sunshine riot’s playlist for over-privileged weirdo kids

sunshine riot’s playlist for over-privileged weirdo kids

A common theme here is that a lot of the music that influences and inspires us is pretty weird and catchy. This taught us that its okay to do whatever we want and write however we feel. We’re lucky that it happens to be catchy enough to remember!

Play on shuffle or in order. This is just a quick handful of songs that were thrown together so we can hang out. Enjoy!

Stone Temple Pilots – Meatplow

This song has a certain grime and groove with such “sing-along-ability” that just hits the spot every time.

Musically wacky, yet unmistakably STP. Just one of those songs that says its okay to be weird.

Bush – Swallowed

Just a great song off of a great album. Steve Albini sort of took his “In Utero” Nirvana sounds and plugged Bush into them.

Say what you will about people stealing people’s sounds, but the fact is that this shit moved us as impressionable babies and just made us want to play harder and louder to get our lil’ feelings out.

Pearl Jam – Brain of J

We’re all pretty big Pearl Jam fans. I only chose this song because it was right in front of me and its not a go-to PJ song.

I could go on all day about what Ten and VS did to us when they came out, or how I sat about a foot away from the tv during that ridiculous MTV Unplugged performance…

Soundgarden – Burden In My Hand

Try not to sing along. They beat the system. They wrote some of the weirdest stuff, while being SO fun and easy to listen to.

We all really love this band and this is a good safe song choice everyone can dig. Miss you, Chris!

Meat Puppets – Backwater

This is such a Jeff song. I think we covered it once. If you’ve heard a handful of Sunshine Riot songs, It ain’t hard to hear

how we were influenced by these dudes.

Eels – Novocaine For The Soul

Just another weird 90’s jam that makes you go “Oh yeah! I remember this!” Our Jonny has a whispery voice like this sometimes, so I guess that’s a thing.

Aerosmith – Jaded

Hometown heroes I guess. Nobody in the band is a huge Aerosmith fan, but JESUS FUCK this might be the

catchiest song ever written and its always cool to stop and think about how they were once just some pals in a basement trying their best.

Nirvana – Serve The Servants

I don’t even know how to fully express how much this band and album means to us. This is that Albini sound I was

referring to earlier. Its just so damn important and I’m so glad we all love it so much. Thanks for everything, Nirvana.

Foo Fighters – Floaty

This is a very pretty one off of that first album that was actually only Dave Grohl. Another one that made me want to play

hard and with all the feeling. A lot of the stuff on this album is actually kind of a nightmare to play on any instrument, but it sounds so simple and catchy! Super inspirational.

The Replacements – Bastards Of Young

Metal dudes say Lemmy is God. Other, less tuff dudes say Paul Westerberg is God.

Another big influence on us. Replacements mastered that raw, borderline bad sound that just makes you feel.

Now that you have a bit of an explanation of us, go check out our new tunes off our upcoming record ‘Lonely Hotel’ and then go ahead and dig into that back catalogue to really get to know us! See you soon, dweebs.

Keep up with Sunshine Riot here.

andrew w.k. @ recordbar

andrew w.k. @ recordbar

On September 19th, Andrew W.K. took over recordBar in KC for the second time in the last year, preaching the gospel of PARTY to the midwest. Photographer Ashleigh Lee caught some epic action shots for us, as the crowd went wild with Andrew W.K.’s infinite positive message, brought to us through the power of rock.

**photos by Ashleigh Lee

sights of grandoozy 2018

sights of grandoozy 2018

This last weekend was absolutely gorgeous at the inaugural Grandoozy music festival, which took place in Overland Park in Denver, Colorado. Besides the incredible music lineup, there were fun games and activities across the lawn that drew thousands of attendees. Photos of the attendees this weekend and the shenanigans that ensued can be found below!

The food selection was incredible, the atmosphere made it feel like you were wandering around in the park, light years from noise pollution and the city. An 80s themed ski lodge and beer tent drew the audience in between acts, as the stages filled to the brim later in the night.

**Photos by Nikki A Rae Photography

grandoozy 2018: day 1

grandoozy 2018: day 1

This year, the Denver metropolitan area introduced Grandoozy Music Festival to its citizens. The show was produced by the co-creators of Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, and its lineup mirrored that tenacity, bringing some insanely talented acts to Overland Park. We had a photographer on the ground for the weekend, and she captured some fun shots of Friday and Sunday at the fest! Here are our Day 1 gems, featuring Miguel, Bishop Briggs, Phoenix, and more!

**Photos by Nikki A. Rae Photography

handsomebeast | for robbin’ banks & makin’ love after

handsomebeast | for robbin’ banks & makin’ love after

This playlist is the embodiment of Handsomebeast’s new musical and visual direction. We want to paint a picture in the way that some of our favorite films do: dangerously. In reflection of how dynamically eclectic the band is, these songs venture between exciting getaway tunes with high energy to slow burners that can melt anyone into the bedsheets.

With Tarintino-ish vibes from tunes like “Black Venom” from The Budos Band and Adrian Younge’s “Turn Down the Sound”, you could imagine this playlist playing during a well-executed heist (some of our favorite movie plots).

In the other direction lay the smooth after effects of such invigorating action: the love making (yeeeah). Smoke something with Houston’s UGK. Pour one up with Warren G. Grab your partner and slow dance to Daniel Caesar’s “Get You” or Liquid Monk’s “On the Rocks” before the feds bust in.

Some of these artists are huge influences on the band that stuck with us through the evolution of our personal sound, such as Gorillaz, James Brown, Talking Heads, and the Isley Brothers.

Baring in mind how musically diverse the band is, it’s no wonder this playlist ranges from Kendrick Lamar to early 60’s Peruvian Chicha pioneers Los Mirlos. Inspiration comes in many forms, but as long as it grooves, Handsomebeast will jam it.

This is Heist-Rock. This is Hip-Hop Noir. This is music For Robbin’ Banks & Makin’ Love After.

Check out Handsomebeast on one of their tour dates below!
9/13 – Hi-Tone Café – Memphis, TN
9/15 – Foggy Mountain Brew Pub – Asheville, NC
9/20 – Pianos – New York, NY
9/21 – Connie’s Ric Rac – Philadelphia, PA
9/22 – Gypsy Sally’s – Washington, DC

Keep up with Handsomebeast below!
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jewel toned summer vibes | august 2018 music video roundup

jewel toned summer vibes | august 2018 music video roundup

This month has been absolutely insane for music videos, and we’ve never been more impressed. Jewel tones seem to be the main focus regarding visuals, but the creativity involved in both the concepts of the videos and the way they’re represented is absolutely phenomenal. Dare we say it? August 2018 might be the best month for music videos EVER.

But we’re kind of getting ahead of ourselves. We created a succinct YouTube playlist with 79 of our favorites – yes, 79 – from this month. This list includes the likes of Nahko, Courtney Barnett, Ron Gallo, Blue October, Holy Golden, and many more! Check it out, love on it, find your new favorite!