Need a new track that you can play on repeat and just let loose? Baltimore’s own Bosley has you covered with his new single Are We In Love? A funky, soulful track, it lulls you in with dulcet tones and holds you down with a rich chorus and wonderful instrumentals. It’s a dance beat, it’s great for relaxation, it’s perfect for a montage, it can get you through the day. Check it out when Bosley plays at The Black Cat on 9/3. $10 backstage, doors at 7:30. -Jonathan Goodwin

Looking for new, versatile jam that makes you jump, dance, and lose your mind? Try on indie hard rock band The Milestones for size; it’s a good fit. They’re a brash and fun quartet from Baltimore with a distinct and diverse sound all their own and their live performances are unmissable.

Their performance at DC9 on 8/26 did not give this writer’s eardrums a break and infected the audience with an energy that didn’t quit, even after the band started tearing down their kit. Their set featured excellent guitar fades and mind-blowing drum solos. These guys know how to interact with the audience given their fun banter and focused showmanship, so make sure to catch them live or miss an experience worth remembering. They have an EP, Honey, coming out later this summer and some shows in NYC this weekend. Leftfield, 8/29 at 8pm and D’Herde East, 8/30 at 2pm. -Jonathan Goodwin

From across the pond comes one of the hardest working indie bands today. Founded in 2012, Life in Film is at the halfway point of their first headlining tour of the US. They just finished opening on the Wombats tour a couple months ago, but they’re back at it again, reaching out to new audiences and sharing their artistry with us Yanks. They also put out their debut album Get Closer in April and have more stuff in the works for a sophomore release.

I watched their performance Tuesday, 8/25, at the Rock & Roll Hotel, their first-ever show in DC and I was wowed from start to finish. I spoke briefly with frontman Samuel Fry before the show, who revealed the band all works together to produce their music and that his favorite part of playing live is the unpredictability, giving new life to songs that had only been written and recorded. While at the show, I certainly found new life in songs I had only heard on Spotify. Literally everyone in the crowded space was jamming to the music, dancing and bopping heads to the rich beats. The thick bass shook my beer bottle and the lefty lead guitarist rocked his glasses right off his face. Life in Film has a sound all its own, not derivative in the slightest. Their stage presence was simple and engaging in its appeal, avoiding unnecessary flash and hitting the essentials for a good time. Catch them at their remaining US shows or miss out on a fantastic experience. -Jonathan Goodwin

Need good music for your insatiable dance fix? Look no further than Smoke Season, a Hollywood-based duo specializing in upbeat club grooves and catchy rhythms that cling to the brain like honey to a child’s fingers. Sultry vocals and well-coordinated synthesizers make up the core of their sound, but don’t expect a typical nightclub act; Smoke Season is top-notch. Catch them tonight with King Raam at The Black Cat for only $15, doors at 7:30. -Jonathan Goodwin

Listening to New Boss is like sending your brain to the beach. Their lo-fi approach is well-executed and carries their sound perfectly, with the right amount of twang and dance beats provided by premium drumming. The melodies are easy to lose oneself in, but they’re hard to leave behind. If you like Yo La Tengo or Belle & Sebastian, you’ll love New Boss, Charlottesville’s premier twee pop outfit. You’ll find them presenting their excellence as the openers for Sleepwalkers and The Dough Rollers at the 9:30 on 9/5 for just $15. Look for the new album Twee Boogie Vol. 1 & 2 this October! -Jonathan Goodwin

Last April, Alex Vans released the double A 45 "Velocirapture" to much fanfare. Fans had waited a long time for a follow up to Alex’s debut album DJ Booth. Luckily for us all, this time we didn’t have to wait long for yet another single. "Somebody To Lose" is a favorite at live shows already, but this record cranks up the tempo and intensity. It starts like a power-pop party-rocker and dives right into it’s infectious expanding groove. The best part, of course, is the chorus. Sweet and melodic, a contrast to the hard bass-driven verses. The entire record sounds beautiful. Punchy and bright guitars swirl around Alex’s smooth vocals. Snappy drums are joined by percussive punctuations and bits of studio laughter, adding a layer of sonic intrigue.

Together with the two tracks on Velocirapture, we have the beginnings of a very ambitious album. None of the three tracks are much alike, tied together only by Alex’s voice and skillfull melodic rock. Hopefully we wont have to wait too long for a full length, or at least another single. Check it out on Spotify! And don’t miss Alex Vans & The Hide Away playing for The Circus Life Two Year Anniversary Concert at the 9:30 Club on Friday, August 28th   –Natan Press

Baltimore’s own Haint Blue is back with a beautifully crafted self-titled EP out earlier this month. The seven-strong group artfully amalgamates poppy beats with Americana roots and instruments, producing a sound akin to Shovels & Rope or Avett Brothers, but still apart in its context and tonal shifts. Haint Blue has layers of pain and living in its lyrics, wrapped carefully in cheery beats and twangy harmonics. Grab a copy today and check them out at the Baltimore Folk Fest on 10/24. -Jonathan Goodwin

They’re from Fredericksburg and they sure know how to compile a track. Wylder takes all that is good about indie pop and folk and fuses it into a beautiful, symphonic melody. Their brand new single, Sunstroke, would fit perfectly as part of a movie soundtrack where everything turns out all right in the end. Emulating the sound of greats like The Polyphonic Spree, Wylder’s quality stands out as they’ll compete in the Jammin’ Java battle of the bands finals in Vienna on 8/21. Give them a listen and your support when they take the stage at 8pm! -Jonathan Goodwin

Taking cues from such legends as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, Nights Streets crank out loud, high-octane rock on every track. With vocals on par with Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson, crashing cymbals, and crunchy guitar bridges, this is the kind of music you go crazy listening to, locking yourself in your garage with a baseball bat and your mom’s expensive vases. They’re playing third in the lineup at The Black Cat on 9/2. Doors at 7:30, $12 for an awesome show. -Jonathan Goodwin

Rocking their way up from Manassas to DC’s best venues, The Duskwhales captivate their listeners with their relentless energy and dazzling rhythms. Fun beats and an uncanny ability to mix blues rock roots with pop and indie overtones makes them a formidable act to behold. Pooling influences from a diverse array of musicians, from Vampire Weekend to Jack White to The Doors, listening to their recent self-titled LP is akin to giving the brain a vacation. They’ll bring their high-buzz performance to the Rock & Roll Hotel on 9/19. 21+ and $8. -Jonathan Goodwin

Higher Education is a talented four-piece hailing from College Park and their sound is a veritable cornucopia of roots rock, reggae, and funk. Vocalists Danny and Petey Devaney display their versatility well, belting like Sublime’s Bradley Nowell, drawing listeners in to the music. Hardly a better dance groove is imaginable as Higher Education slides from punky fast beats to slow island jams effortlessly. Catch them treating an audience at their album release party at The 8×10 on 8/21. Make sure to pick up a copy of "Would You Like Fries With That," too! -Jonathan Goodwin

Fate can often be cruel, but she did the world a favor in bringing together Canary oh Canary, a post-punk trio from Richmond. They formed after entering a rock lotto and discovering their shared approaches to music. A grateful world can find much to enjoy in their latest LP, Sleep, as their aural aesthetic arises from groovy bass lines, sulky vocal work, and slamming guitar riffs. Fans and converts alike can find Canary oh Canary leading the lineup at The Broadberry, 8/23, as part of the Commonwealth of Notions concert series. -Jonathan Goodwin