Scott McCloud: Make It To Forever

Singer and guitarist Scott McCloud (Girls Against Boys, Soulside, Paramount Styles, New Wet Kojak, AGRIO) called some favours from his friends to make the songs on his solo album Make It To Forever come alive. After fronting hardcore bands the soul-searching intimacy might come as a surprise to his long-time fans, but while the music has mellowed down quite a bit, the intensity is still there, albeit in a passive/agressive way (Moonlight Stagedive) or feeling awkward about a bit of grovelling ((I Got) Devotion).

His husky vocals will be appreciated by fans of Bob Mould, Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop. Life has provided him with enough hassles and bruises, but he shows his scars with pride. He is still standing, with a take it or leave it attitude. Let's hope that the Led Zeppelin lawyers don't come after him for lifting quite a bit from the lyrics of "Rock and Roll" for Hold Me Tight.

Mouth Ulcers: "Silent Pictures" video

Watch the Mouth Ulcers video for Silent Pictures, the title track from their debut EP: "Suppressed emotions, a longing for a past where things were supposedly better, being vulnerable but afraid to show it, it's the full monty of angst and weltschmertz that can be overwhelming. Disgruntled youths of all ages will love it. Some of them might even make the trip to the guitar shop, inquiring about the pedal they need to have to buy to get that wall of sound."

Kaki King: tour dates

Brooklyn based guitarist Kaki King hits the road to promote her Infinite Ache EP: "Fluidity interacting with single notes, plus her own invention the passarelle, once more shows her versality as a player and composer."

Phish 2027 Summer tour SBD + torrents: 2027/07/12 Noblesville, IN

Noblesville 2026 poster by Maddie Fischer

Phish
2027/07/12
Ruoff Music Center
Noblesville, IN

Set 1:

1. 46 Days
2. Evolve ->
3. Rift
4. Bathtub Gin
5. Maze
6. Mountains in the Mist
7. Stash

Tugboat Captain: All At Once

English baroque-pop band Tugboat Captain made good use of the facilities of their own "Ctrl P" studio, run by singer Sox and bassist Joshua Cobb for their new album All At Once, allowing the band to put layer upon layers and letting textures take centre stage when they felt the song needed it. The tracks were recorded in two weeks, in a flurry of activity and creativity that saved the songs from becoming too smooth and polished.

The main themes are about being lost and overwhelmed, cast adrift in a sea of both opportunities and uncertainties. Heartbreak is of course part of the equation, but the lyrics dig deeper, about going down the rabbit hole and stumbling around in the dark, echoed in the shifting time signatures that are used within a song. All At Once isn't a downer album however, but a journey through an emotional minefield. Tread lightly and something new that one might have missed at the first listen will come to the fore to wonder about. Who knew that singing along to You Know I'm Really's killer line "maybe I'm really fucked up now" could be so much fun.