Latterman: The band that made me want to play in a gruff punk band, the band that made me want to shave the sides of my head and sew patches onto a denim vest, the band that made me want to scream along at sweaty shows in basements. Latterman affected me in a deep way and Tender Defender are filling the hole they left in 2007. Made up of the same dudes, Tender Defender have picked up where they left off and it’s making my heart soar just like it did as a 14 year old kid. With insanely catchy hooks, Canino’s inimitable voice and Schramm’s perfect drums, this band are perfect. There aren’t really adequate words to describe what this band makes me feel, so just listen to it and I hope it affects you as much.
Forth Wanderers hail from Montclair, New Jersey, a small town that’s ridiculously full of talented musicians, notably Pinegrove and Jenny Owen Youngs. With their debut record ‘Tough Love’ released back in November 2014, 2016 will hopefully see a new release from Forth Wanderers and, man, I can’t wait. With interlocking, twiddly guitars and complex, intricate drumming, Forth Wanderers provide a beautiful, subtle backdrop for vocalist Ava Trilling’s personal and emotional musings. This band are talented way beyond their years and I’ve listened to their record, plus EP ‘Mahogany’, so often. I hope we hear more from them this year. In the words of Tom Haverford, “Treat yo self” and listen to this band.
Lead Sister rose from the ashes of alt-rock band Richa who disbanded late last year. Featuring all four original members of Richa, Lead Sister feel more chaotic, more trippy, more free. Debut song ‘Wax’ is a sprawling, soaring, dark track and the video, edited by singer Gethyn Thomas and drummer Alex Probert-Jones, is a weird and unsettling accompaniment. With no band photo, no promo and with no information on when, or even if, an EP is coming, Lead Sister are doing this all on their own terms and keeping their cards close to their chest. They’re worthy of your attention.
Kentucky four-piece Fast Friends are a hidden treasure of the emo scene. So far, this band has remained pretty under-the-radar outside their home state but that should all change this year, with a new album (recorded and produced by the band themselves) on the horizon.
This band fits in perfectly with the likes of Prawn, Into It. Over It. and their peers. Check out ‘Better Part Of A Year’ and see for yourself. (Also, an incredible dog named Chief features heavily in most of their photos, so what’s not to love?)
The Chinchees are incredible surfy, garagey, scrappy pop punk from three dudes from Minneapolis. I saw this band play in a basement right after the clocks struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, and it was a glorious, shambolic, perfect way to see in the New Year. With a new album out later this year, get involved now so all your friends think you’re cool as hell when everyone goes nuts after the album drops and you can be all like “yeah, I know those guys”. Trust me.