True to its name, the foundation of Alkaline Trio consists of three musicians, albeit taken in different formations over the years. Despite different members having rotated in and out, frontman Matt Skiba remains the consistent force urging on the outfit. Formed in the mid-90’s, the punk rockers anchored Vagrant Records during its perch at the […]
Dave Labarge
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ALTERNATIVE | Deerhoof
San Francisco’s Deerhoof has been at it since the mid-90’s, crafting its unique noise-pop over the course of multiple albums and singles, with numerous compilations and one-off tracks littered throughout. The foursome remains democratic, shifting attention equally amongst its parts, melding high-energy performances with solid musicianship at every point. Despite the equality in the ranks, […]
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POP/ROCK | The 1975
Though none of its members can claim to have been born quite near the year that is the band’s namesake, that hasn’t stopped Manchester, England’s The 1975 from releasing three lauded EPs in quick succession since last summer. On the second EP, “Sex,” in particular, the quartet demonstrates the ability to alternate between sticky-sweet ballads […]
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ROCK | The Deftones
At this stage of the band’s career, the members of Sacramento’s Deftones are wily veterans: churning out a solid album every few years and touring to throngs of both long-time as well as newly found fans. Over the course of seven records the band has stayed mostly true to its alternative metal roots, updating its […]
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POP/PUNK | Walk The Moon
Relying on the strength of one single from a self-released album is one path to successfully garnering a major-label record deal, but it certainly isn’t the easiest. Then again, most singles aren’t as arresting as “Anna Sun” from Cincinnati quartet Walk the Moon, nor are most videos quite so eye grabbing as the track’s accompanying […]
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ACOUSTIC FOLK | Father John Misty
There are a few talking points frequently mentioned when discussing Father John Misty. You’ll often hear mention of his involvement as former drummer for indie powerhouse Fleet Foxes, and you’re sure to learn of previous solo efforts under his abbreviated given name, J. Tillman. Almost as if in anticipation of these nuggets of history, Tillman […]
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POP/ROCK | The Hoodies
If you’re a fan of Joywave, then it’s possible that at one time you may also have been a fan of local predecessors The Hoodies. If you’ve no idea of what I speak, a quick rundown: having sold out a few shows at Water Street, traveled parts of the country touring, and trekking to LA […]
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ELECTRO-POP: KOPPS
On its debut EP, local electro-pop duo KOPPS enthusiastically tangles itself in a theme, and thrusts forward repeatedly to establish it thoroughly. Avoiding any confusion of its aim on the EP, titled “Fuck Jams,” the outfit has crafted six songs regarding, resembling, and investigating sex. Whether it’s the song titles and subject matter, the singer’s […]
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Motion City Soundtrack
The arc of a long-running band’s career is often marked by a maturation process. Songwriting changes are made to broaden signature sounds, and lyrics begin to tackle more serious subject matter than girls and booze. Minnesota’s Motion City Soundtrack is not exempt from this process. While not completely eschewing its catchy brand of straight-forward, four-chord […]
