Attics - Comic Sans [Review] February 25, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Unreliable narrators are tough to pull off in literature and even more song in song form but the Attics do exactly that with ‘Comic Sans.’ Channeling the voice of their braggadocios and self-described dishonest grandfather, the band has a Tom Petty kind of vibe as it unfolds the wisdom of a misguided man. This unique perspective lends the song a uniqueness that carries the listener along wondering what to expect.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Peaceful James - Love Like Vegas [Review] February 25, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Indie Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Peaceful James captures a nice blend of Funk, Rock and Roll, and energy with the track ‘Love Like Vegas’ This is the genre bending kind of sound that you’d expect from The Black Keys or Jack White and the energy is as palpable as your heartbeat. For all its sinful brand of fun Vegas is a hard place to walk away from as a winner and love can feel that same way way at times. This track brings that point to musical life very well. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Highline - Enough For You And Me [Review] February 24, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “After forming their musical collaboration during highs school lunches, Australian group Highline has hones and sharpened their skill into polished perfection. With a clean sound that falls somewhere between Coldplay and The Strokes this group keeps the listener on the hook with strong writing, emotive vocals and tight musicianship that carries the day. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Skuff Micksun - Magnificent [Music Video Review] February 11, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Electronic, Indie Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “Riding a groove that is musical, yet spoken word poetic at the same time, Skuff Micksun delivers a passionate flow that feels honest and true in a confessional sort of way. The best art lays the artist bare, and that is what this track does. Short and to the point, ‘Magnificent’ is hard to categorize, but that doesn’t really matter because the words are clearly poured straight from the heart.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Dropper - Waste of Time [Review] February 11, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “Every creative I know eventually asks themselves ... Is this all a ‘Waste of Time.’ The answer is no of course, because art is always a worthwhile endeavor, but when you are out there on the road and battling to make your mark while trying to find a passionate audience, it can feel that way. The up and down emotions of trying to make a living from your passion is a struggle that leaves all artists feeling depleted from time to time and this song taps into all of that. But the track is far from a drag as it expresses these emotions in an engaging and entertaining fashion. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Taylor Bini - Started Chewing My Nails Again [Review] February 08, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Electronic, Indie Pop, Indie Rock Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “Finally a break up song that feels as random and abstract as our minds tend to get after such a painful experience. The emotions are real and tangible here on this track and the writing is spot on brilliant. The track is short, but packs in everything it needed to in just under two minutes. A brilliantly crafted song that comes with a different angle than most artists are capable of delivering. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
LVRBOY - sick of me [Review] January 28, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Pop, Rock, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Electro Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “LVRBOY releases this lyrically intricate track about friendship and bad relationships. ‘sick of me’ is about friends sick of seeing you give a n ex chance after chance when they are undeserving and the conflicting emotions of being caught up in the middle. The sound is bold and as much Rock as Pop, but blends the lines quite well. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Big Orange - By the Dozen [Review] January 22, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “Indie Rock and Roll as it should be. Straight away you can feel the attitude and confidence both in the vocals and musically. Big Orange is doing Australia proud with this timeless rock track that isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but simply keep alive a spirit and set of ideal that music lovers have been turning toward for decades. Big Orange makes it seem easy here, but creating genuine and passionate music such as this is no easy feat. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Wild Giants - If God Only Knew [Review] January 14, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “The gravel in the vocals provides instant emotional connection, and while the track does have a slight retro feel of the mid 90s to early 200s sound it does so more as a homage than a reliance. That gives the track a fresh contemporary feel on top of that familiarity. The emotional resonance carries the day and a down tempo shift at the end of the song really brought it all home for me. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
RIVER - Someday [Review] January 14, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative “Nostalgia and melancholy ride tandem in this track from Hamburg’s RIVER. ‘Someday’ is the kind of track that can mean different things to you from day to day depending on your own mood and headspace, but no matter what you take away the easy groove and clever writing will engage you and pull you deep inside the rhythm of this Indie Rock effort. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
SEA GIRLS - Hometown [ Music Video Review] December 25, 2021 by Kreadiv Kesh in Singer/Songwriter, Live Performance, Indie Rock, Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “Sea Girls latest track “Hometown” brings back the aesthetics of fans and rock concerts. Now of days we attend shows and use most of the moment with our phones out instead of really rocking with the artists. Sea Girls highlights that experience but also tells the story of loving someone over the years and dealing with the changes of life. ” — Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]
Dropper - Memoirs of Working in a Bowling Alley [Review] December 17, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock Rating: 5 out of 5 “Some songs have a life, or at least aura about them that takes on its own personality and demeanor. ‘Memoirs Of A Working Bowling Alley’ certainly had that for me. The track from Dropper reminded me a bit of Sheryl Crow’s ‘All I Wanna Do’ in its wry perspective of a world full of people plugging along in their own way. The sound is a bit grittier here (in a good way) and perhaps more honest in its approach, but both tracks have true heart to them. Frontwoman Andrea Scanniello shared her thoughts about the track. ‘We recorded “Memoirs of Working in a Bowling Alley” and the rest of our debut album with Andrija Tokic at the Bomb Shelter studio in Nashville. I’ve spent my entire adult life working in various service industry jobs- some more soul sucking than others. One of these jobs was spraying bowling shoes at the local lanes. “Memoirs” is about working these types of jobs and how at times it makes you question humanity and never want to speak to a soul ever again; that emotional drain that can only be experienced when you’re dealing with shitty drunk people night after night.”” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Spoon and the Forkestra - Blink Twice [Music Video Review] December 10, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Music Videos, Indie Rock Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “Spoon and Forkestra captures the disorienting world of disassociation both in the structure and performance of the song, as well as the imagery of the video. The emotive vocals style conveys the disarray of emotion and expectation quite well and the writing is spot on perfection. ‘Blink Twice’ is the kind of track that resonates more with every listen making it a must add to your more reflective playlists.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
CVBZ x American Authors - This Time is Right [Review] November 18, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “This is one of those big bold Indie Rock songs that feels as much like an anthem as anything else. The kind of build and arrangement that sweeps listeners up and in. The kind of track that incorporates various elements and genres to create a sound that resonates for music lovers of all. The energetic build and progression is joined by talented vocal performances to create a vibe that hooks and holds with ease. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
talker - Summerlin [Music Video Review] November 18, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Indie Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “A song detailing the power of places and the strength of our emotional memories, ‘Summerlin’ is about the hometown of an ex boyfriend and how going to the place he came from rekindled the emotional duress of a tough breakup. In delivering the song, talker offers an emotive vulnerability that resonates and keeps the listener engaged in the lyrical build. A track with heart and emotion and genuine honesty in its songwriting and delivery.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
The Manic Boys And Girls Club - Blacked Out [Music Video Review] November 08, 2021 by Kreadiv Kesh in Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock Rating: 5 out of 5 “Everyone enjoys a night out but then there are the nights were we try to escape. The Manic Boys And Girls Club latest single “Blacked Out” is about one night out of being free and escaping the world and its issues. The bond between the artists are amazing and the visual aspect allows you to really experience the mindset someone has when they escape and black out, just or wake up alone. ” — Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]
Zo - Never Meant [Review] November 08, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Pop, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Zo delivers power and passion and of course talent on this track. “Never Meant’ is the track Stevie Nicks and Florence and the Machine would team up to create and the emotion is tangible in every single line. The passion lands with razor sharp talons and grabs on like a raptor intent to instill its will. That might sound harsh, but this track is anything but. Simply intense and purposeful.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Kayla DiVenere - PSYCHOPATH [Review] November 06, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Commercial Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “This is masterfully constructed track. LA’s Kayla DiVenere utilizes not only her vocal talent to instill a mood, but the arrangement plays a huge role in conveying the emotion and feeling behind the well-written lyrics. Coming with a Commercial Pop Punk sound ‘PSYCHOPATH’ delivers an up and down tempo that matches the impact of the writing and keeps the listener guessing what will come next as they lean in and lose the world around them.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Sophie Powers x DE'WAYNE - Greed [Review] November 06, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Indie Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “Sophie Powers is pissed off, and she brings in DE’WAYNE to help her call out the ‘Greed’ of those who have left her in this state. Think of a angrier and edgier Gwen Stefani and you have a solid idea of of what Powers brings to the table. This track is an anthem you can belt out when the world has backed you into a corner. Solid Alternative Rock with an edge and hint of Pop Punk/Hip-Hop fusion.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Sarpa Salpa - Your House [Review] November 03, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Electronic, Indie Pop, Indie Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “Coming to SXSW in March 2022, Sarpa Salpa is a British band that has one foot in the synth heavy sound of the 80s, and another firmly panted in the contemporary world of Indie Pop. ‘Your House’ has a nice Indietronica vibe to it even though lyrically the track is heavier and darker than the arrangement might first suggest. I liked this emotional juxtaposition and in it found my own groove to stay invested and connected for the entire build and duration.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger