DMV staple Wylder has released a new video from their debut album, Rain and Laura. The track, Bitter, is a lighthearted and sweet song that evokes optimism in the face of adversity, conveying a feeling like getting over a somewhat messy break-up. Smooth vocals, steady guitars, and buoyant keys meld into a delightful song masking pain and sharing hope. The video calls upon the song’s lyrical content to tell its story of a man trying to recover a part of himself lost in a recent uncoupling, at times resembling Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure and others recalling every rom-com where the ex-boyfriend goes crazy. It’s fun, refreshing, and should be loved by any fan of Wylder’s persona. Give it a watch and check out their next show at Picker’s Supply in Fredericksburg. -Jonathan Goodwin

Arc Iris was started by Jocie Adams (formerly of The Low Anthem) as a solo project in 2012 before enlisting the help of Zach Tenorio-Miller on keyboards and Ray Belli on drums, and in 2014 they released their genre bending debut that was influenced by everything from folk and country to jazz and cabaret. Their upcoming album Moon Saloon takes on a darker and more mysterious atmosphere, while continuing to use bold classical arrangements that make their sound unique. Their complexly composed songs feature a wide array of instruments and tender vocal harmonies that shape the band’s ethereal sound. The band is about to leave for an over a month long tour in the US and Europe. In anticipation of Moon Saloon’s release on August 19th via Bella Union, our friends at Delicious Audio asked the band’s keyboardist, Zach, about the band’s gear and creative process – see link below.

Delicious Audio interview with Arc Iris.

Regulars of the Bedford L stop in Williamsburg will recognize Royal as the cello-wielding busker whose sweet sound floats wistfully over the cavernous train station. His debut, self titled LP captures the live set’s melange of quarter-note triplets and mellow tenor vocals. Opener “G Major Suite” finds Royal crooning manifesto couplets like, “Let’s just make one thing this clear.” “Say It’s Right” and “Past the Flowers” continue the dulcet pace with aplomb; only “Morning Baby” and “So Glad to See You” depart from the baroque-soul formula, marrying delicate balladry to angst-driven lyrics like “I’m about to lose my mind” and a dropping of the F-bomb. (Brian Chidester)

Pete Curry is a Richmond-based lo-fi pop artist whose latest EP Doin’ Nothin’ delivers six jangly pop tracks to set the mood for the summer. Curry makes use of acoustic guitars and keyboards on the record to capture the fun summer vibe, which serves as a departure from the garage-pop featured on his debut Advice on Love. The album’s title track takes a cheerfully goofy approach to Curry’s songwriting as he sings about sneaking into pools, doobies, and summer BBQ’s. Final track “Summer’s In My Head,” instead, slows down the pace with its dream folk sound. finding the singer reflecting on a summer love that he can’t get out of his head. Pete Curry will be playing Strange Matter on September 1st in support of Buffalo Rodeo! – John Honan

If music could be comfort food, then early 90s punk rock is my chicken and biscuits. There’s something about fast power chords, distorted guitar and raspy vocals singing to me about things that suck that pierces straight through the most tender parts of my crusty little heart, and lights me up like a tree on Christmas. Brooklyn-based punk trio Fat Heaven happens to be one of those bands that hits me right in the soft spots. Their recently released track "Nowhere" is a ballad for kids in ripped jeans and no place to go, and is just as hard hitting as its late 20th century predecessors. Clean, but not poppy, "Nowhere" is anthemic in tone, high energy in rhythm, and could easily be a closer at your local DIY basement show while dodging bodies and bottles. Check them out at Aviv on Sept 1 with Last Minet, Red Arkade and Learning Curve, and be sure to listen to the track below. – Olivia Sisinni 

The brainchild of musician Nicole Mercedes (who released this album under her own name in 2012), Flocke is feel-good chamber pop for the soul. Amidst a gentle orchestration involving acoustic guitars, droney orchestral elements, light percussions, ukuleles and xylophones, in her only single currently available online entitled “Venice” (streaming below) Nicole adopts stream of consciousness lyrics, taking us along with her on this mental journey, and occasionally declaring “Venice is a state of mind.” You can catch her at Union Pool with Gingerlys, Wilder Maker, and Friend Roulette tonight (August 31st) where she’ll be sure to play more than just one single. – Madeleine Grossman