New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
California Widow recently rereleased several tracks from their self-titled debut EP. The most recent is called "Howl" which was originally released three years, and is centered around a couple named Ike & Jean. Jean was diagnosed with ALS and past away only to be followed shortly thereafter by Ike.
This is the somber Desert Rock of Darja Vaarsi (vocalist/lyricist/songwriter/producer) and Brendan Blewett (vocalist/guitarist/producer).
Mountain Head have hit the ground runnin’ here on the Toronto scene. These two brothers aren’t new to the scene but after spending some time in the mountains…Mountain Head was born. Their first single “We Stole Your Head” is a heavy dream rock tune. The drums have a hip hop vibe to them and the rhythm hits hard with the bass and synth combo. See these mysterious bearded brothers this Friday March 13th at The Rivoli along with F.Scott & the Nighthawks as well as Joan Smith & the Jane Does. Excellent lineup! – Kris Gies
Maybe, given the recent goings on in the world, you’ve had a rough go of it, and just need some time to disassociate. If you need to freshen up your Music To Zone Out To playlist, give Mild Minds‘ MOOD a try. Run by Benjamin David, Mild Minds has the trip hop sounds to which fans of Caribou and Four Tet will find themselves dancing. MOOD, Mild Minds’ debut album, has tracks such as "Movements" and "Walls" which layer catchy drum grooves and soft pulsing synths over droning bass. The effect will keep you moving to the beat as you remove yourself from whatever stressful medical, financial, or mental situation threatening you at the moment. MOOD drops on March 13th; take a look at the music video for "Walls" below. – Will Sisskind
Boston’s Vundabar is set to release Either Light on March 13th and how excellent it promises to be. That promise exists in the deliciously retro indie-pop track “Burned Off,” which takes the listener on a speedy sonic roller coaster that cascades past a pulsating bassline, a crisp drum pattern, candy-sweet vocals, oh and guitar riffs so 2003. Brandon Hagen, Drew McDonald and Zackery Abramo continue this project that is quickly escaping our stratosphere on here as the group is touring the country throughout the spring with a show on April 24th at Paradise Rock Club for our New England folks. If the new record has more of the exquisite falsettos, and atmospheric breaks, featured in the single streaming below then wonderful it will be. – Rene Cobar
Mending has released the second single, "When He Met Prem", of Book 02 of the Wakerobin Archive, To Yellowknife ~ Chapter 01: New Green Bay to Bismarck. This is is long form storytelling through song of Kate Adams and Joshua Dumas
The full album is set to be released on March 19th.
It’s an unfortunate truth that, with the passing of time, we tend to lose touch with those that matter most to us, a fact that’s become abundantly clear to Bushwick-based indie pop artist Couvo as of late. His new single “Still Hanging On” is an ode to old acquaintances and relationships that come with the changes inherent to life, a shoutout to erstwhile friends in his hometown of Manchester, Connecticut, channeled through bright, downtempo indie pop reminiscent of the Morning Benders and pre-Powerman Kinks. A sunny-yet-forlorn disposition powers Couvo’s lyricism — nostalgic, yes, but always grounded in realism, the “knowing, in the moment, that these relationships will fail and these people will leave, or you’ll be the one to go,” in his own words. Sweetly sorrowful and bolstered by a third act explosion of winding saxophones and group harmonies, Couvo proves that, despite these seemingly-inevitable transformations, there’s resilience and strength to be found in act of “hanging on.” Stream our premiere of this track below, and see Couvo at the Way Station on March 23rd, alongside Ruby Wave, Phil Robinson, and Zman. Photo by Kevin Condon
Psych Rock duo Coyote Man has released the first single, "Perilous", from their forthcoming album, Precognition, which is due out on April 20th.
This is the instrumental rock of Augie Portugal (Guitar, Bass, Keyboards) and Ian Wheeler (Drums, Percussion).
You can catch Coyote Man on May 22nd at Downstairs at Subt with Pale Horseman and Sons of Ra.
Photo by Matthew Vineyard
Impulsive Hearts have released their latest album, Cry All The Time, via Midwest Action. The latest single from the album is called "Telephone Girl" and is accompanied by the video below.
This is the Indie Surf Rock of Danielle Sines, Doug Hoyer, Jess Lemaster, and Dan Julian.
You can catch Impulsive Hearts on March 19th at Sleeping Village with Bev Rage and The Drinks, Harvey Fox, and Richard Album.
Upstate indie pop outfit geoff gordon cover lots of ground on their latest album, Sex and the City. What begins on a drawling, folksy note quickly transitions to more electronically-infused, consummately relaxed effort, characterized by tactile, analogue-adjacent saw synths and at times lofi segues — in short, there’s a lot of distinct energies that characterize this nine track LP, all of which demonstrate an aptitude for experimentation in sound and song structure. Constant throughout the record is an ear for lush tones and satisfying melodic resolutions, making it recommended listening for fans of Porches and of Montreal — give it a listen below.
Brooklyn post-punk trio A Very Special Episode know how to keep things in control. While discordant, shoegazing guitars and a healthy serving a feedback perforate their 2018 EP Cut for Time, the production and format hits a finely-tuned middle ground between cacophony and run-of-the-mill indie rock, opting to incorporate Fender-friendly sounds in a manner that’s aggressive, yet well-curated. At the center of the storm is singer and guitarist Kasey Heisler’s impressive vocal performance, one that imbues the band’s latest offering with an energy that’s characterized by an energy that’s as devil-may-care as it is triumphant — standout song “Crazy” is a succinct encapsulation of what makes AVSE tick, a track well-suited for a highway singalongs and pit-opening alike. Give it a listen below, and catch the band at Our Wicked Lady on March 14th for the Rizzo’s sixth annual PROM FOREVER.
Last November, a Boston collective called The Shallows released a shoegaze treat quite transportive. Arsonist is all that is good about the ethereal genre, why with tracks like “Beginners,” whose guitar chords linger splendidly, elegant vocals enchant, and reliable rhythms impress, there is little not to enjoy. The overdriven bass that leads the title track adds a rock edge to the floating arpeggios that explode into tough fuzz-rich strums in the choruses. “Glacial Lakes” pays homage to the genre’s ‘80s U.K origins with its pure dream-pop elements while “Charmed” coasts to a soothing end somewhere far from where your emotions were before the start of the record. Stream the title track of this new EP below for a quicker way to get to your weekend. – Rene Cobar
The coexistence of “beauty and dissonance” are key themes to understanding the Silk War’s sound, and new video “Velvet” is the band at their most aesthetically scuzzy. A midnight ride through the psyche of front person Alexandra Blair, one that incorporates proportionate handfuls of vulnerability and strength, the visuals incorporate a limited palette of high-contrast monochrome performance shots and blood red scenes of nocturne activity. Such a striking difference emphasizes the opposing themes inherent to band’s artistry (as well as the dichotomous nature of the song itself), which set against the music video’s backing track, heightens their post-wave goth rock sound; their overdriven guitar solos opposite cool keys and downtempo percussive tempo feel all the more polar, yet a sense of haunting unity prevails when soundtracking director Shelby Sells’ mise-en-scene. Partake in its dark indulgence below, and catch the Silk War at TV Eye on March 17th, performing alongside Pure Adult.
