Hailing from Cardiff are Panic Shack, who just released the first single from their debut album. "Girl Band Starter Pack" is a hyper and bouncy as possible song that doesn't fit neatly in any one genre. Or two genres, for that matter. First of all, I can't tell if it's a rock song or a pop song. It's some blend of both, and your fandom of either genre will determine which one you find it to be. It has a strong punk attitude, but it's far too smooth sounding to be punk, even by the modern definition of the genre. It's kind of like a mixture of artists like Le Tigre, Bis, and Spice Girls. Basically, "Girl Band Starter Pack" is a ridiculously fun track that is dance music for people that both hate and love dance music.
Panic Shack say of their latest single:
"'Girl Band Starter Pack' was the title of our inspiration playlist on Spotify when we first started the band. It's had many deaths and rebirths but has been with us since the start, so it’s quite special to us. Not only because we’ve watched it morph into a certified banger (it was once named 'Banger Potential') but because it personifies our friendship and the electricity we feel when we’re together, whether that’s creating, playing or simply just grabbing a coffee … which as the song foretells, usually leads to a voddy."
You can watch the video for "Girl Band Starter Pack" below. Panic Shack's self-titled debut album is due out July 18 on Brace Yourself Records, and is available to pre-order here. For more on Panic Shack, check out the band's website.
Birmingham's Jahnah Camille has toured with Soccer Mommy and Clairo, and has some dates coming up with Blondshell. Those bands are perfect matches for the singer-songwriter, who just released the gorgeous "sit with you (pain)." The new single is a lush and epic mixture of indie rock and pop. It starts off quite quietly and stripped down, with just Camille's vocals and guitar. It slowly builds into a huge explosion of a song. While many of her peers are releasing slow build songs in the indie rock/pop worlds, "sit with you (pain)" is far noisier than most of those are, building into a squealing wall of noise while still keeping the song's melodies intact. Something tells me we're going to end up huge fans of Jahnah Camille.
Jahnah Camille says that her latest single “... is about cutting someone out of your life who you still care for deeply. All of your critiques and drawbacks are still secondary for the love that you have. I wanted to make a habit of doing things that were good for me even if they hurt.”
You can watch the video for "sit with you (pain)" below. My sunny oath! is due out June 13 on Winspear, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Jahnah Camille, check out the artist on Instagram and Twitter. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
When "Stone," the latest single from Cruel Miracle starts, you'd be forgiven for assuming it's going to be your standard alt-rock track. However, the Boston band quickly veers off in an unexpected direction for those of us unfamiliar with them. "Stone" is a hard rock track overall, but the band add in these unexpected little flourishes throughout. As heavy as the song is, there are elements that almost make the song a dance track, or even a little jazz maybe? Cruel Miracle have made a song that rocks as hard as it grooves, and thrown in some absolutely killer riffs for good measure. This one is a lot of fun for those times you just want to rock out.
Cruel Miracle say of their latest single/video:
“‘Stone’ is a story about perseverance – staying strong while remaining true to yourself. In typical Cruel Miracle fashion, one of us brought some riffs and then we all worked on the structure and arrangements. This was first created as a post-pandemic tune, so the feel was based on the struggles of the time and the battle against our personal demons.”
You can watch the video for "Stone" below. Steadfast is out now and is available through Bandcamp. For more on Cruel Miracle, check out the band's website.
Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum) has her new album due out Friday, but if you're as excited for it as we are, you're going to want to hear another new song while we wait. Luckily, she just released one last single, "Event of a Fire." This new song is an alt-pop/indie rock power ballad that blurs the line between rock and pop. The song starts off quietly and slowly builds to a much louder and explosive song. It's somehow Blondshell's most pop and rock song recorded so far. "Event of a Fire" was written while Teitelbaum was burnt out from touring and after a 4:00 a.m. hotel fire alarm evacuation outside of Boston. Just when we think we couldn't be more excited for her new album on Friday...
Sabrina Teitelbaum says of her latest single:
“It’s not really ‘what if I’m burnt out from touring. It’s like, ‘what if I’m burnt out from just existing?’”
You can watch the video for "Event of a Fire" below. If You Asked for a Picture is due out May 2 on Partisan Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Blondshell, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include a June 19 show at Royale in Boston.
5/2/25 - Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever (Album Release show) - Los Angeles, CA # SOLD OUT
5/6/25 - Amoeba Hollywood - Los Angeles, CA - FREE stripped-down show
5/28/25 – Belly Up Tavern – San Diego, CA ^
5/30/25 – The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA ^ SOLD OUT
5/31/25 – August Hall – San Francisco, CA ^
6/2/25 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR ^
6/3/25 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA ^
6/6/25 – Soundwell – Salt Lake City, UT ^
6/8/25 – Gothic Theatre – Denver, CO (Venue Upgrade) ^
I love a good ghost story, and the latest from Sister Wives tells a great one. Sung in Donna Lee's native Welsh, "YnCanu" tells the story of the ghost of the Wylfa Power Station. The spirit is thought to be a New Zealand opera singer named Rosina who you can hear singing throughout the station. The song is a powerfully heavy and sludgy track. "YnCanu" may not be metal, but it is certainly metal adjacent. It's a more melodic version of a band like the Melvins, and is a master class in the loud/quiet/loud thing. Plus, the song, particularly the vocals, have a spooky undertone that I'm finding irresistible.
Sister Wives say of their latest single:
"YnCanu is a haunting ballad that weaves together the eerie folklore of ‘Madam Wen’ or ‘White Lady’, a spectral figure forever tied to the rugged cliffs and crashing seas near Cemaes and the imposing Wylfa nuclear power station. The song tells the tragic tale of a woman who either met her untimely death from the cliffs or now wanders, endlessly searching for a lost love.
"In its melodies, we wanted to capture ttwo parts of the tale: the tension between the relentless power of the nuclear station and the tranquil beauty of the surrounding landscape, mirroring the delicate balance between life and death."
You can listen to "YnCanu" below. The single is out now on Libertino Records. For more on Sister Wives, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook.
I've been loving the darkwave music coming from Boston's Ex-Hyena ever since we discovered them in 2022. The duo have sounded like no one else in the city for the past three years, and while their music is typically dark and brooding, their latest single sees them moving in a different direction. "Vanishing Edge" is the fastest and most dance friendly song they've released so far. As dark as it is, it's still a club friendly dance song, and a banger, as the kids say. This one is reminding me of late 80's club tracks, especially from an artist like Depeche Mode or Pet Shop Boys. "Vanishing Edge" is making me look forward to getting out to see Ex-Hyena again, hopefully sooner than later.
You can listen to "Vanishing Edge" below. XX YOUR LOVE is due out this summer on Re:Mission Entertainment. For more on Ex-Hyena, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram.
Every song Ezra Furman releases is completely unique and while they're related to each other, they all have their own sound. Her latest single, "Power of the Moon," is based in 60's pop and psychedelia, but in Furman's own original way. The guitar might be my favorite part of the song. It has such a 60's garage rock sound to it that fits in perfectly with Furman's vocals and the overall groovy sound to the song. The song also has an oddly disjointed quality making it so that it's not a throwback song at all. It has a completely modern sound, with only its roots being in the past. "Power of the Moon" is such an interesting blend of garage rock, power pop, psychedelic rock, and indie rock that I can't imagine this one not winning over any listener.
Ezra Furman says of her latest single:
“I took over five years writing this song. I’m not saying that makes it good, but it does mean that it means a lot to me. It’s another in my series of songs that make sweeping declarations about 'the human mind' (cf. 'Ordinary Life,' 'Poor Girl A Long Way From Heaven').
"The lyric is me taking on a problem I’ve had all my life: I believe in God and I can’t explain why to anyone; I don’t even understand it myself. I have no evidence, no argument and no doubt. I think it might just be the kind of brain that I have, one with a need to 'take the frame from the painting / and let the colors bleed out into the room.' I love a diffuse God, one who is everywhere, underlying everything, and who absolutely does not fit into my little consciousness with all its rational rules. My God makes no sense. That’s one thing I love about her. That’s how I know she’s much bigger than anything we could have invented.
"When things stop making sense, that’s when the world of night has its hooks in you. That’s when the moon takes over. You wake up one day and you realize you can never really understand anything, and then you’re into the poetic, under the power of the moon.
"This spirituality of mine has, annoyingly, not alleviated the existentialist nausea I’ve always felt. I’m overwhelmed by this God-haunted world. The train is on its way to flatten you. The blues come around to devastate you. But I find myself enjoying this nauseous life anyway. Especially when we get a good drum machine going and Jorgen plays a hypnotic bass line and then Sam and Ben come in with their perfect parts and existence feels like a real cool time.
"Amazingly, somewhere within me I believed that this could add up to a hit song. God, what’s my problem?”
You can watch the video for "Power of the Moon" below. Goodnight Small Head is due out May 16 on Bella Union, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Ezra Furman, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
7/8: Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
7/9: St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam
7/10: Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s Live Music
7/13: Indianapolis, IN @ Turntable
7/14: Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
7/15: Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
7/16: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
7/17: Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
8/3: San Diego, CA @ Music Box
8/5: Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
8/6: Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe’s Alley
8/7: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
One of the nice things about The Town and The City Festival is that the music starts early in the afternoon on Saturday, which leads to more music. There were many great choices throughout the day, but I decided to stay put at Thirsty First for the triple bill of The Chelsea Curve, Girl with a Hawk, and The Deluxe Fiasco.
I arrived at Thirsty First just as The Deluxe Fiasco was starting their set. I was completely unfamiliar with them but was pleasantly surprised to see that they are led by Scott Matthew Pittman, who I've seen play with many other bands. The band has that ramshackle folk sound we tend to like around here, equal parts polished and rough, and included so many members that Pittman was set up next to the stage in the doorway. A highlight was when the band passed around lyrics to their brand new single, "Art is the Handmaid of Human Good," for a sing-a-long. They referred to the song as the "national anthem of Lowell," which was perfect for this festival.
Up next was Girl with a Hawk, who I've been meaning to get around to seeing. Their blend of indie pop rock meets indie rock was the perfect bridge between the other two bands, and was truly a treat to see live. They kept the theme of bands playing both loose and tight going. Some of their songs have an almost folk and country sound, and others like the Justine Covault tribute "Feel Me" have a garage rock meets New Wave sound. As much as I've liked their recorded singles, live Girl with a Hawk is a completely different animal and were a highlight of the weekend.
Closing out the afternoon set was The Chelsea Curve. They opened their set with a cover of Republica's almost forgotten classic "Ready to Go." It set the mood for the rest of their set, as their sound is a mixture of garage rock, mod, and Britpop. I've been lucky enough to see them a few times, and they've always been the highlight of the night each time. It's an upbeat style of rock and roll that was perfect for the afternoon crowd at Thirsty First. There's no pretention with The Chelsea Curve or their music. It's just about the music and having fun, and sometimes that's what you need from music, especially live.
Buckle up and get ready for this one... Boston alt-rock legends Orbit have released their first new music in twenty-five years! "Daylight" is going to give all of us that were into the Boston music scene back in the 90's some serious flashbacks. Boston 90's alt-rock had a certain sound that was both gritty and melodic, and "Daylight" nails that. Orbit are a band that have been sporadically active this century, and as evident by this new song, they have not missed a step. Interestingly enough, this one is a little more discordant and noisy than their classics, but that will never be something we complain about. Welcome back, Orbit. We're thrilled to hear what you have planned next.
You can listen to "Daylight" below. For more on Orbit, check out the band's website. If you're free on Friday May 30, they'll be playing a show at Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater with Eldridge Rodriguez and Harris.
We've been heartily on the bandwagon of The Beths for a while now, and adore their version of pop-focused indie rock. They're back with new music, and while "Metal" continues with everything we love about the New Zealand band, it also sees them branching out in a different sonic direction. The new songs sees them fully diving into the world of jangle pop, but with an interesting little folk-adjacent twist. The song is completely endearing, and is sure to win over any stray fans they may not have captured yet. Despite how jangly the song is, there is something organic about the song that keeps "Metal" almost landing in the roots music category. Plus, Elizabeth Stokes' vocals and harmonizing have never sounded better than they do here.
Elizabeth Stokes says of her band's latest single:
“In some ways ‘Metal’ is a song about being alive and existing in a human body. That is something I have been acutely aware of in the last few years, where I have been on what one might call a ‘health journey’. For parts of the last few years, I kind of felt like my body was a vehicle that had carried me pretty well thus far but was breaking down, something I had little to no control over. All of the steps in the Rube Goldberg machine of life are so unlikely, and yet here we are in it. I have a hunger and a curiosity for learning about the world around me, and for learning about myself. And despite all the ways that my body feels like a broken machine, I still marvel at the complexity of such a machine.
“I can hold that knowledge in one hand, and yet with the other hand I can point to my reflection and just be like ‘you are shit’. Or ‘ugly’. Or ‘worthless’. I can reliably respond to any suggestion that I might be able to achieve any small thing with ‘no’. And these are variations of the ‘short word’ referenced in the song.”
You can watch the video for "Metal" below. The single is out today on ANTI-. For more on The Beths, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below and include a December 2 show at Royale in Boston and December 3 at Fete Music Hall in Providence.
Thu. Sept. 18 - Dublin, IE @ Button Factory Sat. Sept. 20 - Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall Sun. Sept. 21 - Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 TV Studio Mon. Sept. 22 - Leeds, UK @ Project House Wed. Sept. 24 - Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy Thu. Sept. 25 - Birmingham, UK @ XOYO Fri. Sept. 26 - London, UK @ Roundhouse Sat. Sept. 27 - Brighton, UK @ CHALK Mon. Sept. 29 - Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix Tue. Sept. 30 - Paris, FR @ Le Trabendo Wed. Oct. 1 - Brussels, BE @ Botanique Fri. Oct. 3 - Cologne, DE @ Kantine Sat. Oct. 4 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Sun. Oct. 5 - Hamburg, DE @ Krust Tue. Oct. 7 - Stockholm, SE @ Slaktkyrkan Wed. Oct. 8 Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Scene Thu. Oct. 9 - Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset Sat. Oct. 11 - Berlin, DE @ Lido Sun. Oct. 12 - Munich, DE @ Strom Mon. Oct. 13 - Zurich, CH @ Plaza Wed. Oct. 15 - Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz 2 Thu. Oct. 16 - Madrid, ES @ Nazca Fri. Oct. 17 - Lisbon, PT @ LAV Thu. Oct. 30 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel* Fri. Oct. 31 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse * Sat. Nov 1 - Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl * Mon. Nov. 3 - Dallas, TX @ The Studio At The Bomb Factory * Tue. Nov. 4 - Austin, TX @ Emo's * Thu. Nov. 6 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren * Fri. Nov. 7 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern * ^ Sat. Nov. 8 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore * Wed. Nov. 12 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades * Fri. Nov. 14 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom * Sat. Nov. 15 - Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre * Sun. Nov. 16 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom * Tue. Nov. 18 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall * Wed. Nov. 19 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre * Fri. Nov. 21 - Kansas City, MO @ The Truman * Sat. Nov. 22 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre * Sun. Nov. 23 - Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed (Indoor) * + Tue. Nov 25 - Cleveland, OH @ Globe Iron * Wed. Nov. 26 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre * Fri. Nov. 28 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall * Sat. Nov. 29 - Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre * Tue. Dec. 2 - Boston, MA @ Royale * Wed. Dec. 3 - Providence, RI @ Fete Music Hall * Fri. Dec. 5 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount * # Sat. Dec. 6 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer * Tue. Dec. 9 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club *
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