New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Psych Rock group The Tomblands recently released their latest EP, “Gnaw”. The EP’s lead single single is called “Glutton”, and is accompanied by the David Arias and Morgan Paije directed video below.
You can help the band celebrate the release on November 15th at Liar’s Club with Sugarpulp, Whoa Dakota, and The Baby Magic. You can also catch them at Sleeping Village on December 9th and Lincoln Hall on January 22nd.
Photo by Victor Von Goethe
James Swanberg of The Lemons kicked off the month by releasing a new single called “Harder On Me” via his label Tripp Tapes. This is his second single of 2019 following up, “It’s No Wonder”, from back in May.
Instrumental rock quartet American Draft recently released their first album in ten year, The Rescue. The five track album is well worth the wait and closes with the epic and soaring nearly 18 minute title track.
You can catch American Draft on November 22nd at Chop Shop with Sidekick Kato, Canadian Rifle, and The Addisons.
Photo by Jon Beavo
Off-kilter indie connoisseurs Drug Couple lay down a homegrown bop on new single “Be In 2.” A track off the Brooklyn duo’s forthcoming debut EP Little Hits, “Be In 2” finds its pace in the disconcerting give-and-take of modulating, granular synths and an acoustic percussive backbone, occasionally finding space for shimmering guitar riffs and cheerful vocal accents, endowing the final output with a sound somewhere between Animal Collective and Yo La Tengo. This call and response dynamic radiates through the track’s lyrical components as well, with band members Miles and Becca sharing the song’s central melody. Given that Drug Couple’s mythos comes from its two members “falling in love, micro-dosing LSD [together], and considering getting a dog,” it’s clear that the chemistry between its two members isn’t just limited to their joint desire to “find someone special to share the end times with.” Jam it below, and catch them at the Broadway on November 18th for their record release show. -Connor Beckett McInerney, Photo by Ed-Rocha Goncalves
New York-based songwriter Gabriel Birnbaum (of Wilder Maker) describes his debut solo LP Not Alone as “classic American music, suitable for everyday use,” and he’s not wrong. There’s something quotidian about his tunes in the way that he recounts daily adventures and the minutia of the minutes passing between the hours, offset by the easygoing nature of his backing band laying down classic folk rock soundscapes. This isn’t to say there’s anything boring about Not Alone; rather, Gabriel Birnbaum’s ability to craft plainspoken-yet-engaging narratives of everyday life resonates as good, honest work—his view of the world is well-used when accompanied by stuttering roots rock electric guitars and rhythmic, acoustic strumming, providing a contemporary example of the hardworking American musician archetype. Stream the first three tracks of the record below, and catch Birnbaum at Turk’s Inn on December 4th. —Connor Beckett McInerney
How to describe Healing Potpourri? Sweet bossa beats with a real gentle vibe. Healing, indeed. It’s like what you wish elevator music was. The boys are coming to The Knockout tonight and we wanted to send out this late but proper invitation. So forth, be soothed. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor
Much like its namesake, “Kaleidoscope Garden” explodes in color over the course of its dramatic, three-minute build, endowing the listener with a colorfully accessible soundscape. The latest offering by Jersey alt rock outfit WYLAND, the track finds its bearings in the blue of cinematic piano and the sauntering drawl of vocalist Ryan Sloan before a bright explosion of guitars and an exciting percussive drive. WYLAND’s penchant for melody and rock showmanship is in full force on “Kaleidoscope;” listen below and be sure to see the Garden State four piece at Baby’s All Right on November 16th. -Connor Beckett McInerney, Photo by Kelsey Ayres
"Rattlesnake," Lauren Rocket’s new single, captures the pleasure of feeling alive and adventurous. The singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist’s latest solo endeavor subverts rock ‘n’ roll tropes, sweetening her blustery guitar passages with an empowering anthem that flirts with pop’s experimental possibilities. "Wild nights/playing games in the dark," Rocket sings in a whispery croon, living through life with infectious zest. If "Rattlesnake" comes across as fully-formed, there’s a good reason for this. Having led the power-pop group ROCKET, and toured with bands like The Pink Spiders and Night Terrors of 1927, she’s taken from those experiences to mold a musical persona that is all her own.
Check out the video for "Rattlesnake below. – Juan Rodríguez
Divine in composition and execution is the delicate and peaceful music of Hartford’s Bandshes. The Americana trio released last month their latest record titled Small Talk; listeners will find within the album one beautifully composed tune after the next. Take the title track as a shining example of the way lead singer Zoe Chatfield commands the piano-driven song’s mighty sentiment while being backed by the vocals of bandmates Athena Demaille Von Schmidt and Emily Gregonis, creating rich harmonies to spare. While "Small Talk" is fierce, other tracks like "Dreamers" are both melancholic and hopeful, lingering with their piano melodies in the minds of listeners. Intentional or not, the lo-fi feel of the recordings, or perhaps the rusticity of production, makes each track the more powerful and elegant. The group is set to play a hometown show at the Hanging Hills Brewery on November 10th. Stream the silvery track "Surrounded" from the new record below, and start your weekend right. – Rene Cobar
Sy Somebody has released his debut single, “Take The Money”. This is the Psych Pop of Casey Meehan, the founder of Chicago Mixtape, and the first taste of an album being planned for February 2020.
New York band of brothers Caravela lay down sunny dream-pop on their most recent record Ski, splitting the difference between emo-inspired lyricism and bright, guitar-driven jangle rock in their dynamic sound. From the infectious riffing on “Carrier,” wherein distant trips to Tokyo are hazily described against stadium-filling percussive fills, to the ghostly, love sick falsetto of album standout “Make Believe,” Frank and Stephen Graniero maintain momentum throughout the album’s ten tracks, delivering a final output perfect for fans of emo, post-punk, and the like. Stream it below, and catch them at Baby’s All Right on November 10th. —Connor Beckett McInerney
Noise Rock trio Den has released the first single, “Entire Mire”, from their forthcoming album, Iron Desert, which is set to be released on November 22nd via Corpse Flower.
This is the work of Ian Piirtola, Ray Keenan, and Adam Harris.
You can chelp Den celebrate the release of their album on November 22rd at Bricktown with Barren Heir, Mayor Daley, and Lilac.
