BY B AO L E - H U U SCARLET MONK AND SWAMBURGER | PHOTO BY JIM LEATHERMAN
LOCAL RELEASES
Orlando hip-hop legend Swamburger has been gearing up for a big new phase in his long, illustrious career. That all kicks off with Tenfold, his new solo album heavily featuring Chicago artist Scarlet Monk. Releasing everywhere June 1, the 13-track Tenfold represents the next evolution of Swamburger’s sound, pushing his classic hiphop instincts through a wider prism that includes R&B, soul, funk, electronic and house. With lots of snap, slap and boom-bap, the album is the spiciest, most versicolor gumbo he’s produced in years, possibly ever. Vibrant and forward-looking, it’s a very fresh new face for a venerable icon. In addition to Swamburger’s own raps and production, guest production cameos include Solillaquists of Sound bandmate DiVinci, Juan Mejia, Jackal and MF Shalem. Scarlet Monk gets the marquee feature and contributes vocals to nearly half the tracks. This release, however, is only the first extended glimpse of Swamburger’s heavy new involvement with Scarlet, who’s the new Bonnie to his Clyde. That creative union will be fully revealed this summer when they emerge with a full-length debut as collaborative duo Mugs and Pockets. Swam and Scarlet have a list of appearances already lined up to sneak-peek and promote the new joint, all leading up to an album release party at Park Ave CDs (2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 24). After that, the longtime local will join his new running mate and relocate all the way up to the opposite corner of the country to Seattle to go all in on Mugs and Pockets and hopefully push it to the next level. So go get in as much Swamburger as you can. Following up on last autumn’s single “As a Man,” DeLand artist Bryan Raymond now unveils his recently released full album of the
Orlando hip-hop legend Swamburger’s new solo album ‘Tenfold’ — which heavily features Chicago’s Scarlet Monk — represents the next evolution of his sound, pushing his classic hiphop instincts through a wider prism that includes R&B, funk, electronic and house same name. As a Man is a 10-song furtherance of the stark solo voyage he’s been on in recent years. Once a credentialed metal axeman in bands like Junior Bruce and Hope and Suicide, Raymond has walked his own intensely personal trail since coming back from death’s brink in a 2015 motorcycle accident. On the new album, he continues to survey the emotional hinterland with spare, forlorn folk songs steeped in rough soul and worldweary resignation. As a Man now streams everywhere.
CONCERT PICKS THIS WEEK If you go out, be safe, be cool.
Problem Pack, Super Passive, Hexorcism: This event marks the Falcon’s first real concert since the pandemic, and it’s a good native one featuring the sneering punk rock of Problem Pack, the synth-thick
post-punk of Super Passive and the gothgaze of Hexorcism. Go welcome the beloved Thornton Park art bar back into the live mix. (8 p.m. Friday, June 3, The Falcon, $3 donation) Yngwie Malmsteen: Must 1) love guitars, 2) be allergic to artful restraint and 3) live by the maxim that metal needs more flair. Those are the prerequisites for this show. If you check all three boxes, then you already worship at the altar of this neoclassical shred master. If not, then go back to your dull, gray lives. (7 p.m. Friday, June 3, The Plaza Live, $34.50-$59.50) TWRP, Rich Aucoin: Of course, there’s the music — from TWRP’s smooth 1980s synth rock to Rich Aucoin’s indie-pop grandeur. But this concert will be a true capital-S Show pairing two famously spirited live acts. Toronto’s TWRP bring as much commitment to costume and character to the stage as Peelander-Z. And fellow Canadian Rich Aucoin is known for rousing performances that engage and levitate audiences. (7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, West End Trading Co., $25-$28) T.S.O.L., 430 Steps, Never Ender, Caustic Bats: From their dizzying stylistic evolution to a crazy saga of infighting that fractured them into multiple camps claiming the name, California legends T.S.O.L. are one of punk’s most twisted tales. But once the original lineup won the legal rights to regroup in 1999, they’ve since gotten back to their punk roots. Support for this show will be Orlando hardcore band 430 Steps, Melbourne pop-punkers Never Ender and the debut of Orlando goth-punk group Caustic Bats. (7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, Will’s Pub, $20) baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com orlandoweekly.com
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JUNE 1-7, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY
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