November is a month in which to be thankful. As a lot of you may know, us here in New York City have a lot to be thankful for.
Having a natural disaster pass through your city can really leave you yearning for some kind of positivity and I know for many of us music was the answer. Music has the power to change your world in the face of disaster and tell us “everything will be alright” when no one else will.
I can honestly say that I am thankful that there weren’t any major fatalities during a tough time in New York and the East Coast and most of all I am thankful for the healing power in music.
1) Moon Duo
Moon Duo are an indie rock pair coming to us from Portland Oregon by way of San Francisco. They are signed to
Sacred Bones Records and just released their latest EP Circles under the label.
They’ve dubbed themselves as “Repeat-O-Rock” but reverb-y guitar riffs filled with ominous sounding lyrics seem to describe them best but with songs like “Mazes” and “Sleepwalker” (and videos to boot) you’re left to wonder what the songs are REALLY about.
Moon Duo has also released a mix available on the FADER magazine website featuring such artists as Pink Floyd, David Crosby and others who help describe the influence and the sound of the duo.
Facebook, Twitter, Website, Soundcloud
2) Sirah
Sirah is a hip hop star based out of Hollywood CA. Now…coming from Hollywood it’s kind of hard to take someone seriously as a rapper, but Sirah’s delivery is truly unique. Meshing dubstep/electronic influenced beats is something that has not been done quite like this, I’ll even go as far as to say EVER been done like this.
Some of her influences include Big Pun, Black Thought, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Cat Stevens and Jewel. She was featured on the Skrillex hit “Bangarang” and her latest mixtape C.U.L.T Too Young to Die has been met with a lot of great reviews including a feature in Jay Z’s Life + Times.
Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, Website
3) YLUV
Bringing you uplifting indie rock; this Los Angeles based five piece have managed to create music that matches their bright personalities. The group members are Freddy Janney, Marcello Dubaz, Luke Hanna, Sam Nardella and Elvis Newman.
I don’t usually promote YouTube channels but YLUV is a perfect example of why this must change. They are a band that loves to make videos and are almost always up to some kind of shenanigans. Whether it’s dancing with pandas at Venice Beach, introducing new music or chomping on a snacho, you can’t help but watch and love these guys. Oh yea, the music kicks ass too.
Facebook, Website, YouTube, Twitter, Bandcamp
4) GHXST
GHXST are a Brooklyn based band by way of California letting us know that grunge music is alive and well. Citing influences such as Curve, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and Motorhead. Blended with a lot of classic rock, grunge influences and distorted vocals, Shelley X, Chris Wild and Nathan La Guerra pave their own way musically in a genre that’s it all too easy to get lost in.
Shelley once stated in an interview that GHXST’s music is “music for misfits and restless souls” and with tunes like this we can all benefit from being a little “lost.”
Their EVILWICKEDDESIRE EP recently received a rave review from Rolling Stone Russia and “Black Camaro,” the band’s latest single, is still on repeat around these parts. GHXST are set to do big things and I am SO ready for the new class of grunge they seem to be spear-heading.
Facebook, Website, Twitter, Bandcamp
5) Work Drugs
Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana make up the duo of Work Drugs. The Philadelphia duo expands to a five piece during live performances.
Formed in 2011, the band has been really difficult to place into one category. They’ve been called chillwave, lo-fi, dream pop, and straight up electronica. They’ve become quite fond of “smooth fi” and “sedative wave.” Fans of Teen Daze and Mathemagic will feel right at home.
Facebook, Website, Twitter, Bandcamp
That’s gonna be all this month guys! I hope you enjoyed this month’s Musical Acts.
Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter AND check out older issues of “5 Musical Acts”
Thanks a lot for reading guys! It really means a lot and I’m really I’m thankful for every one of you!
Until next month
Later,
Lito
Lito's Life 