New Things from QWAM and Russian Baths

QWAM celebrate the release of their debut EP this very night.

An EP, a Single, and a Coupla Shows

QWAM, Feed Me

This past Friday, Brooklyn punk quartet QWAM released their debut EP, Feed Me. The five-song collection finds the band experimenting with more sounds than straight-up punk rock. Opener "Feed Me" and second track "Glitter Paint" do both feature buzzsaw, punk guitars and Felicia Lobo's snarling vocals. The latter even brings in some shouted whoa-ohs. But things change up a bit on the final three tracks. "Crazier Than Me" is a 90s-inflected alt-rock slow build. The previously-released poser takedown, "Doggie Door," brings back the gang vocals; but, this time, things are a bit poppier. "Dirty Feet" is my favorite track on the EP. It's a fuzzy, kind of epic, take on making your way in the big city.

Feed Me works best for me when QWAM expand their palette into influences beyond punk rock, but the entire EP is an adrenaline rush that sounds like it will translate into something pretty insane live. Speaking of live, QWAM celebrate the release of Feed Me tonight, January 24th, at Knitting Factory Brooklyn with help from Dead Stars and Jigsaw Youth.

Feed Me is out now.



Russian Baths, "Slenderman"

Russian Baths' debut EP, Penance, is due on February 23rd from Good Eye Records. To this point, the band's only recorded output has been 2016 single "Ambulance" / "Ghost." Last week, Russian Baths gave us a taste of Penance in the form of "Slenderman."

Combining shoegaze and post-punk with some relentless drumming from Jeff Widner, "Slenderman" plays like a dark, fitful dream. Jess Rees's vocals are disconcertingly beautiful when contrasted with the noise that surrounds them. Kind of like when you're watching a horror movie, and the small, stoic child is the scariest thing about it.

Anyway.

Check out "Slenderman" below.

Good Eye Records have partnered with CoolDad Music to present Russian Baths' Penance release party on February 22nd at The Saint in Asbury Park. Joining Russian Baths for that one will be Dentist, The Black Clouds, Baked, and Grace Vonderkuhn. See ya there.

Holiday Email Mining with BIRDS, QWAM, and Walrus

QWAM by Karen Sophia Colon

My Back Hurts

Yeah. My back hurts like real bad. Not sure why, but it's been very distracting. I'm stretching and eating ibuprofen like candy in an attempt to make it out to hear some music and to take some pictures tonight.

Anyway...

I was digging through the emails today (as I sat, in pain, in my office chair. Have I whined enough now?) and came up with a few things to share on this holiday weekend Saturday.

BIRDS, "Most Ghost"

I mentioned BIRDS' Everything All At Once when it came out back in August. Earlier this month, the Brooklyn four-piece released a split single with their neighbors in Stuyedeyed. BIRDS' contribution is the fuzzed-up garage rocker, "Most Ghost."

Like the band's LP, "Most Ghost" draws on influences from psych to dream pop as it alternates between heavy and soaring.

I can be a little slow on the uptake around here, and I didn't post this in time to tell you about the tour that BIRDS just finished up with Stuyedeyed. But that means they're back in Brooklyn, and I can hopefully catch a set from them soon.

The split is available now from Greenway Records.



QWAM, "Doggie Door"

A couple of weeks ago, Brooklyn punk quartet QWAM announced that they'd be releasing their debut EP, Feed Me, in January. They accompanied the announcement with lead single "Doggie Door."

With rapid-fire percussion and shout along "whoah-ohs," "Doggie Door" is a two-minute, fist-pumping anthem. "Take your badge of way too cool / And drown it in your backyard pool." QWAM clearly have little patience for phonies.

You can pre-order Feed Me over at QWAM's Bandcamp page.



Walrus, "Family Hangover"

Walrus are from Halifax, Nova Scotia. They've played on bills with Ty Segall and Preoccupations. This past summer, they released their debut LP Family Hangover. The album blends dreamy, Beatle-esque pop and psychedelia with some heavy freakouts.

That's exemplified on the album's title track for which the band released a video on Halloween. The clip focuses on a family that could be out of the Alien Nation TV series of the late 80s as they celebrate a birthday party. Things are calm and bucolic until everybody starts downing the PBRs.

Walrus released the Luke McCutcheon and Michael Yablonski-directed clip on Halloween, but I think it plays pretty well post-Thanksgiving.

Family Hangover is out now on Madic Records.



Enjoy the rest of your weekend; and, if you know any secret backache remedies, pass them on.