Bluegrass acts in Austin can’t help but veer into the unexpected. While Sour Bridges features a banjo, violin, and other tell-tale Bluegrass harbingers, they don’t stay inside the traditional lines. With non-traditional themed songs like "Cocaine Lorraine" and "Midwife Crisis", Sour Bridges projects their ‘Browngrass’ which, which in their own words, "Is a little bit dirtier than Bluegrass". While the eclectic influences, like the Beatles and the Byrds, seem to blend seamlessly, its the live-wire energy of the quintet’s live shows that leave their mark on listeners. Its no surprise that Sour Bridges were the Austin voters pick for ‘Best Emerging Roots/Songwriter Act’ because although the band members come from the Pennsylvanie woods, Oklahoma plains, and Texas hills – their sound is uniquely Austin.
Johnny Zachman is the consumate front man, having previously written and performed with bands like Secret Cove, Clam, Twiga, Lofts, and Blow!, Zachman has found his niche curating alternative, psych-infused rock. Becoming a frquent fixture in the Austin live music scene, Zachman has been on a tear playing shows at the Mohawk, Cheer Up Charlies, Sidewinder, Lamberts, and more. While the band lists influences like Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, and Sigur Ros – they also share similarities with 2000’s drone rockers like the Secret Machines. Zachman clinched the Austin voter’s poll for ‘Best Emerging Psych Rock Group’ and their momentum should garner future accolades to come. Good karma seems to surround the band as they also strive to give back, most recently, raising money for the ACLU by releasing their latest single "Park Ave." on Soundcloud.
The brass funk veterans in No BS Brass Band don’t mess around. Their sets are fast, loud, and irresistibly funky. Hailing from the Oregon Hill neighborhood of Richmond, close to Virginia Commonwealth University, No BS’ music comes across as a musical fusion of college pep bands and high level brass funk a la Budos Band and Young Blood Brass.
If you’re in Virginia on March 3rd, or just want to make the drive, go see No BS Brass Band with SOJA at The National.
Devy Metal may be somewhat new as a band, but they come with all the spirit and vigor as seasoned vets. They’ve got a couple singles out now ("Greenleaf," "Baptism" and a cover of "Tempted" by Squeeze), but they’re releasing a mystery single with us all tomorrow as part of their Sunday Sessions at Rontoms with And And And.
As always, Rontoms Sunday Sessions are free, so come here Devy Metal’s new track and some Portland favorites in And And And. Check out Devy Metal’s live recording of "Tempted" for Noise & Color‘s Cake Away Show below.
The Spare Room on NE 42nd doesn’t do many shows but when they do, they’re worth checking out. Tonight’s show will be eclectic, fun and free, which are the three best qualities a show could possible offer.
We’re finally getting The Wild Body EP release we’ve all been waiting for. The cassette will come with quite a few versions of artwork to choose from, so if you find yourself a fan of their experimental post-punkcore dream rock (which you should be), you’ll have your pick of the litter while supplies last, of course!
A bit of fun from Karaoke Star, the improv project from Cat Hoch and Bryson Cone, will be kicking off tonight’s entertainment, with the gazey garage stylings of The Tamed West closing the night out.
Music starts at 9pm, so be sure to show up on time before the place packs up!
For the longest time, hip hop and r&b in Portland were backburner genres to the city’s most popular categories of indie, rock and garage. Things started to change recently, where more artists took to the soulful sounds of rhythm and blues or incorporating the type of woke sensibilities often dropped in bars of hip hop tracks. The results for this round of our poll provide proof of who’s been doing it the best in the last year, so keep scrolling to check them out.
Our top winners, Lola Buzzkill, are a supergroup of sorts dazzling audiences with their soulful croons and rhythmic tendencies. Their live performances integrate incredible makeup and costumes on top of their throwbacks to funky and sultry r&b and disco . They’ve got one of the best interactive live performances in town right now and if you haven’t gotten a chance to see them yet, you’re definitely missing out. Congrats on being our top dogs, Lola Buzzkill!
Next is the Fur Coats, who swept the readers’ poll without a hitch. The Fur Coats have been around for a little while now but have nonetheless been one of more dynamic iterations of modern psychedelic soul and mild jazz, using sax and organs in the most savvy of ways. They’ll be heading off for a long tour of Europe and we couldn’t be more excited for them.
Rounding out our winners are Chanti Darling and Karma Rivera, occupying two different sides of the same coin. Chanti Darling basically ran the last year, coming into it named Willamette Week’s Best New Band. Taking over festival stages and running their own dance nights led by powerful vocalist Chanticleer, Chanti Darling mixeds soul, disco and r&b with electronic elements to produce some of the most danciest tunes in town right now. Karma Rivera is the only actual hip hop artist to place, and she one of the best to represent the genre. Her beats are banging as are her rhymes, and her femme power is much needed in music world typically dominated by men.
With 7.5 votes, Crumb‘s, laid-back grooves have won over our panel of jurors, earning them the title of Best Emerging New England Folk/Soul Artist in our overall poll. Their dreamy, introspective psych-funk vibe brought Crumb to our attention back in November and we’re thrilled they are getting the recognition we feel they deserve. Their music is easy to get lost in, while maintaining interesting instrumentals and perfectly understated vocals to keep you engaged, if that’s your thing. Check out their latest release below. -Brian Varneke
Boston troubadours, Strangers by Accident, are hitting the road next week, on their musical pilgrimage to SXSW. Formed by duo Brian Sousa and Amy Wynne in 2015, Strangers is a beautifully minimalist take on modern indie-folk. It’s the kind of sound you can carry around in a suitcase, intimate and earnest. The band employs a timeless, old-school respect for songwriting that will keep their music resonating with new fans in Austin this March. Check them out at one of their MA tour dates: 3/4 at Toad in Cambridge and 3/6 at Bishop’s Lounge in Northampton. -Brian Varneke
Our Best of Nashville 2017 poll began last week with the Alt Rock/Metal category and, after you-the-people cast your vote, we have the results to share with you!
Fable Cry is an alternative rock act that might more accurately be characterized as horror-rock. Their string-heavy compositions and theatrical song structures could easily be soundtracks to psychological thrillers. The band’s style and sound are comically dark. They create a circus-like, psychedelic atmosphere that would please any lover of the occult and revel in pure weirdness. After listening to their work it’s easy to see how they’ve come to develop such a cult following.
Killing Grace packs a powerful sonic punch. With hard-hitting, distorted guitars, powerful vocals, and complex rhythms and melodies, these Tennessee natives carry on a metal tradition always in search of places to manifest. Influenced by the sound of bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Seether, they maintain and defend a sonic niche in a rock genre increasingly in need of torchbearers.
Honorable mention goes to Jay Leo Phillips (second in the overall chart).
The full list of nominees can be found under the streaming tracks.
Here is the list of all the finalists in the Nashville Alt Rock/Metal category and their readers’ poll results.
We’re nearing the end of The Deli’s Yearly Best Emerging Philly Artists Poll, and we have an eclectic group of Alt Rock acts for you to check out. Turn up the volume, take a listen to the list of nominees HERE, and vote for your favorite artist. Thanks in advance for all your help!
NYC-based singer-songwriter Pearla released her debut EP at The Bowery Electric on 2/24. Pearla, also known as Nicole Rodriguez, has begun to stir up interest in the indie rock circles around the city. She’s played a few shows with fellow rising singer-songwriter Belle-Skinner, most recently at Rockwood Stage 1 earlier this month. Pearla’s first release, the single "Waking Up", came out last July on her Soundcloud page. It’s a swirling rock ballad full of passion that might remind you of Alanis Morisette or Ani DiFranco. Listen to "Waking Up" below. – Will Sisskind
With the way the world has been going lately, it’s pretty obvious that we’re all incredibly tired. That’s why this track by Deathlist, "Never Been So Tired," is perfect for these feels.
From their self titled EP from just over a year ago, "Never Been So Tired" echos a depressive exhaustion collectively felt by many, expressed in a few lines worth of lyrics. "In one life I’ve never been so tired/In this one life you never get so tired/and words don’t make me safe, I want a cheap death/Because in this one life I’ve never been so tired."
