New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Some bands have the desert in their sound. Equals, with their spacious, instrumental and atmospheric post-psych-rock, is one of them. The band is about to release their debut CD, out on Manateam records, with a show at Emo’s on August 25. These dudes deliver live big time, so don’t miss the trip!
Although TECLA describes her music as “Tropical Electronic Pop,” I was unable to decipher any electric ukuleles or steel-drum machines in Strangers in Masks. However, the undertone of calypso and reggae rhythms tastefully layered with lush and throbbing synths did have me feeling like I was at a summery shimmery dance party on a beach on the moon. Am I contradicting myself? That’s fine. The way TECLA’s music mashes genres is so forward-thinking, it’s easy to get dizzy (and giddy). Picking up where M.I.A. left off, she weaves socially conscious and delightfully eccentric lyricism with a gift for infectious melody. You can think about it, but you don’t have to. You can just dance until your brain wakes back up. It’s that good. Download it for free here. – BrokeMC
Awesome NYC indie pop band Arizona formed in NYC in 2006, was on the cover of The Deli in 2007, and disbanded in late 2009. They’ve gone on to form new bands and work on new creative projects, but Friday night they’ll all be back together to play a some old Arizona tunes and to share some of their new music. The show is at a (not so secret) secret location in Williamsburg, though all are welcome. Directions can be found here. If you missed Arizona the first time around, this will be a rare chance to seem them play in their native land.
The Pharmacy are playing a string of shows around the greater PNW currently, but they’ll be home in Seattle September 11 to play the mysterious grounds of The Black Lodge. If you can find this all-ages venue, it’ll be worth your while. The band’s latest album, Weekend, is their most refined effort yet. They have dialed down the psych-pop angle and focused their efforts on more precise, compelling compositions, both lyrically and musically.
Using her Kate Bush-y soprano for intricate vocal parts, and supporting it with all sort of musical influences – ranging from garage rock to dream-pop and even post-rock – Brooklynite Idgy Dean (real name Lindsay Sanwald) creates poppy DIY music that’s original and hard to pinpoint. Her new EP "Heart & Lung" showcases a promising vulcanic creativity, which you’ll be able to witness live on August 18, when she’ll celebrate her record release at Pianos.
DC’s lords of electronic music Thievery Corporation released Culture Of Fear in June and are currently touring the US in support of it. The duo of Rob Garza & Eric Hilton came to be in 1996 and have always kept that DIY Dischord inspiration flowing through their vast discography. And of course they are making a stop by home at Kastles Stadium at the Wharf on Saturday 8/20, and they want to make sure you are there! So we’ve got passes to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do is email us (please include first/last name), and let us know what your favorite song by Thievery Corporation is and why, by 5 PM on Thursday August 18. The winner will be chosen at random, emailed back, and announced on this blog.
Check out their video for "Take My Soul" off of Culture of Fear, featuring vocalist Lou Lou.
Though Seattle’s folk favorites Dutchess & The Duke have folded, the beat goes on for frontman Jesse Lortz. Lortz is back with a new solo album under the guise of Case Studies. The World is Just a Shape to Fill the Night is a venerable attempt to instantiate Lortz into the upper echelons of talented songwriters who’ve struck it out alone- Leonard Cohen may be a stretch, but certainly Townes Van Zandt comparisons can be within reach. Recorded with Greg Ashley (Gris Gris) and with help from friends including Crystal Stilts’ Keegan Cooke on drums and guitar, The World is Just a Shape to Fill the Night is a well-tempered solo debut that slowly sinks its hooks into you with repeated listens. The album is out now on Sacred Bones.
The Brooklyn-based four-piece Virgin Forest, featuring members of Phosphorescent, will be releasing their debut full-length in January, 2012. The band plays gentle chill-folk with jazzy accents. Stream or download the mp3 "South Beach" below and go see them live at The Knit on August 16 – opening for One Hundred Dollars.
Not many artists force me into the uncomfortable position of waxing philosophical about their performance. I don’t like it because it conjures bad memories of drinking coffee at 4am and yelling at a lamp. You don’t like it because you feel like I’m drooling on you. So thanks Theodore Robinson. Thanks much.
On a certain level, I’m concerned I’m just not hip enough. Be that as it may, there was a show where he dropped his guitar, galloped off stage, released a roll of tinfoil by the door. He unraveled it like an astronaut with limited means repairing his ship. He proceeded with sharpie, scrawling verses, one of which included the word Love. The foil ripped, the mosquitoes played on, the experience was both kinky and heartrending. At another show he adorned his band with squishy strobe light rings. He killed the lights and howled; we wanted to howl along with him but when we opened our mouths no sound came out. And then that show where he built a shrine for an exquisitely deceased crab… He howls and turnips rage and if you listen closely enough, bizarre references emerge. Tiny fountains of Japanese Pop, the Downtown Scene, Sorcery, pulsing underneath this carpet of deep blues, railroad hymns. Ted makes me feel like I am at a birthday party in an EE Cummings poem. He makes me want to do things like pass out cough drops to everybody on earth. – Catch Ted Robinson w/ Suspenders @ Zebulon on 8/22. – Valerie Kuehne
Drawing such comparisons to songwriting luminaries such as Joan Baez, Suzanne Vega, Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell, Linda Draper has still managed to carved out a sound that is all her own. In the last several years, she has toured in the US and UK, and she has shared the stage with Regina Spektor, Kimya Dawson, Jeffrey Lewis, Lucy Wainwright Roche, The One AM Radio and Theresa Andersson among others. Her next show will be at "happy hour time" at The Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Friday August 19. Doors open at 6 pm, Linda Draper kicks things off at 6:30 PM. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.
Two years ago, NYC via Copenhagen Mikkel Hess produced one of Time Out Magazine’s Top 10 Albums of 2009 on Nublu records: it was his debut under the moniker Hess Is More, offering smart, minimalist, and atmospheric electro-pop. Since then Hess has evolved this project, collaborating with local musicians and fellow Dane, co-writer/producer Rasmus Bille Bahncke on new album, "Creation Keeps the Devil Away", out on October 11. Find his single’s free download down here here. – Caitlin Clive
Mp3: Hess is more: "Creation Keeps the Devil Away"
Death By Sexy. It’s a powerful name for a rockin trio that came together in DC back in 2005. When Dex Fontaine (drums/vocals) and Jason Griffenhagen (guitar/vocals) had a chance encounter with Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes at a Black Cat pinball machine, their name was spawned. After Christian Baldo (bass/vocals) joined, the rock sensation was in full force, bringing with them an edge of humor so desperately needed in this town. Here they get down and tell us about the wonderful world of Spotify, performing at Gallaudet, Uncle Jesse, and the importance of Dex’s family. On to the interview…
DxS takes to the mainstage at the Black Cat this Friday, August 19 with The Danvilles and Musicband. Doors @9/$10.
Photo by Brad Johnson.
