SPIN

Last week Chanel Beads – the experimental project of New York musician Shane Lavers – kicked off their first-ever North American headlining tour, which has Lavers joined by collaborator, songwriter, and producer Maya McGroery and instrumentalist Zachary Paul.  The dates follow the April release of Chanel Beads’ debut album,...

Last week we met Chicago teenage alt-rock quartet Neptune’s Core, who made their Philadelphia debut with a top-shelf rock show at Kung Fu Necktie.  However, it turns out that we have a mutual friend in Chicago indie rock duo Friko, comprised of vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger....

Earlier this month Coco released their second full-length, and next month they kick off their first-ever headlining tour.  The band is a supergroup of friends, comprised of Dirty Projectors’ Maia Friedman, Pavo Pavo’s Oliver Hill, and Lucius’ Dan Molad.  Their aptly named sophomore LP, 2, dropped courtesy of First...

Last month New York/Philadelphia-based Strange Ranger released their Pure Music LP on Fire Talk Records.  And the album — recorded in a cabin in upstate New York amidst a blizzard — has been surprising critics in the best possible way.  “Strange Ranger continued their metamorphosis from indie rock to experimental electronic...

“Honestly, just the past year of touring has been a literal dream come true…  I’m down to live out of a suitcase for the rest of my life,” says UPSAHL.  I first met the emerging alt-pop star – who I’m chatting with over the phone from the studio –...

Today LA-based chamber pop singer/songwriter Natalie Mering – better known as Weyes Blood — announced new batches of dates in the US (August 23rd-30th and September 12th-14th) and UK/EU (October 28th-November 14th) for her headlining In Holy Flux Tour, in addition to European Festival dates this June and July. ...

Although historically most associated with the aughts, Portland-based indie rockers Modest Mouse’s breakthrough sophomore record, The Lonesome Crowded West, actually dropped in 1997.  This 25th anniversary of the Calvin Johnson-produced album – ranked 29 on Pitchfork’s 100 greatest albums of the 1990s and 59 on Spin’s 100 greatest albums...

Next Thursday, December 9th, Warehouse on Watts will be hosting an alternative holiday celebration presented by Spellbound and DJSC, Dark Holiday Volume 1, a goth/industrial party featuring live performances from Bootblacks, Void Vision, Wingtips, and Crash Cathedral.  I recently got a chance to chat with Void Vision (AKA Shari...