Bikini Kill Announce 2020 Show

Nov 4, 2019

Bikini Kill have announced a 2020 concert in Olympia, Washington. The show is set for Friday, March 13 at the Capitol Theater and will benefit the nonprofit Interfaith Works.

New Music Friday: Our Top 8 Albums Out On Oct. 25

Oct 25, 2019

The fourth-quarter deluge continues this week with a slew of new releases, including the crooning, quirky soul of Rex Orange County, R&B singer Gallant, queer pop icon King Princess and more, plus the first new album in seven years from Neil Young & Crazy Horse. NPR Music’s Lyndsey McKenna and Stephen Thompson join host Robin Hilton as they share their picks for the best new albums out on Oct. 25.

Featured Albums:
Mikal Cronin — Seeker
Featured Song: “I’ve Got Reason”

Bill's Indie Basement 10/25: the week in classic indie, college rock, and more

Oct 25, 2019

This week: orchestral synthpop fireworks from Anna Meredith; synthpop synthpop from Black Marble; High Llamas main man Sean O’Hagan goes solo and brings an old Microdisney bandmate along; Mikal Cronin undergoes trial by fire on his first solo album in four years; and San Francisco’s The Gonks do twee punk right.

For more reviews on new album, check out Andrew’s Notable Releases, and other records out today I liked (but didn’t review) include: Young Guv’s GUV II, Guided by Voices’ Sweating the Plague, and UK band Dry Cleaning’s second EP of 2019. And if you need more Basement-approved stuff there’s: Wire are back with a new album; The Orielles announced their second album; and Taos duo Tan Cologne are better than their name.

MIKAL CRONIN BREAKS DOWN FIVE SONGS FROM HIS NEW ALBUM, SEEKER

Oct 25, 2019

Today, Mikal Cronin returns with the new record Seeker, an exciting document of change and reinvention. It notably breaks the California artist’s streak of self-titled albums, the last of which was 2015’s MCIII, and was also written when Cronin was at a fork in the road, personally and professionally. Staring down failed relationships, the working grind of being a musician and nagging writer’s block, he “needed to clean up, to stop leaning on external crutches to get through the anxiety,” Cronin says of that time. “I needed to grow the fuck up.”

Mikal Cronin Goes Into the Fire on “Seeker”

Oct 25, 2019

Although humans cause almost 90 percent of forest fires, when left to its own devices, nature will likewise purge overgrowth in a purifying blaze. Following the destruction is a period of rebirth, and it was with this Phoenix-like revival in mind that baroque garage-rocker Mikal Cronin descended south to demo his first album in four years. What he didn’t anticipate was that he’d actually confront the heat.

Why you need to hear the album that took Gaby Moreno and Van Dyke Parks ten years to make

Oct 25, 2019

Mikal Cronin, “Seeker” (Merge Records). The new guitar-rock album from the native Southern Californian was born in solitude after a series of busted-up relationships and a creeping sense that, in his words, “I needed to clean up, to stop leaning on external crutches to get through the anxiety. I needed to grow the ... up.”

How Mikal Cronin Rose From the Ashes to Create His Best Album to Date

Oct 25, 2019

For a time in the late-aughts and the first half of this decade, the Bay Area was home to one of the best, most vibrant rock scenes in the country — producing garage heroes like Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees (known now simply as Oh Sees), Hunx and His Punx, Girls, Shannon and the Clams and Mikal Cronin.

And then it wasn’t.

Solitude the Source for Mikal Cronin’s ‘Seeker’

Oct 25, 2019

It’s a familiar story: A writer hits a wall and needs to seek out isolation to reconnect with their work. That cliché that path has become wasn’t lost on Mikal Cronin, even as he took it himself to begin the process of creating his first new record since 2015’s MCIII. After a steady streak of putting out a new album every other year since 2011, Cronin took his case of writer’s block and touring exhaustion out to a literal cabin the woods. What he found there were the songs that make up the appropriately titled Seeker, a heady collection of rock and roll and devastating solitude.

Mikal Cronin Nails Gritty yet Symphonic Confessionals on Seeker

Oct 23, 2019

The Lowdown: Mikal Cronin has done wonderful work with artists like Charlie and the Moonhearts, Ty Segall, and Thee Oh Sees; yet, it’s often his solo material that shines brightest. His first three self-titled outings, released in 2011, 2013, and 2015, respectively, were endearing hodgepodges of indie, garage, psychedelic rock, and power pop that continually cemented him as one of today’s most characteristic singer-songwriters.

Desert Daze 2019: Washed Ashore A Rainbow Beach

Oct 17, 2019

Richard Rose brought the no-bs attitude to form with their cool as ever stage persona and riffing, while Alvvays and White Fence provided the melodies to sing along with, and The Black Angels never failed to deliver a riveting performance.

Bikini Kill Headlined Riot Fest with their first Chicago show in 20+ years

Sep 16, 2019

Riot Fest 2019: Day 3 photo gallery

Sep 15, 2019

Crowds Flock To Douglas Park As Blink-182, Slayer, Bikini Kill Top Bill For Riot Fest

Sep 15, 2019

Oh Sees Dedicate “Captain Loosely” Video to Victims of the El Paso Massacre

Aug 16, 2019

As always, there’s a new Oh Sees record coming out soon—and, as always, we still have no idea what to expect even after a handful of tracks have been released. The first three singles on the massive double LP range from jazz fusion to garage punk, with the band helpfully describing the album as “SoundCloud hip-hop reversed, a far-flung nemesis of contemporary country and flaccid algorithmic pop-barf.”

Stereogum Premires Omni – “Sincerely Yours” Video

Aug 13, 2019

Since the release of their sophomore album Multi-task on Trouble In Mind two years ago, Atlanta indie-rockers Omni have signed to Sub Pop. Back in April, the trio released a pair of singles, “Delicacy” and “I Don’t Dance,” on the recently reactivated Sub Pop Singles Club. Today, Omni are announcing their label debut called Networker. It’s due out this fall, but today we get a preview via lead single and opening track “Sincerely Yours,” which they’re sharing along with a video.

Omni announce Sub Pop debut and fall tour dates (listen to “Sincerely Yours”)

Aug 13, 2019

Atlanta’s Omni have announced Networker, their first album for Sub Pop which will be out November 1. They’ve also shared the first single from the album, “Sincerely Yours,” which is another fine example of the minimal, nervy guitar pop Omni make. “The last couple of years marked a lot of friends making the 9 to 5 career change,” says singer/bassist Philip Frobos. “While I’m aware that there are many advantages to that lifestyle, the song is written from an outsider’s perspective while remaining close to their struggles.” Watch the video below.

WATCH OMNI’S NEW VIDEO FOR LEAD SINGLE “SINCERELY YOURS” OFF THEIR SUB POP DEBUT ‘NETWORKER’ (OUT NOVEMBER 1ST)

Aug 13, 2019

On November 1st, Omni will release their Sub Pop debut Networker. The first single, “Sincerely Yours”, delivers a tight groove accompanied by smart leads. Elements that have become a definitive part of Omni’s immediately recognizable sound. However, there is a new sonic brilliance to this recording. If spring single, “Delicacy”, was a taste for what was to come, “Sincerely Yours” lifts the curtain to reveal their lush, new sound.

Oh Sees – “Captain Loosely” Video

Aug 6, 2019

Next week, Oh Sees are releasing a new album, Face Stabber. The prolific band has shared a handful of tracks from it already, including “Henchlock,” “Poisoned Stones,” and “Heartworm,” and today they’re back with another one, “Captain Loosely,” a squelching instrumental that feels surprisingly meditative and spacey for the band.

Oh Sees dedicate new single “Captain Loosely” to victims of El Paso mass shooting

Aug 6, 2019

Californian psych-rockers Oh Sees have shared their intense new single “Captain Loosely”, which is dedicated to the victims of the El Paso mass shooting.

Oh Sees dedicate new video to victims of El Paso shooting

Aug 6, 2019

Oh Sees have made a video for “Captain Loosely” which is from their upcoming album, Face Stabber (which is out next week). The video was directed by Matt Yoka and shot on the U.S./Mexico border in Texas, and they’ve dedicated it to the victims of the August 3 El Paso mass shooting.

Interview: Chris Cohen Doesn’t Want to Bullshit You

Jul 16, 2019

“Chris Cohen exudes a kind of tranquility that masks an exacting mind. On a recent Friday evening, the 44-year-old, LA-based indie songwriter and producer unassumingly strolled into Town Pizza in Highland Park, and caught up with the bartender…”

Watch King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s Video for New Song “Organ Farmer”

Jun 26, 2019

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard recently announced their second album of 2019, Infest the Rats’ Nest. It’s out August 16 via Flightless/ATO. Today, they’ve shared a new music video for their new song “Organ Farmer.” In the clip directed by John Angus Stewart, the band wield some tools and try their hand at destroying a car. Watch it happen below.

Event Listing: Ezra Furman @ El Club 9/8/19

Jun 19, 2019

Event Listen for Ezra Furman’s 9/8 show in Detroit

Concert Listings in Toronto

Jun 19, 2019

Ezra Furman in Toronto @ Lee’s Place, Mon September 9, 2019

Video Day #tzaupbeat

Jun 11, 2019

“Ezra Furman returns with his first single for Clam Down AKA I Should Not Be Alone off his new album Twelve Nudes (due 8/30/19).”