Much like many great New Jersey artists before them, Hodera craft highly personal and relatable songs that maintain a casual tone. Similarly to artists like Brand New and La Dispute, their debut album United By Birdcalls evokes the mood of emo and pop-punk, but steers clear of unnecessary drama (and unbereable whiny vocals!): the band’s intimate stories are told with sincerity. The project is led by Michael Smith, who wrote most of the record on his first guitar in a small room while dealing with bouts of depression. Much of the instrumantion projects a calm atmosphere, while the lyrics give the listener a look inside of Smith’s head and his quest to get rid of his negative thoughts. Tracks like “Dear Forefathers” and “No, I’m Not” slow things down on the LP’s second half by capturing a more melancholy and stripped down vibe. Hodera will be kicking off their Northeast tour with sports. and Terrraveer tonight (August 17th) at Aviv! – John Honan
