Charm City Rhapsody

Covering the Baltimore area music scene

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:

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.


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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!

About

Charm City Rhapsody is a personal blog dedicated to covering the Baltimore area music scene. It's written and maintained by Nicole Rennolds, a freelance writer and local music fan.

Got a story idea or a band you want me to cover? I take submissions at nicolerenn@gmail.com.

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Instagram: @nicolerennwrites

© Nicole Rennolds 2025