Author: indierocker

It doesn’t seem possible that 2015 is almost over, but the hard reality is that it’s on the outs. We still have lots of artists and bands with stellar 2015 releases that we want to share with you all.

This is the eighth installment of the popular band profile and playlists series, Best New DIY Music of 2015. Therefore, without further delay, here is the next batch of artists and band’s you need to hear.

In This Installment:

The Modern Savage – Anchorage, Alaska
ness – Long Island, New York
Gibberish – Los Angeles, California
Storie Grubb – Boise, Idaho
Duals – Goleta, California

[zbplayer]

The Modern Savage – Unfazed

Alaskan alternative rockers The Modern Savage‘s new EP, Unfazed, displays the band’s knack for driving, explosive rock, such as on the edgy lead single, “Go,” one of the standout tracks of the five song EP.

Front woman Jenni May Toro exhibits her raw, emotive and sneering vocal work throughout the EP, accompanied by the accomplished guitar and synth work of John Cripps and Matt Eley, Ivan Molesky on bass, and David Devlin on drums.

“As a whole, Unfazed explores the multifaceted aspects of being a woman in her mid-20s,” Toro says.

“The song ‘Comet’ confronts the predefined archetypes for women in music, and songs like ‘More’ and ‘Unfazed’ touch on the lonely aspects of millennials, who are never fully satisfied.”

The new EP was produced, engineered, and mixed by NYC based producer and recording engineer James Frazee (Radio Music Society, Sharon Van Etten, Patti Smith).

The Modern Savage has been moving up in the Anchorage rock scene in recent years, and plan to make their way down into the lower 48, where the band already has a growing and loyal fan base.

They’ve shared the stage with powerhouse acts like Jane’s Addiction, Foster The People, Silversun Pickups and Owl City. TMS was also featured in YouTube’s celebrated series, American Hipster Presents, which focuses on art and culture in 10 American cities.

Now, with their sophomore effort out, the band has much more material to perform live with for their growing base of fans.

“Go“ – The Modern Savage from Unfazed

The Modern Savage official website

The Modern Savage on Facebook

ness – Behind The Couch (official lyric video)

During the summer, we featured the Long Island DIY electro pop duo, ness’ hazy song, “Behind The Couch,” from the debut EP, A Second To Think.

The reverb-heavy acoustic pop track with uptempo mandolins, twinkling xylophone notes, and light beats, was favorited so much by listeners that it easily became the No. 1 song in July on IRC’s Top Ten Songs.

Now the duo are back with the official lyric video for “Behind The Couch,” which is already attracting kudos from fans. The track, since its release, has received over 17,000 plays on Soundcloud and the EP more than 55,000 streams on SC and Spotify.

The band members, Ethan Peck and Jesse Weisberg, are also currently writing and recording songs for their next release expected in the spring of next year.

Ness on Soundcloud

Gibberish – Winter Coat

One of our favorite releases from 2015 comes from the Los Angeles duo of Derek and Lorie Bromley, aka Gibberish. Their wild, glitchy, and rattly psych pop tracks on their debut EP, Winter Coat, has been rotated on the cafe’s speakers many times over the past few months.

If we had to pick one track to represent the band’s Animal-Collective-meets-Brian-Eno sound, it would be the song, “Colonies.” It stomps along with a hard bass drum; clattering drum sticks; waves of warm, soaring synth riffs; and layers of hazy reverb-heavy vocals, oozing with rich melodies and sweet harmonies, creating a weird and wonderful psychedelic feast of sounds, samples, effects, rhythms and beats.
“Colonies“ – Gibberish from Winter Coat

“Everything on Winter Coat was done by myself on my laptop, using gear I’ve accumulated throughout the years,” says Derek Bromley. “We recorded most of the album using one or two mics at a time, which is how we got the percussion sounding psychedelic and glitched out.

“I used a vocal effects processor and looped drum parts one at a time and then added them all up to give the rhythm section a lush, full, textured sound. I used this technique on a lot of instruments and vocals to varying degrees, so the album would have continuity between songs.”

Gibberish official website
Gibberish on Facebook

Storie Grubb –The Length of Tomorrow

The prolific Boise DIY musician and visual artist, Storie Grubb, has just released his fifth album in the past year. The LP, The Length of Tomorrow, is a tour de force of emotive and introspective anti-folk indie music, and a sobering tale of modern times, with elements of punk woven into the fabric of Grubb’s music.

“It is album that for me is totally appropriate for the times we are living in,” Grubb writes on his official website.

It is full of themes that I love bringing to light, like war, death, love and life…as well as religion and the relationships one has with fellow human beings on this beautiful planet.”

Completely written, composed, performed, recorded, produced and mastered by the talented extraordinaire multi-instrumentalist Sean Kelly (aka, Storie Grubb), the new LP features would-be indie hit songs like “Milky Way,” “Never Coming Back,” “A Cloud in the Sky,” and a magnificent cover of Beck‘s “Jack-Ass”, featuring backup vocals from Amber Pollard.

“Milky Way“ – Storie Grubb from The Length of Tomorrow

“Jack-Ass“ – Storie Grubb from The Length of Tomorrow

Grubb’s melodic, heartfelt, and at times, angst, music consists of dabbling in various genres of indie music – including folk, rock, pop, punk, and psych – and is inspired by musical influences like Elliott Smith, Neil Young, Belle and Sebastian, and The Magnetic Fields.

Last fall, before the dissolution of his previous band, Storie Grubb and The Holy Wars, Kelley and his band were asked by Built To Spill frontman Doug Martsch to open for the legendary, trail-blazing indie rock band at a benefit concert in Boise.

We have been big fans of Storie Grubb since we first heard the fascinating album, The Jewel and The Germ.

Fans will likely dig into his discography once they take the time to listen to a true unsung musical and lyrical indie hero of our time who is just a few blog reviews from underground stardom.

Storie Grubb official website

Duals – Honesty Is Mandatory

Duals is the moniker of Goleta, California DIY artist and producer Aphiah Cey-Jude. Drawing inspiration from artists like Cat Power, Eyedea, Bob Dylan and James Brown, Cey-Jude created Duals in 2000 as an outlet for musical expression, dabbling in everything from hip hop and rock to ambient and electronic.

Those influences and tastes, and his own traumatic childhood, have translated into art rock songs like “Life Is A Paradox” and “Big Sisters And Stuffed Animals,” from Duals debut LP, Honesty Is Mandatory, released earlier this year. He asserts that the moniker is to reflect “the duality of depravity and love that the concept of man is tied to.”

Mixing analog instruments, finely produced vocals and electronic samples, Duals has set himself up as an artist to watch in 2016.

“Life Is A Paradox“ – Duals from Honesty Is Mandatory

“Big Sisters And Stuffed Animals“ – Duals from Honesty Is Mandatory

Dual’s Growth of Culture homepage

Duals on Facebook

Throughout the year, we have been putting a lot of work into reviewing 2015 releases from DIY artists and bands across the country and around the world. We’ve labored over the flood of submissions we’ve received this year (most of them submitted to IRC via our submission form) from every type of artist and band, genre and style, you can think of, and from totally terrible to brilliant music that needs to be heard from talented musicians.

Over the years, since 2008, artists and bands featured on IRC have received all kinds of new fans, more coverage and reviews, gigs, licensing deals, recording contracts with labels, bookings on tours and festivals, and their music featured on television and film soundtracks as a result of being featured on IRC. Nowadays, bands need to hustle to make a living like never before, and harnessing the power of the web is one of the best ways to do it.

In this installment of the crazy popular series, Best New DIY Music of 2015 (which has received hundreds of Likes on FB), we’ve got rock, blues, synth, pop, folk, psych and more – as well as mixes of one or more genres, which is more typical of indie anyways – from bands in Tel-Aviv and London, Kiev and Petrozavodsk, Falun and Truro, and from Boston to Athens, Spokane to Tulsa and Squamish to Omaha.

Click on the player below to stream all of the songs uninterrupted or listen to them one by one by clicking the song links. Enjoy and please Like, Tweet, Insta, Pin and whatever else to show your love. We appreciate it y’all!

In This Installment:

Bill & Murray – Tel-Aviv, Israel
The Bread Brothers – Athens, Georgia
Skyhound – Kiev, Ukraine
Sports – Tulsa, Oklahoma
Third Brother – Falun, Sweden
Break The Bans – Petrozavodsk, Russia
Aüva – Boston, Massachusetts
Dismal Beeches – Tel-Aviv, Israel
Boat Race Weekend – Spokane, Washington
Colourshop – London, England
Sperry Alan – Truro, Nova Scotia
Battling Giants – Omaha, Nebraska
Slunq – London, England
Adam Hill – Squamish, British Columbia, Canada

[zbplayer]

A new synth dance pop trio from Tel-Aviv, called Bill & Murray, is bound to turn some heads on this side of the globe. The grooving synths and beats of “Rabbit Hole” are irresistible, as are the gorgeous vocals and acoustic beauty of the more subdued single, “The Silence Grows.”

Vocalist and keyboardist Stella Goshtein has a terrific voice that hopefully will gain greater recognition in the U.S. Other cornerstones of the band’s presence are the guitar playing and vocals of David Blau and drum kit work of Ran Jacobovitz.

The origins of the band trace back to 2012 when an experimental collaboration between Blau and Gotshtein quickly turned into an full on band with the addition of Jacobovitz in 2013. The trio have performed all over Israel and music festivals in North America and Europe. They also wrapped up a tour of Europe and have opened for artists like Gary Numan.

Bill & Murray debut album, A New Kind of High, officially drops August 30th. The band’s top musical influences include Joy Division, The Cure, The Stone Roses, Gary Numan, My Bloody Valentine and Bauhaus greatly influenced the album. Though the album combines synth-pop and post-punk influences, the bands personal touch and their unconventional choice of musical instruments and pedal effects created a unique and distinct flavor.

“Rabbit Hole“ – Bill & Murray from A New Kind of High

“The Silence Grows“ – Bill & Murray from A New Kind of High

Bill and Murray on Facebook

The Bread Brothers – The Bread Brothers

Rock legends REM’s hometown of Athens, Georgia has produced many fine artists and bands over the years, including indie and DIY that are unknown to the mainstream. For 2015, we’re adding The Bread Brothers to Athens’ growing list of impressive, home ‘bread’ bands. Earlier this year, the brothers dropped their self-titled, debut album. And it’s one hell of an album for a band that few people outside the city have heard of.

But what started as a standard rock outfit has now progressed into a solidified sound; a melodic, yet hard-hitting, signature with many colors reflecting the band member’s musical backgrounds, including experiences with playing folk, country, rock and pop. In fact, fans of The Strokes are probably most likely to be attracted to the talented quintet’s sounds.

It’s hard not to think of The Strokes with the wonderfully jangling, jamming electric guitars, the radical chord shifts; the coarse, yet melancholic vocals, and driving percussions of the standout single, “Milk and Honey.” The brothers weave elements of folk rock with pop rock on the mostly uptempo single, “Dirty Deeds,” with its hard acoustic guitar playing and glittery piano swirls.

The ‘brothers’ of bread include Aaron Campbell (vocals); Cody Provost (rhythm guitar); Remington Rehklau (bass); Cameron Kelly (drums), and Alex Magee (lead guitar). They have opened for bands like Stop Light Observations, Voodoo Visionary, Lindee Link, and Chasing Jonah. Their top musical influences include The Strokes, Kings of Leon, and Needtobreathe.

“Milk and Honey“ – The Bread Brothers from The Bread Brothers

“Dirty Deeds“ – The Bread Brothers from The Bread Brothers

The Bread Brothers on Facebook

Skyhound – Dreamcatcher 7″

It’s not often that we come across a smoking hot band from the Ukraine. While the former Soviet satellite has been garnering worldwide attention as Russian separatists battle Ukranian loyalists, two Ukrainian friends and musicians – Farid Mbaidin and Daniel Hryhoriev – from the capital city, Kiev, have been writing and recording high energy synth/electro dance pop songs in their spare time under the moniker Skyhound.

Mbaidin and Hryhoriev have been working on their music since forming Skyhound last summer. The result are the two singles, “Dreamcatcher” and “Till We Fall.” The first track, “Dreamcatcher,” is an emotionally-charged, subdued song with a big, booming bass drum beat throughout, dark pop synth embellishments and haunting, layered vocals. The second track, “Till We Fall,” is epic-sounding with its driving rhythm, charged melodies and full throttle dance synth pop flourishes.

“We are in charge of everything in our band,” Mbaidin says, “starting with songwriting and lyrics, through designing artworks; mixing and producing songs, and finishing with music videos shooting and editing.” Mbaidin cites bands like Linkin Park, The Knife, M83, Howard Shore, Broods, CHVRCHES, and Evaline as top influences. The Dreamcatcher 7″ officially dropped on July 7th. The duo are working on their debut LP.

“Dreamcatcher“ – Skyhound from Dreamcatcher 7″

“Till We Fall“ – Skyhoundfrom Dreamcatcher 7″

Watch the ‘Dreamcatcher’ video via YouTube

Skyhound on Facebook

Sports – Naked All The Time

Heavy bass lines, steady, grooving rhythms and beats, soft vocals and layered choruses, and dreamy psych synth pop melodies are the hallmarks of singles like the swaggering “You Are The Right One” and the sunny, breezy “Panama.” Both tracks are from the new album, Naked All The Time, by the Tulsa, Oklahoma DIY band Sports. These guys delicately weave synth pop with tinges of psychedelia and dream pop.

Throughout junior high and high school, members Jacob Theriot (bass, keys), Christian Theriot (guitar, keys), and Cale Chronister (vocals, keys, guitar) have written and recorded music together under various project names . Not surprisingly, they are fans of bands like Tame Impala, as well as Prince and Fleetwood Mac (that’s an interesting range, chronologically and genre-wise).

Sidebar: One thing worth mentioning – and advice for other new bands – is that picking such a common and diluted word, ‘sports,’ puts the band at an immediate disadvantage because it is nearly impossible for potential fans and followers to quickly find more information about the band in a Google search. Lesson 101 in band naming/branding in 2015: Create a totally original band name that will guarantee that all of the web pages and social media links with your band name will come up first and dominate Google search results. For example, a band name like The Radically Sonic Bandits.

Now, back to regular programming. These two hot tracks from Tulsa band to watch, Sports, are sah-wheet!

“You Are The Right One“ – Sports from Naked All The Time

“Panama“ – Sports from Naked All The Time

Sports on Facebook

Third Brother – No Mind Police

In Falun, Sweden, a new DIY band called Third Brother released their debut EP, No Mind Police. The title track from the EP has a bit of a foreboding tinge to it even though it’s an otherwise uplifting track that weaves folk and rock elements. It’s a standout song, rich with melodies and choruses. The story behind the song seems to be a love song about the emotional struggles love inevitably encounters.

The follow-up single, “Boxes and Old News” is a mellow, folksy acoustic number that somehow sounds so amazingly woodsy, almost like you can smell decaying leaves in November walking in the forest after a rainfall, or old newspapers in an aged shoebox – from notes of music. That’s a unique talent.

It turns out that Albin Carlson, Third Brother’s songwriter, vocalist and guitarist, retreated to a small cabin ‘deep’ in the woods of Dalarna near his home in Sweden. There he wrote and recorded demos for the songs and set out to form a band, bringing together Anton Klasson (guitar and backup vocals), Axel Widmark (bass), and Philip Stjernberg (drums) to complete the band line-up. Not surprisingly, Carlson’s major influences include artists like Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Nick Drake, and Radiohead.

“No Mind Police“ – Third Brother from No Mind Police

“Boxes and Old News“- Third Brother from No Mind Police

Third Brother on Facebook

Break The Bans – Okay, Okay

Based out of Petrozavodsk in the Karelia region of Russia, the garage/punk rock band Break The Bans, formed in 2007, rip out raw, raunchy rock on their debut album, Okay, Okay. Songs from the album made their way on to radio stations in Spain, England, the U.S., Finland, Italy and Portugal by popular request. In fact, the song featured below, “How Can I Love Her?” was featured on a commercial for Hudson Jeans.

Unfortunately, the band did not have the resources – including cash and visas – to tour in order to build on the momentum. But there is still the band’s amazing kick-ass discography. The single, “How Can I Love?” is amazing; we’ve spun it countless times in the cafe. It’s dark, disassociated and different. The second single, “Sexy Lady,” is raw angst the way we like it, and not like we have heard from an overseas DIY band in a while. If you like angry, non-conformist punk rock, you might just want to give this Russian band a shot.

It’s also worth noting that the songs from the band’s album were featured in the indie movie, Drive-In Movie, at a film festival in Belgium.

Last year, the band dropped the EP, Propaganda, which made it to No. 24 on Starfrosch Top 100 Hot Download Charts in Russia. Band members include frontman Alex Fry on vocals; guitarist Vadim ‘Bad’ Bogorodski; Tim Romanse on bass; Louie Zipper on drums; and Tom Rise on guitar.

How Can I Love Her? – Break The Bans from Okay! Okay!

Sexy Lady – Break The Bans from Okay! Okay!

Break The Bans Facebook

“In Russia indie-rock is freedom and poverty. You can make the music you want. But it does not makes money.” – Alex Fry

Aüva – Light Years

Among its many prestigious universities, the Berklee College of Music is one of Boston‘s most respected educational institutions, and one of the top music schools in the world. And consistently over the years, it has spawned many great artists and bands. A new DIY band, Aüva, is among the latest to join the ranks of bands born at Berklee.

The four music students who make up the band arrange complex and sophisticated tunes that feature cross breeding and layering of garage surf rock and dream psych pop. Their tracks from the band’s new debut EP, Light Years, are wild, idealistic and full of energy as glimmering, glam pop tracks like “Into Place,” with it’s layers of harmonies, demonstrate. The second single, “Nothing Else,” is a more dreamy song, while still maintaining somewhat of a driving beat and rhythm.

All of the band members – Miette Hope (vocals and piano); Jack Markwordt (guitar, vocals); Jake LeVine (guitar, vocals) and Michael Piccoli (drums) – are students at Berklee who decided earlier this year to form a band.
The band’s surfy, dream pop tracks, like “Into Place” and “Nothing Else” are catchy and hard to forget.

Recently, friends and fans of the band have titled the band’s music as, ‘dolphin music,’ because of its watery driving guitar, over up tempo and dance-influenced drum set parts. “If dolphins made rock n roll, this may be what it would sound like,” Piccoli said.

Auva has previously opened for bands like Bay Faction and Elizabeth Color Wheel; the band’s top musical influences include Tame Impala, Wild Nothing, Diiv, Beach Fossils, Mammas and the Papas, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

“Into Place“ – Aüva from Light Years

“Nothing Else“ – Aüva from Light Years

Aüva on Facebook

Dismal Beeches – Into The Woods

We’ve been coming across a series of artists and bands this year from Tel-Aviv. While Israel is not considered a hotbed for indie or alternative music, bands like the dream folk rock outfit, Dismal Beeches, are doing their part to create a local scene. This ‘dark wave’ duo is comprised of long-time collaborators, Stephan Friedman and Ronnie Slogun, who aspire to “create somber, intimate aural portrayals dedicated to the sacred mysteries of Nature.”

The eerie title track, “Into The Woods,” from the band’s debut EP, is something you’d expect to hear on the soundtrack of an indie horror track – and that’s not minimizing the song at all. It’s genuinely creepy. The same is nearly true for the song, “A Tramp’s Tale Told Late At Night Near The Salvation Army Homeless Shelter,” a poignant and hauntingly beautiful piece with expressive, echoey vocals, aqua-like psych guitar and glittery but tame synth melodies galore – a strikingly rich and complex song. The guys favorite artists are Cocteau Twins, David Lynch, Lustmord, and The Cure.

DIsmal Beeches describe the story behind their debut EP as “a mystic journey in the depths of the Forest told through four different stories. We start off at a recluse’s retreat in the woods, then proceed through an enchanted woodland as twilight shadows lurk behind the trees; stop by a rural asylum to hear a dreary tale of a beggar; and finally step into the heart of the black forest to meet the spirits of old.” Friedman plays electric guitar, e-bow, kantele, harmonica, synthesizer, sings, and programs drums and effects. Slogun adds bass and vocals to the lineup of instruments.

“Into The Woods“ – Dismal Beeches from Into The Woods

“A Tramps Tale Told Late At Night Near The Salvation Army Homeless Shelter“ – Dismal Beeches from Into The Woods

Dismal Beeches on Facebook

Boat Race Weekend – The Talisman

Boat Race Weekend is a new alternative/pop punk trio based out of Spokane, Washington. Comprised of three childhood best friends – Evan Kruschke (guitar, vocals); Collin Price (bass) and Jay Orth (drums) – the band officially formed in spring of 2013 when asked to perform at the college they attended, Gonzaga University. The band caught attention of many students and began playing packed house shows in the college neighborhood. Soon, the three started playing venues throughout the city of Spokane and the greater Pacific Northwest.

Their demo, “Beautiful Days,” caught the attention of Identity Recording Studios where they recorded their debut album, The Talisman, which was released DIY-style in March 2015. Boat Race Weekend music is characterized by pop punk verses, airy post-rock breakdowns, and heartfelt lyrics. BRW rages through like a hurricane on songs like “The Welcoming,” with blazing guitars, storming drums, frantic bass lines and angst-filled vocals. The band has since grown in popularity in Spokane and more recently in Seattle.

The trio has opened for artists like Dan Smith, Hank and Cupcakes, Heart by Heart (founding members of Heart) and include among their top musical influences Brand New, Blink 182, The Wonder Years, The Story So Far, and Have Mercy.

“Beautiful Days“ – Boat Race Weekend from The Talisman

“The Welcoming“ – Boat Race Weekend from The Talisman

Boat Race Weekend on Facebook

Colourshop – 3PM

The acoustic, experimental folk pop of London‘s bro duo, Colourshop, is captivating, spirited and uplifting on songs like “My World” and “3pm,” the title track from the duo’s debut album that dropped officially in May. “My World” is a powerful, heart-wrenching song; vocalist and guitarist Alfredo Salvati sings his heart out, backed up nicely by glimmering keys and backup vocals from his brother Diego Salvati. The brothers have a wonderful synchronicity that is unmistakable, and an originality that is encouraging. Colourshop is definitely on our Best Overseas DIY Bands to Watch.

“My World“ – Colourshop from 3PM

“3pm“ – Colourshop from 3PM

Colourshop on Facebook

Sperry Alan – Hold On Tight

In Truro, Nova Scotia, musician John Alan Sperry has been writing, recording and releasing albums DIY style since 2004. He crafts alt. rock/folk tracks with introspective lyrics and musical conviction, like on the lo-fi single, “Hold On Tight.” A bit of work on mixing instruments for a master is needed to create a more full sound. His influences include Matthew Good, Silversun Pickups, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sean Panting. There is a youthful inspiration to his music, and attention to artistry and tradition.

“Hold On Tight“ – Sperry Alan from Hold On Tight

“Give Me A Warning“
– Sperry Alan from Hold On Tight

Sperry Alan on Facebook

Battling Giants – Birth/Death/Reckoning

Battling Giants is an alternative hard rock blues band from Omaha that formed in 2014. In May, they dropped their sophomore album, Birth/Death/Reckoning, featuring songs like the raunchy, kick-ass rocker, “Hell Water Blues,” and the dark and menacing, “Dr. Dealer,” a track about prescription drug abuse and the doctors who ‘deal’ out such drugs (especially with the nationwide problem of opiates and subsequent heroin abuse when opiate addicts can find or afford the pills). The band is currently touring. The band members are Lucas Smith vocalist and guitarist Lucas Smith, bassist Matt Limberg, and drummer Scott Peterson.

Battling Giants have opened for bands like All Them Witches ( Nashville), The Well (Austin,Tx) Crushed Out (NY), among many others. Their top musical influences include Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Clutch, White Stripes, Black Rebel Motrocylce Club, and Motorhead

“Hell Water Blues“ – Battling Giants from Birth/Death/Reckoning

“Dr. Dealer“ – Battling Giants from Birth/Death/Reckoning

Battling Giants on Facebook

Slunq – Eel World

From London, the alternative noise rock band, Slunq, is the collective brainchild of brothers Peter Dahl Collins (bass, drums) and Chris Collins (guitars), and their friend, singer and songwriter, Daniel Knowler. We first featured the band back in 2013. Now back with new material, the singles, “Farming Equipment” and “Angeldirt,” from the band’s new EP, Eel World, Slunq’s music feels more menacing and tighter.

The dark, haunting hard rock of “Angeldirt” is riveting, with mind-blowing riffs, mini guitar solos and thunderous percussions. The trio’s musical influences include Cardiacs, Killing Joke, Oceansize, Future Of The Left, and The Pixies.

“Angeldirt“ – Slunq from Eel World

“Farming Experiment“ – Slunq from Eel World

Slunq on Facebook

Adam Hill – Old Paint

You can’t really appreciate, and love, the every expanding ‘indie rock’ genre without respecting, and listening to, the new releases of music that comes from indie and DIY aritsts and bands of all kinds, whether they are rock, folk, pop, folktronic, synth punk, new wave, C-86 and so on. That’s why we can appreciate the folksy music of Adam Hill and friends from Squamish in British Colombia, Canada.

We don’t normally hear southern rooted folk/country mixed with tinges of blues and bluegrass. “[I perform] new and timely indie folk music… on acoustic instruments and [sing the songs] the way they were meant to be sung – address the present without betraying their roots in the past,” Hill writes. He has traversed the United States and lived in states like Ohio, Tennessee, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington before making his home in Squamish, BC.

The tracks, “Three Hundred Miles” and “The Cuckoo,” are rambling and festive, but with a bit of darkness lurking between the notes. Hill writes all his songs, plays all of the instruments – including guitars, bass fiddle, mandolin – sings, records, mixes and masters DIY style. Stephanie Dawn provides additional vocals. Hill is a fan of the Punch Brothers, Sam Amidon, Frank Proffit Jr., and Ola Belle Reed. The album Old Paint dropped in June.

“Three Hundred Miles“ – Adam Hill from Old Paint

“The Cuckoo“ – Adam Hill from Old Paint

Adam Hill on Facebook

Today drops the fifth installment of the wildly popular DIY series, Best New DIY Music of 2015. Obviously, many of our readers/listeners want to hear more talented and promising unsigned bands that are currently under the radar (but shouldn’t be). We’ll keep delivering them because there are so many that simply do not get coverage, and for that, music lovers are the ones who really lose out.

There is truth to the complaint by an increasing number of true indie music lovers that ‘indie music’ is becoming too mainstream. In some respects, that is absolutely true. At the same time, people are smart enough to know that real indie music is more DIY than it is commercial. This is part of the reason why we almost exclusively focus on DIY and small label bands; we’re trying to keep it real; after all, many of the popular and well-known so-called ‘indie’ blogs these days have the same 30 or so artists and bands on constant rotation, while many others are just copy cat, cookie-cutter blogs that do little more than regurgitate coverage of the same buzz bands, songs and albums over and over again to the point of nausea. This compels indie lovers to desperately seek out music that is fresh, authentic, raw, original and ‘best kept secrets,’ if you will. We do our best to fill the gap.

This installment includes bands from Peru to England, Washington DC to Los Angeles, and Australia to Costa Rica representing a wide spectrum of genres from post rock to ambient, pop to post punk, grunge to garage rock, and electro to R & B.

In This Installment

Astronaut Project – Lima, Peru
The Stereophones – Los Angeles, California
Mittenfields – Washington, DC
Fire Fences – Bridgend, England
Sea Ghost – Los Angeles, California
Lorna – Nottingham, England
Young Scum – Richmond, Virginia
Staffords – Melbourne, Australia
Science of Sensations – San Jose, Costa Rica

[zbplayer]

Astronaut Project – Astronaut Project EP

From the elevated capital city of Lima, Peru, the DIY entity, Astronaut Project, was created by singer/songwriter and musician Alberto Zegarra in 2014. Zegarra crafts beautiful, catchy electro, dream pop recordings like the unforgettable track, “Night,” and songs like “Lejos De Aqui” and the demo “Setiembre.” His music has been played on radio and television throughout Latin America. Now it’s time for America to hear his remarkable music.

Zegarra describes his style as “independent music for free minds without any obstacles to creating the music and sounds you want.” Astronaut Project’s self-titled, debut EP officially drops on June 12th, but he has shared a couple of advance tracks with IRC. Zegarra’s musical influences include Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Alice in Chains, Prodigy, and Nine Inch Nails.

“Night“ – Astronaut Project from Astronaut Project

“Lejos de Aquí“ – Astronaut Project from Astronaut Project

“Setiembre“ (Demo) – Astronaut Project from Astronaut Project

YouTube video for “Night”

Astronaut Project on Facebook

The Stereophones – Girls EP

A few years ago, two brothers living in the Los Angeles sprawl, Kayhan Ahmadi (vocals, guitar and drums) and Kevin Ahmadi (guitar, bass), began to write and record catchy, melodic, guitar-driven pop rock. Calling themselves The Stereophones, the Ahmadi brothers honed their skills and perfected their songs, which include subjects about heartbreak, fighting, irony, love, drugs, “the economic meltdown, and slimy Hollywood agents.”

Get ready to dance when you fire up the anthemic song, “Where Have You Been,” a celebratory, upbeat number with a grooving rhythm and sing-a-long chorus about how awesome it is to live in California (albeit the severe drought). Next, the track, “Shot Down,” is also uptempo and uncontainable. Both tracks are from the band’s debut EP, Girls. There’s no question these guys pump out memorable dance pop rock songs. Their favorite bands include Weezer, Radiohead, Death Cab for Cutie, Nada Surf, and Smashing Pumpkins.

“Where Have You Been“ – The Stereophones from Girls EP

“Shot Down“ – The Stereophones from Girls EP

The Stereophones on Facebook

Mittenfields – Optimists

In 2008, teenage bassist and vocalist Dave Mann and his friend, guitarist Sam Sherwood, began kicking out songs together in an industrial park on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.. That began the journey of the indie rock band Mittenfields. Initially, the duo experimented with instrumental tracks that included various combinations of strings, keys, and horns, among other instruments. But when they met up with an aggressive drummer named Brian Moran, Mann and Sherwood ditched “the fancy stuff in favor of a three-guitar lineup,” recruiting two additional guitarists, Donald Seale and Michael Ball. Mittenfields was then where it needed to be, they felt, and with endless rehearsals over a two year period, they finally released their debut EP, The Fresh Sum, in 2011. The EP received critical praise from the D.C. press and music blogs.

Mittenfields’ songs like “Goliath FTW” and “My Mind is an Avalanche” made the rounds on local and college radio nationwide; local press and blogs picked up on the buzz with positive reviews. In the ensuing months, Mittenfields found themselves sharing the stage with bands like The Amazing, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Paperhaus, Left & Right, and Deleted Scenes. The EP demonstrates the band’s love of bands like Pavement, Broken Social Scene, Dinosaur Jr, Krill, Built to Spill, and the Pixies.

And then, as Sherwood says, “life happened.” The maturing band members took job offers, moved to new residences, got married and started families. Fast forward to 2012. The band reunited and earnestly entered the studio to record their debut LP, Optimists, which just dropped in April. It includes the transformative title track included below (followed by a track from the debut EP).

“The writing and recording process,” Sherwood said, “was certainly informed by our on-going frustration and bemusement with the fundamentally ridiculous proposition of being full-time functional adults while keeping a rock band going. We hope that this record can connect with listeners by drawing from across the indie guitar rock canon to synthesize something new, while also speaking to the panics, joys, and pains of settling into modern adulthood.” Growing pains expressed in rock music? No way.

“Optimists“ – Mittenfields from Optimists

“Goliath FTW” – Mittenfields from The Fresh Sum

Mittenfields on Facebook

Sea Ghost – Nothing Is Cool

Combining elements of punk, post punk, surf, garage rock and grunge, the Los Angeles rock duo, Sea Ghost, featuring Nick Coffey on vocals and guitar, and Hannah Pfeiffer on drums, opt for fast-driving, maniac guitar rock, as evidenced on songs like the surf punk/grunge inspired “Stupid Surf Song” from their new EP, Nothing Is Cool.

“We mix genres in our music,” Coffey said, adding: “We both grew up watching MTV and skating our way through the 90’s; I think you can hear that in our sound – a self-loathing; but some fun too.” Coffey was first acquainted with Pfeiffer after seeing her posting on a band directory website and contacting her.

You can hear the influence of Nirvana in the duo’s music; they certainly blast out a terrific wall of noise for a simple duo. At times, Coffey’s vocals are strained and a bit out of key. There’s definitely room for improvement there, and in the overall production value of their recordings. But for a lo-fi musical start-up, Sea Ghost kick ass. What this guy/girl duo need is just the right producer and engineer who knows how to shape their sound to realize what Sea Ghost is truly capable of.

We found Coffey’s perspective about indie rock compelling: “It’s the song you write in your bedroom while playing to your closet. It’s the DIY ethic and the passion you obtain knowing you will probably never make money off those songs, but you put everything into it anyway. There’s something beautiful about that.” Not surprisingly, Coffey and Pfeiffer are fans of Nirvana, as well as John Lennon, Warpaint, Pixies, Hole and Frank Sinatra. That’s an interesting mix of musical prodigies.

“Stupid Surf Song“ – Sea Ghost from Nothing Is Cool

“Nothing is Cool“ – Sea Ghost from Nothing Is Cool

Sea Ghost on Facebook

“Melted” music video – Sea Ghost

Lorna – London’s Calling Me

Lorna is a six-piece dream pop band from the U.K. music centre of Nottingham who dropped their new album on April 18th. Modeling their style after bands like Yo La Tengo, American Analog Set, Teenage Fanclub and The Psychedelic Furs, Lorna have built up a following in the U.K. and Europe, as well as in the States, over the 15 years that the band has been together. We were enthralled the first time we heard their new album, London’s Calling Me, especially the synth pop goldies, “Wayne Mills” and “As She Goes By.”

The band members include Mark Rolfe (guitar, vocals); Sharon Cohen Rolfe (drums, vocals); Andy Bullock (bass, vocals); Madeline Leverton (violin); Matt Harrison (guitar, flute), and Rein Ove Sikveland (viola). Over the years, the band has opened for indie giants like The Psychedelic Furs, and bands like Midlake, Mark Gardener, and The Pernice Brothers.

“Wayne Mills“ – Lorna from London’s Calling Me
[Watch YouTube video for “Wayne Mills”]

“As She Goes By“ – Lorna from London’s Calling Me

Lorna on Facebook

Fire Fences – Pocket Full of Stones

In the south Wales town of Bridgend, there’s an up and coming new indie rock quartet of teenagers named Fire Fences. Inspired by a range of U.K. bands from Bastille to Deaf Havana, Fire Fences bust out of the gates in 2015 on the energetic guitar rock single, “Pulling Teeth.” The first few seconds of the song’s intro guitar riffs sounds very much like U2’s opening riff in “I Will Follow,” but after that, Fire Fences’ song goes on its own path. The band told us they’ve heard this comparison before, and that it is just a coincidence. (What would be the odds of that?)

With instruments ranging from acoustic guitars to a fully equipped rock drum kit, the band strikes a compelling balance between full-throttle rock and acoustic pop. The band members, who range in age from 17 to 19, have already achieved limited success in the U.K. over the past 18 months, with performances at celebrated venues like The O2 Academy Islington (London), The 229 Great Portland Street (London) and The Fleece (Bristol). In September 2014, Fire Fences released their debut EP, Roses From Dust, which did fairly well in radio play and sales for a brand new band hitting the competitive U.K. rock scene.

In less than eight months since their debut EP, the band dropped their sophomore EP, Pocket Full of Stones, on May 1st, from which the songs featured below are taken. The band members are Aaron Wyn Nicholas(guitar, lead vocals); Dylan Wictome (bass, vocals); James Lee (drums) and Will Davies (guitar, vocals).

There’s no question that their song writing and performance skills sound well beyond their years. However, as some reviewers have aptly pointed out, their sound is, at times, crossing the line from what we would normally consider ‘indie rock’ towards the more packaged and perfected ‘top 40 acoustic rock sound.’ This dilemma, we surmise, is more likely the result of a management team the band signed on with rather than their own vision of how they want their sound to be. Or maybe not.

“We just write and play the music we love and if people love it too, then that’s just a bonus,” Nicholas said.

“Pulling Teeth“ – Fire Fences from Pocket Full of Stones

“Call of the Wild“ – Fire Fences from Pocket Full of Stones

Fire Fences on Facebook

Young Scum – Autumn August

Richmond, Virginia DIY band, Young Scum, combines the lilting jangle of The Byrds with the heavier pop sensibilities of Teenage Fanclub. The band has a bit of a task ahead of them because Richmond is historically a city known for its punk and metal scenes. The band members, as frontman Chris Smith contends, are well aware of the challenges they face “in a land devoid of traditional ‘indiepop’ bands.”

But anyone who is a fan of the post-punk, noise-pop/jangle pop era of music, which greatly influenced the founding and direction of indie pop and rock during the 80’s right up to today, will find solace in songs from the bands debut EP, Autumn August, including tracks like “Met You At A Party” and “Blue Slurpee,” to name a couple. “Chiming guitars, bouncy bass, and thrown-down-the-stairs drum fills, create the sound that make up Young Scum’s jangly pop. The best kind of indiepop: that kind that makes you cry and dance at the same time.”

Their indie pop/rock heroes include hallmark bands like Guided By Voices, Weezer, Pavement, and Camera Obscura. Young Scum have opened for Gold-Bears, Left & Right, Wish List, and Pile. In addition to Smith, the band members include Ben Medcalf on guitar, Jason Pirault on bass, and Taylor Haag on drums.

“Met You At A Party“ – Young Scum from Autumn August

“Blue Slurpee“ – Young Scum from Autumn August

Young Scum on Facebook

Staffords – Doubting Thomas Anonymously

Originally conceived as a punk rock-inspired three-piece band in 2011, Staffords (formerly The Staffords), from the Australian city of Melbourne, ripped it up at various venues big and small for nearly two years in the lead up to the release of their debut EP, On The Make in 2013. Together with frequent performances in and around Melbourne, and praise of their debut EP, the band received notice in the music press outside of Australia and grew an enthusiastic following in their home city, opening for artists like Ash.

Lead vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Barnes worked earnestly after the release of On The Make to craft songs that were no longer punk rock, but more so melodic pop combined with psych guitar rock, which is apparent on the 2014 debut LP, It Kills Me. However, prior to its release, the band’s original line up dissolved, much to the disappointment of their loyal followers.

That left Barnes with a sleuth of new songs that he could not perform live or record with the help of a band. Rather than quitting on Staffords, or engaging again in the arduous task of forming a new band, Barnes decided instead to record a new album completely solo. During this period, Barnes’ palette of instrument capabilities evolved from mainly guitar to include keys, synthesizers, bass, and drums, recording each track and then mixing and mastering them himself.

In advance of his new LP, Doubting Thomas Anonymously, sent us the wobbling, grooving psych pop track, “White Chrome” and the fuzzy guitar pop rocker, “Poor Folks Live,” both of which are terrific teasers for the upcoming album. His musical influences, which you can hear interspersed in the music, include The Nerves, The Kinks, Buzzcocks, Big Star, and Beastie Boys. The video for White Chrome was a Featured Music Video on YouTube’s main page.

“White Chrome“ – Staffords from Doubting Thomas Anonymously

“Poor Folks Live“ – Staffords from Doubting Thomas Anonymously

Staffords on Facebook

Science of Sensations – Science of Sensations

For fans of ambient instrumental stoner post-rock, you’ll want to kick back, close your eyes and tune into the next couple of songs from the band Sensation of Science, based in the lovely tropical paradise of Costa Rica. We don’t know much about them other than the band members – Esteban Aguilar (keys and guitar), Javier Aguilar (bass), and Sergio Gutiérrez (drums) – met in 2010 and discovered a common love for ambient instrumental rock.

The chill, jam-heavy songs they supplied us with from their self-titled debut LP, like “Melancholia” and “The Valley,” are truly accomplishments in writing and recording for a new band with few resources. Science of Sensations, perhaps aptly-named, lean towards progressive and psych instrumentation infused with a heavy dose of post rock variances in the songs that keep them from being too repetitive or flat. The band’s musical influences include Pink Floyd, God is an Astronaut, Porcupine Tree, and Opeth. We’ll be keeping an eye on this talented trio.

“Melancholia“ – Science of Sensations from Science of Sensations

“The Valley“ – Science of Sensations from Science of Sensations

Science of Sensations on Facebook

It’s already the first week of April and the DIY releases are piling up. So far, we’ve released two installments of the Best New DIY Music of 2015, and they’ve been a huge hit with our listeners, subscribers and other music lovers around the globe, accumulating tens of thousands of page views and hundreds of Likes and Tweets. After filtering through tons of submissions, we’re happy to deliver to you Volume III of this popular DIY music discovery series.

Stay tuned – much more is coming up, including the Top 10 Songs playlists for March; A Guide to the Best of Record Store Day; Best New Album Releases of 2015 (from signed bands); 5 DIY Album Debuts You’ve Gotta Hear; 5 DIY Bands to Watch, and a new volume of 5 Bands That Rock. You might also want to check out recent installments of other popular features like Artist of the Week and the six-part series, Top DIY Songs & Albums of 2014.

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In This Issue:

Pet Politics – Gothenburg, Sweden
Bud Collins Trio – Mansfield Center, Connecticut
Lascaux – Rouen, France
Babbling April – Dayton, Ohio
Hard Soul – Albany, New York
Forensics – London, England
Stella Got – Israel
Drew Gibson – Washington, D.C.
Virgin Mary Pistol Grips – Omaha, Nebraska
HAPPY good – Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Elad Eyni – Rishon Lezion, Israel
Atrium of The Fall – Topanga, California
Fringes – Ormond Beach, Florida
Russell Joslin – London, England
Dan Zdilla – Lanchester, Pennsylvania
Doug Balmain – Laramie, Wyoming
No Body – Olympia, Washington

Pet Politics is the former one man band of Gothenburg, Sweden musician Magnus Larsson, active from 2005 through 2008. Drawing from his top musical influences like Sonic Youth, Pavement, Flaming Lips and Silver Jews, Larsson captured our ears with his incredibly melodic and jangly guitar riffs, measured drum beats and bass lines , and his slightly out-of-tune vocals and double-dubbed choruses on standout tracks like “The Ghost Mary and Her Friends” and “Taken Away By Aliens,” off of Pet Politics compilation album, simply titled 2005-2008, released in February.

“The Ghost Mary and Her Friends“ – Pet Politics from 2005-2008

“Taken Away by Aliens“ – Pet Politics from 2005-2008

The Bud Collins Trio’s DIY Drop, JimTom

Located in Mansfield Center, Connecticut, the Bud Collins Trio first came together in 1987, and not long after were featured in the popular MTV show Basement Tapes. That of course opened up doors for the DIY band as they toured extensively throughout the 1990s, opening for artists like Bob Mould, Maceo Parker, and Blues Traveler. In 2009, the band reformed after a decade hiatus. The band’s sounds showcase a mixture of various styles and genres swirling and crashing and blending, including melodic pop, tropical, jazz and psych rock. Song themes range from pop culture to love. In February, BCT released a new album, JimTom, the terrifically entertaining, mesmerizing and unforgettable musical journey, and the follow-up to the November release of Jimmy Tom. Stream more songs on the BCT Soundcloud page. It’s no surprise that the band members are fans of artists like XTC, Flaming Lips, Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan and Elvis Costello.

“As Far as Ziskos“ – Bud Collins Trio from JimTom

“Captain Rainbow“ – Bud Collins Trio

Bud Collins Trio on Facebook

Lascaux – Losing Sleep

Lascaux is an unsigned indie power pop/rock quartet from Rouen, France that booted up in 2011 when a group of musician friends decided to take their shot at writing and recording their own songs. As big fans of 1980’s pop and rock, Lascaux forges a large sound with deep percussions from Grégoire Mainot , jangling guitars from Victor Moignard, twinkling keys from Martin Lefebvre and splendid vocals by front man Clément Durand. The band members recorded their debut album, Losing Sleep, at the U.K.’s prestigious Chapel Studio. The result is eight tracks of catchy, hook-filled pop. Lascaux won a musical contest in France that placed them as the opening band for alternative rock giants Dinosaur Jr. and Texas. Their debut album, Losing Sleep was released on February 16th. The band’s most influential artists include The Sound, Depeche Mode, Kasabian, and The Strokes.

“Daydream“ – Lascaux from Losing Sleep

“Vice Hotel“ – Lascaux from Losing Sleep

Lascaux on Facebook

“Reflect” YouTube video

Babbling April – Babbling April EP

Starting out as a one-man band project of Dayton, Ohio bassist Dave New last year, Babbling April was joined by drummer Stephen Yokley, and for live shows, Lee Wise and Vivi Machi on vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards. Machi’s warm and sweet vocals, layered shoegaze-like guitars and keys, along with New’s bass thumping and Yokley’s forceful drumming on the single, “Sunny Day Records,” are phenomenal for a lo-fi track. A great producer could take that single, and the riff-heavy, punk/new wave track, “Girl I’ma Babe,” and really make them even better. The band dropped their self-titled debut EP DIY-style on February 13th.

Babbling April was featured on Noisetrade‘s ‘New and Notable Artists’ page. They’ve opened for artists like Bailiff, The Receiver, Narrow/Arrow, New Vega, and Blond, and their musical influences include Yo La Tengo, Built To Spill, White Denim, and Broken Social Scene. “Indie rock,” New said, “is the new folk music – people making music they love by the means they have available and sharing it with their friends and communities.”

“Sunny Day Records“ – Babbling April from Babbling April EP

“Girl Ima Babe“ – Babbling April from Babbling April EP

Babbling April on Facebook

Hard Soul – Fairer Shores

Hard Soul is a DIY rock and power pop band from Albany, New York band who’ve dropped a new release every year since their formation in 2011. The band has performed in venues throughout the northeast and built a small, but loyal, following. Hard Soul’s new Kickstarter-funded EP, Fairer Shores, dropped on February 24th, features standout tracks like “The Sweetest Heart” and the title track. The band has opened for Brick and Mortar and The Zombies, and draw from musical influences like Oasis, Thin Lizzy and The Beatles. The band members are Johnny Salka on vocals and lead guitar; Nick Kossor and Steve ‘The Dome’ Thompson on guitar; Ryan Klaeysen on bass; Mark Podbielski on drums.

“The Sweetest Heart“ – Hard Soul from Fairer Shores

“Fairer Shores“ – Hard Soul from Fairer Shores

Forensics – Charlotte’s Web

Forensics is a DIY London quartet that favors reverb-heavy and angling guitars as is evident on the band’s latest single, Charlotte’s Web. The band is releasing a series of singles throughout the year.

“Charlottes Web“ – Forensics from Charlotte’s Web

Stella Got – Wounded Ladies

Israeli artist Stella Got released her solo debut LP, Wounded Ladies, featuring the urgent, meddling and grey song, “Like A Rope.” Got has opened for artists like Gary Numan and Rockfour, and is also a member of the band Bill & Murray.

“Like A Rope“ – Stella Got from Wounded Ladies

Drew Gibson – 1532

From his base in Washington, D.C., musician Drew Gibson has spent the last 20 years recording and releasing indie rock and acoustic folk music DIY-style. Gibson’s latest album, 1532, features heartfelt indie folk rock tracks like “Bettie-Jane” and the driving beats and steel guitar licks of “Hallow Flood of Wounds.”

“Bettie-Jane“– Drew Gibson from 1532

“Hallow Flood of Wounds“ – Drew Gibson from 1532

Releases from DIY Artists Virgin Mary Pistol Grip, Elad Eyni, and HAPPY good

Virgin Mary Pistol Grip is a rock band from Omaha whose recent self-released, self-titled album spawned their first single, “Whiskey Flats,” which has been spun on radio stations throughout the Midwest. HAPPY good is David Speakman, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania based artist who loves tomatoes, black-capped Chickadees and many things unconventional. His musical influences include Junip, Telekinesis, Lupen Crook, and Tom Waits. The electro-sludge, as he calls it, is apparent on the single, “Electric Cigarette.” Other releases include Elad Eyni, a one-man alt. rock band from Israel with a track, “Catch The Sun,” from his Feb. 15th debut EP, Memories From The Kingdom Garden.

“Whiskey Flats“ – Virgin Mary Pistol Grip from Virgin Mary Pistol Grip – Feb. 3rd

“Catch The Sun“ – Elad Eyni from Memories From The Kingdom Garden – Feb. 15th

“Electric Cigarette“ – HAPPY good from single – Feb. 12th

Atrium of The Fall – Machines and Matriarchs

Topanga, California’s Tool-inspired DIY alt. rock band, Atrium of The Fall (all ex-music business professionals) chime in with the singles, “The Chancellor” and “El Dorado” from the debut LP, Machines and Matriarchs.

“The Chancellor“ – Atrium of The Fall from Machines and Matriarchs

“El Dorado“ – Atrium of The Fall from Machines and Matriarchs

Dan Zdilla – Behold and Lo

The mellow waviness of pop mixed with country embellishments like watching tumbleweeds dance in the sunlight is how we think of the advanced singles, “It’s Alright” and “As It Begins” from the debut solo album from Lancaster, Pennsylvania musician, songwriter and vocalist Dan Zdilla. He makes no bones about the fact that he’s a “sucker for a good melody.” Over the past few years, Zdilla has performed in and around his home city. On April 21, he will release his debut solo album, Behold and Lo. He is performing the songs from the album with help from drummer Paul Murr; keyboardist Matt Thomas; bassist Mike Bitts, and guitarist Chad Kinsey, the same folks that Zdilla recorded the album with.

“Behold and Lo nods to pop-rock of years past; while still sounding relevant to our generation of music-heads,” he says, “it’s inspired by melodic greats like The Beatles and The Kinks as well as more soulful artists like Paul Simon and Van Morrison.” Other influential artists and bands that inform his musical palate include Jimmy Cliff, RX Bandits, Cheers Elephant and Elvis Costello.

“Its Alright“ – Dan Zdilla from Behold and Lo

“As It Begins“ – Dan Zdilla from Behold and Lo

Dan Zdilla official website

Fringes – Antoonos EP

In 2012, four high school buddies from Ormond Beach, Florida got together and formed the alternative rock band Fringes. In February, the band dropped their energetic and edgy alt rock debut EP, Antoonos. In 2014, Fringes performed at nearly a dozen festivals and venues throughout central Florida, winning first place at the Granada Grand Festival‘s battle of the bands event. Two singles from their debut EP, “My Friends From New York” and “Here” demonstrate the band’s out-of-the-gate talents and prospects. Band members include guitarist and vocalist Max Haberman; drummer Gio Barreto; bassist Travis Hanson and lead guitarist Greyson Rayos. “Indie rock,” Hanson writes, “is about experimentation of instrument techniques, song structures, digital mastering, and musical freedom.” Fringes’ musical influences include Nirvana, The Black Keys, The Orwells, Alice in Chains, Led Zeppelin, and The Strokes.

“My Friends From New York“ – Fringes from Antoonos – Feb. 15th

“Here“ – Fringes from Antoonos

Fringes on Facebook

Russell Joslin – Harlequins

Based in London, singer/songwriter Russell Joslin is, according to the BBC, “living proof of how fresh, vigorous and abrasive an acoustic songwriter can and should be in the 21st century.” Born and raised in the countryside of Wiltshire, he moved to London as a young adult to pursue his music career and was quickly noticed in the competitive music scene and booked to tour with artists like The Early Years, Scouting for Girls and Dot Allison.

In 2009, he released his solo album, Dream Token, that received wide praise from the press and bloggers – “an album of eloquent beauty” wrote ThisisfakeDIY and “a much needed gust of fresh air into the British folk scene” added Subba-Cultcha. That was followed up with his sophomore album in 2011. In February, after a two-year hiatus performing with the band High Windows, Russell dropped his third solo album, Harlequins, featuring songs like “What A Waste” and the Nick Drake-like, “Pittsburgh It Is.” His musical influences include Nick Cave, Death Grips, Two Gallants, and Bob Dylan.

“What a Waste“ – Russell Joslin from Harlequins

“Pittsburgh It Is“ – Russell Joslin from Harlequins

Doug Balmain – Burnin’ Both Ends

From Laramie, Wyoming, solo rock musician Doug Balmain self-released his latest album, Burnin’ Both Ends, on March 3rd. As a fan of bands like The Stone Foxes, Oasis and Ryan Adams, the diversification of his tastes are evident on funky songs like “Bad Habits” and the title track.

“Bad Habits“ – Doug Balmain from Burnin’ Both Ends

“Burnin Both Ends“ – Doug Balmain from Burnin’ Both Ends

No Body – Deep Ocean Empty Wave

Formed in 2013, Olympia, Washington, the DIY band No Body knocks out grungy experimental rock on their new album, Deep Ocean Empty Wave. The band members are Issac Scott, Kevin Loughlin, and Josh Wolf. Their musical influences include Colleen Green, Women, METZ, Deerhunter, and Ava Luna.

“Always Moving Never Reaches“ – No Body from Deep Ocean Empty Wave – March 7th

“Deep Ocean Empty Wavve“ – No Body from Deep Ocean Empty Wave

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