Words by Marisa Whitaker
I’m BACK with my new lil’ regular column here rounding up my favvv music picks from outta NYC every month. Welcome to installment #2…
And it’s one of my FAV months bc it holds my favorite week of the year–WEEN—the good ole’ HALLO is my personal Met Gala. Go hard or go home. Don’t even bother showing up without a costume. If you don’t, you don’t wanna see me at any of the nine parties I’m hitting this week, because I’ll make fun of you. But, actually, you do wanna see me, since I’ll be dolled up to the 9s with every detail of every outfit accounted for, you best believe.
Anyway…there was SO much good music out this month by SO many of my fav artists in town. Everyone on the month’s list, I am honored to call a local pal. I’m not only blessed to know these human beings but also to be able to listen to and do my best to uplift their art.
- Dallas Wax “Girl Like Me”
Gotta give my hometown Wax boys the first shoutout because in the most conceited humble, self-effacing manner possible, I need everyone to know that I’M in the music video. Play it at my funeral pls. Alongside so many other bad b*tches. But real talk–“Girl Like Me” is a great modern rock ’n’ roll track. It’s catchy, fun, blistering, and an instant sing-alonger with a contagious riff. Everyone I’ve shown the track to loves it too. I must hear it at every party this week and going forward.
We filmed the vid back in rainy early winter and had an absolute blast. The boys have been honing their chops this year on the road–including a stint opening for Jet (which I swear was manifested at Scott Lipps’ birthday party at Silver Lining Lounge (another shameless sheepish self promo–come see my shows) when frontman and namesake and crazy mf Ryan covered “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”). It’s been really amazing watching ‘em get better and better with each show. DWax grrrl 4life.
2. Telescreens “Nothing”
When I first heard the riff of this song in a reel preview on Instagram, I was hooked. Mesmerized. You just can’t deny it…Tele don’t phone it in (quite the opposite) but instead dial it in. Whether you catch the band on big stages such as Webster or Irving (perhaps opening for Franz Ferdinand) or catch a Jackson Hamm solo acoustic set via Torture Tuesday at Baker Falls, you’ll witness the true heart of musicianship pouring out of these guys.
“Nothing” is electric, an outright banger, an automatic live moshpit must. And check out “Gimme All You Got” and “Alcoholism,” the other two new tracks with this release. The latter is a crazy right turn for the quartet–a sickening, 8:40 min (!) electronic-laden, spoken-word moment ala LCD. And you know what, I’m here for it. As a whole, the three tracks are a peek into the new world that the band’s throwing the doors open to and I’m excited for this new chapter. They’re doing it right–expanding their musical universe, their own minds, and therefore ours. Any good rock band should do the same.
3. Nautics “The Best of Me”
I’m ashamed to say I just recently saw the Nautics team for the first time in full this month…I’ve known these guys for a while now, and somehow the universe never wanted me at their show until now. To no surprise, they rocked it. Lived up to praise. I’ve had multiple conversations with kids recently who’ve known and been keeping up with the band for years and years, and everyone has told me how good they’ve gotten and how hard they’ve worked, and it’s seemingly paying off. With two packed-out nights at Mercury Lounge, I’m stoked to see them keep climbing and will always wish ‘em the best. Live, they’re fun, wild, and energetic. They’ll play “I Don’t Really Like Boys” like 5 times if you ask nice. I haddd to mosh for that one. Great f-ing pop rock song. Probably their best. The new release, “The Best of Me,” is refreshing with indie rockin’ and rolling guitars crossed with sweet, early-Mac-DeMarco-esque vibeyness. Later in the track, I dig the rock out moment. Their instrumentals keep getting better n better.
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4. The Hellp “Here I Am”
Ok, I lied earlier–I don’t personally know the members of The Hellp. But I do have a hoodie of theirs that I bought at a thrift shop at the same time as a vintage Strawberry Shortcake tea set. But what’s it matter–this new track is a banger. I’m tryna lean into more electronic shiz these days since that’s what everyone and their mother is putting out, and I’m slowly but surely learning. I’ve historically been bad about listening to the “popular” hits of the moment and then years later dive in and act like I discovered it. Lol. But yeah this track is sick and I discovered it. Tame Impala/early electro indie sleaze, boy-girl vocals, thrashing beats, nasty synth production. I <3 The Hellp. They’re cool kids.
5. Trophy Wife “So Hard”
Trophy Wife IS that good. How good? THAT good. Mackenzie’s lyricism and raspy, glittering voice, beautiful instrumental work and support by queen manager Georgia Jaffe make for an exquisite package that results in one of the better bands in town. The first time I heard “So Hard”s opening lines, “Can’t you get pathetic for me? / I wanna watch you crawling towards me / Oh, you’ve got such a big mouth, baby / You don’t know your limits, and I don’t have any,” my jaw was on the ground. I love women in power. Songwriting prowess right here. Master of metaphors. Probably my favorite song of the month…
6. The Backfires Costume Party EP
Just went to the lil’ release party for this on Wednesday (10/29) at Victoria and heard it in full while sharing beers w/ the guys and my photographer brother in crime Marc G (yes, we were all in costume). This four-track, cover-filled, WEEN–holiday treat I’ll no doubt double down on with tunes originally by The Rolling Stones, The Marías, Oasis, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Can’t get much better than that. Everyone should take a page out of The Backfires back pocket notes–have fun with music! Or else! Celebrate Halloween! Dress up and play covers! Or go to a coverband show! Because why not! I really love this EP in all its Halloween-loving glory…
7. Mer Marcum “Contradictions”
My girlllll Mer back at it again with another brilliant concept, execution, and song, “Contradicitions.” One of my favorite songwriters around town. She just…gets it. These overlapping, folky, indie guitar pickings and strummings are so raw; the harmonies are so sweetly delicate; the intense, yet soft electric rips beneath it all–she’s contradicting the music with and within the lyricism and she pulls it TF off. More people need to listen to Mer Marcum and soon they will whatever my advice…
8. Monobloc “Everything”
Ok, I did seven picks last month bc it”s my favorite number…but I just gotta include Monobloc here. They’re playing Lipps Service x Silver Lining in a week on Wednesday 11/5 and you must come–it’s a sick bill w/ Panik Flower, Kierst, and Croaker. Final bit of self-promo charitable advice, I swear 🙂 but of course always down to promo Mono because they deserve it. An incredible post-punk, just plain rock band but those words/labels can’t fully encapsulate the greatness of this band. The title of the track speaks for itself–“Everything” feels like prime UK–influenced rock at first with beautifully wavering deep soulful vocals, but right around the 2:20 mark it slides into a full-blown gritty blues-rock-bass-guitar-laden jam; the riff immaculate. Can’t WAIT to see ‘em live. They too, as everyone on this list and reading this list, are cool, cool kids.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Truman Flyer “Winners On A Losing Streak”
Truman is the resident goddess-muse-wonder child ‘round these parts. Stay tuned for an incredible record coming from this one…soon.
Skorts Incompletement
Watch for a big fat article on the band coming soon in my column at Alt Citizen—truly the final bit of self-promo charitable advice, I swear—but either way gotta shout out their new album here on The Deli too (dropping on Halloween day, no less!) and btw Skorts are undoubtedly one of the top-tier live acts in town.