Brooklyn-based Grand Gesture deals in strong, guitar-driven leads, with a healthy dose of psychedelic vibes, and 70’s jam band mixed in. “Straw In My Sock,” one of the band’s latest releases, is a nearly-two-and-a-half minute romp laden with the kind of guitar riffage your daddy used to play, but the tune’s chorus is so catchy we guarantee you’ll be humming along before the song’s end. You can check out Grand Gesture live at the Mercury Lounge 3/17 for their album release party, but in the meantime, sink your teeth into their single streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni

The Soul & Blues Year End Poll results are finally in!

Overall Poll Winner (Combined Juror + Reader Poll Votes): Breanna Barbara

Dirty, brazen, and barefaced, Barbara Beanna is serving up old-style blues rock that’s not afraid to kick some ass and take some names. Listen below.

Reader Poll Second Place: Dakota Jones
The NYC-based band is crafts smooth soul rock that’s sure to make it’s way into your daily rotation. Take a listen to "Leave Me Alone" streaming below.

Here’s the list of all the finalists with their Readers’ Poll scores. As always, we’d like to thank all of our artists, jurors, and readers for participating in this year’s polls.  Stay tuned and vote for all of our remaining genre polls! 

	The Skins		0%	3 votes
	Eli Tyler		0%	3 votes
	Sean Mcverry		6%	82 votes
	Overcoats		0%	2 votes
	Dakota Jones		40%	517 votes
	Lawrence		0%	7 votes
	Danielle Grubb		0%	7 votes
	Breanna Barbara		2%	27 votes
	The Casey Hopkins Duo		49%	640 votes

Brooklyn-based venue, The National Sawdust, was formed with the mission of bringing dynamic, artist-led musical experiences to the performance space and The Revolution series is a prime example. This musical movement–the twelfth in the series–aims to highlight artists that are bringing innovation and advancements to their genres. This Saturday’s show will feature an eclectic array of talent with slacker rockers Rachel Angel, electro-R&B group Eda Wolf, and the jazz/funk/neo-soul quintet Nuf Said gracing the bill. The show is a sure-fire ticket to a killer set of performances, so be sure check out more info on The Revolution Vol. 12 here.-Olivia Sisinni

Ahsh Eff’s growly drawl is 2017’s greatest throwback.

When Ahsh starts rapping it’s easy to get lost in her posturing. Lines like “Glowed up, feeling like I’m Sosa,” come off as clever plays on Hip Hop cliches. It’s not until you realize that Ahsh is actually a character created by the artist (actually named Lisa) that you get really dialed into the brilliance of the performance.  It’s meta-rap replete with money green hair and eyebrows.  She’s playing the role of a fifteen year old girl who is completely enraptured with the swagger of gangbanging staring at posters on her wall, emphatically chanting “GANG! GANG! GANG!”  Ahsh Eff is one to watch this year as she continues to deconstruct her thug.–brokeMC 

The music of fr eg e lies somewhere along the crossroads of electro-soul and pop, but to rope them squarely into any set genre would likely be doing the band a disservice. Brooklyn-based by way of Mexico City, fr eg e melds smart pop-writing sensibilities with fickle rhythms and time signature shifts–crafting a dynamic sound that reflects the fractured spelling in the band’s moniker. The oftentimes near virtuosic playing, of course, alludes to the band’s jazz background, but what really make fr eg e stand out amidst seas of incredibly talented, technical players is the electro-flourishes that garnish their recordings. Their latest single, "Golden Ale Showers," is no exception to this formula, pitting angular instrumentals against buttery vocals to craft something uniquely striking, but also immediately accessible. You can catch fr eg e live at their next show on 3/7 at Drexler’s, but in the meantime, get your fr eg e fix by streaming their new single below.-Olivia Sisinni

 photo credit: Elise Swain

TGIF! Well, it’s not quite Friday yet, but if you need some music that will make it feel like the weekend, Surf Thugs will definitely spice things up. Their music screams “life of the party” with their upbeat, optimistic pop punk tunes. If that isn’t enough, these guys also sing about partying. They created their own abbreviation “RIP”, which doesn’t mean Rest in Peace in this case but Really into Partying. So, if you’re Really into Partying it’s time to listen to Surf Thugs as well as see them live when they play Arlene’s Grocery March 31st.-Jocelyn Huggler

Citris might just sound like what their name implies—sweet, but with a serious bite. The Brooklyn-based band melds psych elements with the grit of mid-90’s grunge to create tunes that kick, but are immediately compelling. You can catch Citris live at Arlene’s Grocery 2/21 as part of their month residency alongside Caretaker, Wreath, Itamar, and Jak the Lizard, but also be sure to keep your eyes peeled for their new LP dropping 2/24.-Olivia Sisinni

With soulful vocals and mezmorizing instrumentals, Bronx-based Maxine Ashley, serves up a slice of 90’s R&B heaven. Her latest EP, Paranoid, is five-tracks worth of warm, sultry tunes with some serious old-school vibes, but Ashley delivers confidence and swagger that are all her own. Keep your eyes on this girl, because we’d hedge are bets that she’s going places. Stream the title track from the new EP below.-Olivia Sisinni

NYC’s buzzworthy soul ensemble, 79.5, channels a legendary girl-group energy in their new single "Boy Don’t Be Afraid". The second single off of their upcoming album Predictions, the group combines impeccable vocal harmonies, subtly smooth grooves, and their unique modern flavor, to create a sound that embodies the musical culture of New York City.  They’ll be playing live 3/31 at the Bowery Ballroom alongside Chicano Batman, and The Shacks, but in the meantime, stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni 

Brooklyn-based artist Birch‘s new single, "Pick Sides" arrives at an exceptionally divisive point in our country’s history. While most people find themselves plagued with a robust outpouring of facebook fights focused on politics, social constructs, or the full gamut in between, Michelle Birsky–the synth-pop artist behind the musical project–turns her attention to the binary ways of thinking that create the false dichotomies that divide us. The single proves to be a bit more pop-minded than her previous releases, but the gravity of the subject blends seamlessly into her infectious melodies, and truly showcases her songwriting prowess. You can catch Birch live at the Mercury Lounge 2/25 alongside, Controller and Madeline Mondrala, but also click the play button to stream her below.-Olivia Sisinni

Brooklyn-based band, Wild Arrows, crafts indie pop tunes with a seriously dark streak that feels a lot like 80’s goth-pop heaven. Their latest release, "Dark Me" is no exception, combining clean, minimalist beats with harrowing lyricism to create a single that’s as striking as it is catchy. The band is gearing up to release a new album April 14th, and we can only imagine it’s stocked with the same flavor of dreamy synths, moody lyricism and the glittering transe-like aesthetic that we’ve come to love them for. You can catch the band live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg 3/29 alongside Minus the Bear and Bayonne, but before then take a listen to Wild Arrows below.-Olivia Sisinni

Let me start out this way: Fall of the Albatross is definitely not for the faint of heart. The Queens-based band deals in full-fledged, prog-metal freakouts, with a dash of finger-snapping jazz melodies thrown in. If that’s not enough to pique your interest, check out their latest album, Enormous Cloud. It’s an exercise in controlled chaos as the band growls, screeches, and swings through winding–and sometimes jarring–transitions. "Like A Good Tornado," the band’s stand-out track, is just that–a whirlwind of sound complete with roaring guitar licks, time-signature play, and the band’s characteristic style jumps. The record is 11 tracks of spastic, dense, instrumental goodness, that may bewilder first-time listeners, however, the auditory payouts are great and well worth the ride. Catch them at Fat Baby 2/23 alongside Professor Caffeine & the Insecurities, Juan Bond, and Deeply Woven, and go ahead and hit that play button to stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni