by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Sometimes a good band ends to give way to another good band and all remains well. It’s like that whole “when a door closes a window opens” thing… only more fun and tangible. The shapeshifting avant-pop band all boy/all girl called it quits recently and in its wake comes Grocer, a band distilled from elements of Danielle Lovier (vocals, bass) and Nicholas Rahn’s (vocals, guitar, bass, synth) past efforts, but taking form as something entirely new. Grocer blends quirky pop with dissonant punk, jazzy art rock, and a musical complexity that feels exceptionally refreshing and well constructed. Set to release their debut album Little Splash on May 22nd, the Philadelphia based quartet (which includes guitarist Emily Daly and drummer Cody Nelson) have created an album full of dynamics and catharsis, with songs that range from exuberant pop to raw punk and everything that can possibly fall between.
There’s no singular song that could possibly give you a glimpse into the varied sound of the record, but “Infinite Commute” is as good as a place to start as any. With vocal duties split throughout the album, Lovier leads the record’s single, a song that opens with an almost Fugazi like rhythmic quality before the vocals come floating dominantly into the mix. Full of acrobatic shifts and inflections, the vocals manuever around the dissonant and fractured polyrhythms, with a soft dejected feel, the chorus clearly delivered, “times change and I know I'm getting older / the future's getting closer, but I'm apathetic / though I used to be a dreamer, now I only dream when I am sleeping.” It’s a great introduction with harmonic pops and swiveled guitar lines, prodding and cutting in subtle melodic twists and turns.
Upcoming Shows:
3/11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ortliebs w/ screamcloud, Washer, & Bethlehem Steel
3/18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ortliebs w/ Leisure Sport & Broke Body
3/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ortliebs w/ Tubey Frank & Weekender
4/20 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ortliebs w/ Roof Dogs, Looser, & Yeenar
5/28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Boot and Saddle (Record Release) w/ Corey Flood & Grace Vonderkuhn