Simply put, Gothic Tropic melted faces during the release party for their new single at the Satellite last Friday. Building momentum off openers Green Gerry, Hooops and Terri Terri, the Gothic crew were in unbelievably top-form—I have not been so utterly blown away by a bass player in a long time, thank you for that! I have to say the band packed a much bigger melodic punch than I first anticipated and Cecilia Della Peruti and friends shredded through the night like they shared one mind. Cecilia's subtle guitar genius really shines when she's executing frenetic solos that teeter between classic rock and psych.

The band unveiled their new single "How Life Works" in all its refined glory towards the end of their set—a ferociously catchy jam that at first floats sublimely in an aquatic guitar melody, carries the listener through a little doom-and-gloom, and then ultimately allows the sun to rise again with some uplifting catchy chorus work. And the whole thing grooves. In a sort of dark, vaguely mysterious way. Particularly the lumbering, downward walking bass line during the verses. It adds a new shade to the already diverse musical palette that makes up Gothic Tropic's output thus far. Cecilia and co.'s dark psych-pop continues to mature as their audiences grow and I for one will be on the look out for their next drop: Fast or Feast on October 28th via Old Flame Records. - Andrew Mendoza

Drummer Byron Pagdilao and bassist/vocalist Lee Lewallen of The Electric West haven't missed a beat since last summer's departure of guitarist Dee Kay. New blood keeps the band pumping, and with a fresh body on the six-string, the grave-rocking post punk heralds have released a new song for 2016. "Death Birds", with its lurching rhythms and creeping feedback, comes as an early release following 100 RSVPs to their upcoming show at The Echo.

Listen to "Death Birds" and catch The Electric West howling this Thursday at The Echo with Green Gerry as they support Figs Vision. - Ryan Mo

Athens, Georgia native, LA-based Green Gerry first began as the bedroom project of Gerry Green. Gerry oversaw the entire project by himself until he assembled a group after the release of his second album, King Baby. His translucent lo-fi has since captured the attention of major indie label Mom + Pop, who approached Gerry to re-record one of the tracks off that album under their offshoot singles label Mermaid Ave. Since then, Gerry has recorded a second single, "Mumbo Jumbo", a slack psychedelic track that displays Gerry's pop sensibilities whilst honing in some slightly warped guitar work. 

You can catch Green Gerry at the Bootleg tomorrow, October 29th as part of the monthly Blind Date new music series.