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LATEST ARTICLES - PAGE 2

Review: TopHouse – Practice

Adam Grundy

Coming hot of the heels of their last EP, Theory, that was released last May, Practice rounds out the approach that TopHouse were going for in their vision for their music. While Theory was filled a sense of optimism, Practice is a bit more grounded in the places around us and it contemplates our very existence in this crazy world. “We didn’t start out writing these songs with a two-part set of EPs in mind,” says lead vocalist Joe Larson. “But when they were written and we were looking at how to arrange them on an album, the clear delineation of themes became pretty apparent. The idealistic, hopeful worldview that we can all strive for in Theory, up against the hard reality that life doesn’t always work out the way we want in Practice.” With a indie folk sound that fits somewhere in the realm of early-Mumford & Sons, paired with the picturesque singer-songwriter vibes of Noah Kahan, all with polished musicianship like The Lumineers, TopHouse remain on top of their game here.

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Interview: Jesse Davis of TopHouse

TopHouse
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with guitarist/backing vocalist Jesse Davis of folk rock band, TopHouse, to discuss the band’s new EP that released on February 14th, called Practice. This EP comes hot on the heels of the band’s last EP, Theory, and showcases the band’s continued improvements in their songwriting. In addition to songwriter Jesse Davis, TopHouse is comprised of violinist William Cook, Joseph Larson (lead singer and guitar/banjo player,) and Andy LaFave (piano). I asked Jesse about the band’s upcoming headlining tour, what went into the writing/recording process of the tracks found on Practice, and much more. Practice is up on all streaming services here.

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Interview: Gates of Light

Gates of Light
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to connect with Louise Quinn, from Gates Of Light, who has collaborated with producer/musician Finlay MacDonald in Glasgow, London-based producer and DJ Scott Fraser, producer and DJ Kid Loco in Paris, and film and art director Tim Saccenti in New York to create her latest video for “10,000 Years.” Gates Of Light will be releasing their next record, called Gates of Light II, and if you’re enjoying the new single you can check out pre-save options here.

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Review: Anberlin – Never Take Friendship Personal

Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal
Adam Grundy

Because time is a cruel beast, Never Take Friendship Personal has turned 20 years old and yet it still packs that same urgency of a band hungry for more. More exposure, more fans, and plenty more music! The record itself is as gripping as they come, especially in a scene where so many emo bands were exploding out of the gate and into the pages of magazines like Alternative Press. What set Anberlin apart from the pack was their ability to lean into the genre’s best parts: anthemic and heartfelt vocals, searing guitar parts, and well-constructed songs that made a lot of sense and still had a lasting impact on the listener.

I think the first time I heard the band name Anberlin was when I saw the young band take the stage in Baltimore, Maryland opening for Bayside. This must’ve been close to 2005, because I can vividly remember their set comprised almost entirely of material from Never Take Friendship Personal. I was instantly hooked on lead vocalist Stephen Christian’s energetic stage presence and his vocals were top-notch that evening. Later on that same weekend, I traveled to my local Best Buy to pick up a CD copy of the album, and I was immediately transported back to that fateful evening in Baltimore where I would discover one of my favorite bands of all time.

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Review: L.S. Dunes – Violet

Adam Grundy

After a band as talented as L.S. Dunes is crafted their stunning debut album, Past Lives, the pressure was compounded for them to deliver once again. Luckily the “supergroup” of drummer Tucker Rule and bassist Tim Payne (Thursday), guitarist Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), guitarist Travis Stever (Coheed & Cambria) and vocalist Anthony Green (Circa Survive, Saosin) are well up to the task at hand on Violet. The set was once again produced by veteran hit-maker Will Yip and showcases the subtle improvements the band has made to their already dynamic sound. The record is filled with several ambitious moments that hit the listener in the feels right away. Look no further than the opener of “Like Magick” that starts off with Green doing his vocals a cappella before the rest of his bandmates join in on the mix.

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Review: The Backfires – This Is Not An Exit

Adam Grundy

Formed in 2018, the NYC and London-based band, The Backfires are Alex Gomez (vocals), Harry Ruprecht (guitar), Max Wanduragala (drums), and Matt Walter (bass), and their debut LP titled This Is Not An Exit is a thrilling mix of dance-able indie rock. When speaking on the cover art and LP title, Alex Gomez shared, “We took the name from this white sign with big red letters that’s backstage at the Mercury Lounge. I don’t know what’s behind that door, but I know wherever this record leads is deeper inside. This record is a culmination of our years going back and forth between shows, between continents. It’s the end of a chapter, and the start of an era.” What is found on This Is Not An Exit is an entry point to a solid combination of artistic styles that quickly resemble the anthemic pop-rock of The Killers, the working-man pub rock of Catfish & The Bottlemen, and the beats of Franz Ferdinand, all put on blend in a crowd-pleasing concoction.

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Northvale – Where We Go When There’s Nothing Left (Track By Track)

Adam Grundy

Today, New Jersey alternative rock/pop-punk band, Northvale, are releasing their debut LP called Where We Go When There’s Nothing Left. Northvale is Keith Karol (Vocals), Mike Piacentini (Guitar), Chris Stroz (Guitar), and Aren Millan (Drums), and their great band chemistry shines through brilliantly on their debut album. If you’re enjoying the insight given by Northvale, please consider streaming the album here.

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Review: Teddy Swims – I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)

Adam Grundy

There’s a lot for the Atlanta-born vocalist Teddy Swims to be proud of these days. From the speedy success of his debut album called I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1), to the chart-topping smash of “Lose Control”, paired with a Best New Artist Grammy nomination, plus the wonderful news that his girlfriend Raiche Wright and him are expecting their first child together, leads to the assumption that Teddy Swims must feel like he’s walking on air. The second part of Teddy Swims’ journey in the music world picks up right where he left off, offers stunning vocal performances, and a more optimistic outlook. Teddy Swims shared, “I thought that I was in such turmoil and heartbreak on the first one and it was nothing but questions and there was no real closure. So I thought that was important, especially with the title, I wanted to go into finding love again, learning how to move on, going to therapy and showing the healing process. Like, ‘Here’s me on the other side of all that mess.’ I’m so happy to be here on the other side of that mess, because it’s lovely.” You can feel the passion behind each lyric, each note, each precise beat, as everything clicks succinctly into place on this wonderful sophomore album.

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Review: The Maine – Dyed (2008

Adam Grundy

The surprise new album from The Maine dropped mid-week, just as many fans of the band were en route to the 8123 Fest, taking place between January 16-17th in Mesa, Arizona. This new LP, called Dyed (2008 – 2023), features several re-worked demos/ideas from every era of The Maine’s discography, and yet it plays out much better than any other “compilation” of collected B-sides ever would. The reason why it works so well is that The Maine have the confidence to go in any direction they please, as was displayed on their 2024 single “Touch”, and further cemented on this latest record. The band have been no strangers to reinvention, as documented in their dynamic nine-album discography, and yet this album that touches on each of their past recordings showcases what The Maine are capable of creating when firing on all creative cylinders. While it may have been easier for the band to simply dust off these old demos and release them as-is, taking the easy road simply isn’t in The Maine’s DNA. Dyed brings the listener back to where it all started, offers a cohesive journey through their past work, all while still sounding like the band we have known and loved over time that continues to get better with age.

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Review: All Systems Go – “Everything Going Well Is A Bad Thing, Right?”

Adam Grundy

The new lead single from NJ pop-punk band, All Systems Go, comes from their recently announced EP Finding Closure, and is a solid slab of heartfelt punk rock filled with great guitar breakdowns and passionate vocal performances. “Everything Going Well is a Bad Thing, Right?” was produced by Gary Cioni (Crime in Stereo, Hot Mulligan) and mastered by Mike Kalajian (New Found Glory, Senses Fail), and All Systems Go have really developed a professional and poised sound on this track. Guitarist and vocalist Matt Pezza shared, “This song is about how poor communication leads to people being on different wavelengths. In context, the ‘remember me when you’re famous’ line is essentially a substitute phrase for communicating ‘this isn’t going to work out’. But no one knows that until it’s actually stated a couple lines later. There’s a reason why people always say ‘communication is key’ – not just in dating but in working relationships, friendships, etc. It’s always better to be direct; mean what you say and say what you mean.” The song is reminiscent of the starry-eyed pop-punk of The Starting Line, paired with the complex guitar parts of Four Year Strong, and put on blend with a bit of the band’s own flavor.

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Review: AFI – Andi Coulter

AFI Book
Adam Grundy

The latest book by Andi Coulter, called AFI, takes a comprehensive look at the meteoric rise of the legendary punk band AFI whom have been no strangers to reinvention throughout their storied musical career. While Coulter mentions in the Prelude that this book is “not an all-encompassing narrative” on the band, AFI still serves as a gripping tale of a band with a clear vision for their music, style, and ethos. From the early days of AFI finding their footing in the underground punk scene, to their breakthrough into the mainstream on Sing the Sorrow, everything flows with great pacing and intricate details that even the band’s most dedicated fans will devour. In an easily-digestable 130-plus page effort, Coulter does a fantastic job of getting to the core of what made AFI such a key major label “catch,” while offering clues as to why certain records didn’t resonate as firmly with their fans. It’s a book that you won’t be able to put down, and can easily swim through in one sitting.

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Interview: 8123 Fest Preview

8123
Adam Grundy

8123 Fest, the music festival curated by Arizona rock band The Maine, is making its highly anticipated return in January 2025. For the first time ever, the festival will span two full days, packed with incredible performances, exclusive events, and more. Taking place at the Mesa Amphitheater on January 17–18 2025, the festival offers a celebration of music, nostalgia, and community that fans won’t want to miss.

To highlight everything that is taking place during this two-day festival, I thought it would be cool to connect with some of the bands who would be performing. In this article, I have interviews with members of The Maine, Real Friends, and Bad Suns. Each of the bands I interviewed shared what the 8123 Fest means to them, the new music they are working on, as well as what fans can look forward to from their bands in the new year. 8123 Fest tickets are on sale here.

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Interview: Taylor Acorn

Taylor Acorn
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to connect with Taylor Acorn to discuss what went into the writing and recording process of her newly announced EP, Greener (Acoustic). The EP hits streaming services tomorrow, but we are thrilled to bring everyone the exclusive premiere of the two-track acoustic collection today. Featuring songs from Acorn’s thrilling debut, Survival In Motion, this EP gets to the core of what makes her such a talented songwriter. Taylor shared:

”Greener” has been one of those songs that has just gotten me through. I needed to write it, I needed to feel it, and I know there’s two versions already, but I am a sucker for an acoustic. There’s something that’s just so sweet and uplifting about the acoustic, and I’m really excited for everyone to hear it.

If you’re enjoying the early listen, you can also pre-save the EP here.

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Interview: The Clamor

The Clamor
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to connect with Aaron Louis, better known as the solo project called The Clamor, to discuss what went into the writing and recording process of the latest single, “Staircase Stomp.” The song navigates the recognition of a sense of emptiness and unmet desires in life, coupled with an internal rebellion and the quest for comfort and connection. The Clamor are onto something great here, and more music will be coming soon in the new year.

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