Human People are a Brooklyn-based band who describes their music as "sloppy poppy punk." Their debut EP Sleep Year was released back in March and features slacking attitude paired with witty and charming lyrics. On the opening track “In My Speakers," lead singer Hayley reflects on a past lover who left her feeling like crap as she sluggishly sings “I’m feeling weaker than last year”. The track “Cell” (streaming) is a more upbeat track that features pop hooks and fuzzy guitars that refuse to be ignored. The band will be playing the Silent Barn on 6.28 in support of Russel the Leaf. – John Honan

If asked to name a band that could be representational of what’s popular in indie music today, Amherst’s Calico Blue could serve as an unlikely, if not interesting answer. They have a dreamy, nostalgic sound based on pristine guitars, minimalist tendencies á la The XX, and deeply sad vocals reminscent of a lo-fi version of Lana Del Rey. Their self-described "surfer blues" is able to capture vintage elements and conteporary influences and coalesce them into something new and intriguing. Their 2015 self-titled album drags the listener down with heavy lyrics while also keeping them afloat with light guitar work. You can check them out at O’Brien’s Pub on 7/1. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Brooklyn-based bands Dead Painters and Plates of Cake (pictured) are taking the stage together in July in support of Transcendental Telecom. Dead Painters’ sophomore LP Aluminum Gold was released in the fall of 2015, and it is a relatively placid record that glides between tuneful instrumental interludes and mellow vocal deliveries. The track “In the Chrome” highlights the band’s serene nature with the use of a steady drum beat and peaceful guitars until the tension is raised towards the end with a sudden burst of crashing drums and fuzzed out guitars. Plates of Cake’s sound is somewhat similar, but ventures into more psychedelic and even orchestral territories. “She Wants to Disappear” (streaming below) off their latest LP Becoming Double, is characterized by its sparkling guitars and dreamy vocals. The band’s warm guitar tones are reminiscent of 70’s power pop acts like the Raspberries, while their breezy harmonies, specifically on the track “Boyfriends”, make their music incredibly pleasing. Check out both of these bands at the Cake Shop on July 6th, and stream “Semi-Criminal” from Dead Painters and “She Wants To Disappear” from Plates of Cake below! – John Honan

Paperhaus’ “Silent Speaking” (streaming below) beckons you in unabashedly with chaotic rumblings resembling a stampede of cymbals, hi-hats, batucada-esque drumming, and jittery bursts of guitars. The arrhythmic clamor works at once both with and against one another before evening out and transforming into a high energy tune of angular riffs and melodic shifts. The Virginia based band, whose previous work gives a hearty nod towards psychedelic blues with hints of math rock, finds itself leaning ever further into the angular soundscapes of the latter with its most recent single. However, the fervent energy that made their self-titled debut so dynamically spectacular remains ever more present in their sound. If this single is any indication of what we should expect from Paperhaus in the future then color me intrigued. Definitely keeping an eye out for them! Catch Paperhaus on July 13 at DC Nine. – Adriana S. Ballester