New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
The Curls have released a new single called “Prickly Feelings”. It is the first single from the band’s forthcoming LP, Super Unit.
You can catch The Curls at Triple Crown Whiskey Bar on July 28th with Liza Anne w/ Chris Coleslaw. They will also be performing at Double Door an August 7th with Mykele Deville.
*photo by Corbin Corbin
He’s the solo artist that’s been around for nearly a decade who may have flown under your radar. Better yet, it’s quite possible you’ve heard his music or seen him perform before without knowing exactly who he is. But Don Gero has been around for awhile, and he’s deserving of all the attention he’s gotten over the years.
Since 2008, Zach D’Agostino has created textured clamor in a palatable way, utilizing only modular synths and unabating drum beats in his creations. Though it’s basically just him and his instruments, D’Agostino is interactive and engaging with his surroundings, keeping his sets entertaining and every way. He stylistically blends experimental noise with psych rock elements in ways to keep ears engaged as well.
D’Agostino hasn’t been back in town for long since his early summer US tour with Rust Promoter, so he’s likely taking some time to work on his new project Sea Moss, but give Wizarding a listen below in the meantime.
The Toads were always a favorite. With their newest album, Time, they’ve solidified that even more.
Time still operates the same pop-punk plane The Toads usually skirt on, but with a slight twist. It’s not just delightfully punky tunes anymore, but also an incorporation of more of a 90’s alternative feel to the tracks. At times, Time even touches on a Beatles-esque ’60s pop quality, like on the track "Alien Gene."
You can catch The Toads performing again 8.3 at Bunk Bar with Plastic Cactus and Slow Caves. They’ll be playing a few shows around here and Washington before taking a brief hiatus at the end of September for a few weeks, but there will be plenty of opportunities to see these bad boys live before then. In the meantime, stream Time below.
Local pop rockers Naked Wild have released a brand new EP titled “Pocket Whiskey”. This EP contains the previously released single “Stay Girl”. It kicks off with “Funk Yourself” which naturally has a funky guitar lick for an intro. Also contains some nice solo work by lead guitarist Mitch Burton. These boy’s sound is constantly maturing with every tune I hear. They have recently signed with Trouble Town Records located at Polson Pier in Toronto and celebrated this release with a sold out show at the Garrison last weekend. Your next chance to see ‘em is July 29th at Lee’s Palace. – Kris Gies
After turning heads with their 2014 release "Three Pound Universe" Baltimore’s Deaf Scene returns with a music video for the song "Acid Fight" from their upcoming album. The group adds so many crystal clean ornamentations to the groove in this track that the ornamentations seem to seamlessly build on top of each other to the point where it’s hard to tell whether the song is still in 4/4 or some other time signature altogether. The unstoppable groove and the often soulful guitar timbres result in pure head-banging bliss.
Here is the new music video for “Acid Fight” from Deaf Scene
-Michael Dranove
Victoria Rose began releasing music under the name "Brittle Brian" in 2014, nearing the end of her enrollment at Boston University. She began putting out two absorbing electronic tracks on "Instrumentals for Looking at Animals" an album sweetly fitting to the activity it recommends. Then her first full-length, Bony French Cathedrals, was a stripped-down acoustic album full of confession. Continuing her organic, self-recorded and produced aesthetic, she released Verisune, an album released following her graduation from college which lead her to become a staple of the Boston scene, playing everywhere from house venues to local favorites like The Great Scott. Like the stark portrait of its album art, Verisune is a personal album that is utterly unique and intense. Most recently she’s released "Truther," an eerie ballad which alternates Spanish folk guitar with Elliot Smith influences. We look forward to anything that this individual singer-songwriter brings to Boston in the future. See her alongside Horse Jumper of Love, Dust from 1000 Yrs, and Blue Smiley August 24th. -Allie Miller
Mississippi-born and LA-based Dent May never thought he would be singing about the 90210, but that’s exactly what happened on his upcoming album, Across the Multiverse. The singer and multi-instrumentalist has learned to love his new city, and it’s evident in every lyric and funky synth beat. Singles like the titular “Across The Multiverse,” (streaming below) which features Frankie Cosmos, have a certain groove to them thats typical of Dent May, but with a more refined production style and a pointed theme. The rest of the album will be released on August 18th, and he will be playing a show at The Glass House on August 5th. –Lilly Milman
Psych-Rock band Ritual Talk released an extremely intriguing debut single (with video, streaming below) entitled, “Help, I’ve Been Dreaming”, and is scheduled to perform at Pianos on August 4th. The track is an art-rock song that flows through so many sounds, it becomes difficult to even categorize, yet manage to stay within tasteful boundaries, never sacrificing musical coherence for the sake of experimentation. A rather complex ¾ beat starts the song off, traveling into more psych-rock, wavier sounds from both the guitar and harmonizing female and male vocals. The lyrics are serene, succint but poetic. Then, a more indie rock sound evolves through intricate guitar pattering, slowly evolving as background organs enter the soundscape. If you dig this single, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming album and don’t miss them live!– Pearse Devlin
Bay area psych-funk band, Loos Leaf, recently released a new single, "Green Eyed Stare." A kaleidoscopic fusion of funk, R&B, dub, jazz and psych-rock, "Green Eyed Stare" showcases the band’s mastery of complex time signatures and a zealousness to blend diverse styles into one composition. Loos Leaf will play a record release show on September 30th at Kuumbwa Jazz. Listen to the single below! – Ethan Ames
Brooklyn-based funk group IGBO continue to share their positive spirit with their new Rooftop Cookout Series happening now at My Wicked Lady. As the first of a two-part event series, they invited fellow dance-fusion stars Buscabulla, Puck, NiDi Halum, Naimi, ignaBAE and Jaws to for a afternoon dance. Praised by both NPR and The Fader since the release of their debut EP INDIGO GREEN BROWN ORANGE, they’ve been going from one sold-out NYC show to the next. The EP is a six-track mix of every thing from psych, jazz, afrobeat, and (according to their bandcamp tags) "astro-rap." Usually, all of these different sounds will flow within the same song, with changes as natural and welcoming as the spirit of their colorful performance style. If there was any dance party we’d want to attend this summer, it would be IGBO’s. Listen to their 2017 release "Thunderlove" and don’t miss their upcoming show at C’Mon Everybody on August 8 within Elisa’s residency. -Allie Miller
For Nashville-via-Philadelphia artist, Devon Gilfillian, soul music is all about one’s roots. In his new video for the track “Here and Now,” he infuses his Nashville surroundings into his R&B music, creating a soulful mix of folk, blues, country, and groove. According the Gilfillian, the song is about a woman who he will one day love and live in the moment with. He is currently on a southern tour, and will be back in Nashville on August 17th to play the Soulshine Music Loft. –Lilly Milman, photo by Lindsey Patkos
Krust Toons: "’Stop." by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
