by Aubrey Hanson | Jul 18, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Growing up in a small town in Ontario, Billy Moon, a punk-rock/alternative artist recently released two new songs from his upcoming LP Punk Songs, which is expected to be released very soon on September 14th! His two new songs, “White Shoes” and “Dingus”, combine elements of rock along with alternative, sounding similar to the likes of classic yet modern rock band The Strokes. If these two songs are just a teaser of what’s to come off of his new LP, then you can expect that the final project will surely be a phenomenon. Not only can you expect a new LP coming soon this fall, but you can also catch Billy Moon live in concert, when he sets out on his U.S. tour where you can hear his new music live!
Keep up with Billy Moon here.
by ImperfectFifth | Jul 18, 2018 | soundtrack
We’re lucky to be part of the Austin, TX music melting pot. We’ve compiled some of our favorite local bands, many of whom we’ve shared the stage with. Our sound reflects the diversity of the Austin music scene, containing elements of funk, rock, hip-hop, metal, latin, with some psychedelic tinges. it’s our contemporaries that inspire us to level up and we celebrate the influence that the local scene has had on our music and the support we’ve received from the musical community.
Keep up with Bourgeois Mystics here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 17, 2018 | soundtrack, videos
July 2018 has been a thrilling month for music videos so far. Energetic, beautifully shot, intensely introspective. Our minds are still reeling from June, and yet halfway through this month we’ve already had three to four times the amount of impressive visual representations from musicians around the world. We compiled a quick list of some of our favorite music videos so far this month, and we’re sure you’ll discover a gem or two to add to your playlist for the remainder of your summer shenanigans!
(P.S. There is a video from June in this roundup. And that’s because we do what we want.)
Lyves, “Rest Your Head”
Mac Miller, “Self Care”
Campdogzz, “Run Wild”
Fime, “Hover Hand”
In The Valley Below, “Desperate Dance”
Jack Ellis, “Small Change”
Payson Lewis, “Can’t Go Back”
Vacationer, “Magnetism”
Houndmoth, “Waiting For The Night”
Spooky Cool, “Strange Rooms”
James, “Hank”
Madeline Kenney, “Cut Me Off”
by Chad Bennett | Jul 17, 2018 | perspective
There are more than a few reasons to partake in Lawrence Field Day Festival this coming weekend. Now in its seventh installment, the 3-day annual event in Lawrence, Kansas continues to feature great live music from dozens of bands at a very affordable ticket price. The festival runs Thursday through Saturday.
Started by Cameron Hawk and Quinton Cheney in 2012, LFDF was envisioned as a live music showcase for Lawrence residents while University of Kansas was on summer break. Of course, students are welcome at LFDF, but the environment on Mass Avenue is different, in a good way, when there are about twenty-thousand fewer people clogging up the joint.
And, fewer students is the first reason you should attend. If you’ve had prior experiences in downtown Lawrence in which it took you five minutes to drive one block, or you’ve ended up parking 4 streets over, or you’ve had your shoes puked on by a drunken frat boy celebrating his 21st, then you really need to come to LFDF. You will finally be able to devote your attention to music.
Another perfect reason to attend is the cost. It sounds almost unbelievable, but you can get a wristband with 3-day access to five venues and sixty bands for only $15. So far this summer, I’ve heard of no festival offering so much music for such a low price. And the great music is the other best reason to attend.
Lawrence Field Day Fest has featured several genres of music, but there is an undeniable focus on rock, and secondarily on hip-hop. Although Lawrence and Kansas City are well-represented, this year’s fest is pulling in talent from Denver, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and other cities. Let’s do a look and listen on some of this year’s bands.
Truck Stop Love will make a visit from the past. The early-90s rockers are back after a 25-year hiatus and a couple of personnel changes. Known for their county fuzz rock, the Manhattan, KS band hits the Bottleneck for the Black Site Records Showcase on Saturday at 11 pm.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truckstoploveband/
Listen: https://truckstoplove.bandcamp.com/track/you-keep-searchin-3
Denver punk rockers The Windermeres are scheduled for 7 pm on Friday at the Replay Lounge.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewindermeres/
Listen: https://thewindermeres.bandcamp.com/track/angel-of-batavia
You can get a dose of electro hip hop from Lawrence’s own Sean Hunt, aka Approach, at the Replay Lounge at 9:30 pm on Friday.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Approach1
Listen: https://approach.bandcamp.com/track/the-luv-2
If you missed Bruiser Queen when they played the Riot Room in Kansas City back in March, you’ll have an opportunity to take in some good indie garage pop from the St. Louis two-piece. Just show up at Jackpot Music Hall at 9:15 pm on Friday.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bruiserqueen/
Listen: https://bruiserqueen.bandcamp.com/track/sugar-high
The Ghoulies want to show you punk rock with a bluesy, garage feel. Adding an organ to the mix only amps up the excitement for this Denver band that’s been busy touring all summer. See them at the Replay Lounge on Saturday at 11:45 pm.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theghouliesband/
Listen: https://theghouliesdenver.bandcamp.com/track/texas-machete-2
The Bottleneck has been involved in LFDF since the inception, and will have about 20 acts during the Fest. Don’t miss metal rockers Hyborian of Kansas City at 12:15 am Friday night. Bringing a mystical and sci-fi vibe to metal, Hyborian built their own studio in the West Bottoms.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HyborianRock/
Listen: https://hyborianrock.bandcamp.com/track/maelstrom
The immutable laws of physics will prevent you from seeing the complete sets of all 60+ bands at LFDF, but some of the other acts that I’ll make a point to see this weekend are The Uncouth, Westerners, Momma’s Boy, Headlight Rivals, The Sluts, The Goodbye Sort, Vigil and Thieves, and Stiff Middle Fingers.
Check out the complete lineup and schedule for Lawrence Field Day Festival at: http://hellohamhawks.wixsite.com/lawrencefielddayfest/schedule
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 16, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Alt rock princess Meg Myers hit her stride again this weekend with the release of her latest single “Tourniquet”. Soft, voluptuous vocals bring an ethereal energy to the track as it floats through your speakers, shaping your memories of the world around you. The song echoes Myers’ quintessential dark lyricism, as she sings of self mutilation, be it emotional or physical, related to love.
Get deep with the new track below.
Keep up with Meg Myers here.
by Aubrey Hanson | Jul 16, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Built up of talented musicians and performers, up and coming band Slothrust recently released an exciting and rebellious video for their song ‘Double Down’ on July 12th. The video as well as the band, presents a sense of rock music along with a mix of alternative genres, that gives the video a carefree rock and roll vibe, which is the type of attitude that everybody needs this summer. ‘Double Down’ is just a taste for what’s to come off of Slothrust’s new album THE PACT, which is to be released on September 14th. Slothrust provides an aspect of carefree yet meaningful and empowering music that is appealing to anyone no matter what genre it may be. Make sure you’re ready for when their new album comes out, because it will be sure to set all of the bars!
Check out their music here!
by Gemma Harewood | Jul 16, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Back on top with taste-makers CloudKid this week, TRAILS is continuing his streak of gems. This time it’s with the release of his first original single “Hold Up.” In his latest musical venture, TRAILS teams up with Rromarin for vocal duties. With her pronounced pop sensibility, Rromarin occupies a sonic space somewhere between folk and electronic that is all her own.
Pairing a stripped-down production style with a bouncing bassline and seductive vocals, TRAILS has created a forward-thinking hybrid of sound on “Hold Up.” Both artists are bringing their best game to take over the airwaves with another catchy hit.
You can stream it below!
Keep up with TRAILS here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 13, 2018 | albums, review
Cincinnati-bred indie pop collective The Ophelias – comprised of Spencer Peppet (vox, guitar), Grace Weir (bass), Micaela Adams (drums), and Andrea Gutmann Fuentes (violin) – drops their latest masterpiece today, and we’re so jazzed about it, we almost can’t explain it in words. Delicate vocals, overlaid with (largely) light percussion and mellifluous strings make this album what it is, and largely describe the band’s soundscape. Not only is there a delicacy in the vocals, but there are quirks that make the effect much more striking than the word “delicate” would lead you to believe.
From the elegant beginning of first track “Fog”, through the equally leisurely pace of “General Electric”, into “Lover’s Creep”, you come to find the entire album feels ethereal and intense in a very unique way. “Night Signs” slows the pace down exponentially, the instrumentals slightly lower, and paints a darker-feeling audio feed. “O Command” is different, in that the vocals rise to a higher octave, the instrumentals maintaining a low, luscious feeling. “Lunar Rover” and “Bird” continue into an increasingly experimental place, picking the pace back up again with eighth track “House”.
While you can’t expect the pace to pick back up again over the last two tracks of Almost – “Zero” and “Moon Like Sour Candy” -, you can expect to nab deep, meaningful vocals that make for an introspective night on your back patio, music playing softly over the sound of the trees rustling above you.
Get started below.
Keep up with The Ophelias here.
by Karina Marquez | Jul 13, 2018 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
British artist Talitha Rise is a cross between a woodland fairy and Stevie Nicks, and the result is something magical. “Chapel Bell” comes from her latest album, An Abandoned Orchard House. It is as haunting as it is poetic. The instrumental is grand, dotted with a chiming bell and echoes of Rise’s croons. “Where are we running to?” she asks, making us wonder along with her.
“Chapel Bell” is the moment you literally hit the floor and then find that in the moment of reaching your lowest point there’s something holding you. It’s like the only way to get out of something is to go into it first. It’s about recovery, strength and growth and I took the analogy of the little match girl and the sound of the chapel bell on the hill near my house to represent that instinctual knowing, that alarm bell that knows when something is right or wrong for us. We can lose self-trust when we’ve been in a dark place and getting that trust again gets us up and out.
And don’t let the “Remix” in the title fool you – this is not a club track overloaded with synths and bass drops. Rise recounted her experience working with Doktor Matty B, who managed to capture and highlight the dreamlike quality of her music:
Matt remixed the track beautifully. He added this great ethereal layering and tone to it and he left it empty, he didn’t over fill it and I think his approach was just sublime and intelligent. Remixes are always tricky so it was an honour to have someone like Matt get inside the track and its true meaning.
Listen to this with the curtains drawn, eyes closed, and a cup of tea handy. Rise’s lyrics combined with her mesmerizing voice will put you in a trance that you won’t want to get out of anytime soon.
Check out Talitha Rise’s album, and be sure to keep up with her here.
