Started by MJ Parker and Charlie Gokey at the tender age of 15, Secret Cities grew out of a shared love of psychedelic pop and a pen-pal arrangement that saw the pair trading 4-track tapes through the mail. The band eventually expanded to a trio with the addition of fellow Midwesterner and kindred spirit Alex Abnos (aka Kansas City’s Tut Tut) on drums. After a few small releases on Baltimore’s Fall Records, the band released its proper full length debut (the well-received Pink Graffiti) in 2010 on Western Vinyl. Following a nationwide tour in support of that release, the band spent several intense months writing and recording new material, re-imagining their sound as a fractured take on classic AM radio pop. Strange Hearts, the resulting album, is due in on March 29 on Western Vinyl.
Secret Cities on Facebook
He's hardly even playing any instruments onstage, and the drummer looks like Pete Townshend.
"Pleasant Life!" intones Pettis, sounding like Bowser if he was actually Charles Foster Kane, and Mario was this plumber that reminded him of the solitary despondency of wealth. But then Mario becomes a charity project, invited to "kick it" and get on a train like it was before sunrise on a bucket list. Juxtaposed with the mdma bubbles they're embedded in it comes off like a spirit guide on the world of tomorrow ride at epcot, layering gurgling synths on top of what sounds like a keytar if it were actually a guitar shaped like a korg. Just don't call him twee, he might cry a tear in the shape of a K." -Discount Coupon
Wowser Bowser on Facebook
"Night Driving in Small Towns... are self proclaimed 'sparkly, spontaneous, robust, gonzo' people; Andrea's description of the music as 'engaging fun' is spot on. The...jam session with heartfelt poppy vocals inspired whoops from the crowd." - Glenn Fullington / Athens Exchange
Night Driving In Small Towns on Facebook
$6 in adv, $8 DOS, 18+
Doors @ 9 pm
Advance tickets available @ Ticket Alternative, Criminal Records,
Decatur CD, Fantasyland Records and the following CD Warehouse locations: Buford, Duluth, Kennesaw, Lawrenceville and Roswell.
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