Fresh from a weekend stint in folk friendly Charlottesville, Handsome Hound returns to their hometown this Saturday to headline Songbyrd in Adams Morgan. Well-crafted and soulfully entertaining songs are the key to this group’s success, as the indie-folk-rock outfit continues to build off of the attention garnered by the release of their first EP last year. Creative and well thought out, the music does justice to the band’s influences: Americana legends like Johnny Cash and modern folk stars Shovels and Rope.

Don’t miss Handsome Hound and Odell Fox this Saturday, April 22nd, 6:30-9 at Songbyrd in Adams Morgan.  Tickets on sale here or at the door.

-Written by Michael Dranove

On the heels of sharing the stage with Twenty One Pilots and Circa Survive, Saint Slumber probably has a pretty solid idea of what’s cool, so it makes sense they’d write a song about it. Their latest release, “Cool” (from the upcoming " YOUTH//1 EP," out on April 28) starts off with crackling fuzz, background noise and a blitzed out synth before launching itself into a smooth melodic synth lick that later frames the song’s sweeping chorus. It’s an instantly catchy track that melds elements of indie rock with R&B, post-rock and EDM, but packages them all in a radio-ready way. Check out “Cool” streaming below, and catch the band live at the Delancey 4/29. – Olivia Sisinni

Richard’s Glasses is the first album from leading Phantom Tollbooth inspired Arlington indie-rock-post-grunge outfit Milo in the Doldrums.  High-level songwriting and musicianship shine through on this engaging blend of Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and other 1990s/early 2000s rock.

The key to this album is its variety, with the music being well-thought out and attention grabbing at all times. The touching ballads mixed in with the high-energy grunge make sure this album is well-paced, and at no time does the band allow the listener’s attention to wander.  

A well produced first mini-album from Milo in the Doldrums.

-Written by Michael Dranove

Elbows is a fitting name for producer Max Scheible. The Brooklyn-based artist crafts music that flexes through genres, bending tastes and traditions and creating something that sounds totally fresh.  Scheible, also a multimedia artist, is no stranger to cobbling together influences from different channels and spaces, and his music reflects this by expertly melding together EDM, jazz, and old-school R&B vibes. Keep your eyes peeled — Elbows is slated to release The Courdory EP this coming May, but in the main time you can stream new single “Think Twice” below. – Olivia Sisinni

Tall Tall Trees aka Mike Savino, is the answer to that question: What should banjo playing sound like in 2017? Even if you’ve never given second thought to experimental banjo music, you’re going to want to check this out. The banjo-driven music of Tall Tall Trees is both innovative and impressive—and even more so when you consider that the sweeping soundscapes of Savino’s music are often the result of a one-man show. Wielding what he’s dubbed the Banjotron 5000, Tall Tall Trees makes use of mulit-fx pedals, and precisely timed loops to craft large sounds swells and multi-tiered tracks. Check out his latest video premiere, "SeagullxEagle" streaming below and see what I’m talking about.-Olivia Sisinni

Here was a music video that put a smile on my face: DC Deli emerging artists of the month Venn covering one of my all-time favorite songs, Ceremony by New Order. Venn does a nice job capturing the sound of the original track and wrapping it in their own shoegaze sound, setting it all to a cute, superbly retro video.

Being such a huge fan of the original it’s hard for me to refrain from nitpicking. I do wish the guitars were more lo-fi and the vocals a little less intelligble among other things, but reservations aside a fantastic homage to a classic.

-Written by Michael Dranove

Havana Seoul’s “Payday: Revenue, The Stunt” is at once laid back and full of excitement.  Crunchy, open air backing tracks and playful rhymes combine to capture the sound of a blissful feeling made possible by making money and buying brand new shoes.  Whether or not making money and spending it is enough to satisfy you, when the beats drop on this track and Mi-Yung starts rhyming the music becomes truly irresistible. -Written by Michael Dranove

After a pretty inconsistent winter, it feels good to be able to finally claim that Spring has officially arrived in NYC. Is the good weather leaving you on the hunt for something new to pass through your earbuds, as your stroll, jacket-less and basking in the sunshine? Well, take a listen to local indie rockers, Petite League. The NYC-based band produces the breezy sort of indie rock that is guaranteed to put you in a good mood. Their tunes are catchy, but with real heart–a perfect companion to warm nights. Catch them live at Baby’s All Right 4/15 alongside VARSITY and Fruit & Flowers, and stream them below. -Olivia Sisinni

“Lover,” the latest release from NY-based EDM artist Eli Tyler combines the pop-writing prowess that Tyler has become known for, with creative off-beat sampling to produce a massively catchy track that still feels true to itself. Tyler’s raspy, understated vocals play deliciously against the full force of the visceral hooks in his choruses, resulting in a tune that will pitch a tent between your ears and not budge anytime soon after. Check out “Lover” streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni 

NJ-based bedroom indie pop band, Rhea, craft songs the ring like delicate love notes–unassuming, but incredible poignant. Featuring soft, feminine vocals and un-fussy guitar ornamentation, there’s something immediately compelling about the band’s songwriting. Lyrics like "I know that you want me / for my body / but I want you / in a different kind of way" showcase how Rhea’s strength is in their symplicity, and their innate ability to tap into something universal, effortlessly.  Check out "3am" by Rhea streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

Prima‘s latest single, "SAMBA", is a delicious romp in tortuous tension. The Brooklyn-based band has mastered the art of keeping their cards close to chest, and makes a habit of never revealing any more musical phrases than they need to. Driven by angular guitar leads, primative drum beats, and wild-yet-controlled female vocals, SAMBA is a slow burn that pushes its listeners right up to edge, but never fully loses its cool. Check out the track streaming below, and keep your eyes peeled for Prima’s lates EP, Performance, to be released this month.-Olivia Sisinni

Brooklyn-based by way of Virginia, Winstons are serving up home-fried garage soul the way your daddy likes it. The two-man powder keg of a band busts out blues rock in all its brassy and barefaced glory–crafting tracks that play out like a cross-country drive on the interstate. Recording directly to tape, the livewire, unbridled passion that pulses through the band’s tracks is left totally intact, and if anything’s for sure, they don’t quite make ’em like this anymore. Catch Winstons live at Ethyl’s 4/11 and make sure you stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni