July 06, 2026

Trash Kickers: Way Out, Somehow

Trash Kickers

Way Out, Somehow is a no frills rock album from Chicago courtesy of Trash Kickers, a quartet peddling the kind of music that scratches the itch to break out the guitar and buying your friends another round of beer. Their message is plain and simple: fall in love, get into some kind of trouble, laugh and cry, but never forget the most important thing: have fun.

In the dark ages of streaming playing a proper intro is frowned upon, because artists are supposed to start singing right off the bat or, failing that, within the first 30 seconds. Otherwise limited attention span listeners will have already moved on. Is that a bad thing? No, because the people who actually listen are still there (and are also more likely to actually buy something). These guys don't give a fuck, but pull the listener in at a leisurely pace, sometimes even with a single instrument leading the way. It's old school, it's not hip and happening, but it's filled with swagger and licks galore.

Maryscoovy: Bizarre Cast of Characters

photo: Kim Schotanus

Between 2022 and 2025 Frysian psych-punk garage Maryscoovy had the opportunity to mess around and play really fucking loud @ Dee Nijverheid in De Westereen, an "anti-squat" building they themselves lovingly referred to as The Rathaus. It was an oasis for creativity and lots of live music. The quartet honed their craft to create a bunch of super tight high energy songs and the cream of the crop is now available on their debut album Bizarre Cast of Characters, aimed all the folks who don't fit in (and most likely don't want to).

Despite flying the garage flag, the band goes way beyond the limitation of "one two three four" rock songs. Things get weird in a good way and there is plenty to enjoy for fans of Pere Ubu, Pixies, and even the doyen of smart tongue-in-cheek avant-garde, Frank Zappa.

July 05, 2026

The Wedding Present: live @ Hidden Hall in Seattle video

Watch English indie band The Wedding Present perform an afternoon set @ Hidden Hall in Seattle on April 24 as part of their North American tour. The show was filmed by independent radio station KEXP.

Words about music (843): Paul Weller

The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the early '90s, and bands like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Gang Starr. Musically, they were really interesting. But when hip-hop acts start sampling Sting or Phil Collins, then I just don't get it at all.

Paul Weller

July 04, 2026

Efro: Run Too The Sun

Indie musician Efro can't get away from the lo-fi sound of the Athens, GA, underground. Now based in Berlin via Brighton, the new single Run Too The Sun has all the trappings of the surf-tinged slacker rock, heavily leaning on the softer side of vintage garage bands. It is a yearning for the halcyon days that were never real, but it doesn't hurt to daydream a bit.

» efromusic.com