Doesn’t really matter where you have been this July but it is HOT!! So nothing like some new tunes to help hanging out on the inside where it is COOl! This July edition has some new young talent from Dayton, lo-fi from Sweden, surf out of the Bay area, punk from Delaware, pop rock from the NYC, and some alt-country from Columbus, OH. It wouldn’t be a Bandcamp feature if you didn’t Discover, Support & Share – just do it already!
Plow United
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Punk may not be in the mainstream like it was back in the day but Phili’s Plow United make a great statement here of why you should still be listening. The group’s debut came out in 1994, so they lived it through 1998 until a break. Three represents their second release since reuniting in 2011 and after listening – you would never believe they went away. Think Face to Face, Rancid, and MxPx as Plow United bring the right vibe.
Plow United Bandcamp
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Will Bennett & The Tells
Columbus, Ohio
Should someone tell Columbus, OH band Will Bennett & The Tells that they should be playing in Austin, TX? Why? Well, their upbeat Old 97’s alt-country style is beer bottle breaking, girl stealing, belt buckle fun and deserves some attention. Their debut, Wichita, has everything from some good relationship stories to a little rollicking honky tonk which works well with Bennett’s laid back vocal delivery. The band may call Columbus home but you can gladly dust the southern dirt off of this one!
Will Bennett & The Tells Bandcamp
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Cool Ghouls
San Francisco, California
Cool Ghouls have a 60’s rock pop sound with psychedelic harmonies and intricate guitar playing. The band will be releasing their third record, Animal Races, on Aug 19th via Empty Cellar. The group definitely has refined their sound and focused in on their Nugget highlights from previous outings. Animal Races is easily their most confident LP to date and should bring a bigger audience with its warm California sound that never gets old.
Cool Ghouls Bandcamp
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This Pine Box
Dayton, Ohio
Finding new talent in your own backyard always seems like a big win. This Pine Box are young but talented with their big song structures and engaging guy/gal harmonies. Their strength is in their restraint, as both vocalists come across very controlled while the music swirls around them with some solid guitar work. The group has just recently released their impressive debut EP, For Awhile, so who knows what will happen next with their still untapped emotion that only comes with experience. I wouldn’t wait – give them a shot now!
This Pine Box Bandcamp
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Sleepies
Brooklyn, New York
Be careful searching for this group on Google or you could end up with a mattress! Sleepies are on their third full length with Natural Selection and it is another angular punk record that at times feels Dead Milkmen while others – Interpol. Their music has a modern edge to it that will surprise you around every corner and should suck you in. After a couple spins of their tracks – we both can agree that Sleepies have a great indie rock sound.
Sleepies Bandcamp
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Glyders
Chicago, Illinois
We actually featured these guys back in our Jan 2015 edition but thought they were worth mentioning again with the release of the 6 song DIM. This laid back jangly lo-fi set shows off the Glyders area of specialty and I think you will dig every song.
Glyders Bandcamp
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Shy Mirrors
Sweden
Last we heard from Shy Mirrors at TFN was back in 2013 with Negative Collector but the band has kept steadily busy releasing cassette full lengths with the latest, When Nothing is Next, out via our friends at Hope For The Tape Deck. The record is another blast of short lo-fi goodness and brings plenty of “hit replay” moments. Besides the obvious GBV comparison, Shy Mirrors also have an energetic Superchunk side to them as well which rocks!
Shy Mirrors Bandcamp
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The Jeanies
New York, New York
The Jeanies released this single last year but one of our favorite labels, HoZac Records, just put this single out on wax giving the band their first proper 7″. If you like solid sounding pop rock like Shoes, Big Star and Redd Kross then The Jeanies will be in your wheelhouse. I just keep spinning this track again and again!
The Jeanies Bandcamp
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Satellite Go
Wilmington, Delaware
Melodic punk rock! If you are into it then Wilmington’s Satellite Go should be on your speakers. It is this type of fever that always brings me hope that more people will fall back in with this genre. Tight songs, tight drums, tight guitars – enough said – rock out with Satellite Go!
Satellite Go Bandcamp
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The Love Dimension
San Francisco, California
San Francisco musical collective The Love Dimension has a bit of it all in their sound from the psychedelic ’60s to ’90s grunge with plenty of surf rock to bridge the two. On their new EP, Freakquency Space Mind Continuum, the band shoots out of every track like a surfer’s barrel and never seems to let up as most of the five tracks stay in the 2 to 3-minute range. The Love Dimension bring a classy golden era of rock forward here that should be for fans ranging from Beach Boys to Dick Dale to La Luz.
The Love Dimension Bandcamp
-Feature by Christopher Anthony and Thomas Wilde
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