New band alert: Starline Arcade comes with the hook-filled retro-futuristic synthwave.
Plus, reality-rapper Kevlar P.I. and your weekly events list.
Starline Arcade owns its aesthetic — a 1980s neon and sunshine retro-futurism. Think “Trans Era” Neil Young, filtered through California’s pop scene (at least visually).
Musically, this is exactly what one might expect from a band called Starline Arcade.
Like so much in the music space these days, the band came about in a home studio during the lost year that was 2020, when suddenly people had ample time to dedicate to all those new projects.
The bulk of the band (drummer Joshua Ramsey, keyboardist Leslie Rae and guitarist Branden Peck) had all played together in Hot Prowl. They added bassist Amber Williams and vocalist Timothy James, who came over from the band Kady Danger.
“Much of Starline Arcade, in its early stages, was inspired by modern synthwave and electrically driven dark pop,” Ramsey says. “As time progressed and the sound developed, we really began leaning into our musical upbringings and roots.”
The classic rock influences are pure and apparent, he says.
So, FFO: Eddie Money, Steve Winwood, Don Henley and The Midnight, FM-84 and The 1975.
The band is currently teasing its first single, “Streetlights,” which lands July 20 (a snippet can be heard here). A full album, mixed and mastered by Fierce Creatures frontman Mathr de Leon, is slated for later this summer (along with some live performances, one would hope).
Kevlar P.I., “Kung Pow”
Here’s another plug for an album produced by K Pizzle (that’s two weeks in a row, for those counting).
This one comes from rapper Kevlar P.I.
The 10-track album drops at the end of July. The first single, “Kung Pow,” is out now with a second releasing coming next week (July 16).
“Warning! The sauce will be thick,” Kevlar says.
That’s an endorsement. Again, we get K Pizzle’s signature boom bap, this time laid under what Kevlar calls “reality rap.”
“What used to be called gangster rap,” he says.
This is Kevlar P.I.’s second release in as many years.
“Loyalty Above Royalty,” was released in 2020 and features production work from Tresyck (Lab24Muzik), TezDaProdusah, Feezy Montana, Awbskure, Yuki, Shon J and K Pizzle and guest spots from Diego Redd, MC Wicks and J Prescott (among others).
The 14 songs are reflective of changes the rapper has been through over the last five year and the disconnect he’s felt from his family and friends.
“I’ve lost more friends and family (that are still breathing) as a result of my success. This became the basis for what I would start writing,” he says.
“Loyalty Above Royalty” is out now on streaming platforms.
Events list July 11-17
Fulton 55 has its first set of show since being closed by the pandemic.
The first is an EDM night with Desert Hearts co-founder Lee Renyolds. The show starts 9 p.m. Friday July 16. Tickets are $15.
The venue hosts comedian Ian Edwards on Saturday night (July 17) for an early (7 p.m.) show. That’s followed by the Chill Suit (R&B and soul jams). Tickets for Edwards are $25. Tickets for The Chill Suit are $5.
The Sun Kissed Summer Festival also happens Saturday July 17 at Chukchansi Park, with Said The Sky, Jvna and Wenzday. Show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.
That’s it for this week. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com