Friday, January 31, 2025

Johnny Maraca & The Marockers - "Little Heart"


If you're anything like me, you're going to gravitate to anything that K Records puts out. The label has been legendary for decades, and even if one of their releases isn't life changing, it's at the very least going to be interesting. Enter the latest single from Johnny Maraca & The Marockers. "Little Heart" might not be sonically classic K Records, but it is in spirit. The band, led by Ian McDonnell (I know, I was also shocked it's a stage name), has released one of the most charming singles of the year. This is just pure rock and roll being done for the love of rock and roll. It's a high energy burst of a song, and it's just fun. Honestly, "Little Heart" might not work for you immediately. I know when I first started listening I thought it might not be great but it's at least interesting. After two and a half minutes, I thought it might actually be kinda good, so I restarted it. Turns out, Johnny Maraca & The Marockers are great.

You can watch the video for "Little Heart" below. Little Heart, the album, is due out APril 25 on K Records and Perennial Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Johnny Maraca & The Marockers, check out the band on Instagram.

Falsely Accused - Unbroken


Buckle yourself in before you start listening to the latest release from Falsely Accused. The Boston trio's latest EP, Unbroken, is a collection of five songs that are going to give you some serious 90's flashbacks without being throwbacks. The EP opens with "A Drink Before the War," which we compared to "... a less metal version of bands like Helmet and Quicksand." From there we go into "Castaway," which is just a straight up rock song. It's a heavy version of mid-tempo that reminds me of when grunge started to loosen its hold on the mainstream but the heaviness was still there. That seems to be the theme of the songs on Unbroken. It imagines a world where as grunge faded out, instead of being replaced by bubblegrunge a style as equally smooth as bubblegrunge but as heavy as grunge moved in. Falsely Accused are a rare brand of Boston band that seem to be doing their own thing without sounding like anyone else in town.

Matt Tavano (bass, lead vocals) says of his band's new EP:

“It’s been three years since our last record and to say we’re excited to get our new music out into the world would be an understatement. We worked hard to create a record with new ideas, new sounds and concepts, not just rehashing the same sound from [debut album] Compression. As we evolve, so must the music.”

You can listen to Unbroken below. The EP is out now digitally. For more on Falsely Accused, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram. If you're in the area, they'll be a release show at the excellent Thirsty First in Lowell with Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures and Adios Fatso.

Dead Pioneers - "PO$T AMERICAN"

Photo by Daniel Ulibarri

Dead Pioneers are quickly becoming one of my favorite punk bands. Despite being a little over two minutes, their latest single is an absolute punk epic. "PO$T AMERICAN" sounds like if Fugazi went metal, or if Rage Against the Machine went punk. It's filled with pounding drums and buzzing guitars over vocalist Gregg Deal's trademark spoken word. At a time when people are making TikToks using the same old thirty year old political songs, it's great to be reminded that killer protest songs are still being made every day. If you're ready for a new heavy sound filled with protest from this century, Dead Pioneers are perfect for you.

Gregg Deal says of his band's latest single:

"We, like many people in our communities, are incensed by the overt and jarring political and social moves of United States Politics. From the current administration to the administrations before it, there has been a trajectory in this country that has brought us to the critical moment we are all looking at. Our hope in this song is maybe, just maybe, we are saying something you feel tooI wrote this song on White people’s day of Independence, July 4, 2024. I wrote it sitting next to my oldest son while watching fireworks and having a discussion on what this day was supposed to mean. It went into a discussion of everything that was happening at that moment. Little did I know at the exact moment, that the relevant things would escalate, and become more stark. This was written to be scathing, honest, saying the quiet thing out loud. As we look upon the United States political landscape, this is very much how we feel."

You can watch the video for "PO$T AMERICAN" below. PO$T AMERICAN, the album, is due out April 11 on Hassle Records. For more on Dead Pioneers, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


4/14 - New Frontier Lounge - Tacoma, WA

4/16 - Clock Out Lounge - Seattle, WA

4/24 - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Hollywood, FL *

4/26 - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Hollywood, FL *

4/29 - State Farm Arena - Atlanta, GA *

5/1 - State Farm Arena - Atlanta, GA *

5/13 - Voodoo Daddy’s - Norwich, UK

5/14 - Downstairs @ The Dome - London, UK

5/16 - Poble Español - Barcelona, ES +

5/17 - Carroponte - Milan, IT +

5/18 - Koplex - Zurich, CH +

5/20 - Media Center - Ljubljana, SI +

5/21 - Arena - Vienna, AT +

5/23 - Gaswerk - Augsburg, DE +

5/24 - Berendrecht - Booswegske, BE +

5/25 - Schlachthof - Wiesbaden, DE +

5/27 - Live Music Hall - Cologne, DE +

5/28 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, NL +

5/29 - Docks - Hamburg, DE +

5/31 - Zitadelle Spandau - Berlin, DE +



* supporting Pearl Jam 

+Reconstruction Tour with Pennywise, Propagandhi, Comeback Kid

Other Brother Darryl - "Watch the Trees"

Photo by Pat Piasecki

The latest single from Boston alt-country supergroup (and 2024 Boston Music Award winner for Country Artist of the Year) is particularly special for the band. It's one of the few tracks they have that includes their late bandmember Dave Mirabella, who passed away in 2022. Even without that knowledge, "Watch the Trees" is a particularly nostalgic and mournful sounding song. This is cosmic country at its absolute finest. It's interesting to have a song virtually twang free be as solidly country as "Watch the Trees" is, but that's the power of Other Brother Darryl. This is a heartbreakingly beautiful and powerful track without being truly gloomy. The song grows more uplifting as it goes on. It may be centered on loss and melancholy, but it ends on a hopeful note.

Dan Nicklin says of his band's latest single:

"The idea of being a little kid in the back seat of the car and listening to music has been one I have been carrying around for years. As the song ‘Watch the Trees’ came together, the concept of being in a band and falling in love with music again developed. That image of being a little kid in the backseat of a smoky car, being wrapped up in music, watching the trees rush by, seemed perfect. I guess I was challenging the band to fall in love with music again as brothers."

You can listen to "Watch the Trees" below. Roll Shine Roll is due out February 28, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Other Brother Darryl, check out the band's website. If you're in or around the Boston area, be sure to head out to Lizard Lounge in Cambridge on March 8 for the release show.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Endation - "Simple Needs"


Boston's Endation makes the type of alt-rock you don't see a lot of these days. The trio's latest single, "Simple Needs," is a huge, anthemic alt-rock song, the sort of song that dominated modern rock radio in the mid-90's. The term "mainstream" is typically used in a derogatory way, but for "Simple Needs" we mean it as a compliment. It's a song that is both beautiful and abrasive at the same time, and if it had been released thirty or even twenty years ago, it could easily have crept from the Sunday night local radio shows into being a local hit. Sonically, while "Simple Needs" has a lot in common with 90's radio hits, it doesn't sound like a throwback. This is a current take on that style, and it's making me miss local rock radio where it should be thriving.

You can listen to "Simple Needs" below. For more on Endation, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

Uwade - "Call It a Draw"

Photo by Shervin Lainez

Uwade was born in Nigeria and raised in North Carolina. She grew up listening to hymnal choral music and Nigerian Highlife, and later studying Classics at Columbia and Oxford. Her debut single, "Call it a Draw," is an enchanting mixture of alt- and indie pop mixed with folk and soul. It has all the charm of an intimate bedroom recording but with full production. This is one of the most engaging singles we've brought you so far this year, and is one of the better chilled out dance songs you've heard in a while. Even if you typically bristle at any genre of pop music, you're going to find a lot to enjoy with "Call It a Draw." This is a great one.

Uwade says of her new single:

“Over the past few years I’ve been trying to experiment with my songwriting process a bit more, and this song is one of the fruits of that exploration. ‘Call It A Draw’ started with a drum loop, a chord progression, and a feeling of restlessness. The creation process was pure, playful, and visceral, relying less on structure and more on improvisation. This approach was really freeing and reflects the sense of release that I feel is central to the project as a whole.”

You can watch the video for "Call It a Draw" below. Florilegium is due out April 25 on Ehiose Records/Thirty Tigers, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Uwade, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


3/26/25 - London, UK @ The Forge

4/25/25 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right

5/03/25 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza

5/10/25 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas

5/15/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge

Julien Baker & TORRES - "Sylvia"

Photo by Ebru Yildiz

Much like many of you, a collaboration between Julien Baker and TORRES is kind of a dream come true for us at If It's Too Loud..., so we're thrilled to bring you a new song from their upcoming album. "Sylvia" is a TORRES sung track about adopting her dog. It's a modern country ballad in the best possible sense. It's twangy enough to be a full on country song without sounding anything like modern pop country or classic vintage country. "Sylvia" sounds like TORRES writing and performing a country ballad, and if you've been as big of a TORRES fan as we've been, it's something you never realized you needed as badly as you do. Much like their previous single "Sugar in the Tank," "Sylvia" makes us even more thrilled for the duo's upcoming album.

TORRES says of the new single:

“The morning I went to pick up my dog Sylvia from an upstate shelter, I was at home making my coffee and I turned on WFMU and Dolly Parton’s ‘Cracker Jack’ was on. I burst into tears—it felt like the universe was telling me she was going to be mine (Sylvia was only meant to be a foster). I remember thinking that I’d love to write a song like that, a song that people could feel in their chest within five seconds of turning on the radio, because anyone who has ever had the honor of sharing a home with a beloved pet knows that a pet is family—they’re the best friends you could ever have.”

You can watch the video for "Sylvia" below. Send a Prayer My Way is due out April 18 on Matador Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Julien Baker & TORRES, check out their website here

Momma - "I Want You (Fever)"

Photo by Jaxon Whittington

We adored Momma's 2022 album Household Name. The whole release had an amazing updated 90's alt-rock sound that hits multiple sweet spots of ours. Now the Brooklyn band is back with "I Want You (Fever)." If you liked their last album as much as we did, you're also going to love this new song. There's still that same 90's throwback sound in this new single, but Momma are adding in some extra dream pop elements. It's much faster than your typical dream pop song, and there are some more electronic elements added in. Last time we heard from Momma was 2023's standalone single "Bang Bang" which I compared to Veruca Salt meets Sneaker Pimps. If I'm going to play the comparison game with "I Want You (Fever)," I'm going to go with Belly meets Sneaker Pimps.

Momma says about their latest single:

“‘I Want You (Fever)’ is a song we wrote about wanting to be with someone who has a girlfriend, or someone who isn’t over their ex. It’s pining after someone, but there’s also some confidence knowing that that person wants to be with you. The second we wrote that song we felt like we were entering a new era - we scrapped everything we had written for the album up to that point because it felt so fresh and so exciting.”

You can watch the video for "I Want You (Fever)" below. Welcome to My Blue Sky will be out April 4 on Polyvinyl Record Co./Lucky Number, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Momma, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include a May 38 show at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA.


4/25 - Columbus, OH - Skully’s Music Diner ^

4/26 - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall ^

4/28 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West ^

4/29 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East ^

4/30 - Memphis, TN - Growlers ^

5/2 - Houston, TX - Last Concert Cafe ^ ! 

5/3 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips ^ !

5/4 - Austin, TX - Mohawk ^ !

5/6 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom

5/9 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre *

5/10 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall *

5/12 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater *

5/13 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret *

5/14 - Seattle, WA - Neumos *

5/16 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Block Party 

5/16 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge (KBP After Party) *

5/17 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater *

5/19 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line *

5/20 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall *

5/22 - Toronto, ON - Axis *

5/23 - Ottawa, ON - Club SAW *

5/24 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount *

5/28 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair *

5/29 - Washington, DC - The Atlantis *

5/30 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer *

5/31 - New York, NY - Warsaw *

06/04 - 08 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound

06/12 - 15 - Porto, PT - NOS Primavera Sound Festival

06/13 - London, UK - Outbreak Festival

06/14 - Manchester, UK - Outbreak Festival


^ with support from Brennan Wedl

! with support from On Being An Angel

* with support from Wishy

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

First Listen: New Releases for 24 January 2025

Artist: Benjamin Booker
Album: Lower
Quick Thoughts: Well, this was unexpected in all the best ways. We've been high on Benjamin Booker since he first hit our radar, and he kind of disappeared for a few years. What I don't think anyone saw coming was a raw, hip-hop beat-drenched return that feels immediate and prescient for These Times in particular. I initially thought that this may have been produced by Dave Fridmann of The Flaming Lips in terms of its drums and approach, to give a comparison of sorts. Either way, this is absolutely the best listen of the week and the first truly superior album of 2025. Don't miss it.
Songs of Note: "Black Opps," "LWA in the Trailer Park," "Rebecca Latimer Felton Takes a BBC," "New World," "Same Kind of Lonely"

Artist: Mogwai
Album: The Bad Fire
Quick Thoughts: Mogwai is fairly legendary for their brand of shoegazey post-rock, and The Bad Fire continues their basically unparalleled run as a band. It's loud, it's brash, it's got its share of melodic hooks, and I really enjoyed this album as a longtime fan. Give it a spin.
Songs of Note: "Hi Chaos," "What Kind of Mix is This," "Fanzine Made of Flesh," "18 Volcanoes," "Lion Rumpus"

Artist: FKA Twigs
Album: EUSEXUA
Quick Thoughts: FKA Twigs' latest album is a diversion from the sort of R&B deconstruction that she made her name in many music circles on. Is it more mainstream and accessible? Yes, for sure, and I was initially taken aback by the opening title track for its more direct nature. In as much as I got into FKA Twigs because of her more future-looking approach, it's not surprising that I'm drawn more to songs like "Drums of Death" here, but the album remains a solid listen and will perhaps give her the hits and popularity she's deserved all this time. Worth your time this week.
Songs of Note: "Eusexua," "Perfect Stranger," "Drums of Death," "Childlike Things"

Artist: ALT BLK ERA
Album: Rave Immortal
Quick Thoughts: This showed up on a release list and was put forward as a hip-hop/electronia hybrid, and it is reminiscent of a lot of those late 1990s acts, but also bands that tried (and often failed) to mesh the electronic taste of the moment with traditional alt-rock. ALT BLK ERA avoids this to a point by rooting their stylistic choice in a prior era, and while it can be a jolt to the senses from time to time, it also takes an approach that is really enjoyable and unique. Not quite retro, not like anything else - give it a listen.
Songs of Note: "Straight to Heart," "Crashing Parties," "Hunt You Down," "Come Fight Me For It," "Run Rabbit"

Artist: VUKOVI
Album: MY GOD HAS GOT A GUN
Quick Thoughts: New to me, but VUKOVI's fourth album is a snythy car crash of rage that worked so, so well for me. Didn't want to lose track of this one this week, but it has a bit of a modern nu-metal feel without giving you the impression that you're listening to some new incarnation of Limp Bizkit or early Paramore. It's a great listen, and worth your time.
Songs of Note: "MY GOD HAS GOT A GUN," "FUC KIT UP," "SNO," "PEEL"

Of note:

* Drew and Ellie Holcomb - Memory Bank (A great trad-country duet effort from the married roots couple.)
* Platinum Max - Worst Rapper Alive (AEW wrestler's rap debut album - if you didn't know he had bars before, you will now.)
* Songhoy Blues - Heritage
* Young Franco - It's Franky Baby!
* Midori Hirano and Brueder Selke - Split Scale
* Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, and Karine Polwart - Looking for the Thread
* Dax Riggs - 7 Songs For Spiders
* Laura Cahen - De l'autre cote
* Anna B Savage - You and I Are Earth
* Orchid Mantis - Rain Tape
* High. - Come Back Down
* David Greay - Dear Life
* DITZ - Never Exhale
* Oh the Humanity! - Ground to Dust
* Superfan - Forging Seasonal Signature With My Guitar
* Tunng - Love You All Over Again
* Dilettante - Life of the Party
* Charm School - DEBT FOREVER
* flipturn - Burnout Days
* Vanessa Amara - cafe LIFE
* Cecelia Castleman - Cecelia Castleman
* Avatarium - Between You, God, The Devil and The Dead
* Sam Amidon - Salt River
* The Veils - Asphodels
* Open Head - What Is Success
* Hell Nancy - American Singles

EPs:

* Joshua Idehen - Mum Does the Washing EP
* Jonus Eric - Diode
* Emily Mikesell and Kate Campbell Strauss - Give Way
* Cape Crush / Good June / Impossible Dog - Good Dogs Wear Capes
* horsegiirL - v.i.p. - very important pony

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* PET NEEDS - Kind of Acoustic
* Giorgio Moroder - Club Remixes Selection Vol. 7
* Ant - Collection of Sounds Vol. 3

Also out:

* Matt Berry - Heard Noises
* Gaxela - Blackout
* Milkreset - Mores
* Larkin Poe - Bloom

Hannah Maryse - "Oh Honey, No"

Photo by Adrian Hermes

Hannah Maryse is a British singer-songwriter who doesn't sound anything like an artist from England. On her debut single, "Oh Honey, No," Maryse sounds like a modern indie pop musician who just discovered a collection of Laurel Canyon hits from the 70's. The song has a wonderfully twangy take on psychedelic pop music revised to sound like it's from this century. "Oh Honey, No" is such an interesting and inventive take on a sound from fifty years ago updated for today. And then you add in what certainly sounds like banjo, and the song steps up it's own charm factor. Seriously, if you don't love Hannah Maryse after listening to her debut song, you may not be able to feel joy.

Hannah Maryse says of her new single and video:

"I wrote this after spiralling over and eventually accepting a parting of ways. We shot mostly in slow-mo on Cofette - this insanely desolate beach - to create a disoriented woozy feeling. For the chorus, we flipped it - filming fast then slowing down to capture the euphoria of letting go."

You can watch the video for "Oh Honey, No" below. For more on Hannah Maryse, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook.

Bad Mary - "Want What I Want"

Photo by Eric Sandstrom

Bad Mary is an "alternative-glam-punk band" out of Long Island, NY. They've collaborated on a new split 7" with fellow Long Islanders Mega Infinity and released a video for "Want What I Want." The song is a highly energetic song that lands in the realms of alternative, glam, and punk, plus they've added in some horns to make the song at least ska adjacent. This is a big punk song that leans into gritty rock and roll while still being a fun and pop hook filled track. Adding ska horns into a glam rock song is something you never knew you needed, but it may now become a musical obsession of ours.

David Henderson (guitar) says of the new song:

“I wrote this while crossing the street on my way to work. It’s about not caring what others think and doing what you want. Live life, be kind, and have fun.”

You can watch the video for "Want What I Want" below. Mega Bad Disaster Party is out now on Ska Punk International and can be ordered here. For more on Bad Mary, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

The Young Mothers - "Song for a Poet"

Photo by Malwina Witkowska

The Young Mothers are a Texas/Scandinavia musical project that formed during Ingebrigt Haker Flaten's time in Texas. He's back in Norway now, but the band continues on. Their latest single, "Song for a Poet," is an experimental song that cycles through multiple genres, but mostly settles in jazz. It's a ten minute epic that starts off with roughly three minutes of experimental noise more along the lines of Sonic Youth's SYR Records recordings. From there, the song meanders around in an experimental and freeform jazz style, occasionally allowing some hip hop and Afrobeat influences in, along with a smattering of indie rock. "Songs for a Poet" is certainly not going to be for everyone, and that's perfectly understandable. But if you perk up when you hear the terms experimental or free form jazz, The Young Mothers will most certainly be your style. There is a lot to take in with this one.

You can watch the video for "Song for a Poet" below. Better If You Let It is due out February 21 on Sonic Transmissions, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on The Young Mothers, check out Ingebrigt Haker Flaten's website.

Avery Friedman - "Flowers Fell"

Photo by Mamie Heldman

Brooklyn's Avery Friedman just released a new single that our readers are going to adore. "Flowers Fell" lands squarely in the genres of music we cover. It's equal parts indie rock, indie folk, and bedroom pop. It's a great mixture of a fully fleshed out sound while still having that intimate, bedroom recording vibe. The song is gorgeous and uplifting at times even with the feedback drone that comes in and out throughout the song. There's even an unexpected feedback heavy guitar solo towards the end that never feels out of place. "Flowers Fell" takes a lot of the styles we know and love and mixes them in such a way that Avery Friedman's latest feels completely fresh and new.

Avery Friedman says of her latest single:

“The opening melody for 'Flowers Fell' came to me on a headphone-less walk home one night down Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. I had noticed that the flowers that once lined the branches had been replaced by leaves -- seemingly in the blink of an eye. I was briefly disappointed until I considered that the petals had made way for something more sustainable – and equally full of life.  The song became a meditation on the concept of place – how things of our surroundings like ‘sidewalks,’ and ‘balconies’ and ‘trees,’ can act as fixed backdrops upon which we measure our personal evolutions (and the evolutions of our relationships) across the span of many seasons.”

You can listen to "Flowers Fell" below. New Thing is due out April 18 and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Avery Friedman, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Kicking Bird - "What Did You Expect (with Such a Beautiful Wife)"

Photo by Billy Logan Tudor

North Carolina's Kicking Bird floored us with 2023's Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The album had this amazing 60's and 90's retro sound that we loved, and reminded us of bands like Weezer and Fountains of Wayne. Now they're back with "What Did You Expect (with Such a Beautiful Wife)." This new song also has a 90's throwback sound, and while there are still some sonic references to bands like Weezer and Fountains of Wayne, I'm also getting a little of Lush's poppier side and Velocity Girl. It's a song that puts a little extra noise into dream pop with more of a DIY side than we'd normally associate with the genre. The new single is filled with swirling, slightly off guitars that's going to instantly suck a lot of our readers in.

You can listen to "What Did You Expect (with Such a Beautiful Wife)" below. 11 Short Fictions is due out April 4 on Fort Lowell Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Kicking Bird, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.


Dutch Interior - "Fourth Street"

Photo by Julien Sage

Based in Los Angeles County, Dutch Interior are set to release a new album, their first on Fat Possum. The first single off that album, "Fourth Street," is an absolutely killer blend of alt-country and indie rock. For that genre of music, this song lands somewhere in the middle of Wilco and Wednesday. It's not as loud as Wednesday can be, but it's not as mellow and Americana based as Wilco can be. As soon as the opening riff of "Fourth Street" hits, you'll know this is going to be a killer rock and roll song. It's equal parts twangy and equal parts grunge-y. We have some universal sweet spots here at If It's Too Loud..., and Dutch Interior are hitting a few of them for us.

Guitarist/vocalist Noah Kurtz says of the band's latest single:

“‘Fourth Street’ found its conception after a holiday trip visiting my parents. Starting off with a rambling recollection of feelings and personal anecdotes that come with living far away from loved ones, the song eventually builds to a chorus that’s about finding your footing on your own. Instrumentally, it was written with the intention of being a simple three-chord Americana rock song with a ratty, bubblegum chewing drum beat, whiny screaming lead guitar, and a cathartic a-rhythmic ending.” 

You can watch the video for "Fourth Street" below. Moneyball is due out March 21 on Fat Possum Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Dutch Interior, check out the band on Instagram. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


Fri. Feb. 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent %
Mon. Mar. 10 - Fri. Mar. 14 - Austin, TX @ SXSW
Sat. Mar. 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo*
Sun. Mar. 23 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill*
Tue. Mar. 25 - Seattle, WA @ Black Lodge*
Wed. Mar. 26 - Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret*
Thu. Mar. 27 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios*
Fri. Mar. 28 - Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival 
Sun. Apr. 6 - San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room^
Tue. Apr. 8 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge^
Thu. Apr. 10 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk^
Fri. Apr. 11 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger^
Sat. Apr. 12 - Houston, TX @ Wonky Power^
Sun. Apr. 13 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves^

% supporting Acetone
*supporting Frog
^supporting Lowertown

Wryn - "Snake"

Photo by Ian King

Wryn is an avant/folk singer-songwriter based out of Lompoc, CA. Their latest single, "Snake," is an intense track that pushes the boundaries of folk. The song is overflowing with anger, despite the beauty within the song. It's much louder than a standard folk song, and that's with much of the song only being Wryn's vocals and guitar. It's difficult to make a song with compelling and intense with such a minimalist take, but they pull it off on "Snake." It's all of the angst and aggression of a grunge song in a folk-adjacent package.

Wryn says thaty their latest single is:

“... a call to something older and deeper. It taps into my own personal experiences of not just systemic violence but the intimate and interpersonal kind. Having experienced assault in my past, this song was a way to transform my own pain into a call to action. ‘I can’t wait for an answer before I get free.’” 

You can watch the video for "Snake" below. Shapes is due out March 28 on Righteous Babe Records. For more on Wryn, check out the artist's website

Monday, January 27, 2025

Live Shows: Stereo MC's and Haasan Barclay, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 1/25/25

Photo by @mark.j.allen81

Nostalgia can be a weird thing. If you had asked me if I was a Stereo MC's fan, I would have said that I knew "Connected" but wasn't really a fan. When the British electro hip hop pioneers announced a short run of US dates, their first in twenty-four years, I instantly wanted to go. When I pulled them up on Spotify before the show, I was floored by how many of their songs I remembered and loved. I was prepared for a fun night of nostalgia, and thought the show would be okay to good.

I was wrong. Stereo MC's were phenomenal live. Even the songs I was unfamiliar with hit me with a sense of nostalgia, but even aside of the nostalgia factor, they were great. Somehow these songs that were well over thirty years old didn't sound dated at all. This is a band of people in their sixties, and they attacked the stage with an energy people a third of their age lack. The show was an absolute party, and if you only remember them from "Connected," you owe to it yourself to revisit their catalog. It's deep enough that it was played quite early in their set without affecting the show at all. Towards the end of the main set, the band broke out "Elevate My Mind" and "Step It Up" back to back, for an absolute highlight for me.

Part of the show being truly great was the crowd. An older crowd can be rough, especially on a Saturday night, as people can get swept up in trying to relive their high school or college days, especially with drinking. Nostalgia artists can be tough, too, as they can bring out those that only know and only want the big hits. That was not the case with Stereo MC's, who packed The Sinclair with die hard fans. I feel like I might have been the most casual fan of the night, as the crowd was just as excited for the deep cuts as they were for the hits. Of course, I was also swept up in songs I was less familiar with, which is just the power of Stereo MC's. If this short run of dates ends up leading to more, make sure you attend the closest show to you.

Haasan Barclay provided local support, and was the perfect choice. The Boston artist blurs the lines of genres he dabbles in. Performing with a guitar and a laptop, he started off in more of a singer-songwriter style, moved through more hip hop and drum and bass songs, and some he acted more as a DJ and danced across the stage while a song played. One song he introduced as a twerking song which was filled with Attitude Era wrestling references and discussed reparations. It's hard playing in front of an older crowd that's going to see a legacy band, but Haasan Barclay won over more than a few fans in attendance Saturday night.

Buenos Vampiros - "Puedo ver el mar en tus ojos"


Buenos Vampiros formed in Argentina in 2018. The band have a sound that combines post-punk, New Wave, and dream pop, as evidenced in their latest single, "Puedo ver el mar en tus ojos." The song is a complete epic despite its relatively short three minute length. As soon as it kicks in, you're met with a gorgeous wall of guitar that gently entwines you. The song slowly builds and noise and volume, becoming more and more engaging as it goes on. Even the quieter parks get more intense as the song progresses. The closest artist I can compare "Puedo ver el mar tus ojos" to is Catherine Wheel as it has that shoegaze goes heavier but more pop-focused alt-rock sound going for it. 

You can watch the video for "Puedo ver el mar en tus ojos" below. Entre sombras is due out March 20 on Spinda Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Buenos Vampiros, check out the artist on Instagram.

The Concrete Boys - "Uh Huh Yeah"

Photo by The Company Film

According to their press release, Denmark's The Concrete Boys are "... an offbeat project made up of madness, depravity and rock-like music." Their latest single, "Uh Huh Yeah," is a bizarre but instantly gripping song that has few lyrics other than the song's title repeated. It's just a fun song that combines garage punk and psychedelia with some late 90's artists that combined dance music with rock. I'm getting some odd Dandy Warhols vibes from "Uh Huh Yeah," especially from Dandys Rule OK. The other band that "Uh Huh Yeah" reminds me of is PowerSolo, which makes sense since it turns out that three members of The Concrete Boys are also in that band. To make the song even more appealing, it's introduced by German wrestling commentator Carsten Schaefer. This is as much fun as a song can possibly get.

You can watch the video for "Uh Huh Yeah" below. Everything's Better Than You is due out April 18 on Crunchy Frog Recordings, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on The Concrete Boys, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.