ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Retirement Party

Maybe it’s trite to write about a band right after they’ve announced a new album. My convictions of them and opinion could all be upended after the release. But I’ll do it anyways because I think about frontperson Avery Springer singing “I think cancer’s gonna kill me 'cause I got a real bad sunburn when I was 13… Maybe I shouldn't have fallen asleep in that hot, hot sun without a little bit of sunscreen. Don't let this reflect too badly on my character” at least two times a week. The painful modesty of it, the reflection of it as a wrongdoing instead of a child’s mistake. The humor of it. The entire song is playfully confronting death and thinking, maybe instead of fixating on this I should focus on being a little kinder. Retirement Party’s last album Somewhat Literate (2018) perfectly captures that moment of waking up and realizing “oh shit, I think I’m an adult.” A common horror. But Springer doesn’t pull away from the moment but rather reassesses herself. Retirement Party is an apt name for a band that writes lyrics and has a work ethic years ahead of their peers. They’re a Gen Z/Millennial cusp band with growing pains of their own. And to an extent they embrace not knowing and instead trying to learn as much as possible. It’s introverted but not insular; Retirement Party are not only not alone in their feelings but they play with an infectious energy that can fill much more than a basement. They play big, with ever moving riffs and frantic drum beats. I’m hesitant to call them emo or pop punk when they have a good amount of rock n’ roll breaks and jangling chord progressions. There are practiced breakdowns and guitar solos that never break from the story but instead bring it home, rarely unaccompanied by Springer’s clever narrative. The band’s self awareness is always unmatched, they’re nimble musicians but Springer presents herself as unvarnished- maybe sipping on that passion fruit tea you probably shouldn’t be wasting your money on. Retirement Party questions how to be an adult. Or probably more accurately, how to grow up. How to just keep getting better. How to “shoulder it” to put it in their terms. Retirement Party are figuring it out just like the rest of us.

Keep up with Retirement Party on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Camp Cope

Camp Cope makes music first and foremost for themselves. Then maybe, as an inside joke, for all of us who have suffered at the hands of the patriarchy or all of us who have seen and held death up close. Though often galvanizing, the title of their most recent album How To Socialise and Make Friends (2018) later revealed to be the title of a man’s self help book, the more I listen to Camp Cope the less I hear their cheeky retorts and the more I hear the tenderness there. Of course they’re not here for Sensitive Indie Boy(™) . Maybe he’s being genuine when he suggests they change their bass frequency? He’s not like that. No. But Camp Cope are masters at seeing through bullshit and cutting to the meat of things. Their wittiness is baked into something bigger. I don’t know if lines like “hearing cat calls from police cars” are a symptom of being an observer or of being bold enough to sing about the sexism that becomes almost white noise by the time we are adults. Their production quality is always no frills, keeping it rough around the edges (which hints to an almost punk influence). This highlights frontperson Georgia Maq’s raw vocals and Kelly-Dawn Helmrich’s solidarity bass licks that sometimes function as musical eye rolls. Camp Cope will not take up less space physically or emotionally so that you can feel more comfortable. But it’d be an utter misread of their sound to describe the band as a sort of Kill The Patriarchy Girl Power matter. It’s a deep dive into experiences and people who have been taken from you or won’t let go (“I slept in the middle of my bed, with the comfort of my own choices”). Maq sings jaggedly about people who are defined by the full emotional impact they’ve made on her. There are fingerprints all over their tracks. There’s an anger and an acceptance. Camp Cope can feel empowering one moment and have you in tears the next (“sometimes making love is the only time I’d ever feel love, there was never any middle ground”). There is a deep self reflection when Maq is riding her bike to the hospital and understanding that humans are simply “flesh and electricity.” At times Camp Cope have an element of protection, like big sisters putting an arm around you and saying we’ve been there too. We want to put up with it so maybe you don’t have to. Camp Cope says “me too.” Not as much in the hashtag movement but in a way that they have seen it before and will walk with you through it- no matter what pain or relief it is. 

Keep up with Camp Cope on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Sincere Engineer

What happens when you don’t get into dental school? You put out a pop punk record. Or at least that seems to be Deanna Belos’ (AKA Sincere Engineer) approach. In 2017 she put out Rhombithian, an introverted yet vibrant album about trying to surpass disaster. A sort of goofy ambition undercuts most tracks, like in ‘Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7,’ her ode to dealing with depression ("It's been a few days, I took a shower/watched some TV, fed a sunflower/I'm still learning how to be.”) Her brand of punk is punchy and earnest, as she growls through melodic riffs her lyrics keep a tender charm. It takes a lot to make your own screw ups the focal point of your music. Her songs about feeling like shit tend to have an off-kilter sense of humor, on ‘Ceramic Tile,’ a promise that this is the last hangover, Belos sings “I welcome forehead kisses from the floor.” Recording with a full band adds fast paced drumming and heavier hooks to her severely catchy tracks. With her raspy voice as an anchor she spits out references to Lake Michigan and creates anthems for the most anxious Midwesterners. Belos takes a gutsy and earnest approach to confronting your past and figuring out how to maybe do better (“I'm running late again, I'm gonna explain why in all the texts I send.”) But she has fun with it. Her latest music video for ‘Dragged Across The Finish Line’ features the band wearing literal trash cans over their bodies while training for a marathon, if that gives you a sense of Sincere Engineer’s style. It doesn’t seem like Sincere Engineer are waking up on the bathroom floor so much these days, just trying to finish the race on their own time. Maybe we’re all garbage people just trying to get through it. Corn dogs and all.

Keep up with Sincere Engineer on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Gouge Away

I once worked with an oldhead who used to ask me a lot about current punk. Always deeply worried that kids these days were not listening to punk and that his beloved genre would be lost forever. After a particularly worried conversation I promised I’d make him a list of all the current punk bands out there that I like. He liked maybe three of them, my guess being that none of them were the punk he remembered. Which is part of what makes Gouge Away so good. Despite their allusion to the Pixies, they’re not your dad’s (or in my case ex punk co-worker’s) punk band. They’re as far from replica as you can be. Instead staggering through and around hard labels. All snare and open chords Gouge Away’s 2018 LP ‘Burnt Sugar’ is a Pandora’s box that can’t be shut until frontperson Christina Michelle decides she’s released enough unto us all. It’s a sound that’s foaming at the mouth and gasping for breath, Michelle’s coarse vocals sometimes leaving her sounding ragged. Though the sound is dense Michelle’s frank lyrics can still be understood as she openly broaches mental illness and sexual assault. Admitting that she has begun welcoming pain as company she tells herself “I’ve just been trying to quit, whatever that means.” There are fingernails on the wall from where the band is just trying to hang on, “hurt is a commodity.” Gouge Away is an onslaught always toying with instability, on ‘Ghost’ drawing out the heavy bass and building the crash of drums, Michelle even briefly singing before her howls take over the track. A whiplash guitar teases us on ‘Dis S O C I a T I O N’ adding to the band’s varied sound. But what I like best about Gouge Away is how unafraid they are to be ugly, to be visceral, to get their spit on you when they’re leaning in and talking real close. 

Keep up with Gouge Away on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Floral Tattoo

Floral Tattoo’s new record You Can Never Have a Long Enough Head Start starts with a manifesto of sorts, giving explicit mission to the album. “Young gay people, living our lives in radical self-love/in an act of defiance against the people/who would like to see us torn down” they speak, softly. With a warm low-fi tone Floral Tattoo lets us know exactly who they are. They’re unapologetically trans and anti-capitalist, capturing a radically different coming-of-age narrative with soaring reverb. They question whether or not they’re good people, and in the same song questioning “when they’re tired of your abuse/will you tremble at the sight of the barrel?” of rich businessmen. Floral Tattoo works in a careful crescendo. There’s an exclamatory, even rowdy nature to some tracks (see ‘Leaving’) and a minimalist meditation in others. There’s a palpable pulse working through the album that desires survival. With crunchy guitars and full bass tones they create relief amongst the confusion. The band is revelatory despite minimum wage dredge and not being able to leave the house. Floral Tattoo are often miserable but they’re brave, brave enough to temporarily push aside the hurt and anger to celebrate themselves and their ability to carve out revolutions with their music. They’re willing to consider true moments of joy even when doom feels heavy on their chest and inevitable.

ANCHR'S Artist Of The Day: Claud

Claud makes dorm-pop music. It’s sad, it’s grooving, it’s self-conscious, and it’s a big, big mood. Chicagoland born, Claud Mintz’s first breakthrough project began at Syracuse University, opening for alum Clairo under the name Toast. Since then, Claud, along with Toast-mate Josh Mehling, have been signed to Terrible Records and put out an EP “Sideline Star” and a handful of singles. The latest of which recruits the talent of Brooklyn Trio, Del Water Gap to perform an ambling, wistful, slow jam with a chorus lamenting: “you only want me for My Body.”

The stress of grey-area intimacy is the foundation of many of Claud’s lyrics. In “Want To” the nonbinary singer places us in the POV of someone realizing the one-sidedness of their relationship, “you only call when you want to, you only call me what you want to.” Whether the lyrics refer to relationship titles, pronouns or pet names, the lyric hits all the same & is sure to bring up a few sour memories.

One of the largest acts of bravery is to speak openly about your feelings. So consider for a moment that nearly every one of Claud’s songs contains expressions so private and intimate, each could fill up their own diary. And they’re SINGING it. Talk about bravery.

Check out Claud’s Tour Dates, Instagram, Twitter & Merch Shop!

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Awakebutstillinbed

For Awakebutstillinbed frontperson Shannon Taylor, emo isn’t a phase, it’s a lifestyle. And naming her last album after an old Facebook post proves that she isn’t just talk. Awakebustillinbed shouldn’t be limited to the dimension of one genre though- tracks like ‘life’ progress with a disarming pop jangle and ‘fathers’ turns at a rock angle. This doesn’t mean Taylor is ditching her signature howl anytime soon. Her scorching vocals give the idea that she’s experiencing 2010 for the first time everyday. But Taylor isn’t some overgrown Hot Topic Kid, her music is often representative of what can feel true when you are struggling. In this case, being emo is almost an act of reclamation from all those who previously condescended to or manipulated her. You don’t like it? Watch her dig deeper. It’s nuclear, with the uncanny ability to take the most frenzied of feelings and spit them out into something profound. Despite her album being seismic, she’s detailed in how she crafts each song. Awakebutstillinbed is sporadic but Taylor manages to use that energy to thoughtfully dissect internalized guilt and shame. With Taylor refusing to hold back conceptually, emotionally, and instrumentally, it doesn’t exactly make for easy listening. But you wouldn’t want to hear any less.

Tune in below and keep up with Awakebustillinbed on Twitter and Instagram.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Mannequin Pussy

“If you’ve never seen us before you’re probably wondering what the fuck my problem is” said Mannequin Pussy frontperson Marisa Dabice, taking a break in between songs at their First Avenue performance. After beating on her chest with her fists and dangling the microphone above her throat like a snake about to unhinge its jaws the dads in the crowd definitely had some questions. She performs the way her music lives: visceral, intense, cathartic. Because a big part of Mannequin Pussy’s appeal is the way they’re unafraid to scream and cry and make a scene in public. Their 2019 album ‘Patience’ was an emotional exorcism of her past relationships, the good ones and the toxic ones, and the ones with herself. Instead of being another jaded punk, Dabice makes music for the uncontrollably empathetic. She sets fire to everything around her and you can hear it. Dabice, individually and in her music, is complex, showing women as capable of rage, and strength, and defiance, and fragility (“and everyone says to me "Missy, you're so strong" but what if I don't wanna be?” on ‘Drunk II).’ Mannequin Pussy is seething with teeth clenched and hot breath on your face, but they’re also painfully vulnerable. With unflinching lyrics and intricate melodies they create music that is no longer ashamed of who it is. In venturing to the most brutal of places they bring a pure pleasure in listening.

Tune into Mannequin Pussy below and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Goth Babe

Perpetually beginning the next leg of his US tour is Tennessee native, Griff Washburn, better known as Goth Babe. The 23 year old multi-instrumentalist musician has been publishing music for half a decade and in 2018 committed to a nomadic lifestyle, driving up and down the west coast in an RV with his blue-eyed pup, Sadie. 

The music that’s come from this experience is adventurous, dreamy, echoing synth rock. And much like the road before him, Griff’s music never stops coming— though no more than four tracks at a time. His latest Single “The River” was released at the end of February. 

You can follow along Griff’s journey by listening to his music on all major streaming platforms or catch him touring along the west coast through April.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Katie Toupin

“Are You Dreaming of Me?  I’ve Been Dreaming of You!”  That is a lyric from the chorus of “Magnetic Moves,” the title track of Katie Toupin’s album which came out in the summer of 2019 that I thought would be a great new pickup line, but it hasn’t really worked yet. Regardless of my lack of game, today’s ANCHR Artist of the Day is going to Katie Toupin. Toupin is a singer-songwriter from a town on the southern tip of Indiana called New Albany, which is directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky.  If you put her name in whatever search engine you use, the images that come up might cause you, if you’re also a live music lover like myself, to possibly recognize her.  That would be because she was once a member of the band Houndmouth.

Taste of Chicago 2015 was the first time I noticed Toupin when Houndmouth was opening for Spoon.  I remember her being stylish and had a vibrant smile. Toupin was on vocals and keys but one of the highlights from the set was when she took over the guitar to sing “Gasoline.”  About a year later my brother-in-law and I were in Memphis for Beale Street Music Festival. I brought him to the Houndmouth set, but when the band came on stage, Toupin was missing. If there are any Houndmouth ”stans” out there reading this, please do not direct any anger of what I’m about to say to ANCHR since this is only my opinion, but they weren’t as good anymore.  We only stayed for 3 songs.

Toupin has released an EP, Moroccan Ballroom, the aforementioned album, Magnetic Moves and just this past week, on March 6th, a single called “Don’t Wanna Die.”  This coming May 14th you could catch the aural pleasure of Katie’s vocals and songwriting for yourself when she performs at Schubas.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Joanna Connor

Here in Chicago we are spoiled with a copious number of blues clubs.  Any night of the week you could see some great music being performed at clubs all across the city.  Our focus today is going to zero in on Kingston Mines where the Chicago queen of blues rock, Joanna Connor, will melt your face off.   Joanna is originally from the east coast, but has called Chicago home since the 80s.  You can catch her at Kingston Mines most weekends, starting on Thursdays, holding down the north stage.  If she's not at Kingston Mines, then she's on the road blowing away audiences somewhere else in the world. 

Joanna Connor has gifted us with 13 albums.  Her latest of which, Rise, just came out this past November of 2019.  Her vocals are sweet on the ears, but her guitar playing is mean.  She's recently gotten shout outs from other guitar heroes like Joe Bonamassa, Tracii Guns, and even the living legend Bootsy Collins.  Whenever any of my family or friends come in from out of town, outside of getting a pizza Vito & Nicks or a breaded steak from Ricobene's, I always take them to Kingston Mines for a Joanna Connor show.  There isn't anything quite like stumbling into Kingston Mines at 3 am and seeing Joanna on stage with her band, shredding her guitar as if it owes her money.       

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: 070 Shake

Only one year after launching her music career, New Jersey-native Danielle Balbuena signed to GOOD Music. Four years later, donning the name of her hometown area code, 070 Shake is taking major strides with her first solo album, Modus Vivendi. Latin for “Way of Life,” Shake invites listeners into a world of intimacy, trust-issues and loneliness. The album features production by GOOD Music collaborator Mike Dean. 

In the 22 year-oldʼs fast paced career, 070 Shake has contributed to group- mixtape The 070 Project: Chapter One, been featured on albums by Kanye West, Pusha-T & DJ Khaled, released an EP entitled Glitter and in January 2020 dropped her first full length album. She is currently touring Modus Vivendi in the US, then will run a festival circuit through August in several countries abroad. 

Listen to Modus Vivendi on any major streaming platform & follow 070 Shake on Instagram and Twitter.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Bad Bad Hats

Today’s focus falls on a long-time ANCHR favorite— Bad Bad Hats. The Minneapolis-based trio, consisting of Kerry Alexander, Chris Hoge, and Connor Davison, craft bright, effervescent indie pop-rock. Throughout the band’s two albums Psychic Reader and Lightning Round, you’ll hear melodies that you can’t help but bop your head along to, which accompany thought-provoking lyrics written by Alexander.

Bad Bad Hats followed up 2018’s Lightning Round with EP Wide Right last year, and they’re continuously touring to share their songs at live shows. In March, the band will tour the east coast and mid-west, including a stop at Schubas Tavern on March 15th. Keep up with Bad Bad Hats on Instagram and listen to “Midway” and "Nothing Gets Me High" below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Shea Salisbury

Based out of Austin, Texas, Shea Salisbury stands out with an impeccable knack for storytelling through her lyrics. Salisbury’s musical stylings fall all across the board, dabbling in folk, soul, and even alt-country. Although she just started releasing music in 2019, there’s already a diverse catalog of singles built up on Spotify, and just last month, Salisbury released a debut EP called Making My Way Back. As a relatively new project, there’s not too much other information out there about Salisbury just yet, but her songs are definitely worth a listen.

Stay tuned for more new music from Salisbury by following her on Instagram and tune into “Messy Life” and “Somehow I’m Happy” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Cheekface

What would happen if our government was overthrown in favor of an anarchist utopia? The “green juice” at 7-11 would be free. Or at least that’s what we can gather from Cheekface’s ‘Dry Heat/Nice Town’. The track was written after co-writers Greg Katz and Amanda Tannen attended a Women’s March and takes a sardonic approach to our dystopian present. Where many bands might fail in discussing politics, creating something overtly dark or ham-fisted, Cheekface’s approach is bright and witty. If anything the trio are charming, Katz deadpanning his way through their 2019 album Therapy Island. Think if Lou Reed had a pop-y jaunt and a fear of late stage capitalism. Cheerful as ever the band list everything that is Cancelled™ (eyesight, memory, feelings, and Chipotle) on ‘Eternity Leave’ and give an anthem to the hand-wringers and over-apologizers of the world on ‘I Only Say I’m Sorry When I’m Wrong Now’. With Tannen’s steady yet upbeat bass lines and Mark Edwards’ bobbing drums the band are somehow impossibly catchy and incredibly anxious. Cheekface are cockeyed narrators, clever observers taking note of all things tragic and absurd.

Listen to “Glendale” and “Dry Heat/Nice Town” below, and keep up with Cheekface on Instagram.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: V.V. Lightbody

Today’s spotlight shines on V.V. Lightbody, the project of Chicago musician and songwriter Vivian McConnell. Although technically a solo project of McConnell, V.V. Lightbody embodies the collaborative nature of the Chicago music scene and delivers layered and complex arrangements consisting of strings, flutes, Farfisa, and saxophones (in addition to your standard instrumentation).

Today, McConnell shares the news of her sophomore album called Make a Shrine or Burn It, out May 1st, 2020 on Acrophase Records, and the record features strings section arrangements by Macie Stewart of OHMME and was engineered by Dave Vettraino (Lala Lala, Makaya McCraven, Deeper). To accompany the announcement of the album, V.V. Lightbody also released the brand new single “If It’s Not Me” today. McConnell calls the track her anti-jealousy anthem— “It’s about not hating the future partner of your current partner. Feeling happy for an ex, although not always easy, feels healthy and mature to me, especially when you aren’t ready to commit. There’s no need to be possessive,” she says.

Be sure to tune into “If It’s Not Me” and “Car Alarm” below, and catch V.V. Lightbody on tour throughout the spring.

TOUR DATES:

March 14 - Chicago, IL @ Hideout
March 15 - St Louis, MO @ House show
March 16 - Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone Cafe
March 18-21 - Austin, TX @ SXSW
March 22 - Hot Springs, AR @ Valley of the Vapors Festival
April 1 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
April 2 - Madison, WI @ Communication
April 3 - Ashland, WI @ Ashland Folk Festival

May 7 - Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary
May 8 - Toronto, ON @ Burdock Music Hall
May 9 - Montreal, QC @ Case del Popolo
May 10 - Burlington, VT @ The Lamp Shop
May 13 - New York, NY @ Trans Pecos
May 16 - Washington, DC @ Vinyl Lounge
May 17 - Raleigh, NC @ Neptune’s Parlour
May 18 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
May 19 - Nashville, TN @ Drkmttr
May 20 - Louisville, KY @ Kaiju
May 21 - Bloomington, IN @ The Blockhouse
May 22 - Champaign, IL @ Rose Bow
May 23 - Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village 

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Yaasss

You know those bands that you keep hearing great things about but haven’t yet had a chance to see for yourself? Well up until this past weekend, Brooklyn-based Yaasss fell into that category for me. Fortunately, I had my opportunity to catch them performing at the second Pazzi Prom at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn while I was in NYC over the long weekend.

The band calls themselves “Falafel Rock,” but their style encompasses so many great elements of an array of genres— Their stage presence presents itself with the flair of glam rock, and their rambunctious sound pulls from psych and surf rock to make for an unforgettable, energetic performance. So far Yaasss has released a handful of singles, including the most recent, “Banger,” in early 2019. Here’s to hoping we get even more bangers from them in 2020.

Keep up with Yaasss on Instagram, and check out their full live performance on RBBC Radio below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: GRLwood

GRLwood are a scathing two piece out of Louisville, Kentucky that surge with a blend of pop and screamo. Rej Forester’s vocals blaze through each track while Karen Ledfordignited’s drums punctuate each statement. Searing and urgent, the pair reclaim the aggression that often ousts young queer people from mainstream society. The two can go from angsty to raging in a matter of seconds, critiquing not only the adults around them but the binary systems they operate inside of (on ‘I Hate My Mom’ slurring “why can’t you just fuck boys like a normal girl would?”). Often turning characters on their head for wry commentary (see track ‘Vaccines Made Me Gay’), their dark humor makes for something powerful and unapologetic.

Tune into GRLwood’s Audiotree session and their song “Bisexual” below, and keep up with them on Instagram.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: FOURS

You know those songs that sound like driving around on a summer day with the windows down? Well, FOURS’ most popular single “Fade to Love” has that exact vibe thanks to its infectiously happy melody and lead singer Edith Violet’s emotive and distinct vocals.

The four-piece from London built up a catalog of singles throughout the last few years, and every song of theirs features a pop hook surrounded by an alternative edge that makes their sound unforgettable. To follow up a double single “Late Replies” and “Last Summer” from August of 2019, FOURS just announced their highly anticipated debut album Soak comes out March 27th. If you’re always looking for some feel-good tunes to boost your mood, make sure to add FOURS to your rotation. You can listen to “Fade to Love” and “Late Replies” below, and sign up to preorder the new album here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Lia Ices

Music has always been my number one source of escapism, but finding sanctuary in the world of films comes in at a close second. Naturally, movie soundtracks provide a way to combine both of those passions for me. In the last year, the film Booksmart had one of my favorite soundtracks in recent memories and it included some artists I was already familiar with— However the song that really caught my attention during an integral scene of the movie was “How We Are” by Lia Ices. Originally released in 2014, the track got new life with this soundtrack feature and turned me into a fan of the singer-songwriter. Following the gradual build up of a layered instrumental introduction, Lia Ices’ ethereal vocals kick in.

It’s those ethereal and doubled vocals and a unique production style that explores avant-garde territory that set Lia Ices apart as a visionary artist. So far, Lia Ices has released three studio albums between 2008 and 2014, but she returned with single “Waves 2” in the summer of 2019 and has stated on social media that there’s a new record on the way. Tune into “How We Are” and “Daphne” and keep up with Lia Ices on Instagram for all the latest updates.