San Francisco four-piece The Silhouette Era serves garage rock on a silver platter. Their surfy summer anthem for punks, “Waste Me” (streaming below), combines fun, gritty, guitar-driven rock with a notable level of musicianship (two out of four members study music composition at San Francisco State.) Their music is reckless yet clean, rowdy but with a purpose, and perfect for streaming all summer long. The rest of their self-titled EP will be out on June 22nd, and they will be celebrating with a show at the East Village Coffee Lounge in their hometown of Monterey the next day. – Lilly Milman 

You may already know her from Boston-based funk-soul outfit The New Review, but that’s no excuse to sleep on singer-songwriter Aubrey Haddard’s solo project. Her most recent single “I Should Know Better” (streaming below) is dynamic and rhythmically complex, bringing an edge to her relatable and catchy lyrics (“now every night Im a 2AM hot mess / and every day I get a little more heartless.”) Don’t miss your opportunity to see Haddard play live at Once Ballroom in Somerville on May 18th. – Lilly Milman

We have a deep fascination with cerebral pop, and B Boys bassist/vocalist Brendon Avalos just gave us a yummy sonic treat of that kind with his brand new project Gift Wrap. Debut single and LP title track ‘Losing Count’ (video streaming below) sounds like a tribute to some of the most subversive avant-pop acts of the ’80s, with its references to Devo’s robotic riffs and vocals, Brian Eno’s brainy lyrics and Wall of Voodoo’s synth-driven drones, which open up in the chorus after several verses dominated by brief sonic elements in staccato. Check out also the other single on the record, "Either Way."

With new album Knock Hard on the way, Susannah Cutler’s musical project Yours Are The Only Ears has just unveiled a new single, "You and Bobby". Reflective of Cutler’s soft folk style, the production quality builds upon the work she’s released over the years; gone are the lo-fi artifacts from 2016’s EP friendship porn, making way for clarity in Cutler’s mellow guitar and wide-ranging voice, both of which explore the lower notes to drive home the theme of self-preservation and introspection after trauma. The heightened production makes every breath and subtle waver in Cutler’s airy voice audible; in there you can hear the layers of emotion which cover every word and note that she sings. "You and Bobby" is the third single off of the upcoming LP, which is titled Knock Hard; the album drops on May 11th, but Cutler will mark the release with a show at Alphaville on May 25th. Listen to "You and Bobby" below. – Will Sisskind

Forth Wanderers has long been a band with well-earned cred in DIY circles. The Montclair, New Jersey group’s to the point songwriting and classic indie rock arrangements aren’t a hard sell, but the band’s debut LP with Sub Pop Records finetunes the sound with great success. The self-titled release poises the group for bigger things. It’s self-aware, never indulgent, and full of earnest energy. On May 5, a week after the album’s release, Forth Wanderers will headline Market Hotel with a stellar lineup featuring Ó (fka Eskimeaux) and Trace Mountains. – Cameron Carr

The similarities between ‘70s psychedelia and the synthesizer and effects-heavy sounds of modern alternative music aren’t hard to find, but it’s a connection we rarely note. Maybird finds itself in the middle of that intersection. While by no means following in the direct veins of those rock forebearers, the manipulated guitars and electronics found throughout the band’s music keep an eye on psychedelics as inspiration far more than most alt-pop peers. You can hear it in the ripped fuzz guitar riffs on “Turning Into Water” or the background organ of “To The Stars.” Live, Maybird captures its sound by frequently bringing along pedal steel guitar, saxophone, and even incorporating an unusual overhanded guitar playing technique. You can catch the band live on May 3 at Rough Trade Records when the group opens for Mt. Joy. ­– Cameron Carr

Sun Kin is the project of Oakland-based Kabir Kumar, a baroque indie pop project with psychedelic sensabilities. Kumar’s most recent release is the single “Honey, I’m Whole” (streaming below), which is a tribute to his grandmother. The tender lyricism of the song is contrasted with the upbeat arrangements, delivering a heavy dose of nostalgia that is much more sweet than it is bitter. In Kumar’s own words, “This song is about wishing that someone you’ve loved forever could meet someone you just fell in love with.” – Lilly Milman

Rare is the country band who forms and finds an audience in the city, but Babies’ Babies has done just that. Though front woman Olivia Lurrie began performing live just a couple of months ago, her shows have drawn sizable audiences of fans who sway and dance to her and her band’s country-psych jams. Styling herself as a "neurotic southern belle" and a "manic prairie dream girl" – Olivia takes her influence from classic country and folk acts like Dolly Parton, Lee Hazelwood, and Nancy Sinatra. While the musical style evokes those artists, Lurrie’s lyrics describe more modern anxieties about heartbreak and self-discovery. On Babies’ latest album "Better Than Before", Lurrie sings almost autobiographically about a young country singer breaking out of a tumultuous relationship and leaving her small town to find success in the big city. 

Babies’ Babies will play Alphaville on May 5th; the band will consist of Lurrie and her backing group, known as "Always Waitin’ On The Man". Also on the bill: Lo-fi artist Dark Tea, country-synth performer Dougie Poole, and North Carolina-based band Drag Sounds. Stream Babies’ Babies’ latest single, "Small Town Syndrome", below. – Will Sisskind

Billy Libby has run the gamut when it comes to supporting his fellow indie acts, performing with bands like My Morning Jacket, Tokyo Police Club, Ingrid Michaelson, and Surfer Blood. Now it’s his time to shine: On May 4th, Libby will release his first record under the name Fort Gorgeous. The EP, called "The Bottom of the Sea", features lush indie pop, with hooky tracks like "Watch The Paint Dry" and "Wishing Well" highlighting Libby’s soaring voice. His lyrics come from long bouts of introspection; the brooding comes through the catchy chord changes, making these new songs perfect for fans of Jason Mraz, The Script, or Dashboard Confessional. 

You can stream preview single "Round and Round" below. Plus, you can catch Libby perform as Fort Gorgeous at May 8th at C’mon Everybody. – Will Sisskind

The minds behind electro-pop duo Nite Haus have released their newest track, called "Calling You", which we are premiering below. The music video for the hooky electronic track dropped in 2016, but the single itself comes from the upcoming release of Saturation. Carrie Turner provides the soft but dark vocals atop Nils Siegel’s acidic beats, and although the band’s influences include Daft Punk and New Order, you can hear a bit of Crystal Castles and classic Aphex Twin in there as well. Nite Haus have spent the last several months recording songs for Saturation in the same way as they recorded their debut album, Transform the Dark, in 2014: In Nils’s living room studio in Williamsburg. Before Saturation drops, watch the video for "Calling You" below. – Will Sisskind

Throwin’ Bo’s is back again with another installment; so, if you’ve been kicking yourself for missing opening night last month, then it’s your lucky day. This month’s lineup promises a night of dreamy, indie rock—all from Bay Area locals. Hailing from San Francisco are dot Vom (streaming below) and FRONDS, both of which offer nothing but the sweetest doses of echo-laden goodness. Oakland’s free paintings will also be joining the party, topping off the set with their own personal blend of art-rock and shoe gaze. – Lilly Milman

The event will once again be at The Elbo Room, and it is 21+. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Make sure to RSVP on Facebook! 

If you haven’t listened to the debut EP (Y) by Saalt, the musical creation of Alisa Saario, then you need to do yourself a favor. Soon. The moody slacker pop of the Oakland songstress is fantastical in its ability to marry the lo-fi with the energetic. This release makes use of kinetic energy; despite the dreamy and distant nature of her vocals, songs like “Wasted” (streaming below) still come off as anthemic and replay-able. There’s no one doing anything quite like Saario right now in Oakland, meaning that her music video release show at the Milk Bar on May 16th is unmissable. – Lilly Milman