Tom Gallo is the host of Look at My Records on Radio Free Brooklyn
Radio Free Brooklyn and Bushwick Daily are proud to announce a new weekly local-music column that will focus on artists that call Bushwick home. Each week, a Radio Free Brooklyn personality will pen a record or performance review of a different Bushwick based artist, with a curated selection of the best upcoming local gigs in the neighborhood for the following weekend.
This week we have an Album Release by Holy Tunics and some unmissable Northside Festival shows in Bushwick.
HOLY TUNICS
Brooklyn stalwarts Holy Tunics have consistently been churning out the type of wispy jangle pop that, in another time and place, would firmly cement them amongst the likes of college rock radio royalty.
While all members of this group were born a bit too late to nicely round out a triple bill featuring The Dream Syndicate and The Feelies (although they did woo a Warsaw crowd as the featured act for Teenage Fanclub last year),his foursome continues to carry the baton for their trebly forefathers with their first full-length album.
Their debut LP, Butter Dish, released this April on the Madrid based label Meritorio Records, features an evolved, sonically charged sound that is immediately inviting given its psychedelic pop undertones. Despite the band’s frequent comparisons, Butter Dish forges its own path beyond your prototypical Paisley Underground revival with tracks like the emphatic “Victoria” and the smooth high tones and melodies of “Happy Sunday.”
Nick Rogers’ vocals convey a tone of easy confidence throughout, but most notably shine on “Limelight” and the charmingly nostalgic “Sweet Treat.” The timing of this release is most appropriate, as there’s no better time to enjoy a 10-song collection of glistening, jangly guitars overlaid with warm, frank melodies than summer in Bushwick. So crack open a Tecate, head up to your rooftop with friends, and let Butter Dish serve as the soundtrack for the warm days to come.
Holy Tunics are also the brains behind GP Stripes, a Brooklyn based tape label that boasts some fine releases from Sharkmuffin, Lost Boy?, Hamish Kilgour and No Honeymoon.
Bushwick Northside Festival Highlights:
The music of Northside Festival runs from June 7th through June 10th.
GP Stripes is hosting a Northside Festival showcase in conjunction with NYCDIY.XYZ spanning the course of two nights at Little Skips on Willoughby Ave.
The lineup for June 8th features Holy Tunics, A Deer A Horse, Def. GRLS, Jeanines, Shadow Monster, Ben Pagano & The Space Machine, and Garchamp. On June 9th, you can catch sets from Sic Tic, Straw Pipes, Dumb Wolves, Parrot Dream, Kate Mohanty, Kevin Hairs, and The Glitch. Both nights will also feature comedy from Emma Rogers and Reveries.
Ought, Men I Trust, Common Holly, Elle Barbara’s Black Space at Market Hotel
Thursday June 7th at 7 p.m.
Thursday night’s gig at Market Hotel showcases four of Montreal’s hottest up and coming acts, each with their own distinct sound. Headliners Ought just released their third full length, Room Inside The World, this past February on Merge Records to significant critical acclaim.
This latest release features a minimalist, polished post-punk sound that’s reminiscent of New York-based pioneers Television, Richard Hell, and the Talking Heads. Men I Trust, who will be touring with Belle and Sebastian this summer, bring a more dreamy, danceable indie-pop sound to this bill, whereas singer-songwriter Common Holiday’s soft acoustic guitar overlaid with her lush melodies are sure to pull at your heart strings. The R&B/Soul stylings of Elle Barbara’s Black Space round out this eclectic sounding, diverse bill.
RIPS, Michael Beach, Pale Joyride, David West at Alphaville
Friday June 8th at 8 p.m.
Fresh off a 2017 that saw the much-anticipated release of their excellent debut self-titled album, Brooklyn favorites RIPS continue to bring their heavily New York sounding proto-punk expression to venues across the city. Coming along for the ride on Friday are Aussie natives Michael Beach and David West, who are sure to sound pleasing if you enjoy Ariel Pink styled experimental pop with a tinge of lo-fi aesthetic. The spacey, shoegaze sounds of newcomers Pale Joyride, who just released their fantastic eponymous debut EP last month, nicely complement this already strong lineup.
Protomartyr and Deerhoof at Elsewhere
Saturday June 9th at 5 p.m.
The motor city’s own Protomartyr share top billing with the avant garde Deerhoof for Brooklyn Vegan‘s official Northside showcase. Both groups are notorious for their high-energy, engaging live performances, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the hottest tickets of the entire festival. French language, psych-pop outfit Corridor, who’s 2018 album Supermercado was named the best French record of the next five years by Noisey, will also make an appearance, along with Tess Roby, Sloppy Jane, FRIGS, Renata Ziegler, and Eaters.
Boss Hog at Elsewhere
Sunday June 10th at 8 p.m.
Boss Hog, which features the husband-wife duo of Jon Spencer and Cristina Martinez, is self-described as New York City’s most dangerous rock n’ roll band. In 2017, the group released their first album in over 17 years entitled “Brood X,” a dark, almost goth-like, blues inspired collection of songs. Don’t miss out on this live performance, as the group hinted in interviews that their reunion may be relatively short lived.