There’s a dangerous trend happening in New York right now, where teen pop trends from yesteryears are refurbished with new life and made relevant again for all our nostalgic needs. Artists like Adam Schenk has built a fine career re-channeling mid-90’s currents. For Graham Alexander, he picks up around McCartney’s mid-80’s ‘Press to Play,’ period, complete with DX-7 synths and charmingly sweet love stories. His latest single ‘Biggest Fan,’ celebrates the comforts of these textures (while the video celebrates the comforts of couches).

However easy it may be to dismiss The Beatles worshipper as retro-pop (heck, he even plays McCartney in the Broadway Beatles tribute ‘Rain’!), Alexander does it all so well that he ends up infusing the sound with a new sense of warmth and honesty. And that’s the most dangerous part about it. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Dirty Fences‘ rock’n’roll makes us want to get drunk and sweaty and nasty. Their brand new self-titled EP features five new tracks with that kind of straight forward crunch that can resurrect anybody’s dormant trouble-making instincts. The band’s choruses offer furious but catchy Clash-style chants that will get you screaming along – and they aren’t even afraid to venture into occasional chill inducing guitar solos. They stopped by Cake Shop last Saturday to play with Threats, Fine Spoils, and Evil Child, but if you missed that opportunity don’t fret, you can get your shirt wet on Sunday June 24 at Mercury, when they play with Grand Rapids. – Bob Raymonda

WYATT (pictured), Heidi Sidelinker and Luke Wesley are among the 12 NYC artists who performed on the last night of the four-night-long, Deli sponsored 6th Annual LC Fest, organized by independent music community Local Correspondents at Bar4 in Park Slope, Brooklyn (444 7th Ave.).

WYATT, who released their debut EP last summer, is an upbeat folky ensemble effort fronted by NYC singer/songwriter Maddy Wyatt, while Heidi Sidelinker, who just spent the past five years with the NY-based indie rock band Lowry, is hard at work on her own solo effort, and tapping into her singer-songwriting roots and on twelve-string guitar. Luke Wesley plays immensely catchy piano pop rock, deftly blending the sounds of ’60s pop and ’90s college radio.

There’s some music that’s intricately intertwined with the feeling you get from a weekend whiskey binge. From the initial burn of the first drink to the last sip of the bottle, the emotions and thoughts that drive that binge are have long been subjects for great storytelling and songwriting. Appropriate Grammar’s release Lies and Stories is the musical equivalent to a weekend whiskey bender, if there was a universe where you could drink whiskey all weekend and still speak with eloquent clarity.

This 10-song set rambles on like the smartest heartbroken drunk you’ve ever met. Lyrically speaking, this is one of the better releases I’ve heard in awhile, so much so that I stopped during some songs to go back and catch a line again. With varied stories of fighting all night with a significant other ("Lover’s Quarrel") to dealing with an existential crisis ("Chosen Children"), the lyrical palette of this album reflects a wandering spirit coming to terms with the human experience. And it rocks.

Fast-paced shuffles by drummer Steve Gardels and jangling, well-placed guitar hooks by Alex Dunsford provide an inspiring platform for Nick McKenna’s cool and seemingly calculated vocal delivery. Bassist and vocalist Claire Adams adds color to many of these songs, particularly "High and Lonely," which gives the album some breathing room with a beautiful duet. In a weekend binge scenario, this is the song you’re listening to when the bottle runs dry, it’s time to go to bed, but you have no idea where you are or how to get home.

Not many bands can pull off rollicking, melodic songs that are emotional, smart and fun without coming off as being pretentious or downright aggravating, but Appropriate Grammar seems to have a formula down that works well for what they are doing, like an Old-Fashioned served with just the right amount of bitters.

-Mike Tipton

8:00 pm, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 4501 Walnut, Kansas City, MO. $10 at the door. 

A number of talented Kansas City artists will be on hand for a benefit for KKFI 90.1 FM tonight to present the music of The Beatles. This is the second year in a row this fundraiser has been done, with great success last year. The evening’s musicians include some of the most talented in the area. From Back To Rockville: 

"The house band will comprise Alan Wellman (bass), Darrell Lea (lead guitar), Eric Melin (drums), Dan Mesh (guitar) and Nate Holt (keyboards). Also performing: the local Beatles tribute band Vera Chuck and Dave, Kasey Rausch, Kim Rausch McClaws, Elaine McMilian, Mark Smeltzer, Jason Beers, Chad Rex, Joey Skidmore, Kirk Scott, Fast Johnny Ricker, JoJo Longbottom, Steve Wilson and “a special surprise” from Cody Wyoming."

The show is being presented by Barry Lee, host of "Signal To Noise" on KKFI Sunday nights.