Meet your new favorite feel-good band. The Brummies are an indie-rock band hailing from Nashville by way of Alabama and have built a career on carefree tunes with a retro sound that pays tribute to some of their favorite 70’s influences.

A Midwest-emo ensemble from St. Louis, Blond Guru is a name you’ll hopefully hear a lot more of in 2023. The five-piece, made up of Noah Gregory (lead vocals and guitar), Sean Buchert (drummer and vocals), Hal Gregory (keys and vocals), Cole Conner (bass) and Josh Hezel (guitar), met at Lindbergh High School and started making music amid the start of the pandemic in 2020. While having band practice via Zoom, the group discovered their unique, alternative grunge sound, reminiscent of bands like Hippo Campus, The Strokes and The Arctic Monkeys.

The Bug was cheap and covered in primer. It was about his age, maybe a little younger. Adrian Miller didn’t care. He just needed some wheels.

Often, culturally significant bands are said to “transcend labels.” They go beyond conquering a genre and leave behind a legacy of musical fusion. To say that the Latin GRAMMY-nominated, Afro-Latino rock band Making Movies has integrated a variety of styles is too passive. It’s more accurate to describe their performances as energetic fever dreams with roots in cumbia, Son Cubano, mambo and the African diaspora.

“Run the Jewels has never done a show without me and hopefully that stays that way forever.”

“I feel like we’ve got our own thing going on. Always have,” Sean Caskey, co-lead vocals and co-lead guitar of Last Dinosaurs, said as I sat down with him at Delmar Hall ahead of the second show of their North American tour, “Tourzilla.” 

From the opening notes of her first album in five years, it’s clear that Nashville songstress Nikki Lane is in her “kick ass and take names” era of her career. Even at her most sincere and saccharine, Lane’s music has always had a tinge of edge, whether coming from the signature rasp in her voice or driving rhythms. Now, the grit, grime and fun—which are always covered in fringe and sparkle—are front and center in Denim & Diamonds, a follow-up to 2017’s Highway Queen.

It’s a summer Tuesday in Kansas City. I’m standing in recordBar, born in a strip mall but now one of the city’s preeminent live music venues. In between sets, I’m at the bar sipping on an energy drink cocktail. I feel like I need a shot of caffeine after a long day, but little do I know my energy level is about to be lifted, whether I’m ready or not.

Garage rock trio L.A. Witch doesn’t need a bubbling cauldron, vials of neon potions, or voodoo dolls to cast a spell on its audience. For over a decade, the group has been captivating crowds with smoky vocals and a simple instrumental setup: guitar, bass, drums.

Once I arrived at Off Broadway, I followed the Pizza Hut delivery driver to the side stage doors and was ushered upstairs to the green room—and I mean it when I say green, because it was quite literally a neon lime green room. There, all the members, except Brad Vaughn, who was unintentionally locked outside for the second time that day I was told, were waiting for me. Jenn Malzone, the lead vocalist and songwriter for Middle Class Fashion, immediately moved from her chair and took a seat on the black floor, the band all reaching for pizza to fuel up for the concert later that evening.

Pride Month in June is a significant time of the year for the LGBTQ+ community, including its wealth of talented artists. Celebrated in a variety of ways, the event brings together millions of participants as they share in the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally. Addie Sartino is counted among these individuals.

If you don't know Valerie June, you should and soon will. She hails from the small town of Humbolt, Tenn., but spends her time in New York these days when not on the road sharing her voice.

It all started in the waterbed…well, at least that’s how Jake would say it all started. You’d probably get a different answer from Matt, Tyler, or Eric, and they’d all definitely rag on Jake for bringing up the waterbed in the first place.

Most people start a band with hopes of making it big and skyrocketing their careers. While that isn’t the case yet for Motherfolk, it is where they are headed.

San Francisco-based Destroy Boys have been releasing music since 2015. Currently, the trio is shredding the road on their second headlining tour in support of their new album, Open Mouth, Open Heart. We caught up with lead guitarist Violet Mayugba and drummer Narsai Malik before their Sunday night performance in May at Off Broadway.

The college years are the glory days for many people, from living it up at frat parties to late nights in the library. One particular group of Mizzou students—and one recent graduate—would say their college experience might differ from others.

The definition of “lifer” is someone who has made a lifetime commitment. Donald Williams is a prime example of being a “lifer” in St. Louis’ music scene. Thankfully, that’s a good thing, as the city’s music culture has benefited greatly from his dedication to his craft going back to the 1980s.

“Hi, I’m Tate McRae, and I am 18 years old; I’m from Canada and I’m a singer and dancer,” McRae bluntly says with a smile lounging in a chair. You may not have heard of McRae, but you will know her soon enough.