Since they won our Band of the Month title last year, we’ve been keeping tabs on indie/alt rockers Brave Town. Yesterday the guys dropped an EP, and we’re already singing along.

Brimming with melodic guitar riffs, smooth, youthful vocals and tasteful percussion,  the 4-song release shows the sunny side of alternative rock. With this EP, Brave Town achieve the delicate balance between deliberate and organic, and find a natural middle ground among the quartet’s range of influences. The opening track "Denim" is vibrant and danceable, while "Is It Worth It" takes the acoustic route to highlight encouraging and uplifting lyrics.

The Brave Town EP is the perfect thing to listen to if you’re feeling down. Or happy. Or getting ready to conquer the day. Or really any time at all.

Give it a listen here, and don’t miss Brave Town’s release show at The High Watt this Friday with Corey Kilgannon and Fleurie. -Caroline Bowman

 Over the past week, Nashville has been whipped into an Americana frenzy. Boots and hats galore, the four-night Americana Fest was packed with huge, rootsy talent. But just down the street (at fooBAR, of all places,) a Southern folk duo was making magic on stage at a Palaver Thursday. And we found ’em for ya.

Hailing from the Great White North and the Deep South, Me and Molly joined forces earlier this year, and they are bursting onto the Nashville scene with guns blazing.

Declan McGarry, of Winnipeg, Canada, and Molly Stevens of Macon, GA, had been making great music separately for years until a local producer brought the two together. With a range of influences from John Denver and Neil Young to down-home gospel music, Stevens and McGarry create soulful, heartfelt tunes that reflect their individual skills and undeniable musical chemistry. On stage, their strong yet tender voices entwine over the strumming of road-worn guitars, entrancing their boot-stomping, hand-clapping audience.

The duo is currently recording their first release, but their live recordings are more than enough to tide us over. Give "Stay Baby Stay" a listen below. -Caroline Bowman

Clear your schedule, stock the fridge and turn on the lava lamps, because Nashville’s dual-fronted Twiggs are taking us all on a neo-psychedelic trip through time and space with their sophomore release Twiggs II.

After catching the TN-via-OK 4-piece in the back room of Crying Wolf last spring, even after putting a dent in my second flask, I knew to keep an eye on them. Wearing their 60s and 70s influences on their sleeves, swirling in droney grooves and gritty riffs while maintaining a freewheeling punk disposition, Twiggs have incorporated the past and present into a 11-track album that is nothing short of hallucinogenic.

Reminiscent of experimental guitar rockers like The Velvet Underground and Jefferson Airplane, "One is for the Gun" and "Touching You" are instantly classic, while "Crazy Nights" adds modern percussion and cadence to the mix. The band gets a little Pink Floyd-y with the melancholy "I Love You So Love Me," and the echoing chant at the end of "Lonely Coyote" will rip your heart right out. Staff pick "Are You High" will burrow itself into your brain and stay there. Forever.

Give Twiggs II a listen here, download it on iTunes and catch Twiggs 10.10 at The Five Spot with Buffalo Rodeo, Santah and Seratonins, put on by Palaver Records. -Caroline Bowman

 Nashville’s The Gills have been upping the ante in the pop rock game. They’re gutsy and dynamic and… really good.

Between touring, preparing to release a new album (any time now!) and keeping hometown fans happy, frontmant Jesse Wheeler made a little time to answer a few questions for us.

1. If you were a pizza, what would you be topped with?

        Pepperoni, Pineapples, Jalapeños 

2. Looks like you’ve been doing a lot of touring lately. Any DREAM GIG locations? 

        Yes, we dig The West Coast and Australia for sure.  

3. If you could invite 5 people, living or dead, to your beach party (since you’re originally from Pensacola,) who would they be? 

        Andy Warhol, Snoop Dogg (Lion??), Chris Farley, John F. Kennedy, and Robin Williams 

4. How excited are you about releasing the new record?!?! 

        So stoked. Can’t wait for all of our friends to sip this juice.

5. Heard any good jokes lately? 

        We take this very seriously. And personally I have no time for jokes

Turn your speakers to 11 because Motherfucker is bringing the sludge party rock from Athens, GA to wherever you’re doing your next kegstand. And they’re bringing glitter.

Shock value aside, the hair-slinging all-girl trio is taking everything we love about droney noise rock, injecting a sense of humor, then convincing it to stick a fork in a wall outlet. Their latest LP "Confetti," which dropped this summer, is ready to be spun at your next rager in all its blue vinyl glory. (You can pick that up here.)

Give "Confetti" a listen below, and don’t say we didn’t warn you. -Caroline Bowman

Sometimes life just kind of… sucks. Luckily, good music is often the lemonade squeezed from a sour situation, and Nashville’s Brian Zaremba is pumping out some bitter-sweet tunes under the handle Blinds.

With the broodiness of bands like The National and pop sensibilities of acts like Broken Social Scene and Beach House, Blinds is putting his own spin on ethereal wave. With dark, experimental melodies cut by ear-catching guitar riffs and deeply personal lyrics, the seven song collection is a perfectly-balanced listening pleasure.

Hear the full EP below and catch Blinds live at fooBar on 9.26 with fauna halo, aave and Lust and the Black Cat. -Caroline Bowman

 We’ve been on the road quite a bit over the last few weeks, so consider this is our public "THANK YOU" to Nashville’s own Los Colognes for releasing the best driving music of the year.

The guys’ sophomore full-length release, fittingly named Dos, is a heartfelt fusion of classic influences like Dylan and The Grateful Dead and strong personal style, carried out with precision and ease. And, it’s damn good.

The guys have already garnered stellar reviews from Consequence of Sound, Stereogum and other folks who know a thing or two about good music, but trust us, you’re going to want to review this album for yourself. -Caroline Bowman

 Most folks need a good couple days of heavy sleep and electrolytes to recover from a weekend-long music festival binge. But after a two-day visit to Cloverleaf Farm outside Athens, GA, for the second summer installment of Wildwood Revival, we’re feeling more refreshed, replenished and inspired than ever. And even through the rain (BOY, did it rain,) the festival was the event of the season.

Above all else, Wildwood Revival focuses on community. Serving locally grown and prepared meals alongside cold Georgia-brewed beer, inviting local artisans to set up shop displaying handmade leather goods, jewelry and vintage clothing, and procuring a solid musical lineup including several Southeastern favorites, the farm was buzzing with positivity and patronage. With only a few hundred attendees, guests were able to avoid lengthy lines, meander through common areas with ease and always find a good spot for enjoying the live entertainment. Keeping the festival relatively small (and friendly for all ages) also encouraged environmental conscientiousness, as drinks were served in mason jars and other reusable containers and food on biodegradable plates, and each guest made an effort to keep the farm as pleasant as it was when ze arrived.

Nashville was well represented, with Electric Western (the guys behind KEEP ON MOVIN’ Mondays at The 5 Spot) spinning the records at the Saturday night dance party, Hot Yoga of East Nashville instructing a Saturday morning class and hometown heroes Blackfoot Gypsies supplying the bluesy rock ‘n’ roll.

Other standout bluegrass/Americana acts included Darnell Boys, Lindi Ortega, Water Liars, Tall Tall Trees, Strung Like a Horse and American Aquarium, although honestly, there wasn’t a weak link in the entire lineup.

This review wouldn’t be complete without mention of the scenic campsite, tintype photography, Gospel brunch (complete with biscuit bar and Bloody Marys,) wiffle ball tournament and communal bonfire under a full moon. And our plans for next summer won’t be complete without a revisit to Wildwood Revival. -Caroline Bowman

 For fans of: Vampire Weekend, The Kooks, The Shins

Local trio Kid Freud are bringing their quirky. uptempo garage pop to the Nashville scene, and we think we’re in love.

Their latest EP The End (which we certainly hope it isn’t) is 20 minutes of pure bliss. With obvious pop appeal, the 6-song release shows quality musicianship and thoughtfulness with each track, without leaving out the DIY-esque roughness East Nashvillians crave. The guys even include a Frankie Valli cover that will have you and your sweetheart cutting a rug.

Give The End a listen below and thank us later! -Caroline Bowman

With scorching summer days slowly fading into crisp autumn nights, it’s about time to gather ’round a bonfire and a turntable to mourn the loss of our beach flings and bikini weather. Luckily, Florida dream-garage rockers Kilo Tango have the cure for your summertime sadness… and it’s coming out on vinyl.

With Katie Mitchell’s candy-like vocals and straightforward lyrics on top of echoey surf guitar and light, steady percussion, Kilo Tango’s newest single "Will U Go" is a sweet, salty beach breeze with a sandy grit. You can download the EP "Bleu"for only a buck from Further Sky Records AND/or pre-order the super-limited vinyl with YOUR NAME on the back!

 Listen to the two-song EP below and grab your copy while they last. -Caroline Bowman

Hard rockers The Clover Club are set to release their self-titled, full length debut this Saturday 8.29 at Foobar in East Nashville.

The Clover Club’s hard-hitting tunes are injected with booze and bass, and their latest single "Devil" will have you headbanging so hard, you’ll wake up in their namesake, a gone-but-not-forgotten bar in McEwen, TN.

Come by Foobar on Saturday for a FREE show in the new beer garden. The show kicks off around 3PM and goes ’til 9PM.

Check out their single "Devil" below!