Now, Now - SGL

You call me crying
The middle of the night
I'm on my knees
You've got me praying for a sign
It's all wrong
She's looking for a fight
Just say my name and I'll come running
Don't get me wrong
I hear your reasons
You get along over the weekends
But I've got it bad, yeah I'm not sleeping
And every time I hear her name my heart is breaking

Wow, if you're in Minnesota over Labor Day weekend, you should definitely go to their show at the State Fair - it's with Lucius and Phantogram! Great billing for this local (MN) duo who met in their high school marching band and have weathered the coming and going of several bandmates and indie labels, and the mysterious cancelation of their SXSW appearances the last two years in a row. This is their first release in about four years, coinciding with a new website and some tour dates.

Anyhoo, I like the modern simplicity of this tune, and didn't realize until I looked up the lyrics that it is quite similar to a song I tried to write a couple years ago! (My first attempt at songwriting, while trying out the idea of being in an all-girl punk band. We only held one practice.)

RIYL: Eisley, Tigers Jaw, Foxing, Hippo Campus

Upcoming Shows

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

Circa Survive - Lustration

Inside the catacomb
The marbles colder than ice
Our match is damp
Lit with a separate hand
I see into your world
You make no effort to hide
The tourniquet
Candles in a salt ring will dance
You don't have to repent tonight at all

The latest single from prog/emo rock outfit Circa Survive is very evocative of the music that broke them. Anthony Green's vocal delivery is terrific, as expected, and "Lustration" feels a lot like his solo work, but it also harkens back to Circa Survive's mellower stuff like "Living Together" and it's a bit nostalgic, but at the same time, makes me excited for their new stuff.

RIYL: The Dear Hunter, Tides of Man, Minus The Bear, The Fall of Troy

Upcoming Shows

Moon Taxi - Two High

When you feel the world around you
Spinnin' out of control
You can find someone around you
To bring you out of the cold
But you don't ever have to hide
What you really feel inside

So put 'em up
Two high
We can walk together with our hands up in the sky
So put 'em up
Tonight
We can come together
We won't give up on the fight

It's a new single and a slightly popier new sound for Nashville quintet Moon Taxi. I'm completely distracted now, at the mention of Nashville, as we just booked our first ever visit to Music City for this September! (Of course we're there at the exact time Moon Taxi plays here, womp.)

RIYL: Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Grizfolk, Hippo Campus

Upcoming Shows

Coldplay - ALIENS

Tell your leader
Sir or ma'am
We come in peace
We mean no harm
Somewhere out there
In the unknown
All the E.T.'s are phoning home
Watching my life
On the skyline
Crossing your eyes
For a lifetime

Just an alien
Moving target
Target movement
A patch, a corner
Of the spacetime
Just an alien
Turning toward it
Turning pages
Over Asia
Crossing ages
Just an alien
Oh, we just want to get home again

I'm not a HUGE Coldplay fan, though they have some songs that I will probably listen to forever and ever - "Viva la Vida" is one of my favorite storytelling songs, and "Sky Full of Stars" hits my heart right in the sweet spot - but I figured to go with the fresh new release for today's Most Important song. Chris Martin & Co. have always been experimenters and in recent years have found their greatest success in remixes and collaborations that can be played on the dance floor ("Hymn for the Weekend" w/Beyonce remixed by SEEB, the current "Something Just Like This" w/The Chainsmokers) so it doesn't surprise me that their latest single leans so electronic straight from the gate. Kinda weird, kinda pretty, kinda fun, though also sad. Bonus: animated lyric video.

RIYL: Snow Patrol, Oasis, One Republic, Band of Horses

Upcoming Shows