The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
As smooth as butter, and as creaky as a porch swing, the soul coming out of this record hits all the right notes. It’s the latest, and fourth solo LP from Son Little, originating out of Philadelphia. This one is called Like Neptune, and like that sea god controlling the tides, this impressive singer ebbs and flows with steady downbeat rhythms. Production wise it’s subtle with sparse instrumentation, blending acoustic with electric, but also takes more electronic turns that actual became the best highlights of the album. He touches on different moods as well, from sensual R&B to painful blues, delivering certain lyrics that will occasionally break you from the trance of his terrific voice. The love of the genre is really felt on this one, by a truly talented artist.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
For late era gen x’ers coming into their teen years, looking for a new take on rock music, it was easy to miss out some hidden gems in that alternative movement of the 90s. Maybe you heard their name in passing as an opener for a bigger band, or maybe caught their video briefly on one of those late Sunday night MTV shows. Then 30 years later you hear Archers of Loaf, and damn. The original lineup of these North Carolinians have put out their first record in 24 years. There’s maturity in their sound now, uplifting tunes and somber piano, but still holding onto that youthful post-punk noise of their peak as well. Thoughtful crooning and clever lyrics on the state of society, and the emotions we go through navigating all life’s problems. Never too late to find a cool artist that could’ve inspired your youth, and hopefully they get the band back together to inspire your present.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
Named for a cactus, imbued with both endurance and fragility, the music of Long Mama takes on those characteristics as well. Out of Milwaukee, they have dropped their debut, Poor Pretender, a record that has bloomed beautiful flowers, guarded by prickly thorns. Simply put, it’s folk, country, and Americana. No frill or gimmicks, just classic songwriting. Stories that shake the dust, and ache the heart. There’s a light touch to the rhythm section, a sharp twang to the guitars, and a magnificent voice over all of it. Handle this one with love and care, and if you get pricked every once in awhile it’s ok, just pretend it didn’t hurt.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
A few sad tears turn into an angry rainstorm on Unison Life, the latest from rock trio Brutus. The shades are drawn in this dreary room of feels. Go outside and the skies are cloudy and grey. Can’t get away from the angst of this record. Is there such a thing as post-emo? Because Brutus is nailing it. There’s haunting reverb on the guitars, as they play bleak melodies. The dynamics in the songwriting peak and dip, even veering into speed metal territory. Vocalist and drummer Stefanie wails impressively while crushing it on those beats. The lyrics are simple, and malleable for anyone who needs them to fit their own dark mood. Don’t worry though, Brutus can lighten things up, too. The way only flames of rage can.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
Never ceases to amaze and delight how far hard rock can reach its corruptible influence. Blown across the Gobi desert, and echoed over the Mongolian steppe comes The HU, a folk metal band like no other. Rumble of Thunder is their second, and latest release, and every minute of it lives up to that title. Modern rock styles blend with retro, as in “a few centuries old” retro. The riffs and percussion are heavy, the vocals are guttural and booming, but most of the songs stay in more uplifting keys. But, the real stars of this production are the traditional Mongolian instruments, and the throat singing. It’s truly awesome, and with lyrics taken from war cries and poems it just adds another epic level to the whole thing. American stoner and doom metal bands have been trying to conjure images of horseback warriors and falconers for years, but here comes the real thing.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
Better known for tearing it up with a strange, raucous style of rock as the guitarist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist of the band Le Butcherettes, here we find a different side of Teri Gender Bender on their recent solo release. After a spate of EPs and singles released this year, with a lot of sounding just like quick ideas off the dome, Saturn Sex feels more complete, and ready for that vinyl pressing. TGB has traded in noisy riffs for high quality electronic production. Deep bass, down beats, dub step and trap elements thump, and vibrate, and are sure to raise the hairs on the most appreciative techno heads. But the absolute best part are the terrific vocals that weave in and out of beauty, darkness, and mischievousness. Teri Gender Bender is one of those rare musical chameleons that never ceases to amaze.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
The title makes a good suggestion especially after this topsy turvy record gets your head spinning. Please Have A Seat is the fifth and latest release from Chicago based NNAMDÏ. Just when you think you might have the sound of this multi-instrumentalist singer pinned down, he flips the table. Starting off with bright but mournful guitar, which leads to techno beats, and eventually somehow prog riffs, these tracks of avant pop are masterfully crafted. Yes, as mentioned earlier, multi-instrumentalist, he’s playing everything, and handling the programming aspects which mix in nicely with the guitars and acoustic drums. There’s vulnerability in lyrics dealing with remorse and fear, playfulness about superficiality and greed, and just down right quirkiness about life. The vocals are layered, filtered, and auto tuned to the nth degree, but never lose the beauty of the melody, or the flow of the rap. Please stay seated, you’re going to wanna concentrate on this one.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
The dank basement shows and cramped rock clubs have incubated and set loose yet another fantastic force of nature onto the punk scene. This time hailing from mosh pits of Atlanta. The disgustingly appropriate handle for this five piece is Upchuck, and they have just spewed forth Sense Yourself, their debut LP. It’s a good assumption this record is loaded with frenzied energy, but it also takes its time, gets sludgy even. And though lead singer KT hurls a great amount of shouting, she isn’t lacking in the catchiness department. Songs of discrimination and injustice, and the ways to fight back are as raw as you’d expect, and with most of the vox saturated with heavy echo, it gives them a style that fills every empty space. Upchuck have left their sweat and blood on the stained floors of those basement shows, and now they’re bringing those bodily fluids to all us soon.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
It starts with love, the love for oneself in order to find the confidence to be who you want. That’s just one of the great themes on the new record by The Suffers. Coming out of Houston, this neo-soul group gets bodies moving, faces smiling, and tears falling. It continues with love, the love of friendship, womanhood, and community, as the lyrics take on these subjects, sung amazingly by lead vocalist and activist Kam Franklin. The production has that nicely polished R&B sound. Bright horns, smooth bass, fiery, Latin-inspired percussion. It continues with the love of positive music like this.
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
Imagine the 60s and you’re bopping around Paris on bicycle, or the streets of Rome on a scooter. Maybe you’re checking out the art scene in LA. Big flower prints, short skirts and tall boots. What’s on the record player? If it’s the new release by The Soundcarriers, then two things: 1) time travel has been invented, and 2) it wouldn’t be out of place. It’s taken eight years for this group from Nottingham to put out a new album, but they’re picking up right where they left off with their throwback style. These psyche-pop tunes are awash with reverb, high end, and fuzz, that don’t get too muddy with modern integration. Even the vocals sound like they’re being sung from the past. Not a lot of dynamic changes throughout, but the energy never lets up. Perhaps it is the 2020s, and your Jeep is cruising up the coast. The pants are still tight, and the vibe is still groovy. The jams don’t need to change that much to have a good time.