The latest single from Chicago's Ratboys is their most country song of all of their recent singles. One thing we've always loved about the band is how they meld indie rock with country, so "Morning Zoo" feels almost like a back to basics for them. Of course, Ratboys were never quite a country band, and this certainly isn't a straight up country song. It's on the edge of the mainstream side of indie rock with country influences and a slight twang. The guitar work in "Morning Zoo" will instantly suck you in, and Julia Steiner's vocals and lyrics will keep you enthralled.
Julia Steiner says of the new single:
“The lyrics are meant to express the frustration and confusion that comes along with hanging out at a personal crossroads, where every day feels the same and the same big questions keep nagging at you from the back of your head. It’s that small, lingering feeling of numb indecision, of pesky anxiety- like disassociating at a stop sign or weighing all your biggest hopes and fears while stuck behind the longest freight train you’ve ever seen.”
You can listen to "Morning Zoo" below. The Window is due out August 25 via Topshelf Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Ratboys, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Wed. Aug. 23 - Chicago, IL @ Big Kids - Listening Party Fri. Aug. 25 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern - SOLD OUT Thu. Sep. 21 - Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Festival Fri. Sep. 22 - Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe * Sat. Sep. 23 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd * Tue. Sep. 26 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s * Wed. Sep. 27 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom * Thu. Sep. 28 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall * Fri. Sep. 29 - Montreal, QC @ POP Montreal ^ Sat. Sep. 30 - Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern ^ Mon. Oct. 2 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Bottlerocket Social Hall * Tue. Oct. 3 - Cleveland, OH @ No Class * Wed. Oct. 4 - Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag * Fri. Oct. 6 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club * Sat. Oct. 7 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee * Thu. Oct. 19 - Omaha, NE @ Reverb & Sat. Oct. 21 - Denver, CO @ Globe Hall & Sun. Oct. 22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court & Tue. Oct. 24 - Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s & Wed. Oct. 25 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios & Fri. Oct. 27 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord & Sat. Oct. 28 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Highland Park & Sun. Oct. 29 - San Diego, CA @ The Loft at UC San Diego & Mon. Oct. 30 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room & Tue. Oct. 31 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar & Thu. Nov. 2 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger & Fri. Nov. 3 - Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage & Sat. Nov. 4 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada & Mon. Nov. 13 Brighton, UK @ Zahara Wed. Nov. 15 Glasgow, UK @ Hug & Pint Thu. Nov. 16 Manchester, UK @ YES Basement Fri. Nov. 17. Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade Sun. Nov. 19 London, UK @ Omeara Mon. Nov. 20 Paris, FR @ L’International Tue. Nov. 21 Antwerp, BE @ Bouckenborgh Wed. Nov. 22 Utrecht, NL @ Ekko Thu. Nov. 23 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Fri. Nov. 24 Cologne, DE @ Yard Club Sat. Nov. 25 Hamburg, DE @ Nochtwache Sun. Nov. 26 Copenhagen, DK @ Vega Tue. Nov. 28 Berlin, DE @ Privatclub Thu. Nov. 30 Darmstadt, DE @ Oetinger Villa Fri. Dec. 22 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall • * =w/ Free Range & =w/ Another Michael ^ =w/ Ellis • =w/ Disq
Photo by Sultana Garritano Brooklyn's DJ Haram has a new single out that shows off her trademark boom bap sprinkled with Middle Eastern instrumentation sound. "Fishnets" features verses from Bbymutha, SHA RAY, and August Fanon, and has an intense and almost menacing vibe, despite being an absolute banger of a track. It's hypnotic and immediately grabs your attention, and if you're unfamiliar with the trio of rappers on the song, you're sure to start pulling up their bodies of work. "Fishnets" is one of those songs that just feels cool and makes you need to hear more from all of the artists involved. DJ Haram says of her latest single: "‘Fishnets’ is for the eclectic bad bitches. The people united will never be defeated." You can listen to "Fishnets" below. Beside Myself is due out July 18 on Hyperdub, and is available for pre-order here . For more on DJ Haram, check out the artist on Instagram and Twitter . Upcoming tour dates a...
Photo by Gareth Jones I've been a huge fan of The Lemonheads for over thirty years now, but that fandom doesn't make me gush over everything Evan Dando releases. If anything, it makes me more critical of his releases, so if I think something he releases is great, it's definitely not clouded by fandom. Today, The Lemonheads released a new single, and it's truly great. "In the Margin" doesn't exactly fit into the band's previous forty or so years of music. It's not a rehash of their 90's alt-rock/bubblegrunge, or their earlier more punk albums. This new single is a straight up riff-heavy rock song with The Lemonheads' trademark twang. It's a little grunge, it's a little punk, and it's a little country. "In the Margin" fits in with Dando's decades of music while seeing him moving in a slightly different direction, and helping to reinvigorate his sound. Evan Dando says of his latest single: “I wanted to have a riffy so...
Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
