Artist Picks May/June

SINCERE ENGINEER
Punk
Chicago, Illinois

Giving us sweet Damone and Distillers vibes is Chicago’s Sincere Engineer. Vocalist, Deanna Belos pulls together traditional punk, ska, folk,  garage-rock, and emo to create the perfect soundtrack for any pissed-off punk kid in a messy heartbreak. Having just released her debut album Rhombithian in late 2017, Sincere Engineer will be embarking on a tour-heavy year with a slew of festival shows including Midwest PunkFest and sharing the stage with Descendents and Less Than Jake in August, gloriously spreading their angst-fueled punk to the masses.

 

MICHAEL CERA PALIN
Indie/Punk/Emo
Marietta, Georgia

If the humourous band name is any indication, Marietta, Georgia’s indie-rock group, Michael Cera Palin , offers a sound pumped with self-deprecating humour and the upbeat, rock vibes of the likes of Weezer and Jimmy Eat World. Their new EP, I Don’t Know How To Explain It, is a time-capsule of teen angst and early 2000s emo, bringing instant joy to anyone stuck in a world of nostalgic yearning. They’ll spend the summer on the road across the Eastern United States, and we’re excited to hear more of their brand of energetic, indie-punk in the months to come.

 

THE SAME AS ALWAYS
Pop-Punk
Oshawa, Ontario

Oshawa pop-punk group, The Same As Always kicks off the season with a strong debut EP, These Four Walls. Melding influences from the likes of their fellow Canadian predecessors, GOB, Sum 41 and Not By Choice, the trio sparks a glorious revival of early 2000s pop-punk that we didn’t even know we needed. Their debut boasts a repertoire of high-energy, catchy gems, with Dylan Beattie’s youthful, sulky vocals stitching together the best elements of gloom-filled millennial pop-punk with the laid-back fun that’s been remarkably missing in the scene over the last decade.

 

LUKE RAINSFORD
Acoustic-Emo/Punk
Birmingham, UK

Laying out the biggest of feels is Luke Rainsford’s latest EP, I Don’t Deserve to Be Loved, giving us a fine blend of folk-punk and emo in every aspect right down to its title. Pulling inspiration from Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties and This Wild Life, Rainsford splatters his doleful poetry across catchy acoustic gems. The biggest standout is his ability to bleed his pains into a song, so openly and honestly like an old friend chatting you up about their bad day. Armed with a new sound and new EP, we’re not surprised his year is packed with back-to-back Europe/UK tours, and performing at the popular pop-punk Slam Dunk Festival.

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