Once upon a time a member of Deerhoof, Chris Cohen left that band and has made a new home for his sound in the poppy Cryptacize. After releasing the lovely Mythomania on Asthmatic Kitty, the band has regrouped as a four-piece and are touring in support of the album. more ›

Label Asthmatic Kitty seemed poised to capitalize on the neo-folk renaissance of a few years ago, releasing albums by Sufjan Stevens, Half-Handed Cloud, Castanets, and My Brightest Diamond. These acts, pegged by leanings toward the spiritual, confessional and multi-instrumental, could easily have led the label’s charge into the next ten years. Instead, they switched gears. It’s not just that indie rock is perhaps less serious than it was five years ago, when Stevens was penning a song about John Wayne Gacy. In all probability, the label was in a better position to release more records than ever, and they picked some fun ones. Power to ‘em. Starting with the dance-rock Fol Chen, the label has also seen the release of Grampall Jookabox’s newest full-length, and, starting last year, releases by Cryptacize. more ›

We must admit we're impatient and almost painfully curious to see what the fabulous Jersey-nutsos Danielson whip up at the Mohawk this evening. After all, the act has always leaned towards the cultish side, what with everyone taking the last name of lead singer (preacher?) Daniel Smith, whether related to him or not, their regularly matching uniforms, their Sunday school-esque sing-alongs, their in-your-face religiosity, the glassy-eyed what's-in-the-punch joy of it all...when you put all it together, along with the fact that they just released Trying Hartz, a two disc compendium of their back catalog—music that predates their stunning 2006 real world breakthrough album, Ships—it seems like a spectacle far too entrancing to miss, and all of it starting bright and early with doors at 7. Just make sure to bundle up, because it's outside and, if you haven't noticed, outside isn't Texas anymore. more ›

Devon Williams—onetime frontman for the now-defunct Los Angeles punk band Osker, and a well-renowned source of angsty attitude and unpredictability on stage—headlines the Saturday set at Mohawk. Williams, fresh off his solo debut, the curiously-titled Carefree, has lightened up and matured over the years, cutting some of the edginess and anger away from his music and performance, as he now crafts not so much punk as spritely-though-understated pop-rock. But don't worry—there's still a chance he'll berate the audience or become otherwise flammable during the show, and if that makes him a poor man's Cat Power, then let's happily see so for ourselves. more ›