Maybe you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, but you can usually depend on old indie rockers for sparkling tunes! One case in point is new local trio Sunshine Boys, aka drummer Freda Love Smith (Blake Babies, Antenna), guitarist Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering, Slugs), and bassist Jackie Schimmel (Big Hello), who also performs with kids’ musician Justin Roberts. Last month these veterans digitally released their first album, Blue Music, and it shines with jangly hooks and soaring backup vocals—this wolf especially digs “Questions,” an ode to old-fashioned letter writing. On Saturday, April 28, Sunshine Boys play Martyrs’ with power-pop wizards Frisbie (celebrating 20 years) and Plutonians, who love instrumental surf and Sun Ra and whose lineup includes guitarists Nathaniel Braddock (Occidental Brothers) and Steve Doyle (Hoyle Brothers).
The best festivals are those that lift up a community, and they don’t get much better than Frontwoman Fest! This year’s fourth (and sadly final) annual celebration of local female and female-identifying musicians brings more than a dozen acts to the Burlington for a daylong bash that starts at 2 PM on Saturday, April 7. The lineup is killer, and this wolf is extra psyched for dream-pop band Fauvely, rapper Freddie Old Soul, and R&B singer Jordanna. Everyone on the bill appears on Impossible Colors’ new Frontwoman Fest mixtape; proceeds from downloads and fest tickets benefit Girls Rock! Chicago.
Local synth-pop maestro Richard Album dropped Another Album on Lost Sound Tapes just before daylight savings began, and “Spring Forward” is one peppy reminder for timely alarm-clock adjustment! The whole tape is transfixing, on any date. On Tuesday, April 10, Album plays Cafe Mustache with the Curls, Matthew Danger Lippman, and Sonny Falls; he’s also got a gig on Sunday, May 6, downstairs at Subterranean with Coping Skills, Joey Nebulous, and Judge Judy & Executioner. v
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