July Crowd – “Happy Ever (Afterthought)” (Song Premiere)

Adam Grundy Jul 2, 2024

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone an early listen to British Columbia pop-punk band, July Crowd, and their newest single called “Happy Ever (Afterthought).” July Crowd is Dom Walters (Vocals & Guitar), Niko Stivanakis (Bass), and Nic Faller (Drums), and their melodic pop-punk sound is perfect for fans of New Found Glory and The Story So Far. When asked about the latest track, Dom Walters shared, “”We wanted to write a song with bounce, with feel, with relatability. Musically, it’s somewhere between Lit’s 1999 A Place In The Sun and 2001 Smash Mouth. I think this song came together much more naturally than anything we’ve worked on before. It’s right in that pocket for us, that sweet spot between genres.” If you’re enjoying the early listen to July Crowd’s new single, please consider pre-saving the track here.

Adam Grundy Jun 28, 2024

The latest studio album from The Early November is a great encapsulation of all the styles, vibes, and feelings they have brought forth over their career. As front-man Ace Enders put it in an interview I conducted with the band, “It’s the exclamation point, versus the period, of where we are in our career.” It’s hard to not agree with this sentiment as The Early November features everything that the band has been known for, while still moving the needle forward in their creative process as this LP may just be their finest hour. From the crunchy opening chords of the Futures-esque “The Empress” to the tender acoustic guitar bliss of “It Will Always Be,” this record is filled with breathtaking moments from front-to-back that makes the journey for longtime fans of The Early November that much sweeter.

Adam Grundy Jun 27, 2024

Today I’m so excited to share with everyone an early listen to indie/power-punk band, Virginity, and their new album called Bad Jazz. The songs on Bad Jazz come from a place of musical tangents, digressions, and what-ifs. A place of realizing that sometimes your best ideas are the ones that started out as jokes. Bad Jazz is about going with your gut, taking the mistakes and running with them, and letting curiosity take the lead. It’s not necessarily an album about fun, but it sure sounds fun—and it sounds like it was fun to make. If you’re enjoying the early listen, please consider purchasing the new album here that will be released tomorrow via Smartpunk Records.

Adam Grundy Jun 27, 2024

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest single from Alternative band, Amarionette, called “Impossible.” The song features AJ Perdomo of The Dangerous Summer and the cool back-and-forth styles between the two vocalists really pays off here. Lead vocalist of Amarionette Issy Berry shared, “AJ Perdomo has always been high on our list of collaborations. We’d sent him a few ideas, but it was the original music of ‘Impossible’ that he ended up loving and things progressed from there.” If you’re enjoying the latest single from Amarionette, please consider supporting this talented band here.

Adam Grundy Jun 26, 2024

Today is a great day to get re-acquainted with The Disappearing Act, who are releasing their first taste of new music in nearly nine years with “Gun Barrel City.” The band is John Dufilho, Salim Nourallah, and Bob Blumenfeld, and on this great-sounding single they quickly show why they were meant to play music together. The new single comes from The Disappearing Act’s new LP, An Illusion, that will be released everywhere music is sold on September 27th. Nourallah shared about the new track, “‘Gun Barrel City’ is actually a real place in Texas. Unlike two other songs I have with Texas towns in the titles, ‘Terlingua’ and ‘See You in Marfa,’ I’ve never been to Gun Barrel City. I don’t even have any idea where in Texas it’s located. One morning, I asked a friend how he was doing, and he proclaimed he was, ‘Fed up and moving to Gun Barrel City!’ It struck me as being pretty hilarious, because I imagined Gun Barrel City being the opposite of a city. Later, I incorporated it into this song about leaving behind an unsatisfying life.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider supporting this artist here. I was also able to catch up with Salim Nourallah for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy Jun 21, 2024

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Lo Fi Ho Hum, who are releasing their debut single called “Never Been In Love.” On this heartfelt track, that brings to mind nostalgic riffs of Weezer and Fountains of Wayne, was written following years of romantic struggles from frontman Jacob Godbey. The band is rounded out by Adam Daugherty (Lead Guitar), Shiloh Daricek (Bass), and Maddi (Drums), and they quickly cement themselves as a key band to watch as this year unfolds. Keep an eye out for the band’s full debut album, Garage Pop, that will be released on August 2nd. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider supporting this talented band here.

Adam Grundy Jun 20, 2024

The ninth studio album from The Decemberists, titled As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, is a thrilling walk through the woods of indie-folk lore that firmly highlights the strengths of the band. The Decemberists recently wrapped a tour that acted as a teaser to the songs that would be on this LP, and the music found on this record translated extremely well to the live setting. The band has never been shy of expanding upon the roots of folk music by adding in rich context to their songs, creating unique characters, and telling vivid stories through their music. Truly the band’s first double album, this particular record puts all of their assets on full display in a marvelous accomplishment of artistic achievement, and it just may be the band’s finest, and most complete work of music to date.

Adam Grundy Jun 19, 2024

This past weekend, I was able to schedule an in-person interview with Snarls before their show at DC9 in Washington, D.C. The tour stop was during the band’s first headlining tour of their young career, and was in support of their critically acclaimed sophomore record, With Love. In this interview, I asked the band about key moments during the writing/recording process of their new album, the songs that are translating best to the live setting, and much more.

Adam Grundy Jun 19, 2024

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest single and video from psych rockers, Ghostkeeper, called “Lipstick.” “Lipstick” opens with a strangely inviting, other-wordly noise, a chirping, digitized cicada perhaps, before settling into a sultry drumbeat. The beat – as well as various other aspects of the production – betray an interest in sounds and rhythms from trap music, and the futuristic-sounding sonic architecture of contemporary R&B acts like FKA Twigs and Rosalía, but the song is grounded by the two singers, who each take a verse, their voices filtered through a pleasingly psychedelic lens. Ghostkeeper shared, “This song was conceived out of a sweet moment of romantic nostalgia: shared cigarettes outside of Broken City after a show, shooting our own Super 8 music videos, and a photo booth picture that remains in the breast pocket of my jean jacket that Sarah sent to me while away at art school in Halifax after our very first summer of love. Lipstick is dedicated to all you lovers out there.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider supporting this artist here. I was also able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy Jun 14, 2024

This past week, I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Ace Enders and Jeff Kummer of The Early November to discuss everything that went into the band’s new self-titled record that released today. In this interview, I asked the band about the creative process behind key tracks like “The Empress” and “The Fool,” their best memories of growing up through the Drive-Thru Records era of music, and what they’re most looking forward to on their upcoming tour.

Adam Grundy Jun 14, 2024

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest single and video from Alt Rock band, Gooseberry, called “Dying To Meet You.” The song comes from the band’s debut LP, All My Friends Are Cattle, out everywhere music is sold on September 6th. Band member Asa Daniels shared about the track, “For the breakdowns in this song, our producer (Colin Bryson) brought a tiny handheld distortion mic into the studio for me to scream into. And I screamed my head off. That was cathartic. Hopefully this song brings our fans catharsis. Or a sore throat.” If you’re enjoying the latest single/video from Gooseberry, please consider supporting this talented band here. I was also able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy Jun 13, 2024

It’s pretty amazing to think just how captivating Underoath were on their fourth studio album called They’re Only Chasing Safety. The album was first released on June 15, 2004 via Solid State Records and was produced by James Paul Wisner, and surprisingly enough, only had two official singles released from the set in “Reinventing Your Exit” and “It’s Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door.” The LP has since been certified Gold, and remains one of the most influential records in the emo/hardcore scene. After their third record, The Changing of Times, nearly half of the band members had changed for this “version” of the band, now considered to be the “classic” lineup. They’re Only Chasing Safety, to this day, remains an adrenaline shot to the ears with its mix of post-hardcore, emo, electronica, and punk rock. The album features a creative blend of clean/screamed vocals by Spencer Chamberlain and drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie, while the rest of the band members make their presence felt in several different spots on the record. They’re Only Chasing Safety, and their subsequent album of Define The Great Line, are consistently pointed to by fans of Underoath as their best work, and the band can look back on this 20th anniversary proudly knowing that they captured lightning in a bottle at just the right moment in time.

Adam Grundy Jun 11, 2024

”I went my own way and I made it” are the opening lyrics on Brat, the sixth studio album from Charli XCX, and they triumphantly back the pop artist’s claim of solidifying herself in the crowded genre. This record is filled with club ready anthems about falling in and out of love, while still leaving room for showcasing her vulnerable side as well. Coming off of the success of her fifth record, Crash, in addition to several key movie soundtrack contributions, it would’ve been easy for Charli XCX to simply just ride the popularity wave and not add anything new to her repertoire. Brat instead is a remarkable achievement in artistic freedom, and comes armed with frenetic beats, soaring hooks, and breakneck tempo changes. While pop music has changed quite a bit over the last half decade, the ability of Charli XCX to stand out from the pack remains her greatest asset.

Adam Grundy Jun 10, 2024

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest single from Alt Rock band, Wild Powwers, called “Spider Legs.” Wild Powwers singer/guitarist Lara Hilgemann, bassist Jordan Gomes, and drummer/singer Lupe Flores (who owns renowned Seattle restaurant “Lupe’s Situ Tacos”) have been banging out heavy, infectious, shimmering rock music together for 10 glorious years. On their fifth full length album, Pop Hits & Total Bummers Vol. 5, the band cultivates a collection of songs that lean in on both sides of the musical spectrum. Some are written to be catchy, and some are written to be massive bummers. They’d like to thank Seattle’s lack of sunshine for making it all possible. Hilgemann shared about the new single, “‘Spider Legs’ is about never being able to shake the feeling of someone or something. Like a phantom limb. It’s cut off from you for some reason or another but you can’t shake the feeling of its ghost.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider pre-ordering the band’s new LP, out everywhere on July 5th via Nadine Records, here.

Adam Grundy Jun 7, 2024

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the latest single from Psychic Graveyard called “Bellow’s Funeral Home.” When speaking on the new track, band member Nathan Joyner says, “The idea for ‘Bellow’s Funeral Home’ came to fruition in the early morning hours as the pot smoke dissipated from the room. It was one of those times when we followed the music instead of trying to manufacture an expected bombastic sound. We ventured into the world of our favorite German musical heroes, a territory we admired from afar but had never entered. Though it was a frightening exploration, it felt familiar because we enjoyed stepping out of our comfort zones. The finished product is a new place that strangely feels like home. We love it here.” If you’re ready to discover your next favorite band, Psychic Graveyard are here for you. The single is taken from their forthcoming LP, Wilting, and pre-orders are on-going here. I was also able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

July Crowd – “Happy Ever (Afterthought)” (Song Premiere)

Review: The Early November – The Early November

Virginity – “Bad Jazz” (Album Stream)

Amarionette ft. AJ Perdomo – “Impossible” (Song Premiere)

The Disappearing Act – “Gun Barrel City” (Video Premiere)

Lo Fi Ho Hum – “Never Been In Love” (Video Premiere)

Review: The Decemberists – As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Interview: Snarls

Ghostkeeper – “Lipstick” (Video Premiere)

Interview: The Early November

Gooseberry – “Dying To Meet You” (Video Premiere)

Review: Underoath – They’re Only Chasing Safety

Review: Charli XCX – Brat

Wild Powwers – “Spider Legs” (Song Premiere)

Psychic Graveyard – “Bellow’s Funeral Home” (Song Premiere)