NYC Scene Report – Parlour Tricks, Halycine, & more

This week's NYC Scene Report features the end of longtime column favorite Parlour Tricks, something creepy, and dark, from Halycine, a tour of the very wild home of Toy Cars, and some good vibes courtesy of Flower Girl.

* Although I won't claim to have been writing about Parlour Tricks since their inception, I have been writing about the NYC-based band for the better part of three and a half years, which is why it saddens me to let you know the band is no more.

Not one, not two, but three members have moved on to other projects, and/or other parts of the country, but as lead singer Lily Cato explains, the band is embracing what they accomplished during their time together. "We took every chance. We explored the country. We played the worst shows ever. We played the best shows ever. We recorded in gorgeous studios. We played Bonnaroo. We somehow got a demo (that was not supposed to see the light of day) into a BMW commercial. We got signed to a label that still cares about music. All this, and we never once took for granted that all these things are fleeting; it couldn't be this way forever."

For Cato, she's excited about the potential of what’s next for her. "I can’t wait to start fresh and see what happens next. I’m always writing. The door is wide open. I’ve got no plan, and no band ... but that turned out pretty OK the last time."

Parlour Tricks' final opus is their recently released EP, Bodies. Check out the single, "Need Somebody," as we all eagerly await to hear what Lily Cato will be working on next.


* If you haven't checked out Brooklyn-based indie rock band Halycine, the latest project of former Blue & Gold member Chloe Raynes, what on earth are you waiting for?!?!

Raynes and company's latest single is "One More Try" (no, it isn't a cover of the Timmy T classic from 1991), and she's created quite the creepy video for the song. Directed by Raynes, the clip is a David Lynch style tale, with a little Edgar Allan Poe, and Alfred Hitchcock thrown in for good measure.

"One More Try" is off of Halycine's debut EP, In The Salt, which is out now. FYI, the band is also fantastic live, so if they're performing in your area, head to the show!


* New Jersey-based rockers Toy Cars named their latest single after the extremely quirky, Icelandic musical legend Bjork. Poetically, the video for "Bjork" features the band rocking out in a house filled with some extremely quirky characters.

"Bjork" is off of Toy Cars' latest EP, Sleeping Patterns, and the video makes me wonder how many keys the band handed out to their place. I mean, seriously guys, I know it's cool to let your friends crash at your pad, but I think the party's getting a little out of control here.

Ah, what the heck, keep it going! We'll all enjoy "Bjork" while the band figures out what the heck is going on in their home.


* Longing for the simpler, fun, times of your youth? NYC-based indie rock band Flower Girl may have exactly what you’re looking for.

With music that’s intended to be "a celebration of youthful exuberance," when you click play on their latest single, "Wading Online," the good vibes are ever-present, and contagious. This is the kind of song that immediately puts you, and everyone around you, in a good mood.

"Wading Online" is off of Flower Girl's upcoming album, Tuck In Your Tie-Dye, due out November 11th. If you're in need of some good vibes, crank this one up (FYI, you actually do have to crank this one up, as the sound a little low on the recording).


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