WHAT WE’VE BEEN JAMMING TO
ISSUE #59 / MAY 9, 2019
Dehd
Happy Again
Our favorite local post punk/jangle-pop trio released the final teaser single from new record, Water, which drops this Friday. “Happy Again” finds the Jason Balla/Emily Kempf duet in full force, and Dehd is ready to take over the country with their upcoming tour. 37 cities in 48 days! Bon voyage!
You can catch them before they hit the road at an all ages show at Shuga Records at 6:30PM this Friday, May 10th, or at their Empty Bottle Record Release show that night.
Sequoyah Murray
Penalties of Love EP
The captivating experimental R&B of Atlanta-based artist Sequoyah Murray caught our ear this week. Penalties of Love is a phenomenal exploration of how far R&B can be stretched and shaped by a musician willing to push the genre to its limits.
The 22 year old phenom is not on tour, but we sure hope he visits soon!
Ari Lennox
Up Late
Sexy and sweet, with a contemporary jazz/R&B melody, Dreamville artist Ari Lennox teases love song, “Up Late,” just days before releasing her debut album, Shea Butter Baby. While the artist sings soulful lyrics of shopping at Target (or Targét) for lingerie, Lennox describes a night of passion with her man with a smooth saxophone, keyboard, electric guitar, and drum beats in the background. Definitely give this new artist a listen. Her album is now up on streaming services, and features other Dreamville members such as J.Cole and JID.
-NBL
Ari Lennox will be at the Bottom Lounge on June 9th, but tickets are already sold out! You can still snag them on Ticketmaster starting at $98.
Kate Tempest
Firesmoke
An artist of unparalleled talent, when Kate Tempest puts out anything- our ears perk up, and “Firesmoke” is the first single from new record The Book of Traps and Lessons, due out June 14th. If the rest of the record is anything like this atmospheric spoken word tune, the world should shut up and listen.
The English musician is not making a trip across the pond anytime soon.
PaleHound
Worthy
“Worthy” is possibly the final teaser single and video from Ellen Kempner before Black Friday hits the airwaves on June 7th. Pale Hound just keeps growing in complex emotional ways, and this release is shaping up to be the best yet.
Pale Hound is opening for Big Thief at the Metro on October 18th. Tix are $25.
Of course they have no plans to visit the U.S. on the horizon.
Versus
Ex Nihilo EP
So is the first release from Versus since 2010 worth the wait? Well, sure! Why wouldn’t it be? As far as resurgent EPs are concerned, Ex Nihilo sounds significantly better than you’d expect a band pushing thirty to, but then again, Versus has always been in a different league than their peers when it comes to delivering the goods. We’ve had a fair number of years (again- nearly 30!) to acclimate to Versus’ style, and there aren’t any real surprises here, but it’s good to have new material from a band that occupies such a warm, welcomed place in the hearts of the indie-rock faithful. From the folk, pop-swoon of “Invisible Love” to the up-punching girl-power clear-shot “Bow And Arrow,” to the syrupy hooks spun on the New Pornographer-esque “Gravity (Version),” and the sober but somehow spacey “Between The Hemispheres,” there is a lot to like about this four-track homecoming voyage.
-MDR
No Chicago dates for Fontaine Toups, Richard Baluyut, and Co. at the moment.
Still Woozy
Lately EP
Five tracks that feel like you’re on and endless beach getaway, hip-hop beats mixed with smooth vocals and even a bilingual song, artist Still Woozy releases new EP, Lately. The EP creates and collaborates electronic tones and a hip-hop/R&B beat creating a very relaxing listen. In songs, “Foolsong” and “Ipanema,” listeners can hear the softness of the beat while still depicting the two separate genres mixed in. Still Woozy has created an enjoyable EP and hopefully we will hear a full album soon.
-NBL
Still Woozy will be performing at Lollapalooza on Sunday, August 4. GA tickets are still $130.
Le Boom
All of My Highs
With infectiously danceable tracks that work their way into your brain and don’t let go, Dublin electro house duo Le Boom scores with All of My Highs.
They would fit right in at any Chicago club, come on over you two!
Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real
Bad Case
Sometimes you just need a good old dose of rock ‘n’ roll, and Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real always delivers. The ‘80s groove of “Bad Case” brings to mind The Cars or Huey Lewis with the swagger of Nelson’s royal country heritage (He’s Willie’s kid, for god’s sake!). New record Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) is due out June 14th.
They are rolling through Thalia Hall on September 26th. Tix are $29 - $39.