Portland

Preview: Psychomagic at The Know 8.26

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Psychomagic’s psych rock is playful and morbid, tinged with surf, punk, and vintage tone. From their textured instrumentation, it’s obvious this quintet (Stone Laurila (guitar), Eddie Bond (keyboards), Anthony Brisson (drums, backing vocals), Scott Page (bass), and Steve Fusco (lead vocals/guitar)) find their vibe on stage. Songs are strummy, but shift to  heavy riffs over soft, fast rhythms and theatrical melodies. Its catchy, but then drifts off and almost fades out during long interludes, allowing the listener to get lost in their own narrative before changing the scenery. Their range can be the softer “Mutated Love” after fast and raging “I Dont Want To Hold Your Hand”. Fusco warbles through songs, sometime crooning about playing the fool and being a “Heartbroken Teenage Zombie Killer”. It’s tongue in cheek, he declares from the start that “I’m A Freak." Playing with the pining rock of Portland’s Dandelyons, and Austin’s Tele Novella, it should be a colorful Tuesday evening at The Know. 

– Brandy Crowe

 

Chicago

Steve Leaf & The Ex-Pats @ Lincoln Hall

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Steve Leaf & The Ex-Pats released their latest album, Three Circles & A Speaker, back in June. The album blends alt-rock and space rock and it fun straight through.

You can catch Steve Leaf & The Ex-Pats at Lincoln Hall on August 28th with Lindsay Weinberg and Ryan Powers & The Secret Weapons.

NYC

Altopalo releases new single “Chagrinning” + plays Glasslands on August 27

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Atlopalo’s latest single “Chagrinning” (streaming) clocks in at just under six minutes, but all told it contains more arcs and bends than many contemporary records. It has the lyricism and production of a contemporary hip-hop track, without shying away from dexterous instrumentation. The single undulates synesthetically, the focus shifting from whispered vocals, to a sparse and airy piano interlude, and finally engages in a raucous instrumental section of clashing drums and 8-bit inspired guitar acrobatics. Just as you think the song is fading out, all parts previously considered hit you in unison, like a misjudged wall. You’d think this outlandish arrangement would shake any sense of proprietary markings, but the piece remains thematically consistent throughout and presents a band with a sublime and singular voice. You can see Altopalo live at Glasslands on August 27. – Emilio Herces

Philadelphia

Free Download: “Summer” – Marc Neibauer

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With Labor Day on the horizon, we found a new single from Marc Neibauer in our inbox this morning. "As the season comes to an end, ‘Summer’ is my look back. Perhaps my most relatable and accessible song to date, ‘Summer’ is about the need for adventure out and the fear of being left behind." You can stream and download the track for free below.

L.A.

FYF 2014 Local Report: Thundercat

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Having Stephen Brunner, known for his stage name of Thundercat, at the Lawn stage of this year’s festival made perfect sense. The six-string bass maestro brought his peculiar brand of avant-garde jazz to what was suitably the chillest of all the stages, and though a good few of us were standing up, you could sense that the majority of relaxed attendees – most of them laying face up and letting the sundays hit – were letting his improvisational psychedelic arrangements sink in. Brunner plays with crisp sophistication, letting his masterfully precise fingerpicking speak for itself with the backup of top-shelf musicians who each add their own improvisational grit with seamless momentum. It was a welcome respite from the bustling activity going around the festival grounds, all of us nodding in unison with casual ease as the sun began to make its descent. – Juan Rodriguez

Photo Credit: Jennifer Mergott

NYC

STRNGRS to headline Mercury Lounge on 8.29

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NYC’s soulful and blues-minded 3-piece rock & roll outfit, STRNGRS, are everything you love about Jack White without the massive ego. Their most recent riff-heavy sophomore EP titled ‘Magic Boy‘ is a passionate, solo-filled, harmonica-wailing musical mayhem. Listen below to closing track ‘Outta My Mind’ below, an up-and-down ride that climaxes in a bluesy sexplosion, kind of like the last half of The Black Keys’ song ‘Little Black Submarine’. They’re set to headline Mercury Lounge on 8/29 with Clam. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

L.A.

FYF 2014 Local Report: Kelela

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One of last year’s surprises was Kelela’s startling mixtape Cut 4 Me, a fine collection of experimental R&B featuring a who’s who of producers that shined the light on a bright and exciting young voice. Glowing in a darkened arena inside the LA Coliseum during a mid-afternoon scorcher, the MacArthur park resident caught the attention of a modest amount of attendees who were instantly drawn by her dark, yet inviting dance music. Kelela’s voice shimmered and soared above a series of perturbing, icy synths, demonstrating a great deal of overpowering versatility even when the samples she plays against are so commanding. She also gave one of the most genuine call-outs in the festival’s two days, thanking her fans for supporting her mixtape with an affable glee after mentioning how she was working at a call center in the Valley just a year ago. Kelela may be a fiery, even threateningly seductive on stage, but her warm radiance and humility outside of it makes it easy to root her. She enter a new stage in her rising career, proving that her journey to megastardom is just getting started. – Juan Rodríguez

Photo Credit: Carl Pocket for FYF Fest

 

Philadelphia

New Track: “Here On My Street” – Dark Blue

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Below is the second single, "Here On My Street," off Dark Blue‘s forthcoming album Pure Reality. The record is scheduled for release on October 7 via Jade Tree. Pure Reality began when bandleader John Sharkey III was working as a nightwatchman on a desolate university campus in Canberra, Australia. "A good portion of these songs were written in this walking coma at 4 am under the cold ACT moon. Alone and to be quite honest, comfortably beleaguered." The album was eventually recorded and produced by Jeff Zeigler (The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Nothing, etc.).

NYC

Album review: Diverse – Our Journey

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If you’re looking for a Thelonious Monk reincarnate jazz style, you’ve found it in Diverse’s Our Journey.
 
Hermon Mehari’s raw trumpet, Ryan Lee’s toe-tapping drums, and Ben Leifer’s soulful bass all create a groovy, vibrant experience. This album is a serene soundscape of honest-to-roots swing jazz, while incorporating a soulful Kansas City 18th and Vine roots heritage. It’s a technical collection and in some ways experimental. Also on the album are pianist Tony Tixier (from Paris) and alto saxophonist Logan Richardson. It was recorded by Andre Charlier in Paris, mixed by Brendan McReynolds, and mastered by Mike Nolte. Our Journey is a follow up to Diverse’s first self-titled album released in 2009.
 
Take a breath and listen to this wise and prophetic classical jazz journey. It’s like walking into true legendary jazz at The Blue Room or Green Lady Lounge, a more recently opened downtown hot spot. So while you’re at home cleaning the dishes, playing with the cat and relaxing, take the dazzling ride and listen to this album. Let it take you. It begs to be seen live. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting at the back of the Foundation catching a whiff of Kansas City tradition. 
 
Because I wanted to get a sense of how the album was recorded, I asked McReynolds what direction Mehari gave him when mixing the album. According to McReynolds, his motivation was “to just mix it like it was a jazz club in Kansas City. Very intimate and very tight. It’s like walking into a place you have never been before and feeling comfortable.”
 
Whether it’s the time signature changes and beautiful technical work, or the sometimes wildly manic nature of jazz itself, each track is an imminent adventure. “Motherland” is a spirit awakening exploration. It’s a night dressed to the nines at a martini bar probably, having the time of my life, or maybe a night spent writing by the light of the moon. The final track on the album, “Rest in Peace,” offers a unique two-stick lassoing of the beat and melancholic trumpet. A funky groovy bass line bathes the soul with a warm dance to permeate the senses.
 
Our Journey is a testament to Kansas City’s rich jazz and blues culture and connects with a wide range of audiences. Choose your own journey with this album. It is a must listen.
 
—Chris Wenske
 

You can catch Diverse at The Riot Room on Thursday, September 4. Reach will be DJing the first set, followed by Diverse, and then New Orleans duo Hildegard, led by Cliff Hines. Doors open at 7:00.

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