Now that we’ve made it through the death rattle of our psuedo winter, it finally feels appropriate to reemerge from our hoodies and listen to something a little more upbeat. Just in time for firefly season, Kyle Andrews is in the studio, writing and recording his forthcoming album, which will introduce some brand new, high-energy dance jams to your summertime playlist.

In the ongoing debate surrounding Nashville’s perceived intolerance for any music that isn’t country music, Kyle Andrews makes for a strong counterargument. He has spent his career transitioning from acoustic arrangements to the digital end of the songwriting spectrum, and his synth-soaked melodies are carving a niche for electropop/rock in Music City, as well as helping to put Nashville on the map for something more than its country stars and cowboy boots. Andrews manages to cloak even his darkest lyrical moments in positivity, the narrative of each song complemented by layers of sonic architecture and bright, poppy hooks.

Though his music has found its way into various television shows and commercials, the Chicago native is also well known for his widely-celebrated music videos. From his video for "You Always Make Me Smile"– which set the stage for one of the biggest water balloon fights in history– to the interactive YouTube mosaic created for "Sushi," every aspect of Andrews’ career seems to echo the energy and unique charm of his music. Through his personal brand of music, technology, and live performances, Kyle Andrews is creating not only a music career for himself, but an experience for his fans. And with a new album on the horizon, 2012 is going to be an adventure. — Brianne Turner

The Kingston Springs make The Deli all warm and fuzzy inside, and so does this video for new song "Lover," filmed in the hot and sandy Arizona desert. TKS will be playing 12th and Porter May 26 with Sol Cat and The Bridges.

This new video for "Coward," from Modoc‘s LP Fortune & Fame, was released the other day. Directed, shot and edited by Solomon Davis. Catch Modoc at 12th & Porter tomorrow night with The Jompson Brothers and Bear Cub.

There’s a ton of great stuff coming up this Friday that we’d like to see (including Honey Locust’s EP release at The High Watt, The Jompson Brothers and Modoc at 12th & Porter and Andrew Combs at The Basement), but this is a must: Culture Cringe, a Murfreesboro media outlet that emulates Third Man Records in that it releases local artists’ projects, including music and film, in really badass ways, is celebrating their first release at 3 Brothers in Murfreesboro. It’s the film “Girls Night Out,” which has already made an appearance at The 5 Spot and is styled after the ’80s slasher genre. Though it won’t be screened at 3 Brothers since it’s an all-ages event, it will be sold – on VHS. Copies are limited, blood red copies even more so, so get there early and expect giveaways and weird stuff. Kelly Kerr & the Distractions and Epic Ditch will be playing. 8 p.m.

Click here to see a Murfreesboro Pulse interview with three of the four faces of Culture Cringe and find out more about the film, the release and what these guys do.

Photo by Will Vastine

Like most members of the Nashville music scene, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes are not actually from Nashville. Bassist Marshall Skinner and guitarist Timon Lance are from Ohio (Columbus and Youngstown, respectively), Daniel Ellsworth hails from Minneapolis and drummer Joel Wren ended up in Nashville via Wichita, Kansas. Track-by-track, the band’s eclectic Midwestern roots become apparent and are directly reflected in their music, as each song oscillates seamlessly through various genres and stories.

After a short but impressive stint as part of the a capella group The Collective on NBC’s “The Sing Off,” Daniel Ellsworth returned to his instruments and joined his eponymous band for a US tour in support of their second and most recent release, Civilized Man. Self-produced and funded by fans through Kickstarter, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes found success in the independent approach that nurtured Civilized Man and applied the same DIY spirit to their recent national tour, booking and managing every aspect themselves, and then relying on their rapidly-growing fanbase to support and contribute to the outcome. Despite being Tennessee immigrants, the band has quickly established themselves within the Nashville music community, creating enough enthusiasm to accomplish the somewhat rare feat of successfully funding a Kickstarter campaign.

As the band continues to gain nationwide recognition, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes continue to make a name and a home for themselves in their adopted hometown. If you’d like to get an idea of what makes them unique, the four-piece will take the stage at The Basement on Saturday, April 28, alongside Jeremy Lister and Kelly McFarling. Listen to “Shoe Fits” from Civilized Man below. – Brianne Turner

Photo by Armchair Studios

Yes, Young is his real name, and he just released his debut, Give Me My Change, on April 10 via Brendan Benson’s Readymade Records. Georgia-born Young Hines was living in Chicago when his rough-made demo was accidentally discovered by Benson. It’s a lucky thing, because Benson’s interest prompted Hines’ return to Nashville and the catching, blues-pop-soul hybrid that is Give Me My Change. Here, Hines explains to The Deli how he wound up back here, what does or doesn’t work in songwriting and what he might listen to today. Read interview here.

I like how it’s not such a shock anymore to find good country music nowadays, speaking in this case about Andrew Combs’ new 7,” Big Bad Love (physical release May 8, 2012). “Take It From Me” is lulling and warm, brightening with organ and steel, and softening with Combs’ vocals, which don’t have the sunny, almost sour, twang of lots of country artists. Rather, his just have a grey southern lilt, and the song is reminiscent of one of Ryan Adams’ lovely, defeated let-down tunes. The title track bites harder with blues groove dug out with some rough, grated guitar parts and a feather dusting of percussion shaken over it. “Feels like getting off some mean old drug/Coming down off of big bad love.” Stream both tracks below. Combs is currently on tour with Jonny Corndawg and will be back in Nashville May 11 at The Basement. – Jessica Pace

Big Bad Love 7" by coinrecords

The lovable misfits of Diarrhea Planet spent last Saturday night floating amid the smoke haze, gas and beer stained garage rock oasis that is the Zombie Shop. Meshed in with a cagey tribe wisdom of rebellious creators, lip rings and brown mobs, the band was lifted and surrounded, exchanging their posts on stage for the heavenly ring of the pit. Camouflaged by sweat and family violence, the planet morphed into an insidious galvanization of mischievous gluttons forming the bowls of the creative marsh land below broken lamps strung out from the mechanical glow of the universe.

Outside, near the fire pit and cracked-out-vehicles-turned-theater seating, loners sneak glances at rock gods in leather jackets and cow hide boots, similar, but more expensive than the stagnant Nashville uniform worn by the gaggles of jolly pranksters who suck in the night air, enjoying the coma of hallucinating weeds and chasing the tail of the night, hoping to lasso through the youngsters and heavy brawlers to take an ear shot of The Ettes.

From California to jump on the spokes of the Nashville bandwagon, The Ettes kept stamina with the rowdy grind thanks to a miraculous drummer who resembled a spider, ninja, and octopus all at once who struck oil with windmill hits, her face a dark blur of hair and pure cannibalistic beauty. The Ettes managed to keep the crowd afloat as their hype deserves mention and anyone taking route to Nashville, lending late nights of sequestered distortion make their own space at historic degrees.

As the night closed and the search for the garage rock Bob Dylan left the crowd aloof another night, and churning gut concert bottom feeders bought out the remaining beer and crapes, little Jack still nursing conversation near the fire, the night chimed out to Easter Sunday, where some of those who fired spirit into the early hours of morning roam in the distant light searching for families, but for bands like Diarrhea Planet, they are creating a Nashville family; honest, brutal, and untamed. – Dh Wright

Electro-popist Kyle Andrews is playing his first Nashville show of the year at The High Watt Friday, May 4 with The Gills and Cashatt. Soooo, the first person to shoot us an e-mail at delinashville@gmail.com gets a free ticket to the show, and the band will even let ya bring your +1.

In his premiere post-Parachute Musical performance, Josh Foster took the stage as a solo artist last Tuesday at 3rd & Lindsley. After spending the past seven years as the lead songwriter and singer of Parachute Musical, the band’s recent breakup has left the artist with full creative control of his new venture. "I’ve always liked the fellowship of a band so that’s just how it’s always been. Nowadays, even though I’m playing with a band, I’m striking out on my own in the sense that the majority of the decision- making process lies on my shoulders. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but it’s definitely different."

Fans of Parachute Musical will recognize the stripped and undiluted lyrical style of the singer’s new music, but songs like "Tired Of This Motel" are a departure from anything they’ve heard before. Foster has taken an obvious step away from writing songs based on his past and seems to be moving toward singing about his present, focusing less on regret and hindsight and more on things like love and burning motels to the ground.

Josh Foster’s career has closely documented his personal life, from addiction to disappointment to the birth of a child, but the musician seems to be taking his most recent transition in stride. "A lot of people would probably call me a hobbyist since I don’t make a solid living playing music, but I consider myself [a musician]. I’ve paid a lot of dues, toured everywhere, slept on floors forever, lived out of a shitty van that I miss terribly these days. I don’t know when you cross the threshold of hobbyist to musician, but it feels like I’m there… just still paying dues, I guess. I’m having fun, though." – Brianne Turner

Currently in the midst of scrambling for enough votes to put them on the Road To Bonnaroo, Nashville-via-Australia’s Sons Of Summer are gearing up to release their eponymous debut album while making a name for themselves in the breakfast TV show circuit. Featured last month during a recurring Good Morning America segment, the three-piece have seen their song "The One I Love the Most" shine a light on the band’s noteworthy harmonies and organic sound.

Comprised of Clint Crighton, Jules Crighton and Luke Dolahenty, Sons Of Summer flirt with the genre boundaries of folk, rock and alt-country, creating a cohesive blend of warm, breezy melodies and reflective lyrics that feel like an essential addition to your springtime mixtape. Despite their Australian roots, the band mask their Aussie drawls behind an Americana sound, making it difficult to guess that Sons Of Summer call New South Wales, Australia their home.

Sons Of Summer have been together for roughly two years but have already secured some solid assistance in the form of their backup band. Accompanying them on stage and in the studio, Matt Sherrod (Crowded House, Beck) is featured on the drums and David Labruyere (John Mayer) stands in on bass. Luke, Clint and Jules share the role of lead vocalist and collaborate on the songwriting process, which creates a textured and occasionally non-traditional arrangement behind their traditional folk-centric format.

With only a handful of songs available online, your best chance at hearing what Sons Of Summer are capable of would be seeing them play live with Jedd Hughes at 3rd and Lindsley on April 12th. Their debut album will be available later this year. – Brianne Turner

The Joy of Painting recently posted a video of their release show for Asterisk, which captures their song “Try Try Try” live at Bonhoeffer’s in Murfreesboro. Read a review of the record published in the Murfreesboro Pulse here.