Holy crap does April have a ton of surprises for local releases in store for you. In fact, we have to start this round of releases with shows! --- We're just going to dive in with the obvious frontrunner: Cult Leader. If you didn't know this album was coming out, what fucking rock have you been hiding under? I could go into awesome detail, but really you should read this week's music column with special guest writer Matthew Nanes. The release show for their EP, Nothing For US Here, is happening tonight at The Shred Shed as they play with SubRosa, Wearing Thin and Die Off. Chance are it's going to be packed and sold out, so go early!
If you can't make that show, there's two others you should check out tonight, the first being at Lo-Fi Cafe where The Creature From Jekyll Island will be releasing their new album. If you haven't seen these guys, it's at least worth checking out once as they are an industrial steampunk band. ...I'm gonna let that one sink in for a second. The band originally put our an EP back in September 2012 called Children Of The New Ideology, since then it's mostly been live shows and recordings until now. Their new self-titled full-length album uses the same cover art as the EP, just a changed logo and a little polishing. You can snag a copy tonight as they play with Delphi Quorum, SCROmance and STARBASS.
Meanwhile down in Provo, Red Yeti will be releasing their brand new EP. The five-piece rock band out of Provo have been rolling around Utah County since 2012, picking up a RAWard for Musicians Of The Year their first year out of the gate. But beyond busting their asses on stage and rising through the ranks in Provo, there hasn't been a lot to say about this band. Theit self-titled debut EP hits the streets tonight at Velour where they'll be playing with Queenadilla, Blue Wavers and Faraday Le Soleil.
Moving to tomorrow night at The Garage, Honey Pine will be releasing their debut album. I don't need to speak much on this, because you can read about it in this week's edition of City Weekly from Kolbie Stonehocker. Just show up to the place and enjoy the Americana music from their debut self-titled album. They'll be playing with Please Be Human starting at 9 p.m., with tickets being a mere $5.
Getting to regular releases to hit online, first up is the latest from singer/songwriter Richard Tyler Epperson, the former Spy Hop musician turned DIY pro who has steadily made his way up the ranks and come into his own as a solo performer. The last release we say from him was back in January 2013 with his awesome debut album, Falling Between The Stars, which garnered him some mild attention but didn't quite propel him. This new album will mark his sophomore full-length release with the title Hourglass, with Epperson accompanied by a full band and a slight tweak of the vocals. You can download it from his Bandcamp for a mere $8.
And then finally we got a little Utah/Colorado mixture in the band Loud Harp. This is an alternative duo comprised of guitarist Asher Seevinck (Seafinch) and drummer Dave Wilton (A Boy & His Kite), who came together in May 2011 to create alternative music with a hint of worship. But unlike other bands who dabble in the genre, Loud Harp (seen above, courtesy of their Facebook) are not in your face about it, and in fact it plays only a minor role in what is some excellent music being crafted here. Their self-titled debut album came out back in 2012 to a positive reception, but due to their locations they really weren't able to tour or promote it beyond online media. Their first EP, Asaph, drops on Tuesday, and from what little sections have leaked, it sounds mighty impressive and a step up in the musicianship from the previous record, which is saying a lot as the first one was pretty good for a debut. You can get the new album (and their first album) off Bandcamp this Tuesday.
Love music, head out, buy local.