Songwriter Raina Bee returns with her band The Hive in the music video for "Queen of the South", the second track off of her 2016 album Stung. The rough-and-tumble country-inspired romp takes cues from Nancy Sinatra and Fiona Apple as it chronicles the urge for revenge. Bee says of the song: "It’s about someone who wronged me and imagining what I wish I could do to them in response. The whole Queen of the South thing is somewhat alluding to the Civil War and that the relationship was kind of a war."

The video showcases that war in action, as a gun-toting Raina fires rounds at a bound-and-gagged man who tries to make his escape. To see it for yourself, click the Play button on the video below. – Will Sisskind

Nervous Dater gives us the best parts of early 00’s pop punk (the energy and fun) minus the worst parts (the whiny vocals). Guitars get big and the lyrics tell stories of bad decisions, broken friendships, and feeling like a hot mess. Singer Rachel Lightner carries most of the band’s tracks as if she’s gleefully marinating in life’s ugliness over the band’s fun, catchy rock. They released full length "Don’t Be A Stranger" in September 2017. Favorite lyrics: "It’s hard to ask for help if you don’t really want it / passed out on the train in your own vomit", "I still dress just like I’m sixteen / and I still get way too drunk during the week", and the shimmer of hope: "I’m so fucking lucky / you’re so fucking lucky". They play Bushwick Public House on Friday, January 5th. We are looking forward to seeing what this band does in 2018 as their tour date book already has them playing Pouzza Fest in Montreal in the spring. – Meghan Rose

Neaux (pronounced "no") is duo Sierra Kay and Nick Fit. They describe their music as "the intersection of shoegaze and grunge" – which is actually pretty accurate. Sierra’s wailing and delayed vocals and Nick’s distorted chord progressions have a certain dark and tense quality to them, while the band’s visual style matches their sonic appreciation for the ’90s, as it appears evident in their music videos for the singles off "Chain Up the Sun," their sophomore album, released in November of 2017. Recent video Whistlegirl features an unsettlingly happy papier mache Mario-esque figure dancing in a living room. Favorite lyric: "just give me what i want / it doesn’t have to be so hard." Favorite song: Stuck Like A…" – streaming below. – Meghan Rose

Goodie (aka Phyllis Lee) is a breath of fresh air in the folk/songwriter scene. For one, the traditional acoustic guitar parts are all replaced with electric, and she’s not afraid to try out slightly avant chord progressions and go all out with supporting drums and bass. There’s a lightness to the songs, partly because the sparsity of the DIY arrangement, but there is genuine power and confidence in Lee’s vocals. "Shopping Cart" is particularly ethereal and lyrically wise, with ghostly background vocals perched atop bass and drums, proving that Goodie is one to watch. -Geena Kloeppel

With the members’ resumes featuring names like Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Holy Fuck, Obits, and The Cops, Savak is an A-team of indie rock odd-balls, but the band’s music speaks for itself. Some moments come sharp with jagged edges and angular turns while others chime with rock ‘n’ roll jangle worthy of R.E.M. Savak’s 2017 album Cut-Ups shows the group flexing its creative muscle and making use of the members’ broad talents for a consistent but adventurous entry in the post-punk genre. The band will play it’s first gig of the year January 18th at Alphaville with The Effects, Patois Counselors, and Big Quiet. – Cameron Carr

Pwndeleon creates a pleasing mix of retro video game aesthetics and conventional EDM beats on 8mb EP.  Starfox with a little extra funk is the theme of this release, punctuated every so often by staple dubstep aggression.    

Standing out throughout the release is Pwndeleon’s dedication to the tracks. Each track is well-crafted with enticing twists and turns.  The tracks can be turned up for party music, or just put on low volume in the background while gaming.  

 -Mike Dranove

Brooklyn’s sparkle-indie group Pale Lights ended 2017 on a productive note with the release of their LP The Stars Seemed Brighter, which has gained a good amount of praise since its unveiling. Frontman and songwriter Phil Sutton delivers poetic lyrics over Andy Adler’s mellifluous guitar and Lisa Goldstein’s subtle drums, while Suzanne Nienaber provides the summery harmonies in the background. That sunny feeling comes through in the music video for "Jean, Bring The Flowers" (streaming), a homemade four-minute capture of impromptu backyard jams while relaxing with friends in the sunshine. While you wait for the winter cold to pass, warm your ears and eyes with the video for "Jean, Bring The Flowers" below. – Will Sisskind

Lexie is a collaboration between NYC’s bedroom pop chanteuse Frankie Cosmos and two members of Atlanta’s Indie Rockers Warehouse (Alex Bailey and Doug Bleichner). The trio quietly released this side project’s 8 track debut “Record Time” in June of 2017. The album, recorded with Carlos Hernandez of Ava Luna, lives up to both band’s past achievements, although it’s obviously more skewed towards Greta Kline’s intimate pop format. Those who are in desperate need of new material after enjoying 2016’s sublime "Next Thing" should check it out. – Cameron Carr, photo by Sarah Cass

Riding into the new year after a satisfying 2017 is Sulene, the talented guitarist and film scorer who’s seen her own solo work gaining a growing amount of praise. The South African New Yorker released her debut EP, Strange, back in April; since then, she’s performed live (mostly solo) and played guitar in some of her fellow musicians’ projects. She’s also worked on a re-imagined version of her EP, titled Strange (Reimagined), which strips each synthpop track down to compositions for voice, piano, and string quartet. The result is a haunting album of self-reflective beauty, which is especially prevalent on the bonus track "Something New." – Will Sisskind

UT Kirin’s full length LP Wry Side of Paradise is unique in the sense that it describes in intimate, flurried detail exactly what it feels like to experience college (and California) for the first time. The concept album uses each song to describe a semester of the songwriter’s undergraduate career at UC Berkeley, taking the listener on a whirlwind journey that covers every experience from first love to loss of innocence to intellectual fulfillment, and everything in between. The album begins with the fast-paced and frenzied “General Chemistry” (streaming below) that opens the album up with the lines “I spent 17 years in a coma in New Jersey / and I went to high school where few people liked me / got taller, still skinny, California, no kidding / I now throw computers through windows for a living.” It is safe to say the album comes full circle when it ends on the more controlled, and somber lines “I’ll always remember the joy of not knowing / and the thrill of it all out before me / blink four times, it’s over” on the track “I Read Murakami.” This is an album to be enjoyed by anyone that felt they could’ve fallen apart in college, but somehow survived. UT Kirin plays various live shows around the Bay Area, so keep your eyes peeled. – Lilly Milman

If you are still looking for a rocking way to spend new year’s eve in the city, we’ve got an exciting show filled with excellent NYC bands for you (and very few dudes involved!). Brooklyn garage poppers Fruit & Flowers will be headlining this Cape House presented bill at the Rose Gold Cocktail Lounge together with Kino Kimino, a trio that plays an intriguing blend of post punk and what we call avant-indie (a word we forged to avoid using the ever-pretentious term "experimental"). Check out the two groups’ video in the embedded compilation, and get there early to witness openers Coco Verde and Mima Good, whose tracks are also embedded below. DJ Chuck Berrio will take the party into the wee hours.

If you’ve already cycled through your usual list of New Year’s resolutions and none of them seem worthwhile, then you’ve come to the right place. The Deli SF has the perfect idea for what to change in 2018: go to more local shows! Thankfully, the monthly Milk Was A Bad Choice showcase is giving you the perfect place to start, with a lineup that cannot be missed!

The January installation of MWABC will feature the R&B-infused pop of Sacramento’s So Much Light, who recently released the whimsical, electronic-heavy LP Oh, Yuck. There will also be performances by SF locals Le VICE, a truly one-of-a-kind act that creates an eclectic mix of hip-hop, pop, and soul. Bassist and songwriter Alex Szotak, who has previously worked with other favorites BOSCO and Soft Glas, will also be making his live debut. – Lilly Milman

Make sure to start the year off right by stopping by the Milk Bar on January 3rd, and until then, stream one of Le VICE’s past live performances below.