BRASSTRACKS: ON TOUR

February 24, 2019

BY SYDNEY WISNER

Need something smooth to calm you down? Time to tune in to New York duo Brasstracks. They’ve just released a new EP, Before We Go (Feb. 2019), featuring artists such as Anthony Flammia, Pell, and R.LUM.R to create their most R&B influenced collection of songs yet. Their previous album, For Those Who Know (2018), was a bit on the jazzier, hip-hop side, but Before We Go is a whole new evolution to Brasstracks’ sound. Now headlining the Vibrant Tour with Kemba and Pell, Brasstracks is bringing their hip swaying, soft smile, feel good in your heart music to a city near you.

Tour dates are listed below and tickets can be purchased here.

Feb. 27 / Vancouver, Canada @ Imperial

Feb. 28 / Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo House of Music

March 1 / Seattle, WA @ Neumos

March 2 / Portland, OR @ Star Theater

March 5 / Boise, ID @ Reef

March 6 / Las Vegas, NV @ The Bunkhouse Saloon

March 7 / Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall

March 9 / Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom

THE MOWGLI'S: ON TOUR

February 22, 2019

BY TÉA VAN ACKEN

Four musical saints come together from San Fernando and the midwest to configure a California band with coruscating reincarnations of rock and roll with a twist of indie folk melodies, The Mowgli’s give voice to universal love, gaining highest consciousness through peace and unity as a whole through their songs. The Mowgli’s ballads will put a loving and exuberant energy into your heartbeat as their taste kindles a nostalgic undertone of The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Young, modern tastes like Fun., Grouplove, and Magnetic Zeros while maintaining their authentic signatures and feel.

The Mowgli’s recently came out with their single “Norman Rockwell” from their upcoming EP, American Feelings, which will be released this March. Corresponding is the notions of ameliorating yourself into a better, higher chance of life. The band is known for their lively beats and “get a spring in your step” songs. This single ventures into melancholic territories as the tone of isolation and insecurity embodied within the EP. Alarming, the paintings of an unhappy youth in aims to better their life explores the lack of hope, and the struggles within the pursuit of that new feel of being. To the youth listening, the audience of The Mowgli’s finds a relatable story from their new single alongside music that will have anyone dancing in the mirror and singing in the shower.

They are ruled by love, driven by music, and celebrated by togetherness, and together create the universal tunes and influences our world has been craving. Leave it to The Mowgli’s to put a smile on your face with their music and restore your faith in unity and peace. With nostalgic touches with a modern heartbeat, the band gives us the ballads of love and light. Let their songs ignite within you as the band is on the road with Jukebox the Ghost, performing for us their boldest hits:

FEB 26
Cat's Cradle
Carrboro, NC

FEB 27
Terminal West
Atlanta, GA

MAR 1
Granada Theater
Dallas, TX

MAR 2
Empire Control Room & Garage
Austin, TX

MAR 5
Crescent Ballroom
Phoenix, AZ

MAR 6
Henry Fonda Theatre
Los Angeles, CA

MAR 7
August Hall
San Francisco, CA

MAR 9
Neptune
Seattle, WA

MAR 10
Wonder Ballroom
Portland, OR

MAR 12
The Shredder
Boise, ID

MAR 13
The Complex
Salt Lake City, UT

MAR 15
Keggs & Eggs 2019
Denver, CO

MAR 16
The Truman
Kansas City, MO

MAR 18
Varsity Theatre
Minneapolis, MN

MAR 19
Turner Hall
Milwaukee, WI

MAR 20
Metro
Chicago, IL

MAR 21
El Club
Detroit, MI

MAR 22
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Cleveland, OH

MAR 23
Newport Music Hall
Columbus, OH

MAR 24
Mr Small's Fun House
Millvale, PA

MAR 26
The Haunt
Ithaca, NY

MAR 27
Brooklyn Steel
Brooklyn, NY

MAR 28
Royale
Boston, MA

MAR 29
Higher Ground
Burlington, VT

MAR 30
The Met
Providence, RI

Tickets for the tour can be purchased here.

STEADFAST MUSIC FESTIVAL: PREVIEW

February 2, 2019

BY KAYLA KRELLER

Steadfast Music Festival, presented by Tuned Up, will be returning to Columbus, Ohio for their fourth year on March 9, 2019 with another killer lineup. With twelve bands spanning genres including everything from electro-pop to alternative hip hop, there’s sure to be something for everyone!

Steadfast was created back in 2016 to pay tribute to loyal music fans and to bring together bands of all different genres for a day filled with quality music and great people. The diverse lineup for 2019 includes Columbus locals Zoo Trippin’ and Hello Luna, indie rock favorites Mike Mains & The Branches, and many more. You’re not going to want to miss this!

The festival will once again take place at Strongwater Food & Spirits in Columbus. Doors open at 2:30pm, with the show starting at 2:45pm. Tickets can be purchased for $15 from https://prekindle.com/find-tickets/id/97934110328055888 or for $20 at the door.

The festival will also have a pre-show at 6pm on March 8th at Donatos Basement, showcasing a fantastic lineup of local bands to get you ready for the main event! The night will include performances from The Castros, Ultraviolet Pilot, Paper Lung, Forever Unknown, and We are the Movies. Tickets for the pre-show are free with proof of purchase of a Steadfast ticket or $10 at the door.

You can find Steadfast Music Festival’s full lineup and more information on the Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/292152251507436/ and Tuned Up’s website http://www.iamtunedup.com/steadfast/

MORGXN: ON TOUR

January 24, 2019

BY DAVID THOMPSON

“the color blue is often associated with sadness. or water. to me, the color blue is about communication and expression.” -morgxn on “vital : blue (s t r i p p e d)”

In his new EP, morgxn beckons a softer, piano polished, presence with the release of a stripped down rendition of his debut record, vital. Newly titled vital : blue (s t r i p p e d), being released on January 25th, introduces orchestrations of each track originating from its predecessor as well as two new tracks, “harpoon” and “blue”, of the two, “blue” featuring Nicholas Petricca, lead singer of Walk The Moon. After his recent late night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he performed his single “home”, which also features Nicholas Petricca, morgxn announced a set of tour dates where he will support musician, Robert Delong. Along with his developing tour prospects, morgxn now presents his newest project vital : blue (s t r i p p e d), his calibration of sonic perspective in the presentation of color. “I don’t believe it more true. but I do believe it is more blue”.

Tour dates are listed below and tickets can be purchased here.

Feb. 6 / Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall

Feb. 7 / Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave Bar

Feb. 8 / Cincinatti, OH @ Top Cats

Feb. 9 / Detroit, MI @ El Club

Feb. 10 / Toronto, Canada @ The Velvet Underground

Feb. 12 / Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works

Feb. 14 / Albany, NY @ Jupiter Hall

Feb. 15 / Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance

Feb. 16 / Miami, FL @ Coconut Arts Festival (without Robert DeLong)

Feb. 17 / Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry at The Fillmore

Feb. 18 / Washington, DC @ Union Stage

Feb. 20 / Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade - Purgatory

Feb. 25 / San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop

Feb. 26 / San Diego, CA @ Music Box

Feb. 28 / Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom

March 15 / Denver, CO @ Keggs & Eggs

May 17 - 19 / Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Fest

SXSW: ONES TO WATCH

January 23, 2019

BY ZOE SALVUCCI

FONTAINES D.C.PHOTO BY NICHOLAS O’DONNELL — **FONTAINES D.C.**
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS O’DONNELL

Every year in Austin, thousands of musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and fans gather to celebrate and discover the latest trailblazers in each of the three industries. With SXSW just a few months out and half of the artists for the music festival now released, here are 13 showcasing artists to watch in 2019.

1. FONTAINES D.C. (Dublin, IE)

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, this post-punk five piece took the Irish scene by storm, quickly gained popularity in the UK, and is preparing for a US tour supporting IDLES this spring. With powerful 2018 releases Chequeless Reckless and Too Real, Fontaines D.C. show no sign of stopping any time soon — expect big things from them in 2019.

2. Goodbye Honolulu (Toronto, CA)

This hidden gem of the Toronto underground scene released two EPs in the past two years, the most recent titled More Honey. With their energetic garage-rock sound and Jacob Switzer's unique voice belting killer lyrics over catchy riffs, they are sure to take the rest of Canada by storm in 2019.

3. Sidney Gish (Boston, US)

Riding the wave of success following her 2018 album No Dogs Allowed, indie-pop artist Sidney Gish toured with Mitski in the fall of 2018 before being announced for Boston Calling and SXSW. A student at Northeastern University, Gish’s music thrived in the underground Boston DIY community before her local success caused word to spread until her name was familiar among fans of DIY across the country.

4. The Blinders (Manchester, UK)

Another band leading the post-punk explosion led by bands such as IDLES and Shame, The Blinders released their debut album Columbia last year, having already gained a following from several successful singles and EPs over the past few years. With SXSW as their US debut and several festivals announced for this summer, 2019 should be a huge year for The Blinders.

5. Orchards (Brighton, UK)

Orchards’ 2018 debut album Losers/Lovers garnered huge praise from the likes of DORK, Clash, BBC Radio, and DIY Magazine. Emerging from Brighton, England, Orchards blends bright alt-pop melodies with math rock rhythms, creating a sound so singular they should be on every music fanatic’s radar in 2019.

6. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Perth, AU)

Australian psychedelic five piece Psychedelic Porn Crumpets released two singles last year following their 2016/2017 two part album High Visceral. Gearing up for a February UK tour and a March US tour that will straddle the Austin festival, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are likely to make waves in the Northern hemisphere’s psychedelic scene in the year to come.

DAVID KEENANPHOTO BY NICHOLAS O’DONNELL — **DAVID KEENAN**
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS O’DONNELL

7. David Keenan (Dundalk, IE)

23-year-old David Keenan is making waves in the Irish scene with his uniquely soulful folk music and emotional, inquisitive lyrics. Described as “not just another young lad with an acoustic guitar” by Hot Press Magazine, Keenan has a voice and wisdom surpassing his age. After releasing three successful EPs in 2018, 2019 is sure to be Keenan’s strongest year yet.

8. Amyl and the Sniffers (Melbourne, AU)

Australian punk band Amyl and the Sniffers have made a name for themselves in the Australian pub scene, drawing crowds in for their energetic and raw performances, with a sound and concision more reminiscent of 70s punk than the punk of today. Following their tour supporting fellow Australians King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in 2018, Amyl and the Sniffers have been announced for several festivals in 2019 that will be sure to thrust them into the international spotlight.

9. Viagra Boys (Stockholm, SE)

Stockholm based Viagra Boys’ unique blend of speed-blues and proto-punk has made them a standout in modern Swedish music. Their 2018 debut album Sweet Worms solidified their reputation as a band with a lot to say and the tools to say it. Having already caught the attention of music outlets such as Pitchfork, Viagra Boys will only push further out of Sweden and onto the international front in 2019.

WHENYOUNGPHOTO BY NICHOLAS O’DONNELL — **WHENYOUNG**
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS O’DONNELL

10. whenyoung (Limerick, IE)

Limerick-formed and London based whenyoung is an indie darling of modern Irish music. Making NME’s 100 to watch in 2019 list (along with Fontaines D.C. and Sidney Gish), and already justifying this accolade with their January single Never Let Go, the band is sure to break onto the international stage this year following SXSW.

11. The Dunts (Glasgow, UK)

Leading the Glasgow punk scene is four piece The Dunts, whose youthful and ambitious energy is sure to enrapture audiences at SXSW. Already having announced several UK festivals for the summer of 2019, The Dunts are poised to take the world by storm with their catchy riffs, tight rhythms, and biting lyrics.

12. Tasha (Chicago, US)

Chicago based singer Tasha quickly caught the eye of NPR and Pitchfork with her sophomore EP Alone at Last, released in 2018. Singing her own gentle brand of soul “in the name of radical softness and black love,” Tasha has created her own unique genre that is impossible not to enjoy.

13. Sam Eagle (Essex, UK)

19-year-old multi-instrumentalist Sam Eagle has a sound that defies genre: it is hip hop-jazz, alternative-soul, DIY-pop, and it is uniquely his own. Hailing from Essex, England, Eagle has gained support from BBC Radio, playing the BBC Introducing stage at Latitude Festival last summer following the release of his debut single, 15/8. Eagle’s talent is enough to guarantee his success, and many are sure to fall for his singular multiinstrumental creations at SXSW.