#featured bands

Lost Sons 

Rock 

For Fans Of :: Emarosa, Thrice, Saosin

Find Them On :: Facebook | Official Site | Twitter

Following a move to the always sunny Los Angeles and a recent change in moniker, Lost Sons are just settling in and they’re about to be your new favorite band. Made up of Robert Parks and Brian Staples, the former Boston-based two-piece work beautifully together to create genuine and impassioned music.

Earlier this year, the band released their first single, “Lie To Me.” Filled with heavy guitars and making excellent use of their double vocals -- especially with that group chant, the track creates a super cool vibe that can really only be described as some grown up pop punk. The sound borders on the edge of hardcore, but their smooth, melodious tone, mostly highlighted in their Early Years release, gives the band their nice defining sound.

Most recently however, the duo has premiered their passionate new song, “Light.” With a darker ambiance, the track nails it with an emotionally-charging, sing-along chorus. Complete with a mellow build up into a haunting hit, “Light” works its way as one of the top tracks of the year. Not convinced? Check it out for yourself.

You can definitely expect big things from Lost Sons in the coming future. For now, the recent Angelenos will be spending the fall playing shows and showcasing their new material around the city, but it will be exciting to see what they have up their sleeve next.

U&U’s Favorite Tracks :: “Lie To Me,” “Light,” “American Gentlemen”

Granddad 

Emo

For Fans Of :: The Get Up Kids, Choir Vandals, Rozwell Kid

Find Them On :: Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter 

With two dudes, a simple sound, and some painfully honest lyrics, Alaska’s Granddad absolutely kills it. Together, vocalist/guitarist Kellen Baker and drummer Matthew Harris, do what they do best and sing songs about their relationships. Formerly a four piece, the band made their debut with their heavy-hearted full-length, Best Friends. Despite the seemingly cliche, “woah dude, my girlfriend dumped me,” nature of their genre, Granddad adds provides a gay perspective on the classic heartbreak record thus contributing a strong voice to an underrepresented minority in the scene. 

However, rather than drown in their lovesick sorrow, the band radiates a bold confidence. From from “Fucking Perfect’s” “it took me twenty goddamn years to learn to love myself and I don’t have the time to convince somebody else” to “Upside Down’s” “I don’t give a fuck when you hurt,” the entire album is filled with similar, almost therapeutic, anthems of angst followed by a gritty, lo-fi punk edge. As a whole, Granddad will not only take you on a bit of an emotional journey, but they’ll bring you back up with one of the coolest parties ever. 

Best Friends is not the sort of record that you toss aside after a few plays, but one that will stick around for a while. Granddad is definitely a phenomenal band, so please do yourself a favor and lend them an ear. 

The duo will also be releasing their upcoming EP, Dumped, on August 15th. Following the release, Granddad will also be hitting the road for a west coast tour later on this fall. For more news on the band, keep up with them here! 

U&U’s Favorite Tracks :: “Fucking Perfect,” “Upside Down,” “Party People” 

Be Still, Cody

Indie-Emo

Find them on:: Facebook, Bandcamp

Who wouldn't love a band named after a line in a Wes Anderson film? Be Still, Cody, aside from having a stellar band name, produce some really great music. The quartet from Northern Virginia recently released their first full-length album, The Mariner, on Bandcamp. Their music is like a cross between Saves the Day and The Front Bottoms. I don't know how accurate other people will find that description but that's what pops to my mind when I listen to them. They have some great lyrics and the music is insanely calming. I think you should make up your own mind about this band though so check out The Mariner below and if you like what you hear don't hesitate to buy it.

Favorite Tracks: "Wrong Right" "My Never Here" "Marble Head"

- Laura Benitez

The Dearhearts

Acoustic, Bluegrass

Find them on:: Official Site, Bandcamp, Facebook

"3 girls singing." This short but sweet description of The Dearhearts can be found on the band's facebook page and while it suffices to describe this group of girls, who do in fact sing, I would add that they do it very well. This trio hails from Alberta, Canada and their sweet melodies and even sweeter harmonies were made to make your heart melt. They use a series of tiny instruments like ukeleles, mandolins, melodicas, and a banjolele, which is exactly what it sounds like, a banjo/ukelele hybrid. The girls have recorded a series of wonderful covers of songs by Beyoncé, John Legend, and more. A week ago (10/21) the band released their debut self-titled album. 

Check out the band's excellent cover of Beyoncé's "XO" below.

Favorite Tracks: "For Better Or Worse," "Tree Girl," and "July"

Hailing from Baltimore, 3PM, the up-and-coming pop punk piece has been receiving a lot of attention lately, especially from us here at Punkology! If you're a fan of All Time Low, Late Nite Reading, and We Are The In Crowd then you'll love 3PM. They have done a lot recently, including an appearance on Vans Warped Tour, a show with All Time Low, and their sophomore album release Slow Me Down. Read more for info on the band, the album, and links! 

Sledding With Tigers

Folk-Punk-Bluegrass

For fans of: Modern Baseball, The Front Bottoms

Find them on:: Facebook, Bandcamp, Official Site

Folk-punk-bluegrass is alive and well in Southern California. Sledding With Tigers hail from San Diego and they're a group of friends who make music because it's fun. The band's songs are a mixture of up-beat rhythms and self-loathing and self-reflective lyrics. Singer/songwriter Dan Faughnder writes about his life, love, and the troubles of being a twenty-something adult in today's society. The music that this group of friends make is unique and fun. The band recently released a debut full-length album, A Necessary Bummer, via Antique Records and it is definitely worth a listen. If you like songs with group vocals, ukeleles, violins, banjos, and honest lyrics then you should give this band a listen. Listen to the first track from A Necessary Bummer, "Never Really Good At Sports" below and head to the band's Bandcamp page to purchase the album.

Favorite Tracks: "The Devil and a California Burrito are Raging Inside Me," "Not So Body Posi After All," and "Never Really Good At Sports"

This Tuesday, June 4th, Messenger Down will be releasing their debut EP, The Gentleman's Guide to Keeping Away From People Like You 

4/5 stars 

I have been listening to this album non-stop since I first heard it. It is a great pop-punk album to blast in the summertime. As far as debut EP’s go, Messenger Down produced a great EP to introduce them into the music world. They have a great range of lyrics that you can relate to in any mood, and lots of different melodies to explore the band’s musical talents. Not all musicians can pull off a good softer song and then an up-beat, catchy, solid pop-punk song and have them work together consecutively, but Messenger Down can. Messenger Down has a unique punk sound, which makes it hard to compare them to other bands. They’re a unique band, with sounds and melodies all their own, making them sick out that much more. But when you listen to “The Gentleman's Guide to Keeping Away From People Like You” you can hear influences from bands such as Taking Back Sunday or New Found Glory. I highly recommend spending the $6-$10 for the EP, because it will be money worth spent. These guys will be headlining some big tours in a few years. 

Check Out the Band, Pre-Order the EP, and Follow Messenger Down on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube 

Messenger Down is Punkology's Band Of The Week for the week of June 2nd so Check here for more stuff about the band