Tag: Rock

Milwaukee Trio Snag Is One of Modern DIY Hardcore’s Most Unique Voices

Snag shares music video for new LP album opener ‘Unarrest Me.’ Photo: Samer Ghani, used with permission.

Heavy Emo with a Purpose: Milwaukee’s Snag Returns with All The Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn To Dust

Since their formation in 2016, Milwaukee trio Snag has quietly carved out their own unique space in the DIY underground. They have quickly become a favorite of listeners hungry for emotional hardcore that delivers far more than just aimless chaos. (another side, 2026)

On All The Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn To Dust—the band’s third LP and first for Deathwish Inc.—Snag continues to develop their signature brand of heavy emo, expanding melodically and texturally without losing an ounce of their edge.

Turning Inward: Personal Struggles and Physical Cages

While Snag’s lyrical approach has historically focused on broader, universal themes like climate anxiety and apocalyptic dread, All the Cages… shows the band looking inward. Many of the tracks draw heavily on the members’ personal experiences with chronic illness and mental health obstacles.

The central motif of cages weaves its way throughout the record. On the album opener, “Unarrest Me,” the cage is literal: a physical jail cell.

“The song is a POV of a wrongful arrest—the confusion, the panic, and the sheer inhuman reaction from the arrester. This song musically tells an eerie story within itself. It sets off on a journey and ends abruptly at its peak.”

— Samm Szymborski (Guitarist/Vocalist)

Bassist and vocalist Peter Murphy emphasizes the visual and thematic story behind the track’s music video:

“The concept for the video is ‘collective liberation through mutual aid.’ The symbols of zip ties and blindfolds against flashlights and sprints put a finer point on the idea that every free person can help free another person.”

Music as an Action Plan

From the very beginning, acting on their message has been central to Snag’s ethos. Their lyrics aren’t just art, they are invitations to active involvement.

  • The Self-Titled LP: Came packaged with a lyric sheet, a book of matches, and an envelope of seeds encouraging listeners to grow habitats for pollinators.
  • All the Cages…: Features a partnership with the Florida-based organization Wire of Hope. The record includes individually labeled envelopes addressed to inmates, inviting listeners to become prison pen pals.

“The logic that says a corporation can destroy the planet to extract profit from it systematically is the same basic logic that says humans can be systematically caged for profit,” Murphy explains.

“It’s probably safe to say every person who hears this album is a lot closer to being incarcerated than to being one of the billionaires that seek ever more control. We thought we could make that connection much more explicit with a homework assignment in the record insert—and hopefully foster friendship and connection as well.”

Expanding the Sonic Palette

The intentionality behind the band’s message extends directly into the music. Snag has always been far more than a mere throwback band, consciously pushing boundaries in a subgenre that often struggles to move past the influence of its forebearers.

All the Cages… recalls the dynamic, progressive energy of acts like Majority Rule, Welcome the Plague Year, and Kidcrash, while forging its own distinct path.

“We made a decision a long time ago to simply make the music that we like and to not try to fit into genre conventions. That decision gave us permission to try different instrumentation and stylistic approaches to songs, which resulted in a few unusual moments on this album.”

— Peter Murphy

A Decade of DIY Resilience

A decade into their existence, Snag remains one of the most unique and vital voices in modern DIY hardcore. The band members’ commitment is deeply personal, they need the music just as much as the music needs them. At its core, they simply haven’t grown bored with the artform that captured their imaginations as kids.

“When we started the band we were in some of the most depressive periods of our lives, and it offered an outlet, camaraderie, and hope. It hasn’t stopped since.”

— Wysocki

All The Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn To Dust track list:

  1. Unarrest Me
  2. Debilitated
  3. Pray for Peace
  4. Suburn
  5. Juneberry
  6. Whisper
  7. Shelf Life
  8. Paris, WI
  9. Foam Cup, Pt 3
  10. Cages
  11. Cages (Reprise)

Carly Simon Returns with New Album ‘Comes In Waves’ and Lead Single ‘Howl’

‘Comes In Waves’ is Carly Simon’s first album of original songs since 2008. Photo: Sally Taylor, used with permission.

Carly Simon Announces First Album of Original Songs Since 2008: ‘Comes In Waves’

Legendary singer-songwriter Carly Simon is officially returning with Comes In Waves, her first album of original material since 2008. Set to arrive on August 14, the 12-track album was written and recorded primarily at her Martha’s Vineyard home, bringing together a body of work that feels both deeply personal and quietly expansive. (Miller PR, 2026)

Six decades after her solo debut, Simon’s voice remains unmistakable: emotionally precise, literate, and unguarded. Rather than looking back with simple nostalgia, Comes In Waves is anchored in clarity, exploring the complex emotional terrain of love, memory, family, and self-reckoning.

Pre-save Comes In Waves

A Striking Reintroduction: “Howl”

Serving as the album’s opening track and lead single, “Howl” captures the emotional depth Simon continues to explore. Co-written and produced with platinum- and gold-certified producer David Spencer, the track pairs Simon’s signature vocals with a lyric that moves from the sting of betrayal toward the peace of forgiveness.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the single, Simon shares:

“‘Howl’ lives in that space between betrayal and forgiveness, where anger has to be voiced before it can be released. It’s about letting the frustration out so it doesn’t sit and simmer. The song begins in anger, but it moves toward forgiveness, and speaks to any situation where trust has been broken.”

Themes of Healing and “Slowly”

The album’s title is drawn from “Slowly,” a song centered on patience, return, and emotional renewal. In the track, feelings rise and recede like the tide—a concept that serves as the emotional anchor for the entire record. Across these 12 tracks, love, grief, anger, memory, and healing all arrive in waves, moving with their own natural force and timing.

Rather than trying to recreate her past hits, Comes In Waves continues the honest, vulnerable conversation Simon has shared with her audience for decades.

A Close Circle of Collaborators

This record was brought to life alongside a tight-knit circle of family, friends, and longtime creative partners:

  • John Forté: Features on the album posthumously, following his passing earlier this year.
  • Ben Taylor (Son): Contributed throughout the project as a singer, musician, producer, and songwriter.
  • Sally Taylor (Daughter): Contributed vocals and created the single’s cover artwork.

Comes In Waves track list

  1. Howl
  2. Maybe I Never Loved You
  3. Peaches
  4. Love Has No Ending
  5. Mother Of Pearl
  6. Slowly
  7. Four In The Morning
  8. The More I Look For You
  9. Love The Way I Do
  10. The Father Daughter Dance
  11. Share the End
  12. Do It Anyway

About Carly Simon

For those who need a quick refresher on the incredible legacy of this trailblazing artist:

  • A Trailblazing Career: Emerging in the early 1970s, Carly Simon helped redefine pop music as an intimate, emotionally intelligent form of storytelling.
  • The EGOT-Adjacent Legend: Her catalog includes generation-defining hits like “You’re So Vain,” “Anticipation,” and “Let the River Run.” The latter earned her an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy, making her the first female artist to win all three as both a performer and composer.
  • Accolades: Simon is a five-time Grammy winner (with 19 additional nominations) and an inductee into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol Shares New Single ‘The Disappearing Man’ Ahead of New Album

Austin’s Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol. Photo: Chris Wilson, used with permission.

New Music: Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol Drop Melodic Sludge-Bomb “The Disappearing Man”

Austin’s favorite “doom wop” and heavy metal trio, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, is back with a brand new single: “The Disappearing Man.” (US/THEM Group, 2026)

The track comes as a fresh taste of their highly anticipated forthcoming album, CA$H GRAB. Formed in 2017 by Boston-area transplants Leo Lydon (lead vocals/guitar) and Sean St. Germain (drums), alongside Georgia native Aaron Metzdorf (bass/backing vocals), the band has spent years perfecting a wildly unique sonic lane.

With “The Disappearing Man,” they showcase an absolute mastery of heavy, hook-filled riffs and rhythms couched in an earworm melody that would make Green Album-era Weezer jealous.

Loud, Lean, and Relentlessly Catchy

The new single doubles down on the band’s signature blend of crushing riffs and off-kilter melody. It’s loud, lean, and balancing sludgy heaviness with an infectious groove that refuses to let go.

Beneath the wall of fuzz lies an undeniable melodic instinct, proving the band can deliver massive hooks without sacrificing an ounce of raw power. It’s a confident preview of an album that promises to push their self-proclaimed “big dumb riffs” philosophy even further. If this single is any indication, CA$H GRAB is shaping up to be their strongest release yet.

The Album Update: While CA$H GRAB is still in production—with official release details dropping at a later date—you can already stream the phenomenal run of singles leading up to it: “The Disappearing Man,” “Bough Down,” and “Peaches.”

Catch Them on the Road

RBBP just wrapped up a massive, highly successful 6-week headlining tour across North America, packing out rooms with multiple sold-out shows alongside fellow Austin punk-metal trio American Sharks.

If you missed that run, you’re in luck. The band recently announced they will be hitting the road again for Fall 2026 supporting the legendary Death From Above 1979.

Check out the full list of live dates below and secure your spots early!

👉 GET TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS HERE

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol: 2026 US Tour Dates

09/05 Cookeville, TN – Muddy Roots Music Festival
10/01 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades *
10/02 Berkeley, CA – UC Theater *
10/03 Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre *
10/04 San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater *
10/06 Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall *
10/08 Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco *
10/09 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory OC *
10/10 San Diego, CA – The Observatory San Diego *
10/11 Tempe, AZ – The Marquee *
10/13 Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre *

  • w/ Death From Above 1979
Single artwork.

A.A. Williams Releases New Album ‘Solstice’ via RPM Records

A.A. Williams’ new album Solstice is out now. Photo: another side, used with permission.

Cinematic Darkness & Radiant Renewal: A.A. Williams Releases ‘Solstice’

A.A. Williams steps into a new era. Out now via RPM, Solstice arrives as Williams’ most powerful and poetic work to date, an album shaped by extremes of light and darkness, weight and fragility, devastation and renewal. (another side, 2026)

Thunderous highs, intimate lows, and vivid emotional shifts unfold across a record that feels both deeply personal and cinematic in scale.

A Sonic World of Extremes

Long celebrated for her haunting vocals, immersive dynamics, and striking emotional clarity, Williams expands her sonic world with an album that moves like a ritual through changing seasons.

  • The Instrumentation: Guitars churn like gathering weather, while strings glow with a fragile warmth.
  • The Vocals: Her voice unfolds seamlessly from restrained intimacy into a commanding emotional force.

Solstice captures A.A. Williams at a major creative turning point. Inspired by years of global touring, acclaimed collaborations, and genre-defying reinterpretations, the album finds her fully embracing both vulnerability and power.

Balancing crushing heaviness with moments of startling beauty, Solstice invites listeners into a world where silence can feel as immense as sound itself. It’s intimate, dramatic, and quietly radiant; music for endings, beginnings, and the long road between the two.

About A.A. Williams

Making her debut live appearance at the prestigious Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands off the back of a self-titled EP, A.A. Williams has since toured across the globe with heavyweights like:

  • Cult of Luna
  • Explosions in the Sky
  • Russian Circles
  • Sleep Token
  • The Sisters of Mercy

Alongside these massive support slots, she has established herself as a formidable headline artist, including a landmark show at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Hall inside London’s Southbank Centre.

A Track Record of Critical Acclaim

Her standout festival appearances have dovetailed with two widely acclaimed album releases: 2020’s Forever Blue and 2022’s As The Moon Rests. Both records placed Williams at the forefront of a wave of artists taking textured, epic, and folk-rooted heavy music into progressive new directions. A live BBC session at the legendary Maida Vale Studios further bolstered her credentials.

Pushing Boundaries & Companion Pieces

Never one to rest on her laurels, Williams has continuously released innovative companion projects, including:

  • “Exit In Darkness”: A collaborative single with Japanese post-rock titans MONO.
  • Songs From Isolation (2020): A solo covers collection recorded during the pandemic lockdown that drew praise from icons like The Cure’s Robert Smith and Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan.
  • arco (2021): Perhaps her most impressive feat, where the multi-instrumentalist drew on her classical training to completely rework her debut EP from rock instrumentation into a stunning string ensemble.

Solstice is out now via RPM. Stream or purchase the album here.

Solstice track list:

  1. Poison
  2. Wolves
  3. Little By Little
  4. Hold It Together
  5. Outlines
  6. I’ve Seen Enough
  7. The Veil
  8. Just A Shadow
  9. It Won’t Rain Forever
  10. Breathe
  11. The Gentle Harm

Smirk Announces New Album ‘Speculative Fiction,’ Shares New Single ‘Abide’

New album Speculative Fiction out July 3 via Smoking Room. Photo: another side

Track Premiere: Smirk Shares Melancholic New Single & Video “Abide” Ahead of New Album

Smirk has released the melancholic single and video “Abide” ahead of his highly anticipated new album, Speculative Fiction, due out July 3 on Smoking Room. Pre-order/pre-save here. (another side, 2026)

The indie-leaning track feels like a lost B-side from Surfer Rosa-era Pixies mixed with the twang of Gun Club and a solo straight out of the J Mascis playbook. Lyrically, the track slides right into the album’s overarching theme: abandoning longstanding ties for a fresh start and a new future on the horizon.

“‘Abide’ is based on an old British hymn that I reworked to be about the looming end of a long friendship. It’s about that slow drift where nothing really happens, but you can feel it fading and you aren’t trying to fix it.” — Nick Vicario, Smirk Mastermind

Unrest in the Suburbs: Facing the Past

Growing old sucks, but there comes a point in life when it becomes a necessity to ignore the pull to constantly wild out.

“When this band started in LA, it was a crazy time in my life,” Vicario admits. “I was crashing cars, doing drugs—I was doing horrible things and destroying my life.”

On Speculative Fiction, Vicario deals with a new twist on an age-old theme for punk rock: unrest in the suburbs. Instead of youthful rebellion, this version of unrest deals with looking back on past indiscretions and dealing with their repercussions—the disruption of the old life, settling into the new, and the reflection that comes with it. These thoughtful lyrics and themes, when paired with Vicario’s guitar-pop confection, make for a unique juxtaposition.

“When I was writing ‘Speculative Fiction’, a lot of that dealt with the ‘old me’ and some of the crazy life choices I made while abusing substances. So while the record is partially about the ‘old me,’ it’s also very much about putting them in my current world and the new set of problems that come from that.”

From Portland Hardcore to Solo Vision

Vicario has a deep history with punk rock. Growing up in Portland, Oregon, in the early 2000s, he was ingrained in the legendary scene that birthed Poison Idea and Wipers. He began playing in bands at an early age, hobnobbing with members of Tragedy and Criminal Damage in cover bands and even on the gridiron. At just 12 years old, his first band, The Diskords, were the toast of the Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll illuminati, leading to several releases and having The Exploding Hearts take them under their wing.

His musical journey spans an impressive array of genres and projects:

  • Hardcore & Indie Pop: Playing in hardcore bands like Cower eventually led him to the indie pop outfit Wild Ones, who released two records across eight years (the latter landing on Topshelf Records).
  • Collaborations & Touring: Stints with Public Eye, Cemento, Crisis Man, and others, alongside touring with Surfer Blood and Dreamdecay.
  • The Birth of Smirk: Vicario eventually decided to focus his energies on his solo project, Smirk, dropping a self-titled album in 2021 and Material in 2022.

A New Sonic Blueprint

On Speculative Fiction, Vicario is restarting both personally and musically. Smirk is slowing things down, taking a more measured, power-pop approach that strays away from the speedy punk marking earlier releases. The result is decidedly more mid-paced, reflecting the works of Big Star and The Paul Collins Beat as much as early Stiff Records releases, all filtered through the DIY spirit of Guided by Voices.

Written entirely by Vicario, Speculative Fiction is Smirk’s third full-length album. To round out the record, he called upon a stellar cast of old friends and live bandmates, including:

  • Ross Farrar (Ceremony)
  • Max Smadja (RIXE)
  • Ryan Mangione-Smith (Advertisement)
  • Current members of Smirk’s live lineup (who play in Hotline TNT, Poison Ruin, and Pardoner)

Production Credits

  • Recording: Mainly recorded in Vicario’s home studio, with additional tracks captured by Ian Rose at Daisy Chain Studios in Brooklyn.
  • Mixing: Handled for the bulk of the record by Andy Oswald.

Life Imitates Art

With Speculative Fiction, life imitates art. Smirk slows things down, retools, and gets meticulous—making deliberate decisions with respect to songwriting, approach, and collaboration to execute a new vision.

The final result is a refined, focused, and less chaotic approach to punk with an eye on pop-sensibility. It perfectly mirrors Vicario’s new lifestyle: outside of the fast lane and behind a white picket fence.

Smirk’s new album Speculative Fiction arrives July 3 via Smoking Room. Stream the new single “Abide” now.

Speculative Fiction tracklist:

01 – Greetings
02 – Victimry
03 – Cheap Greed
04 – Going Off To Die
05 – Sistine Junk
06 – Dog Years
07 – I Shall Be Released
08 – Perfect World
09 – Abide
10 – Ritual Torture
11 – Interlude
12 – Shit Song
13 – Crime Pays

Photo: Emily Vicario

Maya de Vitry Announces New Album ‘All My Faith’ and 2026 Tour Dates

Maya de Vitry offers rhythms of time, love, & self-acceptance in self-produced 5th studio album. Photo: Ethan Jodziewicz, used with permission.

Maya de Vitry Announces Fifth Studio Album ‘All My Faith’ & Summer/Fall Tour

Energized by the spontaneity of live performance and a revelatory pursuit of truth in her lyric writing, Maya de Vitry returns with her fifth full-length album, All My Faith. Prioritizing presence and grit over studio polish, she sounds joyously at home in the alt-country and indie-folk realms. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2026)

Recorded and mixed by 5-time Grammy Award-winning engineer Sean Sullivan and self-produced by de Vitry, All My Faith is a buoyant gathering of songs brought to life by a cast of her closest confidantes and collaborators.

Release Date: All My Faith will be released on de Vitry’s own Mad Maker Studio label on July 24 and it’s available for pre-order.

Capturing the Magic in Real Time

From canyons to kitchens, from cold lakes to highway truck stops, the songs form a vibrant collage of joy, sorrow, and gut-wrenching honesty. Whether spinning an inspirational tale about hungover bachelorettes at the Nashville airport or exploring the prison of our own adaptations, de Vitry brings a grounded confidence and quiet charisma rooted in her belief in the power of song to change us.

All My Faith consists of 10 original songs written by Maya over the last year. Forgoing the technology often used to “perfect” studio recordings, de Vitry chose instead to fully trust the moment-to-moment musical conversations of the players and singers gathered around her.

A Commitment to No Edits

“When the band realized that I was planning to do no edits whatsoever on these tracks, the level of commitment from everyone just soared. It was a really exciting atmosphere in the studio,” de Vitry recalls.

True to her vision, everything you hear on this record was captured in real time and recorded over three days at The Tractor Shed in Goodlettsville, TN, from November 23 to 25, 2025.

The All-Star Studio Lineup

To bring this raw energy to life, de Vitry assembled an incredible crew of musicians:

  • Spencer Cullum & Ethan Ballinger (Miranda Lambert’s touring band) – Pedal steel and guitar
  • Jo Schornikow (Phosphorescent) – Keys
  • Ethan Jodziewicz – Bass
  • Dominic Billett – Drums
  • Shelby Means & Joel Timmons – Harmony vocals

Inspiration and Themes

A profound connection to nature runs throughout the record, not as a passing metaphor, but as an elemental and transformative force shaping both her voice as a songwriter and her orientation as an artist. At its heart, the album reflects on the ways human beings choose to care for one another in myriad forms and on the generative healing and wisdom that emerge from our relationships with each other and with the natural world. There’s also a common thread running through this record of being willing to name the painful and difficult parts of human relationships.

First Single: “Confidence of the Sun”

With her armor fading and her fire burning from within, “Confidence of the Sun” is bold and bright. It is the album’s first single and is one of several songs on All My Faith that Maya wrote at Blue Rock Artist Ranch & Studio in Wimberley, Texas, where she had been gifted a weeklong songwriting residency in April 2025.

Catch Maya de Vitry on Tour

Maya continues to tour in North America and Europe, whether solo, with her band, as part of other projects, or supporting artists like The Wood Brothers, Aoife O’Donovan, John Craigie, and Mighty Poplar. Tour dates are available online.

More About Maya de Vitry

Originally from the green rolling hills of Lancaster, PA, Maya de Vitry is a Nashville-based fiddler-turned-songwriter whose music blurs the lines of folk, indie rock, and Americana.

Her earliest years in the music industry are represented by the 4 full-length albums and 2 EPs with the roots-Americana trio The Stray Birds, with whom she toured year-round for 7 years throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe.

After this formative chapter, she launched her solo career with her 2019 album Adaptations, earning praise from Rolling Stone Country, NPR Music, and No Depression. Since then, she has released three more full-length albums—How to Break a Fall (2020), Violet Light (2022), and The Only Moment (2024)—and an EP, Infinite (2023).

When she is not on the road, she works as a record producer for other artists within her musical circle (Joel Timmons, Shelby Means, Hannah Delynn). Maya’s songs have also been recorded by The Milk Carton Kids, Nicholas Jamerson, Lindsay Lou, Steve Poltz, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes.

The result is music that is, quite literally, the intoxicating sound of faith in action, a bandleader fully trusting in her life experiences, her craft, her collaborators, and the moment. It captures the exact presence she has been cultivating in her live shows, and hearing it magnified on record is its own revelation.

Album cover artwork by Lee Ferris
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Boone Creek’s 1977 Debut Reissued with Vince Gill & Unreleased Tracks

The genre-defining 1977 album: Boone Creek’s self-titled debut returns. Photo: Craft Recordings, used with permission.

Lost Bluegrass Treasure Unearthed: Boone Creek’s Legendary 1977 Debut Returns with Unreleased Tracks

The wait is finally over for bluegrass purists and progressive roots fans alike. Craft Recordings and HighTone Records have announced the long-awaited return of Boone Creek, the self-titled 1977 debut from the boundary-pushing supergroup. (Craft Recordings, 2026)

Featuring future bluegrass luminaries Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Wes Golding, and Terry Baucom, this landmark album is stepping out of the vault and into the modern era.

A Historic Reissue Across All Formats

Long out of print and previously unavailable outside its original release, Boone Creek is making a massive comeback on June 26.

  • First Vinyl Pressing in nearly five decades.
  • Debut Releases on CD and all streaming platforms (including hi-res digital).
  • Pre-orders are available.

🎧 First Listen: “I’m Gonna Settle Down”

To celebrate the announcement, you can stream or download Boone Creek’s soul-stirring take on the Flatt & Scruggs classic, “I’m Gonna Settle Down,” right now. The track perfectly showcases the dazzling musicianship and fiery chemistry of these four masters.

50 Years in the Making: The Mystery of the Lost Tapes

In 1976, fresh off their tenure with J.D. Crowe & the New South, Ricky Skaggs (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals) and Jerry Douglas (Dobro, vocals) joined forces with songwriter Wes Golding (guitar) and Terry Baucom (banjo). Together, they created a daring new sound that honored bluegrass tradition while boldly expanding its possibilities with elements of jam-band looseness, timeless pop, and 1970s soft-rock.

But for decades, a piece of that history was missing.

“When it came time to collect the tapes, it was found that the engineer had absconded with them.” — Jerry Douglas

Nearly five decades later, the tapes were finally tracked down, but they were moldy and badly damaged. Following an intense restoration effort, four previously unreleased session recordings were rescued. These bonus tracks reveal an even bolder, more experimental side of Boone Creek, including the freewheeling “Hitchhiking to California” and the horn-laced, subtly psychedelic “Dream Song.” One of the recovered tracks, “Misty Wind,” even features harmony vocals from country legend Vince Gill, who briefly played bass for the band.

What the Legends Are Saying

“It’s been over 50 years since Boone Creek made these recordings and it’s great to hear them remastered. They sound better than ever, and I never thought the previously unreleased cuts would see the light of day. A big thanks to my bandmate, brother Jerry Douglas, for assisting in the remastering process—great job!” — Ricky Skaggs

Where Are They Now? The Boone Creek Legacy

Boone Creek only put out one more album (One Way Track in 1978) before disbanding, but its members went on to shape the face of American roots music:

  • Ricky Skaggs: Just 23 during Boone Creek, he went on to join Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and forged a legendary career, earning 15 GRAMMY Awards.
  • Jerry Douglas: Recognized as one of the most influential Dobro players in history, Douglas has garnered 16 GRAMMY Awards and is a featured member of Alison Krauss and Union Station.
  • Wes Golding: Later performed with the beloved Shenandoah Cut-Ups and co-founded Wes Golding & Sure Fire.
  • Terry Baucom: A founding member of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and IIIrd Tyme Out, Baucom passed away in 2023, receiving a Distinguished Achievement Award at that year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards.

A Snapshot of Bluegrass History

Today, Boone Creek stands as both a time capsule and a revelation: a snapshot of four extraordinary musicians at the start of their journeys, unafraid to test the limits of their craft.

Are you excited to spin this progressive bluegrass classic on vinyl? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to pre-order your copy today!

Photo: Craft Recordings

Choir Boy Teams Up With Producer Jorge Elbrecht for New Track ‘I’ll Always Let You Down’

Choir Boy L-R: Chaz Costello, Adam Klopp, Michael Paulsen, Jeff Kleinman
Photo: Kris Kirk, used with permission.

Ethereal Indie Darlings Choir Boy Triumphantly Return With New Single, “I’ll Always Let You Down”

Ethereal indie darlings Choir Boy have triumphantly returned with their brand-new single, “I’ll Always Let You Down,” produced by the legendary Jorge Elbrecht (Sky Ferreira, Japanese Breakfast). (another side, 2026)

Marking their first taste of new music since 2020, the track hit just in time for their support tour with AFI. The single is available now via Dais Records and is accompanied by a charmingly bizarre, self-directed animated music video.

Sensual, Sinister, Sardonic

“I’ll Always Let You Down” finds Choir Boy at the height of their powers, taking their nostalgia-laced, romantic dream pop to thrilling new depths. The track manages to sound simultaneously sensual and sinister, equal parts delight and sorrow.

Musically, drum machines shuffle over a dirty synth bass while bright bells blossom under the light of frontman Adam Klopp’s angelic vocals. When pressed to describe the deeper meaning behind the track, Klopp offers a grin:

“(I’ll Always) is an anti-love song—a sardonic self-indictment of a failing lover.”

Watch the official music video below:

“Just Say That We ‘Got Lost'”

“Triumphantly return?” Time is a notorious trickster, and the band is jovial when confronting the four-year gap since their last major release.

“Just say that we ‘Got Lost,'” they joke.

Over the past four years, Choir Boy hasn’t exactly been idle. They have continued making surrealist music videos, sharing avant-garde updates on social media, and playing live across North America and Europe. Yet, for their dedicated fanbase, the lack of new music has felt like an eternity.

“Tell everyone the delays are my fault,” Klopp asserts through laughter. “Blame everything on me.”

Following the end of their run with Provoker, Choir Boy’s momentum was at an all-time high. After kicking off 2026 with a series of one-off shows in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, a creative rebirth took place, leading directly to the recording of “I’ll Always Let You Down.”

The Jorge Elbrecht Connection

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when the band tapped Jorge Elbrecht, a renowned songwriter and stalwart of Los Angeles’s underground music community, to produce the new single.

Together, the band and producer immediately clicked, finding a harmonious workflow and “a shared sense of humor about the bleakness.”

“In [the song’s] previous incarnation, before we were working with Jorge, there was something missing,” the band reflects. While producing the track, Elbrecht contributed fresh sounds and arrangements, encouraging the band to dive even deeper into the depths.

The result? A new day, carrying on right where they belong. Serendipitously, the themes of their upcoming music and the greater arc of Choir Boy are finally coming together.

Their ultimate takeaway? “Redemption.”

About Choir Boy

The Origin

“Choir Boy” was what kids called singer/songwriter Adam Klopp in his early teens when he fronted punk cover bands in Cleveland, Ohio. Though intended as an insult, the label seemed fitting given Klopp’s religious upbringing and angelic voice. After high school, Adam left Ohio for college in Utah. While his academic career was short-lived, he seamlessly integrated into Provo and Salt Lake City’s underground music and art scenes, left religion behind, and officially named his new project Choir Boy. (Dais Records, 2026)

The Evolution

Since their debut album, Passive With Desire, the dream-pop outfit has gained a massive cult following in underground circles. Choir Boy’s signature sound relies on a perfect blend of nostalgia-laced romantic pop music, brought to life by a stellar lineup:

  • Adam Klopp – Stunning vocal range, lyrics, and melodies
  • Chaz Costello – Bass (Fossil Arms, Sculpture Club, Human Leather)
  • Jeff Kleinman – Saxophone and Keyboards
  • Michael Paulsen – Guitar

“I’ll Always Let You Down” is out now on Dais Records.

Victoria Cardona’s Que Pasó: Chart-Topping Album Meets Live-Looping Mastery

Victoria Cardona releases a solo video series performing songs from her debut album Que Pasó. Photo: Dreamspider Publicity, used with permission.

Artist Spotlight: Victoria Cardona is Redefining the One-Woman Band

West Palm Beach, Fla. — Based out of South Florida, Victoria Cardona is a Cuban American singer/songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist who is rapidly turning heads in the music world. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2026)

Her live looping performances are a true sonic and visual experience, taking the audience on a ride through the mind of a spontaneous improvisationalist. With the aid of the Boss RC-600 loop pedal, Victoria masterfully stacks intricate layers of guitar, bass, percussion, and vocal harmonies. The result? A rich, massive backdrop for her smokey alto vocals and ripping lead guitar solos.

The Critical Success of Que Pasó

Victoria recently released her debut studio album, Que Pasó, to critical acclaim across Latin and world radio and media. The record has put up some seriously impressive numbers on the charts:

  • #1 on The Roots Music Report’s Top 50 World Album Chart (holding the top spot for three consecutive weeks).
  • Top 20 on the NCAA (North American College and Community) Radio Chart for 20 weeks, peaking at #10.
  • Currently Climbing: The album is now making fresh waves on Americana and Triple A radio.

Que Pasó Fast Facts

FeatureDetails
ProducerTim Goodman (Founding member of Southern Pacific)
Tracklist8 original tracks + 3 creative covers
The SoundA blend of Cuban rhythms, jazz, rock, and world influences

The album features a powerhouse lineup of legendary guest musicians, including Jimmy Haslip on bass, Jimmy Branley on drums, Justo Almario on horns, Bill Payne on piano, Francisco Torres on trombone, and Tim Goodman pulling multi-instrumental duty on organ, mandolin, guitar, marimbas, and synthesizer.

From Studio Elegance to Live Looping Mastery

While Que Pasó showcases Victoria’s music with the lush backing of a full studio band, she is best known for the raw energy of her live-looping solo performances.

To bridge these two worlds, Victoria recently filmed an exclusive solo performance showcasing the songs from Que Pasó at The Grange in Martha’s Vineyard.

What’s Next: She will be releasing a series of videos from this session across her social media platforms and YouTube. The series kicks off with her original song “Ghost” and will drop every other week.

It’s one thing to deliver a stellar studio record, but it’s another talent entirely to recreate that dynamic, full-band sound completely solo on stage.

Roots, Rhythm, and Global Influence

Victoria’s Cuban roots and deep familiarity with multicultural genres provide the driving inspiration for her music. She delivers a heavy rhythmic undertone fused seamlessly with jazz, blues, soul, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, salsa, and rock ’n’ roll.

  • The Upbringing: Growing up in a traditional Cuban household, she was heavily influenced by legends like Celia Cruz, Buena Vista Social Club, and Gloria Estefan.
  • Modern Inspiration: Today, she closely resonates with culturally conscious contemporary acts like Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma.

After formally studying jazz guitar in Florida and Minnesota, Victoria developed her signature live-looping, one-woman-band project. International tours have already taken her across Europe, while her relentless performance schedule throughout the Southeast U.S. continues to sharpen her unique, boundary-pushing sound.

Follow Victoria Cardona on YouTube and social media to catch the bi-weekly Martha’s Vineyard video series!

Legendary Tony Rice 1977 Self-Titled Album to Be Reissued for 75th Birthday

Tony Rice’s 1977 self-titled album returns on vinyl and digital. Photo: Craft Recordings, used with permission.

Bluegrass Legend Tony Rice’s 1977 Masterpiece Returns for 75th Birthday Celebration

Los Angeles, CA — In celebration of what would have been influential bluegrass guitarist Tony Rice’s 75th birthday, Craft Recordings has announced the return of his seminal 1977 self-titled album. (Craft Recordings, 2026)

Out of print for more than 40 years, Tony Rice captured a pivotal shift in bluegrass toward a more expansive, ensemble-driven sound. Featuring a “who’s who” of bluegrass legends, the record remains a cornerstone of the “new acoustic” genre, seamlessly blending bluegrass standards with contemporary compositions.

The Definitive Reissue

For the first time in decades, fans can experience this foundational recording in its purest form.

  • Release Date: June 5
  • Format: Vinyl (featuring AAA mastering) and Digital (Standard/Hi-Res)
  • Audio Quality: Cut from the original tapes with all-analog (AAA) mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.
  • Packaging: A faithful replication of the original 1977 jacket design.
  • Listen Now: Rice’s take on the traditional folk ballad “Banks of the Ohio” is available to stream today.

Pre-save/Pre-order the album here

A Revolutionary Force in Bluegrass

Tony Rice (1951–2020) was more than just a guitarist; he was an innovative force who shaped the very sound of modern bluegrass.

Born in Virginia and raised in Los Angeles, Rice first rose to prominence in Louisville, KY, as the lead vocalist and guitarist for J.D. Crowe’s legendary group, The New South. In the mid-’70s, Rice returned to California to join the David Grisman Quintet, where he began incorporating jazz, classical, and other sophisticated styles into his playing.

The Birth of “New Acoustic”

Released during his tenure with Grisman, Tony Rice was the guitarist’s third studio album and his first for Rounder Records. It stands as a prime example of the “new acoustic” style—an improvisation-driven blend of bluegrass, jazz, and prog-rock played on wholly acoustic instrumentation.

The album features an incredible lineup of collaborators:

  • Larry Rice: Mandolin
  • J.D. Crowe: Banjo, Backup Vocals
  • Jerry Douglas: Dobro
  • David Grisman: Mandolin
  • Darol Anger: Fiddle
  • Todd Phillips: Bass
  • Richard Greene: Fiddle

Together, they artfully blend tradition with progression, moving from Bill Monroe’s “Big Mon” to contemporary compositions like Grisman’s “Rattlesnake.”

An Enduring Legacy

Rice’s influence cannot be overstated. Ricky Skaggs once hailed him as “the single most influential acoustic guitar player in the last 50 years.”

Over a four-decade career, Rice released over a dozen solo albums—including the acclaimed Church Street Blues (1983)—and over two dozen collaborative titles. A GRAMMY® Award winner and International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee, Rice’s distinctive touch and harmonic complexity continue to influence generations of pickers worldwide.

Tony Rice Track Listing (Vinyl)

Side A:

  1. Banks of the Ohio
  2. Rattlesnake
  3. Mr. Engineer
  4. Plastic Banana
  5. Don’t Give Your Heart to a Rambler
  6. Farewell Blues

Side B:

  1. Way Downtown
  2. Stoney Creek
  3. Hills of Roane County
  4. Eighth of January
  5. Big Mon
  6. Temperance Reel