It took two years for The Alarms to get their debut album, "Real Tough Love" release-ready, because good stuff takes time and most things music always, always take much longer that one expects. However, listening to the title track (thanks to their label, Science Camp Records) makes those two years completely worth it. There’s a strong ’60 rock sound to it, from the organ and the tone of the fuzz on their guitars, but it’s dished out with the energy of a basement full of punk rockers. The Alarms got some love from Lighting 100 earlier this year, and for plenty of good reasons: they’re distinct, coming across as a really aggressive version of the Kinks, and they can get it done in less than 2.5 minutes. And they have tons of personality. Their album release show takes place at The Stone Fox this Saturday, with No Regrets Coyote, Bear in the Campsite, Jordan Hull and Juliana rounding out the bill. It is sure to be a stellar night of music, and a steal at only a $5 cover. -Terra James-Jura
Weyes Blood announces release of LP “The Innocents” on Mexican Summer + shares single “Hang On”
Weyes Blood‘s latest intense ballads and haunting melodies – something we experienced live at our NYC B.E.A.F. this past June – will be gathered in the project’s sophomore official album (but fourth if we include self released CDRs and cassetes), entitled "The Innocents," and released on Mexican Summer on October 21. This is the project of chanteause Natalie Mering, a young lady with a towering confidence and a jaw dropping voice, who only allows a beat up acoustic guitar and an old cassette recorder to accompny her on stage. Check out the first preview single from the album, "Hang On," streaming below. See Weyes Blood live at Baby’s All Right on August 10th and 22nd.
Barry Ratner Memorial Set
Alex Lee Ratner of Monacan Hill will be performing an acoustic set at Wing Command, tomorrow, August 7th, in memorial of his father Barry Ratner. Barry passed away yesterday, August 5th, after his battle with cancer. "I always wanted my music to be of service to someone’s rough time," says Alex, "Now I realize that I need music more than ever." Music will begin around 7, and all are welcome.
The Fall Four
Pop Punk group The Fall Four have released a summer themed video for their latest single, "Siren Song". This is the band’s second single, the follow-up tp April’s "Wake Up".
Tall Walker
Tall Walker has released a new single, "Dance All Night", and a video for the track in 4K HD.
You can catch Tall Walker on August 23rd at Bash On Wabash with Damn Choir, California Wives, and Oh My’s.
The Deli Philly’s Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner: The Orange Drop
CD of the Month: Dead Native
Dead Native’s self-titled sophomore album has an overall cosmic feel starting with the cover but building through out in the sound. The band blends echoing elements of psych rock, shoegaze, mototik, and pop. There is also a blues under current, but it is toned down from their 2013 debut, Keep It Strange". The adventure on the new album builds through out the tracks, but the most effective cosmic track has to be "Traveling". The 9 minute epic space journey seems built to put anyone into orbit. It is followed up by the one of the heavier tracks, "Clean Kill", that trudges through muddy fields of throbbing guitars. The album closes with an anthemic flourish with "Respite" with all instruments soaring to a close. This may or may not be a concept album, but it does truly feel like a complete listen that was meant to be played track by track.
Dead Native’s new album will be released on Sept. 2nd.
New Track: “Almost Like Emotion (The Drop)” – A Sunny Day in Glasgow
A Sunny Day in Glasgow recently released their latest LP Sea When Absent (Lefse Records), which is currently our Record of the Month, earlier this summer. The band also just shared a limited-edition bonus EP NO DEATH that is available in select record stores in the UK. Below is its opening track called "Almost Like Emotion (The Drop)," which was recorded during the Sea When Absent sessions.
Dreamers are born on the ashes of Motive + share video for ‘Wolves’
With a sound that merges pop nostalgia, art-rock and punk, Dreamers is the new project of Brooklyn songwriter Nick Wold – the main songwriting force of now defunct group Motive. The trio, in preparation of its debut album, has just released this video for first single ‘Wolves,’ a song that emerges via a clean, sharp-plucked guitar line, sharing a textural quality with fellow Brooklynites Beach Fossils and Diiv. Those similarities quickly disappear as their vocal style and lyrical storytelling approach leans more towards a more straight forward form of pop. A classic tale of boy pursues girl is played out from the hunters point of view. “Still I’ll chase you down – to the place you hide – couldn’t keep away” anchors the desperately heroic bridge. “You got me brain washed you got me so lost,” is how the dominant lyrical hook goes. “You got me undone – falling in love with you.” Coming to the ultimate conclusion that “if you lie down with wolves, you learn to howl.” The song captures that crazy in love feeling with an idealized image of someone that is equally exhilarating and gut-wrenchingly devastating. Additional sonic textures like synths in place of guitars during the swirling, vocal enhanced bridge, effectively serve the big dramatic conclusion. Dreamers played their debut show at Pianos last night (08.05). – Dave Cromwell
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
The Howl “Jejune”
The Howl have released a new single, "Jejune", with a great video.
You can catch the Humbolt Park band at Beat Kitchen on August 30th.
Wrongchilde play record release show on 8.20
Wrongchilde is the solo project of Kill Hannah frontman Mat Devine, whose love-stricken anthems veer from wispy, stadium-friendly synth pop to stately ambient ballads. He’s assembled a strong lineup of cameos for his debut release Gold Blooded, which features Morgan Kibby – who also took the solo route after touring with M83 – and Gerard Way, who contributes vocals to the track "Falling In Love Will Kill You". Devine is hosting a record release party at Community on August 20, who’s self-releasing the album after a succesful PledgeMusic campaign.
New Video: “JM” (Live) – Strand of Oaks
Strand of Oaks, a.k.a. Timothy Showalter, recorded a few songs with Out of Town Films before the release of his latest LP HEAL. Below is the first tasting of the session with one of the album’s standouts "JM," which was taped at Berks Warehouse. Also, backing Showalter, you’ll find a cast of talented local fixtures in the Philly music community – Mike Sneeringer (ex-Purling Hiss, ex-The Loved Ones) on drums, Eliza Jones (Buried Beds) on keys, and Deven Craige (Little Big League) on bass. The group is currently in the middle of a massive tour, and will be back in town on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20 at The Boot & Saddle for two sold-out shows.