The Smith Street Band - Death to the Lads

Staying in a hotel full of pilots
I can't believe that they are smoking
If you mastered the art of flight
Why would you spend half your time choking?
Sleeping in a bedroom full of assholes surely means I am one too
And I wake up and I go walking
And I think the wrong thing about you

Melbourne's Will Wagner, the front man for The Smith Street Band reminds me a lot of Frank Turner, who is one of my all-time favorites, so that's saying something. He also reminds me a bit of Georgia "Maq" McDonald of Camp Cope, probably that pronounced accent. It's great. Their latest release, More Scared of You Than You Are of Me, which came out back in April, is a lot of fun. If you're into folksy punk rock (yeah that's a thing) they would be right up your alley.

RIYL: Billy Bragg, Frank Turner, Camp Cope, Gang of Youths

Upcoming Shows

Tacocat - I Hate the Weekend

Paint the rainbow shades of beige
Take down everything we made
The neighborhood walks home afraid
Cause they were made for the working stiff
With a two day fun permit
Let loose like your life depends on it

Keith just reminded me that "we" saw Tacocat perform in some showcase at SXSW in 2016 - I didn't remember, darn it! Anyway, they're a really fun pop-punk all-girl band from Seattle (bonus song), and this one's really fast and funny and well-suited for a Monday. 

RIYL: Bleached, Potty Mouth, Best Coast, Cayetana

Upcoming Shows

SLØTFACE - Nancy Drew

Sløtface is shit that Patty Smith would put up with. Give a casual listen and you'll hear a pop-punk outfit with nice distinctive sound. Good stuff, sure. Pay attention and you'll hear subtle and complicated arrangements that get better with every release, thoughtful lyrics and a point of view that stands out. "Nancy Drew" is the latest single off their upcoming debut LP, Try Not to Freak Out, which comes out soon. Check out previous Most Important, "Sponge State", it's a good one.

RIYL: Honeyblood, Bad Cop, Bad Cop, Wolf Alice, Black Honey

Upcoming Shows

Diet Cig - Barf Day

I just wanna have ice cream on my birthday
(Will you be my)
I know that you're sorry, I just don't care
(My birthday date?)
Blow the candles out and wish all of my pain away
(Will you be my)
I know you're sorry, I don't care
(My birthday date?)

I was combing my lists for New York bands, as well as combing my brain for a good birthday song and voilá! Keith's a big fan of little ol' pop-punk duo Diet Cig, they happen to hale from NY, and looky here: a very specifically birthday song on their new album. (He might prefer all 11 of the other songs on the album, I'm not sure but that'd be my luck, and anyway I rather like to be on the nose, or tongue-in-cheek, or something to do with the face. Gimme a kiss and shut me up!) 

RIYL: Cayetana, Lemuria, Tiger Trap

Upcoming Shows

Gold Class - Twist in the Dark

Gold Class, a Melbourne-based post-punk outfit, have a killer throw-back sound. They remind me a bit of Interpol, both in their overall sound, but also they're kind of to Fugazi what Interpol was to Joy Division. Not a copy cat, but an inspired take. The comparisons don't stop there, while I was diving into their music I was reminded of a lot of great stuff. "Twist in the Dark" is the first cut of their upcoming album and it's ace.

RIYL: Fugazi, Interpol, At The Drive-In, Cloud Nothings

Upcoming Shows