I do not like being recommended music. Maybe by friends, but not by a computer or algorithm. It is why I never understood Pandora. But recently, the Instagram algorithm has really recommended some great bands to me and I wanted to showcase some of them.
Genre: Pop Punk, Emo.
About: Good Hangs is a love letter to kids who came up in the local scene and now slog through mid-level management. The raw but earnest vocal harmonies, catchy guitar riffs, and poignant lyrics amp up the nostalgia for life as a millennial before society’s descent into dystopia. Because even when everything else is sh*t, you and your best friends can still crack open some PBRs, crank up the volume, and sing at the top of your lungs.
When there’s nothing to look forward to, look back. There’s no hope, just good hangs.
Members are Michael “Stein” Steinheiser (Singer/Frontman), Anthony Pierri (Guitar), Dominic Pierri (Bass/Backup Singer), Matt Ackman (Guitar), and Jack Mancuso (Drums).
Where are they from: Illinois
Remind me of: Brand New, Blink-182, every band you loved growing up who played at Warped Tour and now plays at When We Were Young.
I do not like being recommended music. Maybe by friends, but not by a computer or algorithm. It is why I never understood Pandora. But recently, the Instagram algorithm has really recommended some great bands to me and I wanted to showcase some of them.
Genre: Synth, Indie pop, Alternative
About: Moxy the Band is the combined effort of songwriter/diva Amber DeLaRosa (Flourish, Amber DeLaRosa), virtuoso composer Michael Franzino (A Lot Like Birds, Sianvar), and producer/engineer Dryw Owens, with deep roots in the capital city of Sacramento, California. The group’s formation and songwriting finds its inspiration in adversity. Written in the midst of a life-altering epilepsy diagnosis and global pandemic, “Dream Feeling” is a survivor’s reflection on the catastrophic loss of health, childhood, and even a child for whom the project was named. DeLaRosa dances though each pulsating instrumental with her own lyrical stories of perseverance: ”the process proved more difficult than I could imagine… and began to stand for holding onto the dream through the brutal, yet beautifully necessary lessons of life.” Moxy the Band’s debut record is a real-time account of finding creativity in hardship, all while laboring to build a state-of-the-art studio worthy of their first release. “Dream Feeling,” to be released on November 11, 2022, represents a stylistic and creative leap into the unknown for each of its members. The sound moves listeners through the neon atmosphere of discos past, roaring arenas of rock nostalgia, and the computerized eclecticism of future pop.
Where are they from: Sacramento, CA
Remind me of: Paramore, The 1975, if Katy Perry was around in the 80s. They are kind of their own sound.
I do not like being recommended music. Maybe by friends, but not by a computer or algorithm. It is why I never understood Pandora. But recently, the Instagram algorithm has really recommended some great bands to me and I wanted to showcase some of them.
This first one ois one of me and my girlfriend’s favorite bands and we can’t wait to see them again this fall.
Genre: Indie folk
About:Wild Rivers Platinum-selling indie trio Wild Rivers, Khalid Yassein [guitar, vocals, keys], Devan Glover [vocals], and Andrew Oliver [lead guitar, synths], have a gift for penning introspective lyrics and genre-fluid melodies that transmit wisdom beyond their years. Since their 2022 album, Sidelines, which landed at #9 on the U.S. Spotify Debut Album Chart, they have supported The Chicks on their North American tour, seen their 2020 break-out single “Thinking ‘Bout Love” be certified Gold in Australia and Platinum in Canada, sold-out headline North American and European tours, earned over 450 million streams with 4 million monthly listeners, and were nominated for Breakthrough Group of The Year at the 2023 JUNO Awards. Wild Rivers show no signs of slowing down in 2024 as they enter the next chapter of this incredible journey, with new music on the way and a European support tour with Noah Kahan.
To further expand their sonic horizons, Wild Rivers have been co-writing with myriot (Aurora, IDER, Halsey) and tapped Gabe Wax (Soccer Mommy, Kurt Vile, Adrienne Lenker, Jeremy Zucker) to produce their upcoming record. Building an authentic relationship with fans while channeling classic singer-songwriters and contemporary artists like Samia, Holly Humberstone and Noah Kahan has been vital to Wild Rivers’ connection with audiences.
Songs to check out: Amsterdam, Cave, Everywhere I Go, Don’t, Thining ‘Bout Love, Bedrock, Long Time, Stubborn Heart, Weatherman, Better When We’re Falling Apart
I found Josiah and the Bonnevilles through an Instagram ad. I’ve actually found a few of my recent favorite musicians through an Instagram ad. The algorithm works! Anyway, I messaged him almost instantly, telling him that he is my new Tallest Man on Earth. They have very similar guitar picking styles and folksy roots.
Josiah Leming, the one man act behind Josiah and the Bonnevilles, actually goes back to early American Idol days. The Tennessee native was on the seventh season of the hit Fox reality show. He has come quite a long way since auditioning in front of Simon, Paula, and Randy in 2008. Leming is the only contestant in the history of the show to not make the ‘Top 24’ but still land a major label record deal. Lucky for us, Leming is now an independent artist. During the show, he pointed out that he has a tattoo on his wrist that reads: No More Deals.”
During the pandemic Josiah was working as a bartender, while uploading consistent music and this is what allowed him to quit his job and focus full time on music.
Seeing Josiah on this night was special, as it was his birthday. There were balloons on stage and in between two of his songs, the audience sang him, “Happy Birthday.” That might have been the first time I’ve ever seen an audience sing a full song back to an artist at their own show.
The show started out with a few older love songs, which Josiah told us were written about a previous relationship. He told great stories in between songs, making the show extremely intimate. He also connected with the audience by making sure to play on both sides of the stage and stepping away from the mic to allow the audience to take over vocal duties.
Josiah pulled out his harmonica and the audience post it. It was what I imagine seeing Dylan must be like. The audience must have known that “Anti-Hero” was about to start. Josiah played that, followed by “Jersey Giant” and “Ghost” before returning to his originals.
Next up was “Another Day at the Factory,” which was introduced by a beautiful story about Josiah working at a warehouse, living the same kind of day to day as his stepfather.
Before the encore of “One Last Song,” “Lithuania,” and “Blood Moon,” Josiah ended the first part of the show with one of my favorite songs: “Basic Channels.” This song is about Josiah’s parents enjoying the few television channels that came with the cable that used to run through the wall or floor.
If you get the chance to see this man, make it happen. He is a great storyteller, guitarist, vocalist, singer-songwriter, and you will feel like you are having a privilege show in your living room.
Find up long tour dates here: https://josiahandthe.com/
Review: Blue October put on a hell of a show. The singer, Justin, is so engaged with his audience. He also gives it his all on stage and the whole band is really there to play music and have a good time. And that is what makes me appreciate some bands and artists versus others. The band has fun together, you can tell they are a family, and they even added a few extra songs to the Boston set list.
Ryan Delahoussaye is an incredible multi instrumentalist, playing keyboards, violin, mandolin, guitar, and providing backing vocals. I spent the concert leaning over to my girlfriend saying, “And now he’s playing (insert instrument here)!
The crowd was super engaged and you could tell how many people have connected with Justin’s songwriting and the deepness to his lyrics about love, loss, and addition and recovery. Just look at how much he interacts with his fans: https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/s/ieO1iVVeT8
They played my favorites: “Into the Ocean,” “Don’t Say It Wasn’t Love,” “Moving On (So Long),” and “I Hope You’re Happy.” And, after seeing Turk played live, I have two more favorites: “All That We Are” and “Fear.”
On March 3rd, 2023, Macklemore released his third studio album, Ben. Depending on how much of his career you have been following, you might be thinking this is his second album. On September 22nd, 2017, the Seattle native released Gemini. However, on New Year’s Day in 2005, Macklemore released his first album, Language of My World.
Well, there’s a quick history lesson on the solo career of Ben Haggerty. If you haven’t listened to any, I highly recommend it. I have had the album on repeat in my car. It’s the perfect album for the weather getting nicer, the sun staying out longer, and the windows down. If you are a fan of his illustrious career, then you will really appreciate this album. It feels like a perfect blend of all of his music, including the two albums, and other releases, he put out with Ryan Lewis. The album has some fun, upbeat songs such as “No Bad Days (feat. Collet) and “1984.” Other songs like “Chant (feat. Tones And I)” and “Gods’ Will (feat. Vic Daggs II)” have Mackelmore reliving moments from his life.
The song “TEARS” is the most impressive song from the album. The lyrics start off as if the song is a ballad about his first love and it is. But not in the way you would think it is. The song is a love song to Ben’s first true love, alcohol. The song details the pains of addiction, arrests, deaths, and the things he has done for the drug.
“Lost / Sun Comes Up (feat. Jackson Lee Morgan” detail the bullshit of our current times, with the following lyrics that make you rethink your social media addiction:
“Scroll (scroll) Refresh (refresh) Turn it off (yep) Now do it again That’s the dance now Scroll (scroll) Refresh (refresh) Turn it off (yep) Now do it again That’s the dance now”
And this leads me to my favorite song on the album, “Sorry (feat. Livingston).” I can’t tell you how many times I have listened to this. Especially on repeat. As one of the most nostalgic people, this song hits hard. The first four lines especially:
“It’s too late to get the past back But I’m stuck in the sandtraps And I thought that I was past that My eyelids live in a flashback”
I love movies. And I love music. And I love it when the two worlds combine.
I am a big fan of Owl City. I have been for years. I listen to super sad music most of the time (emo, folk, ambient), so I like to mix things up by listening to the happy, pop sounds of Adam Young. The man has had some great duets over the years, Aloe Blacc, Hanson, for example. Anyway, Owl City is putting out a new album in June, the first in almost five years. Like most artists these days, he has released a few songs in anticipation. One of these songs is called Kelly Time.
The first time listening to this, it didn’t take me long to realize that this song was from Wilson’s perspective. Yes, the volleyball from Cast Away. Check out the lyrics below and listen along to the song from his YouTube channel.
Well video tapes and ice skates Are beautiful things Like a birthday card for Johnny And a pair of angel wings You were tryna light a fire And all you wanted was a match But you knew I didn’t have one So it was odd that you should ask No, it wasn’t just the plane crash That shake you to the core But the very thought of losing her That made it all worth dying for
I’m sorry I’m sorry
We both washed up on that island All alone without a friend Thinking you and I were gonna die there And that would be the end But as the weeks turned into months I saw you overcome your fears And as we became companions All those months turned into years We would talk and talk for hours You would make sure I felt heard Cuz you knew what I was saying Though I never said a word
Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh I’m ready for anything Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Who knows what the tide could bring? Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Yeah, I’m ready for anything Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Who knows what the tide could bring?
After fifteen hundred days You and me escaped to sea And I knew that you still loved the girl From Memphis, Tennessee Out there on that lonely ocean We met a passing humpback whale Cause all the way from Bakersfield The tide gave us the sail And just like that it happened The waves took me away And I’m sorry, I’m so sorry That you lost a friend that day
Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh I’m ready for anything Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Who knows what the tide could bring? Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Yeah, I’m ready for anything Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Who knows what the tide could bring?
Well you and me went on a journey Full of tragedy and pain But I’m grateful I was with you Through the sunshine and the rain And when I wonder where ya are now I’ll probably never know But my friend I hope you made it And somehow you finally made it home I have an ocean-worth of questions But if I do know one thing Is that the sun will rise tomorrow And who knows what the tide could bring?
Da da da da daa
Doo doo doo doo ooo ooo ooh
Hey, hey, hey, Kelly are you there? Pick up! I know I said I’d be back And like that Nobody knew where I was at And all my logic said “I would never see you again” After four years, I’m missin’ you so bad But here I am And now I have to learn to let you go Even though I love you more than you’ll ever know I’m gettin’ used to half a heart and the way things are But Kelly, I never should’ve gotten outta the car I’m sorry
Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh I’m ready for anything Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Who knows what the tide could bring? Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Yeah, I’m ready for anything Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooh Who knows what the tide could bring?
I’m sorry For everything But nobody knows what the tide could bring You know, nobody knows what the tide could bring
Videotapes and ice skates are beautiful things Like a pocket watch on Kelly Time and a pair of angel wings When the birthday card to Johnny It made me realize That the most beautiful thing in the world Is, of course, the gift of life The most beautiful thing in the world Is to be so wonderfully alive
This is a website about television shows and movies, not music. But then again, this website can be about anything that I want it to be about. Music plays a huge part in my life. I play music, I love going to live shows, and I love listening to music.
This list is my favorite albums, in order, from 2022.
Silk Sonic – An Evening with Silk Sonic. I just found out that this album came out in November 2021, but it really got popular in 2022. In fact, duo swept at the Grammys which made me almost believe that music was real again. This collaboration between Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak is absolutely fantastic. It sounds like a mix between James Brown and the music styling of that time, mixed with Childish Gambino’s Redbox mixed with Sesame Street, mixed with Outkast. These two have a residency in Vegas and I want to just travel there
2. Matisyahu – Matisyahu. This self-titled release I guess was technically my favorite album of 2022 as it actually came out in 2022. I’ll have to post an image of my Spotify Wrapped because most of the songs from this album were in my top 10. I was super excited to see him perform on this tour. It was my third time seeing the New York native and the first time I had seen him in years. Not only does he put on a fantastic show, but he has such a talented band. This album is one of those albums where you don’t want to skip any tracks.
3. The Head and the Heart – Every Shade of Blue. I saw these Seattle natives play on this tour and it was my fourth time seeing them live. I had seen them a few times at Red Rocks and again at a super tiny venue in Denver. They never fail to impress me live. Their harmonies, breakdowns, and just the amount of talent from each and every member of this band leaves me in awe. This is very much a breakup album, even the name of it implies that. There are some sad songs, and some uplifting songs, and the Oohs and the Ahhs of this band will leave you singing along.
4. Wild Rivers – Sidelines. This Canadian trio
5. Blue October – Spinning the Truth Around Part 1
