Tag Archives: blues

UnderDogs Across Borders: Vol. 3

Our next installment of UnderDogs Across Borders: The Concert Series will take place live from Helping Our Music Evolve in Nashville on Tuesday, September 16 from 7-9 p.m.

WATCH OUR JULY CONCERT | WATCH OUR AUGUST CONCERT

Co-hosted by Nicolas Soul (with an assist from the guy writing this post), our next UnderDogs Across Borders concert is perhaps our most genre-diverse offering to date, featuring performances from across the musical spectrum and beyond.

Our September 16 lineup includes:

  • Impactful spoken word artist Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
  • Nashville hip hop legend E.T.
  • Revolutionary hip hop artist T.R.A.N.E. Spitta
  • Dynamic ‘ROCK&B’ artist Tony Carpenter
  • Multi-genre, multi-instrumental wizard Brother Dusty

If you’re in Nashville, join us at H.O.M.E. (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville). If you’re not, join us from absolutely anywhere in the world with internet on our YouTube channel. As always, we kindly ask you to make a $10 suggested donation to our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, which you can do anytime by clicking on this link!

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

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: Blair Gun Calls Out Your Complacency on ‘Don’t Think’

Cover art for Blair Gun's single, "Don't Think."

San Diego power punks Blair Gun — set to release their new album, There Are No Rival Clones Here, in just a few weeks — are showing off their range on their new, folk-infused single, “Don’t Think.”

The new tune — in contrast from previous single, “The Thief” — is built on a rootsy acoustic foundation, letting the band’s Americana sensibilities shine, while not losing the fuzzy, gritty edge that we fell in love with in the first place. Thematically, “Don’t Think” inspires quite the opposite, making us ponder how easy it can be to let ourselves become entangled in situations that do not serve our higher purpose.

“I wrote it about how hard it can be for anyone to make meaningful change in their life, and how often we can all end up complacent in toxic situations,” said vocalist/guitarist Joedin Morelock.

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Eric Bauer, There Are No Rival Clones Here will hit your favorite streaming platforms on Friday, June 7. Get another taste below!

NASHVILLE: June 12 Battle of the Bands Contestants Announced

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!

WATCH: On ‘Don’t You Know,’ Cole Gallagher Digs His Own Grave

Photo credit: Chris Martinez

Love can make us fall into madness. Sometimes, it can even feel like we’re being buried alive.

That metaphor is on full display in Cole Gallagher’s new video for “Don’t You Know.”

The video — directed and edited by Andrea Jako — stars Gallagher opposite Alexander Karavay and Samantha Violet, who portray an outlaw couple who kidnap Gallagher, drive him to the high desert of California, and force him to dig his own grave. While most of the scenes transpire without a hint of remorse for Gallagher’s character, we come to find that one of our antagonists may have struggled with the decision all along.

The song itself — produced by GRAMMY-winner Vance Powell (Phish, Chris Stapleton, Jack White) and featuring current and previous 400 Unit members Chad Gamble, Sadler Vaden and Jimbo Hart — sets an ominous tone. Supported by nostalgic mellotron tones and gritty, blues-influenced guitars, we feel a downward spiral of emotion as Gallagher laments a failed relationship.

“‘Don’t You Know’ is a track that I have been waiting to release for a long time,” Gallagher shared. “At its core, the lyrics tell the story of one of the toughest internal battles I’ve ever encountered. This song was beautifully produced by Vance Powell, and the players from the 400 Unit somehow created a track that was both gnarly and smooth at the same time.”

UMC20: The Best of March 2024

What a stacked month!

Between the 20 songs that comprise the UMC20 Best of March 2024, and the two latest, completely epic episodes of our Official Podcast, The Quinn Spinn, our end-of-month compilation contains nearly three-and-a-half hours of listening enjoyment!

Get it while it’s here. Next Wednesday, we’ll drop the first all-new UMC of April. Soak up the memories from the month that has been!

Track listing
Bootsy Collins ft. Snoop Dogg, Fantaazma, Wiz Khalifa, and Dave Stewart – The Influencers
Spence Brown – Scotch Thoughts
Miles Squiers – 24 Hours
Game Changer – Just Sayin’
Adam Paddock – Sweet Ohio Light
Izzy Rage – Wreck
TsukiMai – Selenophile
Cardiac Half – Gloom
YEARB4 – BABY I’M DYIN’
The Minimum Wage – Everyone Is
Pepperwood – Drowning
The Ghost Club – If I Fell (Don’t Wait Here For Me)
Crow and Gazelle – Take It Away
Max McNown – Dead Set
Dustin Kensrue – High Scalers
Kat & Zach – Winter Flower
Bronco Redahan – High on Lonesome
The Kentucky Gentlemen – Beg Your Parton
Mikayla Lewis – All is Well
Rome – Forever

PHOTOS: Pug Johnson & The Hounds at The Basement

Hailing from the Golden Triangle region of Southeast Texas, Pug Johnson grew up influenced by Americana greats and sounds of the Bayou.

On Tuesday night, we had the opportunity to witness those worlds collide at The Basement in Nashville, when Pug Johnson & The Hounds took the stage. The end result was a fun, 40-minute romp that was part country, part blues, part Zydeco, and all from the heart.

Johnson’s profound, yet edgy lyricism connects with listeners on an authentic human level, while his calm, confident presence serves as a linchpin for the band’s live experience. From there, The Hounds had plenty of room to show off their chops, flowing artfully through a sonically-diverse, well-crafted set fit for the Great American Songbook.

Pug Johnson & The Hounds are back in Texas for a run of shows, before heading back out on the road this spring. Want a look at what you can expect? Look no further…

UMC20: A Sonic Melting Pot (Feb. 20, 2024)

From song to song, and moment to moment, you never quite know where this week’s edition of UMC20 is going to go.

There’s a lot of genre-bending goodness throughout the playlist. You’ll hear plenty of instances where elements of one genre sneak their way into another.

And, of course, there are two bonus tracks, because we’re releasing two episodes of The Quinn Spinn per week now. One highlights the journey of an exciting new artist; while the other, just released today, shows a different (i.e.; the original) side of our Official Podcast. Past meets present, indeed!

Track listing
Foundation Mecca ft. Carissa Kohne – Brand New
Cyrille Aimee – Here
Fuchsia – Backseat Blues
Malcolm DeWayne – Amethyst Nights
Jasce – River
EMMI IIDA ft. Peachkit – Higher Self
Aaron Lee Tasjan – The Drugs Did Me
Flyin’ Hot Saucers – Ollantaytambo
Deidre – Every Breath You Take
Andrea von Kampen – Such Love Does
Gabrielle Grace – Both Ways
Lindsey Lomis – Long Way Down
Kitty Coen – yellow light
Steve Conte – Shoot Out The Stars
Old 97’s – Where the Road Goes
Frontier Ruckus – I’m Not the Boy
Parker Barrow – Back to Birmingham
Sarina Haggarty – Lipstick to Myself
Emily Ann Roberts – Whole Lotta Little (Cabin Sessions)
Armchair Boogie – Livin’

UMC20: Coming In from All Corners (Jan. 16, 2024)

International artists? Rock and Roll Hall of Famers? What special occasion could possibly bring all of these incredible talents under the same roof?

For us, it’s just Tuesday.

Where else can you find a weekly indie music playlist that offers as many unique flavors as UMC20? We’ve got everything you need right here, pulled together every Tuesday from all corners of the musical landscape.

This week’s bonus track is our Quinn Spinn conversation with Zhaklina, whose new single, “M.D.B.M.,” is also featured early in this week’s playlist.

Track listing:
Chloe Stroll – Run (PINES Remix)
Zhaklina – M.D.B.M
NOANNE – White Glove
Fie Eike – The Nile
Intellect ft. Dave East – Too Many Losses
My Life Story – Running Out of Heartbeats
Aaron Lee Tasjan – Horror Of It All
Alex Jordan – Saving Grace
The Steel Wheels – Hero
Spencer LaJoye – How Are You
Mary McGuinness – Touchstone
Frontier Ruckus – Clarkston Pasture
Jobi Riccio – Whiplash
Teagan Stewart – New Nashville
Reid Haughton – Man Made Money
The Washboard Union – Neon Needs The Night
The Sleeping Souls – Scared of Living
Ricky Byrd – Rhapsody in Blues (One for Jeff)
The Blues Emergency – Quicksand
Campanula – She Said

UMC20: The Best of May 2023

Hold it right there!

Did you know that you can support Underground Music Collective, any time of year? By making a tax-deductible donation to UMC via The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville, you ensure that we can keep sharing songs and stories from independent creatives everywhere, for years to come. Click here to get started!

Anyway, onto the UMC20 Best of May…

Hear the Best of May
« Older Entries