Ava Earl – “Ears Bleed” (Song Premiere)

Adam Grundy Jul 31, 2023

Today is a great day to introduce everyone to indie folk/pop artist, Ava Earl. On the second single from her new LP, Too Much (due out everywhere music is sold on September 15th), “Ears Bleed” tackles her personal topic of coming to terms with being deaf in her right ear. Earl shared, ““After going deaf in my right ear, I was left with emotions that took months to unravel, sort, and explain. Six months in, I thought I had come to a semblance of peace when this song tumbled out of me, surprising me with a pain that was still so palpable.” Ava Earl has found early success in her career by opening up for Maggie Rogers while she was still in high school, and has released four albums before she turned 18. With a sound that fits well within the realm of Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Phoebe Bridgers, Ava Earl might just be the next most important indie artist to arrive on the music scene. If you’re enjoying the early listen to “Ears Bleed,” you can pre-save it here.

Adam Grundy Jul 28, 2023

Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single and music video from rock band, OSEES, called “Stunner.” John Dwyer shared, “Matt Yoka came up with the idea of filming us playing the song in our rehearsal space with as many people as we could fit, and as many formats as he could stomach. Hi-vis on all the kids. Constricted & claustrophobic just as contemporary routines can be. Noise, obstacle and pointless spectacle. There is no escape!” If you’re enjoying this latest slab of rock, their forthcoming LP, Intercepted Message, will be released everywhere music is sold on August 18th via In The Red Records.

Adam Grundy Jul 27, 2023

Emo-infused alternative rock band, I Am The Pilot, are back with their first taste of new music in 16 years. On their latest single, called “Did You Feel It Too?”, the band channels their love of slick hooks paired with great-sounding guitars for a complete wall-of-sound approach to their music. The band is comprised of Todd Ross and Chad Gannon, and if you’re needing a reminder of their music style, it fits somewhere within the same vein as Bayside and Matchbook Romance. Lead vocalist Chad Gannon shared:

’Did You Feel It Too?’ is the first single and part of our upcoming, as-of-yet untitled release, set to drop later this year on Manic Kat Records. It’s also the first single we have released officially since 2007, and we could not be more excited to share it with everyone. Our hope is that when you listen to this track, you feel the emotions, energy, and passion that went into making it. Ironically, ‘Did You Feel It Too?’ is about the changes that have happened to the scene over the last 20 years. This song is our battle cry announcement that we are back! We hope you enjoy listening to this track as much as we enjoyed creating it together.

If you’re enjoying the early listen to the latest single, it will be available on all streaming services tomorrow.

Adam Grundy Jul 21, 2023

Much like seeing an old friend that you thought you’d never run into again, reunions bring back a flood of memories that make you realize just how important these people are in your life. When Yellowcard announced that they would be playing a show at Chicago’s Riot Fest in 2022, the band realized that there was still a lot of positive energy that happens when they get together. When I last chatted with lead vocalist, Ryan Key, he mentioned that there was a feeling within the Yellowcard camp that their last two albums, Lift a Sail and their self-titled, were made “more for them” in the band and that this latest EP, Childhood Eyes, would have the potential of getting longtime fans of the band excited in the direction they’re taking. Key mentioned in a different interview, “We knew we were writing an EP which meant we only got five songs, so we had to really make them special. And I think there was an immediate sense of bringing it back to Paper Walls—the idea that we need to make something that we’re proud of, but also something that gets Yellowcard fans excited about what we’re doing. So at that point, we picked up the guitars and started demoing and, honestly, I think these five songs could have just been on that record in 2007. And I love that.” By getting that familiar, yet glorious feeling of reinvigorating their passion for playing music together again, Yellowcard have made a dramatic collection of songs that not only lives up to the legacy they built, but hints at the possibility of more music in the future.

Adam Grundy Jul 21, 2023

Recently, I was able to schedule a Zoom interview with the band, Letter Kills, to discuss what made them want to start making music again. I asked the band about the memories they had from recording their well-balanced debut The Bridge, why they felt that the record didn’t get as much traction as they had hoped, as well as what went into the writing/recording process of their triumphant new single, “Right Where We Belong.” Letter Kills will also be playing a headlining show at The Observatory in LA with Dead American and Bullets & Octane on July 28th.

Adam Grundy Jul 21, 2023

Today I’m excited to re-introduce everyone to indie-pop songwriter, Ashlynn Malia, who is back with a great new single and video for the song, “Feels So Good.” The track comes from Malia’s recently released EP, Navigating Galaxies, that is available now where everywhere music is sold. When speaking on the latest single, Malia shared:

I’m in a phase of my music that I’m calling my ‘ethereal pop era.’ This is one of the first songs to come out of it, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s new for me to put out a song about being happy, I feel like there tends to be this idea that happy music can get a bit cheesy. Instead of being scared of that happening I leaned into the fun of it, while trying to incorporate a cosmic quality as well.

I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy Jul 20, 2023

The meteoric rise of Greta Van Fleet has not been over-exaggerated. Most bands would give their right arms for the attention that they garnered since they stormed onto the music scene in April of 2017, having introduced themselves with the Black Smoke Rising EP. The Led Zeppelin comparisons, the snarky takes on the band’s style choices, all coincided with the band’s ability to take it all in stride, and their perseverance led to them delivering their most cohesive and best album to date with Starcatcher. While I felt that The Battle At Garden’s Gate was a bit of a mixed bag of quality tunes and bloated song structures, the 2023 version of this band has my undivided attention. The latest LP was produced by veteran hitmaker and Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell), and he does a tremendous job of accentuating the best parts of this artist. Through Cobb’s attention to detail, he gets the best performance out of each musician on these ten songs brimming with purpose and reigniting the fire in this ultra-talented young band. Guitarist Jake Kiszka shared, “We didn’t really have to force or be intense about writing, because everything that happened was very instinctual. If anything, the record is our perspective, and sums up where we are as a group and individually as musicians.” Through this process of sticking to their musical instincts and getting back to the basics of early days of the band, Greta Van Fleet are creating their own lane and driving themselves down the highway of rock & roll immortality.

Adam Grundy Jul 19, 2023

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the latest single and video from Alt Rock artist, America Jayne, called “Life of the Party.” The track comes from her forthcoming EP, Shove It, out everywhere music is sold on August 11th. With a sound that fits well within the realm of Snail Mail, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers, America Jayne could be the next breakthrough artist to take the alternative music scene by storm. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy Jul 18, 2023

Coming off of the rocket-fueled success of 2020’s bulletproof album, Use Me, PVRIS (the solo project of Lynn Gunn) returns with her latest effort, Evergreen. On her fourth studio album, Gunn again collaborated with co-producer JT Daly, as well as introduced some new blood, with Carrie Karpinen. Gunn described Evergreen as “a reclamation of control in our post-pandemic culture, posing a complex discussion on fame, technology, spectacle, and female autonomy,” and her laser-focused approach to her songwriting pays off in eleven songs dripping in purpose. The set has already spawned five singles, with the lead one being the dual-attack of “Animal / Anywhere But Here,” that was released last October. With the majority of the tracks clocking in under the three-minute mark, PVRIS delivers an accessible, albeit condensed version of her songwriting prowess. Having teased these songs that became Evergreen for so long, it must feel refreshing for this artist to finally unleash the full picture onto the world now.

Adam Grundy Jul 18, 2023

Today I’m excited to bring everyone a great new single and video from D.C. punk rock band, American Television, called “Snakes.” On this emotionally charged punk song, the band highlight their knack for slick hooks, improved songwriting, and crisp musicianship. The band shared, “We hope for the best from any person we vote into office, as they frontload their promises to the people. But if history has told us anything, they’ll backpedal. Yet, somehow, there’s always money for the war machine. The snakes are all around.” With a sound that fits somewhere within the political punk rock of Anti-Flag, paired with the memorable songwriting of Green Day, American Television could be your next favorite band. If you’re enjoying “Snakes,” please consider pre-ordering their new LP, Scars, that releases on September 22nd via A-F Records here.

Adam Grundy Jul 17, 2023

The second full-length studio album by The Japanese House, called In The End It Always Does, is a rich display of emotion from Amber Bain who continues to explore the depth of her music. The set was produced by Bain, The 1975’s George Daniel, and Chloe Kraemer, with each of the talented artists leaving behind their musical blueprint on it. Having not released any music since the 2020 EP, Chewing Cotton Wool, The Japanese House could have gone in a number of directions with the proper follow-up to 2019’s Good At Falling. The latest studio effort relies less on atmospheric elements and sounds, and instead highlights Bain’s musical development with a more indie rock feel to the song structures and sonically it breathes new life into the allure of what makes this artist so special.

Adam Grundy Jul 17, 2023

Typically when most bands decide to make an acoustic record, it’s to re-record some of their old hits or re-imagine the possibilities of where they could take their songs in their discography. Out of Service is not like most bands. When the time came for lead vocalist Mike Capuano and guitarist Teebs Williams to begin thinking about their fourth album, they were unsure if the songs that they were writing would be best suited for this project. The tracks they were cooking up were largely based in the acoustic style, and yet through their picturesque storytelling and song structures, they all seemed to fit the continued narrative of the band. By the time that bassist Brian McGovern and drummer Ken Bond had heard what would become the bones of Reflections & Refractions: Volume One, they were convinced that these songs belonged under the umbrella of Out of Service. With everyone on board, the band spent nearly three months carving out these songs and recording them Perkins Center for the Arts, a nearly 100-year old building. The recording process was done in the living room that had wooden boards that helped accentuate the reflective and refractive sound of these songs. While the acoustic side of some bands feels a little forced and lacking of theatrics, Out of Service embrace this challenge head on and continue to explore the limitless possibilities of their music.

Adam Grundy Jul 17, 2023

Today is a great day to share the latest single from indie-folk singer/songwriter, Hallie Spoor, called “Diamond Ring.” With a sound that fits somewhere between the easy-going attitude of Sheryl Crow, paired with the powerful and memorable vocals of Amy Winehouse, Spoor checks all the boxes for what you’d want in a talented songwriter. Not to be outdone by her dynamic new single, Spoor also announces that her new EP Heart Like Thunder will be releasing on October 17th. If you’re enjoying “Diamond Ring,” be sure to check out Hallie Spoor’s Bandcamp page here.

Adam Grundy Jul 14, 2023

When Queen first took a break in the early part of 1983, Brian May decided to use this extra time in his hands to get some of his closest rock band friends for what would become the Star Fleet Project. This mini-album features Edward Van Halen (guitar), Alan Gratzer (drums), Phil Chen (bass) and Fred Mandel (keyboards), with May taking the reins of lead vocals and guitar for a crowd-pleasing set of three songs that have been reissued on a remastered vinyl collection released today. In addition to the vinyl single, the box set includes a thrilling 23-track CD filled with previously unreleased material. Brian May shared, “It’s all here. ALL of it. Every note we played on those two days is right here, on show for the first time. I will take you behind the scenes into that studio with us for two unforgettably exhilarating days.” This dedication to the project that took place on April 21-22, 1983 is remastered in pain-staking detail and care, and pulls back the curtain on one of the most beloved classic rock recordings of all time.

The record launches off with “Star Fleet,” that has a sound somewhere between the classic rock sheen of Boston, paired with the memorable guitar riffing from May. Brian May’s vocals sound as brilliant as they’ve ever been on this remastered mix and it really makes the music shine out of the gate. The other song on the A-side, called “Let Me Out,” is a bluesy rock song that is sure to make even the most skeptical music fan a believer in the chemistry May had with these legendary musicians. Not to be outdone by their early work, the back half features a gargantuan, 13-minute blues rock song on the aptly titled “Blues Breaker,” that further highlights the impressive back and forth wailing between Van Halen and May. Even without any vocals on the instrumental closing song, it remains a captivating listening experience that was meant to be played on a turntable in all its glory. The Star Fleet Sessions is getting another worthy moment in the sun, and I think we’re all better off because of this.

FORAGER – “Hello To The Kiddies” (Song Premiere)

Adam Grundy Jul 14, 2023

Today I’m excited to introduce everyone to indie pop band, FORAGER, who are back with their second single off of their recently announced LP, Pipedream Firewood, called ”Hello To The Kiddies.” “Hello to the Kiddies” is an earworm that’s warped by the band’s characteristic off-kilter production choices, propulsive bass lines, and dreamy vocal styling. The chorus only hits once, but that’s all you’ll need to remember the hook. Pipedream Firewood hits music streaming services on August 18th, and I was also able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

Ava Earl – “Ears Bleed” (Song Premiere)

OSEES – “Stunner” (Video Premiere)

I Am The Pilot – “Did You Feel It Too?” (Song Premiere)

Review: Yellowcard – Childhood Eyes

Interview: Letter Kills

Ashlynn Malia – “Feels So Good” (Song Premiere)

Review: Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher

America Jayne – “Life of the Party” (Video Premiere)

Review: PVRIS – Evergreen

American Television – “Snakes” (Video Premiere)

Review: The Japanese House – In The End It Always Does

Review: Out Of Service – Reflections and Refractions: Volume One

Hallie Spoor – “Diamond Ring” (Song Premiere)

Review: Brian May + Friends – Star Fleet Project

FORAGER – “Hello To The Kiddies” (Song Premiere)