Gentlemen Rogues - "Francy"

Austin, TX's Gentlemen Rogues namecheck bands like Superdrag, Teenage Fanclub, Superchunk, The Replacements, Sugar, etc. in their press release, and once you hear their latest single you'll get why. "Francy" is that kind of punk infused guitar pop that is going to remind you immediately of their influences. This is top shelf energetic, straightforward indie rock. It sounds like a lost single from one of those five dollar CD compilations from the mid 90's, you know... the band you loved from that but never heard from again. If you even kind of like any of the previously mentioned bands, you owe it to yourself to become enamored with Gentlemen Rogues.

You can listen to "Francy" below. The song is available as a single now via Snappy Little Numbers. For more on Gentlemen Rogues, check out their Facebook and Bandcamp.

Gentlemen Rogues · Francy b/w I've Got a Match (They Might Be Giants cover)

Guy Capecelatro III - "Wake"

Back in 2005, Kittery, Maine's Guy Capecelatro III gathered thirty musicians in an old gymnasium and recorded an eighteen track album in three days. That album was released in 2012, but apparently there were another nineteen songs from that session, so a second album will be released later this month.

"Wake" is a one minute and seventeen seconds long song that sounds like modern folk despite being recorded almost twenty years ago. It's a quiet and reflective folk song that is too simple to be all that mainstream sounding. It's a song about those moments when your thoughts begin to wander into a dream just before you fall asleep. My only complaint with the song is the short length. Just as you're starting to truly lock in and get sucked in, it ends. Luckily we have an entire album coming next week.

You can watch the video for "Wake" below. Heading North Again is due out April 29 on Dromedary Records, and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp. For more on Guy Capecelatro III, check out the artist's Facebook.

The Venomous Pinks - "Apothecary Ailment"

Photo by Jack Grisham

Mesa, AZ's The Venomous Pinks are back with some of the most 90's punk you'll hear all year. "Apothecary Ailment" is the kind of song you would have heard back on the Warped Tour in the 90's. It's a heavy song, with driving guitars and drums along with screaming vocals, but there's also an unexpected melody and it's just starting to lean into poppy territory. It's the kind of fast and loud melodic punk bands like Pennywise and Bad Religion were just starting to creep into the mainstream with. This is really making me nostalgic for the summers of my college years.

Guitarist/vocalist Drea Doll says of the band's new single:

“‘Apothecary Ailment’ is a track about how consuming the cycle of addiction can be. I witnessed someone close to me struggle with severe addiction. It was a matter of life or death. The lyrics are a plea for them to choose life. I’ve had my own personal battles over the years, and facing one’s demons is never easy."

You can watch the video for "Apothecary Ailment" below. Vita Mors is due out June 3 on SBAM Records, and you can pre-save/pre-order a copy here. For more on The Venomous Pinks, check out the band's website.

The Fatal Flaw Cover Whitney Houston

Sometimes cover songs should be over the top. That is the case with The Fatal Flaw's cover of Whitey Houston's iconic "How Will I Know." While The Lemonheads went acoustic and a little country for their version many, many years ago, The Fatal Flaw go all in for the original's synth loving glory. This is a power pop version that adds some more guitar than Houston's but keeps all of the joy and pop. This is just taking a fun 80's classic and reveling in the fun.

You can watch the video for The Fatal Flaw's cover of "How Will I Know" below in all of its 80's worshipping glory. For more on The Fatal Flaw, check out the band's website.

Night Court - "Titanic"

Night Court started back in 2020 when friends Jiffy and Dave started emailing each other song ideas during lockdown. They began recording on a four track, and once they added Emilor on drums Night Court was fully formed. "Titanic" is a one minute 16 second song that is unbelievably catchy indie rock jam (with some punk edge) with abrasive yet endearing guitars. It's a wonderfully messy song that never quite gets too messy and keeps enough pop hooks to have you desperate for more. It's the rare just over one minute song that ends up being the absolute perfect length.

Dave Paterson says of the band's new song:

“The original idea was for the song to be about the titanic without any explicit reference to the name ‘titanic’ – a real one minute, 15 second mystery – but then we somehow ended up just naming the song “titanic” and thought that was stupid and funny so we went with it. This has the added benefit of ensuring it isn’t confused with the Edmund Fitzgerald or the S.S. Minnow.”

You can watch the video for "Titanic" below. Nervous Birds Too is due out May 6 via Snappy Little Numbers and Debt Offensive Records, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Night Court, check the band out on Twitter and Bandcamp.

Aunt Kelly - "Billboard Lady"

Photo by Georgia Smith

Aunt Kelly is the musical project of Chicago's Kelly Hanneman. Their new single, "Billboard Lady," is a charming and infectious power pop song that is heavy on piano. It's an impossibly upbeat love song that's an ode to Aunt Kelly's drummer Sarah Weddle. It's a huge song that could fit quite well in a stadium, and even sounds like it could come straight out of a (really cool) musical. It's the kind of indie rock meets piano pop sound that you hear in Ben Folds' best songs. 

Kelly Hanneman says of the songs on her band's upcoming album, which were started in 2019:

“Sometimes when you release something so long after you record it, you’re sick of the songs by the time they’re out. I’m excited to be putting this out, it feels great that we still love these songs years later.”

You can listen to "Billboard Lady" below. Remember is due out on June 10. For more on Aunt Kelly, check out the artist's Facebook.

Daniel Villarreal - "In/On"

Photo by Ariana Lebedev

I loved Dos Santos's 2021 album City of Mirrors, so I'm obviously going to give any member of that band's solo work a chance. Drummer Daniel Villarreal just released a new solo single, "In/On." It's an instrumental song that fans of Dos Santos are sure to love while still becoming its own thing with a unique sound. There are elements of traditional Latin music, but I don't think I could call "In/On" purely a Latin song. Villareal also includes funk and some indie rock to create this oddly cinematic song. This is a wonderfully compelling song that has us eager to hear more of what Villarreal is up to.

Daniel Villarreal describes his new song:

“... for me, the song is about how we are all IN and ON. As if we are about to start something so you walk in and turn an ON switch.  No one knows what's going to happen after that but we are all into it. We are all IN. I also think it’s a fun reference because in Spanish there is only one word - ‘en’ - for both of those English words ‘in’ and ‘on’.”

You can listen to "In/On" below. Panama 77 is due out May 20 on International Anthem, and can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp. For more on Daniel Villarreal, check out the artist's website.

The Surfrajettes Cover Blondie

We first discovered The Surfrajettes, "Toronto's premiere psychedelic instrumental surfing group," back in October with their cover of The Lancasters' Halloween classic "Satan's Holiday." Now they're back with another cover song. This time they take on Blondie's immortal "Heart of Glass." Yes, it's an instrumental surf rock cover, and yes, it's phenomenal. They take Blondie's 1978 disco/punk classic and make it sound even more vintage. This time it's a laid back groovy 1960's classic. And despite there being no lyrics, it's impossible not to recognize this one as "Heart of Glass." It's an absurdly fun cover of one of the greatest songs of all time.

You can listen to The Surfrajettes' cover of "Heart of Glass" below. Roller Fink is due out April 22 and can be pre-ordered over at Bandcamp. For more on The Surfrajettes, check out the band's website.

Peter Rowan featuring Shawn Camp - "The Song That Made Hank Williams Dance"

Peter Rowan is one of those artists that I'm not familiar with. I knew the name, but I can't place any of his songs. After hearing his latest single, I'm going to have to start going through six decades of his music right away. "The Song That Made Hank Williams Dance" is a duet with Shawn Camp, and this is just pure American roots music. It's a little bit country, a little bit bluegrass, and a little bit folk. Rowan is seventy-eight years old, but his voice doesn't betray that. While many of his contemporaries have voices that can be a bit of a challenge to listen to, Rowan still sounds fantastic. "The Song That Made Hank Williams Dance" is classic Americana.

You can listen to "The Song That Made Hank Williams Dance" below. Calling You from My Mountain is due out June 24 on Rebel Records, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Peter Rowan, check out the artist's website.

Brennen Leigh - "Obsessed with the West"

The latest from Brennen Leigh certainly doesn't sound like it's from 2022. "Obsessed with the West" sounds wonderfully vintage and timeless. There is a strong base in country and Americana, but the song also contains something else. Maybe it's Leigh's vocals, but "Obsessed with the West" sounds more like a Tin Pan Alley song about the West than an actual country and western song. It's not quite a showtune, but it's not exactly not a showtune, either. It's more like a very reserved song from a musical with some country leanings, and that certainly is not a bad thing.

In a press release, Brennen Leigh says of her new song:

"All the songs on this record are special to me, but this one is dearest to my heart. Ginny Mac came down to play accordion for us the day we recorded it. Her intro still chokes me up. I feel we caught that wistful spirit of the plains that isn’t always so easy to conjure. ‘Obsessed’ began as a love poem for that spacious region, which I decided to put to music later. It needed wings. The West is a hard locale, not necessarily beautiful to everyone, but it’s my favorite place."  

You can listen to "Obsessed with the West" below. The album Obsessed with the West is due out May 6 on Signature Sound Recordings, and can be pre-ordered over at Bandcamp. For more on Brennen Leigh, check out the artist's website.