By Nick Hartman

Black Belt Eagle Scout, composed of musician Katherine Paul, has a new album Mother of my Children coming out September 14th via Saddle Creek. Two songs off the upcoming album are already released. “Soft Stud,” which debuted mid August, expresses the frustration of unfulfilled desire. The song brings the point across with simple and poignant lyrics. The guitar playing is tense and brittle. Blunt base riffs and ephemeral electric chords create a nice harmony. Through them, Paul conveys a mournful yearning that can be hard to express vocally.

The second song, entitled “Just Lie Down” is angsty but adult. Opening with heavily distorted guitar, it produces a raucous, bone-rattling noise that veers shy of grating. The chords are stripped and distilled to a gritty, hypnotic rhythm. Paul’s vocals are soft and listless. They reach an angelic tone that resonates deeply over the explosion of noise. Both songs display intimacy, honesty, and sheer talent. When the rest of the album is released, I highly recommend you give it a listen.

-By Nick Hartman, Photo by Black Belt Eagle Scout

Mini Blinds has a new EP coming out, and the release show is this Saturday, September 1st. The EP, titled Dust, is the band’s first album since their well-received Air Signs, which came out in 2016. Dust is only 4 songs long, but if every song is as well done as the already released “Ashes”, then Mini Blinds should be proud. “Ashes” is slower and less pop-centered than their previous work. Leaning more towards shoegaze and surf, the song is slow and romantic. It’s more mature than what we've seen from the band so far, but still just as dreamy and fun. The accompanying video is strange and playful. It toes the line between indie-pop music video and the sort of aesthetic favored by found footage fanatics. It’s a great indication of where the band is looking to go. 

Mini Blind’s release show is this Saturday, September 1st at The Fixin’ To with Plastic Cactus and the Pool Boys.

By Avril Carrillo, Photo by Erin Holcomb

Fantastic Plastic just released their first full-length album, Cities on Fire. Full of insatiable anger and bitter irony, Cities on Fire is a great catharsis for the shit show that is 2018 America. Songs “Parasites” and “Guilt Plea” have an incredibly tense, claustrophobic tone. You can feel your muscles instinctively clenching as you listen. Luckily, Cities on Fire also provides a great outlet for all that built up stress. Stylistically, the album is reminiscent of The Cramps and early Siouxsie Sioux. The vocals and lyrics run wild with their anxieties. Each song throws both the band and the audience into frenetic, chaotic movements. The guitar playing provides a nice balance to this chaos. The wavy, loose chords guide the audience through each song. They never lose their purpose and provide a nice sense of stability.

You can catch Fantastic Plastic at the Firkin Tavern September 21st, along with Retirement and Hollow Sidewalks. 

  -By Avril Carrillo