On their new single "Big Ol," premiering below, 4-piece band Dakota Jones are at their best. Though the track is just under four minutes in length, each member of the Brooklyn band packs a lot into it, seamlessly blending the groove of soul, the emotional impact of blues and the enegy of alt-rock. Powerful vocals, soloing guitars and slick drums seem to compete for attention before ultimately deciding to compromise and just jam out. You can check out "Big Ol" below, and catch their new EP live at the release party on April 8 at the Bitter End. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Portland
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Stream The Dovecotes’s ‘Humorless,’ Out Today
Thematically centered around social anxiety, personal loss and other relatable content, the second full length from The Dovecotes is more than aptly titled. Humorless speaks on sadder subject manner, with the music not always reaching as low.
Staying on their same course of jangly dream pop, Humorless is the perfect follow-up chapter for the near two year old quartet. Over the course of eight days the band recorded and stripped down their new set of songs to keep their same powerful chord progressions and dynamic arrangements, with the help of producer Skyler Norwood. The results are complex and at times a bit unpredictable, though still true to The Dovecotes sound.
Celebrate the release of Humorless, along with a new album from the band Team Evil, tonight at the Alberta Street Pub. Your next chance to catch The Dovecotes won’t be until the end of next month, during their show at the Secret Society with Risley and A Certain Smile.
Portland
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Mood Music: Sleeping Horses – “Rarely Has Reality Needed So Much To Be Imagined”
Post-rock is a beautiful genre, especially when it leans more towards the classical end of the spectrum. It’s one that really shows the depth of an artist or band’s talent, since at times it takes a little more effort to keep the fascination going. This isn’t a problem for new solo orchestrator James Randolph Fouty, recording under the moniker Sleeping Horses, who keeps interest piqued with his self-titled debut.
Each track is ambient magic in its own right, but one that stands out is "Rarely Has Reality Needed So Much To Be Imagined." Aside from its thought provoking title, "Rarely Has Reality…" builds up in sonic expansion without becoming too chaotic or losing its intrigue.
Give the song a listen below and check out the debut album from Sleeping Horses, out on Fluttery Records.
NYC
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PREMIERE: Indie dream pop The Duskwhales unveil new video, Friday The 13th
An exclusive premiere for Deli readers! The Duskwhales have released the first video from their forthcoming album, Sorrowful Mysteries. The single, Friday The 13th, heralds forward momentum for the DC-based trio. Recorded in a professional-grade studio, the song is mature, relative to the band’s previous efforts. Where once the energy was unbridled, it now feels tamed – almost simmering and ready to burst forth like a stalking panther. Stirring lyrics and keys reminiscents of The Animals’ Alan Price, the band masterfully builds and releases the musical tension, revealing the honed craft of their melodies. Capping the mood is somber video art by Outlet Mall Brain Asylum. Catch The Duskwhales’ album release show at Jammin’ Java in Vienna on 4/8! -Jonathan Goodwin
NYC
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Wild Pink releases dreamy debut LP, plays Baby’s All Right on 04.18
Embracing at once gentleness, distortion, reverb and feedback, NYC trio Wild Pink crafts dreamo-pop that’s enjoyable and varied. And in case you are wondering what "dreamo-pop" is, it’s dream pop with traces of emo in it (you should have gotten that one!). After two EPs released in 2015 and 2016, the band dropped their debut, self titled full length earlier in 2017, and it’s a record of rare songwriting consistency. They have two pretty solid local shows coming up, one at Baby’s All Right on April 18, and one at BK Bazaar on May 20th. Check out single "Great Apes," streaming below
Austin
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Crooked Bangs Tease New Album, II, with Riotous Single “Rabbit Hole”
A dark gothic atmosphere serves as the backdrop for the new single "Rabbit Hole" from Austin angst-punkers, Crooked Bangs. The immediate differentiator for Crooked Bangs amidst the sea of punk bands, is that lead singer, Leda Ginestra, oscillates between laissez-faire French murmurings and incisive English punctuations. The bilingual vocal stylings evoke francophile nostalgia for bands like Metal Urbain and Plastic Bertrand, but Crooked Bangs brings a contemporary laser-like focus that eviscerates their predecessors in favor of their own unique sound. The trio’s second full-length, II, is out April 21st on Nervous Intent Records with much touring to follow. While pop, new wave, hardcore have strands of DNA within II, the wide umbrella of punk envelopes Crooked Bangs for the most part. Though this album seems a bit more polished and fine-tuned than the band’s debut, the band doesn’t sacrifice its acerbic angst or visceral primality in the process. "Rabbit Hole" teeters on a steady backbeat as guitars whirr like a diesel-fueled chainsaw, and Ginestra’s vocals swirl above the melee with an almost aloof objectivity as the vortex dips in and out of the chorus. Crooked Bangs have the deadly triumvirate of technical precision, vocal uniqueness, and a wanton ethos of unpacifiable rage which will make, II, a highlight of this crop of Spring album releases.
-Lee Ackerley
NYC
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Night Birds to bring their dirty surf punk to St. Vitus 4/6
For old-school punk purists, Night Birds might just be the dirty, crunchy, return-to-form punk rock you’ve been craving. Taking cues from punk/hardcore favorites of the ’80s, Night Birds put their own delicious surf spin on their tunes, delivering compact, high-energy hits that feel inspired rather than regurgitated. And with names like "Born to Die in Suburbia" and "Mutiny at Muscle Beach" how can you possibly resist a listen? Check out Night Birds streaming below and catch them live at St. Vitus on 4/06 alongside the Marked Men and Honey. – Olivia Sisinni
New England
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Atlantic Thrills Hits AS220 4/24
With their most recent album, Providence surf-garage rockers, Atlantic Thrills, re-embrace the Vices and excesses of American rock n roll. Harkening back to the psych/surf rock bands of the 60s and adding a modern indie/garage flavor, Thrills challenges the need to wait for the weekend to indulge in some…..extracurriculars. Classic vocal melodies and blistering guitar riffs make Vices the perfect soundtrack for all your iniquitous behavior. Check them out at AS220 in Providence on 4/24 with RIPS and Midriffs. –Brian Varneke
Philadelphia
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Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Bardo Pond (Record Release), Sparrow Steeple, SUN Upperfields
Weekend Warrior, March 31 – April 2
Released last month via Epitaph, The Menzingers’ latest album, After The Party, finds the quartet in a reflective realm. Maintaining a melodic, polished sense of exuberance, the album stews on reminiscent tales of young adulthood, steadily driving ahead while peaking out from within those narratives to inject crowd-charging, catchy choruses. After numerous nights of travel, their destination is the inviting return home as they set up shop, intertwining Americana-punk sounds at The Fillmore, joined by Jeff Rosenstock, and Rozwell Kid.
Meanwhile, right down the road at Johnny Brenda’s, the engulfing fuzz-torching psych rock of Bardo Pond blazes an invigorating sonic trail to commemorate their new release, Under The Pines, available via Fire Records. They’ll be supported by Sparrow Steeple and Eric Arn so step out of the rain and soak in some replenishing sounds. – Michael Colavita
Other places to hit this weekend…
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI The Menzingers
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Bardo Pond (Record Release), Sparrow Steeple, SUN Upperfields
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Phantasm, The Tea Club, Something Like A Monument
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Fame Lust, SUN Geo Metro, Ryan M Todd
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Aphra
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Full Bush, Grace Vonderkuhn, Sheena & Thee Nosebleeds
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Lupe Garu/Superstar Yay, Brucey Da Rapper, Yog JP, Reek Ivan, Stizz Gambler, Elijah Royce, O Dollaz, Burn The General, City Rominiecki
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Dirty South Joe, Gianni Lee, Heaven in Stereo
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Flannel, White Limo/(Downstairs) La Giara, The Water Jug: Musical Memoir/Book Presented by Minas Ensemble, SAT (Downstairs) Rockin’ Docs for Diabetes Cure: Sounds of Society, Runnin’ Late, RD Sting, Rightback, SUN (Upstairs) Nik Greeley & The Operators
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Bern The Bastard, Ezekiel Crow, B. Temporary, Fallible Being, Guillotine Tongue, Malcolm Culleton , SUN Kevin Ripley, Trash Boy, Blushed
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Lightning Jones, Civil Holdup, SUN Police/Sting Tribute: Thorazine, Boy Wonder, Coco Sol, Lou Lanza, Monopop, The Quirktones
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Square Peg Round Hole, The Vernes, SAT Oolala, Grubby Little Hands, Ton-Taun, Red Queen Lilith, SUN Community Center, Dirty Purple, Burned Out, Still Glowing
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Ed Christof, SAT DJ Deejay
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI I Think Like Midnight, Conversations, The Deadeyes, SAT The Orange Drop, Satellite Hearts, Dot.gov
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Hired Guns Blues Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Legion 76, Duffy’s Cut, SAT Dr. Beardfacé and the Spaceman, Sweet Eureka, Venice Sunlight, Molly Rhythm
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Young Graves
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Sixteen Jackies, Slomo Sapiens, Slophouse, The Primaries, Falang, SAT Spaghetti Vacation, Local Smokes, Stargazer Lily, Matt Gauss Band, Tony Ukes
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI West Philadelphia Orchestra, SAT AM Radio, SUN The Grizz Band, Vilebred
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Agent Moosehead, Mage Hand, Blümntl
Space 1026 (1026 Arch St.) FRI The Whips, Gavin Riley Smoke Machine
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Downtrodder, Hells, Dunning Kruger, SAT Manic Pixi, Moonroof, Honeytiger, SUN Cllctyrslf, Here/Now
Philadelphia
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New Mega Ran LP Available for Streaming & Download
Twenty years to the day that Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., passed, Mega Ran released Notorious R.A.N: Ready To Live. Produced by Fresh Kils and DJ DN3, the album re-samples tracks that have become cornerstones of hip hop. The LP is a nostalgic tribute, while simultaneously providing a modern reimagining. It’s a tough task to step into the shoes of a legend; however, this release offers an invigorating, lyrical wit in the midst of a timeless backdrop.
NYC
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Bucolic’s woodsy musical world
Simple guitar chords and slow, rusty drums are the first elements that catch the ear in New Jersey’s Bucolic‘s single "Slow Words" (streaming below). But it is Seth Carpenter’s confident, pressing vocals, drenched in reverb, that really hone in on the ambient nature of the music. Similarly, the six-minute "Great Miles Old," punctuated by a recurring, shimmery guitar riff, lifts us into Bucolic’s sweeping, woodsy world with ease. The music is minimalistic but takes ownership of the hollowed-out textures, so that each sound in the recordings has room to breathe. Listen to Bucolic, and inhale deeply. – Geena Kloeppel
Philadelphia
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New Honey Radar/Telepathic Split Available for Streaming
The forthcoming Honey Radar/Telepathic split, which will be released on limited edition cassette on April 20 via Third Uncle Records, is currently available for streaming/pre-order below. Honey Radar continue to percolate in their raw-riff, reserved, lo-fi, psych station, while Telepathic pushes the pace in controlled, melodic aggression. Honey Radar is slated to perform at The Storefront on April 19, on a lineup that also includes Faults, Daytime Cleaners, and The Red F.