The Honey Pies
Their guitar bits are simple, their progressions clean and vocals infused with a pop howliness perfect for spring making The Honey Pies a band you should promptly be adding to your warm weather playlist. The Aussie outfit takes a surfy retro sound and fancies it up with unexpected moments of dreaminess, sweet wooy lyrics and even the suggestion of a lil’ psych influence. Oh Hi We Didn’t See You There. We’re… represents the group’s attempt to get something recorded and out to the non-locals which gives the EP a bit of a slap dash feeling. I think it does of good job of establishing their talents but I look forward to a full album and the chance to really gage their full chops. It is a great start though and just the kind of music to throw on as the weather warms.
Slow Club
Slow Club makes me very very happy. Yeah, they’re twee but, there is absolutely nothing wrong with two people writing witty lyrics then pairing them with intelligent up tempo instrumentals to incite immediate heart swelling joy. In fact it is a venture I think more should undertake although I doubt they’ll be able to achieve it so fully as Slow Club. On their 2009 album Yeah So Rebecca and Charles’ vocals at times double up to create a dynamic but disparate chorus while at others they have a fantastic teeter-totter playfulness that creates a distinct lilt. Their subject matter is true anti-folk fodder but they use that standard to build a truly unique and boisterous sound. They’re bopping through Cali and Arizona en route to SXSW so if you are in the vicinity be sure to catch the live version.
Oh Eeks
This Minneapolis group is rocking. They rock in a bar band kinda way with a appropriate reverence to Minnesota’s alternative rock lineage and a bit of alt country thrown in. Lead singer Johnny Park takes you through their tunes with a sober honesty that comes from a guy who has lived a hell of a whole lot at a relatively young age. Park and his musical partner Daniel DeMuth met in rehab and upon their release they put their focus on music rather than reverting to their less legit past times. Two years in and they have established themselves a consistent and quality sound. If you’re missing the steady sound of early 90′s indie rock then give these fellas your ears. They’ll take good care of ya.