This is fine.
As we get closer and closer, the anticipation grows more and more for the upcoming SXSW festival right here in Austin. Preview coverage will continue to ramp up in the days ensuing as we receive more preview materials from participating bands. Today we are pleased to share our third peek into the life of a musician with a piece from Brighton based Tigercub. Hit the jump for fill interview, dates, tunes, and more.
We are here and in full force now with some SXSW band previews coming at you several times a week leading up to the festival. Today we are thrilled to share a preview with one of our favorite up and coming acts, Cincinnati based outfit The Ophelias. We get into some great discussions about new music along with a debate about who would be the best dual threat rhythm guitar player to have in your all time band. All that plus show details and a brand new song(!) after the jump.
It’s here! Well, almost here anyway. Yeah SXSW is right around the corner you nerds and of course we are ready and prepping for the most exciting and enjoyable week of the year. We had a ton of fun with our “Meet the band” pieces last year and thought it’d be a great idea to carry on with them in 2024. Hopefully you find them as an interesting and brief peek into band life and what it means to play SXSW. We are super excited to kick these interviews off this week with responses from Philadelphia based outfit Native Harrow. You’ll find their responses, schedule, and tunes after the jump.
Nathan and I are prepping for another week of tunes you may or may not love. My week is kicking off with this acoustic pop number “Stayed the Same” from San Diego based crooner Eric Schroeder. He has this expert way in the song of at times having a playful tone but paired with reflective and personal lyrical content. Well done sire.
Schroeder will release a new album entitled Turn On the Stereo on April 26th via Enabler No. 6.
New York based band Glimmer hit me in my ear holes yesterday with this new song “Buried,” and I just had to pass it along today. I love how the song starts out super heavy with loud guitars and driving beat, but then drops well into some quieter moments. When we say something like “rising action,” this is what we mean. The track also comes with a longer, more epic B-side called “Daydream,” which is streamable over on bandcamp.
Today has been an absolute wild one for new music with a ton of heavy hitters in the indie world dropping new music. While we let some of the big boys post those well known names, we’ll try to highlight more of an up and comer with this new song “Fingers on my Side” from St. Louis based outfit Hot Joy. As a sucker for mid to late 90s alt-rock with a slacker theme (think Weezer, Pavement, etc.), this one was an immediate hit for me. Wonderful tune from a band you are sure to be hearing more about soon.
This track is part of Hot Joy’s debut EP entitled Small Favor which is due out on April 19th.
After absolutely tearing up things with new music in 2022 and then relentless touring last year, Bristol based Dreamwave really churned up some totally deserving buzz. This year looks to be full of more straight jams from the band, as evidenced by this raucous new single called “Mindcave.” For me, I dig it when a band doesn’t mess about and just gets right into the power and energy. No fussing about here. Stay tuned as this is surely just the first of more to come in 2024.
As previously mentioned, that indie pop label seems to be thrown around a lot these days, and often the song is either a big pop start hit, or lacking an pop sensibility whatsoever. This new single called “Foam” from Syndey stalwarts Royal Otis somehow lands perfectly in that indie pop zone with subtle hooks and what can only be called an Aussie sounding beat. It’s looking like this may be the year of a return for true indie pop so get your ass ready for some awkward dance floors. Dig it.
Royal Otis will release new album PRATTS & PAIN tomorrow! Pre-orders for a physical release are live now.
Austin based band Grackles is a conglomerate of sorts featuring an astounding eight member group all of various big name projects in and outside of town. The ATX super group features members who have toured with the likes of The Chicks, backed up Ben Harper and even had involvement with some of our favorite local indie bands like Megafauna. All of that star power combines beautifully on this twangy and southern soaked new single called “Top of the World,” which features guest vocals from Kat Edmonson. I think you’ll find it a lovely addition to our ever growing Austin alt-country scene.
Grackles have also announced an Austin Record release show on February 24th at The Pershing. Tickets and more info can be found HERE. See ya there!
For the last several years Queens based musician Ryan Work has been making some magical music under his recording and artistic moniker Fair Visions. This year, he has designs to release a new full length LP entitled Quite An End, which is due out on May 7th. Prior to that date, Work has just released what is easily my top song of the year so far with this stunning new single called “I Want You, Babe.” As far as progressions go, this thing moves along almost perfectly with a mellow, dreamy beginning as it flow into a slightly more heavy, swirling guitars sound. And those drums… ya it’s a fun one.
