San Francisco

The Seshen Prepare to Release New Single, Right Here – 7/14

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San Francisco Bay Area-based six-piece The Seshen release the third single, “Right Here”, from their latest album ‘Flames & Figures’ on 14th July via Tru Thoughts. Announcing along with some solo shows and a co-headline West Coast tour with James Supercave, The Seshen’s single boasts the synth-pop gem “Right Here”, a lovers-rock Wrongtom remix of the first single “Distant Heart”, instrumental and a cappella.

In the punchy synth-pop gem “Right Here”, singer Lalin St. Juste tears back layers of non-reality as she searches for her true self. Told by St. Juste, the narrative of the track looks at the illusory spaces that are created for us and how we wrestle with the identities and experiences that grow out of those creations. St. Juste explains: “In Right Here, I’m recognizing the lies that my life is built on, the lies that feel like truth and create a veil of disillusionment. I’m dealing with silence. I’ve lived within it my whole life and I’m ready to break out of it. I’m digging inside to find what’s underneath, beneath the invisibility of my existence and the pain. There is me, there is “us”.” Awash with bursting synth layers, the defiant pop-hooks in “Right Here” come unstuck from the confines of a daydream to revel in a new and honest space.

Until the 4 track single is officially released, take a gander at The Seshen’s music video for "Colors Collide":

San Francisco

NOPES Drop New EP – Fun Limbo

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Oakland punk band, NOPES released their new EP, Fun Limbo, on May 26 via Magnetic Eye Records. The group, who dubs its sound "weird core", grinds out sneering spazz-rock incorporating melodies and extended instrumental passages not typically found in straightforward punk. Fun Limbo is the follow-up to NOPES’ full-length LP, Never Heard of It, which was named as one of the "Best Underground Garage Punk Albums of 2016" by Pitchfork.

While the majority of today’s "punk" bands come off as far too polished and safe, NOPES sound like a collision of early Hüsker Dü and The Replacements with nods to The Stooges and fellow Oakland rabble-rousers Lecherous Gaze. The band bases their grimey sound in the low, lumbering crunch of bands like Unsane and The Cows while demented vocals rant over the top of the crumbling racket. The sound of NOPES is one of a band playing by their own rules and having fun doing it.

Take a listen to their new EP below!

NYC

Solid tracks from DC producers bobmoekill

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Bobmoekill‘s “All Good Things” starts out with a very promising introduction. The harmony builds wonderfully with the drum tracks tastefully added underneath. Gradually, the textures fill out, and at about 1 minute the buildup pays off with the tasteful drums turning into a deep groove.

The opening title track is a pretty good barometer of the bobmoekill style, which seems to alternate between R&B, pop electronica, ambient electronic.  Although sometimes the tracks felt a little derivative (boo synth horns), this is a great first release, and there is every indication that there are more good things to come from the duo.

-Written by Michael Dranove

NYC

Public Access T.V. head out on European tour

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In their debut LP ‘Never Enough,’ NYC’s Public Access TV showcases the ability to re-elaborate several decades of rock’n’roll and pop music into something new and exciting. John Eatherly’s vocals perfectly adapt to each different atmosphere alternating between raucous (in garagey ‘Patty Peru – streaming) and bouncy (in ’80s influenced ‘End of an Era‘). This summer, they are heading back to London to play The Lexington and Hyde Park, stopping by Philly’s Made in America, and finally landing at The Meadows Festival at Citi Field. – Lilly Milman, photo by Jonah Freud

Portland

Rigsketball Kicks Off Another Year Tonight!

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It may not seem terribly obvious, but Portland loves basketball. We rep Rip City’s team the Blazers to no end and when the suns out, a great deal of Portland residents flock to parks and playgrounds to partake in said blacktop court games. There’s one instance in the year that blends two of the city’s loves, music and basketball, together. That event is Rigsketball, and they’re hosting their kickoff party tonight.

The actual Rigsketball tournament isn’t happening yet, but those that head to the Doug Fir tonight will get to peep the premiere of the Rigsketball video, a 30 minute promo video pulling inspiration from old school Sports Center, Yayoi Kusama and WWE episodes. It’ll also include clips from 2016’s festivities, as well as some specially created ad breaks from the band Heavy Breather.

Rigsketball’s kickoff party will also feature performances by Deathlist, Nasalrod and tournament creator Bim Ditson’s band And And And. Bands that wish to participate in the Rigsketball tournament this summer have a chance to sign up for early registration at the show, as long as they get there early!

Music starts at 9pm but the premiere of the promo video is at 8:30pm, so be there on time with $5 in hand for the cover. There will even be some extra special announcements before the video screening, for those that want in on some secret info.

NYC

Welles release video for “Life Like Mine,” and play The Knitting Factory 06.02

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The Nashville-based Welles has released an official music video for their song, "Life Like Mine" from their debut EP, Codeine. "Life Like Mine" is an up-tempo rock tune hearkening to the ’90s sensibilities of artists like Beck and Pavement. Using 1960s music iconography to ironic effect (the band members are dressed like Sgt. Pepper’s-era Beatles and Hendrix at Monterey), Welles wonders aloud what kind of person is able to "live a life like mine," detailing scenes of destitution, substance abuse and confusion. With swelling keys, booming percussion and overdriven guitars, it’s self-aware as a rock song, even as the lyrics eschew the fabled rock n’ roll lifestyle. Welles is playing the Governor’s Ball Music Festival After Dark at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on June 2nd. Check out the video below! – Ethan Ames

 

NYC

Gold Dime releases debut LP, bring their noise to Sunnyvale on 6/3 for release party

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As one half of influential noise-rock duo Talk Normal, Andrya Ambro graced the cover of The Deli Magazine’s Best of NYC 2010 Issue.  Since 2014 Andrya has been active in her own band Gold Dime, who are releasing their debut album ‘Nerves’ on Fire Talk Records. The band is sharing “All We Have To Be Thankful For” (streaming below) which is an expanded re-adaptation of British spoken-word artist Anne Clark’s 1982 original.  Amid percussive bursts of cymbals and jingly metallic strikes, forceful guitar chords establish a slow building progression.  Ambro recites the original spoken word lyrics describing frustration with simply trying to “not to make a mess of it all.”  Melodic bass lines emerge within a shifting landscape of background voices and sparse instrumentation.  Additional lyrics (not in the original) are presented before a wave of pure industrial noise which ultimately leads back to the original progression. Nerves is out on 6/3 with the band playing their release show on 6/3 at Alphaville. – Dave Cromwell

Philadelphia

New Track: “Suzie Lee” – RFA

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Bass and guitar stream out in unison as “Suzie Lee,” the new single from RFA, settles in. A youthful, yearning tale strolling on anecdotes of adolescence, the song joyously jogs before catching instrumental fire. It’s the type of song that’ll lift you out of these back-to-work blues. RFA is part of a tri-pronged billing tomorrow night at PhilaMOCA with Dear Forbidden and The Coax. (Photo by Rocco Avallone)

Philadelphia

New MINKA EP Available for Streaming & Download

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Born In The Viper Room is the new EP from MINKA. Channeling the casually suave voicing and insatiable funky combinations of Bowie/Byrne, the band sits in a happy medium of loose, undeniably danceable compositions. Those delightful, demanding grooves, steered by crowd-commanding, eye-connecting vocals, set the wheels in motion. You can catch them live, in the flesh, at The Barbary on Thursday, June 15.

NYC

What Moon Things kick off tour at Cape House 06.01

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Brooklyn via New Paltz indie rockers What Moon Things will be kicking off their tour at Cape House in Brooklyn on June 1st, alongside pecas, Whiner and Abraham King. On their 2016 full-length, the SWIM Tape, Jake Harms’ ethereal falsetto is like a venus fly trap: deceptively alluring, until it clamps you in a menacing grip of disturbing imagery and unsettling notions. Check out recent release ‘Wild Pink – Forlim Chop,’ streaming below. – Ethan Ames

Philadelphia

New Orion Freeman Record Available for Streaming & Purchase

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Singer-songwriter Orion Freeman captures an isolated vulnerability and warmth on his latest record Morning Son. Sparse instrumentation ventures into the dimly-lit memories and thoughts of one’s mind. In the midst of those continuous evaluations, an ember of hope remains. The storytelling and heartfelt harmony soak in and ruminate.