Modern Baseball‘s Sean Huber, a.k.a. Steady Hands, put out a compilation of his first four EPs and a new track on a double LP, titled Rude Boys Of Bar Rock, earlier this month via Lame-O Records. He also posted a new music video for the single, "Under The Rug," which starred the "#1 daug," Bruce. And in the spirit of giving this season, he has shared a live performance album that will benefit Wags Rescue & Referral, "an organization in Pennsylvania that saves dogs from gassing shelters in the south and brings them to foster homes until they can find a forever family," where we’re assuming that he found his adorable best friend. Steady Hands – Live at Ortlieb’s was recorded on December 4, 2016 by Jeff Travitz at Huber’s recent hometown release celebration, held at the Fishtown watering hole. (Photo by Punks in Vegas)
Makeunder shares new Akiyoshi Ehara (The Seshen) remix of “Inevitable Conclusion”
The Oakland based band, Makeunder has shared a remix of “Inevitable Conclusion” turned in by Akiyoshi Ehara of The Seshen. Ehara tells Atwood Magazine, "The vocals really stood out to me on this tune as something that would be fun to play with. I found that in a weird way a lot of the vocal runs seemed to have a subtle 90’s R&B flavor, especially when pitched up or down, which started to inform some of the groove. I’ve been going back to Timbaland and Missy Elliot productions a lot as of late, so some of that stuttering and syncopation of the beat was probably due to that stuff being a little fresher in my memory.”
Take a listen for yourself and enjoy new sounds from the Bay Area!
Old Notes play at dba256 on 12/30
Indie rock band Old Notes released their debut full-length earlier this year, Former Self, a poignantly rendered illustration of young malaise that’s calibrated with heart-wrenching musical peaks and troughs. The Rancho Cucamonga trio are greatly informed by the Midwestern emo movement of the late nineties that continues to make a big impact in the current indie rock scene. The trio addresses their impassioned yearning with circular guitar lines and lilting melodic fragments that oftentimes erupt with melodic bursts of genuine clarity.
Old Notes will be playing at deba256 in Pomona on December 30th. Juan Rodríguez
Soul Glo Opening for Dangers at The Church Dec. 27
With the deep-gouging, volatile release of unrestrained, pensive-streaming emotion stampeding downhill, encircled by menacing, tension-building, experimental post-punk surroundings, Soul Glo entrenches their heavy sound in the First Unitarian Church this evening. The band strips away any coating of pretension in favor of the a raw, abrasive experience, which immediately affects the listener in a heart-and-head-pounding transfer of ideas. With their latest album, The Bend in the Break, available via Topshelf Records, the pummeling, pissed off, poetic arsenal of Dangers, as well as the noise-shrouded hardcore/hip-hop hybrid of Kids, will help knock off any residual holiday remains. You definitely won’t find any Trump-voting family members there. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8:30pm, $10, All Ages (Photo by Luke Mouradian) – Michael Colavita
Darrin Bradbury crafts narrative Americana on new album
Sometimes you just need some home-cooked Americana music, and Darrin Bradbury serves up just that. On Elmwood Park, the Nashville artist’s latest release, Bradbury forges strong narratives, and crafts meaningful stories behind each song. It’s music-as-vingettes, and though his sound is simple, and his voice is perhaps rough around the edges, his music reads like soul food. Check out Darrin Bradbury streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni
Aaron Abernathy serves up soulful R&B on new album “Monologues”
Aaron Abernathy could be the future of R&B. With soulful vocals, angular synths and soaring guitar leads that could have been snatched straight from a Prince album, the DC-based artist’s latest album, Monologues, is a a funky R&B album that you don’t want to skip over. The DC-based artist sets his compelling instrumentals against poignant, smart lyricism, yeilding songs that seem to honor past R&B sounds, but have their eyes set to the future. Check out Aaron Abernathy streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni
NO ICE celebrates album release at Shea Stadium on 01.06,
Like an unpredictable sonic time machine, NYC’s collective NO ICE manages to channel several decades of music within one record: Jesus and Mary Chain, The Ramones, Tom Waits and the Beach Boys are only some of the influences that come to mind when listening to the band’s debut album ‘Come On Feel The NO ICE,’ released earlier in 2016. From the doo-wop backing vocals of “We Get High Together” to the droney post-punkness of opening track “The Cemetery” (streaming) NO ICE conquers an exceptionally diverse vibe, covering a wide range of sounds and emotions, also thanks to lyrics that tackle topics such as getting high and/or drunk, breakups, love, and the other highs and lows of life. You can catch NO ICE live on January 6th at Shea Stadium, where they’ll be celebrating the physical release of ‘Come On Feel The NO ICE.’ – Jocelyn Hoggler
Aminé Puts Portland Hip Hop on the National Map
*photo courtesy We Out Here Magazine
For the longest time, Portland has obviously been either a barren land for hip hop, rap and r&b, or one where the few bursts we see go fairly unacknowledged or get shut down. Despite a whatever Buzzfeed listicle or Google search turning up repetitive results, our town is known on a national level more for its propensity for indie and less for its abundance of lyrical bars. While acts like Cool Nutz and Illmaculate will forever be beloved household names in the PNW, Aminé has rode the radio waves into the cars of people across the country.
Aminé has had a cult internet following for a minute but his name started massively popping up about a year ago, boasting the flurry of Ethiopian culture, hip hop and electronic found on his two mixtapes. The Benson High School graduate need not prove himself more, as the mad catchy chart climber "Caroline" has been evidence enough.
Whether the muse for "Caroline" will be present or not is unknown, but Aminé will be taking the stage at the Roseland (originally scheduled for the Hawthorne Theatre and Wonder Ballroom) tomorrow. Tickets to the all ages show are sold out so if you weren’t able to snag one, you can blast Aminé tracks on his Soundcloud for your own at-home concert experience.
Krust Toons: “Alright, We Get It…” by Tedd Hazard
Krust Toons: "Alright, We Get It…" 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.
New Video: “Wakin On A Pretty Day” (Christmas Version) – Heavenly Chorus (Feat. Kurt Vile)
Kurt Vile stopped by the Public Theater in NYC for a taping of Joe’s Pub Presents: A Holiday Special. Leading a "heavenly chorus" that also included Lisa Loeb, Bridgett Everett, and event host Tony Hale, the motley crew got in the holiday spirit with an improvised Christmas rendition of "Wakin On A Pretty Day". Now, we’re not sure if you’ll hear this version at his upcoming New Year’s Eve concert this Saturday at The Fillmore Philly with Woods and Nathan Bowles, but Vile will definitely be pulling out some fan favorites for the hometown crowd.
PREMIERE: Gold Casio – “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times”
Leave it to Gold Casio to breathe some life back into this tired day of mildly holy appreciation. A particular appreciation of theirs (and anyone else that relishes surf music’s pioneers) revolves around the Beach Boys, their opus Pet Sounds and everything that they’ve done for music in general.
Since 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds‘ release, Gold Casio have used their psychedelic disco elements to cover the most relatable Side two song on Pet Sounds, "I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times."
On their choice to cover "I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times" specifically, Gold Casio’s Brock Grenfell said:
We wound up choosing this particular song because its got great melodies and it was kind of just resonating with us. Honestly, after what a shit-show year 2016 has ended up being, I feel like it’s pretty appropriate. I think a lot of people probably feel right now like they weren’t made for the times we’re living in.
SO. MUCH. TRUTH. See Gold Casio play for Do503 at the beginning of the new year with Glasys and Holidae House at Holocene but until then, enjoy their dance pop take on a Beach Boys’ classic.
Saturday Night Sounds: Thong – “Cheese Fries”
It’s Saturday. It’s the eve of a grandiose holiday and instead of thinking about that, we’ve got our eyes set on the eve of an approaching year and how we’re going to celebrate it. When it comes to rowdy sprees of festive exuberance, of course two things come to mind: thongs and cheese fries. Thankfully we can recognize both of them, on New Years Eve, with Thong.
Take to Thong’s spacey psych track "Cheese Fries" if you’re feeling particularly hungry and/or you’re so excited you can’t wait for the upcoming Jeff’s New Year’s Plasma Blast! jamboree, where Thong and 11 other bands are set to dominate the American Legion Post 134 on Alberta.
Until then, we’ll be here, thongs and cheese fries in tow.