New Songs from Lowlight, Pocket Protector, pioneer the eel, and Hammered Hulls

Lowlight return to Danny Clinch Gallery in Asbury on 8/16.

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It's been a couple of weeks full of new and interesting things. I used to do these round-up posts all the time, and I figured it was time to get back to it.

Lowlight, "Horsefoot"

Our very good friends in Lowlight are readying their next album, Endless Bummer, for release via Telegraph Hill Records / Gruesome Twosome Records on September 13th. Last Friday, they shared the album's first single, "Horsefoot."

The song has been part of Lowlight's live set for a while now, and the studio version definitely finds the band moving further afield from their alt-country beginnings. The song starts with Renee Maskin singing, "I need room to move" and proceeds to provide that as it weaves through an expansive soundscape of synths, percussion, and guitars.

You can catch Lowlight at a couple of pre-release parties for the album on August 16th at Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery in Asbury Park and on August 17th at Old Franklin Schoolhouse in Metuchen. Each show will offer custom, specific-to-the-day merch for those who pre-order the album. Lowlight will also be playing the second Sea.Hear.Now. Festival in Asbury Park on September 22nd.



Pocket Protector, "Blast Friend"

About a month and a half ago, we premiered the first single from Brooklyn's Pocket Protector. The band are preparing their debut album, Room on Pacific; and our friends over at Speak Into My Good Eye shared the second single from that set last week.

"Blast Friend" is power pop with a little sprinkle of Guided By Voices. It talks about that friend who's such a mess that the shrapnel of their life ends up landing on anyone within range. "Hold on tight for detonation / Tragic blast friend."

You can see Pocket Protector at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on August 26th, for free, when CoolDad Music and Happy Mondays bring them to town on a show that also features Francie Moon and the band whose name is an unpronounceable symbol (Our buddy, Alex Rosen, of Hot Blood plays guitar in that one).



pioneer the eel, "Pereo"

Since their 2016 debut, pioneer the eel (Victor Fernandes, Wayne Green, and Craig Monaco) have added Tom Barrett on bass and Adam Bird on synths. They showcased their new, expanded sound with the premiere of their new single, "Pereo," over at You Don't Know Jersey last week.

Atmospheric and modern, the six-minute "Pereo" shows why pioneer the eel are one of the most interesting and innovative bands releasing music in New Jersey right now. The single is out now via Mint 400 Records. Expect an album on the label later this year.



Hammered Hulls, "Written Words"

Hammered Hulls are a DC supergroup featuring Mary Timony (bass), Chris Wilson (drums), Marc Cisneros (guitar), and Alec MacKaye (vocals). Last week, the band announced that their three-song debut, recorded by Don Zientara and Ian MacKaye at Inner Ear Studios, would be available via Dischord on August 9th. They accompanied the announcement with the release of their first single, "Written Words."

The song is tense, high-strung post-hardcore with MacKaye spitting out rapid-fire lyrics over rat-a-tat drums and high-pitched guitar. Hammered Hulls will be in the area on August 29th when they play Brooklyn's Union Pool with Clear Channel.

You can pre-order the single over at Hammered Hulls' Bandcamp page.