Thursday, February 6, 2025

she's green - "Graze"

Photo by Liam Armstrong

Hailing from Minneapolis, she's green have released a completely mesmerizing new single. "Graze" is a bit hard to define. It's like a quieter, more melancholy version of shoegaze. As the genre seems to be getting heavier and heavier, she's green have made it much more quiet. "Graze" is coated with a light layer of haze, and seems to be drifting the way a leaf can be moved by the wind. That is... until the song truly kicks in at the halfway point. Then it turns into this glorious fast pace version of shoegaze, mixing it with the more pop focused bubblegrunge of the mid 90's, but still with that shoegaze haze covering everything. "Graze" is the type of song that won me over in the first half, but once the tempo change kicks in, I'm completely smitten.

she's green says about their latest single:

“This song is about feeling trapped in a distant memory and longing to find a way out. The only way to escape seems to be facing it head-on and finally getting the release you need.”

You can watch the video for "Graze" below. The single is out now via Photo Finish Records. For more on she's green, check out the band on Instagram and Twitter. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


FEBRUARY

25 - Noise Pop Festival - San Francisco, CA # † 

27 - Polaris Hall - Portland, OR #

28 - The Shakedown - Bellingham, WA #


MARCH

1 - Freakout Weekender - Seattle, WA # † 

2 - Neurolux - Boise, ID #

3 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT #

5 - Hi-Dive - Denver, CO #

7 - 7th St.Entry - Minneapolis, MN #

8 - Howdy - Kansas City, MO #

9 - Schubas - Chicago, IL %#

10 - Lager House - Detroit, MI %#

11 - Bottlerocket Social Hall - Pittsburgh, PA %#

13 - Monarch Tavern - Toronto, ON %#

14 - Cabaret Foufounes - Montreal, QC %#

15 - Baby’s All Right - Brooklyn, NY %#

16 - PhilaMOCA - Philadelphia, PA %#

17 - DC9 - Washington, DC %#

18 - The Pinhook - Durham, NC %#

20 - DRKMTTR - Nashville, TN %#

21 - The Masquerade - Altar - Atlanta, GA %#

22 - LCY Media - Birmingham, AL %#

24 - Club Dada - Dallas, TX %#

25 - The Ballroom - Austin, TX %#

26 - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX %#

28 - Sister Bar - Albuquerque, NM #

29 - Club Congress - Tucson, AZ #


APRIL

5 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ #


# - w/ Glixen

% - w/ Suzy Clue

† Festival Appearance

Parastatic - "Tear it down"

Photo by Wayne Madden

It's been ten years, but Parastatic are set to release their third album later this month. Their latest single, "Tear it down," represents "An evolution of sound where post-rock and shoegaze congregate." The song can be quite brutal at times even as it seems like it's trying to simultaneously comfort you. It has a giant sound, and while most shoegaze can be categorized with a warmth, "Tear it down" feels cold. Parastatic are adept at reining in the chaos that is lying just underneath the surface of the song, which sounds like it wants to erupt at any time, and only doesn't since that is forbidden. All that being said, "Tear it down" has an odd beauty to it, as long as post-rock meets shoegaze is your type of thing.

Parastatic says of their latest single:

"We saw the climax of this song representing the fury that some people had towards Brutalist buildings finally coming to a conclusion as buildings are demolished, detonated and deconstructed. As the song plays from its calm beginnings we hear the fervour of protest and anger rise in Late Girl's spoken word delivery." 

You can watch the video for "Tear it down" below. Concrete Reborn is due out February 21 on Workie Ticket Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Parastatic, check out the band on Facebook.

Bob Mould - "Neanderthal"

Photo by Ryan Bakerink

Any time we get new music from Bob Mould it's a big deal. The man is a bona fide indie/punk rock legend, and despite being in his sixties and am active musician for well over forty years, the man keeps making unbelievably vital sounding music. His latest single, "Neanderthal," sounds like it could have been released any time in the past thirty or even forty years. The man has not lost a step, and keeps releasing guitar focused indie/pop rock more energetic than musicians half his age. If you love noisy and high energy indie rock from any time period, you probably already love Bob Mould, and you're going to love "Neanderthal." 

Bob Mould says of his latest single:

“In the early stages of writing this album, I envisioned ‘Neanderthal’ as the opening track. I imagined a child raised in an unstable home, perpetually exposed to erratic and confrontational behavior. A fight or flight situation. ‘Neanderthal’ is a frantic sprint through darkened hallways littered with tension, conflict, and aggression. A claustrophobic maze of distorted mirrors. As the song nears the end, a pair of subconscious voices appear. The first voice is both soothing and unsettling, while the final voice is reactionary and violent. It’s a fight or flight song.”

You can watch the video for "Neanderthal" below. Here We Go Crazy is due out March 7 on Granary Music/BMG Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Bob Mould, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include a May 2 show at Paradise Rock Club.


APRIL

1 – San Diego, CA – Music Box *

2 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s *

4 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom *

5 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore *

7 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre *

8 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom *

9 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory *

11 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater * - SOLD OUT

12 – Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s *

14 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room *

15 – Maquoketa, IA – Codfish Hollow Barn *

16 – Madison WI – Majestic Theatre *

18 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall *

19 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre +

25 – Chicago, IL – Metro ^

26 – Chicago, IL – Metro ^

27 – Detroit, MI – El Club ^

29 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop ^

30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre ^


MAY

2 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club ^

3 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge ^ - SOLD OUT

4 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer ^

7 – Washington DC – Black Cat ^

9 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall ^

10 – Indianapolis, IN – HI–FI Indy ^

11 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Beer Garden #


* w/ Special Guest Craig Finn

+ w/ Special Guests Poster Children

^ w/ Special Guest J. Robbins

# w/ Special Guests Winged Wheel

Tobacco City - "Bougainvillea"

Photo by Hannah Bailey

Tobacco City is a dream band for fans of alt-country. The Chicago band just released "Bougainvillea," and it's the type of alt-country that doesn't seem to exist any more. It's filled with steel guitar and harmonies that are irresistible for anyone with a heart. There's just something about the way Chris Coleslaw and Lexi Goddard's vocals melt together that is pure magic. The obvious choice for this style of music with male and female vocals harmonizing is Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, but it's certainly an apt one for Tobacco City. This one is something special.

Chris Coleslaw says of his band's latest single:

"Bougainvillea is my favorite song on the album. It’s another nostalgia trip about the time in your younger years when you are free to be stupid and silly with very little consequence. Those days of excess were wild and illuminating but eventually times have to keep changing but the view from the heights of those times never changes."

You can watch the video for "Bougainvillea" below. Horses is due March 7 on Scissor Tail Records, and is available for pre-order on Bandcamp. For more on Tobacco City, check out the artist on Instagram.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

The Town and The City Festival Announced Full Line Up and Individual Shows


We love The Town and The City Festival that takes over downtown Lowell annually, and this year's line up has been extra crazy great. Today they announced the individual show line ups, and there are choices to be made. Thursday is easy not only because there's one show, but because it features Lady Lamb, Ezra Furman, and Class President at Taffeta. After that, good luck deciding. Ken will probably be at Zorba Music Hall at 10:15 for The Sheila Divine, but that night also features performances from Jennifer Tefft & The Strange, Twisted Pine, Lovina Falls, The PA's, The Freqs, and many, many more. Saturday is just as crazy with Girl with a Hawk, The Chelsea Curve, Loudon Wainwright III, Hilken Mancini & Melissa Gibbs, Senseless Optimism, Gross Girls, The Ghouls, and many, many more. Good luck deciding!

The Town and The City Festival runs April 24-26 all throughout downtown Lowell. Multi-day passes are on sale now. Individual show tickets go on sale this Friday, February 7 at 10:00 am. For tickets and the full line up, check out the festival's website.

Mamalarky - "Feels So Wrong"

Photo by Michelle Mercado

For their second single since signing to Epitaph Records, Mamalarky continue to evolve their sound. "Feels So Wrong" is exactly what we need here in New England to help combat the cold and wintry weather. It's a laid back and sunny sounding indie rock song that hearkens back to 70's AM radio. Of course, nothing like this would have ever made it onto the radio fifty years ago. "Feels So Wrong" is one of those songs that your Top 40 listening co-workers will find weird, but for those of us with more interesting taste in music it's going to sound like pure indie pop rock goodness. Mamalarky have perfected this wondrously smooth sound with "Feels So Wrong" that will have you looking forward to hanging out in nature when it doesn't physically hurt to be outside.

Livvy Bennett says of her band's latest single:

Certain times in my life have felt like a weird intersection, where a lot of good and bad happen at the same time. At this point, I had quit my full time job to go on tour and subsequently deliver pizzas, often for no tips, and always with no working AC. I had also started producing music at a greater capacity than ever before and felt really hopeful about what was being made. Still every day ended in an inconclusive feeling. When I started writing ‘Feels So Wrong’ I was recognizing that the things that should make you feel happy never bring as much meaning as sorting through the muck, confronting your challenges even when it sucks, even when there’s no end in sight. There is always reason to remain hopeful, even in uncertain, murky times when everything feels wrong. I swear!

You can listen to "Feels So Wrong" below. The single is out now via Epitaph Records. For more on Mamalarky, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.


2/13 - Gramps - Miami, FL

2/14 - Oscura - Bradenton, FL

2/15 - Our Music Our Future - Jacksonville, FL

2/16 - Propaganda - Lake Worth, FL

3/21 - The Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA *

3/22 - SLO Brew - San Luis Obispo, CA *

3/23 - The New Paris - Oakland, CA *

3/27 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA *

3/28 - Wise Hall - Vancouver, BC *

3/29 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR *

3/30 - Treefort Fest - Boise, ID *

4/1 - Meow Wolf - Santa Fe, NM *

4/3 - Resonant Head - Oklahoma City, OK *

4/4 - Rubber Gloves - Denton, TX *

4/5 - Hotel Vegas - Austin, TX *

4/8 - The Underground - Mesa. AZ *

4/9 - Music Box - San Diego, CA *


* w/ Hinds

Squid - "Cro-Magnon Man"

Photo by Harrison Fishman

Squid have never been a straightforward band, but their latest single pushes the boundaries of what we would expect from the English band. "Cro-Magnon Man" takes their post-punk and art rock sound and injects an overabundance of psychedelia and electronic noise. This is an oddly danceable song. It may not be a club banger, but it's going to be perfect for those of us who shuffle around awkwardly. If the theme of Squid's upcoming album is evil, "Cro-Magnon Man" fits that with a dark undertone lurking throughout. This is fun art rock at its absolute finest, and we're fully on board with wherever Squid wants to take us.

You can watch the video for "Cro-Magnon Man" below. Cowards is due out February 7 on Warp Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Squid, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


Mon. Feb. 17 - Liverpool, UK @ Invisible Wind Factory
Tue. Feb. 18 - Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz Manchester
Wed. Feb. 19 - Glasgow, UK @ Old Fruitmarket
Fri. Feb. 21 - Newcastle, UK @ NSU Domain
Sat. Feb. 22 - Sheffield, UK @ Leadmill
Mon. Feb 24 - Cambridge, UK @ Junction 1
Tue. Feb 25 - Norwich, UK @ The Adrian Flux Waterfront
Thu. Feb. 27 - Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy Oxford
Fri. Feb. 28 - Southampton, UK @ Engine Rooms
Sat. March 1 - Margate, UK @ Lido
Sun. March 2 - Brighton, UK @ Chalk
Tue. March 4 - Birmingham, UK @ XOYO
Wed. March 5 - Bristol, UK @ Bristol Beacon
Wed. April 9 - Paris, FR @ Cabaret Sauvage
Thu. April 10 - Cologne, DE @ Club Volta
Fri. April 11 - Dresden, DE @ Polimagie Festival
Sat. April 12 - Berlin, DE @ Lido
Mon. April 14 - Schorndorf, DE @ Manufaktur
Tue. April 15 - Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
Wed. April 16 - Antwerp, BE @ Trix
Fri. April 18 - Rotterdam, NL @ Motel Mozaique Festival
Sat. April 19 - Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje
Sat. April 26 - London, UK @ Roundhouse

Esther Rose - "New Bad"

Photo by Char Klein

If you like some country mixed into your rock and roll, you're going to love the latest from Esther Rose. "New Bad" is almost the definition of the genres country rock, alt-country, or outlaw country. Recorded live to tape, this is a killer rock song with just enough twang in Rose's vocals to keep it on the country side. The song is filled with distorted songs and some of the catchiest lyrics we've heard so far this year. There's even a part where I can't tell if it's supposed to be a choir of voices or gang vocals, or maybe it's supposed to be both. Rose's vocals are truly the highlight of the song and will immediately draw you in. She just has something instantly compelling once she starts singing. "New Bad" is reminding me of a dream combination of Rilo Kiley and Drive-By Truckers, and if that sounds like your thing, get ready to have a new musical obsession.

Esther Rose says of her upcoming album:

“There are things that I have tiptoed around in my writing — and in my life — that I wasn’t ready to look at, and now I’m going for it.”

You can watch the video for "New Bad" below. Want is due out May 2 on New West Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Esther Rose, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


Feb 5 Austin, TX @ Sagebrush *
Feb 6 Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips *
Feb 7 Oklahoma City, OK @ Resonant Head *
Feb 11 Los Angeles, CA @ Gold-Diggers (sold out) *
Feb 13 San Francisco, CA @ 4 Star Theater (sold out) *
Feb 14 Ojai, CA @ Deer Lodge *
Feb 15 Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum * 
Feb 16 Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroot Brewery *
Feb 27 Nashville, TN @ Blue Room at Third Man Records *
Feb 28 Little Rock, AR @ White Water Tavern *

Mar 1 Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge *
Mar 2 Columbus, MS @ Sunstroke House *
Mar 4 Chicago, IL @ Schuba's *
Mar 5 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club *
Mar 6 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *
Mar 7 Newport, KY @ Southgate House *
Mar 8 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar *
Mar 9 Asheville, NC @ Eulogy *
Mar 20 Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall *
Mar 21 Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java *
Mar 22 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's *
Mar 23 Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right * 
Mar 25 Toronto, ON @ Garrison * 
Mar 26 Montreal, QC @ Bar le Ritz PDB *
Mar 27 Burlington, VT @ Light Club Lamp Shop (sold out) *
Mar 28 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery * 
Mar 29 Kingston, NY @ Tubby's (sold out) *

May 07  Den Haag, NL @ Paard ~
May 08 Groningen, NL @ Lutherse Kerk ~
May 09 Amen, NL @ Cultureel Café de Amer ~
May 10 Breda, NL @ Mezz ~
May 11 Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg ~
May 13 Kristiansand, NO @ Vaktbua ~
May 14 Oslo, NO @ Kampen Bistro ~
May 15 Trondheim, NO @ Bar Moskus ~
May 16 Östersund, SE @ Jazzköket ~

May 19 Glasgow, UK @ Glad Cafe +
May 20 Manchester, UK @ The Lodge +
May 21 London, UK @ Lexington +
May 22 Gothenburg, SE @ Nefertiti +
May 24 Stockholm, SE @ Echo Three Fest +
May 26 Copenhagen, DK @ Ideal Bar +
May 27 Odense, DK @ Dexter +
May 28 Hamburg, DE @ Nochtwache +
May 30 Burghausen @ Jazzkeller +

June 02 Paris, FR @ Supersonic +

* Co-Headline Tour with Twain 
~ Supporting Andrew Combs 
+ Headline Shows 

Mei Semones - "Dumb Feeling"

Photo by Alex Hirata

We discovered Mei Semones last year with her single "Tegami." It has this great bossa nova and jazz meets indie rock and melodic pop sound that we loved. Now the Brooklyn artist is back with "Dumb Feeling" which continues with that sound. This new single is a mix of modern pop leaning singer-songwriter with jazz and some indie rock and folk thrown in. It's kind of like if Stereolab decided to write a folk song. It's a mostly laid back song that cycles through more styles and tones than should be possible in three minutes which creates this interestingly cinematic element. Remember how that retro sixties cool thing felt in the nineties? "Dumb Feeling" updates that for 2025.

Mei Semones says of the video for her new single:

“The 'Dumb Feeling’ music video is a depiction of a day in my life in the city — running around the city, rehearsing with my band, taking the train back & forth between Manhattan and Brooklyn. I wanted the video to represent what the song means to me — my love, gratitude, and contentment with the city, my friends here, the music we make, and the charming chaos here, like the screeching trains and the rats & pigeons.”

You can watch the video for "Dumb Feeling" below. Animaru is due out May 2 on Bayonet Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Mei Semones, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include a June 14 show at Red Room Cafe 939.


Wed. Feb. 5 - Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony #
Sat. Feb. 8 - Albany, NY @ Empire Live #
Sun. Feb. 9 - Toronto, ON @ History #
Tue. Feb. 11 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore #
Wed. Feb. 12  - Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater #
Fri. Feb. 14 - St Louis, MO @ The Factory #
Sat. Feb. 15 - La Vista, NE @ The Astro Theater #
Sun. Feb. 16 - Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom #
Tue. Feb. 18 - San Diego, CA @ The Sound #
Thu. Feb. 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern #
Fri. Feb. 21 - Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory #
Sat. Feb. 22, 2025 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater #
Mon. Feb. 24, 2025 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union #
Tue. Mar. 25 - Dublin, IR @ Button Factory ~
Wed. Mar. 26 - Glasgow, UK @ Saint Luke's ~
Thu. Mar. 27 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ~
Fri. Mar. 28 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 2 ~
Sat. Mar. 29 - London, UK @ Electric Ballroom ~
Thu. Apr. 3 - Amsterdam, NL @ Tolhuistuin ~
Fri. Apr. 4 - Antwerp, BL @ Trix ~
Sat. Apr. 5 - Paris, FR @ Petit Bain ~
Wed. May 7 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Thu. May 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
Fri. May 30 - Washington, DC @ The Atlantis
Sat. May 31 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Back Room
Mon. June 2 - Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5
Tue. June 3 - Nashville, TN @ DRKMTTR
Wed. June 4 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
Fri. June 6 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
Sat. June 7 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Sun. June 8 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
Mon. June 9 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
Wed. June 11 - Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
Thu. June 12 - Toronto, ON @ Longboat Hall
Fri. June 13 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB
Sat. June 14 - Boston, MA @ Red Room Cafe 939

# supporting Hippo Campus
~ supporting Panchiko