Pearl Charles @ The Louisiana, Bristol
Thursday evening at The Louisiana—”The Louis” to anyone familiar with Bristol’s music scene—is a stomping ground for local bands and future legends, caught on the way up before the world catches on. Tonight it’s hosting a visiting shot of funky, honky-tonk LA glamour. The sun still stubbornly shines outside, making the idea of sealing yourself […]
Album Review: Pope, ‘BFM’
It’s been eight years since we last had a full-length dispatch from New Orleans’ indie-rock trio Pope, and frankly, their timing couldn’t be better. Their new record, BFM (Big F*cking Music), lands in the sweet spot of the ’90s rock revival currently being spearheaded by Gen Z. We’re seeing this DNA everywhere—from the chart-topping pop-rock […]
Album Review: White Denim, ‘13’
In numerology, 13 can signify independence, creativity, and solid foundations. Or, on the flip side, it can signal chaos and misfortune. James Petralli, White Denim’s frontman and principal songwriter—born August 13—sees both sides clearly. And so does 13, the band’s thirteenth album. It holds those contradictions comfortably in one hand while the other reaches for […]
Album Review: Knumears, ‘Directions’
At 26 minutes, Knumears’ debut Directions leans closer to an EP than a traditional full-length album. On paper, it might seem slight, but in reality, it feels anything but. Across 10 tracks, the band stretches that limited runtime into a full, disorienting journey — one shaped by stark contrast, deliberate pacing, and a keen sense […]
Album Review: The Twilight Sad, ‘It’s The Long Goodbye’
Mother’s Day is probably not the ideal moment to sit with The Twilight Sad’s new record, an album that ruminates so deeply on parental loss. But here we are. The Scottish outfit’s sixth album IT’S THE LONG GOODBYE took shape over seven years in the shadow of singer and lyricist James Graham’s mother being diagnosed […]
Geese @ The Prospect Building, Bristol
You know a band is having a moment when an email drops in your inbox the night before a show asking fans not to camp overnight for a front-row spot. Geese fever is real. The Brooklyn outfit’s third album Getting Killed has launched them into the stratosphere—SNL appearances, Tiny Desk sets, and proclamations that they’re […]
Album Review: The Orielles, ‘Only You Left’
It’s not often an art-rock record arrives scented with salt air and sun-bleached stone. But that’s part of the intrigue behind Only You Left, the latest from West Yorkshire trio The Orielles, a band that has spent the past few years steadily pushing beyond anything typically filed under “indie.” The band first gained wider attention […]
Pem @ The Louisiana, Bristol
Music, at its core, is about connection. It’s the song that gets your heart racing before another day at the rat race. The track that helps you unpack your emotions. Or, the number that simply chills you the F out. At its best, it can shift your mood entirely. In 2024, I caught Pem supporting […]
Album Review: Book of Churches, ‘Book of Churches’
No secret here: we’re fans of Divorce at CONE. Not of the disintegration of marriage, of course, but of the Nottingham‑based band whose rich mix of country, alternative and indie tones has made them firm favorites among Britain’s recent crop of rock acts. Securing supporting slots alongside Mumford & Sons stateside and an ever‑growing fanbase, […]
Album Review: cootie catcher, ‘Something We All Got’
Coming at your ears like a much-needed burst of optimism and offbeat charm, cootie catcher’s latest release Something We All Got delivers unpredictable joy over its 14 tracks. Imagine Pavement, The Moldy Peaches, and early-era Flaming Lips thrown into a blender. You’re somewhere in the ballpark. The Toronto quartet thrives in that slightly left-field pocket […]