Category: Alternative/Indie

  • Hello Mary Share Video for Indulgent New Single “Special Treat”

    Brooklyn’s Hello Mary have just dropped a new single “Special Treat,” right before the release of their self-titled debut album on March 3rd. The song opens with disarming harmonies that might recall a schoolyard taunt, or something more sinister, like the summoning of a coven.  

    Hello Mary Share New Single and Music Video "Special Treat"

    The band explains that, “‘Special Treat’ is pretty much about indulgence of any kind, and doing things for pure momentary pleasure. For the music video, we just wanted to be crazy, eat dope food, and take out our deep resentment towards each other through a food fight.” 

    Hello Mary will also play a record-release party at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere Zone One on March 24. Their first ever tour kicks off on March 23rd in Hamden, CT and concludes in Providence, RI on April 6th. Tickets for all shows are on-sale now and all dates are listed below. 

    Hello Mary Share New Single and Music Video "Special Treat"

    Hello Mary is made up of Helena Straight (guitar, vox), Mikaela Oppenheimer (bass), and Stella Wave (drums, vox). Mikaela started Hello Mary with Helena as freshmen in high school. When they met Stella by happenstance the three became an inseparable unit, as good of friends as they are bandmates. 

    The album Hello Mary references alternative rock of the nineties alongside Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley as influences. For sound, the band tends to meld elements of 90s shoegaze with indie rock and grunge, making a unique sound of their own. 

    The album’s song “Looking Right Into the Sun,” is most honestly described as “delightful,” driven by a tight and dynamic rhythm section that gives way to Straight’s crystalline and confident falsetto.  

    Hello Mary Tour Dates: 

    3/23 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT  

    3/24 – Elsewhere Zone One – Brooklyn, NY  

    3/25 – Songbyrd – Washington, DC  

    4/5 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA* 

    4/6 – Columbus Theatre – Providence, RI*  

     *Denotes Dates with Deerhoof 

    Pre-order Hello Mary by clicking the link here. Listen/share “Special Treat” by clicking the link here

  • This Week’s EQXposure Features Starfish Death Squad and Canella

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Starfish Death Squad and Canella.

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    Starfish Deathsquad – “falling apart”

    Starfish Deathsquad is an EDM artist from Lowell, with funky cover graphics and a unique sound. Their single “falling apart” is out now.

    Canella – “ Why Can’t I”

    Canella is a rising indie-rock band from Albany and Bogotá, Colombia. They have established a presence in the Capital Region, winning WCDB Radio’s ‘Song of the Year’ award for their debut single “Quiet Love”. Inspired by early 2000’s alternative rock, the female-fronted group takes inspiration from former bandmate and best friend Kyle Robinson who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2020. Their new single “Why Can’t I” has an accompanying DIY-style documentary lyric video of one of the band’s adventures through the Capital Region.

  • Fever Dolls Release Indie Single “Hate Myself (For Loving You)” 

    Burlington‘s indie rock duo Fever Dolls have just released “Hate Myself (For Loving You)” on February 17th. The single is an infectious heartache anthem for fans of Kevin Morby and Lord Huron. 

    Fever Dolls Release Indie Rock Single “Hate Myself (For Loving You)”

    Active since 2018, Fever Dolls is comprised of songwriter Evan Allis and singer Renn Mulloy. Formed 2018, Fever Dolls was born out of a desire to forego the self-seriousness of modern rock in favor of big hooks, clever lyrics, and broad musical range. The duo have over 10 million streams on Spotify, over 150,000 views on YouTube, and have Best Music Video Award from Gorilla River Music Video Festival 2019 (Adeline). 

    Fever Dolls Release Indie Rock Single “Hate Myself (For Loving You)”

    “If you were to ask me to name the qualities that unite my favorite bands, I would say, “a great bar band that sounds like it would write an amazing Broadway musical.” Fever Dolls meets and far surpasses that standard” 

    – Vox 
    Fever Dolls Release Indie Rock Single “Hate Myself (For Loving You)”

     By blending indie rock and Americana influences, “Hate Myself” showcases the lyrical storytelling that Vox’s Emily St. James praised as sounding like “a great bar band that would write an amazing Broadway musical,” and features collaborators Willoughby Morse (Cavetown), Riley Geare (Caroline Rose), and Dan Rome (Noah Kahan). 

    Evan Allis says that, “Hate Myself” was one of those songs that I kept coming back to when I really struggled with questions about the “sound of the band,” because it seemed to capture what I thought was special about Fever Dolls: anthemic choruses, hypnotic guitar riffs, and close vocal harmonies that sound descended from both classic country and Motown.” 

    “Lyrically, “Hate Myself (for Loving You)” strikes a balance between self-deprecation and self-delusion. There’s plenty of confessional songwriting that captures the initial disorientation, but not much that speaks to the mixture of emotions that lingers after the hurt has worn off. The narrator of “Hate Myself” is saying “good riddance,” even while acknowledging their own contribution to a toxic relationship. There are a lot of “kiss-off” songs and “please take me back” songs, but “Hate Myself” lives in that murky middle-ground where most people I know reside after a split. It’s our anthem for the anger/acceptance stage of the break-up grief cycle.” 

    To listen to “Hate Myself (For Loving You),” click the link here

    For more information on Fever Dolls, click the link here

  • In Focus: Claire Rosinkranz Plays at Webster Hall on Tour

    On Friday, February 10th, Gen-Z pop icon Claire Rosinkranz played at Manhattan venue Webster Hall as a stop on her Just Because Tour. With support from her openers Mehro and DWLLRS, there was an energetic and excited vibe as fans started lining up as early as 2pm for the show. The infectious energy built up and carried throughout the entire night.

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Mehro opened the show with his hit “pirate song”, crooning into the mic as fans in the front row swooned. Mehro is an alt-pop singer/songwriter who released his debut single during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, and he’s recognized for a string of viral hits, including “chance with you” and “hideous” (both of which he played).

    Mehro Setlist: Pirate Song, Hideous, Wh*re, Chance With You

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Right after Mehro, DWLLRS (made up of Bren Eisman and Joey Spurgeon) began their set. This Californian duo hail from the sleepy beach town of San Clemente, California. Having taken the city’s sunny surf rock and mixed it with neo-soul and alternative-indie beats, the duo creates a diverse sonic palette driven by forward-thinking alt-pop. Utilizing a range of production techniques and carefully crafted songwriting, DWLLRS music evokes feelings of existentialism, nostalgia, and heartbreak – which was all very apparent from the crowd reactions. It was an incredible beginning to the show, with the energy levels increasing with each passing minute.

    DWLLRS Setlist: Beauty Rains, Iced Coffee, Dividends, Driving (unreleased), You’re Gonna Cry, End Of It All, Blue Spirits, Float Through The Ceiling

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    By the time Claire Rosinkranz hit the stage, the crowd was thoroughly warmed up and buzzing with excitement. Claire is a 19-year-old singer/songwriter from California who makes music with her father. After releasing her music on social media, Rosinkranz was signed to Republic Records at the age of 16. She had her breakthrough in 2020 with her single “Backyard Boy” from her debut EP “BeVerly Hills BoYfRiEnd.” 

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Her set began when her band fiddled with an alarm clock, changing channels from static to Taylor Swift. Suddenly, Claire runs on stage and unplugs the clock. Her band takes their places, with her father on the bass, and Claire launches into “Backyard Boy.”

    She showcased her musical prowess by leaping across the stage as she performed her heart out. Sporting a stylish new skirt, created by her fellow social media icon Joe Ando, who also attended the show.

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Throughout the show, her moxie and vivacious spirit infected the crowd as she busted out some dance moves and wished a fan a happy birthday. By the time the show came to a close, Claire left the crowd with a liveliness and buzz that defines a Claire Rosinkranz concert.

    Claire Rosinkranz Setlist: Backyard Boy, i h8 that i still feel bad for u, Sad in Hawaii, dreamer, pools and palm dreams, never goes away, 123, i’m too pretty for this, Polarized, don’t miss me, wes anderson, banksy, screw time, Boy in a Billion, Frankenstein, swinging at the stars, Pretty Little Things

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Be sure to keep up with all these artists on socials, especially since there are some shows that just can’t be missed!

    Mehro and DWLLRS are still touring with Claire, and the tour ends on March 11th in Los Angeles. Keep an eye on their social media for any new show announcements.

  • Australian Superstar Vance Joy Announces Final Shows On The In Our Own Sweet Time Tour

    Vance Joy, the Australian global superstar announced the series of summer headline dates, including a stop in New York City. On August 30, you can watch Vance Joy perform at the SummerStage in Central Park.

    The announcement of his new headline dates marks the end of the North American leg on Joy’s epic In Our Own Sweet Time Tour. Canada’s Dan Mangan and Ruby Waters, and fellow Australian Singer Songwriter Dan Sultan are in support of Joy’s upcoming shows.

    Vance Joy is additionally celebrating the premiere of the concert version of Joy’s RIAA gold-certified 2018 fan favorite, “Saturday Sun (Live At Sydney Opera House)”. The premier signals the upcoming release of Vance Joy Live At The Sydney Opera House. Arriving April 14, the 16-track album was recorded during two special headline performances at the world-famous Sydney Opera House Forecourt in Sydney, Australia. 

    Recorded November 18 and 19, 2022, Vance Joy Live At The Sydney Opera House includes electrifying performances from RIAA platinum certified hits “Georgia,” “Mess Is Mine,” and the 6x platinum certified classic, “Riptide.” Live versions of “Clarity” and “Catalonia are also among the many highlights of Joy’s acclaimed new album, In Our Own Sweet Time. 

    The multi-platinum superstar’s album, In Our Own Sweet Time, includes emotionally charged tracks like “Looking At Me Like That”, “Don’t Fade”, and the RIAA gold certified smash, “Missing Piece”. With over 43.5 million streams “Clarity” has proven to be a global favorite. The song is placed in the top 5 at Alternative radio outlets across America while also earning prestigious “Song of the Year” and “Best Pop Release” nominations from Australia’s 2022 ARIA Music Awards. Additionally, Vance’s “Every Side of You” recently took home the ARIA for “Best Video”

    Tickets will be available for purchase beginning February 17 at 10am, here. 

    VANCE JOY IN OUR OWN SWEET TIME TOUR NORTH AMERICA 2023

     FEBRUARY

    15 – Hamilton, ON – FirstOntario Centre (SOLD OUT) *

    17 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! (SOLD OUT) *

    18 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre (SOLD OUT) *

    19 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre (SOLD OUT) *

    21 – Winnipeg, MB – Centennial Concert Hall (SOLD OUT) *

    22 – Saskatoon, SK – TCU Place *

    23 – Calgary, AB – Jack Singer Concert Hall (SOLD OUT) *

    24 – Calgary, AB – Jack Singer Concert Hall (SOLD OUT) *

    27 – Edmonton, AB – Winspear Centre (SOLD OUT) *

    28 – Edmonton, AB – Winspear Centre (SOLD OUT) *

    MARCH

    3 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (SOLD OUT) *

    4 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (SOLD OUT)  *

    6 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium *

    9 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater (SOLD OUT) *

    10 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater *

    11 – Inglewood, CA – YouTube Theater *

    16 – San Diego, CA – Soma *

    18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre *

    20 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater *

    21 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater (SOLD OUT) *

    23 – Atlanta, GA – Coca–Cola Roxy *

    24 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore (SOLD OUT) *

    25 – Washington, DC – The Anthem (SOLD OUT) *

    AUGUST

    25 – Vancouver, BC – Deer Lake Park #

    27 – Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre +

    30 – New York, NY – SummerStage in Central Park +

    SEPTEMBER

    1 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium +

    2 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

    * w/ Special Guest Jack Botts

    # w/ Special Guest Dan Mangan & Ruby Waters 

    + w/ Special Guest Dan Sultan

  • Albany Indie-Rock Group Canella Share Video for New Single “Why Can’t I?”

    Albany based indie-rock band Canella has dropped their newest single “Why Can’t I?” off their upcoming full length album Can’t Make You Smile.

    Inspired by the sounds of 2000’s alt rock, Canella have established an electric presence in NY’s Capital Region as winners of WCDB Radio’s ‘Song of the Year’ award for their debut single “Quiet Love”.

    Written on a fall afternoon, Canella lead singer Juliana sat in her bedroom and wrote a song that would haunt her forever. The sad acoustic guitar echoed the fears she was harboring regarding her relationship. Fears that came to pass months later, when all she had written to that indie rock tune came true and the relationship ended. Writing, and later performing the single helped Juliana to process the relationship ending and coming to term with her feelings. “I feel like I was performing the song even before the relationship ended but once it finally did end and I sang the lyrics again it really all clicked” says Juliana. “This person wasn’t the right one for me since I was full of doubt and fears, and I didn’t really realize that until after I heard it back once I was single and going through the grief of it all. Now I’m very happy with where I’m at”.

    Coming to all streaming platforms on February 17th, Canella’s third single off of their upcoming record Can’t Make You Smile, tells a story of disappointment, which smoothly fits the album’s overall theme of a revenge journal. This 2000’s inspired rock single starts with an unexpected bang representing the shocking realization of the ‘red flags’ in a relationship, and ends with a heavy breakdown perfect for releasing anger and frustration.

    Canella why can't I

    The chorus-y guitar-driven single will be released along with a DIY-style documentary lyric video of one of the band’s adventures through their home-base of the Capital Region. Speaking of the inspiration behind the video, Juliana speaks of wanting to permanently capture a wonderful day with friends. “At the time my friends in the band and I had very limited time together since I was only visiting them for a couple of days. I knew we were going to spend a whole day together in the city and since I had started to live far away from them, I wanted to capture candid footage of us hanging out and having a good time”.

    Juliana continues, “when I went back home and was missing them I put the videos together as a cute highlight reel of that day with “Why Can’t I” in the background, and since it made us smile we decided to add the lyrics to it and post the video on our YouTube”. The fun, carefree video of a group of friends, enjoying a night out perfectly juxtaposes the concepts of uncertainty in the future of a relationship where the parties involved can’t seem to be on the same page.

    You can follow the band’s social media for updates on their upcoming releases along with the full-length album coming out Spring 2023.

  • In Focus: Viagra Boys at Elsewhere

    Viagra Boys made a triumphant return to New York City on February 15 with the first of three straight sold-out shows at Elsewhere. Sebastian Murphy, irreverent as always, led the six-piece band through a pulsating set that included eight songs from 2022 release Cave World.

    The six-piece Viagra Boys hail from Sweden, with Murphy having grown up in California before making the move to Europe and forming the band. And after the set of three shows in Brooklyn, the band is taking this particular leg of their tour to Boston, Montréal, and making a quick rip across the continent to finish the tour in Seattle on March 4.

    Having just played a show at Brooklyn Steel in October, Murphy immediately embraced the feel of the significantly smaller venue that is the Hall at Elsewhere. Between the band’s tight musical performance and Murphy’s self-aware and often hilarious stage banter, the crowd was fully engaged with the performance from the outset.

    While Murphy is certainly the center of attention in the universe that is the Viagra Boys, saxophone Oscar Carls is a very close second, mixing it up with both the crowd and the rest of the band throughout the set, rocking very short shorts and making outstanding contributions to the performance with his instrument along the way.

    By the time the set was over, the crowd was thoroughly satisfied, and Murphy assured everyone that this show would be the best of the three in Brooklyn, predicting a massive hangover ahead of the rest of the stint in the city.

    The Steens, a band from Orange County, California, opened the show with a quick burst set of fast garage rock tunes—one of which was a cover of the Brian Jonestown Massacre’s “Oh Lord”—and plenty of energy.

    Setlist: Ain’t No Thief, Ain’t Nice, Punk Rock Loser, Baby Criminal, Slow Learner, Big Boy, It Ain’t Enough, Cold Play, Creepy Crawlers, Liquids, Troglodyte, Sports, Shrimp Shack
    Encore: Worms, Research Chemicals

    Viagra Boys

    The Steens

  • The Moldy Peaches Announces Comeback at Brooklyn Steel

    NYC anti-folk heroes The Moldy Peaches announced their triumphant return to the live stage after 20 years at Brooklyn Steel. 

    Prior to their performance at the Brooklyn Steel, the band announced their first European show in 20 years, with a date at London’s Roundhouse and performances at Primavera Sound Barcelona. 

    The Moldy Peaches

    The Moldy Peaches was established in the mid-90s by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson in New York City. The indie band popularized “anti-folk” music that brought quirky, lo-fi punk elements into the music scene. What began as a duo soon transformed into a six-member band with members such as Brent Cole, Jack Dishel, Toby Goodshank, and Steven Mertens joining. In 2001, the band released their debut album, The Moldy Peaches on Rough Trade Records. Recognized for their sense of humor, whimsy and self-deprecation, the debut album featured gems like “Downloading Porn With Dave” and “Who’s Got The Crack.” In 2002, the group separated to work on solo projects.

    Last year, founding members Kimya Dawson and Adam Green played their first show together in 11 years. The two performed together for a premiere of the documentary Meet Me In The Bathroom, inspired by Lizzy Goodman. When asked about upcoming events the band said, “We’re excited to be back, older, and moldier. Let’s see if we still got it! Once a Moldy Peach, always a Moldy Peach.”

    Presale tickets for the show will be available February 15 via Amex. General tickets will be available for purchase on February 17th. More information about The Moldy Peaches can be found here. 

    THE MOLDY PEACHES – LIVE

    May 29 – London, UK – Roundhouse

    June 2 – Barcelona, ESP – Primavera Sound

    June 9 – Madrid, ESP – Primavera Sound

    August 10 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel

  • E.R.I.E. Share New Indie Single “World is on Fire” off upcoming “Suburban Mayhem” album

    Capital Region indie-rock quartet E.R.I.E. have announced their new full-length record, Suburban Mayhem, arriving April 7th. Alongside the announcement, the band has shared the evocative new single “World is On Fire.” featuring friend Sydney Worthley from their local scene. 

    E.R.I.E. Shares New Indie Single “World is on Fire” 

    Vocalist/guitarist TJ Foster says, “Having Sydney lend her talents to this track was simply incredible. The embellishments she added really took the song to the next level, and we’re so honored to call her a friend. The song itself is about watching ourselves slowly destroy our planet and ruminating on how much more we all could be doing just on a small scale. But at the end of the day, it’s sadly just so much easier to change nothing and assume someone else will swoop in and fix our problems instead.” 

    E.R.I.E. consists of guitarist Matt Delgado, drummer Chad Flewwelling and bassist Levi Jennes. The band spent most of 2022 self-recording their sophomore full-length, yielding 12 nostalgia-tinged songs in the distinct style that the band affectionately describes as Tom Petty cosplaying as blink-182. The band’s sound has a “crunching guitars, catchy choruses and a down-to-earth, working-class vibe that recalls modern heartland punk rock…” (Daily Gazette). 

    E.R.I.E. Shares New Indie Single “World is on Fire” 

    The lead single “Can’t Stop Runnin’’ showcases the band exploring these more Springsteen-esque elements perfectly, whereas album highlight ‘Bad Man’s World’ is a pop-rock anthem tailormade for dominating the airwaves.   

    All the while, the band has solidified themselves as one of the most reliable and entertaining live acts in the greater Albany music scene. Combined with the consistently strong Suburban Mayhem has E.R.I.E. poised to quickly become a suburban success story. 

    Sydney Worthley is a singer-songwriter at heart, pulling inspiration from Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift. At the age of 17, she released “Rose Colored Glasses” amongst an unforeseen pandemic. Coming of age, long lost connections, and learning from past haunting mistakes are all themes of her 2020 project. Vito Ciccarelli, WVCR radio personality said she’s an “Amazing talent, wonderful songwriter, and an engaging young lady. Having worked with many young acts over the years, I see her achieving great things in the future.”

    Upcoming Tour Dates: 

    Feb 16 – New York, NY @ The Delancey 

    Feb 17 – Shelton, CT @ Black Barrel Records 

    Mar 18 – Albany, NY @ Lark Hall 

    Stream “World is On Fire” here.

    Pre-save Suburban Mayhem here.

  • A Residency at The Capitol Theatre with Bob Weir & Wolf Bros

    Bob Weir & Wolf Bros took over The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester for a four-night residency, part of a 2023 winter tour.  Joining Bob on stage: bassist Don Was, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, drummer Jay Lane,  pedal steel guitarist Barry Sless with strings and horns supplied by The Wolfpack (Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling and Sheldon Brown.)

    Bob Weir & Wolf Bros

    The four nights presented a wide variety of music. Each having its own groove.  Covers where distributted throughout the shows, including songs from Bob Dylan (When I Paint My Masterpiece, All Along the Watchtower), Johnny Cash (Big River), and The Beatles (Tomorrow Never Knows, Dear Prudence.)  

    The shows held over February 7- 11 were broken up into two night groupings with the middle night at The Capitol occupied by Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo. Whether she was booked to conjure up additional “Dead” spirits could not be confirmed. But the following Friday and Saturday shows where packed to the rafters. 

    Bob Weir & Wolf Bros

    Of course, a four-night stint like this has its fair share of Weir solo, Ratdog, and Grateful Dead tunes. If the stage was not filled enough, Rick Mitarotonda and Peter Anspach of Goose as well as Kenny Brooks, Dred Scott, and Sasha Dobson joined in to close out the final night.

    The tour heads into March, including a stop in Atlanta for three nights with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  

    Bob Weir & Wolf Bros – The Capitol Theater, February 7, 8, 10, 11 Setlists: 

    February 7
    Set 1 – Cassidy, My Brother Esau, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Catfish John, Tennessee Jed, Black-Throated Wind, Lost Sailor, Saint of Circumstance
    Set 2 – Mama Tried, China Cat Sunflower, I Know You Rider, He’s Gone, Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad, I Need a Miracle, All Along the Watchtower, Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia

    February 8
    Set 1 – Greatest Story Ever Told, Iko Iko, Only a River, Friend of the Devil, Althea, Come Together, Weather Report Suite, Let It Grow
    Set 2 – Ramble On Rose, Truckin’, Looks Like Rain, Playing in the Band, Uncle John’s Band, Supplication, Morning Dew
    Encore: Black Muddy River

    February 10
    Set 1 – The Music Never Stopped, Easy Answers, Loser, Big River, She Knows What I’m Thinkin’, Deal, Candyman, Bird Song
    Set 2– Fever, Ashes and Glass, Don’t Let Go, Dark Star, Shakedown Street, The Wheel, Tomorrow Never Knows, Days Between, Not Fade Away
    Encore: Ripple

    February 11
    Set 1 – Jack Straw, Minglewood Blues, She Belongs to Me, Brown-Eyed Women, Loose Lucy, Two Djinn, Corrina, New Speedway Boogie
    Set 2 – Peggy-O, Me and My Uncle, Scarlet Begonias, Estimated Prophet, Franklin’s Tower, The Other One, Dear Prudence, Lady With a Fan, Terrapin Station, Terrapin Transit, At a Siding, Terrapin Flyer
    Encore Brokedown Palace, One More Saturday Night