independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
For a song about missed connections, "Talk To Me" by New York's Blonder is pure pop fun--from its slick beginning to its sizzling electronic-infused choruses, a listen to this tune is like riding in a top-down convertible down a streetlight-lined road on a hot night, when there's nothing in front of you except possibility. See,... Continue Reading →
Renowned violinist and purveyor of orchestral pop Kaoru Ishibashi, a.k.a. Kishi Bashi, has finally invited us to the party. This writer was first introduced to the brilliance of his musical prowess in his 2012 full length debut 151a, a glimpse into boundless creativity that was a “sight” for these ears to behold. With 151a, we... Continue Reading →
Nashville by-way-of Los Angeles indie folk artist Brandi Roe will release Another Kind of Fairy Tale, her forthcoming EP, which was recorded live in front of family and friends at Left Plus Right studio in East Nashville during what Roe calls "a magical evening of music and storytelling." Today, East of 8th is proud to premiere "Stop/Start", the... Continue Reading →
During this late summer evening, the first signs of autumn were evident in the Badger State’s capital. Citizens and visitors mingled, enjoying all that the city had to offer from fine eateries, university-chic coffee houses, and the interspersed taverns and bars of beautiful downtown Madison. On this night though, my focus was on local venue... Continue Reading →
Singer-songwriter Tanya Gallagher will release Virginia, a collection of seven songs recorded three years ago with friend Brandon Hoffman, on September 30th. "I had just moved to Vancouver and after recording them I felt that the songs were a bit too fresh to release immediately," she explains. "They needed time to breathe and settle a bit."... Continue Reading →
Two-time Grammy-nominated act and blog favorite hard rock outfit, Highly Suspect, has announced that they will release their sophomore LP, The Boy Who Died Wolf, via 300 Entertainment on November 18th. The album follows up 2015's Mister Asylum, home of their hit single "Lydia" (accompanied by an anxiety attack-inducing video). Since the release of Mister Asylum, the band has been on... Continue Reading →
Chicago-based alt-folk artist Ryley Walker is currently on tour supporting his newest album, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, out last month via Dead Oceans; the tour brings him to Nashville on Thursday, September 15th. Right away, I knew we were going to have a fun chat: He: “I hope you don’t mind if I... Continue Reading →
Los Angeles-based alt-rock outfit Allah-Las brought their sun-drenched vintage vibe to the Music City recently; they played their hearts out to a packed house at Exit/In, where eager Nashvillians were standing elbow to elbow to soak up their Southern California sound. Allah-Las released their latest album, Calico Review, the band’s third, on September 9th via Mexican Summer;... Continue Reading →
The highly-anticipated Communion Residency returns to The East Room on September 14th, showcasing up-and-coming talent across multiple genres for an unforgettable night of music discovery. The lineup includes Jonny P, The Wild Jays, Guthrie Brown, and Zoe Sky Jordan--and we have a pair of tickets to give away to a lucky winner! Nashville-by-way-of New York soul artist Jonny P has a sound... Continue Reading →
Who knew that the Utah desert was such fertile ground for epic pop rock? Iconic outfits like Imagine Dragons, as well as icons-in-the-making like The Moth & The Flame, formed in The Beehive State (yes, Utah’s nickname is The Beehive State), and alt-pop three-piece VanLadyLove has claimed a well-deserved spot on that list. “We were... Continue Reading →
