HCSAU introduces Storm Watch, a new series that’s going to highlight and introduce your ears to bands that aren’t well known. If you know me, you know that I absolutely love music. My ultimate dream is to work in the music industry doing PR work or being a tour manager. Above all, I just really love discovering and sharing music. Some weeks I’ll be sharing up and coming artists that you should keep an eye out for, some weeks I’ll be sharing music that our parents listen to, and sometimes I’ll discuss Top 40 artists, but focus on their lesser known songs.
This week I’ll start off slow and introduce you to two bands that I absolutely love that totally deserve more recognition.
The Alkaline Trio
Hailing from McHenry, Illinois, this alternative rock band is fronted by Matt Skiba, who also currently plays for Blink-182, post departure of Tom DeLonge. The first song I ever heard from them was “Balanced on a Shelf” from their 2013 album My Shame is True and I’ve been hooked ever since. As with most bands, their sound has matured over the years (they’ve been a band since 1996) but their overall vibe has never changed. This is a band that I listen to when I need to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time. They have some songs that have a softer tone to them, but not so soft that it puts you to sleep. Most of their songs have a high energy to them and are helpful when you need a little motivation to finish the homework that you should have done last night. If you want to check them out, my top recommendations are “Balanced on a Shelf,” “Nose Over Tail” and “Mercy Me.” They are expected to release a new album within the next year!
AJR
This band is made up of three brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan (hence the band name,) and they describe themselves as an “indie-pop band from NYC.” I had never heard of them until I saw them open for a Dan + Shay concert last spring. They came running out on stage with huge faux-fur hats on and were jumping around while playing their instruments. To say these brothers have high energy would be a huge understatement! When describing their latest EP “What Everyone’s Thinking” that just dropped last week, they were quoted as saying “our goal is to try and write about what everyone’s thinking and what no one’s saying.” They go against the grain and sing about topics that are actually relevant, and they keep an upbeat vibe while doing it. It’s hard to be in a bad mood when their music is playing. They are most well-known for their song that is un-ironically entitled “I’m Not Famous.” That song is a great example of their overall sound. If you enjoy their music, you can catch them out on tour this fall with Ingrid Michaelson!
We are just getting started, friends. There are a lot of bands that I absolutely love that not a lot of people know about, and I cannot wait to share them with you!
Photo credit: www.google.com, https://www.facebook.com/alkalinetrio and AJRBrothers