Tag Archives: rock

All Poets & Heroes Want You to Make Something of Your Life

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A good friend can be the guiding force which leads us toward self-improvement.

All Poets & Heroes explore an unconventional version of this dynamic on their new tune, “Singlehanded.” Influenced by the slacker rock of the 90s and early 2000s, the band tells the story of a person with untapped potential, and the loyal stoner friend who witnesses him wasting away into oblivion.

“Centered around a bad day — and seemingly a wasted life — a person who was told they were ‘good as gold’ is finding that life isn’t turning out the way they had hoped,” said lead vocalist Rob McCall. “He visits his stoner friend and pisses away another day. However, it’s the stoner friend, who narrates the story, that sees this person clearly and is attempting to snap them out of there woes, urging them to claim their dignity by accepting that life is hard, and trying to get them to work at bettering themselves.”

“And for fun, there’s a reference to masturbation.”

Want even more reason for excitement? All Poets & Heroes will be a part of ARREIS’ and Local Nation’s Battle of the Bands, taking place June 12 at The End. Learn more about that here!

PHOTOS: Aaron Lee Tasjan at The Blue Room

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Aaron Lee Tasjan at The Blue Room (Nashville, TN)

Aaron Lee Tasjan is a performer’s performer; one whose love of art and experimentation combines in tremendous fashion with a distinct reverence for the rock and roll traditions which came before him. With a knack for storytelling and a sharp wit to match, he invites each member of his audience to make a personal connection with his music.

That’s what we had a chance to experience last Thursday at The Blue Room, and we were more than happy to take the ride!

Tasjan’s performance was in celebration of his new album, Stellar Evolution. Released on April 12, the full-length offering explores and shatters sonic boundaries, while offering personal takes on sobriety (“The Drugs Did Me”), the queer adolescent experience (“Horror Of It All”), and the state of American political culture (“I Love America Better Than You”).

Set highlights — aside from the aforementioned fan favorites — included special guest appearances by renowned guitarist, songwriter, and producer Butch Walker; indie rock standout Molly Martin (who opened the evening), and interdisciplinary musician and producer Lafemmebear on an exciting rendition of Lucinda Williams’ “Drunken Angel.” Walker and Lafemmebear stayed onstage to add their respective flavors to Tasjan’s 2021 song, “Up All Night.”

Of the new tunes, “Pants” brought funky, feel-good vibes to accompany a message empowering the audience to feel comfortable within their own skin. The beachy, romantic “Ocean Drive” brought a sense of serenity into the room, as it captured the essence of feeling at home with the one you love.

Tasjan even gave us a preview of what is to come post-Stellar Evolution by performing two new songs. “The Real” felt like a love letter to those in attendance; one which gave Tasjan a chance to showcase his guitar chops, with an emotive solo reminiscent of Richie Sambora at his most soulful. Immediately thereafter, “Punk Rock Joy” was a high-energy banger which made a statement — no matter what the world, society, or a government takes away from us, it can’t have what’s inside our hearts.

Navigating Your Vision Through External Changes

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In this Quinn Spinn Highlight, Adam Lawrence of The Mad Sugars discusses the importance of remaining true to your vision, even as circumstances outside of your control continue to change.

Stream ‘Personal Space,’ the new album, out now: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/album/1FXmc9xOr4RUuiCe6kHfWt?si=JX0Sizz2TJmA4In-GmNkqQ⁠

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

The Quinn Spinn
Spotify⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3fhgcfrjZt19NLFagfRB5o?si=75a1de1d78a94064⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Apple Podcasts⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/2tuvpzdh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/quinnspinnofficial

WATCH: Pillow Queens Embrace Intoxicating Love on ‘Heavy Pour’

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We may still be a long way off from spooky season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t deliver something to haunt you.

In this case, it’s the hypnotic, churning alt-rock of Pillow Queens, who have released a video for their song, “Heavy Pour.” The video — released in advance of their forthcoming LP, Name Your Sorrow (out Friday, April 19) — was shot at the historic Glenmaroon House in Dublin, Ireland — a Tudor-style Edwardian mansion, dating back to the 1850s.

Directed by Kate Dolan, the video is inspired by classic silent films, including The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, Faust and Nosferatu.

“The song felt like a haunting and I felt the video needed to be something quite stylistic. I came up with the idea of the music video being a long lost silent film that has never been seen, a haunted piece of art buried in an attic somewhere. Then, as the band performs the cursed film is purged, burning up. The band are always up for having some fun, so the shoot was a lot of fun, and we played a lot on set.”

Sonically, “Heavy Pour” borrows influence from the guitar distortion of 1990s grunge, with moments of clarity breaking through in the bridge. The soundscape was crafted to fit the song’s theme of choosing to love courageously, even as the world’s judgment finds its way in.

“A lot of the lines in this song could convey the typical sweetness of a love song, but it has brief moments of outside perspectives that cast doubt over the conviction represented,” said lead vocalist, guitarist, and bassist Pamela Connelly. “The song tries to show the ‘heavy pour’ as a compulsion that while having moments of joy, ultimately heightens personal insecurities.”

Meanwhile in the chorus, the band tackles common gender miscorrelations with the line, “I want more, but I’m not man enough.”

“We wanted to delve into and dissect the idea that one’s gender expression is impacted by their perceived level of courage,” said guitarist, bassist, and vocalist Sarah Corcoran. “Spoiler: it’s not. All genders can be courageous and/or scared.”

LISTEN: Ren Richards Honors Her Grandmother on ‘Paper Moons’

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“I’ll stay with you
Right here in the picture that your memory drew
Charcoal skies and glitter stars, and paper moons
I’ll stay with you”

-Ren Richards, “Paper Moons”

This one is for anybody who has ever struggled to let go.

This past Friday, Nashville-based songstress Ren Richards gave us “Paper Moons,” a melancholic indie rock offering written as “a poignant tribute to her grandmother’s fight with dementia.”

The track begins with the distant sound of children’s laughter, representative of the innocence lost as our memories fade from view. Nostalgic, 90s alternative-influenced guitar tones chime in gently atop a somber, steadfast acoustic progression, working together with Richards’ sad, yet soothing melody to illustrate the bittersweet divide between the opportunity to cherish the moments we’ve shared, and the anguish of longing for days gone by.

“Paper Moons” was produced by Blake Mohler (Happy Landing) and Wes Harllee (Ruthie Collins), and it’s right here for you.

WATCH: On ‘Don’t You Know,’ Cole Gallagher Digs His Own Grave

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Photo credit: Chris Martinez

Love can make us fall into madness. Sometimes, it can even feel like we’re being buried alive.

That metaphor is on full display in Cole Gallagher’s new video for “Don’t You Know.”

The video — directed and edited by Andrea Jako — stars Gallagher opposite Alexander Karavay and Samantha Violet, who portray an outlaw couple who kidnap Gallagher, drive him to the high desert of California, and force him to dig his own grave. While most of the scenes transpire without a hint of remorse for Gallagher’s character, we come to find that one of our antagonists may have struggled with the decision all along.

The song itself — produced by GRAMMY-winner Vance Powell (Phish, Chris Stapleton, Jack White) and featuring current and previous 400 Unit members Chad Gamble, Sadler Vaden and Jimbo Hart — sets an ominous tone. Supported by nostalgic mellotron tones and gritty, blues-influenced guitars, we feel a downward spiral of emotion as Gallagher laments a failed relationship.

“‘Don’t You Know’ is a track that I have been waiting to release for a long time,” Gallagher shared. “At its core, the lyrics tell the story of one of the toughest internal battles I’ve ever encountered. This song was beautifully produced by Vance Powell, and the players from the 400 Unit somehow created a track that was both gnarly and smooth at the same time.”

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

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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

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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: Gloom Girl MFG Get Away with the Perfect ‘Crimes’

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Between Nashville’s established status as a country music mecca, and Music City’s ever-growing pop and hip hop ecosystem, the city’s rock scene often doesn’t get enough love here in 2024.

Gloom Girl MFG might be the band who changes that.

The high-powered punk quartet calls Nashville home, and they’re getting ready to release their EP, Polycrisis, on May 3. The lead single, “Crimes,” is out now — and it gets the whole thing off to an explosive start!

“Crimes” features relentless guitar riffs accompanied by a tight, swaggering rhythm section — calling to mind the edgy alt-punk heyday of bands like The Vines and The Hives. Meanwhile, the charismatic Paige MacKinnon establishes her undeniable presence, as she illustrates the raw complexities of our human experience.

“‘Crimes’ is about someone who’s right in the middle of an emotional explosion,” MacKinnon said. “They’re fed up trying to play the game of love as they see it. And through that we’re speaking to a truth about how intertwined our human experiences in the world are with the way we show love to one another. It can be messy and it can be beautiful too.”

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

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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?

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