Category: Tunes

Psych Fest Preview: Dummy

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In a weekend filled with legendary acts like Galaxie 500 or Kim Gordon or Dinosaur Jr, there are other acts waiting for you to fall in love with, and Dummy is one such band you need to catch at Psych Fest.

The LA outfit has roots in the indiepop/dream pop scene, but they’ve left that past behind, which we first encountered on their two early Dummy EPs. They moved forward one step with Mandatory Enjoyment, which took some of their noisier tendencies and mashed it into this electronic fusion that drew comparisons to acts like Stereolab and Broadcast. That said, if you caught the band live on those early tours, they were anything but just a nod to influences, ripping through a set with an intoxicating mixture of synthetic textures and dissonant guitar vibes.

Nowadays, they’ve stretched themselves even further on their most recent LP, last year’s Free Energy. They left a few breadcrumbs to their previous efforts, but what I loved (as did the masses) was that they pushed further into the intersection between electronic vibes and rock, at times even leaving the rock aspect in the distant past. It left listeners with a transformative listen that illustrated the band’s willingness to meet pop music on their own terms, with their own set of influences. It’s even led to a masterful remix album titled Bubbelibrium DLC, out this June.

They’ll take the Janis stage at 6:05 on Saturday.

Gelli Haha Shares Funny Music

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If you’re ready to let yourself go, seeing as it’s Wednesday, you might want to settle in and crank up this new Gelli Haha jam. You can play the first 55 seconds alone, thrusting yourself into this realm of twisting beats and kaleidoscope of pop hooks, but you won’t have to wait too much longer for the vocals to enter the picture. At times, they sound synthetically angelic, like they’re transmitted from the heavens; they then get spliced up with various other vocal samples, shooting in and out of the textured layers. Suddenly, the pop twists, albeit briefly, hitting harder and sharper, almost with more purpose dropping from the vocals here. You’re not going to be able to find your footing here, as you’ll be joyously spun about, round and round until you find yourself grabbing a copy of Switcheroo, out on June 27th via Innovative Leisure.

New Video from Dog Park

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When Dog Park released their Festina Lente album last year, the school year had just begun, so I was lost in a sea of new students and building relationships. Alas, they visit us today with a brand new video for standout track, “Kaleidoscope.” The light jangle that opens the song should be enough to hook you, as it was definitely one of the ways I fell for this song. Additionally, the tune lets you settle in on your own terms, as it never feels overly forced, with feathered vocals carefully coating the steady snap of the rhythm section. Recline your chair, turn on a fan, and just let yourself be washed in the joy of this jam. Festina Lente is available now via Geographie!

More from Tee Templeton

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I’m increasingly fascinated by the story of Tee Templeton, who just turned 67 this week, and yet is prepping to release his debut this Summer. Listening through his latest single, there are some moments where his song craft is a marvel, like the subtle move into pure pop bliss right around the 2 minute mark. Throughout this number, the song moves into careful pop steps, buoyed by these perfect arrangements that draw obvious similarities to Robyn Hitchcock, while there are other more modern touchstones in the overall songwriting. It’s really a great story of an artist coming to terms with his craft…better late than never…or so they say.

Conflict at Serenity Pools Drop Bermuda Grass

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While I’ll be toiling away administering the brilliantly designed STAAR Test today, I wanted to leave you with a set of brilliant tunes designed to make your world a little better than mine. What better way that to dip your toes into the quieted beauty of this new track from Conflict at Serenity Pools; it has this beach-y breeze to it, though inside there, it also brings this Springtime bounce to it. I really love the way the guitar line trickles over itself, almost tripping in its own joy, particularly when the synthetic ambiance washes over the tune. I’m of the belief your day will be better if you play this one at least a half-dozen times before moving on to your day.

 

Show Review: Napalm Death + Melvins @ Emos (4.18)

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It’s hard to shield yourself from the world’s current events in 2025. There are wars going on, a Russian-happy president in the Oval Office, and Elon Musk is our billionaire asshole-in-chief. For a band like Napalm Death witnessing the perils going on all over the world and their overseas allies going to complete shit in the US, they have a lot to say. Helping them deliver their message came sludge metal titans Melvins and long-running Wilmington stoner doomers Weedeater, a triple threat gauntlet that brought all the heavy – and more. The billed appearances on this run have been aptly titled the “Savage Imperial Death March Tour,” a fitting moniker for the traveling caravan of the long-running performing acts.

Hit the jump for more with fancy photos from Casey Chumbley.

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Matt Kivel Introduces Us to Wine Country

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When you’re a studied songwriter like Matt Kivel, sometimes a plot twist in the story of your career is necessary; it’s here where we meet Matt’s new project, Wine Country. Friends Andy Aylward and John Zakoor round out the trio, creating this magical concoction that feels like it was mastered in some musical chemistry lab from the heavens. This may sound like a strange comparison, but I can’t escape the feeling of a Pavement meets Good Looks meets Smog; it’s a little bit Americana and a lot of indie guitar exploration, with the whole tune taking you on this glorious jaunt that digs into your soul. A very limited amount of 12″ EPs will be available on May 27th; you can grab one HERE.

Monnone Alone Share River of Sighs

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I thought good old Mark Monnone was playing a trick on me when I first press play; I mean, I didn’t expect a vocal sample in a different language! But, as the guitar lines begin to sound familiar and friendly, that’s when I notice that Monnone Alone is still an on-going project, and thus entitled to grow and try out new tricks. The trick here is perfect execution, with one of the best vocal performances I can remember from Mark; it’s aided by the perfect little detailed backing vocal too. There is something light and good-natured here, however, like a bug setting sail on a loose leaf and sailing down a stream, nothing but promise of a new horizon on its mind. Here Comes the Afternoon will be out on May 2nd via Lost and Lonesome/Meritorio/Safe Suburban Home.

Soot Sprite Share Vicious Cycles

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We’ve obviously been keeping an eye on Soot Sprite this year, as they’ll drop their new LP in early May, and yet, I feel like I haven’t been quite able to put their power into words. Early singles remind me of Weakened Friends, whom we adore, but this new one seems to embrace being a huge modern rock band, and I say that with whole-hearted belief that that’s a good thing. Immediacy gets traded in and out for these carefully crawling vocals and guitar lines, suspended in air, only to smash into the listener at the 1 minute mark. Still, where they could easily force bombast and braggadocio on audiences, their initial chorus is subtle and reflective, perhaps tied to the conversation on the lyrical side of things. Wield Your Hope Like a Weapon is out on May 16th via Specialist Subject Records.

Adrian Quesada and Angelica Garcia Share No Juego

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Boleros Psicodelicos was chock-full of bangers, and so expectations for BP II is already high, especially with the debut single that featured Cuco. This round, Adrian Quesada has employed Angelica Garcia as his accompaniment, and in doing so, knocked another one out of the park. This track feels entirely cinematic, something ripped straight from a Tarantino film, and that matches perfectly with the video version accompanying the track. In some way, it also feels like a Latin gangster film, with our singer giving out warning to those in attendance that our singer “no juego” (doesn’t play games), only adding to the theatrical element the tune encompasses. It’s another smoking hot track that has me doubling down on Boleros Psicodelicos II, which drops on June 27th via ATO Records.

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