New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Experimental Metal Group Beneath The Hollow is preparing to release their latest EP, "Indoctrination", on April 10th. The album’s lead single is called "Spellbound" and is accompanied by the TapeDeckTV created visuals below.
This is the work of Jewell Yocum (Vocals), Jesse DeGroot (Guitar), Dan Pacheco (Bass), and Matt DeGroot (Drums).
In light of the current closures the 11th annual Burger Boogaloo festival just announced it will be moving their July dates to Halloween weekend to best accommodate the artists on this year’s phat lineup. Host John Waters shares, “A virus may scare the punk rock world out of Oakland in July but we’ll scare it right back on Halloween weekend! Trick or treat, we can’t be beat! Burger Boogaloo 2020: a Monster Mash to top them all!” That’s the attitude we like to hear! Playing their first show in 25 years, we’re thrilled Bikini Kill is taking the stage, along with Belgian super punk star Plastic Bertrand for their first ever Bay Area show. Oakland favorites like Shannon Shaw (who’s playing a solo set, though we’re wondering if any of the Clams might sneak on stage?) and The Younger Lovers. Secure your Burger Boogaloo tickets now, and if you’re already snagged ‘em, all tickets will still be honored. Let’s all plunk something to look forward to on the calendar for October 31 and November 1st and start thinking of your costumes while you’re at it. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor
Boston’s Alex and the People are grooving their way toward the light at the end of the tunnel, loud as can be. The group has a dual single release that is one side dance-crazed rock ‘n’ roll and one side folk acoustic serenity. One could say the music provides a much-needed duality for the varying mood shifts we face these days. “Waitin’ for My Train to Come” is short and sincere, revealing in each lyric patience and acceptance that only wisdom grants. “Broken Elevator” is a heightened song, laced with funky electric guitar riffs and even funkier rhythms. The song is an anthem for whatever you want to relate it to, with slick solos for your imagination. The release, begs you to choose your current mood, for us, it is “Broken Elevator” streaming below. – Rene Cobar
Experimental trio Mako Sica has teamed up the legendary jazz drummer Hamid Drake for on a new album called Balancing Star. The album is due out via Astral Spirit on April 17th and lead single and opening track, "Trapeze", can be heard below.
Mako Sica is the work of Przemyslaw Krys Drazek, Brent J Fuscaldo, and Chaetan Newell.
Matt McNish has released a video for the title track, "Sick Country", from his forthcoming album. McNish finished the album just before the COVID-19 outbreak, but it now feels eerily timely.
This is the follow-up to this DIY artist 2019 album OK Vacation.
Steve Dawson (of Dolly Varden) & Funeral Bonsai Wedding are returning on May 8th with their latest album, Last Flight Out, on May 8th. They recently released the album’s title and opening tracking which is accompanied by the Joel Benjamin and Diane Christiansen animated video below.
The core of the Funeral Bonsai Wedding are the talented local jazz greats Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone), Charles Rumback (drums), Jason Roebke (bass and string arrangements). Through out the album he is also joined by a string section consisting of Inger Carle, Andra Kulans, Vannia Phillips, and Melissa Bach.
When asked about the album’s title track Dawson had this to say; "The more I think about this song, and the whole album, really, it seems to be about the feeling that we are all living through a giant collective ending. With climate change, global rage and violence, the undoing of the fabric of society it feels like an ending. So, the next thought is, “how can I best use the time that’s left?” This song feels like an acknowledgement of the situation. The song purposely has no tonic – no clear home base chord – and the strings wind through it like vines searching for places to hang on."
Photo by Matthew Gilson
Multi-instrumentalist Wills McKenna recently released a surprising and beautiful new single called "Clover". On the all too brief track he plays tenor sax and acoustic guitar over a droning cello track. This is the first new music from McKenna since his 2017 EP "Nothing Left".
McKenna is a member of the noisy Hip Hop and Jazz Fusion band Je’raf who recently released a a new album via Amalgam called Throw Neck.
BassKase has released the lead single, "What She Said", from his forthcoming EP, "Talk To Me", which is due out April 2nd. This is the electro-dub of Curtis Ruptash of Peabody & Sherman and Guerilla Wellfare, among other projects, and this EP comes just four months after his 2019 EP "Once Upon a Time in the Midwest".
These are uncertain times, and when one has little else to do but stare at their four walls and hope for a better tomorrow, there needs to be some ethereal jams to cut through the thick silence. Fortunately, Moon Darling have come to Los Angeles by way of Seattle with their new record In The Wildwood, which drops on April 3rd.. Dreamy and angular, the songs feature the soaring vocals and guitar mastery of Michael Julian Escobar, who channels Led Zeppelin and Ozzy. The track "Which Way To Go" — a reworked song from years past — presents what In The Wildwood has to offer; driving psych rock with hints of disco and rock ‘n roll. You’ll sway, you’ll dance, but overall, while listening to In The Wildwood, you sure won’t be bored. Take a listen to "Which Way To Go" now. – Will Sisskind
The latest album, June Holiday, from Drummer Charles Rumback is set to be released via Astral Spirits on April 10th. For this project Rumback is joined by Jim Baker on Piano and John Tate on Bass.
The album, Rumback’s follow-up to 2019’s Cadillac Turn’s, kicks off with a composition by Baker called "Foglights".
Post-Rock group No Object (formerly Out the Car Window) has been releasing singles from their forthcoming debut album, Makeshift, for over a year now. This slow, but impressive, build has been perfect for this group that blends elements of shoegaze with emo and straightforward rock. The last single was released this month and is the album’s opening and title track. Makeshift is due out April 10th.
This is the work of Jake Wahlen (Guitar, Vocals), Matt Carlton (Bass), Griffin Taylor (Drums, Vocals), and Jeff Linville (Guitar, Vocals).
Abbey Bowed is the passion project of Sam Sharp and a reimagining of The Beetle’s classic album Abbey Road through the skills of a string quartet. The project is three year’s in the making, but is currently set to be released on April 1st.
On this is album Abbey Bowed is Sam Sharp (violin), Becca Wilcox (viola), Charith Premawardhana (violin), and Nora Barton (cello). Barton and Premawardhana are both involved with Classical Revolution Chicago. For the video below, of the quartet performing "Something", the second violin is performed by Andra Kulans.
Photo by Jacob Hand Photography
