independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
As quickly as things had begun in Louisville, they were coming to an end with day three of Forecastle upon us. The festival grounds early on Sunday were already sweltering as we made our way to see Nashville indie pop favorites Coin, who had just begun their set on the Main Stage to a much-larger-than-I-had-expected... Continue Reading →
When I was a kid, my favorite movie was, hands down, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Sugar addictions aside, the fantastic world behind the factory’s fortified gates presented endless possibilities. Each area explored was more exciting than the last, and contained delicious diversions—served with a side of danger. Willy Wonka literally rolled out the... Continue Reading →
Australia-based pop artist Ben Hazlewood has unleashed the much-anticipated music video for his single "Sail Away"; the hazy video illustrates the product of a rum-filled night mixed with intense emotion, caused by a great loss, and features Hazelwood's signature arena-sized vocals dripping with intensity and oozing emotion. 'Sail Away' is the second release from Hazlewood's 5-track EP EOS; "The video for 'Sail... Continue Reading →
In 2015, Bryan Akcasu, the creative force by alt-pop project Two Cheers (and pizza chef extraordinaire), was in transition. In the midst of releasing a brilliant sophomore album, Splendor, the Los Angeles-based Akcasu packed his bags, drove cross-country, and put his kickstand down in his home state of Michigan. After lineup changes, personal tragedy, and... Continue Reading →
Rising early on Friday morning, there was already an air of anticipation buzzing in the campsites. With a stellar Thursday of music still echoing in our heads, I carefully mapped out the schedule--even knowing that it was futile to plan too much at Bonnaroo. There's simply too much to see to be confined to a... Continue Reading →
At the risk of sounding cliché, the best word to describe Bonnaroo is “magical.” There are many ways people try to define what makes it so-- hugs, high-fives, and cool vibes are usually mentioned—but for factual proof, look no further than the hordes of people that flood The Farm each year in Manchester, Tennessee. The... Continue Reading →
“We never actually had music in our house growing up; my dad was a preacher, and it wasn’t allowed unless it was church music, and that music was terrible! I wasn’t exposed to good gospel or anything,” recalls New York City-based soulful songstress Arum Rae. “My parents got divorced around the time Paula Abdul was... Continue Reading →
The night was cool, but the vibes were psychedelic and warm--the fractured alt-pop beats of Motopony carried the last show of their tour into history at The Goodfoot in Portland Sunday night. After three openers roused the intimate crowd and riled them up for their headliner, Daniel Blue and his eclectic group stole the night;... Continue Reading →
It’s one thing for a band to perform for an audience—performing for an audience as a full band with gear in the cramped quarters at the front of an airplane at 35,000 feet in the air on its way from Nashville to Los Angeles is an entirely different animal altogether—just ask Nashville indie pop outfit... Continue Reading →
Nashville-based artist Adam Walton spent the majority of his youth on skateboards and playing in punk rock bands in North Carolina; in college he fell in love with the sounds and melodies of folk and mountain music. Now, under the moniker King Wilderness, Walton is crafting music that combines the energy of his younger days with... Continue Reading →
