Kings of setting trends and staying friends — Nick Gross and Travis Mills, known as Girlfriends, know how to make a crowd jump. At the So What Music Festival in Dallas, the duo brought its unique brand of pop punk to the stage and the crowd was stoked.
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Singer-songwriter Chance Peña is wise beyond his years. In this interview from Bonnaroo 2023, watch to learn what makes Peña tick.
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We have reached the halfway mark of 2023. Time keeps on moving, doesn’t it? How about spending some time on this Fourth of July holiday recapping the year in music? Below, you will find both our combined staff top 30, as well as individual lists from our contributors and moderators. Hopefully, you will find something new to love.
Note: You can share your own list in our music forum.
Read More “The Best Albums of 2023 (So Far)”
The cynical view of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour goes something like this: let’s take a cash grab tour of her past lovers and public debacles through songs that may have changed genres two or three times, but all sound the same. (They don’t.)
The critical view goes something like this: after mastering country, pop, and indie, are we looking at the next all-time great? (Ignoring the fact that, if she were a man, she’d already be lauded as being there.)
The delusion fan view goes something like this: Is this algebraic formula an Easter egg? (No.) Taylor Swift is for the girls, gays, and theys and straight men shouldn’t be allowed at the tour. (This is exhausting.) I bought all four versions so I could have a clock. (Okay, this one is more on Taylor’s incredible mind for capitalism; but, c’mon folks, it’s the same record. You only need one copy.) Etc.
Somewhere in the middle of this wild and inaccurate Venn diagram of discourse is the truth: we are witnessing something not quite before seen in history. Taylor has achieved something not seen in decades: monoculture. She’s the zeitgeist. Everyone seemingly has something to say about it. Including me.
Read More “The Eras Tour: Taylor Swift’s Greatest Love Song”
This week’s newsletter has thoughts on the Emo book, thoughts on music out this week, and random musings from a long weekend in the sun. There’s also a playlist of ten songs worth your time, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.
Read More “Liner Notes (July 2nd, 2023)”
Today is a great day to share the latest single and video from LA psych-pop band, SWIMM, called “Used To Saying Yes.” On this electric-charged single that provides absurdist commentary on social obligation, the band continue to evolve in the most creative ways imaginable. The track comes from their forthcoming LP, Best Comedown Ever, that releases everywhere music is sold on August 10th. I was also able to catch up with SWIMM for a brief interview below.
Read More “SWIMM – “Used To Saying Yes” (Video Premiere)”
Today is a great day to share the lead single from the newly announced LP by Boston noise rock band, Eldridge Rodriguez, called “A Feeling That Won’t Go Away.” The song comes from the band’s fifth album, Atrophy, that will be released via Midriff Records on September 15th. On this latest single, the band channels their love for a “wall of sound” approach to their songwriting while still leaving room for the listener to make their own interpretations of the music. If you’re enjoying the direction the band took on this latest track, please consider purchasing music from their Bandcamp page. I was also able to catch up with this talented band for a brief interview below.
Read More “Eldridge Rodriguez – “A Feeling That Won’t Go Away” (Song Premiere)”
Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single from NYC-based artist, Malick Koly, called “Eaux Rouges.” The song comes from his recently announced EP, Feel Bad Fest, that will be released everywhere music is sold on August 18th. I was also able to catch up with Malick Koly for a brief interview below.
Read More “Malick Koly – “Eaux Rouges””
Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest single from Nashville singer-songwriter, Jess Nolan, called “Emergency Landing.” The vibrant track tackles the theme of having to be “on” all the time, and making sure to take care of yourself in this crazy world that we all live in. With a sound that strays somewhere between the styling of Lucy Dacus, paired with the picturesque storytelling of Joni Mitchell, Jess Nolan is truly onto something magical here. Nolan shared:
I wrote this song with my friends, Hadley Kennary and Jake Finch, on a day when we were lamenting about the societal pressure to be “on” all the time. We live in a world that glamorizes the grind and doesn’t prioritize rest. It’s up to us as individuals to draw our own boundaries around what we need to recharge. Taking days off and spending time alone helps me show up more fully for the people around me. Instead of viewing it as selfish, I now see it as a sacred step in community care. My hope is that we can all give ourselves a high level of compassion for our own needs so that we can better serve others. Take a breath! We don’t need permission to care for ourselves.
If you’re enjoying this latest single, more music is expected soon from Jess Nolan via Righteous Babe Records.
Read More “Jess Nolan – “Emergency Landing” (Song Premiere)”
Here I chat with Garret Rapp, lead singer of The Color Morale. After a hiatus of six and a half years, the band is back and fans are stoked. Bolstered by fans craving a tour for the ten year anniversary of the band’s biggest album to date, Know Hope, the band has some big news that fans of the band will be very excited to hear.
Read More “The Color Morale at So What Music Festival”
This week’s newsletter looks at new music out this week and has some other random thoughts about music and entertainment. There’s also a playlist of ten songs worth your time, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.
Read More “Liner Notes (June 24th, 2023)”
Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single from indie pop songwriter, Dayaway, called “A Brief Dream of Sun.” On this vibrant new song, Amber Renee channels her love for psychedelic rock paired with lush vocals into a powerful message of endless possibilities. The song comes from Dayaway’s new EP, Blue Summer Moon, out everywhere music is sold on August 30th. I was also able to catch up with this talented songwriter for a brief interview below.
Read More “Dayaway – “A Brief Dream of Sun” (Song Premiere)”
This past week, I was able to catch up with Ryan Key of Yellowcard before he and his recently reunited bandmates embark on their summer tour celebrating 20 years of Ocean Avenue. In this in-depth interview with the lead vocalist of Yellowcard, I asked him about what went into the writing and recording of their new EP Childhood Eyes, the comparisons of the new EP to the sound of Paper Walls, and how he keeps the spirit of Yellowcard alive through various projects and outlets. Childhood Eyes will be released on July 21st via Equal Vision Records, and pre-orders are live.
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This week’s newsletter has first impressions of new music from Yellowcard, Anberlin, and PVRIS. Plus, thoughts on new releases from a great week in the pop-punk EP world (Origami Angel, Millington) and a bunch of other music and entertainment I’ve been checking out. As always, there’s a playlist of ten songs worth your time, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.
Read More “Liner Notes (June 18th, 2023)”
Recently I was able to schedule an interview with M.A.G.S. to discuss his newly announced new LP, Destroyer, that will release via Smartpunk Records on August 4th. In this interview, I asked Elliott about his recent tours of crowd-testing the new material, the writing process that went into his latest record, as well as how he measures his success as an artist. M.A.G.S. will also be on tour this summer at a few select venues.
Read More “M.A.G.S.”