Charm City Rhapsody

Notes From the Show: Love For All, Chasing Mice, Tony Nickolas and the Goodfellas, Miles Bandana, and Delaware Tea Company

July 13, 2025

Last night I went to a really fun indie rock show at Zen West in Towson! Here are just some quick notes I took.

Zen West is a nice venue with a big, well-equipped stage. It has a fair number of tables and chairs for those who need them and, as a plus, they serve food. I might be in the minority, but I love to stuff my face at shows. They’re usually long nights, and some alcohol tends to be involved, so it’s nice to order snacks without having to leave the venue.

Love For All opened the show and brought a ton of energy to start the night out. They’re a new, younger group with a pop punk sound and great, friendly, between-songs banter. They played multiple Blink-182 covers that the crowd really responded to.

The second act was my beloved Chasing Mice, who I’ve written about to death. I hope you’ll still indulge me with a few words despite my obvious bias. In case this is your first time here, they’re an indie/alternative band, and I’m married to their singer/guitarist. They killed it last night, with their song “Red” especially rocking the house.

Next up was Tony Nickolas and the Goodfellas. They have a rocking indie/emo sound with a little bit of ‘50s influence, and it got the audience moving. The singer has a really distinctive voice that marries perfectly with the style of music they play.

Fourth in the lineup was Miles Bandana, a band with a sound that, to me, combined classic rock guitar work with jam band songwriting, a fun mix to be sure. The guitarist played some pretty sick guitar solos that had the crowd going wild. Speaking of the crowd, Miles Bandana brought a huge one that was extremely enthusiastic.

Delaware Tea Company closed out the show with great vibes. Their sound reminded me of college indie rock from the early ‘00s, which is very cool. They had the entire audience singing along to their cover of “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis. There was also a surprise saxophone, which I always enjoy.

Overall, it was a really successful night, and a lot of people came out. There was a great mix of bands that were all in the same ballpark, sound-wise, without all being exactly the same genre. Promoter Rappolla Entertainment knew what they were doing when they put this lineup together!

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Shows This Week: Lathe, Tripper, FightBack, DietWeed, Delaware Tea Company, and More

July 9, 2025

Tonight at Metro, Wailin’ Storms, a North Carolina-based band that describes their sound as “a mix of doom-punk and swampy rock,” is headlining a show with locals Lathe and Geff Cassuto. Lathe has a sound that I can best describe as cowboy alternative. Geff Cassuto creates folky soundscapes that will transport you to another time and place.

If you’re in more of a hardcore mood this evening, pop on over to Holy Frijoles where out-of-town bands Innervision and Struck are playing with DMV acts B.I.T.E. and Sluggo. It’s a stacked lineup that’ll bring a lot of energy to Wednesday night.

Tomorrow (Thursday) there’s a killer show at Ottobar featuring the Philly-based Gladie, Bad Moves and Ekko Astral from DC, and Baltimore fave Tripper. This show will have really fun punk rock vibes and is sure to be well attended, so it’ll be a very good time.

If you’re looking for an all-ages show on Thursday, head over to The Undercroft for a six-band hardcore lineup that will have you raging your face off. DC-based Posición Unida, Baltimore locals FightBack, and Richmond, VA-based Lose Sight are playing with California bands Start Today, Stand Tall, and The Difference.

Friday night at Wax Atlas, have a folky good time with New Orleans band Bedtime Revenge!, Yell At God from Philly, Thee Trashcan from DC, and local Baltimore act Diet Weed. Each band brings their own interpretation of folk music, so it’ll be a great mix.

If you’re more interested in pop punk and emo, there’s a Friday night show for you at Zissimos. FRND CRCL from New Jersey, Like Fires Everywhere from the DMV, and Cheer Up Dusty from Philly are playing with Baltimore locals Here Goes Nothing in a lineup that’s custom-tailored to the tastes of those of us who still listen to Blink-182 and Taking Back Sunday.

Saturday at Ema’s Corner, grunge/alt bands Arachnophobia from Evansville, Indiana and Sam & The Vampire from Baltimore, are playing with local hardcore band Catalepssy and Candy Darling, an artist I couldn’t find info about online. Ema’s Corner is a new venue located in the former house of Joe Squared, so it’s worth checking this show out for that reason alone!

For those of us in the county, there’s a Saturday night show at Zen West in Towson. Headliners Delaware Tea Company are a groovy band formed in, you guessed it, Delaware, though they are veterans of the Baltimore music scene. They’re playing with local indie acts Milesbandana, Chasing Mice, and Tony Nickolas & The Goodfellas, as well as pop rock band Love For All, in what’s sure to be an eclectic night.

Send me the flier for your upcoming show at nicolerenn@gmail.com.

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New Music Friday MEGAPOST

July 4, 2025

I’ve been eagerly awaiting Boat Water’s new EP, Seat of Creation, which released on 6/25. The title track, “The Seat of Creation,” is an 8+ minute indie rock epic with soaring instrumentation, classic rock style electric guitars, and lyrics chock-full of imagery. Lines like “Beneath dappled apple blossoms death is a river rushing from the gorge from the tomb of the womb to the womb of the tomb” make the word-nerd in me so happy. The second track, “The Hudson Valley,” is giving late 90s indie/alt vibes to me, akin to They Might Be Giants. Again, the lyrics are lush with imagery, from likening the emerald green of the subject’s eyes to the green of the Hudson Valley June, to asking “But what’s the heart to do but move and groove and groan?” The final song, “The Dream Tunnel,” rounds out the EP on what sounds to me like a more optimistic note, ending with the line “I got this love dancing on the tip of my tongue and between it all I can still see the sun.” Overall, this is a solid release that has a clear lyrical theme and consistently strong instrumentation while at the same time containing three very different songs. I think it’s best listened to as a complete EP, rather than as individual tracks on a playlist.

I’ve been listening to Visitor Center’s new single, “Repeat Refrain,” on repeat since it came out on 6/20…which is a bit ironic, as the chorus tells us tells us “You can’t repeat you can’t refrain,” over and over again. I’m pretty sure I’ve compared them to the Talking Heads before, and I’m absolutely positive I’m not the first person to do so. This song is Talking Heads but in the future, and I can’t stop bouncing around when I listen to it. I think it’s probably impossible not to get the catchy synth melody or easy-to-learn lyrics stuck in your head.

Crimson Catastrophe released a new song called “Jar Face” on 6/27. My first experience with Crimson Catastrophe was the song “Fart Fart Fart,” which is the first song in a long time to make me cackle with mirth. This new track, however, is much more in line with their other more recent work, featuring heavy electronic beats and modulated vocals. It’s upbeat while still having a bit of an edge to it. Like, I want to a dance but I keep stopping to try and catch the lyrics, because I get the feeling there’s more of a story to this song than meets the eye.

Chasing Mice released a single called “I Don’t Care,” on 5/27. It’s a heavy, grungy, alt rock banger that, to me, seems clearly inspired by Nirvana, though songwriter (and, as of 6/28, my husband) Alex says he had more of a Blink-182 sound in mind. Regardless, the lyrics and overall attitude scream “fuck you,” which is something I think we’re all in the mood for right now. The guitar riff at the beginning is a hell of an earworm, too.

I Am Night released a new song called “Thoughts” on 6/27. As a prog rock fan/time-signature geek, this song made me very happy. The singer has a lovely voice that pairs well with the groovy guitars and keyboard. The lyrics are very relatable, as I’ve definitely found myself thinking insane thoughts like “No one’s ever known how I’m feeling,” when I’m in a deep depression hole. I used Google Translate on the Brazilian Portuguese lyrics, and they hit even closer to home. “And if I don’t deserve / The life I have / Everything is a new beginning / Of my greatest torment.” If I Am Night’s upcoming album sounds anything like this song, you won’t want to miss it!

Just today, Micah E. Wood released a new single called “You, Me, the Reign” featuring Eze Jackson. Its poppy disco vibes belie heavy lyrics about the artist attempting to build a protective bubble around their relationship while the world is falling apart around them. It’s a catchy track that’s easy to move to, even if you know how dark it is. I like the B-story in the rap section about a semi-prophetic girl pessimistically predicting the current political climate. As a bonus, all the proceeds of this song go to CASA, and all donations will be matched 100%, so you should consider buying the song on Bandcamp if you’re able.

Yesterday, Jetty Grove put out a new EP called Portland. The title track is slow and contemplative, reminding me a bit of Sufjan Stevens. The addition of a string section really adds to the brooding atmosphere. “can you draw a perfect circle?” is another solid indie rock song, transporting me back to the ancient days when I used to listen to The Shins on my iPod while I rode the metro to work. The final track, “Enough,” uses a slow but incessantly driving drum and bass line to bring the EP to a close with a slightly harder edge. The effect is a song that, to me, conveys an attitude of wearied frustration. The whole EP is moody in a way that begs to be listened to alone in a dark room with your beverage of choice in hand.

Last but not least, Icarus Phoenix released a new song yesterday called “Mark & Kyle.” It’s a touching tribute to a longtime friend who always dreamed of being a parent. The song is upbeat and sweet, providing somewhat of an antidote to the overall awfulness of the world right now. It’s good to be reminded that there’s still a lot of love out there.

Got new music coming out soon? Email me at nicolerenn@gmail.com to let me know!

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ArtScape: A Baltimore Story

Written by Bailey Straw

June 17, 2025

This is a guest post by Bailey Straw, friend of the blog and musician extraordinaire. Follow Bailey on Instagram.

Looking at things in retrospect is something any reasonable person does when experiencing a change in something that has been the same way for an extended period of time. It’s an iteration, with something that’s been the same way for years, maybe even decades. With this comes an inevitable biased judgment towards said changes. The filter one has is stained with the image of that old picture that used to reside in the corner of one's mind, which is what one would think of as ArtScape. What used to be known as the country’s largest free art and music festival, held on the hottest weekend in July, has been held in the neighborhood of Mount Royal on the edge of the beating heart of the Baltimore art district for 4 decades. I’ve found this is an incredibly complex thing to write about, and to be quite frank, not something I take on lightly. With the changing of location and the countless moments of mismanagement by BOPA, this ArtScape was the most polarized one in recent memory. I’ve been to ArtScape about Five times. That might not seem like much, but those experiences changed my life, how I view Baltimore City as an arts and music hub, and the Station North Art District, where ArtScape used to reside, and hopefully will reside again. After my experience this year at the new site, it just honestly didn’t feel like ArtScape. However, I think the solution is simple in principle, in the notion that we, as Baltimore artists, must build a community that is above and beyond ArtScape. Until then, let’s get into the good, the bad, and the ugly of ArtScape and where my day took me that day, May 24th, 2025.

This year for ArtScape, Mayor Brandon Scott invited the citizens of Baltimore City and Maryland proper to the front lawn of City Hall for the festivities. My Lyft dropped me off at the side stage in the old Sonar Parking lot. I arrived just in time to catch Baltimore’s own Ragdollz, an upcoming Grunge Rock group. After their set, I set off across the street to take some pictures and check out the art vendors posted up at the Sunday 83 farmers market site. At this point, I felt lost, not in the literal sense obviously, but in a way that I just kind of felt like, huh, this doesn’t feel like ArtScape. Trying to shake this feeling, I moved on down towards City Hall, the location of the mainstage. The Mainstage was impressive to say the least, with two large video boards and a killer sound system. There were also two smaller video boards in the back of the lawn of City Hall, which I thought was a nice touch. That feeling of huh, this doesn’t feel like ArtScape, crept up my spine once more, but just at that moment, I saw Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) was posted up at the Zion Church, which is located right next to City Hall and the main stage. As I recall, they had a large DIY made mouse with, dare I say, fairly large hairy testicles. Two people affiliated with BROS operated this mouse with movable arms and a mouth, asking people to take a picture with the mouse and to grab a drink inside. If I remember correctly, the proceeds from the alcohol sales would go towards funding BROS in their future endeavors. Before I move forward, I want to say that it was the only true moment to me that felt like ArtScape. Why, you might ask. Well, to put it simply, BROS is a Baltimore staple, and the impact they have had on the Baltimore music and art scene is undeniable, building a thriving community since 2007. One could argue that yes, being talented is great, but building a community is what matters, as I stated in my last piece about Turnstile’s show in Wyman Park. After grabbing a drink in the garden of the Zion Church, I made my way over to the WWI memorial, where the Scout art exhibition was being held. The outside of the WWI memorial is beautiful in itself. I made my way into a cramped space, which made it almost impossible to navigate comfortably. After trying to make my way through, I decided to bail out of there. I still had that old funny feeling that I just couldn’t escape. This didn’t feel like Artscape. The grounds themselves felt very divided and had no flow or sense of community at all. With all due respect to the artist and the people who curated and organized Scout, the Scout art exhibition was the nail in the coffin for me. One, fine art, to me, is an illusion of superiority because of the idea of fine art, “others”, other types of art, so to speak. Why couldn’t all the artists have been together at ArtScape? Two, it turns out that a portion of the proceeds from artwork sold at Scout went to BOPA to “benefit their programs.” I’m sorry, why is BOPA receiving any money?

The dirty laundry list of financial Tomfoolery BOPA has pulled since 2019 includes the depletion of their rainy day fund and the liquidation of their assets, ranging in millions of dollars, just disappearing with little explanation. This inevitably led to the cancellation of BOPA’s contract with the City. So, it just makes so much sense that a group of artists would give BOPA a cut of their sales because they are such a responsible organization that truly looks out for the interests of Baltimore artists. I needed to dip out of this tragic scene, but before I did, BOPA’s Interim CEO, Robyn Murphy, and Mayor Brandon Scott got up on the main stage to boast about how they did ArtScape right and patted themselves on the back for Mother Nature providing them with such lovely weather for the festival. Through my journey of writing this piece, I’ve concluded that I don’t hate ArtScape; I hat hold a lot of contempt towards BOPA. I truly hope these funds are used properly and that ArtScape returns to Station North. It was time to move on; I was on to Death Fest.

Around 4:30, I made my way across The Block to Soundstage, where Death Fest was raging long before I got there. Just a few blocks down from the site of ArtScape. The festival was founded by Local Marylanders Ryan Taylor and Evan Harting. The Deathfest website states that Deathfest was founded in 2003 with the sole purpose of bringing together “some of the most legendary bands in the scene and most talked-about up-and-coming bands in the underground for unparalleled event experiences. Maryland Deathfest has hosted over 800 bands from all over the world. Over the years, Deathfests has also branched out to California, Scandinavia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Quebec and hosted Days of Darkness Festival. Never conforming to trends, or being limited by genre restrictions, Deathfests continutes to showcase what extreme music, both new and old, is capable of. With an emphasis on diversity, our festivals bring together the very best death metal, grindcore, doom, thrash, hardcore, black metal, and experimental bands from all around the world.” These are the same words uttered by a younger dude I had met at the local bar near my house. I told him I’m thinking about stopping by the event, but I don’t have a ticket. He told me there’s usually some type of tailgating situation in the various parking lots and garages. I thought duly noted. As I found myself on the edge of the grounds of Deathfest I kept my eyes peeled for signs of a good time, which is something I pride myself on, but after 10 minutes or so, I was coming up with nothing until I approached someone in the smoking area outside of Soundstage. He pointed his eyes up and said I think you might be able to see the show from up there. To give some context, the main stage was located next to Soundstage on Market Street. I made my way to an undisclosed parking garage and up to the 4th floor, where I had a great view of the show. While I was up there, I met a guy hanging out with his friends. We will call this guy Pat. Pat is from Pittsburgh, and I asked him what about Deathfest brings him here. He said the music, but mostly the people. He said “the people here are so friendly, chill, and just trying to have a good time. To you know escape from the bullshit that is the world right now.” We continued to chat, and Pat offered me a beer, and his friend gave me a toke. The vibe at Deathfest was refreshing after being at Artscape. The community that Deathfest makes me proud to call Baltimore home. Hardcore and Death metal aren’t usually my genre of choice, but there’s a part of myself that gets ignited going to see it live in person. I wish I were in the pit moshing with everyone else. I can’t think of anything else that gives me that same feeling. The release of collective angst and aggression that is achieved in such a beautiful way in a mosh pit. After hanging out there for two hours, it was time to head back through ArtScape to catch a ride home. Said goodbye to Pat and his friends and wished them safe travels on the way back home tomorrow.

I started walking back around 6:30, and by the time I got back to the grounds of ArtScape, the party was bumpin. The people of Baltimore sure know how to have a good time. But I had two more stops to go. The evening was young. The streets of Downtown were packed, and catching a ride in this type of traffic was less than ideal, so I decided to walk to Charles Street and cut through Mount Vernon. I caught a Lyft from Mount Vernon and headed home for five seconds to get some food and relax. Shortly after getting home, I got a Lyft around 8:00 or so and was headed to Queer Scape. Queer Scape was held at The Club Car a Queer Bar on North Avenue at the same spot where Windup Space and briefly Rituals us to be. When I arrived, Glorian was already playing. Glorian describes their music as combining Mulhollen’s love of neo-folk and electronic dance pop. I’ve seen them more than a handful of times, and it’s always a lovely high energy queer time. Shortly after Glorian's set, I head over to my final stop of the evening, Royal Blue. Royal Blue is a restaurant and bar, and on Saturdays, the lower bar comes alive and is one of the best dance parties in town. I met up with some friends for Mar’s birthday party, a good friend of mine. Most of the rest of my evening is a blur, but it was full of fun, love, and friendship. I found myself caught up in the moment of just feeling so grateful for the people in my life and for the arts and queer community that I find myself apart of. Baltimore is just such a special place. If you are someone who didn’t like ArtScape just remember that Baltimore is full of art and music events going on almost every single night. If you are reading this and think you can cultivate community better than ArtScape, I encourage you to do so. We, the people, hold the power to dictate what we want our music and arts community to be, not BOPA and not city government. They should serve us and answer to us, not the other way around. Do with my message what you will, but I wanted to leave you all with a quote that guides me by George Bernard Shaw. “This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

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New Music from Jetty Grove, Friday Junior, and Catherine Savage

June 12, 2025

Hello friends and comrades, I’m sorry for the silence this past week or so. Not to get too real on main, but I’ve been struggling with some pretty severe social anxiety, and this project forces me way outside of my comfort zone. My last post (and the social media stuff that went along with it) freaked me out for some reason. I don’t actually know what I’m talking about here, and the imposter syndrome became overwhelming, so I needed a break. I was going to blame all of this on being busy with work and wedding planning, but I’ve found plenty of time to watch hours of true crime and mystery videos on YouTube, so I could’ve found time to write about music if I’d wanted to.

Anyway, I'm here now, and we don't need to talk about me any longer. Some fantastic new music has recently come out, so I want to talk about that!

At the end of May, Jetty Grove released a new single called “Enough”. Its slow and steady melody and 90s-grunge-esque guitar tone evoke the feeling of hopeless dread that you nonetheless must persist through. As a chronic insomniac, I was going to say that this song reminds me of how it sometimes feels in the middle of the night when you can’t stop thinking about the things you wish you could do or change about your life but can’t because it’s 3am…then I read the lyrics, and saw some references to nightmares and sleepless nights. I don’t know what this song is actually about, so I could be way off base, but it made me feel things, and that’s what’s important.

Also at the end of May, Friday Junior released an EP called Greenie. The first track, “100 Hours Without You,” starts out strong and heavy, with a solid punk rock sound that reminds me of Rancid or NOFX. It’s the kind of music that instantly cranks my energy level up to 11 and makes me want to scream at a politician or something. I don’t know who Greenie is or why they don’t show up on time (or at all), but the second and third tracks on the EP have the kind of snarling, near-hysteric attitude of one who’s fucking fed up. Are we Greenie, too nervous to come out and show any signs of life, or are we the ones always waiting for Greenie, losing empathy for their plight? I fear I’ve been both, at various times in my life. “Queue” is short but packs a hell of a punch, and I’ll probably be yelling “The queue! The queue!” to myself for the rest of the day. The last track, “We Got ‘Em,” rounds out the EP with a driving, aggressive melody that once again has me wanting to scream at someone in charge. Lyrics like “You send another man to sleep on a concrete bed.” and “You still haven’t filled all the potholes here.” really stuck out to me and perfectly matched the fuck-you tone of the vocals and guitar.

Just under a week ago, Catherine Savage released a single called “How High, How Far". It starts off so pretty, with ambient sounds of birds the only accompaniment to Catherine’s lovely, sweet-sounding voice. The music comes in gently, building and receding like waves on the lakeshore, jazzy drums and guitar and even the warm tones of a saxophone. It gains momentum towards the end with the piano and sax playing off each other until the sudden end. It was a very pleasant listening experience that had me rewinding several times to make sure I caught all the nuances of the instrumentation.

There’s so much new music coming out these days, it’s impossible for me to keep up with it all. I appreciate everyone who reached out to send me their new releases – if I haven’t covered you yet, just know that you’ll be coming up soon! As always, email me at nicolerenn@gmail.com if you’ve got something new coming out that you want me to write about.

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Notes from the Show: An Ottobar Matinee

June 4, 2025

I spent last Saturday afternoon at the Ottobar, and I think it was my first time being there while it was still light outside, which made it feel like the audience was in our own little cocoon or something. It was strangely cozy, is what I mean, and definitely a pleasant way to spend the day. The show was originally organized by Cat Sensei, but after their drummer, Harrison, experienced a medical emergency, they were replaced by Gustavo Fring and Emaciatus. Please consider contributing to Harrison’s GoFundMe to help him pay for what I’m sure are devastating medical bills.

Gustavo Fring

Gustavo Fring opened the show with amazing vibes. A lot of bands throw around the term “math rock” willy nilly, but Gustavo Fring is legit, capital M capital R Math Rock. The guitarist was absolutely shredding for their entire set, and the rest of the band was really entertaining to watch as well.

Orange Balloons

The second act of the day was Orange Balloons, a rather mysterious band that didn’t have any music up online for me to scope out ahead of time. They turned out to be a 5-piece with an eclectic sound that mixed ska, punk, and metal. They’re young and full of energy, which got the crowd surprisingly pumped up for 4pm. They even got a little baby mosh pit going when they played a Turnstile cover.

Chasing Mice

Chasing Mice was up third, playing their first show at the Ottobar. For anyone who’s unaware, I’m getting married to Alex, the singer/guitarist of Chasing Mice, later this month, which is why I attend so many of their shows. I’m insanely biased, obviously, but I thought they fucking killed it. It was their first time playing with a new bassist, and they had a drummer subbing in, but the set was so tight you’d never be able to tell.

Armani Broken

Next was Armani Broken, whose song “LADY GOD DIVINE” has been stuck in my head ever since. Their singer has a crazy strong voice that complemented their rock/americana sound really well. Everyone in the crowd was really grooving along, and yet another baby mosh pit formed at one point. People were really ready to rage that afternoon!

Emaciatus

The final act of the day was a death metal band called Emaciatus. I’ll be honest, I don’t really listen to metal, so I had to rely on Alex to help me come up with a good comparison for their sound. He thinks they sound like Job for a Cowboy, and after listening to both, I have to agree. Emaciatus was really tight and had some sick vocals and guitar work. The crowd was super into them as well, with several pits forming throughout their set. They ended the show on a high note, leaving everyone with an insane amount of energy to carry them through the rest of the evening.

Overall, I had a great time seeing my friends and listening to some fantastic music. Catch you at the next show!

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Weekend Playlist: Chill Edition

May 30, 2025

Well, the semester is over, and I finished all of my writing work for the week, which means I actually have the whole weekend off for once! I’ve been strongly advised to chill the fuck out, so that’s what I’m attempting to do with this weekend’s playlist. I don’t know if you’ll find all of these songs as relaxing as I do, but they fit the vibe that I’m trying to cultivate for myself tonight.

• “Sick Machine” by Unreliable Narrator – This song has the exact kind of lo-fi sound I love to listen to when I’m relaxing or studying. I have a feeling the lyrics would bum me out if I read them, but that’s true of all my favorite songs.


• “Raindance” by Home Stereo – I chose this song because I find the singer’s voice very soothing, and it’s got a nice gentle beat to it. “Is the rain outside ever gonna stop?” is a refrain I find myself repeating frequently this Spring.


• “I Didn’t Hear It” by The Flying Faders – This song has a surfy, beachy feel to it that helps me imagine I’m on vacation somewhere beautiful instead of stuck in my home in Middle River.


• “Holy Obligation” by Nova Koloso – The psychedelic vibe of this song pairs perfectly with a home-rolled joint or perhaps some mushrooms (not that I would know). It took me on a chill, guitar-driven journey that I wasn’t ready to end, even though the song is almost five minutes long.


• “Love Story” by Giji – I’ve heard this song a bunch of times, including live, and it’s one of my favorites from Giji. I can never stop myself from bobbing and grooving along. It’s a little on the upbeat side for my chill playlist, but I get to make the rules, and since this song relaxes me, I think it qualifies!


• “FOOTPATH” by Lean Tee – I’m bringing things down to a softer level with this song, which to me sounds like if Bright Eyes went dream pop. I never know if these comparisons to other bands make sense to anyone other than me. Anyway, I really love this song.


• “Heavy Water” by Glorian – This is another song with a chill beat that belies deeper lyrics. I don’t normally listen to this genre of music, but I’ve loved Glorian since seeing them play at The Crown (RIP) a while back.


• “Marianne” by Thee Windows – This is a nice acoustic song with beautiful vocal harmonies and what sounds like flutes. It’s got 60s folk vibes to me, which I find nostalgic and comforting.


• “Sketchbook” by Tristan Heles – I’m cheating a little bit here, because I’ve reviewed this song (and the whole album it’s on) before. However, it’s a fantastic song with a chill lofi sound that’s too perfect to leave off this playlist.


• “Torn” by Catherine Savage – We’re genre-shifting again to end the playlist with a song that sounds like a modern version of an old country-pop ballad. The sound of her voice instantly relaxes me.

Now it’s time for me to stop writing and start chilling for real. You can listen to my Baltimore Chill playlist on Spotify!

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Turnstile: Basking In the Afterglow

Written by Bailey Straw

May 28, 2025

This is a guest post by Bailey Straw, friend of the blog and musician extraordinaire. Follow Bailey on Instagram.

As my first attempt at this, I plan to start writing and documenting the Baltimore music and art scene. Since I was about 18 years old, I started exploring Baltimore’s music and arts. The Baltimore music and art scene is so vast, and with that being said, these are my experiences with the scene I’ve been exposed to. My focus, however, is the subject of community in the Baltimore art and music scene, and sure, music and art are great, but a solid community is what keeps a scene thriving. The Hardcore underground punk scene, as I know it to be, has that community. Turnstile played a show at the picturesque Wyman Park Dell to a crowd of 10,000 to raise money for Health Care for the Homeless, an organization that provides free healthcare to the homeless population. Baltimore is a special type of city. With a relatively thriving music community, none more prominent than the hard-core punk scene. While I was at the show, I saw old friends, bar acquaintances, and random people that I know around town. It was almost as if the entire city was there. Coming together for a lovely evening of music and a cathartic exertion of angst. The show ended up raising $50,000+ for the organization.

This is what a thriving community looks like. In these uncertain times, it is good to know there are people out there speaking their truth to the powers that be and using their platform to raise money for those who need it most. I will be forever grateful to Turnstile and the community it’s cultivated for showing me the light, and the good humanity is capable of. For we must harness this type of energy and power to make the world a better place. At this point, we don’t have any other choice. Just over two weeks later, I still find myself basking in the afterglow of such a positive and impactful experience. One that I will take with me for as long as I have the privilege to wake up every morning to ask the question, “What can I do today to help my fellow human?”

If you have the time and the resources, please donate to Health Care for the Homeless.

Next stop Artscape and beyond.

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Shows This Week: The Hollow Truths, Edith River, HORMONE, Darker Than, Armani Broken, and More

May 26, 2025

TONIGHT (Monday) at Ottobar, The Hollow Truths and Night Walks are playing with Good Time Jordie and Staja at 7pm. The Hollow Truths, from Baltimore, describe their sound as “modern 90s,” and I can definitely see the influence of that era, especially on the vocals. Also from Baltimore, Night Walks has more of an 80s vibe. I liked one of their songs enough to add it to my playlist! Good Time Jordie is a Frederick-based band with an indie rock sound with Americana-influenced guitars. Staja is an artist from Baltimore whose music is more on the hip hop side. This show features an eclectic mix of musicians, so it should be a good time!

On Wednesday there’s a double-decker show happening at Bone Orchard. First up at 6pm is Edith River, Absent Without Frank, and Bloody Crying Twinks. Edith River (a.k.a., Burnt Norton) is an acoustic indie artist from Richmond, VA with a folky sound. As a former smoker (and very reluctant quitter), I really like their song, “Happy Thanksgiving Phillip Morris.” Absent Without Frank is a solo multi-instrumental artist from Philadelphia, PA that combines black metal and banjo in a way I’ve definitely never heard before. I wrote about Bloody Crying Twinks just last week, so I won’t repeat myself, but they’re awesome and you should go see them play if you’ve got the night off!

Immediately afterward is a punk show featuring B.I.M.B.O.S, HORMONE, Tripper, and Richard Parker. B.I.M.B.O.S is a hardcore band from Atlanta, GA that describes itself as “ATL Badbitch Queercore,” and that’s such a perfect fucking description for their music that I’m just gonna go with it! HORMONE is a Baltimore-based punk rock band with wicked vocals. Tripper is another band from Baltimore with a heavy hardcore punk sound. I’m ashamed to admit that in all of my research I failed to pin down exactly which of the many Richard Parkers on Bandcamp is playing at this show, but based on the rest of the lineup, I’m sure they’re sick as hell.

Thursday night at 7pm, Star Matriarch, Maze Maker, and Darker Than are playing at Wax Atlas. Star Matriarch is an artist from Tacoma, WA with a really fun, eclectic, punk-inspired indie rock sound and emotionally brutal lyrics. Baltimore-based Maze Maker doesn’t have any recordings online that I could find, but I saw some of their videos on Instagram and they sounded like an upbeat indie rock band with great vibes. Darker Than is a super cool garage punk band from Baltimore that will bring a lot of energy to the show.

Finally, if you’re looking for something to do on Saturday afternoon, there’s a matinee show happening at 3pm at the Ottobar featuring Cat Sensei, Armani Broken, Chasing Mice, and Orange Balloons. I recently reviewed Baltimore-based Cat Sensei’s latest song “Take It Back,” which has an emo/punk rock sound that I really loved. Armani Broken is an alternative/pop rock band that’s also from Baltimore and features strong vocals and fun lyrics. Chasing Mice, also from Baltimore, is a 90s-influenced alt rock band with angsty lyrics. Orange Balloons, from nearby Ellicott City, doesn’t have any music online that I can find, but I’m really looking forward to hearing what they sound like. I’ll be at this show if you want to come say hello at me!

UPDATE: Due to extremely unfortunate circumstances, Cat Sensei had to drop out of this show. Please keep their drummer Harrison in your thoughts. They will be replaced in the lineup by Gustavo Fring and Emaciatus, so it should still be a really good time!

Want me to highlight your upcoming show? Email me or DM me on Instagram!

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New Music Friday: Muscle, Sunny Mondays, Icarus Phoenix, and More

May 23, 2025

In the two or three weeks that I had to cut back on blogging to deal with my massive school workload, a proverbial shitload of new music has come out, and all of it deserves your attention.

Muscle released a new single called “Carpenter.” It’s a tight 1 minute and 44 seconds of punk rock goodness, with driving guitars and high-energy vocals. The sound is very reminiscent of 70s punk music like The Stooges and MC5, which I fucking love. There’s also a really fun music video to go along with the song.

Just today, Sunny Mondays released a new EP called I Am the Needle and You Are the Thread. It starts off strong with the track “WEIRD,” which features prog/math rock melodies and really solid emo-esque vocals. I had to sit through 3 minutes of Spotify ads for car insurance and GLP-1 drugs before I could listen to the second song, which was infuriating, but I’m glad I waited. “Blank” features artist Jesse Benge, who I’m assuming is responsible for the fantastically growly metal vocals that interject in the bridge. I’m a sucker for time-signature fuckery, which is present in abundance on this EP. All five songs kept me interested from start to end, and it seemed to me at least that some serious thought went into the order of the tracks in order to take the listener on a journey with the artists.

Yesterday, Icarus Phoenix released a new single called “If I’m Being Honest.” It’s an indie-pop bop with sweet-sounding vocals from singer Drew Danburry including some lovely harmonies in the chorus. According to Drew, the lyrics were partially inspired by the quote “Honesty without kindness is cruelty and kindness without honesty is manipulation.” The song will definitely leave you thinking.

I also want to cover a couple of new releases from DC-based bands that frequently play in our neck of the woods.

The first is a recent single from Aunt Katrina called "Peace of Mind." It has an indie rock sound similar to Sufjan Stevens or The Shins. I found some of the lyrics, such as “Got caught in a rainstorm / I’m falling apart” relatable even without fully understanding what they’re about. It’s a really great song that I can easily imagine hearing in a coffee shop if it weren’t for the delightfully foul-mouthed lyrics. There is also a music video to go along with the song.

Finally, Carrier Wave released an LP last fall called Sounds Like the Devil in Here that has been sadly under-promoted. The band describes their sound as “garage desert punk,” and I couldn’t think of anything nearly as accurate, so I’m going with that. The first thing that really caught my attention on the initial playthrough was how powerful the singer’s voice is. It really adds a new dimension to the music and gives it some fun, theatrical vibes. The second track, “Inferior Spheres,” has a more aggressive bent to it, showing more of the band’s punk rock roots. What I could hear of the lyrics on the LP, such as in the song “Terrornaut,” were really fascinating, leaving me wanting more. This is a record with a story to tell, so I’ll definitely be relistening so I can understand what it’s all about.

Want me to review your new release? Email me or DM me on Instagram!

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Notes from the Show: Bloody Crying Twinks, Rumbletramp, Marble Berry Seeds, and Chasing Mice

May 19, 2025

In the bathroom at Reverb

On Saturday, 5/17, I went to a show at Reverb. Due to a last minute venue change, it was unfortunately not very well attended, which is a shame because all the bands killed it. For me, it created a very intimate atmosphere that I appreciated as an introvert.

Chasing Mice at Reverb

Local act Chasing Mice opened the show with a solo set from singer/guitarist Alex. With an electric guitar, some pedals, and a tweed Blues Junior, along with heavy-hitting lyrics, the vibe was like early Julien Baker mixed with the Smashing Pumpkins. I love Alex’s voice, and you can really appreciate his range during these rare solo performances.

Marble Berry Seeds at Reverb

Next up was another solo set, this time from Chamomile, the singer/guitarist of Marble Berry Seeds. This NC-based artist had a fantastic sound that nicely blended folk and indie rock, with passionate vocals that kept me hooked. My favorite song from the set was “I Am The Sin,” a timely track off their split with Rumbletramp called Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler.

Rumbletramp feat. Chamomile from Marble Berry Seeds at Reverb

Third in the lineup was another NC-based group, Rumbletramp. The folky trio included both a ukelele and a flute, and they were even joined by Chamomile on the melodica at one point. I sound like a broken record, but the vocals were very strong – actually, all the bands who played that night featured very moving vocal performances.

Bloody Crying Twinks at Reverb

Last up was local duo Bloody Crying Twinks, whose album 13 Songs About Monsters I briefly wrote about early this year. I love BCT’s indie rock sound, which features haunting vocal melodies and, for some songs at least, lyrics that are literally about monsters. Both singers have strong, distinctive voices that add a little something extra to their songs.

Thanks to all the bands who played that night and chatted with me during the show! And thanks to Alex from Chasing Mice for lending me some of these pictures.

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Weekend Playlist: Terrain, don't tell your friends, Nova Koloso, and More

May 10, 2025

I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks, but I’ve been in freelancing hell + finals are next week + I’m planning a wedding at kind of the last minute. I’m going to ease back into things by adding a handful of songs to my Baltimore Music playlist on Spotify.

• "Traveler’s Love" by Terrain – This song is the total package, it’s got intricate guitar work, incredible vocals, and fantastic lyrics. It’s such a great pick for my mood this morning, which is a little on the introspective side.


• "Watch My Tone" by don’t tell your friends – It’s time to bring my energy up a little bit, and this is the perfect song to do that. It marries an almost shoegazey guitar tone with pop-punk or emo-style vocals and songwriting. I really dig it!


• "Momentum" by Night Walks - This song is very late 80s to me. I can imagine myself listening to it on cassette tape while playing video games in my childhood bedroom. I love the keyboards!


• "122 Hours of Fear" by The Electric Grandmother – This is kind of an insane song to cover, but The Electric Grandmother did a great job of it. This is another song where the keyboards (organs?) really shine.


• "Synchronicity I" by Nova Koloso – I’m having a lot of fun with this song, it’s so groovy and proggy. I’ve been very into psychedelic music lately, and this song fits right in with bands like King Gizzard or Kikagaku Moyo.

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New Music Friday: Still Bones, Cat Sensei, and Soul Meets Body

April 25, 2025

A ton of new music has come out recently, so I’m going to do my best to cover as much of it as possible, but I’m for sure going to miss something good. That’s been my biggest problem since I started this blog – with so many amazing bands actively making music in Baltimore, it’s impossible to write about it all!

Still Bones released a new single called Remind Me Tomorrow that has all the makings of a new emo anthem, complete with multiple tempo changes and a bridge that swells to a goosebump-raising crescendo before bringing you back down again. The song keeps you guessing for the entire 5:16 runtime and ends on a surprising high note, so I recommend listening until it’s over!

Cat Sensei also just released a new single called Take it Back! It’s an angsty, punky song about losing your closest friend, and I could feel the despair in the music. I mean all of this in the best possible way – this is definitely something to listen to when you’re in a self-blaming spiral about a relationship that’s gone wrong in some way. Lyrics like Pour into my sides like holy water / Do you see me? / Did I really see you? and This isn’t it / Our ship has sunk down / I can make this right really paint an evocative picture of the demise of a friendship.

Soul Meets Body released a new single TODAY called Girlfriend. It’s a super fun pop punk song that I’m for sure going to have stuck in my head all weekend. The lyrics are self-explanatory and also extremely relatable. I don’t want you I want your girlfriend / Dump your husband and stay with me / I don’t want you I want your girlfriend / In your dress you look so pretty. I will be singing this over and over again.

Want me to feature your new music? DM me on Instagram or email me at nicolerenn@gmail.com.

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Shows This Week: No One Sphere, Gasket, Empris & the Gems, and More

April 23, 2025

The weather is warming up, so it’s the perfect time to go out and catch a show!

TONIGHT (Wednesday) at the Ottobar, DC band No One Sphere is playing with Baltimore acts Unreliable Narrator, Fozzy Mare, and Early American. No One Sphere’s latest EP is called The Two Party System is Broken: Volume 1 which…yeah…it sure fucking is. They’ve got a strong indie/alternative rock sound with fuzzy guitars and catchy melodies. Unreliable Narrator blends indie rock guitars with dreamy vocals and synths, creating delightful lo-fi soundscapes. Fozzy Mare is an indie folk band that reminds me of a mix between Bon Iver and The Shins. Early American will bring more of a shoegaze vibe to the show with a big, fuzzy sound. Overall, this is a killer indie rock lineup for a weeknight!

On Friday, there’s a hardcore show at House of Chiefs that’s benefiting Palestine. It’s being headlined by Gasket with support from Jealous God (from Richmond), Cataclysmic, and Splattered Spine (from Delaware). I don’t know anything about these bands – or the hardcore scene in general – but I still wanted to highlight this event. Not only does it feature a couple of Baltimore’s best hardcore bands, it’s also for a great cause.

Saturday night at Le Mondo, Empris & The Gems are playing with Night Walks and Coby Siegel. I couldn’t find any music online from Empris & The Gems, but they describe themselves as "melodrama indie rock” which sounds like a genre tailor made for me, so I guess I’ll have to go out to the show to hear it for myself! Night Walks is a psychedelic alternative indie band that reminds me a little bit of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, my current musical hyperfixation. Coby Siegel is a singer/songwriter with catchy indie pop songs and a beautiful voice. This show should offer an eclectic mix of indie rock music for a really interesting night.

Got an upcoming show you want me to feature? DM me on Instagram or email me at nicolerenn@gmail.com.

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Early Weekend Playlist: Krime Slugs, The Shroos, Not Now, and More

April 18, 2025

Edit: I completely fucked up and listened to the wrong Harmonica Lewinsky earlier, but they kindly reached out to me to let me know. I've corrected both the playlist and my blog post!

This week has been pretty nightmarish due to some really tight writing deadlines, but I managed to get it all done. Sometimes, when I’ve been writing too much, I start to feel like I’ve run out of words in my brain. Yet here I am yapping away instead of doing literally anything else, so apparently my loquaciousness with the written word knows no bounds.

It’s a lovely lovely Friday deserving of some killer local music. Today’s playlist includes:

• "Curses" by PLRLS - What an insanely fun track. It’s a super high energy surfy punky rock song with an adorable Spotify animation. It was over too soon!


• "Banned From Parade Day" by Krime Slugs - As someone who despises most parades, I really appreciated this song. It makes me want to go out and fight with a drum major or something.


• "Hallucinations" by Soul Meets Body - I’ve got such an awesome vibe going this morning. I love this song, it’s very catchy pop-punk, and Genevieve’s vocals are so good.


• "Medication" by The Shroos - Continuing the punk rock theme, this song brings great energy and, as a bonus, reminded me to take my medication this morning.


• "No Rest For The Shitty" by Harmonica Lewinsky - This song took me on a sonic journey that I was totally here for. I'm glad the real Harmonica Lewinsky reached out to correct my mistake!


• "Watch The World Burn" by Not Now - Oh wow, I’ve just been transported back in time to when I first heard early Blink-182 and had my little pre-pubescent mind blown. I love this so much.


• "Positive Creep" by Timberwolves - Technically this band is from Frederick, which is not Baltimore, but I liked this track too much not to include it.


• "Punch The Clock" by High Knee and Transfinite Turtles - Today has a real “fuck work” attitude to it, so this was a fitting song to end on. Its catchy chorus will be stuck in my head now.

Alright, I’ve gotta go run around or something to burn off the energy this week’s songs have given me. You can see my complete playlist of local Baltimore music on Spotify.

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Shows This Week: Cult Counselor, SUPURRR SHOW, Still Bones, and More

April 10, 2025

Well, I went from having almost no paying work for a month, to suddenly having to write a month’s worth of work in less than a week. Which is a good problem to have, but it’s stressing me the fuck out, so this will probably be my last post for the next week or so. I’m currently taking a break from writing about edge computing and cloud-native software development to tell you about a few shows that are happening this weekend!

On Friday, Benign Impact, Cult Counselor, and Georgia Beatty are playing with NYC-based FIF at Peabody Heights. I just wrote about Benign Impact’s split EP with Gay Baseball on Monday – they’re a shoegazepop band with a killer vibe and great vocals. Cult Counselor plays indie dreampop music that’ll bring a dancey groovy energy to the show. They’re playing through their whole album that’s releasing this summer, so you'll get a sneak preview of some new music. Georgia Beatty is a folk artist with an ethereally beautiful voice and influences in traditional Norwegian music. FIF is the out-of-town band, and I couldn’t really find any info about them online, but they must be good to be on a lineup with such amazing local acts.

A little later in the night on Friday, The Compound is hosting the MonarchKitty SUPURRR Show. It starts with a punk show at 9pm featuring local bands Limit Break, Tripper, Muscle, and Pearl. Afterwards, a drag show hosted by MiSTER SiSTER starts at midnight and features Beau Tox, Dylan Decay, Jesus Vice, Jinxx Demon, Oberon The Demon, Hazel The Brat, and Goodboi Spunk as Tip Pup. Stick around after that for a dance party lasting until 4am and featuring DJ GRL PWR. All night long, Chef Mama Saray will be providing a buffet, and there will be lots of local art vendors. It sounds like it’s going to be an amazing night that you won’t want to miss.

On Saturday, Chaz Monroe, Still Bones, and Torrents are playing at the Undercroft with out-of-towners Career Day from NY and Motion Sick from MI. Chaz Monroe is a super fun punk rock band with songs like “Piloting Giant Robots As A Form Of Gender Expression” and “All I’ve Got Are These Jorts And This Life!!!” reminding me of early-2000s-style pop punk bands like the Copyrights or even Alkaline Trio. Still Bones is an indie/emo band with a full, atmospheric guitar sound and vocal work that’s reminiscent of bands like Brand New or Say Anything. Torrents is a post-hardcore band that just released their first single, New Exorcism, last month, and I’m already really digging their sound. Rounding out the lineup for the night are Career Day, an emo/pop-punk band from NY, as well as Motion Sick, a pretty big touring band from Michigan. It sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday night!

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New and New-ish Releases from Benign Impact/Gay Baseball, Old Outfits, and Icarus Phoenix

April 7, 2025

Some excellent new music has come out in recent months, and it feels impossible to write about it all. I’m going to backtrack a bit and start with a split EP release from Benign Impact and Gay Baseball that came out in early February. I was lucky enough to catch the release show at the Watermelon Room and it was a blast.

The EP, which is just called Benign Impact/Gay Baseball, is available on Bandcamp for only $5 and is well worth the price. It starts with two Benign Impact songs. “Competer” brings a full guitar sound with great shoegazey tone and powerful vocals. “Advertised Self” is more upbeat and dancey, though its lyrics are deeply introspective. These are followed by two Gay Baseball songs: “Eyesore” has lyrics that hit me like freight train and will stay with me for a long time; “Crease Patterns” has a groovy bassline and a catchy vocal melody that will stick with me for another reason.

On March 27, Old Outfits released a new album called You Can Go Home Again. I previously wrote about the first single, “Settle Down," which is once again stuck in my head. The second song, “Space With You” blends 60s psychedelic rock with a 90s indie-pop flavor and has some beautiful instrumentation, as do many songs on the album. Another highlight for me was “Not Inspired” (we’ve all been there, right?) which to me sounds like a mix of folk rock and indie pop a la Margot & The Nuclear So and Sos. The final song, “Stars Mean Anything,” brings the album to a close with a triumphant finish. The whole release is solid from start to finish and is quite an achievement. It’s available on Bandcamp for $10.

Just today, Icarus Phoenix released a new single called “Love.” According to songwriter Drew Danburry, the song’s lyrics contain verbatim snippets of conversation with his friends at bowling and monster mini golf. “If you didn’t read this explanation I imagine you might think it’s about something else. Something sordid. Something filthy,” Drew says. The lyrics certainly sound…euphemistic…if you don’t know the backstory. It’s a really fun track, and only $1.29 on Bandcamp.

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This Week's Shows: Friday Junior, Sleepy Sword, Ragdollz, and More

April 2, 2025

I'm a big overwhelmed with school and life this week, so I'm just going to write a quick highlight of a couple of shows happening this weekend.

This Friday at Wax Atlas, Friday Junior, Sam Elmore & the Ghosts, Sleepy Sword, and Ragdollz are playing. Friday Junior has a punk-influenced rock sound that reminds me a little bit of Bad Religion. Sam Elmore & the Ghosts are based in DC and have a folky, poppy rock sound with some cool lyrics. Sleepy Sword describes themselves as “soft doom,” which I don’t think is a genre I’ve listened to before, but I really like what I heard. Ragdollz is a grungy alt-rock band that’s strongly reminiscent of Hole, one of my high school faves. This will be a really eclectic show with a fun mix of bands!

On Saturday The Moonbugs, Vistr Centr, Boat Burning, and a TBA fourth act are playing at The Watermelon Room. The Moonbugs are a DC band with a very groovy shoegazey sound. I’ve previously compared Vistr Centr to the Talking Heads, and having listened to more of their stuff before writing this, I stand by my assertion. I seriously love their latest EP, Late Bloomer. Boat Burning is also from DC, and they have an experimental, “maximum minimalism” sound with its roots in improvisational live performances. This will be really great show for sure!

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Weekend Playlist: Unreliable Narrator, Thee Windows, Aunt Katrina, and More

March 30, 2025

It's a lovely Sunday, but I have to work. Here's what Simon and I are listening to while I procrastinate.

• "Remember" by Unreliable Narrator - The vibes of this song are immaculate. I think I might gain enough energy from this to make it through the day!


• "Marianne" by Thee Windows - Very pretty vocal harmonies and instrumentation. It's a song to listen to while gazing wistfully out the window with a cup of coffee.


• "Let Me Go" by Aunt Katrina - This is the perfect music to listen to while working, I love the lofi effects. It's definitely entering my regular rotation.


• "Second Screen Experience" by Jetty Grove - This song reminds me of The Shins but with groovier guitars. From a basic bitch who had an iPod full of The Shins back in the day, this is a high compliment.


• "Extra" by Insatiable High - A synthy bop that is bringing my energy level back up a little bit. I love the 80s feel.


• "Lighter Than A Grasshopper's Hiccup" by Boat Water - And now I've moved to the 90s for some alt-rock goodness, like Nirvana crossed with Neutral Milk Hotel. I didn't realize this song was over 8 minutes long when I added it to my playlist, but I appreciated the journey it took me on.

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Album Review: Sketchbook by Tristan Heles

March 26, 2025

I often listen to music when I’m in a bad or weird mood, and I tend to choose artists and albums that will let me wallow in whatever feelings I’m having in the moment. This is perhaps not the best headspace to be in when reviewing music, but it’s been hard to not feel like shit all the time lately. In addition to *gestures wildly* everything going on out there, it’s also been a tough year for me personally. Writing isn’t paying the bills anymore, but finding any kind of job right now seems to be impossible.

So, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and moody when I decided to listen to Sketchbook by Tristan Heles for the first time. I don’t know what she was feeling when she wrote these songs, or what they’re meant to evoke in the listener, but they hit perfectly for me in that particular moment. However, it’s not so much that they perfectly matched my mood, but instead that they snapped me out of my own bullshit for half an hour and provided the exact distraction I needed.

The album starts with the title track “Sketchbook,” a dreamy, lo-fi piece with airy vocals that reminded me a bit of Phoebe Bridgers (I’m terrible at identifying genres, but I promise I’ll get better with practice). The melody immediately hooked me and, for a blissful minute-and-a-half, I forgot about my present concerns.

Another standout track for me was the fourth song, “Learn,” which has wonderfully fuzzy guitars and catchy lyrics. I got major 90s indie vibes from it, like the Pixies or Dinosaur Jr.

I really enjoyed the song “December,” which, to me anyway, seemed the best fit for how I’ve been feeling lately. I don’t know what Tristan wrote the song about, but it spoke to me of the grief I always experience at the start of winter and the general malaise that I suffer from as ice starts to appear on the streets and everything is grey.

The biggest surprise on the album is the last song, “Miss,” which features spoken-word poetry over uplifting guitars and keyboards. I loved the juxtaposition of the pensive, thought-provoking lyrics with the up-tempo drums and melody. It’s a song I won’t soon forget.

Overall, I have to say this is one of the best new albums I’ve listened to so far this year. Tristan offers enough variety in their songwriting and soundscapes to keep me invested from beginning to end every time I’ve played it.

Listen to Sketchbook by Tristan Heles on Bandcamp.

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Shows this week: Giji and Glorian, Bloody Crying Twinks album release

March 24, 2025

Thursday night, Giji is playing with Madame Reaper, Glorian, and yet-to-be-announced fourth act at Wax Atlas. Giji always puts on a great show that gets people movin' and groovin'. Their single "Love Story" always makes me think of late-70s Fleetwood Mac for some reason, and it goes without saying that it will probably be stuck in my head for the next several hours.

Madame Reaper & The Gentlemen's Club is a touring band that describes themselves as vampire synth pop, which is too intriguing to pass up.

I saw Glorian live a while back at the Crown (R.I.P.) and I will never forget the experience. The music is dancy and synthy, but the vocals are unexpectedly melancholic and emotive, with lyrics that will catch you off-guard with their thoughtfulness. The closest artist I can think of for comparison is The Faint, one of my highschool favorites.

Friday night, Bloody Crying Twinks is playing their album release show at Reverb, supported by three local acts, Jacob Ritmiller, Hannah Lee Thompson, and Serendipity Row. I listened to the new BCT album, 13 Songs About Monsters, and it brings major Moldy Peaches vibes, but with a darker edge (and banjo!). I absolutely adore their vocal melodies.

Jacob Ritmiller is a singer-songwriter with a low-fi indie rock sound that draws influence from church music.

Hannah Lee Thompson is a country folk artist whose songwriting and lyrics are reminiscent to me of Emmylou Harris or Lucinda Williams. Their vocals are also stunningly beautiful.

Rounding out the lineup is Serendipity Row, whose sweet voice, confessional lyrics, and folk-inspired instrumentation make me think of Elliott Smith.

Lastly, I wanted to quickly re-highlight the Old Outfits album release show that's happening on Saturday at Ottobar. They're playing with local bands Icarus Phoenix, Catherine Savage, and Walsh Kunkel, so it'll definitely be a great night!

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Weekend Playlist: Visitr Centr, Little Lungs, Magic Item, and more

March 22, 2025

It's a beautiful Saturday morning, and I'm listening to some killer local music while I watch a Starcraft 2 tournament on Twitch and drink my coffee. Here are the songs on my playlist this weekend.

• "Late Bloomer" by Visitr Centr - This song makes me want to get up and dance. It's reminiscent of early Talking Heads to me, but with a more contemporary indie-alt edge.


• "Act Your Age" by Little Lungs - I love the vocals and guitar tone in this one!


• "White Lies" by Magic Item - Groovy guitars, dreamy keyboards, and a catchy chorus. What's not to like?


• "Reconstruct" by Cat Sensei - A song that transports me back in time to the 2000s when I was young and brave enough for the pit.


• "Just Don't Fit" by Home Stereo - This one's a bop with a nice blend of indie-pop melodies and psychadelic guitar riffs.


• "Fear of Heights" by Gay Baseball - I get this song stuck in my head every time I hear it. It's insanely good.


• "Loser" by Chasing Mice - As a disclaimer, this is my fiance's band, but I wouldn't promote it here if I didn't genuinely love it. The lyrics are depressing, but the beat is groovy, which is one of my favorite combinations.


• "help, my hair is falling out but not my teenage angst" by Shift Meal - An up-tempo pop-punk masterpiece with lyrics that hit really hard if you're above a certain age.

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New Single Release: "The World That We Live In" by Icarus Phoenix

March 20, 2025

Icarus Phoenix just released a new single today called “The World That We Live In,” and I’ve been listening to it all morning. It’s got a comforting, mid-2000s style indie-alt sound that reminds me of Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos and Manchester Orchestra. The lyrics are thought-provoking and occasionally gut-punching, with singer/guitarist Drew Danburry explaining, “Life is a whole lot of unfair. The world seems to be deconstructing itself before our very eyes. A lot of times the unfair comes in the form of capitalistic gender expectations.”

Gentlemen be strong but kind and make a lot of money. / Don’t show emotion just make money. / Ladies don’t you speak your mind. Keep quiet and be pretty. / Just stay forever pretty.

The song ends with a more hopeful note that leaves you thinking long after it's over.

But the world that we live in. What we’ve been given. / We can change it. We can remake it.

As Drew puts it, “At least I felt like we could change and remake the world when I wrote this. I’m not sure if that’s true anymore.” I for one would like to believe it is.

Checkout “The World We Live In” by Icarus Phoenix here.

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New music spotlight: Prof. Goldstein and Old Outfits

March 18, 2025

Professor Goldstein and the Adjuncts released their new album, Songs About Dinosaurs last month, and they're playing an album release show on March 29th - check out their Instagram for the details.

Before we go any further, I have a confession to make: last Friday, I had the opportunity to see Professor Goldstein perform their new album in its entirety at Zissimos. Unfortunately, we had to make a detour to pick up a floor tom for the backlined drum kit, and we missed Goldstein's entire set. And of course, I have to attend my nephew's birthday party on the 29th, so I'll probably miss them again. This is a real bummer, because I've been really enjoying the new album today. It's one of the most fun listens I've had in a while, with punk-infused third-wave ska goodness that packs a punch right out of the gate. They're far from a one-trick pony, though, with jazzy tunes like Candy Mountain and even some folky vibes in Catching Consciousness that'll keep you interested for the entire 30 minute runtime. Check it out on all the streaming platforms, and then go watch them play it live next week!

Old Outfits is releasing a new album on March 29th called You Can Go Home Again, and the first three songs are out now on Samply. I have had the song "Settle Down" stuck in my head since it came out last month, and the other songs are just as catchy. They have such a full sound with a lot of extra instrumentation, supporting strong, distinctive vocals and melodies you'll be humming for weeks. Old Outfits is also playing an album release show on the 29th at the Ottobar. I wish I could be three places at once!

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Shows this week: The Flying Faders and Dosser

March 18, 2025

Wednesday night (tomorrow!) the Flying Faders are playing at Holy Frijoles with two Massachussetts bands, Tiberius and Dowsing Rod. I had the chance to see the Flying Faders a few months ago, and they had a very memorable surf rock sound that got the whole room moving. Tiberius and Dowsing Rod both have very cool, guitar-driven indie rock vibes that are sure to bring a lot of energy to this show.

On Friday night, local favorite Dosser is opening up for touring bands Atomic Life and The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die at the Ottobar. It's a stacked lineup of alternative rock bands with a distinctly 90s feel. For me, Dosser is evocative of the aggressive, early pop-punk bands I listened to around the turn of the century like NOFX and Rancid, but with a little more alt-edge on the guitars a la Smashing Pumpkins. The World is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die is touring for the 10 year anniversary of their popular sophomore album Harmlessness, so I expect a great turnout.

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Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...

March 18, 2025

This is a brand new blog dedicated to covering the Baltimore area music scene. More to come!