Upcoming: Firehorse at Mercury Lounge on 12/3

Firehorse

Gold Lake

Tuesday, December 3

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors: 9:30PM

Tickets: $10

21+

Check out the track “Fool” from their album Pills From Strangers.

These Animals - “Oak” + NYC Show

Check out the clip for “Oak” by These Animals.  The track was directed by Samuel Aaron Bennett and is from their full-length, debut album Pages.  The band will be at Mercury Lounge on Friday, December 6.  Doors are at 6:30PM and it will cost you $10.

Upcoming: HITS at Mercury Lounge on 12/4

HITS

Chainwave / Faulkner

Wednesday, December 4

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors: 8:30PM

Tickets: $10

21+

U.S. Royalty - “Into The Thicket”

U.S. Royalty released their new single, “Into The Thicket”.  The track is from their sophomore album Blue Sunshine which is scheduled for release on January 21.

James Bay - "Clocks Go Forward"

James Bay released a new video last week.  It's for the song "Clocks Go Forward" which is from the EP, The Dark Of The Morning.  The clip was directed by Alex Shahmiri.  Check it out below.

Avec Sans Release Video For “Shiver”

London based duo Avec Sans have released a video for their track, “Shiver”.  The clip was directed by Sing J Lee.  Check it out below.

Samantha Kushnick Releases One Room House

Samantha Kushnick released her solo debut album, One Room House, last week.  Check out a couple of tracks from the record below.

One Room House was recorded and mixed in Portland by Lee Howard at Mystery Machine Studios (Y La Bamba, Nick Jaina) and mastered by Tom Swift at Swift Kick Productions (Miles Davis, BB King). The album is graced with performances by some of Portland’s finest musicians. Nick Jaina and Matt Berger (drummer for the Portland Cello Project and Laura Gibson) appear on the record as do Anna Fritz of the Cello Project and Jay Cobb Anderson and Mimi Naja of the string band Fruition. 

Based in Portland, Oregon, Samantha Kushnick is a cellist, singer and songwriter in the folk tradition. She performs with the Vancouver Symphony in Washington state and has toured nationally with the Portland Cello Project and Typhoon, Portland’s thirteen-piece indie rock ensemble. Sami graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory in 2007 with a degree in cello performance. She was raised in New York in a musical family (her great-uncle, Fred Hellerman, is a founding member of the folk quartet The Weavers). Sami began playing cello at the age of ten and has studied with renowned cellists Matt Haimovitz and Hans Jensen.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - "Unearth"

Check out the new video from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.  The clip is for the track “Unearth” which is from their latest album, Fly By Wire.

Made in Japan while they were on tour and taken from their fourth album, Fly By Wire, available now on Polyvinyl, band member Phil Dickey elaborates:  "I think tour music videos are inherently boring. We had no intention of making one until my wife found this little dancing robot at a novelty shop in Kobe, Japan." Over the course of tour, the band busted out the robot at shows, toting him to tourist spots and karaoke bars as well. "We knew we had a winner when we took him to Miyajima," Dickey said. "It's a tiny island outside of Hiroshima with a huge amount of shrines, temples, and tame deer." 

For this new album, the members of SSLYBY returned to the attic where they made their debut full-length Broom, but first they took a 5000 mile detour. After the Boris Yeltsin Foundation in Yekaterinburg, Russia extended an invitation to the band, Phil Dickey, Will Knauer, and Jonathan James spent a whirlwind six days in their namesake's home country this past January: meeting with Yeltsin's close friends and personal translator (who gifted them seven bottles of expensive Russian vodka) and performing at an elementary school after the U.S. consulate named them cultural ambassadors for a day. The band is releasing a documentary about their life-changing trip this winter, called Discussions With Russians. Watch the trailer here.

Drowners - “Luv, Hold Me Down” + NYC Show

Check out “Luv, Hold Me Down” from indie band Drowners.  The band is scheduled to release their self-titled debut album via Frenchkiss Records on January 28.  To celebrate their album release, they’ll be taking the stage at The Bowery Ballroom on Friday, January 31...details below.

Drowners

Friday, January 31

The Bowery Ballroom

6 Delancey St

New York, NY

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM

Tickets: $13

16+

Upcoming: The Melodic To Play NYC Show on 12/9

UK band The Melodic will take the stage at Mercury Lounge on December 9.  It’ll cost you $10 and doors are at 6:30PM.  They are celebrating the release of their new album Effra Parade.

The Melodic

Vikesh Kapoor / Bird Courage

Monday, December 9

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors: 6:30PM

Tickets: $10

21+

The group's members came of age in the South London neighborhood of Brixton amidst bustling streets and open air markets reverberating with a rich assortment of musics from around the world. In the distinctly English tradition of sonic assimilation, they found influence in the sounds they were hearing. As band member Huw Williams explains, “Brixton is a real melting pot of different people so it doesn’t feel inappropriate for us to introduce sounds from around the world into our music, there was South American and African music around us all the time, as well as reggae and dub music.”

 

The Melodic are a quietly radical band. This is the first young English group to lionize Chilean neo-folk rebel Victor Jara since Sandinista-era Clash. Their new album Effra Parade was self-recorded in a sound-proofed bedroom in South London over several years with a baroque line-up of 18 instruments. All the more impressive when you consider they are still in their early twenties.

 

In the end, the band has created a vibrant new music which references contemporary artists such as Belle & Sebastian, The Magnetic Fields and the Decemberists, exhibits a clear reverence for past masters Paul Simon and Bert Jansch and mixes in elements from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa to create a sound entirely their own.

ResidentBand Features Still Spark’s “Best Times” Video

Our friends over at ResidentBand shot the latest Still Spark video. The clip is for the track “Best Times”.  This song certainly has me missing summer with it’s upbeat, let’s have fun vibe.  Check it out below.

Leaving early in the morning from Los Angeles harbor, they headed out to Catalina Island on a 48' boat loaded with cameras and a few friends, including Still Spark's founder Dan O'Leary and lead singer Seth Freeman.  Freeman explains, "Still Spark is about being okay with wherever we are, as long as we end up there by following our inspiration."  Well... Still Spark was more than just okay with where they were the day of the ResidentBand shoot.  As the shoot came to a close, Freeman remarked "That was fun... Can we do that again tomorrow?"

Cage The Elephant - “Come A Little Closer”

Check out the trippy video Cage The Elephant released for their track, “Come A Little Closer”.  All of the animation was hand drawn by lead singer Matt Shultz.   The clip was directed by Isaac Rentz.  The song is from their latest album, Melophobia.

Lily & The Parlour Tricks to Play Pianos on 12/14

Lily & The Parlour Tricks will be taking the stage at Pianos on Saturday, December 14.  To whet your appetite and get you ready for the show, check out their track “Belle Gunness” below.

Lily & The Parlour Tricks

Starnes and Shah / Eureka Birds / Neonfaith / Johanna Samuels

Saturday, December 14

Pianos

158 Ludlow Street

New York, NY

Doors: 7PM

Tickets: $10

21+

Lily and the Parlour Tricks dive deep into the well of musical Americana and resurface with a wild stylistic brew. Lily's songwriting influences range from The Andrews Sisters to Nine Inch Nails to Johnny Cash, with roots planted firmly in the smoky back room of early rock n' roll.  "Combining dissonant guitar riffs with angelic vocal harmonies, Lily & The Parlour Tricks are the perfect combo of pretty and gritty... the band has a mysterious depth that holds audiences transfixed through their salty and sweet set." (The Wild Magazine, 2012).  Their first EP was recorded live to tape at the legendary Daptone Studios in Brooklyn, and they are currently hard at work on a follow up with an altogether different kind of sound.  With their soaring harmonies, raucous attitude and "deadly sex appeal" (Aesthetes Anonymous, 2012), these friendly sh*t-talkers keep their audiences dancing and howling for more.

Julian Lage Takes Residency at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 in January

Julian Lage will take up residency at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 this January.  See below for details.  Head on over and catch a show or four.

Julian Lage / Nels Cline

Wednesday, January 8

Doors: 7PM  / Show: 8PM

Tickets: $20

Julian Lage / Chris Eldridge

Monday, January 13

Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM

Tickets: $20

Julian Lage / Chris Eldridge

Wednesday, January 15

Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM

Tickets: $20

Julian Lage / Margaret Glaspy

Wednesday, January 22

Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM

Tickets: $20

Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3
185 Orchard Street, New York, NY
$10 per person drink minimum
General Admission Seated 
21+

Swear and Shake - "Brother" + NYC Show

Check out this clip for “Brother” by Swear and Shake.  How did I miss that this song had a video?!  Well, now that I'm in the know… anyway.  The clip was directed by Jay Sansone and is from their upcoming full length album, Ain’t That Lovin’ which is scheduled for an early 2014 release.  Swear and Shake will also be at Mercury Lounge on Friday, December 6...show details are below.

Swear and Shake

These Animals / Shake the Baron

Friday, December 6

Mercury Lounge

217 E Houston Street

New York, NY

Doors 6:30PM

Tickets: $10

21+

Kenna - “Relations” featuring Childish Gambino

Check out the video for “Relations” from Kenna.  The track features Childish Gambino.

Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino links up with the mighty Kenna for the "Relations" official video. Produced by Kenna and Chad Hugo (The Neptunes/N.E.R.D), “Relations” is the title track from Chapter 1 of Kenna’s three-part movement of EP’s Imitation Is Suicide (Chapter 1 & 2 out now via Dim Mak).

Upcoming: Lissie at Webster Hall on 11/25

Lissie will be taking the stage at Webster Hall on November 25...details below.  Check out the video for, “Shameless”, also below.  The song is from her new album Back To Forever.

Lissie

Kopecky Family Band

Monday, November 25

Webster Hall

125 East 11th Street

New York, NY

Doors: 7:30PM / Show: 8:30PM

Tickets: $22

18+

“With my first album, my heart was broken from this tumultuous relationship I’d been in, so I had that fresh hurt on my mind. This time around, that wasn’t the case,” says Lissie. “A lot of the songs on the new record are love songs, but from different angles. Time has passed. With that detachment came the ability to be objective and tell a much better, more well rounded story.” 

“Shameless,” written in London on Valentine’s Day 2012 during sessions with Jim Irvin and Julian Emery, was one of the first tracks she recorded. Lissie returned to the States and teamed up with Garret “Jacknife” Lee (R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups) later in the year.

Blameshift - “Secrets”

Long Island based rock band Blameshift released their new album, Secrets, earlier this month.  The album was produced by Erik Ron. They’ve also released a video for the title track.  Check out the clip below.

Blameshift, comprised of Jenny Mann (vocals), Tim Barbour (guitar and vocals) and Nathan Saake (drums), have been generating serious buzz around the country.  The hype began about a year and a half ago when the band released their EP The Black Rose, a record fully funded by loyal fans. Over 75 related music media outlets, including Taco Bell and Sullen Clothing, supported the bands release, which nearly tripled the band's following.  Soon after the EP release, the band shot a music video with director Jay Sansone for their single "Ghost" off The Black Rose.

The Kills Share Live Concert Film

The Kills recently shared a live concert film.  The concert was shot in Paris in 2011.  Check out the clip for “Fuck The People” below. You can see the concert in its entirety HERE.

If you’re jonesing to see The Kills live, they will be taking the stage at Barclays Center on Saturday, December 14 supporting Queens of the Stone Age…that is providing you already have tickets.

On November 12th 2011, The Kills played the first of two sold out shows at the prestigious L'Olympia Theatre in Paris. Three thousand tickets a night had been sold. After coming off stage at one of the wildest shows of their career, Jamie and Alison turned to each other and said – "we have to film tomorrow night's show!" 

Overnight, the call was put out via Facebook, asking if anyone would come and film the second show for them. At soundcheck the next day, Sunday. November 13th 2011, a group of friends and fans assembled to capture that night's equally stunning show for posterity. 

Director Anita Ribeyrol, along with editors Olivier Aslanian and Sylvain Calves then assembled the footage into the raw, sweat drenched concert movie that The Kills are proud to launch exclusively in partnership with Equipment.

Eatliz - “Miserable”

Israeli indie band, Eatliz, recently released a video for their single, “Miserable”.  The song is from their upcoming album, All of It, which is scheduled for release in early 2014.  The track is seductively dark and captivating.  Check it out below…it's both song and video of the day.

Tel Aviv's indie  rockers  Eatliz are back. After two years in the making, the anticipated third LP "All of It" marks Eatliz's thunderous, fiery return. With hypnotic front-woman Sivan Abelson joining the band, and New York producer Itamar Ziegler (Balkan Beat Box, Pink Noise) on board, "All of It" presents a twist in their already adventurous journey.  

Sonically futuristic yet organic, first single "Miserable" is filled with explosive textures and fiery layers built on a forceful beat, continuing their trend of haunting melodies. Lyrically, the band explores new territories, and have gone deeper and darker than before.

Holograms To Play 285 Kent on 12/6

Swedish band the Holograms will be taking the stage at 285 Kent on December 6.

Holograms

TV Ghost

Friday, December 6

285 Kent

285 Kent

Brooklyn, NY

8PM

Tickets: $10 adv / $12 dos

All Ages

Currently on tour in Europe, this will be the band's first time playing tracks from their sophomore album Forever on this side of the ocean.  

The follow up to last year's self-titled stand out, Forever sees the band, embracing a slight refinement in their sound. Often compared to fellow Scandinavians Iceage, Holograms set themselves apart by creating an album of bright sonic textures, all while staying true to their gritty, DIY punk roots. 

Daytona To Play Shea Stadium on 11/16

New York based band Daytona are having a record release show on Saturday, November 16 over at Shea Stadium BK.  It’ll cost you $8 and it all happens at 8PM.  Their self-titled album comes out on Tuesday, November 19 via Ernest Jenning.  Check out their first single, “The Road” below.

Daytona

Tony Castles / Darlings / Candide

Saturday, November 16

Shea Stadium BK

20 Meadow Street

Brooklyn, NY

8PM

$8

The band is comprised of Hunter Simpson (guitar and vocals), Christopher Lauderdale (drums and vocals) and Jose Boyer (bass and vocals). The sounds of Daytona which vary from their other projects (Wild Yaks/Harlem) run the line between exuberant and melancholic. The sprawling harmonies and hypnotic beats nestled over looping finger-picked guitars hint at the band's inspiration from American folk music, classic rock, and African & Caribbean sounds and rhythms.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Announce Tour

Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. announced that they will be hitting the road in support of their new album, The Speed of Things, which was released this past October.  They are scheduled to make a stop in NYC on March 26 at Webster Hall.  

Tour Dates
[*with Chad Valley]

• 11/23 Detroit, MI - Masonic Temple's Jack White Theatre
• 2/13 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop*
• 2/14 Cincinnati, OH - 20th Century Theatre*
• 2/15 Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe @ Old National Center*
• 2/16 St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House*
• 2/17 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge*
• 2/18 Atlanta, GA - Terminal West @ Kings Plow Arts Center*
• 2/20 Dallas, TX @ Trees*
• 2/21 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's Upstairs*
• 2/22 Austin, TX - Emo's*
• 2/25 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress*
• 3/01 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore*
• 3/07 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room*
• 3/08 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater*
• 3/10 Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck*
• 3/12 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe*
• 3/13 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall*
• 3/14 Chicago, IL - Metro*
• 3/15 Columbus, OH - The A&R Music Bar*
• 3/18 Toronto, ON - The Hoxton*
• 3/20 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*
• 3/21 Washington DC - 9:30 Club*
• 3/22 Millvale, PEA - Mr. Smalls Theatre*
• 3/23 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater*
• 3/24 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer*
• 3/26 New York, NY - Webster Hall*

If I Dropped By... with Rachel Griffin + Ticket & EP Giveaway

Singer/songwriter Rachel Griffin is having a video release show for her new video, “Over The Moon For You”.  The track is from her recently released EP, Over The Moon For You.  The show will take place at Cake Shop on November 17 at 8PM.  To celebrate, not only did we pose our “If I Dropped By...” questions to her, we also have some goodies to give away.  

Enter to win 2 tickets + 1 copy of the Over The Moon For You EP.  Email your name to, contest@quirkynychick.com by Friday, November 15 for your chance.  Please put “Rachel Griffin” in the subject line.

Continue reading to see what I found out during my hypothetical visit to her home.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Rachel Griffin (RG): I'd play the title track of the EP "Over The Moon for You."  I really like playing the piano part (it's super fun and happy) and its also just an excited, joyful tune in general, about finding an incredible love that at one time I really didn't think existed. It's also about how everyone deserves that kind of love and care and that you don't need to fear it. So I'd want to leave the friend with that feeling rather then depressing them with a song and being like, "Looooove suuuccckkkssss .. You'll always be alllooooneeeee" (which I am also very good at doing.. lol extremes... I'm a true artist!) Also, I'm super excited about, "Over The Moon For You" right now because the music video is coming out and it's my first music video ever and I'm been wanting to make music videos forEVER! Since I was a kid I've pretended to be in a music video in my mirror and lip sank. Thank God no one has videos of that. ;) 

Rosie Lowe - “Right Thing”

Rosie Lowe recently released the video for her track, “Right Thing”. The song is from her upcoming EP Right Thing which is scheduled for release on December 3 via 37 Adventures / [PIAS] America.  The clip was directed by Kieren Gallear.  Check it out below.

If two great producers come together for one artist, it's worth checking out. When those two happen to be Kwes and The Invisible's Dave Okumu, you sit up and listen. The debut EP by Devon-born Londoner Rosie Lowe is what brought them all together, and between them they have created something exceptional.

 

Last seen on Lil Silva's addictive summer anthem "No Doubt", Rosie's rich, smooth guest vocals have already caught the media's eye but now she's ready to showcase her own material with her debut EP 'Right Thing'. Due for release on 2 December 2013 via 37 Adventures, 'Right Thing' is a collection of snapshots from the last year of Rosie's life bound together with strong pop sensibilities, an ebbing undercurrent of jazz and expert production.

 

Raised on a rich musical diet, Rosie was already playing the violin and piano by the age of five. By 13 she was juggling six instruments, but it was singing that she always wanted to pursue. Inspired by diverse and original voices ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Bjork, Rosie has developed her own unique vocal style using loops, harmonies, pitch shifting and distortion, all of which feature in her live show. Backed by a striking all-girl band on stage, the blend of mesmerising vocals, electronics and a lithe rhythm section makes for a potent brew.

 

A sultry, piano-led lament filled with loss and regret, the sparse, atmospheric production of the EP's title track 'Right Thing' lends itself perfectly to Rosie's inviting tones, as does the meandering soul and tripping percussion of '10K Balloons'. The inspiration of powerful musicians like Lykke Li, Erykah Badu and Grace Jones shines through on the twists and turns of seductive after hours number 'Games'. 'Me & Your Ghost' however, written in a 10 minute jamming session with a friend, wraps the vulnerability of being abandoned by someone you love in layers of glacial, static-fuelled dub and the warm embrace of that voice.

 

As soon as he was played Rosie's music, Dave Okumu felt he had to be involved; "I immediately recognised a true creative spirit, fully immersed in a beautiful and compelling process. It wasn't until we met that the value of collaboration really started to become clear to me but as our friendship grew, so did our vision of collaboration." Okumu had also wanted to work with Kwes for some time, having always been a fan of his work; "I had this instinctive feeling that Kwes would be a wonderful person to bring into the equation. We'd never worked together in this capacity before and it felt like this could be a really interesting context in which to explore a new creative relationship."

Track List

• Right Thing
• 10K Balloons
• Games
• Me & Your Ghost

Clementine and The Galaxy - “Lazer Gunz”

Clementine and The Galaxy released a new single and video for their song “Lazer Gunz” last week.  The video for the track was directed by Marvin Joseph.  Check out/download (yes, they’re being super nice and hooking folks up) the song below and enjoy the goodness.

Hospitality To Release New Album in January

Hospitality is scheduled to release their sophomore album Trouble, via Merge Records, on January 28.  Check out the track “I Miss Your Bones” from the upcoming album below.

The first thing you might notice about Hospitality’s sophomore album Trouble is what you don’t hear. The process of completing Trouble was, for the band, one of learning to accept silence, to let that empty space exist no matter what it might awaken or evoke. You could catch glimpses of these dark and unexplored places in the margins of Hospitality’s 2012 self-titled debut, but they are at the very heart of Trouble. If you listen closely, you can hear a band pushing against their own boundaries and limitations until they find the very air around them subtly but perceptibly changed. 

In its lyrics and its musical construction, Trouble is an album that wonders about the mysteries that lurk just beyond our field of vision. Slyly and sympathetically, Papini ponders a Saturday afternoon fishing trip as a wrenching interplay of life and death, the perfect blue sky at an air show as a setting for a soured romance. Papini elaborates: “Most of the songs are about everyday environments that arouse anxiety or unease. The ocean isn’t meant for people; we aren’t supposed to be there, and some of the animals that live there are much bigger and faster than we are in the water. I think a lot of the songs deal with this ‘out of place’ kind of theme, feelings of unease and the questions of what is under you or what surrounds you.” 

The album unfolds like a walk on the beach or a journey to a place you didn’t know you were going. Perhaps a darker sound overall, but Trouble begins with the trademark Hospitality pop then unfurls to reward the listener with the more expansive stripped-down instrumentation of side B. And here, again, is that distinctively present silence, creating a space where an undulating synthesizer feels as alive and mysterious as a single voice in a room.

Track List

• Nightingale
• Going Out
• I Miss Your Bones
• Inauguration
• Rockets and Jets
• Sullivan
• It's Not Serious
• Last Words
• Sunship
• Call Me After