Seattle-based alt-country rockers Massy Ferguson – comprised of Fred Slater (keys), Dave Goedde (drums), Ethan Anderson (Bass/lead vocals), Adam Monda (guitar/vocals) – recently released the music video for their track “Maybe the Gods”, and we’ve got it here for your viewing pleasure. Fun illustrations basked in brilliant, contrasting colors make for a gorgeous and entertaining visual. Check it out now!
Elliah Heifetz has a fresh EP titled New Folk Songs, which is reflected as such. His latest single is titled “Paranoid Blues”, and we’ve been reeling from its beauty ever since we first set ears on it! His gorgeous, rasp-tinged vocals draw you in with a sense of nostalgia, while the strings and light percussion take you on a very earthy, beautiful sonic journey.
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Keep up with Elliah Heifetz here.
Indie rock outfit Manzanita Falls – Jeremy McCarten (Guitar, Vocals), Cameron Morris (Drums), Matt Robinson (Bass), Ross Barbieri (Guitar, Vocals) – releases their new music video for “Windows” today, and we’ve got your first look! Charming, well thought out, and visually engaging, the video follows the band members as they carry a red door around on an adventure. Watch it all unfold with the backdrop of this incredible song below!
Keep up with Manzanita Falls here.
If you’re asking us, May has been a phenomenal month for music. Coming in from all angles are talented new acts, incredible new singles, and visuals for miles that will make you want to get out with your camera this spring too! We’ve started compiling our favorite new releases of the month, but will continue to add in as we see new things through our inbox. Check back for more all month! And let us know your favorites in the comments on Facebook!
On Tuesday, May 14th, Elle King gave an incredible and unforgettable performance at The Truman, in the Crossroads District of Kansas City. Barns Courtney opened the show with phenomenal energy, and they were absolutely chomping at the bit by the time this legendary vocalist took the stage. While her male cohorts on stage all matched, she wore a striking and unique suit outfit. But it was her vulnerability that she wore best on stage, as she tore through song after song to a crowd of what had to be some of her biggest fans. Peer into the scene below!
With May 2019 comes the true beginning of busy season. More live shows to attend – Is anyone concerned that too many are cropping up absolutely everywhere? No? Just me? Cool. -, wedding season is officially upon us – Goodbye, weekends! -, and some of us are still trying to arrange some type of getaway at any point over the course of the rest of the year. It’s safe to say things are heating up, and so is the bevy of new music that’s cropping up this month! Below, find our favorite new releases of May 2019, with new tracks added throughout the month!
On May 8th, The Unlikely Candidates performed to a wild crowd at recordBar in Kansas City, MO. Photographer Michael Porter landed an in-person interview with access to the show, which we are so excited to see soon. To tie us over, here are some highlight photos from the event!
Keep up with The Unlikely Candidates here.
Ohio-based band The Shootouts’ debut album Quick Draw is the ultimate throwback to the age of honky-tonk in America. Every detail, from the lyrics to the vocals to the instruments to the album cover art, hearkens back to the good old days of classic country music. The band, consisting of Ryan Humbert (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Brian Poston (electric & acoustic guitar), Ryan McDermott (bass), Dylan Gomez (drums, percussion) and Emily Bates (harmony vocals), create a wholesome album with heart that is sure to make their listeners feel as if they have travelled back to a much simpler time.
With the first track, “Cleaning House” jumps right in with a toe-tapping ditty that’s as fun as it is metaphorical. Other tracks like “Who Needs Rock & Roll” and “Reckless Abandon” have the same carefree, catchy vibe that almost guarantees its ability to get stuck in your head. They’re short, sweet, and incredibly charming. Even a song called “Alimony” is full of charm and humorous lyrics:
Alimony, oh alimony,
I thought I bought steak and it was old bologna.
Me oh my, oh goodness sake,
I’m paying for my mistake.
There’s a fair share of the album’s softer side with songs such as “California to Ohio,” “If We Quit Now, “Lonely Never Lets Me Down,” and “Losing Faith in Being Faithful.” These songs are pretty and emotional, bringing us back to traditional country ballads that are often hard to find in the current age of pop-country.
At first glance, Quick Draw may seem like just another country album, but it is entirely its own entity. The lyrics are sharp and well-written, the instrumentals are skillful, and even if this isn’t your kind of music, it’s quite an enjoyable listening experience.
Be sure to check out Quick Draw, which is out now, and keep up with The Shootouts here.
Indie-folk duo Cricket Blue are storytellers in ever sense of the phrase, and their new album Serotinalia is packed full of them. With pristine harmonies and scaling acoustic guitars, Cricket Blue is able to cause the listener to drift off into another conscious zone, full of hope, but also darkness.
Members Laura and Taylor are a vocal match made in heaven. As you listen to each song/story, you feel you are at a concert, with Cricket Blue performing just for you. This concert is not at a large venue. It is simply in a small room, with just the sound of Cricket Blues voices and strings enveloping the confined space. The darkness in every song prompts contemplation of self, allowing the listener to be full immersed in the art. I cannot stress enough how talented these two musicians are, and how their chemistry creates an album containing the purest form of the indie-folk genre.
Serotinalia is out now, and you can keep up with Cricket Blue at http://cricketbluemusic.com/. You should keep up with Cricket Blue.
