NYC Scene Report - The Motor Tom, Shinobi Ninja, & more

This week’s NYC Scene Report features an 80s influenced rock song from The Motor Tom, fresh party rock from Shinobi Ninja, ROMP’s punk rock ode to burritos, and a song from Ciphurphace that’s all about his love of hip-hop.

* This past Friday, NYC rockers The Motor Tom held a release party for their new single, "Left Out," and because I don't want you to feel left out, I'm having a party for the single here, as well.

"Left Out" is off of The Motor Tom’s upcoming album, Super Sexy Space Station, which they’ll be releasing in the spring of 2016. Musically, the song has a clear 80s influence while still being perfect for any modern indie rock playlist. Visually, the video includes numerous 90s flashbacks, and will have you reminiscing about the Skip-It, Doug, and the infamous Windows maze screensaver.

Give "Left Out" a spin, and if you want to know more about The Motor Tom, check out my interview with them from earlier this year.


* Keeping with the theme of having a good time, Brooklyn party rockers Shinobi Ninja are back with a brand new single titled "Bang Bang."

In an email from the band, Shinobi Ninja said of the song, "We've been on the road touring super hard, and in the studio cooking up that new new. That new new is ready today!!! Check out our new song 'Bang Bang,' the first of two new tracks on our forthcoming maxi-single FUNBANG, out November 21st!"

With the 21st almost upon us, give "Bang Bang" a listen. Oh, and FYI, if you're at work, this one may cause you to get so hyped you'll throw your computer out the window. It's technically the company's computer, though, right? So rock on!


* Sliding over to New Jersey we find the greatest punk rode ode to burritos ever written. OK, to be completely honest, I have no idea how many punk rock odes to burritos there are, but ROMP really nailed it with their new single, appropriately titled, "Burrito."

The story of ROMP is actually a really interesting one, as none of the members knew each other a year ago. Vocalist/keyboardist Madison Klarer and guitarist Lucas Dalakian met on Tinder, of all places, though according to Klarer everything is strictly professional now, as the band is on a quest to “play every New Brunswick basement.”

"Burrito" is a bonus track off of ROMP’s debut EP, Sorry, Not Sorry, which was just recently released via Bad Timing Records. Check it out.


* Speaking of odes, closing things out this week we have SpaceLAB Recordings emcee Ciphurphace's latest, which is an ode to hip-hop that will remind fans of one of the greatest odes to hip-hop of all-time.

Taking a cue from the Common classic, "I Used to Love H.E.R.," Ciphurphace takes things one step further with "I'll Always Love H.E.R."

Many feel hip-hop is in a terrible place right now, but Ciphurphace has hope, rapping, "She was a Black Sheep - she said ‘The Choice is Yours’ / The rhymes and fat beats - a voice so pure / She's played in mad jeeps - in the streets - she's Soundbombin' / a Resurrection would be nice - we would have things in Common."

"I'll Always Love H.E.R." will be on Ciphurphace's upcoming EP, In Phaced God We Trust, and you can check the single out right here.


For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.