Released on the first day of the season, the EP Summer Vibes by Nashville’s Geddes The Sea (also known as Gavin Geddes) is exactly what the summer needed. Rooted in a playful, chamber pop sound, the EP soars through fun lyrics, horn riffs, staccato beats, and powerful harmonies. This is especially seen in "Sunrise" (streaming below) which opens the EP with an infectious melody and vocal arrangement reminiscent of other bouncy, alt-rock bands like Neon Trees. The theme of the release is overwhelmingly optimistic and light—all staples of a good summer pop album. –Lilly Milman

San Francisco electro-soul act, The Crooked Stuff, are kicking off their summer residency at San Francisco’s Boom Boom Room on July 12th. With influences ranging from The Doors, Bad Brains, and Funkadelic, to Jamiroquai and Massive Attack, The Crooked Stuff are sonically experimental and unreserved. The band’s residency continues July 26th, August 9th and 23rd. – Ethan Ames

Danish multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Sara Savery aka Drop the Gun has shared the music video for a single from her debut, self-titled EP. "All I Want" is boldly colored, eye-catching, and startling. Featuring cutaways of a superimposed face on Savery’s hands, lyrics flashing in front of clips and kaleidoscopic visual effects, the music video highlights the pop-electronic production of the song. The video taps into the depth behind the lyrics in a harsher, more pronounced light, getting to the root of the confusion the Savery aimed to portray in the song. "All I Want" displays inner turmoil on the screen, quite literally. Don’t miss her live performance at Baby’s All Right on September 21st. – Geena Kloeppel

Homebrew, the rag-tag five-piece metal/rock outfit from Santa Cruz, CA is anything but your typical band. Borrowing from the framework of bands like Metric and Evanesence, Homebrew is fronted by the fierce personalities of Alison Maupin and lead guitarist Matt Kotila. Bassist Nel Barrow joined the rest of the group in 2015, most of whom have been playing heavy music together since 2010. – Joshua D. Huver 

Brooklyn indie singer-songwriter El Mar may sound light-hearted and easy to listen to, but there’s a depth to her lyrics and tone that sparkles through. Her single "Drifting" is a gorgeous example of that delightful pairing of breeziness and feeling. A carefully balanced full-band arrangement with just the right hint of country/Americana textures shows that El Mar is finding her own voice in a world of songwriters that sometimes mulls together. "Drifting" certainly doesn’t sound like El Mar is drifting, actually, it feels like she’s headed in the right direction. -Geena Kloeppel

Approach with caution – the edges are sharp. Sheep Shifter is a mass of buzzsaw guitars and heart-pounding drums goaded into brutality by human cattle prod/vocalist Jonathan Nash’s depraved howls. Those familiar with Murfreesboro’s Sheep Shifter will confirm the caustic nature of their live show is nothing short of head-banging good time.-Sam Mattingly

Blending harmonious vocal passages, post-punk driving rhythms, and victorious choruses, Idle Bloom are a stand-out Nashville band who display some vulnerability and heart in a style of music often associated with the entirely cold and angular. Catch them winning over some loud rock/metal fans at The End in Nashville on July 8th with Husband Stitch, Pandemix, Anwar Sadat and Mutilation Rites.-Sam Mattingly

Recently relocated from Boston to Nashville, six-piece TWEN creates music that is an effortlessly cool blend of garage, psych, and slacker rock. On their live, self-titled album, Jane Fitzsimmons’ surfy voice drones over thrashing guitars, giving the effect of a punchier version of Best Coast. Her shoegaze-inspired vocals are what add the psychedelic twist to the grungy arrangements in songs like “Long Time” (streaming below) where reverb takes centerstage. Their sound is so defined in this EP that it’s difficult to believe it was recorded live—but they will be bringing their exceptional live show to The East Room on July 19th. – Lilly Milman

There’s a certain overarching sweetness that consumes the Denver, New York based Strawberry Runners’ EP Hatcher Creek, but a close listen will reveal a far more complicated record. The pop-driven arrangements and saccharine melodies support lyrics filled with darkness. In the title track (streaming below), Emi Night’s lush vocals share an unfiltered look at childhood memories (“My dad keeps us up at night / And he kicks us hard when we try to hide / And my brother cries and I hold him close.”) The juxtaposition of the bouncy song with this kind of raw content conjures up a conflicting listening experience that’s at once uplifting and upsetting. The Strawberry Runners will be playing at the Silent Barn tonight (July 3rd), and then leave for a brief Northeast tour. – Lilly Milman

There’s a reason Cende is stirring up so much excitement right now. It’s the amalgamation of musicians involving in other breakout NYC bands like LVL UP and Porches. Drummers Greg Rutkin and Cameron Wisch (of the aforementioned groups) are joined by Dave Medina and Bernard Casserly in what’s best described as a joyous, young indie rock band with math pop inclinations. The 8 tracks on their debut album "*#1 Hit Single" are a whirlwind of punk-rock, pairing a fast-paced guitars with bright, pure vocals. Cende’s current national tour with Alex G and Japanese Breakfast provides plenty of opportunities to see them for yourself. Catch them in Brooklyn on July 6th at Music Hall of Williamsburg. – Allie Miller

Horse Jumper of Love: still slow, still sad, still one of Boston’s biggest bands. Since the release of their 2016 self-titled EP they’ve been riding on a steady stream of positive reviews and constant bookings. As a result, much has been said about them, described by Consequence of Sound as incorporating "tempo and tone unwavering, like controlled breathing." Aside from sing-a-long tracks such as "Ugly Brunette" and "Bagel Breath" from their EP, they’ve also released "Orange Peeler," a thoughtful, shoegaze-ing journey through the band’s early songwriting and consistent use of spacey-sounding feedback. Horse Jumper of Love is not going anywhere. They recently finished touring with Spencer Radcliffe and Everyone Else, and will play the Great Scott once again on July 12th.-Allie Miller

Friday July 7th, Chicago’s Secret Colours will be releasing their fourth album, titled Dream Dream. Drawing from British sounds (a clue indicated in their name) the band combines a diverse amount of indie, garage, pop, and psychedelia that makes their material energetic, progressive, yet nostalgic. Single “Save Me,” in particular, does just that; their tenth track on the album launches towards an atmosphere that feels much like classic rock, but then crosses over towards a spacier, indie pop sound with an intriguing shift between past and modern styles. Be sure to check out the upcoming LP, as well as a release show the following week in their hometown of Chicago, at Martyrs’, on July 15th. – Pearse Devlin