Portland

Dream Wulf Turns Up The Heat

Posted on:

Dream Wulf has a new EP coming out, and they’ve already proved its gonna be a good one with the pre-release “Confusing Times.” From the very first note, the dark, heavy psychedelic rock is intense and demanding. The song commands your attention, especially the vocals. The wailing, dramatic tones definitely set up the song’s mood. It feels like you’re swirling your hands in some hot sand, creating designs that are intricate and mesmerizing. Equally as attention-grabbing is the guitar solo near the end of the song. It’s very bluesy and high energy, playing off the drums remarkably well. They definitely turn up the heat on an already scorching song. It’s blisteringly enjoyable.

Dream Wulf will be playing PestoFest on March 16th. You can find more details about the event on the facebook page. 

  -By Nick Hartman

L.A.

Drinker take a pause on swaying, downtempo new single “Holiday”

Posted on:

Like many of us, Aaron Mendelsohn could use a breather. On "Holiday," Mendelsohn—who performs under the name Drinker—gives thought to how some self-reflection can guide your life choices for the better. The swaying, downtempo track served as a defining moment for Mendelsohn, given that he wrote it in one aftertoon just before moving back to Los Angeles after spending some time living in New York City. With its murky, dimly lit mood—helmed in unison with his bicoastal creative partner Ariel Loh—the ambient-leaning "Holiday" reflects the uncertainty of making such difficult choices with a cautious sense of confidence.

"Holiday" is the fourth single off of Drinker’s forthcoming debut LP, Fragments, which comes out on May 3 via B3SCI Records. Juan Rodríguez

Toronto

Jay Feelbender – Garage Rock Debut Album “Big Bloom”

Posted on:

Brand new garage rocker Jay Feelbender has just dropped his debut record “Big Bloom”. The opening track “Nostalgia, That’s The Autumn ft. Luna Li” sounds like the musical score for Napolean Dynamite. Track 2 “Solar” has the guitars come out to play. The riff is fuzzy and somewhat lazy which gives the track a great slacker feel. Put your feet up and blast this Feelbender record then you’ll feel better. – Kris Gies

NYC

Beshken & CLAVVS to play Day 2 of Austin Pedal & Synth Expo Showcase, 03.16

Posted on:

FREE Eventm RSVP here! Info about Day One here!

For our upcoming Austin Pedal & Synth Expo Showcase, we are excited to get to feature the music of a couple of NYC locals. The electronic music Beshken makes is meditative and complex, weaving between digital and acoustic instruments with dreamlike results. His latest track, “Cursed”, picks its way between honey smooth synths and dissonant vocal effects, reflecting on the mental revolutions between sleep and insomnia. On the other end, while their lyrics too reflect on sleepless thoughts, the music of CLAVVS is rather lucid. The production on their most recent single “Devils I Know” places the vocals at the forefront of a hypnotic and unexpectedly baroque electronic backdrop. The Expo will be held on March 16th at the Chugging Monkey – listen to CLAVVS, Beshken and the other artists who will appear below. – Sunny Betz 

Chicago

Tiny Kingdoms @ Cobra Lounge (3/8)

Posted on:

Tiny Kingdoms released a new space-themed single last week, “Space Camp” b/w “Cadets”. This is the band’s first release since their 2018 album, Realms.

This is the work of Jake Newling (Drums), Nico Miura (Guitar/Vocals), Nick Collis (Bass), and Ryan Mitchell (Guitar).

You can catch Tiny Kingdoms at Cobra Lounge tomorrow, March 8th, with Boss Fight, Holy Pinto, and Retirement Party.

Philadelphia

New Nothing Album Available for Streaming & Purchase

Posted on:

Nothing’s Spirit Of The Stairs – B – Sides & Rarities was recently released via Relapse Records. A somber, soothing, shoegazing sound filters through one’s speakers. The album offers a range of sonics from the Philly four-piece; you’ll find stripped-down demos, covers, and B-sides, while they also showcase those hypnotic, searing, sledgehammer atmospherics that we’ve come to know and love from Nicky Palermo and the gang. Nothing will be performing next in Philly with Basement and Teenage Wrist on Tuesday, May 14 at the TLA.

Chicago

The Embryos

Posted on:

The Embryos formed back in 2017 from the ashes of Honda Pavarotti and Cooled Out Babies and released their debut album, “Open The Kimono”, in 2018. They kicked off 2019 by releasing and EP called “Singles Club Volume 1” and are now preparing to release Volume 2 in the coming months.

This is the Power Pop of Brian Daley, Joseph Daley, Finn Swingley, and George Drag. They name check Big Star, Teenage Fan Club, and XTC in describing themselves and that is a great starting point for their really enjoyable sound.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Fall of ’74” – Grimace Federation

Posted on:

“Fall of ’74” is the new single from Grimace Federation, which features original band member Zack Zweig on vibraphone, second drum kit and Fender Rhodes. It was recorded at Soma Studios by producer/musician John McEntire (Tortoise, Sea and Cake, Stereolab etc). A warped spin, as though a helicopter is hanging overhead, merges with the clarity of the vibraphone and the ramping up of bass, as drums launch the song into action. A free-flowing, jazz-prog aesthetic melds in the delightfully morphing, musical movement.

Chicago

Lala Lala “Water Over Sex” Audiotree ‘Far Out’ Video

Posted on:

Lala Lala and Audiotree have release the band’s performance of “Water Over Sex” from their 2018 debut album, The Lamb. Their line-up for this set included the talented, and everywhere, Nnamdi Ogbonnaya on bass.

Lala Lala will be performing two sold out shows at Lincoln Hall this month, but were also named as one of the many local artists (Ric Wilson, Tasha, Dreezy, Whitney, Grapetooth) to be included in the 2019 Pitchfork Music Festival line-up taking place on July 19 to the 21st.

Nashville

Indie pop artist Struan opens at The End on 03.14

Posted on:

Struan Shields — who performs music on a first-name basis as Struan — takes the stage to open for Mike Mains & the Branches at The End on March 14th. The indie pop artist released two singles over the course the past several months which have been raking in the Spotify listens. The first track "Better" brings on the synth-pop of the early 2010s which might give listeners hints of The Naked And Famous or YouTube retrowave artists like FM-84 or The Midnight. The latest track, called "Always", slows things down to a tempo fans of The 1975 or CHVRCHES might find familiar. Struan gets the indie pop formula right, and it’ll be worth your while to see him execute it live. Take a listen to "Always" below. – Will Sisskind