A supernatural, psychedelic hue radiates from the raspy, tortured folk of Joshua Bright. With his new album And All Along A Wolf, which was produced by fellow Man Like Machine compatriot Giuseppe DiCristino, as well as Keith Blackmore, Bright delivers a futuristic take on isolation. A hauntingly desolate, Americana feel is illuminated by the shimmer of spacey synth.
Philadelphia
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A.M. Mills Grapples With Heartache at Ortlieb’s Nov. 30
After originally learning about a full-length album being in the works with the help of Terry Yerves and Quentin Stoltzfus (Light Heat, ex-Mazarin) about a year ago, A.M. Mills, led by Drew Mills of Blood Feathers, has finally shared not an LP, as expected, but a six-song EP, simply titled First Recordings. Its introspective narrative finds Mills wandering over Dylan-esque musical terrain as he grapples with heartache and the ghost of a lost love. It’s a cathartic release, and A.M. Mills will be sorting through this collection of songs/feelings and more this evening at Ortlieb’s. They’ll also be be joined by August Wells, the collaborative project from Ken Griffin (Rollerskate Skinny, Kid Silver, Favourite Sons) and John Rauchenberger, and local Philebrity singer-songwriter Joey Sweeney. Ortlieb’s, 847 N. 3rd St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
Chicago
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Donnie Biggins
Donnie Biggins (The Shams Band) is preparing to release his solo debut, Profiles. Biggins, also the owner of Tonic Room, recently released the album’s lead single, “Lula”.
You can help Donnie Biggins celebrate the release of Profiles at Tonic Room on Dec. 2nd and 3rd.
NYC
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Lip Talk readies new release, plays at Baby’s All Right 12.11
Formerly known as Railbird (a band we booked at one of our CMJ shows years ago), Brooklyn’s psychedel-ectronic pop band Lip Talk released their last spellbinding EP “Ghost” two years ago, and – according to their website – has a new release coming out… last month! (Delays are not exactly rare in the record industry). The groups toured quite a bit in the fall, and supported Okkervill River at Webster Hall on October 20th. If you enjoy edgy beats, swirling synths, droning guitars, and seductive, airy vocals, make sure to take a listen to the self-title single below and catch them live at Baby’s All Right on December 11. Looking forward to the new release, whenever it may drop! – Ashley Muniz, photo by Jackie Lee Young / VICE
Philadelphia
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New Dr. Dog LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
Dr. Dog just surprised us with a new, mostly acoustic full-length album, Abandoned Mansion. It was actually recorded before their last LP, The Psychedelic Swamp, which was funded by a grant from Pig Iron Theater Company that was about to expire so its release took precedent at the time. And if you purchase a download of Abandoned Mansion from now to the end of January, all the proceeds will be donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Toronto
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Stella Rio releases new video-single “Don’t Go Away”
Some songs grab you immediately. Others take their time, which is often most rewarding. Stella Rio’s new single “Don’t Go Away” starts off low key with a simple, pretty piano line. Once her breathy voice enters the mix, the song starts to build into a thing of almost tangible beauty, full of tasteful sounds and authentic emotion. It’s great pop music, pure and simple, but it also makes you feel like you’ve learned something by the time it’s over. – David Levy
Portland
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Stand Up for Standing Rock
Though Thanksgiving has traditionally stood a holiday where we give thanks to the harvest, for many its original meaning is lost. Anyone with a smart phone or an internet connection has been privy to what mass media is attempting to mask so greatly – the tragedy of the North Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
Without getting into tearful details of this travesty (and appreciating the veterans who are stepping up to serve as a human shield to the protestors), the Deli Portland is fully endorsing attending a benefit show for the Standing Rock Medic and Healer Council, happening this Friday at the Haight House.
Half the halcyon calmness of folk and half the excitable nature of garage rock, Friday’s bill, booked in conjunction with local volunteer collective Portland Artist Coalition for Progressive Acts and Causes, will have the droney folk of Cave Cricket and the soothing acoustics of Galen Ballinger with two of Portland’s most favorite rockin’ af bands Dim Wit and Ah God bringing it home.
A donation of $5 is asked, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All that’s asked is the audience respect the house, respect each other, and respect the cause.
NYC
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HIDEOUT announces sophomore LP + plays Baby’s All Right on 11.30
Following the 2014 debut album ‘Rookie’, HIDEOUT (the solo project Gabriel Rodriguez, a live guitarist for Cults) is preparing to release his sophomore full length ‘So Many Hoops/So Little Time’ in early 2017. “Doctor”, the first single off the record, initially draws attention with a cheerful electric guitar intro reminiscent of the more jangly bands from the psychedelic revival of the late ’80s. A jumpy piano keeps the mood up, although the song’s lyrics seem to tap into the negative facets of our psychological processes. Ranging sonically and lyrically from whimsical space-pop to nostalgic singer-songwriter tracks, the album’s essence is fused with the recent passing of Rodriguez’s brother. Listen to “Doctor” below and catch the band live at Baby’s All Right on November 30th at Pavo Pavo’s record release show. – Ashley Muniz
Portland
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Alien Boy’s EP Release Party Benefits Nonprofit
Alien Boy was marked a loud favorite of ours with last year’s debut Never Getting Over It, and a roaring cover of "Hand In Glove" by the Smiths that came along with it. The album showed Alien Boy as a rambunctious callback to late 90’s emo laced pop punk and with the release of their newest EP Stay Alive, we find ourselves still enjoying their clamor, with a more settled down maturity.
Though Stay Alive was digitially released in early October, its coinciding show celebrating the physical 7" takes place this Thursday at Blackwater. Beloved Deli Portland picks Little Star will be joining Alien Boy, along with horror glam punks Sweeping Exits and some hardcore from Naux.
All proceeds from money collected at the door of this all-ages show will go to Planned Parenthood and for just a $5 cover, it’d be kind of silly not to come support.
Stay Alive is available on vinyl via Good Cheer Records and on cassette tape through Olympia’s Reflective Tapes.
Austin
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Tocaio Emits Ambient Brilliance on Yesca EP
Ambient waves of electronic bliss gently wash up on the soft sands of Tocaio’s music. Formed in the Winter of 2015, Tocaio is the solo project of Carlos Ramirez who creates electronic instrumentals that tap into vivid tapestries of nostalgia in the listener’s mind. Ethereal progressions and airy grooves hint at Nujabes or Books as influences, but Tocaio does well in finding it’s own unique vibe and sound. The 6-track Yesca EP includes four originals and two remixes which can both lull you into a dreamlike trance as well as scintillate your senses.Yesca sets the stage for Tocaio’s debut album, Pointillism, which is expected to be released early next year.
NYC
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Edgy, all NYC bill at Rough Trade on 12.11: Iris Lune, Arthur Moon & Nozart
Born in Boston as the project of singer-songwriter Ella Joy Meir and guitarist and composer Asher Kurtz, Iris Lune is now a Brooklyn based quartet, and plays expansive, mellow pop with ambient influences and jazzy inclinations. In single ‘Triplets’ (video streaming below) the band utilizes atmospheric vocal samples and electric piano to create a fluid drone on which Ella’s mellow vocals float adrift. Iris Lune will be performing at Rough Trade on December 11 with two other interesting and like-minded local acts: Arthur Moon and Nozart.
L.A.
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The Deli LA Artist to Watch: Julian Jasper
Julian Jasper’s musical foundation has something of a connection to the practically defunct chillwave movement, except that his more straightforward approach to songwriting emphasizes clarity over obscurity. The LA-via-San Diego bedroom recorder’s first single, "2 AM, Chinatown", is sung from the perspective of an observer who’s taking it all in, acclimating to his surroundings. It’s also upbeat dance pop as if coming from an old soul, handled with a muzak-flavored sophistication that gives a welcome exuberance to his more introspective inclinations.
Jasper’s first 7", "2 AM, Chinatown / I Don’t Mind", is out now via Misra Records. – Juan Rodríguez