Tag Archives: modern rock

LISTEN: Is the Grass Greener on the ‘Normal’ Side?

The creative journey holds a multitude of rigorous tests for those brave enough to stay the course. At one point or another, we all think of what would be like, if only we could be “normal.”

But… it’s fair to wonder if the grass would, in fact, be greener behind the white picket fence.

In other words: would “normal” actually be any better?

Matt Sahadi explores this alternate reality on his latest single, “Am I Living What I Always Dreamed Of?” An energetic alt-rock anthem hallmarked by thunderous drums and signature harmonica solos, the single paints a vivid image of a man who settled for a life away from his dreams.

“This ballad comes from a personal frustration with my own reality of having to work, day-in and day-out, while pushing forward on my dreams as an artist. I constantly wonder what life would be like if I wasn’t pursuing this path anymore,” Sahadi said. “This song is the ballad of that alternate reality; a life of working to barely get by, while being haunted by the thoughts of what I gave up and where I went wrong. I felt I needed to add a broken-family element to the story, with the idea of paying alimony to a separated spouse and no longer seeing a son anymore. All of this (is) to paint a picture that I believe many can strongly relate to — whether its verbatim someone’s life, or there a little bit of them to this character, I share those same emotions.”

“Am I Living What I Always Dreamed Of?” is just the beginning of a new journey for Sahadi; it’s the first single from his forthcoming EP, slated for release this July. The release will be supported by live performances across the U.S., with details soon to come.

In the meantime, this will get you excited for what’s ahead — and it may even make you ponder your own existential questions.

LISTEN: Bobby Mahoney Offers a Sign of Summer with ‘Empty Passenger Seats’

Photo credit: Hannah Greve

Fun fact: Although UMC itself got its start in Pennsylvania as Lehigh Valley Underground, I’m actually a New Jersey native. And so, I’m greatly immersed in the Garden State’s storied rock and roll lineage — from Bruce Springsteen, to Bon Jovi, to The Gaslight Anthem and more.

Today, it seems that my original home state will be carrying its grand rock tradition into a new generation.

Responsible for carrying the torch is Bobby Mahoney, who released the high-powered summer anthem, “Empty Passenger Seats,” this past Friday. That timelessly youthful Jersey Shore sound is alive and well, with a punk edge breaking through by way of Mahoney’s rugged vocal.

“I initially wrote the first part of ‘Empty Passenger Seats’ while we were driving home overnight after playing Richmond, VA for the first time,” Mahoney said. “We were driving up the NJ Turnpike as the sun was rising. We had this feeling of accomplishment that we were doing exactly what we should be doing, and that imagery became the bridge of the song. I then spent time with our friend Dan Cohen (Creating Clementine) on the riff and the chorus in East Brunswick at my parents’ house. I remember also working on it with the band in a Motel 6 in Carlisle, PA, and listening to rough mixes in a parking lot in Georgia.”

He continues, “It is very much a road song, and a good representation of what we do as a band.”

I’ll definitely have this one blaring as I cruise down the Parkway on the way to Cape May later this summer. For now, enjoy it as a clear sign that summer is near!

UMC20: An Explosive Start to April (April 3, 2024)

Rock and roll is alive and well, as you’ll hear throughout the first half of this week’s UMC20.

This week’s compilation is frontloaded with a variety of electric guitar sounds and turbo-powered swagger. But, as always, there’s something for everyone this week. Americana lovers will want to pay close attention to the middle of the playlist, while pop, soul, and hip hop fans will particularly enjoy the latter portions.

And, as always, we’ve got some useful nuggets from that Official Podcast of ours waiting for you at the end. Check those out — especially if you fancy yourself an artistpreneur!

Track listing
Another Dead Rockstar – 1985 (Can You Help Me)
Gloom Girl MFG – Crimes
The Mad Sugars – Lost Among the Avenues
The Fever Haze – Last Night I Killed a Man
JT Loux – look into my eyes
Lurve – Run, Get Drunk, and Fall in Love Again
Lone Tree – Miss You
OPIATE – Lay
Black Suit Devil – Passage
Medium Build – Knowing U Exist
Old 97’s – Somebody
Travis Feutz – Utah
The Flying Raye – The Ballad of Leslie Cochran
Swamp Dogg ft. Jenny Lewis – Count The Days
Annie Scherer – You Like The Blues
Eliza Hardy Jones – Counterfeit
Rex & The Rhyhtm – Umbrella
Lindsey Lomis – Long Way Down
pher, – moon
Spence Brown – By My Lonely

WATCH: Get ‘Lost Among the Avenues’ with The Mad Sugars

There’s nothing like falling in love underneath the bright city lights.

The Mad Sugars — who, you should know, just released their much-anticipated full-length album, Personal Space — give us that sweet feeling with the new music video for focus track, “Lost Among the Avenues.”

The video — shot by Nita Ann — takes us through popular Nashville haunts including Printers Alley and Sid Gold’s Request Room, as frontman Adam Lawrence sings about the adventure of embarking on a night on the town with a new flame.

Sonically, those who are familiar with The Mad Sugars will be happy with this one, as it’s another example of the band’s penchat for high-powered, highly danceable alt-rock. With that being said, there’s also a Killers-esque new wave sensibility that comes to the forefront, with radiant synths that shimmer like the city skyline on a clear summer night.

Get “lost” with this one below. It’s an experience you’ll never forget!

WATCH: The Ghost Club’s Rare, Vintage Music Video

Photo credit: Francis Bonn III

The Ghost Club has been catching fire lately. In addition to their recent set at SPIN’s official SXSW showcase in Austin, they just released one of the first music videos ever shot on a limited-release Kodak Super 8 camera.

The video — for their single, “If I Fell (Don’t Wait Here For Me)” — was directed by Ben Turok. Shot on 8mm film and presented in black and white, these visuals carry a vintage ambiance befitting the track’s Springsteen-esque sensibility.

While The Boss’ influence is felt heavily on “If I Fell,” the familiar sounds don’t stop there. Flares of modernity permeate the soundscape, whether through its warm, glistening keyboard arrangement, or the raw, punk-inspired emotion behind frontman Domenic Dunegan’s vocals.

“‘If I Fell’ came from a period when a lot of bad stuff was happening in my life, including breaking my hand and not being able to play music for a while,” Dunegan said. “I was also trying to come to terms with being alone after a breakup, and I realized that part of pulling yourself out of a bad spot is accepting the fact that you need to be self-reliant and do it on your own.”

There’s plenty to enjoy here. Why don’t you dive right in and experience it for yourself?

UMC20: Charging in Like a Lion (Mar. 5, 2024)

Hyperpop? We’ve got it. Soulful hip hop? Yep. Americana and rock? Check and check. We even lead off with a new, disco-inspired cut.

Every week, we task ourselves with the responsibility of providing 20 fresh, interesting new tracks. Thanks to you, our job is never too difficult. These tasty jams — plus not one, but TWO episodes of our Official Podcast — should keep your ears, hearts, and minds satisfied all week long.

Track listing
Helena Hallberg – Surprisingly Disco
Titans of Siren – Daytrip
Game Changer – Just Sayin’
Spence Brown – Scotch Thoughts
Izzy Rage – Wreck
TsukiMai – Selenophile
Rose Starring – Violently Sad
Cardiac Half – Gloom
The Trampoline Delay – Excuses Excuses
Alisa Amador ft. Quinn Christopherson – I Need to Believe
Sam Gyllenhaal Band – Mary Does (Acoustic)
Sarah Gargano – Red Solo Cup
The Atomic Age – Heart
Sarah Free – Sober
Laney Jones – Stay at Home
Crow and Gazelle – Take It Away
Patrick Davis – Southern Roots
Brother Dege – Turn of the Screw
The Kentucky Gentlemen – Beg Your Parton
Mikayla Lewis – All is Well

UMC20: Fall in Love with These Tracks (Feb. 13, 2024)

There’s a lot to love about UMC20 every week. But, with warm and fuzzy feelings in the air for those who celebrate Valentine’s Day, that sentiment feels even stronger today.

This is a powerful, dynamic lineup of songs, featuring styles across the musical spectrum. We start with rock, give you a heapin’ helpin’ of Americana in the middle, and then progress to pop, R&B, and hip hop to round it out.

Also, we have not one, but TWO bonus tracks: We just announced that we’re going to two weekly episodes of The Quinn Spinn this week, and our two latest interviews are included at the bottom of the playlist!

Track listing
Olive Dares the Darkness – Not My Fault
The Mad Sugars ft. Monte Mader – Dare Me
Fame & Fiction – Knuckles
Sugadaisy – Slip n Fall
Cole Gallagher – Lost Sounds
Ben Carr – Seventeen
The Wandering Hearts – Letter to Myself
The Dead South – Yours To Keep
Moonsville Collective – Helen Highway
The HawtThorns – Nothing But A Shadow
Tyler Ramsey – New Lost Ages
The Steel Wheels – Sideways
Laura Mustard – Dirty Minds & Wild Hearts
Spencer LaJoye – Someday You’ll Wake Up Okay
Sabrina Song – Okay, Okay
Jordyn Tareaz – Again
Jetta – sticky ickyKuf Knotz & Christine Elise – High Vibrationz
Foundation Mecca – Felt Like This
RAHMAT ALLAHGXDMC – Rain

RECAP: Sugadaisy w/ Mills at The Basement

To see Sugadaisy live is to step into a dynamic live music experience hallmarked by an intriguing blend of influences. You’ll lose yourself in the band’s jam and psych-rock sensibilities, presented with rock and roll swagger. Simultaneously, you’ll also find tenderness in the Americana undertones present in different moments throughout their catalog. Without question, this quintet from Bowling Green, KY brings a fresh, multi-faceted musical perspective to the table that fans of bands like Dr. Dog and Goose will surely gravitate toward (assuming they haven’t already).

It’s no wonder, then, that they performed to a packed house in Nashville on Saturday night, loading up The Basement with fans who came from near and far to hang on every moment.

The band’s 50-minute set was a thrilling precursor to a big month ahead, as they head out on the road as special guests on St. Paul and the Broken Bones’ Angels in Science Fiction tour, with dates from Alabama to Vermont (and a good chunk of states in between).

Supporting Sugadaisy was Mills, a fellow Kentucky native who just returned from a five-year stint on the West Coast. Mills’ acoustic set showcased his own versatility; his infectious brand of acoustic pop delivered a raw honesty that endeared him to new fans, while the existing ones in attendance came ready to sing along.

WATCH: The Mad Sugars Cook Up Trouble with ‘Dare Me’

The Mad Sugars ft. Monte Mader - Dare Me

For all the potential downsides, mischief can certainly have its fun moments.

The Mad Sugars — our favorite storytellers when it comes to tales of nightlife misadventures — capture that sense of fleeting, restless merriment in the music video for “Dare Me,” featuring Nashville-based vocalist Monte Mader. Directed by Brian Thompson and shot at Helping Our Music Evolve, the video is an opportunity for the band to let loose in the spirit of high-energy rock and roll.

“‘Dare Me’ is a dance rock tribute to the nights you hit it off with someone who makes you want to go out and get into trouble,” the band said.

“Dare Me” is from the band’s forthcoming full-length album, Personal Space, available everywhere on March 22. You can pre-order the album here, and watch the video below!

PHOTOS: Absolute Silence, Keep The Eleven, and YEARB4 at The End

This past Thursday, Nashville’s Rock Block certainly lived up to its name.

On this particular night, we had a stellar trio of homegrown bands to thank for that, as a steadily packed house at The End had the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of Absolute Silence, Keep The Eleven, and YEARB4.

Absolute Silence led things off, fresh from a cowboy-themed music video shoot. Their expansive set touched on a variety of styles, with elements of garage rock, punk, Americana, and even a little bit of pop blended brilliantly together into their set. (Plus, there was this epic drum solo, which we still haven’t gotten over.)

Keep The Eleven was up next. The Chicagoland natives kept the momentum going, bringing a dynamic, high-energy performance to the stage that showcased their unbridled creative spirit. From start to finish, this garage rock power trio didn’t relent, opening up their diverse catalog and building connections with an audience who hung on their every note and lyric.

Speaking of audience connection, it was clear to anyone in attendance that YEARB4 has mastered the art. The band’s collective stage presence — led by confident and charismatic frontman Lucas Blair — is the perfect complement to their swaggering brand of modern rock, and made clear why this band has enjoyed success from coast to coast.

Plus, they gave us a Creed cover, and I’m a sucker for a good Creed Bomb, anytime…

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