As yet another Monday rears its head back and breathes fire onto the end of weekend’s laziness, let’s attempt to make the best of it with a new track from Small Leaks Sink Ships. The quartet just signed to Lefse Records earlier this month, coinciding with the release of "Window."

"Window" shows Small Leaks Sink Ships doing what they do best – mashing math rock with Sunny Day Real Estate-esque emo that’s both nostalgically pleasing and refreshingly new. They’ve faced a lot of crap in their day (which you can read about HERE) and have still forged on, making them true #goals of inspiration for making it through anything hellish.

Give "Window" a listen below.

Portland was an entirely different place back in 2008. The music community was still an actual community not divided, nor were the skylines divided by the rooftops of newly built condos and startups. On top of all this, Explode Into Colors basically exploded into the scene, offering a sound unlike the typical "I’m sad and everyone knows it" vibe Portland was used to.

Though they never actually made it to releasing a full album, their legacy of haunted noise punk lives on as does their advocacy for all-ages spaces. Drummer Claudia Meza, who like many of us and especially ones that didn’t necessarily grow up in Portland, grew up absorbing the influence of live performances. All-ages venues were once an important facet for developing creative youth and are, for the sake of Explode Into Colors dual reunion sets today, something still deserving of the music community’s attention.

"It’s crazy to me that Portland, which boasts such a vibrant music scene, doesn’t have a proper all ages space where up and coming bands are able to grow and play," says Meza. "Every city needs an all ages space, it creates community, totally makes better musicians, and it fosters a more inclusive and varied music scene. Every adult in every local music community should feel a personal responsibility to help make all ages spaces a reality."

That’s why Explode Into Colors will be playing two sets tonight at Mississippi Studios. The first one is open to everyone with Hugo Berlin and Wampire also on the bill, starting at 6pm. It’s a benefit for Friends of Noise, an organization dedicated to providing a safe all-ages space and all-ages shows in Portland’s various neighborhoods. 

Explode Into Colors’ 9pm set with Lithics and the Ghost Ease is 21+ and sold out, with proceeds going to keeping LA’s the Smell open for its diverse masses.

With Mother Nature seemingly on a mission to tear the world around us apart, why not enjoy a fresh track that packs just as much weight as the weather? Last week, local post hardcore sect Dowager announced the approaching release of their second EP, Title Track, and subsequently shared its first single "Sleep Paralysis."

‘Dowager fever’ is quickly spreading around the states for quite good reason. They have somewhat a nostalgic approach to the genre, so if you’re wise on the ways of hardcore/metalcore/awesome from the early 2000’s, then you’ll understand. As if a premiere on Stereogum wasn’t proof enough, they’ve even landed on this week’s Top Songs of the Week for Consequence of Sound, further confirming their received national attention.

Give "Sleep Paralysis" a listen below and be sure to stop Dowager’s only October set tomorrow for drummer Ben Scott’s birthday at Valentines. Title Track is due out just after Thanksgiving on 11/25.