Paper Fairy returns with a video for the new single "We Laugh", featuring project mastermind Chris Gaskell and a whole lot of feet. The single comes from the NYC-based band’s Tautology EP, a follow-up to last year’s Haunter Haunted. On Tautology, Gaskell’s avant-garde pop creates a dialogue between the concepts of the real self and the performed self. The video for "We Laugh" shows this conversation through close-ups of feet touching, Gaskell’s face appearing in the big toenail (an unlikely place for a face to appear), and glass causing blood to spill, along with other examinations of body, pain, and voyeurism. Take a look at the strange, weirdly-engrossing video below, and catch Paper Fairy at Berlin on December 8th for the video release show. – Will Sisskind
Noumenon “Tro”
Deep Space Objects has released the final LP, Tro, from the Math Rock trio Noumenon. The album was recorded over a decade and is finally available on vinyl.
This is the work of Kiel Arneson (Guitar), Owen Mallon (Bass), and Mike Cella (Drums).
Woods’ got tunes, with Junior Reggae and SIFTER
The other night I found myself at Woods, playing cards with a friend and enjoying the finest cider I’d laid lips on in a while. A local quartet had just set up and as the music on the speakers died down, the vibrant sounds of jazz lit up the space and I’m telling you: the room shifted. Bassist Lisa Mezzacappa was killing it, Jordan Glenn snapped away on those drums, the trombone and the alto sax blended beautifully. At one point my card playing partner turned to me with happy shaking head, saying, “Who is this?” Between songs I went up to ask the trombonist (Rob Ewing) who wrote the piece and he pointed to saxist Beth Schenck. “It’s called ‘Dedicated To,’” he told me. Amazing.
I’ve since been digging on more SIFTER and found myself listening to another project led by Ewing, Junior Reggae, who just released their latest album These Lines, off Slow and Steady Records. The band is “avant-dub,” with modern jazz at its core but with—as the name suggests—a marriage of reggae, dub and fluid jazz compositions throughout. Influenced by Augustus Pablo and Lee “Scratch” Perry, the group is a unique find that brings together an inspiring collection of musicians. There’s Max Miller-Loran on trumpet and keys, Steven Blum on keys, Jason Levis on percussions and Rob Ewing on bass, trombone, keys and more percussion. It’s an ear fest. Junior Reggae is playing Woods this Friday December 6 from 5-8. Come on out for an evening and save me a cider. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor
Album artwork by Jesse Rimler.
Whitney “FTA” b/w “Far, Far Away”
Whitney recently released a new double single, “FTA” b/w “Far, Far Away”. This follows their highly acclaimed 2019 album, Forever Turned Around.
Whitney is performing at Thalia Hall December 4th through December 8th with tickets currently only available for the 4th and the 8th.
Tiger Hatchery “Rusty Opened Broken Soul of a Locust”
The Improvisational Jazz trio Tiger Hatchery has released a new EP called "Rusty Opened Broken Soul of a Locust”. This year the trio celebrates ten years together and this is their third official release.
This is the work of Mike Forbes (sax), Andrew Scott Young (bass), and Ben Billington (drums).
Sally Haze “Dining Room”
Sally Haze recently released their debut EP, “Dining Room”. This is the hazy dream pop of William Wright and Jessica Wright.
They also dropped a fantastic cover of The Beatles’ classic ‘Yesterday” with in weeks of the release of their EP.
Enchanters – High Energy Garage Trio Open For Danko Jones at Lee’s Palace 12.06
Enchanters are a throwback to the old school, thumpin’ garage rock. Based in Toronto, this power trio are inspired by legends such as The Stooges and The Damned. They have new 7” releases planned for 2020 including this track “Firetruck”. This is a high energy tune with shredding guitars and fuzzy bass licks. Crank this up and take it for a ride. You can enjoy this tune and many other rippin’ rock n’ rollers at Lee’s Palace on Friday December 6th when Enchanters opens up for Danko Jones at Lee’s Palace. – Kris Gies
Petrolane “All Day Long”
Petrolane has released a new single called “All Day Long”. This is an addictive blend of Hip Hop, Future Soul, and R&B. The producer has released a series of singles over the last year, and really shows no sign of slowing.
Deep Sea Peach Tree jangle onwards on “Certain Thoughts,” play Our Wicked Lady 12.7
Uncertainty permeates “Certain Thoughts,” the latest single by NYC indie pop trio Deep Sea Peach Tree, interspersed among jangling, treble-friendly guitars and an unperturbed vocal performance by frontman Kristof Denis. Amidst lyrics detailing how “some things never change,” Deap Sea Peach Tree play on, their bright, upbeat sound counteracting the song’s meandering narrative. In the same sense that Denis’s lyricism seems to accept the cards as they fall, that despite how he may “look for answers, [they] never appear,” the band seems happy to play on, embedding “Certain Thoughts” with a certain sunny optimism and a compartmentalized worldview; listen below, and catch Deep Sea Peach Tree at Our Wicked Lady on December 7th, alongside QWAM, the Down & Outs, and Lackadazies, presented by Bloodless Management. —Connor Beckett McInerney
Jam FLEXÏ’s varied noisy debut “EP I,” plays Our Wicked Lady 12.4
Post-punk outfit FLEXÏ’s debut effort EP I is a scorching affair, marked by aggressive deadpan vocal performances, acid-washed guitars, and a seemingly unstoppable momentum. Starting on a stuttering, syncopated invocation of the trio’s proclivity for asynchronous instrumental lines and a screaming vox (“Post Synapse”) and concluding with tactile, nearly spoken word trudge on closer “No Sense in Reason,” FLEXÏ explore a range of noise throughout the extended play’s six tracks, never letting their sound get stale. Listen below, and catch them on December 4th at Our Wicked Lady, supporting BRNDA, Fat Heaven, and Dougie Poole. Photo by Joe Saturday (via Instagram)
JackLNDN Brings Infectious House Set to Empire Control
Young and ambitious, JackLNDN has a wizard-like ability to transform a room. The native Londoner has been playing sets and creating music at a breakneck pace that even his more experienced peers cannot keep up with. While Indiana-based rapper, Freddie Gibbs, performed through a cloud of smoke at Empire’s outdoor stage, JackLNDN invited an understated yet dedicated crowd to his set on the indoor stage.
Local opening DJ, Ben///Jester, deftly set the mood for the crowd with samples and remixes of tracks by Bob Moses, Parcels and Bonobo. The youthful DJ orchestrated a dance party with assiduous attention to detail and endeared the crowd to his upbeat vibe by curating a gentle ebb and flow of danceable tracks.
While the DJ openers made sure to limber up the Austin crowd, it was JackLNDN who would prove to be the tipping point in making Saturday a memorable night. While JackLNDN’s bedrock is firmly rooted in house music, he switches the lenses of which his music flows from pop to jazz to progressive. Sliding through hits like “All I See”, “The Feels” and “Never Get Enough” – he kept his audience on his hook with an incessant barrage of grooved-out chord progressions.
Playing late into Saturday night, JackLNDN showcased an incredible voice and a sharp skillset of playing keys while simultaneously mixing his own music. An entertaining light show with intricate visuals only added to the lounge atmosphere that continued a slow burn of sexuality throughout the night. While many in the audience were in constant movement for over 3 hours straight, the mollifying effect of the music unburdened the crowd for a cathartic release.
-Lee Ackerley
Bernie & The Wolf “Willingly”
Bernie & The Wolf have released a new single called “Willingly”. This is the second single from the duo since the release of their debut album, Catch Some, back in 2017. This is the first single from their forthcoming LP, Haughty Banter.
This is the indie rock of Bernadette Conant (Guitar & Vocals) and Erik Lobo (Drums & Bass). They are currently on Part one of a four part, four month tour to celebrate the release of their album.