Tag Archives: alternative

Rock On!: November 2024

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We’ve said it before, we’ve said it again, and we’ll always say it: contrary to what you may have heard, rock is alive and well.

We’ve seen and heard this simple truth through the years, as artists near and far have made clear through their art. And, for as diverse as our musical world has become, there’s still nothing quite as organic as a bunch of friends bringing their instruments into a room to make some noise.

This playlist is a result of that raw energy and spirit, 20 times over. If you’ve been wondering where all the guitars are on the modern music landscape, look no further. They’re right here for you.

Track listing
The Mad Sugars – New York Girls
Bobby Mahoney – Empty Passenger Seats
Leah Burns – WUT R U WAITING 4
Brother People – Total Vibe
The Trampoline Delay – Little Lucy
Theos Wall – COSMONAUT CASTAWAY
Hot4Robot – Your Chemical (Unplugged Live)
Lonely Little Kitsch – Vices
Harley Olivia – You’re Not Ready
Fortunate Losers – Taste
Lips Speak Louder – Dog Days of Summer
Feral Minks – My Escapade
General Mojo’s ft. Marshall Law Band – change will come
f1oater. – Half-Life
Doc. Henry – Babyface
The Manic Boys and Girls Club – Last Train
horsebread – ontherun
The Hollow Party – Medicine
KJ Wild – Red Hot Magazine Girl
ROM COM ft. Eliza Harrison Smith – Call You Mine

LISTEN: On ‘Where Are You Now,’ Matthew Ryan Jacobs Captures Life’s Bittersweet Journey

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Life doesn’t always wait until we’re ready to make changes.

Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario-based songwriter Matthew Ryan Jacobs has experienced plenty of growth over the past few years, and he captures its essence on “Where Are You Now.” This bluesy waltz is passed through a gritty alt-rock filter, as Jacobs helps us reflect on the pivotal moments that comprise life’s bittersweet journey.

“’Where Are you Now’ is mostly about making changes in your life, whether you want to or not,” Jacobs said. “A lot of my writing over the last few years has had a lot to do with getting older or growth; and the struggle of leaving certain things or people in your past. It’s not intended to be a negative narrative, just honest. Even if you know you’re making the right — or at least, better — decision, you still second guess yourself along the way.”

“At least I do.”

Produced by Ben Kempel, Jacobs describes “Where Are You Now” as a song that “just kind of happened” — much like the reality that inspired its narrative.

“I didn’t overthink anything in the process. It felt right, so we went with it,” Jacobs said. “I had a pretty clear vision for the production, and Ben did a great job as usual making it happen.“

LISTEN: Mobley is Haunted by ‘Y’r Ghost’

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Acclaimed songwriter Mobley just dropped his first new release since 2022 — and he’s wasting no time taking us on an emotional thrill ride.

“Y’r Ghost” is bubbling over with abrupt twists and turns — both in its sonic landscape, and the mood it serves to create. What begins with a sweet, soulful simmer transforms on a dime into a frantic, up-tempo dash, as our protagonist searches for answers after losing a partner whom he loved intensely.

“‘Y’r Ghost’ marks the return of Jacob Creedmoor, the protagonist from my last record, Cry Havoc!,” Mobley said. “It finds him reminiscing about the night he met the love of his life and mourning her loss, and the fact that she’s fading in his memory. The song’s shifts in mood and energy mirror the turmoil of our lovelorn hero, while the lyrics hint at a larger story still waiting to be told.”

That larger story — a continuation of the themes explored on 7-track Cry Havoc! EP — is coming soon in the form of a science-fiction epic. While we await more details, immerse yourself in the latest chapter!

LISTEN: The Trampoline Delay’s Wake-Up Call

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We’ve all had that loved one whose destructive decisions are becoming worrisome. The Trampoline Delay is here to help us sound the alarm.

The band’s new single, “Little Lucy,” comes in with a thunderous urgency. The fast-paced alt-rock offering — which clocks in at just under two minutes — is written from the perspective of a friend who sees the crash coming, but feels powerless to stop it.

“‘Little Lucy’ is about watching someone self-destruct and trying to snap them out of it. Lucy’s caught up with the wrong crowd, doing things that drag her down—whether it’s drinking, drugs, whatever,” said frontman Pete Marino. “It’s that downward spiral you can’t always pull people out of. The first chorus is a wake-up call, like, ‘Get it together,’ but by the end, it’s more desperate, like, ‘Please wake up,’ after it’s too late.”

The scorching new tune was created out of a fun creative competition between Marino and other musician friends, where they pick a theme, select an existing song, and make it their own. “Little Lucy” started as an indie rock makeover of the Everly Brothers classic, “Wake Up Little Susie.”

From there, it found new life.

“I think it took about 30 minutes to program drums, record the guitars, bass, vocal. In this case, I loved the version I made so much, and it was completely different than the original, I didn’t want it to go to waste,” Marino recalled. “So, I wrote new lyrics, while still keeping that iconic chorus line of “wake up little…” but definitely took the song in a darker direction. Then, I went back to it, and added real drums and new vocals.”

LISTEN: Leah Burns Wants You to Go Out and Live Life

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Photo credit: Kyrie Dial

Our time is finite. Best to live it up while we still can.

That’s the empowering message behind Leah Burns’ latest release, “WUT R U WAITING 4.” Influenced by the power pop anthems of our Millennial youth, the rocking new single is driven forward by blistering guitars and Burns’ distinct powerhouse vocals, which are used to deliver clear instructions: drop your baggage at the door, go out, and experience life.

“I wrote it one day after therapy. We were talking about how I just wanted to feel alive again and happy. I didn’t want to be the sad version of myself or was just floating through life,” Burns said. “So, the song is about not staying stuck in place. It’s about going out and living your life to the fullest, and not waiting for it. It’s about abandoning all the patterns you’ve been stuck in and changing them, and going out and doing everything you want. (It’s about) not holding back anymore.”

It’s fitting that we’re writing this review on a Friday, because it makes this the perfect moment to take action on Burns’ message…

“I hope everyone who listens to it is inspired to grab their friends, go out, and just live,” Burns said.

Better get to it — after you give “WUT R U WAITING 4” a listen, of course!

On ‘Crush’, Lips Speak Louder Describe the Rush of Falling in Love

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Lips Speak Louder may have a busy fall on tap, touring with Emily Wolfe. However, that won’t stop them from continuing to crank out the tunes.

The most recent? The pop punk anthem, “Crush.” Written by Lips Speak Louder’s Rachel Brandsness and Angela Lese and produced by Wolfe, the new single reminds us what it’s like to be overcome with cautious optimism as we (maybe? possibly?) fall in love.

“(‘Crush’ is about) the incredible rush of emotions you get when you first start falling for someone, and how one unexpected encounter can change everything,” Brandsness said.

Don’t forget: you can see Lips Speak Louder perform “Crush” and plenty of other tunes from their upcoming full-length record on Saturday, October 19 at The Lipstick Lounge in Nashville. Learn more about that here, and check out the latest below!

LISTEN: Hot4Robot Tackles the Euphoria of Addiction on ‘Your Chemical’

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It’s amazing how a creative spark from many moons ago can come back around, years later, and give way to something new.

That is the origin story of Hot4Robot’s tune, “Your Chemical.” The band just released an acoustic rendition on September 13, in advance of the band’s forthcoming unplugged album, recorded live at the legendary Godfrey Daniels listening room in Bethlehem, PA.

“The main groove of ‘Your Chemical’ was originally featured in a tune performed by The Foolz, a Lehigh Valley jam-band staple of the mid-aughts, whose lineup included 50 percent of Hot4Robot,” said frontman Alex Radus, who crafted the song’s prototype alongside guitarist Dave Cahill. “That tune is lost to the sands of time, but the groove was infectious enough to make its way into Hot4Robot’s songwriting toolkit. It was eventually refashioned into ‘Your Chemical’ – matched with completely different lyrics, melody and B-section.”

“Your Chemical” originally debuted on the band’s 2021 full-length, self-titled release. The pensive — some might say ominous — tune “chronicles the toxic and disorienting euphoria of addiction, especially to dopamine hits and external validation.”

Radus believes that this updated rendition gives the song’s message room to breathe, while keeping the structure and intricacies of the original intact.

“What was fascinating about reimagining this song unplugged, is that the acoustic format gave the tune an intimacy and vulnerability that conveyed the message just as well — or perhaps better? “Radus said. “It’s also pretty amazing how Dave recreates his intense and spectacular lead with no pedals or effects.”

Feel the intensity — check out “Your Chemical – Unplugged” below!

Believe the ‘Hype’: Lips Speak Louder are Here to Rock!

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In case you’ve been under a rock for the past few years, turn-of-the-millennium rock influences are everywhere these days. It’s never long before we hear about another reunion tour — or entire festival — meant to appeal to our Gen X and Millennial tastes.

Of course, the late 90s and early 2000s are showing up in plenty of new music as well. Take Nashville-based duo Lips Speak Louder for example; their new single, “Hype,” draws its instrumentation and swagger from some of your favorite high-powered grunge tunes, while frontwoman Rachel Brandsness’ vocals remind us of Gwen Stefani — with just a wee bit more of a sullen edge.

“‘Hype’ unapologetically calls out and confronts the inauthenticity of those who sell themselves for their own gain, whether it’s social, financial or political,” Brandsness said.

If you want to hear more after listening to this — and we’re sure you will — Lips Speak Louder is about to embark on a fall tour across much of the US, both in support of their own project and as the backing band for Emily Wolfe, who produced “Hype” alongside the band’s forthcoming album. That tour includes an Oct. 19 date at Nashville’s Lipstick Lounge, beginning at 7 p.m.

For now, believe the “Hype” on this one — because it’s here, and it’s real!

LISTEN: Lonely Little Kitsch Explores Our ‘Vices’

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We’re heading to Canada for the first time ever this month! To celebrate, let’s check in with a band keeping the nation’s storied alt-rock tradition alive!

Lonely Little Kitsch released their latest single, “Vices,” on August 21. A tense introduction — hallmarked by low-end guitars and a thunderous bass drum pattern — sets an ominous tone, as frontwoman Kristen Goetz lists some of the ways our humanity gets the better of us.

However, upon a closer listen, one realizes that “Vices” serves a deeper purpose — to celebrate the beautiful imperfections that make each of us human!

“The song is about bad habits, and how we all have them,” Goetz said. “Some can be serious, and some are innocent and fairly innocuous –- and, in some cases, our vices are other people. But, no one is vice-less. ‘Vices’ is about recognizing that, and coming together and being open about it. Perfection is a farce. Let your freak flag fly!”

Described by the band as “Veruca Salt meets Jack White, with a little (a lot) of Cobain in the bridge,” “Vices” takes the best of 90s grunge and applies a modern filter — complete with a melody sure to leave a lasting impression.

“I had been playing around on a keyboard and came up with something that felt catchy. Nolan immediately created a killer guitar riff based on that, I sang a melody with it, and that was that,” Goetz said. “The bones and structure of the song came together extremely quickly.”

NASHVILLE: June 12 Battle of the Bands Contestants Announced

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Last month, you learned that ARREIS is teaming with Chicago-bred festival organizers Local Nation on presenting a Battle of the Bands competition this summer and fall throughout Nashville.

The first event will take place Wednesday, June 12 at The End (2219 Elliston Pl.), and we have your lineup right here…

Judges for the June 12 event include:

Want to perform at a future Battle of the Bands? Applications are still open through May 24. Submit for consideration!

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