In these trying times, bare-bones chill-out music seems like the best cure. Enter Your Dog, a trio featuring Bronx-based rockers Ian, Kate, and Julius. The indie pop group describes themselves as "somewhere between Adam Levine’s old stuff & his new stuff." Your Dog releases their new EP Talking To Bob on November 28th with a show at Shea Stadium. The four-track record includes the excellent songs "Saurkraut" ("I can’t get through the day without feeling like sauerkraut") and the more melodic "Droool" ("I’ve been tryin’ to get you gone/But I’m just scrapin’ by/I don’t wanna die with you still in my head"); both feature a lot of character.
The Shea Stadium release party also features indie group Rhea and experimental group Rita Fishbone New Jersey, as well as Brooklyn’s Ghost King, whom we covered earlier re: the release of their new single "Melting Sky/Inside Out". Head on over to Shea Stadium on 11/28 to hear some great new tunes and to support rising local acts.
In Orange County, Trevor Magaña’s main squeeze has always been his mathrock affair Hollow Ran, but lately he’s been branching out, exploring directions from sensibile bedroom pop to jazzy slowcore through guitar and voice. If the name Puppy Soul doesn’t confer the spirit of Magaña’s project, then you probably haven’t browsed enough doge memes. With help from Jonathan Modell (The Human Machine, Panoramic, Tririla Recordings), Magaña was able to self-record the debut EP live with minimal overdubs (thank you smartphone Voice Memos) amidst a hazy ambiance of Maj9 chords and deliberately chilled rhythms.
Amazing Nashville blues lady Adia Victoria just unveiled this video for single "Horrible Weather." The Nashville based singer kept her year busy with numerous live performances across the United States, Europe and the UK in support of the album release. Adia Victoria will host a special end of the year event and performance in Nashville on November 18th at The East Room.
Last month, Brooklyn’s Saint Marilyn released an enthralling synthy single called “Frustrate Me”. Its freely pitch bending synths seems to mimic the unavoidable flux and flow of emotions in a relationship: one second you can’t stand the sight of him, the next you can’t stand to see him go. The soft, seductive vocals of Che Houston layer over this dreamy synth bed to create a slow-moving atmosphere of love and hate. Experience the emotional ride live at The Mercury Lounge on November 15. -Ashley Muniz
With smooth vocals and punchy, danceable riffs punctuated by synths, DC-based RadaR offers infectious indie rock that’s guaranteed to grip you on the dancefloor. Featuring soaring hooks, catchy melodies, and an electro-britpop sensibility, the band’s music is instantly compelling, but their deeper lyricism offers even more for listeners to engage with beyond a first-blush pass through. Listen to RadaR streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni
Jaw Gems, a group of four guys hailing from the upper reaches of New England–Portland, Maine–are producing some of the most refreshing neo-soul music out there. Planting themselves in the same vein as artists like Thundercat and Flying Lotus, the group crafts fat and funky instrumentals that edge toward the experimental side. They band effortlessly laces their trippy hip hop beats with strong jazz influences, and maybe the occasional transmission from Mars. Catch the band opening for Lettuce at the House of Blues 12/31, and in the meantime, stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni
Brooklyn-based indie rockers, Flying Pace, are back at it again with a new single (and an impending EP on the horizon). "Mayday," a track that exemplifies the band’s brand of mellow indie, features whispery vocals set against understated instrumentals and smart lyricism. With a slight jazzy influence and an unothordox chord progression, the new tune is instantly engaging, and leaves us excited for the rest of the EP! Check out Flying Pace at their album release party 11/20 at Mercury Lounge with Robot Princess, and stream "Mayday" below.-Olivia Sisinni
There’s plenty to like about Brooklyn-based “hot sausage boys” Evolfo, who in September released their latest garage/psych/blues rock EP Last of the Acid Cowboys. You can catch them playing tracks from this EP as well as their other tunes at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg on November 27th. The EP takes pages from the books of Deep Purple and Cream, as well as The Black Keys. The first track, “Moon Eclipsed The Sun”, is filled with catchy sax and organ fills, as well as jerky rhythms and echoing, haunting vocals which come from a love for early prog-rock. Evolfo’s 11/27 show at Baby’s All Right includes fellow psych-rockers Stuyedeyed and Argentinian acoustic folk-rocker Tall Juan. Get your tickets here. – Will Sisskind, photo by Peter Dervin
“Are you ready?!” Kwame Binea howls into the microphone, keying in the audience for what’s about to come. This is the Apollo Music Cafe–a series specializing in the curation of diverse, independent artistry, hosted by the iconic Harlem-based theater–and tonight’s sold-out performance is coming from the spirited Kwame Binea Shakedown, a roots-rock band with a dash of funk, blues and good vibes. As the frontman of a band that bears his namesake, Binea is 6’5” of boundless charisma with a voice that threatens to bring the stage down. Backed by his full band, an arsenal of skilled musicians practiced in tight sets and big sounds, Binea effortlessly navigates through originals and covers all of which align with the band’s mantra. It’s a phrase that the singer will energetically repeat several times throughout the set: peace, love and positivity. Stand out moments of the night include an explosive cover of James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good),” an homage to the live version recorded by the artist on the very same stage, and an electrifying performance of Hendrix’s “Fire,” that came after the audience demanded an encore.
Maybe the real magic of the Shakedown is magnified by they way they command a crowd. During their original “World on Fire,” Binea managed to get a filled-to-capacity room to echo the word “love” to him during the outro, and “Let Go,” one of the first singles released from the band, had the audience flocking to the dancefloor. With lyrics like “Early morning, up with the sunrise/ Man, what a blessing it is to see another day” it’s easy to see the appeal of the band’s positive message. Amidst the tumult of recent events, Kwame Binea Shakedown’s commitment to love and unity is a welcome ray of hope that is poised to melt even the steeliest of hearts. To follow more from the Apollo Music Cafe, check out their site here, and be sure to check out the band’s original track, “Let Go," streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni
Prince Metropolis Known is a lion. He has a mane, man; he’s the king of the beasts! He’s a political animal, but he also boasts to “Party with blood suckers, bbw hot sex in tubs of butter – the Prince of Dubia. Royal fetish, gold letters, tomatoes and silver – the Prince of Dubia.” He once made an album entirely dedicated to dissing Bill O’Reilly. THE AZEALIA BANKS GANG BANG takes up where his War Against Music and KILL BILL albums left off. It’s the perfect platform for the Lion to utilize his practiced misogyny to lash out against the Trump advocate rapper and her ilk. The first track (streaming) repeatedly lambasts her for not being Nicki Minaj. It’s ignorant rap with a conscience. What else would you accept from Kool Keith’s most promising protege? Check out also the outstanding 2013 video/single ‘Metropolis’ from 2013. – BrokeMc
Brooklyn’s Ghost King tickled our aural canal the right way this past spring with their debut album ‘Bones,’ which was immediately crowned with our NYC Record of the Month title, and we are thrilled to premiere their two track single entitled ‘Melting Sky / Inside Out." Their sound is still as distorted and effected as it gets, in a way that’s definitely nineties, but more reminiscent of the early Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev’s fuzzy psychedelic lunacy than Pavement or Dinosaur Jr.’s pop slacking. Opening track ‘Melting Sky’ travels at high speed, hosting a slow vocal melody, and progressively building towards two psychedelic instrumental bridges. ‘Inside Out’ displays a poppier structure and catchier melody, but also a more dissonant arrangement, evolving, through a very early-Pink-Floydian transition, into a distorted bass driven, pummeling finale. They are both songs that will be fun to experience live when Ghost King will perform at Shea Stadium on 11.28 – do not miss!
