South Side Brooklyn The Spix have license to feel chagrined by the explosion of hipsterdom and their once peaceful home of Williamsburg becoming the de facto capital of the world. MCs Zeps and Eternal Suarez bring their discontent to the face with the new track and video, “THC” [The Hipsters Came] that let’s says "addresses" the changes in their neighborhood. Their old school style flows over the beats like traffic over the Billyburg bridge. It’s one of those slow summer jams for hot days and cold drinks and offers a fresh perspective about the ever changing landscape of NYC and Brooklyn. – BrokeMC

Praise be to the band who avoids the genericism that inherently exists in so much pop music today.  In the name of all things catchy, Leapling are proving to be true masters of the hook.  “Here comes the summer/Waiting for you/Whether you want it baby/There’s nothing you can do,” the lyrics which open up their most recent release from January of last year feels like a declaration of sorts; indeed, whether we want it or not summer is upon us, just as Leapling will be.  Their infectiously catchy melodies are surrounded by shimmering guitar licks and incredibly groovy yet relaxing backbeats.  Dan Arnes’ lyrics contain a wonderful simplicity, and a voice that matches the intimacy of the late Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse).  The members of the band are all over the Brooklyn scene; Arnes and Yoni David were both founders of the now-closed venue, Big Snow Buffalo Lodge. R.J. Gordon and David are both members of Baked, and Gordon’s in a band called Lost Boy.  All great acts that you should check out.   Leapling will open things up tomorrow at the Glasslands Gallery on July 1st  so don’t be late! -Jake Saunders

Brooklyn based Inland Traveler sew together gorgeously layered, future-facing folk songs. On their recent single "Paths Are Frozen" (streaming) Gerald Edward, Katie Locke, and Lucas Madrazo share vocals, creating valleys of sound which rise to crescendo with every chorus, each as infectious as the last. The song harbors an alt-country lilt, not just in tone and instrumentation, but also in its narrative inclination. The song is about time itself, measured in summers, transient in the present, and cemented in the past. "Paths Are Frozen," like its subject, is melancholy in retrospect, but worthy of repeated listens. – @emilioherce

It looks like the 1.21 Gigawatts crew managed to grab every single decent to good to great indie rock band that’s up and coming in Brooklyn today for their upcoming 4 day yearly festival at Radio Bushwick on July 17-20: Bluffing, Big Neck Police, Infinity Shred, Sunflower Bean, Shark?, Tonstartsbandht, Celestial Shore, The Gradients, hell they even got Fiasco on the bill?! I remember listening to Fiasco in high school wishing I was cool enough to go to their shows, but back then I wasn’t in it for the music as much as trying to find an identity in this fucked up city we call home (calling all high school indie rockers: don’t be ashamed, you may not be old enough to drink yet but you are allowed to fuck up as many times as you want, so go to these shows, maybe you’ll get lucky and they won’t draw the X’s on your hand too deep!)

There will be also teen indie folk talent and recent Deli Record of the Month Frankie Cosmos. I could keep going, but the bottom line is that 1.21 Gigawatts is having a fun party with lots of talented NYC artist – I’ll be there! – Jake Saunders

Here’s a link to recordBar’s live feed recording of the tribute show. You can check out the rest of Todd’s photos, both from the tribute show and the Bad Seeds show, check out his Flickr page at this link. 

A back-and-forth between snare and minor acoustic chords chime in on the first track, “Meaningless Glare.” High-pitched, wailing, whining guitar feedback and plucking carry the song into the first verse and remain present throughout the song. Haunting harmonies of low-toned voices begin to speak to you, preaching the meaning behind people’s run-down existence. A very fitting introduction song to what is in store for the remainder of the album.