BIG NEWS! The Deli and Rukkus.com have partnered to create a new version of our DIY show listings (this links to the NYC listings), which allow artists and show organizers to promote their shows directly on the home pages of The Deli's 12 regional blogs - and beyond, since Rukkus covers the entire US territory!
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Naomi Punk are joining several bands at the Cairo Gallery this Friday, August 17th before blasting off on their first full U.S. tour. On the bill with them are M. Women and Black Hat.
The three piece dwell in a sonic realm of jarring, angular rhythms, thick punkish riffs, and well-timed, mantra-like vocal melodies. With members hailing from Olympia and Seattle, Naomi Punk has played countless shows across the northwest over the last several years, including a recent showcase at the local radio station KEXP. Their most recent release The Feeling came out this past April; their other album is the eponymous Naomi Punk which debuted in 2009.
The Feeling is a storybook example of an album that is greater than the sum of its parts. Over the course of its approximate thirty five minute lifespan, it creates a feeling of suspense and mystery for the listener; song to song they connect like an elliptical orbit, passing through familiar grounds and picking up the essential nodes, then moving forth to forge new images and memories.
Their mixture of punk and grunge is unique in its stalwart decision to shy away from break-neck speeds. Every note and beat are in tremendous sync; you feel the weight of each syllable and riff as if every second prior to that contributes to the present impact.
These songs are interupted - or rather, conjoined by - shorter instrumental pieces which convey more of this feeling, whatever ineffable feeling that may be. Tracks like "CLS + Death Junket" and "Eon of Love" feel evocative and pure alongside their noisy counterparts, which are no less emotional. This album is anything but cold, anything but sterile or vacant.
Naomi Punk play at Cairo on the 17th of August with an 8pm start time. All-Ages. Listen to the record's closing track "The Buzz" below and make sure to stream the entire thing at their bandcamp. It is available for purchase through Couple Skate Records on vinyl.
River Giant are hitting the High Dive stage this Thursday with The Crying Shame and The Swearengens.
The trio released their debut full-length this April; the eponymously titled River Giant soars and wails its way through ten tracks. Their fondness for bands '70's era bands like Crazy Horse and The Band jumps out readily, but not in an overbearing or detrimental way. They tackle motifs of Americana through their modern lens of alternative rock music.
The strength of their songwriting is what sticks out first - they know how to build a foundation of a song without making it wearily repetitive. From there, they add upon the established contours by working to excitable climaxes, slowing down passages, or letting guitarist/vocalist Kyle Jacobson fly high with his pipes like a wild river on the loose. Their use of dynamics is appreciable in every song.
"Pink Flamingos," "Western," and "Fast Heart" are a few standout tracks, among others. At moments they are straightforwardly country rock, other times heavy rock ignited with feedback, and other songs sound downright folksy - taken in full though, River Giant cannot be pinned down by the confines of a single genre. Good luck getting their songs out of your head once they snake their way in!
They play this Thursday, August 10th at the High Dive for $8. Doors are 8pm; it should be a racuous affair. Check out "Fast Heart" below for a quick listen and carry on their bandcamp to stream the whole record. It is available for purchase for $10.
King Dude is set to appear for a stellar show this weekend at The Comet Tavern.Wino and Conny Ochs are headlining on their Heavy Kingdom tour; Isis & The Ghost is on the bill as well.
This solo project features the aforementioned artist projecting "dark pagan-fueled folk" into the stratosphere, and he does so with masterful confidence. His latest release Love came out in November of last year courtesy of Dais. The ten tracks are immediately pervasive - "Don't Want Me Still" sounds, on one hand, so far away, and yet its layers of echo and distance seem to emit signals from within your own body.
"Spiders In Her Hair" features a bouncy, uptemo riff that sets the tone for TJCowgill's deep and resonant vocals; they are pensive and tuneful. Or take a listen to "Eternal Night" which seems to rumble along some cavernous wagon road, filled with spirited harmonies and an incessant, rattling rhythm.
King Dude's take on folk as-it-were is no straight and narrow path. His material on Love becomes greatly enriched by buzzing, humming, singing, and other peculiar effects that give rise to a singer-songwriter surrounded by a field of subterranean sounds.
He will appear at The Comet this Sunday, August 12th. Doors are at 8:00pm for this 21+ show that costs $10. Listen to "Eternal Night" below and check out his bandcamp to hear Love all the way through. The album is for sale digitally and on vinyl. Also, keep on the lookout for his upcoming record Burning Daylight which is due out on October 16th.
Atomic Bride are going to appear at The Funhouse for a performance on Friday, August 10. Also on the bill are School Shootings, F-Holes, and Autolite Strike.
Back in May the five piece released their latest LP Dead Air. They have been putting on shows since 2007; the work put in since then to create their current record is palpable. They are governed by no one particular sound, spiraling through bouts of surf, alternative, punk and horror rock.
Take the track "D.N.A." for example, which transforms their surf-infused vibe of a modern B-52's hit into a sing-song, rocking affair. They channel elements of former Seattle band Schoolyard Heroes but morph into something noticeably more punk and New Wave in behavior.
"Radio Recession" on the other hand rhythm-rides right in with a Dick Dale-like surf lick before breaking out with the straightforward energy of an alt-rock chorus. "American Meltdown" lands somewhere inbetween bands like Black Sabbath, Rob Zombie, and the Meat Puppets; but the song is not derivative in any sense of the word. Blending heaviness and country twang, Atomic Bride are fearless in their creations and thus are difficult to classify and pigeonhole. Kudos to them on their undeniable versatility.
Check out Atomic Bride on the 10th of August at The Funhouse for $6. The show begins at 9:30pm. In the meantime, visit their bandcamp page to stream the entirety of Dead Air and purchase it digitally or on CD. A preview of the band is below in the track "D.N.A."
Grave Babies are gracing The Funhouse stage this Friday for Day Two of the venue's Pizzafest extravanganza. Other acts that night include The Biz, Golden Pelicans, The Yolks, and Shannon and the Clams.
The group put out the Gothdammit EP in April courtesy of Hardly Art; the five tracks combine bouyant waves of synth with crunchy drum beats, warm bass tones, and solemn vocals.
"Fuck Off" is the first song on the record, both searing and lovely in its use of distortion, melody, and noise. Underground tremors seem to swell from all around when listening to Grave Babies - the music is otherwordly and dark, yet pinned down and precise in its rhythmic effect. "Bloodstains" behavior is similar in its regard for laying the foundation with subterranean and industrial-like sounds.
They will be at Pizzafest 2012 this Friday, August 3rd. The show begins at 7:30pm - and for only $12 you can enjoy eight bands in all. Stream Grave Babies' song "Bloodstains" below and then check out their soundcloud page for more. You can also pick up their new EP for $11 through Hardly Art's website.
Kingdom of the Holy Sun have an up and coming performance this weekend at the Rendezvous. They are on the bill alongside Levator and Prescription Pills.
Self-dubbed as "psychedelic garage and shoegaze," their music cultivates an environment that is both raw and expressive. Every track feels spiritially imbued; they have taken the rock in garage rock, slowed it down, and made their songs self-contained rituals.
Their latest release Pharmacokinetics came out last month. Its four songs exhibit the persistent themes of exploration and wonder - there is a sense of awe planted in the singer's voice. He immediately draws comparison to the late Jim Morrison of The Doors with his poetic, washed out vocal style. Kingdom of the Holy Sun move in a decidedly different direction musically though; their sonic experiments are less pop-focused and chorus-intensive.
The eponymous track "Pharmacokinetics" ushers itself along at a deliberate pace, unfurling amid a steady evolution of repetitive rhythms and bright melodies. Imagine the sun rising at dawn, amid a hazy film of fog blanketing the sky.
Kingdom of the Holy Sun will appear on stage this Saturday, August 4th at the Rendezvous. Doors are at 9:00pm and tickets cost $5. Give a listen to "Pharmacokinetics" below and carry onto their bandcamp to navigate the rest of the release - as well as their two other albums.
Nude Pop played Capitol Hill Block Party this past weekend and received rave reviews. In tandem with the performance was the release of their latest song called "Lurker."
The opening riff is curious and ticklish, weaving within and without the drums and bass. The vocals blend melliflously into the fold, behaving moreso like another instrument than just someone's voice high in the mix.
Nude Pop composes an artful tapestry over the course of five minutes; they are adept at crafting hyponotic melodies without making them feel dull and repetitious. Be forewarned, listening to the track may leave you in a pensive and chipper trance.
Although the band hails from Spokane, WA, they continue to pick up shows, fans, and press in Seattle. Earlier this year they won the Experience Music Project's Sound Off! 2012 competition which earns them a slot at this year's Bumbershoot music festival.
Working on a debut EP, setting up more performances for the summer - 2012 is proving to be a vital time for Nude Pop. Stream "Lurker" below to wake up in their dream. They also have several demo tracks available on their bandcamp.
Orca Team will soon appear at The Funhouse's annual Pizzafest; the show date is Thursday, August 2nd. They are currently touring the U.S. leading up to the homecoming performance in Seattle.
The trio released their second full-length album, Restraint, just last month. Without exception, each of the eleven songs on the new record play out under three minutes. Brevity clearly suits them well, for they waste little time in advancing their plentiful melodic hooks.
"Night Moves" enters the atmosphere with a bass riff and drum beat attached at the hip; the tune then swiftly swims into contact with a catchy-as-all guitar part. It is precise and refined, lifting the underlying rhythm with splashes of reverb.
Leif Ander's (bassist/vocalist) voice slides words off effortlessly, painting stories that listeners will swoon to. Their sound oozes with the innocence and earnestness of 1950's and '60's rock and doo wop. Combining post-punk and surf vibes too, Orca Team's two minute pop portraits are the antithesis to noisy, sonic affairs. Grab ahold to drift off into their contemporary reveries.
Check out Orca Team at Pizzafest this year on the 2nd of August - other bands that night include Sonny and the Sunsets, The Wimps, Fuckaroos, and Brandon Daniel & The Chics. Tickets are $12 and the show begins at 9pm.
Give "Strains" a listen down below and carry on to their bandcamp to hear all of Restraint. The album is available for purchase on CD or LP over at HHBTM Records.
