Live Shows: Whitney and Folk Bitch Trio, The Stone Church, Brattleboro, VT 8/6/25

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Folk Bitch Trio (Photo by Copper Taylor-Bogaars)

I've been fairly obsessed with Folk Bitch Trio ever since I first heard "God's a Different Sword" back in August of last year. Their take on traditional folk meets pop folk is perfect for me, and I've been listening to the quite excellent Now Would Be a Good Time on repeat since it was released last month. Since they're Australian, I assumed I might never get to see them, since there are a slew of Australian bands I adore that never make it to the US, especially now. I was thrilled to see that they would be joining Whitney on their tour, which included a stop at The Stone Church in Brattleboro, VT, a venue I've been wanting to check out for years.

Making their first ever appearance in Brattleboro, Whitney packed The Stone Church with die hard and excited fans, many of which made the two hour drive down from Burlington, VT. They're a band I've been meaning to check out, and they certainly did not disappoint. The Chicago band play a unique version of folk rock meets soul meets soft rock that had the all ages crowd rapt throughout. And it was certainly an all ages crowd, ranging from college if not high school aged kids to retirees. Playing as six piece including a horn player, Whitney were able to play a career spanning set since they weren't on tour to promote a new album. It was a solid set and a great live show, and a perfect introduction to a band I'm far too unfamiliar with. 

But... the main reason I made the trek up to Vermont was Folk Bitch Trio, who put on one of the best shows I've seen this year. Their stripped down folk set up was perfect for the inside of an old church, and allowed them to truly bring a dramatic side to their performance. All three members took turns on lead vocals, and their harmonies were outstanding. For a set that never deviated from an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, and vocals, they had an incredibly lush sound which led the crowd to listen in complete silence during their set. Songs like "Hotel TV" and "God's a Different Sword" were intensely captivating live. My prediction for next year is that Folk Bitch Trio returns to the US (if foreigners are allowed to visit by then) and make the festival circuit which breaks them as superstars. You're going to want to check them out this time around before they outgrow venues as small and magical as The Stone Church.

On Repeat...

Live Shows: Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, Eight Foot Manchild, and Lovina Falls, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 7/12/25

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One of my favorite things is going to see a diverse live bill. Anyone can put together a show with three pop punk bands on it, but it's a challenge (and far more interesting) to put three unique bands on the same show and have it work out perfectly. Saturday night at The Sinclair saw the steamcrunk of Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, doombrass heroes Eight Foot Manchild, and the baroque pop of Lovina Falls, and it was perfect. Opening the show was Lovina Falls, the current musical project of Valerie Forgione of Mistle Thrush. This was my third or fourth time seeing them in just a few months, and I'm still entertained every time. It's been interesting to watch Lovina Falls adjust and discover their sound over the past two or so years, and I think they've nailed their current sound down. It's an engaging blend of the baroque pop they started out with mixed with a more rock based sound. Songs like "Ellery Way" and "Vaulted" continue to ...
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Die Spitz - "Throw Yourself to the Sword"

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Photo by Anatheme Austin's Die Spitz have a sound that I'm shocked we haven't heard much of yet. Their latest single, "Throw Yourself to the Sword," has guitars that are both grunge and metal, and includes the intensity of riot grrrl adjacent bands like The Gits and L7. The guitars both chug along and thrash about, and it's reminding me of a more aggressive version of Castle Rat. "Throw Yourself to the Sword" is a giant, monster of a song that is going to demand that you headbang along, or at least throw up some devil horns. I'm not completely sure I'd classify Die Spitz as metal, but they're very close to metal. And grunge. And punk. This might be the one band that can unite fans of all forms of heavy music. Ellie Livingston says of her band's latest single: “‘Throw Yourself to the Sword’ is a high-energy ode to what we want young people to feel. There’s a lot of existentialism and despair in other songs on the album that still sheat...
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Brennan Leigh - "Dumpster Diving"

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Photo by Lyza Renee Brennan Leigh has quickly become a favorite of ours, with her take on a classic country sound with a slight sense of humor. Her latest single, "Dumpster Diving," which she describes as a "trashy little tune," is everything we love about the musician. It's a vintage style country song that comes in at a punk like one minute, forty-eight seconds. With a chorus of "Dumpster diving, this ain't gonna last / Dumpster diving, 'cause baby you like trash..." how can you possibly resist. Leigh's latest gives us a decades old sound with modern sensibilities and her fantastic voice that's tailor made for this genre of music. It's almost like a collaboration between Loretta Lynn and Shel Silverstein, and who doesn't want to hear that? You can hear "Dumpster Diving" below. Don't You Ever Give Up On Love  is due out October 3 on Signature Sounds, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Brennan Leigh,...
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