Lost Stars sound like the next band that will take the main stages at the big summer music festivals, what with their massive and anthemic pop sound, their introspective lyrics, and Damian Malnar’s powerful vocals. Their new single "Enough" takes inspiration from current mega-groups like The 1975 and Twenty One Pilots, but it avoids sounding derivative and instead brings fresh air into a pop scene that seems saturated. Plus, the message behind "Enough" makes it more than just a pop song; it stands as a testament to pushing forward through mental health struggles and learning what it takes to survive. Take a listen to "Enough" below. – Will Sisskind
Chicago
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The Symposium “The Sonic Crystal EP”
The Symposium dropped a new EP last week called “The Sonic Crystal”. This is our first new music from the boys since 2017’s self-titled LP, and it is an impressive return.
This is the work of Sam Clancy (Guitar), Charlie (Vocals), Benny Goetz (Bass), and Brian Buckley (Drums).
Philadelphia
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Weekend Warrior – June 7 – 9
Undeterred, raunchy riffs and snarly, sweaty vocals fuel the Narcos Family Band. A raw refinement converges as the runaway momentum of the instrumentation plays out like a bull rampaging through a China shop. The rhythmic push pummels everything that dares to enter its path. This Sunday night at Haus of Yarga, they’ll be joined by the agitation-releasing, quick-hitting garage-hardcore hybrid of Trash Knife. A pair of Midwestern punk outfits in Michigan’s Werewolf Jones and Wisconsin’s Fire Heads aid in amplifying the evening, which is also rounded into form by Ghoul Friends. – Michael Colavita
More places to rock at this weekend…
Haus of Yarga (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Regothereshego, High Noon, SUN Narcos Family Band, Trash Knife
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Rosali, SAT Live Band Karaoke with Pat Finnerty & The Full Band
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT American Trappist (Solo)
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Mute Host/DJ Deejay, SAT The Dull Blue Lights, The Naked Sun/Fame Lust
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SUN Ruby The Hatchet
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) SAT Petal
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Ultimate Live Evil
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Jesse Ruben/(Downstairs) WXPN’s Decades Dance Party & Live Broadcast, SAT (Downstairs) Basement Party With Lady V & DJ Touchtone
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Wordsmith Experience, SAT Tortuga, The Sea Tease, Upstream Color/Ashes ToVanity, Ghost of the Mill, Rambone, SUN Future Stars MetalFest
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Heaven Man, Mirrorsigns
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT The Shakedown
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Dav, Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Live Band Karaoke, SUN That Totally Unnecessary Drink with Pat Finnerty’s Live Band Karaoke/Rusty Cadillac
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Midwestern Exposure, SAT Kenty Love, Maskao, SUN Hazard Sizer
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Riverside Odds, Molly Rhythm, SAT The Ancient Mariners, Night Mission
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Sad & Boujee: The Emo Meets Trap Dance Party, SAT Unloveable – The Smiths & Morrissey Tribute Band, DJ Chas Paris, DJ Rich Russo
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) SAT DJ Lean Wit It, SUN Ear Me Now
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret/DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Ed Cristof
The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Hallucinogenic Bulb, Serpent Blight, SAT The Tone Bandits
Century (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI The Whips, Zapf Dingbats , SAT Wormtooth, Gristmill, The Magnificent ShitHawks Of The Greater Northern Americas
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Whackbat, Jordan Flaherty, JKannon, Tom Monari&Sara, Danny Varughese, SAT Superunknown, Delmont, Knightlife, The Good Mess, Candice Lee
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Jeff Thomas’ All-Volunteer Army, SAT Billy Joel Tribute (Benefitting Alzheimer’s Research): Mikey B & Friends
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Nematode
Green Line on Locust (4426 Locust St.) SAT Benefit Show for March to End Rape Culture: Snakeboy Gang
Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI Solomonic Sound System, House Of Roots
The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT The Invasive Species (Tape Release), Cult Objects, SUN Drums Like Machine Guns, The Beeps, Foxy Doxies
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Impressionist, Buddie, Puppy Angst
Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Susie Derkins, In Trouble, A Million Dollars
Gay Baby Jail (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Space Donkey and the Moonbouncers, Mesén Around, Twin Beds, SAT Rego, ASCXNSION, HUEY, the Cosmonaut, Jewelssea, Magnetic The Shaman, Calo
Anthorna Gallery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Marcelyn, Elaine Rasnake, Eeden,SAT Yellowhammer Fund Benefit Show: Three Man Cannon, SUN Douse, Computer Dating
The Bass Mint (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Blushed, Qwark
Truck (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Brackish, Noera, Overwinter
Secret World (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Michael Cormier, Ana Woulfe
Chicago
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Ethers “Midnight”
Ethers released a new single called “Midnight” this week. This is the first new music we have had from the band since their 2018 self-titled debut album.
Ethers is the Lo-Fi punk of Russ Calderwood, Bo Hansen, Mary McKane, and Tim Thomas.
You can catch Ethers tonight, June 7th, at Cole’s Bar with Cafe Racer and SPVD.
Chicago
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Blu Jeen Turns One
The mostly slept on self-titled debut album from Blu Jeen (aka Sean Cullen, SEENMR) is celebrating its one year anniversary next week. The album was released in June 2018 via the Berlin label Cosmic Compositions, and is a mixed of sleepy Psych/Folk Rock, ambient production, and warped soul.
Below is the video for the album’s opening track “Babe”.
Chicago
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Modaff “Night Light”
Modaff released a new single last week called “Night Light”, their first since the release of their debut EP, “Clean House” back in December.
Modaff is fronted by local artist and writer Emilie Modaff along with Chris DeSalvo, Josh Stanley, and Andy Modaff.
NYC
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Sooner flashes shoegaze-pop in latest EP, play Brooklyn Bazaar 06.13
Brooklyn’s Sooner lets each of its influences shine on their own in its 2018 EP Stranger, and, with that name, a My Bloody Valentine reference shouldn’t catch any shoegazer fan by suprise. The band does an excellent job of flashing some serious shoegazing in between their jangly pop tunes. Snappy drum beats and easy-going vocal melodies make way for furious guitar drones and elaborate basslines drenched in dfuzz. Songs like “Humid Air” and “Notes from Underground” (streaming) gradually build up, slowly revving up each instrument for a grand climax. The ease with which the band switches up their intensity keeps the listener engaged, while sonic layers are added and removed as the song progresses. The group has kept busy since releasing their EP by playing a string of shows throughout Brooklyn, a string which will continue on June 13th with a gig at Brooklyn Bazaar. – Rene Cobar
Philadelphia
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New Slingshot Dakota Album Available for Streaming & Purchase
Heavy Banding, the new album from Slingshot Dakota, recently arrived via Community Records, Specialist Subject Records & Stiff Slack. Keys and drums unite to create a constant, thumping heaviness. When coupled with Carly Comando’s affecting vocals, the message is unquestioningly delivered. The duo continues to be an undeniable, sonic force coming out of the Lehigh Valley.
New England
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The Last Great Kings embrace indie-folk in debut LP, play Club Bohemia 08.02
The Last Great Kings invite you to sit back and enjoy the world around you, to the tune of vibrant acoustic guitars strings. The indie-folk trio from Lynn, MA released their debut full-length album Starry Eyed Kids back in January, and it is filled with tunes that highlight the band’s fluid basslines, lively acoustic guitars, and quick-witted drums patterns. Songs like “Wow, That’s a lot of Jet Skis” have the vital story-telling ingredients of folk, that great sing-along vibe that is characteristic of New England’s famous Irish pubs. The group has a style similar to Noah and the Whale, albeit a bit more playful and stripped down. You can catch The Last Great Kings Aug 2nd at Club Bohemia in Cambridge, MA. “Wow, That’s a lot of Jet Skis” is streaming below. – Rene Cobar
L.A.
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West Coast Weekend welcomes the summer on “Nobody Like You”
West Coast Weekend has one great thing going for them—they have a band name that virtually any 9-5er can sympathize with. Luckily, the indie-pop quartet’s new single, "Nobody Like You," also has a brisk, jubilant vibe that perfectly exemplifies their positive attitude. Everything about it pops with a radio-friendly sound—featuring energetic claps to surging horns, the band lends their slick harmonies to a track that casts a sun-dappled glow.
"Nobody Like You" is the second single off their upcoming EP, which comes out sometime in June. Catch their debut show at The Satellite alongside Sleeplust and Molly Moore on June 10. Juan Rodríguez
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Portland
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Song Premiere: Juniper Purr, “Goldie Waits”
Juniper Purr is releasing a new album, Galaxy Radio, this Friday via Godyssey Music. The Deli is lucky to premiere the album’s final track, “Goldie Waits.” “Goldie Waits” starts off cheerful and charming. The song’s mellow blend of surf and psych is lulling but never dull. The upbeat surf riffs and falsetto vocals are the perfect entrance to vocalist’s Bo Olivieri’s smoother sound. His voice is warm and meditative, like the sunshine resting on your shoulders during a day at the beach. It takes the listener on a journey through summery, thoughtful days with the promise of more to come.
-By Avril Carrillo
Chicago
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Whitney “Giving Up”
Whitney announced this week that their next album, Forever Turned Around, will be released on August 30th via Secretly Canadian. They also released the first single, “Giving Up”, for that forthcoming album.
You can catch Whitney at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 21st.