Trails & Ways – poetry in an empty coke can

DC LIVE: Elohim / Still Corners / Trails & Ways

Posted on October 13, 2016October 27, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

On any given night of the week in the DMV, there are myriad options for live music, which is why we’ve started the segment DC LIVE to call out our picks.

Currently on tour with EDEN, LA’s Elohim will be stopping by Rock & Roll Hotel this evening, which we highly recommend you checking out. After being hailed as “Mariachi meets new-wave” by Wonderland Magazine, her latest single “Hallucinating” was recently flipped by Elohim herself into a Mariachi Version of its original iteration, in which colorful mariachi horns and strings replace the synthetic sounds of the prototype. As self-professed lovers of synthpop, this might come as a shock but we dare say we prefer the mariachi rendition — so get into it below. After her run with EDEN, Elohim will also be embarking on a tour with electronic duo Louis The Child in November.

The London-based musical project Still Corners has been kicking around for some time, and this September they released their latest full-length Dead Blue. The dreampop outfit, comprised of songwriter/producer Greg Hughes and singer Tessa Murray has developed a low-key solid following since their inception in 2008. Revisit their earlier single and cautionary tale of a track “Don’t Fall In Love,” and come out to see them perform live October 18 at DC9.

And finally, indie rockers and longtime CCP fave Trails & Ways also just released a new album that they’re currently on tour promoting. On the new record Own It they go for a more raw, grittier rock-and-roll sound than their 2015 LP Pathology — achieved through the use of live drums and distorted guitars. Fragments of their former bossa nova flavor are still intact, however. Stream “My Things” from the new album and come rock out with Trails & Ways at Black Cat October 24.

Trails & Ways – Say You Will

Posted on June 11, 2015June 11, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

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After much build-up, Trails & Ways finally dropped their debut album Pathology via Barsuk Records earlier this month. While recording and producing the LP, the Oakland quartet generated a lot of buzz over the last couple of years, embarking on two national tours and opening for Mac DeMarco, Phox, Stars and Tycho. The second single off the album, “Say You Will” is a sleek and sinewy number steeped in four-part harmonies, rhythm guitar, plucky synths and a syncopated bass.

Written by their bassist Emma Oppen, here’s what she had to say about the song: “Two years ago I met someone very special, and had the experience of falling in love in a matter of hours. In my delirium, I imagined making an ultimatum: Say you will, or don’t say anything at all. A few months later, I wrote the bass line in the back of the van on our first summer tour, and made the first demo recording of the vocal melody against the droning fan of a venue bathroom.”

Stream the song below and say you will pick up the album on iTunes. Friends in the DMV area can catch them performing at DC9 this Sunday, with fellow Oaklanders Waterstrider supporting (full list of June tour dates below).

June 2015 Tour Dates:

6/12 Atlanta – bit.ly/TWAtlJun12
6/13 Chapel Hill, NC – bit.ly/TWChapelJun13
6/14 Washington, D.C. – bit.ly/TWDCJun14
6/16 Philadelphia – bit.ly/TWPhillyJun16
6/18 New York City (Manhattan)- bit.ly/TWNYCJun18
6/19 Boston – bit.ly/TWBostonJun19
6/20 New York City (Brooklyn) – bit.ly/TWBknJun20
6/22 Cleveland – bit.ly/TWCleveJun22
6/23 Chicago – bit.ly/TWChicagoJun23
6/24 St. Paul, MN – bit.ly/TWStPaulJun24
6/26 Denver – http://bit.ly/TWDenverJune26
6/27 Salt Lake City – bit.ly/TWSLCJun27

Trails and Ways – Skeletons

Posted on April 6, 2015October 13, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Trails and Ways taunted us with their tropical, calypso sound a couple of years ago, and now the Oakland outfit is back with the first single off their forthcoming record, Pathology. On “Skeletons”—recorded in their drummer’s bedroom along with the rest of the LP—the quartet wanted to create a “dance banger,” which they achieved through lithe guitar lines and dungeony synth bass twisting over a heavy club groove.

The much anticipated debut album, Pathology will be released on Barsuk Records June 2 and they’ll be on tour in June and July. You can view the full schedule on their website, but locals can catch their set at DC9 on June 14.

Trails and Ways – Tereza

Posted on October 29, 2012October 13, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Trails and Ways are one of my favorite bands to emerge onto the indie scene this year. Their bossa nova sound and affective lyricism is like a tropical, musical confection for my ears. Though based out of Oakland, their music is inspired by the samba sounds of Brazil, where the lead singer spent an extended period of time in Fortaleza.

Below are some of my favorite singles off of their forthcoming album, Trilingual – due to release in early 2013.