Run River North - David Robinson

I do right by all I know
Images on the wall say the same
Spotlight or shadow
My life and my worth is my name

Take this farther
Makes me stronger
Make this harder
Makes me stronger
Feel the light inside me
Reaching beyond my failing
See the crowd surround me
Leave the ground, I feel higher

Run River North were one of the highlights of SXSW 2016 for me - even managed to see them twice! I was already hooked on "Run or Hide" via indie radio but had no clue about their unique instrumentation (two violinists) nor that they were a totally Korean-American (6 of them) band. Great live - the drummer alone is entertaining - I've continued to enjoy their sophomore album Drinking from a Salt Pond throughout the rest of this year. Perhaps overdue as a Most Important Song, here is the track that is named after my sweetheart, and (he swears it's just coincidentally) his favorite.

RIYL: Local Natives, Head and the Heart, Grizfolk, Ra Ra Riot

Upcoming Shows

Sports - Nowhere to Be

so what if it’s not working, I'm a jerk, and you’re just hanging out?
we aren’t getting any younger
and now that my head’s aching, crying’s taken all my pride away
if I listen close I'll hear you breathe
nowhere to be and I wish you could see me now
I've got time
you’re always on my mind
seventeen didn’t mean a thing to me
I've got time
you’re always on my mind

I've spent a decent amount of the last couple days listening to Ohio quintet Sports. And it's been good. If I was making a mixtape for Kerri, you'd bet this song would be on it.

RIYL: Frankie Cosmos, Waxahatchee, Diet Cig, Slingshot Dakota, Pinegrove

Upcoming Shows

Indigo Velvet - Sunrise

Sunrise, in my eyes
I can see through your disguise
Your vice, at times
Wander off to other guys
At least now I know
Where I place on your podium
To give you my all
Makes it hard to watch you crawl

More upbeat-sounding indie pop (they label it "tropical pop") for your week, this time out of uber tropical Edinburgh, Scotland. 

RIYL: Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, Coin, Enemies

Upcoming Shows

Royal Teeth - Kids Conspire

The kids conspire
And leave their bodies on the ground
Their minds get higher
They are never coming down, down
Little girl you gotta do what Simon says
With a crown of clovers on your head
Little boy you gotta be the Superman
Can't you see our future's in your hands?

Louisiana pop band Royal Teeth are back with their first EP since their debut album came out three years ago. Their sound is melodic and optimistic, without being bubble-gum bland. Here's the vid from my favorite song from their 2013 LP, "Wild."

RIYL: Youngblood Hawke, Head and the Heart, Grizfolk

Upcoming Shows

Wintersleep - Santa Fe

So baby give me one more night
I will release you -- give me some time

I've been thinking about posting something from Wintersleep's latest album, The Great Detachment, for a while now. I decided upon "Santa Fe" as I feel like it captures the breadth of what they do well; a sort of understated and uplifting folksy rock with surprising and diverse twists. In this case, it's a fairly rockin' anthem with some killer sonic style.

For something a bit more straight-forward check out the video for the hit that first drew me to them, "Weighty Ghost".

RIYL: Mumford and Sons, Sloan, The New Pornographers, The Long Winters

Upcoming Shows