It’s the May edition of Station Breaks, ourmonthly list featuring a diverse selection of new music all hand-picked by NPR’s public radio music stations.
This young Austin-based outfit makes the most out of its family’s natural knack for songwriting by offering a sleek, infectious package of R&B and hip-hop. — Jack Anderson, KUTX – Austin, TX
Elly Swope, “Idea”
On her impressive solo debut EP, It Feels The Same Everytime, veteran multi-instrumentalist Elly Swope proves that she’s more than capable of carrying a band alone. “Idea” is the best of the bunch: It’s a blistering, twisting rock song that keeps listeners on their toes and wanting more. —Jerad Walker, OPB Music – Portland, OR
Daniel Norgren, “Rolling Rolling Rolling”
This song, about looking out a window and thinking about mowing the lawn, is so laid back, it will have you staring out a window thinking about mowing the lawn. — Justin Barney, Radio Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WI
Darlingside, “Best Of The Best Of Times”
Mountain Stage
This video makes every frame count as the infectiously joyful choreography reflects the bright, intricately arranged, sweeping orchestration of Darlingside’s refreshing “Best of the Best of Times.” — Adam Harris, Mountain Stage – Charleston, WV
Dirty Honey, “When I’m Gone”
Don’t believe anyone if they tell you rock is dead. Dirty Honey rock in the best possible way with a nod towards the most legendary legacy bands. This is tomorrow’s classic rock today. Turn it up. — Bruce Warren, WXPN– Philadelphia, PA
Grammy award-winning group Cage The Elephant released their latest album, “Social Cues” April 19. “Social Cues” is packed with emotional rock ‘n’ roll and coming-of-age sensations. Frontman Matt Schultz uses his latest album to address the turmoil in his life. After going through an unfortunate divorce and losing two friends to suicide, Schultz decided to be optimistic rather than dwell on situations and circumstances.
After their 2017 Best Rock Album Grammy award, Cage The Elephant takes their time revealing their fifth album. The group is known for its perfectly fused relationship of alternative melodies and psychedelic rock. “Social Cues” gives waves of angst and melodrama. Ballads like “Love is the Only Way” demonstrate these tender emotions. Schultz takes a moment to reflect on his experiences and mistakes made. In contrast, songs like “Skin and Bones” display the glam rock that Cage The Elephant fans fall helplessly in love with. Bluesy hits like “The War is Over” will have you tapping your feet to the steady beat.
Schultz leaves his audience full of emotion in his final song “Goodbye.” The song tugs at heartstrings as Schultz sings about his acceptance on ending relationships. In a Beats 1 interview, Schultz stated, “I actually see it as an uplifting song, but I find it really interesting that sometimes when we’re confronted with such profound truth we interpret it as darkness.” Schultz continued, “I think the most obvious challenge is trying to find something within the music that reignites that excitement, that passion, that excitement for music again.”
All of “Social Cues” is a perfect garage pop mix, but here are a few songs that I’m hooked on:
“Broken Boy”: As the first song on the album, this punk hit is sure to catch your attention. The intro demonstrates the classic grunge texture that will have you hooked for the rest of the album.
“Social Cues”: Similar to their previous hits, “Social Cues” is bound to be a Cage The Elephant fan favorite. With classic psychedelic melodies and a powerful beat, it’s no wonder the album is titled after the song.
“Night Running”: A personal favorite of mine, “Night Running” is a unique reggae-rock fusion. With lyrical assistance from artist Beck, this song is sure to be your on your poolside playlist for this summer.
The Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco, & Music Festival is on its way to Dana Point this April, and the music line ups are insane! The show will feature over 150 craft beers with hours of beer tasting over the course of 2 days, along with craft tacos from local restaurants and food trucks on site. That part all sounds amazing and makes us hungry & thirsty, but what we’re really hungry for is the music.
Day 1 – Saturday, April 6th will be headlined by Flogging Molly & include Bad Religion, Good Charlotte, Lagwagon, Strung Out, The Suicide Machines, and D.I.
Day 2 – Sunday, April 7th will be headlined by The Offspring & include Descendents, Black Flag, Face to Face, Plague Vendor, Red City Radio, and Orange Blossom Special.
That is a solid arrangement of some awesome bands covering both days, and the first time that south Orange County has seen a festival of this magnitude. Sabroso will take place at Doheny State Beach, and you can get tickets and more info by visitng https://sabrosotacofest.com/dana-point/
The Sabroso Festival is also taking place in Salt Lake City & Denver on different dates – check the website for details.
Year on year, the tedious ‘rock is dead’ statements are wheeled out. Everything we once loved is now, apparently, ‘dead’ – the album, live music and, of course, rock radio. Music fans might as well give up now, right?
Mainstream radio doesn’t play rock music anymore – certainly not metal music, or any of rock’s more challenging, avant garde cousins – and as we reported last year, there’s little chance your band is going to get radio airplay. There’s nothing on the air for real rock fans, or so it seems.
As we pointed out in our article, commercial radio is at the mercy of market research, heads of ‘content’ and advertising cash. Mainstream radio may no longer be a viable tool to access or promote rock music, but discounting radio’s power altogether is a blinkered view that ignores what radio has become in 2019.
The same is true for rock radio, where independent and internet stations cover everything, catering for the broadest of tastes to the most mind-warpingly niche. Rock radio is alive and well, it’s just on us to discover it. Technology has taken the power from commercial gatekeepers and advertisers and handed it back to fans and those passionate about rock music. Rock radio is in our control and it’s better than it ever has been.
The ease of setting up your own station – anyone with a basic microphone and a laptop can record a show and bang it up on Mixcloud, a platform that covers all artist royalties and pays successful creators – has seen the breadth of rock shows grow by the day. With titles like ‘Stoner Witch Radio’ and ‘Hour Of The Riff‘ broadcasting regularly, you can rest easy in the knowledge there’s always some serious riffage to delve into on the airwaves.
To get to to the heart of rock radio’s outsider explosion, Louder took a closer look at the current state of radio and found that the reality is actually pretty positive for rock stations. In a world where niches dominate, where commercial radio is dying and streaming has made things cold and impersonal, music curated and presented by a trusted human voice has more value than ever. It’s simple: listeners want to connect with DJs and other like-minded people whose tastes and opinions they trust.
One such station is Gimme Radio. A metal-focused station and subscriber service based in the US (but starting to make serious waves in Europe, too), the station has a freeform, non-playlist approach to music, with shows helmed by passionate, big name hosts including Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, Lamb Of God‘s Randy Blythe and Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth.
“The idea that radio is a dead format, I don’t believe that,” says Albert Mudrian, Decibel magazine editor and another of Gimme’s roster of DJs. “I think that things that are actually curated by humans and no algorithms are still a worthy, interesting piece of culture. I mean, I can listen to Gimme Radio and those dots that are connected within a show, a two hour show of somebody’s playlist, you really feel like somebody is looking out for your best interests, an actual human being trying to put together a mix for you.”
“There is definitely a different feeling from the curation from a human being and a computer,” he adds. “I don’t know if generations younger than me get that, but I do know it speaks to me in that manner.”
With presenters and listeners completely in control of the music, deep-dives into metal’s less accessible corners – including album tracks and an abundance of new music – are not only possible but, actually, expected.
“We’ve got this really great place to stream music, to get royalties to the bands, interview the bands – bands that people would just not hear, even on satellite radio some of these bands wouldn’t get the time of day,” Dave Mustaine tells us. “We really are thinking about the fan. It’s not about seeing how big this can get, about getting sponsors, selling advertising, selling it out. It’s about the music.”
Around 50% of the music played on Gimme Radio is new stuff from established acts, but you’re likely to hear pretty well anything, right down to the first demos from the deepest underground bands.
elic rock. “Social Cues” gives waves of angst and melodrama. Ballads like “Love is the Only Way” demonstrate these tender emotions. Schultz takes a moment to reflect on his experiences and mistakes made. In contrast, songs like “Skin and Bones” display the glam rock that Cage The Elephant fans fall helplessly in love with. Bluesy hits like “The War is Over” will have you tapping your feet to the steady beat.
