Not only do Primitive Hearts have the best band name of the whole SF scene, but they may be the next, great rockabilly power-pop group. Their latest LP, High & Tight, speaks to eternal teen angst but it’s done with an air of nostalgic, bad-boy cool. If it was possible to take take your 50’s greaser teen-crush and turn him into a sound, you may just get Primitive Hearts. And for all of you buzzkills that somehow get tired of the 12 endlessly fun songs on the album, listen to their split with other punk locals, Pookie & the Poodles. -Allie Miller

For Nashville-based four-piece The Middle Ground, holding back is not an option. Their 2016 LP Start Again is filled with anthemic, chorus-driven explosions of energy, like “The Edge” (streaming below) and “Lake Michigan,” among others. Their sound is like a cross between Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons, and something else that’s entirely their own (maybe it’s just something in the water in Music City.) They are currently in the middle of a long summer tour, with upcoming stops in NYC, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and more. – Lilly Milman 

NYC songwriter Nick Llobet’s work has been intriguing to say the least, coming off equally as disturbing as compelling. “I Got No Car”, his latest single streaming below, features Nick’s signature quirky and borderline childish sounding vocals, somewhat reminiscent of a lynchian, sped up version of Bob Dylan’s nasal alto, enriched by amusing bursts of odd lyrics. The track’s lo-fi guitar and bass set the DIY tone, together with a simple drum beat, while bright arpeggiating synths are sprinkled on top like colorful sparkles, giving the tune that self-described jangly, “demented pop” vibe. Fans of the bizarre folk-pop of early Ween and Mac DeMarco shouldn’t miss his upcoming live performance is this coming September 2nd at 8PM at Berlin with all girl / all boy, Stringer, and Bernie & The Wolf. – Pearse Devlin

For those flirting with the idea of fleeing the bustling New York, Lovechild‘s new single and video "Northbound Train" might seem relatable. The psych-folk track has frontman Leo Liebeskind waxing nostalgic about the countryside, as he yearns for escape. The video shows Liebeskind and his band drive through the sleepy scenery of Upstate New York. Both the single and video provide a good segue from the pop of summer into the oncoming wistfulness of fall. Lovechild will perform at The Knitting Factory on August 29th, but you can hear their new single in their video below. – Will Sisskind

Lily Konigsberg (Palberta) and Andréa Schiavelli (Eyes of Love) have combined their respective songwriting skills on an upcoming release, Good Time Now, which is neither a conventional collaboration nor a split. Instead, Konigsberg and Schiavelli independently recorded their own songs while across the country from each other. The result is a compelling showcase of two very different songwriters’ interpretations of pop music. On their first joint single release (streaming), Konigsberg’s "Good Time" and Schiavelli’s "New Age Old Home" offer two notably different styles of songwriting that honor pop music’s golden rules of memorability and brevity. "Good Time" is a short, baroque-pop composition with elements of Frankie Cosmos and Sufjan Stevens, while "New Age Old Home" is a nod to Talking Heads and Joy Division, with its combination of the sardonic and the dull ache of quiet longing. The full album in is out on Bandcamp and available for digital pre-order via Ramp Local. – Ethan Ames

Set in a Brooklyn jazz club in 1927, Valerie Orth‘s new video for "Make Your Move" introduces us to a Tinder-free world where sexual relationships require bolder actions (and extra liquor), but also yield more fervent "consequences." The song was inspired by, and dedicated to, a "person of interest" who didn’t make a move, therefore leaving possible romantic scenarios to the songwriter’s imagination.

Earlier this year, the NYC artist launched a remix contest for this song through blend.io, and we are thrilled to be premiering here the EP of remixes featuring the winning tracks. Among them there’s NYC via Madison, WI producer Audible Doctor. 

Valerie will be performing at the Deli sponsored Revolution show tomorrow, August 26th, at National Sawdust, be there!

In a recent Facebook post, NYC-based garage favorites Stove – the solo project of Ovlov’s frontman Steve Hartlett – announced they would be beginning an "indefinite hiatus." Given Stove’s sparse live schedule this announcement shouldn’t come as a surprise, but still, we are sad to see them go. "Is Stupider," their 2015 full-length, was thoroughly enjoyed (and covered). We privately celebrated loud, funny, pissed-off tracks with imaginative titles like "Stupid," "Stupider," and "Stupidest" – heck, even Rolling Stones reviewed that record! Stove has been a fun and sonically rewarding project, but maybe instability is also something that deserves to be celebrated, it’s part of nature’s cycle: we are looking forward to Harlett’s next project. The last two Stove shows will be at Baby’s All Right on September 6th, and at Alphaville on September 24th. -Allie Miller