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Chromeo (Art courtesy Sacks & Co.)
Chromeo debut their surreal video for “Clorox Wipe,” directed by Patrick Jean. The track is taken from their Quarantine Casanova EP, five tracks written and recorded under lockdown and released earlier this year.
100% of net proceeds from EP digital downloads, physical sales, and merch have been donated, with $20,000 to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Relief Fund plus an additional $30,000 match donation from Clorox.
Luke Lalonde (left) and Born Ruffians (Photo courtesy Yep Roc Records)
Canadian post-punks Born Ruffians are known for their high-energy shows, full of bright guitars and biting lyrics. Frontman Luke Lalonde formed the band with his collaborators in 2004, and they have released seven full-length albums and at least another three EPs. In 2020, Born Ruffians released two albums — Juice and Squeeze via Yep Roc Records — after crafting a bunch of songs prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Usually, Born Ruffians are often on the road, including regular stops in DC, where they appear at venues like Black Cat and Rock and Roll Hotel. Indeed, Parklife DC considered Born Ruffian’s 2015 show at the Rock and Roll Hotel to be one of our Top 10 Concerts of the Year. While the pandemic has sidelined touring bands, Luke has been passing the time at home, and he chatted with Parklife DC about the lifeline of touring, creative writing, and the two new Born Ruffians albums.
Andy Shauf (Photo by Colin Medley)
Andy Shauf released The Neon Skyline earlier this year via ANTI_, and he next performs in a livestream to benefit Encampment Support Network Toronto via Noon Chorus on Sunday, Oct. 18.
The Weather Station (Photo by Daniel Doors)
The Weather Station — project of Tamara Lindeman — marks her bold return with a new single/video, “Robber,” and an accompanying self-directed video. It’s her first release on her new label, Fat Possum, and her first new music since her acclaimed 2017 self-titled album, “that sounds as fleshed-out and powerful as the world it contains” (Pitchfork).
Born Ruffians (Photo by Vanessa Heins)
Toronto-based indie rockers Born Ruffians — Luke Lalonde (guitar/vocals), Mitch DeRosier (bass), and Steve Hamelin (drums) — return with their second album of 2020. The digital-only SQUEEZE will be out on Oct. 2 via Yep Roc Records.
For your listening pleasure, we present the track “30th Century War” from the new album.
Kathleen Edwards performs at The Birchmere in 2013. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Required Reading is Parklife DC’s essay series on music appreciation.
“The next time Kathleen plays here, we’ll be opening for her.”
Eric Brace of Last Train Home uttered those prophetic words at Arlington, Virginia’s Iota Club back in summer 2003. One of those NPR drive-way moments had put Kathleen Edwards on my radar when I heard one of her first interviews.
Her first album, Failer (Zoë Records), had just been released and when I heard its first single, “Six O’Clock News,” I was hooked.
Tedy (Photo by Mathew Guido)
Singer-songwriter Tedy recently released a video for his latest track “War” stripped down version, via Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
“War” is the second major label single from the Montreal-based artist. The video was filmed in the bare streets of downtown Toronto during quarantine.
Fast Romantics (Photo by Jen Squires)
Toronto-based acclaimed indie-rock band Fast Romantics have announced their new LP Pick It Up, due out Aug. 7 on Postwar Records. Album title track “Pick It Up” and its accompanying quarantine-friendly video is inspired by frontman Matthew Angus’ lifelong battle with depression and anxiety.
Blinker the Star (Photo by Eve Roy)
Jordon Zadorozny has been releasing music as Blinker The Star since back in 1994. He has done almost everything an artist would want to do. He got a major label record deal. He’s written music with and for artists like Lindsey Buckingham, Chris Cornell, and Courtney Love. He’s played in some amazing venues and lived the rock and roll life.
You may think that over 25 years into his career, he might be satisfied with cranking out songs that sound like they were written in the mid-’90s. But that just isn’t the case. Jordon has been steadily writing and releasing fresh-sounding music for years. Case in point, Blinker’s new single, “Silent Types.”
The Brothers Macklovitch (Photo by Tim Saccenti)
Grammy-nominated siblings A-Trak and Dave 1 finally release music together. As The Brothers Macklovitch, the turntable icon and Chromeo frontman meld funky influences from their formative days (Jamiroquai, Brand New Heavies, Masters At Work) with crisp production and soulful hooks, aided by rising R&B star Leven Kali on debut Fool’s Gold single “Give Love to Get Some.”
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