After finishing up a tour across the states with Ages and Ages, promoting their debut album Excuses, Nashville’s uplifting folk-pop five-piece band Cereus Bright found their rehearsal room and home burnt down and destroyed. In the midst of this dreadfully dark circumstance, Cereus Bright filmed a video performing the track Silver Lining in their once beautiful space, thanking everyone for their support and showing us what hope, modesty, and courage really looks like. Listening to "Silver Lining", one can’t help but feel an overwhelming strength in the group’s sweet, soothing vocals, as well as a passionate perserverence in each delicate pluck of a string. Watch the heartfelt video down below and get a dose of inspiration. – Ashley Muniz
NYC
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Small Black on Fall US tour supporting ‘Best Blues,’ plays Warsaw on 11.14
Brooklyn’s Small Black is on their Fall US tour promoting their third full-length release, Best Blues, an album whose… blue aura is likely to resonate with us in our toughest days in the city. The lyrics “loss of wonder,” “A sea of pasts,” and “pictures of youth / picturing you” from the track “Boy’s Life” express these feelings linguistically, while the tight-knit electronic soundscape recreate them musically, supported by a rhythm section that doesn’t renounce a dancy, upbeat tempo. The lyrics are embedded within layers of spacious synths, warm piano embellishments, guitars lingering behind, and the graceful ambience of Kolenik’s vocals. Small Black will be back in New York on November 14 for their performance at Warsaw Concert. In the meantime, listen to “Boy’s Life” down below. – Ashley Muniz
Philadelphia
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New Hezekiah Jones EP Available for Streaming
The musical troupe of Hezekiah Jones, led by Raph Cutrufello, has released a new collection of tunes. The EP Har! Har! Har! is partitioned into three tracks, “Yeshe & Horus,” “Between a Sea & a Soft Place,” and “Sylvia North”. The triad of songs is saturated in the seductive lure of vocal harmonies, while a wandering synth lingers in the background. It’s inherently inviting as it teeters in a mystical realm. There will also be five extra covers hidden on the band’s upcoming CD release. Hezekiah Jones is scheduled to join Mason Porter and The End of America on Saturday, December 10 at Ardmore Music Hall. (Photo by Lisa Schaffer)
Philadelphia
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Embrace the Protons of Camp Candle at Boot & Saddle Oct. 19
Laying down silky smooth electro-dance grooves, the duo of Hetepsa and Nu Ra, a.k.a. Camp Candle, want to provide a bounce in your step and a little love in your heart. It’s a fresh, inviting sound coming out of the local indie music community. With an infectiously positive attitude, the “too cool for school” naysayers won’t hold them down. Embrace the protons! Camp Candle will be headlining Boot & Saddle this evening, and hometown homie Mars Parker will also be on hand to support. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 9pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Loud Dreams” – The Burgeoning
Loud Dreams, the forthcoming EP from The Burgeoning, will be released on October 28. It’s title track bubbles up, stretching outward as a steady percussive current serves as a smooth adventurous catalyst. Surrounded by the engaging security of vocal harmony, the song maintains a bouncing, warm matriculation before guitars spark in a white-hot burn. Bourbon & Branch will be hosting the album release show on Thursday, October 27 that also includes Kris Gears, Vikkie XO, and Moon Jellies. (Photo by Nema Etebar)
Toronto
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BLACKDOG BALLROOM – INDIE MOD ROCK
Blackdog Ballroom is a 4 piece indie/mod rock group comin out of Richmond Hill, Ontario. They released an album in January of this year titled “This Is Blackdog Ballroom.” The record opens up with a track called “Sounds Like Now” which is a catchy tune that’ll easily get stuck in your head. It has a bit of a 90‘s feel to it which combined with the mod style they got goin on makes for an interesting combo. November 4th they’ll be rockin Cherry Cola’s for Matt Groopie’s birthday bash. Have a listen to a track right here… – Kris Gies
Toronto
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THE PLAIN STEEL – NEW LP!
They call themselves "folk n’ roll" which is a fairly accurate description. The Plain Steel have been around the Hamilton scene for many years now and they are getting ready to release their second full length album. The record is titled "Slow Day In A One Horse Town" which can sometimes be the feelings you get in Hamilton. The folks there know how to party when there is something going on though. This Friday The Plain Steel are throwing their release party at the Casbah. Have a listen to their single "Living Memory" which delicately unveils their folk n’ roll sounds complete with a soothing cello and nice guitar licks. Joining them will be the Beach Bats, Local Haunts and Will Gillespie. 5 bucks and doors at 8. – Kris Gies
Chicago
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The King of Mars @ Subt
The King of Mars released their new EP, Cookie Cutter Dreams, today. Below is the track "Bendict Arnold" from the new EP.
You help The King of Mars celebrate the release of their EP on October 21st at Subterrranean.
Philadelphia
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New Track: “I Never Wanted To Hurt You” – Dark Blue
Dark Blue will drop their sophomore LP, Start Of The World, on November 4, via 12XU. It’s first auditory sampling, “I Never Wanted To Hurt You,” harnesses a grimy but melodic trudge forward as John Sharkey III surveys his past in a personal, controlled bellow. Catch the band’s WKDU-presented record release show on that same evening at Everybody Hits!
NYC
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Forma releases LP ‘Physicalist’ + performs at The Good Room on 11.02
Brooklyn-based, instrumental electro trio Forma released their third full-length album Physicalist on September 23rd, and are now ready to bring their new, hypnotic sound to the stage. The album contains astonishing soundscapes, mostly carved from synchronized arpeggiators and atmospheric pad sounds.The title track (streaming below) id founded on a loose rhythmic foundation created by drum machines and swelling arpeggiated synths. But it is the organic breath of flute that carries the piece and creates an expansive sonic dimension. Experience Forma live at The Good Room on November 2nd (the show was moved from Market Hotel). – Ashley Muniz
Philadelphia
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Cheap Dinosaurs Record Release Show at Boot & Saddle Oct. 18
Today, the psych/prog crew of Cheap Dinosaurs unveiled their new album, High Strangeness, and tonight, the quartet creeps into South Philly’s Boot & Saddle. The band latest release navigates through a fantastical deep-forest, video-game resonating labyrinth. The pulsating beats ascribed to the combination of heavy yet precise backend-led trails and mysterious synths drive the quest toward its ultimate destination. The optimistic comfort of familiar terrain is temporarily shaken as ominous quaking tones enclose, while one proceeds deeper into the dimly lit terrain. They’ll bridge the gap between the pronounced, punk stomping of Tiny Vices and the intricately explosive, primal, post-hardcore surges of Georgia’s Cinemechanica, whom released a new self-titled album late last month. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8:30pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
NYC
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Fritz Cook “Sings” doo-wop music to trip to, plays Sunnyvale on 10.22
Uber obscure NYC artist Fritz Cook croons cool, doo-woop-flavored acid dreams that will lull his listeners down the blithe headspace of Alice’s rabbit hole. The Brooklyn-based artist, aka Michael Busse, has a set of pipes so buttery that you could just melt into them, and they’re paired with instrumentals that feel both familiar and strange–maybe like a ’45 that’s been left out in the sun too long. Check out b-side "Tundra Rye" off of the newly released Sings streaming below. You can see Fritz live at Sunnyvale this Saturday October 22, supporting Miniature Tigers. – Olivia Sisinni