ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Murder Capital

Photo by James Kelly

This week’s artist of the week goes to The Murder Capital.

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, The Murder Capital consists of members James McGovern, Damien Tuit, Cathal Roper, Gabriel Paschal Blake, and Diarmuid Brennan. The group has a sound that tiptoes the lines between experimental rock, punk and post-punk— if you’re a fan of Shame, Dry Cleaning or Fontaines D.C., then they should definitely be on your radar as well.

The Murder Capital first started playing together back in 2017, but their first recorded release came in 2019 with singles like “Feeling Fades” and “Green & Blue,” which led up to their debut album entitled When I Have Fears. The band actually released this album on their own label called Human Season Records. Most recently, the band put out their sophomore album entitled Gigi’s Recovery, which just dropped in January of this year. The album begins with an atmospheric, slow-burn of a track called “Existence” that starts off with an eerie instrumental as vocalist James McGovern slowly recites the lyrics “Existence fading.” Eventually the introductory track swells into a crescendo that runs right into track 2, “Crying,” which features similar atmospheric, electronic elements that blend into more traditional guitar riffs. This push-and-pull pattern continues throughout the album’s twelve tracks, where certain moments soar to an explosion before being met with a more serene plateau on the other side. The record’s title track really exemplifies this motif, with another gradual build-up that ebbs and flows throughout the course of the song.

In support of Gigi’s Recovery, The Murder Capital is currently on the road in North America, including a stop in Chicago at Lincoln Hall on April 3rd. See all of their tour dates here, and tune into the music video for their single “Return My Head” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Otoboke Beaver

Photo by Mayumi Hirata

You know those bands that you just know by looking at them that you’re in for a treat? Well upon my first listen of Otoboke Beaver, I was able to confirm my hunch that they rock just as hard as I’d suspected at first glance.

Otoboke Beaver has earned this week’s artist of the week title thanks to their fun and playful spin on Riot grrrl/punk influences. Their sound is like if Bikini Kill, CHAI and The Linda Lindas had a lovechild.

Formed in 2009 in Kyoto, Japan, the four-piece group is composed of Accorinrin (Lead Vocal & Guitar), Yoyoyoshie (Guitar & Vocals), Hirochan (Bass & Vocals) and Kahokiss (Drums & Vocals). The band members all met at their university’s music club, and their band name stems from a local “love hotel” (wink wink).

Since their inception, Otoboke Beaver has released several EPs and three albums, the most recent being Super Champon, which was just released in May 2022. The newest record is a whopping 18 tracks long, but it speeds by in under 22 minutes, thanks to fast-paced and fleeting nature of the songs. The majority of the songs are under 2 minutes, but some are as brief as 12 seconds-long! The journey through these tracks with humorous titles like “Dirty old fart is waiting for my reaction” and “Do you want me to send a DM” flies by in such a flash, it’s a challenge not to get whiplash.

Based on the intensity of their records, I just know Otoboke Beaver will put on a phenomenal live show, but don’t just take my word for it! The legendary Dave Grohl has described their performances as “It’s the most fucking intense shit you’ve ever seen.” To experience the whirlwind for yourself, be sure the catch the band on tour this year. They’ll be a SXSW festival, and stopping in Chicago for a show at Thalia Hall on February 26th. See all of the tour dates here, and warm up for one of their gigs by catching their KEXP set below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Lewis Del Mar

photo credit: rubberband.

Chances are you’ve heard the song “Loud(y)” by Lewis Del Mar, which attracted the ears of many music fans with its cinematic production and swelling chorus. If you were living under a rock circa 2015-2016, allow ANCHR to introduce you.

Composed of childhood friends Danny Miller and Max Harwood, Lewis Del Mar officially released their debut self-titled album in 2016, but the pair began making music together long before then. The duo played trumpet together in grade school band before ultimately forming a garage rock band in high school that took them to New York City. Their debut release has pockets of that rock influence, but heavily leans toward an experimental side with some hip hop and electronic nods as well.

Since the touring success and critical acclaim that Lewis Del Mar saw following the release of their self-titled record, Miller and Harwood took some time to step back and reflect before setting out to work on their sophomore album. The second record, entitled AUGUST, came out in August 2020— nearly four years after Lewis Del Mar. Recording for the second album began in 2017 and spanned more than two years as Miller and Harwood worked out of their converted studio in a Rockaway Beach bungalow. The band says the emotional framework of AUGUST is rooted in the tension between the spiraling New York City summer that awaited them and the critical year-long period of reflection that followed, and that the songs depict the way life fractures and comes back together in new forms. That sentiment rings especially true following the start of the pandemic, and now the beginning of live music coming back in new ways.

Speaking of live music, Lewis Del Mar is currently back on the road and wrapping up their current tour in Chicago on Friday, October 15th. We hope you snagged your tickets because not only does Lewis Del Mar have their second album to showcase, but they also released a new EP entitled BOUQUET earlier this year, so there will be plenty of new songs to experience for the first time. See where you can catch them on tour next here, and watch a live performance of “Rosalie” below.