Ekko Astral - "baethoven"

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Photo by John Lee

One thing I'll always listen to is any artist that comes out of the D.C. punk scene. The latest we've discovered is Ekko Astral. They take the sound of modern artists that combine dance and pop into punk like Mannequin Pussy and Model/Actriz, but through a D.C. lens. Just when you think you know what their latest single, "baethoven," is going to sound like, it cranks everything up multiple notches and bursts into fantastically noisy gang vocals. Ekko Astral are part of the newfangled punk movement that is as intense as possible while still having a sense of fun and enjoyment. And we're here for it.

Ekko Astral say of their new single and video:

"The moral of the song is in the lyrics: "There's nothing endless, there's no Frank Ocean / you should let me your classic love / I'll be your bae-thoven." The point is, there's nothing as perfectly clean and pristine as a Frank Ocean song in this world right now but there is our band - and there is you, the listener - and that's what you should love. Because that's what's here now and is here for you, the authentic self in all its glory."What this video is about is, have fun with your friends before all this ends. Because it will end. Soon. Life is short but it is long and beautiful and you have no time to waste. This will all end. It is so close to ending. It'll end in like a year or so. Maybe less. So do what you can to survive in this silly money system we're plagued with, take what cash you have and fight back by having as much fucking fun as fucking possible. Because fuck all that."

You can watch the video for "baethoven" below. The single is out now via Topshelf Records. For more on Ekko Astral, check out the band on Instagram and Twitter. 

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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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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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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