Austin – Seeing Mystery Skulls name in the SXSW music guide was liking seeing a high school classmate on the news. His name was familiar from the time we overlapped in Dallas—me going to college, him working on a nascent music career—but he was always one of those artists you tell people you’ll “check out
Chicago – Over the last several years, Nashville’s music scene has been reborn. The city that was once known as a Country Mecca has now become the new hub for modern music, from punk and garage rock to indie and pop. It’s become the home for big dogs like Kings of Leon, Jack White, and
Brooklyn – Locally based “goth synth” duo Weeknight have just completed a tour that saw them return to Brooklyn on May 5 to play a homecoming gig at hip Williamsburg venue Union Pool, which also doubled as their Cassette Release Party for two recent singles, “California” and “In The Dust.” Best New Bands caught up
Los Angeles – Over the past few years, Sydney, Australia quintet Gang of Youths have been producing incredible singles, but it wasn’t until just last month that they finally released their highly anticipated debut LP, The Positions. I reviewed the record for Best New Bands noting, “The Positions will haunt you, but console you. It
Austin – Until The Ribbon Breaks leaves strong first impressions. The name alone suggests weighty artistic ambitions, and if you’re savvier than me you might grasp the nostalgic allusion to tape that’s played to the breaking point. Their hip-hop beats and gothic synths seem relentlessly austere if you didn’t listen closer to the eponymous “Until
Chicago – A quick scroll through Austrian singer Lylit’s facebook and you’ll the following: “One voice. One light. One sound. One Lylit.” But just who is Lylit? Kedar Massenburg, the former president of Motown Records, discovered the talented Lylit, who was born Eva Klampfer. She has been navigating the music business since the age of
Seattle – Hailing from the small town of Mosfellsbær, Iceland, just outside of Reykjavik, comes indie rock quartet Kaleo. Vocalist and guitarist JJ Julius Son, drummer and vocalist David Antonsson Crivello, bassist Danny Jones, and lead guitarist Rubin Pollock have been crafting songs that blend classic rock with blues and folk, inspired by the beauty
Chicago – U.K. songstress Nadine Shah first grabbed the attention of music lovers with her critically acclaimed debut Love Your Dum And Mad (Apollo Records). She was compared to PJ Harvey and dubbed the female Nick Cave – even though she hadn’t listened much to the two – and was applauded for her honest and
Chicago – This month, U.K. twosome Nai Harvest are set to unfetter their latest endeavor, Hairball. Shortly after forming in 2011, guitarist Ben Thompson and drummer Lew Currie started to gain attention with their emo-rock and 2013 release Whatever (Dog Knights Productions). After signing with Topshelf Records, they’re back with a more punkish, garage rock
Seattle – Singer Mandy Lee couldn’t have known that her desire to have an 80’s cover band play for her birthday party back in 2012 would lead to national tours with established bands, sold-out shows, and hit singles featured on television shows and commercials. If she had, she, Etienne Bowler, William Hehir, Marc Campbell, and