If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Gum Country Considering how much we've loved The Courtneys here at If It's Too Loud..., it's safe to say we're going to want to hear any other musical projects its members put out. Gum Country (featuring Courtney Garvin) has released a second single off their upcoming debut album, and we're in. "Tennis (I Feel Ok)" is a synth heavy lo-fi track featuring fuzzy guitars. It's impossibly upbeat without being saccharine. It's a cheerful indie rock track, which can be a rarity, but is more than welcome right now. The sheer joy of the song reflects the subject matter. It's about Garvin discovering how much she loves tennis. As she says: "Kinda goofy, but in all honesty my relationship with tennis is so meaningful to me on a spiritual level. It’s my meditation practice. The game makes you present, you're repeating movements, and finding a rhythm. And it’s so creative. I think all athletes are artists. Plus you get to be outsid...

Photo by Gum Country Gum Country (which features Courtney Gavin of The Courtneys) describe themselves as "harsh twee." Listening to their debut single, "Somewhere," they're dead on with that description. "Somewhere" has the shimmering small sound of bands like Yo La Tengo and The Magnetic Fields, but also brings in these fuzzy, buzzsaw guitars you would never associate with this type of music. It creates this interesting and unique yet familiar sound. Courtney Gavin explains the song:  "I wrote 'Somewhere' a couple years after moving to LA. It's about leaving a place that you are comfortable in and landing in a strange new one, and discovering what parts of your identity remain and which were left behind. The first line I wrote was ' haven't felt this way in a while, I can't think straight can't hide my smile, i guess this is gonna be my life for a while ', and then it was just a process of unravelling that ...

Whenever a show I'm planning on attending gets cancelled, I always end up with a feeling of panic and a need to find another show to fill the void. After Jessica Lea Mayfield cancelled her tour and show this week at Great Scott, I started scouring the listings to see what else I could attend. Once I saw that blog favorite Weakened Friends had been added to the already tempting Monday night show for The Courtneys, I knew that would be the one.  This was my third time seeing Weakened Friends in a little over a year, and their live shows keep getting better. I wouldn't say it's because they're getting tighter as a band. They are a bit, but they're still just sloppy enough to be completely charming. "Miserable" and "Main Bitch" are still complete highlights of any set, with new song "Hate Mail" soon to be a much beloved addition, even without J Mascis on the live version. Weakened Friends seem to be having a blast when playing, particul...