How come all my candor just comes across as grandeur?

It’s a tornado of injustice and it’s only picking up speed.

There are always so many things to be mad about and I’m always mad about all of them. People are legitimately arguing that no, it’s fine if we murder people on the subway because unhoused people are icky to look at and acknowledge any shred of humanity in, so maybe if we just kill ‘em they’ll go away. Guy acting weird, better slowly drain the life from his body. It’s just too bad that there was no other way to deal with that specific situation. It’s certainly easier than thinking for one single second about the constant crises circling around us. The Bribery Boys down at the Supreme Court talked at one of their Nazi memorabilia meetups and agreed it’s actually okay if they do some big bribes, so that’s fine. The writer’s are on strike and every blue check idiot thinks an algorithm could write a tv show but we already tried that, it’s called Young Sheldon and it sucks. We’ll just keep giving cops more money and watch it keep not working and not thinking twice. Some of the dumbest people you went to high school with ended up as cops, that’s probably fine. Trans people just want to exist, but some lunatics have decided to put all their time and energy (what a super normal thing for a person to make their crusade in life, those people are definitely normal and well-adjusted) into grinding them out of existence through intimidation and/or legislation. We’re looking out for the kids, they’ll say while simultaneously making sure women don’t have any rights to their own body so they can be forced to give birth and then the second that little guy pops out, it’s hi have fun good luck you’re on your own pal, and you better not be queer. No, we don’t have money for school lunch, sorry. Well, some suburban police department needed two more tanks and a rocket launcher for when the people finally get sick of this shit, and we can’t say no to those guys. And all the kids getting gunned down at school or the mall or anywhere else, that’s just freedom baby. You’re free to just fucking die, sorry not sorry, that’s freedom, you don’t understand but that’s just how free you are. Enjoy it! No, it’s good that 12 year old can work in meat packing factories, that’s what kids should be doing.

Why solve real problems when you can just make new ones up based on your specific bad faith arguments? If you’re rich or powerful you are above reproach or oversight or even questions, but everyone else better not take one step out of line or they’ll hang you on the wall or choke you out on the subway or shoot you in the head or throw you in jail for protesting.

Sometimes dystopia doesn’t feel like enough to describe it. Tornado of injustice it is.

Trying to think of some positive note here and I’m not sure what to say. Baseball rocks. That is true. Let’s go with that. Baseball!

It’s been a really rough few weeks for me. Give your family a big hug tonight and tell them you love them. It’s been rough for a lot of people lately too. If you have a couple extra bucks, I hope you will join me in supporting a couple families who could use anything you can spare. Nothing in life is fair, and seeing your family sick is the most unfair. Thanks.

Alright. Let’s listen to some music. Here’s the link to the playlist.

Taking Meds - “Memory Lane”

One of the biggest jams of the year. It’s only May but there’s a guaranteed spot on the ‘best songs of the year’ list for this one.

Superviolet - “Locket”

The Sidekicks (RIP) were one of the best, and Steve is back with a new band called Superviolet and I’ve done some research and this fact is true: if you liked The Sidekicks, you’re gonna dig Superviolet, and if you didn’t like the Sidekicks, well that’s just impossible so this part of the sentence doesn’t even make sense.

Josaleigh Pollett - “The Nothing Answered Back”

This song does so much with very little. It’s sparse but there’s a haunting quality to every second. You can feel the intentionality in every sound. I came across this song on Twitter and it practically jumped out of the screen, that’s how hard it grabbed me. There are few things in life quite like that feeling of a new song, a new artist, a new sound. It’s physical, it’s mental, it’s unbeatable.

Honey Creek - “Burnt Bitter”

Look, I’m a simple guy. I’m just always going to be a sucker for a high energy song that goes wee-ooo-wee-ooo-wee-ooo-ooo. Big jam right here.

Tiny Voices - “Minnesota? Wild.”

The comparison isn’t 1:1 here but I hear some Early November echoes in this band, which is obviously a big ol’ compliment. Their new record is called Make Up Your Place and it’s good.

Militarie Gun - “Do it Faster”

Clocking in under two minutes, MG really is doing it faster. This one hits hard and fast. This is the first song I’ve heard by them but now I need more and I need it bad.

sweetmess - “Perfect Design”

I can’t describe it fully but this EP sounds just like the cover looks. The guitars and the melodies are juuust right. Just gonna copy from their Bandcamp here: This 4 piece from Montreal is bringing back the iconic 90’s rom-com pop rock sound with inspirations like goo goo dolls, sixpence none the richer, sugar, the cardigans and more. Say. No. More.

OK Cool - “Soaked In”

Here’s a cool Chicago band making something that’s somewhere between jangly pop and garage rock. That’s a good place to be. Listen more here.

Nick Webber - “Night Terror”

Nick’s All the Nothing I Know is one of the best records of the year. Nick is a member of A Place For Owls, a wonderful band from Denver who put out what is truly a record for the ages last year. An instant modern classic. This band is special beyond words and Nick’s solo effort is also great. Just watching a recent APFO on YouTube had me feeling some emotions. Watch it. Dig it. The next Manchester Orchestra is here.

Greg Mendez - “Goodbye / Trouble”

Greg’s record is fantastic. Here’s another one that I saw a lot of chatter on Twitter so I had high hopes (a phrase that a little band called Panic(!) at the Disco invented, in case you didn’t know) and really dug it. It gets better with each listen, too.

Cinema Stare - “Bad”

Sometimes you just hear a pop-punk song and think “now this is pop-punk song!” in the best way. This is one of those songs.

Lakes - “Aces”

Here’s a band from England making expansive, catchy, heartfelt pop songs with hooks. Their new record is good.

Pomegranate Tea - “Mario 3”

Here’s a local Boston band you should know about. I saw them open for Charmer recently and was really impressed by their set.

Thank You, I’m Sorry - “Chronically Online”Sweeping Promises - “Eraser”Petal - “YOU REALLY LOVE ME”

These three songs/bands are grouped together because they’re all bands I’ve mentioned before and they’re still doing the damn thing. New songs, all good.

And real quick, shoutout to ONE FALL for winning the 2023 Boston Rock & Roll Rumble. If you didn’t listen to them before when I told you to, maybe now that they’ve been crowned Boston’s Best Band you’re interested? I’m not offended.

That’s all for now. FEST tickets finally go on sale next week. I hope you’re going.

I think this is a strong group of songs. I hope you find a new band here. Let me know.