Beach Slang - Future Mixtape For The Art Kids

Stick your heart on your sleeve
If it breaks, stitch it on to me
Bash it back into shape
You might be cracked, but I won't let you break

Beach Slang's 2015 The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us felt like a return to some of my favorite music of the past. It's raw, yet accessible, loud and energetic, cool and challenging and all the things that make great music great. Beach Slang captured my imagination right away and I listened to everything I could find. We saw them live, featured one of their early tracks here and generally felt like I found a new favorite band.

Which is awesome. Because a few months later they released a follow-up: A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings. There are lots of great tracks to choose from, and I couldn't really pick one so I just decided to go with the high-energy and aptly titled opener, "Future Mixtape For The Art Kids". Speaking of which, they made an awesome "mixtape" which is well worth a listen too. Check out this cover of "Anything Anything" by Dramarama.

RIYL: The Replacements, The Cure, Japandroids, Cloud Nothings, Cayetana, The Psychedelic Furs

Upcoming Shows

Braid - East End Hollows

To be the one who never lets you go.
To be the one who never lets you fall.
To be the one who comes back home to you.
To be the one who calls you "home."
To be the one who keeps your chorus on.
To be the one who keeps you cornered.
To be the one who never lets you down.

Originally formed over ten years ago, Braid has been an on-again, off-again player on the indie punk scene. I missed their 2014 release No Coast and was a bit surprised when I stumbled somewhat blindly across "East End Hollows", looked to see who it was and saw Braid, a band I'd thought didn't exist anymore. No Coast is a solid album, and I'd consider it very true to their sound, which can be described as intelligent, emotional and enjoyable rock that kinda of just sticks with you. "East End Hollows", today's featured track, is the best of that sound, and a song that recalls what it's like to fall, and then stay, in love.

Upcoming Shows

Two Inch Astronaut - Personal Life

I guess all I can say
It's personal
Life
That's life
Personal life
Personal life
Feels so right

The first time I listened to post-punk outfit Two Inch Astronaut's 2016 release Personal Life I was reminded of an old Seattle band I loved: Black Eyes and Neckties. Damn, I wish that band was still around, they were awesome. For a Murder City Devils knock off. Anyway, as I listened further I was reminded of other great rock bands. Fugazi, Titus Andronicus, JEFF the Brotherhood and Pile to name a few.

What I'm saying is that while there is something solid underlying and unifying most of their work, there is also a lot of diversity and creativity on top of it that. They're energetic, quirky and at times surprising. But also always listenable and approachable. I bet they're also awesome live and hope to see them soon.

Upcoming Shows

The Front Bottoms - Flying Model Rockets

Flying model rockets own the sky in the backyard next to mine
I get these strange phone calls at night with no one on the other side
My brother's friend explains to me with breathless words and bloody knees
It's a black eyed trust, respect with pain.
A love I'll learn when I've been through the same.

We saw eclectic indie punkers The Front Bottoms last Saturday at ACL and it was a great time, as expected. They've been on my list to see for a little while, and I had a good idea they'd be as entertaining as they were.

Based on their feel good sound and clever, snarky lyrics I had a pretty good idea that Kerri would love them too, and she did. If you're into dark humor meshed with catchy, butt wiggle-inducing music in the vein of Violent Femmes, Saves The Day or The Dead Milkmen, you should check them out. Start anywhere, it's all good. I went with "Flying Model Rockets" as today's Most Important because it's actually different for them in that it's fairly straight-ahead. And also a great song.

Upcoming Shows

Radkey - Cat & Mouse

Are you scared, my dear?
The psychopath is coming is here
Are you used to it, my love?
The psychopath wants you to run
He had you in his gaze
He let you get away for fun
You're running in his maze
His fun has only just begun
You better run, he's coming for you
Nowhere to run, he's coming for you
Nowhere to hide, he's going to take your life
No one to cry to, he's going to take your life

Ok, folks, I've got a super cool band for you this fine Tuesday evening. They're called Radkey, after the last name of the three brothers from Missouri, and they formed in classic garage band fashion; teaching themselves how to play and practicing at home until they got their first break landing a show opening for Fishbone.

They've since released an album, Dark Black Makeup, which pretty much rules, and have toured all over the place. I've yet to see them, but excited to do that as soon as I get a chance. They've got a sound perfect for live music, it's fast, driving and hard and perfect for a good headbang.

Check out "Cat & Mouse", of their debut EP, and if you like that, give their other stuff a listen. It's all good.

Upcoming Shows