This 4 piece band from Ottawa really are the kings and The Cardboard Crowns have got the crowns to prove it. That makes their music royalty. So take a long listen to their latest record "Global Citizen". The opening track "Pulling Teeth" has some Atlantic Canadian rock vibes to it. Borderline celtic rhythm mixed with some straight ahead punk rock. They call themselves a blend of ska/reggae/punk and this comes flying out at ya in the title track of the album. These guys have got a killer fusion of genres, paired with nice groovy basslines, and a drummer who does an outstanding job of keepin it real. It's still summer, so throw the crowns on the ol' pod while you're cruising in your Jeep YJ, roof down, and enjoy. Or better yet go check out the Cardboard Crowns at the Garrison 08/21 - Kris 'Big City' Gies

 Formed here in Portland in 2008, Just Lions is a pop, rock, and jazz trio consisting of brothers Chandler and Brady Strutz, and their longtime friend Andrew Shepherd. Over the course of their time together, the group has managed to put out three EPs (currently available on Bandcamp and Noisetrade), and with influences ranging from The Beatles to The Strokes to Elliot Smith, its no surprise that they're able to combine a satisfying variety of musical elements into their songwriting. The title track from their latest EP, "Great. Okay." (streaming below), is a radio-friendly indie-pop gem rife with infectious whistling and catchy melodies, while the final track, "On the Road," showcases the group's ability to employ more complicated rhythmic and melodic work, as well as to combine elements across various genres (in this case, rock & roll intensity, jazz complexity, and bluesy guitar play). The trio just recently signed with Randm Records out of San Diego and they've begun work on their first full-length album. In the meantime, you can catch them tomorrow night, August 21, at Mississippi Studios. - Patrick Wolff

 Northern Youth, the solo project of Portland-by-way-of-California musician Luke Messimer, released a 4-song EP, "Color," this past June on Astro Lizard Records. The songs on "Color" are an assortment of folk-influenced indie-pop tracks that are reminiscent of such popular acts as Delta Spirit or Dr. Dog. "Hide You Away," the third track on the EP (streaming below), is a glistening, 6-minute composition of nostalgic melodies and lyrics fit for cruising along coastal highways, while the opening track, "Misunderstood," offers a glimpse into the darker side of Messimer's indie influences, even including some elements of punk rock. Overall, the EP offers 4, well-crafted examples of what this artist is capable of, and it warrants at least a couple of listens. As of today, Northern Youth has announced a number of upcoming shows, including one on September 26th at The Foggy Notion, so be sure to check them out! - Patrick Wolff

If you're into checking out a couple of folk rock bands this weekend, you'll have a great opportunity to see the San Francisco based band, Miles Read & the Trip support folk singer/songwriter, Steven Roth at Neck of the Woods in San Francisco this Saturday.

Since releasing his 2013 solo debut, Let It In, Roth had the honor of opening numerous shows for The Who-at the personal request of the band-playing with them at LA's Staples Center and NYC's Madison Square Garden. He also has opening gigs for artists including Audioslave, Robert Plant, Dave Grohl and Elvis Costello under his belt - as well as a headlining showcase hosted by Counting Crows' frontman Adam Duritz and recording sessions with Devo's Jerry Casale.

Head to the show early to check out some great local music and stay to see Steven Roth headline the show. It's going to be a great night!

The well dressed, lovable scruffians from south-western Ontario are back en-force. With a new double a-side single, singular story arc music videos to match, Oh Geronimo are bringing their unique branch of electric-folk to music fans and high-fantasy fans alike. The new 7”, The Flood/Waves (TheFlood-Pt2) is crisp, clean, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and just plain good. The Flood retells the story of the band’s cliche, poorly maintained college rental house, the walls leaking and drenching their home and belongings in a seemingly unstoppable layer of misery. Allegory to the difficult, transitory period of time that comes with growing up, The Flood maintains a beautiful, determined outlook at a bleak, seemingly unsurmountable problem. The swirling, swelling music that accompanies is amazing in it’s layers, both rootsy and rocking, electric and eclectic, banjos and crashing drums painting a dreary, energetic picture behind dreamily harmonized vocals. Waves, part 2, is equally as moving, with the music growing and pulsating bigger and louder than it’s counterpart, but the lyrical content taking a crushing dark look at the truth; sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. Love and life have ups and downs, it’s typical but unavoidable. More unfortunately, not every story ends on a high note. Waves is seemingly short, with a terribly abrupt ending, as if we all drowned with the band, swallowed by the sorrow that can engulf us from time to time. The one upside is this; the music that emerged from the darkness is gratifyingly intelligent, nuanced and energizing, and altogether reassuring, as the darkest of nights usually end with the brightest of lights. The videos to go along with the new 7” are a tribute to high-fantasy, borrowing from the likes of Tolkien and George RR Martin. The costumes all seemingly genuine (I hope it’s not real fur for the leg braces, folks!) and the acting and effects on par, it’s a joking-but-not-really-joking take on fantasy realms from the Lord of The Rings and A Song Of Ice And Fire novels. The camerawork and editing capturing the dim and bleak feeling from the songs, as well as matching the aesthetic from the film/television adaptations of the novels, are wonderfully shot. The dedication to character and scene makes you wonder if all involved enjoyed themselves, with their shredded clothing and ever-present drowning (both in theme, and literally). Focusing on a band of travellers, ambushed in the first video, and confronted by an evil sorcerer in the second, our heros are left with an equally unsure ending from the singles themselves. We don’t find a conclusion, we just see the leader of the band, in both senses, up to his neck in rushing water with no help in sight. Find them playing 08/20 @ The Rivoli - Cody Wright