At first glance, “Tempelhof,” the first single from the upcoming solo release by Zula’s Nate Terepka, could fit snuggly into the world of Beatles-inspired indie pop. An easy voice delivers a lazy melody over charming piano, while a cymbals-free drum beat skips along. But, as with Terepka’s work in Zula, there’s more to the track than it seems. The already syncopated beat nonchalantly meanders into irregular time signatures as the chords dance into bright but unexpected progressions. The mastery of Terepka’s songwriting is that “Tempelhof” doesn’t present itself as unusual or overly complex. It’s a cozy, welcoming track fit to a breezy summer day without playing into the common tropes of pop music. Listen to “Tempelhof” below and keep an eye out for Terepka’s Sunlight Farm EP, due May 25th from Fox Food Records. – Cameron Carr

I never thought there’d be a day where a country band could give me shivers. But A Valley Son’s newest single "Warm Mexican Beer" has succeeded in shattering this particular glass ceiling with a nuanced, brooding indie/alt-country tune. "Warm Mexican Beer" is atmospheric, soft and genuine. A Valley Son has clearly mastered their ethereal sound, with stunning harmonies reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and tasteful, twangy electric guitar solos. This is a tune for a rainy day, and when the weather gets warmer, it’ll sound great on a summer evening. We are very excited to hear what’s next for the band. Hopefully more tunes that carry us like a warm breeze and pull at our heartstrings. –Geena Kloeppel

Spindly and tender, Peaer approaches often over-cooked genres with tact. Led by Peter Katz, the group plays with understated complexity. On Peaer’s most recent release, 2016’s self-titled full-length, the math rock rhythmic variation and generous swings in intensity become discrete and accessible thanks to the subtlety of the performances. It’s that care for dynamics and precision that makes Peaer such a persuasive live act. Katz sings with a modest delivery more in line with ‘90s slacker rock than his emo-tinged guitar work would lead one to expect. You can catch the band next headlining Trans-Pecos on April 29th alongside Sinai Vessel and Jelani Sei. – Cameron Carr

If the good old rock’n’roll sound and antics aren’t lost on you, Nashville’s Krantz has a whole lot to give you. Fronted by Jeffrey “Danger” Krantz, a finalist in MTV’s American Supergroup competition, the band certainly knows how to deliver hooks with a punch. Their new EP ‘The Pennock Tapes’ is actually inspired by Jeffrey’s real-life experience of playing in cover bands and side gigs on Broadway in Nashville and realizing he had the voice to front his own band. Check it out, streaming below.

Huck’s latest single "Does It?" is a trippy meditation on what hurts and what doesn’t. The song opens with a bell-like keyboard that floats in late-night thoughts and moments of longing, but the whole course of the song is changed with the drop of the first synth and the slow hits of a drum machine.  This song moves from a low-key tune to a synth jam in the space of three minutes, fading out with soft, re-pitched vocals, reminiscent of the ending of Frank Ocean’s "White Ferrari." Catch Huck live at Elsewhere on Sunday, 4/29. -Geena Kloeppel

In the late ’80s, when bands like the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses were all the rage, Manchester, UK was the kingdom of alternative pop. The wild parties propelled by that scene triggered the nickname "Madchester," which was soon adopted to describe that era’s music, which blended funk drumming and psych arrangement with an overall pop sensibility. In new single "Sex Crystal" (video streaming below), NYC via Australia electronic one-man-act Fascinator seems to find inspiration in that sound, something not many Big Apple-based artists have attempted. The formula still works, at least on semi-veterans of the scene like us.
The single will be included in the long awaited sophomore LP ‘Water Sign,’ out Friday 11 May via Spinning Top (Tame Impala, GUM, POND) /Caroline. Fascinator will support the release with a tour that will see him perform at Warsaw on May 30th.

Those who were bewitched by Tortoise’s post-rock masterpiece TNT owe it to themselves to get familiar with Brooklyn’s Tigue. The Brooklyn trio produces hypnotizing, circular instrumentals that slowly evolve in some kind of "internal" way – like in single "Triangle," whose video was unveiled last week. The harmonic content of the song doesn’t change (i.e. there is no chorus), but the continued changes in textures and instrumental parts, together with a literally unsettling time signature, keep the track interesting, and the bodies moving. The band will celebrate the release of their new EP ‘Strange Paradise’ at Elsewhere on April 27th.

Indie-folk singer-songwriter Shlomo Franklin releases his new EP "Don’t Love Anybody" on May 16th at Rockwood’s Stage 2. Franklin, one of the most active members of the NYC local music scene, tapped once again into his influences of Neil Young and Johnny Cash to produce the record’s title track. Released earlier this April, the song highlights Franklin’s rugged vocals and acoustic guitar, with other instruments — keys, bass, strings, drums — joining in as the desperation in Franklin’s voice swells throughout the song. As a love song filled with pining, Franklin makes sure to get the instrumentation and deliver the emotion just right, and he does, making such a delivery of raw fervor and honesty seem easy. Listen to "Don’t Love Anybody" below, and head to Rockwood on May 16th to pick up a copy of Franklin’s full EP. – Will Sisskind

The debut EP Rain or Shine by the San Francisco-based jam rock quartet The Fixins proves that they are not just the Bay Area’s fair-weathered friends—they’re here to stay. After playing countless live shows, they’ve finally laid down a recording. Their four-track EP is Americana influenced, with the occasional bluesy swell. It’s smooth and intricate, riffing off classic jam inspirations to create an extremely energetic record. Quite frankly, it’s something you and your dad can listen to together—easily. The release of their EP is kicking off a long string of summer shows for The Fixins, starting with a show at Peri’s Silver Dollar Bar in Fairfax on the 3rd. They will also be at San Francisco’s own The Plough and Stars the next day. – Lilly Milman

Listen to our favorite song "Rock and Roll" below! 

Hop on the wave, the big buoyant wave of indie rock that is Robot Princess. As much as the band dwells into scrappy punk, it never hesitates to flood its songs with keytar hooks, sugary backing vocals, and bounce along choruses. On a handful of singles from the band’s new album APOCALYPSE + BULLSHIT, out April 28th on Jam Eater Records, the penchant for unabashedly eager garage rock continues uninhibited. You can feel the energy in person that night when Robot Princess headlines a release show at Secret Project Robot. In the meantime, listen to single "Wizards + Mystics" below. – Cameron Carr

Spritzer lives up to its eponymous beverage: fun, bubbly, yet intoxicating just the same. The side-project of Friend Roulette’s Matt Meade, Spritzer serves as the vehicle for the artist’s more traditionally pop experimentation. Yet, Spritzer’s vibe doesn’t feel so stuffy as that. The music is of a refreshing vintage, featuring groovy bass lines and a very welcome horn section. Spritzer’s upcoming LP Love. Lies. Decay. promises even more inebriation and retro vibes, so make sure to celebrate its release on 04.25 at Elsewhere or catch it out on Paper Garden Records, 04.27. —Amanda Ogea

There’s a twangy, almost drawling tone to Dan Bateman’s voice when he sings in Frog. Bateman and bandmate Tom White have a folky hue to their music, as if it came from the American heartland rather than the densely populated streets of New York where the two reside. On paper though, that influence can be a little tricky to point out. Frog plays almost fuzzy indie rock with dashes of keyboard chords and glockenspiel melodies filling in the warm tingle of guitar. Still, the duo’s tender dynamics capture the personal feel of folk music and suit the band to intimate performances. You can see Frog live on April 28th at Caffeine Underground, a fittingly cozy setting for the group, alongside Demure and solo performances from Told Slant and Bedbug. – Cameron Carr