I go to lots of shows, partially for my job as a music curator/pseudo-journalist and partially because I just really love it. Even before @joeyontheair, I went to lots of shows for fun and for work during my tenure as the bassist for Muninn. I think this has given me a slightly different perspective on live music than someone who only goes to concerts for bands they already like.

If I plotted all the live music I’ve seen on a graph, it would roughly follow normal distribution (or a bell curve) and look something like this:

Any live event has all sorts of less-that-ideal discomforts and stressors. For live music? Heat, crowds, tall people blocking your view, expensive tickets, expensive drinks, bad smells, sticky floors, achy feet, stuck in place, poor speaker quality, 30-minute gaps between sets, chompers, phone-holders, shovers… I could go on. And yet, I along with hundreds of thousands of others go to many such concerts a year. Why?

Because the live music feeling is something you can’t get anywhere else.

I should mention that if you complain about any of these obviously sub-par concert attributes, you get called “old” and “out of touch.” To some commenters on my Instagram, admitting you get uncomfortable at a boring concert sometimes is like admitting you wish all musicians would die and be replaced by AI. People hate it when you suggest things could be better!

There’s something else I’m chasing at concerts though, and after thinking a lot about it I’ve identified it as a flow state.

Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi developed the theory of flow, a state of consciousness characterized by pure focus, complete absorption in an activity, and time distortion. He said flow was:

“A state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.”

I’m sure you’ve felt the opposite of flow at a concert before. I know I have. I’ll feel acutely aware of my body and the slow passing of time. My feet hurt. I can’t move my elbows without hitting someone. How much time is left in their set? I wonder if the parking lot is going to be bad. I try to be present, I’m glad I came, but I’m also a little excited to get home.

But flow is the exact opposite. I’m completely engrossed in the music, and the movements of the musicians on stage. The time just flies by. I’m thinking of nothing else, and before I know it the show is over. I leave these shows remembering what it is I love so much about live music.

Flow is rare for me, but the experience is so powerful that I’ll go to 10 bad-to-ok-to-good shows for one great one.

The Live Music Bell Curve

I wanted to list a few shows I’ve been to that fit on my “live music bell curve” (see the above graph) to further illustrate the point. The Terrible, the Pretty Good, and the Amazing. The middle section of this graph is Pretty Good and not Average to me because I just love live music! It’s like pizza. Even when it’s just ok, it’s still pizza.

I’m going to restrict my list to just major acts. Many of the “pretty good” and “terrible” shows I’ve seen have been smaller or local bands. Probably the worst live music I’ve ever seen is from some cover band at a county fair type event. But I grade smaller bands on a curve, and I don’t want to single anyone out for ridicule.

The Terrible

• My own band, Muninn. Landslide Festival, 2022. We thought we’d be playing as an opener for headliner Tai Verdes. Instead, we were booked to play in the middle of a campground, on a platform 15 feet in the air, at 1:30 in the morning.

• Night Ranger. Maybe “terrible” is too harsh, but it was like listening to Night Ranger on the radio, if their songs were all sung slightly out of tune by an old man.

• Neal Diamond tribute band, Park City, UT. It was just really bad.

The Pretty Good

• Mumford & Sons. The venue had seating, but the girl in front of us and her whole family stood the entire time and filmed the entire thing on their phones.

• Foreigner. You watch them and you go, “yep these are definitely Foreigner’s songs.”

• Men I Trust, SLC, 2025. My wife and I love Men I Trust and were super excited about this show. Unfortunately we were surrounded by a gaggle of teens who talked through the entire thing and kept poking us in the back.

The Amazing (The Flow State)

• Bleachers, 2022. People love to hate on Jack Antonoff’s production and general vibe these days, but there was a time when Bleachers meant a lot to me. They put on a really great live show too. Lots of saxophone solos. I knew every song.

• KGLW, Red Rocks 2024. Goes without saying, almost.

• Beach House, Kilby Block Party 2025.

• Mr. Tape DJ set, Buzzards & Bees 2021.

• Geese. I’ve seen them a bunch but the first time I caught them was at a tent show at a county fair in Jackson, Wyoming (2024). They played for almost two hours and were just making stuff up, playing deep cuts, stuff from Projector… it was great.

• Ty Segall, Treefort Music Fest 2024.

• Justice, Kilby Block Party 2025.

• Post NC, 3Hive Record Lounge 2025. A more recent example and a smaller band.

In Conclusion

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Is it ok for a self avowed “fan of music” to admit that he doesn’t always have the best time at live shows? What shows have put you in a flow state? What’s the worst show you’ve ever been to? I must know.

New In Joeyland

One update from the last few week:

1. The newest episode of the Band For Band podcast features Ace Enders and Mike Carney from the band The Last November, one of the OG bands of the 2000s pop-punk emo merger, who were on the label Drive-Thru Records. Watch the interview below or listen here.

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

This week’s newsletter is a summary of my video on Instagram this week, “The Five Coolest Bands from Illinois.” You can watch it here! This is the latest in my series “The Coolest Bands from All 50 States,” a project I’ve been working on since 2023 to highlight great hidden gem bands from every music scene in the country. Go to the highlight on my instagram to see the rest. I’ve only got five states left, so get on board while you still can!

The rules for the series are:

1. Band must be actively playing shows or releasing music

2. Band must be in the rock/rock adjacent world (I’m not very strict on this one)

3. Band must be under/around 100k monthly listeners on Spotify (it’s not perfect, but it’s an good measuring stick).

I dug through more than 400 Illinois based bands from submissions, article entries, and playlists to find five that I really love. Here are the ones I chose (in no particular order):

5. Ratboys

I’ve certainly talked up Ratboys quite a bit on this newsletter, but they are certainly one of my favorite bands from Chicago. They released one of my favorite records of the year so far, “Singin’ to an Empty Chair,” and have a sound that’s so alive and full.

They’re often grouped into the “indie twang” scene along with Wednesday, Florry, Greg Freeman, and so forth. Chicago is not what I’d typically think of when it comes to “twang,” but that’s one of the best surprises about Ratboys.

4. Feller

Really excellent post rock trio. Still pretty early into their time playing together, and pretty under-the-radar (only a couple thousand listeners last I checked) but that’s gonna change soon. They’re like a quieter, “mathier” version of some of Chicago’s iconic noise rock bands, like Shellac or the Jesus Lizard. If you like harsh chords, jangly guitars, and tight trio playing, these guys are for you.

3. Post Animal

Probably most famous as Joe Keery’s band before Stranger Things or Djo, Post Animal is a must-listen for anyone in the orbit of King Gizz, Osees, and so forth. Sonically, they’re most similar to Pond or other Aussie psychos Tame Impala or GUM. Keery left the band in 2017, but returned for their latest album “Iron.”

2. The Courts

It’s hard to find anything online about these guys. They’re pretty cryptic and even more under-the-radar than Feller, but if you all do your part and blow these guys up they should be on KEXP soon… :) Like Feller, they’re also very young, and dabble in the post-rock/psych world. Go check out their song “Wayves” and “On Yr Mind.”

1. Horsegirl

Such a great band! Horsegirl is a trio of indie-pop/indie-rockers with a little bit of noise, a little fuzz, and a little bit of that “weird” factor I’m always looking for in bands. The video above is four years old, and their newest stuff is already such a new feeling. The newest album “Phonetics On and On” is a sparser, tighter, and yes, weirder album that shows the band leaning into the stuff that makes them cool and shedding some of their more cliche indie sounds. Its a stronger album in every way… make this band a must-listen!

Honorable Mentions

This list could’ve been 200 bands long. Chicago/Illinois have so many great punk and hardcore bands, which I don’t even scratch the surface of here. But if you’re looking for more awesome music from Illinois, here are a few more to check out:

• Friko

• Brigette Calls Me Baby

• Sharp Pins/Lifeguard/Kai Slater

• Floatie

• Totally Cashed

• Slow Mass

• We Weren’t Invited

• Harrison Gordon

• The Dead Bolts

• Ganser

• Stress Positions

• Sincere Engineer

• Into It. Over It.

New In Joeyland

One update from the last few week:

1. The newest episode of the Band For Band podcast features Ace Enders and Mike Carney from the band The Last November, one of the OG bands of the 2000s pop-punk emo merger, who were on the label Drive-Thru Records. Watch the interview below or listen here.

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

I occasionally get records in the mail. Various labels will send me vinyl from artists in their roster that they think I’ll like. They never say that I need to talk about them. They don’t give me money to talk about them. But there is… an implication. I genuinely appreciate the records from labels like ATO, and I really do like almost everything they send me. But would they continue sending me records if I never talked about them?

I haven’t accepted money to promote any bands or artist on my page. But I do accept gifts (mainly just records) sometimes. I don’t accept gifts on the condition that I promote the artists. But I do get paid for certain brand deals and partnerships (with festivals, movies, etc).

We live in an interesting time when many music labels and managers are covertly using influencers and online personalities to promote music, sometimes without disclosure (which is technically illegal). It’s the equivalent of payola on the radio, but nobody is taking it seriously. The whole influencer industry is a legal gray area.

I want to keep running joeyontheair, and sharing music with the people who follow me. I need money to keep doing that long term! But I also think I owe it to my followers to be transparent about what I’m getting paid for. Ideally, I would be making enough money from just subscriptions that I never had to do any ads or partnerships. Maybe someday…

Anyway, here are five records (in order of how much I liked them) that I’ve recently received in the mail. Three from ATO, one from Pure Noise, and one from Mt. Joy/Bloomfield Records.

5. “The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy,” The Claypool Lennon Delirium (ATO Records)

LINK TO THE ALBUM

This is the band of Les Claypool (of Primus fame) and Sean Ono Lennon. Their new album’s name is quite the mouthful, but as a King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard fan I really have no room to talk. It’s a beautiful album book, with beautiful shiny gold inlay on the cover, 2 discs, and a truly charming 24-page comic in the middle drawn by Rich Ragsdale.

The record is a psychedelic concept album full of funky bass and and groovy guitar. There are some genuinely great songs on here, like “WAP (What A Predicament,” “Meat Machines,” and “Heart of Chrome.” The only thing I didn’t like about this album is that the concept is a pretty heavy-handed morality tale about anxieties over an AI-filled future and the importance of empathy. If you think about the lyrics too hard, it feels a little like a TED Talk. That said, the music is great, and it’s really grown on me as sort of a “Sergeant Pepper” mixed with “Murder of the Universe.”

4. “Barely Here,” Koyo (Pure Noise Records)

LINK TO THE ALBUM

I put this record on my record player, moved the needle over, listened for the familiar crackling… and was greeting with strange, shoegazey heavy drones. Interesting, I thought. Not what I expected. Then the singer’s voiced kicked in. Pitched down. Is this like a Ween thing? What’s going on here?

I knew that Koyo was a melodic hardcore band from Long Island, and was really surprised by the creative choices on this record so far. Then I realized, maybe I’m an idiot. I took a look at the disc, and sure enough, there was a little note on the center label that said “45rpm.” Ah, I thought. Of course.

The rest of the 28 minute album sounded correct after I switched my player to 45, but I have since learned that some records are pressed as 45s on a 12” LP so the audio quality is even higher. I guess the thinking is that the needle moves faster over the grooves, and so it stays more stable… something like that. It better preserves the low end, and harsher high end on loud guitars, maybe? Sometimes punk/hardcore bands, who famously have very short albums, use this technique for better sound quality. I really enjoyed this record!

3. “Electric Love,” Brother Wallace (ATO Records)

LINK TO THE ALBUM

Groovy, fast paced, modern soul record, and a strong debut from Brother Wallace, a K-12 music teacher from small town Georgia. Delightfully listenable, great music for dancing around your kitchen, doing chores, driving around town and feeling like a high-rolling stock broker or a “The Color of Money” style pool hustler.

The album art is eye catching, the audio quality has a warm vintage feel, and there are a couple of slower songs too for the sentimental ones out there. Listen if you like: The Heavy, Shakey Graves, Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes, Leon Bridges, Jungle.

2. “The Garden Mann,” Mt. Joy (Bloomfield Records)

LINK TO THE ALBUM

Absolutely monster live album from Mt. Joy. Three discs, six sides, and a collection of live recordings from shows the band has played at TD Garden, The Mann, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and more. I love the album art and the look of the bright green vinyl. This album captures Mt. Joy’s slow pivot over recent years to a jam-adjacent band (real jam-heads don’t hate me for saying this) with some really excellent band-locked-in moments preserved on the wax.

If you’re a fan of the band, this is probably a must-have (at least a must-listen). I really love the band’s heart and passion that comes through on these recordings. A lot of these songs I like better than the studio versions, especially the absolutely explosive version of “Let Loose” on Side B.

1. “Something Worth Waiting For,” Friko (ATO Records)

LINK TO THE ALBUM

“Something Worth Waiting For” has been one of my favorite records of 2026, and I was so happy to get it on vinyl. I’ve loved Friko since their EPs, and the new record is such a good next step for the band after their 2024 record “Where we’ve been…”. It’s more of the same, but a little different. More of what you love about the band, but taking things just a step further. It’s got lead singer Niko Kapetan’s heart-filled warble, great guitar solos, atmospheric crashing and clanging… but the band doesn’t forget to just let it rock. If you haven’t listened yet, enjoy!

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

If you’re like me, and you spent a lot of time growing up listening to Classic Rock and Classic Hits radio, you’re probably familiar with dozens and dozens of bands from the 60s to the 90s. But radio can only play so many of a band or artist’s songs, and it’s always their biggest hits.

Hits can be deceiving!

I’ve wanted to start a new series on Instagram/TikTok and my Substack for years now, diving into bands that had a big radio hit, but have much more to offer than their biggest song.

The B-52s are a great first choice for this series. I’ve known Rock Lobster and Love Shack my whole life (by far their biggest radio hits) but it wasn’t until a couple years ago that I thought to dive a little deeper. A clip of the band performing “Private Idaho” blew up on Twitter, and it sent me down a rabbit hole, leading me to discover how great the band actually is.

The B-52s formed over a flaming volcano drink in Athens, Georgia in 1976. Made up of Fred Schneider (vocals), Keith Strickland (drums), Cindy Wilson (vocals), Ricky Wilson (guitar), and Kate Pierson (synth), the band pioneered one of the most creative sounds of any band from the 70s and 80s. They were doing sort of a 1950s-1960s throwback thing (surf rock, beehive wigs, space-age lyrics, thrifted party clothes) combined with the emerging new wave and post punk of the era.

They were a party band, but one with genuinely creative and funny lyrics, driving danceable beats, piercing vocal harmonies, a frontman with an unforgettable voice and stage presence, and one of the wackiest guitarists ever. Ricky Wilson changed tunings from song to song, tuning by ear. He wasn’t an expert in music theory, he wasn’t a music student, he just played what sounded right. He removed strings from his guitar, preferring to play with four or five instead of six.

If you’ve never listened to The B52s beyond their hits, here are 15 of my favorite songs you can dive into today.

YouTube Playlist Here

Apple Music Here

Friday Preview: Odyssey Inspired Music

Christopher Nolan’s new movie “The Odyssey” came out last week, and I loved it. The wife and I are big Nolan fans, and I love Homer’s original poem. As I’ve been rereading The Odyssey, it’s set my mind wandering… surely one of western civilization’s most famous texts has inspired some music? I’ve got some choices that you may find interesting, coming up in this week’s Friday newsletter!

Subscribe now

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

The year is about halfway over, but I think the second half of 2026 is going to deliver the year’s best music. New music from Brandon Flowers, Wishy, Greg Freeman and more is all scheduled for the back half of the year. I’m excited!*

*If these albums come out and they end up being terrible, I reserve the right to delete this article and pretend I never said any of this :)

1. “All Set The Bone,” Greg Freeman

Greg Freeman is one of Vermont’s finest songwriters, and released a couple of the best albums of the last few years. “I Looked Out” (2022) and “Burnover” (2025) are both exciting, powerful, rock and roll albums with great songwriting and storytelling. The new single “Indu” is promising, and feels like a new direction for Freeman; a little less country rock, a little more Vampire Weekend.

“All Set The Bone,” out October 2 on Transgressive/Canvasback Records.

2. “Nature’s Pill,” Wishy

Wishy, from Indiana, rocked my world with their debut “Triple Seven.” Their jangly power-pop/shoegaze (what does that even mean, honestly) sound feels like a 90s throwback in a way that scratches an itch just right. It’s somewhere between Alvvays, Belly, and Third Eye Blind. Not to be missed!

“Nature’s Pill,” out October 2 on Winspear Records.

3. “Thrasher,” Brandon Flowers

Brandon Flowers. Lead singer of The Killers. Utah boy. Country Rockabilly. Flowers hasn’t released anything since The Killers’ monumental 2021 record “Pressure Machine,” and hasn’t released a solo album in 11 years. Flowers has said he’s always wanted to make a country album, hearkening back to his Nephi, Utah roots. The new singles sound pretty much like what you’d expect: Brandon Flowers making country music. It feels a little bit outlaw, a little bit rhinestone. A little bit Nephi, a little bit Vegas.

“Thrasher,” out August 21 on Island Records.

4. “It Goes On,” Westside Cowboy

Finally, a full album from these guys! Westside Cowboy has been teasing us for years with singles and EPs, and I’m finally excited to see what this “Brittanicana” band does with a full record. Will there be a through-line of themes, motifs, sounds, and characters? Will each new song bring a different array of delights? I talked about this band on Insta a while back and have been anxiouslty awaiting any new music from them I could get my ears on. The boys (and girl) are back in town…

“It Goes On,” out August 21 on Island Records.

5. “Melodie,” Slow Pulp

The Wisconsin Wailers, the Manglers from Madison… it’s Slow Pulp! If you need one song to convince you of this band’s greatness, go switch tabs and listen to “Idaho” right now. There are many Slow Pulp copycats and contemporaries, but very few bands strike the balance of loud fuzzy guitars and soft vocals as well as they do. This band just works for me. It helps that I saw them live at Kilby Block Party and they absolutely crushed it.

“Melodie,” out 9/18 on Anti Records.

Friday Preview: Odyssey Inspired Music

Christopher Nolan’s new movie “The Odyssey” came out last week, and I loved it. The wife and I are big Nolan fans, and I love Homer’s original poem. As I’ve been rereading The Odyssey, it’s set my mind wandering… surely one of western civilization’s most famous texts has inspired some music? I’ve got some choices that you may find interesting, coming up in this week’s Friday newsletter!

Subscribe now

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

The weather in Utah the last few weeks has been strange. Heavy, hot, smoky. Oppressive. The kind of weather that makes for great sunsets. The weather that makes you feel a little bit crazy. This time of year I always find myself desperately grasping for new music. The music that I clung to in the colder months feels old hat. But the wrong music only makes me feel hotter and stuffier somehow. Does that make sense?

Five Songs

1. “Prófugos,” Soda Stereo

Soda Stereo was an Argentine New Wave band that has the 80s post-punk sound of The Cure mixed with a funky fusion sound like the Japanese band Casiopea. I found this song listening to KRCL during their NOVA FM program, and was instantly hooked.

2. “BOSS TRIX (BENNY’S SONG),” Nirosta Steel

The album “My Skyscraper” by Nirosta Steel (aka Steven Hall) has been getting all the indie buzz, and it’s well deserved. The sprawling 1 hour and 23 minute double album has drawn comparisons to Cindy Lee’s “Diamond Jubilee” and the work of longtime Hall collaborator Arthur Russell.

The album is all over the place, with disco-like party jams (BOSS TRIX (BENNY’S SONG)), 80s synth pop with Carl Weezer-like vocals (YHEMA), and sparse experimental folky stuff (MOHAN (MANDARIN VERSION)). This album is worth listening to, maybe a couple times. It’s definitely grown on me.

3. “分裂 (Fen Lie),” Faye Wong

I can’t get enough of Faye Wong lately. Her voice and production blended in such a perfect way for a few years in the 90s. Her clear inspiration from Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins), Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries) and other ethereal 90s pop singers like Enya combined with her talent produced some of my favorite stuff ever.

Wong’s 1996 album Fu Zao (浮躁) is a masterpiece, and you could listen to the whole thing in about 35 minutes. The song “Fen Lie” meaning “to separate” was written and produced by Cocteau Twins (who Wong collaborated with many times), and is one of my favorites on an amazing album.

4. “The Bug,” Dire Straits

Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug. Amen.

5. “Marionette.” Twisted Teens

I spend hours assembling my 50 States videos. I read so many articles about the local scenes, dive deep into local playlists, and go through literally hundreds of submissions for each state. And yet every time, incredible bands always slip right through my fingers. After the video goes up, I’ll inevitably find one or two more in the following weeks that would have easily made the video if I had found it earlier. For Louisiana, that band is Twisted Teens.

They’re a punk/americana band from New Orleans and their lead singer… his voice reminds me of someone, but I can’t nail it down. Let me know what you think. It’s on the tip of my tongue. Twisted Teens is really good. You’ll probably like them. Read this great article from Matt Mitchell at Paste for a close look at this duo: https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/twisted-teens/twisted-teens-blame-the-clown-album-review

As of last Friday, Twisted Teens has a new album out called “Florida Water Blues.” Go check it out!

Friday Preview: Odyssey Inspired Music

Christopher Nolan’s new movie “The Odyssey” releases this week, and I’m very excited to see it. The wife and I are big Nolan fans, and I love Homer’s original poem. As I’ve been rereading The Odyssey, it’s set my mind wandering… surely one of western civilization’s most famous texts has inspired some music? I’ve got some choices that you may find interesting, coming up in this week’s Friday newsletter!

Subscribe now

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

The time is speeding by, but boy has there been a lot of great music this year. Here are five songs from five of my favorite albums. If any of these grab you, make sure to check out the rest of each album. Maybe you’ll find your new favorite thing…

Five Earworthy Tunes

1. “Shoplifting,” Lip Critic

From the NYC band’s new album “Theft World.” Lip Critic is an energetic, noisy, punk-ish band that’s part of the movement I’m calling “cortisol core.” It’s music that sounds designed to stress you out, sung by a guy who reminds me of the B-52s’ Fred Schneider. They’ve got some recorded shows on YouTube that look chaotic and so fun.

2. “The World, So Madly,” Ratboys

Chicago band Ratboys dropped the record “Singin’ to an Empty Chair” in February of this year, and I immediately knew it would end up as one of my favorites of the year. Their twangy pop rock sound scratches a spot in my brain just right. It’s like Big Thief if they rocked a little harder. This album and this band have been praised endlessly, but I’m adding to the chorus. I really love their music!

3. “Will You Dare,” Wendy Eisenberg

Wendy Eisenberg is one of the best guitarists making music today, and their 2026 self titled album is a beautiful exhibit of their songwriting ability and guitar skill. The album floats around between jazz, country ballads, and folky arpeggio filled songs. One of the best listening experiences of the year. This song could be a Norah Jones Americana track, but Eisenberg’s lyrics, voice, and guitar give it life.

4. “Family Photo,” Rhododendron

Rhodo is a band from Portland, Oregon that I’m sure I’ve mentioned in this newsletter before. They are the band that Polyphia thinks they are. A heavier, rougher, grungier take on math rock and jazz fusion. The members of this band play with a casual virtuosity and an electric intensity that reminds you why you love live music.

Their latest 5-song 40 minute album “Ascent Effort” is the best recorded production from the band so far, that perfectly showcases the top of what the band has to offer.

5. “Don’t Throw Rocks,” Westside Cowboy

The hottest indie rock band in England right now! Westside Cowboy dropped an EP at the beginning of this year called “So Much Country ‘Till We Get There,” and a full album coming out August 21. Westside Cowboy combines a lot of things I like: male and female vocals, orchestra-augmented indie rock, big emotional choruses, British indie and Americana. Go watch some of their videos on YouTube and you’ll be hooked.

New In Joeyland

A few updates on my work:

1. The next episode of the “50 States Series” will feature the state of Illinois. It’s one of the biggest states I’ve gotten to sift through. Already 350+ bands submitted! I’ve found so much great stuff and am having a terrible time trying to narrow it down. Send me bands here (for Illinois, or anywhere).

2. Earlier this week I published my article ranking of every official FIFA-commissioned World Cup song. The good, the bad, and the confusing. It was fun diving into all those songs (well, most of them) and I hope you enjoy listening through as well.

Friday Preview: I Hate The J. Geils Band

There are so few bands I would say I “hate.” But I definitely hate The J. Geils Band.

Every song by them sets me on edge, makes me change the dial, ruins my mood. “Freeze-Frame” and “Centerfold” play all the time on my radio station, and I have to hold my nose whenever I toss to one those songs. I can barely conceal my rage. When I’ve tried to listen beyond their radio hits, I can’t do it. Something about their whole sonic bundle is offensive and disgusting to me. None of it sounds right.

But when I elucidated my hatred for J. Geils and his Band on Instagram, I got dozens of comments telling me he “wasn’t that bad” and that I “just had to listen to ____.” This week’s Friday newsletter will be an honest, good-faith attempt to find something, anything of redeeming value in the J. Geils catalog.

Is there any chance The J. Geils Band might be… good?

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Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

Imagine you’re given an impossible task: a billion-dollar multinational corporation asks you to write a song that will be heard by billions of people, all over the world. This song must not offend anyone.

The song cannot be challenging or boundary-pushing in any way. It must be easy to sing, memorable, international, and emotional. The lyrics must be easy to learn, and simple enough that anyone in any language could understand it. It should be able to get a stadium singing along together, but also must be able to get radio play.

This is the task put to World Cup song artists and their songwriting teams.

2026 is the 23rd FIFA World Cup, and since 1962 every World Cup has had at least one “official song” commissioned for the tournament by FIFA.

It gets a little confusing: sometimes there are songs. There are also sometimes “anthems.” Sometimes FIFA uses these interchangeably, and sometimes there is little if any distinction between what makes a “song” versus an “anthem.” For many years, FIFA would commission a song and an anthem. For the last several World Cups, FIFA has also commissioned an entire album of World Cup songs, a “soundtrack” for that year’s tournament.

This list will focus only on official FIFA-commissioned songs and anthems, and in years with a whole soundtrack I’ll focus on the lead single from the album. That means unofficial songs (like Shakira’s “La La La”) or songs from World Cup partners (like K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag”) will not be included.

I’ll be judging these songs on the following rubric:

1. Whether or not I like them

2. How interesting they are

3. How well they embody “World Cup-ness”

4. How well they represent the host country

May the best song win. Allez allez allez!

26. “Dreamers,” Jung Kook feat. Fahad Al Kubaisi

Official Song for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. I didn’t watch the 2022 World Cup, but based on music alone the vibes must have been rancid. FIFA decided to pump out SO MANY terrible songs for this year’s cup, and not a single one of them is memorable, good, or even catchy. It’s just all bad, all the way down. This might not even be the worst song from 2022. I really am just so tired of listening to the songs from this year.

This one sucks! Immediately forgettable. I initially had it ranked higher on the list but after a few re-listens I really just can’t get through it.

25. “DNA (More Than A Game),” Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, Ejae & Megan Thee Stallion

Official Anthem for the CA/MX/USA 2026 World Cup. Really hate this song. There’s this awful Andrea Bocelli autotune, a KPOP Demon Hunters cash-in attempt with the Ejae verse (she’s a great singer, but why?), and a Megan Thee Stallion rap verse.

The whole song is so disjointed, and it tries to force an earnestness and emotional catharsis that just isn’t earned. Hearing Bocelli start off the song by saying “and i say hey” feels beneath an artist of his stature and talent. David Guetta lends his signature sound, which makes the song feel like his COVID-era “stop racism now” broadcast. Actually, lots of songs on this list feel that way.

24. “Light The Sky,” Nora Fatehi, Balqees, Rahma Riad, Manal & RedOne

Official Song for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Just the worst tendencies of 2020s pop music, with vapid “we’re all together :)” lyrics. Nothing really to even say here.

23. Live It Up (2018 song)

Official Song for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

One Life Live It Up Cuz You Got One Life :)

22. “Hayya Hayya,” Trinidad Cardona, Davido & Aisha

Official Song for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Maybe instead of doing 10 songs for 2022, FIFA should’ve just paid for one that was good. The songs from 2022 are all massively overproduced and bloated with too many artists.

21. “Ahrbo,” Ozuna & GIMS

Official Anthem for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Lyrics in Arabic, Spanish, English, and French. The languages elevate it a bit, but it’s still from that terrible, terrible year of 2022.

20. “Sign of a Victory,” R. Kelly & The Soweto Spiritual Singers

Official Anthem for the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

C’mon man…

This song isn’t actually that bad, but it’s almost impossible to separate R. Kelly’s music from his decades of sex trafficking. He was an incredibly talented singer, and with the Soweto Spiritual Singers manages to elevate even the typical lifeless songwriting of a World Cup anthem. This song has some of the most inexplicable lyrics in all the songs on this list:

Now I can see the distance of your journey
And how you fought with all your might
You open your eyes to global warming
And through it all, you sacrificed your life

I’ve searched and searched, and cannot figure out what that third line is referencing.

I’ll give “Sign of a Victory” extra points for featuring the Soweto Spiritual Singers, although they’re not given very much to do. This choice situates the song in South Africa, and in a strong year for World Cup music (2010 also had Waka Waka and Wavin’ Flag) this song holds its own. Unfortunately, it will be forever tainted by the crimes of its singer.

19. “Dai Dai,” Shakira, Burna Boy

Official Song for the CA/MX/USA 2026 World Cup. Another Shakira World Cup hit. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been humming this a little over the last few weeks. It’s catchy, but again falls into that trap of sounding like every pop song from the last 5 years, and being less interesting than those.

18. “Zeit, Dass Sich Was Dreht,” Herbert Grönemeyer

Official Anthem for the Germany 2006 World Cup. I’ll give this song this: it sounds anthemic. The beginning builds to what seems like it’ll be a cathartic release… and then about one minute in, this song loses an unbelievable amount of steam. Not bad but kind of boring.

17. “A Special Kind of Hero,” Stephanie Lawrence

Official Song for the Mexico 1986 World Cup. Not a good representation of Mexico. A little boring. Not a bad song, I guess, but not a good World Cup song.

16. “The Time of our Lives,” Il Divo & Toni Braxton

Official Song for the Germany 2006 World Cup. This one is bad, but it’s bad in an interesting way. The song starts of strong with Toni Braxton’s beautiful voice solo over shimmery instrumentals. Almost feels like a Christmas song. Then Il Divo comes with a verse that sounds pretty nice…

But when they come together, it sounds like a car crash. Braxton’s clean singing mixed with Il Divo’s heavy operatic vibrato clashes awfully. They chose the strangest pairing of singers to pull this song off. Not to mention, there’s nothing German about this song!

I sort of hate this song, but the chorus is so loud and awful it’s almost good…

15. “Dar Um Jeito,” Carlos Santana & Wyclef Jean feat. Avicii & Alexandre Pires

Official Anthem for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. It’s a lively party-like track and you can totally tell Avicii was involved. Santana plays these weird little guitar licks a couple times, but isn’t give very much to do.

14. “Fútbol México 70,” Los Hermanos Zavala

Official Song for the Mexico 1970 World Cup. This might be the first one I’ll call “kind of good.” The song is somewhere between a 70s sitcom theme song and a broadcast jingle for a news station. I like the lyrics. “Football Mexico 70.” Straightforward. A great tempo change up in the middle. It’s groovy, baby!

13. “Mundial 82,” Plácido Domingo

Official Song for the Spain 1982 World Cup. Sung by the legendary Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo, and boy is it a lively number. Its bouncy, and Domingo’s powerful, unwavering tenor voice drives the whole thing forward. The lyrics are about fans going to the stadium and enjoying a game of football. Apt!

12. “El Mundial,” Ennio Morricone

Official Song for the Argentina 1978 World Cup. Maybe I’m ignorant, but nothing about this really feels like “Argentina.” That said, this instrumental composition by Ennio Morricone sounds like it could be on the soundtrack of the Rankin/Bass animated film “The Hobbit.” For that reason alone, this one lands at number 11.

11. “We Are One (Ole Ola),” Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte

Official Song for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. If you don’t like Pitbull as a youth, then you have no heart. But if you don’t like Pitbull as an adult, then you have no brain. Pitbull is the perfect artist for a World Cup song. His lyrics are so empty and inoffensive already (in a good way) that slightly adjusting them to be about World Cup adjacent topics is almost no task at all. This song is danceable, festive-feeling, and yet contains a strange melancholy… maybe its the wistful whistle?

Up next are my top ten.

Read more

By the time you read this, Sweden might have either upset France in the 2026 World Cup and stunned the world, or lost. Maybe lost quite badly. They’re facing France, a team full of apex predators… but as of the time of writing nothing is conclusive. I still believe Sweden can pull it off 🤞

Sweden is a country I have family connections to, and it’s country full of great music. Beyond the huge artists everyone knows like Abba, Robyn, and Avicii, there’s lots of other indie stuff coming out of Sweden that’s worth diving into.

However the match turns out, here are five songs you should check out.

Five Songs

1. “Demolition Man” — Boko Yout

Boko Yout is a four-piece dance punk band led by frontman Paul Adamah. They share some sounds with fellow Swedish group Viagra Boys (also Swedish) combining the fuzzy guitars and sprechgesang of modern post punk with groovy drum beats, hooky songs, and theatrical and charismatic live performances. Their debut album “GUSTO” came out last year and it’s worth checking out.

2. “Hökvind” — Les Big Byrd

Les Big Byrd is a psych/Krautrock band that has been around since 2011, but their new album “Ruin Everything” that came out about a month ago has earned them a spot on this list. It’s a great spaced-out album with psychey guitars and a constant steady 4/4 “motorik” beat that puts you in a hypnotic state. If you like Neu!, Can, Minami Deutsch, or KGLW’s Krautrock inspired stuff, you should check these guys out.

3. “Trappa till himlen” — Girl Scout

If you like female-vocalist driven power pop like Alvvays, Slow Pulp, or Snail Mail, you’ll probably like Girl Scout too! Swedish artists have a long history of doing English-language pop music as good or better than artists from English speaking countries, and Girl Scout is one more to add to your quiver.

They did release a Swedish-language two song EP with the band Terra a year ago, and it might be my favorite of the stuff they’ve put out so far.

4. “HISINGEN TAXI DRIVER” — Tomma Intet

For all the dream pop fans out there, Tomma Intet is the band for you. They’re a music collective from Gothenburg, and their music will probably tickle you if you enjoy bands like Beach House, Slowdive, or The Cure. The Swedish lyrics do something extra for me too—when I listen to bands who sing in languages I can’t understand, their music takes on another totally trancelike quality. It lets you abstract on the sound of both the music and the words.

5. “Pure Control” — Sylvie’s Head

Maybe the newest band on this list. The band’s sound is built around drum machines and samples, and Sylvie’s Head is throwing back to a lot of sounds from the 90s with breakbeats, acid house, and dub rock influences. Listen if you like Primal Scream, The Stone Roses, or the Brian Jonestown Massacre.

For the best intro to the band, just dive into their 2026 record “Everything Is Free.”

Friday Preview: Every World Cup Song, Ranked

From “Waka Waka” to “Wavin’ Flag,” FIFA and its various corporate underwriters have been sponsoring official and unofficial World Cup anthems since at least the 1960s.

What happens when huge amounts of corporate money get funneled into making inoffensive, safe art for mass consumption? Sometimes you get catchy earworms you can’t help but love, and sometimes you get cringeworthy shlock.

My full ranked list of every World Cup song drops this Friday, right here on the ‘Stack. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!

Subscribe now

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

The question I get asked most often is “how can I find more new music?” Which is first of all, insulting. My page isn’t enough for you?

I kid. Today’s music discovery ecosystem feels incredibly different from even 10 years ago, and if it’s been a while since you’ve flexed your music discovery muscles, or if you’re just starting to broaden your search, I’ve got some tips for where to start.

1. The Radio

Who even listens to the radio anymore? You do, starting today!

Radio plays too many ads. They always plays the same music. It’s never music I want to hear. All these complaints are largely with commercial radio, and we live in a time when it’s never been easier to find alternatives. I’m going to write a full guide to local radio soon, but this little bite-sized one can get you started.

My favorite station here in Salt Lake City is 90.9 FM KRCL. They’re a non-profit community radio station, and operate on listener donations, some business sponsorships, and grants. Meaning, they can play whatever they want, and almost never play ads.

KRCL has 40+ different radio programs, all curated shows with names like “Thursday Night Psych-Out,” “Friday Soul Party,” and “Saturday Sagebrush Serenade.” They play new music, old music, jazz, punk, local artists, global sounds. You’re pretty much guaranteed to hear something new every time you tune in. I don’t always love everything I hear, but as Anthony Bourdain once said:

“Don’t be afraid to eat a bad meal… if you don’t risk the bad meal, you’ll never get the magical one.”

Think of it like thrift shopping. You might tune in and hate everything you hear — but try again later. Another time of day, another program… eventually you will find something you love.

Every state in the union has a station like KRCL. Just Google the name of your city/state + “community radio” and you’ll find it. College radio is another great resource. Put in the name of the biggest university in your state + “college radio” and something will pop up. K-UTE Radio is the champ here in SLC. Not only will you find great music, you’ll get to hang out with local hosts and hear about local issues and events. It’s a great way to connect to your community.

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Thanks to a YouTube TV free trial that I will cancel in 5 days, I’ve been watching a lot of World Cup games — something I’ve never done before — and I’ve really been enjoying it. I’ve been working hard to overcome my long-held anti-soccer prejudices, and I think I’ve been making strides (have you seen any of the Cabo Verde games? Holy Moly!)

Four nations have already been eliminated from the World Cup: Turkey, Tunisia, Haiti, and Jordan. I dove into the music scenes of these four countries and discovered some great music to share with you. My favorite thing about these artists is that they all embody what I consider to be a “World Cup” ideal: cultural exchange.

Read to the bottom for a preview of this week’s Friday newsletter!

1. TURKEY: “Türkü,” Erkin Koray

“Anatolian Rock” is a genre of music that combines traditional Turkish music with Western-style psychedelic rock. It was at its peak in the 60s-80s, and Erkin Koray is one of the biggest names from that era, along with others like Barış Manço and Selda Bağcan. Some modern artists are carrying the torch, like Altın Gün, Gaye Su Akyol, and even King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

Erkin Koray’s second album “Elektronik Türküler,” released in 1974, is one of the best Anatolian Rock records out there—one of the founding documents of the genre. The last track “Türkü” is a sprawling 8+ minute psychscape with deadpan spoken word vocals, flutes, zurnas, and hot guitars all over a bunch of time signature changes and tight grooves.

2. TUNISIA: “Barrani,” Nour Harkati

Nour Harkati is a Tunisian artist based in NYC, and his music reflects traditional Tunisian music (he sings in Arabic, plays a guembri, features traditional percussion and beats in his music) while drawing from contemporary folk and rock influences.

I’m a big fan of North African rock groups like Mdou Moctar, Etran De L'Aïr, and Tinariwen, which have some cultural and regional overlap with Tunisia. Harkati’s music feels like a more sparse, almost singer-songwriter version of that sound. “Barrani” is one of the softer songs on his latest album “Moulena,” but there are some more uptempo songs with driving drums and funky bass like “Sidi” and the title track “Moulena.”

3. HAITI: “Ogou (Pran Ka Mwen),” Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray

Formed in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Lakou Mizik is a roots music collective from Port-au-Prince. The band features a mix of older and younger musicians who play an eclectic mix of sounds. Earlier stuff (like on the album “Wa Di Yo”) is traditional Haitian music, Caribbean rhythms, gospel, and New Orleans jazz.

Their latest album “Leave The Bones” is a collaboration with the electronic music producer Joseph Ray, which is full of soundscapes and textures while retaining the band’s signature sound. Ray and the band also released a remix album of “Leave The Bones” a year later that’s full of house music bangers.

4. JORDAN: “Istibtan,” Toumba

Toumba is an electronic producer from Amman who combines elements of Arabic music with modern club sounds. I wish I was better at writing about electronic music (a genre I can speak very little on) but Toumba’s music sounds cool and forward-thinking to me. The “Petals” EP especially is full of rich sonic textures, interesting sound choices, and dancey beats.

5. TURKEY (AGAIN): “Zülüf Dökülmüs Yüze,” Altın Gün

If Altın Gün isn’t on your radar, you need to check them out ASAP. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard dipped my toe into the “Anatolian Rock” sound with KG, LW, and Flying Microtonal Banana. But Altın Gün is one of the handful of modern bands keeping the Anatolian Rock sound alive with chill, eastern-influenced microtonal psych rock. All the band’s music is sung in the beautiful Turkish language, which adds to the ethereal, foreign feeling.

Altın Gün is actually from Amsterdam. Everyone in the band, including their Turkish-Dutch lead singer Erdinç Ecevit, were born in the Netherlands. A similar band, Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, is similarly Turkish in origin but based in Germany. What could be more World Cup than people from all over the world coming together to make music? Cultural exchange and fusion has produced some of my favorite music ever made.

Friday Preview: Every World Cup Song, Ranked

From “Waka Waka” to “Wavin’ Flag,” FIFA and its various corporate underwriters have been sponsoring official and unofficial World Cup anthems since at least the 1960s.

What happens when huge amounts of corporate money get funneled into making inoffensive, safe art for mass consumption? Sometimes you get catchy earworms you can’t help but love, and sometimes you get cringeworthy shlock.

My full ranked list of every World Cup song drops this Friday, right here on the ‘Stack. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribe now

I got crowd crushed at a Geese show (why are these high schoolers moshing to I See Myself?), the woman in front of me at Mumford & Sons filmed the whole show (What did I expect?), and a huge group of teens at Men I Trust stood behind me and talked throughout the entire show.

I need to head this off immediately: there is no way to discuss this topic without sounding like “old man yells at cloud.”

To some, if you complain about concertgoers being “too rough” or “too loud” or “annoying,” you might as well box up your Vans and band tees and quit going to shows altogether. Time to get really into lawn care.

But I must speak my truth: I think concert behavior is getting worse.

A few weeks ago, Baltimore hardcore band End It (they’re really good) made news for an incident that took place at their show in Toronto where the frontman Akil Godsey called out an audience member wearing a banana costume, saying “he wanted the attention, and now he has it.” Godsey then offered a setlist to anyone able to strip the man of his banana costume. The crowd then descended upon banana man, attacking him and removing his costume.

The music and hardcore community have been split by this event.

To some, the guy is an attention seeking nuisance, and got what was coming to him. The band was joking around, the fans participated, and the guy got his comeuppance.

To others, the band is in the wrong for telling their fans to attack a fan (although the level of “violence” in the video seems pretty normal for a hardcore show) and remove his clothing. The fan’s autonomy was violated, and why is the band policing how people express themselves anyway? Why do they care?

The Complex article on this event embedded a Tweet that I thought was interesting:

I think this guy is right, but he’s also missing the point.

Many people today aren’t “expressing themselves” at concerts, they’re clip farming. They’re not having fun, they’re trying to force a viral moment.

The reality is, there’s a “banana man” at every show now.

I’m almost 30 years old, and have been going to “shows” since I was 15. I haven’t been to as many concerts as some people, but I’ve been to more than most people I know. And I recognize that I’m getting older. Mosh pits and crowd surfing are a young person’s game, and I’m rapidly approaching the “stand in the back with arms folded” demographic. It’s natural to get annoyed by younger, rowdier concert goers as you age. It’s the circle of life.

But probably sometime around the launch and popularization of TikTok and Instagram Reels, people at concerts started engaging in performative “weirdo” behavior in order to get views and likes. It’s impossible to ignore now.

Why film a concert on a Nintendo 3DS? Why attend a Death Grips concert wearing a propeller hat and carrying a lollipop? Whether consciously or unconsciously, I think the goal of these people is to be seen, to be photographed by a friend or stranger, and to have someone get a viral reel off their costume. “Lol there was a guy in the End It pit in a banana costume.” The incongruity of the abrasive music and the childish costumes (banana guy or propeller hats) is supposed to make the outfit even funnier.

My issue with costumes is not that it’s “too silly,” but that it’s inauthentic.

This same attention-seeking behavior is what drives people to throw things at artists on stage, or talk during the entire show, or shout out “play free bird” at every concert (it’s a timeless bit, I’ll admit).

I asked my followers on Instagram: “Has concert behavior gotten worse?” I got more than 280 replies and probably 90% agreed. The most common complaints were:

Read more

This week’s five tracks are a collection of music I’ve discovered over the last week, on the radio, through my own research, and some new releases from bands I love.

Listen through and I hope you find something you like!

1. “Give Me Back My Loving,” Leo Nocentelli

As a big fan of local radio, I spend a lot of time listening to the station KRCL in Salt Lake City. They always have such eclectic curation, and I can’t listen without finding a new song I love.

This week they played some tracks from Leo Nocentelli, lead guitars for The Meters. Theiguh them I learned that Nocentelli recorded a solo album called “Another Side” in 1971 that was somehow lost to time, found at a garage sale, and re-released in 2021. The whole album is a great exhibition of solid songwriting and musicianship, with a warm 70s fuzz. Plus a great Elton John cover! It’s a delight to listen to.

2. “Magazine,” YHWH Nailgun

YHWH Nailgun is an experimental noise rock band, and they make music that can be beautiful and a little scary. I got to see them at Treefort Music Fest a couple years ago. They played maybe 25-30 minutes of their 40 minute set time. Left me floored, and wanting more. Their newest album did the same thing. It’s only 11 minutes long! I’m not even going to pick one song because you could listen to the whole thing while you’re eating your shredded wheat in the morning.

3. “Eden Express,” The Woolen Men

This is an interesting, almost folky Decemberists-esque track from the Portland indie post-punk group The Woolen Men. Found them while researching last week’s newsletter and haven’t stopped listening.

4. “Demand to Be Taken to Heaven Alive!,” Horse Lords

I love Horse Lords! One of the coolest bands doing it today. Their new album “Demand to Be Taken to Heaven Alive!” Is one of their weirdest yet, full of more songs you can almost dance to and sacred harp singing. It’s so brain stretching and so fun to listen through. Can’t wait to play this one again and again.

5. “Better Man,” Slow Pulp

Wisconsin indie rock band Slow Pulp has a new album coming out on September 18, and Better Man is the first single they’ve released. I love how catchy this song is, and the specific sound of these guitars (especially if you’re listening in stereo) is so cool. Slow Pulp is really good live too, if you ever get the chance to see them.

Friday Preview: Concert Etiquette

Is behavior at concerts getting worse?

I’ve only been going to concerts for about a decade, but it seems like people are acting worse and worse at live shows. Are the old ways not being passed down? Is it the fault of the proliferation of social media? The hardcore punk band End It recently made news for siccing their fans on an audience member wearing a banana costume. Were they justified?

I weigh in this Friday, with the help of some polls I’ve done.

Subscribe now if you want to read it right when it drops! And message me if you have and thoughts or bad concert behavior stories

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribe now

Why didn’t they ever take off like some of their contemporaries?

I’ll give you a walkthrough of the band’s history, and at the end of the article I’ll give you my recommendations for how to dive in to the music.

The SCW were known for their high energy sold-out live shows and raw jams. They got signed to Atlantic Records for their first record. They opened for bands like Meat Loaf, The Allman Brothers Band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. And, they had one of the best rock vocalists of the 90s fronting their band. It seems like they had all the ingredients to become one of the greats of 90s rock… and yet…

Read more

I just got back from an amazing week with family on the Oregon coast. Perfect weather, beautiful views, and restorative sea air. The moody, cloudy, foggy atmosphere has me in a Beaver State of Mind, and for this week’s free newsletter I want to bring you five songs from Oregon bands you oughta know.

Oregon, and Portland specifically, has always produced a slate of killer bands. But the scene over the last 7-8 years has been absolutely on fire. Maybe it’s because of the DIY ethos, the wealth of venues, the supportive community, or the general “Portlandness” of it all, but something about that city makes for special music.

Note: I have already covered Oregon in my “50 States” series, so in this newsletter I’ll cover some bands I didn’t feature the first time around.

Five Songs

1. “Changes” — Alien Boy

Alien Boy combines the shimmery guitars and 90s richness of Third Eye Blind and the power-pop fuzz of Fountains of Wayne. But it’s not just regurgitated old sounds; Alien Boy’s music has a production and lyrical quality that feels distinctly now. The band’s fourth album “You Wanna Fade?” was released about a year ago, and has their clearest sound and best songwriting yet. It’s got tambourine, Cure-ish guitar solos, vocal harmonies, heavy shoegaze chords… what more could you want?

2. “Like Spitting Out Copper” — Rhododendron

Named after the flowering shrub that dots the PNW, Rhododendron makes music that matches the plant — dark, twisty, thick, and beautiful. People are always saying, “Joey, include heavier music in your lists!” I do that quite a lot, actually. While Rhododendron is definitely heavy, it’s a sound that’s hard to pin down. Post-rock, noise rock, mathcore, with jazzy precision and skill. The band’s new album “Ascent Effort” came out a month ago via The Flenser, and it rocks.

3. “Prehistoric Dog” — Red Fang

A lot of you might already know Red Fang. They’ve been around since 2005, and if you’re tapped in to the stoner rock genre you’re certainly familiar. But if not… what a treat! If you like Kyuss, QOTSA, Electric Wizard, and The Sword, make it a priority to check out Red Fang. They’re heavy, fun, don’t take themselves too seriously, and made some of the best music videos on YouTube.

See video below for mountains of beer cans, brave knights, and wizard duels.

4. “Cypher Sore Eyes” — The Macks

Since my 50 States Instagram reel on Oregon, The Macks released a new album called “Bonanza,” and it might be my favorite yet. The Macks are a high-energy garage rock band who have played some of the most raucous and loud shows I’ve ever been too. The song “Cypher Sore Eyes” is a fuzzy ode to a great battle, with psychedelic drones, clashing guitars, and a steady thundering bass line.

Listen to the album and don’t miss them on tour.

5. “Streamline” — Møtrik

It’s exciting to hear Krautrock in 2026. It’s like If you like synthesizers, smoke machines, and rock music you can dance to in 4/4, Møtrik is your band. If you like Minami Deutsch, any Osees projects, King Gizz’s more Krautrock inspired stuff, or even the old school genre pioneers like Kraftwerk or Can, check out Møtrik!

New In Joeyland

A couple updates from the last few weeks:

1. The newest episode of the Band For Band podcast features Patton Magee, frontman of The Nude Party, a folky-indie rock band from North Carolina. Check out their song “Chevrolet Van” here. The interview was a lot of fun. We talk about a few “lost albums” by Dion, Bobby Darin, and the Velvet Underground. Watch the interview below or listen here.

1. The next episode of the “50 States Series” will feature the state of Illinois. It’s one of the biggest states I’ve gotten to sift through. Already 350+ bands submitted! I’ve found so much great stuff and am having a terrible time trying to narrow it down. Send me bands here, and if you’ve got any suggestions for how to appropriately cover Illinois I’d love to hear them.

Friday Preview: A Forgotten 90s Band

Too many bands are described as “underrated.” I’m a culprit myself. I like too many bands. But every once in a while you stumble upon a band whose trajectory is truly baffling. How did they not get bigger?

One 90s band from Nashville, Tennessee seemingly had it all: a band name taken from a Far Side comic, a drummer who could drum, guitarists who could play, a lead singer with a gospel voice, rabid fans, great songwriting, a rich blues rock sound, a killer live album… but the band went nowhere. What happened? And does their music hold up? This week’s paid newsletter is a look back at a band I grew up with: The Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies. Subscribe now if you want to read it right when it drops!

Subscribe now

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

1. Five songs from five bands that I’ve been loving. Listen, see if it hooks you, and dive in to the rest of their music if you dig it!

2. Updates from my channel. New videos, interviews, things you might’ve missed.

3. A preview of this week’s paid Friday newsletter.

Five Songs

1. “Walking at a Downtown Pace” — Parquet Courts

Even though I really enjoy Parquet Courts, this song had somehow escaped me until a few weeks ago. It came on in the car and I immediately began drumming on the steering wheel with such intensity that my wife gave me The Look™. This song lets you know immediately what you’re in for with a dancey drum groove and a swaggerous, strutting bass line. I dare you to listen without a head bob.

2. “I Love My Wife” — Touchdown Jesus

I found Touchdown Jesus while digging into Ohio’s music scene for the 50 States project. They’re a proggy-jazzy-rock band from Cincinnati, weird in all the ways I like, and their 2025 EP “It’s All Feast Or Famine” is so refreshing. The song “I Love My Wife” builds and layers in such an unexpected and exciting way. If any prog or fusion or Greepy stuff interests you at all, you might like TDJ.

3. “Moth Song” — Folk Bitch Trio

There just aren’t many bands today doing what Folk Bitch Trio is doing. When I saw this Australian indie group perform at Kilby Block Party this year, most of their songs were sung by all three women in the band, one of them strumming a guitar. It sounded like thin mountain air. Sparse as all get out, close harmonies, and dreamy melodies. This song feels like a good representation of their sound.

4. “Rewind” — Feeble Little Horse

A band I have been watching with great interest for many years… One thing I’m always saying is that I love it when bands produce interesting sounds. FLH is a champion here. The band’s new album “bitknot” has got so many interesting sounds, listening is just an auditory feast. Is that a chorus of Yoshis? Rainforest noises? What a killer band. If you want something that rocks a little harder, try Tin Man.

5. “Penny in the Lake” — Ratboys

You probably like music with guitars. And when those guitars are spiced with a smidgen of twang? Oh mama. I’ve been a little obsessed with the 2026 Ratboys record “Singin’ to an Empty Chair.” It’s got real power pop guitar muscle, seasoned with plenty of twang. This song leans on the twang heavier than a lot of their stuff, but I love it. If you haven’t heard this band yet, you’re missing out.

New In Joeyland

A couple updates from the last few weeks:

1. The newest episode of the Band For Band podcast features Patton Magee, frontman of The Nude Party, a folky-indie rock band from North Carolina. Check out their song “Chevrolet Van” here. The interview was a lot of fun. We talk about a few “lost albums” by Dion, Bobby Darin, and the Velvet Underground. Watch the interview below or listen here.

2. The next episode of the “50 States Series” will feature the state of Illinois. It’s one of the biggest states I’ve gotten to sift through. Already 350+ bands submitted! I’ve found so much great stuff and am having a terrible time trying to narrow it down. Send me bands here, and if you’ve got any suggestions for how to appropriately cover Illinois I’d love to hear them.

Friday Preview: A Forgotten 90s Band

Too many bands are described as “underrated.” I’m a culprit myself. I like too many bands. But every once in a while you stumble upon a band whose trajectory is truly baffling. How did they not get bigger?

One 90s band from Nashville, Tennessee seemingly had it all: a band name taken from a Far Side comic, a drummer who could drum, guitarists who could play, a lead singer with a gospel voice, rabid fans, great songwriting, a rich blues rock sound, a killer live album… but the band went nowhere. What happened? And does their music hold up? This week’s paid newsletter is a look back at a band I grew up with: The Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies. Subscribe now if you want to read it right when it drops!

Subscribe now

Thanks for reading this week! I hope you found some new music, and I’ll see you Friday for the deep dive.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day.

This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

Cowboy came out of the Jacksonville/Macon scene that also produced some of Southern Rock’s biggest acts: Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, 38 Special, and Molly Hatchet.

Unlike those bands, however, Cowboy never had a breakout hit. Even today, they have by far the fewest Spotify monthly listeners of that bunch. Which is crazy, because I think they’re amazing.

If you’ve never heard of Cowboy before, stop reading for a few minutes and listen to this:

Cowboy was a train pulled by the engine of Tommy Talton and Scott Boyer, who were supported by a rotating cast of musicians that included Chuck Leavell, Randall Bramblet, Bill Stewart, David Brown, and many others.

The band also intersected with the Allman Bros sphere several times throughout its history. Before Cowboy, Scott Boyer played in a band called 31st of February with Duane and Gregg Allman, as well as David Brown and Butch Trucks (uncle of Derek Trucks). Duane reportedly helped Cowboy sign on to Capricorn Records. Boyer and Talton played on Gregg’s solo album “Laid Back,” and just before his passing Duane played dobro on what became Cowboy’s best known song “Please Be With Me.”

For whatever reason, Cowboy never reached escape velocity. The band lived in the shadow of more successful contemporaries, their softer, folkier sound had to compete in an era that favored the more muscular punch of Southern Rock, and their SEO-unfriendly name probably hasn’t helped either. But the band is a true hidden gem (a phrase I don’t use lightly).

Where to start with Cowboy

I first heard Cowboy through my brother, who put them on while we were chopping wood up in the mountains. I can’t imagine better wood-chopping music. For porch chilling, outdoor chores, or relaxing by a lake, Cowboy really sets the scene.

You can’t go wrong just hitting shuffle on their discography. But if you want some more guidance diving into their sound, let’s go album by album.

“Reach For The Sky,” (1970)

The band’s debut, with some of my favorite-ever album art. This is their chillest and folkiest sounding record. Like a lot of americana/bluegrass, the sound is warm and up close, like they’re playing in the same room as you. My favorites on this record:

• Livin’ in the Country

• Everything Here

• Use Your Situation

• Rip & Snort

“5’ll Getcha Ten,” (1971)

Cowboy’s next album is a little more Neil Young, a little more Kenny Loggins. It’s got the earlier folky country feel, but begins to embrace the 70s soft rock sound. More piano, strings, and what sounds like a xylophone sometimes? The close harmonies can give it a very “Catalina Breeze” vibe, which they embrace more fully on their 1977 self titled album. My favorites here are:

• Hey There Baby

• Seven Four Tune

• Right On Friend

• Please Be With Me

“Boyer & Talton,” (1974)

The band continues to leave some of that country simplicity behind for a more full 70s soft rock sound. This album adds in organ, electric piano, saxophone, and conga. The songwriting duo of B&T is strong as ever, and you can tell they’re having fun. This isn’t the one I go back to as often, but it’s got high highs, and some fun weird departures like “Love 40.”

• Coming Back to You

• I Heard Some Man Talking

• Road Gravy Chase

• Houston Vamp

“Cowboy,” (1977)

By 1977, the band had gone full Blue Jean Committee, but in a good way. They leaned in to their session band tendencies and the early raw Americana sound is faint, but what’s left is Southern Style Steely Dan. All the playing on the album is tight, with faster jams and some slower funky grooves. The country feel comes back, especially with tracks like “Pat’s Song” that let the steel guitar and harmonica shine.

• Takin It All The Way

• Now That I Know

• Pat’s Song

• Nobody Else’s Man

Sharp-eyed readers will notice I'm leaving out their 2018 comeback album “10’ll Getcha Twenty.” Frankly, I listened to a couple songs and did not enjoy what I heard. I’m a little afraid to put that one on.

Cowboy might not be as popular as some of the other Southern Rock giants, but they’re no less talented. Spend a few hours with their discography this weekend, and maybe you’ll discover a new favorite.

-Joey

More than 100k songs are uploaded every day. This newsletter is my way of helping you find the music worth your time, without social media algorithms getting in the way.

This is an unlocked edition of my Friday paid newsletter.

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

“Crate diving” should be part of the joy of being a music fan, and I want this newsletter to be one more node in your network of music discovery.

If you know me from Instagram, you know that I’m all about music discovery. I’m a Radio DJ and trained journalist who’s been building a community of music lovers on Instagram and TikTok for three years now.

Social media algorithms control who sees what. I estimate that Instagram only shows my posts to 10-20% of my followers on average, meaning that if you follow me on social media you’re not seeing most of the music I recommend.

In this newsletter:

Tuesdays (free): I’ll provide you with 5 weekly recommendations of music I’m loving, a piece of music trivia, and a preview of Friday’s article. Shareable, readable in five minutes, and completely free.

Fridays ($7/month): In the paid version of the newsletter, you’ll get deep dives into bands, albums, and topics that have captured my attention.

If you’ve ever enjoyed a band or album I’ve recommended on social media, or learned something new about music from one of my posts, I hope you’ll join me here.

— Joey

PS: For almost three years now I’ve been working on the “50 States Series,” where I’ve been gathering and cataloguing my favorite bands under 100k monthly listeners from every US state. I’m almost done. Only six states are left. When it’s finished, I’ll be publishing the full thing here as a searchable database. The bands, notes, links to their music, everything. Keep an eye out!

@joeyontheair on Instagram and TikTok. Band for Band podcast on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.