Max Frost
Growing up can be a funny thing. The older you get, the more freedom you enjoy. As such, you can act more like a kid (when appropriate, of course!). Max Frost walks a fine line between exhibiting childlike excitement during the creative process as a producer and multi-instrumentalist and lyrically embracing a tried-and-tested perspective as a seasoned songwriter. As such, the Austin, TX-born and Nashville, TN-based sonic outlier breaks the rules (and the walls) between sounds and vibes, delivering a fiery, fascinating, and free interpretation of what pop music can be in the 21st century. On the heels of hundreds of millions of streams, sold out shows, and praise courtesy of Variety, NPR, Rolling Stone, and many more, this balance defines his debut for Nettwerk Music Group, Shelby Ave Pt. 1 EP. “In my life, I feel more like an adult than I’ve ever felt, but musically I’m more like a kid than ever,” he affirms. “I stopped worrying about creative consequences and over-projecting expectation or concern into the world. It’s freed me up in a great way. I’m able to make what I want to make because I’m writing for myself. I’ve done that in the past, but there are less complications and obstacles now.” As a kid in Austin, Max grabbed a guitar at the age of eight and never put it down. He achieved his first taste of virality with “White Lies” and “Adderall,” paving the way for his full-length debut Gold Rush in 2018. The standout “Good Morning” scored a slew of syncs, including Pepsi, ESPN, CBS, Shameless, Grey’s Anatomy, The War With Grandpa, and American Idol. He emerged as the rare presence who could share the stage with either Gary Clark, JR. and Fitz and The Tantrums or Panic! At The Disco and Twenty One Pilots. Between packing headline shows, he delivered show-stopping performances on Good Morning America and Live! With Kelly and Ryan. He even found himself in the studio with none other than Sir Elton John. 2022 saw him elevate again with the Flying Machines EP. Atwood Magazine praised the latter as “a freshly independent, free-spirited return that soars with irresistible energy, unbridled passion, and intimate, captivating wonder,” while American Songwriter applauded his “playful, poignant psychedelic pop fusion.” In the wake of the project, he escaped Los Angeles and put down roots in Nashville. He wrote and recorded in a house on Shelby Ave, hence the name of the EP, and creatively realized a vision all his own. “It’s like I’ve had nine lives in my career,” he admits. “Unlikely things outside of my control have happened and given me other opportunities or opened up completely different worlds. Of course, I needed to keep making music. More than ever before, this feels like a new chapter. It’s a philosophical change. Everything is new and on my own terms.” This energy courses through the first single “Creep Back.” A thumping upright piano melody sets the tempo as a slick bass line and bold beat move in lockstep with one another. Max’s hypnotic high register takes hold on the hook, “I hate the way you creep back in my mind. Don’t you know it happens all the time, and I get so lonely, lonely babe.” Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok
The Hard Quartet
The Hard Quartet… … is a band. But what is a band? A band, perhaps, can be thought of as a body, a corpus, in which physically discrete lifeforms comprise a chimera that shrieks with one voice. In this particular band, which is one of mil- lions in the world today, four players selflessly merge, become musical, and emit rock ‘n’ roll that is familiar but new, warm but icy, melodic but Sphinx-like in its seductive and subtle riddles… essentially, The Hard Quartet has leveled, cultivated, and made lush an entirely new steppe in the ecosystem of guitar-bass-drums-voice agriculture. But we should now introduce the men of the HQ because after that, since you know your shit, you’ll be all: “Him? Him too? And, oh my god, him? Wait, not just them but also him?” and you’ll, rightfully, expect an album that musos and casuals alike will proclaim a “landmark.” So, check it out: Let’s do this alphabetically according to last name, which is the most democratic method. Ladies and gentlemen, the Hard Quartet is: Emmett Kelly, a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist best known for his work in The Cairo Gang as well as in the company of artists such as Will Oldham, Ty Segall, Azita, and many more. Stephen Malkmus, a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist best known for his work with Pavement, the Jicks, Silver Jews, Straw Dogs, and eponymously. Matt Sweeney, a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist best known for his work with Chavez, Superwolf, Super- wolves, and in the company of a panoply of artists from Guided by Voices and Cat Power to Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. Jim White, a drummer and songwriter best known for his work with Dirty Three, Xylouris White, eponymous- ly, and with such stalwarts as PJ Harvey, Smog, and Venom P. Stinger. Do you see? Four Titans, basically. And here they are, now, today, starting a band—a band which they’ve gone ahead and named The Hard Quartet, for Christ’s sake—which is a bulletproof, effortless amalgam of their completely distinct and completely broken-mold utterances. Perhaps, on the streets and the messageboards, you’ve heard rumors and mutterings about the death of rock. Maybe you’ve read a critical essay about it in an academic journal. We implore you to reject this crackpot theory propagated by unbelievers and philistines who haven’t listend to Danny & the Juniors once in their lives. The Hard Quartet, through its very existence and onward via its dedication to electrified reels, hymns, paeans, and rave-ups, is mathematical, empirical proof that human beings slashing at strings, pounding at skins, and opening their mouths to intone tuneful, mythic messages is here to stay. It will never die; we’ll dig it to the end. What follows is a selection of musings, aphorisms, and slogans of the HQ clergymen. Perhaps you’ll want to fold it up and keep it in your pocket for easy reference in times of rudderlessness. Think of it as a sort of Meditations for the soon-to-be faithful, an Aurelius for the audiophile, a peek through the stubborn skull into the pink bumps and grooves of the pulsating brain shared by Emmett, Stephen, Matt, and Jim—also known, from this day until the sun goes out, as The Hard Quartet. Website | Bandcamp
Moon Zooz: Too Many Zooz + Moon Hooch
Self-described “Brass House” trio Too Many Zooz make manically kinetic instrumental music that combines avant-garde jazz, EDM, punk rock, and sundry other traditions into their own distinctive brand of high-energy dance music. A viral sensation since they first emerged as New York subway buskers in 2013, Too Many Zooz have evolved into a globally recognized phenomenon who tour often and produce YouTube videos that have garnered millions of views. Formed in 2013 in New York City, Too Many Zooz features the talents of baritone saxophonist Leo “Leo P” Pellegrino, trumpeter Matt “Doe” Muirhead, and drummer David “King of Sludge” Parks. Pellegrino and Muirhead initially met while students at the Manhattan School of Music where they studied jazz. They eventually joined forces with percussionist Parks, whom Pellegrino had played with in a separate busking outfit. They began playing live at various New York subway stations and quickly attracted crowds with their aggressive instrumental sound and Pellegrino’s ability to dance and hype the audience like a DJ while playing. In 2014, a video of the band went viral and helped set the stage for the group’s meteoric rise. In 2016, the trio released their debut full-length album, Subway Gawdz, which featured guest spots from Kreayshawn, Armani White, members of Galactic, and Beats Antique. That same year they were featured on Beyonce’s Lemonade album, and performed with Beyonce and The Dixie Chicks at the CMA’s. Over the course of the next several years, Too Many Zooz continued to release EP’s and singles – including ZombiEP (2019), a concept album about a fictional band playing a music festival during a zombie outbreak, plus collaborations and remixes with The Floozies, Beats Antique, Spencer Ludwig, Moon Hooch, Dot Cromwell, Nitty Scott, Lester London, and RoRo. All of that set the stage for the band’s 2024 sophomore album Retail Therapy – a 13-song chronicle of auditory subway cinema that features appearances from Moon Hooch, Thumpasaurus, Lucky Chops, and Too Many T’s. Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | TikTok Moon Hooch began busking in the subway platforms of NYC in 2010, quickly getting noticed by the NYPD, who had to ban them from locations that couldn’t handle the crowds. In a few short years they were opening for the likes of Beats Antique, They Might Be Giants, and Lotus, while selling out their own headline shows at marquee venues around the United States and Europe. Their unconventional sound and techniques, utilizing found objects like traffic cones, landed them appearances on NPR’s Tiny Desk in America, “Later…with Jools Holland” in the UK, “Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year” in Australia, and private audiences with the Premier League’s Chelsea F.C. They are currently touring the world. Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | TikTok
John Vincent III
After touring his acclaimed, self-released 2019 debut album, Songs From the Valley, John Vincent III was ready for a bit of a break. Nearly four years later, the 27-year-old Nashville/Houston-based folk troubadour has distilled that once-in-a-lifetime experience into his beautiful and evocative sophomore full-length, Songs for the Canyon. Co-produced by Vincent with Tom Elmhirst (Adele, David Bowie), and featuring additional production from Tony Berg and Ryan Hadlock, Songs for the Canyon is a massive leap forward from a proudly DIY artist who has already built a diehard fan base on the strength of his heartfelt, stripped-down, classic folk sound. Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
2hollis
2hollis is a 20 year old producer, singer, composer and songwriter from Los Angeles by way of Chicago. He makes music in the experimental, rap, electronic and pop realm thus far. He shoots and edits most of his visuals alongside creating the art for his releases. The internet has blown up with his various songs already and he has begun to sell out his tours from North America to Europe including his moshpit inducing stint being chosen to open the Ken Carson North American tour recently. Pitchfork calls him “a remarkably distinctive, eagerly experimental savant whose sound never stalls or stagnates.” He is recently signed to Interscope Records. Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube | Soundcloud
Be Loud Carolina!
APP AID Fundraiser for Community Foundation of Western NC
APP AID Fundraiser for Community Foundation of Western NC Mellow Swells Happy Abandon Frute
Jack the Songman Album Release Show
Jack The Songman is a refreshing new act from North Carolina determined to show you a good time straight from the heart. The man behind the song, Jack Carmichael, has been making music in Chapel Hill since he was in high school. As Jack The Songman, he writes songs with a funky, classic pop sound that feels familiar but sincere. At the heart of every Songman song, you’ll find honest and straightforward lyrics about love and friendship. A lifelong member of bands, choirs, and a cappella groups, Jack began to focus on creating a solo project when the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic forced him into a period of introspection and songwriting. As soon as people could safely gather again, Jack put together an ensemble of lifelong friends and collaborators (affectionately named “The Songman Band”) to flesh out his book of newly-written songs. The outcome is a genre-melding, piano-driven sonic identity that weaves together elements of yacht rock, funk, and power pop while calling to mind musical forces such as Michael McDonald and Ben Folds. Jack The Songman’s forthcoming debut album “Love Songs and Other Songs” comes on the heels of his marriage to his high school sweetheart. The tracklist navigates through different stages and flavors of a romantic relationship, from the high-energy, horn line forward bop “No Plans” to the soothing and reassuring ballad “Get By”. As groovy as it is heartfelt, Jack The Songman’s first album is an exposition on joy, warmth, and endearment. Website | Spotify | YouTube | Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook Giovanna Diora is an artist at heart. Between photography, dance, piano, and now music production, she’s relentless in finding new ways to express herself.Born into a Puerto Rican-Italian family in NYC before moving to North Carolina, Giovanna was immersed in different cultures from a young age. Her early influences of disco, salsa, reggaeton, and RnB sparked a desire to genre-bend once she began writing songs of her own. Giovanna’s current inspirations include KAYTRANADA, Amber Mark, Jorja Smith, and LION BABE.In 2023, Giovanna released her debut single, “Poolside”, experimenting with a house pop sound. Instagram | Spotify Jesse Fox – a name that echoes within the realm of soulful artistry and immersive storytelling. Each performance is a gateway to an emotional landscape where heartfelt melodies and eloquent narratives seamlessly entwine, resonating deep within the core of one’s being. Rooted in the musically diverse landscape of North Carolina, Fox emerges as a master craftsman of lyrics, weaving songs that stir even the most stoic of spirits.From his early musical explorations with the acclaimed folk band Love & Valor, Jesse embarked on a journey to define his voice as a singular singer-songwriter. Guided by the echoes of the past, he channels the timeless resonance of songsmiths like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Concurrently, he embraces the sonic tapestry of modern troubadours like The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, and The Civil Wars. The result is an enchanting fusion of Americana, folk, and deeply emotive ballads. Website
DB Edmunds Album Release Show
A founding member of late 90s guitar pop cult favorites, Gladhands, and lead singer/songwriter/guitarist for Chapel Hill- based The Stars Explode (2007-2017), DB Edmunds started his solo journey in 2022 with the release of the critically acclaimed EP, Life’s Wild Ride. His new LP, Everybody Knows By Now – mixed by Mitch Easter – drops on 11/8/2024! Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Tan Universe
With a name originating from a tanning salon, Tan Universe is the recording project and live band of North Carolina born singer/songwriter Dan O’Grady, featuring a revolving door of collaborators. As of 6/2/23, the band has officially released their first studio album, Tastefully Quaint Trinkets & Antiques. Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify
