Category Archives: Spanking New Music

Buke & Gass – “Your Face Left Before You”

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Buke & Gass – “Your Face Left Before You”

I’m kinda smitten with this Brooklyn-based duo Buke & Gass (pronounced byook & gace), which is the description of their own self-modified instruments  –  the ”buke” (a self-modified six-string former baritone ukulele) and the ”gass” (a guitar-bass hybrid of his own creation). Their upcoming debut full-length, Riposte, is out Sept. 14th on Brassland.

Buke & Gass Tour Dates:
Tuesday, Sept. 7 – Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
Wednesday, Sept. 8 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
Thursday, Sept. 9 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
Friday, Sept. 10 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Saturday, Sept. 11 – Minneapolis, MN @ Walker Arts
Monday, Sept. 13 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Friday, Sept. 17 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Saturday, Sept. 18 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Monday, Sept. 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
Friday, Sept. 24 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Saturday, Sept. 25 – Frisco, TX @ Lochrann’s Irish Pub (Oysterfest!)
Sunday, Sept. 26 – Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone
Monday, Sept. 27 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Wednesday, Sept. 29 – Washington, DC @ DC9
Thursday, Sept. 30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
Friday, Oct. 1 – New York, NY @ Santo’s Party House
Saturday, Oct. 2 – Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal Festival

Tweak Bird – “A Sun…Ahh Ahh”

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Tweak Bird – “A Sun/Ahh Ahh”

A sun…ahhhh.  My sentiments exactly today as I lapped up the 100 degree heat and blistering sun that was shining on San Francisco. So bright, so hot, so clear you could see the Farallon Islands while standing on the beach in shorts and a tank top. It was mesmerizing and bewitching. The whole city celebrated with a collective strip tease that carried on into the evening light of the full moon. It’s August 24 and summer has finally arrived in San Francisco. A concept that, as of last week, seemed one million light years away.

The Black Knights – “L.A. Hayfever”

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The Black Knights – “L.A. Hayfever”

I’m very smitten with this trashy, bluesy duo from Salford, England calling themselves The Black Knights. I was hooked with their ‘Parade of Pirahanas’ EP a while back, and am digging their debut LP “Sickle Cell Saturday Night” out now. If you like the stripped down dirty rock vibe of bands like the Band of Skulls, you’ll like these guys too. They’re super sweet guys to boot. Thought I’m sure the lead vocalist, who calls himself The Dark Reverend, may not take too kindly to how that comment might affect his badass image. But as they say, never judge a book by it’s cover.

This track, L.A. Hayfever rocks. Though the song is not about seasonal allergies. It’s a code word for the after effects of doing too much blow and constantly rubbing your nose, thinking there are still traces of it there.  So L.A.

Andy Clockwise – “Cocaine & Champagne”

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Andy Clockwise – “Cocaine & Champagne”

We love Andy Clockwise.  One of my favorite performances of SXSW this year, these guys are as much fun off stage as they are on it. The LA (by way of Australia)-based band is fresh off an Australian tour with Julian Casablancas and is back in SoCal celebrating the release of their new EP “Are You Well” tonight at the Troubador. They also released a new single today, “Remember Love”. Check out the video for it and enjoy this yummy track I just got, “Cocaine & Champagne.”  One day we’ll get them up here in SF, I promise.

The Delta Mirror – “He Was Worse Than The Needle He Gave You”

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The Delta Mirror – “He Was Worse Than The Needle He Gave You”

Writing about music is a difficult and sometimes futile proposition. I once heard someone describe it akin to writing about architecture. You just know what you like when you see it.  Same with music.  You know what you like when you hear it. However, there are a few exceptions and I thought LA-based The Delta Mirror’s artist statement was both meaningful and relevant. I actually got it before I heard it. Which is no small task.  So why mess with a good thing? Indeed. Here’s how they described themselves and the sound of their debut LP, Machines that Listen. They’ll be stopping by San Francisco’s The Rickshaw Stop on July 27.

The Delta Mirror is a cocktail of all your past loves, the ones you wish had stuck around, and check up on from time to time even though you’ve moved on. They were made from the sprained fingers and broken records of mid 90’s hip hop. They were made from the bent circuits of electronica, dead IDM lap tops and broken shoegaze strings. They were made from the injured spirit of a folk singer’s broken heart. Alongside bands like The Big Pink and The Fuck Buttons, The Delta Mirror see’s the things that made our past relationships work and brings them together creating the ideal love.

Atlas Sound Fans: Meet UNDO

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UNDO – “The Hollow Backdrop”

Welcome to the world of Indie electronica.  I first heard this track and thought Bradford Cox is at it again.  But alas, it is not. This comes by way of the LA-based indie electronic duo Ory Hodis and Mike Jerugim, working under the moniker UNDO. Their sound has a similar aesthetic though. Ambient, sultry, hypnotic, atmospheric and a little sad. The pair is getting ready to self-release their debut album, “As Always but Never Before” on August 3rd. Take note.

Buke & Gass – “Medulla Oblongata”

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Buke & Gass – “Medulla Oblongata”

Brooklyn-based Buke & Gass (pronounced byook & gace) are Arone Dyer on the “buke” (a self-modified six-string former baritone ukulele) and Aron Sanchez on the “gass” (a guitar-bass hybrid of his own creation). Rumor has it that Brassland (their current label) co-founders Aaron and Bryce Dessner discovered Buke & Gass when they played Sycamore, the basement venue down the street from The National’s home studio in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. They were so blown away that their self-produced the full-length record, Riposte, is now due out on the label September 14th. “Medulla Oblongata” is the first track from that album. Expect to hear more from this duo.

Folkin’ Monday: Peggie Sue, todayokay, Pepper Rabbit

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Peggie Sue – “Watchman”

Pepper Rabbit – “None Shall Sleep”

todayokay – “HT Sandwich”

We all hate Mondays, but hopefully this trio of folky new artists set to hit Bottom of the Hill tonight in San Francisco will brighten your day. Peggie Sue is a UK-based trio on tour in the US to support their debut album “Fossils and Other Phantoms”, which was produced by members of Mumford and Sons. Preceding their headline act will be Silverlake’s Pepper Rabbit and San Francisco’s very own todayokay whose performance will mark their debut.  Folk out.