Playlist

The Hold Steady

“Lanyards”

From the album Open Door Policy

Positive Jams/Thirty Tigers

“Lanyards” is from The Hold Steady’s eighth studio album Open Door Policy, released in February 2019. The album was recorded at The Clubhouse in Rhinebeck, N.Y. with producer Josh Kaufman and engineer D. James Goodwin.

theholdsteady.net

Sam Pointer

“Shoes Away”

From the album What Good Is Money

Red Mountain LLC

Sam Pointer’s What Good Is Money is an Americana tapestry, woven from jam-rock, bluegrass, rockabilly, island and blues. This Alabama native and former New Potato Caboose lead guitarist has recorded with The Temptations, won the MerleFest songwriting contest and plays most of the instruments on the album.

sampointer.com

Aris Paul Band

“Southside Serb”

From the album Ghosts

Self-released

You’d be hard-pressed to find another band that embodies Pittsburgh rock and Southside blues like Aris Paul Band. Ghosts, their new album is a place where blues and soul meet power-pop and twang, and where the power trio meets the jamband.

arispaulband.com

Katie Knipp

“The Gospel of Good Intentions”

From the album The Well

Self-released

The Well, Katie’s sixth album, takes you from New Orleans punkabilly, to gospel, to blues rock, to the Mississippi Delta—all with the common denominator of Katie’s original songwriting and undeniable voice. This “gumbo pot” of crossover blues is about to shake up the roots-music world.

katieknipp.com

indifferentmonkey

“God or Machine?”

Single

Dazyrecords.com

Recently played on BBC introducing, indifferentmonkey are a U.K. band and can best be described as “heavy trip-hop” as they pull from various moods and genres. There are elements of ‘90s trip-hop, heavy rock and funk with social comment, creating a current sound in the vein of Adele and Billie Eilish.

dazyrecords.com

Onism E

“Be Strong”

From the album Survivors

Self-released

Recently named the Indie Rock Act of 2020 by Radio Wigwam and the JLSC winner of the “Power to the People” contest, Onism E is NYC indie-rock with a hint of Texas soul.

onisme.com

Mariya May

“On Your Heels”

From the album Kiki & Mel’s Drive-Time Circus

Ten Dollar Recording Co.

Soulful, Portland, Ore.-based songstress Mariya May helms intimate, sprawling and dramatic indie-folk. Third solo album Kiki & Mel’s Drive-Time Circus pays homage to earthy ‘60s/‘70s pop and soul, ‘80s/‘90s shoegaze and new wave, late-‘90s trip-hop, and all manner of psych and world music.

tdrco.org/mariya_may

Lemon Grass

“Forever and a Day”

From the album Cymbopogon: Songs of Our Own

Self-released

Based out of Lexington, Ky., Lemon Grass centers around Sarah Showalter’s powerhouse vocals and acoustic energy that incorporates her Southern roots in Savannah, Ga., to the harmonic bluegrass region of Kentucky that she now calls home.

www.facebook.com/lemongrassky

Brent Forman and Friends

“Buccaneer”

From the album Nitwits and Wanderers

Self-released

Mostly a solo-artist album release, Nitwits and Wanderers contains performances from a veritable who’s who of Brent Forman’s friends. And while the title was intended to be a bit tongue-in-cheek (think Spinal Tap), it evolved to encompass imagery from several tracks, starting with “Buccaneer.”

brentformanmusic.com

ReverbNation Contest Winner: Little Triggers

“Loaded Gun”

Single

Self-released

Little Triggers are a young rock duo from Liverpool. They produce a BIG sound full of guitar riffs, drum rolls and powerful vocals. They have to be seen live, where their energy fires up an audience. They are Tom Hamilton on guitar and vocals, and Jay Radcliffe on drums and backing vocals.

littletriggersband.com

Editor’s Pick: Moon Taxi

“Above the Water”

From the album Silver Dream

BMG

Moon Taxi have recently released their fifth full-length album, Silver Dream. The band hails from Nashville and has played festivals such as Bonnaroo and sold out shows across the U.S. and Europe, including the iconic Ryman Auditorium.

ridethemoontaxi.com

Hustle Souls

“Only Want Some Answers”

From the EP Daydream Motel

Self-released

Hustle Souls blend dust-covered-vinyl soul nostalgia with modern sensibility. The 6-songs on “Daydream Motel” were produced by the platinum winning Eric Sarafin. They will wrap you in warmth and may even take you on a little vacation via your ear-drums to a run-down, roadside motel in your mind.

hustlesouls.com

The Love Buzz

“Sainsburys”

From The EP Here Comes The Scum

Self-released

Hailing from Cork City, Ireland, Kieran, Aidan & Henry unleash their latest track, with themes of fear, lust, violence and general delinquency the song evokes memories of youth and treasured vagrancy. The Irish trio are paving a path to be one of Ireland’s most important musical exports of their generation.

thelovebuzz.com

The Kenny Brothers Band

“Black Eyed Susan”

From the album Friends, Lovers and Radios

Self-released

Traveling and singing, deserts and dark woods, campfires and dancing women is the story the Kenny Brothers Band paint in their second record, Friends, Lovers and Radios. The band of brothers from New Hampshire create music rooted in blues, folk and unapologetic grooves they dub “Mountain-Rock.”

kennybrothersband.com

Melanie A. Davis

“Dandelion”

From the Album Dear Diary, Do You Hate Me?

Self-released

Kentucky musician Melanie A. Davis blends jazz vocals and fingerstyle guitar to create a sound both old and new, poignant and powerful. Her latest release is a post-mortem for the anxiety-riddled brain, navigating chaotic emotions of her own and of the American zeitgeist with clarity, honesty and humor.

Melanieadavismusic.com

Dimitri von Büren

“About Your Fears”

From the Single

Self-released

Multi-instrumentalist artist born in the Parisian tumult, Dimitri von Büren conceives his compositions as an invitation to dream. At the crossroads of indie rock, bedroom pop and soul, he explores sounds that are his own. His latest song “About Your Fears” has notably been shared by UK actor Robert Carlyle.

vonburenmusic.com

Steven Casper & Cowboy Angst

“Rattlesnake Road”

From the EP Endless Sky

Silent City

Steven Casper & Cowboy Angst is an Americana/Country/Blues influenced band based out of Los Angeles. Their music has been featured in several shows such as HBO’s True Blood. The band is made up of some of the most respected LA roots musicians.

Caspermusic.com

Neon the Bishop

“Going the Distance”

Single

Self-released

Neon’s story is told through the 5-piece group whose eclectic roots converge in an electrifying indie blend of escalating vocals, giant guitars and sweltering synths for major arena-rock vibes. From their defining opus, “A Death Full of Life” to the playful, “Going the Distance,” NTB is a can’t miss!

neonthebishop.com/

Kahnin

“Sunday Is Driving”

Single

Silica Records/KMG distribution

Kahnin is the artist name of Icelandic singer/songwriter Gudmundur Jens Gudmundsson.

“Sunday is Driving” is an ethereal pop song with a beautiful and very catchy chorus. The track takes you back to a late 80‘s sound blended with Kahnin´s amazing velvet vocals.

instagram.com/kahninmusic/

Jonny T-Bird & the MPs

“Can’t Pick It Up”

From the Album Common Cents

Self-released

Milwaukee, Wisc. plus original blues equals Jonny T-Bird & the MPs. Nothing gets in this band’s way, not even the COVID-19 pandemic. During the year that many would like to forget, the band released their fourth album Common Cents, with the title track inspired by the crippling economy.

jonnytbird.com