The shoegaze revival/redux can now be said to be in full flower. Following new music from My Bloody Valentine and reunion tours from Chapterhouse, Loop, Lush, Ride, Seefeel, Slowdive, and Swervedriver, there has been but one hold-out in the pantheon until now.

Sources close to 4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell have learned the moment many dream-pop fans have dreamed of has finally happened. Cocteau Twins—the Scottish trio that pioneered a bridge between post-punk, gothic rock, and electronic, ethereal, guitar-based, shimmering pop—have reunited.

Guitarist Robin Guthrie, singer Elizabeth Fraser, and bassist Simon Raymonde have mutually agreed to reconcile the irreconcilable differences that led to the band’s break up in 1997 in the interest of uniting against a common enemy: fascism.

“Cocteau Twins do not want fans who are fascists.”

Guthrie allegedly told Watts-Russell, the auteur of the UK’s finest purveyors of gooey shoegazey goodness, that he was inspired by seeing a short film online that purportedly shows none other than the “poster boy” of fascism himself, Adolf Hitler, declaring his love for the group.

“Just as Kurt Cobain didn’t want fans who were rapists,” Guthrie said (referring to the liner notes of the compilation Incesticide, in which the late lead singer disavowed fans who engaged in rape while singing the Nirvana song “Polly”), “Cocteau Twins do not want fans who are fascists, especially not Hitler.”

“While the three of us no longer have anything in common aside from our love of beautiful music with unintelligible lyrics,” Guthrie continued, “we are united in fighting the forces of xenophobia, which we have seen rear their ugly anti-immigration heads around the world, most recently in the USA and France, with the rise of conservative ‘not in my back yard’ movements and the National Front, respectively. With that in mind, we have reformed to reclaim our legacy and ensure that the music we have made in the past cannot be subverted to promote the forces of fascism.”

The trio’s unique sound will undoubtedly bring a fresh interpretation to the original songs, and hopefully bring fascism to its knees.

A leaked draft of a press release from the 4AD offices indicates that not only do Cocteau Twins plan on embarking on a world tour, during which they will allegedly burn the Nazi flag following renditions of fan favorites such as “Sugar Hiccup,” “Lorelei,” and “Iceblink Luck,” but they have also been in the recording studio in their native Scotland.

Since Guthrie and Fraser, who were once a couple (and are both allegedly recovering drug addicts), haven’t communicated with each other in almost 20 years, it’s fair to wonder what any “new music” might be like. Sources at 4AD have indicated that the group will overcome their lack of new material by recording a set of covers for the first time ever. The trio’s unique sound, composed of Guthrie’s shimmering, reverb-heavy electric guitar, Raymond’s throbbing bass, and Fraser’s helium-fueled, hiccuping, scat-driven soprano, will undoubtedly bring a fresh interpretation to the original songs, and hopefully bring fascism to its knees.

While the track list has not been finalized, a list of potential songs has been procured, indicating that Cocteau Twins are indeed taking their political concerns seriously. They see this release as a way to underscore their specific philosophy regarding anti-authoritarianism, kicking off with a song originally written by Guthrie’s long-lost stateside cousin.

Cocteau Twins – (Title TBA) tracklist:

1. “All You Fascists” (Woody Guthrie)
2. “About a Fascist” (Agathocles)
3. “Make America Great Again” (Dwain)
4. “Fight The Fascists” (Consolidated)
5. “Destroy Fascism” (Heaven Shall Burn)
6. “Youth Against Fascism” (Sonic Youth)
7. “Fascism Sucks” (Thumb)
8. “This Machine Kills Fascists” (Anti-Flag)
9. “When Freedom Dies” (Nuclear Assault)
10. “We Are The One” (Avengers)
11. “Fuck Fascism” (The Oppressed)
12. “Janie is a Nazi” (Sloppy Seconds)
13. “Nazi White Trash” (Leftover Crack)
14. “The Day the Nazi Died” (Chumbawamba)
15. “Kill The Nazis” (Total Chaos)
16. “Nuke The Nazis” (Oi Scouts)
17. “The Only Good Fascist Is A Very Dead Fascist” (Propagandhi)
18. “They Saved Hitler’s Cock” (Angry Samoans)
19. “Nazis Shouldn’t Drive” (MDC)

The post Cocteau Twins Reunite Against a Common Foe appeared first on Pop 'stache.

Nashville post-hardcore band Harper continues to present raw emotions with one of its most plaintive songs yet, “Bluu.”

“Bluu” is the result of primary vocalist Matthew Penfound taking the reigns, in contrast to his heavy collaboration with guitarist Ethan Rider in Harper’s debut EP, Get Home.

In the five-minute track, reminiscent of other spoken word post-hardcore bands like La Dispute, Penfound reflects on a lost relationship and the pain of feeling trapped and alone, ending on a note of peaceful triumph.

With a heavy dose of vulnerability, “Bluu” is a captivating display of music’s ability to serve as a form of therapy for both writer and listener.

The post Song Premiere: Harper – “Bluu” appeared first on Pop 'stache.

The most popular music festivals—like Coachella and Lollapalooza—have turned into giant, drug-filled parties with an expensive cover charge, so it was refreshing to see that FYF Fest, held Aug. 22-23 in Los Angeles, seemed to actually be about the music. (Well, mostly about the music. Also, in large part, about lining up to take selfies next to every available FYF sign, inflatable poo emoji, and anything else that seemed Insta-worthy.)

LA-hipster vanity aside, FYF Fest boasted some of the top alternative acts in the game today, as well as some throwback musical giants.

Day 1: Saturday, August 22

Dinosaur Jr.

The first band I witnessed was ’90s indie god Dinosaur Jr. While J Mascis remained mostly stationary and unemotional, never once cracking a smile, bassist Lou Barlow breathed some youth into the nearly 30-year-old band. There’s beauty in seeing a group of 15-year-olds crowd surf to a band whose members are nearly 50—a reminder that music is ageless.

!!! (Chk Chk Chk)

!!! lead Nic Offer’s flamboyant dance moves dominated the performance—it was hard to look away from his enthusiastic pelvic gyrations.

Bloc Party

Bloc Party vocalist Kele Okereke came out chewing bubble gum and introduced himself as Frank Ocean, while playing a set mostly led by the more dark and mellow side of the band’s catalogue. That quickly changed after they ripped into “Banquet,” infusing some much-needed life into the crowd. Unfortunately, their time slot ran over the performance of Kanye West, and there was a massive migration of people just as Bloc Party really started to gain traction.

Kanye West

Personally not the biggest fan of the persona of Kanye West, I thought some kind of self-absorbed rant was imminent, but it turns out Kanye was on his best behavior for this performance. Dancing like a fighter entering the ring, he started his set with “Church in the Wild,” followed by “Stronger,” quickly reminding the audience who he is and why the world needs to listen. He ended his set by announcing he only had 10 minutes and was going to perform a song a minute. In those power-packed 10 minutes, he went through portions of “Jesus Walks,” “All Falls Down,” “Gold Digger,” “Touch the Sky,” and “The Good Life” before lying on the floor and closing his set with the closest thing he has to a lullaby: “Only One.”

Photography by Lilay Cai

The post Highlights: FYF Fest appeared first on Pop 'stache.

We love the blaring, aggressively fun music of Chicago band Absolutely Not, and next Monday, Aug. 10, they’re releasing a split EP with the similarly in-your-face Rat Hammer at the Empty Bottle.

But that’s not all! For the low, low price of absolutely nothing, you can also see Le Tour

, who are releasing their debut LP, and Swimsuit Addition

, who would provide a great soundtrack for wreckin’ shit and throwing TVs out of windows just for fun (but maybe don’t do that at the bar or you’ll have to watch the following acts from outside, through a broken window).

The show is free and promises to be a blast, so head out to the Empty Bottle at 9 p.m. Aug. 10 to catch some face-melting local talent.

The post Preview: Absolutely Not/Rat Hammer EP Release Show appeared first on Pop 'stache.

LA’s premier music festival, FYF Fest, is back for 2015 on the weekend of Aug. 22-23, and it’s got quite a few hidden gems. Sure, a lot of people will go just to see their favorite grumpy singer Morrissey, or festival darlings Run the Jewels, but think of all those other bands on the bill—you know, those ones in the little font that all sort of blend together. How do you know which ones are worthwhile? It’s pretty overwhelming, so to help you make a proper executive decision amongst your friends, here are seven bands you shouldn’t miss at FYF Fest.

1. Alvvays

Ever since Toronto-based band Alvvays (pronounced “Always”) released its self-titled debut album in 2014, it’s been touring nonstop, and it’s easy to see why. Alvvays has written some of the most infectious pop songs in the last few years, so much so that you’ll have their song “Archie, Marry Me” in your head for months. Singer-songwriter Molly Rankin writes bare, but honest, lyrics about everything that’s hard about falling in love. Be sure to catch Alvvays at FYF Fest, because they won’t be in LA again until at least next year.

2. Tobias Jesso Jr.

While definitely one of the most mellow and tender musicians at FYF Fest, Tobias Jesso Jr. doesn’t need overplayed guitar solos and racing drums to keep his audience attentive. His music is reminiscent of a less gritty, smoky-piano-bar-era Tom Waits, but with just as much soul. When Jesso Jr. gets behind the piano, out pour some of the sweetest melodies in the lounge act genre, complemented perfectly by gorgeous string arrangements and bare, tasteful drums. Take a break from the heat and lavish yourself with Jesso Jr.’s inevitiably fantastic set.

3. Thee Oh Sees

Fresh off an indefinite hiatus and a minor lineup change, this year Thee Oh Sees released Mutilator Defeated At Last, which features, as always, expert musicality and energy that’ll burst through the speakers. Thee Oh Sees have been together for well over a decade, which shows in their fast-paced garage rock that lacks any sign of sloppiness. Their set is sure to be passionate, memorable, and adrenaline-fueled.

4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra

This year, Unknown Mortal Orchestra put out one of its most experimental records to date, which explores a confusing and unusual relationship between three people. Pulling mainly from funk influences, Unknown Mortal Orchestra heavily relies on ’70s rhythms and singer Ruban Nielson’s incredibly high falsetto. The band’s sound gets especially interesting when it mixes funk with shoegaze elements, like drowned-out vocals and blurry instrument production.

5. Andrew Jackson Jihad

Phoenix’s very own folk-punk band, Andrew Jackson Jihad, is never a letdown. With funny, unbelievably honest lyrics and surprisingly catching melodies, Andrew Jackson Jihad never backs down from its aggressive, yet hilarious sound, often using kazoos and other children’s instruments to accompany singer-songwriter Sean Bonnette’s cutting lyrics about the patriarchy and his bouts of depression. Though Andrew Jackson Jihad usually plays stripped down sets with just an acoustic guitar and stand-up bass, it’s been touring as a full band recently, so be sure to catch them all together while you can.

6. Lower Dens

While Lower Dens definitely has the essence of dream-pop, like chiming keyboards and lush guitar parts, it also goes into primal territory at times, which should make for an intriguing live show. The band experiments with a variety of borrowed ’80s tones, and reaches for influence from artists like PJ Harvey all the way to Iggy Pop, but what really sets it apart is singer Jana Hunter’s pristine, angelic vocals. Stop by to see Lower Dens for some introspective pop songs that’ll let your mind wander for a little while, allowing you to take a break from all the chaos.

7. Mikal Cronin

You might have heard of Mikal Cronin recently for having comedians pay tribute to old music videos (like the hilarious take on “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon). But with his complex, driving pop songs, he’ll keep you intrigued long after the gimmick has died. Like many other artists on this list, Cronin’s music is catchy, but what sets him apart is his edge; his music is filled with driving drums and what is likely every distortion pedal available on the planet. Fans of revival garage rock absolutely need to check out Cronin’s exciting, fuzzed-out set.

The post Seven Bands Not to Miss at FYF Fest appeared first on Pop 'stache.

When Kevin Parker strummed the last few notes of “Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control” and the lights lowered on the 3rd annual Shaky Knees festival, all that was left to show the thousands their footpath back to the North Avenue MARTA station were the ever glowing lights of the Atlanta skyline. That same skyline stood for 3 days as the perfect backdrop for the ever-growing festival. What started as a love child of Tim Sweetwood during a stormy, mud-filled 2 days in 2013 has now become a destination festival set in the city formerly known as Terminus, because everything had to run through Atlanta first. Shaky Knees is quickly becoming the Terminus of festivals.

Complete with a slate of late-night shows, this year’s festival was a bigger, badder version of its predecessors (It’s even spawned a sister festival appropriately named Shaky Boots to give the country folk something to cheer about). In a sprawling 20 acres that inhabited 5 main stages, Shaky Knees saw acts old and new delight and hypnotize 50,000 people over the course of a weekend.

Friday set the stage as the likes of Mac Demarco, Wavves, Manchester Orchestra, Surfer Blood and Jukebox the Ghost ushered in the crowds as the HOTlanta sun began to beat down on them. As the drinks started to pour and the waves of jersey clad onlookers settled into place, TV on the Radio took the stage to crank things up a notch as they burned through a hot set complete with classics from their undeniable catalogue to newer hits like “Careful You.” The energy was building. As the sun set, the crowd got to break out their metaphorical LiveJournals and add a new chapter as Jesse Lacey took the stage. Opening with the unreleased “Mene” it was clear Brand New was going to give the people what they wanted; the feels. They hit songs from Your Favorite Weapon, they crossed Deja Entendu off the list and closed out with Jesse asking Jesus for help crossing over to the unknown. Then, it what’s perfect about this festival, the mood shifted and The Strokes made everyone break out their dancing shoes. The first night headliner didn’t disappoint as Julian commanded what he wanted from the night one crowd.

Saturday was another eclectic mix with everyone from Kevin Devine and Floggin Molly to the youthfully exuberant Milky Chance taking a turn getting the most out of the ATLines (even if just for the weekend). But Saturday was also the night Shaky Knees really showed off the big guns with acts like Social Distortion, Neutral Milk Hotel and Noel Gallagher. Before the sun even set, Jeff Tweedy took the stage complete with cowboy hat and, along with his Wilco bandmates, lulled the crowd into a trance as they crushed a set full of classics from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born and the rest of their catalogue. Not to be outdone, the Avett Brothers took over and didn’t let up off the reigns. The banjo-wielding sibling duo rocked a two+ hour set that left even their biggest skeptics dancing. Their high-energy performance was a shock to those unfamiliar and a welcomed treat to those already in the know. Using camera angles for screen effects, sometimes even laying down on the job, the brothers Avett put on the performance of the weekend.

By the time Best Coast coasted (not in a bad way) their mid-day set on Sunday, this had already been cemented as the pinnacle of the festival’s three-year run. The always fun and energetic Mowglis and the electro-driven Panda Bear brought the energy up on a crowd beat down by the Georgia humidity just in time to partake in the treat that was Ryan Adams. Even before the moon showed it’s face, Adams was already making people question whether or not he was the headliner of the evening. Few can match his stage presence and prowess with the axe. Unquestionably, Adams will remain one of the best live acts in music for some time. Tame Impala did nothing to squash the mood, as their melodic Australian vibes played out the weekend on the best note.

Bonnaroo may be bigger, Governer’s Ball may be in a bigger market, Coachella may have the celebrity factor given how many of them you can find in the only fans search engine if you try to search for specific names – but Shaky Knees is about to become a festival vying to top tier status. 2016 has a lot to live up to, but there’s not doubt Sweetwood still has a few tricks up his tatted sleeve. 

The post Festival Terminus: Shaky Knees 2015 appeared first on Pop 'stache.

Tim Sweetwood’s lovechild, Shaky Knees, turns 3 this year. In a city desperate for a festival worthy of its Terminus nickname, Atlanta was given this gift by Sweetwood in 2013 when he brought a bill packed with The Lumineers, Jim James, Band of Horses, Delta Spirit, Shovels and Rope and many more artists the were bred specifically for festival season. ATLiens and those from surrounding areas braved the torrential downpour and tar pit like conditions at the famous Masquerade’ s outdoor park to make the inaugural Shaky Knees an almost overnight success.

Last year, as it grew, Tim’s project added a third day, a few more headliners and a bigger location at Atlantic Station in the heart and spotlight of the Metro Atlanta area. The National, Modest Mouse, Local Natives, The Weeks, Fly Golden Eagle, Benjamin Booker and this year’s headliner of choice at every other festival, Alabama Shakes, all took turns wowing the upwards of 54,000 wrist-banded onlookers.

This weekend Shaky Knees continues to grow as it moves to a new location, Central Park (not that Central Park) and continues to bring in an amazing line-up with Brand New, The Strokes, TV On the Radio, Wilco, The Avett Brothers, Best Coast, Tame Impala and more light up the Georgia sky.

Pop ‘stache chatted with a couple of artists as they geared up for this year’s festival:

Jukebox The Ghost:

Pop ’stache: What’s your favorite thing about playing festivals as opposed to concerts?

Jukebox The Ghost: Love being so near to so many amazing shows. When you are playing clubs you are stuck indoors and only get to see the bands you are touring with. But one of the good things about them is that the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater tickets offer amenities that festivals do not. Also I LOVE CORNDOGS

P’s: What other Shaky Knees artist are you most looking forward to checking out? 

JBTG: I’ve heard Jukebox The Ghost is alright.

P’s: Favorite festival story from the past (that you can share!)?

JBTG: Not sure if this was technically a festival but we did play at an unnamed Airlines Holiday festival at gate D4 at Laguardia Airport in NYC. The four people in line for the Auntie Anne’s Pretzels loved it.

P’s: What other festivals are you playing this year?

JBTG: Playing at Hop Sauce festival in Long Island and if there are others I haven’t heard about them…

P’s: Will your set lean more towards older material or are you super excited to share new stuff?

JBTG: We love playing new songs but, of course, will also play our fair share of the classic oldies.

Dr. Dog (Zach Miller)

Pop ’stache: What’s your favorite thing about playing festivals as opposed to concerts?

Zach: We’ve been headlining our own shows for a while and it’s always nice to be put in the position at a festival where we have people to win over. When your name is on the marquee, you know that everyone came to see you. At a festival, people might be passing by on their way to somewhere else and decide to stop and listen. After a while it can start to feel too comfortable with our own audience; it’s nice to introduce that tension again, to have to prove ourselves.

P’s: What can we expect from your set?

Zach: We’re going to be in and out on Sunday but I’m looking forward to Tame Impala, Diamond Rugs, Steve Gunn.

P’s: Favorite festival story from the past (that you can share!)?

Zach: Utopia Fest in Texas stands out for sure, it had been raining like hell and on the way out, our bus driver got stuck in the mud. The guy who owned the land came down to get us out with his tractor. When he couldn’t, he got his neighbor to get his tractor and he came down, too. Apparently they filled their tires with water for more traction. I didn’t even know that was possible. Our tour manager also operated on a stage manager’s ear to dislodge a broken earpiece. And we saw Charles Bradley give one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. All in the pouring rain. Pouring Texas rain.

P’s: What other festivals are you playing this year?

Zach: We’re in the studio for most of the summer so we’re not playing a ton but I’m looking forward to

Lilac Festival in Rochester, Levitate in Marshfield, MA, Floatfest in Martindale, TX and Bristol Rhythm & Roots, which is always a hoot.

P’s: What can we expect from you set?

Zach: We’ve been grabbing songs from all our records. Our setlists have been more varied than ever because we just put out a live record and didn’t have any new material to play. So we went back and brushed up on or learned at least 40 of our old songs. It’s a lot of fun to change it up.

The post Shaky Knees 2015 appeared first on Pop 'stache.

When Jarod Weldin and Kim Hart Weldin first started talking about forming their band Tape Waves, Kim didn’t take the idea very seriously.

“We would talk about starting a band but I thought we were just joking,” she says. “I would doodle little pictures of what our band was going to be, drawing album covers and making up band names, but Jarod had already started doing some some recordings. I learned the songs and put vocals on top of them and it just started actually happening. It started becoming a real dream.”

Two years later, the Charleston-based husband-wife duo has released two 7-inches and one full-length record, Let You Go, full of dreamy, upbeat indie-pop songs that effortlessly evoke the very feeling that inspired them to write music in the first place: a desire to escape boring office jobs to write songs at the beach. 

Read our conversation with the beach-inspired indie pop band, then see how you can win some Tape Waves goodies, including free music.

Pop ’stache: How did you guys meet?

Kim Hart Weldin: We met working at a call center. I think we both gravitated toward each other in a “Help me! What are we doing with our lives?” way.

I felt like everyone else at work  had this group mentality, like, “Let’s do group projects and eat cake!” and we just stared at each other in the back of the room. It was like we literally gravitated toward each other. We both had played music in the past and just moved back [to Charleston, S.C.,] from big cities. I personally thought that phase of my life with playing music was over. I was still writing and recording, but I had kind of reached a point where I wasn’t comfortable sharing it with anyone. But then I got to know Jarod, and we started skipping work and going to the beach to write music. We kind of escaped together.

P ’s: When did the band go from being just a fun side thing to a serious pursuit? 

KHW: We put our first recordings up on Bandcamp in March 2013 and then got a response from a label about doing a 7-inch a week or two later. Almost as soon as we put those songs up, it became, “Oh, we’re actually going to put a recording out and play a show!” I think we were surprised by the feedback from people hearing it all over the world. We were getting messages from people in New Zealand and Germany and Malaysia.

JW:  Yeah, it snowballed pretty quickly. When we first finished recording the first two songs that we did, I think we both felt a little like, “I don’t know, is this good? Is this good enough to put up online, even?” We just had no idea. I think the more time has passed, the more I like the recordings, but at first we didn’t know what people were going to think, so the positive response was overwhelming.

KHW: I totally forgot until Jarod said that, but I remember at first we were so scared about what the response was going to be. I think we both felt like the first songs were so poppy, and we kept thinking, “Are these cool?” We both came from punk backgrounds, which is where the power chords come from. The songs felt comfortable and everything, but we weren’t sure what our peers and other people would think of them.

P ’s: Were your first shows a learning curve as well?

JW: Definitely. We didn’t plan on playing any shows in the beginning. Shows were off the table until our friend Kyle, who is in this really cool band from Atlanta called Places to Hide, got in touch and asked us to play a show, and Kim said okay. My reaction was like, “Oh, I didn’t think we were going to play any shows!” I was surprised she was willing to. But we decided to just try it and see how the songs could come together live. We just jumped into it.

KHW: Yeah, we wrote the songs in bits and pieces. When I started playing music when I was younger, we’d all go to a garage or a room, write a song, and practice it over and over. That wasn’t how Jarod and I started. Jarod would play guitar parts, and I would sing vocals over them, or he would record all the instruments and I would add the vocals later. So once we had a show, it forced us to practice the songs over and over, to write and learn new songs. It helped us become a real band.

Listen to the new Tape Waves record, Let It Go, on Bandcamp.

Tape Waves is generously donating a big bundle of merchandise to the charity of Broke Music Lovers. To win, in the comments below or on social media, tell us about the most boring job you’ve ever had.

There are two packages up for grabs:

1. A vinyl copy of Let You Go and flexi disc of the single “Hanging On”

2. Tape Waves EP on CD and Let You Go on cassette

The post Q&A + Giveaway: Tape Waves appeared first on Pop 'stache.

We love music. You love free stuff. Together, music and free stuff is as delicious a combination as bacon and chocolate (try it, you’ll see). That’s why Pop ’stache is giving one lucky free-stuff lover a chance to win two tickets to see Tiny Moving Parts live in Dekalb, Ill., on March 8.

That’s right, two free tickets! Bring a friend. Bring your mom. Bring that special someone you really wanna sleep with—it doesn’t matter to us!

Winning is easy. Just comment below or hit us up on social media and answer the following: Fuck, marry, kill the members of Tiny Moving Parts (Dylan Mattheise on guitar, Matthew Chevalier on bass, and Billy Chevalier on drums). Who would you do what to and why? Our favorite answer wins.

The winner will be announced and contacted directly on March 7. If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased here. Good luck!

The post Ticket Giveaway: Tiny Moving Parts appeared first on Pop 'stache.

This past Saturday, The Burlington in Logan Square became The Girlington (to steal a line from Bleach Party’s Meghan MacDuff). The intimate basement venue played host to the second annual Frontwoman Fest, a showcase of female-led bands that raised $1,400 for Girls Rock! Chicago.

I’m naturally biased toward the punkier sets, but the fest had a phenomenal lineup with something for everyone. Got a taste for weird ambient tunes? TAL and Haki have got you covered. If you like meaningful, poppy electronica, try Axons, and for a more straightforward indie sound, check out Impulsive Hearts. In fact, check out all the bands that played Frontwoman Fest on Bandcamp—there wasn’t a bad act among them.

Let’s replay the highlights:

Bloom

Bloom was a last-minute addition to Frontwoman Fest (Yoko and the Oh No’s had to cancel due to sickness), but the local three-piece stole the show, performing with the power and lovable energy of a labrador gamboling up to the crowd. Granted, there was little to separate Bloom from any other pop-punk band—the music was high-energy, it was young, it was often heartbroken, you get the picture—but that didn’t stop them from kicking ass. Sam Larson’s voice is a force to be reckoned with, and the band’s limited recorded output is only a shadow of its live performance, so keep an eye out for a chance to catch Bloom live.

Strawberry Jacuzzi

If your stereotypical four-dude rock band took an hour-long soak in bathtub gunk and rusty nails, then emerged doing a high kick, the result would be Strawberry Jacuzzi. Their quick and dirty punk was campy, quirky, exhilarating, and more than a little chaotic, a combination that electrified the entire room. With song titles like “Bucket of Puke” and “Love Is For Suckers,” Strawberry Jacuzzi is like an even meaner, more in-your-face version of Cincinnati’s Tweens, and of all Frontwoman Fest’s stellar performances, theirs was the biggest party.

Bleach Party

As befits a showcase of frontwomen, every single act boasted a powerful set of lady pipes, but Bleach Party’s Meghan MacDuff stood out even among that impressive crowd, and the band’s sound was as wild and fun as her mini beehive. In an episode of Scooby Doo set at a haunted luau, Bleach Party would be the band onstage. Half the time, I didn’t know whether to mosh or do the twist, but one way or another, this surf-punk act is gonna make you move.

Photography by 9 Muses Photo

The post Recap: Frontwoman Fest appeared first on Pop 'stache.