City Cat Collective

New Music? Yes, Please! #009 - Dr Monika Demmler 'Too Good'

Social media... you've been too good to me. Once again, social media works in my favor by connecting me to amazingness. While scrolling my life's minutes away, I stumbled upon art. As art filled images flowed to my screen, sounds followed. It took me a minute to decipher what exactly was going on. This wasn't your typical band account. For one, house music/techno was promoted alongside proto punk rock music. As I would learn, Dr Monika Demmler is from Berlin. She DJ's deep house / techno and plays rock n roll. Now residing in L.A., Dr Monika Demmler continues to create music and art. Let's go over her single 'Too Good'.

Her sound is raw rock n roll. Pick an era, it doesn't matter. Bits of 13th Floor Elevators, Iggy Pop, The Ramones all shine throughout her discography. On 'Too Good' I pick up on the house music connection by her use of the guitar's harmonics plucked in a pattern giving a beat making software effect. Here, nuance reigns supreme as textured sounds shine with simplicity like Christmas lights in the morning fog. Vocally, Dr Monika rides the track like a wave. Her vocals nudge the music into position by accentuating its dynamics. Adding density to the soundscape is an organ playing behind the guitar. Working in unison are the drums and distorted rhythm guitar. Together, they are the muscle, the blue-collar crew that came to do the dirty work.

After learning a little about Dr Monika Demmler and listening to her discography. I can see the connection.Those who love house / electronic music approach rock n roll songwriting a little differently in my opinion. Her rock n roll sound has a bit of a lofi grit whose edges get softened by her vocal approach. 'Too Good' is another page written in the book of Rock n Roll.

We've included ‘Too Good’ below!! You're welcome.

Keep up with and follow Dr Monika Demmler!!!

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Fake Your Own Death in the land of drummers of plenty.

Today is Wednesday, January 17th 2024 and tomorrow Fake Your Own Death will be playing alongside The Ferocious Few. As I was writing for our recent article of The Ferocious Few, I thought it would be a nice touch to write some thoughts I've always had when reflecting on Fake Your Own Death over years.

I met Fake Your Own Death through a recommendation when booking a show at the Rickshaw Stop. I dug the music and tried to keep track of their shows. Their lineups those first couple of years are a little hazy but I vividly remember seeing them at The Hemlock and they rocked. Some crazy antics guitar guy was going nuts, and the drums were banging!!! That was when I met August Churchill and I believe the first time I saw Dan Francisco playing drums with the band.

Knowing now what I know about the importance of a great drummer. Terry has been blessed finding bad ass drummers. With Dan Francsico on drums, the band had edge. Of course they did, Dan is a big-time rock n roll drummer. Playing with power, Dan drove the music in a way only a few could. When describing Fake Your Own Death to others with Dan Francisco on drums I would say, they are kind of of like the Foo Fighters song 'Everlong'.

I remember with Fake Your Own Death still going on, Terry wanting to try a different style of songs and started El Terrible. The songs leaned indie, played with feel and a softer touch. This is when I met Scott. Scott paints with an artist's touch and his versions of the old songs merges the two styles of the bands into who they are today. His style of play opens more terrain for the band to venture.

When one falls over and stumbles into only great drummers to collaborate with. One could say you are in a drummer's version of a place of plenty. Fake Your Own Death have recently released a new EP. They play out often. On Jan 18th They will be main support at Bottom Of The Hill with The Ferocious Few (headlining) and EBTE (opener).

Keep up with and follow Fake Your Own Death!!!

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Bloggers Gotta Blog!!! Exclusive interview with Serbian music blog: Thoughts Words Action.

Submitting one's music to blogs is tedious. Especially when starting out. Music submissions via email seem to be sent into a void in the cosmos where no response escapes. Thank goodness we now have Submithub and Musosoup to assist us. Eventually, we start to get a feel for the terrain and begin to develop a list of blogs who are receptive (or friendly) to our outreach efforts.

Somewhere along the way, I came across thoughtswordsaction.com. As I began to follow them, I loved how they represented punk rock but also review other genres / subgenres. Much like small venues across the world that give artists a place to showcase their talents. I consider thoughtswordsaction.com equally as important by providing a place for new and veteran artists to spread the word.

We reached out to thoughtswordsaction.com for an interview and they kindly accepted!!!

1. When did you decide you wanted to officially start Thoughts Words Action and why did you choose that name?

Hello Izzy! First of all, thanks for having me on your blog. Thoughts Words Action started operating in November 2018 and has been active since then. It's the name of the Satanic Surfers' song, taken from their album "Unconsciously Confined." I had a couple of names on my mind, but somehow, this one resonated with me the most. The song talks about taking a stand against oppressors, and since I firmly believe punk rock should be the catalyst for social changes, I thought it was quite a good fit for the blog name.

2. What led up to that point? How did you get there?

It seemed like a natural progression. I have been active as a musician and music critic since the early 2000s, performing and attending gigs, collecting and writing about records for so many local and international punk rock zines. Besides writing for printed zines, I started writing for Helly Cherry webzine around 2007 and established The Anarchist Blog later on. After that, I published a couple of issues of Herbivore, a printed zine dedicated to animal rights, veganism, environmentalism, etc. As my music taste expanded over the decades, I felt the urge to initiate a music blog focused on punk rock but with a definitive extension towards other music genres.

3. Your music blog is very active. How do you manage the time and filter through all your submissions?

It's all about properly organizing and scheduling posts. I tend to keep things organized as much as possible, but there are times when all the hell breaks loose. Thankfully, my profession (graphic designer) holds me tied to my PC regularly, so I always have time to filter submissions, features, news, etc.

4. Do you have any "do's and don'ts" tips for those of us who submit music?

Just a polite approach is more than enough to spark fruitful collaboration. For example, I prefer physical releases (vinyl especially) over digital releases, so artists/bands willing to send their music that way will always be my top priority. Of course, that doesn't mean bands should feel discouraged. They can contact me anytime, and we'll figure something out.

5. Are there any days you take a break from the blog?

I usually take breaks during the weekends when I prefer long walks, cooking vegan meals, listening to records, or reading books. It's a "me" time (laughs).

6. Do you have a music project you are working on?

I'm working on several music projects, but nothing worth mentioning right now. I am currently interested in many music genres. Who knows, maybe I will do some mash-up in the near future.

7. What band has come across your desk that you enthusiastically enjoy sharing with others?

Tearjerker, Green/Blue, Marathon, First Flame, Kiper, From Within, Reflection, Dead Dog Summer, Urlik, Girls In Synthesis, The Atlantic Union Project, Don't Sleep, Ponor, Scowl, Koalra, Shortwave, and Lifeguard are just some of the bands that I can currently think of, but there are always more.

8. What's next for thoughtswordsaction.com?

Same as usual, plus some new sections and features on the blog in the future.

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I really appreciate Djordje Miladinovic of thoughtswordsaction.com for taking the time to answer our questions. If you love music, you should definitely checkout and support a blog that's helping others for the love of music. We all win when we help each other.

Keep up with and follow thoughtswordsaction.com !!!

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New Music? Yes, Please!!! #008 - Dear Banshee "Smell The Smoke"

Dear Banshee proves with their new single they don't need an entire kitchen cook. They only need a few choice ingredients. "Smell The Smoke" rides dark grand piano keys into a chilly night as the serene yet ominous vocals hang in the sky like a blood moon. Piano and vocal melodies may dance in synchronicity, but the ribbon on the track is the lo-fi Atari-esque sample spinning with fireworks splendor.

Keep up with and follow Dear Banshee!!!

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Bloggers Chronicles: GO TO THIS SHOW!!! #006 - The Ferocious Few at Bottom Of The Hill, Jan 18th.

When I think about all of the music artists' names I've seen on fliers and marquees over the years, safe to say I've lost track of a few. Thanks to social media, this happens less but it still happens. I believe in late 2000's I heard about The Ferocious Few before I saw their name on a flier. It was just like hearsay... "Dude!!! There's this two-piece fronted by this guy Francisco who's out to make it happen!!! He's busking, he's everywhere... he's all in for his band!!!".

That's all I knew about The Ferocious Few for a while. Then there was what I would describe as a tremor. A rumble in the music community that got people talking. I've felt this rumble three memorable times.

1. when The Morning Benders got signed
2. when Wallpaper performed on late night TV

3. when news broke that The Ferocious Few would tour with Cindy Lauper

From the moment I heard the name I've always paid attention but never really listened to his music. In my mind, I was just cheering for another local artist.

With his upcoming show at Bottom Of The Hill on Jan 18th with Fake Your Own Death and EBTE, the time has come to take a listen.

The music pops. Song after song, as I'm playing through the face of their Spotify page, every song hits. To simplify my listening experience, I focused on their 2010 Juices LP and then to their self-titled 2020 LP. Juices carries big motor pedal to the metal energy that's scorching. Ten years later, their self-titled The Ferocious Few LP doesn't lose any intensity. However, with age and experience, new elements are seamlessly folded in like a perfect cappuccino.

The Ferocious Few have something special going on and it's no secret. Having played alongside Cindy Lauper, The Growlers and Billy Idol didn't happen by luck. I hear some Johnny Cash, retro, rockabilly, indie, punk rock all rolled together and played loud. It's true, I'm late to the party and I'm glad I finally made it.

Keep up with The Ferocious Few!!!

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Lee Austin Hoffman and Elegant Trash are making it happen in the East Bay.

A subject I've written about many times is how great it is to connect with others on social media out of the blue. This particular connection I find even more interesting because I can trace back to where it all began. Growing up in Seaside / Monterey California, I was a fan of Psychosomatic. I got to know them and became friends. The mighty algorithm at some point suggested I become friends with Infirmities. I saw they, like Psycho were from Salinas so I followed them as well. Got to support our locals. I remember when Infirmities played the Berkeley beach show. I saw the videos posted and that's around the time, Elegant Trash was suggested by Instagram.

As I began to follow Elegant Trash aka Lee Austin Hoffman. I couldn't help but notice that he has his hands in a few projects. My curiosity grew and I decided, why not reach out and ask him some questions. So, let's get to it…

CCC - You're a part of a couple of monthly events (i.e. Bang The Bay Solar Van Saturday's, 1st Wednesday at the Ivy Room, Live on KALX 99.7 FM). How did these come about.

LAH - Solar Van Saturdays was started to be a covid safe way of having shows but turned into a twice a month community service lasting more than two years. The Ivy room is my favorite east bay venue, and I asked them to have a residency to help support them and more of the community, I got asked by DJ Liz to be featured on Kalx and could not turn down the opportunity. It is my favorite Bay area radio station.

CCC - You've been putting out music for a while. What are your top three albums you have released. Of the three albums you've chosen, what do they remind you of at that moment in time.

LAH - I just released two albums this month called (Remix)which is 4 of my older songs but recorded with my current band to feature the new members with some of my favorite Elegant trash songs and (Momentum) Which has 10 brand new songs that were written in the past 3 months by my current members. Both of these are my favorite right now and of my past albums I really liked (Dose of Sunshine) which featured my wife Nathalie on vocals as well were we sang love songs to each other. I love singing with her as well.

CCC - Where do you like recording your music. When you're in the studio, what's step one.

LAH - I have recorded 17 Elegant Trash albums all over the place in the bay area, At places like Tiny Telephone and Tones on Tail studio, and Donut Time studio but my favorite place right now is with my friend Gabe Gunns at The Love Retreat in Mill Valley. He has recorded 4 of my albums. I record most of my albums live so my first step is to get the band comfortable in a live setting and just go at it.

CCC - Who's the local band whose music you enthusiastically share with others and what song of theirs should we play.

LAH - Lazer Beam, Lost in Oblivion

CCC - What's next for Lee Austin Hoffman and Elegant Trash.

LAH - The next step for me is to start releasing live music recorded from our residency at The Ivy room of all of the bands who play with us and start making compilation albums. We are also in the process of writing another album and will be back in the studio at The beginning of the new year. We play every first Wednesday at The Ivy Room and Every First and third Saturday at Solar Van Saturdays but also will be on lots of radio stations as well coming up soon!!

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We have included a single by Elegant Trash for your immediate introduction. I went through their Spotify and old school punk along the lines of Crass was what their music reminded me of. I am someone who is very into melodic stuff and found a bit of that flavor in their Elegant Trash Remix EP. On that release, their single ‘Touching The Ceiling’ with its double time drums and melodic hooks is my cup of tea. Since Elegant Trash consists of a revolving door of musicians and contributors over the years, each album is unique.

Keep up with, follow and support Elegant Trash!!!

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I love this track!!! #002 - Melotika: 'Digital Dreams'

Talented people are everywhere. Yet the saying goes “luck is when opportunity meets preparation”. I always wonder when Toronto's very own Melotika will break through. Her discography speaks volumes. When I first came across her music, it was her single ‘Crazy’ that caught my attention. From then on, it's hit after hit as far as I'm concerned. Her music resides in the upper echelons of dance pop, and she's carved herself a stable platform.

We are highlighting a track that I think is a certified banger. ‘Digitial Dreams' was released in Feb 2022. I remember doing a small Instagram shout out for the track when it debuted. The only thing in my mind that has changed since then and now is how much I continue to play that song. For me, it strikes a memory of my early days in San Francisco as I explored its house music scene. Deep house in particular. Deep house to me has a dressed-up sexiness that was best expressed by legendary label Naked Music. The way the drums and hi-hats drive in the track take me right back to those late night/early morning SF underground parties. It's synths and production are as smooth as riding soft wheels on a skateboard. Straight butter. Melotika's vocals and delivery seal the deal. She's sings with a bit of attitude that comes from confidence and experience. She's the master of her craft and she knows how to strut her stuff.

The video has two sides to it. Make sure you watch it all the way through. She does these head shakes towards the end of the song that seem to go along with the phrase “digital dreams”. When I'm driving in my car and am blasting this song, I do those shakes. Who's ever driving alongside me and sees me doing it probably thinks I'm nuts.

Keep with and follow Melotika!!!

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I love this track!!! #001 - The Head: 'French Girls'

My biggest gripe about Spotify is that I don't feel it's the best place to discover music. Pandora has introduced me to new music 10-fold over Spotify. However, when scrolling down a playlist via Musosoup, I heard a song that for whatever reason I saved. Later, as I circled back to see how I felt about the last batch of songs I had previously saved, that song came up. I think I unsaved 90% of that batch of song's but I kept this song around. Frankly, I was still on the fence. As the time passed by I kept going back to that song and at some point, fell in love with it. That track is ‘French Girls’ by The Head.

The track is a great blend of indie rock with retro touches. My favorite parts in the track are how the drums drive and don't deviate from the double time pattern, putting a stamp on the music. Another is on the outro bridge when the guys dig in and quadruple down on the sweet spot in the track. When you listen to the track, you'll know what I'm talking about. And of course, the vocals. The cadence in which the vocals are sang with graciously flow over the music like clouds over earth's land mass.

Best friends since high school and still playing music together, these lads from Atlanta Georgia got something special going. Tune in and find out.

Keep up with and follow The Head!!

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New Music? Yes, Please! #007 Vertical Trap

I came across Vertical Trap via their name on a flier. I checked them out and loved what I heard. I found the more I dug, the more I wanted to dig. Vertical Trap consist of a duo and their live sets are played side by side with backing tracks to bring their audience a bevy of layers / sounds. While the guitarist brings an attitude with her stage presence, the vocalist is locked in and focused. She sings with a tenderness. Her authenticity is enchanting. Her genuine nature draws in the listener. Before I saw them live, I viewed an acoustic performance video. That video showcased their versatility and made me an instant fan.

'Dark Matter' is one of their singles that caught my attention. A simple drum loop and synth bass open up the track. Subtle plucked guitar notes add texture before the lead synth melodies rain down. All the sounds are tasteful, and their placements allow each one to individually shine.

The vocals are straightforward. That aforementioned vocal tenderness is front and center. It feels like she's singing in the same room as we listen. There's no overdubs. No multi vocal layers in different keys all singing the same thing. Their music is live and direct. Straight from the source. In my opinion, their music embodies the spirit of punk rock. We do what we want, and we do it our way.

Keep up with and follow Vertical Trap!!!

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New Music? Yes, Please! #006 Rykarda Parasol: Tuesday Morning LP

I can't recall the first time I read the name Rykarda Parasol in the pages of San Francisco's various music publications. Amongst the many names which have graced club marquees and promotional material over the years, her name stood out. Perhaps it's the word "parasol" that nabbed my attention. I checked out her music and I was all in. Back then, I recall Rykarda branding her sound as "Rock Noir". I never gave it much thought. I liked the branding aspect. In retrospect, I should have asked about the meaning behind the branding. Today with her new album Tuesday Morning, we get an answer to that question.

Rykarda mentions her music's evolution as a steady progression that flowed from dark to light. I took a quick listen to some of her earlier work before playing her new album. In my opinion, her earlier work carries a bit of an underlying sadness. The somber moments in Tuesday Morning are handled with a calm that comes from experience.

Perfect example is 'Darwin's Little Darling'. Rykarda shines a light on life's hard facts with the same type of soft loving touch a mother uses when teaching her adolescent children. She sings " I don't do anyone a favor, by turning away from strange behaviors". There are various elements that make this track extraordinary. A nuanced Gregorian chant vocal quality creates a pillowy bed for the reverb laden slide guitar notes to lay. Adding muscle, piano keys and a strummed guitar move the music forward, one step at a time like an ox pulling medieval stones.

Before Rykarda's new album officially debuted, she released 'Get Down With Your Bad Self'. The single and its corresponding music video capture the essence of the album's direction. All of the songs featured have an early 60's San Francisco vibe that falls somewhere between Haight-Ashbury and Dick Clark's rock n roll era incased in indie rock. The music video absolutely has that retro, proper, buttoned up theme a'la Nirvana's 'In Bloom' video. If you haven't seen the video, it's a must see and it's included below. See how much we love you…

Ending things with a bang is the albums final track 'Above It All'. While the rhythm guitar drives, the organ's counter melody adds color and body. Rykarda's vocals ride the musical wave like a water skier at Lake Havasu. Of all of the music components and parts, it's the big backing vocals in the chorus that hit the hardest. When this song is played live, those big chorus lines provide the opportunity for crowd participation. Rock n roll lives on.

From strolling down foggy San Francisco streets to Parisian soil, Rykarda Parasol continues her musical voyage. Moving to Paris brought new experiences. We seldom take into account how the energy of a new environment can reshape how we see ourselves today and tomorrow. I'm not sure how/if the journey overseas affected Rykarda's musical evolution. Only she can answer that. I am sure of one thing, Rykarda writes from the heart. Creating music that stands the test of time is what Rykarda Parasol is all about.

Keep up with Rykarda Parasol!!!

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Bloggers Chronicles: The Review: Smilin' Violet @the Hotel Utah

I'm a little late on this one show review. Ok, I'm very late. I went to the Hotel Utah on Sept. 16th to see Dark Satellite. I've been very pressed for time and unfortunately, I got there way too early. The three-band show had just begun. Realizing my 45-minute window hindered me from catching the band I went to see. I was kind of bummed but catching Smilin' Violet turned out to be a total highlight.

One great thing about the Hotel Utah is the intimate setting. The band is up close like an MTV Unplugged series. I paid the cover, grabbed a beer, walked past the thick curtains, made my way down the stairs and took a seat to my immediate left. Smilin' Violet was on stage. The band looks young. The singer/rhythm guitar player was positioned center stage. His bushy hair was held in place by a baseball cap whose folded brim hid his eyes. Lead guitarist flanked stage left, bassist was set stage right and the drummer was in the back.

The music is heavy with a 90' grunge feel. Not being able to see the singer's facial expressions as he sang with passion added a mystique to his stage presence. There's always a couple of members that stand on any given night. The drummer and the lead guitarist were two that stood out. Clearly, the drummer is on another level. His double bass work and hi hat variations were spectacular. He laid the path for the band to follow. I get the sense he's the oldest and most experienced in the band by how he conducted himself on stage.

At times, we may see a performance and say, "that reminded me of a young (insert iconic name)". I know I've made that comparison with IAMX to a young David Bowie. I couldn't help but compare the lead guitarist to a young Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains. He commanded the stage. I can see a bright future for him leading Smilin' Violet or any band he's a part of.

Besides the Jerry Cantrell comparison, the band does have a bit of Alice In Chains vibe to their music. While the 90's had a wide array of sounds, both good and bad. The combination of heavy grunge tones that borrowed from metal is considered the best from that era. It's something Smilin' Violet has tapped into, and I look forward to hearing their evolution. I wish them the best as they continue their journey.

Keep up with Smilin' Violet!!!

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Transform with Tess Posner's Alchemy EP

Whenever given the option of dark or not dark. The answer is always “let's go with dark”. Probably why Wednesday Addams is one of my favorite movies characters. When researching a local show, I came across Tess Posner. I have been loosely using the term “dark alternative” for the last few years. Tess describing her music as dark alternative made me immediately intrigued.

To my pleasant surprise, her music is dark. There's a Gotham City quality to her production like she's the composer of Bruce Wayne's personal orchestra. Her vocals are the focal point at all times. She mixes up her vocal melodies seemingly on every music phrase, nothing feels recycled.

Let's go over the Alchemy EP:

Feral Child - A great opening track, paced at a moderate tempo that should appeal to a wide audience. Electro bass kicks become the proverbial amusement park car, riding on its steel track, guiding us through the adventure.

Volcano - Upbeat with a touch of early 80's pop. The pulsating bass is everything, it's the key component that not only moves us, but it also moves the dance floor. On the track she builds a wave, stories high, and surfs down her own creation to a hero's welcome.

My Heart Is Dry - The EP's standout track with its percolating keys and crisp snare hits. Big synth pads hit with concentrated power like a spotlight from a penitentiary watchtower. Tess matches the intensity with a grand choir flair. Instead of reaching for the sky's outer limits, she brings things in to almost a whisper. Yes, yes, yes…

Ghosts - Minimalist approach by design adds to its haunting quality. Her vocals reign supreme. Another great addition to an already wide range of music.

Black Cloud - What better way to close out an EP than with an anthem. The songs slow build to grand hall, full volume, form like Voltron is the only way to go.

Tess takes us on a trip that touches a wide range of emotions. Although dark, hopelessness never crosses our mind. If anything, listening to the EP from start to finsih is like watching a movie where everything is going wrong, but you know things will be just fine.

Keep up with and follow Tess Posner!!!

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Whenever possible, we include a single for your instantaneous listening pleasure and here you are:)

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Bloggers Chronicles: GO TO THIS SHOW!!! #005 Ever Higher Music Festival

Fall is definitely upon us. The first soaking rain of the season should be arriving this Sunday. Which means attending a free outdoor music festival would be the perfect sendoff before we begin to layer up and head into the holiday season.

First things first. The talent. The Philharmonik will be headlining the Ever Higher Music Festival. The Philharmonik will be bringing down the house with their superstar caliber talent and production. If you haven't experienced The Philharmonik, you are in for a soulful treat. Bring your dancing shows and make sure your phone is fully charged before arriving. You'll want to document this for the gram.

Yes, The Philharmonik will be the cherry on top to a day of amazing local talent. The talent that supports the headliner is guaranteed to appeal to any fan of music. If indie pop is what you crave. No problem, SWISS has got you covered. Do you need more soul in your life? Well, The Helltones have got your medicine. Punk rock? Tess and the Details. Think you can stump the promoters by requesting a schwifty combo of glam/punk/pop? The Hot Takes will take care of business. Oh, what's that, you only like rock n roll. Sit down Cindy, because Treasures are here to rock your mind. Every box is checked. The weather will cooperate and it's free. No excuses. See you there.

Music band links:

SWISS - https://open.spotify.com/track/5nn61h0sgXorGDuSYPY7KI

The Helltones - https://open.spotify.com/artist/03w7pJeitFfEmoAY1t6wtI?si=52VUOVw2R-GY0ZCZeELblQ

Tess and the Details - Tess & The Details | Spotify

The Hot Takes - The Hot Takes | Spotify

Treasures - Treasures | Spotify

The Philharmonik - The Philharmonik | Spotify

Bloggers Chronicles: GO TO THIS SHOW!!! #004 Tess Posner's Alchemy release party.

It's going down tonight at the Knockout in SF!!! Tess Posner, Joyce Lee, Kate Ramsey and Sophia Prise will be hitting the stage and bringing their dark alternative / rock n roll tunes!!!

Doors at 9pm. Bring beer money and a good vibe.

Links provided for the artist's. Get aquainted and I will see you there:)

Tess Posner | Instagram

Kate Ramsey | Instagram

Joyce Lee | Instagram

Sophia Prise | Instagram

CCC EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Ladies and Gentlemen... Nene's Butler.

When we began City Cat Collective, I knew I wanted to reach out to Nene's Butler Presents for an interview. Navigating the seas of self-promotion, one starts to get a sense of who's friendly, who isn't. The quality of the blog also becomes exposed. All of a sudden, submitting or avoiding certain blogs becomes routine. Being added to Nene's Butler Presents blog with an Everything But The Everything submission is something I always look forward to.

With further ado… Ladies and gentlemen, it's our interview with Nene's Butler Presents!!!

CCC - How did you get started and when was the moment you went all in on being a music blogger?
NB - I started to discover platforms like groover, muso, or submithub around 2020. As an artist, I often got rejected by “good song, BUT …” on these platforms. I wondered why they were all so fixated on one sound, one genre, etc. Why didn’t bloggers enjoy all the great indie music out there? This was the reason I decided to develop my own music blog, which was/is not based on specific genres, and which expressed my love for music. I wanted to give unheard musicians a chance to be heard.

CCC - Do you have a music background? If so, tell us about it.
NB - NenesButler presents is the name of my blog and Nene’s Butler is my artist name. The music I create is a mixture of minimalistic electro with touches of 80s/90s house and the early days of techno, and a breeze of electro body music. I am definitely influenced by Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Front 242, but I also love to listen to Cure, Duran Duran, Oasis, Blur, Joy Division, The Prodigy, Everything but the Everything :) , … I love all the post-punk stuff, punk itself, Britpop was amazing, UK garage, indie pop, indie rock, … and do not forget my all-time favorite The Beatles (my first musical love) … and so on.

CCC - I noticed your website says to submit to your blog via Groover, why is that your go to and what do you think about the other services like Submithub, Musosoup?
NB - We find Groover to be the most effective for us. We have a dashboard with many music submissions that want to be on the blog. Muso is also good, but it takes a lot of time. It requires us to write an offer to the artists and then wait. I used to use Muso a lot in the past. Now, I use it to find new music and if I enjoy it, I put it on our playlists. We are also trying out mysphera and droptrack at the moment. Sometimes, we receive something from sharetoPro. Submithub rejected us :).

CCC - How do you feel about paying for PR from an artist perspective?
NB - As an artist, I have seen this side as well. I also invest in Groover, Muso, and in earlier days, Submithub. I think all the platforms offer a great opportunity to get your music heard. In my opinion, it’s part of the business to invest some time and money in PR. I always say 50-100 bucks per single are enough for my style of music. I would not want to spend more money, but this is a personal decision that every artist has to make for themselves.

CCC - What advice would you give to a young band who wants to get started?
NB - From The Blog view - Please do not contact us or any other blogger like this: This is our/my new single, it’s a banger! Nothing more or less (we sometimes get this). Or sending a “mass-mail”. The best chance to get featured on NenesButler presents is to include a short bio, something about the song, and all social media channels + streaming channel/link + 2 pictures (good resolution) (simply an EPK). The sound quality does not have to be 100% perfect, because this is, in my opinion, a question of money. But if you invest some time by yourself in mixing and mastering, it should fit for the first releases.

CCC - What do you do for fun (snowboarding, bicycling, beanie baby collecting, etc...)?
NB - I have a five-year-old daughter, that's fun enough :)

CCC - If someone gave you $10,000 to go on a vacation or go splurge at the fanciest restaurant in your closest major city, which would you choose?
NB - I would invest in music, rather than going on vacation or to a restaurant. I am playing with the idea of creating a Tape Label in the future to release a Sampler every quarter with the best Indie Artists of "NenesButler presents".

CCC - What's on the horizon for Nene's Butler Presents?
NB - On the horizon of the blog, there is definitely another playlist (currently, we have our "Best of", "electro", "singer/songwriter", "heavy guitars", "postpunk + indie rock", "femArtists"). Maybe we will add instrumental/chill or darkwave/gothic, let’s see. We will also invest more in ads to bring all the featured artists to the forefront.

Follow Nene's Butler Presents on all platforms!!

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James Beastly adds another standout single to his collection with 'Ghost Species'

I'm sure I've stated this a few times, I made a list of artists/people/groups to highlight on City Cat Collective that participate in the music world. Today we check off another name from that list and highlight James Beastly. James is a seasoned music veteran who I'm assuming has played music most of his life. Not an assumption I want to throw out like Oprah Winfrey does cars, but his approach and execution to music exudes experience. Making the jump from band member to music producer, James adds 'Ghost Species' to his stellar collection as a solo artist.

This record is downright sneaky. As a matter of fact, it's a complete setup. The verse roles out in indie alternative rock fashion. Expected, sounds good, go on... To the arriving chorus, there's a hollowed howling chant. This transition made me feel like we went from a narrow country road merging into a four-lane highway. When we make the lap and repeat the process as music does, our newfound familiarity strengthens the groove. With two passes completed through the verse/chorus, I was beginning to wonder if there was another gear. James Beastly does not disappoint.

This is where the song explodes. The unleashed and charged electric guitar lead outro comes rolling in like the second vinyl record in an epic DJ mix. That excitement when two styles, two records come together and create something new is just like chocolate and milk becoming chocolate milk. Absolutely thrilling. James does the right thing; he steps on the gas and does not relinquish the throttle until we've reached the destination, he wants to take us.

Your vessel is ready. All aboard!!!

Keep up with and follow James Beastly and… peep the track right now!!!

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Hustler's hustle. London's very own, Sparkayly presses on.

Social media is a peculiar thing. With millions of people mingling around, there's no telling where a new connection might come from. At some point, I crossed paths with London artist and all-around music hustler, Sparkayly. I believe we both follow Toronto's Melotika and that's how the mighty algorithm did its thing. Through her posts I saw an artist that is making it happen on all fronts. As she toils on various music projects (songwriter, magazine producer, graphic artist, artist promotion), I wanted to highlight her digital imprint, Surge FX Magazine.

Using the ISSUU platform, Sparkayly releases her monthly magazine. Music reviews, blurbs, interviews, and ads fill its pages, very reminiscent of "zine" but more buttoned up. Her signature style stamp's everything she touches. Sparkayly's style is a bubbly gothy mysteriousness wrapped in a cloak of black, red, purple and pink colors.

Via sound waves, Sparkayly's style is a mix of Anthem EDM and pop punk. Her use of big rave synth's evokes memories of packed underground raves in SF. The tight distorted guitars and drum patterns she uses are a'la 90's punk rock.

Throughout 2023, Sparkayly has been releasing her magazine and a stream of singles. 'Love Gun' is a standout track in her collection. I must mention there are two versions of 'Love Gun' and they are both dope, but I like the more electronic version a little more. We've included her latest release 'Candy Scars' (RedStonedDog Remix) for your immediate introduction.

Keep up with Sparkayly !!!

Youtube | Instagram | Spotify | ISSUU

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Brighton's Knife Bride "Nu-Gothika" masterpiece 'smother (make me suffer)' has arrived!!

Crazy to think that there's musicians playing their hearts out in successful projects who don't love the music they play. Such was the case with the members of this yet to be formed band. They all knew each other from playing their local scene in Brighton UK. Two of them are cousins. One day, they collectively decided to make music they loved. That day Knife Bride was born. Since day one the group has been on a tear, playing coveted British venues and festivals. Keeping the momentum going Knife Bride has released 'smother (make me suffer)', the lead single with a corresponding music video from their upcoming EP.

There is a lot going on with this single. A controlled chaos of sorts. The drum patterns are spectacular. They feel spontaneous yet are as detailed and unique as any instrument played on the track. How the song opens up in the chorus makes me feel like I'm standing in the eye of a hurricane, enjoying a moment of serenity before getting ripped to shreds. Adding to this feeling of impending doom are the vocals, hypnotizing us like a siren's song luring us to our own demise.

This song is an absolute banger. Samples, massive guitar riffs, crisp double bass drums all ooze Nu-Metal but Knife Bride's injection of emo goth sexual elements create something all their own. They refer to their music as "Nu-Gothika" and I am officially, 100% on board.

Keep up with and follow Knife Bride!!!

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New Music? Yes, Please! #005 The Hot Takes

The Hot Takes continue to ascend with their killer stage show and solid music releases. Their latest single ‘Up All Night’ is pure rock roll played from the heart. The song has a nostalgic feel and borrows from the best from the early 80's. How we are greeted by the drums and then the catch the buzz of that electric guitar is reminiscent of ‘Love Stinks’ by The J. Geils Band. A bit of ‘I Love Rock N Roll’ by Joan Jett and The Black Hearts pokes through as well. The magic is always in the songwriting and vocal delivery which is why I get a sense of ‘Summer Of 69’ by Bryan Adams.

When a singer is in a zone, you can hear the belief in their voice. In this zone a singer can transcend themselves into whatever place they want to take their listeners to. Jared locks in and takes us to rock n roll euphoria.

Catch ‘Up All Night’ with us now and keep up with The Hot Takes on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify!!!

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New Music? Yes, Please! #004 Oakland Ghosts

In March of 2022, Oakland Ghosts began to roll out two singles at a time. A dual double single release if you will. Their newest release titled 'IV' has three singles. We'll be highlighting 'Under The Needle' and have included it for your convenience. See how nice we are...

That bass tone used is the bass tone I always wanted as a bass player growing up. Bright and punchy just like a fresh pack of Ernie Ball Slinky bass strings. A distorted guitar plays behind the bassline on the second half of the verses bringing static fuzz tv imagery. The song's layout is something to note and an absolute highlight. For example, the chorus only plays twice and how we get to it both times is different. Maybe I've been conditioned to "let's just repeat this" style of writing for far too long but it I did love the journey 'Under The Needle' takes us on.

There's a 90's grunge rock and '6 Underground' Sneaker Pimps vibe to the song. The horns are a key ingredient which color with matte paint dark tones. How the horns are sprinkled in via accents after their initial introduction is a great touch. It's a great track thats lowkey driving thanks to the songwriting. If you're on the move from place to place, play this track for the appropriate ambiance.

Keep up with and follow Oakland Ghosts on Spotify | Instagram | Facebook

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Bloggers Chronicles: The review: #001 IAMX , ContainHer at the DNA Lounge

My homie and Everything But The Everything guitarist Ian Dowed had some plans for us (Sophia Prise and myself) last Wednesday night. The three of us haven't hung out recently and he got us tickets to see some guy who used to be in the Sneaker Pimps. This was another one of those "I don't care who's playing, I'm going" moments for me. Ian sent us links, but I didn't check them out. It was the company I was excited about, the show that was secondary in my mind.

Fast forward and now we're at the DNA lounge. The vibe is goth and frankly I was a little confused as to how Sneaker Pimps and goth DNA fit together. Headlining the night was IAMX. Since I did zero research, my curiosity level was at an all-time high.

Opening the show was ContainHer. I particularly enjoyed her performance for several reasons. First reason is I follow her on Instagram and have been wanting to see her live. She can sing. Anyone that follows her social media can tell you that. Watching how she worked the crowd, worked the songs and performed in full character was the highlight. She's a pro. She excelled in the spotlight, and it brought out the best in her. ContainHer's music is synth driven electronica with a message.

The headliner quickly followed and from the first note till the last note of the third encore, I was captivated and inspired. First off, their costumes were futuristic, unique and strange. The drummer had a hat/mask a'la Donnie Darko. The bassist was in a printed spandex head covered full suit like an extra in the Fifth Element. The singer wore this crown/mask with a light placed on the center forehead. He looked like a futuristic Jesus here to save us from the second rapture.

Delayed sound clouds bellowed from the speakers, blanketing the audience in suspense. Thunderous floor toms boomed from the stage's left corner. The drummer put on a clinic on how to absolutely crush backing tracks. Every one of his hits were concisely delivered and gave the performance teeth. Going completely berserk was the bass player. She was all over that stage. Her hands played every note, her body gesticulated them.

Chris Corner who is IAMX behaved like a rock icon. Better yet a cult leader. His powerful vocals and their delivery are the Kool aid his follower's drink. He has some crazy case that almost looks like a small coffin filled with modules, knobs and lights which he uses to treat his voice. It reminded me of DJ's twisting nobs at the perfect time to enhance key moments in a mix, but he was doing it to his voice. I felt like I was watching a young David Bowie in action.

That show was special. I've never seen a third encore be performed by a band. The music's delayed haze, powerful drumming and performance both physically and production wise was major festival level. I'm so happy to live in the Bay Area where amazingness happens every day of the week. Even on a Wednesday night.

New Music? Yes, Please! #003 Randy Thomas and the Insecures

Oakland's very own Randy Thomas and the Insecures are back with a new song and music video. Their new track ‘Need This’ is a bright gritty distortion laden raucous rock n roll excursion! The tracks energy makes us feel like we're at their live show, hanging in the green room and then off to the after party!!

You'll have to see the video and hear the track!!!

Skating by the Rockridge Bart station is a nice nod to the town.

Keep up with and follow Randy Thomas & the Insecures

Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Ride along the depths of post punk with Haneke Twins.

In this modern world of branding and constant self-promotion, a quick visit to someone's social media is a direct window into their world. With one click, we can learn about a person's passions, projects, aspirations and endeavors. I met Stefanos via Muso soup. I began to follow him on Instagram where we now frequently cross paths. Upon these Insta run ins, I noticed he plays guitar for Haneke Twins. There's a link to the bands website which I followed. Haneke Twins is based out of Switzerland. They rock! Their brand of post punk accompanied with a baritone singer immediately reminded me of Interpol. In 2018 the band debuted their self-titled EP, follow by 2020's Astronaut extended EP. Most recently the band released a new single and corresponding music video 'Lights Off' part 2.

I want to focus on the single's "River" and "In My Head" as the standout tracks for you to check out from the Astronaut EP.

Song 4. 'River' - This track is classic dark rock / post punk. When listening my imagination whisks off to some sort of away from home midnight excursion involving trains and warm fashionable clothing as I make my way from one station to the next. Perhaps it's the guitar parts and their various ways they reach our ears that give the track not only movement but excitement.

Song 6. 'In My Head' - This cut has a delightful toe tapping bounce. Bright plucked bass strings peek throughout the song but their accents in the verses truly shine. There are two guitars playing two different melodies throughout the track weaving beautifully through the air like the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The writing chops the band showcases is exemplary. It's the writing that takes us places, shuttles us along and shows us around. I believe this is the gem of the album.

What struck the most about Haneke Twins and their music is the musicianship, writing and execution. Everything is not only completely thought through and mapped out, but everything is picture perfect with depth. This band is a great reminder that great things happen outside of not only our cities and states but beyond our borders. I'll be keeping an eye for future releases from the group and as always, I'll be checking in on my new homie from the gram.

We included the single 'In My Head' for your instant introduction:)

Keep up and follow Haneke Twins!!!

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Awaken with Dear Banshee and their new LP, Wake Of Modern Life

When we started this blog, we said we would try not over mention the same artist. Dear Banshee and their output of amazing music has made it hard to follow that statement. Highlighting talent is what this blogs mission is all about, so game on!!!

We previously featured ‘Rehoboam’, the bands lead single from their new LP, Wake Of Modern Life. That single is no doubt one of best tracks from the album but there's other's as well because of course there is. Let's go over a few.

Track 1. ‘One Last Sigh’ - How James and Chelsea's vocals tradeoff is gold, but the electronic components and their placement is what makes the track pop. This single for some reason reminds me of Tears For Fears.

Track 10. ‘TV Show’ - I heard the acoustic YouTube version before I heard the album's version, so I didn't know what to expect. First thing is obviously the presence of the drums. Second is the synth layers the band expertly weaves. These layers permeate our senses like a druggy hazy high that's got us hooked. Dear Banshee, is top of their class at producing a syrupy pensive wall of sound. Each brick of this wall is not made from storefront materials. No, it's much better than that. No wonder their music draws Radiohead comparisons.

Track 6. ‘The Bold Ones’ - I love this track, it's definitely my favorite which caught me off guard. There's a minimalist approach to this single. Upon arrival an arpeggiated flutter hangs in the air like Tinkerbell's pixie dust. What sounds like a bouncing rubber ball cues the tempo and disappears. Then, the percussion hits. The perfectly placed windows the vocals are sung in give the track a snowball avalanche effect, where momentum and density build with every passing moment.

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We sent over a few questions to the band that came up during our listening process and without further adieu…

1. Was there a different mindset to recording your new LP, Wake Of Modern Life, or was it business as usual.

James: I enjoy approaching new recordings differently every time. The difference between this LP was that half of the album was done by rehearsing with the full band and the second half of the recording was all done on the computer. It was challenging for us but we made it work.

Chelsea: For the electronic songs, I had heard them for the first time when I walked into the studio for vocal tracking. It kept things live and interesting while still being challenging.

2. As far as experimentation, is Dear Banshee open to experimentation or is that for other bands?

James: I love experimentation in music. Many of our influences are from the experimental genre. I think we definitely have a healthy balance of experimenting with different techniques and keeping things in the pop world. As far as being an experimental band, I don't think we are one. I'll leave it up to the audience to decide.

3. Your "TV Show" Youtube acoustic performance was amazing, why did you choose that song?

Chelsea: TV Show is one of my favorites on the album and an acoustic version seemed very natural.

James: Our second single being a live stripped down version of an album track gave our audience a small glimpse into our live performances. TV Show worked really well for this. We can't bring a full orchestra with us on tour but there are still five of us on stage making all of the layers live.

4. Your partnership with Minor Birds is phenomenal, how did the two of you meet and how has the collaboration evolved since then?

Chelsea: James and I had been gigging together when Dear Banshee first started. Minor Birds played a show with Dear Banshee. When the pandemic came I had moved back to the Bay Area and reached out to him to collaborate and he asked me to join Dear Banshee. The first rehearsal we had together we wrote "Rehoboam" and the rest is history.

James: I think Chelsea brings a lot of variation and nuance to the band. It feels new and exciting.

5. What can we look forward to from Dear Banshee in the coming months?

Chelsea: We have a Pacific Northwest tour planned in early July.

James: After that we will be playing Bottom Of The Hill July 23rd, a venue Dear Banshee had planned on playing in 2020 but had to cancel due to the pandemic. We also have unreleased material that we did not include on the album because we felt that it didn't fit in with the songs. We are not sure when we will release it.

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We wanted to thank Dear Banshee for taking time to answer our questions. We love their music and will be supporting them any way we can!!!

Follow Dear Banshee on Spotify, Facebook, and Instagram!!!

City Cat Collective

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