Beach Slang - Future Mixtape For The Art Kids

Stick your heart on your sleeve
If it breaks, stitch it on to me
Bash it back into shape
You might be cracked, but I won't let you break

Beach Slang's 2015 The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us felt like a return to some of my favorite music of the past. It's raw, yet accessible, loud and energetic, cool and challenging and all the things that make great music great. Beach Slang captured my imagination right away and I listened to everything I could find. We saw them live, featured one of their early tracks here and generally felt like I found a new favorite band.

Which is awesome. Because a few months later they released a follow-up: A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings. There are lots of great tracks to choose from, and I couldn't really pick one so I just decided to go with the high-energy and aptly titled opener, "Future Mixtape For The Art Kids". Speaking of which, they made an awesome "mixtape" which is well worth a listen too. Check out this cover of "Anything Anything" by Dramarama.

RIYL: The Replacements, The Cure, Japandroids, Cloud Nothings, Cayetana, The Psychedelic Furs

Upcoming Shows

Braid - East End Hollows

To be the one who never lets you go.
To be the one who never lets you fall.
To be the one who comes back home to you.
To be the one who calls you "home."
To be the one who keeps your chorus on.
To be the one who keeps you cornered.
To be the one who never lets you down.

Originally formed over ten years ago, Braid has been an on-again, off-again player on the indie punk scene. I missed their 2014 release No Coast and was a bit surprised when I stumbled somewhat blindly across "East End Hollows", looked to see who it was and saw Braid, a band I'd thought didn't exist anymore. No Coast is a solid album, and I'd consider it very true to their sound, which can be described as intelligent, emotional and enjoyable rock that kinda of just sticks with you. "East End Hollows", today's featured track, is the best of that sound, and a song that recalls what it's like to fall, and then stay, in love.

Upcoming Shows

Two Inch Astronaut - Personal Life

I guess all I can say
It's personal
Life
That's life
Personal life
Personal life
Feels so right

The first time I listened to post-punk outfit Two Inch Astronaut's 2016 release Personal Life I was reminded of an old Seattle band I loved: Black Eyes and Neckties. Damn, I wish that band was still around, they were awesome. For a Murder City Devils knock off. Anyway, as I listened further I was reminded of other great rock bands. Fugazi, Titus Andronicus, JEFF the Brotherhood and Pile to name a few.

What I'm saying is that while there is something solid underlying and unifying most of their work, there is also a lot of diversity and creativity on top of it that. They're energetic, quirky and at times surprising. But also always listenable and approachable. I bet they're also awesome live and hope to see them soon.

Upcoming Shows