Uncover Music Magazine- Issue #4

Heading

ISSUE 4

DREAMERS ON THE RISE

+3 festivals and tons of new music

5

Playlist

6

Album Reviews

10

Sunflower Bean

14

Music Tastes Good

26

City of Trees

46

FEATURE: Dreamers

54

KAABOO Del Mar

Special thanks to those who contributed to this issue!

Erin Christie Makenna Magdaleno-Mague Jiselle Santos Utah Styles Contribute to Uncover Music Magazine at: uncovermusicmagazine@gmail.com

4

Weekend memories Playlist by Jiselle Santos

For Elise // Saint Motel Happy Pills // Weathers Favorite Liar // The Wrecks Boyish // Hippo Campus Last Night on Earth // DREAMERS Good Morning // Grouplove Permission Slip // Mainland Painting (Masterpiece) // Lewis Del Mar You Know It // Colony House Red Hot Lights // Moon Taxi Under The Cover // Bad Veins Red Flag // The Moth & The Flame You & Me // The Hunna 5

What’s new in music?

Since the release of Uncover issue 3, our world has been overloaded with new music releases. Check out some of our favorites and what Uncover staff had to say about them.

Saintmotelevision // Saint Motel Written by Jiselle Santos Saint Motel, a Los-Angeles based indie pop band that formed in 2009, consists of A/J Jackson (lead vocals, guitar and piano), Greg Erwin (drums), Aaron Sharp (lead guitar) and Dak Lerdamornpong (bass). With the EP release of My Type, the band rose to fame by topping the U.S Alternative charts in 2014. Over the past few years Saint Motel has opened for several bands including the band Walk the Moon in 2015, headlined a tour this fall and will be opening for Panic! At the Disco on their upcoming spring tour in 2017.

Saintmotelevision With the release of Saintmotelevision on October 21st, 2016, lots of hype surrounded the release of Saint Motel’s sophomore album. Premiering the songs “MOVE” and “You Can Be You” before the official release of their album, it sure has made an impression of the album’s potential for man of the other songs to be heard. The album consists of 12 songs, with varying styles but still upholding the upbeat jazz style that many Saint Motel fans fell in love with. With variety in the album, provided from “MOVE”’s groovy and energetic vibe that’ll make you want to dance, to “Happy 6

Accidents’” calming and nostalgic feeling that’ll make you reminisce on the good memories. “For Elise”, with a reference to the classical music piece “Fur Elise”, that will surely make you swoon with an upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics. Personal favorites of mine from the album are “Destroyer” and “Sweet Talk”. “Destroyer” still upholds the jazz sounds that many love but with the amazing saxophone and guitar solos that are in this song, it will sure bring a new element to seeing and hearing this song live. “Sweet Talk” is very lively and adventurous with amazing trumpet elements added into the song that will surely having you wanting to dance too. Overall, this album has a fantastic collection of songs that provide a variety of styles and sounds that would have most people on their feet. If you love music genres that are indie pop or jazz, or just a fan of Saint Motel, this album will be one you’ll love.

Wild World // Bastille Written by Utah Styles Wild World is Bastille's second studio album, and their best album yet- every song is different from each other while being unequivocally Bastille. The album is different from what they've created so far, while still maintaining their unique sound. Released September 9, it's several years in the making and more than worth the wait, featuring vintage-sounding voice samples, orchestral elements, 80s synth, and a powerful, driving bass. It opens with their single "Good Grief," a dance-y summer song that features a voice sample of 80’s film “Weird Science .” It's silly, nonsensical, and most of all, fun- this is a song you slide around the floor in socks to. However, the lyrics themselves are despairing, representing the confusing swirl of emotions after someone close to you passes away. The album is multifaceted and contradictory, at times playful and bittersweet, political and moral, and nostalgic and overwhelmingly present.

7

It closes with "The Anchor," a contrast to "Good Grief" with its hopeful and positive message- that it's okay to ask for help with depression, and look for an "anchor" to help you get through a situation. The myriad of sounds in the album reflect on human emotion- confusing, contradictory, and yet binds it all together. This is a "wild world" full of emotion and human experiences, and the album makes it feel like even when you don't know what you're feeling, it'll all turn out O.K. in the end, and perhaps somewhere along the way we can dance.

This Album Does Not Exist // DREAMERS Written by Makenna Magdaleno-Mague This Album Does Not Exist, a much anticipated album released on August 26th, 2016 by an upcoming band known as Dreamers, delivers exploding melodies and tunes of the smart pop genre. Whether you want songs to dance too, or you want to travel down a road of existential thoughts, this album has it all.

All 12 songs on the album have something special to it, and we start off strong with one of their hits "Drugs," full of heavy guitar riffs and soft piano transitions. After the dance vibes brought on by "Never Too Late to Dance," the album continues to another hit song, "Sweet Disaster," which has been in the Alternative Nation's top 18 chart. "Painkiller," entrances us with upbeat and catchy melodies, "Wolves (You Got Me)," will have you howling for more, and "Cry Out For Me" will leave you dancing to the beat of the drums. Their energetic vibes continue through "Lucky Dog," "Shooting Shadows," and "Last Night on Earth," shown through the cool guitar riffs and sing-along choruses. The guitar riffs start to become lighter as the album reaches "To the Fire," the harmonies drawing people in, making the lyrics in the song, "drawn to the fire" very true. "Come Slow Down," 8

as the title says, brings down the high from earlier in the album and takes us to a place full of airy, floating vibes. After a small break from the high, the band pulls you right back in for the last song of the album "Little New Moon." Heavy bass and drums start off the song, leading to a chorus that would make any person lose control into a dancing frenzy.

Overall, "This Album Does Not Exist" brings a new kind of energy to the music scene. The thing about this album that makes it so interesting, is the fact that while a person can enjoy themselves and stay on the surface of the music, many can fall through and find deeper meanings, a connection between the listener and the lyrics of the band. If you enjoy crazy pop and entrancing indie music that toys with mind bending themes, be sure to check out Dreamers, and become a dreamer for yourself!

9

Sunflower Bean: The New Face of Rock & Roll Written by Erin Christie / Photo by Eleanor Hardwick

With the bright, shiny, and new year of 2017 approaching with each passing day, punk, a genre classified by the harsh, de-constructed, and raw sounds of a shredding bass and violently political vocals that originated during the late 1760’s, has seemingly begun to fade out and seep into the shadows of oblivion—or so the general public has thought. Recently, the revival of punk has become super- charged, the scene becoming elevated even more so, resulting in a new wave of bands and their fans to accommodate for the present day. In the midst of that movement lays a band that is only bound to travel all the way to full- blown stardom within the coming months, the three- piece of Jacob Faber, Nick Kivlen, and Julia Cumming known as Brooklyn, New York’s own Sunflower Bean.

By the summer of 2013, Long Island grown and freshly graduated from high school, Nick Kivlen and Jacob Faber, having been the only kids that they knew who even listened to rock and roll, let alone knew what it was, were desperate to begin anew and find their way into the music scene that they had fallen so deeply in love with. Soon enough, New York be10

came their stomping ground, the two having risen Sunflower Bean out of the ashes, Kivlen on guitar and vocals with Faber behind the kit, soon after adding Julia Cumming, an aspiring musician, kindred soul, and Manhattannative, to mix. Cumming, having seemingly always had an incredibly close connection with music within all aspects and spheres, says that she wouldn’t have it any other way, as she notes in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, “I’ve wanted to be a musician ever since I saw the glam- rock VHS tape my dad put in for me when I was a baby.” The close bond existing between this ban of friends rings true throughout each song they release, the amount of dedication, passion, and true grit hypnotizing audiences from all over, bringing about a feeling of teenage rebellion, angst, and urgency that resonate through the eardrums and speakers of many. This past year, Cumming, Kivlen, and Faber had the lovely opportunity to tour with incredible acts of the indie and alternative persuasion such as Wolf Alice, Best Coast, The Vaccines, and DIIV in the US and UK prior to the release of their debut LP, bringing about an entirely new wave of fanatics, each enchanted by their spell.

Since their humble beginnings, purposefully roaming the streets of New York City, playing gig after gig, constantly seeking to satisfy their ever- growing fervor for their craft, Sunflower Bean has been a trio to be reckoned with, and it is no doubt that in their increasing recognition, such a quality will only elevate much higher with each passing second.

Human Ceremony, the three- piece’s debut LP quickly gained traction, allowing them to even enter the ever- admirable Rolling Stone’s line of vision, landing them a spot amongst the 45 best albums of this year, something that is incredibly commendable within itself! Following an extensive period of vicious song- writing, workshopping, and studio sessions within the great city of Brooklyn, New York, it was evident that three’s brainchild was bound to make the worldwide music scene its stomping ground. On February 6th, 2016, Human Ceremony began its world take-over with bewitching psychedelic tracks such as “Wall Watcher”, “2013”, and “Creation Myth”, each, within their own right, stealing the hearts and minds of all who dared to take a listen. A perfect combination of deep melancholy undertones, shrieking guitar chords, Cummings’ angelic, optimistic vocals 11

(often accompanied by Kivlen’s mellow complimentary response and banter), and lyrics that scope out vast paintings of color and light within the mind’s eye, often depicting scenes of the New York underground, ancient humanities, and the mysteries of life, Sunflower Bean effortless managed to create a record like no other, one that is certainly the hallmark to their definite upcoming successes approaching nearer by the minute. Drawing upon the toils of human life and their own personal worries, questions, and curiosities, such a compilation drenched in swirling notes, rugged lo- fi sounds, and rhythms so indigenous to the indie persuasion, Human Ceremony is anything but typical, infiltrating the charts with a hypnotizing quality similar to that of The Clash or the Banshees—Rock and Roll is so far from death, a new wave having risen from the ashes of what once was, and Sunflower Bean is simply leading such a revolution. As "NY's coolest young band" continues to strike a chord, their invigorating, sincere discography leading them to nothing but success and triumph, it is only evident that their place among the stars will be fulfilled.

Sunflower Bean, members of Fat Possum Records since last year, and acclaimed masters of psychedelia, have recently released a series of previously unreleased songs and demos within a short EP entitled From the Basement—I deeply encourage you to take a listen and become enveloped in the wonder that is Sunflower Bean!

12

HIPPO CAMPUS DEBUT ALBUM LANDMARK

OUT 2/24/17 PREORDER NOW AT: hippocampusband.com 13

14

4

We were fortunate enough to cover some of our favorite artists at the first ever Music Tastes Good festival in Long Beach, California.

All photos by Heather Zalabak

machineheart

16

17

18

girlpool

19

20

Twin Peaks

21

22

Hippo Campus

23

24

25

CITY OF TREES For the first time ever, Uncover was able to venture out to somewhere new. Check out City of Trees from Sacramento, CA. All photos by Makenna MagdalenoMague

26

6

CITY OF TREES Written by Donna Ghassemi

Energy.

Of all the words I could use to describe the performances I saw at Sacramento’s City of Trees Music Festival I would have to say that “energy” is the best to use.

From Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness to Weezer, all the artists put on such amazing sets.

It had been my first time seeing some of the bands, but I do have to say that they left great impressions.

Having had to drive all the way up from South Orange County, it was nice to see another group of Southern Californians present at the festival. The SoCal residents being Weathers, an indie rock band hailing from Los Angeles. The four piece band released their single, “Happy Pills”, in early June of 2016 and it reached 22nd on the alternative songs music charts. The band put on quite a performance, getting the crowd pumped and dancing even with harsh sun beaming down. The heat did not stop them from nodding along and it certainly did not stop the band from dancing. Not only did the band as a whole possess great energy and excitement, but the attire of their lead singer, Cameron Boyer, was very aesthetically pleasing. His outfit gave off a “cool, British vampire/ rockstar” vibe, with a long plaid coat and circular sunglasses. He moved around gracefully and in tune with the music, twirling the mic in his hand, the ends of his coat flapping around behind him creating some great picture perfect moments.

I had previously heard of Andrew McMahon as he had been on tour with Panic! At the Disco and Weezer this summer but I had never actually listened to his music much. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness is the solo project of Andrew 28

McMahon, the former vocalist, pianist, and main songwriter of the bands Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate. Within the first couple songs of the set, the 34 year old musician had already jumped down from the stage and into the photo pit to interact with the fans. He ran all over the place, jumping up to graze the hands of the festival goers and eventually crawled back up onto the stage. The audience sang and danced along to his songs, and even played with a rainbow parachute that one might find in a kindergarten classroom. “I want you to remember what it is like to be a child again, to be free,” McMahon said as they brought out the colorful parachute. He did not stand still for a minute of his set, constantly moving from stage left to right and even standing on his piano. At the end of his set, he began jumping on the piano and the sounds of the crashing keys echoed throughout the festival grounds.

Up next was Phantogram, an American music duo from New York consisting of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel. With their electronic and dream pop vibes, people everywhere could be found dancing along to the beat. Having just released an album in October, it was awesome to hear new songs, and songs never heard before performed with such an energetic crowd.

With their 2nd album “Voices” hitting number 3 on both the US alternative and US rock charts, their new album “Three” is sure to make it high on the charts. Sarah was dressed in all black, her dyed blonde hair and blue sunglasses pulling together an awesome outfit. She sang her heart out and the crowd sang back, the fan favorite being a new song, “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore.” The set was a nice warm-up for the band that was to come next.

With the anticipation rising and the weather growing hotter, people became more and more anxious. The solution to all that pent up energy was, of course, British rock band The Struts.

Personally, I had never heard of them before, but I was so impressed by their performance that I made to sure to make note of their name to look up later. Of the bands I saw, Panic! At the Disco and The Struts tied first for

29

“Most Lively Set” in my book. Lead singer Luke Spiller wow’d the crowd with his crazy dance moves and powerful voice. During the set, the audience was told to sit down (even those standing on the side) and wait. The music dulled and Spiller told them to wait for the cue to jump up. Time passed slowly as everyone waited in anticipation for the cue.

“AND JUMP!” Spiller shouted into his mic and the crowd jumped, danced, and clapped their way to the end of the set.

Weezer will always be one of my favorite bands to see live. In fact, I’d say they are one of the select few bands that might even be better live than in studio. The stage lights for their set were amazing, reds and purples illuminated the members and they even had choreographed moments in which they almost posed for the picture by all standing next to each other. The crowd sang along to their favorite Weezer songs, from My Name is Jonas to Beverly Hills. During My Name is Jonas, one of the people pressed against the barricade began to freak out as he hadn’t known that Weezer was the band that sang the song. Further out in the audience, people outside of the main standing area moved along passionately and some presented their very impressive air guitars. I had always seen Weezer as one of those more nostalgic bands, the ones you grew up hearing in your favorite cousin’s car as they drove you home from school. You would bob your head along to the drums in Beverly Hills and sing along to the words coming out of their stereo.

It’s kind of amazing how concerts can transport us from that one afternoon in our cousin’s (or whoever’s) car to standing in a crowd of likeminded people screaming the words back at the band.

And alas, after a long hot day of set after set after set the crowd began cheering for Panic! At the Disco. It’s amazing how I can barely get out of bed in the morning, but vocalist Brendon Urie has the energy to dance the way he does every night on stage. He jumped from side to side, onto speakers and across the stage. Guitarist Kenneth Harris and bassist Dallon Weekes also did their fair share of moving, constantly switching sides to give all members of the crowd a view of their very talented faces. Speaking 30

of talent, no one can deny that Panic’s cover of Bohemian Rhapsody is anything but just as good as the original. Brendon Urie’s ever-so-powerful voice swayed the crowd, some sang along while others just stood there listening, transfixed by the beauty of the song. As the night went along and the set began inching towards its end, Urie decided to blatantly tell the crowd that they were just gonna keep playing instead of faking going off stage and coming back for the encore. Which then lead them to the one song that everyone knows: I Write Sins Not Tragedies (a.k.a the one song about the door). And let’s be real, it’d be quite the tragedy if they didn’t play that song. Just like Weezer reminds everyone of those nostalgic afternoon car rides, Sins reminds some of us of those nostalgic middle school days. The days when we would come home from school and search for the song on our iPod nano and listen to it whilst doing whatever homework the teacher had assigned that day. And after a few more songs, the long awaited set ended with Victorious, a song off their newest album Death of a Bachelor. If you too wish to see Panic! in all their glory live, along with Saint Motel and Misterwives, be sure to get tickets to their Death of a Bachelor tour this spring!

Overall, City of Trees was a day filled with good music and good times. It’s held in Sacramento every year so be sure to check it out next year! A select few even get a free tree as they leave the festival.

Weathers: http://www.weathersband.com/ Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness: http:// www.andrewmcmahon.com/ Phantogram: http://www.phantogram.com/ The Struts: http://thestruts.rtouring.com/ Weezer: http://weezer.com/ Panic! At the Disco: http://www.panicatthedisco.com/

31

WEATHERS

32

33

PHANTOGRAM

34

35

36

THE STRUTS

37

Andrew McMahon

38

In the Wilderness

39

40

41

W E E Z E R 42

43

44

45

46

6

DREAMERS Photos and interview by Makenna Magdaleno-Mague

Dreamers, a 3 piece cosmic rock band hailing from Brooklyn, is a band to look out for. With their recent release of their new album, "This Album Does Not Exist," Dreamers have been climbing the alternative charts with their psychedelic sounds and themes of existentialism and existence. They are currently on the Alt. nation top 18 chart, and have been up there since their hit song "Sweet Disaster" off the new album was released, as well as their other hit song "Drugs." The entire album is full of songs that will easily pull you away from reality and into a dance trance.

What inspired your album name?

Often on long sleepless drives we find ourselves having philosophical discussions on the nature of reality, existence and consciousness. "This Album Does Not Exist" is an extension of those themes. What is an album? What does it mean? It's a bit tongue in cheek.

If you had to pick one song off your new album to represent what your band is, which song would it be?

It's impossible to pick a favorite, but "Sweet Disaster" is a good representation of who we are and what we are trying to say with our music. We think it has all the elements and ingredients of our vibe.

Were there any songs on the album that almost didn't make it? Or songs you originally planned to put on the album but decided not to?

There are definitely songs we love that didn't make it onto this record, but we're keeping them in our back pocket. Little New Moon almost didn't make it but we are so glad it did. Now we see people singing all the words at shows!! At any rate, we have more songs brewing that we are eager to share.

48

49

What are some preshow routines you do before you get on stage?

Usually about 30 minutes before we hit the stage we disappear into dark green rooms and cultivate the vibe. There are vocal warm-ups, hugs and genuine expressions of gratitude to each other that we get to do this together. It's always a semi-private love-fest between us right before we hit, no matter what else is going on.

Have you ever had anything strange or funny happen to you on tour?

Every day on tour is strange and funny!! Whether it's Detroit Papa Smurf bestowing upon us magical beads, a massive tornado heading straight for our van in Oklahoma (which we were compelled to Snapchat once confident we had escaped its path). The entire experience of literally living your life in a different city every day is strange. So many strange and beautiful people and places. Why we try to document so much and share online.

What was your favorite part of this past tour and what are you looking forward to with the next one?

This tour was a blast. We had so much fun with The Mowglis and Colony House. The sold out show at The Troubadour in LA was a highlight. We've been friends with Mainland for years and love their music. We adore Night Riots and have all become friends. It felt like a homecoming and powerful celebration of new music and supportive, inspired vibes. Another lovefest!! Next tour, we look forward to sharing the stage with Great Good Fine Ok, meeting and making more friends and fans, and sharing those strange and funny moments which are bound to be plentiful.

50

51

52

53

All photos by Heather Zalabak

KAABOO is a music festival with something for everyone to enjoy. With an incredibly diverse musical lineup, as well as an art, comedy, and food lineup, KAABOO allows its attendees to never experience a dull moment. This year’s KAABOO weekend had an abundance of talent and creativity, and Uncover was there to document some of our favorite artists’ performances.

54

4

FINISH TICKET

56

57

Shakey Graves

58

59

COLD WAR KIDS

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

See more at www.uncoveronline.net