New Videos from Upset and Roger Harvey

Upset by Cheryl Groff

A Couple of Videos for Your Holiday

Upset, "Away"

Upset, the LA pop-punk band with New Jersey connections, just released a new video for '76 track "Away." The band recorded the video while on tour with Colleen Green. I went back to '76 recently when thinking about my favorite stuff of 2015, and it is one of those early in the year gems that shouldn't be overlooked.

"Away" is a great example of Upset's and Ali Koehler's mastery of the catchy, 90s-influenced pop-punk single.



Roger Harvey, "City Deer"

Roger Harvey just premiered the video for Twelve Houses track, "City Deer." The song may be the rockingest cut on Harvey's excellent LP, and the John Skip Volcsko-directed clip captures the romance and wide-open feel of the album while throwing in a nice dose of humor.

Harvey will be at The Stone Pony on December 28th as one of the openers for Night 3 of The Bouncing Souls' Home for the Holidays, joining The Loved Ones and Static Radio NJ.

Upset, '76, 2015

EP Review

Since 2013's She's Gone, I've been a big fan of LA's Upset. Their sound calls to mind a lot of the music that CoolMom and I bonded over during the early stages of our relationship: The big alterna-pop names of the early to mid 90s like Juliana Hatfield, The Lemonheads, Dinosaur Jr. Plus, there's the New Jersey connection with frontwoman Ali Koehler hailing from the Garden State.

I've only gotten to see the band live once, at the 2014 Don Giovanni Records Showcase. They're pretty much an LA band, and their trips to the East Coast have been somewhat infrequent and short. On '76, though, Koehler sings of missing New Jersey on "Home:" "I miss my home and what I know. Familiar streets and dirty snow." That's followed by "Away" which deals with some of the anxieties that come with striking out on your own, far from home: "Do you know where we go from here? 'Cause I can't take another year of just hangin' around."

Last year's single "Linus" makes an appearance here, and it's just as much of a pop punk beauty as I remember. "Pastey" is a messy (in a good way), droning, kind of stalker-y love song that benefits from the band's approach of recording the entire EP live to tape. Koehler sings of the freedom of her tween / early teen years in New Jersey on the relatable "Wonder."

'76 is seven 1 to 3-minute pop songs about those things from your past -- your home, your childhood friends -- that go into making you the person -- a little unsure of yourself, still finding your way -- you are today. The inclusion of a Jawbreaker cover ("Do You Still Hate Me") rounds things out; and, paired with the drumming of Patty Schemel (formerly of Hole), shows exactly where Upset are coming from in terms of influences. The additions of Lauren Freeman on guitar and Rachel Gagliardi of Slutever on bass and backing vocals are good ones, especially in the way Gagliardi's vocals complement Koehler's already distinctive singing style.

'76 is out now on Lauren Records, and you can stream it.

One of the shows I'll be missing when I'm on vacation with the family is the one featuring Upset and Colleen Green on April 10th at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn. It's a perfect stylistic match; and if I were around, I'd be there for sure. You should definitely go.

New Single from Upset

Upset at the Don Giovanni Records Showcase at MHOW back in February

"Linus"

So I've been feeling pretty lazy this Friday. Since about 7:30, I've been picking at the work I need to do and contemplating what I'm going to eat for lunch.

Then what happens? I'm confronted by the Dinosaur Jr. meets Hey Babe-era Juliana Hatfield wonderfulness of the latest single from Upset. The Ali Koehler-fronted quartet proved on last year's She's Gone that they know how to craft a pop punk gem, and their set at the Don Giovanni Records showcase was a major highlight for me.

You can stream "Linus" via the Don Giovanni Records Soundcloud, and I think it's available to purchase today from wherever you prefer to do that kind of thing.

Lunchtime!

Don Giovanni Records Showcase Starts Tonight. New Brick Mower.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

New Brunswick's Don Giovanni Records has grown into, quite simply, one of the most important independent record labels in the country. Nowhere is that more evident than at the label's annual showcase. Founded as kind of an alternative to the industry / corporate showcases at events like CMJ or SXSW, the Don Giovanni event features bands from the label, bands who are friends of the label, and a real sense of community.

This year's event spans three days in Brooklyn. Tonight's show is at Death By Audio and features Tenement, Vacation, Nuclear Santa Claust, The Groucho Marxists, and the Jersey Shore's Night Birds.

Nights Two and Three take place at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tomorrow night's lineup consists of Laura Stevenson, Shellshag, Upset, Worriers, and Nude Beach; while Saturday brings Screaming Females, California X, Brick Mower, Priests, and the currently Asbury-based Black Wine.

These are some great bands that I've written about often here and elsewhere (click the little tags at the bottom of this post or the "Speak Into My Good Eye" tab up above to see all of that). As of right now, it looks like tickets are still available for each night, including two-day passes to the MHOW shows. If you can't make it, watch for my coverage over at Speak Into My Good Eye.

Also, take a listen to the brand new "Shitty Parade" from New Jersey Pop Punks Brick Mower whose album Teenage Graceland comes out March 25th on Don Giovanni.

Backlog Edition

Listening Session Friday

A bunch of albums have come out in the last week or two that could be contenders for whatever type of year-end list / post / vanity project I decide to put together. I did manage to cobble together a review of the sophomore LP from Swearin', Surfing Strange, earlier this week. That leaves me with at least three more that I want to get to before too long:

Upset, She's Gone
Worriers, Cruel Optimism

and one that, inexplicably, flew under my radar until recently,

Los Campesinos!, NO BLUES

I think that when CoolMom started at her latest job several years back she had to fill out a little personal profile for the hiring announcement. I'm almost sure that, on the "favorite music" line, she wrote, "Billy Bragg, Los Campesinos!"

Keep your eyes peeled for a flurry of activity this weekend (maybe even the return of the "Sunday Run Album Review") and...

Rock on.

New Video from Upset

"You And I"

New Jersey native Ali Koehler, former drummer for Vivian Girls and Best Coast, now fronts her own band called Upset. She's joined by Patty Schemel (Hole) on drums and Jennifer Prince (La Sera) on guitar. Upset's debut album She's Gone, produced by Swearin's Kyle Gilbride, is due out in two weeks on Don Giovanni Records.

Today, Upset released the video for She's Gone track "You and I." It's a fast-paced, upbeat, pop punk kiss off and fits nicely into the Don Giovanni stable.

Upset have a short West Coast tour coming up with Screaming Females, but it sure would be nice if they could be coaxed eastward for a few dates.