Australian band I Know Leopard come into new track “Close My Eyes” riding a hot streak of buzzy singles (like “Picture Perfect” and “Hold This Tight”). On “Close My Eyes”, the band turn to a cinematic frame fixing a spiraling vocal tune to whirling strings and high drama drums. “Close My Eyes” is out now.
I Know Leopard 
(Facebook)
Chess Club band Sundara Karma premiered a new single on Huw Stephens’ Radio 1 show last night entitled “Flame”. “Flame” finds Sundara Karma aiming a bit more for accessibility as the tunefulness is more refined here and the arrangement steadier. “Flame” is not lacking for crossover and anthemic quality and with the band slated for a number of big festival dates this summer; the band’s arrow appears to be decidedly pointed up.
Sundara Karma 
(Soundcloud)
The great Velvet Teen return on June 30th to release 4th LP All Is Illusory (the band’s first records, Out of the Fierce Parade, Elysium, and Cum Laude! are stone-cold classics). “Eclipses”, the second stream from All Is Illusory is punchy number run around frontperson Judah Nagler’s thin whip-driven frenetic guitar stabs and melodic riffing. Stream it below.
The Velvet Teen 
(Facebook)
Hibou is the project of former Craft Spells drummer Peter Michel. Signed Barsuk Records, Hibou will release a self-titled debut LP in September that will feature “Dissolve”, a shimmery serving of romantic rhythmic shoegaze-y pop.
Hibou 
(Soundcloud)
Faves MISUN have a new EP out now titled “Feel Better”. You’ve heard “After Me” and “Justice” from the five song release already on B3, now stream summery piano-driven “Nobody Knows” available below for your listening pleasure.
Misun 
(Facebook)
UK band Kins return on July 6 with a new EP “Cyclical” on East City Records. “Young” is a clattering, inventive, urgent bit of well-constructed guitar rock centered thematically on an immediate real quality that is very refreshing in the context of current independent music.
Kins (Soundcloud)
B3’s Bruce Rave headed Brighton earlier this month to take in UK breaking artist festival The Great Escape. Sample below Bruce’s notes on some selected bands to keep tabs on the in nearest future.
The Bohicas are blistering live with huge guitar hooks.
Dutch Uncles are very precise with some songs hookier than others.
Aquilo have immense talent and played a pretty set that endured sound problems.
The girl band Pins reminds many of Best Coast (and they’ve toured together), but they do what they do well with good songs and tight playing.
Boxed In is a band that was unfamiliar to me and they nicely blend electro and rock.
Hippo Campus had only played live in Minnesota until this March, and this UK gig impressed the crowd.
Rat Boy attracted a bevy of high-end industry types. He’s considered hip hop but to me his high energy set was much more on the rock side.
Slaves was one of the most buzzed bands. If you like it hard, heavy, and humorous with some punk anger mixed in, this set would have been right up your alley.
On the other hand, Rhodes was equally effective in a soft and sweet way.
Spring King are a fun guitar band that plays fast with melody.
Blossoms matched their buzz with a good set in the very difficult Green Door Store venue.
The surprise closing set was by Maccabees. This was my first experience where most people in the hall were fans, since UK industry peeps know this band real well. While staid reactions were the norm, this set resulted in animated fans singing along.
Lots of bands I would have liked to see, time permitting, including The Vaccines, Alabama Shakes, Bully and The Strypes.
Check out Bruce’s “Go Deep” show on Fridays 1-3 pm Pacific, 4-6 pm Eastern, 9-11pm GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
Scottish band Man of Moon will release “The Road” through UK label Melodic Records on July 17. “The Road” as a track is simply excellent where percussive but economical muted guitars create the ballast for a controlled chaos of riffing and hypnotic groove in constant motion. Well done.
Man of Moon 
(Facebook)
Hailing from Chicago, IL, Grand Jury band Twin Peaks swing by LA on 5/30 to play the HiFi Deli Club. The garage rock/punk rockers are currently on the “Isolated Incident” tour with Modern Vices and judging by the reaction on social media, it’s going to be a loud and sweaty time. Which for me, is exactly what I’m looking for. While guitars have for the most have been pretty silent in Top 40 recently, the scene has slowly been bubbling under with bands like Twin Peaks leading the charge. On the back of recent release on Grand Jury Records (Wild Onion, now available), the 5 piece have been making a name for themselves, city by city. Preview by Tony Perkis.
Twin Peaks 
(Soundcloud)
Athens band Alabama Shakes turn up the heat on their new track “Future People” which is off their recently released “Sound & Color” EP that (according to the group) has a “genre-bending” sound. The EP is the band’s first to release since their Gold-certified debut album, Boys & Girls; which features the single “Hold On” that earned the group a top rank on Rolling Stone Magazine’s Best Songs of 2012 and #34 on our B3SCI Top 50 songs of 2012. New track “Future People” is worth the wait as it is stunningly wrought with a fresh new psychedelic vibe that works to enhance the group’s well-developed soulful blues-rock bravado that has garnered them three GRAMMY® nominations. We are impressed with the band’s centered new direction on the EP and of course we love the superbly rich and soulful, gorgeous blusey classics-inspired vocals from lead singer and guitarist Britney Howard. Indeed, the ultra bright dynamic in the groups new sound is between the high-art hazy psych-rock vocals and a seasoned, furiously focused guitar-riff-driven instrumental side. Hit play below and be sure to check the Alabama Shakes website for the April-released “Sound & Color”, EP which was co-produced with “young guitar wiz” Blake Mills. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Get into the straight-up vocals and gentle rip of the guitar on playful new indie garage rock track “Slow Dark Water” which is from Connecticut 4 piece “fuzz pop” band Furnsss; who immediately drew our attention with their discombobulated hazy bleached-out mess of guitar-driven sound and awesome not-so-subtle lyrics. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Furnsss (
(Soundcloud)
Get absorbed in the cool reverberant 50/60’s rock underground vibe, dreamy screech-ed out vocals and western-style guitar twang of excellent new classics-influenced indie gem “I Wanna Be A Girl”; which is a fresh slice of good old-fashioned fun-loving cross-dressing rock and roll from Aussie six piece band The Pinheads (who are signed with hometown Wollongong imprint Farmer & The Owl).
The Pinheads (Soundcloud
