Video of The Day: The Umbrellas – Three Cheers

This fun video of ‘Three Cheers’ by The Umbrellas is from their forthcoming album “Fairweather Friend,” out January 26th, 2024 on Slumberland Records & Tough Love Records. you can pre-order the record!

When it comes to the indie pop scene, the San Francisco Bay Area jangle indie pop of The Umbrellas began fully formed in 2019 with the Maritime EP. This is a band that has been quietly making waves since they formed in 2018, and their forthcoming record “Fairweather Friend” on Slumberland Records is a tribute to their undeniable talent for writing melodic indie pop music. This album, drenched in the nostalgia of jangle-pop, captures the essence of indie rock’s golden era while offering a fresh and contemporary take on the genre. It is a nod and wink to twee, indie, powerpop, and more with a healthy dollop of the Paisley Underground.

“Three Cheers” opens with a slide into an undeniable bouncing bass instantly pulling you into a dreamy world of melodic guitars and whimsical lyrics. Throughout the song, The Umbrella’s signature sound shines through with jangly guitar riffs, catchy hooks, and shimmering harmonies, reminiscent of bands like The Smiths and The Stone Roses. The vocals, delivered with a perfect blend of longing and optimism, add a captivating emotional depth to the music.

The lyrics are introspective and relatable, making it easy for listeners to connect with the song’s themes of change and self-discovery. The Umbrellas demonstrate a knack for crafting songs that resonate with a broad audience, showing an ability to bridge the gap between the past and present in the indie pop realm. So, better line up for ‘Fairweather Friend’ now.

The song’s production quality is top-notch, with every instrument and vocal line given ample space to breathe. The song maintains a consistent, sun-soaked atmosphere, but brings something unique to the table, ensuring that “Three Cheers” never becomes monotonous.

While the song is an exploration of indie pop’s classic elements, The Umbrella also infuses it with a modern feel and sensibility, ensuring that it doesn’t sound like a mere throwback. This balance between nostalgia and innovation sets “Three Cheers” apart in the crowded indie music warehouse.

In a time when indie pop is experiencing a resurgence, The Umbrellas’ “Three Cheers” is a refreshing addition to the genre. It’s an album that will undoubtedly appeal to both longtime fans of jangle-pop and newcomers looking for a captivating musical journey. With its infectious melodies and genuine lyricism, this song will have you moving, swaying, and dancing just like the band in the video. “Three Cheers is an irresistible invitation to immerse yourself in its sonic daydream, and it’s an invitation that’s impossible to resist.

Video Premier: No One Sphere – Ceiling Fan

Indie rockers No One Sphere – Dave Mann’s post-Mittenfields project – is certainly picking up steam in early 2022. Later this month (March 18th to be precise), the group releases their debut full length ‘Isn’t Everything About Something‘ on the Broken Sound Tapes label out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The album was recorded with Jarrett Nicolay at Mix Tape Studios in Alexandria, VA. To say that Jarrett contributed to the sound of this project would be a vast understatement. Jarrett not only lent his production skills to the effort, he played all of the instruments as well. Mann and Nicolay together crafted a unique sonic vision.

The band’s album captures the diverse musical influences of Mann’s kaleidoscopic and encyclopedic sonic grasp. The arrival of No One Sphere fills a need for an indie rocker that is not a statement about something, a song that is not pretentious or precious. The single Ceiling Fan manages to create a chantlike chaos of melodic deconstruction that is similar to the musical heart of Wilco’s experimental period. The slinky stagger of the bass line moves along a jazzy rhythm that would not be out of place on a funk record. The lyrics sway from meaningful self disclosure to deliberate non-sensical rhyming. In that way, the song feels akin to Wilco’s deconstruction era of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born. Yet the jangly indie rock center of the song has a Pixies-like gravity.

Ceiling Fan pulls from many classic independent influences in its barely over three minute length. Listeners hear elements of Wire, Gang of Four, mid-’90s era R.E.M., the before mentioned Pixies, Half Japanese and The Replacements.

If the music industry were a fair minded affair, No One Sphere would be at the top of everyone’s new album recommendations. You can follow No One Sphere on Twitter and Instagram. We also recommend that you keep an eye out on their YouTube channel!

RIYL: Wire, Gang of Four, The Pixies, Half Japanese, R.E.M., The dbs, and The Replacements

Video of the Day: Shannon Clark and The Sugar – Carry Me

The Family trio, Shannon Clark and The Sugar have released a new powerful song ‘Carry Me.’ The evocative song captures the emotional turmoil of loss, challenge and efforts at redemption. This deeply intimate and personal music elevates the listener into recognizing the need for home, community and a place where you feel grounded.

You can find out more about them on their Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.

Video of the Day: Tiny Stills – The Sad Year Katy Perry Saved My Life

Tiny Stills have made some of the most compelling indie power pop of the past few years. With an ear for melody and hooks that pull you into the song, they have released a series of terrific singles from ‘Craigslist Bed‘ to ‘Everything is Going Great‘. The latest song from Kailynn West and Company addresses how music can help us over come the challenges of life everyday. You can follow the band on twitter at @tinystills.

‘Slide It My Way’ – The Great Serpent Mound of Ohio

The Great Serpent Mound of Ohio Band has been hard at work on a new record. Today’s video of the day comes from this terrific Dayton, Ohio band! Their upcoming album “De Temporum” (2020) on WoodyFaz Records promises to be a compelling new release!

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Video of The Day: The Corner Laughers – The Calculating Boy

On June 5th, The Corner Laughers will be releasing their latest full length album, “Temescal Telegraph” courtesy of the fine folks at Big Stir Records. We have enjoyed all of the advanced singles from that forthcoming record! Good stuff!

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Video of the Day: Smug Brothers

Smug Brothers’ All Blur & Spark, out on CD on Gas Daddy Go Records on Monday, July 8

From the band:  Fifteen years since forming as a home recording outfit, Smug Brothers continue to find new ways to shake things up creatively. That’s certainly true of the new full-length, All Blur and Spark. Work on the Ohio band’s latest offering on Gas Daddy Go Records began before the February 2019 release of the crowd-funded vinyl album, Attic Harvest, and was curated by some of the group’s supporters.

“The songs were the result of the Attic Harvest fundraiser,” leader Kyle Melton said. “We offered contributors the option to have a custom song recorded as part of their contribution and 11 people participated. Each person was offered to choose an acoustic or full-band track and was then given a list of five titles from which to choose.

“We then recorded the songs quickly in late 2018 in time to send a CD copy of each song out with each person’s vinyl copy of Attic Harvest. When we had completed that project, we realized the 11 tracks would make a cool fan-curated album worth sharing with more people. We got each person’s permission to use their track and put it all together. And here we are at All Blur And Spark.”

Before these two 2019 albums, there were the studio projects with Darryl Robbins at BHA in Dayton (Woodpecker Paradise, 2015) and Micah Carli at Popside Recording in Troy, Ohio (Disco Maroon, 2017). Following these experiments in higher fidelity and the departure of lead guitarist Brian Baker and bassist Larry Evans, Melton and drummer Don Thrasher returned to the home-recording approach they’ve favored since joining forces in 2008.

“We really enjoyed recording studio albums with Darryl and Micah,” Thrasher said. “We’re proud of how those full-lengths turned out but working like that takes a lot of time in pre-production and post-production, not to mention tracking and overdubs. That’s how most bands make records but it’s not a very Smug way to work. Kyle and I prefer to get in the basement, take a few runs through a song and then lay it to the four-track cassette recorder while the material is still fresh.”

Melton and Thrasher perfected that approach on early releases like the digital LP Fortune Rumors (2011) and the cassette EP Strictly Triggers (2014), recording overdubs and vocals with Robbins (Overthought Musik, Motel Beds) as engineer/co-producer. That changed with Attic Harvest and All Blur And Spark, a one-two-punch that shows there’s still a lot of life left in this scrappy band of rockers.

It also marks a period of firsts. These are the first projects recorded with Melton at the helm in his basement studio and the first with the band’s new guitarist/keyboardist Scott Tribble, who is opening up new sonic dimensions in the music.

Being fully self-contained has also allowed Smug Brothers to increase its pace in Melton’s basement, with the group deep into sessions for several forthcoming releases. With the looming 20th anniversary of the band’s debut CD LP Buzzmounter (2005), it’s evident this scrappy outfit from Ohio will continue to grow.

Listen to All Blur And Spark at: https://gasdaddygo.bandcamp.com/album/gdg-024-all-blur-and-spark-cd

Video of The Day: Mark Cantwil – Pardon Me

We are excited to introduce you to the first single and title track off of the forthcoming album, “Pardon Me”!! The song is available for purchase on iTunes and all download and streaming platforms.

Video filmed and Edited by Pete Vogel at North Star Productions. Drone footage filmed by Andy Vogel at Edifice I Productions

“Pardon Me”
Lyrics and Music by Mark Cantwil
© 2019 Mark Cantwil
Mark Cantwil Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Tom Boyer and Mark Cantwil

Recorded and Mixed byTom Boyer at GBS Records/OATH Studios. Background vocals recorded by Patrick Himes at Reel Love Studios. Additional fiddle tracks recorded by Colin Murphy at Murphtone Studios. Mastered by Brian Lucey at Magic Garden Mastering.

Mark Cantwil – Lead Vocal and Acoustic Guitar
Khrys Blank – Backing Vocal
Colin Murphy – Fiddle
Brett Mullins – Electric Guitar
Tom Boyer – Mandolin
Tim Hart – Bass
Dave Fowler – Drums

“Pardon Me”
I’m hungry for a line
Haven’t slept in weeks
This new found consciousness
Is driving me to think
My eyes have never been this open
But I don’t like what I see

I’ll be driving through your town
On my way to Winnipeg
I should be there by sun down
I could use a place to stay
It be so nice to see you
If that’s ok

But pardon me
If I make for poor company tonight
The road can way heavy on a mind
I apologize if the conversations light
So pardon me

I’m so tired of walking
Down this crowded road
Full of loss souls and conmen
And broken heart winos
All watching the pretty ones
Light up the night

Do you still have that old
Simply Red 45
Put it on and I’ll pour us
A couple glasses of wine
We can hold back the years
If only for awhile

But pardon me
If I make for poor company tonight
The road can way heavy on a mind
I apologize if the conversations light
So pardon me
If you don’t know the man in front of you
You know I struggle to recognize him to
A hard luck modern day fool
Sol pardon me

Is it a blessing
To finally know the truth
Or is it a curse
To know the real you

So pardon me
If I make for poor company tonight
The road can weigh heavy on a mind
I apologize if the concessions light
So pardon me
If you don’t know the man in front of you
You know I struggle to recognize him to
A hard luck modern day fool
So pardon me
So pardon me
So pardon me

Mark Cantwil
www.markcantwil.com

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