When social movements demanding for change get their loudest, it’s hard not to take notice. Unfortunately, once the collective consciousness absorbs it, folds it into all the other static, and the narrative spun by talking heads and scrolling screens, it also becomes easy to ignore again. But many voices keep yelling through the static, like Indiana based band Beltalowda. On their latest release, The Days That Are Given And The Ways We Live Them, this punk rock outfit is still in the fight for awareness, solutions, and overall responsibility. That responsibility we have to each other. And lyrically they do not mince words when taking aim at either the broad concept of privilege, or the specific hypocrisy of libertarian ideology. The socio-political climate isn’t the only thing Beltalowda needed to address on this record. Grief plays a big part as well, with concrete imagery in the lyrics. Details that are truly relatable. Founding members Alano-Martin and Short blend noisy guitar and melodic bass respectively, while newest addition Thogerson (Murder By Death, Go To Space Die) delivers the energetic beats. Together with other collaborators they mix it up raw, and let the imperfections texturize the final product. The Days and The Ways is yet another good example of how we can’t let what’s important get lost in the endless cycling of punditry and pageantry. And that is giving and living and loving.
Transparency Note – Postcard Editor plays in Beltalowda, but he assures you Mike was not paid to write this review, and frankly is a little embarrassed by how glowing it is.
The Midweekly – Beltalowda
Various Re-post-ions: Two Minutes to Late Night (again)
We try not to shine the light on the same sight over and over again, but Two Minutes to Late Night is just that good. Also this week’s cover includes long time friend of the blog Adam Turla from Murder by Death (along with members of My Chemical Romance, Distillers, Thursday and Soul Glo) covering an Annie Lennox classic, so you know we have to share the love.
Friday 5×5
Today we have new songs from Phantogram, Jack Schwab, Murder by Death, Starcrawler and King Khan.
Talk Thursday to Me – Adam Turla
Today we catch up with old friend of the blog Adam Turla from Murder by Death about their new Patreon and upcoming Holiday album.
Various Re-post-ions: Murder by Death
Our friends at Murder by Death recently pulled the curtain back on just how important the USPS to independent bands, and we felt it was important enough to share. Check it out.
Rearview Mirror – Nick Cross
Rearview Mirror is our annual look back at the year in music from our friends in and around the business. Musicians, managers, roadies, superfans, bloggers etc..
Today’s year in musical review comes to you from Nick Cross – tour manager for White Rabbits, Asobi Seksu and Murder by Death and co-host of the podcast Nick & Mat’s Infinite Shitlist.
Rearview Mirror – Postcard Elba
Rearview Mirror is our annual look back at the year in music from our friends in and around the business. Musicians, managers, roadies, superfans, bloggers etc..
This year we’re upping the vanity aspect of it by sprinkling in our favorite posts of the past year, which you may have missed the first time around. In March we did a little series called SXSWland Tales, where we had friends in the biz who had gone to SXSW to send us a recap of their personal experiences. There were a lot of great ones, but this one from Will Pepple (Tour Manager/Sound Guy for Matt & Kim, Mr. Heavenly, Diplo, Lucero, Murder by Death and about a thousand other bands) was our favorite. Just a series of photos with minimal explanation gives a good feel for the blur that is SXSW.
Where the Bus Pass Took Us
While homebodies by nature, we do regularly muster the single malt courage to go out into the world and experience music in the flesh, and we document these excursions in Where the Bus Pass Took Us.
This weekend we caught the farewell performance of Thousand Arrows (who is moving to Portland, OR), the passing through by way of Olympia, WA greatness of Eleanor Murray and local beard and hat enthusiast Sam Lowry performing at The Bishop. As usual, our camera crapped out earlier than we would like (our battery seems to be dying a swift death) but we were able to capture a couple of songs by Sam Lowry, who was assisted this show by Matt Armstrong from Murder by Death.
This Day in Music History – Dagan Thogerson on Megadeth
Where the Bus Pass Took Us
While homebodies by nature, we do regularly muster the single malt courage to go out into the world and experience music in the flesh, and we document these excursions in Where the Bus Pass Took Us.
Last night we caught Brooklyn’s The Woes, along with local stalwart Sam Lowry, as they came through town to The Bishop. Our camera was not as charged as we thought it was and so after shooting a couple of songs from the Lowry set we were only able to get one from The Woes, but we still wanted to share. Check them out below.