On their new album, All My Friends, released this past February, New York’s Plain Dog carries the DIY/indie torch while also managing to inject something fresh into their material. The seven-track album is at once buoyant and crackling with angst, with driving percussion and fuzzed-out guitars reminiscent of Modest Mouse and hints of Nirvana. With this release, Plain Dog delivers in droves and promises great things to come. You can catch them at Elsewhere on April 9th. Listen to "Cherry Cola" below! – Ethan Ames

Still Woozy is the passion project of the Oakland-based Sven Gamsky, who describes his own music as “electronic/acoustic wooz.” The fuzzy bedroom pop is reminiscent of other indietronica acts like Glass Animals (on their first album), but with his own twist. Gamsky’s brand of mellow pop is upbeat and melodic, but his lyrics are cool and, at times, even enigmatic. His effort to combine the sounds of acoustic and electronic music is paying off; with Still Woozy, he is making the type of pop you don’t mind hearing on repeat. – Lilly Milman, photo by Palmer Morse

Listen to his newest single “Lucy (ft. Odie)” streaming below.

New York’s indie-pop sensation Vlad Holiday is a force to be reckoned with. Just take his latest single, the ambient and melancholy "Children" – channeling the likes of M. Ward and The National; Holiday waxes nostaglic for simpler days and laments a certain loss of innocence that comes with the territory of growing up. Moreover, Holiday seems to long for the kind of blind optimism that drives so many of us to plunge headlong into life and love, for better or worse. "Lie to me and say goodnight/It’ll be all right/Lie and say this world is fine/That we will be all right." Vlad Holiday is playing a release show for his latest single at Elsewhere on April 3rd, with support from Des Rocs and Lip Talk. Listen to "Children" below! – Ethan Ames

There is a slow burn soul that runs throughout the synth-pop created by Brooklyn duo Death By Piano. The six songs on their debut EP “Countdown” emerge at a measured pace with singer/keyboardist Kalen Lister and producer/instrumentalist Greywolf crafting a deliberate, moody feel. On the title track (streaming below) deep bass synths and electronic beats create a pulsating groove leading to the vocal hook “please – please don’t turn the lights out – give me space to shake off the in crowd.” A spacious ambiance emerges at the midpoint, where beat-less waves of sound pulse behind Kalen’s emotive vocals. With the beats returning, the ultimate declaration is to “look the wolf in the eye, don’t back down.” The EP is now available for pre-order, with the full release on April 6. To celebrate, the band will play their release show on 4/2 at Elsewhere. – Dave Cromwell

NYC’s Late Slip is best categorized as country-punk, though the band’s genre-bending makes for a unique, if not undefinable, listen. Their 2016 EP, Other Men, is a rollicking four-song romp that grapples with the theme of love lost, without descending into tones of bitterness or self-pity. The tempestuous content of frontwoman Chelsea Nenni’s lyrics is counterbalanced by uptempo, crunchy, roots-rock arrangements. Nenni’s vocals are remarkably strong and versatile, carrying each song along with impressive technique and range. Above all else, the songs are catchy and concise, with memorable melodies that’ll stick around one’s brain long after they’re over. Check out the eponymous "Other Men" below, and don’t miss Late Slip at Hank’s Saloon on April 12th, with Lovechild! – Ethan Ames

DJ Silky Smooth is an enigma: a serious musician, he loathes to take himself too seriously. From the beginning of "Loser," the opening track off his 2017 LP Smoothie, DJ Silky Smooth (real name Jacob Schwartz) fearlessly and refreshingly deflates any air of pretentiousness all too commonly felt among musicians. He intones over bright, jaunty synths and chorus-laden guitars: "Have you heard there’s this kid at our school who calls himself DJ Silky Smooth? What a fucking loser." The song is tight and intricate, complete with a catchy refrain: "And I know/This is not the way/That we’re supposed to feel." The end result of Schwartz’s abstruse musical identity is effective: by dispensing with self-importance and keeping the mood light, he lets the music speak for itself – and it speaks volumes. DJ Silky Smooth is playing at Trans-Pecos on March 22nd, alongside Blasteroid, Edgar Clinks ansd Dark Tones. Listen to "Loser" below! – Ethan Ames

The Brooklyn alt-rock trio Mustardmind makes for a compelling listen, particularly for fans of cerebral music. Echoes of Talking Heads, Brian Eno and even glimmers of Radiohead shine through their latest EP, 2016’s Peep. "Working For The Bad Guys," the last track on the EP, is a meaty and variegated piece of music, rife with a driving rhythm section, alternatingly crunchy and shimmering guitars, and unexpected yet effective melodies by lead vocalist Bobby Lewis. Mustardmind are playing at Trans-Pecos tonight at 8:00 p.m. Listen to "Working For The Bad Guys" below! – Ethan Ames

Toronto’s noise rock band FRIGS have been rocking our sonic world big time for the past few weeks. So much so that we decided to put them on the cover of our SXSW 2018 issue of our sister mag The Deli, linked to the recent Austin Stompbox Exhibit. You can read the cover feature here. To complete the circle, we thought that a Q&A with the band’s guitarist Duncan Hay Jennings about his guitar pedals was in order – you can find it on our sister blog Delicious Audio.

Check out also this brand new video of single ‘Solid State’ from the band very well received debut album "Basic Behaviour."

NYC’s alternative songsmiths Operator Music Band are an innovative bunch, blending krautrock-esque new wave with chorus-laden indie tones and textures. On their most recent EP, Coördination, released last December, Operator Music Band makes much use of relatively spare songwriting technique, managing to entice their listeners with tightly controlled instrumentation amid synthy droning dissonance, harmonies reminiscent of Portishead (with Dara Hirsch and Jared Hiller exchanging lead vocal duties), and unpredictable departures midway through a given song into an entirely new idea, as evidenced in "Communicator 4." In spite of obvious nods to their predecessors, Operator Music Band sounds fresh and interesting. Don’t miss them at Alphaville on March 30th in support of Trace Mountains, and have a listen to "Communicator 4" below! – Ethan Ames

With its title referencing the biblical world without sin, Brooklyn’s Spirits of Leo‘s new track “Eden” (streaming below) creates a dreampop impression of that earthly temptation garden. Having relocated to Brooklyn from California, the band’s creative force Ryan Santos Phillips weaves in a nod to Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” as well. However, much like the human struggles in that literary tale, the prevailing focus here is of a paradise lost. Built around a driving bass line, melodic guitar riffs and clearly defined percussion, the vocals cascade in layers that create an atmospheric motion. “I wonder where we’re going again” serves as the songs catchiest repeated lyrical refrain providing a glimmer of hope for another chance at paradise. Included on the full-length album “Equinox,” the band will play its release show on March 22 at Tender Trap, with the record available everywhere on the 23rd. – Dave Cromwell

One way to describe Lavender Blush is a diamond in the rough soundscape of San Francisco shoegaze. Another, more simple (and perhaps even more meaningful) descriptor is just good. Like their sound, there’s no need for over-complication. This is the type of band that sneaks up on you, that stuns you into a silence with driving guitar parts, fuzzy production, and haunting vocals. The track “Misdirection” (streaming below) is an exercise in the genuine, one that is meant to be listened to over and over again. Lavender Blush will be playing at the EB Shoegaze Fest on April 15th at The Fireside Lounge in Alameda. – Lilly Milman

No surprise, SXSW 2018 was busy. With over 2000 acts from 63 countries performing this year, Austin was jam-packed with industry professionals and music fans all week. Downtown was a human ocean in the wee hours, the crowds were rowdy at venues like Dirty Dog and tamer at the Central Presbyterian Church. I waited in line for many of our favorite NYC artists at venues that were filled to capacity hours before they were meant to go on (I’m looking at you, Anna McClellan). Here’s a short recap of my favorite performances from this year’s SXSW. 

Beshken’s Ben Shirken adeptly took us far away from the noise of 6th street and into an ethereal world of eclectic dance music with a nifty setup and bassist/guitarist Ian White at Burnside’s Tavern on Wednesday. 

Jukebox the Ghost is currently based out of NYC recording their fifth album Off To The Races at Studio G in Brooklyn. The band put on a stunning show at the StubHub Stage on Wednesday night, playing old songs such as "Girl" and "Somebody," and also debuting "Fred Astaire" and "Everybody’s Lonely," two singles from their upcoming record. Their final song of the night was a cover of Queen’s "Bohemian Rhapsody" that had everyone, sober and not-so-sober, singing along every word.

Soccer Mommy played songs from her acclaimed new album Clean in a great set at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Friday, followed later that night at the same venue by Brooklyn’s Topaz Jones, whose soulful, crowd-pleasing performance had us laughing and dancing alike. "Has anyone seen Stranger Things?" he asked, introducing his 2016 song "Winona."

Finally, my absolute favorite performance of this year’s SXSW was Kitten’s at Mohawk Outdoor (pictured above). Originally from LA, the band recently moved to NYC and enrolled local musicians BITS (Blu and Rex Detiger) in the live lineup. Kitten’s frontwoman Chloe Chaidez was a delight to watch: an unusual burst of energy and incredibly agile gymnast, all without missing a note or a beat. She finished out the night with a 20-foot jump (more or less) into the audience and then sitting down at the drum kit, completely nailing the rhythm section of the last song and taking us all by surprise. -Geena Kloeppel