imperfect fifth
“heaven” by culture wars: a raw and intimate musical embrace
smooth guitars, propulsive basslines
arto vaun’s “build my own fever” is the perspective we need
Today, Boston-bred singer/songwriter Arto Vaun releases the third single from his upcoming July debut release Stuck Inside a Map. If the singles so far are any indication, Vaun's solo project is bound to take flight, on the wings of self-awareness and a proclivity for...
razor braids’ new LP “big wave” is anguish and insecurity wrapped in a 90s indie throwback
Brooklyn’s own indie rock band Razor Braids just released Big Wave, their sophomore LP after 2021’s “I Could Cry If You Want Me To”. The new album is of a concept record about the timeline of going through a breakup, and lyrically it's very personal. It goes into the...
embracing punk’s raw energy with the lookout’s “i know the future”
Get ready to be blown away by The Lookout’s latest single, "I Know the Future," an exhilarating ride through the heart of Montreal's punk scene. Masterfully channeling decades of punk influence, "I Know the Future" is a track set to ignite your senses and keep you...
“i just needed you to know” shows girl scout at their heaviest
The new single by Swedish indie rock band Girl Scout, “I Just Needed You To Know”, shows the range of the band in terms of their musicianship. It’s entirely in the realms of punk music, with driving drums and bass, distorted guitars, and an intentionally raw and...
french cassettes reminisce with delicate “when you know, you know”
French Cassettes, an indie band based in San Francisco, has released their new single “When You Know, You Know” and it’s every bit as dreamy as a song can get! The song is featured on their new album, Benzene, set to come out on June 7th. When asked about how the...
le destroy’s “autonomy” video is a thrilling, anti-capitalist cyberpunk rave
Part of the fun of writing about an artist like Le Destroy (aka Kristina Olson) is that using words like sleazy, grimy, and harsh are encouraging rather than not. Her politically charged songs mix the aggressiveness of punk and industrial with the loose, unchained...
local natives thrill at the truman in kcmo
On May 15th, Kansas City favorite Local Natives made an appearance at The Truman alongside Uwade. Visual artist Jennifer Casida was on-hand to deliver some fun and psychedelic photos of the sold-out event, which took place on a gorgeous, temperate spring evening under...
amber riley’s cover of “macarthur park” by donna summer honors the queer roots of disco
It’s the start of pride month, and there’s only one form of music most synonymous with the queer experience: disco! The genre’s resurgence in popularity has only been growing in recent years, likely helped by pride’s more mainstream acceptance (well, by form of...
scott guild’s plastic: the album is an abstract but intriguing slab of art-pop
interesting and captivating
big hassle’s new playlist highlights their lgbtq+ artists – and sets the soundtrack for june
It's already June, and if no one tells you how they can barely believe it in the next few days, then you got away with murder, essentially. That said, it is June. And with June comes PRIDE. Big Hassle - one of our favorite companies in the otherwise questionable and...
byland’s “two circles” video is a blend of artfully hopeful and haunting
In March, indie darling duo Byland - comprised of husband/wife talents Alie and Jake Byland - released their entrancing, 10-track full-length Heavy For A While. One of our favorites was a very emotional track for Alie, titled "Two Circles." The music video was...
“on this hill” – the latest from t-pain – is a thought-provoking, emotional ride
It is basically a prerequisite that you must love T-Pain if you work with imperfect Fifth. Whether you enjoy his vocal stylings - autotuned or his incredible natural vocal range -, his entrepreneurial brain, or his giggle, there is something about him that is so...
maddie zahm’s irving plaza show was an intricate, inspired, emotional event
Inspiring and electric.
danielia cotton’s spin on “kiss an angel good mornin'” is fresh for summertime
Genre-bending Americana artist Danielia Cotton is squaring up to release a tribute EP titled Charley’s Pride: Songs from a Black Cowboy Vol. I. In anticipation of that, she is sharing songs from the release in the lead-up. The first single came on Charley Pride's...
guitar center hosts rockwalk honoring gary clark jr.
On May 1st, well-known Los Angeles Broadcast Music Journalist Nic Harcourt made a very special induction into the Guitar Center RockWalk. The Guitar Center in Hollywood hosted the special private event honoring four-time Grammy® Award Winner Gary Clark Jr. After the...
the dandy warhols @ webster hall
The Dandy Warhols’ album release week swept New York City in March. With shows at Elsewhere, Gonzos, and Webster Hall, the Dandy Warhols introduced Rockmaker to the world. The Warhols’ Webster Hall show was epic, and is captured in the pictures below.
ajr leaves jaws on the floor after energetic takeover of t-mobile center
4.19.24 in KCMO