“We’re the Beths.. B E T H S. sorry there’s so many consonants.” Vocalist/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes of the New Zealand band spoke candidly to the packed room, and although she noted that she was nervous to be playing in New York, there was no way to tell once they started playing. Elizabeth and Jonathan Pearce (guitar/vocals), were joined by Katie (drums) and Chris (bass) on Monday night in Brooklyn. The energetic set included tracks from the band’s EP, Warm Blood, and they also played the title track of their upcoming album, Future Me Hates Me (Carpark Records). The Beths are just kicking off their U.S. tour, and are definitely ones to watch!
Post Animal played a sold out show at Rough Trade in Brooklyn on Wednesday. The Chicago based band kicked off their North American tour in April in support of their new record, When I Think Of You In A Castle.
Post Animal’s live sound is somehow even more immersive than on the record, but maybe that is because the boys bring such great, infectious energy to the stage. Opening with “Gelatin Mode,” they launched into an incredible set, full of material off of the new record. As the gig went on, the crowd grew rowdier and rowdier, with the boys eliciting one of the most excited and fun New York crowds that I’ve been a part of. Post Animal stayed smiling and hydrated (pictured) through their killer set, and blew everyone away again, playing a few more songs, including an insane performance of “Goggles,” in a highly requested encore.
When I Think Of You In A Castle is out now on Polyvinyl records. The boys are touring for the rest of June, and play at Lollapalooza in August. Tickets are still available, don’t miss this band!
Word of mouth counts for a lot and this is certainly the case with Sugarspun. Despite no releases other than a handful of Soundcloud demos, they have forged an army of fans from coast to coast who have bombarded them with requests for more tracks and who have turned up en-masse to sell out venues they have played. Having developed from a two-piece acoustic outfit to a full-on 5-strong indie juggernaut, they capture the triumphant euphoria of prime Stone Roses and the classic 60’s song-writing chops of The Faces and early 90’s acts like The La’s.
Formed in the unlikely rock n roll hotbed of Carlisle in Cumbria, Sugarspun started out as an acoustic duo, comprising vocalist Jamie and Steven (guitar), though rave reviews emanating from their BBC Introducing plays and feverish fan support at their live shows caused the pair to revise their plans and expand to a much larger vision in all senses. Having recruited the members who now complete their line-up – Michael (rhythm guitar); Luke (bass) and Andy (drums) – from their local music scene, they moved away from acoustic tracks and bedroom demos to their first studio-recorded work: “Spaceman Dreams” and “Hide”.
“Spaceman Dreams” is the antithesis of the trend of gloomy introspection and negativity, with hooks flying around like hand grenades and the chorus racing in at speeds Virgin Trains can only dream of. With a message to never give up on your dreams, however distant they may seem, this is the perfect launchpad for a band who remind you how 90’s indie changed the musical landscape by combining musical talent with optimism, irreverence and fun.
From Sheffield, England, The Sherlocks took a trip to North America to promote their new album. Their indie alternative music has thousands of people shouting the lyrics to their songs and selling out venues throughout United Kingdom. Building their fanbase, they opened for bands such as Kings of Leon and The Libertines and soon to open for Liam Gallagher on his European tour in 2018.
After seven years of being a band, the two sets of brothers released their debut album, “Live for the Moment” in mid-August of this year. The album featured singles from years prior and new tracks that hit #6 in the UK charts.
With the success of their album, they set off on a UK, European, and North American tour. They performed in the US back in March of 2016 for SWSX in Texas, but their first headline tour was this November, starting in Toronto.
The band kicked off the set with their song, “Last Night” and the crowd was immediately enticed. Although it was the last night of tour, they never let their energy falter. Their tunes “Blue” and “Will You Be There?” roared through DC9 Nightclub bringing those from the downstairs bar and staff.
“Turn the Clock,” arrived on the setlist and the acoustic guitar was brought out. The crowd was thrilled to hear a slower song that showed another side of the band.
Kiaran, the lead singer and guitarist, took a moment to say, “We’re ending our first tour in Washington, D.C. just how we wanted it,” which made the crowd yell with happiness and cheering.
As the upbeat songs came back, pairs of friends danced in the crowd with the beer in their hands. An older adult was front and center, mesmerized by the band. Andy, the bassist, had a huge smile on his face seeing how the crowd was reacting to them.
The band knocked the night and tour out with Chasing Shadows. Soon enough, this band will be filling venues of the USA and we’re excited to see them progress!
The band will be returning to the USA in January 2018 to the West Coast. The first date on January 16th in Los Angeles at The Echo.
Contrary to their name, Night Moves is far from a Bob Seger tribute band, and are producing cosmic folk-rock, reminiscent of influences like Neil Young and The Flaming Lips with their own added distinct style. Read below as John Pelant, lead singer and guitarist, chatted with us about their high school beginnings, dream festival line-ups, and the progress on album #3.
First off, how are you?
Doing well! Just got back from playing a festival in Appleton, WI. We had a blast, in what is apparently, “The Drunkest City In America” ???!?? Yeah, I didn’t believe it either…
The relationship between the band appears to be pretty close-knit. How did you all meet and form what is now, Night Moves?
Micky and I met in high school and kinda bonded over skateboarding. We eventually played in bands that would perform together from time to time and whatnot, so we grew closer that way. We also had a similar taste in music- Flaming Lips, The Band, George Harrison, Elliott Smith, Neil Young, which kind of turned us into even better friends. Our current live show band members are all dudes we met years later here in Minneapolis from playing out and about. I think growing up in such a formidable time as high school will inevitably bring you together as Micky and I.
You guys have been together since 2009, and put out your debut album in 2012. How would you say you’ve evolved from Colored Emotions to Pennied Days?
I think the writing has gotten stronger. I’m better at self recording these days, which is important because a lot of self recorded/demo stuff makes it into the albums. We’ve matured a bit in terms of the bands sound and presentation, although I still have a tough time taking the social media thing seriously. The multitude of tours we’ve gone on has given a fair amount of knowledge about how the live thing works for us as well as against us. There are business aspects to this band thing I would have never imagined when I started out that I think we are much more adept at these days, but who am I kidding, I’m still learning and figuring it all out.
You’ve been characterized by your 70’s-esque guitar riffs and melodic folky vocal pairing. Musically and lyrically, where do you find inspiration?
I think the band name falsely informs people of this idea that we’re a homage to Seger/70’s rock band music. That was never the intention, and it still isn’t. We just take stuff from anything we like and that moves us. The name kinda just fit the vibe at the time when we put out the 1st record. Inspiration is constantly changing. Lyrics always seem to come from a strange place. They’re inspired from a variety of experiences and they are usually the last thing to come in the song writing process. All in all, inspiration is always coming to me in ways I’d never expect. I’m still trying to figure that all out as well.
Fans interpret music in a rainbow of ways, is there anything you’d like your listeners to take away from your material?
No, I let them continue to interpret it in a myriad of ways. It’s best if you can get lost and find some element of yourself in the music.
Photo by Erin Pederson
What is a day in the life of Night Moves?
Make coffee/tea. Breakfast, which is usually these days a bagel with egg and turkey and greens. Go through the damn internet stops, shower, go to work, come home listen to music and work on new songs, crack some wine and continue to tinker with the tunes. Still trying to finish album #3!
If we’re on tour: Just trying to not die, drink water, hit various gas stations and grocery stores, sound check, show, after party, sleep.
What records have shaped you most as artists?
“All Things Must Pass” by George Harrison is a big one, Micky borrowed me a copy in Driver’s Ed in high school and it has been a beacon ever since. “Highway 61 Revisited” and “The Freewheelin Bob Dylan” are both very important records that I listened to a lot growing up while learning to play guitar.
Ideal environment for a gig?
Somewhere by a body of water, but also indoors because we’ve had a lot of live sound issues outdoors. Let’s say with lots of lights and strobes/lasers/fog, that whole thing, I’m talkin a NASA level production of fog and lasers, the big stuff that will make you blackout. So maybe a mansion that has an indoor pool, but that is also oceanside with a giant veranda full of snacks and tequila? That’s got to exist somewhere, right? Honestly, as long as there’s good atmosphere you could be in some jack den in the sticks and it’d be fine.
You guys have had played to a variety of audiences, what would be your most memorable gig and why?
It so hard to choose, so I will just mention one. We played in Ohio back in 2013, right after our first album came out, and only 1 girl showed up along with her dad and brother. She was wasted and kept calling out for the song “Colored Emotions,” even after we played it 2nd in the set. It was as if she didn’t know we even played it. The promoter revealed to us later in the night he lost a lot of money on the show and seemed pretty unhappy about it. He let us stay at his house, but insisted several times we “make beds” before we hit the night life, which felt very odd. Every place he took us to he seemed to be in poor standing with the folks there and that further gave us a weird feeling about everything, as in this guy is not well regarded around these parts, fuck, what do we do? I guess it didn’t matter because no one showed up to the gig. We ended up staying out all night and morning in this Ohio town and left at 9am. As we headed out the promoter gave us 5 big pussy willows he stole from his neighbor’s porch, stuffed them in the van. Must have been quite the assemblage to be witnessing rolling down the interstate at 9am looking like a busted, bloated, and broken Pottery Barn prop.
At the moment you’ve been touring the mid-west. Are there any plans to venture out to the West coast or the East coast in the near future?
Unfortunately, not at the moment. Hopefully, soon though!
If you were given the chance to re-score a soundtrack what film would it be?
Plains, Trains, and Automobiles- it already has some cool tracks, but I love the vibe of what they got going on and I’d love to embellish it a little.
With festival season in full swing, who would make up your dream festival line-up?
ACDC, D’Angelo, Flaming Lips, The James Gang, Mick Taylor era Stones, Mamas and Papas Hologram set
There have been many great albums released this year. What would be your favorite record of 2017?
Maybe 1 of these 4: Thundercat-Drunk, MacDemarco- This Old Dog, or Father John Misty-Pure Comedy, War On Drugs-A Deeper Understanding
Lastly, what can fans and those new to your music, expect from Night Moves this year and perhaps into next year?
Album #3, we’re hoping to start recording it in the fall so we can to put it out next summer~
Up and coming all-girl band, Pinky Pinky, composed of Anastasia Sanchez (lead singer and drummer [19]), Isabelle Fields (guitarist [18]), and Eva Chambers (bassist [18]) sat down with Lucid Dreams amid the party-filled Echo Park after their set for Echo Park Rising. Listen along to hear us chat about their upcoming EP, South African urban legends, and Jimmy Carter!
King Shelter and friends rocked the Metro Gallery, bringing Baltimore some fun on a hot friday night. King Shelter is an independent indie/alternative rock band based out of Southern California. They’re currently touring with The Frights and On Drugs on their Wet Hot Summer Tour, up to September 9th (get your tickets here). The band has been pretty busy this year with the release of their new singles ‘Gimmie Knowledge’ and ‘Gholy Host’, also touring the west coast with their friends The Frights and Hunny. Hope to see more of King Shelter in the DMV in the near future, they’ll keep us waiting till then.
As the crowd poured into The Echo last night for Reno natives, Current Joys sold out show, there was an all-encompassing sense of excitement and eagerness. Prior to Current Joys taking stage, Gap Girls and Bane’s World opened up the night, both giving dreamy performances that made the audience swoon for every note.
By the time Current Joys made their way on, everyone was teeming with bottled up energy, and as soon as Nick Rattigan—leadsinger and guitarist— started with one of the many songs on their diverse set list, the room transformed into a jumping frenzy. Songs like ‘New Flesh’ and ‘My Motorcycle’ ignited a mass sing-along only adding to the night’s vitality. What was really distinct about the whole evening was the understanding between the audience and the band—each one fed off what they gave the other. That notion proved to be more true as the set drew to a close, with Nick performing the last few songs solo. While the venue was already pretty intimate, everything fell into place perfectly for those final momentsleaving everyone on a high.
A Friday night in Washington, D.C. is never a dull one. Frank Iero and the Patience (consisting of Frank Iero: Lead Singer + Guitar, Evan Nestor Guitar+ Backup Vocals, Alex Grippo: Bass, Matt Olson: Drummer + Backup Vocals) brought their sound to U Street! On their US run, they promoted sophomore album, “Parachutes” released last October. In the fall, the New Jersey based band will be heading to Europe and the UK to promote their music overseas.
Frank, the lead singer and guitarist, started various projects after the breakup of the world known band, My Chemical Romance (MCR). Frank Iero and the Patience released their debut album, “Stomachaches” in 2014, still keeping the alternative rock scene that he brought to his past work.
Loyal fans that reign from MCR continue to show support to his new music! The dedicated fans from DC mentioned how they saw him back in MCR and they were thrilled that he was back. The band put all their energy into their electric performance and interacting with the audience! Frank was overjoyed at the crowd and the enormous support he has received since.
After the show, a few preview photos were released to get our readers excited for what’s to come. Frank’s fans quickly saw and the internet was ecstatic! They made sure to comment on his recent ‘hair makeover’. The first photos to debut it were the buzz on Tumblr and other social media!
Needless to say, the band put up an impressive performance and won DC over. Their fan base is strong and continuing to grow. We hope to hear great things from Frank Iero and the Patience soon. DC will definitely be waiting for their return to the local stages.
afterlifemagazine.com 
