top 10 – Vinyl Mag

Top 10 Bands You Better Not Miss at Forecastle This Weekend

Posted on July 13, 2017July 14, 2017 by Vinyl Mag

If you’re one of the lucky ones heading out to Louisville KY for Forecastle Festival this weekend, we know you’re gonna flock to see the headliners—and we’re right there with you. Forecastle’s big guns form quite the armory this year with sets from Run The Jewels, LCD Soundsystem, PJ Harvey, Spoon, Weezer, and Sturgill Simpson. Not to mention the glorious return of the beloved Screaming Eagle himself, Mister Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires.

That said, if you scroll on down the lineup, it’s fully packed with exciting, dynamic acts right down to the very end. Here’s a list of the top 10 bands it would be criminal to miss.

Big Thief

Brooklyn’s Big Thief’s music, rooted in the songs of Adrianne Lenker (guitar, vocals) paints in vivid tones. Their highly anticipated second record Capacity was release last month and shows us the gentle side of being ripped open, and then recounts the second act of pulling oneself back together to prepare for it all to happen again.

Whitney

Whitney tries to make the kind of songs they’d be jealous of if someone else got there first. Formed from the core of guitarist Max Kakacek (ex-Smith Westerns) and singing drummer Julien Ehrlich (ex-Unknown Mortal Orchestra),the band itself is something bigger, something visionary, something neither of them could have accomplished alone.

Aaron Lee Tasjan

East Nashville-based musician Aaron Lee Tasjan has always considered himself a songwriter first and foremost, writing his own off-kilter folk-inflected songs since he picked up his first acoustic as a teen guitar prodigy. His New West Records debut, Silver Tears, shows his artistic ambitions and solidifies him as one of the most intriguing singer/songwriters to emerge in sometime.

Adia Victoria

Adia Victoria is establishing a fresh reference point on the musical landscape. From blood-born howls to idiosyncratic phrasing, she is the big red dot saying You Are Here. The Nashville-based artist travels the lands of rock, afro punk, and country, squarely situated in the continent of the Blues.

Mondo Cozmo

Born in Philadelphia and now based in East Los Angeles, Mono Cozmo raised a big middle finger to all opposition, and in 2016 began releasing songs that could’ve been cut under the influence of a “Champagne Supernova” inside a Seattle warehouse if this were the nineties…but it’s not. His latest work, Plastic Soul, will be released in a few weeks. He did it all by deconstructing everything you know and reconstructing it with a rawness the world hasn’t felt since Pearl Jam’s Vs. or Springsteen’s Born To Run. That’s Plastic Soul.

John Moreland

John Moreland’s latest album, Big Bad Luv, is the record he made after, after everything in his life changed. For the better. He sings in one of those accents from flyover country that’s impossible to locate and implausible to mimic. (Texas, by way of Northern Kentucky, but mostly Tulsa, as it happens.) He sings directly from his heart, with none of the restraint and filters and caution the rest of us would apply for public protection. He sings with resolute courage.

Twin Limb

Forecastle will be a hometown throw down for Twin Limb. Louisville’s own Twin Limb is proof that a band can be a powerful trio without being a “power trio”. Friends, Lacey Guthrie and Maryliz Bender decided they were going to build a musical edifice together, with the producing prowess of Kevin Ratterman. Together, an organic blend bringing post-punk guitar sprinklings to a yearning, but militaristic amalgam of soaring vocals, percussion, and slowly-kneaded accordion.

Lucy Dacus

Sharp lyrical observations, playful turns of musical phrase, hooks that’ll embed themselves in your frontal lobe for days is what you’ll experience at Lucy Dacus’ set this Saturday afternoon. She has a keen sense of self and that shines clearly on her debut No Burden.

Pell

Born and raised in New Orleans but forced, at 13, to relocate with his family to Jackson, Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina hit and destroyed their home—has been praised for fusing precise lyricism and soulful singing into an eclectic sound, entirely his own.

Sun Seeker

Sun Seeker has drawn applause for their unhurried breed of Cosmic American Music and with BIDDEFORD (Third Man Records), their long awaited debut EP, the Nashville-based band more than affirm their promise. The EP – which follows Sun Seeker’s widely acclaimed Third Man debut single, 2016’s “Georgia Dust” b/w “No One Knows” (TMR322) – sees Alex Benick (guitar, vocals), Asher Horton (bass guitar, vocals), and Ben Parks (drums, vocals) exploring nostalgia, melancholy, and emotional turmoil via laidback psychedelia pollinated with tight harmonies, classic folk songcraft, and country rock spirit, an ageless approach that is simultaneously archetypal and now utterly their own.

10 Local Acts to See at Savannah Stopover 2015

Posted on February 27, 2015March 13, 2015 by Michelle King

In it’s fifth year of operation, Savannah Stopover is quickly growing into one of the more respected and well-known festivals in the southeast, having played host to acts such as Grimes, Future Islands, The War on Drugs, Wye Oak, Small Black, Diarrhea Planet, St. Lucia, Haerts, Mac Demarco, and oh so many more since it’s inception. This year is no exception, boasting headliners ASTR, San Fermin, Generationals, Computer Magic, Lee Bains, and French Horn Rebellion, amongst plenty other noteworthy acts.

But, being a new transplant to Savannah and having had the opportunity to dig into the incredibly vibrant music scene here, I’d like to lend a preview of some of the standout local acts on this year’s lineup. Keep these folks on your radar; things are bubbling and brewing here in Savannah, and my money’s on a number of these acts to break out on the national level sooner than later.

You can view the full schedule here, and tickets are still available for purchase here.

Triathlon

Triathlon might just be the next “big thing” to come out of Savannah. Having just released a new album Lo-Tide on Broken Circles Records and with an official acceptance to SXSW 2015, keep your ears out for their self-described “Motown surf sounds with a twist of experimental sketchyness.”

See them: Friday March 6, 2015 11:00pm – 12:00am

Ampersand (All Ages until 10pm) (36 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Savannah Ga 31401)

Boy Harsher

Think a more gritty, experimental Crystal Castles. Gus Muller puts to work an array of electronics creating sounds both eerie and danceable while Jae Matthews delivers intense vocal performances ranging from whispered storytelling to shouting chants.

See them: Saturday March 7, 2015 10:00pm – 11:00pm

Club One (21+) (1 Jefferson St. Savannah Ga 31401)

Cusses

The senior-figure in this group of mostly new artists, Cusses have been stalwarts of the Savannah rock scene since 2009. They are preparing the release of a new full-length Golden Rat, the follow-up to their debut self-titled LP, with an EP release scheduled for May 5. They’re playing Saturday night at the Jinx with Diarrhea Planet; expect it to be crowded.

See them: Saturday March 7, 2015 11:00pm – 12:00am

The Jinx (21+) (127 W. Congress St. Savannah Ga 31401)

Crazy Bag Lady

The first time I saw Crazy Bag Lady, I was standing in the back of the crowd tweeting a photo I had just taken of frontman Josh Sterno hanging from the rafters of the building when I suddenly found myself being boa-constrictor-style wrapped with his microphone cord as he stomped in circles around me; obviously a statement for me to get off my damn phone. This could stand alone as a description of what to expect at a CBL show, but the more this group plays, the more their music is catching up with their antics, blending classic punk rock with new noise and an experimental approach.

See them: Friday March 6, 2015 10:30pm – 11:30pm

The Jinx (21+) (127 W. Congress St. Savannah Ga 31401)

Coeds

All the things one can love about rock n roll and power pop are encapsulated in this fairly young but incredibly talented band who since the release of their debut EP Homecoming in 2014, have steadily grown to be one of the more established acts in the Savannah scene due both to their veteran lineup and incredibly energetic performances.

See them: Friday March 6, 2015 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Hang Fire (21+) (37 Whitaker St. Savannah Ga 31401)

Sunglow

The solo project of Crazy Bag Lady drummer Daniel Lynch, Sunglow offers experimental electronic music that teeters between danceable pop and otherworldly weirdness. His newest album Nothing Doing is out on local label Furious Hooves.

See him: Thursday March 5, 2015 10:30pm – 11:30pm

Club One (21+) (1 Jefferson St. Savannah Ga 31401)

Nightingale News

With a long history as a touring bassist for many nationally established acts, Nightingale News is the passion-filled solo project of Athens, GA transplant Coy Campbell. His new album Bell Rope is his first declaration as an unchaperoned songwriter and a powerful statement to his independent abilities.

See them: Thursday March 5, 2015 9:30pm – 10:30pm

Congress St. Social Club (All Ages until 10pm) (411 W. Congress St Savannah Ga 31401)

Blackrune

“Think of it as a spiritual supergroup of drone sending you into your mind’s eye for a discussion of reincarnation,” as described in the band bio. Blackrune at it’s core is the trio of Chris Goggans, Matt McCullough, and PM Goerner, but expect a special performance with a slew of other local talent stepping up to fill out the Blackrune Circle Esoteric Orchestra.

See them: Saturday March 7, 2015 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Ampersand (All Ages until 10pm) (36 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Savannah Ga 31401)

Curb Dog

Curb Dog are a brand new group consisting of frontman/guitarist Max Buckner, bassist Coy Campbell (Nightingale News), guitarist James Chapman, and drummer Luis Salazar. Campbell refers to their sound as “rock n roll with a pop spine” with some recollections of Dinosaur Jr. and Real Estate to be heard in their sometimes-shiny-sometimes-crunchy guitar rock sound.

See them: Saturday March 7, 2015 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Ampersand (All Ages until 10pm) (36 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Savannah Ga 31401)

Heavy Boots

Rachael Perisho of mumbledust finds a solo outlet in her ambient, minimal folk project Heavy Boots. With Triathlon backing her in live performances as of late, expect a fuller sound with Perisho’s hauntingly beautiful vocal presence still taking center stage.

See them: Saturday March 7, 2015 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Ampersand (All Ages until 10pm) (36 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Savannah Ga 31401)

10 Best New Artists of 2014

Posted on December 12, 2014March 11, 2015 by Hannah Smith

This year has proved to be a milestone for many new artists in the music industry. Some of the most innovative songs have topped the charts across all genres. From Sam Smith to Sam Hunt, new artists have been bursting onto the scene since the beginning of the year and show no sign of slowing down any time soon.

10. Mary Lambert

Mary Lambert gained recognition with her part in Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s “Same Love.” Her debut album, Heart on My Sleeve, is full of her unique style, and it’s clear her personality shines through.

9. Benjamin Booker

Rock and blues artist Benjamin Booker’s debut album was released in August and instantly earned a spot among the Top 10 Billboard Alternative Albums. He received high praise from major music reviewers such as Rolling Stone, Paste, and SPIN. He also had the privilege of touring with the infamous Jack White and playing major festivals across the country.

8. Vance Joy

Australian artist Vance Joy released his much-anticipated debut album. For the past two years, he’s been booked for multiple festivals without an album, something few artists are able to do. His contagious ukulele-playing and simple lyrics landed him an opening slot on Taylor Swift’s 1989 tour this year.

7. Frankie Ballard

Frankie Ballard attracted listeners of all genres this year. His combination of country, blues, and rock offered a welcome change among the country superstars perpetually claiming the No. 1 spots. His first No. 1 single “Helluva Life” was the country song of the summer and later certified gold.

6. Iggy Azalea

Iggy Azalea became one of the biggest artists of the year after her and Charli XCX’s “Fancy” was released. Her much-anticipated debut album The New Classic sold over 50,000 copies in its first week, after the cancellation of many release dates prior. Azalea’s addictive rapping favored well on the radio and earned her a performance on Saturday Night Live.

5. The Cadillac Three

Country rock band The Cadillac Three has embraced the sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd and added their own unique modern twist. Because the lead vocalist wrote hits for country superstars like Keith Urban and Tim McGraw, the band’s songwriting is spot on. With the addition of some talented musicians, the trio recreated an old sound in their own image and is steadily gaining popularity.

4. Hozier

Hozier became popular after his stellar performance on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago. His debut album achieved the No. 2 position atop the Billboard 200 and the lead single “Take Me To Church” has steadily climbed as well. Because the single doesn’t sound like the conventional radio single, it’s impressive to see the artist’s growing popularity.

3. Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor released her instant hit “All About that Bass” this year. While she self-released two albums in 2011, she just recently signed to a record label from which the single was released, along with an EP. The single has captured the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been reluctant to let go for the past 8 weeks. Her studio album is expected to be released in mid-January of next year.

2. Sam Smith

Sam Smith is one of the biggest artists of the year with an internationally successful single and sold-out shows across the globe. The single “Stay With Me” propelled Smith to stardom and solidified his promising potential.

1. Bleachers

Bleachers released their debut album in July. Seasoned band member Jack Antonoff doubles as lead vocalist for the band and lead guitarist for the band Fun. Antonoff truly put everything into the songwriting on the band’s album Strange Desire, clear through the powerful lead single “I Wanna Get Better.”