Tag: indie rock

Forming first as Spud Puddle, this band from southern California changed their name just prior to the release of their second album. Partly due to confusion with punk band Spudgun, but more so due to a change in styles–away from the pop-punk of their debut, and into alternative/indie rock on the self-titled Quaylealbum, the old band name just didn’t fit anymore. With a sound that touched on alternative rock, power pop, and just a hint of emo, Quayle wowed listeners with a sound that was both raw and melodic at the same time.… Continued →

As a (ahem….) 40-something year old punk kid, listening to The Rocky Valentines new full-length “Music On The Shelf” takes me back to my high school and early college days. Back then, my Sony Discman would have been filled with the sounds of The Get Up Kids, Velocity Girl, New Order, Superchunk and Teenage Fanclub. I probably would’ve had a home-made mixtape with all those bands floating around on it. And The Rocky Valentines would’ve fit in comfortably. This record is pure nostalgia for me. It’s part lo-fi-ish guitar pop mixed with equal parts melody and post-punk melancholy.… Continued →

I recently caught up with Joby Harris of Christian indie/punk supergroup Crash Rickshaw, for what turned out to be a rather enlightening (and lengthy) interview. What’s the story behind their decade-long hiatus? And why reconvene now? IVM: It’s been 24 years since the Crash Rickshaw debut, and 9 years since any last recorded music (only 10 copies made of The Unknown Clarity). Why the long wait, and what prompted the return? JH: We made the first Crash album at a prime time of being young, highly creative, knee-deep in a great music scene in Southern California and big dreams of doing that kind of thing forever.… Continued →

This pop-punk duo comprises brothers Seth and Paul Hyde, who are separated by thousands of miles (North Carolina to Hawaii). Seth spearheads the project, with Paul adding the drums. However, Paul spearheads the independent (and non-profit) record label Small Step Records. While I’ve been aware of GLR from quite some time, I only recently dug into their sound, and incidentally only then discovered that my friend Paul (whom I met at Furnace Fest last year, but had corresponded with before that) was in the band. I had heard them described as pop-punk, which they certainly are, but it’s a different take on the genre.… Continued →

In case you don’t know, The Rumors Are True is a fantastic podcast extremely relevant to our scene. Past episodes have featured Bryan Gray of the The Blamed, Ted Cookerly of Every Day Life, Jeff Bellew of Stavesacre/The Crucified/so much more, and hundreds more. Rumors recently did a double-episode whammy on the band Bleach, an artist long-time IVMers will certainly be familiar with. Fortunately for fans, the band has recently reunited. They are playing Furnace Fest this October in Birmingham, AL and they’re even playing a show TONIGHT in Jacksonville, FL.… Continued →

While this artist is known as a sort of darling in the indie folk scene, his roots are in the Christian punk/emo scene of the Pacific NW in the 90s. With connections to Pedro the Lion, Roadside Monument, Poor Old Lu, etc. Jurado released some 7″ singles on the then-fledgling Christian label Tooth and Nail Records. Even his debut was a co-release with Tooth and Nail and SubPop, the latter a connection that came through his friend Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate. Apart from some of his early punk-leaning projects, Jurado has not been one to proclaim faith through his music, opting instead to tell stories both real and fictional.… Continued →

Rising indie artist Coqui will release a killer new EP titled “Living 2 Die” on September 5th via Dream Records. Check out the amazing new song “Only Idol” in music video format below this post.… Continued →

Everyone’s favorite nautically-themed hard rock band, Rusty Shipp, are set to release their latest marine-inspired offering, Capsized Empire to digital outlets this Friday (06/27). The album addresses the Problem of Evil from a philosophical standpoint–you know, standard, lightweight indie rock material (/sarcasm). In true Rusty Shipp form, the album follows a storyline, all of which will be included in the liner notes. Order from the band’s website here: rustyshipp.com… Continued →

Many of you will already be aware of the deep credentials held by Teeth for Eyes: members have played in Cicero, Empty Tomb, Godspeed, Crux, Government Hate Mail and many more. Naming these connections is both helpful and problematic. Sure, it tells us that the band members are seasoned veterans of the punk/indie scene, but how much does it tell us about the current music? While musically the band are still cranking out fast-paced punk rock with touches of both hardcore on the one hand and/or alternative/grunge on the other, they are somewhat of an anomaly in that they have a singer.… Continued →

There was a lot of anticipation about this band before they ever released one song. Founder/vocalist Brett Detar had been in Zao, playing on one of their most popular albums, Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest, as well as the unique and creative–and tragically underrated/unheard–emo-core band Pensive before that. With The Juliana Theory, Detar, along with bandmates Neil Hebrank (drums), Chad Alan (bass), Joshua Fiedler (guitars), and Joshua Kisker (guitars) took emo in a more accessible direction. The band released four full-length albums between 1999 and 2006, along with a few live recordings, EPs, and the seminal split release with Dawson High.… Continued →

Oh my! After a 20-year hiatus, post-punk/hardcore darlings Crash Rickshaw are back! The band, comprised of members of Project 86, Innermeans, Rainy Days, Starflyer 59, and more, will release a brand-new EP, entitled Big Sir. The new project will release via Velvet Blue Music on August 1st, and will be the label’s 250th release! In addition to digital downloads, physical media will include blue & yellow haze vinyl, and compact disc. Pre-orders are now live at Velvet Blue Music… Continued →

The Julies was a barely-known indie pop band from Pennsylvania who released one highly-regarded EP for Flying Tart Records in 1996 and then disappeared for roughly 27 years. I caught up with the band recently to discuss their origins, their revival, and their connection to the Christian indie scene. IVM: I’ve been a huge fan since Lovelife. It’s one of my favorite EPs. You guys had some clear influences, but at the same time didn’t sound like anyone in particular. You must have been pretty young when you recorded that.… Continued →

In completely unexpected news, Noise Ratchet have returned with a NEW (demo) song called “Who We Are” and it sounds darn near perfect song wise for 2025 but also rides on that classic 00’s emo/pop-punk train alongside other classic bands like Saosin, Thrice, Story of the Year, The Used, and Letter Kills. I hope more music like this is on the way soon. Welcome back! Listen to the song below.… Continued →

I recently had the chance to video chat with Rob Withem, of indie pop outfit Fine China. The band has been active since the late 90s, and recently released the beautiful, sophisticated, elaborate I Felt Called (available on Double LP and CD, as well as digital formats via www.velvetbluemusic.com. IVM: Let’s start on a light note. Cloud has informed me that you’re an aficionado of dad jokes . . . RW: You know, that’s funny. I think he’s making that up to be funny, because I don’t think I’ve ever told a dad joke in my life.… Continued →

I do not know much about this artist, but saw the song on a “Christian” publication of some sort online a few years back. My research has found it came out in 2013 and was a solo artist whose name was Maxwell Lee who also played shows with Blues Traveler. I added it to Youtube as the only version I could find was a live version. There are Bible verses listed on the artists’ Facebook page as well. And no, the Jessika spelling is deliberate as I have seen it listed as with the k and the c.… Continued →

Beloved Southern California indie rock legends – The Prayer Chain, have announced 3 reunion shows along with a kickstarter to fund a re-release of the original “Mercury” recording which will be titled “Communion”. This is the 30th anniversary of that ground breaking final album they released all the way back in 1995. They will also be filming these live shows along with the bands playing it like Mortal and Poor Old Lu. Tons of great options so check out that kickstarter here… Continued →

Shepherd Bridge is a project I found last year sometime through Instagram while browsing and it just struck me, the music and message that is. They just released a brand new song today titled “Daylight”. Like the first single “Armor” which dropped late last year, the music takes you on a ride with its driving guitars, raw but soaring vocals that crescendo all at once with a steady blast of melody and unfiltered emotion. Give this track and “Armor” a listen today. New single can be found below or on your favorite digital networks.… Continued →

A local Southern California singer-songwriter with an incredible & eclectic sound, recently dropped a new single which is a hit in the making, titled “Sunnyside Up”. I’ve known David Di Maria a long time and his music continues to get better and his artistry grows with each subsequent release. Give the song a listen, below.… Continued →

Sally Grayson has a new single out as of this week. The American singer-songwriter, living in Germany, has fronted both Black Swift and Standbye in the indie rock field but more recently has turned to dark alternative country. She released a brilliant album called The Darkness in Me (reviewed here). Written from a place of grief and deep empathy, Grayson’s new single “The Empty Place” is a cinematic and haunting tribute to the suffering of Palestinians. Blending intimate, close-mic vocals with walls of atmospheric, distorted guitars and mournful synths, the song evokes the emotional weight of loss and displacement with raw beauty.… Continued →

Hopeful. have just dropped their latest new song and it is titled “Fractured Soul”. All this new music including their latest single, further proves the power that rests in independent music making and the intersection between Faith and living told through music format. The band had this to say about the song, “To everyone who has ever struggled with affliction, addiction, doubt, anxiety, depression or anything in that category. You aren’t alone! Let this lyric sink in: “It’s time to listen to that voice inside your heart.… Continued →

The late, great Exeter Flud was an alternative rock from the Atlanta area, whose music danced around indie rock, emo, and shoegaze, but never fully committed to any of those. It’s not too surprising that the band had formal connections to other Georgia and Florida bands like Dear Ephesus, My Hotel Year, Vivian, and more. The roots of Exeter Flud were in Remnant, who released one brilliant 7″ single in 1995, “The Cloud/Dirge.” The songs were recorded while they were still in high school, and engineered by the masterful J.C.… Continued →

Is The Myriad not the absolute best rock act with new music out there right now? Sometimes these older bands reunite only to put out music that isn’t as endearing, fresh, or honoring the past while embracing the future but The Myriad does all of the above and more. Their music is refreshing and cathartic. I can’t help but feel enthralled by each and every “new” song they release and have released over the past year or so. This new track “Something’s In The Water” is nothing short of extraordinary.… Continued →

Sower returns this Friday with another new song titled “Eyes To See But Do Not See” this time as a collaboration with the artist Second Adam & The New Creations! Check out a teaser, below. You can also catch Sower this summer at Audiofeed Fest!… Continued →

Southern California based Indie Rock band – Hopeful., just released a really special new song that is all the best parts of Faith, inspiration, and a message of hope and redemption. Give this new track a listen right here below this news post. Check these guys out and give them a follow.… Continued →

I love the old playful quote about the difference between knowledge and wisdom: Knowledge is knowing Frankenstein isn’t the monster. Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein is the monster! A similar thought could be applied to Norwegian band Royal: Knowledge is knowing Royal isn’t punk. Wisdom is know Royal is punk. If punk is about shedding notions of convention and rules, then Royal was as punk as they come. Royal blended genres like chefs blend fancy soups. They were simultaneously indie rock, jazz, post-hardcore, emo . . .… Continued →

We are grieving today with our friends in Roadside Monument and fans of the indie rock innovators. This sad news came from the camp yesterday (Jan. 9, 2025): “We are sad to say that our friend and band mate, Joel Metzger passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday. Joel played drums on the My Life is Green 7” and the Beside This Brief Hexagonal album as well as playing with Damien Jurado on a few of his projects. He went on to become an amazing barber / hair stylist, eventually opening his own barber shop.… Continued →

The Myriad are on a role with new music since they came back from the dead. This is the band’s 3rd new single in a year! I would go out on a limb and say that this new stuff blows away anything they’d done prior, years in the past. Beautiful stuff and really catchy in a somber, soothing manner. Check out “Ghost On a Wire” below this post in lyric (simulation) video format and let us know what you think. You can also catch an interview with Jeremy & Scott of The Myriad on The Rumors are TRUE!… Continued →

Indie Rock super band, Lo Cloud, release new song “Live Today” and it is available now through all digital networks and streaming sites. Check out the song right now here below this post!… Continued →

Give this new CHPTRS song a listen because it’s a great one. The song is titled “When We Go” and it is available now through all digital networks and streaming sites. Listen to the song below.… Continued →

We don’t often post guest stories/reviews, but when we had the chance to get veteran writer Brian A. Smith (you might recognize his name from The Phantom Tollbooth), we had to jump at it! Brian offers his thoughts on Good Saint Nathanael’s new album I Write the Songs I Need, released earlier this year. ———————————— Nate Allen has performed in various bands under various names. Some of his songs would be considered quirky, weird, silly, and insightful. Good Saint Nathanael is different. Hide No Truth, the first record under the Good Saint name, wrecked me emotionally.… Continued →