NYS Music 202​2

Tag: Alternative/Indie

  • Alt-J Announces “An Awesome Wave” North American Tour

    Infamous alt-J has just announced a tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Mercury Prize-winning debut album, An Awesome Wave. The tour will be starting in March 2023 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, and each show on the tour will feature a full performance of the album for the first time ever in the US.  

    Alt-J Announces "An Awesome Wave" North American Tour

    “It’s been such a great year promoting both The Dream and An Awesome Wave’s 10th anniversary that we have decided to extend the party into 2023. We are delighted to announce a run of AAW anniversary shows in the US in March where we will play the album in full for the first time in America. We hope you can join us,” the band said in a statement.

    The award-winning debut was followed two years later by their GRAMMY and BRIT Award-nominated number one album, This Is All Yours. Then in 2017, “RELAXER” flew straight into the top 10 of the UK album charts and garnered the band their second Mercury Prize nomination.

    Alt-J also celebrated the 10th anniversary of An Awesome Wave with a new podcast series presented by music journalist and radio host Jenny Eliscu. Things Will Get Better – An alt-J Podcast. The podcast sees the critically acclaimed, chart-topping British band discussing their early days as university students, delving into how they came together and more.  

    “We were asked so often how we felt about the ten year anniversary of An Awesome Wave,” say alt-J, “and how we planned to celebrate it, that we realized we didn’t exactly know. So we made a podcast to find out. ‘Things Will Get Better’ is a journey from the formation of the band to the release of our debut album, and features us exploring our old haunts in Leeds, listening to long-lost demos and chatting to Gwil Sainsbury and our producer Charlie Andrew. We loved reminiscing about those days, sharing our individual memories and taking some time to reflect with gratitude on the album that changed our lives more than any other.” 

    Alt-J Announces "An Awesome Wave" North American Tour

    MARCH 2023 Tour Dates:

    13 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre

    20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

    21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

    23 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater

    Presale for tickets begins next Wednesday, December 7th at 10am and is concluding on Thursday, December 8th with general on-sale beginning Friday. December 9th at 10am local time.  

    To sign up for early access to tickets, click the link here. 

  • Hudson Valley Native Soul Blind Releases New Single “Feel It All Around”

    Local to the Hudson Valley, Soul Blind released their newest alternative single “Feel It All Around” on November 11th. “Stuck In A Loop” leans into the band’s ‘90s alternative influences, flowing through rich guitar tones into an intoxicating breakdown.

    Soul Blind Releases "Feel It All Around" On 11/11

    As you listen through tracks like “Ain’t Hard To Tell” and “System (Failing),” it’s easy to see the juxtaposition of the environment the band grew up in bleeding into how they approach music. The songs serve as a pair centered around people sucking the life out of you, as “Ain’t Hard To Tell” takes the viewpoint of watching a person change into someone unlikable, “System (Failing)” finds one progressing past the relationship.  

    The band explains how inner struggles serve as a recurring theme throughout the album, this particular track feeds into the paranoia of the mind. “Imagine the visual of being stuck in a loop inside one’s thoughts due to a mental lapse onset by a drug induced night, and not knowing how to escape” vocalist Cen comments on the song’s lyrical content. “The ‘view’ is this other, brighter side that you can put yourself in, but the ‘glue’ has you stuck in a loop until you can get yourself out.” 

    Soul Blind Releases "Feel It All Around" On 11/11
    Soul Blind is Cen (vocals/bass), Justin Sarica (guitar), Finn Lovell (guitar), and Steve Hurley (drums).

    Much of Feel It All Around was written in Soul Blind’s hometown of Hudson Valley, NY, which the band describes as “a place of beauty within hopelessness of its people, where you find the richness between the despair.” 

    Alternative rock band Soul Blind pushes the boundaries of their genre with a rich collage of sounds and emotionally charged lyrics. Formed back in 2018, the band hit their stride in 2021 with the release of their critically acclaimed Third Chain EP. They have been praised for lush, distorted riffs and divine, whirling vocals, the band build on those elements on their upcoming full-length album, Feel It All Around.

    To listen to Soul Blind releases and Feel It All Around, click the link here.

  • Sea Glass Release Benét Collab “(I have jokes) If You Wanna Hear One”

    Project of New York-based producer Jake Muskat, Sea Glass is back in collaboration with a euphoric artist named Benét. Their dreamy new single  “(i have jokes) If You Wanna Hear One” has just dropped on all platforms. Sea Glass has been praised by the likes of Indie Shuffle, Wonderland Magazine, WFUV, Record of the Day, Variance Magazine, The Wild Honey Pie among others, garnering over 250k streams on his last EP alone.

    Sea Glass Releases Benét Collab "(I have jokes) If You Wanna Hear One"

    Inspired to release music after the birth of his first child, Sea Glass’s music taps into universal emotions around growing up and dreaming. His sound invokes yearning, hope and nostalgia filtered through a positive lens. 

    Coming back into the alternative/indie scene with his new single “(i have jokes) If You Wanna Hear One” in collaboration with euphoric artist Benét, the duo unite ethereal melodies and flowing narratives into a sound of their own. Finding its origins on a simple, classical guitar, this new single was written the week Sea Glass’s son was born as a lullaby.  

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Bq9xhNKqs

    He shares, “I liked the idea so much I decided to record it, but wanted to make it fit my production style. As I worked on it, I was more excited by its progress than anything else at the time. It took me 6 months of searching for a good top line when Benét offered to write on it. Their playful melody and lyrics just smashed the demo death loop I was in into smithereens. It came together very quickly from there. I had my close friend Jared Saltiel add live drums and the whole thing gelled together perfectly.” 

    Written during Sea Glass’s last few months in Brooklyn as he prepared to depart the city, he states, “My son was just born and I was both thrilled to have this new love in our family but also overwhelmed with the added pressure that the responsibility brought. The music was a sort of escape from the moment, an idealized version of how I hoped things would go. It was written in the summer and there are definitely island vibes to the sounds, but the escapism I’m exploring in the music also makes this song relevant for any time of year.” 

    To listen to Sea Glass’s newest song “(i have jokes) If You Wanna Hear One,” click here.

  • Sub Lights Release New EP ‘Half-Life’

    NYC’s Sub Lights have just released their newest EP Half-Life, an album that describes how if you only live in the past or for the future, you miss the present. Thus, marking the duo’s second release following last year’s Medicine EP and a pair of successful debut shows in Manhattan.

    Sub Lights Announce New EP Half-Life

    The band has also released a new video for another track from this project, titled “Hell’s Kitchen Sink.”

    To the artists, the challenge of making music as a duo has inspired them to put together a small studio in their new home in New York City, an effort that went into overdrive during the 2020 lockdowns. Their new Half-Life EP marks the duo’s second release, following last year’s Medicine.

    “Big and brash electropop from this NY duo that centers blazing hooks amidst spiraling guitars and sizzling synths.”

    Bandcamp New and Notable 

    “Music should be fun, it’s entertainment after all,” states Stephen. “But it’s also art and part of the purpose of art is to allow listeners to explore different ways of being. That’s our goal: to offer the chance to explore a bit of social consciousness along with fun.” 

    “Sub lights has a distinct electronic sound . . . sure to get you in your feels. . . . an incredible atmosphere. . . . creative and fun. More music from Sub lights is on the way; be on the lookout.”

    Road Trips & Playlists 

    “The idea was to transform traditionally-written songs, mostly played on piano or acoustic guitar, into our indie-electronic style,” says the Stephen. “Lyrically, we wanted to try to capture the kind of social melancholy coming out of the pandemic and the Trump years, but then express that in a hopeful way. Like, life is tough and can be really sad, but even then people are amazing and able to find joy by connecting with each other. We also wanted to take our music seriously without taking ourselves too seriously—it’s a fine line, but I admire artists who can pull that off. But also I’m a college history professor and fairly politically active, so there’s always an element of the big picture mixed in there too, grand themes of what it means to be human and all that.”  

    Sub Lights Announce New EP Half-Life


    “Half-Life has multiple meanings as it relates to the album,” continues Meredith. “It is one of the key lines in ‘Strange New Breed,’ and it is a way to describe how if you only live in the past or for the future, you miss the present, so essentially it feels like you are only experiencing half of your life at any given moment… It’s also my word for what deep depression feels like. All these missed opportunities, just watching life go by from your bed.  ‘Black & White’ and ‘Rockville’ are songs about the past. ‘Traffic’ and ‘Hell’s Kitchen Sink’ are about living in the moment which is the only time we can experience the full interconnectedness of life, that we are all the same.”                            

    Sub Lights Announce New EP Half-Life

    “I think some of our songs conceptually resemble protest music,” says Merideth. “Common themes are anti-religion, anti-patriarchy, anti-unfettered capitalism, anti-fascism. Think for yourself, question things, wake up, be kind.” 

  • Trauma Cat’s “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here” Album Release

    Local to Syracuse, the band Trauma Cat has recently just dropped their newest album The Truth Doesn’t Live Here, which we released on Friday, October 7th. Award-winning indie alternative band making a name for themselves by stating that they are “America’s sorriest power trio.” Along with this, they will be playing at The Range in Ithaca on October 22nd. 

    The Truth Doesn't Live Here" Album Release

    This LP marks the Syracuse-based band’s second full-length collaboration weighing in at a whopping 19 tracks. The unauthorized double album features six singles previously released in 2022: “Better Questions,” “Tsai Shen,” “Bunnyhole,” “Popcorn Machine,” “Get It All Out (Online),” and “The Reporter.” 

    Trauma Cat's "The Truth Doesn't Live Here" Album Release

    Songs like “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here” arrive also on the heels of a five-part online “dox-u-series” called “The Truth About Trauma Cat,” a cheeky satire of internet culture, deepfake technology, and simulation theory that teases a definitive identity reveal of the band’s members (known as Ralph Kojig, Roman Pando, and Rutger DiBoyere). 

    “When we say ‘the truth doesn’t live here,’ we mean that we are all inhabiting a post-truth world,” says guitarist Kojig, who shares primary songwriting and frontman duties with bassist Pando. “While it’s possible that the majority of our society once recognized an objective truth, it’s pretty clear now — in the face of so many false or dubious claims — that we never had a monopoly on reality anyway, I’m sorry to say.” 

    “And there’s something hilarious and freeing about that,” adds Pando. “That strange liberation is what provoked Ralph and I to write the songs that would end up on this record. The result is something deeply inquisitive, and yet, with apologies to our audience, we still have no answers — except, obnoxiously, that there are no answers. Sorry!” 

    The songs on the album that I recommend are “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here,” which doubles down on Trauma Cat’s signature blend of music taste. The song combines a progressive rock with shades of post-punk, shoegaze, and power-pop. Similarly, “Better Questions” and “Pray the Gay Away” are another two amazing blend of alternative genres that speak to the chaos of the record’s core theme. 

    “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here” is available now on all streaming platforms. To listen to their newest hits, click the link here.

  • Snail Mail Perseveres at Brooklyn Mirage

    Snail Mail opened up a highly anticipated show at The Brooklyn Mirage on Oct. 3. The band, an indie rock project started by Lindsey Jordan, opened for the trilogy of Baltimore-based acts. The group warmed up the crowd for JPEGMAFIA and the main act, hardcore band Turnstile.

    As the remnants of Hurricane Ian descended upon the open-air venue, a sizable crowd huddled together to keep warm. Decked out in ponchos and raincoats, the crowd didn’t let the bad weather deter them from Snail Mail’s set.

    Snail Mail performing in the rain at The Brooklyn Mirage

    In an effort to preserve the equipment on stage, the band was forced to perform under tents. Though the circumstances were far from ideal, they didn’t let the environment affect the quality of the performance.

    Snail Mail performed a carefully curated mix of songs, including “Pristine” and “Heat Wave,” two standouts from their first album, Lush. The band mixed in many songs from their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Valentine, most notably performing “Valentine” and “Ben Franklin.:

    Lindsey Jordan from Snail Mail passionately performing

    Valentine is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s Lush, which Jordan released at just 17 years old. Now at 22, Jordan has gained much more life experience. She’s able to dive deeply into life-altering experiences, ranging from navigating life-altering success, a painful breakup, and 6 weeks in treatment.

    We look forward to Snail Mail’s continued growth as the band matures and hope that the next time they perform in New York, they’ll be able to do so without the constriction of a tent. Listen to our favorite song off of Valentine, “Ben Franklin” here and enjoy the photo recap of the show below.

    Snail Mail performing in Brooklyn under the rain
    Snail Mail performing in the rain at The Brooklyn Mirage
    Lindsey Jordan from Snail Mail passionately performing
    Snail Mail performing in Brooklyn under the rain
    Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail with her hair flying from head banging

  • Rising Artist Lizzy McAlpine performs at The 2022 New York State Fair

    Rising star Lizzy McAlpine made an appearance this past Friday at The Great New York State Fair 2022. The 22-year-old McAlpine enjoyed a significant rise of attention once her music went viral on TikTok. Her debut album Give me a Minute was released in August 2020 and has since garnered her a following.

    Perri Sage Photography

    McAlpine was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and started getting into music in middle school. She began studying music and songwriting in college at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Berklee College she continued to pursue her music career, leading to her internet fame.

    “I think [Berklee] did shape my music, but not because of the classes. The main thing I got out of Berklee was the people that I met, and the people I surrounded myself with who definitely influenced my music. I don’t think you need to necessarily understand music theory to be a good musician. If you have a good ear, you don’t need to know all the harmonies to write a good song.”

    Perri Sage Photography

    Syracuse was one of many stops for McAlpine, as part of her first official tour. Lizzy’s raw and stunning voice had her fans singing along to every song. The audience was visibly enthralled by the performance as they swayed and danced with friends. Some of her top hits such as “ceilings” and “hate to be lame” her latest album Five Seconds Flat drew the best reactions. McAlpine also performed songs from her breakthrough project, Give Me A Minute. Songs like “Pancakes for Dinner,” “Means Something” and “To the Mountains.” all made the setlist.

    Perri Sage Photography

    Overall Lizzy McAlpine has become a leading figure at a young age. Inspiring young girls and other young artists to pursue their dreams.

    Lizzy’s next show takes place on September 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Fine Line Music Cafe. We look forward to seeing what’s next for McAlpine and what the future holds for her.

  • Glass Animals Brings The Euphoric Dreamland To Brooklyn Mirage

    The evening of August 9 will certainly be one for the books as hundreds of fans wait eagerly to enter Glass Animals’ Dreamland. The Brooklyn Mirage is known for hosting big events but nothing compared to what the Glass Animals put on.

    glass animals

    Glass Animals have come a long way since forming in Oxford in 2010 by childhood friends Dave Bayley, Joe Seaward, Ed Irwin-Singer, and Drew MacFarlane. In their live shows, they play re-worked, dance-heavy versions of their songs. Their song “Heat Waves” reached number one in Australia in February 2021 and was voted number one on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020. The song surpassed one billion streams on Spotify and eventually reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and five on the UK Singles Chart. Recently, they received their first Grammy nomination in the Best New Artist category at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

    To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of their album, Dreamland.IRL, the band brought a one-of-a-kind celebration to Brooklyn Mirage. Dreamland is the album that brought us the global smash hit “Heat Waves.” The band now has over 5 billion global streams and 38 million monthly listeners, but it’s live events where Glass Animals come alive.

    As soon as guests entered the venue one can immediately tell this show would be like none other. Decorations, electronic displays, and a Pac-man game room were all part of the band’s numerous activations. As the band’s set time approached all patience was lost when the stage brought out pineapples. Fans have started bringing them to gigs and even dressing as them at shows – due to the lyric, “pineapples in my head” from the song “Pork Soda”. The detail and precision that went into the show’s visual displays were nothing short of astonishing.

    The band performed most of their set off their album Dreamland.IRL but also included fan favorites including “Life Itself” & “Youth”. As the sun set and night approached, fans refused to lower their energy level. Demanding 1 more song after the band wrapped up, Glass Animals couldn’t resist performing the staple song “Heat Waves”. Unfortunately, the band mentioned they won’t be in America for a while but the good news is they do not plan to slow down with live shows. Heading overseas, the band looks forward to several festivals including Mad Cool Sunset headlined by Rage Against The Machine.

    Setlist: Dreamland, Life Itself, Tangerine, Black Mambo/ Hot Sugar, The Other Side of Paradise, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth, It’s All So Incredibly Loud, Your Love (Deja Vu), I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance), Youth, Helium, Gooey, Pork Soda

    Encore: Tokyo Drifting, Heat Waves

    glass animals

  • Hearing Aide: The Wrecks ‘Sonder’

    If you’re searching for the eternal sound of summer, the alternative indie punk-pop outfit the Wrecks might be just the thing you need to remember the season is here. The Wellsville, NY band’s sophomore full-length album Sonder drops on June 10 across all streaming platforms via Big Noise Music Group.

    Eleven tracks nod to the quintessential pop/punk sound of the early 2000’s paying homage to the pioneers of the genre. But in Sonder, the Wrecks have developed their own unique 2020’s twist incorporating elements of current pop trends and new wave style synth to the mix. 

    the wrecks sonder

    Lyrics are relatable; the kind of lyrics you can apply to your life without knowing original context or origin story. “I’d say our lyrics have always been honest and vulnerable,” noted Wreck’s vocalist/producer Nick Anderson, “and not only was I able to depend on that narrative compass once again, but I found it taking me to a whole new place this time creatively.” Anderson’s vocals shine.  There is a powerful delicate balance to his vocal performance, a beautiful dichotomy that fits the band’s musical vibe – soft and tepid to robust and commanding and back again with a natural ease. 

    The album’s lead single, “Sonder” is a musical punch. Musically, the tune is sharp and demands attention.  The chorus’s unexpected hook warrants a “car windows down, singing at the top of your lungs like no one is next to you at the red light” type of moment. “Where Are You Now” showcases a different side to the band’s sound – acoustic guitar and ethereal vocals create an unexpected ballad early in the track listing. The album’s latest single “Lone Survivor”, a flashy earworm, closes the album with a dance heavy bass groove that justifies using the repeat button for a few listens. 

    The Wrecks are currently touring in support of Sonder with a 33-show tour this summer.  New York stops include dates in Buffalo at the Rec Room (June 29), Albany at the Empire Underground (June 30) and Webster Hall in New York City (Jul 8). Full tour dates can be found here.

    Key Tracks: Sonder, Where Are You Now, Lone Survivor, I Love This Part