independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
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 →
Big Apple-born and bred rocker Fiona Silver will release her debut album, Little Thunder, on June 23rd. Little Thunder is the hard-working free spirit’s first cohesive body of work, and features seven songs of smokey-voiced swagger and sass with a vintage sheen. “For this record, I was really drawn to the sounds of the 60s... 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 →
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 →
Rockaway Beach-based duo Lewis Del Mar, who exploded onto the scene in 2015 with their irresistible single "Loud(y)," will be performing at Nashville's own Exit/In on Thursday, May 11th. These two lifelong friends, Danny Miller and Max Harwood, inseparable creative companions filled with zeal and confidence, have been on a continual musical journey together, a DIY mission... Continue Reading →
At the ripe old age of 20, New York-by-way-of-Detroit-based songstress Blaire Alise is already a seasoned professional, in her fifth year of writing and recording as Blair Alise & The Bombshells, who just released a new album, My Eye, in February. “I started this album almost two years ago,” she says of My Eye, which... Continue Reading →
Carver Commodore represents not only the reincarnation and rebranding of roots rock outfit The Bear & The Bride, it signifies a complete metamorphosis. Situated in Florence, Alabama amidst the rich heritage of Southern rock and soul songwriting styles of Muscle Shoals, Carver Commodore blends those roots with shimmering guitar licks and pop sensibilities. The band... Continue Reading →
Tuscan, Arizona-based indie rock outfit Rival Shapes will release their new EP, Pull, on May 23rd, a follow-up to their 2016 release, Push. Pull is a collection of the darkest and most heart-wrenching songs from the Rival Shapes thus far, about the seeking, attainment, preservation, and loss of love. The band describes the EP as "a rainy day record. A stay... Continue Reading →
copper Central Canada, with its prairies and bitter winters, is not necessarily a scene where one would expect to encounter synthesizer-filled indie rock—but meet Close Talker from Saskatoon, the urban center of Saskatchewan, a band making pop rock waves in those grassy plains. “A lot of our friends make music suited for the prairies and for... Continue Reading →
From its opening build to its lingering final note, the latest offering from New York City indie rockers Born Cages sweeps us away on an synth-filled musical voyage. Exit Signs In A Burning Building is a delightfully symbiotic blend of frontman Vlad Holiday’s magical guitar work riding a wave of epic bass and keys from... Continue Reading →
