Android Invasion

The first full-length album from Djembe Funk is out today. I’m a little biased because I play drums on two of the tracks, but I think it’s awesome. Kelly Kintner (the brains behind the funk) called on some of his favorite musicians (Dino DiMuro, Jim from Voodoo Planet, and the LaLaLettes) and put the album together in the space of a month, giving the project a sense of fun and urgency. It’s been…

290. A Project Deeply Rooted in Connecting to the Human Spirit, Marc Schuster’s In the Weeds Will Stick With Its Audience Thanks to Jeff Thomas for the kind words regarding my new album!

Describing their music as outsider pop from Montreal, The Same Sky reached out to me a little while back in advance of their latest album, Haunting in the Mountains. It’s out now, and it’s good. Your bio says that the project started in Santiago, Chile, in 2009. Now you’re based in Montreal. That’s a big move! Did it happen all at once, or were there some stops in between? Joseph: It definitely…

If you’re in the Philadelphia area on Friday, check out RWV Finster at the Young American Tasting Room from 7 to 9 PM. RWV Finster is an REM tribute band featuring Douglas Witmer, whom I interviewed a few months back.

Polyvinyl are an indie-alternative, female-fronted six-piece from the UK, renowned for their immersive, concept-driven live performances. Since 2022, they have carved a unique path, blending sonic diversity with theatrical flair. Who is in the band, and how did it get together? So Polyvinyl formed in 2021. Me and John had been in bands previously and after the end of that one in early 2020 we…

Punk funk outfit the Saturday Brothers released their first full-length album, Make Up Your Mind today. Delayed when the band’s practice space was hit by a tornado, the album offers a poly-rhythmic punk funk explosion that is often humorous and sometimes serious. The new release follows lots of starts and stops that accompanies busy lives. Recorded over many years in a basement, Make Up Your Mind…

It’s always cool to get new music in my in-box, and this morning I was very pleased to see something new from a longtime favorite of mine, The La-La-Lettes, who are back with at double-sided single called “Jahaira (Parts 1 and 2).” What’s really striking about the juxtaposition of these two parts is the difference in the mix. Part one feels like an overhead conversation or standing outside of a…

From the press kit:  vja is a Los Angeles–based musician whose debut album Compartments blurs the boundaries between dream pop haze, neo-psychedelic color, and garage rock grit. Lyrically introspective and deeply felt, the album is a fevered search for meaning amidst the noise of modern life. Love, community, evolution, and authenticity collide in a frenzy of emotional catharsis—pulling listeners…

I have a new album coming out soon, but I’m not going to release it through the usual channels: No streaming services, not even Bandcamp.  This decision is partially influenced by a book that my friend Wayne Brew loaned me about the social history of cassettes and their place in music. The author, Rob Drew, makes the point that mixtapes represent a gift, a means of sharing music that isn’t…

In his years as part of the Virginia Beach music scene, Robert Walsh has opened for Yellowman, the Dicks, Circle Jerks, and Keith Morris. His new collection is called One Neck. We recently chatted about it… You’ve been part of the Virginia Beach music scene for over forty years. What are some highlights of that experience? Highlights  besides opening up for a few big named acts , my highlight…

Word on the street is that Strangeness in Proportion will be performing their last show on Tuesday, May 12, at Cousin Danny’s Lounge, 5001 Market Street in Philadelphia. To mark the occasion, I sent Sean Cahalin (aka Strangeness in Proportion) a few questions… Your last show is going to be on May 12 at Cousin Danny’s Lounge at 5001 Market Street in Philadelphia. What’s behind the decision to…

I first found out about Towse on Jeff Thomas’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame blog and was immediately impressed with what Jeff describes as their upbeat minimalism as well as their slick-without-being-overly-slick-about-it-presentation. Unfortunately, I missed them when they came through the Philadelphia area — playing at the legendary Rusty Nail, no less! Fortunately, though, singer Grace Fellows was…

I’m really enjoying this new song from the Kintners — and not just because I’m playing drums on it! The lyrics are particularly moving. Listen for the line “Life is breezy ’til it’s hell.” Perfect delivery, and Keri Kintner’s harmony vocals pull everything together beautifully. The song, by the way, is called “Some Folks.” Click on the image below for a free download.

When their press materials mentioned Belle and Sebastian as an influence, I knew I couldn’t resist reaching out to Gentle Brontosaurus for an interview. Turns out they have a sense of humor as well. Or at least vocalist/guitarist/ keyboardist/ukuleleist Huan Hua does — check out her response to my question about the band’s name! So without further ado, here’s my interview with Gentle…

Hello London is the solo project of Buffalo-based songwriter James Froese. Since 2021, Hello London has released 3 EP’s and 3 full length albums. He has opened for acts such as Sincere Engineer, Fred Mascherino, and Tough Old Bird. In 2025, Hello London released The Shoreline Sessions, a mostly acoustic album that draws influence from early emo bands. I recently reviewed their single, “Crowns,”…

Hailing from the port of Toronto, ON, Pressgang Mutiny have been roaring out songs of the sea since 2013. Local favorites in their hometown and on the Canadian and American East Coasts, they are keeping alive a vital tradition of work songs that represents the world’s first truly multicultural music.  Who’s in Pressgang Mutiny, and how did the band come together? The current lineup is Richard…

Loving this new one by Scot Sax. Short, sweet, and a little grungy.