This Barrie four-piece knows how to rock n’ roll ! Fun, honest and good vibes all around, The Alpacas are @ the Horseshoe 7/3. They have a underlining twang and undeniable harmonies that pop, and will have any party going! Check out their new EP “Good Luck” out next week July 10th. Right now we are listening to “Comb My Hair” a heavy track with an entry yell and a loud guitar that frees itself with a “hey” of harmonies that have us singing.

Baltimore's Jenn Wasner doesn't need much of an introduction, she's made quite an impact both locally and internationally with her experimental electo-lyrical duo Wye Oak and solo project Flock of Dimes. Wye Oak's "Shriek" was one of the standout indie records of 2014 - since then Wasner has been touring with the fantastic Sylvan Esso, getting her next solo release ready, and working with Andy Stack on new band material. None of her new songs are available online yet, but if you make it to one of her live shows you'll most certainly hear what's in the works. Flock of Dime's next Baltimore show isn't until September 26th at Druid Hill Park, but if you're as impatient as we are you might enjoy some sonic treats to tide you over. Warner has been releasing some killer collaborations, one being a dark pop song called "Automatic" with producer Alan Wilkis on his project Big Data. Wasner brings her dream-gloom magic into a more traditional pop set up, delivering cryptic hooks like "Here I am, Don't you want me to do it again?". Sylvan Esso's lead Amelia Meath, having started her career in the primarily a cappella trio Mountain Man, is no stranger to finding haunting harmonies. When Wasner and Meath get together to take in and take on Gillian Welch's "Everything is Free" in a video for The A.V. Club's cover series, they cast a spell. This can't really be described. I hope you'll give it a watch, especially if it's been a while since you've gotten shiver-skin from hearing something beautiful. - Leora Mandel

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Soft, Sweet and Sexy Rock n' Roll- Coyote Black, take claim to "Slop Rock". This Hamilton three piece has stories to tell with a warm inviting vocal and unforgettable musical elements, just like skipping stones over lake Ontario. Describing themselves as music "your mom will love" we couldn't agree with them more, Coyote Black vibes for all ages. Take a listen to their self titled EP and groove to the opening track "Ocean Black" it makes your body sway with a wholesome vocal, guitars that strum and pluck aromatically to a homegrown whistle. See them tonight @ the Baltimore House with Aukland and Boy With An Atlas. 

Blues rockers, The Corsets have got some great tunes on their album “Are you Lonely, Are you Scared”. With vocal harmonies, f-x ridden guitar riffs, and an overall infectious groove, The Corsets have created a trifecta of fantastic-ness. “Lady” off their EP bursts open with driving guitar, and snare, and breaks into a happily addicting guitar lick. A minute in to the song the vocals get to shine in their own gritty dirty way, well, up until the face-melting guitar solo that's filled with those toe-curling notes you can’t get enough of! All in all, these guys have got something good going on, listen to the album and take the time to see 'em live - especially when patio beers can be involved! Check out their Facebook to keep up to date with upcoming shows. -Courtney Chalapenko

“We can’t wait to meet you,” says the ¿Que Pasa? description of one of Austin’s most anti-pretentious, most-likable rock music bands. That’s not rock referring to the guitar-inflected whatever that mostly associates itself with that agin’ word these days; no ¿Que Pasa? is of the punk (with some post-punk notes and venturing into psych at times) flavored school of this rock thing, and they just put out a pretty damn good modern punk album this last December that is now gettin’ the music video treatment on a couple tracks.

That sentiment of welcome found upon yon FB page is an extension of the band’s general attitude, which presents a kind-of “friendly punks” attitude that, if you’ve ever known any punks that weren’t just into the life for the infamy, is actually dead representative of a certain side of the genre. “Infeliz” is the latest track off album BIG MISTAKE to get visuals, and it shows off a band that you just really wanna go get some P. Terry’s with after and hang out drinkin’ in a park or some shit. I mean, the other track with a vid, “My Family,” literally lists singer Liz Burrito’s friends, including all members of the bands and a few others, and involves cake, board games, beer, bathtub candles and the lyrics “My friends, they are my family.”

Yet, the punk is strong with this one, and the songs are fun and often heavy and harsh, and entirely sincere. Passion + friendliness used to be the unofficial/official Austin creative way, and in the modern muddle that is an Austin where Cheer Ups has to fight to preserve a beautiful natural limestone wall being torn down for no other reason than money, we’re fully into bands that keep alive the spirit that made Austin a destination in the first place and preserve something very Austin. ¿Que Pasa? is what Austin’s about in its soul, and you should all go and be their friends now. Seems like they’d be pretty into it, if yer a non-dick and all. Music video below, full album to be found at their Bandcamp here.