Philly quartet Joy Riding is made up of music vets from such indie acts as Makeout Party, Decathlete, It’s a King Thing, and Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, and you can hear it in the band’s songwriting. Crafting unbelievably catchy powerpop tunes, it’s hard to imagine the next album that they are currently working on won’t get picked up by a label. Tonight will be one of their rare appearances outside the the studio this summer. Joseph Ryan (vocals, guitar, keys), Scott Rumble (drums), John Masino (guitar), and Kerry Mahoney (bass) will be at Boot & Saddle opening for Aussie surf-pop duo Hockey Dad and Athens/Atlanta rockers Muuy Bien. Sounds like a good reason to be out on a Tuesday night in South Philly! Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $12, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
Camp Howard plays Strange Matter on 9.01
Richmond’s Camp Howard was formed through Virginia Commonwealth University’s art community in 2014, and released their debut self-titled album in March of 2016. Their breezy rock ‘n’ roll pairs frontman Nic Perea’s laid back vocals over melodic, distorted guitars and sluggish drums. While the album draws heavily on relaxed vibes of indie rock acts like Mac Demarco, it features darker, grungier moments that take influence from acts such as Alice in Chains. The record’s lead single “Veins” creates a dreamy atmosphere driven by its fuzzed out guitars and washed out vocals. The haziness from these moodier tracks is carried over onto tracks like “You’ve Been Misled” and “Anybody”, which have a more upbeat tone. Camp Howard will be playing Strange Matter on September 1st! – John Honan
New Videos: “The Smell Of Us,” “On The Other Side” & “Seven Days” (Live – Out Of Town Films) – The Dove & The Wolf
The serenity of precisely woven vocal harmons reign supreme in Out Of Town Films trio of videos documenting The Dove & The Wolf. “The Smell Of Us” enlists a loving, lingering nostalgia amid change, while “On The Other Side” gradually steps out as the sun rises, returning from a journey and branching forward as the tempo led by percussion transitions ahead. “Seven Days” details the emotional and mental reflections felt after the November attacks at Batalcan.
Elementals – Hittin’ Up The Shoe!
Comin’ from a small town just outside the Nation’s Capital…Elementals are a grunge rock trio with some serious skills. Last year they released their debut album "I’m Not Here, I’m Not Real" and I must say it’s one of the best indie releases I’ve heard in a long time. These 3 rock hard with well put together tunes and lots of emotion. There are some obvious grunge influences in their music but they are able to give it their own style with the way the tunes are performed and arranged. "Debase" is an absolute classic. It brings in the classic loud/soft dynamics of 90’s rock but adds a 3rd layer for the chorus and it changes the game completely. These fellas will be playing in Toronto for the first time ever on Friday September 2nd at the Horseshoe Tavern. – Kris Gies
Tonemirror – Brand New Shoegaze!
Tonemirror from what I can tell are very new on the Toronto music scene. They’re a two piece shoegazer duo making some very dreamy indie tunes. They released a single this year titled “Supermoon” with a b-side properly titled “B-Side”. There is certainly a specific type of plant you can inhale to enhance Tonemirror’s vibrations when listening. Tonemirror plays Lee’s Palace on September 8th. – Kris Gies
Red Air – Gas Powered Rock!
Red Air calls themselves “Gasoline Fueled Pop Punk Rock”….you’d think this day and age they might be trying to use a different form of energy to fuel their rock…perhaps solar or electric. I’m still a fan of gasoline though so it’s cool with me. They have some attitude in their songs but it looks like they know how to have a good time too. That is a solid combo. They released an EP earlier this year titled “Invincible” and will be playing The Bovine Sex Club on September 10. – Kris Gies
Green Girl – Debut EP Comin’ Soon!
Green Girl is gettin’ set to release their debut EP next month. They have 2 tracks available now on their bandcamp page. Major 90‘s vibes comin’ from the track “Connor Saves The Day”. This could easily be a theme song for the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid but I’m not sure if thats what they meant when they wrote this track. Dig in to this track if you like 90‘s alternative with female vocals and get ready for their EP Release Party September 11 at The Burdock in Toronto. – Kris Gies
¡Vamanos! bring their fuzzy punn to Shea Stadium on 09.01
Capturing the excitable nature of live performances on recordings can be a difficult task, but Brooklyn’s ¡Vamanos! have nailed this, letting their undeniable energy radiate throughout their recorded material. Their latest, release ¡Vamanos! Presents…A Ten Inch at 45 RMPs captures the duo’s raucous fuzzy punk that blends elements from psych rock to blues. The brief instrumental track “Chicken & Waffles” puts Tyler Bower’s clamorous drumming, while Alex Knoche’s guitar wails with psychedelic swirls and bluesy stabs. However, the song “Necktie” (streaming) is pure garage rock soaked with lo-fi buzzing and yelping vocals. ¡Vamanos! will be playing Shea Stadium on September 1st! – John Honan
Chasms Gear Up to Release New Album: On The Legs Of Love Purified – 10/14
Chasms is the San Francisco based project of Jess Labrador and Shannon Madden. The duo crafts percussive dirges that are at once beautiful and menacing. Labrador’s haunting vocals and hypnotizing guitar work wade between rhythmic bass lines and bursts of Madden’s stinging feedback, laid on a bed of pummeling drum programming. The band’s affinity for industrial rhythms, swelling textures, precise minimalism, and chaotic eruptions of noise sounds as equally informed by shoegaze as drone and doom metal—to choose just one would be a disservice.
On The Legs Of Love Purified is the band’s proper debut full-length album. Written over the course of several years, the album explores the healing force of love and the exorcism of pain that inescapably accompanies it. Light cannot exist without dark, bliss without suffering. …Love Purified conjures this atmosphere of duality as it drifts through an expanse of emotion.
Gus Dapperton releases new single + visual, plays Baby’s All Right on 9/15
In his past efforts, Warwick’s Gus Dapperton has mostly paired his RnB vocals with standard instrumental arrangements, whether it be the guitar-driven "Moodna, One With Grace" or jazzy "These Foolish Things." Synths have been present on previous tracks, but usually only to provide textures or atmospheric effects. On his latest "Ditch" however, retro ’80s synths, the kind you might find on a SNES game, are the driving force of the track. Providing a nice touch of nostalgia, the synths are woozy, cerebral but ultimately rendered stable by GD’s smooth vocals and a nice snare beat. It’s great to see Gus change up his sound, and in a way that’s imaginative and effective. You can check out his new vid below, and catch him at Baby’s All Right on 9/15. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Krust Toons: “Advice for a Young Punk Musician” by Teddy Hazard
Krust Toons: "Advice for a Young Punk Musician" by Teddy Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
Save Ends play the Middle East on 8.30
Save Ends have been playing their energetic brand of pop punk and emo since 2010, and earlier this year the band signed with Black Numbers to release their latest EP Hug Your Friends. The album takes a more melodic approach to their songwriting than their previous efforts, while guitarist Christine Atturio and keyboardist Brendan Cahill maintain their dual vocal style reminiscent of The Anniversary. While the tracks are not as rowdy as their earlier work, they maintain an upbeat and poppy sound. Check them out live at the Middle East in support of The Ataris on August 30th! – John Honan