is the new EP from the quartet of AllegrA, which is out now via Citrus City Records. An airy, sunny sensitivity permeates in these recordings. Through infectious twists and turns, the album captures a sense of intimacy, within these sonic adventures. AllegrA will be hosting its record release show at World Cafe Live on Saturday, March 23, joined by Beach Bod and Boosegumps.
