Tag Archives: Listen

Playlist and original podcasts by the Sandy Beats collective.

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Check Out: Churchill

Here’s the back story: I’m going to a concert at the Starlight Theater in KC next week. I bought the ticket to see Imagine Dragons, but I always like to familiarize myself with any supporting bands prior to the date. Well, this concert seems to be a bit of a collage. When the weekend festival Kanrocksas (I keep calling it Rockansas!) cancelled, several of the bands got gigs at the Starlight instead, for what feels like a mini-festival. Another one of the bands playing that night is Churchill.

So I checked them out. And, well, first love happened… I instantly added “Lock Your Heart Down” to my Summer 2013 playlist. That song is part of their most recent EP The War Within, which was released about a month ago. Their new album comes out in July. Get excited!

Churchill is a band from Colorado and their first hit was “Change.” Trying to define their music is not easy. One might go with Indie-folksy-rock-alt-country. There’s a mandolin in there, so I’m sure @DocMurda will get as hooked as I have.

Here’s the video for “Change”

And here’s “Look Your Heart Down”

Funny story. I did my research a couple of weeks ago. And today while listening to my Summer playlist I went to their site to look at their tour dates. When I saw the June 28th date at Starlight, I had a moment of “WAIT! I’ll be up there on that date!” and then it hit me. New music overload? Or am I just getting old?

Happy beginning of Summer, everyone!

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New Music: “Brother” by Swear and Shake

SwearAndShake
Remember that I told you about Swear and Shake not too long ago? If you don’t, just go back a couple of entries on the blog.

Their new single “Brother” was released two weeks ago and it’s pretty awesome. New album later this year? I hope so!

“Brother” is also available on Spotify, for your playlist-making pleasure.

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This might be my quintessential Summer song

It’s been a year (oh, Summer 2012) since I discovered (read “ran into it somewhere around the Interwebz”) M A U S I and their single “Sol.” I found it in video format, so I can’t really listen to it without picturing the kitty at sec. 48. In fact, that’s how happy I get when I hear this song. I don’t know if I love the video or the song more, but I know it makes me think of Summer.

You know what is very intriguing about M A U S I? They only seem to have this song (and a bunch of remixes of it) and another one called “Move” and that’s it. I cannot find anything else by these guys. ANYTHING. Hurts my feelings a little bit, I’m not gonna lie. I want more M A U S I.

I want to know everyone’s quintessential Summer song and make a playlist. Yessss.

Enjoy the heat!

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Check Out: Matrimony

I spend many hours surfing bands on Spotify. On one such night, I stumbled across the band Matrimony. The song that I heard was instantly stuck in my head, “Obey Your Guns,” has a nice rockabilly feel to it, with an undertone of good old fashioned Americana. After further digging, I discovered that the name of the band is not without meaning. The band is actually a family affair. After meeting brothers CJ & Jordan, the Ireland born Jimmy was introduced to the younger sister and talented singer Ashlee. The romance spawned this Charlotte, NC based band. Many of their songs have an Americana roots feel  and include strong piano influences.

The band will be playing Bonnaroo later this month and  then will primarily be touring across the southeastern part of the US over the summer. They will not be making out West this time, but from the videos of their live performances, they are not to be missed.

You will like them if you like: The Civil Wars, Of Monsters & Men and The Lumineers

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Check out: Swear And Shake

Back in early February, I went to a G. Love & Special Sauce show at George’s here in Fayetteville. I was running late and was only able to catch the last song of the opening band, Swear And Shake. That one song alone made me regret not making it to the show in time to catch their whole set, so I looked them up. As I suspected, their music is sweet.

Swear And Shake is a New York-based indie-folk-rock band made up of singer-songwriters Kari Spieler and Adam McHeffey, bassist Shaun Savage, and drummer Tom Elefante.

Shout out to G. Love, who usually has really great new bands opening for him on the road. Last year he introduced me to The Belle Brigade, and the year before he introduced me to Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (don’t make me try to say that name too fast cause I might end up confused, speaking Spanish).

These guys and gal are very talented and a delight to see live.  You can find their 2010 Extended Play EP and 2012 full album Maple Ridge on Spotify. Here’s their song “These White Walls” off Maple Ridge.

You will like them if you like: Tristan Prettyman, The Lumineers, and Of Monsters And Men.