New Single from Montclair's Wild Americans

Photo: Julianne Karr

"Loser Freaks"

According to their bio, Wild Americans are a band "whose music conveys the acceptance of defeat, without the satisfaction of acceptance." That can have positive implications, like Opening Day of the 162-game Major League Baseball season. In 2016, for example, even the Phillies (63-99 last year) or the long-suffering Chicago Cubs went into the season thinking -- despite all of the evidence to the contrary -- that anything was possible. Not being able to live with defeat or failure can also have some negative consequences. On their latest single, "Loser Freaks," Wild Americans explore the darker side of that dichotomy.

The "Loser Freaks" of Mike Neglia, Andrew Milea (both of Long Faces), and Fred Ilac get woozy, melancholy, and psychedelic on a track dealing with mortality and resignation. The song had me thinking of bands like Grizzly Bear and The Antlers, especially during those times when the "oh ohs" are swirling in an around the spaced out keys and thrumming rhythm section.

Stream "Loser Freaks" below. You can check out Wild Americans live this Saturday in New Brunswick when they play Scarlet Pub along with Little Rose, GayGuy/StraightGuy, and pioneer the eel.

Premiere: New Single From Long Faces

Long Faces at The Saint in August

"Dope Sick"

As we prepare to go barreling into the holiday season, it's a good idea to just stop for a second to catch our breath, to look back on the year that is quickly drawing to a close. It's a good idea, for example, to stop and look back on one evening in August when you saw a whole bunch of really good bands at The Saint and headed out for Korean burritos with friends after. It's nice to remember that one of those bands was New Jersey's Long Faces and that they were shooting a video for their new single "Dope Sick."

That video is in the can as we speak; and Long Faces have decided to give us a sonic preview by premiering the "Dope Sick" single here this morning.

"Dope Sick" is a chugging piece of indie pop that would feel right at home on the playlist you'll be blasting as you drive to wherever it is you may be going for the long weekend. Even in the late November chill, the song has that driving with the windows down vibe. There is something a little deeper than just a really good pop song here, though, I think. Something about the benefits and the costs associated with living your life always doing what it is you feel like you need to do.

Check out the "Dope Sick" single below and stay tuned for news of the video premiere.

2 Days. 9 Bands. Lots of Really Good Music. 6/19-6/20/15

dollys released 'Oh, Please' at Court Tavern on Friday night.

Just the Pix

It's Father's Day, so I'm not going to do a big post recapping all the bands I saw on Friday and Saturday nights. Let's just say that everyone turned in really good sets, and you should check them all out via their social media pages and Bandcamps. There was a pretty wide variety, so there's bound to be something you'll dig. The lighting was unusually good over the last two nights, and I think I got some nice shots.

Special shouts out to dollys for putting out such a truly great record and to Dentist for just being great friends and drinking buddies.

Also, raise a glass today to all the cooldads -- those still with us and those watching over us from somewhere else.

Court Tavern, 6/19

The Vaughns

ROMP

Deal Casino

dollys

Rocky Catanese and The Chapter

Wonder Bar, 6/20

Ba Babes

The Villanelles

Dentist

Long Faces

Photo Highlights of the Goodbye Tiger release show with Owel, dollys, and Long Faces at Asbury Lanes, 4/24/15

Goodbye Tiger celebrated their record release at Asbury Lanes on Friday.

The Pixelated Soul

I posted some video the other day of dollys performing new song, "Friendly," as part of the Goodbye Tiger record release show on Friday night. The night really did belong to the headliners who played to a large and enthusiastic crowd to close out the evening. The band were celebrating the release of The Pixelated Soul, their intricate and experimental full-length.

New Brunswick orchestral post-rockers, Owel, brought their own light show and impressed with both originals and a couple of strategically placed covers. Long Faces performed acoustically as a trio to start things off and delivered an intimate and engaging set.

Here are some photo highlights of each band.