Philadelphia

Venus Be Fest 2016 at The Pharmacy July 31

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One could rest up and ease into the forthcoming week, or one could venture to The Pharmacy this afternoon as Venus Be Records celebrates one year of existence. Among the acts slated for this daylong affair are Roof Doctor, whose latest EP My Band feels peacefully calm as it washes over. You’ll also find the boom and bust garage-pop of Line Leader. The incisive, internal, somewhat haunting, folksy momentum of Curtis Cooper ropes one in, while marinated in personal grit, with the touch of transferable energy, The Chelsea Kills. These are among some of the litany of fine acts set to perform today in South Philly. Aside from the ceaseless billing, compilation cassettes will be available as well. Tickets are limited, so get them while they’re hot. The Pharmacy, 1300/02 S. 18th St., 11am, $10, All Ages – Michael Colavita

NYC

Pehrspace hosts Pehrathon: 36 hours of music before venue’s closure

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Southland’s music communities say farewell to the much-loved and respected venue Pehrspace at 325 Glendale, which will be demolished on August 4th. The venue is hosting a 36-hour Pehrathon to go on all through Saturday and Sunday as a final effort to raise funds for relocation. The farewell celebration features many long-time musicians connected with the venue, with concert blocks curated by Michael Vidal, KChung Radio, L.A. Takedown, Slow Rose, The International Adventure Club, Fourth Fridays with Mary & Eli, and Young Lovers—over 20 artists are slated to perform.

In a panel discussion last week with organizers of DIY venues The Smell, Pacific Nature, and Bridgetown, Pehrspace manager Pauline Lay lightly mentioned the prospect of attaining non-profit status as Pehrspace searches for its next brick-and-mortar location to call home. In the month leading up to its imminent closure, the music and arts space has hosted benefit concerts and an auction and moving sale to help with costs for relocation. Artpunk tenants TrapsPs even opened up their last practice to friends and fans earlier in the week at Pehrspace. In its ten years of existence, Pehrspace has fully supported creative expression and become a powerful hub for DIY music, art, film and more. Sliding scale donations will be in place for this last event ($10-$20); consider further donating to Pehrspace’s GoFundMe for its relocation and continued existence.

Philadelphia

To Tremble Record Release Show at Space 1026 July 30

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To Tremble is a hardcore outfit whose heaviness sneaks up on you. Gradually building and integrating the pieces in a preparatory assemblage, their music gathers fortitude as drums and bass raise the pulse, uncoiling without falling into chaos. Its an organized yet blunt expressive force, which unabashedly tears through any potential barriers. This afternoon, they celebrate the unleashing of their new record at Space 1026, where they will be joined by Open City (which includes Dan Yemin and Andy Nelson of Paint It Black), Chris Wilson (Hound, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists) , and Rachel Rubino (Bridge and Tunnel), and with a 7" in tow, the eclectic energy of Crisco Thunder completes this R5 lineup. Space 1026, (1026 Arch St.), $7, 4pm, All Ages – Michael Colavita

Portland

Rigsketball Musicfest 2016: Where Music and Basketball Meet

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Rigsketball is notorious out here for a reason. Starting back in 2011 by everyone’s favorite mohawked musician and talented And And And drummer Bim Ditson, Rigsketball pins 32 local bands against each other in numerous rounds of basketball narrowing each down until an obvious winner prevails. 

The last rounds of the Rigsketball tournament are tomorrow starting at 2pm with a world record setting (Guiness Book of World Records officials will be there to prove this) game of H-O-R-S-E and the final game round starts at 7pm. Accompanying the heated game rounds will be performances by nine Portland artists.

Music begins at 4:20pm (hah!) with two different stages. The Rigsketball Musicfest 2016 is free, all-ages and sure to be a damn good time. Peep the lineup times below and be sure to come on down and chill outside of Water Ave. Bunk Bar to watch all the action.

4:20pm – Ali Muhareb’s Mujahedeen

5:00pm – Laura Palmer’s DEATH PARADE

5:40pm – FOG FATHER

6:20pm – Ah God

7:00pm – Rigsketball 2016 FINALS

8:20pm – The Lower 48

9:00pm – Chugger

9:40pm – Mic Capes

10:20pm – Aan

11:00pm – Magic Sword

L.A.

Olio releases first single off of debut full-length, “Days”

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Alternative rockers Oblio have an intriguing way to officially present themselves into the world. The Long Beach outfit are intent in revealing what their upcoming project truly means, entitled Autophobia, which at this point alludes to a nameless character who has a phobia for isolation. They’re carrying that concept into their first single, "Days", a brittle, visceral rocker that is the first reveal off of a conceptual debut album that is currently slated for a September release.

Oblio are playing at Reel Rock tomorrow, July 30th. – Juan Rodríguez

NYC

Folk rock songwriter Nadia Kazmi plays Baby’s All Right on 8/8

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On her third release, LAMB, New York songwriter, Nadia Kazmi shows an enviable range of genres, moods, and influences.  Opener “Kill the Monster” adopts angsty blues and punk elements, with results reminiscent of a Karen O with Janis Joplin’s melodic tendencies.  The rest of the album, starting with second track Lamb in Wolf’s Clothing, takes a narrative turn, as it displays more folk rock leanings with a vocal cadence reminiscent of Bob Dylan, and various other ’60 influences.  “Haunting” proceeds to evoke The Doors and as the album progresses, the songstress continues to release intense energy and something akin to inner turmoil that manages to pull us in.  For what is guaranteed to be a lively show, check her out at Baby’s All Right on August 8th. – Madeleine Grossman

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best folky songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

NYC

Teen Suicide opens for Elvis Depressedly at Strange Matter on 8.05

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From 2009 until 2013, Teen Suicide existed as the solo project of Sam Ray, who self-released all of the project’s lo-fi bedroom recordings on Bandcamp. The band recently announced their return with a permanent lineup, and signed to Boston label Run For Cover Records, under whose umbrella they released a collection of new songs, entitled It’s the Big Joyous Celebration, Let’s Stir the Honeypot. This is a daunting 69 minute album that consists of 26 tracks featuring a variety of different sounds. The album’s most accessible moments feature almost flower pop sensibility with orchestral flourishes (hear opener Living Proof), while tracks like “Alex” seem to reference at once folk, prog and slacker rock influences. To make things even more complicated, the album unravels even more unexpected moments featuring experimental electronic and psychedelic influences. Teen Suicide will be supporting fellow lo-fi rockers and labelmates Elvis Depressedly at Strange Matter on August 5th. – John Honan

NYC

Body English brings folk-prog to Middle East on 7/31

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While the "prog-rock band" label is generally reserved for artists with alt-rock leanings and a fondness for the rock of the ’70s, Boston’s Body English are just as, if not more so, deserving of such a title. Instead of disconstructing alt-rock and putting it back together, the six-piece band applies the process to balladic folk-rock.  The result is a vortex of melodies old and new, with classical elements peppered in as well, that satisfies due to its ability to come across as intimately familiar while being innovative at the same time. You can catch them live at The Middle East on 7/26. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber, Photo Credit: Chris Anderson

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, July 29 – 31

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Mary Lattimore is coming to The Foundry tonight for a dazzling spectacle of evocative avant-harp plucking. Lattimore is the new anomalous harpist that has been embraced by the wider indie music community, collaborating with artists such as Kurt Vile, Thurston Moore, Arcade Fire, and many more. Her whimsical music is largely improvised, and attempts to capture a certain mood, image, or theme in its wandering melodies. On tour with Lattimore is Quilt, the psych-pop crew that everybody loves for their pitch-perfect, effortlessly agreeable, upper-crust indie rock. Their sound is primarily rooted in Beatles worship, but there is also a resemblance to more contemporary indie bands like Tame Impala or Of Montreal. The Foundry, 29 E. Allen St., 9pm, $13, All Ages – Bryce Woodcock
 

 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb,
Tutlie, Kirby & The Vibe Tribe, SAT DJ Emynd & Bo Bliz
 
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Grubby Little Hands, SUN Disjawn, Destruct Device
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Decap Attak/Abandos, Valley Exit, SAT Backwoods Payback, Worth/Dumal, Night Raids, SUN Hex Inverter/Full Blown Cherry, The Rectors
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Lithuania, Joy Again, Shelf Life
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Promise of Redemption, Selfhelpme
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Ode To Omni/(Downstairs) The Sermon!, SAT (Upstairs) Elison Jackson
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Tisburys, The Aesthetic, SAT (5pm) Danger Club/(9pm) Traverse, H.I.M. Lee, The Jerzadelphians, SUN Jesus’ Older Brother
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Minka
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St) FRI Impressionist, Blood Sound, SAT Suburban Living (DJ Set)
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) Ed Christof, SAT DJ Deejay
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Hambone Relay, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Driftwood Soldier
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI Resilient, Jace Miller, Endless Taile, SAT Ben Arnold, The Binary Sea, Dr. Beardface and the Spaceman, You Do You, Cowmuddy, Daniel Collins, Kelvin Cochrane, T.C. Cole Riot, Fearless Fly, Ivy Rand, Momma Hankton, Behind The Grandstand, Barry Dwier
 
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret, Mr. Johnny Showcase, Rumi Kitchen, SAT The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret / Ed Christof
 
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Mr. Sonny James
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Phoenix Bridge, SAT Los Festingos, April Skies, Overcoming Gravity
 
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI The Quixote Project, Paul Keen, Rob Tait, SUN Ladybird, August John Lutz II
 
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Splintered Sunlight, Tom Hamilton
 
The Pharmacy (1300/02 S. 18th St.) SUN Venus Be Fest: Roof Doctor, The Chelsea Kills, Curtis Cooper, Line Leader, Tracy Chapstick, Evan King, Ringtail Howitzer, Playgirl Mansion, Cacciato, Skinny Dip, Pretty Words, Dirty Burger Afterglow, Jonah
 
The Dungeon Philly (2127 Gillingham St.) SUN Little Strike, Verbatum Jones
 
The Waiting Room (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Tombo Crush, Cabbage, Oxblood
 
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Rabies Shot, Humanshapes, Nemesisters, SAT Moto Surf, Dog Tears, Ronnie Vega
 
Space 1026 (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT To Tremble (Record Release), Crisco Thunder, Open City
 
Time Cube (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Machine Gun, Wild at Heart
 
Titan House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Coastal Plain, Wojtek, Narcos
 
NYC

Afropunk Festival coming to Brooklyn on 8/27 and 8/28

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The Afropunk Festival is returning to Brooklyn this August 27th and 28th and we’ve got you covered with a playlist of all the local artists scheduled to play.  First up is Saul Williams – a poet as well as musician who melds poetry and hip-hop together in order to create a unique kind of alternative hip-hop.  The VeeVees, on the other hand, remind us that rock’n’roll is basically sped up, punhcy blues, a genre America stole from Africa.  The Whooligan slow things down with tracks full of meditative yet infectious electronica.  DJ Lindsey is no stranger to the DJ scene and creates catchy tracks that are tinged with nostalgia full of hip hop and soul vocals. On a similar line operates also DJ Juliana Huxtable, mixing tracks that are full of loud and danceable beats, but that really demand to be heard for themselves.  LSDXOXO accurately relates his music to “crying in club” as it blends melancholia, house and rap. Brooklyn based producer, CX Kidtronik makes bouncy hip hop infused with electronica, and last but not least, Dhundee combines a variety of sounds curated for dancing, experimenting with all kinds of instruments that aren’t used as often by others in the genre. – Madeleine Grossman

 

Chicago

Ballroom Boxer

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Ballroom Boxer recently released a new album called Tides. It is a great summer listen and available now digitally. You can also preorder the album on blue vinyl here.

You can help the band celebrate the album release at Bottom Lounge on August 8th with Ayoh, Simpleton & Cityfolk, and Eiffel Tower.

NYC

Dirty Fences bring their drunken garage rock to Baby’s All Right on 8/11

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Brooklyn’s Dirty Fences, a staple of the New York rock’n’roll scene, have the rare ability to sound tight and drunk at once, two things that hardly ever go hand in hand, and that Irish band The Pogues mastered to perfection. Their two singles in their most recent release, "Colleen and Michael & The Slipper Tree," are garage rock gems building in tension, and feature uplifting vocal arrangements and obvious ’60s influences – check them out streaming below. If you want to release a bit of your pent-up energy, make sure to catch them at Baby’s All Right on August 11th. – Madeleine Grossman