by FTA Staff | Mar 3, 2023
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week (ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Chantal, Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs— give ’em a listen!
boygenius– Not Strong Enough. The latest single from The Record, the highly anticipated debut album from the indie rock dream super group, this one features each member taking lead vocals on a verse and some Sheryl Crow references in the lyrics. It also has a lot of rich nuance in the lush layers and production throughout. It comes paired with an adorable music video that was shot by the band members themselves and sees them horsing around and having fun at an amusement park, a museum, batting cages and more. Julien Baker also sports a Lockwood 51 shirt through much of the video and being a big fan of their radical queer work, I was stoked to see that. The Record will arrive in full on 3/31 and the band will tour behind it as part of the Re:SET concert series throughout June. [KH]
Crocodiles– Love Beyond the Grave. A fun reverb drenched garage pop ode to finding love among the undead. The latest single from the upcoming album, Upside Down In Heaven, due out 4/7 on Lolipop Records. [KH]
Extra Special– Sober Karaoke. Gotta love a good bop about self-reflection, and this is a damn good one. Soaked in hook fueled synthesizer and poured over some cool electronic beat pads, Amelia Bushell has written a catchy tune perfect as we crawl our way out of these dark colder months. Also equally soaked in the booze of years past, NYC nightlife pitfalls and late night misadventures, Bushell finds maybe there’s a different life to be lived outside the substances…at least for the moment. Sometimes desperately running away from expectations leaves you chasing something far more nefarious within yourself. And sometimes you just remember how much simpler it was to be a kid.
Bushell has definitely more than proven she knows how to craft a pop song and twist a slant rhyme like no one else. But this is just her beginning to understand that there is another way to exist when you become open to the limitlessness of self-love. Gotta say, it’s a little hard to argue against clear-headed thinking and balanced living. One thing is for sure, as a recovering alcoholic myself, I fucking hate sober karaoke!! [MB]
LaPeche– Mermaid Blues V1. The Brooklyn indie rockers have released an expanded version of their single “Mermaid Blues,” and the song still explores the same themes and “expands and contracts around the experience of heavy seasonal depression,” with more lushness in the backing vocals and bridge and with a different chorus. The band says they “enjoy sharing different iterations of songs when they feel it is warranted,” and I for one like to see the different ways a song can live and breathe. The band’s founding drummer, Jeff Gensterblum, has since departed the band but performs on both versions. Read my thoughts on the original here. [KH]
Los Bitchos– Tequila (The Champs cover)/Trapdoor (King Gizzard cover). The tequila loving London based foursome has finally made it super official and laid down their punky, amped up version of the 1950s party classic “Tequila” by fellow instrumental band, The Champs, which has become a staple of their live set. The band shares “‘Tequila’ has been the joyfully unhinged ending to our set for the past year. It always feels like it could fall apart at any moment and we wanted to capture that energy on the recording.” There is also a fun video of the band indulging in their favorite beverage around London (which also comes with a warning to have fun but be safe) and features footage they shot themselves which was edited by their touring rhythm guitarist Charles Prest.
Interestingly, their version includes vocals with lyrics, provided by keyboardist Agustina Ruiz, a change from the traditional song and a first for them as a group too (other than the cheers/laughs/chants that are sometimes heard on their tracks, they have been purely instrumental). Released as a 7inch double single called Pah! (which sold out on Bandcamp on the day of release), the flipside is their cover of King Gizzard’s “Trapdoor,” another usual suspect in their live set and perfectly timed as they are kicking off a tour support King Gizz in Europe before they head to the US for a string of dates including a stop at Brooklyn Made on 5/2. Check out pics from their NYC show last June here, and pics from Ritual Union in Bristol, England, here. [KH]
Mandy, Indiana– Pinking Shears. The second single from the upcoming debut album, i’ve seen a way, is led by the beat, both electronic and acoustic drums, while Valentine Caulfield chants in French above the occasional punctuations of fuzz and shrieking guitar. The record is out 5/19 on Fire Talk Records. The band will soon make their US debut at SXSW. [CW]
Noble Rot– Casting No Light. Alex Edkins of METZ has been busy lately with a lot of things outside of his main project, his other band Weird Nightmare put out their debut album last year and now he is making music with Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck in their project Noble Rot. This will sound a lot closer to Holy Fuck and METZ, a cool electro groover that will keep your head bobbing. The duo announced their debut album, Heavenly Bodies, Repetition, Control which will be out on March 24 via Joyful Noise Recordings. [KH]
Omat– Rail Reload/The Fool. After recently releasing their debut single, “Daisy” (read our thoughts), the brand new band is back with a pair of singles—”Rail Reload” released last week and “The Fool” released this week. Much like I said about the previous song, “Rail Reload” too meets right at the intersection of post-punk, indie and gritty shoegaze, perfectly melding the styles. “The Fool” isn’t far off either, though this one brings out a sugar coated grunge feel. This band started out with a bang, quickly opening for alt grunge luminaries L7 last fall (see coverage) and I can see more big things in their future. Make it out to a show to catch them live as soon as you can. [KH]
Scowl– Shot Down. The second single from Scowl’s upcoming EP, Psychic Dance Routine, their firmly back in hardcore waters after exploring a more alt rock direction on the previous single “Opening Night,” but actually…not so fast. While the verses are solidly hardcore, the choruses dip back into the seas of alternative and I love the push and pull and how seamlessly they blend them together. The EP will release in full on 4/7 via Flatspot Records and the band is currently on tour with Show Me The Body, Jesus Piece, Zulu, and TRiPP Jones; the tour hits Brooklyn Steel on 3/24. [KH]
Shybaby– For Rent. Settling down? In this economy? This fast-paced punk tune is scuzzy and catchy and accompanied by a Craigslist-themed video, seemingly drawing a comparison between fleeting hookups and short term rentals. Too bad they took out the personals, right? [CW]
Slow Pulp– Cramps. After releasing their debut album in 2020, Slow Pulp have signed to Anti, and their latest single is definitely a bop, a noisy buzzy pop tune with clattering percussion and vocals mixed into the fuzz, quiet at times and clippingly loud at others. They’ll be touring with The Pixies and Death Cab For Cutie over the next few months. [CW]
Tami Hart– Sorry For Your Heart. I’m a long time fan of Hart’s work and am delighted she’s back to releasing solo music for the first time in many years. Read my full review here. [KH]
TEKE::TEKE– Garakuta. The lead single from the upcoming Hagata is a thrashing sort of psychedelic march, led by Maya Kuroki’s intense vocals and a driving flute lead. It’s a fantastical, striking song, only made better by the trippy music video. The album is out June 9th on Kill Rock Stars, and you can catch them soon at Irving Plaza on March 12th opening for Unwound. [CW]
Tetchy– Smaller/Better. The newest single by Tetchy dropped earlier this week and once again proves the band makes no bones about taking risks and leaving themselves completely exposed. Packed with emotional betrayal and a raw vulnerability, the tracks creeps and crawls thru ethereal vocal layers and dissonance like the broken rusty springs of a haunted music box. There’s a quiet anger and overwhelming sadness that permeates the crevasses and fills the cracks like old glue that hardens and holds like an old dried heart stuck pinned to your rib cage. [MB]
by Kate Hoos | Mar 1, 2023
Thanks for Saying Hi (photo by Elizabeth Orr)
Tami Hart has always had a knack for writing plaintive songs that pull at your heartstrings. The queer singer songwriter started writing songs as a teenager in the 90s “as a means of survival and escape from the trappings of a very conservative upbringing in South Carolina.” I long ago became familiar with her work via Mr. Lady Records, a now defunct lesbian run label that released some crucial albums in my life (and countless other queers I’m sure) between 1996 and 2004. Hart and I are a similar age so I was a baby queer back in those days too, and her two albums, No Light In August (2000) and What Passed Between Us (2002), were formative releases for me, an expression of youth and longing that I found much comfort in and a safe place to hold my feelings in, knowing that they were okay.
Hart spent the very beginning of the early aughts touring behind those excellent albums with the likes of Sleater-Kinney, The Butchies and the Indigo Girls and winning praise from luminaries like Kathleen Hanna who shared that No Light In August is “One of my all-time favorite albums. Written by a teenaged Tami Hart in the 90’s, her guitar playing is like a stripped-down Nirvana, filtered through a big-hearted gay kid with an absolutely massive unforgettable voice, trying to find herself in a hateful world. Tami’s technically perfect singing is heightened by her vulnerability and gorgeous lyrics. Once you hear just one song, you’ll want to play it over and over again. This is a record that should’ve gotten 10 Grammy awards, but barely anyone knows about it. Absolutely gorgeous and essential.”
Those two early albums were the only solo albums she ever released though, and I always wondered if there might be more someday. The wondering is thankfully over because now, after many years of playing in bands like Winning Looks, MEN and Teen Vice, Hart is back making the Southern, country folk inspired music of her youth, full of sweet harmonies and twang. She released some early demos in 2022 and has an EP of brand new music coming soon, Thanks for Saying Hi (4/7 Cruisin Records). Today she has released the brand new single “Sorry For Your Heart,” a gentle country rock ballad that features a full band arrangement with Kate Ryan (Flown) on drums and Adrienne Lloyd (Hunter Valentine) on bass. She shares that the EP as a whole is “a game of country mouse and city mouse, as both love letter to New York City with twinges of post punk as well as a deep bow to her Southern upbringing with heart on sleeve echoing of country melodies.”
When I asked why now felt like the right time to return to her solo work, she said it felt like “the timing was right to peak my head out and say hi again. I noticed such a powerful surge of queer and feminist voices in music with artists like Palehound, Hand Habits and Big Thief and especially folk and country-tinged post-punk. It felt like a calling.” The cover art on the EP reflects this peaking out to say hi again, with Hart peering out over a bouquet of flowers, as if to playfully say, “here I am!”
Indeed, this moment of Hart’s return feels like going full circle. In middle age I’ve found that longing and the desires of youth haven’t really ever faded, I’ve just gotten better at expressing them. And in this new EP, I have found the perfect soundtrack, yet again, to be a warm companion to the big feelings and gentle moments in between them that an artist like Tami Hart has always so deftly given voice to.
Check out our recent coverage of Tami Hart at Union Pool with Ted Leo.
Thanks for Saying Hi is out 4/7 via Cruisin Records, pre-orders are up now.
by FTA Staff | Feb 3, 2023
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week (ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Chantal, Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs— give ’em a listen!
A Very Special Episode– Heaven’s Gate. The Brooklyn based band has turned a fascination with the history of cults and their manipulative ways into this dark, throbbing banger of a track, where the music and haunting vocals build to a climax, then to a strange ominous ending. They’ll be promoting the release of the single with a show at Purgatory on February 24th with Leathered, Shadow Monster, and Debbie Dopamine. The video features appearances/cameos from several local musicians including our very own Mike Borchardt. [CW]
Aggressive Soccer Moms– Darling. Another spontaneous banger by the Swedish electro-post-punk duo that will have you confused as to whether you should pogo, or bang your head, or toss your arms in the air and just move your body. Whatever way you choose to go, it’s sure to elevate your mood and your day will be better for it. [MB]
Black Belt Eagle Scout– Space. The latest single from Swinomish musician Katherine Paul is a spacious song with interweaving guitar and strings, overlaid by Paul’s gorgeous voice. On the chorus she is backed by her parents, and notes she intended the song “for an audience as a way to sing melodies of healing and care for them.” The touching, meditative video depicts Paul and her father, a carver in the Coast Salish style, creating an eagle head from yellow cedar. The Land, The Water, The Sky will be out February 10th on Saddle Creek. She will perform in NYC on 4/15 at Baby’s All Right. Read some of our past coverage on her previous singles here and here. [CW]
Badge Grabber– The Tin Foil Hat Brigade. Aggressive digital hardcore about “DUMBASS FUKKIN CONSPIRACY THEORISTS LOL.” Singer/producer Riley Ponce certainly minces no words in the lyrics either, scathingly taking down Q-anon-eqsue fools and their ilk bent on the destruction of our planet. From an upcoming “nu album” due out next month. I’m ready for more abrasion from this project, how about you? [KH]
Beat Awfuls– Punks On The Dancefloor. The third single from the upcoming album, PAWS, features our narrator over top of a jangly mid-tempo indie pop, being self reflective (and perhaps a bit self deprecating) in a fuzz laden voice as he admits in the opening moments of the song: I will spin into a tornado / And destroy what lays in my way. And does he know why? Do we? The chorus perhaps gives us some insider knowledge but ultimately asks more questions? Do I really wanna tear it all down / What for / Because I’m bored / Or should I slam it on the ground / Bounce up and down in my Docs some more / Like punks on the dance floor. The album will release in full on 2/10. [KH]
ChumHuffer– Wasting Away. The NYC/Long Island punks have just announced their new album, Orgy of Hate, and released the first single, “Wasting Away.” Read more here. [KH]
Death Valley Girls– Magic Powers. This one is a bit moody, seeing the band leaning into the dreamy, gothy side of their sound which I’m all for. And while singer/guitarist Bonnie Bloomgarden does not take lead vocals on this track (she provides backups while bassist Sammy Westervelt does the lead), she shares the inspiration behind the lyrics which were penned together with Westervelt: “I was walking down the street, and all of the sudden it dawned on me that almost all the things that kids bullied me about, or I got in trouble for in school, or was told would make me never amount to anything, were actually my magic powers! My voice isn’t too high, or funny, it’s how I cast my spells! I’m not a bad student, I love learning, and being a seeker! And I’m not a crazy person with weird ideas, that will never fit into society, I’m a witch, and I have magic powers!” Did I say I was all for it before? Because being a cool goth garage punk witch with magic powers?! I’m really all for it.
The song comes paired with a video directed by Westervelt and recalls the pixelated video games of ye olden times of the 1980s. This is the third single from the upcoming album Islands In The Sky which will arrive in full on 2/24 via Suicide Squeeze. [KH]
Ducks Ltd– Invitation (Feelies cover). The band turn their trademark jangle and breezy vocals towards paying homage to The Feelies and say on their Bandcamp that it was “inspired by a Halloween performance in a Feelies cover band by guitarist Evan Lewis and several members of the Ducks Ltd live band.” Featuring Mo Troper and Julia Steiner of Ratboys, the harmonies and guitar work are a fitting tribute to the original from the 1991 album Time For A Witness. The single is part of a cover series called “The Sincerest Form of Flattery” and is out on Carpark Records. [CW]
[Editor’s note: I had a part time job working at Michael’s in Wayne, NJ almost 15 years ago now, and none other than Dave Weckerman of The Feelies was my co-worker. We unloaded trucks together every Thursday morning at 5am and it was a time!- KH]
Elita– She Bangs Like A Fairy On Acid. Described as a “Goth bedroom-pop band,” what really captured my attention when this came across my desk this week was this quote from guitarist/keyboardist Tim Rypien “I made this song at my parents house on Christmas Day. I was messing around with their digital piano trying to recreate the Unsolved Mysteries theme song. I missed the mark but thankfully the beat for “SBLAFOA” was born.” Being a huge fan of the 80s true crime show, I knew I had to take a listen. The music does certainly recall that iconic theme and is in the same dark vain, but definitely stands on its own, ominous yet nimble at the same time. On the lyrics, vocalist Elita shares “Timmy and I tried mushrooms for the first time before writing this song. I felt like I was living in a little fairy world and that totally inspired this song. I wrote the lyrics on Christmas too.”
Indeed, the song is dark and trippy, but the imaginary world contained within is less forbidding than it is a sexy and beguiling place, the lyrics recounting the tale of a drug fueled tryst in the woods with a fairy (which will no doubt appeal to many sapphic fans in particular). The song is part of the upcoming debut album, Dysania, due out on 3/22 via Opposition; the band will embark on a tour in early April that will see them hitting NYC on 4/8 at Elsewhere. [KH]
Gel– Attainable. The NJ hardcore band has released some killer EPs over the last few years (that made both our faves of 2021 and 2022 lists) and now have announced their debut full-length, Only Constant (3/31 Convulse), and released the first single, “Attainable.” The song sees them in the well hewn, raw and crusty hardcore territory they are so good at, but building upon their hallmark sound, adding in dance-punk choruses that have an almost electro feel to them for a really cool vibe.
In a press release, vocalist Sami Kaiser shared: “A lot of this record is about trying to live more of a happy and healthy life. I’ve been in recovery for alcoholism for the past couple years and really taking it seriously. I’ve learned a lot about myself and how to address negative feelings, and the album is about trying to let go of those self-destructive tendencies and embrace change.” [KH]
Lovecolor– Dangerous. I’ve been a big fan of songwriter/producer Vanessa Silberman since we first met shortly after she moved to NYC in early 2019 and we became fast friends. She’s been playing music alongside her musical partner, Ryan Carnes, for just as long, and while the world was sleeping and we’ve all been slowly coming back to life the past few years, the duo has been hard at work creating what would become Lovecolor.
The pair has an undeniable musical chemistry writing catchy dark pop/dance rock magic, and their debut single under the glow of its fluorescent retro-futuristic music video directed by Cosmos Kiindarius makes quite the first impression.
It’s important to Silberman that they do something special and say something meaningful. “Dangerous,” Silberman says “is about a few things—one being attraction and being so completely drawn to someone that it’s almost dangerous, in a way. On the other hand, its message is really about exposing your entire self and being completely fearless and vulnerable, by embracing every aspect of who you are.” Carnes adds: “To me, ‘Dangerous’ speaks to the idea of being fully awake, aware, alive and sharp in a world where parts of society and culture wish us to remain dull and asleep.“ [MB]
Middle-Aged Queers– Anal Beads. The sassy Bay Area queer-core band has released a brand new song just in time for Valentine’s Day and it leaves little to the imagination! Read more here. [KH]
Model/Actriz– Amaranth. The Brooklyn based experimental industrial band are releasing their debut full length, Dogsbody, soon and have shared the third single, the delightfully abrasive “Amaranth.” Be prepared to be pummeled with rapid fire beats and jittery, gasoline doused guitar for three minutes straight. In other words, this song is not for the faint of heart but certainly for the adventurous among us. Dogsbody will be released on 2/24 via True Panther. The band will play new NYC venue, Racket, on 4/20. [KH]
Tami Hart– Thanks For Saying Hi. Many moons ago when I was a baby queer in the early aughts, I became familiar with Tami Hart’s work via Mr. Lady Records, a now defunct lesbian run label that released some crucial albums in my life (and countless other queers I’m sure) between 1996 and 2004. Two of those albums were Hart’s No Light In August (2000) and What Passed Between Us (2002). I saw her play a few times from 2000 to around 2003ish and over the years I would dip back into those albums from time to time, both having remained personal favorites to this day, but no new solo music arrived from Hart after 2002. (Making Friendz was a 2011 solo project yes, but as a lo-fi electro project, it had a distinctly different vibe than the singer-songwriter, country twinged feel of the earlier releases.)
And though she wasn’t releasing solo music, she was hardly idle musically after those first two records either and has been involved with a number of other projects. Via Spotify her bio states “From the mid-2000’s-2010’s Tami could be found in bands like Winning Looks, MEN, and Sextional, as well as solo project Making Friendz. In 2017 Tami co-founded Teen Vice with Joshua Ackley of Brooklyn-based punk band The Dead Betties. 2022 saw Tami return to solo releases and performances.”
Indeed, 2022 saw her starting to release solo music under her own name again, with a collection of demos and a single, “Sorry For Your Heart,” coming over the course of the year. I was unaware of this until I recently saw her name start to pop up on show flyers and realized “oh shit, new music!” Now Hart is preparing to release a brand new EP in April on Cruisin Records and has released the first single, “Thanks For Saying Hi.”
This one is a delightful full circle moment, returning to the sound of her very early releases, full of sweet harmonies and twang. Via Bandcamp Hart says the EP is “a game of country mouse and city mouse, as both love letter to New York City with twinges of post punk as well as a deep bow to her Southern upbringing with heart on sleeve echoing of country melodies.” I for one am looking very forward to hearing more and catching a live show for the first time in over 20 years! (I personally missed her recent show with Ted Leo because I had to work, but our very own Ray Rusinak was on hand and you can check out pics here.) [KH]
Whenwolves– Minutes. We premiered the band’s latest electro groove this week from their upcoming EP, Recon For The Weirdos, and you can read more about that here. [MB]
by Ray Rusinak | Feb 1, 2023
Ted Leo at Union Pool (photo by Ray Rusinak)
Williamsburg music venue, Union Pool, has been hosting a weekly free concert series every Tuesday and this week’s artist was Ted Leo with opening support act Tami Hart. With early sets and free drink tickets at the door, these Tuesday nights have been a perfect way to get out on a weekday night and have some fun. (You can read about last week at the Pool with Downtown Boys and Oceanator right here.) It looks like these shows will continue through at least the month of February as well, so if you find yourself with nothing to do on a Tuesday evening, do yourself a favor and head on over to the corner of Union and Meeker.
I arrived shortly after 7pm and not surprisingly found the line to get into the room wrapped around the outside patio area. Fortunately, the line moved quickly and I was inside in almost no time. The trouble was, so were another 200 or so people. The words “packed crowd” are often used exaggeratedly to describe a venue for a show, in this case I use no hyperbole. The room was shoulder to shoulder, “one can barely move” packed.
Tami Hart and her band (Adrienne Lloyd on bass and Kate Ryan on drums along with Hart on guitar) took the stage promptly at 8pm. Quite a cute touch was the presence of Ryan’s two pre-school children waiting in the wings stage right. Hart and her bandmates proceeded to provide us with an enjoyable set of indie flavored country rock. As a former southerner presently residing in New York City, Tami’s set certainly presented a fitting cross section of both down home country mashed up with the grit and dirt of city life. The bulk of the set consisted of songs from the upcoming EP, Thanks For Saying Hi, out in April.
[Editor’s note: I saw Tami Hart play numerous times in the early aughts as a “baby gay” and her two albums, 2000’s No Light In August and 2002’s What Passed Between Us remain personal favorites to this day. Both are available on Bandcamp and I highly recommend them- KH.]
While setting up his equipment on stage, Leo joked with the crowd about various subjects, one of which was the ominous temperature in the room. Upon completing his stage crew duties he informed us that he would be right back after he changed out of his mock turtleneck and sweater. Returning shortly thereafter in just a button down short sleeve shirt, Leo prefaced the evening with a warning to the crowd that he had no idea where things were going to go but since this was a free show, we were going to have to live with the results. He then jumped right into it with his usual set opener, “Nothing Much To Say.”
Ted Leo
Leo proceeded to share numerous stories and anecdotes throughout the evening since, as he explained, the crowd was being so respectful and quiet while he tuned, and the silence on stage drove him crazy, so he felt obliged to ramble on. Of course nobody in the very hot room minded all that much. At one point, I believe after “Building Skyscrapers in The Basement,” he stressed how much of a fan he was of the Irish folk tradition, going as far to say that it might be the biggest influence on his songwriting style. That and whiskey drinking of course.
Moving forward, he offered up a choice to the crowd, the set could go forward in a more traditional Ted Leo kind of way, or it could venture deep into “the well” of weirdness. In any event, almost unanimously the crowd chose the latter. And since we were pre-warned, he delved into a traditional Irish folk song about an Irish labor leader done acapella and in full Irish brogue.
The rest of Leo’s set was a career spanning retrospective replete with numerous Pharmacist songs, solo efforts, covers and even a Chisel tune (“The Town Crusher”) thrown in for good measure. One particular highlight for me was his performance of “Counting Down The Hours” from 2004’s Pharmacist album Shake The Sheets. A song which he rarely plays and one which he stated he’d never done without a band before, he was somewhat concerned about the more raucous lead guitar parts, but to these ears (at the very least) he nailed it.
Upon the completion of one of his newer songs, “I’m Like You,” he stated that this was the part of the show where he would normally leave the stage since the show was technically over, but in this case he was just going to hang on for one more. Offering up a cover version of Scottish artist and activist Hamish Imlach’s “Cod Liver Oil and Orange Juice”.
All in all, it was a fantastic set of new, old, familiar and not so much. Leo provided a perfect combination of both musicianship and levity to make for a well spent Tuesday evening in a sweltering hot and cramped room of friends and strangers.
Scroll down for pics of the show (photos by Ray Rusinak)
TAMI HART
TED LEO
