Concert Picks: Wakey! Wakey!, Teengirl Fantasy, Kid Infinity…

The best thing about music is that there are a million and one ways to still work the various genres in an original sense. It’s all too easy to say that nothing’s new under the sun, but not so much to attempt to take the phrase down a peg. The following acts have made more than a valiant attempt to do so, very much to our delight as we decide which one, which one we’ll be in attendance for and therefore applauding in one of the following venues this weekend. Eenie meenie, miney moe.  Have at it, dear readers.

• Wakey! Wakey! | Friday, July 23 | 6:00 pm | 21+ | $5 | Brooklyn Bowl, New York, NY – Map | Combination “standard” rock with the care taken to flesh it out with an ample storytelling device – lyrically as well as instrumentally. Every element within each track on display is a vital character, from background vocals to whistling at the outset. Often times “endearing” qualities are as such with some acts that it feels entirely like a production-assisted pre-planned decision… except with Wakey! Wakey! – like Michael Cera and those adorable commercials for the Kindle – we’re buying it. With New Morning – Buy Tickets

• Sleepy Sun | Friday, July 23 | 8:30 pm | 21+ | $12 | Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA – Map | Hello, seriously hard, streaming across the boundaries, screaming out of the speakers rock – all without the typical label of hardcore rock. By this description we’re referring more to matters of the heart, a subject in which the San Francisco-based band seems to have made their specialty on their last two albums. Their latest, Fever, will be the one they’ll be promoting on this, their LA pit-stop on their US/European tour. With Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound and Miranda Lee Richards - Buy Tickets

• Very Truly Yours | Saturday, July 24 | 7:00 pm | 21+ | $5 | Double Door, Chicago, IL – Map | Very Truly Yours works within a spectrum of sound in respects to an ethereal pop-influenced take on the indie genre. Delving into an early rock n’ roll slash doo wop style as heard on the track “Things You Used to Say”, then rolling into the surfer/indie-inclined “Reminders”, listeners are given a mellow consistency on the outside, with sweet layers on the inside. Naturally, we dig it. With Craig Ramsey and Bears – Buy Tickets

• Kid Infinity | Saturday, July 24 | 9:00 pm | $5 | The Smell, Los Angeles, CA – Map | Ambient electronic, keyboard-assisted rap/techno from LA’s own. Two years in the making, the duo – who in so many words attributes the presence of their light guy as a vital component to their stage shows – sound like the no strings attached good time we’ve been waiting for. But we can’t be blamed if we get somewhat invested… they’re just that good. With Juiceboxx, Kid Static and Signals – tickets available at the door.

• Teengirl Fantasy | Sunday, July 25 |  8:00 pm | $8 | Monster Island Basement, New York, NY – Map | Mixing, mixing, and more mixing. At times sounding like the wheels rotating inside of Ben Gibbard’s mind when he has his Postal Service hat on, it’s the cover of the 1978 Miles Gregory/Rose Royce hit “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” that renews our faith in the idea of an original spin on an already-done-deal.  There’s fragments, samples, and a whole ‘lotta electronic going on, making their style one of respect, and frankly so dreamy, sweep-us-off-our-feet-like. With Blondes and SSPS  - tickets available at the door.

Okay kids – those are our picks and we’re sticking to ‘em. Who’s on your T0-See List this weekend? We’re dying to know.

Photo by Beatrice Evangelista