Carbon Leaf
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify
Schooner, No One Mind, Sissy Remains
Schooner is disheveled-pop-indie-psych-soul from Durham, NC started by Reid Johnson & now features Joshua Carpenter (Floating Action), Maria Albani (Organos), + a rotating cast of characters. “Schooner’s delightfully experimental pop-rock earns the intimidating e-word not by going off on wild tangents but by augmenting perfectly intuitive song structures with unexpected, though balanced textures.” -INDY Week “gauzy, blown-out, beautiful pop” -Pop Matters Website No One Mind, the songwriting moniker of Durham, NC-based multi-instrumentalist Ellis Anderson, began as a direct response to the ending of a past musical collaboration, and a close friendship. Working alongside former band members Missy Thangs and Noah Dehmer, No One Mind recorded and debuted their Self-titled album, along with the single Born Again / Baron Gain in 2016 on Third Uncle Records. The music grappled with feelings of betrayal and confusion through songs ranging from biting post punk, to dissonant psych experimentation, to melancholy art pop and folk balladry, leading North Carolina’s Indy Week to name the record one of the ten best local albums of 2016, and Bandcamp Daily to claim “rarely has there been a record as focused and barbed in its execution.Website Sissy Remains New solo project from Casey Cook – first show!
William Tyler & The Impossible Truth
William Tyler Goes West on new studio album due January 25, shares “Fail Safe” On January 25, William Tyler returns with Goes West, his follow-up to 2016’s Modern Country. Listen to first single “Fail Safe” now, and pre-order Goes West on CD, LP, and limited-edition translucent green Peak Vinyl, the latter of which includes a 24” × 36” full-color foldout poster of the Robert Beatty cover art. All pre-orders will receive Dispatches from Echo Magic, an 8-song bonus CD available only in the Merge store or with the purchase of Goes West at your local independent record store, while supplies last. Recorded with Scott Hirsch at Echo Magic West in Ojai, CA, the CD features early versions of five songs from Goes West plus three other tracks from the session that are only available here. Listen to & share William Tyler’s “Fail Safe” now An excerpt from the M.C. Taylor-penned bio: William and I bonded early in our relationship over Barry Hannah, a hellraising writer from Mississippi who practically reinvented the way that words could be assembled on a page. Like Hannah, William Tyler knows the South—as a crucible of American histories and cultures, an entity capable of expansive beauty and incomprehensible violence, often in the same beat—as his native place, the place that holds him and that he runs from. In the music of William Tyler, the South is not apart from America; the South is America condensed. And like Hannah—and this part is important—William moved to California, where Goes West was written. We don’t know how long William will stay—Hannah lasted just a couple of years, writing in the employ of director Robert Altman—but the change of scenery seems to suit him. Goes West marks a sort of narrowing of focus for William’s music; it sounds as though he found a way to point himself directly towards the rich and bittersweet emotional center of his music without being distracted by side trips. Perhaps this is down to the fact that William only plays acoustic guitar on the album, a clear and conscious decision considering that he is one of Nashville’s great electric guitarists. The band that performs Goes West alongside William—including guitarists Meg Duffy and Bill Frisell, bassist and producer Brad Cook, keyboardist James Wallace, drummer Griffin Goldsmith, and engineer Tucker Martine—is the best and most sympathetic group of players that William could have assembled to play these songs. William Tyler is currently performing solo sets on tour with Ty Segall. Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Dexter and the Moonrocks
Hailing from Abilene, Texas, Dexter and The Moonrocks deliver a unique Southern Alternative fusion lovingly dubbed “Western Space Grunge” by their fans. The band released their first single “Couch” in August of 2021, taking the internet by storm. After massive success with the hit single, the band released their self-titled EP featuring a number of hits like “Where I Steer” or “Behave” and received overwhelmingly positive responses. Lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist James Tuffs, lead guitarist/vocal harmonizer Ryan Anderson, bassist Ty Anderson, and drummer/vocal harmonizer Fox, draw on their favorite elements of bands like Nirvana, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Whiskey Myers in order to create the unique sound that can only be described as “Western Space Grunge”.Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | TikTok
Magic City Hippies – Winter Tour
We can all take solace in the simple pleasures awarded us through our senses. Imagine, the memorable clink of ice hitting a rocks glass, the scent of muddled limes and mint, the faint crackle as the tipple is poured, the effervescent fizz of soda about to broach the rim, the straw insertion and swirl, the first sip of vacation…Life would be miserable without these gifts, and life would most certainly suck without the perfect soundtrack to the first cocktail of some much needed time off. Pop the cork on some Magic City Hippies.MCH initially floated onto the scene as Robby Hunter Band, yet once their album titled Magic City Hippies dropped, it became clear they had accidentally found their identity through an album title. Renamed in 2015 as Magic City Hippies, the Miami boys tasked themselves with marrying the funk sweat of a mid- afternoon sail with the syncopated shoulder shimmy of a late night out. They quickly gathered steam and took to gracing stages across the planet, from packed night clubs, to sold out concert halls, to earning performances at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Lollapalooza, Magic City Hippies cater to those simply looking to escape with a welcoming, never-haughty, yet delightfully naughty, thwap.Their Hippie Castle EP (2015) was just the tip of the proverbial ice cube in a cocktail glass of hippie sass. It mixed pool-side melodies and three day weekend grooves with a soulful, upbeat, vacation-heavy inflection of what can only be described as their own brand of musically casual psych-pop. Modern Animal (2019) brought MCH beachside, adding even more sultry swank to an already damp pair of chinos. A few years later, Water Your Garden (2022) brought the world out of a socially isolated pandemic, with a brilliantly shimmering and joyous celebration of dancing on our own, yet now together.While the studio albums have each received both fan and critical acclaim, their engaging and unapologetically energetic live show takes even the most dance-stubborn attendee and persuades a sort of hypnotically voluntary participation. Seeing first timers become lifelong fans is a galdarn tradition when it comes to a live Magic City Hippies experience.Whether this sunshine funk is all up inside your alley, or even if pink neon signs flashing the words SENSUAL AUDIBLE MASSAGE just have you curious, Magic City Hippies deliver a rare blend of musical talent and touring tenacity, with an uniquely cool and pastel fashion sense offering up funky sweaty smiles aplenty.Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Soundcloud
Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and friends play R.E.M.’s Murmur
Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy are thrilled to announce a February 2024 tour in celebration of R.E.M.’s iconic 1983 debut album, Murmur. Spanning several stops across the US, including shows in Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, Athens, and more, the tour will see Shannon (vocals) and Narducy (guitar)–along with Jon Wurster (drums), Dag Juhlin (guitar), Nick Macri (bass), and Vijay Tellis-Nayak (piano)–playing Murmur in full each night in addition to other early R.E.M. songs.Shannon, an actor/musician known best for his film/series/stage work that will not be named during the Screen Actors Guild strike, and Narducy (Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Split Single) have been collaborating for the last ten years, playing entire albums by some of their favorite artists such as Neil Young, The Modern Lovers, Bob Dylan, The Smiths, and T. Rex at various Chicago clubs. In July 2023, they performed Murmur at Chicagoʼs Metro to a full house. Initially planned as a one-off performance to honor the albumʼs 40th anniversary, the showʼs success inspired Shannon and Narducy to take it on the road, launching the pairʼs first-ever tour.“I have been a fan of R.E.M. since my cousin played me the ʻDocumentʼ cassette out at my Aunt Normaʼs trailer,” says Shannon. “I spent days and hours stumbling around my hometown of Lexington, KY listening to ʻMurmurʼ on my Walkman, long before the notion of being anything other than completely anonymous was a viable option. Jason and I have done several other albums and shows together but this one means the most to me.”Narducy, who is quick to note there is no union for indie rock and that he is repeatedly screwed over by streaming platforms and his uncleʼs teasing on social media, adds: “Iʼm looking forward to going on the road with Michael and the band. Michael and I have been doing shows for a long time but this is our first proper tour. The energy in the room at our ʻMurmurʼ show at Metro last July was really special. Itʼs fun celebrating a record that is so beloved.”(Itʼs completely possible that even if an indie rock union existed, it could not protect Narducy from his uncleʼs “clever” posts.)40 years aer its release, Murmur remains one of the most celebrated debut albums of all time. In a retrospective review for Pitchfork, Stephen M. Deusner notes, “No bands were combining these particular influences in this particular way, which made this debut sound not only new but even subversive: a sharp reimagining of rock tropes.” Upon release, Rolling Stone praised Murmur as “an intelligent, enigmatic, deeply involving album,” going on to name it the Best Album of 1983 and eventually highlighting it in its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.Website | Instagram | Twitter
Caleb Hearn
We hold on to memories like old photos in a box. They may not be on the mantle, but they’re never too far away. We wait for the right moment to unearth them and relive them. Instead of simply dusting off formative memories, Caleb Hearn alchemizes his reflections into revelatory anthems laced with folk eloquence and amplified with pop appeal. After generating 235M+ streams and attracting a global fanbase with 1.4M+ TikTok followers, the North Carolina-raised and Nashville-based singer-songwriter uses his recollections to grow and evolve on his Birthdays & Funerals EP. Since 2019, Caleb has engaged and enraptured audiences by tuning into raw emotion via his songs. Following the 2020 Reflections EP, the fan favorites, “Always Be 2.0,” “Brown Eyes, Brown Hair,” and “It’s Always Been You,” have tailed 101M+ Spotify streams combined. Building off that momentum, Caleb unveiled his We’re Getting Older EP in 2022. With 22M+ cumulative streams on Spotify, We’re Getting Older EP took listeners through the complex stages of heartbreak–from the moment you realize you’ve lost the person you love to learning how to deal with the pain that follows. In the spring of 2023, Caleb Hearn returned with his 4-track follow-EP 1200 sq ft, that has surpassed 13M+ collective Spotify streams. Known for penning tender tracks at the narrative crossroads of relationships, missed opportunities, and the lessons to be had from young love, Caleb shifted gears and focuses on his family roots while offering unique subtle blend of folk and indie pop. Along the way, Caleb teamed up with the likes of Michal Leah, Jillian Rossi, Haywood, and Mokita for popular collaborations. Additionally, he’s toured with Ron Pope, Lydia Luce, and Rosie Darling. While the 23-year-old ruminates on his past struggles, his Birthdays & Funerals EP is grounded in the present showcasing the man he’s becoming and the man he ultimately wants to be. While the title track speaks directly to the love of his life, other tracks touch upon future parenthood and understanding the choices and chances his own father took on the road of life. This new collection of songs reflects Caleb’s musical journey that continues to take transformative turns every step of the way. Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Spotify | Soundcloud | TikTok
ericdoa
ericdoa (born Eric Lopez, now dee-oh-ay) is a singer/rapper/songwriter/producer and alternative music pioneer based in Los Angeles, California. As soon as Eric landed in the music scene, his energetic and varied music catapulted him to the forefront of the hyperpop genre where he captivated a ravenous audience. Following the release of his first album COA, Eric signed with Interscope records, further cementing his path to stardom. After a string of singles (including a placement on HBO’s megahit Euphoria with ‘sad4whattt’) Eric released his major label debut Things with Wings in 2022. Following his own sold-out tour, Eric supported multi-platinum recording artist The Kid Laroi on his NA tour. Eric ended the year with his own sold-out European and Australian legs as well. Most recently Eric wrote and produced his original song, “greater than one,” for Riot Game’s blockbuster video game VALORANT, amassing over 26 million streams worldwide. Eric also took part in VCT Champs, performing his song for over 500,000 people worldwide and 18,000 in person at a sold out Kia Forum. In early 2024, Eric will embark on his second headline tour Dead on Arrival after releasing his latest project of the same name.Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Soundcloud
Golden Apples
Golden Apples might currently be one of the best kept secrets in guitar music, but their new full-length, Bananasugarfire, is about to change that. The boldly titled album is an undeniable, kaleidoscopic blast of fuzzed out guitars, joyful songwriting, and vibrant production that’s as human as it is hooky. It’s exactly what a truly great indie rock album can be: fun yet fulfilling, inventive yet inviting, confident yet candid–music that lifts you up with melody, noise, and heart. Arriving hot on the heels of 2021’s Shadowland and 2022’s Golden Apples, Bananasugarfire continues Golden Apples’ prolific streak. Whereas Shadowland was more of a solitary recording project of vocalist/guitarist Russell Edling, and the self-titled involved a more spontaneous revolving door of collaborators, something definite and resolute is happening on Bananasugarfire: the collective has become collected, the band has arrived. Golden Apples’ line-up solidified last year into the combination of Edling, drummer Melissa Brain (Marge, Goshupon, Amanda X, Cave People, Yankee Bluff), bassist Matthew Scheuermann (Lowercase Roses, Petal), and Mimi Gallagher (Eight, Nona, Year of Glad, Cave People), and Bananasugarfire is imbued with a tangible camaraderie that elevates the sum of its talented parts. Recorded at Metal Shop with Zack Robbins, The Bunk with Matt Schimelfenig, and at the home Edling and Gallagher share, the colorful, open hearted, and widescreen yet intimate Bananasugarfire feels like the most fully realized version of Golden Apples to date. “This record really feels like the band,” Edling explains. “My favorite parts of the album are where I can hear someone else’s idea taking form, an idea I never would have arrived at. I wanted to get the best of both worlds: to properly record with the band in the studio and then spend a bunch of time also tinkering around on my own like I did with the first record, but this time Mimi was there in the basement tinkering with me.” Gallagher’s role is a key element to the magic of Bananasugarfire, providing dynamic guitarwork, sugary vocal interplay, and another keen ear to help hone the detailed recordings that make the album so rewarding on repeat listens. Bananasugarfire also marks a shift in Edling’s lyrical approach. While previous releases found him swallowed up in existential doubt and bewilderment, there’s now an understanding that for all the intrinsic darkness of life, there is also a countering light–even if accessing it often takes hard earned perspective and persistence. “I just think in the past few years I’ve really come around to the idea that there’s real tangible power behind your emotions,” he explains. “If you go out in the world and put bad energy out there, I think it actually has an impact, and I think it works the opposite way, too. Being aware of your emotions and the way you carry yourself is sort of a responsibility.” Like the previous two Golden Apples albums, Bananasugarfire opens with a sub-two minute, quasi-introductory song that sets the stage for the record to come. “Anti-Ant Car” starts fittingly with Edling in Martin Newell-mode, a solitary jangling man surrounded by tape hiss–but then the band joins in and the world turns 3D through a steadily cresting melody that arrives at pure musical elation. “Guardstick” picks up that momentum and runs with it, all towering wall of fuzzed out guitars and shimmering production that somehow layers more and more impossibly catchy melodies on top of one another. The band sound huge, and Edling sounds fearless as he sings about the need for kindness in an increasingly callous world. Bandcamp
Alejandro Escovedo
A celebrated singer and songwriter, Alejandro Escovedo has as eclectic a background and body of work as any rock artist of his generation. As comfortable performing with a string ensemble as he is with an amped-up power trio, and as likely to bare his soul in his lyrics as he is to display some serious rock & roll swagger, Escovedo had already played an important role in punk (with the Nuns), roots rock (the True Believers), and alt-country (Rank & File) before he launched a solo career that’s seen him work with everyone from John Cale to Bruce Springsteen. Beginning with 1992’s Gravity, Escovedo’s music has been consistently literate, ambitious, and eclectic, with 2001’s A Man Under the Influence exploring different genres and approaches from track to track, while 2008’s Real Animal and 2016’s Burn Something Beautiful focused on passionate, guitar-based rock & roll. 2018’s The Crossing (and its 2020 Spanish-language counterpart La Cruzada) told a richly detailed story of the immigrant experience. Alejandro Escovedo was born in San Antonio, Texas on January 10, 1951, one of 12 children. His family was steeped in music: His father played in mariachi bands and swing combos both before and after he emigrated from Mexico to the United States. Alejandro’s older brother Pete Escovedo is a jazz artist and studio musician; he was a member of Santana and founded the group Azteca. Another older brother, Coke Escovedo, also worked with both jazz and Latin groups, enjoyed a solo career, and was a member of Santana and Malo. Pete’s daughter Sheila Escovedo became a pop star as Sheila E. Alejandro’s younger brother Javier Escovedo founded the early Los Angeles punk band the Zeros. And another younger brother, Mario Escovedo, played in the hard rock outfit the Dragons. Given his family’s history, it’s no surprise that Alejandro developed a passion for music. He moved with his family to California and attended high school in Huntington Beach, where he frequented local rock clubs and ballrooms, seeing acts like Jimi Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield, the Doors, the Seeds, and the Flying Burrito Brothers. While Alejandro was a serious music fan, he didn’t take to playing an instrument right away, and when his father gave him a guitar, he ended up passing it on to his brother Javier. Alejandro moved to Hollywood in 1973 after the breakup of his first marriage, and he became a fan of glam and proto-punk acts like the New York Dolls and the Stooges, who frequently played on the Sunset Strip. He also saw an early L.A. appearance by Patti Smith. In 1974, Escovedo moved to San Francisco, with his second wife, Bobbie Levie, where he intended to study film production. He and his friend Jeff Olener hatched an idea for a movie about a rock band that couldn’t play, and while casting the picture, they ended up forming an actual band, the Nuns, who were one of the first acts of note on the San Francisco punk rock scene. The Nuns became a steady draw on the West Coast, and were one of the opening acts when the Sex Pistols played their infamous final show at Winterland in San Francisco in 1978. However, when the Nuns set out on an East Coast tour, Escovedo immediately fell in love with New York City, and opted to stay there rather than return to the Bay Area. Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
