October 30, 2013
Clicky Clicky's Community Servings Benefit Show with Earthquake Party!, The Hush Now, Soccer Mom & K. Heasley of LILYS | 3 Nov. | TT The Bear's Place
We're just a few days away. Which is hard to believe, after the months of planning, all the emails, texts, yadda. It all goes down Sunday night, "it" being the second annual Clicky Clicky Music Blog Community Servings benefit show, this year featuring an absolutely massive bill: Earthquake Party!, The Hush Now, Soccer Mom and K. Heasley of Lilys. We couldn't be more excited, and we hope you will come out to TT The Bear's Place in droves to make the scene, bask in the rock and roll, and help support the cause. Doors at 8:30, tickets are $10, and all proceeds go to help Jamaica Plain-based Community Servings provide free nutritious meals to its chronically ill clients, their children and their caregivers. In addition to the bands performing, we are totally psyched to have Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz DJing between sets, and Joe Turner will bathe the stage in mind-bending visuals. And of course there will be raffles, things like gift certificates and the like. Maybe we'll raffle a ticket to next week's My Bloody Valentine show? Is that a thing people would want to buy raffle tickets for? It could happen. On top of it all, we're pretty sure you'll be able to buy a pie, because pie is awesome, and is also another way Community Servings helps raise money to feed those in need.
So here's what you need to do:
1) buy a ticket or, hell, buy a dozen tickets.
2) click over to the Facebook event page and let us know you are coming.
3) let you friends know that this show is the place to be by sharing the Facebook event in your Facebook Timeline or blasting it out your Twitter feed.
Then just show up. We will do our part: you will be rocked. In fact, let's rock you a bit now. Below we've embedded some tunes from the bands to get you pumped. Listen in, and we'll look for you Sunday night at TT's. Turn on the bright lights.
October 27, 2013
Today's Hotness: The Fireworks, Krill, Pile
>> London-based fuzz-pop upstarts The Fireworks execute very well on a simple formula, and its forthcoming sophomore single "Runaround" b/w "With My Heart" and "Asleep" situates the band in the noble sonic company of like-minded noisemakers spread across almost four decades, from Buzzcocks to The Manhattan Love Suicides. The straightforward concept should not dilute anyone's excitement about what's happening here. The quartet's A-side is amped up and distortion drenched, as over-driven guitar chords and a persistent snare cadence drive the song relentlessly forward. The final thirty seconds touts a sparkling lead guitar over top the heavily concentrated, cotton-candy strumming, as singers Emma Hall and Matthew's voices alternately proffer words and dreamy ahhs that push "Runaround" to a delightful close. It's a brilliant track, and shows a lot of promise for the two-year-old indie pop concern that traces its genesis to Matthew singing certain of his songs over the telephone to friends. "Runaround" b/w "With My Heart" and "Asleep" will be released in the U.S. by Shelflife Records Nov. 26; the single is on offer in a limited edition of 300 pieces, including 100 red vinyl circles and 200 black, and pre-orders are already being taken right here. The Portland, Ore.-based label previously issued The Fireworks' debut, a self-titled EP, in March in a limited edition of 300 pieces, and the band apparently sold out of their stock after a well-received appearance at the Indietracks festival in the Derbyshire countryside last summer. Blast off into the coming week by streaming "Runaround" early and often via the Soundcloud embed below.
>> Exploding In Sound Records disclosed this week that it has signed Boston bugcore outliers Krill, and will release a forthcoming EP from the trio in early 2014. It's a fairly unsurprising move, given the success both Krill and the label have had in 2013, and because we expect many people assumed the band was already signed to the label in the first place. Krill already enjoys a tight camaraderie with the other acts Exploding In Sound's roster, and this is underscored by the aforementioned forthcoming EP. It is titled Steve Hears Pile In Malden And Bursts Into Tears, and it is a concept release that tells the story of two characters from the Pile song "Steve's Mouth." According to Exploding In Sound's announcement about the signing and the release, "[t]he journey begins when Steve and Mouth become aware they are in a Pile song and things get weird, wonderful, and wild from there." Steve Hears Pile In Malden And Bursts Into Tears will be released on vinyl and as a digital download; no word whether the band will also release it on a thumb drive lodged in a ball of cheese. As of yet, we don't have any music to share from the planned Krill EP, but we'll be certain to share it when we do. In the meantime, there are some notable live dates coming up for Krill, including Nov. 22 at TT The Bear's in Cambridge (with Pile, Porches and Summer People) and Dec. 7 in Plymouth, Mass. for the big Ash Gray Proclamation Toys For Tots benefit show. We reviewed Krill's transcendent sophomore LP Lucky Leaves right here in July, and you can stream it via the embed below.
>> Speaking of Pile, the band went out on tour this weekend, opening their two-week foray down and up the east coast with back-to-back dates in Philly. The tour goes as far south as Gainesville, where Pile will play at The Fest. After that tour is in the history books, the Boston-based grunge heroes travel back to Philadelphia to record an EP at the Sex Dungeon in Philadelphia, the studio responsible for Pile's 2012 LP Dripping and Speedy Ortiz' Sports EP (which is about to be re-pressed by EIS, according to the label), among other recordings. The planned EP will also be released by Exploding In Sound, and -- based on an email from Pile this week -- will probably be released as a 7" in January. Unless that 7" is some other thing, in which case, WOOT, two Pile releases coming! But we think the EP mentioned in one email is the same thing as the 7" mentioned in the other email. And fear not far-flung rock fans: Pile is already planning a March tour down to the annual South By Southwest music and technology confabulation in Austin, Texas with Speedy Ortiz. We wrote about Pile and Dripping a year ago for the late, great Boston Phoenix right here. Take a listen to "Steve's Mouth" from Dripping via the Bandcamp embed below.
October 26, 2013
New Music Night 12 DJ Sets | River Gods | 24/25 Oct.
Happy Saturday, rock fans. Here are the songs what we played whilst manning the figurative decks Thursday night and into Friday morning in the booth at the fabulous River Gods in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sure, the game didn't go the way anybody wanted it to (well, except for that bastard Earley), but a nice time was had by all and we're grateful for all the friendly faces that came out, even some who rolled in from Fenway after the game wrapped. We all laughed and cried and cheered and booed and all the while Mr. 'Nac and I spun the new sounds for the people. So here's what we played, with a caveat that our memory of how we re-ordered the midnight set to accommodate an early last-call is a little shifty. But we're pretty sure this is right. If you have any questions or want to know more about the songs below, hit us on Twitter or drop a comment. We may or may not do Spotify playlists of these sets in the coming days and post links here; watch this space. Also, please click over to Bradley's Almanac and check out Brad's playlists for the 9PM and 11PM hours, which are already online, because Brad is cool like dat. #NewMusicNight 13 is already booked, it'll be next month, on Nov. 21, same bat time, same bat channel. Ready for more new? Yeah you are.
Set 2 / 10PM / Jay
1. Los Campesinos! -- "Avocado, Baby" -- No BluesSet 4 / 12AM / Jay
[stream / buy / album review pending]
2. The Wolfhounds -- "Divide And Fall" -- single
[blogged / buy / stream]
3. The Weaks -- "Nietzsche's Harvest Song" -- The World Is A Terrible Place & I Hate Myself And Want To Die
[download / buy]
4. The Frost Heaves -- "20/20" -- We Have Killed The Sunset EP
[stream / download]
5. Shark? -- "Wither" -- Savior
[stream / buy]
6. Slowdim -- "Wishing Well (Mandolin version)" -- Single
[blogged / download]
7. Kardashians -- "Being Vegan Is Terribly Difficult"
[unannounced thing (we think?) by people you know (we think?). -- Ed.]
8. 2 Ton Bug -- "Haunted Lawn" -- It's A Wonderful Life
[free download]
9. You're Jovian -- "Revelations" -- single
[forthcoming single, under-rated band. -- Ed.]
10. Beach Volleyball -- "First Floor" -- single
[blogged / download / buy]
11. Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam -- "Infant Eyes" -- Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam
[blogged / download]
12. Dios Mio -- "Tough Crowd" -- single
[very, very highly recommended -- Ed. / download]
13. Tapedeck Mountain -- "Half Life" -- Sway
[stream / buy]
14. Springtime -- "Great Cop (Fugazi cover)" -- South Hill
[stream / buy]
15. The Snowy Owls -- "Next Summer" -- Summer EP
[blogged / download]
16. Radstewart -- "Arabesque Bedouin" -- Alcopop! 6 Road Bike (!!!) compilation
[stream / buy this crazy, beautiful, goddamn thing]
17. Soft Focus -- "POG" -- Day EP
[download]
1. Dowsing -- "If I Fall Asleep The Cats Will Find Me" -- I Don't Even Care Anymore
[stream / buy]
2. Min Diesel -- "Mother" -- Cool Your Jets 001 split single
[blogged / buy]
3. Pinact -- "I Don't Think You'll Ever Know" -- Cool Your Jets 001 split single
[blogged / buy]
4. Julius Earthling -- "Brad's Weed" -- Far EP
[blogged / stream the EP title track]
5. You're Jovian -- "French Love Bangers" -- single
[forthcoming single, under-rated band. -- Ed.]
6. Great Hare -- "Like Flowers" -- Like Flowers
[second single from Swedish indie rockers' LP due in 2014 -- Ed. / stream / download]
7. Winter Wedding Party -- "Lying On The Grass" -- Winter Wedding Party
[blogged / stream]
8. The Superman Revenge Squad Band -- "Lately I've Found Myself Regressing" -- There Is Nothing More Frightening Than The Passing Of Time
[blogged / stream / buy]
9. Joey Fourr -- "Panspermia B.C"
[stream]
10. Ancient Babes -- "Malcolm X In The Middle" -- Single
[stream]
11. Acaradoux -- "Chill"
[stream]
12. Heyward Howkins -- "Nogales" -- Be Frank, Furness
[stream / buy / album review forthcoming]
October 23, 2013
New Music Night 12 with DJs Brad Almanac + Jay Clicky Clicky | River Gods | 24 Oct.
Anything good on TV tonight? Anything at all? What about tomorrow? No? Yes? The Red Stockings are playing, you say? Wunderbar! There's an app for that, at least tomorrow night. And by "app" we mean you can take your ass over to River Gods in Cambridge and accomplish not one, not two, but three things. 1) You can watch Game Two of the World Series on the projection screen with the sound turned off; 2) You can listen to several hours of fresh-from-the-forge new music; and 3) you can drink beer. This is a victory for everyone; this, friends, is what makes our country great. As far as the music is concerned, your faithful aural tour guides de rock will of course be Brad of Bradley's Almanac and Jay of Clicky Clicky, and it all happens from 9PM-1AM. It is, in fact, #NewMusicNight's 12th visitation upon River Gods, and we are pleased as punch to yet again bring you the now and future sounds after taking the late summer/early fall off. For a sense of what you're getting into, check out Brad's playlist from the July event, or our very own. Solid. Sold? Thinking about it? Here's the Facebook event page, why not click on over and pledge your allegiance?
River Gods
125 River Street
Cambridge, MA
MAP
Accessible via Red Line at Central Square.
October 20, 2013
Review: Black Hearted Brother | Stars Are Our Home
The long-player's first three tracks, taken as a triptych, evidence Black Hearted Brother excitedly trying on different hats as its modus operandi steadily gels. The band introduces itself with the opening instrumental title track, whose warm, foregrounded synths are run serially through all manner of filters, pads and circuits. As the rich tones gently ebb and flow, a clean guitar and metronomic kick drum propel the song. The trio's love of space rock, '70s German progressive and early electronica are apparent, and these sounds are referenced regularly across the dozen songs of Stars Are Our Home. Lead single "(I Don't Mean To) Wonder" thrills in the second slot and marks the first of many stylistic shifts on the collection, as the threesome leaps decades ahead to the sounds of Halstead and Mr. Van Hoen's early '90s heyday. The song's thick distortion and groaning feedback give way to a plaintive verse that uses the same sort of long-delay vocal production that marked much of Halstead's 1995 Slowdive swan-song Pygmalion. "(I Don't Mean To) Wonder" then mounts a great one-off chorus, which points to a powerful instrumental outro that decrescendos before embracing the fuzz once more; it's here listeners can first sense the giddy delight in collaborating that spurs Black Hearted Brother. With the third track "This Is How It Feels," the trio's songwriting comes more sharply into focus. The bright and pristine pop song commences with a bobbing, bass-led verse featuring chipper snare hits that smartly contrast with the lovelorn vocals. This melancholy section is interrupted by an exuberant, organ-driven chorus that recalls both Stereolab and jubilant Motown backing vocalists.
The balance of the record adheres to the blueprint established by the opening triptych -- save for the remarkable album highlight, "Time In The Machine." The centerpiece of the album, "Time In The Machine" is so vibrant, animated and fully-realized that it stands tall within this set of very good songs. The tune opens with an orchestra of bass, synth strings, delicate acoustic guitar and galloping drums; it's a dead-ringer for the classy drama that is the bread and butter of bands like Broken Social Scene. That's a funny comparison, as it is likely that the principals of Black Hearted Brother directly influenced the work of Kevin Drew and his Canadian cohort. This reviewer is going to go so far as to consider it a "teacher becomes the student" moment, and it is awesome to hear it play out as Black Hearted Brother build a subtle, yet monumental, piece. Considering the lives Halstead, Holton and Van Hoen have lived, the emotional resonance echoes powerfully. After the moving introduction, the song reveals its primary motif to be the downcast, perfect acoustic melody that anchors the wall of sound around it. Halstead's voice softly intones a mantra whose simple melody plays against the chord changes, steady rain of synth and locked, delay pedal whooshes. The song resolutely builds but tapers before achieving an ultimate climax. Instead, it slowly cools with a bruised, withdrawn pride that leaves a long-lasting impression.
Though Stars Are Our Home -- which will be released by Slumberland Tuesday -- may be seen by its creators as an exercise in a lack of restraint, the principals' own pathos and consideration instill a sense of purpose that highlights just how much they love what they do. That alone is enough to make Stars Are Our Home a recommended release, but, more importantly, the record represents a new morning in the careers of honest-to-goodness alt. music lifers. Buy the record as a double LP or CD from Slumberland right here. -- Edward Charlton
Black Hearted Brother: Internerds | Facebook
October 19, 2013
Today's Hotness: The Wolfhounds, Soltero, Household
>> Long-time readers are well aware of our penchant for big-guitar belters, and a forthcoming single from veteran UK indie rockers The Wolfhounds authoritatively delivers the goods. The band first formed in the mid-'80s before folding around 1990, and those first five years yielded many things, of which perhaps the best is the towering second single "The Anti-Midas Touch." The band reformed in 2005 to mark the 20th anniversary of its first single, and the next year played a 20th anniversary celebration for the seminal NME "C86" compilation, according to our shadowy friends over at the Wikipedia. The Wolfhounds' latest, "Divide And Fall" b/w "The Ten Commandments Of Public Life" is being released digitally Oct. 28 via Oddbox Records, and pre-orders of the limited edition of 300 blood-red vinyl 7" discs will ship out on or around Nov. 4. The single's very formidable A-side is rough, desperate and melodic, and recalls the best of Superchunk's first four years. "The Ten Commandments Of Public Life" is more subdued, contemplative and psychedelic, and stretches across more than five minutes that somehow still feel too short. This single is the band's second of the year on Oddbox; in January the label released The Wolfhounds "Cheer Up" single, which boasts four songs and is apparently still available on vinyl. Based on a tweet from Oddbox Thursday, the forthcoming single is already at least half sold-out on pre-orders, so you'd be well-served to get your order in sooner rather than later. Could there be a full-length in the offing? We certainly hope so, because this latest single is among the best music The Wolfhounds have recorded in any decade. Stream "Divide And Fall" b/w "The Ten Commandments Of Public Life" via the Bandcamp embed below, and click through to order a copy before they go the way of the dodo bird.
>> It's hard to believe, but it's been 11 years since we first saw long-running, itinerant indie pop concern Soltero. It was a memorable night, headlined by the then-still-unsigned but already-incredible Mobius Band, and punctuated by our first experience standing near the late, great Billy Ruane as he was going off, charging around in front of the band at various acute angles, driven by the music. Soltero was terrific, with fronter Tim Howard practically shaking as the songs flowed through him, and we distinctly remember turning to a friend after the band finished up the brilliant "The Moment You Said Yes" and one of us making a favorable comparison to Elvis Costello. In the many years since then, Mr. Howard has lived in two more major mid-Atlantic metropolises, as well as North Carolina and Central America, and he's released just about as many records as he's had residences. The moving around suggests a restlessness and yen for adventure that can be heard in the music of Soltero's latest collection, the short set Jamming The Gaydar. The patient and mildly spooky opener "In The Sun" is pocked with hand percussion and muted guitar, while its melody glides along on flotillas of organ, droning tenor saxophone and cascading guitar lines. Album highlight "Big Satellite" commences with a wistful guitar melody and organ, then blossoms via layers of guitars and stacked sax tracks into something like a more reserved scale model of a weighty Built To Spill-styled jammer. Jamming The Gaydar is a very rewarding (and, incidentally, very seasonally appropriate) collection that showcases Howard's songwriting and arranging acumen, and it is available now as a free download -- at least for now -- via Bandcamp. We've embedded the entire record for your perusal below, which we certainly recommend to your attention.
>> Paul Simon once wrote "my life is made of patterns that can scarcely be controlled." One careening cycle that this reviewer has observed in his brief time was the rise of and retreat from the popular consciousness of lean, taut, and danceable post-punk. Indeed, the first four years of the present millennium were a glorious time for that particular aesthetic, until over-exposure eventually got the best of the movement and it fell from fashion. Absence, of course, can make the heart grow fonder, and so we were pleased to recently happen upon Household, whose preview single "A New Leaf" serves not only as a nice taste of their upcoming, six-song EP -- titled Elaines and due on Dull Knife Records -- but also as a pleasant reminder of the finer points of upbeat indie. In the wake of the Brooklyn combo's 2011 debut full-length Items, the band continues to nip and tuck at their core sound. "A New Leaf" presents pared-down instrumentation, resulting in a complete excision of excess notes or drum beats. And yes, while the rigid guitar lines and Wire-styled strums of the chorus recall the clean Telecasters of the kinetic punk of yore, or even a peppier Young Marble Giants, Household still manages to imprint their own identity on its music. Much of the vocals, dry production, and DIY slinkiness have more in common with many of the earnest female-led outfits within the Pacific Northwest scene, like Grass Widow, Chastity Belt and myriad other basement dwellers and K Records signatories. Taken in sum, the complete package inspires the need to bob the head and shake the hips a bit, and provides a refreshing twist to a familiar sound. Elaines was originally slated for release Nov. 5, but a manufacturing error has delayed the release of the vinyl until Nov. 30. Pre-order the EP from Dull Knife right here, and stream "A New Leaf" via the Bandcamp embed below. -- Edward Charlton
October 15, 2013
Sons Of Death Rough Francis Headline Middle East Up Friday
For the last few decades the phrase "The Sons Of Death" has meant one thing and one thing only here at Clicky Clicky HQ. That was the name of the group of street toughs that escorted Arthur Fonzarelli, a/k/a "The Fonz," to a dental appointment in this episode of the popular American television series "Happy Days." The dentist, incidentally, may have been played by the great Joe Don Baker, if our memory serves. But we digress. The same year "Happy Days" was introduced to the idiot box, the Detroit-based proto-punk act Death recorded a demo tape and thereafter developed a cult following that has now exploded in the wake of Drafthouse Films' excellent 2012 rockumentary "A Band Called Death." It's an amazing story about a punk act that couldn't get a break, that couldn't get the respect they deserved, because the industry just wouldn't support a band called Death comprised of black men playing heavy, raw guitar music. If you haven't seen the film, we recommend you do.
But we're still one step removed from where we're going with this blog post, because, you see, one of the guys in Death, Bobby Hackney, had three sons -- the literal sons of Death. And they, along with some associates, have got a garage-punk band of their own called Rough Francis. And they rock. Rough Francis operates out of Burlington, Vermont and play brawlers like "Not A Nice Guy" and the more swinging "Black And Red." And, as the title of this blog post suggests, the band will topline a late bill (10PM doors) upstairs at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA this Friday. Our operatives report that Rough Francis was amazing at their last area appearance at Charlestown's Tavern At The End Of The World, when the act was out supporting the release of its debut long-player Maximum Soul Power. After the Middle East date the Vermonters head to Brooklyn to play an all-ages CMJ show at Klub Europa. Maximum Soul Power is available as an LP or compact disc right here, and as a digital download via Bandcamp. Stream the record via the embed below -- we strongly advise going straight to track two, the blinder "I-90 East" -- and click through to purchase.
Rough Francis: Internerds | Facebook
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