When members of hardcore outfit Jena Berlin retraced their steps and formed a rustic indie rock band in Restorations, they provided just the right musical backdrop for the raspy, dynamic vocals of singer Jon Loudon. After releasing a 7-inch, a split album with Rosetta, the band has been hard at work on releasing a full-fledged album that they will be releasing on vinyl via Tiny Engines on April 19 and early digitally via iTunes/Bandcamp on March 22. Tonight they’ll be celebrating the upcoming release with a free show at Kung Fu Necktie. The self-titled album was recorded by Algernon Cadwallader’s Joe Reinhart, and mixed at The Headroom by Jonathon Low, who has previously worked with Dr. Dog and mewithoutYou. Joining them on the bill will be buddies The Holy Mess and Gods and Queens. Restorations will also be doing an acoustic set at Grindcore House on March 26. Kung Fu Necktie, 1201 N. Front St., 8pm, Free, 21+ - Bill McThrill
Here are 3 reviews from a selection of CDs that were recently submitted here.
“I could spend all night singing this song/I’m searching for reasons to tell you that you should still be mine" are lyrics from Bird Dog’s self-titled EP. They hail from Brooklyn, and their EP is a delicious mix of rock, roots and soul, the kind of music that your ears have been searching for. The music will strike a chord with your soul and the lyrics are intelligently relatable. Bird Dog’s tracks will brighten any rainy day or sustain the light of a sunny day; make no mistake, this is music you do not want to deny yourself the chance to listen to. Bird Dog’s self-titled EP is streaming and available for download here.
Electro-pop power team Jonka’s album "Slow and Steady Wins The Race" (the follow-up album, Pinks and Blues, has yet to be released) is overflowing with fresh synth beats and brilliant vocal harmonies. Jonka’s music mixes together 80s pop and hip-hop, coming up with a nostalgic yet strikingly modern content. The lyrics are stirringly heartfelt; consider these lyrics from the song "Guided By Light," "Get a little bit older, now you think for yourself/Instead of waiting your turn, it’s time to get off the shelf/ Get a little bit wiser, you’ve been kicking around/Instead of kicking your can, you’ve got your feet on the ground." Jonka’s music will make you think, it will make you want to dance, and it somehow makes you want to live a better life, all at the same time.
Medals, with their album "Dancing in Ceremony", are reinventing indie pop. The album began as a new Jaguar Club record (former Jaguar Club members Will Popadic and Yoi Fujita are now Medals) and was inspired by the two’s mutual love for 90s electronica and Blur’s later works. Dancing in Ceremony settled itself somewhere between being a dance floor record and one inspired by the techno giants of the 90s. The album, most of which was recorded in one 10-hour session with Nick Stumpf (of French Kicks), is full of acoustic strumming, bass hooks, distinctive lyrics and scattered beats. Live, Medals is composed of Popadic singing, playing guitar, triggering samples and playing harmonica; Fujita playing bass and playing some keyboards; and longtime friend Nadia Brittingham playing keyboards, singing and playing drums. As they write in their bio, "We’d like to think we are fun but serious, loud and good." Couldn’t have put it better myself. - Leah Tribbett
Just wanted to give a little love to all the Philly folks down at SXSW! Today is the big (mostly) Philly showcase that Creepoid’s Pat Troxell brought together as sort of a homecoming and is sponsored by WXPN & YVYNYL. It should be a fun day of bonding for some of our local acts that made the trip down. Below is the breakdown of set times for the event. Cheers! - The Deli Staff
Pretty phenomenal back to front, but it meant that today, day one of SX, I was taking it slow...in the afternoon I did catch Matt the Electrician playing a benefit show at Guero's. Many shows here have become spur-of-the-moment benefits as SX reacts to the events in Japan. (Sahara Smith raised $100 for the Red Cross on Tuesday night just by putting out a jar + mentioning it once.) Then snuck out later this evening to see one of my favorite new Austin bands, Black Books, who boast the rarely seen drummer/lead singer, and play a kind of off-kilter dream-pop...their "Maria" lit it up + served as the highlight of my night. On the way home caught Amber Digby, honky-tonky modern country girl from Houston, playing the Continental. And tomorrow back into the madness...
Soul-rock quartet Voxhaul Broadcast has been ruling the L.A. music scene for quite some time now. Their long-awaited debut album "Timing Is Everything" drops March 22nd, packed with a solid lineup of 13 tracks. The lazy guitars wailing in "Junkyard Dog" echo sounds similar to Led Zeppelin, while the track "Steal The Diamonds" is funky with R&B infused rock and a jazzy blues feel. Their live shows are dripping with sexy energy, so if you want to witness a talented rock group setting the stage on fire before they blow up, I suggest checking them out at SXSW:
March 16 BuzzbandsLA Day Party (208 W 4th St) – 5:00pm Austin, TX
March 17 Filter Cedar Street Courtyard (208 W4th St @ Lavaca) – 1:00pm Austin, TX
March 17 TGS party @ Rusty Spurs (405 E 7St @ Trinity) – 4:30pm Austin, TX
March 19 Pure Volume House (504 Trinity St) – 6pm Austin, TX
March 19 512 Rooftop (406 E 6th St @ Trinity) official showcase – 8pm Austin, TX
Voxhaul Broadcast will also be playing a FREE record release show at Amoeba on the 22nd. Until then you can listen to the full streaming album "Timing Is Everything" via bandcamp.
Salva has released his new album Complex Housing via Friends of Friends Music and is available in a baby blue vinyl edition. He also premiered a new video for their track "Keys Open Doors" today on Pitchfork Tv, and released a new podcast via xlr8r. Paul Salva is really pushing Chicago house into a new realm with this one.
Salva will be performing at SXSW on 3/18 @ 9pm at the Surefire Showcase @ Barcelona.
Lady Lamb the Beekeeper will be playing the Brooklyn Vegan Showcase at Swan Dive in Austin, TX tonight. The Portland, ME native, who recently transplanted to Boston, is a folk-rocker with the voice of a fallen angel. This performance is the artist's Austin debut. She goes on at 8pm.
Eleanor Logan has a lot of loud friends, but somehow her unadorned voice always manages to be heard above the din. If her music's any indication, she must be one of those people who always gets what she wants without having to demand things go her way.
Known primarily for her work with the early grunge-nostalgic trio Adult Themes, the Brooklyn artist has just released a 2-song 7" courtesy of Crikey! Records under her new solo project, Happy New Year. Where Adult Themes hash out a fun but tried-and-true noise rock formula, Happy New Year seems more than happy to include any sound within its sonic washing machine. Guitar-driven fuzz and aggressive percussion hits surround Eleanor as she sits pretty in the middle of all the action. It's intense and calm, focused and chaotic...kinda hard to put your finger on, which only makes it more interesting.
She promises another song next month, so I'm looking forward to hearing what she sticks in the blender this time.
See her at SXSW all this week. Check her site for details. - Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)
Tonight will be good chance for you to support the arts by coming out to Kung Fu Necktie for “Jerry Lewis’ Birthday, A Little Berlin Benefit”. Little Berlin is a rad artist-run collective and gallery space located in North Philly. “Proceeds from this event will go directly to helping the organization remain open and able to cultivate creativity in the Philadelphia community.” Sure, I’m always happy to help out a good cause. But what I’m really excited about is the rare live performance by Brooklyn/Philly gloom pop masters Mammal of Paradise who will be headlining. If you’re not familiar with Mammal of Paradise yet, it’s a new project from the guys of Bucks County’s Aderbat. They had a couple of fine-ass full-lengths in Rabbits and Rocks and We Belong to the Sea that were produced by Andrew Weiss (Ween, Akron/Family, Henry Rollins Band), who also joined them again on their latest endeavor. Mammal of Paradise have their debut self-titled album available here. Check out below a couple of my favorite new tracks, “Hey Mister” (which needs to be remixed over and over again) and “Anyone’s Song” (an achingly beautiful slow-burner)! And I hope to see you this evening! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., $10, 21+ - H.M. Kauffman
]
Eleanor Logan
