New York – CMJ Music Marathon marches sleeplessly on in Gotham, and on Wednesday hit what was possibly the extravaganza’s pinnacle performance. Event organizers had preempted the Webster Hall concert with caution, a sort of this-night-will-be-packed-so-don’t-expect-entrance-is-a-given kind of mentality. And though they said it couldn’t be done, CMJ badge holders turned out in droves to
Chicago – Grizfolk brought their sweet folktronica to the Windy City. The LA band was excited to be playing the Aragon for the first time in their careers and it showed! The stage and the audience buzzed with electricity throughout the set, making it clear why Grizfolk was handpicked by Bastille to open on select dates for
Nashville – The Twilight Sad is a band that seems to have trouble fitting in. Critics and listeners give their music broad generic labels such as “post-punk” and “indie rock” that really tell nothing of their mature sound and their growing following. Ever-gaining popularity on both sides of “the pond,” this Scottish trio is back
New York – Being the opening act can be a difficult role. Whether you’re a singer songwriter taking the stage alone with an acoustic guitar or an indie band the size of a pit orchestra, playing the first slot can mean playing to either an empty house or, if there is an audience, playing before
Brooklyn – We’re in the heart of CMJ Music Marathon here in the city that never sleeps, and as up-and-coming musicians flock to the metropolis in droves, the volume of shows on deck is preposterous. So, to apply an imagined filter of intimacy to this massive and sprawling extravaganza, Best New Bands caught a quieter
Los Angeles – Watching Hozier perform at Immanuel Presbyterian Church on a recent night was divine. The sound that spilled from his unassuming persona was like a holy adventure on its own, but the addition of his thoughtful lyrics, cellist, and old-school back-up singers got the audience to their feet in awe. With the help
Seattle – We’ve had our eyes on rising local musician, Kate Lynne Logan. She captures the spirit of the Pacific Northwest with her enchanting vocals and Americana style of guitar playing. She has the ability to produce alternative country music that appeals to listeners of folk, indie, and classic rock. Best New Bands had a
Austin – This headline guarantees Charli XCX a spot on a pink card in some future edition of Trivial Pursuit. More immediately, it seems like a looming, hilarious instance of the career-launching/overshadowing single—“Creep” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” come to mind. Before “Boom Clap” and the Icona Pop collaboration “I Love It,” British pop singer
Los Angeles – This past summer, Philadelphia-based band Vacationer released their sophomore album, Relief. Their unique sound has been described as “Nu-Hula/ World Wave.” Relief is an appealing, earnest, and utterly joyous record. The laidback electronics booted with the dreamy guitars bestows a pleasant summer feeling we wouldn’t mind experiencing all season. It sheds light
San Francisco – This year’s Treasure Island Music Festival boasted one of the most interesting lineups of the year, promising sets from a lot of seasoned veterans across a multitude of genres, including OutKast, Massive Attack, TV on the Radio, and The New Pornographers, just to name a few. The festival’s two stages—named the Bridge