Austin

Drip-Fed Tears At The Seams Of Sanity On “The Shivers”

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 Sprung from a seed fertilized by punk, Drip-Fed’s sound branches out into thrash, hardcore and noise genres with exhilirating outcomes. The Austin quartet of unrelenting force is beginning to show how their music breaks into an echelon of beautiful destruction that is unto themselves. Lead singer, Jeffrey Blum, has a vocal set that awakens a visceral and primal element, while simultaneously writing lyrics that are gripping and impactful. "The Shivers" has a serrated edge of adrenaline cutting through a catchy backbeat,of which it’s genius can only be truly appreciated after having left the track on repeat.  Drip-Fed’s next upcoming album release, Under the Wave Blanket, drops March 3rd and I can comfortably say that Operation Rolling Thunder will look like a cap gun compared to the devastating impact their new album is certain to cause.

-Lee Ackerley          

New England

Boston’s Aloud Releases Single “Agua Mala” to Combat Flint, Michigan Water Crisis

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 In an effort to help combat the ongoing water crisis in Flint, MI, Boston-based alt/soul-rockers Aloud have teamed up with Kendra Jones of Brooklyn’s Cold Blood Club to lend a helping hand through their new single "Agua Mala".  Frustrated with the three year, man-made disaster that has rocked a community and taken away a basic human commodity, this collaboration gives listeners a way to give much needed support to the people of Flint.  All proceeds from downloads of "Agua Mala" will go directly to the Flint Water Fund set up by The United Way of Genesee County. –Brian Varneke

 

New England

Whatever Whatever Releases New Single “House Boy”

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 With their new single "House Boy", Boston alt-rockers Whatever Whatever have re-asserted themselves as buzzworthy newcomers to the New England scene.  If you missed their debut EP, Who’s This, we encourage you to go back and check it out.  The two works combined create a relevant and individual voice, both lyrically and musically, that is rare for a band of their limited discography.  "House Boy" (produced by Converse Rubber Tracks producer, David Minehan) is a taste of things to come, and we can’t wait to see where their road leads next. –Brian Varneke

 

Portland

Vow of Volition and Increate Team Up on Album Release Show

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Ash Street Saloon will transform into a djent dungeon tomorrow as some of Portland’s finest in the genre, Vow of Volition and Increate, co-celebrate the releases of their newest albums.

So far, Vow of Volition have shared only one single off their newest, titled Anthelion. "Promise" is somewhat short in length, clocking in at just under two minutes, but it in no way falls short when compared to any of their other epically technical death metal jams. We’ll be hearing the rest of the album tomorrow during the show and if "Promise" is any indication of the rest of Anthelion, then it promises to be another solidly heavy release.

Increate’s full length debut, Void, dropped a few days ago and shares six new tracks showcasing their eight string instrumental assault. The quartet credit ganja, discovering the ideal balance between calculated and improvised solos, and reworking the songs after moving from including vocals to being fully instrumental as part of the process that makes Void so great. 

Sacrifice to Survive, Across Three Hundred Seas and Psyclops will all be joining VoV and Increate in their release show festivities. Doors for this $6, 21+ open at 8pm, so be sure to make it there on time.

 

Chicago

Vapor Eyes

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Vapor Eyes will be releasing his latest album, Proxima, next week.

You can help Vapor Eyes celebrate the album release at Cafe Mustache on Feb. 17th.

NYC

Def.GRLS play Rough Trade on 03.16

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OK folks, it’s almost Valentine’s Day, but, really… are we rockers supposed to give a crap? (Answer: it depends what your other half thinks about it, and how much you care about him/her…). Brooklyn’s Def.GRLS, at first glance, looks like a band perfectly equipped to entertain Valentine’s Day practitioners. Just look at the cover of their 2015 “GRLS EP,” which features the annual red, pink and white "hues of adoration." The image on the record even depicts a woman biting into a marshmallow of some sort, while the band, in one of their Beatlesy-bubbly-beepity-bop tracks, sings about a… "FinGRLess Lady"??? Can you feel the love in the air or what? Okay, true, other great indie hits have been written about mutilation, and at the end of the day Def.GRLS do also sing about the girl of their dreams in “GRL,” another lo-fi, ’60s style psychedelic pop gem. But we don’t think that’s enough to make them a good choice for your "regular" Valentine’s day – and that’s probably why their upcoming show is NOT on February14th, but a month and two days later, at Rough Trade, on March 16th. Check out their recent single Krampus, streaming below. – Jocelyn Huggler

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, February 10 – 12

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Allison Crutchfield & The Fizz will be celebrating the recent release of her new album Tourist in This Town (Merge) with a headlining performance this evening in the hallowed halls of the First Unitarian Church. The LP features contributions from Sam Cook-Parrott (Radiator Hospital, The Afterglows) and Joey Doubek (Pinkwash); both of whom are included in tonight’s loaded lineup. Tourist, which is currently The Deli Philly’s Record of the Month, radiates capturing the sadness of relationships that have run their course. Yet, the cathartic, empowering aftermath, exposed through the enduring strength of revealing, thoughtful songwriting, creates a transformative energy.
 
 
Also, on the same day that their debut LP Friend of a Stranger is released via Born Losers, Louie Louie mark the occasion with a record release party tonight at PhilaMOCA. The quartet finds balance between the honed-harmonies reminiscent of the golden age of classic girl groups, while exhibiting fierce, authoritatively catchy, garage-surf sounds. Opening the festivities will be the sticky, swaying garage-punk of Beat Jams and the guitar-igniting, punk onslaught of Dark Web.  
 
We know. We just made your decision about what to do tonight a lot more difficult. – Michael Colavita
 

 
Other places to get warmed up this weekend…
 
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Allison Crutchfield (Record Release), Radiator Hospital, Pinkwash, Empath
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Louie Louie (Record Release), Beat Jams, Dark Web
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Song Dogs, Oldermost, Free Range Folk, SAT Philly Loves J Dilla, SUN Queen Jesus
 
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Moon Bounce, SAT The York Street Hustle
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Atomic Sky, BlackRue, Autumn Passing/Appalachian Gypsy Tribe/ Dev79, Wolf Dem/DJ Deejay, SUN Fast Ride
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Splintered Sunlight
 
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Box of Rain, Boris Garcia
 
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Flux Capacitor
 
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) SAT DJ Robert Drake
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) KYF Brewer
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Teenage Bigfoot / Alien Fuel, Sub Protocol
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Viv and the Revival, SAT Soraia, Mach22, Cold Roses, Kensington Nothings, SUN Alright Junior, Upholstery, Slyphr
 
Milkboy South Street (401 South St.) FRI Grayling, Harmony Woods, SAT Evan King, James Barrett
  
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI The Point Breeze Country Club, SAT Sing, Bird of Prey, Nicklas Hughes, SUN ACLU Benefit: Starter Jacket, Virgouts, Elissa Janelle Velveteen
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Ed Christof, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Francisco Collazo, DJ Venus 7
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Sonnder, In The Presence of Wolves, You do You, TC Cole Riot, Josh Nussbaum, SAT Super Bonanza, Mt Vengeance, SUN A Valentine Benefit for Freddy Pompeii: Dead Milkmen, Tough Shits, Decontrol, Live Not On Evil, Gibbous Moon, Trash Knife, FTS
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Mighty Mike Saga, Elijah S. Arms
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Sly Foxes, Bazmati Vice, Vanderlyle, The Disgruntled Sherpa Project, SAT The Parameters, Purple to the Core, The Groove Merchants
 
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Tutlie, Petunia
 
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Seer, N.E.G., Soul Glo, SAT LE Yikes Surf Club  , Virgouts, Gitmo Watersports
 
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI We Have Ghosts, Honeytiger
 
Philadelphia

New Ivy Sole EP Available for Streaming & Purchase

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East, the new EP from Ivy Sole, hits deep. In moments, that punch is a bass-thumping, powerfully poetic pronouncement. It swims in delicate jazz/soul-orchestrated instrumentation, injecting a full spectrum of samples that shift the perspective in an organic manner. The collection thrives in Ivy Sole’s confident, unhesitating, free-flowing execution, splicing singing and spoken word into heartfelt movements. The Penn alum will be speaking on campus next Friday, February 17 at Platt Student Performing Arts House, where she’ll be leading a discussion about the recording industry from her experiences.

NYC

Ghost Cop brings dystopian coldwave to Alphaville on 02.25

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In 2015, when they released their self titled, debut EP, Brooklyn’s Electro Rock duo Ghost Cop wrote, in the record’s bandcamp notes: "GHOST COP thinks the dystopia you dreamt of in the celluloid past is upon us." We are not sure if what they meant with the word "dystopia," at the time, was exactly "Trump as president," but we can confidently say that those words, withtoday’s hindsight, sound profetic. Thanks to this guessed forecast, the band finds itself in the enviable position of having a perfect soundtrack ready for the dark times we are living – while other artists are laggin behind, trying to catch up with the sudden change of atmosphere. Their music is a sober, flawlessly produced coldwave with industrial and pop influences. Recommended for all those who think it’s time to embrace darkness, or at least start getting used to it… Ghost Cop will be performing at Alphaville on 02.25. 

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Electronic songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

San Francisco

The Gentle Cycle Gives Debut Album’s Proceeds to Good Causes

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Bay area psych rockers The Gentle Cycle have just released their debut LP, and will give send anyone a copy in the US that donates $18 or more to Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Oxfam, PBS, or Dakota Access Pipeline Fund. A donation of $5 will give the donor a download link as well.

‘I have strong socialist beliefs, and in this current climate it feels right to do whatever we can to help get funding to these noble organizations’, says Gentle Cycle’s Derek See.

With a painstaking attention to detail, these songs were filtered through a cool grip of vintage guitars and components, like an antique Echoplex tape delay and a funky old spring reverb unit. They even recorded on a 1970s Tascam 388 analog reel-to-reel, replete with a deadstock spool of old quarter-inch tape. But Derek’s melodic musings come from an abstract foundation that’s more modern and forward thinking than most musicians beholden to period-correct tones. Listen to The Gentle Cycle and you’ll hear a band that somehow balances universal emotions with astral, atmospheric sonic architecture.

NYC

Stuyedeyed (Garage Rock Readers’ Poll Winners) plays Alphaville on 02.18

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NYC is filled with garage rock bands, but few of them bypass the huge influence The Ramones have on the city’s sound, to find inspiration, instead, in the proto-punk of the genre’s true pioneers: Iggy Pop’s The Stooges. Like them, Brooklyn’s own Stuyedeyed, who recently won this very blog’s Best of NYC Readers’ Poll in the Garage Rock category, have a sound that’s not only in your face, but that’s also (figuratively speaking) making faces, while starring grimly at you, inches from your nose. Single Mr. Policeman (streaming below) gives you an idea of what kind of wildness you will witness on February 18, when the band will take the stage at Alphaville with Bambara (another tense band!) and Pink Mexico. Check out the recent video for Stuyedeyed track ‘Funeral,’ below.

Nashville

Best of Nashville Garage Rock Acts: The Saturns

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 Our Best of Nashville 2017 poll began last week with the Garage Rock category and after you-the-people cast your vote, we have the results to share with you!

Overall Poll winner (Jurors vote + Readers’ vote): The Saturns 

Readers’ Poll Winner (Readers’ Vote only): The Saturns 

The Saturns come at garage rock from a unique angle. Bringing in elements of classic rock and blues, they tow the line between the kind of heavy, pentatonic guitar style that characterized rock in the 60s and 70s and the fuzzy, lo-fi timbre so common to independent rock records that have come out Nashville’s basements for the past decade. They’ve mastered the art of displaying musicianship without the kind of braggadocio that too often ruins contemporary takes on classic rock. The songs are functional and refined. Nothing exists in them that doesn’t contribute to their overall structures, and even flashy instrumentals and solos act as integral building blocks. The composition is well planned despite feeling improvised, much in the same way retro rock bands like The Black Keys find fertile creative space in the peaks and valleys of blues bars, The Saturns take advantage of the variety and opportunity in every little flourish and riff of a song. 

Honorable mentions go to Thelma and The Sleaze (second in the overall chart) and Daddy Issues (second in the Reader’s poll). The full list of nominees can be found under the streaming tracks.

Here is the list of of all the finalists in the Nashville garage rock category and their readers’ poll results:

 Breast Massage
  5%   4 votes
 Daddy Issues
  9%   7 votes
 The Saturns
  83%   59 votes
 Thelma and The Sleaze
  1%   1 vote