Scott Klopfenstein and Tahlena Chikami Cover Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

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I'm a little embarrassed to bring you all this one, but I just can't resist. But, if you're reading this after the headline you're apparently also onboard. Scott Klopfenstein of Littlest Man Band and Reel Big Fish has teamed with Bite Me Bambi's Tahlena Chikami for a cover of the immortal "Island in the Stream" by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. What's truly shocking/charming about this cover is that this isn't a ska cover of the soft rock classic but a completely faithful version. Is this a great song that is going to change your life? Probably not. But is it a ridiculously fun time? Definitely.

Tahlena Chikami explains how they came to cover "Islands in the Stream":

"You ever just blurt something out of your mouth and not really think it through? That’s how this cover of 'Islands in the Stream' came about. While streaming on Twitch, I just sort of said, 'Wouldn’t it be funny if Scott and I covered Islands in the Stream? We’ll dress up and everything. Hilarious!'. And the internet did what the internet does, it ran with it. Before we knew it, we were there singing it together on Scott’s stream."

You can watch the video for "Islands in the Stream" below, and I can't recommend actually watching it enough. This would have been an MTV Buzz Bin staple twenty five years ago. For more on Scott Klopfenstein, check out his website. For Tahlena Chikami, check out Bite Me Bambi's website.

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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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. ...
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The Freqs - "Witch"

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Photo via Facebook When you're a rock band from Salem, MA, you have to have at least one song about witchcraft. The Freqs have fulfilled their obligation with a banger of a song. "Witch" is this giant monster of a song, filled with fuzz and strained, screaming vocals. This is the type of song that doesn't usually exist in this century. It's giving me some serious 90's flashbacks, like if Hum got aggressive or Alice in Chains decided to do some damage on the college charts. As great as the vocals are in "Witch," what's really drawing me in is the instrumental break down that takes over about halfway through. This is the kind of song to make the hipsters and the headbangers equally excited. You can listen to "Witch" below. For more on The Freqs, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . The Freqs · Witch
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Dutch ReBelle - "GOONIEZ"

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How is Dutch ReBelle not a national superstar at this point? The Boston MC just released "GOONIEZ," and I know I'm a bit out of touch with current mainstream hip hop, but this song is absolutely killer. It's a stripped down hip hop song that has this futuristic space age sound to it. Plus, ReBelle's flow is unsurpassed. You can't listen to her and not be completely sucked in. The song has a feel reminiscent of classic Missy Elliott. As much as I love that we can still see Dutch ReBelle in smaller Boston venues, "GOONIEZ" proves she should be playing much larger venues nationwide very, very soon. You can watch the video for "GOONIEZ" below. For more on Dutch ReBelle, check out the artist's website . 
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