Tag: alternative

Fantastic Cat Release Debut Album “The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat”

‘New NYC supergroup, Fantastic Cat, are a new instrument-swapping rock/alt-country/folk band made of singer/songwriters Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunne, Don DiLego, and Mike Montali. Their debut album The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat just came out on July 29. Likewise, they’ll also be celebrating at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom with an album release show the same day.

So far, their newest record has been praised by Atwood Magazine, No Depression, The Boot, Bluegrass Situation and more; the singles have been added to multiple 1M+ Spotify playlists including Fresh Finds and All New Indie. The band also have a CBS Saturday session confirmed for the end of July which will air in early/mid-August.

The first single, “C’mon Armageddon”, is an incredible A24-style music video featuring Marc Geller who plays Kier Egan on the hit AppleTV show Severance. Along with this, the music video for the single “The Gig” shows the band playing a gig on The Staten Island Ferry after being told by their sleazebag manager he booked the band on “one of those concert cruises that are all the rage.”

Captured in the wilds of the Pocono Mountains, the album shifts between genres and different decades of music. By mixing electrified 60’s folk and 70’s AM radio gold with 80’s heartland rock and 90’s alt-country, it encompasses a raw feel of longtime friends making music for the sheer joy of it.

“Their music is at once fun, freewheeling, achingly intimate, and beautifully honest. They can joke about themselves and the state of things while tapping into deeply meaningful and relatable emotions… Fantastic Cat’s songs are a reminder that, even in our darkest moments, we can find a little light and love to hold onto.”
– Atwood Magazine

Along with the great music the band produces, they have a very fun and humorous vibe in all their videos and photos. Particularly, the photos and videos where they wear the giant cut out cat heads. Fantastic Cat has impressively made its way into the spotlight collectively. Through the four transcend their respective roots, they have emerged as an instrument-swapping, harmony-trading, tear-jerking, wise-cracking rock and roll cooperative far greater than the sum of its parts.

Key Tracks:

July 28, 2022
Morningsiders Release Their Newest Album “I’ve Got A Song”

New York City folk-pop trio, Morningsiders, release their newest album, I’ve Got A Song on June 17. Known for their unique style of indie music, this album encompasses a set of their latest quirky tunes. Their sound is often described as music that bridges the gap between virtuosic, intimate live moments and gorgeously atmospheric studio-produced pop.

The Morningsiders are NYC-based, having met and formed at Columbia University. The band is comprised of Magnus Ferguson (vocals/guitar), Reid Jenkins (fiddle/vocals), and Robert Frech (piano).

The band has evolved from an Americana-collective into today’s guitar-fiddle-piano trio more focused on song craft and production. Originally, the band was comprised of rotating members and improvisatory performances.

Morningsiders had first made a name for themselves on a national level when their song “Empress” went viral, topping Spotify’s Viral 50 in 2015. Shortly after, they ended but being featured in a Starbucks commercial featuring Oprah Winfrey. “Empress” now has over 44 million streams on Spotify to this day.

Songs like “Hang the Cedar” and “Bowery Ballroom” have an emotional yet upbeat melody, with pop-punk highlights. The lyrics are heartfelt and gentle, making us reminisce about a past or current relationship.

This album has quite a few gentle melodies, “This Could Be Good” has a beautiful guitar riff with motivating yet gentle lyrics. Yet, “Four Faced Liar” pokes at our heartstrings with a beautiful symphony and chorus.

Currently, the trio are set to expand their popularity using their quirky sonic maneuvering, while still retaining the moments of brilliant musicianship. I’ve Got A Song encompasses this new style overall, making it an easy hit.

Overall, “I’ve Got A Song” encompasses a gentle yet pop-punk side to the Morningsiders. They have evolved from an Americana-collective into today’s incredible guitar-fiddle-piano trio, you won’t want to miss out on this new album.

To download I’ve Got A Song, click the link here and watch “Hang The Cedar” below.

June 15, 2022
Back to Yours Release “MONSTER” Single

NYC based indie sensations, Back to Yours, have released their highly anticipated single “MONSTER,” which came to Spotify on April 22nd. This is the first single off of their sophomore album, It’s Dangerous at Home, the band’s second full-length album which is scheduled for release this fall. Additionally, the band will be releasing two more singles coming this later this summer.

“MONSTER” is a catchy headbanger, consisting of pop and hard rock influences. Because of it’s up-tempo pace, the song was written from the perspective of someone being chased by their sleep paralysis demon. By blending the unique euphonious music taste of each band member, Back to Yours produces warm, nostalgic, and accessible indie rock with a range of genre-spanning influences.

This upcoming a five-piece indie-rock group began playing together in the Spring of 2019, right when the pandemic started. Consisting of Aiden Jones (bass), Bryce Kassalow (vocals, guitar), Daniel Luttway (vocals, keys), Jiaan Mansuri (drums), and Tommy Levin (guitar). Originally meeting at Georgetown University sophomore year, the boys would go on to preform Beatles covers for their locals. This quickly turned into sold out performances all along the East Coast.

The boys ended up graduating remotely, and have managed to stay together to create, perform, and publish music regardless of the Covid pandemic. Despite all of the challenges they’ve overcome, Back to Yours will be having a big NYC show at the Bowery Ballroom on June 10th. You won’t want to miss the newer direction the band has taken in order to evolve with the constantly changing indie-alternative scene.

For more information about Back to Yours and their upcoming shows, please visit the link here.

Their latest single “MONSTER” is available for download on Spotify, Bandcamp, and more. In check out this catchy headbanger, click the link here.

June 2, 2022
Hearing Aide: Jake Huffman’s Debut EP “Adderall & Whiskey”

Jake Huffman’s debut EP Adderall & Whiskey was released in April 2022. Huffman views the release of this EP as one of his proudest triumphs as an artist, with each song written about a different moment from his past and arranged chronologically.

As stated in an interview with NYS Music, Adderall & Whiskey is inspired by his early 20’s. Lyrically, he writes about the story of the rise and fall of love along with experiencing life in a rock band. Two songs – “Giving it a Try” and “Just a Little More” – preview the intensity of Huffman’s newest project.

As mentioned in a profile in Relix, Huffman said, “Over the last few years, mostly in isolation, I was forced to look inward and found creative inspiration in the process. I always tell aspiring songwriters that the best songs are honest, simple and specific. “Giving it a Try” is my way of practicing what I preach. I took my own emotional arc of living with so much uncertainty in the world and produced and engineered the song myself from my home studio.”

Jake releases his first solo song “Giving It A Try,” a preview of his full EP

The two songs “Giving “it a Try” and “Just a Little More” are two emotional yet comforting pieces. Huffman goes from drums to keys to guitar all while communicating to an audience with deeply personal lyrics and stony vocals. Jake has managed to create a sound with the uniqueness of Arcade Fire, the drive of Tom Petty, and the honesty of Death Cab For Cutie

Tour dates:

May 19 – State House, New Haven CT
May 20 – Mercury Lounge, NYC
June 24 – Richmond VA, Richmond Music Hall
June 25 – Washington DC, Pearl Street Warehouse
August 26 – Burlington VT, Foam Brewers

Get tickets for the Mercury Lounge show on May 20th here, located on the Lower East Side of NYC.

May 9, 2022
Rising Star from East Village, Breaker, Releases “People Change”

Rising Star from East Village, Breaker, releases an instant classic rock song and video titled “People Change.” From performing for strangers to charming his friends with his confidence and wit, Breaker has a magnetic personality that goes beyond his musical talents.

Growing up with six siblings in New York City, Breaker has been performing for his family and all around Manhattan since he was young. Nowadays, he plays shows across the country with his love of songwriting and creating music. Beyond his 21 years, Breaker has made a name for himself as an alternative/indie artist.

Though written entirely in New York City, “People Change” and the upcoming EP were recorded in Virginia. While only taking a mere two days of studio time to record, the energy was buzzing from the first moment the small team entered the magical space. Escaping the East Village, he fled to a scenic farm for the birth of this upcoming album. With the help of his best friends and collaborators, Breaker had brought the vision of his new album to life.

Despite being a natural lead singer, what shines through most on the new song and Breaker’s upcoming EP is his ability to work with other creative minds. Thus, inspiring the people around him to make the best music and have the most fun possible. This project has led to the formation of The Live Show, which is a team of solo artists consisting of Jacob Lourie, Chris Murphy, and Breaker. Breaker has the ability to get any room dancing.

A second single, followed by Breaker’s upcoming debut EP, We’re Not Lovers Anymore, is coming later this Spring. Lookout for Breaker and The Live Show in and around NYC performing live now through the Summer.

To watch or listen to “People Change,” click the link here.

April 15, 2022
Phoebe Bridgers Reunion Tour 2022 to stop at BRIC in June

The infamous Phoebe Bridgers has announced her Reunion Tour for 2022, making a stop at the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell. Known for her folk-adjacent and edgy music, her aesthetics, and her female strength, Bridgers is one of the most exciting new talents to have emerged within recent years.

Photo by Mike Miller

Bridgers has bad a busy 2021, with 4 GRAMMY nominations, multiple late night TV performances including a smashing debut on Saturday Night Live. Additionally, she had a sold out Fall tour, two songs for charity (“That Funny Feeling” and “Day After Tomorrow”) and collaborations with Taylor Swift, The Killers, Paul McCartney, Metallica and more.

Most recently, Bridgers revealed plans for her own monthly radio show titled Saddest Factory Radio on Sirius XMU. Currently, she is getting ready to go back on the road taking her newest album, Punisher, to her fans across the United States and Canada, as well as to the UK and Europe.

Additionally, the Phoebe Bridgers North American run of the Reunion Tour includes a slew of dates April to August – and makes stops in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Brooklyn, Seattle.

photo by David Michael Reichmann

Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan Registration is open now here and closes Tuesday, March 8 at 12 pm EST. Similarly, verified Fan Presale begins Thursday, March 10th at 12 pm. $1 of every headline show ticket sold will be donated to The Mariposa Fund, fiscally sponsored by The West Fund.

Tour dates:

4/13: Arizona Federal Theatre – Phoenix, AZ

4/15: Coachella – Indio, CA

4/22: Coachella – Indio, CA

5/13: The Amp at Craig Ranch – Las Vegas, NV

5/14: Kilby Block Party – Salt Lake City, UT

5/17: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

5/19: The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory – Dallas, TX

5/20: Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park – Austin, TX

5/21: The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX

5/22: Hangout Fest – Gulf Shores, AL

5/24: The Cuban Club – Tampa, FL

5/25: St Augustine Amphitheatre – St Augustine, FL

5/27: Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park – Atlanta, GA

5/28: Forecastle Festival – Louisville, KY

5/31: Starlight Theatre – Kansas City, MO

6/1: The Waiting Room Outdoors – Omaha, NE

6/3: BMO Harris Pavilion – Milwaukee, WI

6/4: Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – Chicago, IL

6/7: RBC Echo Beach – Toronto, ON

6/8: MTelus – Montreal, QC

6/9: Thompson’s Point – Portland, ME

6/11: The Anthem – Washington, DC

6/12: The Anthem – Washington, DC

6/13: Stone Pony Summer Stage – Asbury Park, NJ

6/14: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell – Brooklyn, NY

6/15: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell – Brooklyn, NY

6/20: Fairview Park – Dublin, Ireland

6/22: Barrowland – Glasgow, UK

6/24-25: Glastonbury – Somerset, UK

6/26: O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK

6/30: Roskilde Festival – Roskilde, Denmark

7/2: Rock Werchter Festival – Werchter, Belgium

7/3: Down The Rabbit Hole Festival – Ewijk, Netherlands

7/5: Carroponte – Milan, Italy

7/7: Bilbao BBK Festival – Bilbao, Spain

7/8: Mad Cool Festival – Madrid, Spain

7/9: NOS Alive Festival – Lisbon, Portugal

7/14: Colours of Ostrava – Ostrava, Czech Republic

7/17: Lollapalooza Paris – Paris, France

7/22: Latitude Festival – Suffolk, UK

7/23: O2 Apollo – Manchester, UK

7/26: O2 Academy Brixton – London, UK

8/7: Hinterland – Saint Charles,  IA

8/18: Spokane Pavilion – Spokane, WA

8/20: Orpheum Theatre – Vancouver, BC

8/23: Marymoor Park – Redmond, WA

8/25: Edgefield Amphitheater – Troudale, OR

8/27: Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, CA

8/28: This Ain’t No Picnic – Los Angeles, CA

March 14, 2022
The Pine Boys, A Unique Band From Albany Release “Vacationland”

The Pine Boys are an electric combination of alternative rock, funk and hip-hop from Albany releasing their new album Vacationland today, February 18^th.

These artists provide such a unique musical interpretation with a blend of character-driven storytelling and memorable guitar riffs. The group was founded by multi-instrumentalists, Brett Maney and Andrew Cerone, in 2016. When they started playing live in 2019, they added their longtime friend Sam Lasky on the instrument, the keytar, since they have been together, they have released 6 albums and played all over Upstate NY, anywhere from basements to bars.

The Pine Boys Live

Many of their songs are part of an interconnected universe set in the fictional town of “Vacationland,” this is the groups hometown and place of origin. This is also the mindset that you need to have when you see them live. Seeing a live Pine show should serve as a time to take a vacation from your normal reality and temporarily venture into their world.

The Pine Boys “Vacationland”

Their top song on Spotify, “Electric Minnow,” provide a mixture of funky guitar riffs along with a catchy rhythm throughout the song. By blending a hip hop style of lyrics with indie sounds, the band creates a unique blend of music.

Other songs like “Fat Al” are melancholy but have a funny twist. Throughout listening to the song, the guitar has a shadowy feeling yet satisfying because of how beautiful it is played. “If Walls Could Talk,” “Enter the Sauce,” and “Duneman” have made their top 5 despite being all on different albums. Each provides different genre mash which they include throughout their peruana of “Vacationland.”

For upcoming shows and albums, they are available on Instagram, Facebook, and their website.
<a href="https://thepineboys.bandcamp.com/album/vacationland-2">Vacationland by The Pine Boys</a>

February 18, 2022
Laurel Canyon release debut EP “Victim”

Laurel Canyon released their debut EP, Victim, on January 14, featuring two brand new singles “Shove” and “Sade.” The album was produced by Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Hello Mary) at Trout Recording in Brooklyn. Along with this, the artist Savage Pencil, who has worked with Big Black and Sonic Youth, created the artwork for the EP.

Cover artwork by Savage Pencil (Big Black, Sonic Youth).

Laurel Canyon is a grunge band originally from Pennsylvania, however, they record their music and perform in Brooklyn. Nicholas Gillespie and Serg Cereja are the creators of this iconic band. To sum up, they met two years ago through a mutual friend in their hometown of Allentown. After that, through shared interests and collaboration, the two began writing and recording songs. Above all, creating the punk-rock band known today as Laurel Canyon.

Photo by @pielmelosa on Instagram

Victim embodies the sounds of original 90s grunge/pun music. Likewise, along with its melodic vocals, the album creates a unique tone. In songs like “Daddy’s Honey,” the two yell repeatedly “off her broken plates” together. Similarly, the song’s lyrics are said to be inspired by the band’s “real-life experiences in a troubled home” (Thomas Gallo).

Photo by Alex Hall

There’s no denying that this album has gained popularity online for its 90s-sound, with “Eczema” and “Daddy’s Honey” are featured in the Spotify playlists “All New Rock” and “Smells Like Stream Spirit.”

In October of 2020, Nick and Serg shared the song, “Two Times Emptiness,” released on May 1st, 2021. Both artists said they contributed equally to the music and the lyrics, thus creating a song neither could have written alone.

Photo by Nikola Burnett

The band quickly found themselves with a lot of material to work with and established a relationship with producer, Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Hello Mary). With the help of bassist Dylan Loccarini and Chip Williams, in July and November of 2021 the group recorded the 5-track EP Victim.

Victim can be found on Spotify and Bandcamp.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6ciEiH4RBAUYDRQkPS4GBR?si=f0048ac2d65f4345 https://linktr.ee/Laurel_Canyon

January 27, 2022