The grungy, hardcore post-punk trio that is Verses Narrow hits your eardrums with rich, piercing guitar riffs, precisely driven drum work, and passionate indie vocals that all come together nicely to make for a well-executed sound that we think you should check out. Formed in Brooklyn in October of 2011, Bryan Louie, Sal DellAquila and Aaron Nice seem to borrow separate elements from the styles of their 90s band influences like The Jesus Lizard, Shellac and Quicksand to make a their own sound that they claim through their well-rounded execution. If you liked At The Drive In, check out Verses Narrow. They are set to play Pianos on 6/14 with Strangers, Lord Classic and The Gorgeous Hands. Listen to “Boredom” below. –Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)
Listening to Liz & the Lost Boys is like sitting down to lunch with a good friend. It’s the complete openness and honesty that shines in Liz Ciavolino’s lyrics, carried on gentle harp strings. The music does not overpower, despite the layered and varying sounds coming from not only Ciavolino - who’s accomplished on both the harp and piano - but from her Lost Boys, who provide the melodic breeze her vocals float on. The night is a celebration of the band’s new album, their eponymous debut. Prior to their performance, local acts Anjuli Josephine, a soulful bluesy-pop crooner, and Son Step, multi-styled experimental rock, will take the stage. MilkBoy Philly, 1100 Chestnut St., 8:30pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by William Lukas) - Shaylin O’Connell
Johnny Brenda’s hosts the record release of Marc Silver’s newest solo album A Miner’s Town. Silver delivers earnest tales that take listeners on a heartfelt and painstaking journey exposing semi-fictional hardships in a way that seems deeply personal and in that same vein authentic. It’s a melting pot of traditional folk and storytelling country blues that hits a nerve and catches fire. Pete Donnelly & the Wise Easy (member of NRBQ and The Figgs) will be in support playing an easygoing silky version of mod-pop that has a certain gravitational pull in an instantly infectious kind of way. Ross Bellenoit, known for his fine guitar work with numerous local acts throughout the Philly music community like Amos Lee and Divers, rounds out the evening as the axe master/songwriter brings out a pop/folk/blues combo platter with his own band that will include Carl Cheeseman, Sonja Sofya and Todd Erk. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ (Illustration by James Rose) - Michael Colavita
Singer-songwriters are rarely inspired by punk themes and imagery. For Sizzy Rocket, she has all the love in the world, but channeled beneath her eyeliner, tattoo ink, leather jacket, and sexy grand piano, it can come out in some fairly unconventional ways. Whether singing odes to a crush ('Jamie'), or walking down memory Lane in 'Sid and Nancy,' Sizzy Rocket is about as devil-may-care as her latest EP 'We do it for the Thrills' would make her out to be. The pianist breathes more fire into her 88-key chords than most guitarists with twin Marshall stacks and a six string. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
Below is a promo video from art-pop four-piece The Chairman Dances for their record release show this evening at Kung Fu Necktie. It was directed by Gregor Knell. You can also stream their new LP Michael and the Prophetess in its entirety HERE.
We'll take the opportunity given us by Northside to highlight a few emerging local artists we haven't blogged about in some time - or not at all. Browsing through the list of bands playing tonight, we notice that NYC Kenrda Morris will be at Matchless with Aabaraki (pictured, song streaming below), two acts dedicated to bringing soul back to the heights it deserves (here's an article about the Soul Revival in NYC by the way).
On the other side of the musical genres' spectrum, noise masters Yvette will challenge (and probably destroy some) ears at Muchmore's, headlining a bill of droney bands that includes Courtship Ritual (good name! streaming below), and electro experimenter Alan Watts.
Semi-French pop treat Slowdance (song streaming below) will play Public Assembly's back room with two fully French bands (by the way, now that the main room is closed, Pub. Ass. is throwing shows in a pretty cool room upstairs). Spike Hill on the other hand will host three Brooklyn bands we covered inside out: ARMS, Conveyor and Miniboone, and one we never heard about: Chris Mills.
Grand Street's mainstay dive Trash Bar will host loud garage New Jersey based outfit The Everymen and rising indie crooner Tyburn Saint, together with this weird NYC band called The Cowmen - what the heck is this, zombie-country? Some imaginative heads at work there!
285 Kent will surely have a packed show featuring Ava Luna, Twin Sister, Julian Lynch and other great bands from out of town, but these are artists on the verge of not being emerging anymore... Glasslands on the other hand has a DJ only night with some local stars behind the booth - but we don't care about DJs...
“Fade to Grey” is an enticing chilled-out track being offered up for free by emerging dreampoppers Rohypnotise on their bandcamp page. A loose and jammy drum pattern rises up from the depths, with soft, dreamy vocals quickly entering the mix. The vocal phrasing and subsequent deliberate matched-stepped chord progression brings to mind the work that former Depreciation Guild and current Ice Choir creator Kurt Feldman does so well. There’s sophistication in the songwriting and recording here, with the initial pattern giving way to a much bigger central hook. With plenty of movement throughout the track, little sonic surprises like tambourines and keyboad lines appear at unexpected moments. The band is playing Drunken Piano's Northside Fest show on 06.13 at Buffalo Snow together with other noteworhty NYC bands Railbirds and Gondola. - Dave Cromwell
The debut LP, ‘Hazel’, from quintet, Young Hunting, is mature and thoughtful. An album deserving of multiple, attentive spins, undisturbed in a dimly lit room. Written and recorded over several years, Hari Rex & Ilya Mxx, are songwriters who absorb the subtext of life, allow it to marinate in their bones, and slowly whisper back it’s poetry. The first three singles, “Maze,” “Sweet Bird,” and “Rust,” were individually leaked as the album progressed, showcasing the band’s lush arrangements and 70s folk pop influence. But, it is the newest single, “Wrecking Ball,” that proves the bands staying power. It’s the kind of deeply personal anthem filled with the magic that can stir gut-wrenching emotion is even the most disconnected listener. The album was released this week on Oakland’s Gold Robot Records. Young Hunting play the Bootleg Bar this Friday, June 14, followed by an in-store at Origami Vinyl on June 25. - Jacqueline Caruso
Before the set started I was warned by a friend to get ready for the tiny fireball of energy that is Kitten’s front woman Chloe Chaidez, who’s 19 by the way. My inner monologue of “Oh yeah, ok whatever girl” was blown away by Chaidez’s sex charged hair whipping performance just a few songs in. Supported by a classic rock sound and a healthy dose of 80’s post punk and new wave, Chaidez was acrobatic to say the least, climbing on amps, monitors and at times doing handstands onto bandmates. - Richard Kim
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