The Vernes came together because its members lacked “anything else going on.” So guitarist Fabian Mera and bassist Robert Sesma took what sounds like a ridiculously long trip on a Greyhound bus, from Oakland to New York City, to come stay in frontman Matthew Gragg’s apartment. NYC didn’t turn out to be the “right fit” for them, which is lucky for us. Together, with Pat Degan on drums, the garage-pop foursome is part of the welcomed migration of talented, young artists continuing to flow into our City of Brotherly Love. Take a listen to The Vernes, and get to know our new Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner a little better HERE! (Photo by Cara Stefchak)
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “A Message to Your Jealous Boyfriend” – Sad13
We recently shared the ’90s-style group dance video for the consent-pop anthem, "Get A Yes," from Sad13, a.k.a. Sadie Dupuis of Spedy Ortiz, earlier this month. Well, she’s already back with more visual stimulation and her touring bandmates for "a message to your jealous boyfriend". The single "is about how important it is to trust your partner’s friends, regardless of those friends’ gender identity (because to do anything else is some heteronormative toxic B.S.!)." She also recruited BuzzFeed Video’s Sara Rubin, whom Sadie befriended as a child at Buck’s Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp in Central Connnecticut, to direct the video. "A Message to Your Jealous Boyfriend" can be found on Dupuis’ solo debut LP, Slugger, out now via Carpark Records.
Philadelphia
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New Music Video: “Painted Bones” – Sing, Bird of Prey
Sing, Bird of Prey surprised us this year with their impressive debut full-length album, Crystal Embryo (Killer Tofu/Yam Yam). The band’s futture seems bright; hopefully the demise of its members in the group’s creepy new video for "Painted Bones" isn’t a sign of things to come. It was created by Anthony Cundro Media with asistance from Michael Angelo Delmonico.
NYC
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Emanuel and the Fear play Knitting Factory on January 10th
Ring in the new year with eclectic orchestral six-piece Emanuel and the Fear at Knitting Factory on January 10th. The band had quite a productive 2016, between releasing their latest EP Primitive Smile and going on a trailblazing tour through Europe last November. They posted an Instagram in early December stating that they were "Back in the office. Lots of exciting things to come. Stay tuned." This can only mean more music and electric live performances from the group. If you’re a fan of orchestral pop drawing from the styles of Arcade Fire, ELO, or Sufjan Stevens, jump on the bandwagon and treat yourself to Emanuel and the Fear’s body of work.
The opener for this show is indie pop artist Frances Cone, who released her single "Arizona" last January and set off from there on a whirlwind year of playing around NYC and the Northeast. Head to Knitting Factory on January 10th to hear both her and Emanuel and the Fear perform. – Will Sisskind
NYC
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Psych poppers Zuli play Baby’s All Right on December 22nd
The psych poppers of Zuli bring their music to Baby’s All Right on December 22nd, just in time for a much-needed holiday weekend. Zuli have had quite a year racking up hits on Spotify, with their 2015 EP Supernatural Voodoo still making waves with audiences in New York and around the world. Disparate influences like Animal Collective and Elvis Costello shape Zuli’s experimental but enterntaining nature. Zuli will share the Baby’s stage with chamber rock band Great Caesar and Oceanside-based post/math-rockers It Came From Space. The night’s theme is a cross-cultural and religious celebration of Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus, with the goal of getting merry in cooler ways than average. – Will Sisskind
New England
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Thunderforge Brings a Killer Robot Xmas to Salem, MA 12/23
Stumped on what to get that special someone this holiday season? Stuff their stocking with some power metal from Thunderforge. The western Mass heavy metal quintet released their EP, Call of the Conqueror, earlier this year, bringing into the world five tracks of face-melting guitar work and soaring vocals from frontman Adam Morini. The album is an excellent showcase of the bands talents, ranging from driving, double-bass riddled mayhem to softer, dynamic sections that illustrate the band’s diverse capabilities. Check these guys out at Koto in Salem, MA on 12/23 for a "Killer Robot Xmas" toy and canned food drive, also featuring Frostbite, Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band, and Green Bastard. -Brian Varneke
Portland
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Moon By You’s Swan Song Album and Show
Not many modern acts have truly captured the endearing pop sensabilities of doo wop quite like Moon By You. Having transcended the usual bar most acts in the same genre typically operate at, Moon By You have used their time spent as soulfully psychedelic callback to one of the only good parts of that era to essentially run that part of the local scene. It seems MBY might be at its end, but they’ve left us a parting gift to soothe our disbanded sadness.
You Are an Alien is the band at its best, of course, showing the musical heights they’ve reached in such a short time. The album may be coming out on the low, with only limited physical copies to be acquired, but track comparisons to influencers like Temples and Iron Butterfly make it a worthy release to end on.
Tomorrow may be your last time to see Moon By You for the forseeable future, as they’ll be playing Mississippi Studios with Washington stoner rock heavy hitters Weeed and the most delightful local acts in a while Reptaliens. We might be in denial, but let’s see them off in style.
Philadelphia
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The 6th Annual Work Drugs Holiday Spectacle at Boot & Saddle Dec. 17
The Holidays are a time to spend among family and friends, and it doesn’t hurt to have a rockin’ songlist to kick the festivities into overdrive. Fortunately, Work Drugs are no stranger to ringing in the holiday cheer as they’ve hosted a showcase of eclectic musicians throughout various venues for over half a decade now. The prolific Philly crew is set to get those sleigh bells ringing this evening for their Sixth Annual Holiday Spectacle at Boot & Saddle, pulling from a vast catalogue of beloved originals and traditional favorites, done the Work Drugs way. They’ll be joined by indie-popsters Mercury Girls and indie-rock quartet RFA. Leave you grievances at the door! Boot & Saddle, 1131 S Broad St., 8:30pm, $12, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Philadelphia
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Triple Release Party w/E. Grizzly, Carl Kavorkian & Static Brothers at Everybody Hits Dec. 17
Celebrating a new release breathes an instantaneous fresh life into any lineup. However, tonight’s billing at Everybody Hits couldn’t stop with just one; the evening contains three, with Carl Kavorkian, E. Grizzly, and Static Brothers. With his new EP SerpePhant hatched, Kavorkian unleashes his grimy metal-toned vocals, draped over sinister-sounding beats, retaining an undeniable stickiness amid the menacing, torrid roar. With a full band in tow, E. Grizzly unifies calypso, punk, and hip hop into sleek, tenacious, warm grooves on his latest LP Felipe Pupo. The duo of Static Brothers descend from an alternative dimension, teleporting drone-injected trip-hop, innately engulfing as they touch down, delivering personalized poetic chants through the future-infected noise. The undeterred fistful of thrashcore fury, otherwise known as HIRS, blitz ahead with a new EP You Can’t Kill Us, scheduled for release on December 20. The socially conscious, sonic-warping, experimental vortex of Moor Mother closes out a lineup that never stops swinging. Everybody Hits, 529 W. Girard Ave., 7pm, $8, All Ages – Michael Colavita
Philadelphia
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Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Aubreylyn, SUN Bel Heir
Weekend Warrior, December 16 – 18
As we approach the end of what will be remembered as 2016 – a sea of overwhelming sentiment and saturation – we can reflect on our experience with a resounding NAH. Philly sound sculptor Michael Kuhn captured a devoted following with his work in the explosive rock duo 1994!. In recent years, he has departed in large part from “guitar music” to reemerge into the musical ethos as a harbinger of defiance, affronting musical norms through experimentation and a healthy skepticism of traditional genre boundaries. Shreds of sonic imagery sound out into the whir of Kuhn’s bewitching rhythm section, recalcitrant while bearing a unity that is tangible at a live set. A NAH show creates a space to engage in the reassuring positivity and thrill of being present, as selves and as participants in the greater communities we occupy. He’ll be celebrating the release of his new LP Michael (Ranch Records) this Saturday in Brewerytown at Yung Kandy Collective, where he’ll also be supported by special guests Drums Like Machine Guns, Slums, and What Nerve. Yung Kandy Collective, 7:30pm, $7, All Ages (Photo by Gabe Coffey) – Josh Kelly
More places to hide from this frigid freeze…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Aubreylyn, SUN Bel Heir
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT The 6th Annual Work Drugs Holiday Spectacle: Work Drugs, Mercury Girls, RFA, SUN Irreversible Entanglements (featuring Moor Mother)
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Snails, Medusa’s Disco, Something Like A Monument/The Snails, SAT The Lunar Year, HoJun Yu/DJ PHSH, The Bul Bey, SUN Slowburn, South Philly Big Band, Jack and His Saint Clair Allstars
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT BEATS500, SUN NoDAPL Space Festivus Benefit: Green Meteor, Space Chumpy
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI MARAH – Philadelphia Holiday Spectacular
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) SAT The Starting Line, Hurry
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Big Mess Cabaret: Featuring The Divine Hand Ensemble, SAT Big Mess Cabaret: Featuring The Divine Hand Ensemble
TLA (334 South St.) SUN Urban Celebrity Presents 6th Annual Philly Hip Hop Awards
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Three Fourteen, Local Smokes, The Ardvark Felon, SUN Josh Nussbaum, Julia Hudak, Amanda Hagenbuch
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Downstairs) The Stray Birds, SAT (Upstairs) Jeremiah Tall, August John Lutz II, SUN (Downstairs) The Peek-A-Boo Revue Holiday Spectacular
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Cerebelles, E.Joseph & the Sparrows, The One2s, SUN Dirty Purple, Jeanette Lynne
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Johnny Popcorn, Keely Sibilia, SAT Argonautic, Las Palabras, Christophonic (DJ Set)
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Lovers League, No Good Sister, SAT Matt Kelly, SUN In The Pines
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Railroad Fever, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Fell Into Yesterday, The Good Mess, Goodbye Sunrise, Dead Robins, Sweet Eureka, Sex With Rollercoasters
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Steve Layman, SAT Dirty Purple / Counterfeit
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Dead Fellow (Release Show), The Sly Foxes, The Primaries, Rob Tomlinson, SAT Whackbat, Route 611, Study Electricity, Flat Mary Road, Anthony Coppa
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Reef’d, SAT Beru Revue, SUN Café Ole’
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Moor Mother, HIRS, E. Grizzly (Release), Carl Kavorkian (Release), Static Brothers (Release)
All Night Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Sports
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Downtrodder, Motherwhore, Blushed, Patches and Pins, Busy Bee Project, Matt Day, Ellen Siberian Tiger
The Blink (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Dead:Stop
L.A.
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Trashclub announces debut EP, share “Out of My Head”
Evan Andree and Travis Bunn are two songwriters who met by chance after they both came to Los Angeles to try their hand as songwriters and producers. They both utimately hit it off together and decided to form Trashclub, a garage-informed project that’s also indebted to the more hyper-melodic side of new wave and post-punk. Featuring anthemic first single "Out of my Head", their first EP, Black Out, promises to highlight seven hook-driven rock tracks that are written with a freewheeling looseness that relates to their current mindset of living in the now.
Black Out comes out on March 10 via Position Music. Juan Rodríguez
Philadelphia
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Debut Spill LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
90s-lovin’ indie rockers Spill (ex-Placeholder) just released their debut album, Top Ten, via No Sleep Records. Frontman Brandon Gepfer humorously pleads about his latest project, “This is my last chance. Please buy this record.” They begin a four-night mini-run this evening in support of the new LP that will close out this Tuesday, December 20 in Philly at Boot & Saddle with Thin Lips, Straw Hats, Seasonal, and Kississsippi (acoustic).