ListenBoise • 6th September 2023

The Pixies Close Out Outlaw Field’s Summer Concert Series, Reminding Us Why We Still Love Them — ListenBoise

Before the crowd at Outlaw Field in Boise, Idaho, could be carried away on the soundtrack to their misguided youth, they needed to be brought down to earth, which is exactly what Cat Power did. The singer-songwriter’s unassuming facade of ripped jeans and combat boots quickly gave way to weighty vocals that were somehow luscious and ephemeral all at once. With her band in a tight semi-circle around her, Cat Power flowed through her set like a 1960s jazz diva— each song seamlessly transitioning i

ListenBoise • 1st September 2023

YUNGBLUD is Coming For His Legacy — ListenBoise

Indeed, the idea of staying in one place for too long, either physically or in his music, seems almost painful to Harrison. “I get asked all the time to make another song like this, or like this one. Why? It already exists. You don’t paint the same picture over and over again. Artists will stick to the same formula, and that’s great for them, but it’s boring to me. That’s why I love Bowie, Gaga, The Arctic Monkeys, and My Chemical Romance. The music has to go to new places; otherwise, you’re not

ListenBoise • 1st August 2023

All Day Trey’s New Single, “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Us” is a Straight Shot of Dopamine — ListenBoise

Over the past three years, a conglomerate of young artists has emerged from Seattle’s eclectic music scene, slowly dominating with their self-aware and socially conscious brand of hip-hop. As the group’s self-proclaimed “Sunshine Rapper,” All Day Trey has set out to shine a light on issues that have traditionally been shunned by the genre.

Since starting his career in Spokane, Trey has used his music as a platform to advocate for mental health. That mission is still very much at the forefront w

ListenBoise • 26th June 2023

Spirit Award Isn’t Afraid Anymore — ListenBoise

At the front of the low-set stage, all legs and hair, Daniel Lyon towers over the crowd. A mountain of reverb rises from his guitar as a rhythmic chug permeates from the band behind him. Lyon shifts and contorts, coaxing the audience to push through the uneasy trance of fuzzed-out riffs and droning beats to join him down the rabbit hole.

While searching for his next project, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Daniel Lyon adopted the moniker Spirit Award. Intending to create a project focused on vu

ListenBoise • 9th June 2023

Small Million Picks Up Two More for the Ride — ListenBoise

Evolution is a strange thing. Ordinarily happy to work quietly in the background, sometimes it lights you with a spark. Portland-based duo Small Million has always reveled in the awkwardness of growth, but it wasn’t until they expanded into a four-piece band that they truly embraced evolution. Ryan Linder and Malachi Graham have spent the last decade combining honest, detailed lyrics with cinema-like production, creating the bittersweet sound of emotionally relatable experiences. Before recordin

ListenBoise • 23rd May 2023

Balks, Black Bolt, and The Mall Goth Moths Keep It Strictly Local — ListenBoise

Opening their set with a spoken word legend of their origins, The Mall Goth Moths are an electrifying blend of ‘70s goth rock, psychedelic, and punk. Lead singer and guitarist Kat Colt is the cosmic love child of Alice Cooper and Ann Wilson. With a powerful yet sultry delivery, she casts a witchy spell over the audience. Along with a cover of The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” the perfect showcase for bassist Bri Moore, the band introduced their new single, “Pleasure Palace.” Sticking to their

ListenBoise • 14th April 2023

King Youngblood is a Juggernaut of Youthful Determination — ListenBoise

King Youngblood is knocking down alt-rock’s palace walls and stealing the crown. The Seattle-based foursome, composed of Cameron Lavi-Jones, Samy Garcia, Chet Peterson, and Alex Daniel, embodies the spirit of late ‘80s DIY with a sound and energy that echo back to the early days of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction. King Youngblood is ridiculously adept at elevating simple phrases to the level of proverbs while coaxing the sounds of primordial rock n’ roll from their instruments. Co

ListenBoise • 17th March 2023

Balks Are Going To Teach You How To Be A Band — ListenBoise

Balks are not coming to a city near you. The Boise-based punk rock trio has no interest in being crammed into a tour van, eating gas station nachos, and desperately trying to avoid each other’s sweaty feet. When forming Balks little more than a year ago, Nick O’Leary, Chris Devino, and Dan Kogel prioritized friendship and individual well-being over the music they were making. The threesome had seen their fair share of crappy, out-of-town shows, brawls over money, and everything else that contrib

ListenBoise • 10th February 2023

The Survival of Bone Haus — ListenBoise

AM: So, you did not play music together for six months? Were you communicating at all?

AM: We would chat occasionally.

JB: We were still mixing the album.

AM: Just no live shows or practices.

AM: Did that break enable you to come back feeling like you were embarking on something new?

RM: For me, yes. We were nonstop for five years—a lot of practices and live shows. I was burnt out. Being able to take that break and not worry about those things, coming back refreshed, has been night and day.

ListenBoise • 20th January 2023

Lonely Boy: A Conversation with Brogan Kelby from Blindlove —

BK: I know it is a cliche thing to say, but I have been obsessed with music since I can remember. You have to be a little messed up in the head to be a musician. Everything is “Oh, I can turn that into a song, or that would be a good lyric or a cool sound effect.” Growing up, when I saw bands live or in music videos, I would think, “I want to do that.” I do not fit in anywhere else.

AM: Both your first and second singles have gotten a lot of attention from radio stations around the country. How

ListenBoise • 28th December 2022

Papas Hit the Road and Fall in Love — ListenBoise

If you do not already associate the phrase “absolute legends” with Papas, you damn well should. With the vibe of four siblings who grew up dropping worms down each other’s shirts, it is hard to believe that Michael Shumann, Ali O’Malley, Jeremy Tomlinson, and Johnny Meehan ever played music with anyone but each other. The influences each member brings from their respective childhood music scenes have culminated in a strange brew that is uniquely Papas; part punk, part alternative, with a heavy s

ListenBoise • 28th November 2022

Plum Vision Stays Winning — ListenBoise

AM: How did you start playing music together?

MM: I did not know people, in Ella’s generation especially, still used Craigslist, but whatever works.

AM: You spoke recently about changing your sound from punk to more indie and shoegaze. What prompted the change for you?

KH: We have been doing punk and grunge, but those are a lot of basic power cords. There are a lot more pieces to indie and shoegaze that will be fun for us to explore. Vocal melodies are a lot easier to do in those genres.

MM:

ListenBoise • 15th November 2022

Dehd Grows Up and Finds Peace — ListenBoise

We spoke with Dehd’s guitarist Jason Balla ahead of the band’s Flipside Festival performance.

AM: The band is based in Chicago—

Jason Balla: Technically. Right now, I am driving through Nebraska, but we are mostly based in Chicago.

AM: How has being a part of that scene shaped your music?

JB: It is intrinsically embedded in my musical DNA. Emily and Eric are from Georgia, but I grew up outside the city and have been involved in various music scenes there since I was sixteen. The DIY scene an

ListenBoise • 11th October 2022

blink-182 and Tom DeLonge are Back —

It was announced earlier today that blink-182 would officially be reuniting with founding member Tom DeLonge. In their juvenile fashion, the three bandmates released a tongue-in-cheek video announcing their upcoming 2023 album and tour(dates listed below). The album's first single, “Edging,” will be released this Friday, October 14.

. Forming nearly 30 years ago in a San Diago garage, blink-182 has become one of the most influential bands of the late ‘90s and probably the most popular pop-punk

ListenBoise • 28th September 2022

Alien Boy Dreams About A Guitar Rock Takeover With All Of Their Friends — ListenBoise

Sonia: Yes, definitely. All of my favorite bands write that way. That comes back to being a fan of music and wanting to make music that I would be a fan of. I had a lot of conversations in my early 20s about writing intentionally vague music. I am just not interested in that. The idea that music can be emotive if it is not direct, but I would rather it be “this is what I am saying.” That is how I connect to music, and that is how I want people to connect to my music. It is what it is. I do not n

ListenBoise • 31st August 2022

The Head and The Heart Have Nothing But Love For Idaho — ListenBoise

An energy that was embraced and lovingly returned by the audience. The group has always had a special place in the Gem State’s heart. Many of the Treasure Valley’s smaller venues were frequent tour stops for The Head And The Heart in the early days of their career. Opening their set with the title track to their latest album, the combination of Charity Rose Thielen’s lyrical violin and Jonathan Russell’s airy vocals creates a calm of anticipation. The song’s soft build practically begs you to le

ListenBoise • 4th August 2022

Blix, Plum Vision, and Rachaels Children Give The Treasure Valley All the Punk Rock They Can Handle… And Then Some — ListenBoise

“You know what this is,” announced Abraham Pegg from the small stage at the back of the Neorolux, “it’s a punk show!” With a three-band line-up that ignited the tiny venue in downtown Boise, Idaho, with the dirty and raw spirit of 1978, a bona fide punk show is precisely what the Treasure Valley got last Wednesday evening.

The show opened with local Riot Grrrl legacy holders Plum Vision. The foursome, comprised of Chloe Baul, Kiyah Henson, Ella Thurston, and Megan Miller, has generated a lot of

ListenBoise • 26th July 2022

Blix Wants You to Stop Being Bored And Make Music — ListenBoise

Kizer Burchard: I think we have become more influenced by those bands as we progress. Initially, we thought we wanted to do a more modern take on that sound, but our newer songs are even more inspired by The Ramones and other similar bands. It is classic punk mixed with a digital wavey kind of thing, but that sound is the base of our inspiration.

Abraham Pegg: I was listening to, not strictly punk, just a lot of early ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll, then I started going through a big Ramones and Dead Boys

ListenBoise • 27th June 2022

Goodnight, Texas Is Holding Out For A Banjo Revival But Are Not Quitting Their Day Jobs — ListenBoise

Goodnight, Texas is a five-piece proverbial sweet spot of profound lyrics and instrument showcase. Named for the once geographic middle point between the group’s two lead singers, Goodnight, Texas has struck an unexpected yet satisfying balance between nostalgia and innovation. Drawing heavily from folk and blues storytelling traditions, Goodnight, Texas skillfully weaves gothic and ephemeral elements with American lore to create hauntingly memorable songs. By combining the melodic tones of a 19

ListenBoise • 14th June 2022

Margo Cilker Gets Rowdy… And Unapologetically Honest — ListenBoise

While the dark walls of The Neurolux were not filled to capacity, the moderately sized crowd was up for a rowdy, honky-tonkin’ good time, which Margo Cilker and her band expertly delivered. Cilker opened the show by coaxing everyone closer to the stage, announcing, “I’m not shy, and you shouldn’t be either.” The band did not waste time, launching into “That River,” the lead single off Cilker’s album.

The incredible energy continued throughout the evening, with Cilker taking advantage of the int

ListenBoise • 3rd June 2022

The Outlaw Spirit of Jenny Don’t And The Spurs — ListenBoise

Jenny Don’t And The Spurs tirelessly work for every ounce of admiration they receive. The scrappy foursome, formed from the pieces of several well-respected Portland punk acts, has been making and touring albums almost non-stop since 2012. The DIY philosophy at the heart of The Spurs can be seen in everything they do, from lead singer Jenny’s self-made performance dresses and operating the merch booth to the tour van keys hanging from bassist Kelly’s belt loop. That same tenacity can be heard in

ListenBoise • 20th May 2022

The French Tips Are Here For All Your Love And You Should Give It To Them — ListenBoise

AM: When you met, you were playing in different bands around the Boise scene; what drew you to start playing music together?

Ivy: We were in bands that started playing shows together, so we got to know each other and formed a mutual admiration. At some point, we decided we wanted to try doing something together. We had the opportunity to learn a few covers and play together, and we really enjoyed it.

AM: Your sound is a blend of some very different genres, like dance and punk, that are not typ

ListenBoise • 13th May 2022

Delta Spirit and Palm Palm Burn Down the House — ListenBoise

The old tavern walls of Boise’s Olympic Venue were set ablaze Tuesday night with a rough and ready flame. With the help of Palm Palm, Delta Spirit transformed what could have been a sleepy, mid-week gig into a raucous evening at the rock show.

The small but energetic crowd was caught off guard by opening act, Palm Palm. The Virginia-based foursome, led by J. Roddy Walston, came in howling like a ghost from the bayou. Causing a slight rush to the stage, the band quickly won the audience over wit

ListenBoise • 22nd April 2022

From The Outside In: A Conversation with Margo Cilker —

Margo Cilker does not need to be in the south to make a good country song. Originally from California, Cilker has traveled the world, picking up threads and sewing them into her music's broad tapestry. Cilker’s biting lyrics cut through harmonizing guitars and stout piano keys, calling on the tradition of sweet-voiced country mavens delivering hard truths. Her debut album, Pohorylle, touches on subjects of abuse, subjugation, and dishonest male troupes, while also speaking earnestly of the place